In this episode of American Miles, host Josh Colvin takes listeners on a journey through the heart of America, featuring conversations with truck driver Andy Patterson and author and adventurer Neal Moore who crossed the entire United States by canoe.

Josh asks Andy for stories from the trucking life and also whether truckers still use CB radios.

Neal shares the inspiration behind his voyage, daily life on the water, and the lessons learned from nature and human interactions along the way. He reflects on the liberating feeling of minimalism while traveling, and the beauty of encounters with diverse individuals.

For the Small Town Talk segment Josh calls Madison, Indiana for a discussion with local, Michael Fortunato, owner of Crawdaddy Music Center. They discuss Madison's rich history and vibrant music scene.

Later, Neal Moore reads an excerpt from his book, Down the Mississippi and for the Songwriter Series, Dan "Big Hands" Colvin performs his song "Margarita."

00:00 Introduction to American Miles and Neil Moore's Journey

02:00 Insights from Trucker Andy: Life on the Road

08:30 The Loneliness of Trucking and Stories from the Road

11:40 Storytelling: Tooty and a Nip Off That Tipple

16:33 Neil Moore's Epic Canoe Journey Across America

27:01 Challenges and Encounters in the Wild

34:08 Reflections on Nature and the Journey's Beauty

36:00 The Beauty of Nature and Human Connection

38:52 Living Unplugged: A Journey of Minimalism

42:00 Reflections on Small Towns and Personal Experiences

42:56 Exploring Madison, Indiana: A Local Perspective

54:57 The Wisdom of Wildness: Reading from Down the Mississippi

59:00 Big Hands Colvin: Hey Margarita