Honoring Piper's Spirit: Healing Through Fly Fishing with Paige Reed

In this moving episode, Paige Reed shares the inspiring story behind Piper's Peak, a nonprofit organization that introduces women and girls to fly fishing. Named after Paige's late sister, Piper, the organization carries on her adventurous legacy while providing natural healing experiences. Paige opens up about grief, family bonds, and the therapeutic power of fly fishing, offering insights on how outdoor activities can help process trauma and build community.

Show Notes:

• Introduction to Paige Reed and the story of Piper's Peak
• How Piper's tragic accident in 2019 led to the creation of the organization
• Details on Piper's Peak programs and annual fly fishing events
• The challenges and growth of the organization during the COVID-19 pandemic
• How fly fishing can be a meditative and healing experience
• Paige's personal journey learning to fly fish and running a nonprofit
• The importance of talking openly about grief and loss
• How Piper's Peak is impacting families and younger generations
• Ways to support or get involved with Piper's Peak
• Contact information: Website - piperspeak.org, Instagram - @piperspeaksunvalley, Email - [e-mail]

Creators & Guests

Host

Devin Carlson

Guest

Paige Reed

Paige Reed is the co-founder and driving force behind Piper's Peak, a nonprofit organization dedicated to introducing women and girls to fly fishing. Born and raised in Idaho, Paige later pursued a career on the East Coast, graduating from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and working in national security in Washington D.C. Following the tragic loss of her younger sister Piper in 2019, Paige helped establish Piper's Peak to honor her sister's adventurous spirit and love for the outdoors. Despite being based near D.C., Paige remains deeply connected to her Idaho roots through the organization's work. She balances her professional career with leading Piper's Peak, learning to fly fish herself, and sharing her passion for the sport with others as a way of healing and building community.

What is Mending on the Fly?

"Mending on the Fly" is a podcast hosted by Devin Carlson that delves into the world of fly fishing, focusing on its therapeutic and environmental aspects. Through engaging discussions, expert insights, and captivating stories from the water's edge, each episode takes listeners on a serene journey down the river to explore the profound impact of fly fishing on personal well-being and conservation. Whether you're a seasoned angler looking to perfect your craft, a newcomer navigating the complex world of fly fishing equipment, or someone passionate about safeguarding our precious waterways, this podcast is for you. It's an invitation to connect with nature, dive deep into the art of fly fishing, and contribute to the vital cause of conservation. So, grab your gear and prepare to wade into the enriching world of fly fishing with Devin. See you on the water!

Paige Reed YouTube
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devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: [00:00:00] Page, welcome to Mending on the Fly. I'm so thankful that you, uh, agreed to be on the show and worked with me through all of my drama cancellations and ghosting.

Um, but thank you for being here. Um,

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: welcome. Thank you for having me.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: yeah, before we get started. Jump into your story. Why don't we talk about Piper's peak a little bit? Um, maybe you can tell us kind of how the organization started, who Piper was and, and what you guys are doing now.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Okay. Yeah, absolutely. Well, uh, Piper's Peak is named after my sister, Piper. She was an avid outdoors woman. Uh, she and I both grew up in You know, it's funny because I don't know if I can talk about this organization without talking about my story, because they're so Interwined. So anyway, my sister is an avid outdoors woman in Idaho.

She worked with the forest service, the local fire department. Uh, she was [00:01:00] a skier, a fly fisher woman, and, uh, unfortunately was killed in a tragic car accident in 2019. She touched a lot of people's lives and as a result, uh, a lot of us, myself, my mother and some of her friends really wanted to carry on her legacy. So we started Piper's Peak in her honor. Piper's Peak is a non profit organization that aims to get women and young girls out into the outdoors. Right now we're focused on fly fishing, but we hope to grow our programs. Um, but fly fishing was an easy way to get in. It was something that she had just really gotten into herself.

Uh, just prior to her death. And, um, a place of solace, you know, where you can go and have this really amazing experience. And she was spreading it around, like everybody that she was hanging out with, that she was talking to. She's like, look at this fish I got. And, you know, like, you need to come out here, move back to Idaho, hurry up.

Like, I'm tired of waiting for you, things like that. So, um, unfortunately I did never get to fish with her, but, um, you know, she's with us. [00:02:00] In a different way, a way, not that we prefer, but, um, a way that is really inspiring. So we started that organization in 2019. We immediately started running annual fly fishing, um, uh, education adventures where we

get girls out. Um, yeah, it was like my first adventure as well. So I, as much

as I'm like,

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: learning as I

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: that's right. As much as I'm running the organization, um, with my mom and her friends, uh, I'm also learning to fly fish. So I'm total novice. Um, I'm like the perfect candidate in this situation. Um, because that's who we're aiming to get into the outdoors is people just like me or, you know, working in the city, busy, like you're raising family, raising kids, and, um, you want to get into the outdoors.

And like I said, I'm from Idaho. I've moved to the city now here, just outside of D. C. And, uh, it's, it's, it's a D. C. Is a great place to live. As you know, [00:03:00] like there's a lot of things to do. You don't have to go very far to get into the outdoors, but the culture is very different. Um, whereas like the outdoors

are knocking on your door there here, you really have to like you have to step yourself out.

And that's something I think a lot of people when they're first faced with that as the options, they're like, I'll just stay inside

and

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Well, I mean, to your point, like, you know, my wife, Chrissy and I just had that trip to Maggie Valley, North Carolina over the weekend, and then. Yesterday was a holiday, Juneteenth. And then, you know, we were like, let's, we got to get the kids outside. Like, let's just go. But so we had to drive up, you know, an hour, which is not bad, but you know, to Cunningham falls and had an absolute blast.

And on the drive back, we're like, we really need to do this more and like, be conscious of just getting outside. Getting out of our city limits a little bit and [00:04:00] getting exposed. So yeah, I totally get it.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: And the city is great. You know, every time I'm playing back in, I see the stadiums, I see all the monuments and I'm like, Oh, I really love this place. Um, but I really love the mountains. I really love Idaho. I do wish that I lived there, um, at least part time anyway. But this organization helps me do that, uh, because we're running these annual events. Um, we started doing them in, uh, May, but because it's early in the season before, like, the main rivers open there, um, but the weather is much colder there this time of year. Um, or

that time of year, I guess. And so we've shifted more towards the end of the season in September, which the weather is more favorable.

And you really want to get an event where the people have a good time. And if it's really too cold or, you know, that's your first experience and it's uncomfortable, you know, you might be getting wet, you

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Miserable.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Yeah.

you don't want to have a bad experience. You want it to be like a sunny, perfect, sunny day.

Like you're [00:05:00] catching tons of fish. Uh, it's easy to see in the water and read that. That's the kind of events that you want to have. So,

know, we try to aim for that. Um, Opening day is a big deal there with the big wood river where a lot of people are fishing. We have silver Creek, uh, reserve out there and, uh, it gets really busy and a lot of

Guides get busy working.

So we try to work around that, but also we're trying to grow our programs as well. So right now we have that big annual event. We do some smaller ones where it's called fish on the fly, where some of our local folks there are able to take people out kind of more short notice and do some pond fishing, things like that, that make it more accessible. And there it

really is very accessible getting to the water, uh, not quite as difficult as it is for me here, but

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: And so I see like on the website and for those that want to check it out, it's Piper's [00:06:00] peak. org. And Piper is P I P E R, um, and I'll, I'll link everything in the description, but I also see there's like these 2024 cast and blast adventures, um,

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: yes, we're trying to grow that. Yeah, where you get to

go out and pass and do some shooting. So

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Uh, it's awesome. Okay. So right now it's, but right now it's like more of an annual thing starting in September. And, um, is it, can people just sign up or what's the, how does that work?

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Yeah, you can go to our website and sign up. We run an Instagram page, Piper's Peaks and Valley. You can contact us through there. We're really small. We're run completely by volunteers. Despite it being our fifth year, we still are very small. So a lot of it is word of mouth. We try to work with the local schools to get the teachers to, you know, [00:07:00] promote our organization. And

local schools in Bingham, Idaho, um, and a lot of, you know, word of mouth. We offer our programs, uh, almost 100 percent free to our participants. So they are responsible for buying their own fishing license and things like that. But we provide, um, like all the waders, all the gear that, you know, your flies, your rods, the guides. Um, you have carpooling. So. You know, it's some of these

kids are younger than driving age, uh, will take, um, the programs run usually over the course of, uh, two or three days, uh, depending on, you know, the weather who we have going, but it starts with an in classroom. Education system where you sit down, you get to see a fly box or a tech box and check out those flies.

You learn about the life cycle of fish, how they're thriving, what kind of food they're eating, you know, what an adipose fin is, um, And you see that from a [00:08:00] classroom perspective first. So you kind of have a lay of the land. You see it in drawings. You understand, okay, the difference between, um, fly fishing and, uh, regular fishing

and, uh, and you have that first exposure.

Then, um, after that, either later on that day or, uh. The following day, we'll go out into a field and we'll practice those skills that we talked about the day before. So learning your cast, um, understanding a D roll, like pulling it on the ground so you understand there's like a little bit of resistance, how that line is working as it goes out, um, and introducing that to everybody.

And it's a lot of fun that day because, you know, the first time you've ever touched a fly rod. It's huge. It's

really long,

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: super

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: really long. Yeah.

And it's got this long line that's like flying all around and you know, you don't want to hit anybody or maybe you do. Um, and so that, that's fun to see people like experiencing that for the [00:09:00] first time, learning to put that line out. Um, and

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: who are you? And sorry, just to go back a

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: me anytime.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: okay, I will, um, who, like, who's your target audience? Is it like kids or, um, younger adults or how's that work?

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Um, we've been targeting kind of the older teenager, uh, but

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: And, and

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: like,

like 13, 14, or more like 14 to 17. Um, that's who we were targeting originally in our earlier, um, Um, program days. Um, it's grown a little bit. Um, because like, like I said, it's word of mouth. So last season we had mothers with their kids.

So it was, uh, older women who had children, um, girls and boys, uh, attended that one. And it ranged, I think our youngest participant was, uh, like 11 or 12 years old. So, uh, that was, you know, different than having a small group of, [00:10:00] you know, teenage girls. Now you have some parents with that. And it does change the dynamic, um, of the events, but I think in a positive way. And, uh, one of the other reasons I think that last year was when we did that, we have been wanting to have moms take their kids out. And the reason that is, is because moms in the household really tend to set a lot of like how the household is running. Um, you know, picking out what's going to be for dinner, sometimes doing that shopping.

I don't want to exclude dads is doing this, but, um, you know,

primarily,

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: some of, us do a

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: yeah, yeah. So

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: you're, you're not, you're not wrong that, you know, yeah. My, yes, Chrissy is the boss over here.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: there's that's a tone. And, um, if we have moms that are going out fishing, it's really likely that they're going to be taking their kids. And unlike when I think. What we hear from our participants when dads go fishing. Um,

dads are taking sons. They're not [00:11:00] as engaging with their daughters on that topic.

And, um, And so a lot of them and a lot of the girls that we talked about or talked to who are in our programs are saying even if their dads were willing to take them out, it's just a different kind of feeling like vibe when you're out, like the competitiveness is a little bit more like the strictness of like, well, this is what we're doing.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Right. Tighter loops.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Yeah, the girls are not like we're gossiping a little bit and laughing and having fun. And, um, I think that, you know, sometimes like there's like this quiet piece that comes with fly fishing and it definitely happens, but also there's a lot of like giggling and laughing and it's just a different vibe.

And so what we heard was that they really enjoyed having that space. Where they could behave in that way and gain these skills and then could go back and show off to their fathers and their brothers about, you know, look at my D loop, like, oh, look at this fish I got. So it, you know, it brings,

it [00:12:00] brings the family together.

It's not to like, exclude anybody, but people need different environments to thrive. And when you go into a fly shop, almost all of the ones I've ever been in, there's very few women working there. It can be intimidating. You want to know and, and experience like on like. So if you go in and it's a bunch of guys, you might just be like, nevermind.

I don't feel like talking to these people. You go in and you see a cool woman. You might be like, all right, I can level with her because she understands me just

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Well, I, it's like as a grown, as a grown man, I still walk into fly shops and, and, you know, I'm intimidated. It's like, like there's a wall full of leaders and tip it. And it's like, I.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Different waves. You're like, I

don't know

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: me just get one of each so I don't have to ask anybody

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: pack.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: you know, yeah, yeah, I totally get it. That's funny, Allie Cunningham mentioned because she was a guide.

[00:13:00] She's the director of science on the fly, which is another cool organization. But, um, She was mentioned that she was a guide originally in Colorado and, um, had worked in the, like in the fly shop, you know, but just like definitely had different experiences in the store and on the water than her male colleagues.

So there's definitely. Like I get that you're not trying to exclude anybody, but I think it's awesome that, um, girls and young boys get that experience with their mom, um, on the water, especially just because like, you know, fly fishing is so traditionally white male. Um, that it, I don't know, it just helps like kind of expand and diversify the community a bit, which, which is like what we're all about.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Yeah, and it creates, I think, a more like a holistic caring of the environment when you

can be out there together. There's, we all have different skills to bring to the table. And [00:14:00] so when you have that experience and you can draw, Oh, well, this time I went fishing with my mom versus this time I went fishing with my dad. Um. You can mend that together, and you just get a greater, like, appreciation for what different people are bringing to the table. They're, the finesse of, you know, certain movements here, versus like, maybe you need to be more tough in another situation, or

whatever it is, but.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: And sorry, so I interrupted you when you were telling me about the weekend, um, and like what it all

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Oh, Right.

Go back to that.

Um, so after we go on the field and we, you know, learn how to cast, um, then we go out on an all day fishing adventure. So we'll start early in the morning, you know, get out there when it's nice and cool in the water. We'll fish all day long, um, depending on where we are, we might move.

So we've done, um, moving water. Um, it just depends, you know, like on the day and we have a lot of options where we are. So [00:15:00] that's to our advantage.

Um, and so we'll get out there with our guides, uh, have lunch out there. Um, we've been really, uh, blessed by the people in the community. A lot of people have donated to us.

So food is provided. This is how we're able to provide our programs. free of charge to people. And I think that's one of the things that we really value about our organization. And we want to keep it that way is because, um, the barrier or the entry barrier can look really great and it can intimidate people enough out of it.

Like, Oh, I, you know, that's just a lot of equipment. The equipment is really expensive. Like I don't want to spend You know, 500 or 800 or whatever it is to go out with a guy to find out. I hated this experience.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Right. Right.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: of money spent that I don't want to spend to find out. I didn't like it.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Yeah.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: So we, you know, look for those donations.

We look for those volunteers. Um, and we fundraise, you know, so that if we're not finding those, we can pay for [00:16:00] people, you know, like, Hey, come here, uh, work for us. Uh, but so

that has been really great with the community and we've had a lot of people support us in that way. Um, so yeah, we go out, uh, every year we've had a good year.

There was one year where nobody caught anything and that was the worst year. It was like, Oh, where are the fish? Like we could see them, but they were just like not having it that year. And then the very first year we did it, it was literally picturesque. Everybody was catching huge fish. It was just. That was our great first year.

Um, and last year was equally good year where, so not everybody was catching, but, um,

everybody had a good time. Yeah, I

mean, you never know when you're going to go out. Like,

you can go out and not catch anything and you might not get any bites. Um, but it's addictive, um, fishing when you

get out there and you are, you know, Especially like if you're like me, you're novice, you don't have like a whole life's experience of feeling that.

Like when you get that first hug, [00:17:00] you're like, what is

going on here? This

is so exciting. Like, Oh, strip, strip, strip, you know, like pulling this in and you're like, what do I do

with all this line? And like the fish is coming and you got to grab it.

And it's really exciting experience. Um, and then you have it and you're like, Oh wow.

Like. That was so amazing. I definitely want to do this again and then you can go out and even if you don't get any bites, just like the, um, like the, the muscle memory of the movement, like the focusing on the water, trying to read the water is really calming and like peaceful and mesmerizing. Um,

and that has its

own benefit,

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: meditative. Yeah. I mean, that's why I do it. It's like, I don't even do it for the fish anymore. And I so rarely catch fish that it's really just a meditative experience for me.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: But yeah, so that's like what our program entails usually how it's running.

Um, I mentioned before, we do have some like [00:18:00] a fish on the flies where we'll go out, you know, do pond fishing or whatever. We hear some people like, Oh, you know, we can't make that annual event, but we're interested. Is there anything we can do and kind of flex our programs in that way based on the availability of our volunteers?

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Cool. That's awesome. And so, um, if you don't mind, can we just talk about Piper a little bit? Yeah.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Yeah. Yeah. Um, so Piper's

my younger sister,

She's wonderful. She's wonderful.

She's wonderful.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: how, um, what's the age gap between you guys,

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: I'm three years older than she is.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: three years older. Okay. And so when you guys were growing up, did it like, were your folks really outdoorsy? I mean, you're growing up in Idaho, um, were they super outdoorsy?

Does your mom or dad take you fishing or how, how did she get hooked on it? And, and what were like, were you more, uh, Like, were you guys polar opposites, or, you know, were you also outdoorsy?

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Well, I would say we're opposites, like I'm taller and [00:19:00] brunette, she's shorter and blonde, like she had light eyes, I had dark eyes, so we're opposites in that way, but, um, no, our dad is like, he was a total adventure, like his whole life and my mom as well. We have this crazy extended family where we also have four older siblings, um, from his first, uh, marriage.

And.

that we kind of like grew up with. They're much older. They're eight years older than I am or older.

So a big gap there. So, um, my sister and I, uh, had been living away from Idaho and then had moved back when I was about eight years old through a divorce. And as a result, like we didn't have that. Super strict family structure where, you know, both parents in the household and my dad was a ski instructor.

So he's skiing all day. We go to school in the afternoons, you know, he's still skiing or, um, entertaining clients. So we're right. We live in a small town, so you're not worried about like big city kind of stuff that you would be here. But riding our bikes, you know, [00:20:00] whenever we wanted in summertime, it doesn't get dark until 10.

So we'd be out riding our bikes. Um, we did a lot of skiing. We both were ski racers growing up. Really, really good ski racers. Um, we like had this stream that would run behind our house. So we'd be out there like making our own rafts and like just You know, just like having this like fantastical life of just like riding your bikes.

Like in the summertime when my dad wasn't teaching skiing, he worked at a tennis court. So we would be there. There's like a giant pool at the resort. So like, we just had, we grew up in Sun Valley, Idaho. So we just had

like The whole town is ours, like,

as kids. You don't even realize, like, the gift that you have growing up

there.

It's just the most amazing place. Um, so we just, like, ride our bikes wherever we wanted. We, you know, but going fishing wasn't, like, a thing. You

know, like, we went maybe a couple times, you know, like, we're out there. But it wasn't, like, a big family thing. We'd go camping sometimes, but we're mostly, like, ski family. Ski family. And

then you grow up and [00:21:00] it's ski and then drink and then sleep and then wake up and ski and then eat some fondue and then ski and drink and go to sleep. And you keep

repeating that over and over and over again.

So, um, big adventure family, all of us from all the wives to all the children. Um, and so that's kind of where we got our roots there. Um, Then, as, you know, a graduating high school, our, our difference apart, like, has her basically going to high school when I'm already going to college.

Um, and I moved, I went to college on the East Coast. I went to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Oh, cool.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: So I sailed as a merchant marine for a little bit and then moved to D.

C. to work in national security, which is how that led me to this area. Um, but my sister, she stayed back on the west. Um, she wasn't as, uh, focused in her studies after high school. She did a little bit of college here and there and eventually finished at, uh, Boise State University. But she stayed mainly in the [00:22:00] West, the West Coast. Um, as a result, she was able to move back to the Valley. Um, so this is where we're like totally opposite. Here I am like working the corporate job in DC, like with the East Coast mindset, like working, working, working. And she was like, Oh, work sucks. Like. But I have to carry like three or four jobs so that I can live in the valley because it's very expensive.

And if you know any locals there, you know that in the winter, they're teaching skiing and they work at a restaurant at night serving tables. And

in the summer, they're a tennis pro or a golf pro, or they do mobile cycle repair, whatever it is. So that's what you'll find, um, with the locals that live in the valley there.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: I love it.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Unless you're lucky and you're really rich, and there's a lot of those people there too, so maybe

they're not working as much,

they're running businesses,

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Right. Right. Oh, man. I mean, there's like In my mind, I'm doing that, but I'm also, you know, in DC now. And it's like, man, [00:23:00] there's something liberating about being able to do truly what you love and what you're passionate about,

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: hmm,

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: you know, as part of your job. Like that's,

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: yeah, there's, there's a total different, um, like, culture on the east coast to the west coast, or

the mountains to the east, and like I said, I fly back in here and I'm like, oh, I love the city, like, this is specifically Washington, D. C., I think it's a great city, um, it's not too

tall, It's a

small, it's like a small city that has like

all this power like nestled in it.

Like you want access to something it's here. And that's something that I really value about being here. Um, like take me fishing. org is right in Alexandria. It's really close. So you

want to get help with that. Yeah. Yeah. You want to get help with something like that's going on? Uh, all companies headquarters are here.

Oh,

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: is like nearby too, or is there headquarters out West?

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: [00:24:00] I'm not sure about where

there's

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: not sure, but

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: They're so big,

they're everywhere.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Yeah.

yeah,

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: like one of the things I like specifically about this area here. And it's what's kind of kept me staying here because I love the culture. Like there's a lot of food to eat, you know, at any time of day, you know, you, It's very,

like, eclectic, like, lots of different cultures to be exposed to. And, uh, back where we grew up, it's a little bit more homogenous, you know? Like, things are closing early, which super bothers me in the summertime. It's like, you're out till 10 because the sun is out, like, fishing or whatever, and then you're ready for dinner, and it's like, well, everything closed two hours ago. Like, what? What is going on? So, but, you know, like, that's why the West is good.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: yeah. And so Piper was definitely into that. Um, but so. You said she did skiing and, and all that after [00:25:00] college, what was her path? Like,

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Um, she Moved back to the valley. She had been living in Boise such about two hours away from Sun Valley She took odd jobs like waitressing food running Eventually, she got her. What is it called? Like personal trainer certificate.

So she was she was a personal trainer Um, and she had spent some time working with the fire, uh, the fire service, um, with the, oh, my

goodness.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: forest, forest,

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Yes, forest fire Originally, it was the Wildland Firefighters. Um, I don't remember exactly which organization it was. And then, um, she took a beat from that for just a moment and then ended up, um, working with the Catch and Fire Department. Right before her

passing. So, yeah, so that's like how she was living this awesome lifestyle.

So,[00:26:00]

you know, close to the mountains, able to just after work or in between

jobs, like run out, catch some fish, come back. Um, and she was really into hunting too. Um, and how did she get in these things? I think. Like the culture influences you and they're like, there's so many people who are just always doing outdoor stuff, like riding their bikes or skiing in the winter, fishing, um, in the winter or the summer. Uh, and so like, just through that, I think some of the, um, guys that she dated also like some in particular really into fishing. And so that kind of pulled her in, but then eventually it was like, I don't need you guys. Like she would be off hunting by herself. She'd be out

fishing by herself. The first time she got a deer, she had to like call these people and she's like, Hey, I'm out here in a mountain all by myself.

I need you to bring your truck and help me haul this thing out. And they're like, what are you doing in the mountains by yourself? Like, what are you doing? But she was totally independent and

self sufficient and she grew that. [00:27:00] She helps like pull her girlfriends into that too. So the Valley attracts a lot of people who come from the city and they're like, Hey, I want to escape that crazy city life.

I need to get into the mountains and like just have those mountain vibes. But also those same people are like, Oh, well there might be bears out there. Like mountain lions and, or snakes. Like, what do I do? It's like, no, you just, you go out there and you'll be okay. Um, you

know, like, and hiking can be really, uh, intimidating for, for Some people like I didn't growing up there.

I it never like occurred to me These types of like dangers, like to me, it's just like where we lived, you know, like, Oh, beware. I don't step on a rattlesnake. There weren't very many and mountain lions weren't coming down into the valley like they are now, but like, it just never occurred to me that we might run into something like that when we were out like gallivanting around. Um, but city people, uh, they do think about that. That is

something when you come into the wilderness, like, um, what is out here that could eat me or scratch me or call me or,

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Yeah. They're [00:28:00] like watching National Geographic before they go on like a, you know,

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: yeah. Yeah.

Alone. yeah,

They're like, Oh my gosh. They're like, uh, is Bigfoot real?

Like, I do not want to run

into that out there. Yeah.

Me either. Me either.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Oh man. And so she passed away in 2019 right before. And then that same year you guys started the organization, right?

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: We did. Um, uh, we like to go on vacation to Honduras. I mentioned my father's big adventure. So he and my

stepmother eventually retired to Roatan, Honduras. So if you're into scuba diving, you look like the second largest barrier reef in the world. I highly suggest

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Oh wow. Okay.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: I love it. Um, love the people, the community, everything.

Um,

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: got my PADI certification, so I'll have to

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: go. Oh

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: get the open water. Yeah, okay.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: love it. Um, but we were taking annual trips there, my siblings and I to visit our dad. And that year my [00:29:00] sister, uh, her dog was sick and she was like, I can't go this

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: The Golden Retriever.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: right. Remy.

Um, and so she and I were talking the day before I'm in the islands. I'm super depressed without her.

It's just not the same, you know, without having my sister there. But she told me, she's like, Nope, this is where I need to be. This is. What I need to be doing and then on her way to work another car veered into their lane and hit her head on and it was Like, less than a half a mile from the hospital, and unfortunately, all of the people involved died, including her dog. Um,

so, I don't know what God's plan is, but this one was super screwed up. But, um, it took a lot of, um, members from the community. And, uh, the fire, of course, the fire department is responding to their own, it shut, like, there's only one road, like, in and out of the valley, so it shut that whole thing down, so it was a really big, big deal. uh, painful [00:30:00] community event that took place that day. But she told me that's where she was supposed to be. That was like some weird psychic foresight from the soul side. And yeah, so,

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: So trauma is, and I mentioned it before we started recording, but in North Carolina, um, when I was down in Maggie Valley for the fly fishing festival, so many people stopped by and talked about personal traumas they've been through death. Um, I mean, I talk about my dad passing. He died the morning my oldest son was born, uh, four years ago.

And he was, Um, you know that they're like, I don't think I've gotten over that really yet and probably haven't processed it yet. And not sure that I really ever will. Um, [00:31:00] but like, you know, you kind of explore spirituality in some way through that. Um, but I found that one of the greatest things I can do for that and just for just like daily life and stress and all that is like, just go fly fishing and go stand in the water.

Um, how did. You and your family and understanding that everybody kind of reacts and deals with things differently. But how did you manage processing the loss of your sister?

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: uh, well, I'm holding it in right now.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: That's

well, and I'm sorry, we don't

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: No, it's okay. No, no, no. no. It's absolutely fine because, uh, death is inevitable. It's coming for us all. And, um, in our culture and American culture, we really like to put it on the shelf, act like we're ageless, like, Oh, I'm going to go get Botox. I'm going to be young forever. You know, I can just go to the gym forever. Those things are finite. Our lives are [00:32:00] finite and they're running out and we pretend like they're not. And so to have that respect for like death and like being with it is something that like you have to do. Um, I haven't completely fully processed it. It's still super painful. My husband had a friend who, uh, shared this story with him to share with me. And it was like, grief is like a button in a box and there's a ball rolling inside of it. And you don't know when the ball is going to roll over the button, but you press that button and you're just going to be like crushed, right?

You're, you're going to feel all the feels. Well, over time, um, the box gets bigger. And so the ball has more space to, like, kind of roll around. It's not going to hit that button as much. So as time has gone on, the box is getting bigger. You know, like, I'm able to, like, be with that ball rolling around. When the button gets pushed, it's the same. It doesn't change like that, that suffering, the pain. Um, there was a lot of like, uh, she and I were really close. Like [00:33:00] she was my best friend, even though I was here, like we're talking on the phone, we're texting, like always gossiping about, you know, whatever.

Um, and not having that created this like weight on me.

Like, uh, uh, like I never, felt depression like this before. Like depression is a feeling of physical pain that nobody can like point to and be like, Oh, well, you're fine. There's nothing wrong with you, but it would be like choking me on my neck. I couldn't like move myself out of my bed. I felt like, um, Like I had Wolverine's skeleton in, um, oh now I'm forgetting his name. Well, a person who has like muscular dystrophy, like you

have no strength to move that heavy skeleton that is in you and at the same time like an invisible force is like strangling you constantly. Um, and I still feel it now, but uh, that's okay because death is coming for us all. We have to be prepared for it. Um, fly fishing, I think, is one of these, like, [00:34:00] experiences where you are able to just be with yourself. You're able to be close to nature. You're able to just, like, have this, like, breath of the universe, right? The earth is just, like, being there. And that creates, like, a calmness, I think, is why so many people who have trauma, who have loss, are attracted to this, um, I don't want to say sport because it makes it, like, it's like a

competition.

But it's like,

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: or hobby. Yeah.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: like

this recreational activity that you do where you have this like moment of just like this world is bigger than I am. There's mysteries that we haven't figured out. We like to pretend we know everything, like we figured it all out, but that's not the case. And that's what I think fly fishing, it gets to me running this organization has helped me, um, have those experiences with other people to be able to share that and like honor my sister. Um, and that, that part of it has been really good, but like, as you can see, you can [00:35:00] hear my voice, it's like cracking a little bit, like you don't get over it. It's there's no getting over

it. There's like being with death, you be with it. And it's, it's always kind of like walking right behind you. You don't know when it's coming, like, It's teetering on your breath, like you might be taking your last one and you don't know when it is.

So, it's good to be mindful of that. Um,

and not waste these moments that you have.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: I, yeah. And it can, right. That ball can hit that button. And I just like, love that kind of image of it and the box growing. Um, but like the, the woman that came up and talked to me and she and her 11 year old son were there and the father had just died. Um, like that triggered me to, I, I mean, it hit my button.

And, um, like I asked her if I'd give her a big hug and, you know, we hugged. And then I looked at my wife, Chrissy and I said, [00:36:00] I think I'm gonna cry. Like, I just, and she, you know, so she took the booth and I took a little walk. And, um, yeah, you just never know. I mean, um, you just never know. I think and you know, when my dad passed, um, I think I was still very, like, Career driven in a way and really trying to like climb that mountain.

But it gave me this perspective to, um, like, just try to be passionate about something, uh, and like, try to just be happier and like spread more, just like, like, I don't want drama, you know, I want just kind of like happiness around me. Um, And that's all really nice to say and very hard to do, but, um, it's been an [00:37:00] important perspective, uh, I think, and like a lot of the reason why I'm pursuing, you know, this podcast, like talking to people like you and, um, people with these incredible stories that, uh, I think many others keep locked up inside and don't necessarily have an outlet for, um, and you know, you might turn to booze or whatever to kind of help your way through it.

But, um, you know, you can also try fly fishing, uh, and,

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: It's much

more fun and

more

healthy.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: yeah. I mean, you know, it's just, um, yeah, it's really, really difficult. Um, and I'm the only child that I, I have two little boys now, they're two years apart and, um, you know, it's just like the relationship they have is unbreakable, you know, I mean, they love us, me and [00:38:00] Chrissy, but, um, like, you know, I just think they're going to be, they're just tight, you know, you can tell, um, even,

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: a deep, shared experience that nobody

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: yeah,

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: have with them.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: right.

And so I think, you know, losing a sibling like you did, um. Uh, and, and I'm, you know, many others have, uh, it's just really important to talk about. So thank you very much for that with us. It's, um,

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: It is important, it's really important

because people are like, Oh, I'm so sorry, and like immediately don't want to talk about it anymore. And it's like, really?

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: right. Well,

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Crying or like, cracking your voice is like, it's uncomfortable, but life is uncomfortable. And

if you want to live a courageous life, you have to like push through the comfort zones.

Just like you've got to go in and talk to the male guides. Cause there's no female guide in the shop.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: right. And

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: want to go, you got to do it.

Um,

so [00:39:00] you have to live courageously. You have to do that. And that's definitely something my sister was doing. Like I said, um, before she would go out by herself, she would take down the deer by herself.

She'd catch the fish by herself. Um, she figured out how to do those things, um, through like mastery of oneself, mastery of one's fears and and living courageously. And I think the more people who are doing that, like the deeper connections you can make with your community. with the environment. Like you can help heal people.

Um, another thing I saw recently was like, I rather hear about your, your pain and your problems right now than of your passing, right? Because

you committed suicide or, you know, something horrible you was weighing on you. And it's like, people think that people don't want to hear about your problems. They don't want to hear about your suffering. And that's not true. Like we're all desperate for somebody to be there for us. And it's like hard to like take your like hard exterior down and be like, okay, I'm going to cry a [00:40:00] little bit. Like this is what's going on with me. Um, it's, it hurts. But then you're like, Oh, you meet other people. And they're like, Oh, I lost my sister too.

I know, I know exactly how you're feeling. I lost this person close to me. I know exactly how you're feeling. That is healing. So

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: yeah. Well, and, and like when you share and someone else hears their story coming out of your mouth. Um, it's like this, you know, it can help lift even just a small portion of the weight. Um, at least in my

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: yeah, you're not alone.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: yeah, you're not alone. are other people going through this, trying to deal with it the best they can.

Um, and it's just, uh, I mean, incredibly tragic. Um, but it's incredible that you guys were able to, you know, Rally. Um, and as a family start the organization, [00:41:00] you know, so, and, and so how did that come about?

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Um, well, the family was, is still kind of like torn from this life. Like I mentioned, we have a big kind of crazy family. Um, and I don't think that we've ever really like healed from what has happened. And this last fall we lost our dad. So like, you know,

timing is bad. It's just, you know, Life is going to end at some point, um,

But

um, so it really was her friends, um, her, our president, Lauren Bertelsen, um, and three of her other close friends, um, some guys who are out fishing and, uh, got together and said, like, we need to honor Piper, like this loss is so great in our lives and in our community.

And like, we just love her so much. Like. The love and outpouring I saw for my sister, um, during, she had a celebration of life where like the whole entire community [00:42:00] came, like she had firefighter honors, like people traveled from all over the world to come and support our family. Um, so many people like just knew her.

It's a small community, you know, like everybody knows everybody kind of thing. But she was one of those people like you wanted to know, and she'd make you fall in love with her, like, in an instant, like, she just had that kind of personality. So she definitely, like, was attracting people from all over the place towards her. Um, and that loss was so great. These people came together and they're like, well, we need to honor her. And, um, I was talking with Lauren and she's like, we're going to do this. And I'm like, I'm in, like. I'm in you tell me like what we're doing. Um, so Lauren filed with the state of Idaho and she's like, I don't know what I'm doing.

I'm like, Oh, good. I've never even been fly fishing before. Let's figure this out. Um, and my mom, of course, like she just has my sister and I, so like for my mom, it's been probably like, I can't even imagine losing your children.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: absolutely brutal. Yeah.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: so it's been a place like for my mom and I to bond [00:43:00] over this loss, like, And it's also like, okay, it can be difficult to talk about and family makes it even more complicated than sometimes like the therapist or your friends.

Um, so we don't have to talk about it all the time when we're working on this. We know why we're working on it. We know what the goal is like of honoring her and really like bringing her spirit still to life where. Like we can tell her story, like in this perfect example right now, like I get to celebrate her and it's like, Oh, I can't wait to tell everybody, like, don't listen to the podcast.

Like I got to talk all about my wonderful sister and, uh, you know, this way that we're honoring her and like still keeping her alive, you know, not the way that we want, of course, but like,

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: No, but the, her spirits on the water and, you know,

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: And like crazy things happen. Like, um, I, she came to visit me here once in D. C. and, um, we went to one of my friend's, uh, parties, some co workers of mine, and of course they all fell in love with her. Um, [00:44:00] that guy, one

of them,

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: hire her and fire you. Yeah.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: oh, what, why are we hanging out with you?

Um, so one of these guys who's at the

party, like six or seven years later, is at Mount Everest base camp. Um, doing like a survival skills course. And he gets to talking to one of the instructors there and he's like, Oh, you know, where are you from? He's like, Oh, I'm from Idaho. He's like, Oh, I used to work with a woman from Idaho. Like what part? And he's like, Oh, Sun Valley. Um, and they figured out that they both knew Piper, this guy and the instructor was Piper's boss at the Sawtooth

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: I just got

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: And he's like, what?

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: world.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: And now the people are like thinking about her at Mount Everest. It's like, she's living there right now. Like, her spirit is on adventure. She's going to these amazing places. And, like, that was, I couldn't believe it. I was just like, what are, like, the chances? Like,

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Yeah.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: so crazy. And they sent me a video from there.

Like, you know, you can see, like, the flags [00:45:00] flying and everything. And it was just like, wow. Tears, just tears like, Oh my God.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Yes. Oh, it's

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: you touch crazy people, like have crazy adventures and like saying like a lot, bring it back all

together. And you get to share those moments where that's healing and it feels good.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Yeah, it's such a healthy way to honor her and, and like, it's a healthy and like sustainable way and, uh, uh, truly like beneficial way to honor her and continue to, Pay her spirit forward to others who might need it, you know, um, Piper's Peak. The mission is just so cool. Uh, and before I forget, but so 2019, obviously 2020, the pandemic [00:46:00] hits as a 501c3.

I'm sure that was. Not easy. How'd you guys manage kind of the pandemic? And then I imagine you're just kind of starting to come out of it now.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Um, so I had the benefit of already working remotely prior to the pandemic for years. So I had a lot of experience with just like that virtual work environment. Um, and I would say that I, I probably do the majority of like organizing, figuring out like how to do stuff. So you're right. Um, The pandemic did hit.

It did create constraints on like, well, what are we going to do? But since this is an outdoor situation, we were able to deal with it like masks, you know, mask up when we're inside the buildings, but you know, social distance when you're out. Um, and so that was okay for us. Like we were

able to, to manage that. Um, like I said, like we're not, [00:47:00] You know, a seasoned nonprofit runners or anything like that. We all have our own lives. Like we all have our own professional careers outside of this. And so I just went to the IRS website. I started taking all these classes. Like, okay, how do you keep yourself?

Like, Yeah.

I have all my certificates, like how does remain 501c3 compliant?

Like

the, the benefit of being really small is, um, the rules are not as strict for really, really small nonprofits. So,

uh, that part is to our advantage, um, because we are a small And not our annual gross isn't over their limit. Um, we're able to kind of like run in this like modified way. So like the paperwork isn't as difficult to file and things like that.

So I took all those classes. Um, I had been working in a virtual environment and had a lot of like leadership background from the merchant marine. I was in the Navy reserves as well [00:48:00] as an officer. So I had a lot of like. The skills you need to pull people together to organize them. Like, here's the agenda. I went online and I was like free resources for nonprofits and found like, okay, so Canva gives all their stuff away for free to nonprofits. Uh, Google will give you stuff for free. So we have these resources now where, okay, we can meet, we can build content. Um, And it was like through those means that we were able to work collectively as a team across the country to do this.

And then, um, I was like, Oh, there's this thing like Idaho gives, it's how we do our annual fundraising. So I would go online, like, how do you apply for Idaho gives? Okay, this is how you do it. So I would just do it like every weekend, I would just work on that. And on the pandemic, I was like a blessing in disguise for me, because I was really depressed from her death.

And, um, The whole world shut down and everybody was just in their houses. And that's exactly what I wanted to be doing. I just [00:49:00] wanted to. Be in my own space, like not seeing anybody anyway. So for me, it was just like, great. The whole world is like on pause through my own grief. Um, and so that's really selfish to say, I know, like a lot of people suffered through, uh, COVID 19. Um, but for me, it provided cover that I needed to just have the time and space to focus my efforts on taking those classes, like researching these organizations, um, learning all I could about, you Like, what is this thing like fly fishing? I went on Udemy. I took courses through Udemy. So I would be like more proficient,

um, and,

uh, yeah, I, and I also did a lot of research on like, well, how expensive is the sport?

You know, like, can

you get in and do this? So, yeah. After our first event, of course I was hooked, you know, catching my own fish. It was just like the greatest moment of my life. I loved the way it felt, like everything about it was just, it's so grounding, the earth, like being in the [00:50:00] water and just having that. And then not, um, that we did eat some of the fish the first time, but not all of them. And just returning it back to the, to the environment is really like feel good experience, right? Where you're not, you're like doing no

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Yeah. It's cool. Just

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: trash as you go.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: away. Yeah.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: stoked, too. They're like, all right,

you taught me a lesson.

Don't eat those

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: that was, yeah, that was great. Let's do that again. Yeah.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: catch the big ones, you realize that they probably had some life lessons along the way, too.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Right?

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: But so, yeah. After that, I came back to DC and I was like, well, I want to fish here. And it's totally different kind of style of fishing in this area, different kind of fish, like different kind of access. Um, and I didn't own any of my own equipment. So, um, like post fly has my friend that was going on there. You know, first fly rod, like, uh, Amazon. I was like, all right, let's take some good Reddington rods. [00:51:00] Okay, send it to my house. Like, oh, the

built fly box with all of the types of flies that I would mean, like San Juan worms became my best friend. Um,

Like, oh, they're expensive here. Like, oh, I'll just get like 200 of them. Send them to me. And

so it was like through that, that I learned like, all right, so it doesn't have to be super expensive. Um, it can be like, you want to get really nice quality stuff. Yes, it can

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: You can go spend as much as you want,

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: that's

right. but,

you don't like the basic stuff that you need.

Uh, especially if you're like not walking in the water, you know, you don't need all that gear. Um You just need a rod, a reel, and some line, and a couple flies. And that is, that can be relatively inexpensive. So that's what I did. I, I bought that stuff. Um, I liked it so much. Like I'm like, made my whole family get rods, um, took them out and then, uh, hooked my son in the arm one [00:52:00] day. Of course he never wanted to fish with me again after that. So like totally ruining the whole mission of the organization. Um, so what do you do when you do that? Like you come home, everybody's like, Oh, we need to go to the emergency room. Like, no, we just need to YouTube how to get this out. I'm sure.

Fishermen are always hooking themselves, like, we'll just go to YouTube and figure that out.

And that's what we did. And then I

learned how to remove it. So it's like, through

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Oh, he kept the hook in the whole day,

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: I got it right in his arm and, oh, that ended fishing for the day. So then we had to like drive home and, you know, like a big ordeal.

Like, look at what she's done. And like, it's one of his greatest stories too. He tells, he volunteers with

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: it will be.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Um, and so he like, he tells everybody like, Oh, I know my mom hooked me. And it's just like, at least it wasn't in the eye. Um,

So we're wearing glasses, Right. Like we're all wearing

glasses. Yeah.

but, um, yeah, that was a bad day, but I learned, go to YouTube, like, watched a few videos, like, okay, I can figure this out, like, out it came and I was just like, oh, yeah, [00:53:00] see, like, you know, I'm a real Fisherwoman, like, for real now.

Um, but yeah, so

these resources are out there. Um, Take

me fishing, like all of these things are there.

So that's what I did, um, through the pandemic was figure that out. Um, we started an Instagram account almost immediately as we organized. Um, and it was through that, that I've actually connected with. The reason why I'm actually talking to you is because I started, you know, okay, who follow these people, like, start finding these organizations that look like they're doing what you're doing, like, look at

how they're posting, like, what kind of events are they running? Um, and that led me to the Maryland fly fishing show. So.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: cool. Okay.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Oh, I just missed your show. I, this was like two years ago. Well, I've gone two years. So three years ago I had just missed the show and had been posting on their page. Like, Oh, this is great. And they're like, Oh, it's too bad you're on the West. You could join our event for free.

Cause you're a nonprofit, like you get in [00:54:00] for free. And I was like, well, I am not in the West. Like I am on the East and I will be there next year. So we went for the first year. Uh, my daughter, um, and my cousin volunteered to help run the booth with me that year. Um, and then we went again this last year, my son and daughter volunteering and ran the booth.

Uh, my son got an award for his nonprofit work. So it's just

like, it was

really great because like the family of fair. And also like when you are younger, I don't know how attractive, like working for free for free looks. And it's like, Oh, why would I want to even do that? Um, but, uh, my son was like, yeah, I want to go to the show this year.

Like I, I want to volunteer. And I was just like, this is very suspicious. Okay. do it. And then, um, the school that he participates with has this thing called the Abby Batchmore Award. Um, Abby was a sixth grader at their school who had a terrible situation with a type of diabetes that, Ended her life like in a [00:55:00] matter of days. And so she was big on giving back to her community. They've created, uh, an award in her honor to encourage kids to volunteer. This was not his motivation. Um, as it turns out, when I found out he was doing that, I was like, Oh, well, you're going to do the rest of the stuff. That's that you need to be eligible for this, which he was upset with me because it required writing an essay. He didn't want to do that part. He was fine

with like, hours and hours of working and running the booth and having to like talk to strangers that part. He was fine with it was like, I don't

really feel like writing about it. But

then he wrote this great little cute

essay. But yeah, so that's been really good too because It helps like my kids be connected to my sister and, um, my sister, I don't know that she, at least at that time in her life, she wasn't really interested in having kids where I, again, we're opposites.

She was just kind of living life free, single woman dating around a little bit here and [00:56:00] there sometimes with more serious boyfriend. And I was like, all right, I'm going to go get a job. I'm going to get married. I'm going to have kids. I'm going to have a house. Like this is my life, like a lot more structured. Um, yeah. And so she and I get to like live vicariously through each other in these like opposite lives. So I'm having the kids so that she can be the great auntie. Um, and she's living like this free life so I can go to Idaho and have like girls weekend with her.

Um, but so it helps now. Um, I think to heal my kids too, in my own, uh, grief and my own trauma, it's, it's also like those emotions are pretty selfish.

Like I don't mean selfish in a negative way. I just mean like, You're the

one who's feeling them. They're, Yeah,

it's in your heart, and it's in your soul, and you're the one who has to, like, deal with, like, the clouded feeling over your face. And sometimes it blinds you from the people closest to you how they might be experiencing, like, the loss of their aunt, for [00:57:00] example. And so, that's something I learned, um, doing the show, uh, this last year. Was how, like, hurt my son was over the loss of his, of his aunt and how, like, important it was also for his healing to be participating and supporting women and girls, even though he was a boy. Um, and like, that was like, it grew us together and I really, really enjoyed that experience.

Um. That was probably, like, besides meeting you and getting to be on the podcast, it was really, like, a great experience I got to have, and to see my son and

daughter working together as a team, um, that was really great, too.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: and how old is your son?

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: He is 12.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Okay. So yeah, he I mean he was I guess was math. I was not a math major, but I think five years ago. So yeah, like old enough to remember losing his [00:58:00] on. And, um, yeah, right. You know, it's like, I haven't even thought about how Children deal with trauma either. Um,

That, you know, it's gotta, I mean, stuff like Piper's Peak and being out there with your mom. And like, you know, it could be, I wish, um, Piper's Peak was in North Carolina. Cause I'd be like the, the woman I met with her 11 year old son. Like, I'd be like, you guys have to go to Piper's Peak. Um, you know, it's just, uh, yeah, really interesting to hear that your son had that experience.

You know, and I, I say just at the fly show, but like, I get it, like I had it, like the experience I had too was like absolutely incredible talking to all these people. And so I can understand [00:59:00] if he's talking about um, Piper and you and you know, the family, it's like, yeah, there's, I mean, gotta be a lot, especially for a 12 year old.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Like I said, I was so, like, in my own emotion, like, I knew the people around me had lost her, right? I knew that they were suffering, but it just, I didn't know. Like how much they were and children, I think we somewhat take advantage of how young and malleable they are and how they'll, oh, they'll,

just bounce back like, and also you think about, like, well, when I was young, I wouldn't even understand some of these things.

And I remember not, you know, understanding everything. It's like, life is just kind of happening for you as a kid. You're not, um, you know, planning about your next career move or anything like that. Um, maybe like your biggest problem is like homework. Um,

but. We have to build [01:00:00] in, um, in our culture, talking about these things, because if we don't, you just bottle them up inside, like, they become triggered all of a sudden, maybe in an inopportune time, and you don't have the skills to deal with, like, going through it, like, you might have a complete breakdown, um, you might not be able to continue talking about whatever it was you were talking about because you're so, like, in your own hurt, and you, you don't, you That's okay, but you don't want to always be bringing that self forward.

You want to show people that the sharing, the being there to like bearing witness to that suffering is something that we can do. We're capable of doing, and it's important that we do because you want to have that type of community that's going to come out for you. That is going to, you know, Not have to like pick at you to know what's wrong with you But like they're gonna start to in tune these suffering if if we share a little bit more if we're not just like Shoving all of our parents into old folks home and like forgetting about them I don't [01:01:00] mean like any of our parents but like the culture

of like just move our old away from our faces So we don't have to see them like keep living our young self lives and

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: I hope my mom's not listening, by the way, because that's where she's going. No, I'm just, I'm just

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: My mom always jokes about this too.

She's

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Yeah.

Sorry.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: don't

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: hate to enter a joke because you were like on a great role. It's like beautiful what you were saying, but I just, in case my

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: to like lighten the mood, lighten the mood. Yeah, no, it's important to like bring humor to things too. Um,

like a lot of times I find that people like always want to just remember like the very best things about my sister. And I, in my mind, I'm just like, but she also was a kind of a brat sometimes. Like she did these like really bratty rude things. Like, remember this time she threw your burrito out the window? Like, let's not forget about those parts of her, you know, like

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Right. Those are important.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: it brings the contrast to, to the situation. It's not just like, Oh, all light and love.

It's like, actually she was kind of a jerk sometimes, you know, like.[01:02:00]

That's okay, because like we loved her for those things.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Right. Yeah, man. Well, I really appreciate you sharing particularly About your sister Piper. Um, I think, you know, anyone that's listening, we'll check out Piper's Peak for sure. Is there, uh, like, I know you said initially you guys are mostly like community kind of fundraising and that sort of thing.

If, if there are larger donors, like companies or corporations that hear about it, Like, are you looking for donations and is there a way for them to get in contact with you?

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Yes, absolutely, um, our information is all on the website. Um, I manage all of it. So you're going to come to me. You could reach me email page at Piper's Peak dot org. [01:03:00] I'll get it. We have a donation link on the page. Um, that just goes to like a generic, you know, nonprofit donation portal. Um, we would love to have, like, bigger support.

I mean, we need it desperately to stay. Um, we need to elevate ourselves from just being like volunteers who run this organization to being able to fund positions to plan those programs, grow those programs, like have that calendar. Um, all of it is done by just like a literally like a couple of people, like everything that we do is done by volunteers.

Like, under the veil of this name, like, oh, Piper's Peak, like, this big organization, it's really, no, it's really just a couple people who are, like, putting their blood, sweat, and tears into it, um, and trying to keep that running, so, yes, absolutely, we want your money, we want your support, uh, we want your love and adoration, and we want your, uh, wives, your daughters, and your sons, uh, to come fishing with us, and we want to grow the program, like, I really do want to grow it, um, and It feels [01:04:00] good.

It feels good to fish. It feels good to be in those environments. And I think that everybody should have that opportunity to just at least experience it. Like you might never want to go fishing with your mom again after she hooks you in the arm, but you have a great story to tell going forward. So like everybody

needs to have these kinds of experiences. Yeah.

Oh, no,

please. Um,

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: what is the, um, so the, the, the website is piperspeak. org, which I will have linked in the Instagram is what's the handle on Instagram again? At

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: at Piper's Peak Sun Valley.

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: Piper's Peak, Sun Valley. I'll have everything linked in the description. Um, Page we've gone over a little bit, but I really, really appreciate you taking the time to talk to us and share your story. And, um, thank you for being so open and candid about sharing. It's, uh, [01:05:00] I mean, I just really think that being As open as you were about your sister is like one of the most important things we can do, whether it's dealing with PTSD or trauma or cancer or, you know, anything like that.

Um, so thank you for sharing because someone out there might hear their story coming out of your mouth and, you know, like I said before, just might might take a small weight off their shoulder. And, um, I really appreciate what you and your team of three or four people are doing. Um. With Piper's Peak, I think it's a great mission and, uh, I, I really hope that it's able to expand.

Um, it's just a, it's just a cool organization and such a really inspiring way to honor people.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Well, thank you so much. I really had a great time being on here and [01:06:00] getting to share. It felt really good to do that too, so I'm happy. It was great

for

devin_1_06-20-2024_183251: glad good. Well, I think, you know, anyone that hears this will, we'll be thinking about Piper and certainly won't forget her name. Um, and, uh, we'll be following you on the old Instagram machine. And, and, um, if any donors or. Potential participants are interested in reaching out, go to Piper's peak. org and, um, and check out their clinics and events on the website.

And, uh, Paige, thanks again for being here.

paige-reed--she-her-_1_06-20-2024_183250: Thank you. Thank you, Devin. I appreciate it.

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