The Stupid Hike That Changed Everything with Andy Neal | Go Wildly Podcast

The Stupid Hike That Changed Everything with Andy NealEpisode 39 | Go Wildly PodcastAndy Neal went from pastor to filmmaker to half a million followers — all thanks to the trails. Known online as @andyfilmsandhikes, Andy is an Oregon-based storyteller, filmmaker, and outdoor creator whose "stupid hike for my stupid mental health" videos struck a nerve with people who needed permission to just go be real outside. Before full-time content creation he spent 15 years as a pastor. Today he talks openly about faith, relationship with land, identity, foster and adoptive parenting, mental health, and what it takes to start over.In This EpisodeFrom bible school to film school to hiking, podcasting, and plus-size modelingBeing a voice for mental health and child advocacyFoster and adoptive parentingHis weight loss journey and GLP-1The Rogue River at Ti'lomikh FallsSpirituality and common groundHis first time backpacking — feeling dependent on the landLand stewardship and public landsGetting over yourself to get to know yourselfGoing viral and navigating brand dealsDestigmatizing men's mental healthAdvice for his younger selfFavorite outdoor gearRecommendations for Southern OregonHow he wants to be rememberedLinksInstagram & YouTube: @andyfilmsandhikesWebsite: https://www.andyfilmsandhikes.com/Active Listener OffersKula Cloth — Shop through our link to support the show: kulacloth.com/?avad=436689_e4cf2ef3dSouthern Oregon Martial Arts Academy — 2-Week Free Trial + 6-month membership: southernoregonmartialarts.comROW Adventures — Code GOWILDLY, $100 off any multi-day trip 2026-2027: rowadventures.com/multi-day-rafting-tripsLean In Breathwork — Code GOWILDLY, 20% off sauna sessions: calvinlivingston.comFollow Go WildlyYouTube: youtube.com/@gowildlypodcastSpotify: tinyurl.com/spotifygowildlypodcastInstagram: @gowildlypodcastWebsite: gowildlypodcast.comHosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather White / Go Wildly PodcastTheme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters — used with permissionKeywordsGo Wildly Podcast, Go Wildly, Southern Oregon podcast, outdoor podcast, Emily Berlant, Heather White, Andy Neal, andyfilmsandhikes, hiking mental health, stupid hike for my stupid mental health, men's mental health, destigmatizing mental health, mental health outdoors, hiking Oregon, Oregon filmmaker, outdoor content creator, foster parenting, adoptive parenting, child advocacy, faith and outdoors, spirituality outdoors, GLP-1 weight loss, plus size hiking, plus size outdoors, going viral hiking, outdoor storytelling, Ti'lomikh Falls, Rogue River, public lands, land stewardship, backpacking Oregon, first time backpacking, getting over yourself, grief and healing outdoors, pastor turned filmmaker, place-based podcast, outdoor healing, whimsy, Kula Cloth