Papa Bear Hikes

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 remarkable upcoming expeditions that carry the scale and intention of true once in a lifetime pursuits. Discussion moves beyond surface level outdoor culture into conservation, ethical harvest, and the discipline required to live in alignment with the natural world.Follow Ben’s journey and upcoming expeditions on Instagram @bencox357. Avalon Publicity & Business Services Increasing the Digital Footprint of Content Creators via Modern Publicity and Social Media ServicesSupport the showGet outside, have fun and be safe!Martin Armitage,  Host of the Papa Bear Hikes Podcasthttps://www.papabearhikes.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/papa-bear-hikes/id1541491746https://www.instagram.com/papabearhikes01/ 

Martin welcomes Darren Silver to Papa Bear Hikes for a grounded conversation on wilderness as teacher, rites of passage in the modern world, and how nature shapes purpose, resilience, and leadership.Darren Silver, MA is a rite of passage guide, mythologist, and founder of Great Earth School, a yearlong experiential program rooted in nature based leadership, ritual, and deep relationship to land. With nearly two decades of experience guiding vision quests, wilderness immersions, and transformational retreats across the world, Darren works with people seeking clarity of purpose, belonging, and a more aligned way of living.This episode explores how wild places support mental wellness and balance on and off the trail, why modern culture lacks meaningful rites of passage, and what initiation can look like today. Darren shares insights on modern masculinity, nature informed leadership, dreamwork, and ancestral wisdom, weaving myth and lived experience into a vision of personal and collective transformation grounded in relationship to the Earth.The conversation invites hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, and seekers alike to consider wilderness not as escape, but as a profound guide for living with presence, responsibility, and gratitude.Follow Darren and explore his workWebsite https://www.darrensilver.comGreat Earth School https://www.greatearthschool.comPodcast The Return with Darren Silver https://www.darrensilver.com/podcastInstagram https://www.instagram.com/darrensilverRetreats and programs https://www.greatearthschool.com/programs Avalon Publicity & Business Services Increasing the Digital Footprint of Content Creators via Modern Publicity and Social Media ServicesSupport the showGet outside, have fun and be safe!Martin Armitage,  Host of the Papa Bear Hikes Podcasthttps://www.papabearhikes.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/papa-bear-hikes/id1541491746https://www.instagram.com/papabearhikes01/ 

Papa Bear Hikes welcomes Brent and Kyle Pease, co-founders of The Kyle Pease Foundation and two of the most inspiring endurance athletes in the country. Together they have completed more than one hundred fifty endurance races, raised ten million dollars for inclusion, and set the IRONMAN World Championship Push Assist World Record. Their journey of brotherhood and purpose has moved audiences at Google, Under Armour, and 29029 Everest, and their message resonates far beyond the finish line. They speak with honesty about overcoming barriers, navigating invisible disabilities, and building a life defined by possibility rather than limitation. Listeners will come away energized and grounded in a clearer sense of what human connection and determination can accomplish. Support Brent and Kyle Pease and the mission of true inclusion in endurance sports. Learn more at https://kylepeasefoundation.org. Get involved or donate at https://kylepeasefoundation.org/getinvolved. Follow their work on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheKylePeaseFoundation and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thekylepeasefoundation. Avalon Publicity & Business Services Increasing the Digital Footprint of Content Creators via Modern Publicity and Social Media ServicesSupport the showGet outside, have fun and be safe!Martin Armitage,  Host of the Papa Bear Hikes Podcasthttps://www.papabearhikes.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/papa-bear-hikes/id1541491746https://www.instagram.com/papabearhikes01/ 

Martin welcomes back Rue McKenrick back to Papa Bear Hikes. A favorite guest of the show, Rue returns to talk about the latest volume in his American Perimeter Trail series, Volume 1 West: A 14,000 Mile Journey.McKenrick is a professional backpacker, conservationist, and Executive Director of the American Perimeter Trail Conference. After completing the Triple Crown of Backpacking, he spent three years walking the perimeter of the United States to scout what would become the 15000 mile American Perimeter Trail.During this episode, Rue recounts moments from the trail rarely captured on maps or in mileage logs, including being detained, navigating hostile encounters, tornadoes and experiencing gunfire along the route. These experiences reveal the unpredictable human and environmental challenges faced while traversing the country’s edge on foot.Follow Rue McKenrick for ongoing updates from the American Perimeter Trail and behind the scenes insight into long distance conservation work, and purchase American Perimeter Trail: Volume 1 West: A 14,000 Mile Journey to support the project and explore the full story in depth. All links, including where to buy the book, are available on his Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ruemckenrick/. Avalon Publicity & Business Services Increasing the Digital Footprint of Content Creators via Modern Publicity and Social Media ServicesSupport the showGet outside, have fun and be safe!Martin Armitage,  Host of the Papa Bear Hikes Podcasthttps://www.papabearhikes.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/papa-bear-hikes/id1541491746https://www.instagram.com/papabearhikes01/ 

Papa Bear Hikes welcomes Christopher Hill, founder of the luxury philanthropic travel companies Hands Up Holidays and Impact Destinations. Christopher joins Martin Hysot to explore how purposeful travel can strengthen families and communities through experiences that unite adventure with meaningful service. He shares how living in New Zealand with his wife, two sons, and dog Zola shapes his global outlook and inspires his mission to design travel that leaves a lasting impact. Listeners will learn how he builds eco luxury journeys that help travelers explore the world while giving back in thoughtful and measurable ways.Follow Christopher Hill and explore his work Hands Up Holidays: https://handsupholidays.com Impact Destinations: https://impactdestinations.com Avalon Publicity & Business Services Increasing the Digital Footprint of Content Creators via Modern Publicity and Social Media ServicesSupport the showGet outside, have fun and be safe!Martin Armitage,  Host of the Papa Bear Hikes Podcasthttps://www.papabearhikes.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/papa-bear-hikes/id1541491746https://www.instagram.com/papabearhikes01/ 

Papa Bear Hikes welcomes back guest Adam Salinger, whose long trail history and steady backcountry judgment always elevate the conversation. Martin guides the episode as Adam talks through the eastern Sierras with clear, grounded insight, reflecting on route choices, conditions, pacing, and the small decisions that shape a safe, satisfying day outdoors. Their easy rapport keeps the discussion warm and engaging while giving listeners usable perspective for their own hikes.Follow Adam on Instagram at @dreamer2000at for more of his trail updates and adventures. Avalon Publicity & Business Services Increasing the Digital Footprint of Content Creators via Modern Publicity and Social Media ServicesSupport the showGet outside, have fun and be safe!Martin Armitage,  Host of the Papa Bear Hikes Podcasthttps://www.papabearhikes.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/papa-bear-hikes/id1541491746https://www.instagram.com/papabearhikes01/ 

Guest Neil Markey joins host Martin for a grounded conversation about mental wellbeing, resilience, and the realities of finding calm after high-pressure lives. A former Army Ranger who later entered the corporate world as a McKinsey executive, Neil speaks openly about post-combat PTSD, burnout, and the long path toward rebuilding a workable inner life. He describes how these experiences led him to Beckley Retreats, a legal psilocybin program that integrates modern research with meditation, mindful movement, and intentional time outdoors.The episode explores the challenges of high-functioning burnout, the limits of performance culture, and the struggle veterans and leaders face when trying to reenter ordinary life with their nervous systems still wired for crisis. Martin guides a candid discussion about what actually supports post-traumatic growth and what often fails to help. Neil offers practical insights from his work with both veterans and civilians, emphasizing embodied practices, transparency, and the discipline required to heal without shortcuts.Listeners looking for an honest, science-informed approach to resilience will find this conversation steady, thoughtful, and deeply human.To learn more about Neil’s work:beckleyretreats.com | @beckleyretreatsBook a call with meConnect with me on LinkedIn   Avalon Publicity & Business Services Increasing the Digital Footprint of Content Creators via Modern Publicity and Social Media ServicesSupport the showGet outside, have fun and be safe!Martin Armitage,  Host of the Papa Bear Hikes Podcasthttps://www.papabearhikes.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/papa-bear-hikes/id1541491746https://www.instagram.com/papabearhikes01/ 

Host Martin welcomes Shawn Gossman, founder of Hiking with Shawn, a brand devoted to hiking, biking, and outdoor adventure across the Shawnee National Forest and Southern Illinois. What began as a fun personal project in 2016 has evolved into a thriving platform that inspires thousands to explore responsibly, appreciate nature, and support local outdoor spaces. Through YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X, Shawn brings the beauty of Southern Illinois to life, one trail, one story, and one adventure at a time.Be sure to follow Shawn’s adventures and discover the trails of Southern Illinois by subscribing to his YouTube channel at youtube.com/@hikingwithshawn, following him on Instagram at instagram.com/hikingwithshawn, and visiting his website at hikingwithshawn.com. Watch, explore, and get inspired to hit the trail.#PapaBearHikes #HikingWithShawn #ShawneeNationalForest #SouthernIllinois #OutdoorAdventure #TrailLife #HikingCommunity Avalon Publicity & Business Services Increasing the Digital Footprint of Content Creators via Modern Publicity and Social Media ServicesSupport the showGet outside, have fun and be safe!Martin Armitage,  Host of the Papa Bear Hikes Podcasthttps://www.papabearhikes.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/papa-bear-hikes/id1541491746https://www.instagram.com/papabearhikes01/ 

In this episode of Papa Bear Hikes, host Martin Armitage introduces Ben Brown, founder of Body Systems and host of The Smart Nutrition Made Simple Show. Ben shares how men can rebuild lasting energy and strength in their 40s and beyond by understanding their body’s unique blueprint. With over 15 years of experience and dual Master’s degrees in Exercise Physiology and Clinical Nutrition, he explains the hidden costs of overtraining and burnout, why most diets fail, and how to create a sustainable system for lifelong health.Featured on major networks and consultant to elite sports teams, Ben offers practical insights for anyone ready to thrive at any age. Connect with him and learn more through his Body Systems website, Spotify, Instagram, and YouTube. Avalon Publicity & Business Services Increasing the Digital Footprint of Content Creators via Modern Publicity and Social Media ServicesSupport the showGet outside, have fun and be safe!Martin Armitage,  Host of the Papa Bear Hikes Podcasthttps://www.papabearhikes.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/papa-bear-hikes/id1541491746https://www.instagram.com/papabearhikes01/ 

Martin welcomes back friend and returning guest Adam Salinger.In this conversation, Adam shares stories from his recent adventure: the Sawtooth Loop, a demanding route that tested his endurance and rewarded him with unforgettable views. Adam reflects on the challenges, the solitude, and the awe that keep drawing him deeper into the wilderness.Listeners will come away inspired by Adam’s resilience, his dedication to outdoor education, and his belief in the transformative power of wild places. 🌐 Follow Adam’s adventures at adamstreks.com        and on Instagram @dreamer2000at.  Avalon Publicity & Business Services Increasing the Digital Footprint of Content Creators via Modern Publicity and Social Media ServicesSupport the showGet outside, have fun and be safe!Martin Armitage,  Host of the Papa Bear Hikes Podcasthttps://www.papabearhikes.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/papa-bear-hikes/id1541491746https://www.instagram.com/papabearhikes01/