Oregon influencer discusses going viral, finding peace in the forest

Maybe you’ve seen the videos come across your social media feed. They show a man, with a backwards hat and hiking poles, grumpily tromping down some beautiful, forested trail. The caption: “going on a stupid hike for my stupid mental health.” On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk to southern Oregon resident Andy Neal, creator of the videos, who has been turning his viral moment into a career advocating for mental health and outdoor recreation. Neal, who was relatively new to both filming and hiking when he first went viral in 2022, has since become passionate about the joy and peacefulness that can be found in the natural world. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: How Neal went viral in the first place. How he has been using his newfound platform since 2022. What is it about the natural world that’s so good for mental health? A few of Neal’s favorite places to go on “stupid hikes.”  Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices