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.
Hold on to your hats! From Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" to rising rodeo stars, Black cowboy culture is having a major moment—and we're saddling up for a closer look. Along the way, we'll stop to line dance to Kendrick Lamar at L.A.'s star-studded Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, clown around at the lively Arizona Black Rodeo, and chill out at the Compton Cowboys' ranch. Our guest, photographer Ivan McClellan, has spent nearly a decade documenting Black Western heritage and heart-pounding rodeo action. In this episode, he shares how a single rodeo changed his life, what spurred him to launch his own Eight Seconds Juneteenth Rodeo in Portland, Oregon, and why there's no better place to celebrate community, resilience, and unbridled joy than in the arena. Rodeos and ranches you'll ride into in this episode: - Eight Seconds Juneteenth Rodeo, Portland, Oregon - Roy Leblanc Okmulgee Invitational Rodeo, Okmulgee, Oklahoma - Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, cities including Denver, Los Angeles, and Oakland, California - Arizona Black Rodeo, Scottsdale, Arizona - Stagecoach Country Music Festival, Indio, California - Compton Cowboys ranch, Compton, California - Wickenburg, Arizona, the country's team roping capital Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
Get ready to drool: Dungeness crab rolls, sumac-spiced chicken, coconut bread pudding—and those are just the appetizers. In this episode, Chef Preeti Mistry, host of the James Beard–nominated podcast Loading Dock Talks, dishes on what makes the San Francisco Bay Area the most exciting, flavor-packed, and deliciously diverse food scene in the country. Together, we dig into the Bay's secret sauce: unparalleled produce, deep immigrant roots, and chefs who blend it all into unforgettable meals. Never one to mince words, Preeti also slices into so-called “California cuisine” and shares their behind-the-scenes take on Top Chef hosts Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio. Come for the food, stay for the juicy stories—just don't forget to bring your appetite. Bay Area bites you'll crave after this episode: - Truffle garlic noodles at Gigi's - Mac 'n' cheese and fried chicken at Minnie Bell's Soul Movement - Falafel and the Pali Cali (sumac-braised chicken) at Reem's California - Al pastor tacos at Taqueria Cancun - Porcini truffle ravioli at Bi-Rite Market - Dungeness crab rolls, Mission District burritos, and more Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
The truth is out West! We're hopping on the ET Highway and venturing to the most notorious alien hot spots, including Roswell's infamous crash site, Area 51's eerie perimeter, and a mysterious desert watchtower. Join us as journalist Laura Krantz, host of the podcast Wild Thing, beams up to share stories from the front lines of UFO reporting—from strange sightings and quirky festivals to a mailbox where people leave letters to extraterrestrials. Maybe you'll even decide for yourself: Is Earth a tourist stop for spaceships? UFO hot spots you'll encounter in this episode: - UFO Watchtower (near Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado) - Roswell, New Mexico - Area 51, Nevada - Extraterrestrial Highway (aka State Route 375), Nevada - Little A'Le'Inn, ET Highway, Nevada - E.T. Fresh Jerky, ET Highway, Nevada - Alien Research Center, ET Highway, Nevada - The Black Mailbox, ET Highway, Nevada Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
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—and sometimes explosive—world of land art, where artists craft masterpieces with dynamite and bulldozers. In our Season 2 premiere, guest Dylan Thuras, cofounder of Atlas Obscura, takes us off road and into the minds of the artists who literally reshaped parts of the Southwest. These works aren't meant to be easy to reach—or to explain—but they just might change how you see the world. Land art you'll visit in this episode: - Double Negative and City by Michael Heizer (Garden Valley, Nevada) - Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson (Great Salt Lake, Utah) - Sun Tunnels by Nancy Holt (Great Basin Desert, Utah) - Lightning Field by Walter De Maria (Catron County, New Mexico) - Roden Crater by James Turrell (Painted Desert, Arizona) Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
Surprise: The Via Podcast is back with one last episode for the season. Join hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks as they reflect on what they discovered about the American West, from Mormon crickets on the Loneliest Road in America to foraging in their own backyards to a one-armed lawyer whose spirit may or may not be hanging around a ghost town to this day. Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
On the season finale of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks head into the high deserts of California and Nevada to visit ghost towns. They learn what it's like to actually live in one—where there may or may not be a resident spirit—and where to go to see the most preserved mining towns in the West. Guest Brent Underwood, owner and resident of Cerro Gordo near Death Valley, California, shares what it's like to make a home in a former mining town, and why it's important to visit and maintain these snapshots of Western life. Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
Next up on the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks grab a sweater and head out into the forest for a leaf-peeping adventure. They discover a few great spots to view fall colors, and learn why immersing themselves in a forest is good for the soul. Guest Lauren Oakes, a forest and climate scientist, shares her best-loved spots in the West to see the leaves change, and encourages us all to find a deeper connection with the forests around us. Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
On the latest episode of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks 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. Guest Laura Kiniry, a travel writer and train-riding expert, reveals her favorite rail adventures through the towering mountains of Glacier National Park, the stunning sights of the Pacific Northwest, and a long stretch of Coastal California. Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
The Via Podcast is back, and in this episode hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks 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. Guest Giselle Kennedy Lord, co-author of The Ark of Taste, takes us on a culinary discovery of the West, and reveals the importance of eating local, supporting Indigenous cultures through food, and seeking out your "next best bite." Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
On this episode of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks learn behind-the-scenes stories and insider scoop on Yosemite National Park, from the history of the creation of the park to where to uncover the entirety of the park's archives. Guest Lillian Miller, host of the Washington Post podcast Field Trip, takes you behind the curtain and explores how the park was created and what continues to sustain it hundreds of years later. Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
The Via Podcast returns with modern cowboy storyteller Will Grant, who reveals why hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks are “dudes” and so much more. Listen as Grant uncovers the authentic West—and also defines what that even means—as we trot on horseback through Utah's west desert amid wild horses and experience the Navajo Nation in Arizona with a Diné guide. Grant also tells us why Sheridan, Wyoming, is the ultimate “cow town” and what to expect if you vacation at a dude ranch. Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
On the latest episode of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks explore a few of the incredible natural wonders located throughout the West—a dogsled excursion to view the northern lights in remote Alaska is just the tip of the awe-inspiring iceberg. Guest Lulu Miller, host of the podcasts Radiolab and Terrestrials, takes you on a journey to discover the science behind these natural creations and reveals her own adventures in search of them. Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
Next up on the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks take a road trip to discover offbeat roadside attractions around the West, from homes made deep within giant desert rocks to fire-breathing castles and so much more. Guest Dylan Thuras, of Atlas Obscura fame, shares the cool places to uncover if you wander off-the-beaten path just a little bit, and reveals how roadside attractions can rekindle a sense of wonder in travelers of all ages. Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
On the next episode of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks get up close and personal with a few cuddly critters—and a few not-so-cuddly—on a virtual visit to ethical animal sanctuaries. Guest Alison Hermance chats about how to interact with animals ethically, and with their best interest in mind, whether at a sanctuary or in the wild, and shares cool facts about the abundance of fascinating creatures in the West. Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
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. Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
In this next episode from the editors of Via magazine, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks step out of the car and into the forest on a foraging quest. Joined by expert guest Maria Finn, author of the new cookbook Forage. Gather. Feast., they learn about how the West has a bounty of edible flora and how to travel to find it. Maria shares stories from her long career as a professional forager, and tips on how to make sure you are safe and prepared before embarking on a trek into the woods (hiring a guide is first on that list). Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
In this first episode of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks kick off their exploration of the West on an auditory road trip along Nevada's Highway 50, dubbed the "Loneliest Road in America" in a 1986 Life magazine article. With expert guest Richard Moreno, celebrated author and former publisher of Nevada magazine, they discover there is so much to see and do on this stretch of desert highway, from stopping in Middlegate for a burger the size of your head to hiking along rock walls covered in Indigenous petroglyphs and even surfing on sand dunes. Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
Come explore the West with us! The Via Podcast—brought to you by AAA—will introduce you to new and unique adventures in the Western United States.
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