Walking and Talking: An Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike
39 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago -In 2020, I got to live out my thru-hiking dream, but I'm only one of thousands of people who hikes on the Appalachian Trail - what are their stories? That's what I hope to find out! Join me every-other Wednesday for interviews with other hikers and recounts of my own thru-hike!
Homepage Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Glen Van Peski (Founder of Gossamer Gear)
March 16, 2024 21:19 - 48 minutes - 34.7 MBJoin Glen and I on this special, rare episode of Walking and Talking! Glen is a an "engineer, entrepreneur, author, sought-after speaker, and dishwasher/philanthropist." In 1998 he founded Gossamer Gear. He's humble, funny, and dedicated. *I apolgize for the poor audio quality on my mic. I've been out of the podcast game for awhile so I had my settings messed up. Thankfully, Glen is crisp and clear - he's more intersting to listen to anyway. Glen's book Take Less. Do More: Surprising L...
Skiing Solo to The South Pole (yeah, seriously) with Jacob "Valhalla" Myers
October 26, 2022 21:46 - 27 minutes - 63 MBMy friend is about to do something insane! Jacob is attempting to become the youngest person in HISTORY to ski solo to The South Pole. Join us for this conversation about running 100s of miles through the mountains, living on a glacier, setting world records, planting trees in Austrialia, and much more! DONATE TO THIS PROJECT! IndieGoGo: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/traq-23/x/30565548#/ Venmo: @MyersJG1 CHECK OUT HIS BLOG! My Website: www.ValhallaHikes.Com ...
Lightshow!
March 30, 2021 21:29 - 41 minutes - 29.2 MBLightshow and I met two weeks into my thru-hike when the world was shutting down due to COVID. He completed the southern half of the AT last year. This year he plans to start at Katahdin and head south. He joins me this week to talk about his unique approach to hiking the trail, why you should take the blue-blazes, his time working at Standing Bear Farm, and so much more! Lots of love and lessons in this one. Connect with Walking and Talking! All Things Walking and Talking: htt...
The Schlossers talk AT
March 17, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 57 MBHey everyone! My mom, Mary Schlosser, joins me this week to reminisce about her experience with the AT in 2020. No intro or outro today. Audacity keeps crashing whenever I try to edit, so it’s all interview this time around. Join us for a conversation about putting on a brave face, learning lessons from the woods, eating cold oatmeal, apple cider festivals, and so much more! If you’d like to listen to other episodes with Mary, check out episodes 1 & 8 Connect with Walking a...
One-Year Anniversary & The Return of Shotgun
March 03, 2021 15:27 - 33 minutes - 22.7 MBOn this one-year anniversary episode I’m joined again by Chase Bontemps (Shotgun). Shotgun is a 23 year-old West Virginia University grad who now works as a civil engineer in Washington DC. He’s one of my best friends from the trail and we hiked the northern half together. Today’s episode is a relaxed conversation in which we reflect on the one-year anniversary of our start dates. If you’d like to hear Shotgun’s backstory, I recommend first listening to episodes 11 and 19. If you’ve already ...
Hell Yeah Jesus!
February 17, 2021 16:00 - 46 minutes - 33.2 MBThis week I’m joined by Scott “Hell Yeah Jesus” Hughes. He’s the host of his own podcast I Just Wanna Be Hiker Trash (link below). Scott was 1,400 miles into a sobo AT thruhike attempt in 2016 when he made the decision to get off trail for the year. He returned Katahdin in 2018 and set off again – this time successfully making it all the way to Springer Mountain. Anyone who hikes 3,500+ miles on the AT comes away with some great stories. Lucky for me, all those stories make for a great inter...
The Unreleased Tapes- Part 1
February 03, 2021 16:00 - 30 minutes - 21.4 MBThis week I step away from the normal interview format and instead bring you some recordings from the trail in early April 2020. I had stopped releasing podcasts at this point due to COVID. Hopefully this episode shines some light on the difficulty of the hike at that point and my thoughts as I debated whether or not to continue my hike. Connect with Walking and Talking! All Things Walking and Talking: https://ryanschlosser.com/ Links to Listen: https://ryanschlosser.com/podc...
The Long Trail with Natalie Muskin
January 20, 2021 16:00 - 27 minutes - 25.8 MBThis week we head to a different trail – Vermont’s Long Trail! This trail stretches 273 miles through Vermont from the Massachusetts border to Canada. Natalie Muskin joins me to recount her 2018 thru-hike and her experience the following summer as a backcountry caretaker! Join us for a conversation about the naturalness of hiking, persevering through injury, the assumptions people too often make when a woman hikes alone, everything coming full-circle, and so much more! Learn more a...
The Journey of a Sparkle Chasing Mountain Mermaid called Neck Knife
January 06, 2021 16:00 - 43 minutes - 32.6 MBThis week I’m joined by Laura Bee, aka Neck Knife. She was living in California when she decided to come back home east for a 2020 AT flip-flop thruhike. She felt the trail was approachable and could fulfill nostalgic goals, as she grew up in New Hampshire. Join us for a conversation about how the AT can bring families closer together, encouraging women to thruhike alone, why the AT can be a great place for people with opposing viewpoints to have respectful conversation with each other, how ...
Triple Crowning with Phill Toomasian (Flamingo)
December 23, 2020 16:00 - 44 minutes - 32.5 MBThis week, I’m joined by Phill Toomasian, aka Flamingo. He is a triple-crowner, having hiked the 2,650-mile-long Pacific Crest Trail in 2018 and the 2,200-mile-long Appalachian Trail and the 3,000-mile-long Continental Divide Trail in 2020. That’s over 7,000 miles of hiking on those trails alone! (about the distance from Denver to Hong Kong!) Phill partnered with the non-profit “Dressember” this year to raise money to fight human trafficking. Join us for a conversation about living your “rea...
Flip-Flopping Thru the Pandemic, with Anthony Kaplon (Half-Baked)
December 09, 2020 16:00 - 37 minutes - 29.9 MBThis week I’m joined by Anthony Kaplon, known on the AT as Half-Baked. He might be able to compare COVID-era hiking to BC (before-COVID) hiking better than anyone else, as he flipflopped Harper’s Ferry to Springer in the Fall of 2019 and Harper’s Ferry to Katahdin this May thru August. Join us for a conversation about knowing exactly when the right time to thruhike is, spending two-and-a-half zero days at a music festival back when those were a thing, finding your genuine self as the AT brea...
Foraging from Georgia to Maine, with Kevin Rocks (Goat)
December 02, 2020 16:00 - 33 minutes - 23.8 MBThis week I’m joined by Kevin Rocks, aka Goat. He is a farm-to-table chef who brought a wonderful food culture to the AT on his thruhike this year. Join us for a conversation about foraging, cooking, cultivating patience, slowing life down, and so much more! Check out Goat's 5-star AT dinners on his Instagram: @rocks_chef Connect with Walking and Talking! All Things Walking and Talking: https://ryanschlosser.com/ Links to Listen: https://ryanschlosser.com/podcasts/ D...
Jacob Myers (Valhalla)
November 25, 2020 16:00 - 41 minutes - 27.1 MBThis week I’m joined by Jacob Myers, aka Valhalla. He is an avid hiker and writer who decided to stop his thruhike 200 miles in this year due to COVID-19. Join us for a conversation about the importance of community, the value in sharing both sides of a story, insane training routines, escaping death in a surprise storm, hiking someone else’s hike, and much more! Follow Jacob’s blog on The Trek: https://thetrek.co/author/jacob-myers/ Check out his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube....
Ben Crawford: The Largest Family to Hike the AT
November 18, 2020 16:30 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBThis week, I’m joined by Ben Crawford. He is a 2018 thru-hiker who hiked the AT with his wife, Kami, and their 6 children (ages 2, 7, 11, 13, 15, & 16). Known as the Crawford Family, they hold the record for the largest family to complete an AT thruhike together. Ben is the author of the brand-new book “2,000 miles together: the story of the largest family to hike the appalachian trail”. Join us for a conversation about finding a balance between experience and safety, overcoming the “interne...
Bobby Sanders (Lefty)
November 11, 2020 16:30 - 37 minutes - 30 MBThis week, I’m joined by 2020 thru-hiker Bobby Sanders, aka Lefty. I often refer to Lefty as the socialite of the AT, as so many hikers this year have a story of a memorable moment shared with him. In 1999, he suffered an electrical accident that resulted in the loss of his right arm, two fingers on his left hand, and damaged his left leg. The doctors were unsure if he would walk again. He has since run four marathons and thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail. Join us today for a conversation abo...
State Profile: Georgia
November 04, 2020 16:30 - 19 minutes - 28.9 MBA different type of episode this week! I take some time to look back at the state of Georgia, the “freshman year” state for a NOBO thru-hike hopeful. I hope you enjoy this shorter episode, and I plan on being back with a regular length episode with an interview next week. Connect with the show! All Things Walking and Talking: https://ryanschlosser.com/ Links to Listen: https://ryanschlosser.com/podcasts/ Donate: https://ryanschlosser.com/donate/ Contact: https://rya...
Zach Tucker (FreeFall)
October 28, 2020 15:30 - 47 minutes - 66.6 MBThis week I’m joined by 2020 thruhiker Zach Tucker (FreeFall). He is a long-distance hiker, traveler, peakbagger, and AEA stage manager. Zach is one of the very first people I met on my journey. As you’ll hear, him and I took different approaches to handling the mid-thruhike COVID-19 outbreak. Join us for a conversation reflecting on thruhiking, exploring a possible calling as a hostel manager, seeking ways to make the AT experience reignite passion in a career, and so much more! Find Zac...
Steve Adams (Mighty Blue)
October 21, 2020 15:30 - 41 minutes - 58.9 MBThis week, I’m joined by podcaster and thru-hiker two times over Steve Adams! Steve, known by his trail name Mighty Blue, completed successful thruhikes in both 2014 and 2019. He started his podcast, “Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis” in the years between the hikes and podcasted from the trail during his second go of it. Find Steve's show here https://www.hikingradionetwork.com/ As a podcast host, I’m guessing Steve is pretty accustomed to lea...
Kirt Lewis (Ricochet)
October 14, 2020 15:30 - 43 minutes - 62 MBRicochet joins me on this week’s episode to recap his 2020 NOBO thru-hike, share his philosophy on remaining happy on the AT, and much more! Click here to visit Ricochet's YouTube cannel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPKWVJ6MBq_rfIO69D_ZAlw?view_as=subscriber I had an awesome opportunity to be a guest on the Conservation Unfiltered podcast. Jason Crighton and I discuss the AT through the lens of conservation. Click here to listen now! https://www.conservewild.org/podcast...
Chase Bontemps (Shotgun)
October 07, 2020 15:30 - 42 minutes - 59.6 MBShotgun joins me this week for one of our first conversations since finishing the trail together! All Things Walking and Talking: https://ryanschlosser.com/ Links to Listen: https://ryanschlosser.com/podcasts/ Donate: https://ryanschlosser.com/donate/ Contact: https://ryanschlosser.com/contact/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/walkingtalkingpod New Episodes Wednesdays at Noon EST!
Briana and Cambyr Sullivan (Chickweed & Kaleidoscope)
September 30, 2020 15:00 - 42 minutes - 59.5 MBI'm joined this week by mother-daughter 2020 thru-hike duo Briana and Cambyr Sullivan. I first met these two at Mountain Crossings on the fourth day of my thru-hike. Like most people they met on trial, I was amazed to find out that Cambyr was only thirteen. Thirteen. I thought I was young out there at age twenty. Her and her mom packed up their lives and set out on the 2200-mile hike together. Spreading positivity and empowering girls, women, and pretty much everyone they met along the way...
Ellie Oberink
September 23, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 125 MBFrom March 21st to June 5th, I went radio silent with the podcast. COVID-19 had shut down the world, and I chose not to advertise the fact I continued hiking. During this time, Ellie Oberink and I hiked 1000 miles together. She joins me today for a conversation recapping and reliving our three months venturing from Georgia to Pennsylvania. Thanks again to Steve for having me as a guest on “Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail”. Click the link below to listen https://www.hikingr...
Krispy
September 16, 2020 20:26 - 32 minutes - 46.1 MBHard for me to comprehend that I've been back in society for almost six weeks! I had the opportunity to talk with Krispy on FaceTime this past Monday and I'm excited to share this interview he and I recorded. He just finished his NOBO thru-hike on September 5th. Tune-in to hear a recap of his journey! We discuss the important role your trail-family plays, what life is like on trail during COIVD-19, how the thru-hike experience differs averaging 20 miles per day versus 10, and much more! I ...
Katahdin: Interviews w/ Jello, Cans, & Boyscout
August 24, 2020 17:34 - 1 hour - 103 MBIt's been over a month since the last episode and a lot has happened. I summited Katahdin on August 7th, completing the AT. Afterwards, I enjoyed twelve days of vacation in Maine. Now, I'm adjusting back to off-trail life and preparing for the fall semester. Tune in to hear the recap of my last days on trail, my adjustment back to society, and three hiker interviews! Follow the show on Facebook: @walkingtalkingpod Check out the website: ryanschlosser.com
Steps Away From Maine
July 22, 2020 04:09 - 27 minutes - 39.2 MBRecorded as I hiked the last miles of New Hampshire. Tune in to hear my recap of the White Mountains and my building anticipation of crossing the final state border into Maine! Listen, Donate, or Contact: www.ryanschlosser.com FaceBook and Instagram: @walkingtalkingpod
Persevering
July 13, 2020 19:49 - 20 minutes - 29.5 MBThis episode discusses the unglamorous side of thru-hiking: fatigue; injury; frustration; and depression.
Venturing into Vermont; Interview with Ellie
July 07, 2020 13:47 - 24 minutes - 35.4 MBMy journey to Katahdin is over 75% complete! I'm excited to venture through northeast mountains the rest of the journey. Tune in to hear about southern Vermont and for an interview with Ellie. Facebook and Instagram: @walkingtalkingpod Donate or contact: www.ryanschlosser.com
Connecticut and Southern Massachusetts; Interview with Shotgun
June 27, 2020 14:14 - 36 minutes - 51.3 MBIt is beginning to feel like the final push to Katahdin as I make my way through southern New England. After 1000 miles together, Shotgun and I finally sit down for an interview. Facebook and Instagram: @walkingtalkingpod Donate, Contact, or learn more: www.ryanschlosser.com
New Jersey and New York highlights; Interview with Loren Naylor
June 20, 2020 20:03 - 41 minutes - 58.3 MBToday's episode recaps my time in NJ and NY, explains my trail-name, and I'm joined by Loren Naylor for an interview. Follow on Facebook and Instagram: @walkingtalkingpod Contact or donate: www.ryanschlosser.com
Interviews with Rich & Laurel, Lefty, Uncle Jim, and Careful & Hopeful
June 13, 2020 14:44 - 47 minutes - 67.3 MBEnjoy these 4 interviews! Hear from Rich and Laurel (aka The Vintage Hikers) when we were in the Great Smoky Mountains back in March. Lefty joins me for a conversation at Weary Feet Hostel just past the 600 mile mark. Uncle Jim, Ellie, and I sit down for an evening shelter conversation. And finally, Hopeful and Careful join me to talk about the first few weeks of their flip-flop hike. Facebook and Instagram: @walkingtalkingpod Contact or donate: www.ryanschlosser.com
(Days 22-91: miles 241-1100) Thru-Hiking Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
June 05, 2020 14:30 - 1 hour - 111 MBComeback episode. I've remained on the AT throughout the pandemic. My Mom interviews me about why I remained on trail, what the experience has been like, and the importance of taking care of our mental health.
(Day 21) Enjoying my first zero day and contemplating the impact of the coronavirus on and off the AT
March 21, 2020 15:01 - 9 minutes - 14.8 MBMade it through the Smokies yesterday! I am enjoying a zero day at Standing Bear Farm Hikers’ Hostel in Tennessee – such a beautiful and welcoming place. I hope you enjoy the poem “Be Brave” read by fellow AT hiker, Lightshow. I will be taking a step back from future podcasts as I wrap my head around and deal with the situation at hand of the coronavirus. Until next time… so thankful for you all and I wish you well!
(Days 12-16) Approaching the Smokies: Interviews with Walker McDonald and Bre & Ashley
March 20, 2020 22:41 - 52 minutes - 73.9 MBIn this less scripted and more off the cuff episode, I make my way towards the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! One interview with an old friend and one with a duo of traveling nurses. Facebook and Instagram: @walkingtalkingpod Donate or Contact: ryanschlosser.com
(Days 7-11) Hitchhiking, state lines, and trail magic: Interviews w/ Briana & Cambyr Sullivan, and Todd Tipton
March 11, 2020 03:33 - 49 minutes - 70.2 MBJoin me on this episode of walking the Appalachian Trail as I earn my first state line crossing, trail magic, and 100 mile marker along with my friend Ellie.
(Days 4-6) Cold Rain and Hot Food: Interviews w/ Kyle "Bad Mash" and Paul Stickland
March 06, 2020 17:15 - 45 minutes - 63.9 MBThe first interviews of the show, and a double feature at that! Kyle "Bad Mash" is a triple crowner hiking the AT for a second time. Paul Strickland is hiking for sobriety. It's my pleasure to share their stories with you. Georgia has been wet and cold for the past days, but beautiful none the less. Have a question you'd like answered on the show? Ask away on the contact tab at ryanschlosser.com Follow the show on Facebook and Instagram @walkingtalkingpod If you want to be a hero and m...
(Days 1-3) Finally on the Appalachian Trail!
March 03, 2020 14:20 - 35 minutes - 50.7 MBMonths of preparation and patience are over! Join me as I take my first of approximately five million steps on the AT. February 29th I departed from Amicalola Falls up the Approach Trail to the AT's southern terminus on Springer Mountain stopping to camp for the night at Stover Creek. March 1st I spent my first full day on the trail, stopping to camp at Gooch Mountain Shelter. March 2nd the rain came, and I took a relatively easy day making my way to camp at Lance Stream Camp. This episo...
Food, Flights, and FAQ with Matthew Ridgeway
February 29, 2020 13:34 - 36 minutes - 51.8 MBMy last days in civilization! It took a day to fly from NY to GA, but the walk home is going to take a bit longer. Matthew Ridgeway has been a friend for over a decade, he joins me for an interview covering some common questions people have about AT hiking.
My Backstory and Interview with Mary Schlosser
February 19, 2020 21:52 - 29 minutes - 40.7 MBIn this pilot episode, I share my backstory that has lead me to become an Appalachian Trail thru-hike hopeful. My mom, Mary, joins me for an interview. It’s the start of an adventure! Follow on Facebook or Instagram: @walkingtalkingpod Check out the website: ryanschlosser.com
1. Pilot
January 03, 2020 02:14 - 13 minutes - 20.8 MBAfter almost a year of preparation, I'm happy to release my first episode! Listen for a show description and an interview with my mom, Mary Schlosser. The editing and sound quality here is far from flawless, but I'll make all the improvements I can in those fields while I learn as I go. Thanks for tuning in! Click below to visit the website! ryanschlosser.com