OTM004 - Hobbies as a Meditation Practice

What if your hobby could become a doorway to healing, clarity, and even the divine?In this episode, Frank welcomes his first guest, Julianne—aka “Road Runner”—a former ballroom dance instructor turned thru-hiker who’s completed thousands of miles on trails like the Appalachian and Pacific Crest. What began as burnout from constantly pouring into others became a radical journey inward—one step at a time.Julianne shares how hiking transformed into a moving meditation: a space where time bends, emotions surface, and life’s deeper truths demand attention. From injury and isolation to synchronicity and spiritual encounters, her story reveals how the trail gives you not what you want, but exactly what you need.Together, the conversation explores the contrast between expressive and introspective movement (dance vs. hiking), the vulnerability required for growth, and the surprising ways we reconnect—with ourselves, others, and something greater.If you’ve ever felt stuck, depleted, or searching for meaning, this episode might just inspire you to find your own path—whether on a trail or in your everyday life.Follow Julianne: https://www.instagram.com/hikingdancer/Follow Us: https://www.instagram.com/offthematpod/