David Gelles, The New York Times Reporter and Bestselling Author

On a special episode of the Walker Webcast, recorded live at the 2026 Sun Valley Writers’ Conference, Willy was joined by New York Times reporter and bestselling author David Gelles.

David’s book, Dirtbag Billionaire, explores the remarkable life of Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard—a reluctant entrepreneur who built an iconic brand while challenging conventional ideas about capitalism, consumption, and wealth. In his conversation with Willy, David unpacked the contradictions behind Chouinard and Patagonia, from its unconventional culture and environmental leadership to his extraordinary decision to give away ownership of the company.

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