Exploration Local

Send us Fan Mail

Years of careful study has proven that spending time in a forest can reduce stress, anxiety, depression and anger; strengthen the immune system, improve cardiovascular and metabolic health and boost overall well-being. Exploration Local Host, Mike Andress, discusses his own personal struggle with depression and anxiety and the freedom he experiences from being in the outdoors. He shares some helpful resources like The Nature Fix and Forest Bathing that open the door to the  modern affliction of "nature deficit disorder" and research that supports the health benefit claims of the healing properties of "nature therapy".

Why Forest Bathing Is Good For You
Forest Walking Affects Autonomic Nervous Activity: A Population-Based Study
Negative Ions Create Positive Vibes
The Waterfall Effect: Negative Ions Give Positive Results
Suicide Prevention Hotline
Depression Hotline Number

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram: explorationlocal

Send us Fan Mail

After a three month, 14K mile father-and-son camping trip that included 49 campgrounds,, 20 states and provinces across the USA and Canada, and visiting numerous national parks and forests along the way, Earl B. Hunter Jr was astonished that he only saw one other Black family camping on their entire journey. It was then that Earl knew he was being called to a greater mission. In October of 2019, Earl stepped away from an executive sales role with an outdoor equipment manufacturer and set out to form Black Folks Camp Too, a company where he hopes to break down racial lines in the outdoors. The mission has a greater purpose, and is reflective in the company’s logo – get people outside where they can sit around a fire to break down barriers, create more inclusive communities and build stronger relationships. 

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram: explorationlocal

Send us Fan Mail

Are you looking to spice up your mountain getaway?  Look no further than DuPont Yurts. Listen in as Sherry & Terry McCracken, owners of DuPont Yurts, talk about how an impromptu wedding anniversary trip staying in a Yurt spawned the heartbeat and vision for a new Yurt Glampground in the adventure rich Dupont State Forest. This husband and wife duo discusses their long range vision, hope, and mission of creating a place where individuals, families, and groups of friends can unplug from the hecticness of this world and make lasting memories.  The DuPont State Recreational Forest is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains between Hendersonville and Brevard, North Carolina. Its 10,400 acres of forest feature four major waterfalls on the Little River and several on the Grassy Creek. All of this just outside your Yurt's front door. Bring your family, pups, and bikes, because you are sure to find a family-fun adventure with Dupont Yurts!

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram: explorationlocal

Send us Fan Mail

Yashdeep Kumar immigrated to the United States from India to attend the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and pursue his Biomedical Engineering Graduate Degree. Listen in as Yashdeep shares amazing stories and talks about how Outdoor Adventures and the outdoor community were the portals to acclimating to life in the USA, and in his own words, "gave him confidence and helped him live his best life." 25 years later, the experiences Yashdeep gained with the Outdoor Adventure Program continue to shape his life and his family's love for the outdoors even to this day. 

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram: explorationlocal

Send us Fan Mail

The #VanLife movement has taken over social media with more than 7.3 million mentions on Instagram alone. Breathtaking photos of people who have sold their world belongings, purchased a van and headed out on the open road leave followers dreaming of a simpler life and living a bit of the nomadic hippie lifestyle. While not everyone can shed the 9am-5pm life, become a minimalist and travel the world in a van, Urban Escape Vehicles has made it possible to experience the excitement of the #VanLife Lifestyle which has become a form of adventure tourism based on the idea of living a self-sustained mobile lifestyle. UEV's are perfect for use as transportation AND basecamp for waterfall viewing, weekend camping trips, exploring the Scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, beach trips, or even traveling to the Grand Canyon. The possibilities are endless!

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram: explorationlocal

Send us Fan Mail

Will Lovett, a rising senior majoring in Marketing & Management at UNC Asheville doesn't just love mountain biking, he also loves to spread the mountain biking STOKE to his fellow students. He and a group of entrepreneurial friends and fellow mountain bike riders took their love of the sport to the next level and started a mountain biking team at UNC Asheville. Listen in as Will describes the process and challenge of forming a new collegiate club sport team while juggling the demanding schedule of a full-time student. Will shares and describes some of his favorite trails from Black Mountain, Bent Creek and Pisgah Forest. Check out some of the sponsors like SHRED Optics, Sensus, and Asheville Vehicle Outfitters that have come alongside Will and the UNCA Mountain Bike Team and help them perform at their best.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Asheville Bicycle Company
Youngblood Bikes
UNC Asheville Mountain Biking Team
Asheville Vehicle Outfitters
UNC Asheville Campus Recreation
Southeast Collegiate Cycling Conference
SHRED Optics
Sensus 

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram: explorationlocal

Send us Fan Mail

Blue Wall Adventures, based in Greenville, South Carolina is a premier source for outdoor adventures in Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. They offer guided mountain biking tours and hikes in Dupont State Forest, Pisgah National Forest, and Chimney Rock State Park (Weedpatch Mountain Trail). Blue Wall Adventures also offers professional mountain bike instruction, summer camps, skills clinics, and private instruction for families, groups, or individuals.

In this episode we speak with Beau Bethel, Founder and self prescribed COF (Chairman of Fun) for Blue Wall Adventures. Beau left his corporate position as Vice President for BB&T Securities to return to his love of outdoors and teaching. He loves to build community in everything he does. He embraces the disadvantaged and underprivileged and seeks to get them involved in the outdoors as much as possible. Blue Wall Adventures is committed to teaching progressive mountain bike skills, fostering conservation and trail advocacy while helping to get others in the outdoors safely. 

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram: explorationlocal

Send us Fan Mail

This episode is because of mountain biking but isn’t ALL about mountain biking. It’s about sharing the ride and the journey that comes with it. It’s about falling in love with an idea that has such a strong pull that it ends up becoming a dream that has to be pursued. It’s about giving ourselves the freedom to dream, striving for the pursuit of excellence, advocacy, love for a local community and a desire to see people fully engaged with the outdoors and each other. And yes of course…It’s about great gear designed BY riders, FOR riders, at affordable prices. Cognative MTB inspires you to drop everything and Go Ride Your Bike! 

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram: explorationlocal

Send us Fan Mail

Inspired by their deep roots and heritage in outdoor equipment manufacturing, SylvanSport designs products that make playing in the outdoors easy, fun, and accessible. In 2004, SylvanSport set out to make the most innovative pop-up camper and has evolved into a line of some of the most uniquely designed and durable camping and gear trailers ever made. We sit down with Katlyn Mobley, SylvanSport Digital Content Specialist, A.T. Thru-Hiker, and Adventure Guide to discuss the company's playful personality, purposeful culture, and never-ending commitment to innovative product design. 

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram: explorationlocal

Send us Fan Mail

We sit down with Mary Jo Gordon, Marketing & Communication Specialist with Transylvania County Tourism to get a behind the scenes look at what it is like to support & promote a beautiful mountain destination. Brevard and Transylvania County offer one-of-a-kind opportunities to pursue fly fishing, mountain biking, road cycling, rock climbing, hiking, camping, birding, cruising the backroads, or whatever else floats your canoe. Discover exquisite arts and crafts, catch world-class musical performances, enjoy celebrated cuisine and delicious locally brewed beer. Spend the day shopping and wandering through historic downtown Brevard or simply relaxing and recharging amid the exquisite scenery.

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

Podcast Website
Facebook
Instagram: explorationlocal