HOLY CRAP WE ARE BACK SORT OF! Its been a tough 2 years but hopefully I can get this podcast going again! This episode is a church talk I gave a while back about spiritual insights I have gained from fire making in the wild.
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 by nature and whole bunch of other stuff. I played in Deep Love: A Ghostly Rock Opera with Mel for nearly 10 years. Listen to the end of the episode to...
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 really likes bengal spice tea. Follow Bob! @GoodPeopleFanClub Follow Bob's Dog! @My.Dog.Pancho...
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 many moons! Over the course of this interview Lauren also makes the most delicious biscuits and chili I have ever eaten in my life. Someday I hope to hi...
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 extroverted person as well as his change of heart toward "spiritual journeys." All hail Paul Bird! Want a shirt/coffee mug/shower curtain with Paul Bird's ...
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 about all people's meaningful experiences in the outdoors, however they interpret them. I just hope that these experiences I share in this episode do ...
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 deaths of his mother, father, aunt and close friend, as well as losing his job. Cary has had a lifelong battle with depression but in 2020 it became ...
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 hiked all over the world now while also having some wilderness therapy experience. He also is currently hiding symbolic artifacts in the Wasatch Mountains...
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 survival TV shows such as: National Geographic's Mygrations, Kicking and Screaming, and the upcoming Season 9 of History Channel's Alone show! Jessie has als...
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. We also delve into a life altering conversation about the lessons she has learned from seeking to perfect sour dough bread baking. You may say bread b...
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. Paul was also worked with dead bodies as a mortician for several years before he started working at Anasazi. Death is still one of his favorite things. B...
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 Nathan! Nathan is a man of great wisdom and deep experience living in harmony with and in wild places. In the past, he has been a wildlife biologist, b...
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 about her journey from a typical middle class angsty teen from the city to a full time nomadic goat herder living almost entirely off of goats milk! Fo...
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 this and what the incredibly hard trek taught her about taking the power back in her life. Abi is the greatest. Follow Abi! Instagram: @AbiAyres...
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 primitive living shelter made of sticks) full-time while attending a primitive skills university in Montana called Green University. What a guy!!!! Follo...
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 help keep this podcast ad-free!: https://www.patreon.com/FordThunderErickson
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/FordThunderErickson Instantgraham: @Ford_Thunder_Erickson
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 insights and experiences she shares in this episode. Follow Elisabeth! @Elisabeth_Ruth_Baird
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: Thunderstone Wilderness Ventures @Thunderstone86 @ClutchFootSnakeHands
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.
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 ever met. He has a DEEP knowledge and connection to nature and a nearly unparalleled zest for life and love of people. Come hither and meet the man onc...
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 nourishment along the way. She would be known as an "ultra marathon" runner by most, but she prefers the title "Freedom Runner." She has never ran in any k...
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, spiritual and jovial beast of a man. Hear his words. Follow Dan! Facebook: Daniel Rosenberg
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 Anasazi as a "carpet walker" and serves as a mother-figure to many trailwalkers, especially the ones who live in her basement. Long Live Lori! Follow L...
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 rugged journey thus far. I then attempted to continue the interview inside Red Robin while the gals consume their burgers, amid the chaos of loud mu...
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 : @RunnerFarmer @BrickhouseGrowers
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 bold "BOYS BAND" on her leg referring to a group of boys she worked with at the Anasazi Foundation. Follow Cindy!: IG: @CiindyDaviis...
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 backcountry guide at the Anasazi Foundation for several years, a wilderness survival instructor for California Survival School, a contestant of the TV s...
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 ‘Bushcraft Build Off’, and backpacked 700 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail with Lexy Newby. It is possible that I have spent more time in the wilderness ...
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 the earth of anyone I know. Hear Meg’s amazing story about how getting in touch with nature helped her overcome depression, an eating disorder and fin...
