Rephonic
Artwork for Backpacker Radio

Backpacker Radio

The Trek
Appalachian Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
Thru-Hiking
Hiking
Electrolytes
Trail Culture
Backpacking
Colorado Trail
Gossamer Gear
Continental Divide Trail
Mental Health
Triple Crown
Outdoor Recreation
PCT
Hiking Gear
Ultralight Backpacking
Te Araroa
Backpacking Gear
Wildlife
Long-Distance Backpacking

From the Appalachian Trail to the Pacific Crest and everything in between. Backpacker Radio is a show all about the wonderful world that is thru-hiking and long distance backpacking. Co-hosts, Zach "Badger" Davis and Juliana "Chaunce" Chauncey muse on the backpacking life and the latest from the trail every other week. Topics include but are not limited to news, trail culture, interviews, gear, ad... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes396Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsWilderness

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Backpacker Radio

Latest Episodes

Segments

Lyme Disease Update

Trek Propaganda: 2026 Hiking Gear Trends, And Whether I Think They're Actually Worth It by Livvy Weld

QOTD: Would you rather have one raccoon know all your secrets and occasionally hint at them or one goose publicl... more

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by our pal Elise Ott, aka Sauce, who gives us a play by play of her recent hike on Portuguese Camino coastal route along with her parents.

SOS walks... more

Segments

The Tallest Unclimbed Mountains

Trek Propaganda: Roundup Is Being Sprayed in National Forests. Here's What PCT Hikers Should Know by Kelly Floro

QOTD: Would you rather give up sauces or kissing?

Triple Crown of Ways NOT to die

Mai... more

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are bringing you the rare Chaunce and Zach solo pod.

In this one, we tell the full origin story of Backpacker Radio, from the unofficial co-host audi... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Liz Crandall
Former US Forest Service field ranger, activist and podcast host
Rangers of the Lost Park
Episode: Fired from the Forest Service by DOGE, Public Lands Advocacy, and Finding Joy in a World of Bad News with Liz Crandall (BPR #358)
Stephen Palazzo
Army veteran, thru-hiker, PeakBagger, known as Near Miss
US Army / Hiker and Peak Bagger
Episode: Negotiating with Al-Qaeda, Drill Sergeant Secrets, and Healing from War on the AT with Stephen "Near Miss" Palazzo (BPR #357)
Becca Beckham
Becca Beckham, trail name Little Bag, Peace Corps veteran and thru-hiker
Becca Beckham/Individual
Episode: Big Podcast News, Swimming with Hippos, Peace Corps, and the GR20 with Becca "Little Bag" Beckham (BPR #356)
Katie Sunrise Lance
Professional triathlete and thru-hiker
Former Civil Engineer, Tennessee Valley Authority
Episode: Why This Pro Triathlete Quit Her Job to Hike the Appalachian Trail with Katie "Sunrise" Lance (BPR #355)
Claire Marmot Dumont
Thru-hiker and geographer; map maker and writer for The Trek; Fulbright recipient who did Jordan Trail research
The Trek; Jordan Trail project
Episode: Finding Thru-Hiking Community, the Jordan Trail, and Bigfoot Trail Mishaps with Claire "Marmot" Dumont (BPR #354)
Megan Rascal Wilmarth
Triple Crowner, ultrarunner, and former crew chief for Tara Dower's AT FKT
Independent/Trail community
Episode: Dodging Death on the CDT, Crewing Tara Dower's AT FKT, and Triple Crowning with Megan "Rascal" Wilmarth (BPR #353)
Mills Kelly
Historian, author, and educator
George Mason University (former), author of A Hiker's History of the Appalachian Trail
Episode: A Hiker's History of the Appalachian Trail with Mills Kelly (BPR #352)
Dr. Freeborn Mondello
Physical therapist, Run Free PT founder
Run Free PT
Episode: The Ultimate Thru-Hike Training Plan: Strength, Cardio, Protocols, and Common Injury Prevention with Dr. Freeborn Mondello (BPR #351)
Mallory Weston
Artist, metalsmith, professor; inaugural CDTC/ATC residency
Colorado/Appalachian Trail residencies
Episode: Working Art into a Thru-Hike: Inside the ATC and CDTC Artist Residencies with Mallory Weston & Leslie Boyd (BPR #350)

Hosts

Zach Badger Davis
Co-host of Backpacker Radio and related Trek network programs; long-time host with broad trail- and gear-focused content.
Juliana Chauncey
Co-host known for introducing segments, driving conversation, and providing trail- and culture-focused commentary.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.9k ratings
  • Missing Chaunce

    This is an excellent and entertaining podcast with genuine thru-hikers, not just people who go out for the weekend. This podcast has the best guests, too.

    Two things worth mentioning. First, co-host Chaunce is leaving Denver and will no longer be a regular on the podcast. I miss her already. I especially enjoyed Chaunce’s women’s only podcasts (how else could I learn to try to be less creepy or threatening on the trail?).

    Second, I like that this podcast has real hikers, not just weekenders. I... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RomeBurns
    United States13 days ago
  • 🥺🥺🥺🥺

    idk how i’m gonna be able to listen without chaunce 😭😭😭😭

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    chillhiker
    United States14 days ago
  • A very encouraging podcast

    Hi Chauncey and Zach,

    With Chauncey leaving the show, I wanted to send a thank you that is probably a couple of years overdue.

    Backpacker Radio was a big part of what inspired me to hike the PCT in 2024. During the trail, I went through some of the hardest emotional and physical challenges I’ve ever faced. After leaving my trail family to attend a wedding and then returning to the trail, I struggled with loneliness, altitude, and more tears than I think I’ve cried at any other point in my life... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Beckymarie.r7
    Canada19 days ago
  • Cccc

    cccc

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SAM is usually right
    United States20 days ago
  • Mediocre hosts ruin this podcast

    I am a hiking and backpacking fanatic and really wanted to love this podcast, but the hosts always seem to be ill-prepared. Their interviews are excruciatingly bad. Chaunce in particular is laughably bad…her questions are so unfocused and idiotic and she seems more intent on dropping the F bomb and constantly interrupting the guests and her co-hosts. What a waste - because the subject matter is often interesting - but she makes it pretty much unlistenable.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    DJean28
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans value the depth and variety of guests, from endurance athletes to trail historians and artists.
Listeners praise the hosts' storytelling and banter, noting the show's mix of humor and gear/trail insight.
Some feedback calls for more focused discussions on safety and evidence-based health/nutrition topics.
Overall, reviews highlight consistent entertainment, practical tips, and a strong sense of community.
Listeners appreciate sponsor reads that feel relevant to hikers and outdoor gear shoppers.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Fired from the Forest Service by DOGE, Public Lands Advocacy, and Finding Joy in a World of Bad News with Liz Crandall (BPR #358)
Q: What exactly happened with DOGE and the firing process, and how did it feel to receive the news?
Emails indicating a broad, blanket firing strategy were initially thought to be spam, but eventually confirmed as real; the firing announcement came on Presidency weekend, triggering a flood of emotions and a sense of disbelief.
Fired from the Forest Service by DOGE, Public Lands Advocacy, and Finding Joy in a World of Bad News with Liz Crandall (BPR #358)
Q: What does the career ladder look like for someone in your role, and what were the GS levels you advanced through?
Liz explains the progression from GS3 as a volunteer to GS6 as a permanent employee, highlighting how promotions depend on openings, experience, and networking, and how the system also involves probationary periods and political factors.
Big Podcast News, Swimming with Hippos, Peace Corps, and the GR20 with Becca "Little Bag" Beckham (BPR #356)
Q: Tell us how you got the trail name Little Bag and what it signified.
Becca explains it came from her early pack size on the PCT and the nickname became a badge of the minimalist approach she embraced early in her through-hiking journey.
Finding Thru-Hiking Community, the Jordan Trail, and Bigfoot Trail Mishaps with Claire "Marmot" Dumont (BPR #354)
Q: What is the elevator pitch for the Jordan Trail?
The Jordan Trail blends front country access with backcountry exploration, traversing four bio-regions and offering a rich mix of landscapes—desert canyons, Dead Sea views, and Petra—while foregrounding how local communities live with and shape the land, making land ethics central to any through-hike there.
Why This Pro Triathlete Quit Her Job to Hike the Appalachian Trail with Katie "Sunrise" Lance (BPR #355)
Q: How did your athletic path lead you to the Appalachian Trail?
Her transition from engineering to elite triathlon and eventually thru-hiking began with a steady climb through multiple endurance sports, then a realization that a forced break after a breakup and a professional season could be channeled into long-distance hiking as a path to clarity and balance.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Backpacker Radio

What is Backpacker Radio about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A long-running, lighthearted yet information-rich show focused on long-distance hiking, thru-hiking culture, gear, and trail life. Episodes mix personal adventure stories, practical trail tips, interview-style deep dives with notable hikers, endurance athletes, and trail-community contributors, along with banter, pop culture tangents, and sponsor reads. The format tends to balance motivational, nerdy, and practical angles, making it a go-to for aspiring hikers, current thru-hikers, and outdoors enthusiasts seeking community-friendly insights and entertaining storytelling. A standout is the strong emphasis on community, trail ethics, and the human side of long journeys, often featuring guests with diverse backgrounds from engineers who becam... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Backpacker Radio?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Backpacker Radio. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Backpacker Radio and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Backpacker Radio get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Backpacker Radio, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Backpacker Radio?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Backpacker Radio, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Backpacker Radio have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Backpacker Radio has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of Backpacker Radio are there?

Backpacker Radio launched 8 years ago and published 396 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Backpacker Radio?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Backpacker Radio?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Backpacker Radio from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Backpacker Radio?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Backpacker Radio. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Backpacker Radio?

Recent guests on Backpacker Radio include:

1. Liz Crandall
2. Stephen Palazzo
3. Becca Beckham
4. Katie Sunrise Lance
5. Claire Marmot Dumont
6. Megan Rascal Wilmarth
7. Mills Kelly
8. Dr. Freeborn Mondello

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days