In this powerful episode of the Travel Chicks Podcast, host Melissa Mackey sits down with award-winning filmmaker, author, and adventurer Dianne Whan, the visionary behind the documentary 500 Days in the Wild. What started as a 500-day solo trek across Canada turned into a transformative 6-year odyssey of over 1,800 days—by foot, canoe, and snowshoe—on the world’s longest trail.

Dianne shares what inspired her to burn the schedule and embrace surrender, how Indigenous wisdom shaped her journey, and why connection—to nature, to others, and to self—is the ultimate medicine for healing and hope. From near-hypothermic storms to heartfelt teachings from First Nations elders, this conversation is raw, rich, and deeply relevant for anyone navigating grief, reinvention, or a yearning to reconnect with what really matters.

You’ll hear about:

The real reason Dianne left everything behind after a divorce and the death of her dog

How the kindness of strangers and Indigenous teachings shaped her path

Her lessons on fear, trust, and feminine resilience in the wild

Why 500 Days in the Wild is more than a film—it’s a movement for reconnection

What “travel with” vs “travel on” the land truly means

📺 500 Days in the Wild is now streaming in Canada on Paramount Plus and other platforms. International viewers can visit https://500daysinthewild.com/ https://www.diannewhelan.com/