Busted Knees & Pretty Trees Podcast

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...

Send us Fan Mail In this special recap showdown, the Busted Knees and Pretty Trees crew puts memory, pride, and podcast credibility on the line in a no-holds-barred Season 8 trivia gauntlet. From layin logs in Brad's kayak to unexpected wildlife encounters, no story is safe—and no detail is too small to be weaponized.  Some answers will come easily. Others will destroy friendships! Email: bus...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Busted Knees & Pretty Trees, we sit down with Brad and Sarah to unpack their wild trip to Costa Rica — from trekking through Parque Nacional Marino Ballena (yes, the one shaped like a whale’s tail) to hiking deep into Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Hacienda Barú surrounded by sloths, monkeys, and more humidity than you can emotionally prepare for.  They also h...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Busted Knees & Pretty Trees, Paddy loads up the family and heads south for a full-blown Lowcountry adventure! From wild shores on Bulls Island to the towering old-growth forest of Congaree National Park, and the living history of Fort Sumter, this trip had everything!  If you love road trips, national parks, and a little bit of adventure, this one’s for you!  Emai...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Busted Knees and Pretty Trees, we’re throwing on the boots and heading straight into the undergrowth. Dr. Jordan Marshall takes us beyond the classroom and into the field! We talk educating generations of biologists, the future of forests after disruptions, invasive pressures, and why understanding plants is critical to protecting the places we love to hike, camp, and...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Busted Knees and Pretty Trees, we’re hanging out… literally. We’re diving headfirst into the world of hammocks — gathered ends, bridge hammocks, straps, underquilts, bug nets, tarp setups, and all the comfort (or chaos) that comes with sleeping between two trees. Is hammock camping better than tent life? What gear is worth it? What rookie mistakes should you avoid? Wh...

Send us Fan Mail Travy J is back… and it all comes down to this. The board is set, the questions are tougher, and the stakes have never been higher as we dive into Part 2 of the Official Trail Trivia Boardgame Adventure Challenge! Who’s been paying attention? Who’s just been along for the hike? And who will make it back to the subie totally stoked? Expect laughs, a little chaos, and some surprisin...

Send us Fan Mail It’s round one of a two round game night on Busted Knees and Pretty Trees, and your host Travey J is leading us deep into the wild with something brand new: the official Trail Trivia Boardgame Adventure Challenge prototype. Yeah… it’s a mouthful—and it’s even wilder to play. We’re talking survival scenarios, backpacking know-how, trail wisdom, and just enough bad decisions to keep...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Busted Knees and Pretty Trees, we sit down with Debbie Hawthorne and Travey J to talk about a passion they share—rockhounding. From searching gravel pits and creek beds to celebrating the thrill of an unexpected find, Debbie and Travis share what it’s like to explore the world of rocks and minerals side by side. We talk about how they got started, what keeps the...

Send us Fan Mail Endless cornfields glowing gold at sunset. Fog lifting off quiet lakes at dawn. Gravel roads that lead to trailheads you almost missed. In our newest episode, “Our Ode to the Midwest,” we slow down and say thank you to the places that raised us — and the wild spaces that keep calling us back. From the hardwood forests and kettle lakes of Indiana and Michigan to the prairies of Ill...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Busted Knees and Pretty Trees, we’re digging deep — way deep. We sit down with Professor Benjamin Dattilo for a fascinating conversation about the stories written in stone beneath our boots. From ancient oceans and shifting continents to fossils, formations, and the mind-bending scale of deep time, Professor Dattilo helps us see the outdoors in a completely new way. I...

Send us Fan Mail Season 7 was one wild ride and we’re breaking it all down in our Season 7 Recap! From unforgettable guests and muddy miles to the moments that made us laugh, learn, and fall even more in love with the outdoors, we’re revisiting the highs, the surprises, and everything in between. We share our favorite episodes, behind-the-scenes stories, what challenged us the most, and what Seaso...

Send us Fan Mail After weeks of early mornings, quiet trails, and plenty of “wait… do you see it?” moments, Brad and Paddy wrap up their years long Birding Challenge. We’re talking favorite sightings, unexpected birds, lessons learned, and just how much closer paying attention to nature can bring you to the outdoors. From laugh-out-loud misses to genuinely magical moments, this episode is all abou...

Send us Fan Mail Round-robin picks, top-tier animals. We’re ranking our five favorite creatures and breaking down why each one earned its spot. Simple concept, strong takes, and plenty of love for the wild things. Email: bustedpretty@gmail.com  Follow us Bluesky: @bustedpretty.bsky.social Follow us Instagram: @bustedkneesandprettytrees Join us: bustedpretty.com Listen: Spotify / Apple Podcasts / A...

Send us Fan Mail This week we’ve got a crossover episode with Justin Neeley from the Cultured Dudes, and he’s asking the questions non-outdoors people may be thinking —but never say out loud. How do you shit in the woods? What actually keeps you coming back to the trail? Do you ever feel unsafe out there, or is everyone just pretending they don’t? Justin brings zero outdoors experience and maximum...

Send us Fan Mail Brad’s in the host chair, the questions are flying, the trash talk is loud, and the stakes are strangely high—the winner gets to eat a sourdough cookie. Knowledge is power. Victory is delicious.  Press play and see who knows their stuff… and who leaves cookie-less! Email: bustedpretty@gmail.com  Follow us Bluesky: @bustedpretty.bsky.social Follow us Instagram: @bustedkneesandprett...