Today's Lagniappe is all about making a difference. Malala, Jane Goodall, Lek Chailert, and Oprah all changed the world with giant, broad strokes.... dedicating their lives to making the planet better. But what about those of us that don't have that platform? What if we have families, jobs, responsibilities?? Can we make a difference? Can we make the world a better place? The answer is a resounding "Yes!!!!" Join the women of the Incremental Steps Podcast as they share ideas on how to bring abou...
May 12, 2020•33 min
For the milestone of our 50th episode, Anna wants to share one of her very favorite stories. So join Mud Butt as she shares her tale of a wet, magical hike on the Appalachian Trail at Thanksgiving. And yes, the story is absolutely true!!! Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trailda...
May 05, 2020•20 min
"Hike More-Worry Less" - That is the tee shirt Katherine wore while we did this interview and those words couldn't be more apt. Katherine has spent her life living and traveling all over the globe. Her studies in biological anthropology led to fieldwork all over Africa, and her work in this field solidified a lifelong love for this earth and the communities that inhabit it. Katherine later went on to expand her career by becoming a Certified Holistic Health Coach, Master Certified Health Coach, ...
Apr 28, 2020•57 min
Ever since she was a small girl growing up in Ohio, Julie has been intrigued by the Appalachian Trail. She and her Dad would have many conversations and dreams about hiking the AT and, without her knowing it, the AT climbed into her heart. Jester is currently in the process of completing her second section hike of the Appalachian Trail with about 700 miles left to go. She has also hiked the Art Loeb Trail, the Foothills Trail, The Narrows in Utah, Yosemite’s Half Dome and Cloud’s Rest, and most ...
Apr 21, 2020•15 min
Note: This Lagniappe was recorded before all of the COVID-19 craziness hit our country and with so many trails closed it might seem strange to be talking about trail magic!! But what better way to pass some time than to plan your future trail magic. Before you know it, hikers will be out there again, ready for some love, care and Little Debbie’s! Have you ever stumbled up a trail sweating, exhausted, and disheartened, only to find yourself face to face with a smiling hiker holding out a cold dri...
Apr 14, 2020•17 min
No danger, no drama....just a beautiful day on the Appalachian Trail. Join Anna, aka Mud Butt, as she tells the story of a simple hike in the mountains. Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traildames/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/49722445862/ Hiking Radio Network: http...
Apr 07, 2020•19 min
Today's episode is a special one!!! To celebrate the 5th Tuesday of the month, we are doing a panel discussion about hiking with kids!!! If you ever wanted to take your little ones out on the trail, this is the discussion for you. Join us as we talk about boys and girls of all ages and the fun of getting them outdoors. Participants, along with Anna: Stacey Brazier is an educational administrator in New York City, a school counselor supervisor, and mom to four kids currently aged 15-21 years old....
Mar 31, 2020•38 min
Dr. Diohn Brancaleoni, psychologist and life coach, joins us today to talk about the outdoors, walk-and-talk therapy, and using nature to achieve mind-body-spirit wellness. Dr. Diohn is the author of the Happy Life Toolkit and a lover of all things nature. When she isn't doing life coaching sessions outdoors, she enjoys hiking and horseback riding. Learn more about Dr. Diohn at https://diohn.net/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Local-Service/Diohn-Brancaleoni-PhD-Joyful-Living...
Mar 24, 2020•49 min
Christine Gautreaux shares her story of a late-night calling to honor the spirit of the forest. https://www.christinegautreaux.com/ https://www.facebook.com/christinenicholsgautreaux Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traildames/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/497224458...
Mar 17, 2020•12 min
Join us on the Lagniappe episode as we celebrate all things Trail!! Today we are talking about Trail Festivals, so get out your calendar, throw your tent in your car and plan to join in the fun at one of the wonderful Festivals!! https://www.amicalolafallslodge.com/appalachian-trail-kick-off/ https://continentaldividetrail.org/trail-days-2020/ https://www.flipflopfestival.org/ https://www.traildays.us/ http://www.pctdays.com/ Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find t...
Mar 10, 2020•15 min
Listen to Stacey's story about finding her bravery on the trail through solo hiking, and using hiking as an escape from the very real stresses of being a parent today. Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com The Summit: www.traildamessummit.com The Trail Dames Foundation: www.tdcharitablefoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traildames/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/49722445862/ Hiking Radi...
Mar 03, 2020•13 min
"I was paralyzed on my left side in 2015. After relearning to walk, battling severe depression and anxiety, I was lead to Trail Dames. I needed someone to walk with to help get me out of the house. I never really liked the outdoors, or so I thought, and Trail Dames was going to be my speed and get me out of my comfort zone. I started with tennis shoes, one foot dragging, and my purple cane. That's just a tidbit of my story because it's so long. Lol" These are Shellie's own words that set the sce...
Feb 25, 2020•45 min
Short and sweet.....a story of one girl's journey below. Shellie takes on caving despite her fears! Shellie Hemphill is the Head Dame for our Kansas City Chapter. She was stricken with Lupus as a young adult and ended up paralyzed in a nursing home, before re-learning to walk. She has an amazing story that she will be sharing on an upcoming Trail Dames podcast! The pictures below are before and after her caving experience!! https://traildames.com/Missouri.html Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at...
Feb 18, 2020•9 min
Today's Lagniappe is a collection of neat hiking awards programs. Programs where you can tick off the trail miles while earning pins, patches, other SWAG, and of course bragging rights!! For anyone wanting to do a little more than just a walk on a weekend, pick a challenge here and add it to your list of goals!!! Show Links: https://gastateparks.org/CanyonClimbersClub https://www.adk.org/play/earn-a-patch/fire-tower-challenge/ https://www.iceagetrail.org/hiking-awards-programs/ https://www.nps.g...
Feb 11, 2020•16 min
Cindy Denise is the Head Dame for one of our New York Trail Dames chapters, and she is also an EMT and a life-long lover of the outdoors. When she is not leading hikes and helping injured people in her community, she is acting in local professional theater productions in the Woodstock, NY area. Cindy is multi-talented and is a wonderful hiking partner if you ever go up North!! Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at info@traildames.com You can find the Trail Dames at: Our website: www.traildames.com...
Feb 04, 2020•10 min
Did you ever wonder what it was like to eat an elephant one bite at a time??? That is exactly what Debbie Wroten did with the Appalachian Trail. She was a day hiker who, in her own words 'never hiked far from a bathroom,' decided one day that she was going to hike the entire AT. Join us as we talk about watermelon season, hiking far from bathrooms and big, giant goals!!! Debbie is a retired teacher. She taught Culinary Arts and nutrition at the high school level and her husband is her biggest su...
Jan 28, 2020•50 min
Carla Robertson shares a compilation of stories, with her first night in a shelter on the Appalachian Trail and other backpacking lessons learned.
Jan 21, 2020•12 min
Join Anna, aka Mud Butt, for a quick discussion of some of the things to throw in your backpack!! Being prepared is the name of the game, so you not only survive on the trail, but you thrive!!
Jan 14, 2020•11 min
Kim Weiler tells us of a funny encounter she had while on her first solo hike.
Jan 07, 2020•9 min
Margaret Webster grew up in Connecticut. She has had a lifelong love of science, the outdoors, travel, and exploration. As a child, she aspired to be a cross between Jacques Cousteau and Robert Ripley of Ripley’s Believe It or Not. After raising her two sons, she decided to embark on a solo cross-country odyssey that essentially lasted eight years. She had been working in a job that enabled her to work anywhere she could get an Internet connection. She loaded up her pickup truck with her laptop,...
Dec 24, 2019•1 hr 7 min
Gifts for $10-50 1. Give the Gift of Trees - (Global) Trees for the Future.org https://trees.org/ (US-based) American Forests.org https://www.americanforests.org/ways-to-give/gift-of-trees/ 2. State Parks Pass 3. Hiking notebook/journal 4. Lightheart Gear Backpacking Dress - https://lightheartgear.com/collections/womens-clothing/products/dress 5. Membership to a Hiking Organization - American Hiking Association- https://americanhiking.org/ Appalachian Trail Conservancy- http://appalachiantrail.o...
Dec 10, 2019•16 min
Cheryl Suchors grew up in Southern, Eastern and Mid-Western US and is a proud graduate of Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. After getting an MBA from Harvard she began a career that spanned everything from management consultant to partner in a national accounting and consulting firm. After years in the corporate world, she found the courage to launch her second career as a writer. She’s published short works and poems and has recently authored a book, 48 Peaks, Hiking and Healing in t...
Nov 26, 2019•54 min
This week's lagniappe has Anna chatting with her friend, Pam. They are talking about glamping and the art of comfort in the woods. Anna hasn't been too well so I've revived an episode that has marginal sound quality. However, the subject was so much fun that I've put it together to share with you.
Nov 12, 2019•19 min
Melissa Zimmerman is an architectural consultant who stumbled into hiking three years ago. (Literally. She really needs to watch for those troublesome tree roots.) From the first time she saw a picture of Machu Picchu, she knew she needed to see it in person. Then she heard about Choquequirao, which is only accessed by hiking, and decided she'd see them both. That settled, she did her best to get in peak condition before jetting off to Peru for a grand adventure with her mom, Karen. Melissa grew...
Oct 22, 2019•45 min
Trail Dames.com The Trail Dames Summit The Trail Dames podcast Facebook page Mighty Blue on the AT Podcast Lightheart Gear Tents Leki Poles...
Oct 08, 2019•10 min
Marina LeGree is the founding director of Ascend and brings over a decade of experience working in Afghanistan and other unstable environments. In 2014 she founded Ascend, a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop young Afghani women into leaders through community service and the sport of mountain climbing. In 2018, her teams work resulted in a historical first. Hanifa Yousoufi, was the first Afghani woman to climb the highest mountain in Afghanistan. Marina and her team are committe...
Sep 24, 2019•59 min
Staying hydrated while hiking is one of the most important things you can do for your health, and one of the simplest ways you can make your hike a successful one! Check out these articles for more information on hydrating yourself properly while hiking. And keep an eye (and ear) out for other Lagniappe episodes where we dig into the 10 Essentials and how you can incorporate them into your hiking! American Hiking Society tips on water purification- https://americanhiking.org/resources/water-puri...
Sep 10, 2019•11 min
Cheryl Torain This month’s podcast features world traveler, marathoner, climber and adventurer Cheryl Torain. Cheryl began to travel in her 20’s, going to Germany, Denmark, France and Sweden. That was only her first trip, but she fell in love with travel and she has been on the road ever since. In addition to her journeying, Cheryl began running as an adult and within a few years, was participating in 10K races. In 1998, she registered for a marathon training program to run the Marine Corps Mara...
Aug 26, 2019•52 min
Cheryl Suchors, Author 48 Peaks-Hiking and Healing in the Mountains At forty-eight years old, Cheryl Suchors―hoping to find concrete successes and a feeling of control as she changes careers and fifty stares at her from the horizon―vows to summit the highest forty-eight peaks in New Hampshire’s grueling White Mountains. Neglecting to consider her flimsy body, scoliosis, bum knee, and fear of heights, she dives into the challenge. Along the way, Suchors suffers numerous injuries; her hiking buddy...
Aug 13, 2019•9 min
Sarah Williams as an award-winning athlete, podcast creator and motivational speaker. She created Tough Girl Challenges in 2014 as a way of motivating and inspiring women and girls. She is the creator and host of the Tough Girl Podcast where she interviews inspirational female explorers, adventurers, athletes and everyday women who have overcome great challenges. Her podcast is listened to in 174 countries around the world and has passed 750,000 downloads and in 2018 won the Woman’s Sports Trust...
Jul 24, 2019•57 min
