Rephonic
Artwork for The Trail Less Traveled

The Trail Less Traveled

Mandela Leola van Eeden
Conservation
Fly Fishing
Missoula, Montana
Ta Moko
Tlingit Culture
American Rivers
Salmon
Maori Culture
Life Flight Network
Education
Adventure Cycling
Alaska To Mexico
Climate Change
Hualapai Nation
Klukwan
Tattooing
Missoula Housing Authority
Valor House
Veterans Incorporated
Affordable Housing

Dedicated to documenting humanity by gathering stories & sounds from the most remote locations around the world. The goal for the show is to take you, the listener, back to mankind's earliest form of entertainment: story telling. Therefore, every week features an interview with an adventurer in their natural habitat in order to provide an audible journey packed with adventure (and conservation) in... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes221Founded9 years ago
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Society & Culture

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Artwork for The Trail Less Traveled

Latest Episodes

Arnold “Smoke” Elser is a legendary wilderness outfitter, educator, and conservationist whose life’s work is deeply rooted in Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness. Since his first trip into the Bob in 1956, Elser has spent nearly seven decades guiding t... more

Virginia (Ginny) Bond is an educator and public health researcher based in Zambia whose work focuses on HIV, stigma reduction, and community health. Trained as a social anthropologist, she collaborates with health programs and research organizations ... more

Lisa Bickell is an environmental educator and interpretive planner based in Missoula, Montana, and the current board chair of the Montana Natural History Center. She has been involved with the organization for more than 25 years and previously served... more

Doug Proctor grew up just outside Cincinnati, Ohio, where his love for rivers was seeded early in life. As a boy he spent years canoeing with his family and through the Boy Scouts on class one rivers across southern Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. At th... more

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Recent Guests

Smoke Elser
Author and longtime wilderness guide; subject of the interview
Author of Smoke and Mules; Hush of the Land
Episode: The Hush of the Land: Smoke Elser shares some of this favorite stories from the Bob Marshall Wilderness
Lisa Ballard
Board member, Montana Wildlife Federation
Montana Wildlife Federation
Episode: The Hush of the Land: Smoke Elser shares some of this favorite stories from the Bob Marshall Wilderness
Ginny Bond
Anthropologist and professor focusing on HIV and stigma
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Health
Episode: HIV and AIDS: Education, Treatment, and Stigma
Jenny Bond
Anthropologist and professor (co-presenter alongside host in discussion segments)
Episode: HIV and AIDS: Education, Treatment, and Stigma
Lisa Bickell
President of the Board of Directors, Montana Natural History Center
Montana Natural History Center (MNHC)
Episode: Stewardship and Phenology with Lisa Bickell
Doug Proctor
A longtime river guide and owner of Selway River Adventures.
Selway River Adventures
Episode: Selway River Adventures with Doug Proctor
Frank Szollosi
Executive Director of the Montana Wildlife Federation
Montana Wildlife Federation
Episode: Defending Wildlife as Public Trust: Frank Szollosi of the Montana Wildlife Federation
Kathy Hadley
Board member with the Montana Wildlife Federation
Montana Wildlife Federation
Episode: Defending Wildlife as Public Trust: Frank Szollosi of the Montana Wildlife Federation
Kelly Dix
Master Naturalist volunteer and board member for the Montana Natural History Center.
Montana Natural History Center
Episode: Listening to Nature: Master Naturalist, Kelly Dix.

Host

Mandela
International Expedition Guide, Conservationist, and Yogi; long-time host with a focus on adventure, conservation, and personal storytelling.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 117 ratings
  • Loving the latest podcast about bicycle touring!

    Really enjoyed the first podcast with Josh and Sarah. So glad that are going to be one or two more podcasts from them! Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Woolly1979
    Australia2 years ago
  • Simply Brilliant 🥰

    All of these podcasts and videos are a pleasure to watch and listen. I find out many amazing stories about our planet, cultures, and policies around the world. Mandy is incredibly talented and passionate about what she is doing. Since I can no longer venture into remote places like she does, I can love vicariously through her. I feel that I’m living what she lives with her very brilliant narratives.

    I’ve often thought that she’s Alister Cooke reincarnated! Love her!! 🥰

    Alistair Cooke

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    joblow999
    United States2 years ago
  • Fantastic Zambia Shows

    Loved your interviews of Bridget & Bob Meyers! Thank you for sharing their important stories!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RodandCon
    United States2 years ago
  • Stories of real life.

    The interviews you will hear on the trail less traveled Will bring you into the lives of some amazing awesome adventurers .

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    platypus two
    United States4 years ago
  • Highly recommended

    I love listening to this podcast while I am at work. It is fascinating hearing about people living their passions from all over the planet. I highly recommend it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nancy:Pants
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Show consistently feels intimate, like a conversation in a living room.
Listeners describe episodes as immersive and easy to binge.
The host asks great questions and keeps conversations engaging.
Guests are drawn from diverse adventure and conservation fields, creating a wide range of insights.

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Focus: Adults in the RoomKUOW News and Information
Freakonomics Radio
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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Selway River Adventures with Doug Proctor
Q: Let's talk about the New and the Gauley Rivers and what it was like for you to start that company back when it was the boom of rafting.
Starting our rafting company at 22 felt like a dream, as rafting was booming in the late 70s, and we were excited to guide on renowned rivers.
Selway River Adventures with Doug Proctor
Q: So, Doug, my first question for you is, where did you grow up and how was adventure a part of your childhood?
I grew up in East of Cincinnati, where outdoor activities like canoeing with my family and the Boy Scouts played a crucial role in shaping my love for adventure.
Selway River Adventures with Doug Proctor
Q: Doug, will you tell us a little bit more about that drive to get to the river today?
We started in Hamilton, Montana, went through Darby, and eventually hit five feet of snow on our way to the Selway, which made for quite an epic trip.
Iditarod Lessons: John Wood on Dogs, Distance, and Discipline
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about what the Iditarod is?
The Iditarod is a 1,000-mile dog sled race across Alaska, beginning in Anchorage and ending in Nome. It commemorates the historic Iditarod Trail and was founded in 1973.
Defending Wildlife as Public Trust: Frank Szollosi of the Montana Wildlife Federation
Q: Can you tell us about your journey, how you got to where you are today?
Frank shares his childhood experiences in Toledo, his educational background at the University of Utah, and his evolution into a conservationist, ultimately becoming the Executive Director of the Montana Wildlife Federation.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Trail Less Traveled

What is The Trail Less Traveled about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Listeners are drawn to vivid, in-the-wild storytelling from explorers, conservationists, and athletes who thrive in remote settings. Episodes commonly center on river expeditions, wilderness survival, wildlife conservation, and long-form conversations with guides, veterans, naturalists, and book authors. The show often ties adventure to conservation ethics, cultural perspectives, and community impact, delivering immersive narratives that feel like listening in on an intimate in-person interview. A standout quality is its ability to pair high-stakes adventure with accessible, reflective discussion, making it appealing to both travel enthusiasts and professionals seeking authentic, human-centered stories from diverse locales.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Trail Less Traveled?

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

How many listeners does The Trail Less Traveled get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Trail Less Traveled?

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How many subscribers and views does The Trail Less Traveled have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Trail Less Traveled 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 The Trail Less Traveled?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Trail Less Traveled:

1. Hidden Brain
2. Radiolab
3. The Daily
4. This American Life
5. The Moth

How many episodes of The Trail Less Traveled are there?

The Trail Less Traveled launched 9 years ago and published 221 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 The Trail Less Traveled?

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 The Trail Less Traveled?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Trail Less Traveled from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Trail Less Traveled?

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What guests have appeared on The Trail Less Traveled?

Recent guests on The Trail Less Traveled include:

1. Smoke Elser
2. Lisa Ballard
3. Ginny Bond
4. Jenny Bond
5. Lisa Bickell
6. Doug Proctor
7. Frank Szollosi
8. Kathy Hadley

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.

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