Busted Knees & Pretty Trees Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Today, we’re going in a little bit of a different direction, but one that still connects really well with so much of what we talk about on this show: wildlife, conservation, education, and the responsibility we all have when it comes to the animals that share this beautiful planet.   When we talk about wildlife, it’s easy to picture animals exactly where they belong. Out in the wo...

Send us Fan Mail What's earned a permanent place in our gear closet, and what new toys have caught our attention? This week, Kearstin, Justin, and Paddy get together to talk all things outdoor gear! We're looking back at some of our favorite pieces of gear from 2026, sharing what worked, what we loved, and a few new products we're itching to get our hands on for next season. Expect...

Send us Fan Mail There are places in the backcountry where hikers swear they’ve heard footsteps following them. Places where strange creatures have been seen between the trees. And National Parks where some stories refuse to stay buried. This Halloween, Patrick and Justin are telling tales of ghosts, cryptids, monsters, and unexplained encounters from the wilderness. Turn off the lights. Light the...

Send us Fan Mail Birding is about a lot more than spotting a bird and adding another checkmark to your life list! This week on Busted Knees and Pretty Trees, we're joined by Frank Izaguirre, Marketing and Communications Manager for the American Birding Association, to talk about the wonderful, sometimes complicated, and always fascinating world of Birding.  We discuss how social media is chan...

Send us Fan Mail We made it to 100 episodes of Busted Knees and Pretty Trees , and what better way to celebrate than with a trivia game night, a few drinks, and absolutely no guarantee of keeping things classy! For this milestone episode, we brought in some special guests: my wife Ashley, Justin’s wife Taylor, and Justin himself. Apparently, they’ve all been claiming to listen to the podcast, so w...

Send us Fan Mail Some movies entertain us. Others make us want to throw a backpack in the truck, hit the trail, and chase our own adventure. This week on Busted Knees & Pretty Trees, Justin and Patrick sit down for a fun conversation about the outdoor films that have stuck with us over the years. The stories that inspired us, the moments we still talk about, and the movies that remind us why w...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Busted Knees & Pretty Trees, we're joined by Rebecca "Primetime" Cuff for an inspiring and entertaining conversation about hiking, backpacking, and embracing life's next chapter. We talk about how she went from the corporate world to the trail, what fuels her passion for adventure, and why she believes it's never too late to start chasing...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of Busted Knees and Pretty Trees, we’re diving into the wild, impressive, strange, and sometimes downright ridiculous achievements from the world of thru-hiking. From record-setting mileage and incredible endurance to the oldest, youngest, fastest, and most unexpected trail accomplishments, we’re taking a walk through some of the greatest feats ever accomplished on...

Send us Fan Mail This week on the Busted Knees and Pretty Trees, we're hitting the trail with Jeanelle Soland and Rob Pelton from the Leave No Trace/Subaru Traveling Team! We talk all things Leave No Trace, life on the road, connecting with outdoor communities, and what it really takes to help people enjoy the outdoors while protecting the places we love!  So buckle up, grab your pack, and co...

Send us Fan Mail Brad is back from a Carolina adventure, bringing stories from his trip through North and South Carolina! Then Travey cracked open the Bird Gospel of Hal Coffel for another wild find and a whole of a lot more! Another episode of Busted Knees & Pretty Trees is here. Hit play, follow along, and Keep on Sauntering! Email: bustedpretty@gmail.com  Follow us Bluesky: @bustedpretty.bs...

Send us Fan Mail We weren’t able to put out a full episode this week because we’ve got some exciting improvements happening behind the scenes. We know—no episode?! We’re disappointed too. But don’t worry, the fellowship isn’t going anywhere. We’ll be back next week with more stories, more laughs, and more adventures from the trail. Keep on sauntering, and we’ll see you next Wednesday! Email: buste...

Send us Fan Mail He's back! For the third time, our good friend Chad Fitzpatrick joins us in the dungeon studio, and this time he's bringing stories from an unforgettable family road trip across the American West. From long miles on the road to unforgettable days in the backcountry, Chad shares what it's really like to introduce four kids to wild places. We talk about the challenges...

Send us Fan Mail America's National Parks don't protect themselves—and neither does the idea behind them. In this powerful episode, we sit down with Bill Wade, Executive Director of the Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR), for a candid discussion about conservation, civic engagement, and the importance of standing up for our public lands. Drawing from decades of experience with t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we're talking about the realities of backcountry hygiene: where to pee, how to poop responsibly, staying clean on the trail, and the little comforts that can make a big difference after a long day outdoors. From Leave No Trace bathroom practices to trail-tested hygiene tips and a few creature comforts you won't want to leave behind, we've got you co...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we sat down with Bradley’s longtime friend Jared Jones from St. Louis. Some might say he's just a down-to-earth, normal guy with a lifelong passion for the outdoors! From hunting and fishing since he was old enough to tag along, to discovering a newfound love for hiking and an old found love of chasing morel mushrooms through the spring woods, Jared shares stories,...

Send us Fan Mail Another season is officially in the books, and there's only one way to celebrate... put our memories to the test. This week, the Fellowship goes head-to-head in the annual Season 9 Trivia Challenge, reliving our favorite interviews, biggest laughs, unforgettable moments, and the adventures that made this season one to remember. Think you paid attention this year? Play along a...

Send us Fan Mail This week on the Busted Knees and Pretty Trees Podcast, Brad and Travis keep each other company in studio while Patrick is on a family adventure in a distant land. To cope with the absence, the guys have a chat about their early summer adventures and new backpacking gear they've acquired. This includes Brads camera gear setup, Travis' newfound hobby for shabby nature cin...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Busted Knees and Pretty Trees, we sit down with Chris Bradley of the Hoosier Hikers Council to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to keep our trails alive. From boots-on-the-ground maintenance to protecting wild places for future generations, Chris gives us an inside look at the work most hikers never see. We dig into trail stewardship, trail advocacy and p...

Send us Fan Mail After what feels like years of waiting, our beloved Kearstin Whitcomb finally made her way into the dungeon studio for recording night—and it was totally worth it. This week, Bradley R steps in as quizmaster, putting the fellowship of the pink pony club through a gauntlet of animal trivia—from the biggest animal to have ever lived on earth to how many eyes a bee has!  The competit...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we spotlight real stories of nature bouncing back—from species saved to ecosystems restored. These aren’t theories or “what-ifs”… they’re proof that conservation works. We share three powerful stories that show what happens when people step in, take action, and make a difference for the natural world. And along the way, Travey brings in a piece of Indiana history—...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Busted Knees and Pretty Trees, we sit down with urban wildlife biologist Jessica Merkling to pull back the curtain on a job most people never think about until there's an animal causing trouble. We talk nuisance wildlife, human-wildlife conflicts, and the challenges cities face as they work to balance development, public safety, and healthy wildlife populations....

Send us Fan Mail Spring migration is here! Join Bradley and Paddy as they dive deep into the spectacle of migrating birds, break down the excitement around BWIAB, and preview everything happening at the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival. From warbler fallout to birding strategy, this episode is packed with stories, insights, and plenty of spring birding energy. Tune in now!  Email: bustedpretty@gmail...

Send us Fan Mail Backpacking used to be about dirt under your nails, bad coffee at sunrise, and sitting on a rock long enough to feel small again. Now it feels like it’s all spreadsheets, split times, and humblebrags about 30-mile days. Somewhere along the way, miles started mattering more than memories. So we’re pushing back. This is a conversation about slowing down on purpose. About ignoring th...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Busted Knees & Pretty Trees, we sit down with the man, the myth, the legend — Paddy’s old biology teacher, Jabin Burnworth — and trust us… this one is special.  You know that teacher who made science feel like an adventure instead of an assignment? The one who turned confusion into curiosity and classrooms into ecosystems? That was Jabin. In this episode, we talk...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Busted Knees and Pretty Trees, we dive headfirst into the wildest, weirdest, and most head-scratching gear of 2026. From “who asked for this?” gadgets to surprisingly brilliant oddities, we’re breaking down what’s innovative, what’s unnecessary, and what might actually earn a spot in your pack. Email: bustedpretty@gmail.com  Follow us Bluesky: @bustedpretty.bsky...