Just Trek Podcast

On Saturday, Oct 23rd I attempted the most difficult trek in my outdoor journey and that was tackling the peak bagging extravaganza known as the #FoolsTraverse Challenge hosted by TRVRS Outdoors. The Fool's Traverse is an 11 peak endurance challenge located in the Mount Baldy area that is 26 miles long, and up to 12,000 ft elevation gain. Participants need to strategically navigate to as many peak...

On this episode I have the ultimate LA explorer, urban trekker, experience curator, podcast host, and founder of LifeHacksLA, Stefan Fagerholm, join me on the show. We talk about how the culture of things to do in Los Angeles is different from other cities, the backstory behind LifeHacksLA, his top 3 neighborhoods, hacks for exploring Los Angeles, exploring the coastal gem known as Palos Verdes +...

On this episode I have SoCal based trekker & runner, solo female traveler, cyclist and swimmer, outdoor adventurer, and founder of Babes Who Elevate, Sandra Rubio, join me on the show. we talk about how the pandemic led her to joining a running challenge, the backstory of creating Babes Who Elevate, her top 3 adventures, how physical activity helps battle depression, tips & advice for solo...

On this episode I have SoCal based trekker, solo world traveler, outdoor adventurer, and founder of LA Trail Killers, Victor Martinez, join me on the show. We talk about how  solo world traveling inspired him, the backstory of creating the LA Trail Killers hiking group, top 3 SoCal mountains, tips and advice for long day hikes & newbie hikers, his wild Guatemala adventure, the cloudy suns...

On this episode I have California based trekker, musician + songwriter, Men's life coach, founder of Better To Greater, and ultra trail runner, Devon Kelts, join me on the show. We talk about the differences between NorCal and SoCal, his top trail running experiences (Marin Ultra Challenge, Bishop 100k, etc), The Bad Water Basin Race (World's Toughest Race), overcoming addiction & achievi...

On this episode I have SoCal based trekker, backpacker, climber, and mountaineer, Valerie Campos, join me on the show. We talk about the epic challenge that sparked her outdoor journey, conquering Mt Whitney via the mountaineer’s route, Cactus 2 Clouds as a solo hike, summiting Mount Rainier in Washington state, top Southern California mountains, tips for long day hikes and aspiring mountaineers,...

On this episode I have SoCal based trekker, experience creator, adventurer, protector, and founder of the non profit org We Explore Earth, William Vazquez, join me on the show. We talk about his strong affinity for protecting Mother Nature, the backstory of creating We Explore Earth, top 3 nature based adventures, tips and advice for taking care of Earth, tips for long day hikes and newbie hikers,...

On this episode I have SoCal based trekker, trail runner, preacher, LA Hip Hop Head, and founder of OUTADV+ , Juan Flores, join me on the show. We talk about how Hart Park & Zion National Park sparked his outdoor journey, back story to creating OUTADV+ , top California hikes, his suffer fest and redemption on Iron Mountain, tips & advice for long day hikes and newbie hikers, dangerous expe...

On this episode I have SoCal based trekker, trail runner, visionary educator, dancer, yogi eskrimador, and member of the Just Trek Crew, Matt Kerr aka Machete Matt, join me on the show. We talk about his top SoCal mountains, tips & advice for long day hikes and newbie hikers, salsa dancing up Half Dome, redemption on San Gorgonio, disappearing on Ontario Peak, completing the Six Pack of Peaks...

On this episode, I share a guest interview I did for "In The Views" podcast hosted by Ray Medearis (founder of @CaliforniaHikingGroup) in case you might have missed it. This particular conversation was a special one because I really got to share my origin story in depth and take it all the way back to the beginning.  Consider this episode my “Behind the Music Story” but in the outdoor sense m...

On this special episode, I celebrate the podcast reaching it's one year anniversary! I feature intimate messages from the Just Trek listeners throughout the show, share my biggest takeaways I have learned from the guests, and the highlights from my podcasting journey thus far. No special guests this time around, just me doing a solo episode with inspiring messages from the most incredible communit...

On this episode I have SoCal based trekker, content creator, former MTV's America's Best Dance Crew Champion, World of Dance Tour Judge, and movement artist, Just Jet (formerly Jet Li), join me on the show. We talk about he has re-discovered LA through epic peaks such as Sunset Peak, Mount Baldy, Strawberry Peak, Mount Baden Powell, and more. We chat about bringing style and dance to the trails, f...

On this episode I have SoCal based trekker, college athlete, content creator, and outdoor adventurer, Conley Harris aka Harris Hikers, join me on the show. We talk about trekking through the pandemic, backpacking the Trans-Catalina Trail, her top SoCal hikes, tips for long day hikes, advice for newbie hikers, how one of her videos went viral, body positivity, her partnership with Decathlon & A...

On this episode I have SoCal based trekker, founder of Seriously Stickers, taco connoisseur, and Tacos Every Day World Champion, Will Mattox aka  Taco Slayers, join me on the show. We talk about his epic taco food journey, his hiking + summit taco adventures,  top SoCal hikes, tips for cooking in the outdoors, hilarious moments from Deep Creek Hot Springs & The Fool's Traverse, top t...

On this episode I have LA based art director, design assassin, trekker, backpacker, and member of the #JustTrekCrew, Deanna Hjerling,  join me on the show. We talk about her perspective as a daughter of a mountaineer, backpacking The Narrows in Zion, the Summerland Trail (Mt. Rainier), her top California hikes, surfing in LA, tips for long day hikes, and her Iceland adventures.  Follow D...

On this episode I have Philadelphia based international traveler, trekker & backpacker, biker & bikepacker, and world class dancer, Domkey, join me on the show. We talk about Domkey's transition from the hip hop/breakdancing world to the great outdoors. His top adventures as a dancer and outdoor enthusiast, tips for backpacking & bikepacking, and advice for first time bikers. We even g...

On this episode I have LA based filmmaker, international explorer, trekker, content creator, and the founder of Stance, Daniel Zhu, join me on the show. We talk about Daniel's top international adventures in the world, his former Park ranger days at Katmai National Park (he considers it the coolest national park in the world!), proper bear protocol, and tips for capturing outdoor + travel content....

On this episode I have London based international DJ, radio show host & producer, green tea connoisseur, nature lover, space enthusiast, and the creator of The Future Beats Show (TFBS), Complexion, join me on the show. We talk about the origins of TFBS, how music can make walks & treks better and open up your mind, why sunsets are his favorite part of the day, his US DJ tour, and his fasci...

On this episode I have LA based peak bagger, adventurer, outdoor blogger, and mental health advocate, Ayumi Nicole, join me on the show. We talk about how California sparked her hiking journey,  top 5 hiking adventures,  Grand Canyon Rim to Rim B-Day Trek,  tips & advice for challenging day hikes, mental health awareness, and her Iron Mountain experience.  We further discus...

On this episode I have LA based peak bagger, video creator, award-winning director, and member of the #JustTrekCrew, Mitchel Dumlao, join me on the show. We talk about Mitchel's journey completing the SoCal Six Pack of Peaks challenge this year, tips & tricks for capturing outdoor content (phone, DSLR, drone, etc), cultivating a mindset to rise above the pandemic, launching Video Content schoo...

On this episode I have LA based ultra runner, peak bagger, explorer, creator of Wellness on the Trails, and TRVRS Outdoor Ambassador, Daisy Martinez, join me on the show. We talk about about how she became a TRVRS Outdoor Athlete, her intense trail running experiences, solo adventures for well being,  tips for finding trail conditions, her C2C & C2C2C experiences, and re-discovering Griff...

On this episode, I jump into part 2 of Ray Medearis' story.  He is a Northern California based trekker, explorer, US Marine veteran, and is the creator of California Hiking Group. We talk about his experience being an African American on the trails, his intense journey as a US Marine,  military hikes in comparison to Iron Mountain, fighting for his country yet being treated like a 2nd cl...

On this episode I have California based peak bagger, explorer, US Marine veteran, and the creator of California Hiking Group, Ray Medearis,  join me on the show. We talk about about how the great outdoors saved his life, the origins behind @CaliforniaHikingGroup, his #52HikeChallenge feature, Black Lives Matter, tips for long day hikes, and his favorite hikes in all of California. We also dis...

On this episode I have SoCal based mountaineer, blogger, explorer, and solo female trekker and backpacker, McKenna Mobley,  join me on the show. We talk about about her recent Mt. Whitney journey, how Alaska sparked her hiking passion,  thru-hiking 300+ miles of the Arizona Trail, tips for solo backpacking & mountaineering, and her favorite Southern California mountains. We also disc...