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🌿 Season 12 Finale: One Year Later with Chickpea — Movement, Mindfulness & Coming Home 🥾✨

For the Season 12 finale of Hikes & Mics, we welcome back Chickpea for a powerful, full-circle conversation—one year after her first appearance on the podcast. In that time, Chickpea has taken bold leaps off trail and in life, becoming a full-time traveler, backpacking and mindset mentor, yoga instructor for hikers, and writer, helping others take their first brave steps into the outdoors.

We dive into a year shaped by long trails and inner work, from Scotland’s West Highland Way to Portugal’s stunning Rota Vicentina Fisherman’s Trail, and her return to the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington—including a deeply meaningful honeymoon hike through the Cascades and Olympic Coast. Chickpea opens up about redefining the idea of home, navigating the tension between constant movement and stillness, and how mindfulness on trail has become the foundation of both her personal life and coaching work.

Along the way, we talk trail curiosities and joys—vino verde and gooseneck barnacles, honesty boxes, birdwatching discoveries, elopement magic, and why Oregon might be one of the PCT’s most underrated sections. The conversation closes with heartfelt encouragement for anyone sitting at a desk dreaming of adventure but doubting themselves—and a reminder that you don’t need to have everything figured out to begin.

🎧 An inspiring send-off to Season 12, this episode is a love letter to curiosity, courage, and coming home to yourself—one step at a time.

Episode Links:
Chickpea on Instagram
Chickpea’s Website

This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

AllTrails+
I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.

Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!

Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)

Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists

Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.

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🎙️ The Trail Angel With a 7-Course Welcome

This week we sit down with Ben — better known on trail as Paladin — whose story threads together the Appalachian Trail, the PCT, Trans-Catalina sunrises, and a whole lot of good humanity along the way.

From childhood summers tracking animals on his grandfather’s farm to section-hiking the Smokies in college, his path into long-distance hiking runs deep. The AT became home. The PCT became a dream. And somewhere between snowfields and desert rain, a trail name was born from a Western theme song and a code of honor he still stands by.

We talk about postholing misery, trail-family dynamics, the power of kindness from strangers, and how he now pays it forward with legendary Trail Magic — full resupplies, campfires, and multi-course meals for weary hikers.

At the heart of it — legacy, connection, and the belief that moments shared outside can change us forever. 🌄

Episode Links:
Ben on Instagram
THRU-r on Instagram
Hartford County Woodshop

This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

AllTrails+
I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.

Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!

Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)

Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists

Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.

Send us a text

🎙️ The Artist Who Climbs Into Her Own Paintings 🏔️

This week we sit down with Erin — Central Washington hiker, contemporary landscape artist, and the creative force behind Nuwave Gallery — whose journey blends trail time, faith, and art in a way that feels both grounded and expansive.

She shares how hiking pulled her away from the computer and into a decade-long art career, how plein-air painting taught her to embrace imperfection, and how moving from Seattle to Ellensburg opened up a softer, quieter kind of beauty in the hills around Manastash Ridge. 🎨🏔️

We dive into her evolving style (including her signature “breaking the borders” technique), painting snowboards back to life, teaching watercolor + alcohol ink classes, and her upcoming 2026 group trip through Yosemite, Big Sur, and Three Rivers.

At the heart of it all — a deep love for nature, creative flow, and the belief that the outdoors has something to teach us every time we show up. ✨

Episode Links:
📸 Erin on Instagram
🌐 Erin’s Website
🖼 Nuwave Galley Website
✈️ Explore with Erin
📖 Mountain Proverbs: Art & Wisdom for the Adventurer’s Soul

This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

AllTrails+
I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.

Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!

Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)

Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists

Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.

Send us a text

This week on Hikes & Mics, we caught up with a familiar face: John Mark, last on the show back in 2023 — and a LOT has happened since then.

Over the past two years, he’s shifted careers from college professor to full-time court interpreter, giving him the flexibility to chase waterfalls, wander ridgelines, and sneak in micro-adventures between jobs. He’s camped nearly every month for two years straight, endured freezing nights in Savage Gulf, refined his pack system down to a science, and discovered a deep love for the wild pockets of Bankhead National Forest.

We talked about the 2024 solar eclipse, wildlife encounters from timber rattlers to raccoons with a sweet tooth. From cold-weather resilience to the magic of chasing new waterfalls, John Mark reminds us that the outdoors has endless lessons waiting for us — if we make the space for them.

Episode Links:
John Mark on Instagram
John Mark on Facebook

This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

AllTrails+
I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.

Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!

Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)

Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists

Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.

Send us a text

🎙️ A Life Built on Adventure, Partnership & Big Peaks

This week we sit down with Amy — phys-ed teacher, adventurer, and newly crowned Adirondack 46er — whose journey through all 50 states, 52 national parks, and decades of road trips has become a lifelong mission to explore the outdoors.

She shares how a chance reconnection with her now-husband sparked 26 years of adventure, how Mount Marcy in winter lit the fire, and how every summit has taught her something about perseverance, presence, and letting go. 🌄

We dive into her favorite national parks, hiking abroad in the Lake District and Scotland, feeding Highland cows, tackling the Turkey Grand Slam, and her next big goal: the Northeast 115.

At the heart of it all — a deep love for growth, challenge, and the magic of time spent in nature. ✨

Episode Links:
Amy on Instagram
Explore With Amy - Wattpad

This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

AllTrails+
I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.

Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!

Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)

Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists

Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.

Send us a text

🎙️ A Conversation on Healing, Service & the Power of the Trail

Just in time for Veterans Day, we sit down with Chappy, Program Director for the Veterans Engagement and Trail Stewardship Program with the Arizona Trail Association.

He shares how the trail became a bridge between healing, service, and purpose after military life — and how “mission therapy” gives veterans a new way to connect, give back, and rediscover themselves through the outdoors. 🇺🇸

We talk about carrying the flag for fallen brothers and sisters, the power of community on the Arizona Trail, and what it means to leave the world better than we found it. 🌄

It’s a powerful conversation about healing, stewardship, and hope — one that reminds us how much the trail truly gives back.

Learn more about the AZT Vets Program and support Operation Freedom March, a statewide effort running through July 2026 to honor America’s 250th birthday and empower veterans through the outdoors. Check out the episode links below to get involved, hike a segment, or donate.

Episode Links:
Chappy on Instagram
Arizona Trail Association - Vets Program on Instagram
Arizona Trail Association VETS Program Website
Operation Freedom March - Learn More

This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

AllTrails+
I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.

Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!

Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)

Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists

Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.

Send us a text

🎙️ Chasing National Parks: A Father–Son Quest 🥾🌄

In this special Hikes & Mics episode, we’re joined by Grant for his return to the podcast — and for the first time ever, his dad John steps up to the mic! Recorded in person at a lookout over a freshly snow-covered Washington Pass near North Cascades National Park, this heartfelt conversation explores what becomes possible when a shared love for the outdoors turns into a 13-year legacy of adventure.

Grant and John take us back to where it started in the Sierra Nevada, sharing the funny moments, near-mishaps, and breathtaking peaks that have shaped their annual father–son road trips across the country. We talk about everything from changing roles on trail to learning from wild weather, celebrating small wins, cowboy hat stories, and how hiking together has strengthened their relationship through every season of life.

🎧 Tune in for a beautiful reminder that the best views are the ones you share — and that it’s never too late to start a family hiking tradition.

Episode Links:
Grant on Instagram
Grant's Linktree
John on Instagram

This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

AllTrails+
I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.

Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!

Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)

Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists

Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.

Send us a text

🌄 Van Life, Second Acts & Saying YES to Adventure 🚐✨

This week on Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Kathleen — an adventurer and “Women’s Vitality Alchemist” who hit the road solo in her van Blondie to rediscover purpose, confidence, and joy.

We explore the freedom of van life, the wisdom found on trails from Monument Valley to the North Cascades, and why it’s never too late to reinvent yourself and chase what lights you up. 💚

🎙️ Tune in for an empowering conversation about second acts, soulful travel, and how every trail can lead you back to yourself.

Episode Links:
Kathleen on Instagram
Kathleen on Facebook
Kathleen on AllTrails

This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

AllTrails+
I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.

Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!

Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)

Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists

Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.