How to Start Hiking When You’ve Never Hiked Before | The Real Advice No One Gives You

What happens when you mix YouTube, curiosity, charisma, and a whole lot of science? You get this week’s guest: Trace Dominguez! Trace Dominguez is a science communicator, producer, television presenter, and digital creator. His work appears on channels from Vox Media, Discovery, Science, PBS television, PBS Digital Studios, and more. His production company, Trace Elements Media, develops, pitches, creates, and publishes content with partners and clients. On his podcast That’s Absurd Please Elaborate, Trace and his co-host answer silly questions by citing real research. Trace creates science videos on his YouTube channels Trace Elements and Uno Dos of Trace. He is Telly & Webby award winning and an Emmy-nominated producer and host.Andy Neal sits down with the beloved science communicator and YouTube veteran to talk about his journey from the early days at Discovery Channel to carving out his own creative path as an independent creator.They dive into the rise of YouTube, the realities of burnout, and what it really takes to make science accessible (and exciting!) in today’s world. Trace gets real about conspiracies, magical thinking, the decline of media literacy, and how AI is reshaping the way we tell science stories.From the future of energy storage to why batteries are actually way cooler than you think, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration. If you're curious about the universe—or just love a good deep-dive conversation—this one's for you.More About Trace: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tracedominguez.com⁠Follow Trace on Insta: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/tracedominguez⁠Follow Trace on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/tracedominguez⁠Music is licensed from Musicbed.com.  Subscribe to my YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out my TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠Buy Andy a Coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/andyfilmsandhikes ⁠⁠⁠⁠Need Outdoor gear for your next adventure? Use Andy's REI affiliate link and help Andy out: ⁠⁠⁠https://alnk.to/fSeu523⁠⁠

In this engaging conversation, Gaby Rojas, the digital communications manager for America's Wildlife Refuges, shares her journey from a non-outdoorsy background to advocating for wildlife conservation. She discusses the importance of wildlife refuges, their role in preserving ecosystems, and how they serve as peaceful spaces for both wildlife and humans. Gabby emphasizes the need for inclusivity in outdoor spaces and the significance of community engagement in conservation efforts. The conversation also touches on the challenges of marketing while protecting natural spaces and the importance of responsible outdoor recreation.Takeaways- Gabby Rojas is the digital communications manager for America's Wildlife Refuges.- Wildlife refuges are often overlooked compared to national parks and forests.- Refuges provide a unique space for both wildlife and humans to thrive.- Mental health benefits can be gained from spending time in nature.- Inclusivity in outdoor spaces is essential for community engagement.- Digital communication plays a crucial role in conservation efforts.- There is a tension between marketing outdoor spaces and protecting them.- Community involvement is vital for the success of wildlife refuges.- Everyone can find a place in the outdoor industry, regardless of their background.- Friends groups are passionate advocates for wildlife refuges.

What started as a simple suggestion — “maybe don’t blast your Bluetooth speaker on a quiet hiking trail” — turned into one of the most controversial things I’ve ever posted. But this video isn’t just about trail etiquette. It’s about something bigger.We’re living in a time where being kind, thinking of others, and showing basic respect can feel like a radical act. This is a video about what happens when we stop listening — to nature, and to each other.Yes, I’m snarky about Nickelback on trail. But this is really about how we’ve lost the ability to share space — in nature, in cities, online, everywhere — without demanding it all for ourselves.If you’ve ever been made to feel small for asking people to be considerate… this one’s for you. If you believe we can still be decent to each other, even when we disagree… this one’s for you too.If you're new here, I’m Andy Neal. I make videos about hiking, mental health, and making the outdoors more welcoming and accessible for every body.Subscribe for daily longform videos and shorts that explore real conversations happening on the trail and beyond.Follow me on social media:Instagram, TikTok, Threads, YouTube:   / andyfilmsandhikes   Facebook:   / andyfilmsandhikes  Full link list: https://chirp.me/andyfilmsandhikes Helpful resources:AllTrails – https://www.alltrails.comTen Essentials – https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advi... Leave No Trace – https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/ Music: “Noom (Instrumental)” by Mountain BoyLicensed via: https://www.muscled.comShot on DJI Osmo Pocket 3If you’re tired of the noise — literal and metaphorical — leave a comment.If you’re ready to turn down the volume and turn up the kindness, hit that subscribe button.

People always ask me, “How do I get into hiking if I’ve never done it before?”Here’s the truth: You don’t need fancy gear. You don’t need to move to the mountains. You don’t need to be in perfect shape.You just start.In this video, I’m hiking Grizzly Peak outside of Ashland, Oregon, talking about what helped me get started, what held me back, and why the outdoors are for everyone. If you’ve been watching trail content and thinking “I wish I could do that”… this is your sign.This video was filmed with minimal cuts on the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 with music licensed from muscled.com. The goal is simple: to encourage anyone who wants to hike but doesn't know where to begin.If you're new here, I'm Andy Neal. I make honest, real-world content about hiking, mental health, and making the outdoors more accessible—especially for people who don’t always feel represented in outdoor spaces.Subscribe to this channel if you want more content like this. New longform and shortform videos are coming weekly.Follow me on social media:Instagram, TikTok, Threads, YouTube:   / andyfilmsandhikes  Facebook:   / andyfilmsandhikes  Full link list: https://www.linktr.ee/andyfilmsandhikesHelpful resources:AllTrails – https://www.alltrails.comTen Essentials for Hiking – https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advi...Leave No Trace – https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/Music: “Alphabet (Instrumental)” by Penny & SparrowLicensed via: https://www.muscled.com

What happens when you mix solo travel, stunt work, Emmy-nominated storytelling, and a deep love for wild places? You get Alice Ford.This week on The Adventure Is Out There Podcast, Andy Neal sits down with Alice Ford—stuntwoman, TV host, outdoor creator, and the visionary behind the PBS show Alice’s Adventures on Earth.Alice’s path has been anything but linear: from a childhood spent running barefoot through the woods of New Hampshire, to doubling actors in Stranger Things and Transformers, to filming herself trekking through some of the most remote places on earth. In a world that often says you need a beard and a flannel to host outdoor TV, Alice forged her own path—pitching networks, building a YouTube audience from scratch, and taking her camera (and tripod) into the wild solo.In this episode, we talk about: – Breaking into Hollywood stunts (and why most doors were closed)– Starting her own travel docuseries and landing it on PBS– What it's really like filming alone outdoors as a woman– The ethics of outdoor content creation and stewardship– Her time living with disappearing Indigenous tribes—and how it changed her– Advice for aspiring outdoor creators (spoiler: it’s not just about going viral)If you care about nature, storytelling, or simply doing the hard thing when the easy thing would’ve been easier—this conversation is for you.More about Alice:YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/alicelogan1Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/alicesadventuresonearthBlog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.alicesadventuresonearth.comFollow Andy:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: www.youtube.com/@andyfilmsandhikesInstagram: www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikesTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@andyfilmsandhikesBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/andyfilmsandhikesSupport future content by using Andy’s REI affiliate link: https://alnk.to/fSeu523Music licensed from Musicbed.com.

What happens when you mix YouTube, curiosity, charisma, and a whole lot of science? You get this week’s guest: Trace Dominguez! Trace Dominguez is a science communicator, producer, television presenter, and digital creator. His work appears on channels from Vox Media, Discovery, Science, PBS television, PBS Digital Studios, and more. His production company, Trace Elements Media, develops, pitches, creates, and publishes content with partners and clients. On his podcast That’s Absurd Please Elaborate, Trace and his co-host answer silly questions by citing real research. Trace creates science videos on his YouTube channels Trace Elements and Uno Dos of Trace. He is Telly & Webby award winning and an Emmy-nominated producer and host.Andy Neal sits down with the beloved science communicator and YouTube veteran to talk about his journey from the early days at Discovery Channel to carving out his own creative path as an independent creator.They dive into the rise of YouTube, the realities of burnout, and what it really takes to make science accessible (and exciting!) in today’s world. Trace gets real about conspiracies, magical thinking, the decline of media literacy, and how AI is reshaping the way we tell science stories.From the future of energy storage to why batteries are actually way cooler than you think, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration. If you're curious about the universe—or just love a good deep-dive conversation—this one's for you.More About Trace: ⁠https://www.tracedominguez.comFollow Trace on Insta: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/tracedominguezFollow Trace on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/tracedominguezMusic is licensed from Musicbed.com.  Subscribe to my YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out my TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠Buy Andy a Coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/andyfilmsandhikes ⁠⁠⁠Need Outdoor gear for your next adventure? Use Andy's REI affiliate link and help Andy out: ⁠⁠https://alnk.to/fSeu523⁠⁠

This week I am so excited to talk with comedic actress and content creator Aimee La Joie. Aimee is a comedic actress and content creator. She is best known for her viral The Film Crew series. She resides in San Diego with her fur child, Lydia.  More About Aimee: http://www.aimeelajoie.com Follow Aimee on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/aimeelajoie Follow Aimee on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aimeelajoie Follow Aimee on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmATPHNS0gWjigjJGmF1GRA Music is licensed from Musicbed.com.   Subscribe to my YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out my TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@andyfilmsandhikes⁠ Buy Andy a Coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/andyfilmsandhikes ⁠⁠ Get a Gregory Mountain Products Pack or Luggage for your next Adventure by using code "andy15" at checkout at ⁠www.gregory.com⁠ to get 15% off your purchase and help Andy and the Podcast out. Need Outdoor gear for your next adventure? Use Andy's REI affiliate link and help Andy out: ⁠https://alnk.to/fSeu523⁠

This week I am so excited to talk again with my friend, Hiker, Author of the upcoming memoir Pack Light: A Journey to Find Myself , Influencer, & Mental Health Advocate, Shilletha “Dragonsky” Curtis. Follow Dragonsky on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/i_am_dragonsky/ Pre- Order Pack Light: A Journey to Find Myself https://books.disney.com/book/pack-light/ Andy and Shilletha's conversation from February 2022: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5yeoaSwdWlvrChf4tbKSvQ?si=dbdb699113a14ce2 Music is licensed from Musicbed.com.   Subscribe to my YouTube:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Check out my TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@andyfilmsandhikes Buy Andy a Coffee ⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/andyfilmsandhikes ⁠ Get a Gregory Mountain Products Pack or Luggage for your next Adventure by using code "andy15" at checkout at www.gregory.com to get 15% off your purchase and help Andy and the Podcast out. Need Outdoor gear for your next adventure? Use Andy's REI affiliate link and help Andy out: https://alnk.to/fSeu523 About Shilletha: Shilletha “Dragonsky” Curtis was born in Newark, New Jersey, and spent much of her time growing up on the Jersey Shore. Shilletha received her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Rutgers University in 2014 and spent a summer abroad in Beijing, China (2012) to further her Mandarin speaking skills and then she traveled to Romania (2013) to do an internship at an orphanage in Cluj-Napoca. Helping people has always been her passion, but she eventually found that she had a profound love for animals and eventually the outdoors. She trained as a Veterinary Technician in 2016 in Austin, Texas, and practiced for two years. She lost her job due to the coronavirus pandemic in March of 2020. Like many, with a new outlook on life, Shilletha pursued hiking, beginning with the Appalachian Trail. One day, her dream is to finish The Triple Crown, which is the highest honor, in hiking, completing the Appalachian, Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide. Her journey to complete continues though in every way--she's already won. About Pack Light: A Journey to Find Myself : Shilletha Curtis, also known as "Dragonsky," takes readers on a profound journey through her life, from the shores of New Jersey to the rugged terrain of the Appalachian Trail. Born in Newark, New Jersey, Shilletha's upbringing was marked by adversity, including fractured family dynamics, bullying, and abuse. However, despite these challenges, Shilletha's unwavering spirit and passion for helping others shine through. After losing her job as a Veterinary Technician due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Shilletha embarked on a life-changing adventure—the Appalachian Trail. Pack Light chronicles her courageous decision to confront the roots of her trauma while hiking through 14 states, battling depression, anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD along the way. But this memoir is more than just a hiking story. It's a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of nature. Shilletha's journey challenges the conventional narrative of "Hiking While Black," asserting that the great outdoors belongs to everyone. Through vivid prose and heartfelt reflection, Shilletha invites readers to join her on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and empowerment. Her experiences resonate with authenticity, offering hope and inspiration to anyone facing their own challenges. Explore Shilletha Curtis's remarkable story and share in her triumphs and tribulations. This memoir is not just a book—it's a testament to the human spirit's resilience and capacity for growth.

This week I have the wonderful opportunity to talk with Outdoor Photographer & Content Creator, Jhamil Bader Follow Jhamil on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jhamilbader/ Jhamil Bader is a commercial photographer and content creator based in Portland, Oregon, specializing in outdoor lifestyle and travel work. Through captivating visual content and the value he provides his community, he has built a following of 140,000+ outdoor enthusiasts across his social media channels. His posts, which combine outdoor and travel inspiration, introspection, and personal growth, aim to inspire his audience to get outdoors, travel, embrace new experiences, and grow in their personal and business lives. Using his 7+ years of branding and social media experience, he works with other freelancers and small business owners to develop their branding identity, expand their social media presence, and increase brand recognition by harnessing creative marketing strategies and high-quality, narrative-driven content. Music is licensed from Musicbed.com.   Subscribe to my YouTube:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Check out my TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@andyfilmsandhikes ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy Andy a Coffee ⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/andyfilmsandhikes ⁠

This week I have the wonderful opportunity to talk with my friend, attorney and advocate, Darrah Blackwater. More About Darrah: https://blackwatersoul.wordpress.com/ Follow Darrah on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/blackwatersoul/?hl=en Darrah Blackwater is from Farmington, New Mexico and is a citizen of the Navajo Nation. She is a conceptual artist and an attorney specializing in Indigenous law and telecommunications law. In a previous career she was a tennis professional at the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch in New Braunfels, Texas and in Zhongshan, China. While in China, Darrah and her walking partner, Ann Liang, walked 1,388 miles from Zhonshan to Beijing to raise money for organizations that empower people with disabilities. She spent a year of law school working on tribal issues in Washington D.C., and has assisted in building multiple community networks in Indigenous communities. Darrah has extensively researched and written about the concept of spectrum sovereignty, the idea that Native Nations have exclusive rights to the electromagnetic spectrum on and over their lands. Darrah spent her summer after law school hiking the Colorado Trail to raise awareness about the digital divide and Indigenous issues. Her Native Lens video on Indigenous spectrum sovereignty (below) is featured in the National Museum of Natural History exhibit Cellphone: Unseen Connections through 2025. In her spare time she can be found playing tennis, making art, or playing in the mountains. Music is licensed from Musicbed.com.   Subscribe to my YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Follow Host Andy Neal on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/andyfilmsandhikes⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Check out my TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@andyfilmsandhikes ⁠⁠⁠ Buy Andy a Coffee: ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/andyfilmsandhikes ⁠