Via Podcast

Pack your curiosity. Atlas Obscura’s cofounder Dylan Thuras takes us on a tour of the West’s quirkiest museums. Together, we’ll encounter zombifying fungi, the world’s largest collection of fossilized poop, and a little cottage where you can sniff ancient tinctures.

Grab your grip tape and get stoked for an intro-to-skateboarding road trip. Learn how the pastime born of teen angst in the ‘60s grew into a respected Olympic event—and visit the West Coast skate spots that shaped its most famous athletes.

Sporting a sparkling sky-blue tail, Rachel Smith goes to work every day as a professional mermaid. It turns out, mermaids like her swim all over the West—if you know where to find them! In this episode, Smith dives into the colorful past and present of a cultural movement that dates back to the early 1900s.

Taste the stories, history, and energy behind modern Native American cuisine with Chef Crystal Wahpepah. Her own journey reveals the complex and emotional connections between Native cultures and foods, which heal communities, preserve ancestral ways, and express a deep love for the land.

Break out your night-vision goggles and join the hunt for Bigfoot, as our hosts explore the history, lore, and cultural impact of the elusive cryptid and its tireless devotees.

Forget the big bad wolf. Wildlife biologist Diane Boyd has spent nearly 50 years matching wits with gray wolves in the Montana wilderness—and she’s here to shift your perspective on these resilient canids.

At 100, the iconic highway is still a weird and wild ride. Buckle up as we motor to a town ruled by donkeys, a zoo gone wrong, and a 2,000-year-old pueblo with a secret stairwell that outsmarted the Spanish conquistadors.

Check in … if you dare. We’re having a sleepover with the West’s creepiest overnight guests. From gold rush ghosts to the specters who inspired The Shining, hear the haunted histories of iconic hotels near our most majestic national parks.

Enter the world of birding with Noah Strycker, who has traveled to 41 countries on all seven continents in search of the coolest, rarest, and most coveted bird sightings.

Drop in to the world of Hawaiian surf culture—its deep roots in island history, why it’s the perfect place for beginners to learn, and how women are reclaiming their places on the waves.

Hit the road with literary powerhouses Tommy Orange and Kaveh Akbar on their West Coast book tour. The two best friends share their favorite indie bookshops, contemporary Western writers, and unconventional creative sanctuaries.

Join us “whey” out West as we cuddle baby goats, sample award-winning Brie, and unwrap Monterey Jack’s unscrupulous origins on the coast’s tastiest route. Whether you’re a casual snacker or a hardcore curd nerd, this one’s worth savoring.

From Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter to rising rodeo stars, Black cowboy culture is having a moment. Saddle up for a ride into the community’s vibrant heart, including L.A.’s star-studded event, a “showdeo” in Portland, and the Compton Cowboys’ ranch.

Get ready to crave truffle garlic noodles, sumac-spiced chicken, and other mouthwatering dishes as Chef Preeti Mistry digs into why the San Francisco Bay Area is the most exciting, flavor-packed, and deliciously diverse food scene in the country. 

The truth is out West! Hop on the ET Highway and venture to notorious alien hot spots, including Roswell’s infamous crash site, Area 51’s eerie perimeter, a mysterious desert watchtower, and a mailbox where people leave letters to extraterrestrials.

A secret field that summons lightning. A massive spiral that disappears into a salt lake. A celestial observatory carved into a volcano. Meet the wild, sometimes explosive, world of land art, where artists craft masterpieces with dynamite and bulldozers.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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