Just Trek Podcast

On this episode, I release the full recording from our third ever live podcast show. It was filmed at the Just Trek Podcast 5 Year Anniversary celebration on Sat, April 5th at the Happier Cafe by TADAA.Coffee space in Frogtown, Los Angeles. The live podcast show featured an all star panel of previous podcast guests that included Joshua Walker (outdoor content creator + travel blogger), Nicole Snell (CEO of Girls Right Back, Founder of Outdoor Defense), Victor Martinez (Founder of The LA Trail Killers), and Jaclyn Cosgrove  (Outdoor Reporter at the LA Times), and myself as the moderator. It was an entertaining and impactful group conversation that definitely left a major impression on the audience. 

We chatted about what sparked their love for the Great Outdoors,  the importance of solo exploring, their most memorable outdoor adventures + travel experiences, and what the historic LA fires have taught them.  After the group discussion, we opened up a live Q&A to the audience so that everyone could join in on the fun and ask the guests their own questions and show them some love.

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This episode is brought to you by HIGHLANDER Adventure. HIGHLANDER, a hiking event series that is present in 20+ countries worldwide, returns to Big Bear Lake, California for its fourth epic year from June 17-21.

Choose your challenge - from 14 to 82 miles and experience between a 1-5 day hike through the majestic San Bernardino Mountains with all logistics and safety taken care of by the organizers. Use code “JUSTTREK_HL20” for 20% off any format (except Lyra). Trek on over to highlanderadventure.com and register now. 

Watch Youtube version on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55lmLs3oLbU

Event was in partnership with Happier Cafe by TADAA.Coffee

We'd like to thank our event sponsors Parks Project, AllTrails, KEEN, Topo Designs, HIGHLANDER Adventure, Trail Threadz, Juneshine, Easyrider, and Parch.

Follow our guest panelists on instagram www.instagram.com/joshyoutrippin,  www.instagram.com/adventuresofnik, www.instagram.com/vic_of_earth, www.instagram.com/jacinthewild.la

Support Just Trek on Patreon www.patreon.com/justtrek

Shop Just Trek merch on https://www.justtrek.net/shop

Listen to more podcast episodes on https://www.justtrek.net

Want to send me a message? Email me at [email protected] or DM on Instagram @just.trek

On this solo episode, I share my feelings on reaching the big 5 year anniversary milestone of the show. Join me on a trek down memory lane as I share how we celebrated past podcast anniversaries, my most memorable outdoor recording, and my reflections on the podcasting journey. I even received a surprise voice message from one of our most legendary guests on the show which was a very heartwarming message. Thank you everyone for all your support these past 5 years. Your support has meant the world to me.

If you are local to the LA/SoCal region, I invite you to join us for our big 5 year Anniversary event going down on Sat, April 5th at the Happier Cafe space in Frogtown, Los Angeles. The event will feature our third ever live podcast show featuring special guest panelists Jaclyn Cosgrove, Nicole Snell, Joshua Walker, Victor Martinez, and myself as the moderator.

Join us for the Just Trek Pod 5 Year Anniversary on April 5th: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/2p9kjv3w⁠

Follow Just Trek on IG https://www.instagram.com/just.trek/

Made a B-Day Donation on venmo.com/justroc or via zelle with email "[email protected]"

Support Just Trek on Patreon ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/justtrek⁠⁠

Shop Just Trek merch on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net/shop⁠⁠

Listen to more podcast episodes on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net⁠⁠

Want to send me a message? Email me at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek

On this episode I have LA based trekker and outdoor reporter for the LA Times, Jaclyn Cosgrove (they/them), join me on the show. We chatted about Jaclyn's emotions towards the historic LA fire crisis that ravaged entire urban communities, the impact of the National Park mass firings + park protests, outdoor survival stories, how their brother’s passing led to their transformative hiking journey, completing the Six Pack of Peaks Challenge, their experience being the writer for the LA Times The Wild outdoor newsletter, their top trails in SoCal, hiking hacks & outdoor tips, their desire to explore the Backbone trail in the Santa Monica mountains, joy & inclusivity in the Great Outdoors, and the one outdoor experience they would relive all over again. 

Watch Youtube video version: https://tinyurl.com/y68hk99s

Follow Jaclyn on https://www.instagram.com/jacinthewild.la/

Sign up for LA Times The Wild for free on https://www.latimes.com/newsletters/the-wild

Follow Just Trek on IG https://www.instagram.com/just.trek/

Join us for the Just Trek Pod 5 Year Anniversary on April 5th: https://tinyurl.com/2p9kjv3w

Support Just Trek on Patreon ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/justtrek⁠⁠

Shop Just Trek merch on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net/shop⁠⁠

Listen to more podcast episodes on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net⁠⁠

Want to send me a message? Email me at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek

On this episode I have Ventura based native storyteller & educator, tribal spiritual adviser, Native American activist, Chumash canoe paddler, and tribal elder in the Fernandeno Tataviam & Ventureno Chumash tribes, Alan Salazar, join me on the show. He is an absolute living legend for his contributions to Native American heritage and education.

We chat about his first meaningful memories out in nature, how his father played a major role in him embracing his indigenous roots at a young age,, top mountains &  trails in SoCal, the importance of revitalizing tribal culture along with wildlife and native plants, what the Chumash and Tataviam tribes were most known for, the importance of storytelling in tribal culture, presiding over the burial of celebrity mountain lion P22, tribal wisdom & tips when exploring out in nature, the history of building Chumash canoes and being featured in a Patagonia film, his once in a lifetime experience of being apart of the first canoe crossing to Channel Islands in over 150 years, how tribal people built California, and the one outdoor experience he would relive all over again.

Shout out to the Museum of Ventura County for graciously allowing us to record this episode in their beautiful outdoor patio courtyard! This museum is a true gem, preserving and celebrating the rich history, art, and culture of Ventura County. Make sure to give their museum a visit in downtown Ventura.

Watch Youtube video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlTXEVB-Y4Y

Shop Alan's tribal story books on https://www.sunspritehandwork.com/

Watch Patagonia Film feat. Alan Salazar on https://tinyurl.com/mrxzedh6

Visit and check out the Museum of Ventura County on https://venturamuseum.org/ and follow on https://www.instagram.com/museumofventuracounty/

Follow Just Trek on IG https://www.instagram.com/just.trek/

Support Just Trek on Patreon ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/justtrek⁠⁠

Shop Just Trek merch on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net/shop⁠⁠

Listen to more podcast episodes on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net⁠⁠

Want to send me a message? Email me at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek

For episode 79, I recorded with previous guest and fan favorite, Tomasa aka @iamoneness11, at Rocky Peak Summit in the Santa Susanna mountains in Los Angeles County. Even her beloved golden retriever named Miso joins us on the pod! Tomasa is a SoCal based trekker, peak bagger, backpacker, outdoor content creator, solo female world traveler, and was our Top Spotify Episode of 2024. We chatted about her cherished trail memories with her dogs, her emotions winning the top episode of 2024 award, her impressions of Rocky Peak summit trail, how 2024 was a challenging year for her, recents travels to Washington State, and her travels back to the Motherland that being El Salvador.

This episode is part of the Trek Talks series where I record on trail conversations with fellow outdoor enthusiasts. It is more raw and candid perspective of our guest’s outdoor adventures as these conversations are more unscripted and in the moment.

** Video version is available on Spotify + Youtube channel - all other streaming platforms are audio versions**

Follow Tomasa & Miso on https://www.instagram.com/iamoneness11/ and https://www.instagram.com/miso_the_golden/#

Listen to Tomasa's previous episode on https://tinyurl.com/4ahpnnmz

Follow Just Trek on https://www.instagram.com/just.trek/

Support Just Trek on Patreon ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/justtrek⁠⁠

Shop Just Trek merch on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net/shop⁠⁠

Listen to more podcast episodes on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net⁠⁠

Want to send me a message? Email me at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek

On this episode I have Philippines based adventure enthusiast, climber, trekker, dirt biker, scuba diver, model, and director, Simon Guinto, join me on the show.

We chatted about his favorite outdoor adventure activities, why he moved from the US to the Philippines, his most memorable climb, summiting & trail running Mount Pulag - the tallest mountain on Luzon island & third tallest peak in the Philippines, his sunrise experience with the LA Trail Killers, his travels to the magical island of Palawan, how the Philippines natural landscapes differ from the rest of the world, getting inked from the world’s oldest tattoo artist, and how he was a cliff diver in a famous beer commercial. This episode was extra special as Simon was our first ever international guest that we got to record with in person.

Follow Simon on https://instagram.com/simong.og

Follow Bad Eye Deli on https://www.instagram.com/badeyedeliph

Support Just Trek on Patreon ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/justtrek⁠⁠

Shop Just Trek merch on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net/shop⁠⁠

Listen to more podcast episodes on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net⁠⁠

Want to send me a message? Email me at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek

On this solo episode, I share my raw thoughts and emotions of currently experiencing the most devastating wildfire in Los Angeles history. We have lost so many iconic trails, businesses, and entire densely populated neighborhoods have been scorched to the ground. At least 150,000 Angelenos have evacuated their homes, over 40,000 acres burned, over 12,000 structures destroyed, and at least 27 deaths.

This monologue takes  take you through the first 7 days of the fire and what it feels like to live through this historic ongoing crisis as an Angeleno who has rediscovered the city through the Great Outdoors and the local mountain communities. I cover LA’s long history with wildfires, the current impact of the Palisades & Eaton fires, how nature is resilient, delivering supplies to fire victims, volunteering around the city, and even share a past relevant conversation had with LA outdoor legend Casey Schreiner who is the founder of ModernHiker.com.

It's been a nightmare of a week but seeing how the entire LA community has rallied together so quickly to help those in need has been incredibly inspiring. Please keep LA in your prayers and donate to the following links below if possible.

GOFUNDME LINKS:

For Fabian https://gofund.me/ff330f04

For Zorthian Ranch https://gofund.me/e0371ef5

For Harry Mack https://gofund.me/904f473b

For Claire https://gofund.me/bb46e518

LA Fire Relief Resources → https://tinyurl.com/4tsnxe6t

Watch Hiking Guy news segment on https://tinyurl.com/2zwbrdya

Listen to Imperfect Paradise fire episode on https://tinyurl.com/ej6utcfb

Follow us on IG https://instagram.com/just.trek/

Support Just Trek on Patreon https://patreon.com/justtrek

Shop Just Trek merch on https://www.justtrek.net/shop

Listen to more podcast episodes on https://www.justtrek.net/

Want to send me a message? Email me at [email protected] or DM on Instagram @just.trek

On this episode, I share my wild and action packed adventures through Colorado’s Rocky Mountain landscapes and Denver’s urban sprawl.

Join me on this unforgettable trip that included overcoming adversity & summiting an iconic Colorado 14er, trekking a section of the Continental divide trail, thrilling rides on a mountaintop adventure park, visiting one of the most legendary outdoor concert venues int he world, Denver urban explorations, underground cave sauna, sunrise at Garden of the Gods, and even high altitude wedding celebrations for an OG member of the #JustTrekCrew.

Follow us on IG instagram.com/just.trek/

Support Just Trek on Patreon ⁠https://www.patreon.com/justtrek⁠

Shop Just Trek merch on ⁠https://www.justtrek.net/shop⁠

Listen to more podcast episodes on ⁠https://www.justtrek.net⁠

Want to send me a message? Email me at ⁠[email protected]⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek

For episode 75, I recorded an adventure banger of a show with fan favorite, Victor Martinez, at Kenneth Hahn State Park in Los Angeles. Victor is a SoCal based trekker, trail runner, backpacker, solo world traveler, Highlander Adventure ambassador, Merrell ambassador, community leader, and is the founder of the LA Trail Killers. Victor was also our EP 37 and EP 55 guest on the show!

I caught up with Victor and we chatted about all his unforgettable adventures from trail running Rim to Rim to Rim in the Grand Canyon, summiting Half Dome in Yosemite on his birthday, the LA Trail Killers Philippines group trip, Highlander Adventure Costa Rica & France, and running 350 miles through the Atacama Desert in Chile for the notorious race entitled "The Speed Project."

This episode is part of the Trek Talks series where I record on trail conversations with fellow outdoor enthusiasts. It is more raw and candid perspective of our guest’s outdoor adventures as these conversations are more unscripted and in the moment. You can even hear the sounds of nature in the background as we are recording out on the trails.

**VIDEO VERSION ONLY AVAILABLE ON SPOTIFY APP + YOUTUBE CHANNEL , all other streaming platforms are audio versions**

Follow Victor Martinez on https://www.instagram.com/vic_of_earth/

Follow LA Trail Killers on https://www.instagram.com/latrailkillers

Follow Just Trek on https://www.instagram.com/just.trek/

Support Just Trek on Patreon ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/justtrek⁠⁠

Shop Just Trek merch on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net/shop⁠⁠

Listen to more podcast episodes on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net⁠⁠

Want to send me a message? Email me at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek

**VIDEO VERSION ONLY AVAILABLE ON SPOTIFY APP + YOUTUBE CHANNEL , all other streaming platforms are audio versions** 

For episode 74, I recorded a special and impromptu trail conversation with Joseph Durkin aka The Hiking Chef in the Angeles National Forest in LA County. Joseph is a SoCal based hiker, professional chef & baker, outdoor content creator, and is the creator of the amazing YouTube channel The Hiking Chef. We chatted about the origin story of The Hiking Chef YouTube vlog series, his most memorable gourmet meals he’s cooked in the mountains, why California has the best hiking opportunities, the historic Echo Mountain resort, his famous Tomahawk Ribeye steak on Twin Peaks, his Iron Mountain cooking disaster, how hiking impacts our everyday lives, and he loves showcasing the best trails and hidden gems in California through his outdoor vlogs. 

This episode is part of the Trek Talks series where I record on trail conversations with fellow outdoor enthusiasts. It is more raw and candid perspective of my outdoor adventures as these conversations are more unscripted and in the moment. You can even hear the sounds of nature in the background as we are recording out on the trails. 

Follow Joseph Durkin on https://www.instagram.com/thehikingchef/

Subscribe to The Hiking Chef Youtube Channel on https://youtube.com/@thehikingchef

Follow Just Trek on https://www.instagram.com/just.trek/

Support Just Trek on Patreon ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/justtrek⁠⁠

Shop Just Trek merch on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net/shop⁠⁠

Listen to more podcast episodes on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net⁠⁠

Want to send me a message? Email me at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek