Almost There Adventure Podcast

12/23/2025

What does it take to swim across oceans, outrun exhaustion, and keep going when everything hurts?

On this episode of the Almost There Adventure Podcast, we’re joined by endurance athlete and philanthropist Darren Miller — a man who has completed the legendary Ocean Seven channel swims, run 100-mile ultramarathons, and turned personal hardship into a lifelong mission to help others.

Link in first comment!

12/06/2023

Episode 95: Alastair Humphreys and Adventures from Big to Micro
On this episode: sheds, map grids, busking in Spain, and 5-to-9 adventures. We are talking with Alastair Humphreys, named as National Geographic Adventurer of the Year for his work on the concept of microadventures. He’s had some big adventures, too, from cycling completely around the world in four years to canoeing 500 miles down the Yukon River. And along the way, he’s authored 14 books inspiring people to find room for adventure in their daily lives.

In this Episode
* Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle – Dervla Murphy
* Sir Ranulph Fiennes – explorer and author
* Benedict Allen
* explorersweb.com
* A single map
* In the US, you can download your map from the USGS for free
* Episode 25 – Kolby Kirk
* Seek and Merlin – apps to identify plants and birds
* The Coast to Coast Walk
* Episode 24 – Jesse Blough and The Big Lonely
* – papercut art
* As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning – Laurie Lee, and the book that inspired Alastair to busk his way badly across Spain

Connect with Alastair Humphreys
* Website: alastairhumphreys.com
* Instagram:

Connect with Our Co-hosts:
- Jason Fitzpatrick – IG:
- Saveria Tilden – IG:
web: AdventurUsWomen.com
- Jeff Hester – IG:
web: SoCalHiker.net

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is a celebration of outdoor activities both local and epic. Discussing the big topics and talking to adventurers, artists, legends and activists within the outdoor community.

11/17/2023

Episode 94: Collyn “Doc” Nielsen on Outdoor Adventures & Podcasting
On this episode: Hiking podcasts, the days, and getting a doctorate in hiker trash. We’re talking with Collyn “Doc” Nielsen of Hiker Trash Radio… it’s a podcasters interviewing podcasters interview!
Hear how he got into hiking and backpacking, what inspired him to start his podcast, and the takeaways from recording over 300 episodes interviewing backpackers, thru-hikers and outdoor adventurers.

In this Episode
* Hiker Trash Radio – Doc’s podcast
* MILE, MILE & A HALF – the John Muir Trail documentary that inspired many of Doc’s podcast guests
* Backcountry bidets, memorable guest stories and more.
Connect with Doc
* HikerTrashRadio.com – official website of Doc’s podcast
* Follow him on Instagram:

Our Co-hosts:
- Jason Fitzpatrick – IG:
- Saveria Tilden – IG:
web: AdventurUsWomen.com
- Jeff Hester – IG:
web: SoCalHiker.net

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is a celebration of outdoor activities both local and epic. Discussing the big topics and talking to adventurers, artists, legends and activists within the outdoor community.

11/01/2023

Episode 93: Marinel de Jesus, Sara Frenning & Expanding Opportunities for Women Guides & Porters

On this episode: small successes, women porters, and the Himalaya. We’re talking with Marinel de Jesus and Sara Frenning about the Porter Voice Collective and their project for the first women-led trek on the Great Himalaya Trail.

Marinel is a digital nomad, founder of Brown Gal Trekker, Equity Global Treks and The Porter Voice Collective, where Sara is a researcher. Both joined us from Nepal, which is the longest distance we’ve recorded a show from to date.

The Porter Voice Collective is comprised of porter voices from Nepal’s Himalayan Trails, Peru’s Camino Inca and Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro. PVC is a media platform that aims to tell the true stories of porters and their lives on the trails. PVC utilizes storytelling as a means to create advocacy towards the creation of WORKFORCE EQUITY TOURISM which ensures that companies and the industry as a whole respect the basic human rights of porters and adhere to equitable treatment of all individuals who work in the trekking tourism industry.

In this Episode
* KM 82: The Porter Voices of Peru’s Camino Inca – a documentary project of The Porter Voice Collective
* Great Himalaya Trail Campaign
* Fundraiser for the Great Himalaya Trail trek
* Statistics on Nepal tourism
Visit our website for links to all these amazing projects and resources.

Connect with Marinel
* www.browngaltrekker.com
* www.theportervoicecollective.org
* Facebook:
* Instagram:
* X (formerly Twitter):

Our Co-hosts:
- Jason Fitzpatrick – IG:
- Saveria Tilden – IG:
web: AdventurUsWomen.com
- Jeff Hester – IG:
web: SoCalHiker.net

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is a celebration of outdoor activities both local and epic. Discussing the big topics and talking to adventurers, artists, legends and activists within the outdoor community.

09/15/2023

Episode 91: Elizabeth Person and the Art of Maps
On this episode: maps, artificial intelligence, and lutefisk. We’re talking with Elizabeth Person of Everett, Washington, an illustrator and cartographer who creates beautiful ink and watercolor maps for trails, parks and much-loved outdoor spaces.

We talk about how summer trips to North Dakota in her dad’s small plane led to her fascination with maps and geography, and how she turned her passion into a full-time business.

In this Episode
* Metsker Maps in Seattle
* A look at Elizabeth’s process

Connect with Elizabeth
* Check out Elizabeth’s website: elizabethperson.com
* Follow her on Instagram: or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elizabethpersonart

Become a Patron
The Almost There Adventure Podcast is and will always be free. If you’d like to help us keep the lights on, we are now on Patreon, where you can support our work with a buck or two (or more) each month. Send us some green and help us keep the pod rolling!  
https://www.patreon.com/ATAP

Our Co-hosts:
- Jason Fitzpatrick – IG:
- Saveria Tilden – IG:
web: AdventurUsWomen.com
- Jeff Hester – IG:
web: SoCalHiker.net

09/14/2023

On this episode: maps, artificial intelligence, and lutefisk. We’re talking with Elizabeth Person of Everett, Washington, an illustrator and cartographer who creates beautiful ink and watercolor maps for trails, parks and much-loved outdoor spaces.

We talk about how summer trips to North Dakota in her dad’s small plane led to her fascination with maps and geography, and how she turned her passion into a full-time business.

Episode 91: Elizabeth Person and the Art of Maps On this episode: maps, artificial intelligence, and lutefisk. We’re talking with Elizabeth Person of Everett, Washington, an illustrator and cartographer who creates beautiful ink and watercolor maps for trails, parks and much-loved outdoor spaces. ...

08/23/2023

Episode 90: Kristen & Ville Lost the Map
On this episode: Yada-yada-yada, death vs thrash metal, lucha libra, and some pretty epic adventures. We sit down with Kristen and Ville Jokinen to talk about how they met scuba diving in Vietnam, went on to crew on a sailboat, thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail, and ultimately biked from Alaska to Argentina — all with very little prior experience.
They are currently on a book tour, and you can find where and when they will be in town on their website.

We hope you enjoy this podcast as much as we did and that it inspires you to try new things and seek out some serious adventure in your life!

In this Episode
* We Lost the Map – Kristen & Ville’s website.
* Their trail names on the PCT: La Fonda and Eurotrash.
* Border crossing tip: go early and know about the local futbol teams.

Connect with Kristen & Ville Jokinen
* You can keep up with Kristen and Ville at their website, We Lost the Map.
* Get their book: Joy Ride: A Bike Odyssey from Alaska to Argentina.

Become a Patron
The Almost There Adventure Podcast is and will always be free. If you’d like to help us keep the lights on, we are now on Patreon, where you can support our work with a buck or two (or more) each month. Send us some green and help us keep the pod rolling!  
https://www.patreon.com/ATAP

Our Co-hosts:
- Jason Fitzpatrick – IG:
- Saveria Tilden – IG:
web: AdventurUsWomen.com
- Jeff Hester – IG:
web: SoCalHiker.net

08/02/2023

Episode 89: Josh McNair on Capturing California and More Through His Lens
On this episode: California, Texas BBQ, fame, road trips, and negative YouTube comments. We’re talking with Josh McNair of California Through My Lens. 

Josh started out mainly blogging and sharing his photography, and while he still does all of that, today his focus is on his two YouTube channels. This is a great episode for anyone who loves a good road trip and finding hidden gems.

In this Episode
* Climbing Mount Shasta – Josh and Jeff climbed together
* The Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge – How Josh first learned about Jeff
* California Through My Lens – YouTube –
* Through My Lens
* Mile, Mile & a Half – A film about the John Muir Trail
* Huell Howser and California Gold
* Episode 50 – Scott Jones and the Unexpected Joys of Travel Quests

Connect with Josh McNair
* You can learn more about Josh on his website: California Through My Lens, where you’ll also find links to his YouTube channels and other social media.

Become a Patron
The Almost There Adventure Podcast is and will always be free. If you’d like to help us keep the lights on, we are now on Patreon, where you can support our work with a buck or two (or more) each month. Send us some green and help us keep the pod rolling!  
https://www.patreon.com/ATAP

Our Co-hosts:
- Jason Fitzpatrick – IG:
- Saveria Tilden – IG:
web: AdventurUsWomen.com
- Jeff Hester – IG:

08/02/2023

Episode 89: Josh McNair on Capturing California and More Through His Lens On this episode: California, Texas BBQ, fame, road trips, and negative YouTube comments. We’re talking with Josh McNair of California Through My Lens. Josh started out mainly blogging and sharing his photography, and while h...

07/13/2023

Episode 88: Greg Sakowicz – the Fat Man on a Little Trail
On this episode: post-hike lunch, dividends, and getting off the couch. We’re talking with Greg Sakowicz — Colorado resident, hiker, traveler and creator of FatManLittleTrail.com. 

Greg started hiking after an injury got him thinking about his mental and physical health, and found a love for exploring trails and outdoor spaces well beyond his home in Colorado.

In this Episode
* Summer update from Jeff, Saveria and Jason (or “Why episodes have been slow to go live?”).
* The Fat Man Little Trail origin story
* Becoming a hiking newbie during the pandemic
* The good (and bad) of AllTrails
* Knowing your limits and remembering “the mountains will always be there.”
* Post-hike meals, or “How to avoid a caloric deficit.”
* dividends
* Pro tip: Take photos (“I’m not resting… I’m taking a photo!”)
* Volunteering with the Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance
* The 52 Hike Challenge

Connect with Greg Sakowicz
* You can learn more about Greg on his website: fatmanlittletrail.com
* Find Greg on Instagram

Become a Patron
The Almost There Adventure Podcast is and will always be free. If you’d like to help us keep the lights on, we are now on Patreon, where you can support our work with a buck or two (or more) each month. Send us some green and help us keep the pod rolling!  
https://www.patreon.com/ATAP

Our Co-hosts:
- Jason Fitzpatrick – IG:
- Saveria Tilden – IG:
web: AdventurUsWomen.com
- Jeff Hester – IG:
web: SoCalHiker.net