The Trailhead an Offroad Show

JD sits down with Rich Klein—founder of Trail Hero and mind behind the brand-new Trail Hero Expeditions reality series—for an inside look at the 570-mile, five-day overlanding challenge that zig-zagged through Arizona, Nevada, and Utah and is airing on Speed Sport 1. From jaw-dropping sunsets above Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon rim to campfire camaraderie at Sand Hollow State Park, they...

JD sits down with Loren Campbell of the Utah Public Lands Alliance (UPLA) to talk about Moab trail reopenings . They break down the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) new Travel Management reconsideration and explain how off-roaders can submit effective comments about getting back in the 317 miles of Moab we lost. The pair also cover the proposed Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act , the power...

JD hangs out with Calvin (SRG Offroad), Bryan (Beatrice JKU the Lunchbox) and Nathan the unpaid intern aka MudhornGladiator for a laugh-packed “second show.” Bryan relives his slow-motion flop on Panther Rock at Windrock Park, Keenan’s sway-bar shearing mishap on the legendary Rubicon Trail earns a live roast, and everyone gears up for the fast-approaching Trail Hero extravaganza. From Costco cult...

It’s the first show of fall, and JD is joined by Bryan (Beatrice JKU the Lunchbox), Calvin (SRG Offroad), and Nathan (the unpaid intern aka Mudhorn Gladiator) for a laughter-packed catch‑up. The crew swaps Trail Hero prep plans, debates the merits of Starlink for on‑trail connectivity, and tests out Truck Claws as a space‑saving alternative to traction boards. Bryan relives carnage on Sand Hollow’...

JD kicks back with Calvin (SRG Offroad) and Arizona wheelers Steve Botkin . The crew roast viral off‑road fail videos —Jeep bunny‑hops, pink‑ Ford Bronco lawn darts, and more—while dropping hard‑earned rock‑crawling tips and overlanding gear hacks. Calvin reveals that Trail Hero Expeditions hits Speed Sport 1 & Prime Video October 8 and confirms he’ll return as chase‑crew next year. War‑storie...

In this Unfiltered check‑in, JD, Calvin (SRG Offroad), and Steve Botkin toss the script and trade real‑time updates on life, rigs, and the show itself. Hear what’s broken, what’s fixed, and what’s next—from JD’s lifter saga and Steve's KRX upgrades to the Calvin's Starlink camp hacks. The crew dishes backstage news, listener milestones, and why Trail Hero Expeditions pending TV release is...

JD, Bryan ( Beatrice JKU the Lunchbox ), Calvin ( SRG Offroad ), and Nathan ( the unpaid intern aka Mudhorn Gladiator ) pack this extra-long live show with fresh off-road buzz. They debate Jeep’s surprise decision to keep the Hemi V-8-powered Wrangler 392 alive, swap plans to torture-test a new Trail Claw traction device on Arizona’s Table Mesa and Lower Terminator trails, and react to a drunk-dri...

JD, Bryan (Beatrice JKU the Lunchbox), Calvin (@srgoffroad), and Nathan the unpaid intern aka MudhornGladiator circle up for a lively episode packed with summer wheeling prep, gear gossip, and privacy talk. The crew digs into Instagram’s new location-sharing default, Calvin’s soon-to-arrive tent & awning, and Bryan’s marathon wrench-fest on Mischief Maker before Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Invas...

News, beaters, and brutal lessons—with details you can use. We hit the week’s biggest off‑road stories (Stellantis earnings pain, ongoing 4xe overheating chatter, and Banks’ Cummins grid‑heater fix), then stack an under‑$5K beater build list with real‑world pros/cons: axle strength, IFS vs. solid‑axle tradeoffs, gearing, cooling, parts costs, and where rust hides. You’ll also get a practical day‑o...

In this short episode where the first part of our live panel got cut off but what you do get is a fast, conversational catch‑up with JD, Calvin & Jennifer (SRG Offroad), Bryan (Beatrice JKU), Nathan (Mudhorn Gladiator), and Mike (JKTrlFnder). We swap Sand Hollow sand‑trap stories, talk the ‘Jurassic World’ Badge of Honor app mess, react to Stellantis’ $2.7B news, and share practical gear takes...

JD welcomes Marc Lawson , owner of The Jeep Lab and founder of the Florida Trail Team Challenge , for a deep dive into Florida’s most intense off-road competition. With 45 challenges packed into one weekend—from recovery drills to blindfolded driving, marksmanship, survival tasks, and GPS navigation—the event simulates real-world wheeling scenarios that test skill, endurance, and teamwork. They di...

It’s a night of high humidity, Gladiator debates, and a serious question about how JK's are now YJ's? JD returns to the mic with Nathan the unpaid intern aka MudhornGladiator, Ryan from Off-Road Campfire, and Calvin and Jennifer from SRG Offroad. The crew kicks things off with stories about high-mileage Jeeps and ongoing maintenance woes before diving into the big news: Jeep Gladiator’s su...

What do you get when you combine a busted fan, self-destructing tires, and a 3.8-liter engine with an attitude? This week’s episode of The Trailhead is an off-road update show you don’t want to miss. JD hosts the ultimate Jeep roundtable with Bryan (@beatrice_jku), Nathan (@mudhorn_gladiator), Ryan from Off-Road Campfire, and Calvin & Jennifer from SRG Offroad. Nathan recaps his muddy misadven...

In this episode of The Trailhead , JD sits down with Bo Rosa, president of the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA), to dig into one of the Southeast’s most committed off-road advocacy groups. Representing more than 13,000 members, SFWDA has been championing conservation, education, and recreation since 1987—long before hashtags and highlight reels. Bo shares how the organization led the...

This week’s Trailhead Live is a firestorm of off-road news: national forest access restored, BLM comment rules dropped, Jeep technical alerts issued, and a rooftop tent debate you won’t want to miss. JD is joined by Loren Campbell, Kristy Byers, Amy and Mike Malone, Justin from KrashFab, Steve Botkin, and Calvin and Jennifer from SRG Offroad for an unfiltered discussion about what’s changing fast...

On this jam-packed roundtable edition of The Trailhead, JD hosts updates from a panel of familiar voices that have been guests on the show before. From Mike and Amy Malone of Midwest Krawlers to Loren Campbell, Kristy Beyer, and Justin from KrashFab, Steve Botkin, and Jennifer and Calvin from SRG Offroad, the group shares stories from recent trail events, gear wins and fails, and plans for what&#3...

What do broken Gladiators, exploded oil pumps, and wildly unfiltered voicemails have in common? This episode. JD's back with Nathan, Alyssa, Kerry, and Bryan—are all back in the virtual studio and unpacking the chaos of the last few months. JD and Nathan share behind-the-scenes moments from Trail Hero X, including media madness and sandblasted gear. Alyssa’s been chasing desert sunsets—until her o...

In this episode of The Trailhead , JD sits down with Leah, Ryan, and Brandon from the Rampart Range Motorized Management Committee (RRMMC) to explore the inner workings of one of Colorado’s most iconic and heavily trafficked OHV areas: the Rampart Range. Known as a true mecca for outdoor recreation, Rampart includes a diverse mix of motorized routes, from full-size 4x4 roads to an extensive networ...

🎧 Podcast Show Notes Summary In this episode of The Trailhead , JD and Kerry sit down with Jason and Aaron from Portal Pros to dig into the past, present, and future of portal axles. From early design challenges to new product launches and how portal tech is changing the game for hardcore off-roaders, this chat covers it all. They talk about the evolution of the company, what it's like to des...

While the team is at Trail Hero X, this episode of The Trailhead dives into a question every off-roader eventually faces: are you building your rig to match your trails, or choosing trails to match your build? JD, Pope & Randi (JemAndTheMisfit), Bryan (Beatrice JKU the Lunchbox), and Mike (JKTrlFnder) share how their vehicle choices, upgrades, and driving styles are shaped by the terrain they...

In this quick Trail Hero X kickoff episode, JD, Pope & Randi, and Alyssa rally together to prep for the big journey ahead. With Trail Hero Expeditions right around the corner, the crew reflects on how far the podcast has come—101 episodes deep—and shares last-minute gear checks, travel logistics, and some friendly banter about new rigs and tire drama. From overlanding in Broncos to wheeling in...

Join us for a milestone episode—our 100th—where JD talks again with Ben Burr, Executive Director of the BlueRibbon Coalition, to break down the first 100 days of the new administration. They discuss crucial updates on monument designations, ongoing legal challenges, and critical policy shifts impacting public land access. Ben gives updates from the front lines, including insights on the newly esta...

This episode is all about the crew—what’s new, what’s broken, and what’s coming next. JD, Pope & Randi (JemAndTheMisfit), Bryan (Beatrice JKU the Lunchbox), and Mike (JKTrlFnder) catch up and share everything from exciting Bronco purchases and hydro steering installs to the reality of aging Jeeps and fried motors. Bryan talks about adding a Ford F-350 Lariat tow rig to the lineup, while JD cel...

🎧 Podcast Show Notes Summary JD is joined by Bryan (Beatrice JKU the Lunchbox), Mike (JKTrlFnder), Nathan the unpaid intern aka MudhornGladiator, and Angie (Purple Haze JKU) in this high-energy, heart-filled episode of The Trailhead . With Easter Jeep Safari just around the corner, the crew swaps build updates, road trip plans, and favorite Jeep colors—including the return of Mojito Green. Bryan...

In this episode of The Trailhead , JD and Alyssa welcome Jessica Heeg and Jessi Puffenbarger, the powerhouse duo behind Jess² ReRouting , a new team competing in this year’s 10th Anniversary Rebelle Rally. These two seasoned drivers break down what the Rebelle is all about—8 days of off-road competition with no GPS, just maps, compasses, and pure grit. Hear how a random post turned into a rock-sol...