Losing 150 Lbs, An All-Time Poop Story, and Theater Hacks for Content Creators with Andrew Livingston aka Coach from Marion Outdoors (BPR #366)
Release Date: 07/20/2026
Designing and Sewing All of Her CDT Gear with Eliza "Swerve" Sweeney (BPR #379)
Backpacker Radio
In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Eliza “Swerve” Sweeney, a textile design graduate who’s taking on the CDT with an almost entirely homemade kit, including her backpack, tent, quilt, and even her underwear. In this one, Eliza walks us through skipping her final physics exam to squeeze the PCT into her summer break, turning her senior design project into the gear she’s now trusting to get her across the country, and learning to let herself take a damn zero after spending an entire thru-hike racing to get...
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Influencer Fined for Petting a Marmot, Grey Beard's AT Success, Evading the Feds on Trail, and Minor Discomforts that are Major Problems
Backpacker Radio
LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at . Gossamer Gear: Use code “BPR10” for 10% off shelters at . Darn Tough: Use code “BACKPACKER” for free shipping from . Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code “BPRADIO15” for 15% off at . Segments Trail Goss Episode 4: Influencer Fined for Petting Mount Rainier Marmot Trek Propaganda: by Katie Jackson QOTD: How long do you think you could evade the feds on trail after committing a white collar felony? Trail Work Thing of the Week: Triple Crown of minor discomforts that are actually major problems Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out...
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Sleeping in an Outhouse on Christmas, 5.5-Pound AT Baseweight, and the Arkansas Triple Crown with Austen McDaniel (BPR #378)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by our longtime pal Austin McDaniel, aka P.I., a Triple Crowner, Ultralight masochist, and full-time tennis instructor. In this one, we dive into Austin hiking the Ouachita Trail in ten days while recovering from COVID, navigating the Ozark Highlands Trail through freezing January temps, and surviving record-breaking 18-degree winter freezes on the Florida Trail. We also cover his pitch for the "Arkansas Triple Crown" consisting of the Eagle Rock Loop, Buffalo River Trail,...
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Thru-Hiker Death at Katahdin, Hobbies You Continue to be Bad At, Trail Magic Cravings, and the Triple Crown of "Back In My Day's"
Backpacker Radio
Segments Trail News: by Katie Jackson Trek Propaganda: by Kelly QOTD: What’s one hobby you wish you were good at and have actively tried but you continue to be bad? Question Thing of the Week Triple Crown of ‘Back in my day’s’ - things that existed in your youth that no longer do 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...
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Thru-Hiking the AT on a $2,000 Budget with Livvy "Stumbles" Weld (BPR #377)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Livvy "Stumbles" Weld, a Triple Crown thru-hiker, Trek Writer, and budding ultrarunner. In this one, Livvy breaks down how a tub of frosting earned her the trail name "Sugar Mitts," how her own thru-hikes accidentally talked her dad into becoming a thru-hiker himself, and how a kitten she found under a car turned into her cat back home. Livvy goes deep on how she was able to thru-hike the AT on less than $2,000 (nearly 75% less than the average AT thru-hike), her take as a former AMC...
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Fake Hiker News AI Slop, The Most Important Gear Maintenance Tasks, and The Worst People on a Road Trip
Backpacker Radio
OnX Backcountry: Use code “TREK70” for 70% off at . Topo Athletic: Use code “Trek15Hike” for 15% off at . Segments Trail Goss Episode 1 Trek Propaganda: QOTD: What gear maintenance task do you take the most seriously / do the most consistently? Triple Crown of people you absolutely do not want in the van for a road trip 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...
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The Loowit Trail: 30 Miles Around Mount St. Helens with Zach, Katie, and Jabba (BPR #376)
Backpacker Radio
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by onX Backcountry and Topo Athletic, myself along with, Katie, and Jabba break down our recent hike of the Loowit Trail, a 31-mile loop circumnavigating Washington's active Mount St. Helens volcano. In this one, we dive into the chaotic road-trip logistics that involved our rental van nearly melting down on on the way to the trailhead, navigating technical rope-assisted gullies and sharp lava boulder fields, trekking through the tree-barren northern blast zone, and a golden-hour summit at Windy Pass, and the...
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The Wildest Trek Blog Ever Written, The Worst Smells, and The Most Annoyed Professions
Backpacker Radio
OnX Backcountry: Use code “TREK70” for 70% off at LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at . Segments Trail Goss Episode 3 Trek Propaganda: by Peg Leg by Brock “Dubs” Miller QOTD: What is the worst thing you’ve ever smelled? Triple Crown of the most annoyed professions 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...
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PCT Meltdowns, Side Quests, & Animal Encounters, and Traveling to 56 Countries with Michael "Broadway" Grant (BPR #375)
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 Michael "Broadway" Grant, a world traveler who has visited 56 countries, cycled across America, and is currently daily-vlogging his way through the PCT. In this one, Broadway dives into getting bitten in the face by a six-pound chihuahua while hitching a ride to PCT Trail Days, his terrifying pitch-black 11:00 PM alpine start up Mount Whitney's snow chutes, and his infamous "Day 50" meltdown in the Sierra, where he melted a carbon trekking pole, burned holes through his...
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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...
info_outlineIn today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Andrew Livingston, aka Coach from Marion Outdoors and host of the Chafed Outdoors podcast.
In this one, Coach tells the story of losing 150 pounds his sophomore year of college largely thanks to hiking, details his background in theater, ballet, and tap dancing- and how that's helped him grow a massive following on Instagram and TikTok, the biggest challenges of running an outfitter, he gives us an all-timer poop story that ended with him naked in the woods covered in shit and hanging onto a tree branch, and details the rules for banning problem hikers from his hostel.
We wrap the show with Trek Propaganda on gear people love 500 miles into the AT, a Triple Crown of sounds that trigger happiness, how a tornado woke Katie and I from a dead sleep in New Orleans, my Jolly Gear sun hoodie review, and a listener further breaks down the difference between a Sawyer and Brita filter.
Topo Athletic: Use code “TREK15TOPO” at topoathletic.com.
Gossamer Gear: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for $20 off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Use code “BPRADIO15” for 15% of hyperlitemountaingear.com
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Interview with Coach from Marion Outdoors
Time stamps & Questions
00:05:00 - Reminders: Join us for a hiker meetup in Seattle, subscribe to The Trek's Youtube and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon, and!
00:07:05 - Introducing Andrew Livingston
00:10:00 - How did you get started in the outdoors?
00:15:10 - Tell us your hiking resume
00:18:20 - Tell us about your theater background
00:21:30 - Do you have any advice for someone starting to make content?
00:25:00 - Do people come visit your store because of your videos?
00:28:00 - Did something ever flop that you thought would sell great?
00:34:10 - What gear has stood out most to you from the show?
00:37:10 - Is there any tech apparel you’re excited about?
00:41:00 - Tell us your poop story
00:50:38 - How have you tried to maintain your weight?
00:56:25 - Do you get a SOBO bubble through the shop?
00:59:15 - Discussion about hikers coming through the hostel and shop
01:06:34 - What gets someone’s name on the list?
01:10:20 - How have AT towns recovered from Hurricane Helene?
01:12:00 - What do you see for the future of Marion Outdoors?
01:14:30 - Tell us about your podcast
01:15:45 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance enhancing hack?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: 2026 AT Thru-Hikers Share Their Favorite Gear So Far by Katie Jackson
QOTD: When was the last time you were in a tornado warning?
Switchback Recap
Triple Crown of sounds that trigger happiness
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
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Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee.
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A super big thank you to our Bob Peoples 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.