Via Podcast

Come explore the West with us.
Two women overlook water below.
Via Podcast from AAA logo

Welcome to the Via Podcast

Whether you’re just beginning to explore the Western United States or you’ve been living here since the day you were born, the Via Podcast will introduce you to new and unique adventures that will change your perspective.

Season 1

Wooden church in the Bodie, California church town.

Learn what it's like to live in a ghost town, and where to find the best preserved mining towns in the West, with guest Brent Underwood.

aspen trees in Colorado with yellow leaves

Find a new spot to view fall foliage, and immerse yourself in the forest with guest Lauren Oakes.

Amtrak's Empire Builder train on a forested railroad track.

Hop on a train and discover why a slower pace of travel has big benefits, from sights not seen by car or air to the freedom to roam while the landscapes change around you.

Trees full of apples on Kiyokawa Family Orchards.

Discover where to find the freshest and tastiest local foods around the West, from crisp apples on Hood River's Fruit Loop to salty oysters from the Puget Sound, with guest Giselle Kennedy Lord.

Yosemite Valley seen on a partly cloudy spring day.

Explore how Yosemite National Park was created and what continues to sustain it more than a hundred years later as the Washington Post's Lillian Cunningham takes you behind the scenes.

Wild horses run across wildlands in the Western United States

Experience the authentic American West through the eyes of cowboy storyteller Will Grant as he reveals the places and people at the heart of it.

Avenue of the Giants cuts through a redwood forest in Humboldt County, California.

Uncover amazing formations and natural creations around the West as guest Lulu Miller takes you on a discovery trip from Alaska to Utah to Northern California.

Giant Rock in front of a cloudy blue desert sky in Landers, CA

Discover offbeat roadside attractions as you travel the West by car, and rekindle your sense of wonder and adventure. Guest Dylan Thuras shares cool places to uncover as you wander just a bit off the beaten path, and tells the history of these unique spots.

A quillber at Animal Ark in Reno, Nevada rides in a wagon.

Whether it's at a sanctuary or in the wild, you'll find an abundance of fascinating creatures in the West. Guest Alison Hermance chats with hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks about how to interact with animals ethically and with their best interest in mind.

A visitor overlooks Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah.

On the latest episode of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks learn why state parks are their best bet for getting out into nature without the crowds. Travel journalist and parks expert Peter Fish shares his favorite state parks, the stories behind lesser-known ones, and why you shouldn’t judge a park by its name.

A forager cuts a mushroom off a forest floor with a knife.

Traverse the West's forests, waters, and even sidewalk cracks in search of edible plants, as hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks discover just how fruitful our surroundings can be with expert guidance from forager and cookbook author Maria Finn.

Empty Highway 50 stretches into the Nevada desert on a party cloudy day.

There's so much to discover on a road trip along Nevada's Highway 50, once dubbed the "Loneliest Road in America" by Life magazine. Join hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks as they travel this fascinating stretch of desert highway with the guidance of guest Richard Moreno.

Hosts

Via Podcast host Mitti Hicks headshot

Mitti Hicks

Mitti Hicks is a travel writer for Essence and Travel Noire. She’s also a former Fox national news broadcast journalist, covering weather. Mitti has a master’s in Broadcast & Digital Journalism from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and a bachelor’s in Communication and Media Studies from Ohio University.

Via Podcast host Michelle Donati headshot

Michelle Donati

Michelle Donati is a storyteller, road safety advocate, and voice for AAA. She has spent the last 15 years leading public advocacy efforts for AAA in the Mountain West region. Michelle is also a radio veteran, having worked in promotions for a popular alternative station.

Connect With Via

A person person reads the AAA Highlights email on their laptop.

Get new stories straight to your inbox every month.

Via magazine issues layed out on a gray floor.

Explore past issues of Via magazine.