In this episode, Jen and Dyana chat with Emily Pennington — journalist, adventure writer, and photographer — who’s made a name for herself covering the outdoors, national parks, adventure travel, and wellness. Emily has visited every U.S. national park and chronicled her journey in her memoir Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks. They dive into her most memorable park experiences, why solo adventuring shaped her, and how it eventually inspired her to seek out more shared adventures. A seasoned contributor to Outside magazine, Emily’s work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, REI Journal, and Backpacker.

Follow Emily on Instagram @brazenbackpacker

Check out her book - Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks

NOTABLE TIMESTAMPS

6:56 Welcome Emily Pennington

13:55 Motivation & planning year long National Park trip

25:48 Writing Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks

33:19 Emily's most surprising & favorite National Park

41:46 Relationship with discomfort

48:39 Sharing adventures with others

57:25 Overtourism & challenges facing public lands

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• E-mail Bush & Banter: bushandbanter@gmail.com
• Follow Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmella
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

In this episode, Jen and Dyana continue their 55-mile trek in and around Grand Teton National Park with friends Shea and Mak. In Part Two, they take on the grueling Paintbrush Divide—what Dyana calls the hardest climb of her life—face a sketchy snow crossing, reflect on the highs (and lows) of the journey, and bid farewell to the trail.

Special thank you to Sawyer Products for powering this episode. From water filters to Picaridin insect repellent, sunscreen, and first aid—Sawyer gear helps outdoor adventurers stay safe, go further, and stay out longer. Learn more at sawyer.com or follow them on social @sawyerproducts.

Listen to the Part I episode here

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Where to find and support Bush & Banter:

• Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanter
• Visit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.com
• Join Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanter
• E-mail Bush & Banter: bushandbanter@gmail.com
• Follow Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmella
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

In this episode, Jen and Dyana revisit the first three days of hiking a 55-mile loop around Grand Teton National Park, starting at the Taggart Lake Trailhead. Join them live from the trail alongside their friends, Mak and Shea, as they take you through tough climbs, epic landscapes, wrecked feet, and rainy nights. This is part one of a two-part series that brings you right into the adventure with them.

Special thank you to Sawyer Products for powering this series. From water filters to Permethrin insect repellents, sunscreen and first aid, Sawyer’s gear helps outdoor adventurers stay safe, go further, and stay out longer. To learn more, visit sawyer.com or check them out on social media @sawyerproducts

Send us a text

Where to find and support Bush & Banter:

• Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanter
• Visit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.com
• Join Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanter
• E-mail Bush & Banter: bushandbanter@gmail.com
• Follow Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmella
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

In this episode, Jen and Dyana discuss how they’re each preparing for a backpacking trip through Grand Teton National Park. From mindset and physical training to gear and food, they cover everything it takes to plan a successful trek through the backcountry. Jen opens up with personal insights on embracing the adventure fully, while Dyana shares her goal of living a minimalist lifestyle on trail.

NOTABLE TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro and Jen's poop story

3:42 Jen and Dyana discuss their upcoming trip together

6:00 Overall feelings and mental challenges

20:28 Physical preparations

26:37 Hiking gear and embracing minimalism

40:36 Food and a few new changes

42:57 Jen's personal words on embracing the backcountry

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Where to find and support Bush & Banter:

• Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanter
• Visit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.com
• Join Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanter
• E-mail Bush & Banter: bushandbanter@gmail.com
• Follow Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmella
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

This episode is all about the 174-mile Tahoe Rim Trail — how to hike it, bike it, or even ride it on horseback— plus what’s being done to keep this incredible land public. A recent threat to sell off parts of the trail and surrounding areas could have been devastating, but two experts from the Tahoe Rim Trail Association (TRTA) are here to break it all down. We’re joined by TRTA’s Executive Director, Lindsey Schultz, and Communications Manager, Daniel Corona, who share how the trail is maintained, how you can get involved, and the role TRTA plays in preserving access to the Lake Tahoe backcountry. From guided hikes to trail stewardship, this episode covers it all.

To learn more about the Tahoe Rim Trail Association from guided hikes to ways to donate visit, tahoerimtrail.org

NOTABLE TIMESTAMPS:

5:06 Welcome Lindsey Schultz and Daniel Corona!

14:08 The TRT's different kinds of terrain

20:00 How much water is on the TRT and the driest sections

31:13 The rules for hiking, biking, and horseback riding on the TRT

47:15 Permits required to hike on the Tahoe Rim Trail

49:40 How to protect our public lands + the danger to the Tahoe Rim Trail

58:58 How to support the Tahoe Rim Trail Association

1:19:20 Why this trail means so much to Lindsey and Daniel

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Where to find and support Bush & Banter:

• Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanter
• Visit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.com
• Join Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanter
• E-mail Bush & Banter: bushandbanter@gmail.com
• Follow Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmella
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

In this episode, we sit down with Wells Jones—adventurer, author, and all-around renaissance man. Wells joined the U.S. Navy at 18, launching a life of thrill and purpose as a precision skydiver on the Navy’s Antarctic Pararescue Team. We dive into some of his wildest missions, then head to the desert to hear how he was inspired by explorer T.E. Lawrence—and how retracing a historic route through the Middle East led to his historical fiction novel, A Line in the Sand.

A Line in the Sand on Amazon

Felicity Aston episode

NOTABLE TIMESTAMPS:

10:03 Welcome, Wells Jones!

12:51 How Wells joined the U.S. Navy Antarctic Pararescue team

24:32 Precision skydiving into Antarctica + rescue missions

43:01 The famous Middle East trek inspired by T.E. Lawrence

49:52 What it's like hiking in the Middle East

57:22 The historical fiction, A Line in the Sand

1:01:04 Why meeting people from different cultures is important

1:05:06 What role imagination plays out in the wild

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Where to find and support Bush & Banter:

• Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanter
• Visit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.com
• Join Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanter
• E-mail Bush & Banter: bushandbanter@gmail.com
• Follow Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmella
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

In this episode, Jen and Dyana chat about their upcoming backpacking adventure through Wyoming’s stunning Teton Range. From the Tetons’ dramatic geology and glacial history to bear safety and physical prep, this conversation blends trail stoke with practical backcountry insight into one of the country’s most beautiful and wild regions.

Learn more about the Grand Teton Loop Trail, click here.

Learn more about the Teton Crest Trail, click here.

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Where to find and support Bush & Banter:

• Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanter
• Visit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.com
• Join Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanter
• E-mail Bush & Banter: bushandbanter@gmail.com
• Follow Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmella
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

In this episode, Jen and Dyana sit down with Mandy Bishop, founder of Old Ways Wisdom and a passionate advocate for ancestral skills, wild foraging, and natural medicine. Mandy shares her path into this world of old knowledge, exploring the emotional healing and deep sense of connection that comes from aligning with the earth and our roots. Together, they talk about the challenges of balancing modern life with the pull toward a simpler, more natural way of living. From the beauty of common plants to the power of natural remedies, this conversation is filled with grounded wisdom, practical insight, and a reminder of what it means to truly belong to the land.

Connect with Mandy:
Instagram - @mandyvbishop
Website - oldwayswisdom.com
Apothecary Story - oldwayswisdom.com/store
Upcoming Events - oldwayswisdom.com/upcoming-events

Learn More about the Eastern Sierra Land Trust - eslt.org/bushandbanter/

NOTABLE TIMESTAMPS:
6:00 Welcome Mandy Bishop!
7:23 The Wild Women Event & blindfolded drumming
17:34 Reconnecting with nature and seeing herself differently
22:04 Tips for embracing natural products & helpful plants for hikers: dandelion, yarrow, and plantain
44:28 Understanding your ancestors to deepen your nature connection
51:29 The power of wandering
58:17 Mandy’s classes and products & one simple way to connect with the earth

Send us a text

Where to find and support Bush & Banter:

• Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanter
• Visit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.com
• Join Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanter
• E-mail Bush & Banter: bushandbanter@gmail.com
• Follow Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmella
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_