I recount a multi-state adventure from Baltimore to Louisville, Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe, Carmel, and San Francisco—and back home. Along the way, I reflect on how travel can interrupt routine, create room for self-discovery, and remind us not to wait for the “perfect time” to experience life.

Key topics

Setting out to break free from routine and make space for adventure

Traveling solo to reconnect with herself and gain perspective

Louisville’s welcoming atmosphere, local food, music, and bourbon culture

Festival highlights, including the Foo Fighters, a viral photo, and a reminder to stay safe in the heat

Bourbon distillery tours and a speakeasy-style tasting

The contrast between Las Vegas’s intensity and Lake Tahoe’s quiet beauty

A scenic drive through changing landscapes toward the California coast

Slowing down with friends in Carmel and exploring San Francisco

Lessons about independence, spontaneity, and not putting off meaningful experiences

Timestamps

00:01 — Feeling stuck and wanting to get away
00:32 — The journey from Baltimore to California and back
01:43 — Finding freedom and perspective along the way
02:04 — Why there may never be a “perfect time” to travel
03:51 — Traveling for music, friends and new places
05:43 — Craving excitement and the freedom to go solo
07:03 — Leaving your comfort zone and seeing things differently
11:02 — How travel can disrupt a feeling of being stuck
13:00 — Seeking a change in perspective through travel
13:33 — What each destination offered
16:46 — Louisville emerges as a memorable stop
21:02 — The excitement of setting off
23:05 — How leaving home shifts your mindset
29:14 — Fried chicken and local food traditions
30:13 — Record night and Louisville’s welcoming vibe
33:40 — Heading to Bourbon & Beyond for the Foo Fighters
46:33 — The Dave Grohl amp photo that went viral
48:18 — How live music brings strangers together
49:12 — Louisville distillery tours
59:41 — Learning about a place by experiencing it firsthand
60:43 — Leaving Louisville for Las Vegas
65:31 — Festival time and seeing the Black Keys
67:11 — A blackjack session at the Luxor
72:25 — The next stop: Reno and Lake Tahoe
77:24 — Finding lasting memories in unexpected places
81:10 — Feeling lucky to experience Tahoe
82:44 — How nature helps quiet the mind
83:32 — Renting a car and choosing the scenic route
87:40 — Arriving in Carmel and visiting a friend
90:48 — Taking the train from Carmel to San Francisco
92:47 — Why travel doesn’t have to be a checklist
95:05 — The lessons the journey taught her
98:15 — The journeys that remind us how much life is waiting

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We go into Rocky Mountain National Park to reconstruct the May 29, 2022, accident in Dreamweaver Couloir on Mount Meeker. This episode blends mountain geography, avalanche basics, and a rescue timeline to show how quickly conditions can turn deadly, even for experienced climbers. The heart of the episode is a cautionary reminder that skill and preparation reduce risk, but they do not eliminate it. It is as much about mountain safety as it is about humility, rescue logistics, and the decision to come home alive.

Key topics

Rocky Mountain National Park and why late spring in the high country can still feel like winter.

The difference between simply hiking a mountain and technical mountaineering.

The episode focuses on Mount Meeker and the Dreamweaver Couloir route used by climbers.

What a couloir is and why its shape can funnel snow, rock, and ice into an avalanche path.

The episode recounts the three climbers involved.

The episode emphasizes that the climbers were experienced, trained, and familiar with mountaineering.

Witnesses heard a thunder-like crack as a massive rockfall, reportedly from the Flying Buttress, triggered an avalanche.

The avalanche created a crater about 50 feet wide and sent snow, gravel, and boulders down toward the climbers.

One climber suffered serious injuries, one sustained minor injuries, and one was buried and later recovered dead.

Avalanche rescue basics, including scene assessment, beacon searches, probing, shoveling, and evacuation.

How a helicopter hoist rescue was attempted during a narrow weather window, with severe weather limiting access above 11,500 feet.

Lessons on preparation, changing conditions, knowing when to turn around, and respecting the mountain even when you feel prepared.

Timestamps
01:21 — Why this story matters in Rocky Mountain National Park
06:56 — The difference between hiking a summit and climbing it
08:04 — Couloirs, alpine climbing, and mixed terrain
10:10 — Mount Meeker and the Dreamweaver Couloir route
13:15 — Why a couloir can funnel disaster downhill
15:49 — Introducing the three climbers involved
17:11 — Why experience did not prevent the accident
20:41 — The rockfall that triggered the avalanche
21:27 — How the impact sent snow and boulders downhill
25:28 — The three climbers’ different outcomes
26:51 — Rescue begins above 11,500 feet
27:31 — Helicopter hoist rescue during a short weather window
30:22 — Avalanche rescue steps, from assessment to probing
33:54 — RECCO reflectors and how rescuers locate victims
35:15 — Searchers locate Christopher Clark
36:08 — Why late spring is still avalanche season in the high country
38:35 — Lessons on preparation, weather, and emergency planning

If you liked this episode, please show your continued support by following, subscribing, liking, and commenting on my episodes wherever you listen to your podcasts!

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We wander above Salt Lake City and into Utah’s wider UFO landscape, weighing eerie sightings against grounded explanations like military testing, dark skies, and misidentification. In this episode, we will explore reports tied to Salt Lake City, Dugway Proving Ground, and Skinwalker Ranch while separating witness accounts from confirmed evidence.

Key Topics

Why Utah’s dark skies, mountain geography, and remote land make it a compelling UFO hotspot.

How Utah’s military facilities, including the Utah Test and Training Range and Dugway Proving Ground, can produce unusual lights and aircraft activity.

Why an unidentified sighting is not automatically evidence of extraterrestrial activity.

Reported UFO activity around Salt Lake City.

How darkness, distance, atmospheric distortion, satellites, and perspective affect perception.

Why Dugway is sometimes called “Area 52” in UFO lore.

Skinwalker Ranch’s reputation for reports involving strange lights, animal incidents, electromagnetic anomalies, and other unexplained phenomena.

Why “unexplained” and “extraterrestrial” are not interchangeable.

What our fascination with UFOs may reveal about human curiosity and the desire to explore the unknown.

Timestamps
01:50 — Why Utah is a UFO hotspot
06:50 — Utah’s military testing footprint and the Utah Test and Training Range
07:54 — Dugway Proving Ground and its role in chemical and biological testing
11:51 — Recorded reports in Salt Lake City of UFO sightings
19:18 — Dugway, “Area 52,” and why military secrecy fuels speculation
21:38 — Classified aircraft and the problem of public recognition
23:16 — Skinwalker Ranch and Utah’s most famous paranormal site
30:08 — Government interest and funding connected to UAP research
30:46 — Why “unexplained” is not the same as “extraterrestrial”

Resources and Further Reading

Dugway Proving Ground — U.S. Army: https://www.army.mil/article/255391/dugway_proving_ground

Hill Air Force Base — Utah Test and Training Range

National UFO Reporting Center

The National Archives — UAP Records

Skinwalker Ranch — Official Website

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The haunting story of eight-year-old Douglas Legg, who disappeared from the Santanoni property in Newcomb, New York, in July 1971. This episode traces the final moments before he was sent back toward the lodge, the enormous search that followed, and the questions that still linger more than 50 years later. In this episode, I examine the landscape of Great Camp Santanoni, what made the search so difficult, and why this case continues to stand out in the history of wilderness disappearances.

Key topics

Douglas Legg was eight years old when he disappeared on July 10, 1971, from the Santanoni property near Newcomb, New York.

The Santanoni estate was a huge family retreat, not an unfamiliar place to Douglas or the Legg family.

Douglas had been walking with his uncle, Myron Melvin, when he was sent back to the main lodge to change out of shorts after encountering poison ivy.

Accounts vary on timing and distance, but the key point is that Douglas was reportedly very close to the lodge when he vanished.

The search is described as one of the largest wilderness searches in New York State at the time, lasting weeks and involving hundreds, possibly around 1,000 people.

I emphasize how dense forest, wetlands, steep terrain, weather, and time all worked against the search effort.

I explore several possibilities, including getting lost, an accident, being missed by searchers, and foul play, while stressing that no definitive evidence has ever confirmed what happened.

I note that the case influenced wilderness search and rescue in New York and helped push the state toward a more organized system.

Resources used

Great Camp Santanoni and the Santanoni property near Newcomb, New York

New York State Police information regarding the Douglas Legg case

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation historical accounts

The Adirondack Forest Preserve

Timestamps

00:00 - An eight-year-old disappears on a familiar summer walk
03:22 - I introduce the Adirondacks mystery and the questions ahead
07:26 - Who Douglas Legg was
08:40 - The poison ivy moment that changed everything
13:38 - The search expands into a massive rescue effort
18:58 - How the case changed New York wilderness rescue
20:23 - The core mystery: how could he vanish so close to people?
21:16 - Getting lost in the Adirondacks and the host’s own hiking experience
24:08 - Accident, exposure, or being missed by searchers
27:26 - Leads, rumors, and why internet retellings overstate the facts
29:12 - Santanoni as family home and historic place
31:17 - Remembering Douglas as a child, not just a mystery
33:05 - What wilderness teaches about control and humility
34:47 - Practical lessons for staying safe outdoors
38:16 - The unanswered question that remains after five decades

If you liked this episode, please show your continued support by following, subscribing, liking, and commenting on my episodes wherever you listen to your podcasts!

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This episode explores Acadia National Park through the lens of cryptids, folklore, and intentional travel, using the park’s fog, forests, coastline, and history to ask why mysterious stories take root in certain landscapes. This matters because it separates cultural tradition from spooky storytelling, while showing how place, memory, and fear shape what people think they experience. In this episode:

• Roxy frames Acadia as more than a scenic destination, emphasizing its deep Wabanaki history and spiritual significance
• She explains why the land should not be treated as “untouched wilderness,” pushing back on colonial framing of Maine as untamed or uncivilized
• She breaks down how fog, darkness, isolated roads, dense trees, and cold water can make ordinary experiences feel uncanny
• She explains pareidolia and pattern recognition as psychological reasons people misread shadows, sounds, footprints, and reflections
• She distinguishes folklore, legend, myth, ghost stories, and cryptid claims as separate categories
• She discusses Bigfoot stories as a fit for the landscape, while noting there is no scientifically verified Bigfoot population in Acadia
• She covers sea monster lore, especially Cassie, the Casco Bay Sea Serpent, and why coastal environments invite those stories
• She looks at Acadia ghost stories, including the Prospect Harbor Lighthouse and Spirit Cove, through the idea of residual energy and historical memory
• She closes with a call for intentional travel, curiosity, and respect for the cultures and histories tied to the land

Timestamps:

01:45 - Why Acadia’s beauty invites history and mystery

05:12 - Why Wabanaki history must come before any monster story

10:09 - The Wabanaki nations and the first cultural framework

18:12 - Mount Desert Island and seasonal movement on the land

25:11 - Colonization and the shift from shared stewardship to extraction

26:05 - Maine framed as untamed wilderness and why that language matters

36:05 - How the brain fills in blanks with patterns and assumptions

39:10 - Pareidolia and why people see faces, animals, and sounds

42:21 - Folklore, legend, myth, ghost story, and cryptid definitions

44:37 - Bigfoot stories and why Acadia fits the narrative

49:37 - Fear, intuition, and staying alert when hiking alone

54:51 - Cassie, the Casco Bay Sea Serpent, and reported sightings

59:32 - Acadia ghost stories: Prospect Harbor Lighthouse and Spirit Cove

65:45 - Walking the carriage roads and feeling history remain

67:30 - Three categories: documented history, folklore, and cryptid claims

72:05 - Visiting Acadia intentionally and researching before arrival

74:16 - Why landscape research matters, from plaques to wildlife awareness

If you liked this episode, please show your continued support by following, subscribing, liking, and commenting on my episodes wherever you listen to your podcasts!

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Roxy explores one of America’s most famous and dangerous hikes, Angels Landing in Zion National Park, and explains why the trail is both breathtaking and unforgiving. She combines personal experience, park history, geology, Indigenous history, and modern safety rules with a deeply unsettling true-crime angle tied to a fatal fall on the mountain. She covers the trail itself, the forces that formed Zion, the people who lived there first, and the risks hikers face today.

Key topics

She places Angels Landing in Zion National Park, Utah.

She explains the geology of Zion.

She covers the area’s Indigenous history, including the ancient Puebloan people and the Southern Paiute.

She traces the development of Zion tourism.

She describes the trail engineering, including Walter Reusch’s work, the switchbacks known as Walter’s Wiggles, and the chain section.

She explains why the route is dangerous.

She shares current safety changes, including the permit lottery system, ranger checks, weather enforcement, and water requirements.

She reviews documented fatalities and rescue activity on the trail, emphasizing that wet rock, wind, heat exhaustion, and bad footwear are major hazards.

She discusses the Bernadette Vander Meer case, where a fall on Angels Landing was later tied to a murder investigation.

Timestamps

00:00 - Opening image of the cliff edge and why Angels Landing feels terrifying

03:22 - Zion National Park location and Roxy’s personal trip there

05:45 - How Zion became a national park

07:37 - The geology that formed Zion’s massive rock structures

12:14 - Ancient Puebloan farming villages, cliff dwellings, and survival in the canyon

14:36 - The Southern Paiute and their spiritual relationship with the land

18:22 - Mormon settlers arrive

21:06 - How Angels Landing got its name

21:48 - Tourism growth in Zion

23:16 - Walter Reusch and the engineering of the trail

25:46 - Walter’s Wiggles and the climb to Scouts Lookout

27:17 - The chained section and why it feels so exposed

33:16 - Rescue data, water shortages, and why preparation matters

35:04 - The 2022 permit system and how the lottery works

42:19 - Recorded deaths on Angels Landing and the main causes

50:00 - The Bernadette Vander Meer case begins

60:50 - Lessons from Angels Landing: humility, preparation, and limits

Action items

Bring enough water for a hard hike, with Roxy recommending around three liters.

Wear shoes with real grip, not sneakers.

Check weather conditions before attempting exposed trails.

Know your limits and turn around if fear, fatigue, or dizziness kicks in.

Use the permit system properly if a trail requires it.

Leave no trace and do not feed wildlife.

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Roxy shares a personal travel story about taking Amtrak across the United States instead of flying, turning a budget rail pass into a lesson in slow travel, grief, and perspective. This episode matters because it is less about transportation and more about how the journey itself can reshape what you notice, feel, and remember. In this episode:

Roxy explains why she chose train travel over flying, including cost, timing, and the desire to experience every mile.

She breaks down her multi-stop route.

She shares how grief after losing a friend made slow travel feel necessary, not just appealing.

She compares the realities of Amtrak life with expectations, including sleeper accommodations, reclining seats, shared bathrooms, crowded cars, and inconsistent station staff.

She highlights the strongest parts of the trip: the scenery, wildlife, national parks, and the freedom to move between cars and spend time in the observation car.

She reflects on the social side of train travel, especially meeting strangers in the dining car and having deeper conversations than she would on a plane.

She describes standout stops like Joshua Tree, Saguaro, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Alamo, the River Walk, and the Chicago station.

She shares practical Amtrak advice for future travelers.

She closes with a broader takeaway: life is not about how fast you arrive, but how fully you experience the miles in between.

Action Items:

If you want a sleeper car on Amtrak, book early.

Pack layers and a raincoat for changing weather across regions.

Bring a refillable water bottle and a portable charger.

Download entertainment before boarding.

Spend time in the observation car if your train has one.

Try at least one meal in the dining car.

Expect delays and build flexibility into your trip.

Resources & Links:

Amtrak official site

Amtrak Rail Pass information

Joshua Tree National Park

Saguaro National Park

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

The Alamo

San Antonio River Walk

If you liked this episode, please show your continued support by following, subscribing, liking, and commenting on my episodes wherever you listen to your podcasts!

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Are you ready to go beneath the romantic surface of Paris and into the catacombs, where over six million remains, hidden tunnels, and wartime history reveal a very different side of the city? This episode blends travel storytelling with history, eerie legends, and reflection on why humans are drawn to dark places. In this episode:

• Why the Paris Catacombs fascinated her more than the city’s famous tourist sights
• The episode traces how ancient limestone quarries beneath Paris became a tunnel network and later a burial site
• Diving into the overcrowded church cemeteries that forced officials to move bodies underground in the 1700s
• The catacombs are described as the resting place of more than six million people, with bones arranged in patterned wall displays
• The entrance warning: “Stop. This is the Empire of Death”
• The eerie legends, including footsteps, whispers, sudden cold breezes, and the story of a man who got lost in the tunnels and vanished for years
• Illegal tunnel exploration, hidden chambers, bunkers used during World War II, and rumors of cults and underground gatherings
• Connecting the catacombs to broader themes of mortality, emotional numbness, healing, and the human urge to confront discomfort
• Asking listeners what hidden layers they may be walking past in their own lives

Timestamps:

(00:00) Paris as the city above an empire of death

(01:35) Why I obsessed over visiting the catacombs

(02:56) Limestone quarries that shaped Paris from below

(05:23) Why overcrowded church cemeteries forced bodies underground

(08:51) Six million people and the catacombs as a resting place

(12:43) Entering through the spiral staircase and the cold underground air

(13:47) The warning sign: “Stop. This is the Empire of Death”

(14:16) Bone walls, skull patterns, and the visual design of the ossuary

(17:39) Eerie legends, cold breezes, and the feeling of something passing by

(21:13) Illegal access, hidden chambers, and World War II bunkers

(23:07) Cataphiles, tunnel explorers, and Magnus Midtbo’s catacomb descent

(26:00) The underground cinema rumor and the note that said “Don’t search”

(29:16) Wartime use of the tunnels by the French resistance

(31:22) Why people are drawn to death, tragedy, ghosts, and dark history

Resources & Links:

Paris Catacombs official site

As Above, So Below film info

Magnus Midtbø’s YouTube channel

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