Follows show producer Matt Podolsky as he attempts to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail with his 65-year-old mom, Candy. Matt and his mom face extreme weather, illness, and injury as they trek 2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine. Along the way, Matt shares stories of remarkable people, surprising history, and the modern challenges facing the Appalachian Trail — all as the iconic footpath marks its 100th anniversary. Season two of Common Land was produced by The Wild Lens Collective, in partnership…
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What happens when the thru-hike ends? This epilogue to the series explores the connections between mental health and long distance hiking from the perspective of Chop Chop, one of the members of Matt’s trail family. Chop Chop hiked the AT as a strategy for treating anxiety and depression, and it was an incredibly effective strategy. But Chop Chop struggled with post-trail depression once his hike…
This bonus episode comes from The Broadside , produced by North Carolina public radio. The Broadside explores stories from the American South, focusing on topics that might not be on the front page, but deserve a closer look. This episode is one that I think will be of particular interest to listeners of Common Land . “The race to save the Cherokee language”, features the work of a small group of…
Katahdin is the Northern terminus of the AT, and one of the trail’s most iconic mountains. As Matt attempts to reach Katahdin’s summit and finish his thru-hike, we explore some of the controversy surrounding Baxter State Park, where Katahdin is located. Park leadership has clashed with both Indigenous governments and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy over the past few decades, and some say that…
Matt enters Maine, the last state of his AT journey, and by far the most remote section of the Appalachian Trail. We explore recent plans to protect large swaths of the 100-mile wilderness - but Indigenous leaders from the Wabanaki Alliance have different ideas about what constitutes land protection. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Matt, Candy and their tramily continue through the White Mountains, reaching New Hampshire’s highest peak, Mt. Washington. A frustrating experience with the Appalachian Mountain Club’s alpine hut system inspires Matt to explore the history of these unique high elevation hotels. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
While Candy prepares to return to the trail, Matt connects with a fun group of hikers and forms a “tramily.” As Candy rejoins, the group enters New Hampshire’s White Mountains, famous for both spectacular views and extremely challenging terrain. We explore the balancing act that land managers are playing between protecting sensitive ecosystems and allowing access to these spectacular landscapes.…
As Candy is forced off trail, Matt experiences numerous obstacles as he tries to continue the hike. He learns of a Native American reservation in Connecticut that threatened to shut down the trail, and he is nearly stopped in his tracks by a bite from a tick. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Matt and Candy experience some of the most challenging terrain along the entire AT during an intense thunderstorm. The weather is changing, and that makes an AT thru-hike more dangerous and difficult to plan. We explore how climate change is altering the trail and the trail experience. An injury forces Matt and Candy to reevaluate their plans. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Candy reflects on how few older women she sees thru-hiking the AT, and we dive into the history of Appalachian Trail thru-hikes. This history begins with Grandma Gatewood, the woman who popularized the concept of a thru-hike in the 1950s. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
As Matt and Candy reach Harper’s Ferry, known as the psychological mid-point of a thru-hike, we explore how the trail went from simple footpath to a uniquely shaped National Park. The AT’s history is also a history of racial segregation, and we talk to historians and modern hiking guides who are using the trail to teach about the underground railroad. Advertising Inquiries:…
