By Land Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Tom French, author of The Gap Years: Climbing, Skiing, and the Journey Back, to talk about what happens when we step away from the expected path and make room for a different kind of experience. Tom spent his pre-career years climbing, ski racing, and traveling around the world before leaving that life behind to build a career, get married, and raise a family. When he retired at 60, and before moving into the next stage of life, he decided to return to the mou...

Nina Banducci from Polarsteps joins the podcast to talk about something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately; how we document our lives and why social media doesn’t always feel like the right way to do it. We discuss the trending shift away from performative platforms like Instagram and why more people are craving something more personal and meaningful when it comes to capturing their life experiences. Nina shares her background as an outdoor guide and how that led her to Polarsteps, a trave...

In this episode, I sit down with Tia Banks, a former professional athlete turned mountaineer, resilience expert, and motivational speaker. Tia’s journey is one of resilience, self-discovery, and mental toughness, and in our conversation, she shares how learning to manage setbacks helped her transition into a new passion. From growing up in Nebraska to inspiring thousands through her speaking tour, her story is proof that adversity can be a stepping stone to something greater. Tia ...

In this episode, I sit down with Tayson Whittaker, founder of Outdoor Vitals, to dive deep into fastpacking—what it is, why it works when time is tight, and how to cover more ground in less time. Whether you’re a backpacker looking to move faster and lighter, or someone trying to maximize limited time on the trail, this episode is packed with tons of insights on how to make fastpacking a practical tool in your outdoor adventures. Tayson shares his personal fastpacking strategies, including ge...

In this episode of the By Land Podcast, I sit down with Bria Ruben, co-founder of Ruck Evolution, to explore the benefits of rucking—a simple yet powerful way to build fitness, mental resilience, and community. Rucking is walking with weight, and it’s one of the most accessible, low-impact ways to increase endurance and strength. Bria shares how she discovered rucking, why it became such a key part of her life, and how Ruck Evolution is making rucking more accessible with innovative wa...