Rephonic
Artwork for Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis

Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis

Steve Adams
Appalachian Trail
Hiking
Camino De Santiago
Trail Magic
Mental Health
Long-Distance Hiking
Katahdin
Continental Divide Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
South West Coast Path
Community
Thru-Hiking
Outdoor Recreation
Hurricane Helene
Covid-19
Personal Growth
Nature
Nomadic Lifestyle
Outdoor Adventure
Hiking Community

An overweight, 61-year-old retiree, with zero hiking experience, decided to hike the entire 2,185.3 mile length of the Appalachian Trail in 2014. What could possibly go wrong? As his brother, Mike, commented, "It's a bit like taking up boxing and fighting Mike Tyson in your first bout." Join Steve and his guests as they discuss all aspects of the trail, from gear to Lyme Disease, then back to trai... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes539Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsWilderness

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis

Latest Episodes

A bit of a critical week to recap today, with an injury that landed me in the Emergency Room in Pearisburg. I'm currently off trail but working on getting back to trail in the coming days. Wish me well!!

I also found time to chat with a couple of g... more

I've reached the quarterway point of the Application Trail, and am getting dark thoughts about the weather in the next few months. It is already unseasonably warm, so June through August should be pretty alarming when they arrive.

i now have a plan... more

A bit of a break for me this time. It is mid May, and that means Trail Days in Damascus. Dave Santi and his buddies picked me up from about 60 trail miles north of Damascus and brought me back to their Airbnb. What a treat!

So I was able to rest fo... more

This week, I had my first experience of substantial rain, with the hike out of Damascus. This took us through a 20 mile detour which turned out to be very benign, compared with the previous detour several miles back.

Along the way, I spoke with Ala... 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.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Jeff Davis
Host of Jeff Davis' Hostel, Damascus area
Jeff Davis' Hostel
Episode: Episode #547 - Days 52-55 Appalachian Trail 2026
Alan Roberts
Guest interviewed at the shelter; referred to as Wizard
Episode: Episode #546 - Days 49-51 Appalachian Trail 2026
Loretta Dewey
Trail listener who is hiking the AT with her partner Morgan
Private individuals on the trail
Episode: Episode #545 - Days 45-48 Appalachian Trail 2026
Kyla Wing
Young hiker met on trail who shared experiences
Private individual on AT
Episode: Episode #545 - Days 45-48 Appalachian Trail 2026
Fred Aletto
Grandpa Fuzzy, experienced hiker interviewed on trail
Trail community
Episode: Episode #544 - Days 42-44 Appalachian Trail 2026
Grizzly (Ryan Creel)
Retired US Army, Warrior Expeditions participant
Warrior Expeditions
Episode: Episode #543 - Days 38-41 Appalachian Trail 2026
Carl Wisniewski
Through-hiker guest staying at Uncle Johnny's
Uncle Johnny's hostel / trail community
Episode: Episode #543 - Days 38-41 Appalachian Trail 2026
Emily Lillard
Author of Trek Through Depression, fellow hiker
Self-published author; speaker at Trail Days
Episode: Episode #542 - Days 35-37 Appalachian Trail 2026
Bruce Mattson
Organizer of Woods Hole Weekend on the AT
Woods Hole Hostel
Episode: Episode #542 - Days 35-37 Appalachian Trail 2026

Host

Steve
Host of the podcast; steady presence guiding long-form conversations and trail storytelling.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 678 ratings
  • OBO the Show!

    I found this podcast in March of this year at a time when I was dreaming of the great outdoors and wanting to “get away”. This show has transported me to the Appalachian Trail and beyond. I started with the first shows and have worked my way up to #205. But, I also want to know what’s going on currently, so I listen to the new releases as well #477 - #508! Hopefully, my listening flip flop (or OBO as Steve prefers) will meet in the middle before I step on the trail for my own through hike (O... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hoppy on the Trail
    United States8 months ago
  • Too long

    The podcast is still too long. Keep it to 30 or 60 minutes or less. And the woman’s voice at the intro is painful to listen to. Otherwise, the guests are interesting.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Sarita7981
    United Statesa year ago
  • First time listening

    Been trying to find a podcast “ P1” and find this show fits the bill.

    The host is way cool. Funny. Respectful. Wry as a sonofagun.

    Up until last year only dreamed of hiking again. Glad I found this podcast as I have been training to hike the CO Trail but the At holds a fond piece of my heart. I live 3 hours from the start of the AT and this podcast has me driving to the trailhead tomorrow and my son is gonna drop me off on Monday. I am gonna give it a go. I am 67. You inspired me today. Thanks... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    3 for 10
    United Statesa year ago
  • Too long

    The podcast is still too long. Keep it to 30 or 60 minutes less. And the woman’s voice at the intro is painful to listen to. Otherwise, the guests are interesting.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Sarita7981
    United Statesa year ago
  • Hiking podcast!

    Thank you so much for doing this podcast! I love hiking and plan to do more and longer hikes in my retirement. This is great information to help me.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kenhagen
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some feedback notes the episodes can be long and the intro voice is polarizing for a few listeners.
Listener praise for inspirational storytelling and practical hiking insights.
Positive remarks about host warmth and guest variety, with appreciation for personal growth themes.
Consistently appealing to both die-hard hikers and newcomers curious about life on the AT.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode #548 - Days 56-58 Appalachian Trail 2026
Q: So Twister, is Beef the one who drives you on to do things or do you push each other equally?
We both push each other; we inspired each other to take on challenging trips, and we coax one another toward bigger goals while supporting the other in tough moments.
Episode #546 - Days 49-51 Appalachian Trail 2026
Q: How does the dynamic work, you and your son hiking together?
They operate as a team, balancing pace and capability, with mutual support and shared planning while preserving their individual needs and learning along the way.
Episode #546 - Days 49-51 Appalachian Trail 2026
Q: Is there a hurry, though? Is there actually a time limitation?
There isn't a strict deadline; the aim is to spend as many hours on trail as possible, pushing physiques and relationships while staying flexible with timing.
Episode #542 - Days 35-37 Appalachian Trail 2026
Q: You're speaking at Trail Days about depression. How has your perspective changed, and what can readers expect from the new book?
Emily says the book is a concise, 100-page snippet of her story, focused on practical coping strategies and the realization that depression is real. She emphasizes professional help in the past, but highlights how hiking provided a path to personal growth and helping others.
Episode #542 - Days 35-37 Appalachian Trail 2026
Q: So talk to us a little bit about that, the Trek Through Depression. Is this something that came as a result of the hiking or just in your life generally?
Emily explains that depression emerged during and after hiking experiences, catalyzed by solitude and reflection in nature. She describes how the first through-hike revealed issues she wasn't aware of, led to a new sense of self during hiking, and how casual life afterward didn't resolve it. The book distills those lessons and offers coping strategies for others.

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 This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on long-distance hiking, trail culture, and mid-life adventures along the Appalachian Trail. Episodes often mix diary-style storytelling with guest interviews about gear, trail logistics, and community dynamics at events like Trail Days. Notable through-lines include entrepreneurship tied to hiking life, gear innovations, and personal resilience on and off the trail. The format tends to blend practical hiking tips with heartfelt storytelling, making it appealing to both seasoned hikers and those curious about long-distance journeys or outdoor entrepreneurship.

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. 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 this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, 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 this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, 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 this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast 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.

Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Backpacker Radio
2. Backpacking Light Podcast
3. Adventure Sports Podcast
4. Outside Podcast
5. Exploring the National Parks

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 10 years ago and published 539 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 this podcast?

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 this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast 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 this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Jeff Davis
2. Alan Roberts
3. Loretta Dewey
4. Kyla Wing
5. Fred Aletto
6. Grizzly (Ryan Creel)
7. Carl Wisniewski
8. Emily Lillard

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