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Introduction to Natty Trebotich and Food For Adventures
In this episode of the Wellness in Asheville Podcast, host Travis Richardson connects with Lee "Natty" Trebotich, adventure chef, biologist, and founder of Food For Adventures. Natty and his wife Meghan bring people together through wild foraging, outdoor cooking over fire, and immersive experiences that reconnect us with nature and each other.

From leading kids' summer camps teaching scratch cooking and paddleboarding, to multi-day expeditions, wild cocktail classes, and annual nationwide tours, Natty shares his 20+ years of global mountaineering, foraging, and culinary expertise. We dive into the nutritional power of wild edibles, hormesis and adaptogens, rewilding in a modern world, and why sharing food breaks down barriers—no matter the language.

This conversation is packed with stories from Nepal to Mexico, practical tips on safe foraging, and a reminder that in uncertain times, we're all in this together—best around a campfire with wild-gathered ingredients.

Key Takeaways:

• Why wild foods pack superior nutrition and adaptogenic benefits compared to store-bought
• The healing power of community through shared outdoor meals and adventures
• Hands-on experiences like edible plant hikes, forage-to-plate classes, and expedition cooking
• Building resilience through nature connection, Leave No Trace principles, and proper foraging
• Stories of cultural food moments that transcend language barriers
• Natty's partnerships, sponsorships, and excitement for the 2025 Cooking, Camping & Conversations Tour

Timestamps:
00:00 – 03:00 | Intro: Travis's personal connection to wild outdoors and foraging
03:00 – 07:00 | Natty's summer camp for kids: Outdoor cooking, unplugging, and building skills
07:00 – 10:00 | Natty's background: Global travels, mountaineering, and food as motivation
10:00 – 14:00 | Services: Team building, expeditions, edible hikes, wild cocktails, and diverse clients
14:00 – 18:00 | Entrepreneurial journey: Grinding, niching into foraging + cooking, partnerships
18:00 – 23:00 | Nutritional benefits of wild edibles, hormesis, and adaptogens
23:00 – 29:00 | Rewilding, community over isolation, and food as universal language (with stories)
29:00 – 36:00 | Upcoming tour, wild cocktails, and accessible entry points in Asheville
36:00 – End | Wrap-up and thanks

Episode Links:

• Food For Adventures (foodforadventures.com)
• Instagram (@food_for_adventures)

The Wellness in Asheville podcast is produced by Be Well Asheville, your local news source covering health + wellness news + events in Asheville. Get the latest at bewellasheville.com or follow @bewellasheville.