Mental and Physical Prep for a Wild Backcountry Adventure

In this episode, Dyana sits down with Triple Crown backpacker Sam Schild, fresh off his 1,200-mile trek along the Pacific Northwest Trail. From crossing Glacier National Park to navigating the Cascade Range, the Idaho Panhandle, and the rugged Selkirks, Sam recounts the journey that eventually led him to the Olympic coast — and the finish line of one of America’s wildest long-distance trails.Together, they dive into it all — the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Sam is a storyteller and adventurer based in the American Southwest, and his reflections capture the raw beauty and challenge of life on the trail.Follow Sam as @sia_lizard  on Instagram and TikTok Notable Timestamps7:06 Why the PNT?9:04 Preparation and research10:47 Glacier National Park15:40 The Lions Head Bushwhack & Idaho Panhandle17:38 The Pasayten Wilderness20:29 The North Cascades & Baker Lake24:36 Olympic National Park48:19 Sam's favorite section51:10 Dealing with solitude53:22 Most impactful moment57:15Send us Fan MailWhere to find and support Bush & Banter:Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanterVisit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.comJoin Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanterE-mail Bush & Banter: [email protected] Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmellaFollow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

In this location spotlight on San Francisco, Dyana sits down with award-winning Location Manager Heather MacLean, a born-and-raised Bay Area native who has worked on some of the biggest film and television productions in the city. Together they dive into San Francisco’s restaurants, culture, proper attire for the ever-changing weather, hidden gems, and a behind-the-scenes look at filming The Matrix Resurrections.Notable Timestamps0:00 Intro3:36 Welcome Heather MacLean5:21 Growing up in the Bay Area11:12 Culture and creativity24:50 The food scene and go-to restaurants36:40 Working as a location manager and filming in the citySend us Fan MailWhere to find and support Bush & Banter:Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanterVisit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.comJoin Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanterE-mail Bush & Banter: [email protected] Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmellaFollow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

In this special on-location episode, Dyana visits outdoorsman, craftsman, and adventurer Kim Peschardt. Featured in Dyana’s book A Walk Thru Neverland, Kim has decades of experience and has circled the globe many times over. We’ll dive into his childhood in Denmark, encounters with Africa’s wildlife, and the time he was dropped by helicopter into the rugged mountains of New Zealand. Kim is an outdoorsman in the truest sense — a hunter, fisherman, craftsman, and adventurer. He’s here to share wisdom, stories, and even a hint at the destination he’s eyeing for his next big journey.To mail Kim a postcard, please send to:Dyana CarmellaAttn: Kim PerschardtP.O. Box 8973CALABASAS, CA 91302-9998NOTABLE TIMESTAMPS3:03 Welcome Kim Peschardt6:00 Kim's early life in Denmark8:21 Kim's deep love for Africa11:06 Helicopter Experiences in New Zealand21:16 Scary animal encounters34:22 Best adventure moments39:59 The trip Kim wants to relive45:26 Kim's favorite booksSend us Fan MailWhere to find and support Bush & Banter:Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanterVisit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.comJoin Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanterE-mail Bush & Banter: [email protected] Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmellaFollow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

We made it to 100 episodes of Bush and Banter! To celebrate, we’re bringing back one of our favorite guests — filmmaker, storyteller, and thru-hiker Elina Osborne. Elina has a rare gift for capturing not just breathtaking landscapes but the complexities and beauty of the human spirit. In this episode, she takes us behind the scenes of hiking and filming the grueling 812-mile Hayduke Trail, crossing some of the wildest desert terrain in the American Southwest. We dive into trail camaraderie, isolation, terrifying water crossings — and then shift gears as Elina shares what life is like in Japan and how living there has sparked new waves of creativity. You may know Elina from her powerful Pacific Crest Trail documentary “It Is the People” or from her stunning YouTube films that explore the deeper meaning behind long trails. Join us as we celebrate this milestone episode with an unforgettable conversation about exploration, creativity, and the resilience of the human spirit.Elina on Instagram @elinasborneElina on YouTube @elinaosborneLink to B&B's first episode with Elina  Learn More about the Eastern Sierra Land Trust - eslt.org/bushandbanter/To learn more about the 2025 Lands & Legacy Celebration and to purchase tickets  - eslt.org/event/lands-legacy-2025/NOTABLE TIMESTAMPS 10:05 Welcome Elina Osborne14:00 Why the Hayduke Trail Is unlike any other 28:17  Tackling video production & hiking 44:37 Hyper-presence in tough situations54:18 Inspiration in JapanSend us Fan MailWhere to find and support Bush & Banter:Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanterVisit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.comJoin Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanterE-mail Bush & Banter: [email protected] Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmellaFollow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

In this episode, Jen and Dyana chat with Emily Pennington — journalist, adventure writer, and photographer — who’s made a name for herself covering the outdoors, national parks, adventure travel, and wellness. Emily has visited every U.S. national park and chronicled her journey in her memoir Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks. They dive into her most memorable park experiences, why solo adventuring shaped her, and how it eventually inspired her to seek out more shared adventures. A seasoned contributor to Outside magazine, Emily’s work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, REI Journal, and Backpacker.Follow Emily on Instagram @brazenbackpackerCheck out her book - Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National ParksNOTABLE TIMESTAMPS6:56 Welcome Emily Pennington13:55 Motivation & planning year long National Park trip25:48 Writing Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks33:19 Emily's most surprising & favorite National Park41:46 Relationship with discomfort48:39 Sharing adventures with others57:25 Overtourism & challenges facing public landsSend us Fan MailWhere to find and support Bush & Banter:Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanterVisit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.comJoin Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanterE-mail Bush & Banter: [email protected] Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmellaFollow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

In this episode, Jen and Dyana continue their 55-mile trek in and around Grand Teton National Park with friends Shea and Mak. In Part Two, they take on the grueling Paintbrush Divide—what Dyana calls the hardest climb of her life—face a sketchy snow crossing, reflect on the highs (and lows) of the journey, and bid farewell to the trail. Special thank you to Sawyer Products for powering this episode. From water filters to Picaridin insect repellent, sunscreen, and first aid—Sawyer gear helps outdoor adventurers stay safe, go further, and stay out longer. Learn more at sawyer.com or follow them on social @sawyerproducts.Listen to the Part I episode hereSend us Fan MailWhere to find and support Bush & Banter:Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanterVisit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.comJoin Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanterE-mail Bush & Banter: [email protected] Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmellaFollow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

In this episode, Jen and Dyana revisit the first three days of hiking a 55-mile loop around Grand Teton National Park, starting at the Taggart Lake Trailhead. Join them live from the trail alongside their friends, Mak and Shea, as they take you through tough climbs, epic landscapes, wrecked feet, and rainy nights. This is part one of a two-part series that brings you right into the adventure with them.Special thank you to Sawyer Products for powering this series. From water filters to Permethrin insect repellents, sunscreen and first aid, Sawyer’s gear helps outdoor adventurers stay safe, go further, and stay out longer. To learn more, visit sawyer.com or check them out on social media @sawyerproductsSend us Fan MailWhere to find and support Bush & Banter:Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanterVisit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.comJoin Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanterE-mail Bush & Banter: [email protected] Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmellaFollow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

In this episode, Jen and Dyana discuss how they’re each preparing for a backpacking trip through Grand Teton National Park. From mindset and physical training to gear and food, they cover everything it takes to plan a successful trek through the backcountry. Jen opens up with personal insights on embracing the adventure fully, while Dyana shares her goal of living a minimalist lifestyle on trail.NOTABLE TIMESTAMPS0:00 Intro and Jen's poop story3:42 Jen and Dyana discuss their upcoming trip together6:00 Overall feelings and mental challenges20:28 Physical preparations26:37 Hiking gear and embracing minimalism40:36 Food and a few new changes42:57 Jen's personal words on embracing the backcountrySend us Fan MailWhere to find and support Bush & Banter:Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanterVisit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.comJoin Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanterE-mail Bush & Banter: [email protected] Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmellaFollow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

This episode is all about the 174-mile Tahoe Rim Trail — how to hike it, bike it, or even ride it on horseback— plus what’s being done to keep this incredible land public. A recent threat to sell off parts of the trail and surrounding areas could have been devastating, but two experts from the Tahoe Rim Trail Association (TRTA) are here to break it all down. We’re joined by TRTA’s Executive Director, Lindsey Schultz, and Communications Manager, Daniel Corona, who share how the trail is maintained, how you can get involved, and the role TRTA plays in preserving access to the Lake Tahoe backcountry. From guided hikes to trail stewardship, this episode covers it all.To learn more about the Tahoe Rim Trail Association from guided hikes to ways to donate visit, tahoerimtrail.orgNOTABLE TIMESTAMPS:5:06 Welcome Lindsey Schultz and Daniel Corona!14:08 The TRT's different kinds of terrain20:00 How much water is on the TRT and the driest sections31:13 The rules for hiking, biking, and horseback riding on the TRT47:15 Permits required to hike on the Tahoe Rim Trail49:40 How to protect our public lands + the danger to the Tahoe Rim Trail58:58 How to support the Tahoe Rim Trail Association1:19:20 Why this trail means so much to Lindsey and DanielSend us Fan MailWhere to find and support Bush & Banter:Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanterVisit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.comJoin Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanterE-mail Bush & Banter: [email protected] Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmellaFollow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

In this episode, we sit down with Wells Jones—adventurer, author, and all-around renaissance man. Wells joined the U.S. Navy at 18, launching a life of thrill and purpose as a precision skydiver on the Navy’s Antarctic Pararescue Team. We dive into some of his wildest missions, then head to the desert to hear how he was inspired by explorer T.E. Lawrence—and how retracing a historic route through the Middle East led to his historical fiction novel, A Line in the Sand.A Line in the Sand on Amazon Felicity Aston episode NOTABLE TIMESTAMPS:10:03 Welcome, Wells Jones!12:51 How Wells joined the U.S. Navy Antarctic Pararescue team24:32 Precision skydiving into Antarctica + rescue missions43:01 The famous Middle East trek inspired by T.E. Lawrence49:52 What it's like hiking in the Middle East57:22 The historical fiction, A Line in the Sand1:01:04 Why meeting people from different cultures is important1:05:06 What role imagination plays out in the wildSend us Fan MailWhere to find and support Bush & Banter:Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanterVisit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.comJoin Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanterE-mail Bush & Banter: [email protected] Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmellaFollow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_