Hikes and Mics Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Winter trails, fresh stories, and a brand-new season of Hikes & Mics. We’re kicking things off with a special bonus conversation — a returning mountaineer whose journey from the Pacific Northwest to the summit of North America’s tallest peak reminds us what resilience really looks like. Then we launch into Season 13 with guests who push the edges of adventure and creativity —...

Send us Fan Mail 🌿 Season 12 Finale: One Year Later with Chickpea — Movement, Mindfulness & Coming Home 🥾✨ For the Season 12 finale of Hikes & Mics , we welcome back Chickpea for a powerful, full-circle conversation—one year after her first appearance on the podcast. In that time, Chickpea has taken bold leaps off trail and in life, becoming a full-time traveler, backpacking and mindset...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ The Trail Angel With a 7-Course Welcome This week we sit down with Ben — better known on trail as Paladin — whose story threads together the Appalachian Trail, the PCT, Trans-Catalina sunrises, and a whole lot of good humanity along the way. From childhood summers tracking animals on his grandfather’s farm to section-hiking the Smokies in college, his path into long-distance hi...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ The Artist Who Climbs Into Her Own Paintings 🏔️ This week we sit down with Erin — Central Washington hiker, contemporary landscape artist , and the creative force behind Nuwave Gallery — whose journey blends trail time, faith, and art in a way that feels both grounded and expansive. She shares how hiking pulled her away from the computer and into a decade-long art career, how p...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Hikes & Mics , we caught up with a familiar face: John Mark , last on the show back in 2023 — and a LOT has happened since then. Over the past two years, he’s shifted careers from college professor to full-time court interpreter, giving him the flexibility to chase waterfalls, wander ridgelines, and sneak in micro-adventures between jobs. He’s camped nearly every...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ A Life Built on Adventure, Partnership & Big Peaks This week we sit down with Amy — phys-ed teacher, adventurer, and newly crowned Adirondack 46er — whose journey through all 50 states , 52 national parks , and decades of road trips has become a lifelong mission to explore the outdoors.  She shares how a chance reconnection with her now-husband sparked 26 years of adventure...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ A Conversation on Healing, Service & the Power of the Trail Just in time for Veterans Day , we sit down with Chappy, Program Director for the Veterans Engagement and Trail Stewardship Program with the Arizona Trail Association. He shares how the trail became a bridge between healing, service, and purpose after military life — and how “mission therapy” gives veterans a new w...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Chasing National Parks: A Father–Son Quest 🥾🌄 In this special Hikes & Mics episode, we’re joined by Grant  for his return to the podcast — and for the first time ever, his dad John steps up to the mic! Recorded in person at a lookout over a freshly snow-covered Washington Pass  near North Cascades National Park, this heartfelt conversation explores what becomes possible w...

Send us Fan Mail 🌄 Van Life, Second Acts & Saying YES to Adventure 🚐✨ This week on Hikes & Mics , we’re joined by Kathleen — an adventurer and “ Women’s Vitality Alchemist ” who hit the road solo in her van Blondie to rediscover purpose, confidence, and joy.  We explore the freedom of van life, the wisdom found on trails from Monument Valley to the North Cascades , and why it’s never to...

Send us Fan Mail 🌎 Weather, Wildfires & the Human Impact with Paul Rivera ☀️🌧️ In this episode of Hikes & Mics , we’re joined by Paul Rivera —a Louisiana-based journalist, nature lover, and environmental storyteller who has spent over a decade reporting on hurricanes, wildfires, and the changing climate. From his early fascination with weather after Hurricane Katrina to his years covering...

Send us Fan Mail Courage, Comfort & Connection: Building Fridie Outdoors with Lestarya 🌲📱 In this inspiring episode of Hikes & Mics , we’re joined by Lestarya , founder of Fridie Outdoors —a groundbreaking app designed to make camping and outdoor skills accessible anytime, anywhere—even offline . What began as a way to heal after loss during her first hike in the Bay Area has evolved int...

Send us Fan Mail “The woods became my therapy. The mountains became my classroom.” From being 505 pounds to summiting Mount Kilimanjaro — this week’s guest, DonWitt, has lived one of the most powerful comeback stories we’ve ever shared. As the founder of Hiking with the Bear, DonWitt opens up about transforming his health through hiking, finding community on the trail, and proving that the outdoor...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Season 12 continues with a journey shaped by deserts, road trips, and unexpected trail moments. 🥾✨ Meet Lyndsay—AllTrails ambassador, science teacher, and lifelong explorer—whose story stretches from childhood camping trips in Ohio to solo hikes across the Southwest. From a 28-day family road trip that sparked her love of travel, to being stalked by coyotes at dusk, to discov...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Season 12 kicks off with a story that spans deserts, snowfields, and summits. 🥾✨ Meet Jackson—trail name Gospel—who just finished his PCT thru-hike this summer. From battling early Sierra snow to chasing Northern Washington sunsets, Jackson shares how the trail tested his mind more than his body, the faith that carried him through, and why sunrise on Mount Whitney is worth ev...

Send us Fan Mail This fall, Hikes & Mics is back with Season 12—your trail companion for crisp mornings, golden leaves, and stories that push us further. From long-distance hikers chasing switchbacks and international adventurers exploring new cultures… to veterans finding healing on the trail, storytellers bringing news from the mountains, and guides helping us connect mind, body, and nature—...

Send us Fan Mail 🌿 Speaking Up for Our Parks with Dominique 🐾✨ We’re closing out Season 11 of Hikes & Mics with an inspiring conversation featuring Dominique —Georgia-based hiker, national park enthusiast, and advocate for the land we all share. From peaceful strolls through Georgia’s hidden gems to trail work with Trees Atlanta , Dominique reminds us that being outdoorsy isn’t about chasin...

Send us Fan Mail 🫎 Moose Encounters & Mountain Stillness with Mark 🌲📸 In this episode of Hikes & Mics , we’re joined by Mark —wildlife photographer, storyteller, and moose whisperer . Through solo hikes in Utah’s Wasatch Front , Mark has crossed paths with more than 100 moose , a bobcat at just 40 yards, and countless moments of spiritual clarity in wild spaces. He shares how hiking bec...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ From First Steps to Thousands of Miles with Melanie aka Poppi 🌲🥾 In this episode of Hikes & Mics, we sit down with Melanie, whose journey from two simple overnight trips to conquering the Pacific Crest Trail, Colorado Trail, and Arizona Trail is nothing short of inspiring. With a background in nutrition, she shares how fueling your body with intention can transform the tr...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Peak Lists, Family Trips & 1,000+ Summits with Brett of @thehuntindaddy ⛰️ In this episode of Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Brett Marciasini—peak bagger, hunter-turned-hiker, and dad passing his love for the outdoors on to the next generation. From tackling Nevada’s most remote ranges to standing nearly 19,000 feet high in Ecuador, Brett shares what it’s like chasing li...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙 No One Walks the Trail Alone This week, we sit down with George Eshelman — U.S. Army veteran, three-time Appalachian Trail finisher, and the real-life subject of The Keeper film. George shares his raw and powerful story of how hiking the AT — while carrying over 300 name tapes of fallen brothers and sisters — became both a memorial and a turning point in his own battle with PTSD...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Bears, Breakups & Big Views with Maddie of @nomaddiie 🐻⛰️ In this episode of Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Maddie —solo traveler, outdoor content creator, and aspiring wildlife biologist. From road-tripping in her Toyota Corolla to finally summiting Angel’s Landing , Maddie shares how a breakup led her to rediscover freedom, purpose, and presence in the outdoors. We ta...

Send us Fan Mail 📚 Books, Button-Downs & Backcountry Beauty with Igor Bravemore 🥾🌍 In this episode of Hikes & Mics , we’re joined by Igor Bravemore —hiker, author, and visual storyteller behind the newly released book Out in Nature . Based in the DMV (DC, Maryland & Virginia) region, Igor brings a fresh perspective on the underrated trails of the East Coast , the solitude of off-the...

Send us Fan Mail 🌍 Wonders, Whitney & the Wild with Trisha 🏞️✨ In this episode of Hikes & Mics , we’re joined by Trisha —adventure traveler, national park enthusiast, and the storyteller behind @wanderwoman619 . From desert trails in Sedona to standing atop Mount Whitney , hiking rim-to-rim across the Grand Canyon, and checking off world wonders like Machu Picchu , Trisha’s journey is a...

Send us Fan Mail 🌎 Mountains, Miles & Meaning with Luis of Vamos Hiking Crew 🥾✨ In this episode of Hikes & Mics , we’re joined by Luis —global adventurer, group hike leader, and founder of the Vamos Hiking Crew . Known on Instagram as @mrtraveler.me , Luis has explored 34 countries , summited over 65 peaks , and built a thriving hiking community that blends culture, connection, and cour...

Send us Fan Mail 🥾 3,000 Miles, One Husky, and a Whole Lot of Oatmeal: Trail Life with Oats 🌲🐾 In this episode of Hikes & Mics , we’re joined by Oats —long-distance hiker, community builder, and the vibrant personality behind @oatshikes . With over 3,000 miles under her boots across trails like the Appalachian Trail , Colorado Trail , Appalachian High Route , and the Pinhoti Trail , Oats br...