Backpacker Radio's Origin Story, Evolution, and Behind the Scenes with Zach and Chaunce (BPR #360)
Release Date: 06/08/2026
Nick Fowler's PCT FKT, The 2040 Zeitgeist, Katie Devours a Big Mac, and the Triple Crown of Emojis
Backpacker Radio
OnX Backcountry: Use code “TREK70” for 70% off at Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code “BPRADIO15” for 15% of Segments Trail Goss: Nick Fowler’s PCT FKT Trek Propaganda: by Katie Jackson QOTD: Predict one aspect of the Zeitgeist in 2040 Fantasy Football Thing of the Week Triple Crown of emojis 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy and . (and please leave us a review)! Find us on , , and . to get bonus content. Follow , , , and on Instagram. Follow , and on YouTube. Follow on Tik Tok. Our theme song is by . A super big thank you to our Bob Peoples...
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The Ultralight Subreddit, Pack Fabric Pros and Cons, and Not Triple Crowning (Yet) with Whitney "Allgood" La Ruffa (BPR #374)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by OnX Backcountry and Topo Athletic, we are joined yet again by our pal Whitney LaRuffa, known on trail as AllGood. AllGood has hiked thousands of miles with his K-9 companions over the years, including his first thru-hike of the AT way back in 1996. AllGood is one of the most entrenched figures in the world of hiker trash, with several thru-hikes under his belt, serving as former president of ALDHA-West, and having worked for several prominent brands in the industry, he eats, breathes, sleeps, and poos all things...
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OR Echo Hoodie Review, Women-Owned Ultralight Brands, Reasons Not to Go Backpacking, and Go-To Wedding Dance Moves
Backpacker Radio
Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code “BPRADIO15” for 15% of OnX Backcountry: Use code “TREK70” for 70% off at Segments OR Echo Hoodie Review Trek Propaganda by Katie Jackson by Kelly Floro Katie’s Engagement Story QOTD: What’s your go to wedding dance move? Dilemma Thing of the Week Triple Crown of conditions you’d opt out of backpacking due to Listener Voicemail () 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy and . (and please leave us a review)! Find us on , , and . to get bonus content. Follow , , , and on Instagram. Follow , and on YouTube....
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Embracing Her Feral Side, Forester Pass at Midnight, and The Best Cinnamon Rolls on the PCT with Bee Corrado (BPR #373)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by onX Backcountry and LMNT, we are joined by Bee Corrado, a backpacker, public school Spanish teacher, and outdoor content creator currently pushing her way through the Pacific Crest Trail. In this one, we dive into how Bee almost adopted the trail name “crack sniffer”, a bloody Sierra water crossing that almost earned her another trail name “sporin”, and her midnight hike over Forester Pass in total darkness and snow. Bee also shares why every thru-hiker should ditch their tramily for a period of...
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Triple Crown Stats, Jabba's Burning Penis, and A Professional Gear Tester's Pack List
Backpacker Radio
Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code BPRADIO15 for 15% off at . OnX Backcountry: Use code “TREK70” for 70% off at . Get a free 3-month trial of Elite (no credit card required). Segments 0:00 – Intro & Triple Crown survey discussion begins 26:02 – Tribute to Will Standish (CDT hiker who passed away) 36:08 – Bonus segment / gear talk begins 42:26 – Pacific Northwest trip best/worst stories 1:00:42 – Triple Crown of Foods You Can't Stop Eating 1:28:59 – Mailbag segment 1:31:29 – Five-star review shoutout Check out our sound guy and . (and please leave us a review)! ...
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From Cashier to the Face of REI, Inventing the M!GO Bottle, and the Geotagging Debate with Miranda Webster (BPR #372)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by onX Backcountry and Topo Athletic, we are joined by Miranda Webster, the creator behind Miranda Goes Outside- a former 12-year REI employee turned full-time outdoor content creator. In this one, Miranda breaks down her journey from an outdoorsy novice working as an REI cashier to amassing over 200,000 YouTube subscribers, the detailed process of designing her popular Migo water bottle to fix the smart water bottle's flaws, and why she firmly believes creators should never gatekeep public land locations. We also...
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Fun Nutritional Facts, Picking One Continent's Cuisine, Batty Thing of the Week, and the Best Summer Drinks
Backpacker Radio
Segments Fun Nutritional Facts Trek Propaganda: by Kelly Floro by Starlight QOTD: If you could only eat one continent’s cuisine for the rest of time, what would it be? Batty Thing of the Week Triple Crown of summer drinks One-Minute Gear Review Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy and . (and please leave us a review)! Find us on , , and . to get bonus content. Follow , , , and on Instagram. Follow , and on YouTube. Follow on Tik Tok. Our theme song is by . A super big thank you to our Bob Peoples Award winner(s) from...
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The Yosemite High Route: Type 2 Fun, Running out of Fuel, and Mystery Swelling with Elise "SOS" Ott (BPR #371)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by our longtime pal Elise Ott, aka Sauce, who recently completed the 94-mile Yosemite High Route. She breaks down the realities of off-trail High Sierra travel, from navigating 7,000-foot vertical climb days to the difficulty (or lack thereof) of route-finding without a GPX line. In this one, Elise gives us a full breakdown on Skurka’s new(ish) route through Yosemite- including everything you need to know regarding navigation, camping, water, difficulty, highlight views, and more. Elise...
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Minus33 Sun Hoodie Review, How to Deal with Wildfire Smoke, Songs You'd Play on Repeat for an Enemy, and Cliche Instagram Captions
Backpacker Radio
Segments Minus33 Sun Hoodie Review Trek Propaganda: by Katie Jackson QOTD: What one song would you play on repeat for your enemy as a form of psychological warfare? Lowdown Thing of the Week Triple Crown of cliche Instagram captions Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy and . (and please leave us a review)! Find us on , , and . to get bonus content. Follow , , , and on Instagram. Follow , and on YouTube. Follow on Tik Tok. Our theme song is by . A super big thank you to our Bob Peoples Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with...
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Quitting and Returning to Thru-Hikes, Glissading Mishaps, and Swamp Walking with Taylor "Hamilton" Santa (BPR #370)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Taylor Santa, aka Hamilton, a thru-hiker who completed the Appalachian Trail in 2017 before returning to complete both the Florida Trail and Continental Divide Trail in 2024. In this one, we dive into Hamilton taking shots of pop and energy drinks every two hours on the night shift before quitting her job to hike the AT, surviving 30 miles of chest-deep swamp walking on the Florida Trail, getting bitten in the face by a fake service dog at a Chama bar, her sudden,...
info_outlineIn today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are bringing you the rare Chaunce and Zach solo pod.
In this one, we tell the full origin story of Backpacker Radio, from the unofficial co-host audition at a hiker meetup, to Chaunce showing up at the wrong restaurant on day one, to almost not making it past the early episodes. We get into how our interviewing dynamic has evolved over eight years, the technical disasters of the early days, the team that quietly makes this whole thing work, our all-time favorite guests, the ones we never aired, the dream guests we still haven't landed, and answer a slew of listener questions.
We wrap the show with a triple crown of worst ways to die, share the news that apparently Roundup is being sprayed in our national forests, opine on whether we’d rather give up sauces or kissing (and debate whether butter is a sauce), and give an overview on how to negotiate a thru-hiking sabbatical from your employer.
Topo Athletic: Use code “TREK15TOPO” at topoathletic.com.
Gossamer Gear: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for $20 off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com.
OnX Backcountry: Use code “TREK70” for 70% off at onxmaps.com
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Interview with Chaunce
Time stamps & Questions
00:06:15 - Reminders: Support Akuna during his recovery, join us for Chaunce’s live podcast sendoff, submit your favorite Chaunce moments or a voicemail for Chaunce, apply to be a co-host, check out our new merch, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon!
00:15:05 - Introducing Chaunce
00:17:10 - What was Zach’s initial idea for the podcast and how you decided you wanted a co-host?
00:25:42 - What were your first impressions of each other
00:27:48 - What were your expectations for the podcast's longevity and success?
00:34:20 - Did you discuss the style of the podcast and interview format you wanted?
00:39:43 - How has your co-interviewing strategy changed over the years?
00:59:25 - How are guests chosen for the show?
01:09:58 - What are some surprising things you've learned about making the podcast?
01:19:13 - How many interviews or segments have had to be cut?
01:24:18 - How long did it take to get over saying something dumb on air?
01:32:46 - How has the other person changed since episode one?
01:35:49 - What phrases or habits have you picked up from each other?
01:36:31 - How is the Mile by Mile project going?
01:45:45 - How have you balanced full-time work with hiking and the podcast?
01:53:18 - Were there any episodes where you were sick or physically unwell?
01:59:44 - Discussion about listener & Instagram questions
02:00:28 - How do you manage a friendship while working together?
02:02:43 - If you could go back to the beginning, what advice would you give yourselves?
02:13:27 - Discussion about highest highs and lowest lows from the podcast
02:20:23 - What are a few all-time favorite guests?
02:26:32 - Which guest were you most nervous to interview?
02:28:53 - What were your "I love my job" moments from the show?
02:31:51 - What will you miss most about interviewing together?
02:35:51 - Discussion about podcast segments that lived and died
02:39:23 - What are the remaining dream guests you haven't landed yet?
02:48:00 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance enhancing or backpacking hack?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: Roundup Is Being Sprayed in National Forests. Here’s What PCT Hikers Should Know by Kelly Floro
QOTD: Would you rather give up sauces or kissing?
Triple Crown of Ways NOT to die
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
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Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years.
A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Alex Kindle, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bret Mullins aka Cruizy, Bryan Alsop, Carl Lobstah Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Jackson Storm, JaredNotFromSubway, Jason Kiser, Jason “The Snail” Snailer, Luke Netjes, Matty in AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Randy Sutherland, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger’ Fawns
A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, Dakota J, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Denise Krekeler, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Lloyd Harris, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, Sloan Alberhasky, and Tyler Powers.