Episode 50: Meaning, Purpose, and the Appalachian Trail with Molly Rhoads

Today’s guest is my sister Molly Rhoads, AKA "Sharktooth"—    we’ll explain that later.   Molly is passionate about hiking; hiking in this context doesn’t mean taking a walk. . . . Hiking is her life. In 2019 she hiked the Appalachian Trail— something she’d been longing to do for quite some time. The Appalachian trail is 2200 miles long, and crosses 14 states. It took her over 5 months of living outdoors to complete this journey, and If she were wearing a fit bit, she would have clocked in at approximately 5 million steps. In today’s episode, she talks about her expedition and the effect it has made on her life.  Molly was generous enough to talk about her experience with anxiety and depression. For her, hiking, nature, and the whole process of living, exploring and working outdoors has  paid her back many times over. Hiking gives her a sense of purpose; meaning; maturity; and expertise — The things that make life worth living. Perhaps there is still a sense, in Molly's mind, that hiking-life and real-life exist in two independent realms. But she hopes to bridge that gap. I’ll let her tell you about it for herself.  Enjoy episode 50 of The Social Exchange.  - - - - - - - - - -  CHECK OUT PRODUCER AARON FERGUSON'S ORIGINAL MUSIC http://soundcloud.com/knowmad1 Become a Patron  http://patreon.com/thesocialexchange Visit our audible link--- download a free audio book and support the show! http://audibletrial.com/socialexchange Listen on iTunes (and leave us a review!) https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/t...  * * * * * *  Thanks to our new patrons - James Stacks - Chris L - W Leon Naufahu  - Sherry Chandler - Dee-Dee Stout - Christopher Hanlon  - André Pampel - CARTER Vermont  - Rick Barnett  - Anne M. Earle - Inigo - Jon Holt - Laila Ferguson - Mary Kay Villaverde - Michelle - NANCY - Sean Holt - Regina Ferguson - Timmy Tucker - Christian - Thomas Rhoads - Kathleen Cochran - Marjorie Israel - Diane T - Trevor  - Sue Mathieu - Linda Rhoads