If you want to broaden your entertainment lineup, podcasts are a fantastic alternative to a music playlist and movies. Even better are podcasts that feature outdoor and adventure-related content. We think podcasts serve as a welcome diversion to standard news fare, which is important these days. So, we’ve selected a handful of the best outdoor and adventure podcasts to help keep you entertained.
Of course, with so many podcasts out there, within seemingly infinite genres, it can be a challenge to sort through them all. But fear not! Our top five list includes a few niche outdoor and adventure podcasts hailing from Rocky Mountain states. Other selections cover hiking, climbing, trail running, and much more outdoor adventure content. Enjoy!
OUTDOOR AND ADVENTURE PODCASTS: FIVE OF THE BEST
Top Five Podcast Recommendations
Nomad Ramblings
“Nomad Ramblings: Conversations from the Road” is brought to you by the folks at Colorado Backcountry Adventures. Voted “Best Podcast” by Denver’s Westword in 2019, you’ll typically hear one new episode per month. Subject matter refreshingly varies over episodes, but with a common theme of minimalism and nomadic travel. In fact, these podcasts are geared towards listeners that enjoy road trips and truck camping. In addition, listeners will learn tips about living life on the road. “Nomad Ramblings” is a fun podcast, particularly for those in the Colorado area.
HumaNature
“HumaNature” is a podcast with a diverse array of stories about humans and our interactions with nature. The podcast is a production of the non-profit Wyoming Public Media, a part of the University of Wyoming. “HumaNature” has quite a diverse array of content within 15 to 30-minute episodes airing on a bi-weekly basis.
Although based in Wyoming, “HumaNature’s” content covers a lot of ground beyond the Rocky Mountain West. If you’re looking for a place to start, check out Episode #39: Junk. This particular episode covers the story of Marcus Eriksen’s adventure on a raft made of plastic bottles with an aim to draw attention to ocean pollution (check out Eriksen’s book here). In addition, check out Episode #59: Vision and Viral. This episode is a Colorado story about a trail runner and his encounter with a mountain lion that made news across the US. In any case, with so much great content, we thoroughly enjoy this podcast and are always eager to hear their next episode.
Mountain & Prairie
“Mountain & Prairie” is everything that a podcast about the American West should be. Hosted by conservationist Ed Roberson, this podcast features interviews with talented guests and focuses on a wide variety of western subject matter. For instance, many episodes contain recurring themes such as conservation, adventure, art/literature, and western lifestyle. Roberson’s interviews are engaging and packed with insights about the wonders of the west.
“Mountain & Prairie” began in 2016 and now has a catalogue of over 100 nearly hour-long episodes. So, if you’re looking for a few episodes to start, check out the August 26, 2016 interview with Ben Masters, author of “Unbranded,” about his 3,000-mile adventure with a group of wild mustangs or the September 1, 2017 interview with Dan Flores, author of “Coyote America: A Natural and Supernatural History.”
MtnMeister
If you are seeking the perfect podcast for the extreme outdoor sports enthusiast, “MtnMeister” fits the bill. Hosted by Ben Schenck, episodes often include some of the famous outdoor athletes of our time. Indeed, guests cover the gamut of outdoor sports – biking, running, trekking, climbing, diving, etc. With its premier episode seemingly eons ago, “MtnMeister” now has an incredible 195 episodes.
Unfortunately, the last “MtnMeister” podcast update was in June 2019. But with such an immense amount of content to wade through, you’ll keep busy for a while. Our favorite episodes mostly revolve around trekking and climbing. For instance, check out Episode #134 with Andrew Skurka, Episodes #118 and #185 with Ueli Steck, and Episodes #158 and #168 with Alex Honnold.
The Firn Line
Hosted by former Alaskan mountain guide Evan Phillips, “The Firn Line” is a wonderful podcast featuring interviews of notable mountain climbers. “The Firn Line” is now into its fourth season and continues to produce engaging stories about alpinists, their inspirations, and commitment to mountain adventure.
In its inaugural season, “The Firn Line” features stories specifically about Alaskan climbers. In Season 2, the podcast branches out with interviews of alpinists known for amazing feats beyond Alaska, including Conrad Anker and Kevin Jorgeson. Season 3 is equally fascinating, with content including interviews of Scott Johnston and Steve House, who co-authored “Training for the New Alpinism.” We love listening to “The Firn Line” for its production value and authentic interviews about raw mountain adventure.
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