Deep in the Woods

Send us Fan Mail At Amicalola Falls, the trailhead feels like a threshold. Our guest, Leo the Leave No Trace Bear (or Chris "Ranger" Enders), describes an “archway” that separates the real world from the trail world, and that image lands because it names a feeling many hikers have but rarely say out loud. This episode explores connection as both a personal practice and a community ethic:...

Send us Fan Mail A friend dies suddenly right in front of you, and the question stops being “someday” and becomes “what am I doing with my life today?” That’s the moment Andrew “Metro” Miller takes us back to, and it’s why this walk in the woods turns into a bigger conversation about health, grief, and choosing a different path before it’s too late.  We meet Metro at the AT Gateways event at Amica...

Send us Fan Mail A single word can change the way we move through the world. On the AT Approach Trail at Amicalola Falls, I take a walk with Grandma Gatewood —brought to life by storyteller Anne Van Curen —and trace how grit, faith, and the quiet power of nature helped transform a life marked by hardship into one guided by purpose. What begins with a dog-eared 1949 National Geographic becomes a 2,...

Send us Fan Mail A single word can open a whole landscape, and today that word is return. We set out along the Pigeon Hill Trail—where this show first began—to see how cycles in nature, story, and daily life shape who we become when we come back. What looks like a loop is actually a spiral: the place may seem familiar, but your eyes are not the same. We dig into the tension between awakening and r...

Send us Fan Mail What happens to our minds when we step away from constant connection? In this immersive conversation with Eric Graves, Executive Director of the Len Foote Hike Inn, we discover the profound mental health benefits that emerge when we disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature and each other. Walking through the Chattahoochee National Forest near Amicalola Falls, Eric reve...

Send us Fan Mail The humble mushroom might be the most misunderstood organism on our planet. Walking Arabia Mountain with mycology expert Darling Ngoh reveals a hidden world of intelligence networks pulsing beneath our feet—without a single brain cell in sight. Mushrooms are reshaping how we understand intelligence itself. While exploring the unique granite landscape of this Georgia landmark, we d...

Send us Fan Mail What if history isn’t just something we remember, but something we carry, share, and keep alive through stories?  Walking through Austin, Texas's Zilker Park with award-winning Chickasaw storyteller Amy Bluemel transforms a conversation about history into a profound exploration of human connection, cultural preservation, and the universal language of storytelling. Amy immedia...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Rick Diamond joins me on a sunlit morning walk around Austin's beautiful Mueller Lake Park to explore a concept that fundamentally changes how we move through the world: Awakening. "We are really asleep a lot of the time," Rick shares as we begin our conversation, explaining how most of us operate from "scripts" we've inherited or created without...

Send us Fan Mail Walking through a cemetery in Marietta, Georgia creates the perfect backdrop for contemplating time – that elusive concept we all experience yet struggle to understand. What happens when we recognize that our past and future exist only as stories we tell ourselves? During this solitary walk among thousands of gravestones, I share a recent dream where I met both past and future ver...

Send us Fan Mail Deep in the Woods Season 3, Episode 1: Freedom Welcome to Deep in the Woods with Andrew McEntyre, where storytelling meets the mysteries of life. Season 3 begins with a powerful episode on freedom, exploring personal and political liberties through the firsthand experiences of Tessie Peace. Walking through Swift Cantrell Park in Kennesaw, Georgia, Tessie recounts her time living i...

Send us Fan Mail In this special bonus episode of Deep in the Woods , I take a unique approach—stepping into the kitchen with Damiao Wang as we prepare a meal for the Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year. Damiao shares the word homage and reflects on the traditions, ancestral reverence, and cultural stories that make this celebration so meaningful. As we cook dishes like shrimp stir-fry...

Send us Fan Mail In this thoughtful season finale, Andrew McEntyre returns to the East Palisades with Eugene O'Donnell to finish a conversation filled with reflections on faith, resilience, and life’s challenges. Together, they explore the valleys we face and the transformative growth that can emerge from them. Eugene reflects on his recovery from an injury on this very trail: "At the ti...

Send us Fan Mail Andrew McEntyre takes us deeper into the theme of "Comebacks" in part two of his conversation with Eugene O'Donnell as they continue their walk on the Whitewater or East Palisades Trail in Atlanta, GA. This episode connects the dots between historical resilience, personal growth, and the powerful reconstruction of faith. Reflecting on Atlanta's journey from dev...

Send us Fan Mail In this deeply reflective episode of Deep in the Woods , we take a walk along the East Palisades or Whitewater Trail by the Chattahoochee River with Eugene O'Donnell, an Atlanta native and seasoned hiker who has experienced life’s highs and lows. Against the backdrop of flowing waters, golden autumn leaves, and a tranquil morning mist, Eugene shares his insights on the word “...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Deep in the Woods , Andrew McEntyre and guest Keith King take a walk along the peaceful banks of the Oostanaula River. They dive into the layered challenges of building community, supporting families in need, and wrestling with the concept of responsibility—both personal and collective. Against the backdrop of changing leaves and crisp fall air, they explore the...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Deep in the Woods , a podcast that journeys through the natural world, exploring profound words and uncovering their connections to our lives. Each episode delves into a specific theme or word, reflecting on its significance through thoughtful conversations and immersive hikes. In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome back Dan Vollaro, an English professor and writer...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the Deep in the Woods Podcast, where we embark on a journey through the natural world, explore profound words, and uncover the connections they hold in our lives. In today's episode, I have the pleasure of taking a walk with Tim Villegas, who has chosen the word "Belonging." Tim serves as the Director of Communications for the Maryland Coalition for Inclu...

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Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the Deep in the Woods podcast, where we delve into the profound meanings of everyday words and the places they lead us. In this special episode, we continue our exploration of the word "sacred," taking you on a journey through time and memory. In the last installment, we explored the historic McEntyre home from the 1840s and 1850s, reflecting on the concept of...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the Deep in the Woods podcast, where we dive into the impact of language while exploring meaningful places from our lives. In this episode, I take you on a stroll around an old farm with a house that belonged to my great-great-great grandparents, William Tedford McEntyre and Sarah Hall McEntyre. We'll be exploring and digging deep into the word "Sacred."...

Send us Fan Mail In this special reunion episode, join hosts Dan Vollaro, Ryan Cherry, Ryan Tomlinson, Cade Curtis, and Andrew McEntyre as they embark on a reflective journey through the past year of the 'Deep in the Woods' podcast. The theme of 'Crossroads' becomes the guiding thread, weaving connections between the diverse topics explored in each of their individual episodes....

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 8 of the Deep in the Woods podcast, we take boat ride onto Allatoona Lake with my dad, Dale McEntyre. He has chosen the word, "Fishing."  We discuss how he started fishing, why he finds it to be relaxing and exciting, and some memories we had as a family around the fishing pole and bass boat. He also tells some mysterious stories including one where his bait w...

Send us Fan Mail On Episode 7 of the Deep in the Woods podcast, Damiao Wang and I walk a trail located behind the Rock Garden in Calhoun, GA. This garden included miniaturized versions of castles and other buildings that allow you to walk around and explore. Damiao is from China and has been living in the United States since early 2020.  In China, he worked as an electrical engineer and co-owned a...

Send us Fan Mail On episode 6 of the Deep in the Woods podcast, I take a walk at Pooles Mill Bridge Park located in Forsyth County, GA. We talk with Tammy Deal about the word, "Inclusion." Tammy is a huge advocate and supporter of students and adults with disabilities. It is her passion and heart to serve this community, and she has given her time and energy to see their betterment! As w...

Send us Fan Mail For episode five of the Deep in the Woods podcast, I decide to take a hike alone and discuss the word, "Solitude." I started the journey at the Cooper Day Use area on the banks of the Allatoona Lake then made my way past down on the Cooper's Furnace Trail which leads to the edge of the Etowah River at the base of Allatoona Dam located in Cartersville, GA. In this ep...