It all started with a seemingly simple meeting for Kirk Reynolds, founder of Discover Outdoors and Kennedy Thorwarth (now Reynolds). She was itching to explore beyond the cityscape and take part in his adventure business. But when Kirk set eyes on the PR maven, he said, “I knew I was in trouble.”
So how does a routine meeting turn into a marriage? We asked the newlyweds a few questions to find out, starting from the beginning: WeWork.
WeWork: What’s a first date at WeWork like?
Kennedy: I had been trolling the Internet for ways to get out of the city and on the trails. I found Discover Outdoors and wrote this horrifically cheesy email on the website form asking how I could get involved. Thanks to the magic of modern communication, we still have that email.
Kirk: After some back and forth, she came into 154 Grand for a meeting. There was a knock on my office door, and since it’s glass, I could see her. She waved and said, “Hi, I’m Kennedy.” I knew I was in trouble.
Kennedy: I had never heard of WeWork, but I probably had the same reaction most newbies do – “This is awesome; I want to work here!” I’ve been lucky to work in some beautiful offices, but this was different. There was this sense of focus and excitement. I wanted to pull up a chair at anyone’s desk and get to work! It turned out that Kirk was one of the original WeWork members, and I remember being so curious about how it worked. He and I settled into the 6th floor conference room around this beautiful, custom wood table. The rest is history.
Kirk: It was actually our first meeting that took place at WeWork, and we got married this May, so I guess you could say it was highly productive!
WW: You recently got married in Iceland. Congratulations! Was your honeymoon as adventurous as Kirk’s business?
Kennedy: Thank you! It was definitely an adventure, so much so that we changed the wedding date when we got to Iceland. When we got engaged, we decided on two things: 1) we wanted the wedding to be the two of us, and 2) we wanted to get married somewhere we both had never been. We looked at about three pictures of Iceland, and we knew. This is the spot! But we had no idea how perfect it would actually be.
Kirk: We wanted an adventure, but first and foremost, we wanted this trip to be about our wedding. As we learned more about Iceland, we had to rein ourselves in at times. Fortunately, the country is so picturesque and remote that exploring by foot is just about as breathtaking as by car, bench, or boat. We created a pretty loose agenda that allowed us to trek and run some great trails but also sit with a beer and whale watch.
Kennedy: We road tripped all over this epic place fueled by PB&J’s and ham and cheese sandwiches that we’d make in the car along the way. Massive waterfalls, snowcaps, lava fields, and PB&J’s: it was perfect.
WW: What was your last adventure together?
Kennedy: This morning when we rode our bikes to work. I didn’t play video games as a kid, but every day it feels like we’re in one.
Kirk: Watching her zip through cars is more terrifying than any climb. And she whistles while she rides! I’ve biked through this city for a decade and didn’t think about it until I started riding a bike behind my wife.
Aside from daily biking through New York City, the couple had adventures around the world.
Kirk: Seriously though, we trekked around Patagonia earlier this year. It was amazing. At the end of every day, we were beat, but that’s one of the best feelings in the world.
Kennedy: We celebrated New Year’s out on the streets of El Chaltén with other travelers and Argentinians. It was dark, but you knew Fitz Roy Mountain was up there, and there was this feeling of being so small. At the same time, you’ve all trekked 20 miles in a day, so there’s this sense of community even though you’re relative strangers. After a couple glasses of champagne, surrounded by those mountains, it’s a little like you’re floating.
And since WeWork is engrained in the adventurous couple’s story, we had to ask:
WW: So, are you two going to Summer Camp?
Kirk: Absolutely. We would be crazy not to go. To be honest, for us it’s less about the party and more about meeting people, hearing some amazing talks, and learning what everyone’s doing.
Kennedy: We can’t wait! Kirk gave me a banjo for my birthday this year, so I may just have to bring it. I have no idea how to play it yet, but someone there will teach me!
WW: Kennedy, you’ve recently made a career move. Tell us about it!
Kennedy: After resisting working together for over a year, Kirk and I are joining forces. As of June 30, I will be the chief strategy officer at Discover Outdoors, and I could not be more exhilarated and anxious. So much of the WeWork story is about the members – people who take a leap because they believe in what they do. Now I’m one of them!
