Humans of the Trail – Details, episodes & analysis

Episode 40 of Humans of the Trail with Olie Wicks

In this episode of Humans of the Trail, we sit down with Andrew Terrell, a man who has an incredible story of self-discovery. Andrew walked from the Apennine Mountains in Southern Italy to Arctic Norway, a journey that took him over 7000 miles and two years.

Along the way, Andrew faced many challenges, but he also learned a lot about himself. He learned to be independent, to trust his instincts, and to appreciate the simple things in life. He also made some lifelong friends and memories.

Andrew's story is an inspiration to us all. It is a reminder that we are capable of anything we set our minds to, and that the journey is often more important than the destination.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy Andrew's story. It is a story of adventure, self-discovery, and hope.

Listen to Episode 39 of Humans of the Trail today!

In this episode, I had the opportunity to sit down with Steph Wetherell, one of the co-founders of Every Body Outdoors. Steph is a trailblazer in the outdoor community, working to promote representation and accessibility for people of all sizes in the great outdoors.

As we talked, Steph shared her personal journey of falling in love with the outdoors and the challenges she faced along the way, particularly when it came to finding gear that fit and suited her needs. It was these challenges that ultimately inspired Steph and her co-founder to start Every Body Outdoors, a company dedicated to providing plus size outdoor gear and promoting inclusivity in the outdoor industry.

Throughout our conversation, Steph emphasized the importance of making the outdoors accessible to everyone, regardless of their size or shape. She also spoke about the transformative power of nature, and how it has the ability to heal and bring people together.

It was truly an honor to speak with Steph and learn about her passion for the outdoors and her dedication to creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment for people of all sizes. I left our conversation feeling inspired and motivated to do my part in promoting representation and accessibility in the outdoor world.

Dartmoor's a special place.

Not just for the fact that it's the largest open moor in Southern England and home to various dark skies designated areas. Or that it's a beautiful tapestry of stone walls, tors and outcrops, woven with history, folklaw and some of the most rugged and beautiful uplands in the UK. 

It's also special because it also offers something rare in England and Wales. 

The right to wild camp.

That right is under threat, which is why this bonus episode has been released with Beca, from the popular Instagram account Muddy Bootlaces. 

Becca shares the threat to Dartmoor that is too close to home with a court case starting on the 12th December 2022.

This bonus episode exists to raise awareness of the issue. It inspires more voices to shout loud, and demand that our hard-earned rights of access are not eroded. 

Thank you for listening

Matthew 

In Episode 29 of the Distance Hiker Podcast Matthew is joined by Stefan Durkacz and David Lintern, authors of the newly published Cicerone Press guidebook Scottish Wild Country Backpacking.

Stefan and David share a bit of their background and interest in the outdoors before deep diving into the behind the scenes of making the guidebook, and backpacking in Scotland.

In this weeks episode I talk with Kerry, who is a YouTuber and long distance hiker from the channel Drunk On Wanderlust.

We learn Kerrys story from global traveller to long distance hiker, and how she hasn’t looked back since.

In this episode, I chat with Andrew McCloy, who has recently written and published the Highlights of the England Coast Path book, in partnership with Cicerone Press. 

Andrew shares insight into behind the scenes of writing guidebooks including the work, and the dedication that goes into each publication. 

I've long thought that adventures with children need to be downsized, and have often fought against the grain of parenthood and the perceived restrictions on a once unrestricted life. No more selfless long trips away, or spending an evening out under the stars whenever you want to.

Routines, schools, bum wiping, homework, and many more responsibilities now come first. Bye bye freedom. 

Not for the Daleys. 

Marketa and David have trodden a different path. Choosing not to follow a common routine but to take their kids on a trip of a lifetime along the PCT and baking that as a normal experience in their everyday lives. 

Sure, their journey has its ups and downs, which we talk about on the show, and Marketa shares over 155 posts on Instagram. Yet Marketa and David take this in their stride and can see the bigger picture - the huge benefits the trail provides for them as a family. 

This is a story of two parents giving themselves permission to do something for themselves, and bringing their kids along for the ride.

There's surely a thing or two to learn here, regardless of whether you have children or not. So boot up, and enjoy the show. 

At the end of the show, I share a new development for the podcast. Come 2023 I will be releasing a new weekly segment for the show. The name of which is to be confirmed. However, it will be a short show sharing narrated real stories from long-distance hikers. 

If you would like your story to be featured, you can find out more information here and apply to have your story featured!

You can support the show by subscribing on Spotify and leaving a rating and review on Apple. We also have a store where you can purchase long distance hiking artwork to support the show's development. Click here to browse. 

If you have any hiking friends who would enjoy listening why not introduce them to the show?

In today’s episode of The Distance Hiker Podcast, presented by Matthew Usherwood, we have Stephanie Killingbeck-Turner sharing her story on the LEJOG trail!

Stephanie walked the trail, with a bit of a difference. Not only did she walk from one end of the UK to another, she also visited a number of environmental projects along the way.

This conversation with Stephanie will really challenge any assumptions you have about how communities can steer their own fate when it comes to the rising challenge of climate change.

We mostly focus on this aspect of her walk, but also talk a little about the logistics and Stephanie's long distance hiking experience.

If you are curious about the positive change being made in world by small communities, this is an episode you will enjoy. 

The Distance Hiker Podcast is part of Distance Hiker.

You can support the podcast and  get something in return by visiting store.distancehiker.com and picking up one of our beautiful trail prints. 

This week on the Distance Hiker Podcast I am joined by Daniel, and Charlotte.

Dan and Charlotte are two coast walkers, who are living nomadic lives as they hike, and work their way around the coast of Britain.

When I spoke with them, they were in their tent, set up for the night in the Shetland Islands.

I was really curious to speak with Dan and Charlotte after they came on my radar a few months back about their walk, and their individual motivations behind it.

Daniel and Charlotte are wonderfully honest and gratuitous enough to give me some fantastic answers to my questions on hiking as a couple, the challenges they face, their wider plan, and what they have learned from the trail.

So without further ado, here are Daniel and Charlotte, on the Distance Hiker Podcast.

Did you know, that you can now support the Distance Hiker Podcast via our website.

We stock a growing range of long distance hiking inspired art prints that can be delivered globally.

Shop online today at store.distancehiker.com