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
188 episodes
The Best Hikes Don't Require a Passport | Stephanie Pearson | National Geographic Explorer & Author of 100 Hikes of a Lifetime U.S.A.
What makes a hike truly unforgettable? National Geographic Explorer, Outside Magazine contributing editor, and author Stephanie Pearson joins us to find out.Her new book, 100 Hikes of a Lifetime U.S.A. (out now), was born...
Hiking the Grand Canyon Mid-Radiation: Alec Sills-Trausch on Surviving Cancer & Chasing Adventure
What happens when a cancer diagnosis becomes the spark that launches a full-time outdoor adventure career? This week on Hikes and Mics, I sit down with Alec — travel writer, photographer, and the force behind Explore with Alec, for one of th...
Hiking, Community & Cold Pints: Nicole on Reviving Hiking for Brews in the DMV
What happens when you combine a trailhead, a cold pint, and a community that refuses to leave anyone behind? You get Hiking for Brews — and this episode, we're sitting down with the woman who brought it back to life.Nicole is the ...
Breaking FKT Records Unsupported on the Bruce Trail & IAT | Cody Taylor
What happens when a touring musician trades the stage for the trail — and starts breaking records?Meet Cody Taylor: former drummer, endurance coach, and unsupported FKT holder of both the Bruce Trail (900km) a...
700 Miles Alone Across Antarctica: Monet Izabeth's Historic South Pole Journey
700+ miles. Alone. Dragging a sled across Antarctica with nothing but training, grit, and the kind of stubbornness that makes history — and she did. Meet the first American woman to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole.
From College Professor to Backcountry Storyteller: Jared "Snackbox" Champion on the Colorado Trail & Beyond
Snacks, Stories, and the Trail That Changed Everything**The first half of the episode Jared's microphone came from his iPods, the second half is from his condenser microphone.**What happens when a college writing p...
Guiding Women Outdoors & Hiking from Knee Replacement to the Alps | Tami & Elise | Season 14 Premiere
Season 14 is HERE — and we're kicking things off with a reunion three years in the making.Welcome back to Hikes & Mics! For our Season 14 premiere, I recorded in person on the banks of the Salt River in Arizona with two belove...
Season 14 Trailer
Season 14 of Hikes & Mics launches March 23rd — and it's our biggest season yet. This season's guests include the first American woman to ski solo and unsupported across Antarctica, an ultra-endurance athlete s...
S13 - Episode #10 - Kelsey Kurtis
Kelsey Kurtis: Antarctica, Adventure Photography, Branding Yourself as YOU & the Legend of the Crotch Pot 🎒📸🐧We're closing out Season 13 with an episode you will not want to miss. Kelsey Kurtis — photographer, author, adventur...
S13 - Episode #09 - Jacob “Pimento”
🧀 From the AT to the PCT: Tramily, Trail Grit & Life Off the Beaten Path with Pimento 🥾🌄What does it actually mean to find your people on trail — and what happens when the trail ends and real life begins?In this episode of Hik...
S13 - Episode #08 - Dr. Rob Scanlon
🚨 Survival Starts Before the Trail: Wilderness Safety & Smart Preparation with Dr. Rob Scanlon 🥾💧What actually gets hikers into trouble on the trail — and more importantly, what keeps them alive?In this episode of H...
S13 - Episode #07 - Anastasia
🎻 Creativity, Courage & Kula Cloth: Finding Joy in the Wild with Anastasia Allison 🏔️✨In this special milestone episode of Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Anastasia Allison — founder of Kula Cloth, out...
S13 - Episode #06 - Melanie (Poppi) & Dave (La Bamba)
❤️ Love on the Long Trail: Thru-Hiking, Partnership & Shared Miles with Melanie & Dave 🥾✨In this special Valentine’s Day Week episode of Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Melanie (Poppi) and Dave ...
S13 - Episode #05 - Alexandrie of Black Hikers Explore
🌿 Belonging on the Trail: Motherhood, Healing & Community with Alexandrie 🥾🤍In this powerful and deeply grounding episode of Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Alexandrie, founder and organizer of Black Hiker...
S13 - Episode #04 - Ketul Patel
🏔️ Leadership at Altitude: Hiking, Resilience & Reflection with Ketul Patel 🥾📘In this episode of Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Ketul Patel—author, hiker, and business transformation leader—for a powerful co...
S13 - Episode #03 - Angela & Russ
🏔️ Exploring Banff, Kananaskis & the Canadian Rockies with Angela & Russ 🐻🥾In this episode of Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Angela and Russ—an Alberta-based outdoor couple who live just outside the C...
S13 - Episode #02 - Micah
🌋 Geysers, Wolves & the Stories Beneath Our Boots with Micah 🐺🏔️In this episode of Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Micah — geologist, educator, and Museum Manager for the City of Farmington, New Mexico...
S13 - Episode #01 - Tina
🎬 Season 13 Premiere — Tina Grimm: From Outlast to Thru-Hiking, Healing & Rediscovering Strength in the Mountains 🏔️✨For the Season 13 premiere of Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Tina Grimm — model, artist, t...
S13 - Bonus Episode - Stephen
🏔️ 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...
Season 13 Trailer
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 pea...
S12 - Episode #13 - Chickpea
🌿 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 ...
S12 - Episode #12 - Ben
🎙️ The Trail Angel With a 7-Course WelcomeThis 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 ...
S12 - Episode #11 - Erin
🎙️ 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 ...
