Cache Like A Girl

Sandy of PodCacher on 20+ Years of Geocaching, Podcasting, and Community

What happens when a brand-new hobby, one microphone, and a geeky idea turn into one of the longest-running geocaching podcasts out there?

In this episode of Cache Like A Girl, I’m joined by Sandy of PodCacher to talk about the early days of geocaching podcasting, how PodCacher got started back in 2005, and how both podcasting and geocaching have evolved over the years. Sandy shares what it was like to jump into podcasting when the medium itself was still brand new, why the geocaching community continues to be such a powerful part of the game, and what still excites her after more than two decades of geocaching adventures. 

We also talk about women in geocaching and podcasting, the changes that smartphones brought to the game, why geocaching still works for every age and ability level, and how the heart of the game has stayed beautifully the same: getting outside, finding something cool, and connecting with people along the way. 

In this episode, we talk about:

•  How PodCacher began with one microphone and a simple idea in 2005 
•  What helped PodCacher stay relevant and loved for more than 20 years 
•  Women in geocaching and podcasting 
•  How geocaching has changed over the years, from handheld GPS units to smartphones 
•  The rise of micros, nanos, souvenirs, treasures, and challenge-focused play 
•  Why the geocaching community remains one of the strongest parts of the hobby 
•  A memorable interview with Dave Ulmer, the hider of the very first geocache 
•  Advice for newer podcasters: don’t overthink it, just get started and have fun 

A few favorite moments:

•  Sandy sharing how PodCacher started while experimenting with podcasting technology after a trip to Kazakhstan 
•  The surprise of hearing from listeners around the world in the early days of the show 
•  Her reflection that geocaching is still, at its core, about getting outside and finding something cool 
•  The reminder that geocaching really is for everyone, no matter your age, experience, or style of play 

Links mentioned in this episode:

• PodCacher main website:
  https://www.podcacher.com/
• PodCacher interview with Dave Ulmer:
  https://www.podcacher.com/show-409-0-dave-ulmer-reminisces/

Listen to Cache Like A Girl:

•  Find your favorite player here:
   https://pod.link/1770650861

Follow and support:

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow, subscribe, and share with a fellow geocacher. And if you know a woman geocacher whose story should be featured, I’d love to hear from you.

 This is the 6th episode of Cache Like A Girl overall. 

🎁 Love geocaching gear? Check out the Cache Crate—our monthly subscription box packed with tools, swag, and surprises for geocachers! Curated by geocachers, for geocachers.

📦 Subscribe now and make every month an adventure!

🎧 Thanks for listening to Cache Like A Girl!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast app.

💬 Got a story or geocaching moment to share? Visit CacheLikeAGirl.com to get in touch or suggest a guest!

 📦 Love geocaching gear? Check out the Cache Crate—our monthly subscription box filled with tools, swag, and surprises to elevate your geocaching adventures. Learn more at CacheCrate.com! 

📲 Don’t forget to grab your free Cache Like A Girl phone wallpaper and join the email list for updates, extras, and geocaching goodies!

Let’s keep caching, connecting, and celebrating adventurous women—one find at a time.

Episode summary
Today we’re talking creative caches, family-friendly strategies, and building confidence through geocaching with Amie, better known as ShadowDragn1. We dig into how she started caching with her young child, the tricks that make kid-caching fun, and her flair for “delightfully evil” hides—think welded goat toolboxes and 3D-printed bluebirds. We also chat safety, solo vs. group caching, and how Amie is evolving her own geocaching podcast to serve the community.

00:00 Introduction to Cache Like A Girl
00:47 Meet Amie, aka ShadowDragon1
02:13 Amie's Geocaching Journey Begins
05:51 Geocaching with Kids: Tips and Tricks
09:29 Creative Cache Hiding
13:03 Podcasting Adventures
18:34 Future of the Podcast
23:30 Geocaching Bucket List
24:04 Discovering Unique Geocaching Spots
24:36 Geocaching Across States
26:16 Memorable Geocaching Adventures
28:02 Improving the Geocaching Experience
29:41 Safety Tips for Geocachers
31:12 Geocaching Community and Events
38:20 Geocaching as a Personal and Social Activity
39:57 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

You’ll learn

• Smart tips for caching with kids (mindset, pacing, and “swag-first” strategies)
• How to design memorable hides—from concept to maintenance
• Practical safety habits for solo and family outings
• Ways geocaching can build confidence, creativity, and community
• A podcaster’s view: shaping stories that help more people get outside

Episode highlights

• “Make it fun first—wins early and often. The love of the game follows.”
• “Creative hides start with a spark. Ask: what would delight someone at the GZ?”
• “Safety is a skill set: route planning, daylight buffers, and an exit plan.”
• “You don’t have to do geocaching one ‘right’ way—make the game your own.”

Quick tips from Amie

• For kids: set short goals, celebrate small wins, and bring great trade items.
• For creative hides: prototype (even in cardboard), field-test, and write clear hints.
• For safety: share your plan, carry a simple kit (light, water, whistle), and trust your gut.
• For your first hide: start simple, choose a durable container, and plan for easy maintenance.

Mentioned in this episode

• Welded “goat” toolbox hide (creative container inspiration)
• 3D-printed bluebird cache (theming + craft meets cache)
• Adventure Labs and family caching routes
• Checklists for packing and safety

Connect & follow

• Find ShadowDragn1 here: https://geocacheadventures.org/about/ and on Geocaching: Join the world's largest treasure hunt.  (search by username)
• https://geocacheadventures.org/about/ 
• Follow the Cache Like A Girl Podcast: episodes.fm/1770650861
• Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/757L34aYhH8 

Support the show

• 🎧 Subscribe on your favorite app (and leave a quick review—it really helps!)
• 🧭 Grab our free “Cache Like A Girl” phone wallpaper at Cache Like A Girl Podcast
• 📦 Love geo-gear? Check out the Cache Crate monthly box at Cache Crate

🎁 Love geocaching gear? Check out the Cache Crate—our monthly subscription box packed with tools, swag, and surprises for geocachers! Curated by geocachers, for geocachers.

📦 Subscribe now and make every month an adventure!

🎧 Thanks for listening to Cache Like A Girl!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast app.

💬 Got a story or geocaching moment to share? Visit CacheLikeAGirl.com to get in touch or suggest a guest!

 📦 Love geocaching gear? Check out the Cache Crate—our monthly subscription box filled with tools, swag, and surprises to elevate your geocaching adventures. Learn more at CacheCrate.com! 

📲 Don’t forget to grab your free Cache Like A Girl phone wallpaper and join the email list for updates, extras, and geocaching goodies!

Let’s keep caching, connecting, and celebrating adventurous women—one find at a time.

What do knitting, hidden tunnels under Chicago, and 45 states in a year have in common? For Jessie, aka ShortyKnits, they’re all part of her geocaching journey. In today’s episode, we talk about Adventure Labs, caching while parenting, and how geocaching can help you find your community—and your next great adventure. 

In this episode of Cache Like A Girl, Lookout Lisa chats with Jessie, aka ShortyKnits, a geocacher, podcaster, and knitter from Chicago who has turned geocaching into a lifestyle of adventure and community. From starting out caching with her young son to completing 45 states in a single year, Jessie shares how geocaching has taken her to hidden places (like the tunnels under Chicago) and brought her closer to others along the way.

We also dive into tips for organizing Adventure Lab series, caching while parenting, road trip stories, and how caching helped Jessie step out of her comfort zone as an introvert. Whether you're new to geocaching or planning your next big road trip, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical takeaways to make your caching journey your own.

🎧 Listen now and be inspired to cache like a girl!

Watch on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast player: https://episodes.fm/1770650861

🎁 Love geocaching gear? Check out the Cache Crate—our monthly subscription box packed with tools, swag, and surprises for geocachers! Curated by geocachers, for geocachers.

📦 Subscribe now and make every month an adventure!

🎧 Thanks for listening to Cache Like A Girl!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast app.

💬 Got a story or geocaching moment to share? Visit CacheLikeAGirl.com to get in touch or suggest a guest!

 📦 Love geocaching gear? Check out the Cache Crate—our monthly subscription box filled with tools, swag, and surprises to elevate your geocaching adventures. Learn more at CacheCrate.com! 

📲 Don’t forget to grab your free Cache Like A Girl phone wallpaper and join the email list for updates, extras, and geocaching goodies!

Let’s keep caching, connecting, and celebrating adventurous women—one find at a time.

🎙️ Episode 3: From Graveyards to Geotours – Emilierene’s Quest for Quad Jasmer

In this episode, Lookout Lisa sits down with longtime geocacher and Challenge Talk co-host Emilierene to talk all things stats, stories, and strategy. From her first cache in a Pennsylvania graveyard to chasing a quad Jasmer, Emilie shares what drives her love for the game—and how she balances challenge with grace when plans don’t go quite as expected.

We explore how statistics shaped her caching goals, what it means to geocache solo, and how she builds community both on and off the trail. Whether you’re planning your next caching trip or just curious how a geocacher uses surgical tweezers, this episode is full of fun, encouragement, and insight.

Links for Emilierene:

• Challenge Talk Podcast
• Instagram
• Facebook
• CacheTur

🎁 Love geocaching gear? Check out the Cache Crate—our monthly subscription box packed with tools, swag, and surprises for geocachers! Curated by geocachers, for geocachers.

📦 Subscribe now and make every month an adventure!

🎧 Thanks for listening to Cache Like A Girl!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast app.

💬 Got a story or geocaching moment to share? Visit CacheLikeAGirl.com to get in touch or suggest a guest!

 📦 Love geocaching gear? Check out the Cache Crate—our monthly subscription box filled with tools, swag, and surprises to elevate your geocaching adventures. Learn more at CacheCrate.com! 

📲 Don’t forget to grab your free Cache Like A Girl phone wallpaper and join the email list for updates, extras, and geocaching goodies!

Let’s keep caching, connecting, and celebrating adventurous women—one find at a time.

🎙️ Episode 2: From First Finds to HQ – Meet JTCoffee & GiaCaches of Geocaching.com

What’s it like to go from caching in the snow to working at Geocaching HQ? In this episode, Lookout Lisa chats with JTCoffee (Jessie) and GiaCaches (Gia)—two incredible women helping shape the global geocaching experience behind the scenes.

We dive into their personal geocaching journeys, what drew them into the game, and how they found their way to HQ. You'll hear stories of snowy first finds, unexpected trackables, customer support challenges, and how geocaching has grown into a truly international community. Plus, their advice for geocachers of all levels might just change how you see the game.

Whether you're just starting out or logging your 10,000th find, this episode will remind you: there's no one way to geocache, and your journey matters.

🎁 Love geocaching gear? Check out the Cache Crate—our monthly subscription box packed with tools, swag, and surprises for geocachers! Curated by geocachers, for geocachers.

📦 Subscribe now and make every month an adventure!

🎧 Thanks for listening to Cache Like A Girl!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast app.

💬 Got a story or geocaching moment to share? Visit CacheLikeAGirl.com to get in touch or suggest a guest!

 📦 Love geocaching gear? Check out the Cache Crate—our monthly subscription box filled with tools, swag, and surprises to elevate your geocaching adventures. Learn more at CacheCrate.com! 

📲 Don’t forget to grab your free Cache Like A Girl phone wallpaper and join the email list for updates, extras, and geocaching goodies!

Let’s keep caching, connecting, and celebrating adventurous women—one find at a time.

🎙️ Episode 1: Meet Lookout Lisa – The Woman Behind Cache Like A Girl!

In this kickoff episode, we flip the mic around! Host Lookout Lisa—founder of Cache Advance and geocacher since 2002—is interviewed by longtime friend and geocaching enthusiast SeeMyShell. You’ll hear how Lisa got her start in geocaching, the noodle-fueled moment that sparked her business idea, and why she created a podcast just for highlighting women in the geocaching community.

💬 Topics include:

• How Cache Advance and the Cache Crate were born
• The evolution of geocaching since the early 2000s
• Why women’s stories need more airtime in the caching world
• Behind-the-scenes of launching a podcast and a women-focused tee club

Whether you’re brand new to caching or 10,000 finds deep, this is the episode that sets the stage for the adventures ahead.

👉 Learn more or get in touch at CacheLikeAGirl.com

🎁 Love geocaching gear? Check out the Cache Crate—our monthly subscription box packed with tools, swag, and surprises for geocachers! Curated by geocachers, for geocachers.

📦 Subscribe now and make every month an adventure!

🎧 Thanks for listening to Cache Like A Girl!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast app.

💬 Got a story or geocaching moment to share? Visit CacheLikeAGirl.com to get in touch or suggest a guest!

 📦 Love geocaching gear? Check out the Cache Crate—our monthly subscription box filled with tools, swag, and surprises to elevate your geocaching adventures. Learn more at CacheCrate.com! 

📲 Don’t forget to grab your free Cache Like A Girl phone wallpaper and join the email list for updates, extras, and geocaching goodies!

Let’s keep caching, connecting, and celebrating adventurous women—one find at a time.

Welcome to the Cache Like A Girl Podcast! 🎙️
Hosted by Lookout Lisa—longtime geocacher, founder of Cache Advance, and champion for adventurous women everywhere—this podcast celebrates the stories, experiences, and voices of women in the world of geocaching.

In this quick trailer, you'll hear what the show is all about, who it’s for, and why now is the perfect time to cache like a girl. Whether you're new to the game or 10,000 finds in, there’s something here for you. Subscribe now and join the journey!

🎧 Thanks for listening to Cache Like A Girl!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast app.

💬 Got a story or geocaching moment to share? Visit CacheLikeAGirl.com to get in touch or suggest a guest!

 📦 Love geocaching gear? Check out the Cache Crate—our monthly subscription box filled with tools, swag, and surprises to elevate your geocaching adventures. Learn more at CacheCrate.com! 

📲 Don’t forget to grab your free Cache Like A Girl phone wallpaper and join the email list for updates, extras, and geocaching goodies!

Let’s keep caching, connecting, and celebrating adventurous women—one find at a time.