The popularity of outdoor activities surged during the pandemic, with record numbers of novice hikers escaping their cramped quarters for the fresh air of national parks and forests. And now that the clocks have sprung forward, the trailheads are beckoning again. These six podcasts focus on our relationship to the natural world, delivering practical advice, dramatic survival stories and first-person tributes to the transformative power of the outdoors.
The popularity of “thru-hiking” (walking a long-distance trail from end to end) has soared in recent years, thanks in part to the success of Cheryl Strayed’s memoir “Wild,” an account of the author’s solo odyssey along the 2600-mile Pacific Crest Trail. “Backpacker Radio,” a production of the hiking advice website The Trek, features Zach Davis and Juliana Chauncey digging into every aspect of trail life. They offer pointers on how to budget and plan for a weekslong hikes, review the latest equipment and interview thru-hikers about their experiences on routes across the world, from the Appalachian Trail to the pilgrim routes of the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
Starter episode: “Chaunce Hiked the Foothills Trail: Terrain, Difficulty, Hiking with a Dog, and Gear”
Though the mental and physical health benefits of spending time out in nature are well-documented, it’s vital not to overlook the inherent perils. Wes Larson, the wildlife biologist and animal behavior expert who hosts “Tooth and Claw,” recount history’s most dramatic animal attacks in entertaining and educational fashion with his Everyman co-hosts, Jeff Larson and Mike Smith. These stories are compelling for much the same reason that we find true-crime tales so addictive: We believe, on some level, that by learning about worst-case scenarios, we can protect ourselves against them. Larson leans into that by offering practical tips on how to stay safe in the animal kingdom. That said, not all of the stories take place out in the wilderness — the show’s very first episode covers the 2007 escape of a tiger at the San Francisco Zoo, which left one person dead and two injured, while a more recent installment featured the freak incident of a Texas woman who was injured in her own backyard after a hawk dropped a snake directly onto her.
Starter episode: “The Worst Black Bear Attack in History: Part 1”
Matt Pycroft, a filmmaker who specializes in documenting far-flung and hostile outdoor locations, delivers interviews with guests who share his thirst for exploration. One’s definition of an adventure can vary dramatically, and that’s reflected in the broad range of subjects here. Many episodes focus on mountaineering, polar expeditions and base jumping, but there are also closer-to-home options like cold-water swimming and mudlarking, the tradition of hunting for hidden treasures along the banks of the River Thames in London. Interspersed with the inspiring interviews is advice, like the recent “Explore: How To Plan An Expedition” mini-season.
Starter episode: “Mark Agnew, An Adventurous Mind”
