Hikes and Mics Podcast
Hikes & Mics is where the trail meets the conversation. Each week, host Ivan Orozco brings together hikers, backpackers, and outdoor adventurers to share the stories, lessons, and inspiration they’ve found in the great outdoors. From life-changing summits to quiet moments on local trails, our guests open up about how nature has shaped their journeys—physically, mentally, and spiritually. Every episode blends thoughtful storytelling with a dash of fun, closing out with our signature This or That: Hiking Edition lightning round. Whether you’re a weekend wanderer, a long-distance thru-hiker, or someone who simply loves the outdoors, this podcast is your campfire circle for connection, community, and adventure. New episodes drop every Monday—plus occasional bonus episodes on Fridays. Lace up your boots, plug in your headphones, and join us on the trail.
Episodes
🏔️ Season 13 Bonus Episode — Stephen’s Road to Denali: Blue-Collar Mountaineering, West Coast Peaks & The Power of the Journey ❄️🥾
In this special Season 13 bonus episode, returning guest Stephen takes us inside his relentless, months-long push to prepare for Denali — the highest peak in North America — by launching a full-scale mountaineering campaign across the U.S. West Coast. From expedition-style living on M...
Winter trails, fresh stories, and a brand-new season of Hikes & Mics. We’re kicking things off with a special bonus conversation — a returning mountaineer whose journey from the Pacific Northwest to the summit of North America’s tallest peak reminds us what resilience really looks like.
Then we launch into Season 13 with guests who push the edges of adventure and creativity — from a survivalist whose time in the wi...
🌿 Season 12 Finale: One Year Later with Chickpea — Movement, Mindfulness & Coming Home 🥾✨
For the Season 12 finale of Hikes & Mics, we welcome back Chickpea for a powerful, full-circle conversation—one year after her first appearance on the podcast. In that time, Chickpea has taken bold leaps off trail and in life, becoming a full-time traveler, backpacking and mindset mentor, yoga instructor for hikers, and ...
🎙️ The Trail Angel With a 7-Course Welcome
This week we sit down with Ben — better known on trail as Paladin — whose story threads together the Appalachian Trail, the PCT, Trans-Catalina sunrises, and a whole lot of good humanity along the way.
From childhood summers tracking animals on his grandfather’s farm to section-hiking the Smokies in college, his path into long-distance hiking runs deep. The...
🎙️ The Artist Who Climbs Into Her Own Paintings 🏔️
This week we sit down with Erin — Central Washington hiker, contemporary landscape artist, and the creative force behind Nuwave Gallery — whose journey blends trail time, faith, and art in a way that feels both grounded and expansive.
She shares how hiking pulled her away from the computer and into a decade-long art career, how plein-air painting taught her to embrace...
This week on Hikes & Mics, we caught up with a familiar face: John Mark, last on the show back in 2023 — and a LOT has happened since then.
Over the past two years, he’s shifted careers from college professor to full-time court interpreter, giving him the flexibility to chase waterfalls, wander ridgelines, and sneak in micro-adventures between jobs. He’s camped nearly every month for two years straight, ...
🎙️ A Life Built on Adventure, Partnership & Big Peaks
This week we sit down with Amy — phys-ed teacher, adventurer, and newly crowned Adirondack 46er — whose journey through all 50 states, 52 national parks, and decades of road trips has become a lifelong mission to explore the outdoors.
She shares how a chance reconnection with her now-husband sparked 26 years of adventure, how Mount Marcy in...
🎙️ A Conversation on Healing, Service & the Power of the Trail
Just in time for Veterans Day, we sit down with Chappy, Program Director for the Veterans Engagement and Trail Stewardship Program with the Arizona Trail Association.
He shares how the trail became a bridge between healing, service, and purpose after military life — and how “mission therapy” gives veterans a new way to connect, give back, and rediscover...
🎙️ Chasing National Parks: A Father–Son Quest 🥾🌄
In this special Hikes & Mics episode, we’re joined by Grant for his return to the podcast — and for the first time ever, his dad John steps up to the mic! Recorded in person at a lookout over a freshly snow-covered Washington Pass near North Cascades National Park, this heartfelt conversation explores what becomes possible when a shared love for the outdoors turns...
🌄 Van Life, Second Acts & Saying YES to Adventure 🚐✨
This week on Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Kathleen — an adventurer and “Women’s Vitality Alchemist” who hit the road solo in her van Blondie to rediscover purpose, confidence, and joy.
We explore the freedom of van life, the wisdom found on trails from Monument Valley to the North Cascades, and why it’s never too late to reinvent yourself and chase what li...
🌎 Weather, Wildfires & the Human Impact with Paul Rivera ☀️🌧️
In this episode of Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Paul Rivera—a Louisiana-based journalist, nature lover, and environmental storyteller who has spent over a decade reporting on hurricanes, wildfires, and the changing climate. From his early fascination with weather after Hurricane Katrina to his years covering environmental stories in Texas, South C...
Courage, Comfort & Connection: Building Fridie Outdoors with Lestarya 🌲📱
In this inspiring episode of Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Lestarya, founder of Fridie Outdoors—a groundbreaking app designed to make camping and outdoor skills accessible anytime, anywhere—even offline. What began as a way to heal after loss during her first hike in the Bay Area has evolved into a movement redefining how people connect ...
“The woods became my therapy. The mountains became my classroom.”
From being 505 pounds to summiting Mount Kilimanjaro — this week’s guest, DonWitt, has lived one of the most powerful comeback stories we’ve ever shared.
As the founder of Hiking with the Bear, DonWitt opens up about transforming his health through hiking, finding community on the trail, and proving that the outdoors truly is for everyone. From that first...
🎙️ Season 12 continues with a journey shaped by deserts, road trips, and unexpected trail moments. 🥾✨
Meet Lyndsay—AllTrails ambassador, science teacher, and lifelong explorer—whose story stretches from childhood camping trips in Ohio to solo hikes across the Southwest. From a 28-day family road trip that sparked her love of travel, to being stalked by coyotes at dusk, to discovering just how alive Death Valley reall...
🎙️ Season 12 kicks off with a story that spans deserts, snowfields, and summits. 🥾✨
Meet Jackson—trail name Gospel—who just finished his PCT thru-hike this summer. From battling early Sierra snow to chasing Northern Washington sunsets, Jackson shares how the trail tested his mind more than his body, the faith that carried him through, and why sunrise on Mount Whitney is worth every frozen step. 🌄
This conversation is...
This fall, Hikes & Mics is back with Season 12—your trail companion for crisp mornings, golden leaves, and stories that push us further.
From long-distance hikers chasing switchbacks and international adventurers exploring new cultures… to veterans finding healing on the trail, storytellers bringing news from the mountains, and guides helping us connect mind, body, and nature—this season is packed with voices that ...
🌿 Speaking Up for Our Parks with Dominique 🐾✨
We’re closing out Season 11 of Hikes & Mics with an inspiring conversation featuring Dominique—Georgia-based hiker, national park enthusiast, and advocate for the land we all share. From peaceful strolls through Georgia’s hidden gems to trail work with Trees Atlanta, Dominique reminds us that being outdoorsy isn’t about chasing miles—it’s about care, connection, and c...
🫎 Moose Encounters & Mountain Stillness with Mark🌲📸
In this episode of Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Mark—wildlife photographer, storyteller, and moose whisperer. Through solo hikes in Utah’s Wasatch Front, Mark has crossed paths with more than 100 moose, a bobcat at just 40 yards, and countless moments of spiritual clarity in wild spaces.
He shares how hiking became a healing outlet after heartbreak, evolvin...
🎙️ From First Steps to Thousands of Miles with Melanie aka Poppi 🌲🥾
In this episode of Hikes & Mics, we sit down with Melanie, whose journey from two simple overnight trips to conquering the Pacific Crest Trail, Colorado Trail, and Arizona Trail is nothing short of inspiring. With a background in nutrition, she shares how fueling your body with intention can transform the trail experience—from protein coffee rit...
🎙️ Peak Lists, Family Trips & 1,000+ Summits with Brett of @thehuntindaddy ⛰️
In this episode of Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Brett Marciasini—peak bagger, hunter-turned-hiker, and dad passing his love for the outdoors on to the next generation. From tackling Nevada’s most remote ranges to standing nearly 19,000 feet high in Ecuador, Brett shares what it’s like chasing lists, solitude, and adventure across th...
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