Hiking Episodes

Welcome back to the Outdoor Adventure Series! In this episode, Howard sits down with Melissa Pierick, Director of Marketing and Community Relations for the Ice Age Trail Alliance. Melissa shares her personal journey of discovering the Ice Age National Scenic Trail—an incredible 1,200-mile adventure that winds through Wisconsin, right past the state capital of Madison.

Welcome to another episode of the Outdoor Adventure Series! Today, Howard welcomes Rand R. Timmerman, Esq., author of A Spiritual Passage, a captivating memoir chronicling the journey of two brothers in their seventies as they hike the Appalachian Trail. Together, they explore not only the physical and logistical challenges of tackling 2,200 miles through 14 states, but also the deeper, spiritual lessons discovered along the way.

Blister Pop Adventures: Your Resource to America’s Epic Day Hikes - Welcome back to the Outdoor Adventure Series! In today’s episode, Howard sits down with Philip Clark, founder of Blister Pop Adventures and host of the Off You Pop Podcast. Based in Reno, Nevada, Philip has dedicated himself to helping “ordinary people” tackle epic, challenging day hikes across America—and beyond.

Welcome to another episode of the Outdoor Adventure Series! We're chatting with Belinda Coker—a seasoned hiker, writer, educator, and global house sitter who currently calls Scotland home. After taking early retirement and leaving the corporate world, Belinda embarked on a global journey to embrace adventure, build confidence, and inspire others through responsible travel. In this episode, Belinda shares how she curated a life of genuine freedom and stability, combining her love of hiking wit...

Welcome back to the Outdoor Adventure Series! In today’s episode, host Howard Fox sits down with Dr. Matt Harmody, a retired ER physician, mountaineer, endurance athlete, and author of Ascending America. Together, they delve into Dr. Harmody’s extraordinary journey—from long-distance running and adventure racing to the deeply personal experience of becoming a living kidney donor.

The Outdoor Adventure Series welcomes Helena Guglielmino, a freelance writer whose passion for the outdoors, sustainability, travel, and culture shines through her published work. Helena shares her journey from interning with the Outdoor Writers Association of America to becoming a prominent voice in outdoor writing, and she recently published her hiking guide, "Urban Trails: Reno."

True Nature: Resilience and Nature’s Healing Power in the High Sierra In today’s episode of the Outdoor Adventure Series, we sit down with Lisa Michelle, an outdoor adventurer and author of "True Nature: Hidden in the High Sierra." Join us as Lisa shares the transformation that took her from a life deeply rooted in rodeo and horses to one of solo wilderness adventures across the Sierra Nevada. With warmth and authenticity, Lisa opens up about her journey to reconnect with nature, the le...

Meet our special guest, Laura De La Cruz. Laura resides in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She brings a wealth of experience from her small ranch, where she trains dogs in various activities, including herding, obedience, and scent work. In this episode, Laura shares invaluable insights on choosing the right dog for your hiking and home life. She emphasizes the importance of considering living space, family dynamics, and energy levels. She also offers practical tips for hiking with dogs, such as keepin...

Welcome back to another exciting episode of the Outdoor Adventure Series. This is the 2nd episode of our collaboration with Visit El Paso to promote El Paso, Southwest Texas, New Mexico, and the State of Chihuahua MX, as they host the OWAA's 2024 annual conference this year. In today's episode, we have a fascinating conversation with Cesar Mendez, the Park Superintendent of Franklin Mountains State Park. Cesar shares insights from his upbringing, love of nature and the outdoors, educational jo...

Welcome back to the Outdoor Adventure Series podcast! In today's special episode, Discover Gems in Northeast Tennessee: Reflections from the OWAA Inaugural Field Fest 2024, we're diving into the recent OWAA Field Fest—a groundbreaking event that brings outdoor enthusiasts, writers, and journalists to lesser-known, rural destinations. We're joined by attendees and hosts who made this event a stellar success. We'll hear firsthand experiences from a dynamic mix of guests who explored northeast T...

Melanie Radzicki McManus is an accomplished through-hiker and distinguished travel writer. She has conquered an impressive lineup of trails, with six major through-hikes under her belt—including the scenic stretches of the Arizona Trail and the historic pathways of the Potomac Heritage Trail. Her journey continues as she aims to complete all eleven National Scenic Trails, sharing insights from her experiences on the ICE Age Trail in her book "Thousand-Miler: Adventures Hiking the Ice Age Trail" ...

CONSERVING WILDLIFE AND WILDERNESS: A CONVERSATION WITH DARREN VAUGHAN OF THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH. Welcome back to the Outdoor Adventure Series, where we explore the wild spaces and the fascinating people passionate about preserving them. In today's episode, we journey into the heart of New Mexico's conservation efforts with special guest Darren Vaughan, the Communications Director for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Darren brings a wealth of experience from his ...

Welcome back to the Outdoor Adventure Series! Our special guest is Anand Kumar Sankaran. Anand is a first-generation immigrant who moved to the US and California in 1999. Despite living in California for most of his life, he had never visited the Sierra Nevada. Anand takes us on a journey of self-discovery and exploration, and how he ventured into the great outdoors to pursue his new-found love for hiking and photography. QUESTIONS WE DISCUSSED Anand's journey of coming to the US and pursuing...

Melea Hames is the social media manager at Visit North Alabama, also known as the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. She is also the host of the Unexpected Adventures in North Alabama Podcast. WHAT WE DISCUSSED How did the idea for the North Alabama Waterfall Trail come about, and what factors were considered when selecting the waterfalls to include on the trail? How has social media played a role in promoting the North Alabama Waterfall Trail and attracting visitors to the region? H...

Carey Kish is our guest on the Outdoor Adventure Series Podcast today. Carey has been writing professionally for 20 years. He has been writing for Maine's largest newspaper since 2002. He shares his fascinating journey of combining a love for hiking and beer in his new book, Beer Hiking New England: The Tastiest Way to Discover Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED What inspired Carey to write about hiking and beer? How many hikes did...

Jeff Alt is our guest on the Outdoor Adventure Series today. Jeff is an award-winning author, speaker, adventurer, and family hiking and camping expert. He is a prolific author with a new book called Time Traveling Through Yellowstone National Park: The Adventures of Bubba Jones, the fifth book in the Adventures of Bubba Jones series. Jeff is an Outdoor Writers Association of America member and lives with his family on the East Coast. TOPICS WE DISCUSSED 1. How did Jeff develop the idea for t...