Bush & Banter

In this episode, Dyana sits down with Triple Crown backpacker Sam Schild, fresh off his 1,200-mile trek along the Pacific Northwest Trail. From crossing Glacier National Park to navigating the Cascade Range, the Idaho Panhandle, and the rugged Selkirks, Sam recounts the journey that eventually led him to the Olympic coast — and the finish line of one of America’s wildest long-distance trails.
Together, they dive into it all — the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Sam is a storyteller and adventurer based in the American Southwest, and his reflections capture the raw beauty and challenge of life on the trail.
Follow Sam as @sia_lizard  on Instagram and TikTok 
Notable Timestamps
7:06 Why the PNT?
9:04 Preparation and research
10:47 Glacier National Park
15:40 The Lions Head Bushwhack & Idaho Panhandle
17:38 The Pasayten Wilderness
20:29 The North Cascades & Baker Lake
24:36 Olympic National Park
48:19 Sam's favorite section
51:10 Dealing with solitude
53:22 Most impactful moment

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Where to find and support Bush & Banter:
Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanter
Visit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.com
Join Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanter
E-mail Bush & Banter: [email protected]
Follow Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmella
Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

In this location spotlight on San Francisco, Dyana sits down with award-winning Location Manager Heather MacLean, a born-and-raised Bay Area native who has worked on some of the biggest film and television productions in the city. Together they dive into San Francisco’s restaurants, culture, proper attire for the ever-changing weather, hidden gems, and a behind-the-scenes look at filming The Matrix Resurrections.
Notable Timestamps
0:00 Intro
3:36 Welcome Heather MacLean
5:21 Growing up in the Bay Area
11:12 Culture and creativity
24:50 The food scene and go-to restaurants
36:40 Working as a location manager and filming in the city
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Where to find and support Bush & Banter:
Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanter
Visit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.com
Join Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanter
E-mail Bush & Banter: [email protected]
Follow Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmella
Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

In this special on-location episode, Dyana visits outdoorsman, craftsman, and adventurer Kim Peschardt. Featured in Dyana’s book A Walk Thru Neverland, Kim has decades of experience and has circled the globe many times over. We’ll dive into his childhood in Denmark, encounters with Africa’s wildlife, and the time he was dropped by helicopter into the rugged mountains of New Zealand. Kim is an outdoorsman in the truest sense — a hunter, fisherman, craftsman, and adventurer. He’s here to share wisdom, stories, and even a hint at the destination he’s eyeing for his next big journey.
To mail Kim a postcard, please send to:
Dyana Carmella
Attn: Kim Perschardt
P.O. Box 8973
CALABASAS, CA 91302-9998
NOTABLE TIMESTAMPS
3:03 Welcome Kim Peschardt
6:00 Kim's early life in Denmark
8:21 Kim's deep love for Africa
11:06 Helicopter Experiences in New Zealand
21:16 Scary animal encounters
34:22 Best adventure moments
39:59 The trip Kim wants to relive
45:26 Kim's favorite books

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Where to find and support Bush & Banter:
Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanter
Visit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.com
Join Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanter
E-mail Bush & Banter: [email protected]
Follow Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmella
Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

We made it to 100 episodes of Bush and Banter! To celebrate, we’re bringing back one of our favorite guests — filmmaker, storyteller, and thru-hiker Elina Osborne. Elina has a rare gift for capturing not just breathtaking landscapes but the complexities and beauty of the human spirit. In this episode, she takes us behind the scenes of hiking and filming the grueling 812-mile Hayduke Trail, crossing some of the wildest desert terrain in the American Southwest. We dive into trail camaraderie, isolation, terrifying water crossings — and then shift gears as Elina shares what life is like in Japan and how living there has sparked new waves of creativity. You may know Elina from her powerful Pacific Crest Trail documentary “It Is the People” or from her stunning YouTube films that explore the deeper meaning behind long trails. Join us as we celebrate this milestone episode with an unforgettable conversation about exploration, creativity, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Elina on Instagram @elinasborne
Elina on YouTube @elinaosborne
Link to B&B's first episode with Elina 
Learn More about the Eastern Sierra Land Trust - eslt.org/bushandbanter/
To learn more about the 2025 Lands & Legacy Celebration and to purchase tickets  - eslt.org/event/lands-legacy-2025/
NOTABLE TIMESTAMPS
10:05 Welcome Elina Osborne
14:00 Why the Hayduke Trail Is unlike any other
28:17  Tackling video production & hiking
44:37 Hyper-presence in tough situations
54:18 Inspiration in Japan

Send a text
Where to find and support Bush & Banter:
Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanter
Visit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.com
Join Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanter
E-mail Bush & Banter: [email protected]
Follow Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmella
Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_

In this episode, Jen and Dyana chat with Emily Pennington — journalist, adventure writer, and photographer — who’s made a name for herself covering the outdoors, national parks, adventure travel, and wellness. Emily has visited every U.S. national park and chronicled her journey in her memoir Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks. They dive into her most memorable park experiences, why solo adventuring shaped her, and how it eventually inspired her to seek out more shared adventures. A seasoned contributor to Outside magazine, Emily’s work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, REI Journal, and Backpacker.
Follow Emily on Instagram @brazenbackpacker
Check out her book - Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks
NOTABLE TIMESTAMPS
6:56 Welcome Emily Pennington
13:55 Motivation & planning year long National Park trip
25:48 Writing Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks
33:19 Emily's most surprising & favorite National Park
41:46 Relationship with discomfort
48:39 Sharing adventures with others
57:25 Overtourism & challenges facing public lands

Send a text
Where to find and support Bush & Banter:
Follow Bush & Banter on Instagram: @bushandbanter
Visit Bush & Banter's website: www.bushandbanter.com
Join Bush & Banter's Patreon community: patreon.com/bushandbanter
E-mail Bush & Banter: [email protected]
Follow Dyana on Instagram: @dyanacarmella
Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenfrederick_