When Hallie Halprin - trail name Monarch - sets off to hike the Continental Divide Trail, she’s doggedly determined to go alone. While the people who know her best express concern, Monarch is unfazed. She has a plan to interview people for an audio project about supernatural encounters, a catalogue of campfire stories (no reason! she’s just interested!).
The perils Monarch encounters on her five-month journey, real and imagined, mirror her complicated, optimistic, and doomed attempt to use adventure as a way to be reborn.
Website: monarchcast.com
YouTube/Instagram/TikTok: @monarchpodcast
Austin Von Johnson, Jessica Holmes, Jamie Logan, Mason Dodson, Halaia Barnett, and Justin Paulson perform a live murder mystery episode of Monarch, exploring themes of identity and disappearance on the Pacific Crest Trail.
2 Aug 2024
Episode Thirteen: New Mexico Part II
Monarch’s journey ends. Not with a bang, but with breakfast at a hermitage.
STARRING:
Laura Munsil as Monarch
Michael Hart as Max
Tate McCullough as Doug the Hermit
Chance Owen as Freeman
Joshua Malloy as Uribe
SOUND DESIGN & THEME BY:
Nile Popchock
FEATURING AN ORIGINAL COMPOSITION BY:
Nile Popchock
LEARN MORE:
Website: monarchcast.com
Instagram: monarchpodcast
TikTok: monarchpodcast
YouTube: monarchpodcast
2 Aug 2024
Episode Twelve: New Mexico Part I
Monarch thaws out in the Gila River Wilderness in New Mexico.
The serenity of the Gila lulls her into quiet reflection, until she notices she’s being followed.
Everything echoes in a canyon.
STARRING:
Laura Munsil as Monarch
Austin Von Johnson as Jules
Chelsea Smith as Anna
James Logan as Sharpshooter
Michael Hart as Max
SOUND DESIGN & THEME BY:
Nile Popchock
LEARN MORE:
Website: monarchcast.com
Instagram: monarchpodcast
TikTok: monarchpodcast
YouTube: monarchpodcast
26 Jul 2024
Episode Eleven: Now Darkness Falls
In the San Juan Mountains, Monarch finds shelter in a yurt.
She sees a pika, hears a wolf, and sings with a chorus of cows.
Will it ever stop snowing?
SOUND DESIGN & THEME BY:
Nile Popchock
LEARN MORE:
Website: monarchcast.com
Instagram: monarchpodcast
TikTok: monarchpodcast
YouTube: monarchpodcast
19 Jul 2024
Episode Ten: Salida
Monarch hikes through Rocky Mountain National Park. It seems that winter has arrived in Colorado.
A small-town waitress makes sure everyone knows who’s boss, and a run-in at an outhouse leaves Monarch feeling uneasy.
In Salida, Monarch thinks about exits.
STARRING:
Laura Munsil as Monarch
Christian Prior as Stone
Katie Preston as Minnie
Jessica Holmes as Sheila
Halaia Barnett as Jess
Austin Von Johnson as Jules
SOUND DESIGN & THEME BY:
Nile Popchock
LEARN MORE:
Website: monarchcast.com
Instagram: monarchpodcast
TikTok: monarchpodcast
YouTube: monarchpodcast
12 Jul 2024
Episode Nine: The Sawtooth Tapes
Monarch enters the Great Divide Basin, a long stretch of barren, flat trail. It’s salt flats and sand, wild horses, and brutal sun.
She recalls a story a hiker told her about mysterious lights, and struggles with water rationing.
When Monarch finally makes it to town, she finds the Basin isn’t easy to shake.
STARRING:
Laura Munsil as Monarch
Christian Prior as Stone
Katie Preston as Sawtooth
SOUND DESIGN & THEME BY:
Nile Popchock
LEARN MORE:
Website: monarchcast.com
Instagram: monarchpodcast
TikTok: monarchpodcast
YouTube: monarchpodcast
12 Jul 2024
Episode Eight: The Winds (of Winter)
The Wind River Range has been described as a backpacker’s fantasy land. Almost like it can’t quite be real.
Hope Monarch makes it through!
STARRING:
Laura Munsil as Monarch
Christian Prior as Stoneheart/Stone
Joshua Malloy as Sir Farhar
Chance Owen as Crier
Dominic Boucher as Thug
Hailey Boucher as Handmaiden
Kearney Thompson as Starclaw
Sage Lords as Second Story
SOUND DESIGN & THEME BY:
Nile Popchock
LEARN MORE:
Website: monarchcast.com
Instagram: monarchpodcast
TikTok: monarchpodcast
YouTube: monarchpodcast
12 Jul 2024
Episode Seven: West Yellowstone
Monarch thinks about bison, burger and otherwise, on her walk into Yellowstone National Park.
A man gives her a smoke and a story outside a karaoke bar in Lander but she doesn't care much for either.
Have you ever heard of Shadow People, Princess?
STARRING:
Laura Munsil as Monarch
Chance Owen as Clerk
Halaia Barnett as Belinda
Mason Dodson as Carver
Sierra Padilla Huitt as Yvonne
Clare Olson as Rocky
Austin Von Johnson as Jules
SOUND DESIGN & THEME BY:
Nile Popchock
LEARN MORE:
Website: monarchcast.com
Instagram: monarchpodcast
TikTok: monarchpodcast
YouTube: monarchpodcast
28 Jun 2024
Episode Five: The Anaconda Cutoff
Monarch enjoys well-deserved chicken nuggets, and meets a former thru-hiker.
She follows a riotous party of young people to an abandoned asylum, where one of them tells her his scariest story.
Rafters creak, and Monarch fails the Bechdel test.
STARRING:
Laura Munsil as Monarch
Mason Dodson as Finn
Hailey Boucher as Leah
Dominic Boucher as Steve
SOUND DESIGN BY:
Nile Popchock
LEARN MORE:
Website: monarchcast.com
Instagram: @monarchpodcast
TikTok: @monarchpodcast
28 Jun 2024
Episode Four: Water Report
Monarch rests in Darby, and her mom, Anna, calls with concerns.
Later, she promises not tell anyone about Bill and Layla’s secret huckleberry picking spot, but little ears are always listening to things they shouldn’t.
Monarch crosses a glacier-fed river at dusk.
STARRING:
Laura Munsil as Monarch
Austin Von Johnson as Jules
Chelsea Smith as Anna
Hailey Boucher as Layla
Dominic Boucher as Bill
Kearney Thompson as Jackie
Michael Hart as Matty
SOUND DESIGN BY:
Nile Popchock
LEARN MORE:
Website: monarchcast.com
Instagram: monarchpodcast
TikTok: monarchpodcast
28 Jun 2024
Episode Six: Rattler Country
CONTENT WARNING:
This episode contains a derogatory racial slur, which has been bleeped out, and other demeaning racial language in the context of the story. These depictions are representative of true interactions along the CDT and are meant to cast light on the uncomfortable situations hikers are sometimes placed in. They do not represent the opinions of the Monarch team or cast. Listener discretion is advised.
Monarch hikes through a series of thunderstorms but sees beauty in them.
In Leadore, she sits on a front porch with the locals.
One of them tells her a story that isn’t his to tell. When Monarch finally hikes out, she’s escorted by black-eyed goats.
STARRING:
Laura Munsil as Monarch
Lance Thompson as Bo
Pamela Kleibrink Thompson as Mary
Justin Paulson as Mikey
SOUND DESIGN BY:
Nile Popchock
LEARN MORE:
Website: monarchcast.com
Instagram: monarchpodcast
TikTok: monarchpodcast
21 Jun 2024
Episode Three: The Bob
Monarch hikes through the famously forbidding Bob Marshall Wilderness. A man licks his lips in a threatening manner.
Her eyes play tricks on her in a wildfire-smoked sunset and she projects a beaver, a horsepacker, a dismembered elk leg.
F&%* horseflies!
STARRING:
Laura Munsil as Monarch
SOUND DESIGN BY:
Nile Popchock
LEARN MORE:
Website: monarchcast.com
Instagram: monarchpodcast
TikTok: monarchpodcast
21 Jun 2024
Episode Two: Angel
Monarch sees a waterfall.
A hiker, Sputnik, tells her a campfire tale about a long-haired man in a shadowy saloon.
Later, she attends a Fourth of July barbecue in Great Falls. Fireworks ensue.
STARRING:
Laura Munsil as Monarch
Austin Von Johnson as Jules
James Logan as Marcus
Clare Olson as Sputnik
SOUND DESIGN BY:
Nile Popchock
LEARN MORE:
Website: monarchcast.com
Instagram: monarchpodcast
TikTok: monarchpodcast
21 Jun 2024
Episode One: Synchronicity
Hallie starts the CDT.
Her brother, Jules, drops her at Glacier National Park and after a night in Babb, she gets on trail near Chief Mountain.
Monarch thinks about harbingers, grizzly bears, and if her life is unfolding according to a plan.
STARRING:
Laura Munsil as Monarch
Austin Von Johnson as Jules
Christian Prior as Sam
SOUND DESIGN BY:
Nile Popchock
LEARN MORE:
Website: monarchcast.com
Instagram: monarchpodcast
TikTok: monarchpodcast
7 May 2024
Monarch Teaser Trailer
Hallie Halprin (trail name Monarch) sets off on the Continental Divide Trail on June 21st. This 13 episode limited series podcast brings you along as Monarch experiences hiking the rocky spine of the United States - 3000 miles from Canada to Mexico. Follow Monarch on her journey with the Monarch podcast.
Who has been a guest on Monarch
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Austin Von Johnson
Jessica Holmes
Jamie Logan
Mason Dodson
Halaia Barnett
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
290
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
38 ratings
Spotify
4.7 / 5
47 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 52 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
40
Social presence
90
YouTube
66
Engagement
51
Contact Monarch
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Monarch?
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