This week I’m joined by Jeffrey James Binney — adventure traveler, storyteller, and content creator based in Denver. Before trading the stage for the trail, Jeffrey performed in the Chicago and First National Tour of the Broadway musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and even appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman. After losing his mom to heart disease, he ran a 100-mile ultramarathon and made the award-winning documentary Once Is Enough (now on Amazon Prime). He’s worked with brands like REI, Westin, and Brooks Running, and is currently writing his next book, Motivationally Unstable (coming 2027).In our conversation, Jeffrey and I dig into what it means to build a successful and authentic career as an outdoor content creator, the challenges plus-size influencers face in a fit-centric industry, and how joy and mental health can coexist with life online. We talk about the ups and downs of creating content, why nature has a way of quieting the noise, and what it takes to stay real in an industry that often rewards perfection over honesty. Jeffrey shares his unique perspective on representation in the outdoors and offers powerful advice for aspiring creators looking to find their voice, their confidence, and their audience.Learn more about Jeffrey → instagram.com/jeffreybinneyWatch his film Once Is Enough → Amazon PrimeWhere to Listen and Watch:YouTube → /@andyfilmsandhikesSpotify → The Andy Films and Hikes PodcastApple Podcasts → The Andy Films and Hikes PodcastOr wherever you get your podcastsSupport the Show:Buy me a coffee → buymeacoffee.com/andyfilmsandhikesPatreon coming soon. Stay tuned.Connect with Me (Andy Neal):Instagram → instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikesTikTok → tiktok.com/@andyfilmsandhikesYouTube → /@andyfilmsandhikesThreads → threads.net/@andyfilmsandhikesFacebook → facebook.com/andyfilmsandhikesConnect with Jeffrey Binney:Instagram → instagram.com/jeffreybinneyFilm → Once Is Enough (Amazon Prime)Thank you for listening, for supporting, and for helping me share these important conversations. Now, let’s jump into my conversation with Jeffrey James Binney.

The Andy Films and Hikes PodcastThis week I’m joined by Alistair Green, the Outdoorsy Educator. Alistair was raised in Glasgow, Scotland by a nurse and an educator, and now lives in Denton, Texas with his wife and two dogs. He is a lifelong public school teacher who now serves as a college professor at Texas Woman’s University, where he prepares future teachers and explores practical ways to connect education with the outdoors.Alistair’s passions include sports, hiking, camping, road trips, and time with family. The outdoors is his reset button and a key part of his work and life balance. He is driven to inspire students to love learning and to empower teachers to rekindle their passion for educating the young minds of today and the leaders of tomorrow.In our conversation, we dig into Title I field trips and why kids drop their armor outside, how Texas state parks make access possible, building outdoor classrooms on a budget, library gear-lending programs that remove barriers, and the ongoing debate about tagging locations online. We also talk Scotland versus Texas mindsets about public lands, how a simple walk can turn down the noise of life, starting a podcast from scratch, and creating a kinder digital campfire where people can actually connect.Learn more about Alistair → instagram.com/theoutdoorsyeducatorWhere to Listen and Watch:YouTube → youtube.com/@andyfilmsandhikesSpotify → The Andy Films and Hikes PodcastApple Podcasts → The Andy Films and Hikes PodcastOr wherever you get your podcastsSupport the Show:Buy me a coffee → buymeacoffee.com/andyfilmsandhikesPatreon coming soon. Stay tuned.Connect with Me (Andy Neal):Instagram → instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikesTikTok → tiktok.com/@andyfilmsandhikesYouTube → youtube.com/@andyfilmsandhikesThreads → threads.net/@andyfilmsandhikesFacebook → facebook.com/andyfilmsandhikesConnect with Alistair Green:Instagram → instagram.com/theoutdoorsyeducatorThe Outdoorsy Educator - https://www.theoutdoorsyeducator.com Thank you for listening, for supporting, and for helping me share these important conversations. Now, let’s jump into my conversation with Alistair Green.

The Andy Films and Hikes PodcastThis week I’m joined by Dr. Suzanne Bartlett Hackenmiller — physician, author, wife, mother, and Chief Medical Advisor at AllTrails. Suzanne is board certified in OB-Gyn and Integrative Medicine, with additional certifications in herbal medicine, Ayurveda, meditation, and nature and forest therapy.She is the award-winning author of The Outdoor Adventurer’s Guide to Forest Bathing and the founder of Trail Rx, a program that provides parks and trail systems with “nature prescriptions” to improve mental and physical health. Suzanne has served as Medical Director of the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, lead physician for Chopra Whole Health, and currently practices at Honor Health Integrative Medicine in Scottsdale, Arizona, while also teaching as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix.In our conversation, Suzanne shares her personal journey through grief and burnout, her path into integrative medicine, and the science behind forest bathing — from reducing stress hormones in minutes to improving long-term health. She also gives practical ways to bring forest therapy into your daily life, whether you live near trails or in the middle of a big city.🌐 Learn more about Suzanne → IntegrativeInitiative.com✨ Where to Listen & Watch:YouTube → ⁠youtube.com/@andyfilmsandhikesSpotify → The Andy Films and Hikes PodcastApple Podcasts → The Andy Films and Hikes PodcastOr wherever you get your podcasts☕ Support the Show:Buy me a coffee → ⁠buymeacoffee.com/andyfilmsandhikes⁠Patreon coming soon — stay tuned!📲 Connect with Me (Andy Neal):Instagram → ⁠instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes⁠TikTok → ⁠tiktok.com/@andyfilmsandhikes⁠YouTube → ⁠youtube.com/@andyfilmsandhikesThreads → ⁠threads.net/@andyfilmsandhikes⁠Facebook → ⁠facebook.com/andyfilmsandhikes⁠📲 Connect with Dr. Suzanne Bartlett Hackenmiller:Instagram → ⁠instagram.com/docsusie⁠Website → ⁠integrativeinitiative.com⁠🌲 Thank you for listening, for supporting, and for helping me share these important conversations. Now, let’s jump into my conversation with Dr. Suzanne Bartlett Hackenmiller.

The Andy Films and Hikes PodcastThis week I’m joined by the incredible Marley Blonsky — cyclist, advocate, athlete, writer, and co-founder of All Bodies on Bikes. Marley is a passionate advocate for size inclusion in cycling and the outdoors. As the co-founder and Executive Director of All Bodies on Bikes, she has built a national movement to make cycling more welcoming and accessible for people of all sizes, identities, and backgrounds.Marley’s work has been featured by The TODAY Show, The Washington Post, Bicycling Magazine (where she was named Rider of the Year), and Outside Magazine (which honored her as Outsider of the Year in 2024). In addition to her advocacy, Marley is a content creator, public speaker, and professional athlete for brands including Cannondale, Shimano, SHREDLY, Ride With GPS, and Osprey. She also has a forthcoming children’s book set to release in Spring 2026. Based in Portland, Oregon, Marley brings warmth, authenticity, and joy to everything she does — and her happy place is on the bicycle.🌐 Learn more about All Bodies on Bikes → allbodiesonbikes.com✨ Where to Listen & Watch:YouTube → youtube.com/@andyfilmsandhikesSpotify → The Andy Films and Hikes PodcastApple Podcasts → The Andy Films and Hikes PodcastOr wherever you get your podcasts☕ Support the Show:Buy me a coffee → buymeacoffee.com/andyfilmsandhikesPatreon coming soon — stay tuned!📲 Connect with Me (Andy Neal):Instagram → instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikesTikTok → tiktok.com/@andyfilmsandhikesYouTube → youtube.com/@andyfilmsandhikesThreads → threads.net/@andyfilmsandhikesFacebook → facebook.com/andyfilmsandhikes📲 Connect with Marley Blonsky:Instagram → instagram.com/marleyblonskyTikTok → tiktok.com/@marleyblonskyYouTube → youtube.com/@marleyblonskyThreads → threads.net/@marleyblonskyFacebook → facebook.com/marleyblonsky🌲 Thank you for listening, for supporting, and for helping me share these important conversations. Now, let’s jump into my conversation with Marley Blonsky.

What happens when you mix YouTube, curiosity, charisma, and a whole lot of science? You get this week’s guest: Trace Dominguez! Trace Dominguez is a science communicator, producer, television presenter, and digital creator. His work appears on channels from Vox Media, Discovery, Science, PBS television, PBS Digital Studios, and more. His production company, Trace Elements Media, develops, pitches, creates, and publishes content with partners and clients. On his podcast That’s Absurd Please Elaborate, Trace and his co-host answer silly questions by citing real research. Trace creates science videos on his YouTube channels Trace Elements and Uno Dos of Trace. He is Telly & Webby award winning and an Emmy-nominated producer and host.Andy Neal sits down with the beloved science communicator and YouTube veteran to talk about his journey from the early days at Discovery Channel to carving out his own creative path as an independent creator.They dive into the rise of YouTube, the realities of burnout, and what it really takes to make science accessible (and exciting!) in today’s world. Trace gets real about conspiracies, magical thinking, the decline of media literacy, and how AI is reshaping the way we tell science stories.From the future of energy storage to why batteries are actually way cooler than you think, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration. If you're curious about the universe—or just love a good deep-dive conversation—this one's for you.More About Trace: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tracedominguez.com⁠Follow Trace on Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/tracedominguez⁠Follow Trace on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/tracedominguez⁠Music is licensed from Musicbed.com.  Subscribe to my YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out my TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠Buy Andy a Coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/andyfilmsandhikes ⁠⁠⁠⁠Need Outdoor gear for your next adventure? Use Andy's REI affiliate link and help Andy out: ⁠⁠⁠https://alnk.to/fSeu523⁠⁠

In this engaging conversation, Gaby Rojas, the digital communications manager for America's Wildlife Refuges, shares her journey from a non-outdoorsy background to advocating for wildlife conservation. She discusses the importance of wildlife refuges, their role in preserving ecosystems, and how they serve as peaceful spaces for both wildlife and humans. Gabby emphasizes the need for inclusivity in outdoor spaces and the significance of community engagement in conservation efforts. The conversation also touches on the challenges of marketing while protecting natural spaces and the importance of responsible outdoor recreation.Takeaways- Gabby Rojas is the digital communications manager for America's Wildlife Refuges.- Wildlife refuges are often overlooked compared to national parks and forests.- Refuges provide a unique space for both wildlife and humans to thrive.- Mental health benefits can be gained from spending time in nature.- Inclusivity in outdoor spaces is essential for community engagement.- Digital communication plays a crucial role in conservation efforts.- There is a tension between marketing outdoor spaces and protecting them.- Community involvement is vital for the success of wildlife refuges.- Everyone can find a place in the outdoor industry, regardless of their background.- Friends groups are passionate advocates for wildlife refuges.

What happens when you mix solo travel, stunt work, Emmy-nominated storytelling, and a deep love for wild places? You get Alice Ford.This week on The Adventure Is Out There Podcast, Andy Neal sits down with Alice Ford—stuntwoman, TV host, outdoor creator, and the visionary behind the PBS show Alice’s Adventures on Earth.Alice’s path has been anything but linear: from a childhood spent running barefoot through the woods of New Hampshire, to doubling actors in Stranger Things and Transformers, to filming herself trekking through some of the most remote places on earth. In a world that often says you need a beard and a flannel to host outdoor TV, Alice forged her own path—pitching networks, building a YouTube audience from scratch, and taking her camera (and tripod) into the wild solo.In this episode, we talk about: – Breaking into Hollywood stunts (and why most doors were closed)– Starting her own travel docuseries and landing it on PBS– What it's really like filming alone outdoors as a woman– The ethics of outdoor content creation and stewardship– Her time living with disappearing Indigenous tribes—and how it changed her– Advice for aspiring outdoor creators (spoiler: it’s not just about going viral)If you care about nature, storytelling, or simply doing the hard thing when the easy thing would’ve been easier—this conversation is for you.More about Alice:YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/alicelogan1Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/alicesadventuresonearthBlog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.alicesadventuresonearth.comFollow Andy:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: www.youtube.com/@andyfilmsandhikesInstagram: www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikesTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@andyfilmsandhikesBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/andyfilmsandhikesSupport future content by using Andy’s REI affiliate link: https://alnk.to/fSeu523Music licensed from Musicbed.com.

What happens when you mix YouTube, curiosity, charisma, and a whole lot of science? You get this week’s guest: Trace Dominguez! Trace Dominguez is a science communicator, producer, television presenter, and digital creator. His work appears on channels from Vox Media, Discovery, Science, PBS television, PBS Digital Studios, and more. His production company, Trace Elements Media, develops, pitches, creates, and publishes content with partners and clients. On his podcast That’s Absurd Please Elaborate, Trace and his co-host answer silly questions by citing real research. Trace creates science videos on his YouTube channels Trace Elements and Uno Dos of Trace. He is Telly & Webby award winning and an Emmy-nominated producer and host.Andy Neal sits down with the beloved science communicator and YouTube veteran to talk about his journey from the early days at Discovery Channel to carving out his own creative path as an independent creator.They dive into the rise of YouTube, the realities of burnout, and what it really takes to make science accessible (and exciting!) in today’s world. Trace gets real about conspiracies, magical thinking, the decline of media literacy, and how AI is reshaping the way we tell science stories.From the future of energy storage to why batteries are actually way cooler than you think, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration. If you're curious about the universe—or just love a good deep-dive conversation—this one's for you.More About Trace: ⁠https://www.tracedominguez.comFollow Trace on Insta: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/tracedominguezFollow Trace on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/tracedominguezMusic is licensed from Musicbed.com.  Subscribe to my YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out my TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠Buy Andy a Coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/andyfilmsandhikes ⁠⁠⁠Need Outdoor gear for your next adventure? Use Andy's REI affiliate link and help Andy out: ⁠⁠https://alnk.to/fSeu523⁠⁠

This week I am so excited to talk with comedic actress and content creator Aimee La Joie. Aimee is a comedic actress and content creator. She is best known for her viral The Film Crew series. She resides in San Diego with her fur child, Lydia.  More About Aimee: http://www.aimeelajoie.com Follow Aimee on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/aimeelajoie Follow Aimee on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aimeelajoie Follow Aimee on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmATPHNS0gWjigjJGmF1GRA Music is licensed from Musicbed.com.   Subscribe to my YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out my TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@andyfilmsandhikes⁠ Buy Andy a Coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/andyfilmsandhikes ⁠⁠ Get a Gregory Mountain Products Pack or Luggage for your next Adventure by using code "andy15" at checkout at ⁠www.gregory.com⁠ to get 15% off your purchase and help Andy and the Podcast out. Need Outdoor gear for your next adventure? Use Andy's REI affiliate link and help Andy out: ⁠https://alnk.to/fSeu523⁠

This week I am so excited to talk again with my friend, Hiker, Author of the upcoming memoir Pack Light: A Journey to Find Myself , Influencer, & Mental Health Advocate, Shilletha “Dragonsky” Curtis. Follow Dragonsky on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/i_am_dragonsky/ Pre- Order Pack Light: A Journey to Find Myself https://books.disney.com/book/pack-light/ Andy and Shilletha's conversation from February 2022: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5yeoaSwdWlvrChf4tbKSvQ?si=dbdb699113a14ce2 Music is licensed from Musicbed.com.   Subscribe to my YouTube:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Check out my TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@andyfilmsandhikes Buy Andy a Coffee ⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/andyfilmsandhikes ⁠ Get a Gregory Mountain Products Pack or Luggage for your next Adventure by using code "andy15" at checkout at www.gregory.com to get 15% off your purchase and help Andy and the Podcast out. Need Outdoor gear for your next adventure? Use Andy's REI affiliate link and help Andy out: https://alnk.to/fSeu523 About Shilletha: Shilletha “Dragonsky” Curtis was born in Newark, New Jersey, and spent much of her time growing up on the Jersey Shore. Shilletha received her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Rutgers University in 2014 and spent a summer abroad in Beijing, China (2012) to further her Mandarin speaking skills and then she traveled to Romania (2013) to do an internship at an orphanage in Cluj-Napoca. Helping people has always been her passion, but she eventually found that she had a profound love for animals and eventually the outdoors. She trained as a Veterinary Technician in 2016 in Austin, Texas, and practiced for two years. She lost her job due to the coronavirus pandemic in March of 2020. Like many, with a new outlook on life, Shilletha pursued hiking, beginning with the Appalachian Trail. One day, her dream is to finish The Triple Crown, which is the highest honor, in hiking, completing the Appalachian, Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide. Her journey to complete continues though in every way--she's already won. About Pack Light: A Journey to Find Myself : Shilletha Curtis, also known as "Dragonsky," takes readers on a profound journey through her life, from the shores of New Jersey to the rugged terrain of the Appalachian Trail. Born in Newark, New Jersey, Shilletha's upbringing was marked by adversity, including fractured family dynamics, bullying, and abuse. However, despite these challenges, Shilletha's unwavering spirit and passion for helping others shine through. After losing her job as a Veterinary Technician due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Shilletha embarked on a life-changing adventure—the Appalachian Trail. Pack Light chronicles her courageous decision to confront the roots of her trauma while hiking through 14 states, battling depression, anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD along the way. But this memoir is more than just a hiking story. It's a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of nature. Shilletha's journey challenges the conventional narrative of "Hiking While Black," asserting that the great outdoors belongs to everyone. Through vivid prose and heartfelt reflection, Shilletha invites readers to join her on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and empowerment. Her experiences resonate with authenticity, offering hope and inspiration to anyone facing their own challenges. Explore Shilletha Curtis's remarkable story and share in her triumphs and tribulations. This memoir is not just a book—it's a testament to the human spirit's resilience and capacity for growth.