Bush & Banter

In this episode, Jen and Dyana sit down with thru-hiker and author Julia Sheehan to unpack her transformative 2,190-mile journey along the Appalachian Trail. Julia opens up about the emotional and physical challenges of the hike, the experience of documenting it on social media, and the unexpected impact of going viral. She shares insights from her new book, Hiking is the Easy Part: My Journey on the Appalachian Trail, and gets can...

In this episode, Jen and Dyana dive into the highs, lows, and hilarious moments of hiking Mount Whitney—the tallest peak in the contiguous United States. Both Jen and Dyana have successfully summited Mount Whitney and have unique perspectives to share about their trips, with Jen tackling the summit via the Pacific Crest Trail and Dyana using the famous Whitney Portal. They swap stories about the mental and physical grit it takes to...

In this episode, Jen and Dyana sit down with Nicole Snell—a powerhouse in personal safety, self-defense, and solo adventure. As the CEO of Girls Fight Back, Nicole is a dynamic speaker, educator, and advocate known for empowering women and marginalized communities, especially in outdoor and travel settings. She shares her journey from a successful career in production to becoming a leading voice in self-defense education. Nicole di...

In this episode, Jen and Dyana sit down with two of the most cherished figures in long-distance hiking: Barney and Sandy—better known on the trails as Scout and Frodo. At 73 years old, Scout recently completed the 1,200-mile Ice Age Trail, adding to an already staggering list of accomplishments including the Triple Crown of Hiking: the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail. He’s also the author of Jou...

In this episode, Jen and Dyana sit down with Tia Banks — motivational speaker, resilience expert, mountaineer, and mental health advocate. Tia is on a mission to help students and educators build resilience and push through the heavy weight of anxiety and depression. She’s climbed some of the world’s tallest volcanoes, including Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa and Pico de Orizaba in Mexico. She’s also the author of Mind Over Mountains,...

In this episode, Jen and Dyana sit down with endurance athlete Nora Fierman. Nora has skied and mountain biked around the entire world, including places like Mexico, Lesotho (Southern Africa), Canada, and France. She shares stories from her experience in the Breck Epic which is a 6 day mountain biking stage race in Colorado as well as a forever life-altering experience skiing Pico de Orizaba where she witnessed her first fatality i...

In this episode, Jen and Dyana explore the power of creating an alter ego—and how it can help you land your dream job, break bad habits, or even conquer a thru-hike. When life gets tough, stepping into an alter ego can help you get out of your own way and tap into strengths you already have. They share how their own trail personas carried them through the hardest moments, with Jen reflecting on the different versions of herself nee...

In our latest episode, we sit down with athlete, author, and outdoor enthusiast Anthony Porter—a true multi-hyphenate known for his skills in archery, knife throwing, and parkour. These days, Anthony is best known for his educational and entertaining outdoor videos that explore nature conservation, wildlife, and survival skills. Anthony opens up about the intense challenges of competing on American Ninja Warrior, the unexpected mom...

In this episode, Jen and Dyana chat with Australian adventurer and thru-hiker Cam Bostock—best known for his stunning outdoor exploration videos and epic long-distance hikes. Based in Western Australia, Cam has taken on some of the world’s most iconic trails, including New Zealand’s 1,864-mile Te Araroa Trail, the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in the U.S., Mount Kilimanjaro, and countless rugged routes across Australia. All ...

In this episode, Jen and Dyana sit down with renowned Canadian trick rider Bella Da Costa, whose high-speed, gravity-defying performances have earned her championship titles and captivated audiences everywhere. Bella shares insights into the deep bond between riders and their horses, how the confidence gained in the arena translates into real life, and her hopes for the future of the sport. Most recently, Bella was featured in the ...

In this episode, Jen and Dyana invite you aboard their (imaginary) private jet as they embark on a global adventure, picking their favorite destinations from TIME Magazine’s The World’s Greatest Places of 2025. Their journey takes them to Peru’s towering Alta Sanctuary treehouse, the rugged Nangma Valley Trek in Pakistan, the futuristic Shebara Resort on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, and more. Fasten your seatbelts—this is going to ...

In this episode, Jen and Dyana chat with Iain Ward—known to his millions of followers as The King of Chemo. His motto? "I have cancer, not excuses." Iain is an extreme athlete pushing the limits of human endurance—and time itself. He recently completed The Great World Race, running 7 marathons on 7 continents in just 7 days. Now, he's training for an even bigger challenge: running 52 miles in all 52 countries and ter...

In this episode, Jen and Dyana chat with Kathleen Neves, a self-proclaimed food-motivated hiker, solo backpacker, and backpacking coach for women. The episode centers on embracing solo adventures and using the journey to elevate life off the trail. They discuss Kathleen's experience on the Pacific Crest Trail, the importance of mental preparedness, and the common fears many women face when venturing into the wilderness alone. ...

In this episode, Jen and Dyana sit down with veteran location manager Ilt Jones, whose career spans over 30 years. He and his team have masterminded some of Hollywood’s most iconic filming locations, working on blockbuster productions like The Dark Knight, Inception, Iron Man, and the Transformers franchise. But beyond big-budget films, Ilt is an adventurer at heart. From scouting the perfect cinematic backdrops to trekking the Cam...

In this episode, Jen and Dyana chat with international dog photographer John Fabiano, who left his corporate 9-to-5 job to travel the world, documenting the unique bond between dogs and humans across different cultures. His journey has taken him from the Land of the Strays in Costa Rica—home to over 1,800 stray dogs—to photographing German Shepherds in Germany and Greenlandic sled dogs in Greenland. As the founder of Wags Around th...

In their latest episode, Jen and Dyana dive into the benefits and challenges of being spontaneous. They discuss "greenlights," inspired by Matthew McConaughey's book Greenlights, and explore how we can seize opportunities when they are presented to us. They reminisce about moments of spontaneity, including Jen’s experience watching a SpaceX launch and Dyana’s late-night nacho binge. They also touch on how being spont...

Jen and Dyana chat with cyclist Jacob Lemanski, who rode his bicycle 38,000 miles over 999 days, crossing six continents and circling the earth twice. They discuss logistics, his biggest fears, favorite places to cycle, and the mental toll of life on two wheels. Jacob is currently the creator of Ant Space, a company that designs unique psychedelic ant farms, and he holds the record for the largest ant farm in the world. He is also ...

In this episode, Jen and Dyana chat with professional fly fisherman Ashley White, who shares his journey into fly fishing and how it has profoundly impacted his mental health and personal growth. The conversation delves into the therapeutic nature of the outdoors, the art of fly tying, and the strong sense of community within the fly fishing world. Ashley opens up about how fly fishing has served as a powerful healing outlet for tr...

In this episode, Jen and Dyana sit down with Chamois Andersen, Senior Field Representative for Defenders of Wildlife, to discuss the essential protocols for encountering some of the most formidable wildlife on U.S. hiking trails, including grizzly bears and mountain lions. Andersen also shares insights into the challenges of protecting endangered species, the complexities of relocating bison and grizzly bears, and important advice ...