Go Wildly Podcast

The Stupid Hike That Changed Everything with Andy NealEpisode 39 | Go Wildly Podcast

Andy Neal went from pastor to filmmaker to half a million followers — all thanks to the trails.

Known online as @andyfilmsandhikes, Andy is an Oregon-based storyteller, filmmaker, and outdoor creator whose "stupid hike for my stupid mental health" videos struck a nerve with people who needed permission to just go be real outside. Before full-time content creation he spent 15 years as a pastor. Today he talks openly about faith, relationship with land, identity, foster and adoptive parenting, mental health, and what it takes to start over.

In This Episode

From bible school to film school to hiking, podcasting, and plus-size modeling

Being a voice for mental health and child advocacy

Foster and adoptive parenting

His weight loss journey and GLP-1

The Rogue River at Ti'lomikh Falls

Spirituality and common ground

His first time backpacking — feeling dependent on the land

Land stewardship and public lands

Getting over yourself to get to know yourself

Going viral and navigating brand deals

Destigmatizing men's mental health

Advice for his younger self

Favorite outdoor gear

Recommendations for Southern Oregon

How he wants to be remembered

Links

Instagram & YouTube: @andyfilmsandhikes

Website: https://www.andyfilmsandhikes.com/

Active Listener Offers

Kula Cloth — Shop through our link to support the show: kulacloth.com/?avad=436689_e4cf2ef3d

Southern Oregon Martial Arts Academy — 2-Week Free Trial + 6-month membership: southernoregonmartialarts.com

ROW Adventures — Code GOWILDLY, $100 off any multi-day trip 2026-2027: rowadventures.com/multi-day-rafting-trips

Lean In Breathwork — Code GOWILDLY, 20% off sauna sessions: calvinlivingston.com

Follow Go WildlyYouTube: youtube.com/@gowildlypodcast

Spotify: tinyurl.com/spotifygowildlypodcast

Instagram: @gowildlypodcast

Website: gowildlypodcast.com

Hosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather White / Go Wildly Podcast

Theme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters — used with permission

Keywords

Go Wildly Podcast, Go Wildly, Southern Oregon podcast, outdoor podcast, Emily Berlant, Heather White, Andy Neal, andyfilmsandhikes, hiking mental health, stupid hike for my stupid mental health, men's mental health, destigmatizing mental health, mental health outdoors, hiking Oregon, Oregon filmmaker, outdoor content creator, foster parenting, adoptive parenting, child advocacy, faith and outdoors, spirituality outdoors, GLP-1 weight loss, plus size hiking, plus size outdoors, going viral hiking, outdoor storytelling, Ti'lomikh Falls, Rogue River, public lands, land stewardship, backpacking Oregon, first time backpacking, getting over yourself, grief and healing outdoors, pastor turned filmmaker, place-based podcast, outdoor healing, whimsy, Kula Cloth

Fly Fishing, Female Fun & Getting Women Outdoors with Meg GrahamEpisode 38 | Go Wildly Podcast

She came to Southern Oregon for the rivers. The rivers gave her a lot more than she expected.

Meg Graham moved to Southern Oregon in 2016, found whitewater, then picked up fly fishing — and fell completely in love with it. She's also the President and Co-Founder of Southern Oregon Women Outdoors, built to help women get outside with confidence and find their people while they're at it.

⚠ This episode contains a discussion of a river fatality. Please listen with care.

We talk about: how her family found Oregon and the outdoors, whitewater to fly fishing, nymphing and dry flies and swinging for steelhead, losing her kayaking mentor to the river, that one time Meg and her Instagram friend stole her new boyfriend's boat, where the confidence to start a nonprofit came from, female fun vs. male fun, work-life balance in corrections and courts, being a participant in your own life, being a woman of the water, and her favorite gear (Kula Cloth).

Links

Southern Oregon Women Outdoors: southernoregonwomenoutdoors.square.site | @southernoregonwomenoutdoors

BLT Shuttles: bltshuttles.weebly.com

Active Listener Offers

- Kula Cloth — Meg's most-used piece of outdoor gear. Shop to support the show: kulacloth.com/?avad=436689_e4cf2ef3d

- SOMA — 2-Week Free Trial + 6-month membership: southernoregonmartialarts.com

- ROW Adventures — Code GOWILDLY, $100 off any multi-day trip 2026-2027: rowadventures.com/multi-day-rafting-trips

- Lean In Breathwork — Code GOWILDLY, 20% off sauna sessions: calvinlivingston.com

Follow Go Wildly

- YouTube: youtube.com/@gowildlypodcast

- Spotify: tinyurl.com/spotifygowildlypodcast

- Instagram: @gowildlypodcast

- Website: gowildlypodcast.com

Hosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather White

Theme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters

Keywords

Go Wildly Podcast, Southern Oregon podcast, outdoor podcast, adventure podcast, Emily Berlant, Heather White, Meg Graham, Southern Oregon Women Outdoors, SOWO, women outdoors, fly fishing Oregon, fly fishing Rogue River, steelhead fishing Oregon, dry fly fishing, nymphing, whitewater kayaking, women fly fishing, women who fish, nonprofit outdoors, outdoor community women, female outdoor community, women empowerment outdoors, BLT Shuttles, Kula Cloth, outdoor gear women, outdoor confidence, place-based podcast, whimsy, Rogue River

Mountains, Music & Meeting the Moment with Keith Townsend

Episode 37 | Go Wildly Podcast

Keith Townsend has been on mountains since he was four and making music for over twenty years — and for him, they've always been the same practice.

Snowboard coach, climber, surfer, violist, guitarist, and improvising musician based in Southern Oregon. We talk about finding individuality in music, how snowboarding, climbing, surfing, and music relate, building community around co-interests, type 2 fun, why he chooses Southern Oregon, favorite gear, the Utah road trip where Keith and Emily ran into each other, and a vertical adventure where Keith first learned to climb outdoors.

LinksBlog: ktownsendit-moupq.wordpress.comInstagram & Facebook: @rabbitdubRed Hawk Ridge Bike Park: redhawkridgebikepark.comBands: @indubious | @theillies | @mysticrootsband

Active Listener OffersSOMA — 2-Week Free Trial + 6-month membership: southernoregonmartialarts.comROW Adventures — Code GOWILDLY, $100 off any multi-day trip 2026-2027: rowadventures.com/multi-day-rafting-tripsLean In Breathwork — Code GOWILDLY, 20% off sauna sessions: calvinlivingston.comKula Cloth — Shop to support the show: kulacloth.com/?avad=436689_e4cf2ef3d

Follow Go WildlyYouTube: youtube.com/@gowildlypodcastSpotify: tinyurl.com/spotifygowildlypodcastInstagram: @gowildlypodcastWebsite: gowildlypodcast.com

Hosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather WhiteTheme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters

KeywordsGo Wildly Podcast, Southern Oregon podcast, outdoor podcast, Emily Berlant, Heather White, Keith Townsend, snowboard coach, Mt. Ashland, High Cascade Mt. Hood, rock climbing, surfing, snowboarding Oregon, alpine sports, viola, guitarist, improvising musician, music and the outdoors, Ashland Oregon, Red Hawk Ridge Bike Park, Indubious, Mystic Roots, The Illies, type 2 fun, outdoor community, poison oak, road trip Oregon, presence and creativity, place-based podcast, Kula Cloth, outdoor gear, whimsy

Disability, the Outdoors & the Healing Power of Oregon with Alice Diehl

Episode 36 | Go Wildly Podcast

Identity is not limitation. Alice Diehl is proof.

Actress, puppeteer, advocate, and Ms. Wheelchair Oregon 2025 — Alice Diehl lives in Grants Pass and has spent her life redefining what's possible. We talk about disability accessibility, the overlap between disability and homelessness, disability history in the USA, theater arts and family legacy, her parents meeting in New Guinea, the healing power of Oregon rivers, nature as a spiritual awakening, claiming her femininity, puppetry, and how she wants to be remembered.

Links

Instagram: instagram.com/gamerbabe86

IMDB: imdb.com/name/nm4086586

Facebook: facebook.com/alice.diehl.2025

Ms. Wheelchair Oregon: mswheelchairamerica.org/ms-wheelchair-oregon

Active Listener Offers

- SOMA — 2-Week Free Trial + 6-month membership: southernoregonmartialarts.com

- ROW Adventures — Code GOWILDLY, $100 off any multi-day trip 2026-2027: rowadventures.com/multi-day-rafting-trips

- Lean In Breathwork — Code GOWILDLY, 20% off sauna sessions: calvinlivingston.com

Follow Go Wildly

YouTube: youtube.com/@gowildlypodcast

Spotify: tinyurl.com/spotifygowildlypodcast

Instagram: @gowildlypodcast

Website: gowildlypodcast.com

Hosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather White

Theme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters

Keywords

Go Wildly Podcast, Southern Oregon podcast, outdoor podcast, Emily Berlant, Heather White, Alice Diehl, Ms. Wheelchair Oregon 2025, cerebral palsy, disability advocacy, disability accessibility, inclusive outdoors, adaptive outdoor recreation, disability and homelessness, disability history USA, wheelchair user outdoors, theater arts, puppetry, John Ritter scholarship, healing power of nature, nature and creativity, spiritual awakening outdoors, whimsy, Oregon rivers, Grants Pass Oregon, resilience, representation, place-based podcast, outdoor healing, nature therapy, creative outdoors

50 Years on the River: Whitewater, Dam Fights & the Klamath with Bill CrossEpisode 35 | Go Wildly PodcastBill Cross has been running rivers and fighting to protect them for nearly 50 years. In this episode we talk about his 1977 start, the Save the Stanislaus campaign, Undam the Klamath, what dam removal takes, building coalitions, river access, persevering through slow conservation work, advice for his younger self, trusted gear, Southern Oregon recommendations, and how he wants to be remembered.Links & MentionsAmerican Whitewater: americanwhitewater.orgARTA: arta.orgWhiteWater Voyages: whitewatervoyages.comWestern Whitewater: From the Rockies to the Pacific (1994) — check your local libraryActive Listener OffersSOMA — 2-Week Free Trial + 6-month membership: southernoregonmartialarts.comROW Adventures — Code GOWILDLY, $100 off any multi-day trip 2026-2027: rowadventures.com/multi-day-rafting-tripsLean In Breathwork — Code GOWILDLY, 20% off sauna sessions: calvinlivingston.comFollow Go WildlyYouTube: youtube.com/@gowildlypodcastSpotify: tinyurl.com/spotifygowildlypodcastInstagram: @gowildlypodcastWebsite: gowildlypodcast.comHosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather WhiteTheme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared MastersKeywordsGo Wildly Podcast, Southern Oregon podcast, outdoor podcast, Emily Berlant, Heather White, Bill Cross, whitewater rafting, river conservation, dam removal, Klamath River dam removal, Stanislaus River, Save the Stanislaus, Undam the Klamath, Rogue River, American Whitewater, ARTA, WhiteWater Voyages, Western Whitewater guidebook, river advocacy, coalition building, whitewater history, river access, Ashland Oregon, Southern Oregon rivers, rafting Oregon, kayaking Oregon, conservation podcast, outdoor adventure, legacy

Favorite Episodes, What's Coming & the Truth About Making a PodcastEpisode 34 | Go Wildly Podcast

Emily and Heather close out the first recording block of the season — talking about what it actually takes to make this podcast, their favorite episodes to record, moments that surprised them, and what's still coming for the rest of the year.

Active Listener Offers — all still live:

Southern Oregon Martial Arts Academy — 2-Week Free Trial, then sign up with a 6-month membership to support the show.southernoregonmartialarts.com

ROW Adventures — Code GOWILDLY for $100 off any multi-day river trip in 2026 or 2027. New reservations only. Not combinable with other offers. No cash value.rowadventures.com/multi-day-rafting-trips

Lean In Breathwork / Calvin's Sauna Bus — Code GOWILDLY for 20% off. $30 for 30 min / $39 for 45 min. First 10 get a free breathwork session. Calvin donates $5/booking to Go Wildly for the first 50.calvinlivingston.com

Follow Go WildlyYouTube: youtube.com/@gowildlypodcastSpotify: tinyurl.com/spotifygowildlypodcastInstagram: @gowildlypodcastWebsite: gowildlypodcast.com

Hosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather WhiteTheme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters

KeywordsGo Wildly Podcast, Southern Oregon podcast, Emily Berlant, Heather White, podcast behind the scenes, season recap, favorite episodes, Go Wildly season 2, Southern Oregon storytelling, outdoor culture podcast, Rogue Valley, ROW Adventures, Southern Oregon Martial Arts Academy, Lean In Breathwork

Episode 33 | Go Wildly Podcast

In this episode of Go Wildly, we sit down with Smokey Bear — joined by his handlers Sarah and AJ, Fire Prevention Specialists with the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest — for a conversation about fire, forest health, and awareness.

We talk about: how Smokey came to be, the growing urgency of fire season, and how everyday people can be better stewards of the places they love.

Links & Resources

Smokey Bear: smokeybear.com | @smokeybear

Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest: fs.usda.gov/r06/rogue-siskiyou

Fire alerts & mailing list: fs.usda.gov/r06/rogue-siskiyou/keep-in-touch

Facebook: facebook.com/R6RRSNF

FireWise USA: nfpa.org/education-and-research/wildfire/firewise-usa

AirNow Fire & Smoke Map: fire.airnow.gov

InciWeb: inciweb.wildfire.gov

Rogue River-Siskiyou Prescribed Fire on InciWeb: inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orrsf-rogue-riversiskiyou-national-forest-prescribed-fire-operations

Oregon Dept. of Forestry SW Oregon: swofire.com

Follow Go Wildly

YouTube: youtube.com/@gowildlypodcast

Spotify: tinyurl.com/spotifygowildlypodcast

Instagram: @gowildlypodcast

Website: gowildlypodcast.com

Hosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather White

Theme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters

Keywords

Go Wildly Podcast, Southern Oregon podcast, Smokey Bear, wildfire prevention, U.S. Forest Service, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, wildfire season, fire restrictions Oregon, climate and wildfire, public lands, fire safety, only you can prevent wildfires, FireWise, InciWeb, AirNow, Oregon Department of Forestry, Southern Oregon fires, Rogue Valley, SWO Oregon, Emily Berlant, Heather White, whimsy, Watch Duty

The Co-Host Takes the Chair: Meet Heather White

Episode 32 | Season 2 Ep 14 | Go Wildly Podcast

She's been on this podcast since day one. Today she's the guest.

Heather White grew up in Grants Pass with dirt under her feet and a dad who treated the outdoors like a classroom. Hunting, fishing, foraging, rafting the Rogue, backpacking into places without trails — that was just childhood. Today she's raising two wild boys, co-owns BikeKraft, works as a Rogue Valley real estate agent, and co-hosts this podcast.

We talk about: growing up in Grants Pass, adventures with her dad, working off-grid at Marial Lodge, becoming a mom, public lands and Leave No Trace, faith and belief, and why Southern Oregon is the best place on Earth.

Connect with HeatherBikeKraft: bikekraft.comInstagram & TikTok: @Heather.GoWildlyReal Estate: @Heather.GoRealtor

Follow Go WildlyYouTube: youtube.com/@gowildlypodcastSpotify: tinyurl.com/spotifygowildlypodcastInstagram: @gowildlypodcastWebsite: gowildlypodcast.com

Hosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather White

Theme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters

KeywordsGo Wildly Podcast, Southern Oregon podcast, Heather White, Emily Berlant, Grants Pass Oregon, BikeKraft, Rogue River, Marial Lodge, Wild and Scenic Rogue, NICA mountain biking, public lands, Leave No Trace, outdoor parenting, raising kids outside, real estate Southern Oregon, Rogue Valley, faith and outdoors, off-grid Oregon, place-based podcast, Southern Oregon lifestyle

Mountain Biking, Poison Oak & Raising Kids Wildly with Casey Botts | Go Wildly PodcastEpisode 31 | Go Wildly Podcast

Casey Botts is a former firefighter, stay-at-home dad, and co-founder of Ashland DEVO, a nonprofit youth mountain bike program serving riders across Southern Oregon. This episode is full of trail stories, practical wisdom, and genuine joy.

We talk about: Ashland's ecology and why his family moved here, life as an urban firefighter in Sacramento, why there's barely any mountain biking left in Marin County, building Ashland DEVO from scratch, tips for seasonal depression and poison oak, finding flow on a trail run, watching your kids progress outside, advice for a good life, and a dramatic self-arrest on Mount Bailey that may have saved his life.

Links & MentionsAshland DEVO: ashlanddevo.orgNICA: nationalmtb.orgBikeKraft: bikekraft.comRogue Valley Runners: roguevalleyrunners.comSendHer: @sendher.mtb.club

Follow Go WildlyYouTube: youtube.com/@gowildlypodcastSpotify: tinyurl.com/spotifygowildlypodcastInstagram: @gowildlypodcastWebsite: gowildlypodcast.com

Hosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather WhiteTheme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters

KeywordsGo Wildly Podcast, Southern Oregon podcast, Casey Botts, Ashland DEVO, youth mountain biking, NICA, mountain biking Ashland, Marin County, getting kids outside, trail running, seasonal depression, poison oak, Mount Bailey, splitboarding, ice axe, Oregon, BikeKraft, Rogue Valley Runners, outdoor parenting, community building, Ashland Oregon, Emily Berlant, Heather White

Feral Forest Fairy: Fire, Rivers & Falling in Love with Sofie Maciel

Episode 30 | Go Wildly Podcast

About This Episode

She grew up feral in the forest — and never really stopped.

In this episode of Go Wildly, we sit down with Sofie Maciel — wildfire educator, whitewater guide, prescribed burn practitioner, trail alliance board member, and self-described forest fairy — for a joyful, wide-ranging conversation about fire, rivers, biodiversity, and what it means to fall completely in love with a landscape.

Sofie grew up in Truckee, California, skiing, hiking, and living mostly outside. After studying at CSU Monterey Bay and completing her graduate degree at Southern Oregon University — where she dove deep into the biodiversity of the Klamath-Siskiyou mountains — she landed in Grants Pass and never left. Today she channels that love into education, stewardship, and getting people outside through hands-on, adventure-based experiences.This episode has it all: glitter and whimsy, flash floods and river flips, animal sightings, a love story, and a genuinely moving conversation about fire's role in a healthy landscape — and how we can be better partners to the land we live on.

In This Episode

- Growing up as a feral forest fairy in Truckee- The importance of fire on the landscape and reciprocity with the land- How to get involved in prescribed burning- Kids learning through osmosis — teaching fire management and outdoor opportunity- How Sofie became a river guide- Her favorite Southern Oregon rivers for recreation- Flash floods, river flips, and adventuring despite fear- "Nature is metal"- Choosing Southern Oregon — how and why- Learning by teaching — outside- Her love story- A lot of animal sightings💰 Go Wildly Listener Offer — ROW AdventuresUse code GOWILDLY for $100 off any multi-day river trip in 2026 or 2027.New reservations only. Not combinable with other offers. Subject to availability. No cash value.www.rowadventures.com/multi-day-rafting-tripsFollow Go WildlyYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gowildlypodcastSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/spotifygowildlypodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gowildlypodcastWebsite: https://www.gowildlypodcast.comAbout Sofie MacielSofie Maciel is the Wildfire Education Coordinator for the Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative, a whitewater guide with ROW Adventures, Board Secretary for the Southern Oregon Trail Alliance, and a volunteer prescribed burn practitioner with the Rogue Valley Prescribed Burn Association. Her passion is sharing nature with others through hands-on, adventure-based experiences that get people outside and connected to the land and community around them.Instagram: @sofmaceOrganizations & LinksSouthern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative: https://www.sofrc.orgROW Adventures: https://www.rowadventures.comSouthern Oregon Trail Alliance: https://www.sotrailalliance.orgRogue Valley Prescribed Burn Association: https://www.rvpba.orgProduction CreditsHosted, Edited & Produced by Go Wildly PodcastTheme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters — used with permissionSupport the ShowIf this episode moved you, share it with someone who needs it. You can also:- Subscribe on YouTube- Follow on Spotify- Leave a review wherever you listenYour support helps us keep bringing more outdoor stories to the mic. Thank you.KeywordsGo Wildly Podcast, Southern Oregon podcast, outdoor podcast, Sofie Maciel, wildfire education, prescribed burning Oregon, Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative, Klamath-Siskiyou mountains, whitewater guide, ROW Adventures, Southern Oregon Trail Alliance, Rogue Valley, Grants Pass Oregon, Truckee California, biodiversity, fire ecology, river guiding Oregon, flash flood, outdoor education, feral kids outdoors, nature is metal, adventure despite fear, place-based podcast, community outdoors, forest stewardship, Emily Berlant, Heather White