A 3,600 Mile Triathlon, International Kidnapping, and A Truck-Pulling Marathon with Justin True (BPR #299)
Release Date: 03/30/2025
Graduating Army Ranger School and Thru-Hiking After 30+ Years in the Military with Jay "Meat Grinder" France (BPR #303)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Atheltic, we are joined by Jay “Meat Grinder” France. Meat Grinder is a thru-hiker, author, and 31-year veteran of the Air Force, having completed 10 deployments and graduated from Army Ranger School in the process. Jay details his military background, including some key similarities and differences relative to thru-hiking, how he used vlogging as a way to stay in touch with his sons on trail, and the hilarious blood nipple origin story of his trail name. Meat Grinder also recently served as a volunteer...
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In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Tate Dobson, known on trail as Pyro. Tate is a certified wildcard. It’s not just that he’s hiked the PCT, AT, Long Trail, and Te Araroa, but how he’s done it, including hiking the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail spending $1,000 (alongside Quadzilla), hiking long stretches with carrying a Jansport pack, another stretch using tote bag, hiking the R2R2R eating only Motts Fruit snacks and the 100-Mile Wilderness consuming only maple syrup and a jar of peanut butter. He’s run a pair of...
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The Camino de Costa Rica with Maytal "Carrot Top" Agasi (BPR #301)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we’re joined by Maytal Agasi, known on trail as Carrot Top. In this episode, we learn how a road trip in a mid-size SUV with her two brothers sparked Carrot Top’s entry into the world of thru-hiking. She shares how she benefitted massively from both solo and group thru-hikes. We chat about her time on the JMT, Colorado Trail, and PCT, and we take a deeper dive into her most recent trek on the Camino de Costa Rica, covering standout cultural elements, landscape highlights, the incredibly...
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Mike Clelland 2.0: Owls, UFOs, Alien Encounters, Hypnosis, and More (BPR #300)
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In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by author, backpacker, and our resident alien expert, Mike Clelland. We made an honest attempt to discuss ultralight backpacking during this one, and although we do touch on the subject some, the bulk of this conversation is dedicated to owls, aliens, and all things paranormal activity. Mike has become the preeminent expert of the interplay between owls and UFO citings, which may not sound like a thing, however Mike has accrued a lifetime of stories from folks who have experiences that say that...
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A 3,600 Mile Triathlon, International Kidnapping, and A Truck-Pulling Marathon with Justin True (BPR #299)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Justin True. Justin's story is truly remarkable. From growing up in a home with intense physical and emotional abuse, to becoming a professional MMA fighter, to pulling a 1.5 vehicle for a full-marathon, to completing a 24hr Hero Crossfit WODathon, to being kidnapped in Egypt and deported for being accused of spying for the government, getting attacked by a shark, and most recently completing the "True Triathlon" a country wide endurance feat, including a 50-mile swim, 3,000-mile bike ride, and a 600-mile run. Given...
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Budget Backpacking Gear: Saving Money on Tents, Backpacks, Clothing for Thru-Hiking (BPR #298)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we’re joined by former guest, Trek writer, and certified gear nerd Alex “GPS” Brown. The focus of this one is how to save money on your backpacking kit. We break this one down category by category, sharing the best ways to cut costs, pinpointing which items aren’t worth pinching pennies on, offering specific product shoutouts, and discussing overall strategies to ensure more of your hiking budget goes toward your hike. Whether you're on a shoestring budget or just looking to save a few...
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Triple Crowning in Three Years, Ultralight Tips, and Cold Soaking with Austen McDaniel (BPR #297)
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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
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek and brought to you by Topo Athletic, we’re joined by Ben Vaugh, known on trail as Ginger Ballz. Ben is a Navy veteran, accomplished thru-hiker, and currently works as a dog musher, a topic Chaunce and Badger had way too much fun diving into. Ginger Ballz takes us through his transition from the military to thru-hiking, why he recommends it to fellow service members, and the parallels between the two. He shares stories from his hikes of the Triple Crown trails, the Hayduke, Superior Hiking Trail, and Long Trail. We also get a...
info_outlineIn today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Justin True. Justin's story is truly remarkable. From growing up in a home with intense physical and emotional abuse, to becoming a professional MMA fighter, to pulling a 1.5 vehicle for a full-marathon, to completing a 24hr Hero Crossfit WODathon, to being kidnapped in Egypt and deported for being accused of spying for the government, getting attacked by a shark, and most recently completing the "True Triathlon" a country wide endurance feat, including a 50-mile swim, 3,000-mile bike ride, and a 600-mile run. Given that Justin does everything to the extreme, following suit, this interview is also a marathon, but we promise you the time will fly by.
Warning: This episode discusses suicide. If this topic is triggering, we encourage you to skip this interview. Help is available, call or text 988 for support.
We wrap the show with the reality TV shows we want to see come to fruition, the triple crown of things that give us unreasonable anxiety, and our brutally honest opinion about New York's Northville Placid Trail.
Gossamer Gear: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off packs at gossamergear.com.
Purple Rain Skirts: Use code “BACKPACKER20” for 20% off at purplerainskirts.com.
Ombraz: Use code “BACKPACKER30” for $30 off at ombraz.com/discount/backpacker30.
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Interview with Justin True
Time stamps & Questions
00:04:52 - Reminders: Join us for our live show in Austin, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and apply to blog for the Trek! And sign up for the Trek’s newsletter!
00:09:30 - Introducing Justin
00:10:17 - Why are you flying out to Florida?
00:14:15 - How long did the marathon take you when you were pulling a truck?
00:18:10 - Where do you get these crazy ideas?
00:23:50 - Tell us about your challenging upbringing
00:28:00 - Where do you think their anger came from?
00:31:30 - Was your mom aware of what was happening?
00:32:30 - When did you pick up fighting?
00:35:00 - Discussion about Justin’s parents
00:42:20 - Did your brother’s behavior change towards you after that?
00:43:25 - Have you thought about choosing a different path than your family?
00:46:30 - Did you work as an engineer?
00:47:40 - Tell us about fighting full time
00:53:25 - Were you ever afraid while fighting?
00:54:37 - At what point did you shift into more endurance related sports?
00:57:13 - How much cardio did you do while fighting?
01:00:00 - Do you have Type 1 fun while you’re struggling?
01:02:20 - Do you ever miss adrenaline while on long runs?
01:05:30 - Tell us the background of Cycle4Gaza
01:08:00 - Tell us about getting kidnapped in Africa
01:27:30 - Were you afraid at any point during this ordeal?
01:29:25 - Did you see anything you shouldn’t have seen?
01:30:35 - Tell us about setting the single person record for the Three National Peaks
01:37:00 - How were you working all this financially?
01:39:40 - Tell us about doing the Olympic Triathlon with a 90 pound hammer
01:42:45 - When did the kilt come into play?
01:50:58 - Did you fight a shark?
01:58:20 - What’s the heaviest you’ve deadlifted?
02:02:05 - Tell us about your 500-mile walk across Madagascar
02:16:34 - What were the highlights of Madagascar?
02:21:50 - Tell us about the 24hr Hero Crossfit WODathon
02:28:04 - Where did the idea for the True Triathlon come from?
02:31:00 - Discussion about the swim portion
02:34:30 - How big was your team?
02:39:00 - How are you so hard on yourself but see other people differently?
02:43:10 - Where does the poop go?
02:44:30 - Where do you start biking?
02:50:20 - Why did the swim coach stay until Houston?
02:53:00 - What does your mom think about all your adventures?
02:53:40 - What standout stories do you have from the biking portion?
02:59:40 - Justin’s plans for next year
03:01:25 - Discussion about falling asleep while swimming
03:05:30 - Discussion about the triathlon
03:22:00 - What’s the takeaway of being inspired by other people?
03:23:30 - What’d you feel when you finally finished?
03:27:00 - Tell us about Naked & Afraid
03:30:30 - Were you shy about being naked on tv?
03:33:00 - What were your takeaways from the show?
03:36:25 - What was the duration and the prize?
03:41:00 - Have you considered any more traditional endurance events like FKTs or the Barkley?
03:42:35 - Tell us about the runs you do while drinking beer
03:45:15 - Do you have any plans on slowing down?
03:48:00 - Where should people go to keep up with you?
Segments
QOTD: What’s a reality TV show you want to see brought into existence?
Triple Crown of things that give you unreasonable anxiety
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
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