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. Hosts Mitti Hicks and Michelle Donati bring their travel expertise to interviews with some of the West’s most fascinating experts, residents, and adventurers. In each episode, you will discover deep conversations in the hopes of igniting a new interest—foraging anyone?—or planting the seeds of a new-to-you road trip. You might even learn something about a place you’ve explored dozens of times before. Whether you’re listening from the comfort of your couch, your morning commute, or on the road, the Via Podcast, presented by AAA, will be good company. And, of course, our AAA Members have a lot to say about traveling the West, so we’ll be sharing their emails and audio messages along the way.
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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. Hosts Mitti Hicks and Michelle Donati bring their travel expertise to interviews with some of the West’s most fascinating experts, residents, and adventurers. In each episode, you will discover deep conversations in the hopes of igniting a new interest—foraging anyone?—or planting the seeds of a new-to-you road trip. You might even learn something about a place you’ve explored dozens of times before. Whether you’re listening from the comfort of your couch, your morning commute, or on the road, the Via Podcast, presented by AAA, will be good company. And, of course, our AAA Members have a lot to say about traveling the West, so we’ll be sharing their emails and audio messages along the way.
Tourists visiting Hawaii from the mainland might look out from the beach at the surfers riding the waves, and think it’s all just part of the tropical scenery. But to native-born Hawaiians, those surfers signify a whole lot more. They’re living links to the history of the islands. They’re echoes of an era when Hawaiian royalty had their own private breaks off the same beach. They remind them of when Duke Kahanamoku rode a single wave for more than a mile on Oahu’s south shore. And even of a time when Hawaiians first arrived in the islands after sailing from Tahiti. That’s how deep its roots are.
Join us as we explore those roots with Mindy Pennybacker, author of Surfing Sisterhood Hawaii: Wahine Reclaiming the Waves. We talk about the history and culture of surfing in Hawaii, but also her own evolution from bookworm to seasoned surfer, the best places for beginners to learn, and why she thinks surfing in California is inferior. (The short version: Cold water, kelp, and great white sharks.)
Join 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! Explore Roswell’s infamous crash site, an alien watchtower, and Area 51’s eerie back gate on our latest out-of-this-world road trip.
Forget the Louvre. Buckle up for a rugged ride to see colossal land art—including an installation inside a volcano—with Atlas Obscura’s Dylan Thuras.
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.
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.
Get up close and personal with the natural world by seeking out wildlife on your next vacation. 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.
Avoid the crowds and visit a state park when the nature urge strikes. Hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks chat with travel journalist and parks expert Peter Fish to discover the lesser-known state parks throughout the vast West.
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.
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.
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. Hosts Mitti Hicks and Michelle Donati bring their travel expertise to interviews with some of the West’s most fascinating experts, residents, and adventurers. In each episode, you will discover deep conversations in the hopes of igniting a new interest—foraging anyone?—or planting the seeds of a new-to-you road trip. You might even learn something about a place you’ve explored dozens of times before. Whether you’re listening from the comfort of your couch, your morning commute, or on the road, the Via Podcast, presented by AAA, will be good company. And, of course, our AAA Members have a lot to say about traveling the West, so we’ll be sharing their emails and audio messages along the way.
