A celebration of outdoor activities both local and epic. Discussing the big topics and sharing conversations adventurers, artists, activists and legends in the outdoor community.
Episode 99: Heather Klein Olson and the American Hiking Society
In Episode 99, we welcome Heather Klein Olson, Executive Director of the American Hiking Society, for a wide-ranging conversation about trail stewardship, outdoor access, advocacy, and how hikers of all experience levels can get involved in protecting and enjoying public lands.
Heather shares her personal journey from growing up near Indiana Dunes to leading one of the nation’s foremost hiking advocacy organizations. The discussion explores AHS programs that support trail conservation, volunteerism, and community engagement — while also addressing current challenges facing outdoor recreation and public lands.
The episode also highlights how hiking doesn’t have to start with big mountains or long trips — sometimes it simply begins with stepping outside for a few minutes and building community around being outdoors.
Heather’s path to becoming Executive Director of American Hiking Society
The mission and impact of American Hiking Society
Volunteer Vacations and trail stewardship across the U.S.
Alternative Break trips for college students
New family-friendly volunteer programs
National Trails Day and its nationwide impact
Next Gen Trail Leaders program
Advocacy efforts through Hike the Hill in Washington, D.C.
Supporting trails during federal staffing and funding challenges
Technology and access: hiking exoskeleton demo experiences
How beginners can start hiking
The importance of outdoor community and accountability partners
The economic and social importance of public lands
AHS coordinates 35–45 volunteer trail projects annually across the country.
Volunteers range from teens to participants in their 80s.
National Trails Day now includes events in all 50 states, engaging tens of thousands of people each year.
AHS operates with a small but mighty staff, mobilizing hundreds of volunteers annually.
Outdoor access benefits not just hikers, but also gateway communities and local economies.
Heather’s simple starting advice:
Go outside for five minutes.
Walk around the block or visit a local park.
Find an accountability partner or hiking group.
Start small and build consistency.
Hiking doesn’t have to mean mountains — it can start with simply walking outdoors.
Listeners can support or engage with American Hiking Society by:
Donating or joining the Summit Club monthly giving program
Participating in Volunteer Vacations
Attending or organizing events for National Trails Day
Following AHS on social media
Joining advocacy efforts like Hike the Hill
Volunteering on AHS committees
Purchasing gear through the AHS online store
More info: AmericanHiking.org
Heather discusses testing a hiking exoskeleton device that helped hikers conserve energy and improved mobility — showing how technology is expanding access to outdoor experiences.
Episode 99 sets the stage for the podcast’s upcoming 100th episode celebration, marking a milestone for the show while spotlighting the importance of protecting and sharing outdoor spaces for future generations.
23 Dec 2025
Episode 98: Speedos, Sharks, and the Ocean Seven with Darren Miller
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.
We talk about:
Swimming the English Channel and the Ocean Seven
Training in freezing water and building “brown fat”
Sharks, jellyfish, and open-water fear
Transitioning from marathon swimming to ultrarunning
Tackling the Moab 240 ultramarathon
Raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity
Why purpose matters more than comfort
This is a powerful conversation about endurance, mindset, service, and living life without regrets.
🎧 Subscribe and follow for more stories from the edge of adventure.
18 Nov 2025
Episode 97: Finding Common Ground in the Mountains: Outlier with Dani Reyes-Acosta & Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada
In Episode 97 of the Almost There Adventure Podcast, hosts Saveria Tilden, Jeff Hester, and Jason Fitzpatrick welcome filmmakers, mountain athletes, and community builders Dani Reyes-Acosta and Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada for a powerful conversation about their latest project in the Outlier film series: OUTLIER: Common.
This episode explores friendship, identity, splitboarding and ski mountaineering, big mountain visuals, and—yes—jumping in alpine lakes. Dani and Vanessa share how they found one another in the outdoor community, why representation in mountain sports matters, and how their personal stories helped shape a documentary rooted in belonging, community, and cultural reclamation.
We get into backcountry adventures, filmmaking that uplifts BIPOC creatives, the costs & ethics of outdoor storytelling, and why curiosity might be one of the most radical tools we have in turbulent times.
If you’ve ever felt like an outsider in the outdoor world, this episode is a deep breath of recognition.
Who has been a guest on Almost There Adventure Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Alastair Humphreys
Collyn "Doc" Nielsen
Marinel de Jesus
Sara Frenning
Adam "Dreamer" Salinger
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.9 / 5
54 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Contact Almost There Adventure Podcast
Guest appearances
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