This week I'm excited to bring you a conversation I had with Plus-size outdoor professional and adventurer Ashley Manning. We have an amazing conversation talking about our experiences as plus-sized outdoors people regarding social media, stigmas, gear, how other hikers like Jenny Bruso of Unlikely Hikers have encouraged us, and how much we appreciate companies like Columbia that make clothes for plus sized adventurers! Thank you so much Ashley for coming on the show and having this conversation with me. This was one of my favorite thus far and I am so excited to share it with you all!

Ash Manning is a plus-size hiker and river runner from North Georgia. Her mission is to encourage others to break the stigma around fat bodies and get into the outdoors responsibly and safely. Through humor and entertainment, Ash aims to bring knowledge to aspiring plus-size outdoors folk. 

***Some language used in this episode may not be appropriate for younger audiences***

Follow Ashley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleysadventure/

Follow Ashley on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleysadventure

Thumbnail photo by Tommy Corey : www.instagram.com/@twerkinthedirt

Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes 

Email Andy [email protected]

Go to www.hikerpodcast.com for all our social media accounts, email, and all the ways to listen to The Hiker Podcast!

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

- CNOC Outdoors making our adventures the best possible, simple, enjoyable, fulfilling and sustainable. Go to https://cnocoutdoors.com and be sure to use coupon code 'Hiker Podcast' for 10% off trekking poles.  Or use this link: https://cnocoutdoors.com/discount/Hiker%2520Podcast CS

- Instant Coffee makers of environmentally sustainable and great tasting instant coffee for the trail. Use our affiliate link to get yours and help the show: https://cs-instant-coffee.peachs.co/a/andy-neal 

- Big thank you to our  Patreon Patron's Danielle, Mike, Daniel, Deb, Cade, Danielle, Ren, Jacob, Tommy & our newest Patreon Patron Stephanie for supporting The Hiker Podcast. If you'd like to support The Hiker Podcast on Patreon go to https://www.patreon.com/thehikerpodcast.

Music licensed through musicbed.com.

Intro Song: NEVER STOP by Tyler Brown William-  https://open.spotify.com/track/4fGgmcD5Ke4I4ZfJ1hZeiW?si=cc831237612840c6 

Closing Song: STILL WANDERING by Bronze Radio Return- https://open.spotify.com/track/7wJyGhYZ6OjFmxaD62tlbZ?si=565bd9892e944732 

Each week new hiker Andy Neal, takes you along on the trail talking with voices in the outdoor and hiking community finding stories of how hiking has inspired them to grow, create, and better the world and environment around them. A show for those first starting out on the trail and for experienced thru-hikers!

This week I'm excited to bring you all a conversation I had with John Sprankel of The Oahu Coastline Trail. Big thank you to John for being so patient on getting this episode out! 

John Sprankel is an Eagle Scout and US Army veteran that graduated from Georgia Southern Universitywith a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, where he met and married his wife, Tori. Since then, their careers lead them to Winston-Salem, North Carolina and later to Honolulu, Hawaii, in order to pursue the opportunity to ive in paradise, while also demonstrating to their daughter, Rowan, the value of travel, meeting new people, and seizing opportunities. With a civilian career path that has always focused around logistics and leadership consultation, the availability of time that came from the COVID shutdowns provided an opportunity to develop the idea of hiking around the island of Oahu from a passing thought to a viable endeavor. 

While training for the Honolulu Marathon in 2019, the idea of circumnavigating the island transitioned from anidea for a fun challenge to a backpacking thru-hike, and, finally, to a scouting trip to develop a recognizedNational Scenic Trail. Working with the Hawaii DLNR and the National Park Service, John has been working to identify the many facets of a National Scenic Trail that this pathway will need to meet in order to fulfill the requirements said status, while also working to generate interest via Instagram (@the_oct_project) by bloggingthe 100 days leading up to the start of the scouting trip. 

Follow John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_oct_project/

Go to https://www.facebook.com/TheOCTProject/ for more information on the OCT

Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes 

Email Andy [email protected] 

Go to www.hikerpodcast.com for all our social media accounts, email, and all the ways to listen to The Hiker Podcast! 

We'd like to thank our sponsors: 

- CNOC Outdoors making our adventures the best possible, simple, enjoyable, fulfilling and sustainable. Go to https://cnocoutdoors.com and be sure to use coupon code 'Hiker Podcast' for 10% off trekking poles.  Or use this link: https://cnocoutdoors.com/discount/Hiker%2520Podcast CS 

- Instant Coffee makers of environmentally sustainable and great tasting instant coffee for the trail. Use our affiliate link to get yours and help the show: https://cs-instant-coffee.peachs.co/a/andy-neal 

- Big thank you to our Patreons Danielle, Mike, Daniel, Deb, Cade, Danielle, Ren, Jacob and Tommy for supporting The Hiker Podcast. If you'd like to support The Hiker Podcast on Patreon go to https://www.patreon.com/thehikerpodcast. 

Music licenced through musicbed.com. 

Intro Song: NEVER STOP by Tyler Brown William-  https://open.spotify.com/track/4fGgmcD5Ke4I4ZfJ1hZeiW?si=cc831237612840c6 

Closing Song: STILL WANDERING by Bronze Radio Return- https://open.spotify.com/track/7wJyGhYZ6OjFmxaD62tlbZ?si=565bd9892e944732 

Each week new hiker Andy Neal, takes you along on the trail talking with voices in the outdoor and hiking community finding stories of how hiking has inspired them to grow, create, and better the world and environment around them. A show for those first starting out on the trail and for experienced thru-hikers!

This week Andy talks with hiker and backpacker Justice Wise.

Justice Wise is a day hiker and a backpacker who is returning to it after a short hiatus which caused her to miss it greatly. She was a Girl Scout as well as a YMCA Camp Counselor in Northern New Mexico. She grew up exploring the mountains of New Mexico and this is where she feels the most at home. She feels that the mountains ground her and finds healing as she moves through trails as she explores with her dog, Rio. She is an advocate for mental health and healing in the outdoors and shares her experiences with mental health. In addition, she promotes Leave No Trace principles. In her off trail life, she is a Special Education Math teacher as well as a classical flautist. This summer, Justice plans to complete the Colorado Trail as well as many backpacking trips in New Mexico and has plans for future thru hikes in the years to come, one of which she hopes to take her dog Rio on next year.

Follow Justice on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/mindfulsyncopations/

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

Music Licenced through musicbed.com.

Intro Song: NEVER STOP by Tyler Brown William-  https://open.spotify.com/track/4fGgmcD5Ke4I4ZfJ1hZeiW?si=cc831237612840c6

Closing Song: STILL WANDERING by Bronze Radio Return- https://open.spotify.com/track/7wJyGhYZ6OjFmxaD62tlbZ?si=565bd9892e944732

Each week new hiker Andy Neal, takes you along on the trail talking with voices in the outdoor and hiking community finding stories of how hiking has inspired them to grow, create, and better the world and environment around them. A show for those first starting out on the trail and for experienced thru-hikers!

Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes

Email Andy [email protected]

Go to www.hikerpodcast.com for all our social media accounts, email, and all the ways to listen to The Hiker Podcast!

This Week Andy Talks with photographer, filmmaker and hiker Tommy Corey.

Tommy Corey, otherwise known as “Twerk” is a 33-year-old thru-hiker and outdoor photographer from Bend, Oregon. In 2018, while thru hiking the Pacific Crest Trail he created an editorial photo series called “Hiker Trash Vogue”. Currently, he has created a film project called “Twerk’s Visual Podcast” where he explores the emotionally intimate stories of those that inhabit the outdoor community.

Follow Tommy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twerkinthedirt/ 

Check out Tommy's work on his website: https://www.tommycorey.com

***Some content in the episode may not be appropriate for younger audiences***

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

Music Licenced through musicbed.com.

Intro Song: NEVER STOP by Tyler Brown William-  https://open.spotify.com/track/4fGgmcD5Ke4I4ZfJ1hZeiW?si=cc831237612840c6

Closing Song: STILL WANDERING by Bronze Radio Return- https://open.spotify.com/track/7wJyGhYZ6OjFmxaD62tlbZ?si=565bd9892e944732

Each week new hiker Andy Neal, takes you along on the trail talking with voices in the outdoor and hiking community finding stories of how hiking has inspired them to grow, create, and better the world and environment around them. A show for those first starting out on the trail and for experienced thru-hikers!

Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes

Email Andy [email protected]

Go to www.hikerpodcast.com for all our social media accounts, email, and all the ways to listen to The Hiker Podcast!

This Week Andy Talks with AT and LST Thru Hiker Kayla Bold!

Kayla Bold is an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker and Lone Star Hiking Trail thru-hiker. She lives in her RV full time in Central Texas and plans to start traveling in a few years. In her free time, she enjoys writing and painting.She's a strong advocate for mental health and is open about her own struggles. She has plans to complete the Long Trail this year and many more next year.

Follow Kayla on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayla.bold/ 

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

Music Licenced through musicbed.com.

Intro Song: NEVER STOP by Tyler Brown William-  https://open.spotify.com/track/4fGgmcD5Ke4I4ZfJ1hZeiW?si=cc831237612840c6

Closing Song: STILL WANDERING by Bronze Radio Return- https://open.spotify.com/track/7wJyGhYZ6OjFmxaD62tlbZ?si=565bd9892e944732

Each week new hiker Andy Neal, takes you along on the trail talking with voices in the outdoor and hiking community finding stories of how hiking has inspired them to grow, create, and better the world and environment around them. A show for those first starting out on the trail and for experienced thru-hikers!

Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes Email Andy [email protected]

Go to www.hikerpodcast.com for all our social media accounts, email, and all the ways to listen to The Hiker Podcast!

This week Andy is excited to talk with hiker and author of ALONE IN WONDERLAND, Christine Reed ! 

Christine discovered long distance backpacking while surfing the internet at work. She decided that day to attempt to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. One adventure led to another and a few years later she set out on the Wonderland Trail in Mt Rainier National Park.

Her Rugged Outdoors Woman persona started as a joke, a nod to the outdoor adventurer that she wished to be. But in the years since, she has come into her own as a backpacker, rock climber, and trail runner. Her debut memoir, Alone in Wonderland, is a testament to the decision to name who you want to be and make it so.

Get ALONE IN WONDERLAND - https://campsite.bio/ruggedoutdoorswoman 

Follow Christine on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ruggedoutdoorswoman/  

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

Music Licenced through musicbed.com. 

Intro Song: NEVER STOP by Tyler Brown William-  https://open.spotify.com/track/4fGgmcD5Ke4I4ZfJ1hZeiW?si=cc831237612840c6 

Closing Song: STILL WANDERING by Bronze Radio Return- https://open.spotify.com/track/7wJyGhYZ6OjFmxaD62tlbZ?si=565bd9892e944732

Each week new hiker Andy Neal, takes you along on the trail talking with voices in the outdoor and hiking community finding stories of how hiking has inspired them to grow, create, and better the world and environment around them. A show for those first starting out on the trail and for experienced thru-hikers!

Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes Email Andy [email protected]

Go to www.hikerpodcast.com for all our social media accounts, email, and all the ways to listen to The Hiker Podcast!

This week Andy is excited to talk with hiker and owner of Purple Rain Adventure Skirts, Mandy Bland.

Purple Rain Adventure Skirts was founded by Mandy ‘Purple Rain’ Bland and first launched on Etsy in March 2014.  During a 2012 thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail Mandy was inspired to try hiking in a skirt.   Unable to find what she wanted, she went about designing her own. Hacking up an old pair of convertible hiking pants, adding a comfortable waistband and some pockets, Mandy then headed back out on trail testing the design on the PCT that following summer.  Thus the Purple Rain Adventure Skirt was born.

Originally based out of Portland, Oregon Mandy launched the business from a dining room table.  Completing a grant program with Mercy Corp Northwest she gained access to small business resources and assets to further expand the company.  Now residing in southern Oregon, each skirt is handmade with love from her in-home studio.  All emails are handled by Mandy directly, providing an intimate customer/owner connection unrivaled by big box stores.

Purple Rain Adventure Skirts is dedicated to providing people with performance apparel that inspires the freedom of adventure without compromising style or function.  We believe that hiking gives us strength to take on life's challenges.  The wilderness we trek through teaches us to find peace and perseverance in a hectic world.  Purple Rain Skirts encourages others to take comfort in the natural world, find their inner strength and to simply live.

Find out more about Mandy and get your own Purple Rain Adventure Skirt at https://www.purplerainskirts.com.

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

Each week new hiker Andy Neal, takes you along on the trail talking with voices in the outdoor and hiking community finding stories of how hiking has inspired them to grow, create, and better the world and environment around them. A show for those first starting out on the trail and for experienced thru-hikers!

Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes Email Andy [email protected]

Go to www.hikerpodcast.com for all our social media accounts, email, and all the ways to listen to The Hiker Podcast!

This week Andy is excited to talk with hiker, mountaineer, skier, mountain biker and environmental educator Sami Wolniakowski.

Sami Wolniakowski is a recent graduate of the Master of Science in Environmental Education at Southern Oregon University. Before attending the program, she was a teacher and environmental educator for 4 years. She believes in utilizing the outdoors as her classroom and making it accessible for all students. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, mountaineering, skiing, paddle boarding, and mountain biking.

Follow Sami on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/samiski21/ 

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

Each week new hiker Andy Neal, takes you along on the trail talking with voices in the outdoor and hiking community finding stories of how hiking has inspired them to grow, create, and better the world and environment around them. A show for those first starting out on the trail and for experienced thru-hikers!

Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes Email Andy [email protected]

Go to www.hikerpodcast.com for all our social media accounts, email, and all the ways to listen to The Hiker Podcast!