Jack’s covered so many miles, his quads could probably get verified. But this episode isn’t about distance—it’s about depth.

From Calendar Year Triple Crown thru-hiker to dirtbag mentor to outspoken activist, Jack’s evolution has been public, personal, and full of hard choices. In this intimate, funny, and sometimes heavy conversation, we cover:

• The shifting why that fuels his steps today

• Why he canceled a 1,776-mile protest hike out of fear for his safety

• The new plan he’s carving out instead—and what keeps him grounded

• Dirtbag ingenuity when gear fails big time

• Wild stories from the trail (and the weirdest item he’s seen someone carry)

• Who’d play him in the biopic of his life—and what scene has to be included

If you’ve ever felt torn between purpose and protection, activism and adventure—this one’s for you.

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🔗 Support the Pod & Join the Dirtbag Community: If you love Dirtbag Therapy and want to help it grow, consider supporting on Patreon! Members receive early access to episodes a week before anyone else! . 👉 Patreon.com/DirtbagTherapy

📲 Follow Along & Connect: Instagram: @DirtbagTherapy YouTube: Dirtbag Therapy

🎧 Listen, Subscribe, & Rate: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Thanks for being here.

What happens when you trade fast-paced marketing for purpose-driven wandering? In this episode, Miranda shares her journey as a “digital slowmad”—a life of intentional travel, deep local connection, and conscious living. From a bold career pivot into conservation to embracing a childfree lifestyle on the road, Miranda opens up about redefining freedom, building sustainability into everyday choices, and finding meaning in the slow lane. Whether you're curious about long-term travel, rethinking your relationship with stuff, or keeping love strong in a tiny van or trailer, Miranda's insights are a breath of fresh, slow air.

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Where Can I Find Out More About Miranda?

• Where I started, with getting rid of 'stuff': https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-lib-e-the-japanese-art-of-decluttering-and-organizing-marie-kondo/16668398?ean=9781607747307&next=t

• Where I'm at now, a philosophy that goes beyond just managing your 'stuff': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDBYci4Vy2k

Climate Course I took (and I'm still obsessed with): https://www.terra.do/

• My IG, if anyone wants to reach out (although I no longer post): https://www.instagram.com/mirandawanders2/

🔗 Support the Pod & Join the Dirtbag Community: If you love Dirtbag Therapy and want to help it grow, consider supporting on Patreon! Members receive early access to episodes a week before anyone else! . 👉 Patreon.com/DirtbagTherapy

📲 Follow Along & Connect: Instagram: @DirtbagTherapy YouTube: Dirtbag Therapy

🎧 Listen, Subscribe, & Rate: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Thanks for being here.

Before they dip a single paddle into the water, the Hudson Bay Girls are already making waves. In Part 1 of this special two-part episode, we sit down with the all-female team preparing for a 1,200-mile canoe expedition tracing the historic Voyageur Fur Trade route to Hudson Bay. We dig into the origin story of this bold idea, their mental and physical prep, and what it means to take up space in the wilderness as young women. From microaggressions on trail to the legacy of Girl Scout camps, these adventurers share how community, conservation, and courage are fueling their journey. This isn’t just a paddle trip — it’s a powerful act of reclamation, resistance, and hope.

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Where can I find out more about the Hudson Bay Girls?

Here is the link to our website: https://www.hudsonbaygirls.com/

Here is a our link to Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hudsonbaygirls/

Here is our Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hudsonbaygirls

Here is the Save the BWCA Take Action website page: https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org/ACT25

And here is the link to our GoFundMe: 

https://gofund.me/48ba1f4f

🔗 Support the Pod & Join the Dirtbag Community: If you love Dirtbag Therapy and want to help it grow, consider supporting on Patreon! No perks (yet), just good vibes and keeping the pod rolling. 👉 Patreon.com/DirtbagTherapy

📲 Follow Along & Connect: Instagram: @DirtbagTherapy YouTube: Dirtbag Therapy

🎧 Listen, Subscribe, & Rate: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Thanks for being here.

In this week's minisode, Helena pulls back the curtain on vanlife’s darker side—when the escape you crave turns into isolation and discomfort. It’s not the adventure you expect, but it’s the one that forces you to confront what you’re really running from.

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Where can I find out more about Helena?

Instagram: @ghoul.you.meano

www.storiesbyhelena.com

🔗 Support the Pod & Join the Dirtbag Community: If you love Dirtbag Therapy and want to help it grow, consider supporting on Patreon! No perks (yet), just good vibes and keeping the pod rolling. 👉 Patreon.com/DirtbagTherapy

📲 Follow Along & Connect: Instagram: @DirtbagTherapy YouTube: Dirtbag Therapy

🎧 Listen, Subscribe, & Rate: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Thanks for being here.

What started as an impulsive leap turned into a four-year journey across the U.S. in a trailer Bekah and her now-husband built from scratch. In this episode, she shares what life on the road actually looked like—messy moments, unexpected challenges, and the quiet magic of finding freedom in movement. We talk about how constant travel shaped her creativity, what it took to build a business from the road, and the advice she’d give to anyone thinking about making the leap. Plus: a few magical hidden gems, dream rig plans, and plenty of hard-won dirtbag wisdom.

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Where Can I Find Out More About Bekah?

• https://trekswithbeks.com/

• https://ecotericmarketing.com/

• Video of our trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhkCSLh19lU

• https://trekswithbeks.com/cotton-landing-campground-everything-you-need-to-know-plus-our-favorite-natural-spring/

• https://www.boondockerswelcome.com/

• https://www.harvesthosts.com/

• https://lnt.org/

  
  

🔗 Support the Pod & Join the Dirtbag Community: If you love Dirtbag Therapy and want to help it grow, consider supporting on Patreon! No perks (yet), just good vibes and keeping the pod rolling. 👉 Patreon.com/DirtbagTherapy

📲 Follow Along & Connect: Instagram: @DirtbagTherapy YouTube: Dirtbag Therapy

🎧 Listen, Subscribe, & Rate: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Thanks for being here.

In this deeply personal and quietly wild minisode, Lauren Wooster shares the story of her first solo camping trip gone sideways in the New Zealand backcountry. What began as an impulsive winter getaway turned into a full-on survival moment—complete with a raging river, a cozy hut, a sleepless night, and a search and rescue team shouting across the valley. It’s a tale of independence, loneliness, resilience, and the sharp clarity that only comes from being truly stuck—with the land, the weather, and yourself.

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🔗 Support the Pod & Join the Dirtbag Community: If you love Dirtbag Therapy and want to help it grow, consider supporting on Patreon! No perks (yet), just good vibes and keeping the pod rolling. 👉 Patreon.com/DirtbagTherapy

📲 Follow Along & Connect: Instagram: @DirtbagTherapy YouTube: Dirtbag Therapy

🎧 Listen, Subscribe, & Rate: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Thanks for being here.

Bruce is a world-class paddler, lifelong adventurer, and all-around legend with a passport full of stories. In this episode, we dive into his solo trek through Peru, a laugh-out-loud kayaking trip in Nepal with his best friends, and the wild ride of representing two countries on the world stage. He shares close calls, travel mishaps, and the unexpected lessons he’s picked up along the way. Whether he’s navigating whitewater or switching allegiances between Scotland and Germany, Bruce is always chasing the next epic moment—and we’re here for all of it.

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🔗 Support the Pod & Join the Dirtbag Community: If you love Dirtbag Therapy and want to help it grow, consider supporting on Patreon! No perks (yet), just good vibes and keeping the pod rolling. 👉 Patreon.com/DirtbagTherapy

📲 Follow Along & Connect: Instagram: @DirtbagTherapy YouTube: Dirtbag Therapy

🎧 Listen, Subscribe, & Rate: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Thanks for being here. Stay dirty, stay free. 🚀🏕️

In 2018, Emily Schrick walked away from a “normal” life and into the wild, tackling her first-ever thru-hike—2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, solo. That decision changed everything. In this episode, Emily shares what pushed her to take the leap, the hardest parts of going it alone (especially as a woman), and how she’s built a life that keeps her on the move. We dive into her shift from med school dreams to dirtbag reality, the lessons from a failed hike on the GR20 in Corsica, and the unforgettable moments from her solo road trip across Iceland. Plus, she dishes out hard-earned advice for anyone dreaming of quitting their job and hitting the trail.

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Where Can I Find Out More About Emily?

Find Emily on Instagram @backcountryemily

Website: https://backcountryemily.com/

🔗 Support the Pod & Join the Dirtbag Community: If you love Dirtbag Therapy and want to help it grow, consider supporting on Patreon! No perks (yet), just good vibes and keeping the pod rolling. 👉 Patreon.com/DirtbagTherapy

📲 Follow Along & Connect: Instagram: @DirtbagTherapy YouTube: Dirtbag Therapy

🎧 Listen, Subscribe, & Rate: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Thanks for being here.

What happens when you bring a group of women together in the wild? Trish found out firsthand—and it turned into something bigger than she ever imagined. In this episode, we dive into the story behind Women in the Wild, the spark that started it all, and the powerful transformations that happen when women step outside their comfort zones. From breaking stereotypes to the most unexpected (and hilarious) moments on the trail, Trish shares what makes these trips unforgettable. Whether you're a seasoned explorer or just dreaming of your first adventure, this episode will have you itching to hit the trail.

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Where Can I Find Out More About Trish & Women in the Wild?

Find Trish on Instagram @womeninthewild.adventures

https://www.womeninthewild.net/

🔗 Support the Pod & Join the Dirtbag Community: If you love Dirtbag Therapy and want to help it grow, consider supporting on Patreon! No perks (yet), just good vibes and keeping the pod rolling. 👉 Patreon.com/DirtbagTherapy

📲 Follow Along & Connect: Instagram: @DirtbagTherapy YouTube: Dirtbag Therapy

🎧 Listen, Subscribe, & Rate: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Thanks for being here. Stay dirty, stay free. 🚀🏕️

In this episode of Dirtbag Therapy, Bailey shares the deep bond she built with her trail dog, Prima, and the ways their adventures together changed how she sees the outdoors. From the highs of exploring side by side to the grief of losing a beloved companion, she reflects on how Prima’s spirit still guides her on the trail. We also talk about her other adventure pup, Skittles, and the excitement (and chaos) of welcoming her new puppy, Brix, into the mix. Plus, Bailey dives into the realities of balancing a full-time job with a life of adventure, the unexpected lessons from years of making it work, and the mindset that keeps her moving forward. Whether you’re a dog lover, a weekend warrior, or just looking for inspiration to break out of routine, this one’s for you.

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Leave us a rating if you love the show and share with a fellow dirtbag!

🔗 Support the Pod & Join the Dirtbag Community:

If you love Dirtbag Therapy and want to help it grow, consider supporting on Patreon! No perks (yet), just good vibes and keeping the pod rolling. 👉 Patreon.com/DirtbagTherapy

📲 Follow Along & Connect:

Instagram: @DirtbagTherapy

YouTube: Dirtbag Therapy

🎧 Listen & Subscribe:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Thanks for being here. Stay dirty, stay free. 🚀🏕️