Juliana Chauncey, a.k.a. "Chaunce," joins Maddie Pellman on Who Runs This Park: Park Enthusiasts Edition. A long-distance hiker, author, and co-host of Backpacker Radio—the #1 hiking podcast with over 8 million downloads—Chaunce has built a life around adventure, storytelling, and community.
In this episode, Chaunce shares how she became a part of Backpacker Radio, the balancing act of a career alongside long-distance hiking and podcasting, and her approach to saying "yes" to opportunities that shape her journey. We discuss the unexpected turns of trail life, the humor and camaraderie of the hiking community, and the evolution of her creative projects, including her book, Hiking From Home: A Long-Distance Hiking Guide for Family and Friends. She also dives into the Mile by Mile Project, an in-depth historical exploration of the Appalachian Trail that she’s spent the past five years researching.
Whether you’re an aspiring thru-hiker, an outdoor enthusiast, or someone navigating the balance of career and passion, this episode is packed with wisdom, humor, and inspiration.
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Who Runs This Park is produced by Maddie Pellman with music by Danielle Bees.