Backpacker Radio's Origin Story, Evolution, and Behind the Scenes with Zach and Chaunce (BPR #360)
Backpacker Radio
Zach Davis
4.6 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 8 June 2026
⏱️ 221 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are bringing you the rare Chaunce and Zach solo pod.
In this one, we tell the full origin story of Backpacker Radio, from the unofficial co-host audition at a hiker meetup, to Chaunce showing up at the wrong restaurant on day one, to almost not making it past the early episodes. We get into how our interviewing dynamic has evolved over eight years, the technical disasters of the early days, the team that quietly makes this whole thing work, our all-time favorite guests, the ones we never aired, the dream guests we still haven't landed, and answer a slew of listener questions.
We wrap the show with a triple crown of worst ways to die, share the news that apparently Roundup is being sprayed in our national forests, opine on whether we'd rather give up sauces or kissing (and debate whether butter is a sauce), and give an overview on how to negotiate a thru-hiking sabbatical from your employer.
Topo Athletic: Use code "TREK15TOPO" at topoathletic.com.
Gossamer Gear: Use code "BACKPACKERRADIO" for $20 off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com.
OnX Backcountry: Use code "TREK70" for 70% off at onxmaps.com
[divider]
Interview with Chaunce
Time stamps & Questions
00:06:15 - Reminders: Support Akuna during his recovery, join us for Chaunce's live podcast sendoff, submit your favorite Chaunce moments or a voicemail for Chaunce, apply to be a co-host, check out our new merch, listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon!
00:15:05 - Introducing Chaunce
00:17:10 - What was Zach's initial idea for the podcast and how you decided you wanted a co-host?
00:25:42 - What were your first impressions of each other
00:27:48 - What were your expectations for the podcast's longevity and success?
00:34:20 - Did you discuss the style of the podcast and interview format you wanted?
00:39:43 - How has your co-interviewing strategy changed over the years?
00:59:25 - How are guests chosen for the show?
01:09:58 - What are some surprising things you've learned about making the podcast?
01:19:13 - How many interviews or segments have had to be cut?
01:24:18 - How long did it take to get over saying something dumb on air?
01:32:46 - How has the other person changed since episode one?
01:35:49 - What phrases or habits have you picked up from each other?
01:36:31 - How is the Mile by Mile project going?
01:45:45 - How have you balanced full-time work with hiking and the podcast?
01:53:18 - Were there any episodes where you were sick or physically unwell?
01:59:44 - Discussion about listener & Instagram questions
02:00:28 - How do you manage a friendship while working together?
02:02:43 - If you could go back to the beginning, what advice would you give yourselves?
02:13:27 - Discussion about highest highs and lowest lows from the podcast
02:20:23 - What are a few all-time favorite guests?
02:26:32 - Which guest were you most nervous to interview?
02:28:53 - What were your "I love my job" moments from the show?
02:31:51 - What will you miss most about interviewing together?
02:35:51 - Discussion about podcast segments that lived and died
02:39:23 - What are the remaining dream guests you haven't landed yet?
02:48:00 - Peak Performance Question: What is your top performance enhancing or backpacking hack?
Segments
Trek Propaganda: Roundup Is Being Sprayed in National Forests. Here's What PCT Hikers Should Know by Kelly Floro
QOTD: Would you rather give up sauces or kissing?
Triple Crown of Ways NOT to die
Mail Bag
5 Star Review
[divider]
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Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | In today's episode of Backpacker Radio, |
| 0:02.0 | present with the track brought to you by Topo Athletic, |
| 0:04.0 | we are bringing you the rare Chaunce and Zach solo podcast. |
| 0:08.0 | In this one, we tell the full origin story of Backpacker Radio |
| 0:11.0 | from the unofficial co-host audition at a hiker meetup |
| 0:15.0 | to Chaunce showing up at the wrong restaurant on day one |
| 0:18.0 | to almost not making it past the early episodes. |
| 0:22.3 | We get into how our interviewing dynamic has evolved over the years, the technical disasters |
| 0:26.7 | of the early days, the team that quietly makes this whole thing work. Shout out Rachel |
| 0:31.7 | Elise, Polly, and Chris, our all-time favorite guests, the ones we never aired, the dream guest we still haven't landed, |
| 0:38.9 | and answer a slew of listener questions. We wrap the show with Triple Crown of the worst |
| 0:44.8 | ways to die, share the news that apparently Roundup is being sprayed in our national forests, |
| 0:50.3 | opine on whether we'd rather give up sauces or kissing, debate whether butter is a sauce, |
| 0:56.0 | and give an overview on how to negotiate a through-hiking sabbatical from your employer. |
| 1:01.6 | But first, a backpacker's most important piece of gear is their footwear. |
| 1:07.2 | You can have the rest of your pack absolutely dialed in, but if your feet aren't happy, you aren't happy. |
| 1:12.3 | And that's why we're thrilled to introduce today's sponsor, Topo Athletic. |
| 1:16.5 | If you tuned into our footwear episode with Dr. Courtney Conley, a physician specializing in foot and gate mechanics, |
| 1:22.4 | you already know that Topo Athletic was on her short list of brands she recommends for hikers. That's because Topo |
| 1:28.8 | Athletic makes trail runners with a zero or minimal drop and a roomy towbox. The minimal drop |
| 1:34.3 | promotes a more natural gait while the wide towbox allows your toes to fully splay. Throughhikers |
| 1:40.2 | have caught into Topos as well. According to the Trek's AT Thruhiker survey, |
... |
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