The Backpacking Podcast
A lighthearted, weekly chat about backpacking, mixing personal trail stories, gear debates, and interviews with cottage industry insiders.
This is a hybrid talk show that feels like listening to two knowledgeable buddies talk shop. The hosts blend humorous, self-deprecating trail stories (like getting poison ivy or having tech fails) with serious interviews with outdoor industry figures. They bridge the gap between casual trail talk and the business of backpacking, covering everything from poop etiquette and foot care to cottage gear manufacturing and public land use debates.
“The show's unique appeal lies in its blend of goofy, relatable anecdotes with in-depth interviews with cottage gear founders. The hosts' willingness to share their own mishaps, like broadcasting with a poop trowel for a microphone, gives the show a raw, unpolished authenticity that stands out from more produced formats.”
Who hosts this show
Hosted by Jeremiah Stringer and John Kelley, The Backpacking Podcast offers a fun, lighthearted approach to the outdoors. The duo shares personal experiences and knowledge from the trail, conducts guest interviews, and hosts interactive livestreams. Their stated goal is to help people fall in love with backpacking while putting a smile on their faces.
Credentials & credits
- John Kelley: YouTuber, experienced hiker with several thousand miles trekked, including Mt. Kilimanjaro and a thru-hike of the Sheltowee Trace.
- Jeremiah Stringer: Hiker and co-host of The Backpacking Podcast.
Other ventures
- John Kelley: 'John Kelley' YouTube Channel (formerly 'JK Is Hiking').
- Jeremiah Stringer: 'JeremiahStringerHikes' on Instagram and a personal YouTube channel.
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01325 Protecting Your Most Important Asset on trail: Your FeetJun 26, 2026 · 51 min
- 02324 When Hammock Camping Goes WrongJun 19, 2026 · 46 min
- 03323 Best Backpacking Gear Is NOT In Stores... w/ Ben McMillenJun 13, 2026 · 1h 04m
- 04322 The POOP EPISODEJun 4, 2026 · 1h 03m
- 05321 Best Backpacking Gear of 2026May 28, 2026 · 1h 10m
- 06320 Is AI Ruining the Appalachian Trail?May 21, 2026 · 59 min
- 07319 Should We Fear BEAVER ATTACKS on Trail?May 14, 2026 · 53 min
- 08318 We're Spraying ROUNDUP in our National Forests?May 7, 2026 · 1h 11m
Notable episodes
- 01323 Best Backpacking Gear Is NOT In Stores... w/ Ben McMillen
A representative interview with a cottage gear founder that also features a memorable moment where a host uses a poop trowel as a microphone.
- 02325 Protecting Your Most Important Asset on trail: Your Feet
A classic co-host discussion where they share personal stories and practical advice, recording barefoot to match the theme.
- 03324 When Hammock Camping Goes Wrong
A prime example of the show's storytelling format, detailing a co-host's personal trip mishap with humor and relatable advice.
What you'll be asked on this show
For its interview segments, the show is conversational and peer-to-peer. The hosts ease in with casual banter before introducing the guest and often integrate questions from the live YouTube chat. Their questions probe both business philosophy and the guest's personal experiences with their own products, such as asking a hammock gear maker if he's ever had a bad night's sleep in one. The style is less of a formal Q&A and more of a collaborative discussion.
This is a two-host conversational show, often recorded as a live stream with audience interaction. The hosts, John and Jeremiah, have a casual, bantering chemistry and frequently record together, sometimes barefoot for themed episodes. The tone is consistently lighthearted and humorous, even when tackling more serious topics.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
4 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.
business
2- Q.01
“As a cottage vendor, where is your voice most loudly heard?”
An opening question used to understand a gear company's marketing strategy and reach.
- Q.02
“What made you decide to spotlight the people that work for you?”
This question explores a guest's unique company culture and business values.
personal
2- Q.01
“Have you had a bad night's sleep in the hammock yet?”
A way the hosts probe a guest's genuine, personal experience with their own gear.
- Q.02
“So are you a hammock guy now?”
A follow-up question to confirm if a guest has personally converted to a new gear philosophy.
Signature segments
- · Recording 'barefoot episodes' for relevant topics
- · Live streams with audience Q&A
- · Joking references to 'sneeze' or 'fart' sponsors
- · Sharing personal trail mishaps and stories
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
The show primarily books owners and founders of 'cottage' backpacking gear companies (like Hilltop Packs) who can speak to the business of the outdoors, their company philosophy, and their personal connection to hiking.
- Ben McMillenon 323 Best Backpacking Gear Is NOT In Stores... w/ Ben McMillen
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is presented by Outdoor Vitals and features their products heavily in descriptions and ad reads, suggesting a deep partnership. They also feature other cottage brands, sometimes jokingly referred to as 'sneeze' sponsors, and use AvantLink affiliate links, indicating a multi-faceted revenue model based on authentic brand integration.
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.
Pitch this show
j•••@•••.comFree: limited reveals · Pro: unlimited reveals + CSV export
You’re only charged when we return a verified hit.
People also ask
- Who are the hosts of The Backpacking Podcast?
- The hosts are Jeremiah Stringer and John Kelley.
- Is The Backpacking Podcast still active?
- Yes, the podcast is active and releases new episodes weekly.
- What is the show's format?
- It's a hybrid format, mixing conversational episodes between the two hosts with guest interviews, which are often conducted as live streams on YouTube.
- What kind of topics do they cover?
- They discuss all things backpacking, from trail stories and practical advice (like foot care) to gear reviews and interviews with founders of cottage gear companies.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on YouTube and major podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- What is the connection to Outdoor Vitals?
- Outdoor Vitals is the title sponsor of the podcast, and their gear is frequently mentioned.
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]The Backpacking Podcast presented by Outdoor Vitals | Listen Noteslistennotes.com
- [02]John Kelley Hiker Spotlight - Hilltop Packshilltoppacks.com
- [03]The Backpacking Podcast on Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
- [04]The Backpacking Podcast - YouTubeyoutube.com
- [05]Canoehound's Outdoor Adventure Show S:02 E:23youtube.com
- [06]Best 100 Adventure Travel Podcasts in the US - MillionPodcastsmillionpodcasts.com
Podcasts like The Backpacking Podcast
The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered
A history storyteller who narrates short, engaging videos about forgotten events and figures, typically in 15 minutes or less.
Silicon Valley Girl
Silicon Valley Girl
An entrepreneur interviews the founders and scientists building the next wave of AI to uncover practical strategies for career and business growth.
The Arena
The Arena
A daily sports debate show where 3-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas and a panel of former pros give unfiltered takes on basketball news.
Backstage with Millionaires
Pankaj Chauhan
A weekly news show and documentary-style channel breaking down the biggest stories and trends in the Indian startup and venture capital ecosystem.
Thomas Brush
Thomas Brush
A podcast for aspiring indie game developers, hosted by a solo dev who interviews peers about the practical and emotional journey of making games.
The Founder's Dream | Abhishek vyas
The Founder
A Hindi-language business podcast featuring long-form interviews with Indian startup founders about their real-world journeys and industries.
Donovan Sharpe
Donovan Sharpe
A confrontational live-stream show focused on dating, masculinity, and current events from a "Red Pill" perspective.
Rusty Quill Podcasts
Rusty Quill Podcasts
A network feed from a London-based production house specializing in full-cast speculative fiction and horror audio dramas.