Backpacker Radio
A podcast for long-distance backpackers, by thru-hikers, featuring trail stories, gear talk, and interviews with figures from the backpacking world.
A cornerstone of the thru-hiking media landscape, this show blends deep-dive interviews with seasoned hikers and casual, irreverent co-host banter. Episodes often mix serious discussions about trail logistics and the psychology of hiking with recurring segments, inside jokes, and listener questions. It serves as both a practical resource and a cultural touchstone for the backpacking community, presented by its own media hub, The Trek.
“Its deep integration with The Trek gives it unmatched access and credibility within the thru-hiking community. The dynamic between the prepared, research-driven host (Zach) and the more spontaneous, humorous co-host (Chauncey) creates a blend of informative and entertaining content that sets it apart from more straightforward gear or story-focused podcasts.”
Who hosts this show
Backpacker Radio is the flagship podcast of The Trek, a popular media company dedicated to long-distance backpacking. It's hosted by The Trek's founder, Zach "Badger" Davis, and (until mid-2026) long-distance hiker Juliana "Chauncey" Chauncey. The show features interviews with prominent hikers and personalities in the outdoor world, alongside episodes with the hosts discussing trail news, culture, and their own experiences. An episode in June 2026 detailed the podcast's origin story and announced Chauncey's departure.
Credentials & credits
- Zach Davis: Founder of The Trek
- Zach Davis: Author of 'Appalachian Trials' and 'Pacific Crest Trials'
- Zach Davis: Thru-hiker (AT, PCT)
- Juliana Chauncey: Author of 'Hiking From Home'
- Juliana Chauncey: Thru-hiker (AT, PCT, CT, and more)
Other ventures
- The Trek (Zach Davis, Founder)
- Mile by Mile podcast (Juliana Chauncey, upcoming project)
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04Chaunce vs Jabba: the Final Showdown (BPR #359)Jun 1, 2026 · 4h 39m
- 05
- 06From Baghdad to Springer: Walking Off the War with Steven Palazzo BPR #357May 18, 2026 · 4h 43m
- 07
- 08Rattlesnakes, Moose, and Panic Attacks: Pro Triathlete Katie “Sunrise” LanceMay 4, 2026 · 2h 17m
Notable episodes
- 01Backpacker Radio's Origin Story, Evolution, and Behind the Scenes with Zach and Chaunce.
A rare co-host-only episode that details the show's eight-year history and announces the departure of long-time co-host Juliana Chauncey.
- 02Stalked by a Mountain Lion, Hiking the ECT, and Canoeing the Mississippi Matthew "Masochist" Hengst
A classic guest profile of a prolific, full-time adventurer with a unique, data-driven approach to planning and documenting his travels.
- 03Walking the Portuguese Camino with Her Parents to Honor Her Late Brother | Elise "Sauce" Ott
This episode showcases a different style of hiking (the Camino) and explores a more personal, tribute-focused journey.
What you'll be asked on this show
Host Zach Davis typically opens an interview by referencing a guest's major accomplishment or the origin of their trail name. He uses pre-interview research from a guest's online presence to ask specific, data-driven questions about their background, stats, and unique processes. The conversation flows thematically, often moving from a guest's pre-hiking life to their trail experiences and then to their personal life and relationships. Co-host Juliana Chauncey often interjects with more informal, humorous, and relatable questions about daily trail life, breaking up more technical discussions.
The show primarily follows a two-host interview format, with Zach Davis leading the questioning and co-host Juliana Chauncey providing color commentary and asking more personal or humorous questions. Episodes are long-form and conversational, often including podcast business, sponsor reads, and recurring segments like the "Triple Crown" or mailbag.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
10 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
2- Q.01
“What's the story behind your trail name?”
This is often the opening question, used to establish the guest's identity within the hiking community.
- Q.02
“At what point did you discover the outdoors?”
This question is used to trace the origins of a guest's passion for hiking, especially if they didn't grow up with it.
backstory
1- Q.01
“What were you doing before you got into long-distance backpacking?”
The host asks this to establish a 'before and after' narrative, contrasting the guest's previous career with their current life.
process
2- Q.01
“Give us the overview of your recent hike.”
This is a broad opening to let the guest set the stage for the main topic of the interview.
- Q.02
“What is your daily routine like on the trail?”
This question seeks to understand the guest's day-to-day workflow and habits during a thru-hike.
technique
1- Q.01
“Let's talk about your specific process/tool you use on trail.”
Based on pre-research, this question allows a deep dive into a guest's unique methods or gear.
industry
1- Q.01
“How does this international trail compare to a US trail?”
This helps frame an unfamiliar hike for the show's primarily North American audience.
mindset
1- Q.01
“What were your expectations for the success of the show/hike?”
This question probes the guest's mindset and initial goals before a major undertaking.
personal
2- Q.01
“How did you meet your partner?”
The host asks this to explore the guest's personal life and support system off the trail.
- Q.02
“How fast until you poop?”
A signature style of humorous, relatable, and slightly crude question about trail life, often asked by the co-host.
Signature segments
- · "Welcome to Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek..."
- · Hosts introducing themselves with their trail names
- · Poop stories
- · Triple Crown of [X]
- · Reading humorous, pre-written co-host introductions
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically accomplished thru-hikers with tens of thousands of miles under their belts, or individuals who have a unique story of transformation through backpacking. The show also features authors, advocates, and other figures within the outdoor industry.
- Matthew "Masochist" Hengston Stalked by a Mountain Lion, Hiking the ECT, and Canoeing the Mississippi Matthew "Masochist" Hengst
- Elise "Sauce" Otton Walking the Portuguese Camino with Her Parents to Honor Her Late Brother | Elise "Sauce" Ott
- Liz Crandallon Fired from Forest Service by DOGE, Public Lands Advocacy, & Finding Joy in Bad News w/ Liz Crandall
- Steven Palazzoon From Baghdad to Springer: Walking Off the War with Steven Palazzo BPR #357
- Becca Beckhamon BIG podcast news, Swimming with Hippos, Peace Corps, and the GR20 with Becca Beckham (BPR #356)
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
Sponsors are typically outdoor gear brands (Topo Athletic) and direct-to-consumer companies whose products appeal to a health-conscious, active audience (LMNT electrolytes). Ad reads are performed by the hosts and integrated into the show's regular programming.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who are the hosts of Backpacker Radio?
- The show is hosted by Zach "Badger" Davis, founder of The Trek. Juliana "Chauncey" Chauncey was the co-host from the show's inception until her departure in mid-2026.
- Is the podcast still running?
- Yes, Backpacker Radio releases new episodes weekly. As of June 2026, co-host Juliana Chauncey has left the show, with guest co-hosts filling in.
- What is the podcast's format?
- It is primarily a long-form interview show featuring guests from the backpacking community, but it also includes co-host-only episodes with more casual conversation and recurring segments.
- What is The Trek?
- The Trek is a popular media company and online community for long-distance backpackers, founded by host Zach Davis. The podcast is presented by The Trek.
- How can I become a guest on the podcast?
- The show has an online form to suggest a podcast guest. They also occasionally put out specific calls for hikers on certain trails, as seen in their call for CDT hikers.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- Backpacker Radio is available on its official website, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]About | Juliana Chaunceyjulianachauncey.com
- [02]About | Backpacker Radiobackpackerradioonair.com
- [03]Backpacker Radio - Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
- [04]Trails, Trials, and The Trek with Zach “Badger” Davis - Gaia GPSblog.gaiagps.com
- [05]Our Team - The Trekthetrek.co
- [06]Juliana Chauncey, Author at The Trekthetrek.co
- [07]Backpacker Radio's Origin Story, Evolution, and Behind the Scenes with Zach and Chaunce.youtube.com
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