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What happens when a touring musician trades the stage for the trail — and starts breaking records?

Meet Cody Taylor: former drummer, endurance coach, and unsupported FKT holder of both the Bruce Trail (900km) and the International Appalachian Trail.

In this episode of Hikes and Mics, Cody takes us deep into what it really means to go fully unsupported — carrying a 55-pound pack, filtering water from the ground, and sleeping on course while burning more calories than he could eat. He breaks down the brutal lessons learned on the Bruce Trail — hallucinations from zero sleep, back chafing from a failing pack, running out of food with 100km left — and how those hard lessons transformed his IAT experience into something extraordinary.

We talk nutrition, magnesium, mental toughness, pack weight strategy, and why dialing in your sleep system changes everything. Cody also opens up about his identity shift from musician to athlete, running a coaching business with his high school sweetheart, and why he's now eyeing an unsupported out-and-back record on Vermont's Long Trail.

Whether you're planning your first overnight trip or your next big FKT attempt — Cody's story will make you want to put something on the calendar.

Episode Links:
Cody on Instagram
Cody's Website
Cody on YouTube
Cody on Facebook
Cody on TikTok

This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

This episode's music was created by Ketsa, follow him on Instagram @Ketsamusic

AllTrails+
I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.

Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!

Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)

Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists 

Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. 

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700+ miles. Alone. Dragging a sled across Antarctica with nothing but training, grit, and the kind of stubbornness that makes history — and she did. Meet the first American woman to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole. 

On January 18, 2026, Monet Izabeth made history — skiing solo and unsupported across 700+ miles of Antarctic ice to the South Pole. The wild part? Three years before that, she had never once slept outside in winter.

In this episode, Monet traces the full, unlikely arc: from being dragged on hikes as a kid who wanted nothing to do with the outdoors, to a jaw-dropping Facebook message about her great uncle's WWII plane found on Mt. Kenya, to a brutal polar shakedown in Svalbard that left her thinking, "Damn it. Now I have to do it."

We go deep on what a goal this size actually demands — over $89,000 just for the expedition itself, two and a half years of all-consuming physical and mental training, and a decision to bet her own savings when sponsors wouldn't take the leap. We also get into the mental game of hauling a sled across a frozen continent alone, her philosophy on summits and why she'd rather you have fun than bag a peak, gear hot takes, tea house trekking in Nepal, and what's coming next (spoiler: a book).

Monet's story will make you rethink every excuse you've ever made about not being ready.

Episode Links:
Monet on Instagram
Monet's GoFundMe
Monet's Substack
Monet's 2026 Group Trips

This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

This episode's music was created by Ketsa, follow him on Instagram @Ketsamusic

AllTrails+
I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.

Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!

Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)

Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists 

Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. 

Send us Fan Mail

Snacks, Stories, and the Trail That Changed Everything

**The first half of the episode Jared's microphone came from his iPods, the second half is from his condenser microphone.**

What happens when a college writing professor trades plagiarism cases for backcountry trails? You get Jared Champion, aka Snackbox, one of the most thoughtful voices in the outdoor storytelling space.

In this episode, Jared shares how motorcycle road trips through National Parks first sparked his love of the outdoors, leading to a deep dive into backpacking on the Colorado Trail and a life-changing pivot away from academia. We unpack the origin of his legendary trail name (earned on the JMT, snack wrappers included), and explore how he channeled his passion for writing into founding Backcountry Champions Creative Studio, a nonprofit helping outdoor adventurers turn their trail experiences into published books.

We talk about the anthology More Than Hope: Lessons from the Colorado Trail, a PCT book coming out this summer, and Jared's unique process for helping first-time authors find the specific, personal stories only they can tell.

We also get into the deeper stuff: why storytelling builds community, why the outdoor space needs more diverse voices, and why hiking hasn't gotten old for him the way everything else has.

Plus, his ambitious plans to link the High Sierra Trail and the John Muir Trail in one epic trip, and a hard take on earbuds vs. nature sounds that you won't want to miss.

Episode Links:
Jared on Instagram
Outside Comfort Zone YouTube
Backcountry Champions Creative Studio

This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

AllTrails+
I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.

Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!

Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)

Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists 

Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. 

Send us Fan Mail

Season 14 is HERE — and we're kicking things off with a reunion three years in the making.

Welcome back to Hikes & Mics! For our Season 14 premiere, I recorded in person on the banks of the Salt River in Arizona with two beloved returning guests: Tami and Elise — first featured back in Season 2.

In this episode, we cover:

🥾 Elise's life on two coasts — guiding women through her business HER (Hike, Explore, Recharge), REI gear testing, volunteering with the Fountain Hills Sonoran Conservancy, and what "Stay Curious" really means to her.

🧊 Tami's wild three years — from knee replacement to the John Muir Trail, Rim-to-Rim, the Enchantments, Tour du Mont Blanc, the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt, and summiting The Fang ice climb in Vail on her birthday.

🎉 The story that started it all — how the podcast connected these two, and how Tami surprised Elise on the trail during the final miles of the AZ Bootleg 100.

🏔️ Enchantments permit tips, mindset shifts, wilderness first responder training, and a round of This or That with Four Peaks as our backdrop.

🎥 This is also an official VIDEO episode of Hikes & Mics, now available on our YouTube channel — watch the full conversation as it happened on the Salt River. And fair warning: stick around for the very beginning of the video for a special (and very relatable) blooper — Elise swallowed a fly on camera, and it's exactly as good as it sounds.

Whether you've followed Elise and Tami since Season 2 or you're meeting them for the first time, this episode is a reminder of why we do this — the trails, the people, and the connections that outlast any single adventure.

Episode Links:
Tami on Instagram
Tami on Facebook
Elise on Instagram
Hike, Explore, Recharge Website
Elise's Linktree

This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

This episode's music was created by Ketsa, follow him on Instagram @Ketsamusic

AllTrails+
I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.

Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!

Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)

Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists 

Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. 

Send us Fan Mail

Season 14 of Hikes & Mics launches March 23rd — and it's our biggest season yet. This season's guests include the first American woman to ski solo and unsupported across Antarctica, an ultra-endurance athlete setting FKTs on some of North America's most demanding routes, a conservation photographer documenting climate-threatened wildlife in the alpine and the Sonoran Desert, an outdoor storyteller and author behind a celebrated Colorado Trail anthology, a community organizer who built a hiking group around craft beer culture, and a cancer survivor turned landscape photographer inspiring others to get outside. Plus — a special video premiere episode recorded in Arizona featuring two returning guests from Season 2. Whether you're a day hiker, backpacker, or just someone who loves a great adventure story, Hikes & Mics Season 14 has something for you. Subscribe and follow along wherever you listen to podcasts. 

This Season was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

AllTrails+
I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.

Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!

Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)

Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists 

Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. 

Send us Fan Mail

Kelsey Kurtis: Antarctica, Adventure Photography, Branding Yourself as YOU & the Legend of the Crotch Pot 🎒📸🐧

We're closing out Season 13 with an episode you will not want to miss. Kelsey Kurtis — photographer, author, adventurer, and certified force of nature — joins us for a conversation that covers everything from the Sierra Nevadas to the South Pole, and somehow ends with crotch-baked brownies.

Kelsey grew up hiking in Mammoth Lakes, California, and now calls Bellingham, Washington home — two mountain meccas that shaped her deep love for wild places. Over the past 15 years, she's built a career as a professional branding photographer working primarily with women-owned businesses, authored The Connection Method, and grown a community that celebrates showing up unapologetically as yourself. She opens up about navigating ADHD and dyslexia, how her Grandpa Paul's jewelry-selling philosophy became the foundation for everything she teaches about human connection, and why branding yourself as you — not what you sell — is the key to building something that lasts.

We dig into her iPhone photography tips (yes, stop pinching to zoom), what makes a branding shoot actually feel like a person, and how her Too Much Club is creating a permission slip for people who've always been told they're too loud, too weird, or too much.

Then Kelsey takes us to Antarctica — her #1 bucket list destination since age 15 — where she served as expedition photographer, ugly-cried on a Zodiac surrounded by icebergs, survived the Drake Passage with the help of a mystery pill, and oh… sang I Want It That Way with Howie from the Backstreet Boys. 

We also talk Camp KK — her group travel series designed for women in midlife who want adventure, community, and professional photos of themselves looking epic in the mountains. 

And yes — we get into the Crotch Pot. If you don't know, you're about to find out.

Episode Links:
Kelsey on Instagram
Kelsey Photography Account on Instagram
Kelsey's Website
Use code HIKE20 for Kelsey's "Elevate your Phone Photography" Class ($20 off - makes it $49!)

This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

This episode's music was created by Ketsa, follow him on Instagram

AllTrails+
I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.

Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!

Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)

Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists 

Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. 

Send us Fan Mail

🧀 From the AT to the PCT: Tramily, Trail Grit & Life Off the Beaten Path with Pimento 🥾🌄

What does it actually mean to find your people on trail — and what happens when the trail ends and real life begins?

In this episode of Hikes & Mics, we sit down with Jacob, better known as Pimento — a thru-hiker from Indiana who's hiked the Appalachian Trail, the Arizona Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail alongside one of the most tight-knit tramilies you'll ever hear about.

We trace Jacob's unlikely entry into long-distance hiking and follow his journey from the 2021 AT to the PCT — where injuries, separation from his crew through the Sierras, and an emotional reunion at Cascade Locks tested his grit. We also explore the Arizona Trail's wild contrasts, from super bloom valleys to snow-packed approaches to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

But this conversation goes well beyond the trail. Jacob is a former whitewater rafting guide on West Virginia's New River Gorge, a woodworker who hand-crafts his own paddles, a skoolie builder, and a maple syrup producer who taps 275 trees each season on the family farm — the force behind Hoosier Sugar Daddy.

🎧 Whether you're a thru-hiker, a tramily loyalist, or someone who just wants to hear what it sounds like when adventure becomes a way of life — this one's for you.

Episode Links:
Jacob on Instagram
Hoosier Sugar Daddy Website

This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

AllTrails+
I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.

Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!

Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)

Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists 

Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. 

Send us Fan Mail

🚨 Survival Starts Before the Trail: Wilderness Safety & Smart Preparation with Dr. Rob Scanlon 🥾💧

What actually gets hikers into trouble on the trail — and more importantly, what keeps them alive?

In this episode of Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Dr. Rob Scanlon — physician, backpacker, and author of Surviving the Trail: Five Essential Skills to Prepare Every Hiker for Adventure’s Most Common Perils. With more than two decades of trail experience and a career in critical care medicine, Dr. Rob brings a rare and eye-opening perspective on the realities behind hiking accidents, rescues, and preventable emergencies.

Rather than focusing on dramatic survival stories, Dr. Rob makes a powerful case for something far less glamorous — but far more important: preparation. We dive deep into the five critical variables every hiker must understand to stay safe in the backcountry: dehydration, body temperature regulation, falling, drowning, and getting lost.

Throughout the conversation, Dr. Rob breaks down the subtle warning signs hikers often miss, the compounding risks of small mistakes, and why even experienced adventurers frequently underestimate hazards like weather shifts, navigation errors, and stream crossings. We explore the psychology of fear versus preparedness, the life-saving value of analog navigation skills, and how wilderness medicine reshapes decision-making under stress.

🎒 Whether you’re new to hiking or planning bigger objectives, this episode is packed with practical, potentially life-saving insights — because the goal isn’t just reaching the destination, it’s making it home safely.

Episode Links:
Dr. Rob Scanlon on Instagram
Buy Surviving the Trail on Amazon

This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

AllTrails+
I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.

Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!

Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)

Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists 

Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. 

Send us Fan Mail

🎻 Creativity, Courage & Kula Cloth: Finding Joy in the Wild with Anastasia Allison 🏔️✨

In this special milestone episode of Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Anastasia Allison — founder of Kula Cloth, outdoor educator, former Washington State Park Ranger, professional violinist, and one half of The Musical Mountaineers. This conversation also marks a first for the podcast as our official video episode, now available on our YouTube channel alongside the audio release.

Anastasia shares her deeply personal journey into the outdoors, reflecting on how hiking became a refuge during childhood bullying and how a life-changing road trip through the western national parks set the trajectory for her career. From her years serving as a law enforcement ranger on the Olympic Peninsula to serenading campers with her violin, Anastasia reveals how creativity, curiosity, and connection shaped her unconventional path.

We dive into the unforgettable origin story of Kula Cloth — sparked by a memorable (and hilarious) Mount Baker mishap — and explore the fears, risks, and mindset shifts that led her to build one of the most recognizable pieces of Leave No Trace gear in the outdoor world. Anastasia also opens up about entrepreneurship, personal growth, and redefining confidence both on trail and in life.

The conversation expands into The Musical Mountaineers, her viral project blending mountaineering, classical music, and breathtaking summit performances, along with powerful reflections on backpacking confidence, outdoor hygiene, presence, joy, and her now-legendary daily dance experiment.

🎧 Equal parts inspiring, thought-provoking, and wildly entertaining, this episode is a celebration of creativity, courage, and finding joy in unexpected places.

Episode Links:
Anastasia on Instagram
The Musical Mountaineers on Instagram
Kula Cloth on Instagram
The Kula Diaries on Substack
Kula Cloth Website
Kula Cloth on YouTube

This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

AllTrails+
I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.

Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!

Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)

Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists 

Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order. 

Send us Fan Mail

❤️ Love on the Long Trail: Thru-Hiking, Partnership & Shared Miles with Melanie & Dave 🥾✨

In this special Valentine’s Day Week episode of Hikes & Mics, we’re joined by Melanie (Poppi) and Dave (La Bamba), a thru-hiking couple whose love story unfolded one step at a time across some of North America’s most iconic long trails. From the Pacific Crest Trail to the Colorado Trail, Arizona Trail, and beyond, their relationship has been shaped by shared miles, hard-earned lessons, and a deep love for life on trail.

Melanie returns to the podcast alongside Dave, making his first appearance, as they share how they met on the PCT, built a friendship through trail miles, and eventually took a leap of faith that turned into a powerful partnership—both on and off the trail. They reflect on hiking through record snow years, flipping sections, reuniting unexpectedly in Washington, and tagging Canada together in a full-circle moment that still feels surreal.

This conversation dives deep into what it’s really like to thru-hike as a couple—from navigating independence while hiking together to supporting each other through injuries and setbacks (including a tough season on the AZT). Melanie and Dave open up about learning to communicate through stress and exhaustion, and why trust, flexibility, and patience matter just as much as mileage and gear.

We also share unforgettable trail moments—sunrise on Mount Whitney, spotting a rare Gila monster on the Arizona Trail, moose encounters on the Colorado Trail, and the magic of the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier. The episode closes with thoughtful advice for couples planning their first backpacking trip together and reflections on what keeps their shared adventures—and their relationship—strong.

🎧 Whether you’re a thru-hiker, a backpacking couple, or someone who simply loves a good trail love story, this episode is a reminder that some of the best journeys are the ones you share. Love still wins. 💛

Episode Links:
Melanie on Instagram
Dave on Instagram

This episode was Produced by Jordyn Smith, follow her on Instagram @jordyn.journeys

Follow us on Instagram, @Hikesandmics

AllTrails+
I'm excited to share that I’m now a Trailheads Ambassador for AllTrails+! If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails+ is your ultimate adventure companion. Get offline maps, real-time wrong-turn alerts, and trail previews to help you hike smarter and safer. Plus, with 3D maps and deeper trail insights, planning your next trek has never been easier.

Try AllTrails+ free for 7 days, and when you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get 30% off your AllTrails+ membership!

Sign up here: AllTrails+ (promo is only redeemable via web and not the app)

Ursa Minor Outfitters - Inspired by the outdoors, Created by local artists 

Go check them at www.ursaminoroutfitters.com and don’t forget to enter the promo code HikesMics10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order.