Jeffrey James Binney on Being a Plus-Sized Ultrarunner, TikTok Fame, and the PCT
Release Date: 08/26/2024
10+ International Hikes and a Continuous Yo-Yo of the AT and Long Trail with Curtis Himstedt (BPR #296)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Curtis Himstedt, known on trail as Easily Forgotten. Easily Forgotten’s backpacking resume is bananas. A partial list of his adventures includes the Annapurna Circuit, Pembrokeshire Coastal Path in Wales, the GR10, Tour du Mont Blanc, Yorkshire Dales High Way, South Downs Way, and Cotswold Way in England, the Triple Crown in the U.S., the Tahoe Rim Trail, and a continuous yo-yo of the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail between 2023-2024. Curtis takes us through these treks,...
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8 Tips for 2025 Appalachian Trail Hikers (BPR #295)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek and brought to you by LMNT, Chaunce and Badger are serving up tips for this year’s class of Appalachian Trail thru-hikers. We’re covering everything from social dynamics and budgeting to mental prep, diet, why you should document your hike, some listener submission tips, and much more. We also give a rundown of advice from previous episodes in case you want to dig even deeper into getting ready for the Appalachian Trail. Whether you’re hitting the AT this year, planning for a future trek, or know someone who is, this episode...
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Dog Mushing, 20+ Years in the Navy, and the Triple Crown with Ben "Ginger Ballz" Vaughan (BPR #294)
Backpacker Radio
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Managing Relationships while Thru-Hiking with Michele Weiner-Davis, aka Zach's Mom
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by acclaimed author, marriage therapist, and speaker, Michele Weiner-Davis, known in my household simply as "mom". Being our Valentine's Day episode, this one is meant to equip you with the knowledge necessary to make your relationship flourish. We cover a range of questions, both general tips on how to improve your relationships, but also thru-hiking specific scenarios, including how to navigate when one partner is on the trail and the other is back home, encountering challenges when...
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Viking Q&A: First Aid Kits, Electronics, Socks, and a Beard Update
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are A’in your Q’s, with our pal and yours, the lightly bearded Jabba aka The Real Hiking Viking. In today’s question and answer we dive into a host of nitty gritty backpacking details, including what exactly is in our first aid kit, electronics bag (down to the cords), and our stuff sac systems, including some specific product recommendations. We also chat about our least favorite backpacking trips, our thought process in choosing socks for a backpacking trip, and what we deem as the...
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The Rise and Fall of GoLite and Balancing Federal Budgets with Demetri "Coup" Coupounas
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Demetri Coupounas, aka Coup, the founder of GoLite and MyTrail Company. Coup might just be the most interesting man in the world. This conversation takes us through his incredible journey, from his work balancing the federal budget in the '80s and '90s to becoming the first person to complete unsupported hikes of the Colorado Trail and the Long Trail, and how he stumbled upon the once underground world of ultralight backpacking. We also dive into the history of GoLite, from its role...
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Making Gear for People with Boobs with Symbiosis Gear Founder Sarah Berkeley
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Sarah “Mellow” Berkeley, founder of Symbiosis Gear, a pack-making company designed specifically for people with boobs. Sarah shares insights into her unique upbringing in a small log cabin in rural Colorado, her adventures on the Long Trail, PCT, Colorado Trail, and half of the CDT, and her journey to creating a backpack tailored for primarily women. We dive into the inspiration behind her patented S-shaped shoulder strap, the challenges of starting a business with no prior...
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Thru-Hiking with 50-Year-Old Gear with Jared "Snackbox" Champion
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Jared “Snackbox” Champion. Snackbox is s a hiker, father, and Youtuber who, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Colorado Trail, hiked it almost exclusively with 50 year old gear. We talk about the process of sourcing this gear, the hardest items to acquire, the least backpacker-friendly items of the bunch, which gear hasn’t advanced as much, and how his appreciation for gear has changed in light of this experience. Jared also shares the story of bonding with his...
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Triple Crowning as a Family of 6, Parenting Teenagers on Trail, and Life Lessons with Vince & Georgie Strawbridge
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Vince and Georgie Strawbridge, one-third of the six-person thru-hiking family. We last caught up with the Strawbridges in early 2020, when they were freshly off their hike of the PCT. Since, they’ve conquered both the CDT and the AT, completing the Triple Crown as a full family. We dive into the high and lowlights of these treks from the perspectives of Vince (dad) and Georgie (the youngest in the family). They share insights on navigating the CDT during COVID,...
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Backpacker Radio LIVE with Kyle Hates Hiking: A New Trail Mystery, Shaving Jabba's Beard, and Kyle's Reddit Haters
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined yet again by Kyle O’Grady of Kyle Hates Hiking for our 2nd live podcast, recorded at the Skylark Lounge in Denver. This episode is action-packed. We kick off the episode by shaving Viking’s beard. The beard shaving is the ultimate entertainment, we encourage you to check this one out on YouTube. Kyle then shares an exclusive trail mystery about a local Colorado man who disappeared while pursuing another man who also vanished under mysterious circumstances. We also talk shop about...
info_outlineIn today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are at PCT Trail Days! Our guest today is Jeffrey James Binney, a modern-day renaissance man who is an award-winning filmmaker, motivational speaker, ultrarunning athlete, and PCT hiker. We learn all about Jeffrey's story, including how losing his mom at a young age inspired him to pursue endurance sports, what it's like for a gay vegetarian to grow up in a rural pig farm in the midwest, his entry into improv and stand-up comedy, how he went from not being able to run a city block to a 100-mile race, making uber-viral dance TikTok videos, his favorite moments from his PCT hike, and much more.
We wrap the show by grabbing the first hiker we found off the street here in Cascade Locks and forcing her to join us for segments and being blessed with an all-time trail hookup story in the process.
Zoleo: Use code “BACKPACKERRADIO” for free device activation at zoleo.com.
Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com.
PATH Projects: Use code “THETREK10” for 10% off at pathprojects.com/thetrek.
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Interview with Jeffrey James Binney
Time stamps & Questions
00:05:25 - Reminders: Join us in Brooklyn for a hiker meetup on September 16 and support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content!
00:07:50 - Introducing Jeffrey
00:09:08 - What’s your origin story for getting into endurance sports?
00:12:10 - Were you surprised to enjoy running the first time you did it as an adult?
00:15:45 - What was the first 100 mile race you attempted?
00:19:05 - Tell us about being a recovering comedian
00:21:02 - Which performance art makes you the most nervous?
00:23:00 - Hiking themed improv
00:25:00 - Tell us about your film
00:30:11 - Tell us about being vegetarian on trail and growing up on a pig farm
00:33:27 - Did your dad push back at all on your vegetarianism?
00:37:45 - Tell us about your TikTok dances
00:45:45 - How has thru hiking compared to ultrarunning?
00:46:40 - What advice do you have for someone interested in ultrarunning?
00:50:33 - Discussion about thru-hiking culture
00:51:54 - How do you determine your weekly volume and pacing?
00:55:57 - What have your favorite moments from the PCT been so far?
01:00:45 - If you can only do thru-hiking or ultrarunning for the rest of your life, which would you pick?
01:01:50 - Is your husband worried you’ll want to do more long distance hiking?
01:04:34 - Discussion about Jeffrey’s Brooks sponsorship
01:09:00 - Discussion about Jeffrey’s manager
01:11:30 - What do you want to convey to listeners about overcoming fear?
01:14:24 - Is losing enthusiasm for thru-hiking common on all long trails?
01:23:24 - Discussion about tramily and hiking alone
01:27:06 - How much of the trail have you spent doing your own thing?
01:29:12 - Kumo Question: What is the most boring superpower you can think of?
01:33:10 - Tell us about your upcoming TrovaTrip
01:34:30 - Where can people go to keep up with you?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: Is It Safe To Keep Hiking in Wildfire Smoke? by Kelly Floro
Random Hiker Interview: Clumsy
QOTD: I say a number, you say the color
Triple Crown of recurring dream themes
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
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