Melanie Stone is an actor, film producer, rock and roll goddess and passionate nature lover. In this episode Mel talks about her recent backpacking trip to Paria Canyon in Southern Utah which at one point caused her to seriously wonder if she might actually die in that Canyon. We have an incredible conversation about the benefits of being humbled b…

Bob Donoho is an incredible human lifeform. He has had all kinds of wild experiences in the backcountry as a wilderness therapy guide for many years. He is an, in my opinion, expert woodworker and crafter of all kinds of things from nature. But beyond all those things, Bob has a golden heart and the wisdom of an ancient Greek philosopher. And he re…

Lauren "Lala" Pedersen has the unique perspective of experiencing wilderness therapy as a struggling teen client not only once but TWICE (a combined 4 months), AND she has been a backcountry wilderness therapy guide on and off for the last 6 years with the Anasazi Foundation. This is a ultra unique perspective I had been wanting to dive into for ma…

Paul Bird is a fan favorite. Maybe THE fan favorite. I had Paul on the podcast earlier in 2022 right before he was about to leave on his first through hike on the Arizona Trail, an 800ish mile wilderness trail spanning from the Mexican border to Utah. So on this episode we talk about how he survived being all alone for so long as an extremely extro…

This episode is an excerpt from a live talk I recently gave at church. I talk about ways I believe I have seen God working with me and others in the wilderness. I recognize that a lot of you may have had difficult experiences with religion and I don't want this podcast to be a specifically religious or Christian podcast at all. I just want to hear …

Cary Judd co-produced an award winning documentary called 828 that follows Cary Judd as he attempts to ride his e-skateboard around the ring road of Iceland - 828 miles. Ultimately it’s a story about mental health and coping with grief.Like a lot of us, Cary Judd had a rough 2020. On top of the global pandemic and civil unrest, Cary dealt with the …

Benjamin Pete Allred is a mad scientist that loves pushing himself in the outdoors. We talk about his trip to climb the tallest peak in North America -Denali Peak- , which was formerly known as Mt. Mckinley. It is only fitting he climbed a mountain with 2 names while he is a man with 2 names. It is very confusing. Benjamin Pete has climbed and hike…

Sheesh where do I start? Jessie Krebs runs an outdoor survival school specifically for women (OwlsSkills.com), was an Air Force SERE instructor for many years, is THE ONLY wilderness survival instructor on Masterclass , yes you read that right. Take a breather because we are only getting started here... Jessie has also been featured on many surviva…

Shanae Foster is a wilderness therapy veteran, wilderness EMT, avid rock climber, ancestral living skills enthusiast, incredible sour dough bread baker, and hopeful marathon runner, ultra marathon runner and through hiker. Shanae recently signed for her first marathon ever and we dig deep to understand why the heck she paid 100+ dollars to suffer. …

Paul Bird is a fascinating human specimen. He spent 32 months IN A ROW working rigorous wilderness therapy at the Anasazi Foundation and he is now about to start an 800 mile trek, on foot from the Mexican border to Utah, known as the Arizona Trail. Paul talks about how coming out as gay has led him to pursue other new experiences AKA adventure. Pau…

Nathan Donnelly is best known for surviving 72 days in the Northern Canada wilderness on Season 6 of History Channel's Alone Show. Nathan is the only person in the history of the Alone Show to choose NOT to bring a modern fire starting device, and chose instead to rely on his expert friction fire building skills. This is what initially drew me to N…

Callie Russell is a long time outdoor "surTHRIVAL" practitioner and instructor as well as nomadic goat herder, and wilderness therapy backcountry guide, but is perhaps best known for her appearance on season 7 of History Channel's Alone show, where she survived and thrived for 89 days completely alone in the Arctic.In this interview Callie talks ab…

Abi Ayres is a REAL LIFE Instagram influencer (@AbiAyres) and draws people in with her genuine, bright, goofy personality. She recently took it upon herself to train for and attempt to hike 24 miles from Rim to Rim in the Grand Canyon in one day. Abi says this was WAAAY out of her comfort zone. Abi talks about why the heck she felt compelled to do …

Growing up in foster care, Sam Smith had a confusing and challenging childhood. He explains how engaging with the wilderness has helped him overcome and heal from the past and how it continues to do so for him. He once found himself stranded in the Mountains and decided to live out there alone for 2 months. He now lives outside in a Wikiup (AKA pri…

In this episode you will join my comrades and I as we venture, for the first time, into the ominous Wind River Mountains in Wyoming. In addition, toward the end of the episode there is an interview with Alex, who we stumbled upon out there. He was severely sick with altitude sickness and couldn't stop throwing up. Fun times!Join my Patreon cult to …

In this episode Elizabeth Baird demands to interview the normal podcast host, Ford Thunder Erickson. She prevails. Ford talks about his most meaningful wild places he's been, a powerful experience he had on the John Muir Trail annnnd why he hikes. What else would he talk about? Ford's Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/FordThunderEricksonInstantgraham…

Elisabeth Baird is an experienced wilderness therapy guide as well as a middle school art teacher. She once did an internship combining art therapy and wilderness therapy together, which I have never heard of anyone else doing before. Elizabeth is one of the most thoughtful people on earth and every human being would benefit from hearing the insigh…

Good ol' Clutch Lambert was on the 2nd episode ever on this podcast but it was definitely the worst interview I have ever done....not because of him but because of my crappy interviewing skillz. In this episode Clutch and I discuss the ethics of killing animals as well as the sacredness we will exists on ancient ruins of all kinds.FOLLOW CLUTCH:Thu…

In this episode, Ford takes you with him on his solo backpacking trip in the High Uintas Wilderness where he experiences the scariest night he has ever spent in the backcountry. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ford-erickson/support

Dana Anderson is a lifelong outdoor survival skill practitioner and is an especially expert flint knapper AKA arrowhead maker. Dana estimates that he has made over 50,000 arrowheads in his life and can bust out a beautifully crafted and useful arrowhead in 1 minute. Maybe a world record? Dana is one the wildest, kookiest and warmest people I have e…

Amy Ford is the Co-Founder and President of Embrace Grace, a non-profit that inspires and equips the church to love on single and pregnant young women and their families. Amy shares her unplanned pregnancy story. She experienced rejection from a pastor that compounded the shame she felt about her pregnancy. We delve into ways we have dealt with sha…

Bartle is a ultra long distance walker/hiker/runner and has great expertise and passion for surviving and thriving off the land. Bartle tells the story of what led her from her pre-professional life as a Ballerina in Ohio to running across the wilderness of the west wearing a buckskin skirt she made, and eating roots and rendered deer fat for nouri…

Good ol' Dan Rosenberg spent 21 days in the wild on the show Naked and Afraid, completed a self-directed 40 day solo 'walkabout' in the northeast Utah wilderness which included a 5 day fast from food in hopes of finding clarity and newfound purpose to his life. Dan is also a seasoned wilderness therapy backcountry guide. Dan is a thoughtful, spirit…

Lori Guthrie is a former police officer, park ranger, Anasazi Trailwalker, and forever destroyer of all wilderness trash. She also co-teaches an outdoor survival class at Mesa Community College with her husband Greg. Lori talks about how hiking helped her work through her divorce and gain self confidence and healing. She is still very involved at A…

I caught up with Arizona Trail thru-hikers Kelli Oswald and Lexy Newby for a spur of the moment interview in the parking lot of Red Robin. Kelli and Lexy had just reached the half way point in the nearly 800 mile long Arizona Trail that starts at the Mexican border and goes all the way to Utah.They share some of the highlights of their glorious but…

I get to introduce you to one of my favorite podcast hosts -- Heather MacFadyen! She is the host of Don't Mom Alone. Heather shares with us the story of her unplanned 3rd son. Even though she had always wanted to be a mom she struggled with the realities of being a mom verses the expectations she had held. I love how honest she is about dealing wit…

Immigration is a topic that is hotly contested, and off limits at many family dinner tables. No matter your opinion about immigration policy, I think we can all agree that there is a humanitarian crises at the US-Mexican Border. Alma Ruth is the founder of the faith based, humanitarian organization Practice Mercy. Their mission is to bring necessit…

Dara is a freelance writer who covers maternal health, race and class issues in motherhood, and mental health. She shares the story of her third pregnancy, which was unplanned. We also grapple with questions about how motherhood changes your identity and work/life balance. Dara's Recommended Books for Black History Month: The Mocha Manual to a Fabu…

Andrea was 15-years-old when she found out she was pregnant. She had no doubt in her mind that she wanted to raise her baby. A few years later, a tragic incident left her a widow with two young children. Andrea wanted to start a new life in a new house, but discovered how little she knew about her personal finances. Getting control of her budget wa…

Michael Braman is a speedy ultramarathon runner and farms microgreens for a living. Michael didn't start running and farming until after the age of 30! He tells his story about rediscovering himself through farming and ultra running and how he overcame self doubts to create the life he wanted. He is great and we love him. Follow Michael!: Instagram…

Cindy Davis is a fascinating human specimen. She has gone from hating nature in her teen years to now spending 7 days a week in the mountains. She is a former wilderness therapy guide turned snowboard instructor and has an unmatched love for the at-risk youth she has worked with over the years in her various jobs. Her first tattoo was a big and bol…

Annaliese was teaching a sex ed class when she realized she might be pregnant. After seeing the two pink lines, she had to consider all the options available to someone experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Annaliese walks us through her decision making process and how she knows she is a stronger women today because of her choice. Annaliese recently…

This is PART 2 of my interview with Caitlyn Nalder. We migrated back to her house in this part of the interview because we were getting frost bitten brains. Caitlyn Nalder is one of the most pure hearted, down to earth people I have ever known. She is one of my Anasazi trail mothers, who taught me how to be a trailwalker at Anasazi. She has been ba…

Caitlyn Nalder is one of the most pure hearted, down to earth people I have ever known. She is one of my Anasazi trail mothers, who taught me how to be a trailwalker at Anasazi. She has been backcountry guide at the Anasazi Foundation for several years, a wilderness survival instructor for California Survival School, a contestant of the TV show ‘Bu…

Postpartum depression impacts around 1 in 10 new moms. It is important to know the signs and how to get help for yourself or a friend. I want you to know that you deserve help and it's easier to access than you think. Today we are joined by Dr. Jo Kim, the Director of Perinatal Depression Program at NorthShore University HealthSystem, and Nancy Seg…

Trigger Warning: This podcast episode contains content about rape. Bethany's love and passion was competitive surfing. She was preparing to compete in the 2020 Summer Olympics on the Canadian Olympic Surfing team. But during her fall semester of 2019, she was raped and found out that she was pregnant. If she kept her pregnancy she would have to giv…

Meg Evans or “Ol’ Meg” is a former winter olympic-hopeful figure skater turned rock climber turned experienced wilderness therapy backcountry guide turned desert dwelling, spirit following, earth loving, animal skull collecting, wilderness woman. She has gone through a massive life transformation and has developed one of the deepest connections to …

Natalie DeMartini began working with horses at Gunstock Ranch in Hawaii, and eventually moved on to the therapeutic side of working with horses at the Arivaca Equine Therapy program for at-risk boys. Natalie has spent a lot of years in wild places on the back of a horse or on her own 2 non-horse feet, as she is now a Trailwalker at the Anasazi Foun…

Lana Strathearn is an amazing photographer, seasoned Anasazi Trailwalker and dinosaur impersonator. In this episode, Lana shares some hilarious and moving experiences she has had working with at-risk youth in the wild. Seriously, I cracked up and “loled” 5 times while editing this episode. That is unusual for me. Lana is amazing. Hear her words. Fo…

Fjord talks about the strange events the guided him to an ever growing passion for the outdoors in his mid twenties. Aliens were involved. Not really. But do you believe in Aliens? I do.You can follow Ford (me) all over the internets:www.FordThunder.com/merchInstagrams:@Why_we_hike_podcast@Ford_Thunder_EricksonYouTube: Ford Thunder Erickson ( https…

Ashley is a Clairvoyant Life Coach and Manifestation Expert, speaker, best selling author, online course creator and workshop facilitator. After being told by her boss to have an abortion, Ashley knew she wanted to parent, even if it meant giving up her dream job. From single mom on WIC to a $20,000 in a day, Ashley knows what it takes to go from n…

Nic Quilter is a seasoned field staff in the wilderness therapy world with Wingate and Anasazi Foundation wilderness therapy programs. Nic is an articulate and deeply insightful man, and In this interview he shares how he overcame his fear of dirt, and how working in the wilderness expanded his personal view of God.This interview was held while cam…

Every pregnant woman has questions about what to eat, what not to eat, how many calories are enough, and "will I ever return to 'normal' ?". Hayley, who has a background in dietetics, helps us navigate these questions with the mindset of grace for ourselves and by recognizing how much our body is doing. She gives us tips for on-the-go snacks that a…

Lindsi Lake is an avid rock climber, cyclist, runner and maple flavored oatmeal eater. We had a marvelous conversation about how to navigate the sometimes toxic comparision culture in outdoor sports and Lindsi tells a miserably scary story she experienced while climbing in southern Utah, and we can overcome things that scare us in our lives. She in…

Trigger Warning: This episode contains descriptions of rape. Jennifer Christie shares her story of being brutally raped on a business trip. About a month later, she discovered she had conceived a baby during the attack . This is her story of how she, her husband, and her family dealt with the question, "what about in cases of rape?". Jennifer is a …

Voices for the Voiceless is a digital community that believes in supporting people with unplanned pregnancies by providing helpful information and social media connection. Mariah, their Lead Editor, joins us to discuss being a friend to someone with an unplanned pregnancy, her journey of documenting unplanned pregnancy stories up and down the West …

Katie was focused on conquering accounting classes in college when she discovered she was pregnant. With the dad out of the picture, she started investigating the possibility of adoption so her son could grow up in a financially stable, two-parent household. Katie prepared to become a birth mother and found a wonderful family to adopt her baby. At …

If you are a parent, imagine your seventeen-year-old came home and told you they were pregnant. How would you react? Wanda shares her journey as mom and grandma when she finds out her daughter is pregnant as a junior in high school.By Cheyenne Erickson

Tamra “Ramblin Tam” Hyde is one of the best communicators I know. Her ability to thoughtfully articulate her words consistently edifies my soul, and in this episode she does not disappoint. Tamra has gone through a massive conversion process to the wilderness. She has gone from being an anti-camping “indoorsy cat”, working in the beauty industry, w…

Matt Graham is a globally recognized wilderness survival expert, best known for his TV shows Dual Survival, Dude You’re Screwed, and Bushcraft Build Off. Matt’s unique skill set that combines primitive/traditional style ultralight long distance running with his outdoor survival experience sets him apart. Matt brought me and a few others on one of h…