Citizen J

Tapping in at 5'11” with a fast-growing fan base, we have Zachary Diehl. A Maine boy who has no problem wearing short sleeves in the inclement weather Overland Expo West always has to offer. Over the last year, Zach has taken overlanders by storm with his satirical content poking fun at all the (let's be honest) truths of the community. In their conversation, Jillian and Zach touch on the importance of being able to poke fun at yourself, which is how he has built his following. With the support of the community, lovers and haters, Zach has been able to generate a large enough following to make this a full-time gig for himself. We have a feeling this is only the beginning for Zachary Diehl. 

Calling all suspension nerds and newbies! If you've been following Jillian for a while, you know ICON has been her suspension of choice for years. Today, she and Scott Spiva chat a bit about the world of aftermarket suspension, what makes it stand out compared to stock builds, and a few things you may not know about your shocks. From the basic aspects to the more technical side of shocks, Scott covers what you'll need to know if you're just starting out. He touches on his engineering background, what got him started at ICON years ago, and why he still loves what he does today. 

We're coming full circle with Rachelle Croft one year later! This time we are on location at Overland Expo West in our Global Expedition Studio. Since we last had Rachelle on the podcast, a lot has happened with her and the XOverland team. They completed the Nordic Series, have some new content coming on their streaming platform “XOverland Network”, and are now preparing for their next big adventure in South Africa. Jillian and Rachelle also touch on their personal relationship and the importance of reaching out to your friends to simply ask, “How are you?”.   Rachelle exemplifies the Citizen J tenet Strength in Unity.

Fascinated by history and an unwavering love for storytelling, author and filmmaker Alex Bescoby does not shy away from an opportunity to have both in one epic adventure. For Alex, history isn't just a subject we study in school – it provides us with purpose. That purpose became documenting and sharing the story of “The Last Overland”, the return trip of Tim Slessor's groundbreaking “First Overland” expedition from London to Singapore 65 years later. Alex shares with Jillian incredible stories from his journey, including the difficulties they faced with the vehicle and the lessons he learned along the way. Jillian also gets the scoop on Alex's next great adventure, set to begin later this year.    Alex exemplifies the Citizen J tenet Blaze Your Trail. 

We recommend enjoying this episode on YouTube, as this one is a bit different from the rest. Jillian rides shotgun in an epic Land Rover Defender with former Green Beret, Daisson Hickel. Driving through the beautiful roads of 30A in South Walton, FL, Jillian and Daisson discuss how he became connected with the 30A Sand Rover Rally. He shares how he loves that the event promotes togetherness and comradery with incredible vehicles being the common denominator. They talk about similarities between overlanding and the military having a shared pursuit of freedom and life being the ultimate lesson in gratitude.    Daisson exemplifies the Citizen J tenet Blaze Your Trail. 

Bringing his passion for all things outdoors, wildlife biologist Andrew Austin sits down with Jillian to discuss a wide range of topics from renewable energy to hunting to getting bit by numerous reptiles, including a precarious encounter with a Copperhead. Andrew is well-studied in the topics of conservation, ecology, naturalism, and biology, sharing their differences and similarities and how they all play a part in protecting our wildlife and ecosystems. He touches on how hunting, when practiced correctly, can be beneficial to sustaining the health of an ecosystem, and how the development of solar farms can be devastating to grasslands.    Andrew exemplifies the Citizen J tenet Be the Change.     

Nowadays, people constantly have their heads buried in cell phones leaving them distracted and unaware of their surroundings. People are afraid to be rude in order to protect themselves, and being alert means you're paranoid. Fieldcraft Survival's Director of Training Kevin Estela explains “there are no victims, only volunteers.” With a background in education and a passion for preparedness, Kevin has become a beacon of knowledge among the survival and outdoor communities, and someone Jillian has leaned on to learn a thing or two herself. Jillian and Kevin discuss the importance of mindset, building a community of assets, and share stories of when Kevin had to use his own tips and tricks in survival situations. Make sure you take notes - you will learn something in this episode.   Kevin exemplifies the Citizen J tenet Lions Thrive, Sheep Survive.

***EXPLICIT LANGUAGE***    Fresh off the experience of a lifetime, motorsport mechanic Heather Holler shares her adventure at the Dakar Rally working with team X-Raid. Heather is a seasoned mechanic in the motorsports industry, having worked with various World Rally Championship teams including Team Subaru and Team Hyundai, and is now dipping her toes in the offroad racing world. Jillian and Heather discuss the pros and cons of being a female in a male-dominated industry and the importance of having a resource, like the Jessi Combs Foundation, to support you in your career. Always seeking the next adventure, Heather is ready to transition to the driver's seat for the 2024 race season.    Heather exemplifies the Citizen J tenet Blaze Your Trail. 

Jennifer Sey is no stranger to adversity. From Olympic gymnastics to America's corporate culture, she has battled her way through her fair share of difficult situations. But her most recent battle crossed the line – the political party line. Challenging the legitimacy of school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jennifer found herself questioning the values and beliefs of the party she had followed her entire life. When she began publicly asking those questions, pointing out hypocrisies, and challenging the mainstream media, she went from next in line to be the first female CEO of Levi's to being offered hush money disguised as a severance. In this episode, Jillian and Jennifer discuss the details of Jennifer's book, “Levi's Unbuttoned”, and the rise of “woke capitalism” in America's corporate culture. Their conversation sheds light on the current political state of our nation and the lack of common sense in today's culture. While they didn't agree on everything, there was one thing they both agreed on without question: their right to say what they believed without fear of judgment.    Jennifer embodies the Lions Thrive tenet. 

Jillian and Micah have a conversation outside of the typical overlander/off-roader tradeshow exchange. As a beloved member of the overland community, Micah shares more than just what is next for his epic camper build. Jillian finds out where Micah discovered his love for building and tinkering as a kid and where he gets inspiration for many of his projects. Growing up Micah was homeschooled, and he speaks about how that currently works with his family today. He and Jillian discuss their thoughts on homeschooling and their own personal homeschool experiences. Micah shares some of his plans for 2023, which include expanding his YouTube presence. 

It wasn't friendship at first site, but Jillian and Laura took time to develop the deep, vulnerable, and strong relationship they have today. In this episode they guide us through that journey. Their story started at the edge of a slot canyon and evolved far beyond what they both imagined. Realizing that trust and vulnerability are the building blocks to a long-lasting friendship, their story teaches us how we become better, when we challenge one another. Laura exemplifies the Citizen J Tenant: Be the Change

We retell the story of how Jillian was thrown from a horse during the filming of The John Wayne Gritcast. Ethan dives into his storied and cherished life growing up with his dad, John Wayne, one of the greatest stars of Classic American Cinema. Ethan and Jillian share how they met on the internet, their love for motorcycles, protecting the legacy of John Wayne, and Ethan's career as a stuntman and soap opera star, Storm Logan, on The Bold and The Beautiful. Ethan discusses how the John Wayne Cancer Foundation is revolutionizing cancer treatment worldwide with its mission to bring courage, strength, and grit to the fight against cancer. 

In this episode we get personal and learn why Jillian produces the podcast. Jillian shares with us a little bit about everything in her life with her good friend Stacey Gularte, Director of Outreach and Social Media for Storyteller Network. Stacey talks about the challenges in her life last year, including her decision to quit her job. They discuss how they met, what it takes to produce a podcast, and the last 9 months they spent together with a film crew documenting their adventurous lifestyle.

Another episode featuring women who race in the off-road space. Jillian sits down with Amber Turner: off-road racer and metal fabricator. Amber shares her experience competing in the King of Hammers with her 1988 Suzuki Samurai. They also discuss her past race experience in the 2022 Rebelle Rally. Amber works daily in the metal fabrication industry, and she discusses what is takes to succeed as a woman welder. As a passionate off-road racer, Amber talks about the importance of trail maintenance, and the difference between rock crawlers and overlanders. We also hear how legendary Jessi Combs influenced Amber and continues to fuel her desire to keep racing. Amber exemplifies the Citizen J Tenant: Blaze Your Trail.

Jillian sits down with Roseann Hanson: A pioneer in the overlanding space and accomplished Author, Conservationist and Naturalist. Roseann shares why she and her husband founded Overland Expo. She also discusses the importance for the overlanding community to give back to help “heal the land”. Roseann currently runs Exploring Overland where she leads field art boot camps. Roseann exemplifies the Citizen J tenant: Blaze Your Trail. 

Dan McKernan Founder and President of Barn Sanctuary explains how he left a job in the tech sector to turn the family farm into a rescue sanctuary for farmed animals. Dan and Jillian discuss operating a nonprofit to rescue farmed animals, the dark side of the animal farming industry, a cross-country van life trip with Mike the Cow, TikTok, and how your donations can help Barn Sanctuary feed the animals. Dan exemplifies the Citizen J Tenant: Be The Change.  

YouTube Content Creator, TRD JON, a.k.a. “Toyota Review Dude” recently returned from the SEMA Show and shares his thoughts and insight on what's new from Toyota. He reveals how he got his start as a Content Creator and his successful career with the Air Force. Jon and Jillian discuss what it takes to be an honest influencer, their first truck builds, and wait for it…politics.

Brittany Wagner, star of the Netflix documentary Last Chance U, details a day in her life as the featured Academic Athletic Counselor in Scooba, Mississippi. She reminds us that no matter what advantages we may or may not have, there is one key differentiator we can all control, and how hard work is the key to self-worth, satisfaction, and freedom. We also discuss Brittany's book Next Chance You and get “Tools, Tips, and Tough Love for Bringing Your A-Game to Life”.

Jillian talks with Antonio James, a modern-day, genuine cowboy who began his journey in the ghettos of East Detroit, and through a series of unexpected and providential pivots, later settled into his life as the owner of a working horse ranch in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. Jillian and Antonio discuss Hollywood cowboy stereotypes, the definition of a cowboy, how Lil Nas X is not a cowboy, and the importance of positive role models. 

Jillian talks with genuine bad ass, enduro racer, athlete, and teacher Megan Griffiths. Meg shares her passion for dirt bikes, enduro, tailriding, and teaching. Her career began as a full-time electrician working in oil fields; however, she was miserable and never had the time to ride. In 2020, amid Covid, she quit her job as an electrician and now lives full time on the road, teaching clinics throughout the US and Canada. Megs discusses her lifestyle, her practice philosophy, personal growth, and the importance of finding joy in what you do

Jillian talks with Forged in Fire champion, Jordan Kepler. Jordan is a professional blade smith who has handcrafted close to 1000 knives. Jordan is also an avid overlander who enjoys the challenge of a new build and finding that next great adventure. He discusses how he left a life as a successful graphic designer to find his path as a Bladesmith. While his path to becoming a Bladesmith was no easy task, he shares how he got his start, why he pursued this lifestyle and the Lost Sasquatch.

Jillian talks with good friend Lizzy Kates from ouroverlandlife. For the past 4 years Liz and her husband have been living full time on the road. Liz shares how they got started, how to get women into overlanding, solo camping, planning for failure, mooch docking and what living full time on the road looks like. 

In this episode, Jillian talks with Marco from OVRLNDX and Brad from Trail Recon.  They share stories about camping, wheeling, Jeeps, and of course tacos! Family is a big part of why Brad and Marco do what they do, and they share why it's important to take the family on the next great adventure.

In this episode Jillian talks with Alan Wang, CEO of KC HiLiTES. Their honest discussion about personal flaws, every person matters, it's ok not to be ok, kids, Yoda, and the squirt gun movement make this episode a must listen.  NOTE: sometimes the f-bomb is dropped.

In the first episode, Jillian talks with Rachelle Croft of Expedition Overland. They discuss Rachelle racing in the Rebelle and Morocco Rallies, the risks she and her husband took to start XOverland,  how she balances work and family, and why vulnerability is the secret to success.