Papa Bear Hikes

About Papa Bear Hikes

Papa Bear Hikes is a Podcast for Nature Lovers & Outdoor Enthusiasts. Network/Artist: Martin Armitage is the author of Switching Gears: Rediscovering the Meaning of Life, Love, and Happiness While Backpacking Vermont’s Long Trail, and recipient of the WHITNEY YOUNG, JR. AWARD. *Presented By: Buzzsprout* Producer: Wendy A. Lawrence *Host: Martin Armitage *Edited By: Big Bear Studios *Show Notes: Wendy A. Lawrence *For Media Inquiries email: wendy@avalonbusiness.org *The Papa Bear Hikes podcast is a GLOBAL iTunes fan favorite in multiple categories and has a Global Ranking in the top 1%!

Publisher

Papa Bear Hikes

Category

education · health & fitness · leisure

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Nov 2020

Latest episode

25 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

24 of 504 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   25 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Jessica Bagnell and a New Journey on the Pacific Crest Trail

   Martin welcomes returning guest Jessica Bagnell as she hikes the Pacific Crest Trail with a trail partner, where weather governs tempo and small errors accumulate into consequence. Jessica reflects on the first weeks on trail, when comfort becomes irrelevant and daily life is reduced to judgment, pacing, and mutual reliability. Shared distance exposes character with unusual speed. Jessica and Martin explore companionship, self-command, and why long trails continue to attract people who distru...

2. 

   28 Mar 2026

   Blending In on the Trail: Ben “Paladin” Cox on Traveling with Purpose and Once-in-a-Lifetime Adventures

   Papa Bear Hikes Podcast with host Martin welcomes returning guest and friend of the show, Ben “Paladin” Cox. A life shaped through hiking, backpacking, and environmental stewardship informs Cox’s perspective, grounded in sustained engagement with the outdoors rather than occasional escape. Service within the thru hiking community and long trail experience reinforce a consistent ethic of responsibility toward land, wildlife, and shared spaces. Cox shares field tested insight alongside several ...

3. 

   9 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Wilderness as Teacher: Rites of Passage, Purpose, and Leadership with Darren Silver

   Darren Silver MA discusses how wilderness experiences and nature-based leadership programs cultivate purpose, resilience, and leadership skills, interviewed by Martin in this episode.

Inside a recent episode

Jessica Bagnell and a New Journey on the Pacific Crest Trail

Published 25 Apr 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] I did on the AT, I did the second half of the long trail this last summer. And it happened there too. Like I overly romanticized being out on trail. And then you get out there and it's cold or it's raining or the day is not going how you want. And you just have a little toddler tantrum, you know. So that's kind of what I'm focusing on is like mentally preparing myself for things to suck, you know, the embracing the suck. So I guess that's more of what preparations happening right now. That is a big part of it. And what do they always say? Don't quit on a bad day. Yeah. Yeah. You might wake up the next day and laugh off that bad day that you had. […]

Who has been a guest on Papa Bear Hikes

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Darren Silver
• Howard Falco
• Ken Posner
• Jon Barker
• Dr Sean Pastuch

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

69,653

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

106 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1,703 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 84 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

96

Social presence

0

YouTube

85

Engagement

96

Contact Papa Bear Hikes

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Papa Bear Hikes