By Land Podcast
by Emory Wanger
This podcast is about learning how to have better backcountry experiences and understanding why spending time outside matters in the first place. I have conversations with people from diverse outdoor backgrounds to learn from them and hear their personal stories. I cover everything from backpacking, hiking, hunting, conservation, and outdoor skills to the broader role the outdoors can play in our health, perspective, and everyday lives. Thanks for listening! -Emory, By Land
Episodes
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#181 Room to Think with Nathan Jorgenson
Nathan Jorgenson spent his career as a dentist, but fishing, canoeing, and time in the Northwoods of Minnesota kept him looking beyond his office walls. He’s also a novelist, and a lot of what he writes begins with the experiences and questions he brings home from the outdoors. In this episode,...
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#180 The Frontier Within and Finding Your Way Back with Mike Martin
This episode isn't what you think it is, and it wasn't what I expected when I booked Mike for an interview. I expected a chat about Daniel Boone and how his life’s story inspired Mike to get outdoors, and while that’s kind of what happened, it’s not exactly that straightforward. Mike is the…
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#179 Back to the Mountains with Tom French
In this episode, I sit down with Tom French, author of The Gap Years: Climbing, Skiing, and the Journey Back, to talk about what happens when we step away from the expected path and make room for a different kind of experience. Tom spent his pre-career years climbing, ski racing, and traveling...
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#178 Rethinking How We Share Adventures with Nina Banducci of Polarsteps
Nina Banducci from Polarsteps joins the podcast to talk about something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately; how we document our lives and why social media doesn’t always feel like the right way to do it. We discuss the trending shift away from performative platforms like Instagram and why more...
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#177 Turning Setbacks Into Summits with Tia Banks
In this episode, I sit down with Tia Banks, a former professional athlete turned mountaineer, resilience expert, and motivational speaker. Tia’s journey is one of resilience, self-discovery, and mental toughness, and in our conversation, she shares how learning to manage setbacks helped her...
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#176 Fastpacking: How To Cover More Ground In Less Time with Tayson Whittaker
In this episode, I sit down with Tayson Whittaker, founder of Outdoor Vitals, to dive deep into fastpacking—what it is, why it works when time is tight, and how to cover more ground in less time. Whether you’re a backpacker looking to move faster and lighter, or someone trying to maximize limited...
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#175 The Power of Rucking with Ruck Evolution’s Bria Ruben
In this episode of the By Land Podcast, I sit down with Bria Ruben, co-founder of Ruck Evolution, to explore the benefits of rucking—a simple yet powerful way to build fitness, mental resilience, and community. Rucking is walking with weight, and it’s one of the most accessible, low-impact ways…
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#174 Bridging the Divide: Hunting vs. Rec with Kevin Timm of Seek Outside
In this episode, I sit down with Kevin Timm, founder of Seek Outside, to discuss the intersection of hunting, backpacking, and innovation in outdoor gear design. Kevin shares his thoughts on bridging the divide between recreational users and hunters, the role of durability in product design, and...
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#173 From 100 Miles to Full-Time Creator with Chad Lubinski
In this episode, I sit down with Chad to dive into his journey from a beginner hiker to a seasoned thru-hiker, ultra-runner, and outdoor content creator. We explore the moments that shaped his path, including his first 100-mile hike, overcoming mental and physical challenges, and his leap from a...
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#172 A Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon with Kevin Fedarko
Acclaimed author Kevin Fedarko, joins the podcast to discuss his new book, A Walk in the Park, which details the epic journey he took across the length of the Grand Canyon. Kevin reflects on the grueling physical and emotional challenges he and his hiking partner, Pete McBride, faced and how the...
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#171 Inside the Design Philosophy of Mystery Ranch with Alex Rich
Alex Rich of Mystery Ranch shares his journey from the production floor to the design team, where he now focuses on creating outdoor and hunting gear that prioritizes load carriage and comfort. We dive into the brand's unique approach to pack design, including the revolutionary overload system,...
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#170 Behind the Design: Mystery Ranch Radix Series with Designer Andrew Cottrell
Andrew Cottrell is the lead designer of the Radix series of backpacks at Mystery Ranch, an innovative line of ultralight backpacks that combines comfort, durability, and weight-saving features. Andrew shares insights into his hands-on approach to design, the importance of balancing load-carrying...
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#169 Recreating the Flow State with Barefoot Ted
Barefoot Ted is widely known for his role in the book Born to Run, but that's just a small part of who he is. In this episode, Ted discusses his approach to life and how to maintain a regular connection with the flow state in everyday life. Show Notes and Links The Connection Between Movement,...
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#168 You Carry the Tent, I'll Carry the Baby with Jack McClure
Jack McClure and his wife hiked southbound on the PCT in 2023 with their 9-month-old baby and joins the show to share their journey and lessons learned along the way. We discuss what life is like as a SOBO, preparing for the hike, relationship challenges along the way, hitting the SOS button, and...
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#167 Everest Incorporated with Will Cockrell
Will Cockrell joins the podcast to discuss his recently published book detailing the history of Mount Everest, his perspective on the draw of mountaineering, and the connection between suffering and achievement. Will also explains the need to tell the full story of Everest, as well as the...
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#166 Backpacking with Kids and New Gear with Brad Brooks of Argali
Brad Brooks joins the podcast to compare notes on our recent backpacking trips with our kids and discuss the importance of exposing children to the outdoors. We share our experiences and challenges while planning and executing our trips, emphasizing the value of involving children in the...
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#165 Becoming a Backcountry Foodie with Aaron Owens
Aaron Owens runs “Backcountry Foodie,” a one-stop shop for backpackers and long-distance hikers who want to level up their food game in the backcountry. From ultra-light food recipes and meal planners to a robust calorie calculator and resupply service, Aaron has you covered. She loves…
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#164 The Complexity of Conservation with Robbie Kroger of Blood Origins
Robbie Kroger of Blood Origins joins the show to discuss the complex relationship between hunting and conservation. We cover a range of topics, including the reintroduction of wolves, the function of wetlands, what would happen if we stopped hunting altogether, and finally, the impact social…
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#163 Planning Made Easy with Janelle Smith of Rec.gov
Janelle Smith is the strategic communications team lead at rec.gov and is responsible for spreading the word about the myriad of offerings the platform has for outdoor enthusiasts. As the summer season approaches, many of us are deep in the planning mode for camping trips, making this…
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#162 Relatives, not Resources with Dr. Dan Wildcat
Dr. Dan Wildcat joins the podcast to discuss his new book "On Indigenuity" and how we can reframe our relationship with the natural world in both a personal and global way. Dan is a Yuchi member of the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma, PhD, and teaches at Haskell Nations University. He's a wealth of...
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#161 Behind the Seams of Alpine Fit with Jen Loofbourrow
Jen Loofbourrow is the Owner and Founder of Alpine Fit, a baselayer-focused brand that offers multiple fit options in a custom odor-resistant fabric. Jen joins the show to talk about her background in the outdoors, why she launched a baselayer clothing brand, why proper fit is so important, and...
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#160 Master Your Craft with Bill Stoker
Bill Stoker is a retired Army Veteran with a passion for teaching others how to master the art of fieldcraft and land navigation. In this episode, Bill joins the podcast for a deep dive into how to gain the correct mindset and perspective when in the field, the importance of situational…
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#159 "Maybe In A Little Bit" - Off-Trail with Emory
In this episode, it's just you and me hanging out for a bit. We'll catch you up on life and why I've been missing from the podcast for a couple of months. Don't worry, the show still goes on, but I had some growing to do, and you're going to hear all about it. I love gear and trail stories as…
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#158 Escaping the Thru-Hiking Mentality and Rediscovering Backpacking with Michael “Einstein” Gelfeld
Michael "Einstein" Gelfeld is an accomplished backpacker and bikepacker. He's logged thousands of miles doing both, but when you ask him what matters most after all of that, he'd tell you it's not the stats but instead, whether or not you enjoy what you're doing. Einstein joins the podcast to...
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#157 Inside Nuyarn’s Revolutionary Spin On Merino Wool with CEO Andy Wynne
Andy Wynne is the CEO of Nuyarn®, a Merino wool textile manufacturer that has reinvented the way Merino is spun so it can unlock its natural characteristics while enhancing performance. The result is a material that can outperform synthetics while maintaining the benefits of natural fiber.…
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#156 Behind the Design with Exo Mountain Gear
Exo Mountain Gear specializes in load-hauling backpacks designed for hunters. Steve Speck and Mark Huelsing join me for a behind-the-scenes look at Exo's newest K4 pack design. After more than 3 years in development and over a decade of pack-building experience, the K4 is a finely tuned design…
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#155 Getting to Know Dan Becker
Dan Becker is a backpacker from Wisconsin who turned his passion into his full-time profession. If you’ve poked around YouTube for backpacking, you’ve no doubt seen his videos a time or two. He’s grown a massive following and for good reason - he’s just a great guy. Dan is genuine, sincere…
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#154 - Thru-Hiking France with Thomas Bouïssaguet of Hexatrek
The Hexatrek is a 3000 km long-distance trail across France that begins at the border of Germany, traverses the Pyrenees Mountains, and ends at the Bay of Biscay. Thomas works for the Hexatrek organization and spent the summer and fall of 2022 hiking and documenting the trail. Thomas is able to...
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#153 - Hard-won Insights with Andrew Skurka
Andrew Skurka is known throughout the backpacking industry as someone who knows what they’re talking about when it comes to spending time in the backcountry. He was thru-hiking before it became popular and has hiked well over 20,000 miles across both long and short expeditions. Andrew now…
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#152 Creating An Outdoor Family Lifestyle with Katie O’mara of Trail Magik
Katie O’mara is the driving force behind Trail Magik, an outdoor brand whose mission is to make hiking and backpacking with toddlers efficient and more enjoyable. Once kids grow out of their backpack-style carriers, parents are forced into deciding how far their little ones can hike before…
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#151 - All Humans Outside with Tommy Corey
Tommy Corey’s eye for outdoor portrait photography landed him front and center in the hiking community during his 2018 PCT thru-hike when he began posting fashion-esque portraits of fellow thru-hikers under the project name “Hiker Trash Vogue.” The photo project captured the attention of major...
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#150 - Backpacking 1300 Miles of the PCT with 3 Kids with David Daley
This is the second part of a two-part mini-series with Marketa and David Daley who in 2022 hiked 1300 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail with their 3 young kids. David and I dive into the more holistic side of hiking the trail and explore the meaning behind the struggle and process of a thru-hike....
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#149 - Backpacking 1300 Miles of the PCT with 3 Kids with Marketa Daley
Marketa and David Daley backpacked 1300 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2022 with their 3 kids and proved to themselves that yes, it was possible to hike the PCT as a family. At times they moved at a snail's pace, questioned their own sanity, and were forced to find creative ways to motivate...
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#148 - Wildfire Basics and Forest Management with Evan Guzik of the USFS
Evan Guzik is a Public Affairs Officer for the US Forest Service out of the Bridger Teton Forest and joins the podcast to walk me through the basics of wildfires. Not only am I honored to have the US Forest Service represented on my show, but it’s made even more special because Evan and I served...
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#147 - The Quest: Nepal and the Summit of Everest with Alex Harz
Alex Harz is a man of many talents. He’s a filmmaker, mountaineer, and even a radio host, but for the purpose of this episode we’re diving into his Mount Everest Expedition and the film he’s produced about it called “The Quest: Nepal.” Alex might be the physical vehicle for the telling of a story...
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#146 - Canoe Camping 101 with Old Town Canoes
You might be wondering what canoe camping and backpacking have in common and why I’d be covering this on a “backpacking” podcast so to answer that question outright - they have ALOT in common. You’re required to plan, pack, stabilize a load, and bring what you need to get the job done safely and...
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#145 - Ultra-Right Backpacking with Paul McTaggart
Paul McTaggart is a family man and backpacker out of New Zealand who in recent years reignited his passion for the outdoors. He and I have been exchanging emails back and forth for some time now and I thought it was time we sit down for a real and open-ended conversation about backpacking. This…
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#144 - The Modern West with Melodie Edwards
Melodie Edwards is the host and senior producer of the Modern West Podcast which dives into the history of the west, and how it’s shaped our landscapes and modern culture while digging up little-known facts about the past. The show is produced for Wyoming Public Media (aka the state’s NPR…
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#143 - The Perfect Trees with Hammock Gear
Hammock Gear is one of the original cottage companies in the ultralight backpacking space. When I was just getting into backpacking, it was Hammock Gear that was prolific in the search engines and forums when it came to ultralight quilts. Having such a prolific and respectable brand represented…
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# 142 - Tip To Tip With the Hiking Viking
The REAL Hiking Viking, aka Jabba, joins the podcast to talk about his upcoming hike up the Continental Divide Trail, life before backpacking, and the importance of doing what makes you happy in life. I’ve known Jabba for a while now and bumped into him a few places, but this is the first time...
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#141 - Backpacking and Dogs with Bailey Bremner
Backpacking with dogs is something I think most of us dream of doing, but for Bailey Bremner, it’s a reality. Bailey is not only an accomplished backpacker and thru-hiker in her own right, but her dogs are too. Prima and Skittles have likely hiked more miles than most, and between the 3 of them,...
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#140 - Staying Connected with Dylan Tonkin of TownShirt
Dylan Tonkin had the crazy idea to take the fun design of a lightweight Hawaiian shirt and marry it with a design that would remind thru-hikers of their favorite long-distance trail. The result was “TownShirt” and it’s awesome. This is Dylan’s second time on the podcast and in the two-plus years...
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#139 - The Human Nature of Hunting with Bruce McGlenn
Bruce McGlenn is the founder and lead instructor for Human Nature Hunting, a hunting school designed to teach newcomers, instill a connection to our past heritage, and create stewardship in the community by being an active participant in our ecosystem. For those who never grew up in a hunting...
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#138 - The Fine Line Between Adventure and Danger with Moose Mutlow
Moose Mutlow is a member of the Yosemite Search and Rescue, the Senior Projects Director for planning, design, and construction of the National Environmental Science Center at Naturebridge in Yosemite National Park, and has spent a lifetime learning and teaching outdoor skills. As a member of…
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#137 - Wild Places, Sheep, and Making the Most of It with Adam Foss
Adam Foss grew up hunting sheep in the mountains with his father and brother. He learned at a young age what it looked like to work hard for something, admire the beauty of accomplishment, and fully appreciate where sheep call home. If you want to hunt sheep, you’re going to experience some…
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#136 - A First Time Western Backpack Hunt with Joey Bennett
Joey Bennett headed west this past September to meet a personal goal of hunting elk in Colorado. It would be the first time he’d hunt elk, the first time he’d hunt Colorado, the first time he’d ever go backpack hunting, and he did it alone. When I saw Joey’s big smile on an Instagram post after…
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#135 - 60 Years of Backpacking with JR Harris
JR Harris has been backpacking for 60 years. It all started when his parents decided to send him to Boy Scout camp to avoid summers in NYC and though he may have gone against his own will that first time, it soon became something he missed when the summer came to a close. JR is now in his mid…
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#134 - Freedom From Expectations with Justin Helmkamp
Justin Helmkamp completed his Triple Crown of Thru-Hiking in 2021. He’s now hiked the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail in full. How’s that for an accomplishment?! Justin is an outstanding human being. Between his PCT and CDT hikes, he worked as a Wilderness...
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#133 - The American Perimeter Trail with Rue McKenrick
Rue McKenrick is no doubt one of the most prolific long-distance hikers today, but he doesn’t know how many miles he’s hiked because he doesn’t care about that. It’s not what defines him, but if you need to know then let’s just start with his Triple Crown over a decade ago, the many long trails…
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#132 - Your Nutrition Questions Answered with Kyle Kamp RDN, LD
Kyle Kamp is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian who specializes in backcountry nutrition and performance. He recently became a full-time operator of his own business, Valley to Peak Nutrition, and is now 100% dedicated to helping people reach their personal goals with nutrition and performance....
About this show
This podcast is about learning how to have better backcountry experiences and understanding why spending time outside matters in the first place.
I have conversations with people from diverse outdoor backgrounds to learn from them and hear their personal stories. I cover everything from backpacking, hiking, hunting, conservation, and outdoor skills to the broader role the outdoors can play in our health, perspective, and everyday lives.
Thanks for listening!
-Emory, By Land
Hosted by
Emory Wanger
Categories