In this episode, Jen and Dyana chat with Emily Pennington — journalist, adventure writer, and photographer — who’s made a name for herself covering the outdoors, national parks, adventure travel, and wellness. Emily has visited every U.S. national park and chronicled her journey in her memoir Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks. They dive into her most memorable park experiences, why solo adventuring shaped her, and how it eventually inspired her to seek out more shared adventures. A seasoned contributor to Outside magazine, Emily’s work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, REI Journal, and Backpacker.

Follow Emily on Instagram @brazenbackpacker

Check out her book - Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks

NOTABLE TIMESTAMPS

6:56 Welcome Emily Pennington

13:55 Motivation & planning year long National Park trip

25:48 Writing Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks

33:19 Emily's most surprising & favorite National Park

41:46 Relationship with discomfort

48:39 Sharing adventures with others

57:25 Overtourism & challenges facing public lands

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