Listen to the first two episodes of our Wild Lens podcast about the Appalachian Trail
Matt on the AT in Maine.
Three years ago, I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail. Hiking the entire length of this 2,200 mile-long trail was something I had been dreaming about for almost 20 years, but it was more than just a personal goal. I carried with me a lightweight audio recording kit that included lavalier mics, a small field recorder, and a mini parabolic microphone designed for recording bird songs. I wanted to create a radio/podcast series that documented my trip, while also exploring the history of this unique trail that runs from Georgia to Maine.
My idea for this audio series was ambitious. Interweaving my personal narrative with expert interviews that tell the story of the Appalachian Trail was no small challenge. After completing my hike in the fall of 2022, I started wading through all of the audio that I’d recorded and began reaching out to folks who I wanted to interview. I thought I’d be able to release my podcast series sometime in 2023… but as I did more research and talked to more people the scope of the project expanded and my deadline kept getting pushed back.
I realized that I needed a collaborator. I needed someone who could help me craft the narrative thread of the series, and who could help me reach a broad audience. I began reaching out to public radio stations with robust podcasting units in search of a partnership. New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) was at the top of my list. I’d been listening to NHPR’s show “Outside/In” while hiking on the AT, and really enjoyed the storytelling style.
After listening to a very rough edit of my first episode, NHPR’s Taylor Quimby agreed to jump on board, and the station became an official partner on Common Land. Taylor and I began the work of shaping the show’s narrative and I was finally able to craft a realistic production schedule. There’s been a few delays, and lots of hurdles to overcome, but now we’re finally ready to start releasing these episodes that I’ve been obsessing over for three years.
There are 12 episodes in total, each one half an hour long. We dropped the first two in our podcast feed on Wednesday, July 2nd, and we’ll have episode three ready to go by next Wednesday, the 9th. While it’s a bit anxiety-inducing to be putting this highly personal content out into the world, it’s also a huge relief to finally be able to share the story of my AT thru-hike. My thru-hike of the AT was a life-altering experience. It’s changed the way that I think about the world, and altered my approach to living. I hope that by sharing this experience, I can inform, entertain, and share my love for this unique 2,200 mile-long footpath.
Common Land is available via all major podcast platforms. Listen via Apple Podcasts here. Listen via Spotify here.
One of the AT’s many scenic ridge lines.
This season of Common Land wouldn’t be possible without support from our key sponsor, Big Agnes. Click here to learn more about Big Agnes’ mission to get people outside, protect public lands, and support sustainable practices.