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★★★★★

4.5

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33 reviews

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Follows show producer Matt Podolsky as he attempts to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail with his 65-year-old mom, Candy. Matt and his mom face extreme weather, illness, and injury as they trek 2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine. Along the way, Matt shares stories of remarkable people, surprising history, and the modern challenges facing the Appalachian Trail — all as the iconic footpath marks its 100th anniversary. Season two of Common Land was produced by The Wild Lens Collective, in partnership with New Hampshire Public Radio.

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Check latest episodes from Common Land podcast

Appalachian Trail Episode 1: The Journey Begins

2025/07/02

Matt and his mom Candy begin their thru-hike in Georgia. As they begin to get a feel for their new routine, we explore the history of the former Cherokee Nation in Northern Georgia. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Appalachian Trail Episode 2: Trailnames and Cherokee footpaths

2025/07/02

Matt goes birdwatching on the trail and discovers his trailname. The exploration of trail names continues with another thru-hiker who thru-hiked the AT to connect with the experiences of his Cherokee ancestors, and to identify ancient footpaths that overlap with the Appalachian Trail. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Appalachian Trail Episode 3: Fear and the Chestnut Tree

2025/07/09

Matt and Candy hike their first 20 mile day, despite Candy’s fear of injury. There are other things to fear on the trail too - Matt and Candy have their first encounter with a Timber Rattlesnake, and they start to explore the ecological history of the Appalachians. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Appalachian Trail Episode 4: Walking Off the Grief

2025/07/16

Matt and Candy experience tragedy on the AT. A friend and fellow hiker loses his life in a tragic accident, forcing Matt to reflect on the loss of his dad, and his reasons for thru-hiking. The AT was born out of grief, and we explore how the trail’s origin story is connected to loss and reflection. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Appalachian Trail Episode 5: Halfway There

2025/07/30

As Matt and Candy reach Harper’s Ferry, known as the psychological mid-point of a thru-hike, we explore how the trail went from simple footpath to a uniquely shaped National Park. The AT’s history is also a history of racial segregation, and we talk to historians and modern hiking guides who are using the trail to teach about the underground railroad. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Appalachian Trail Episode 6: The Trailblazing Grandma Gatewood

2025/08/06

Candy reflects on how few older women she sees thru-hiking the AT, and we dive into the history of Appalachian Trail thru-hikes. This history begins with Grandma Gatewood, the woman who popularized the concept of a thru-hike in the 1950s. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Appalachian Trail Episode 7: Climate Change on the Trail

2025/08/13

Matt and Candy experience some of the most challenging terrain along the entire AT during an intense thunderstorm. The weather is changing, and that makes an AT thru-hike more dangerous and difficult to plan. We explore how climate change is altering the trail and the trail experience. An injury forces Matt and Candy to reevaluate their plans. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Appalachian Trail Episode 8: Roadblocks

2025/08/20

As Candy is forced off trail, Matt experiences numerous obstacles as he tries to continue the hike. He learns of a Native American reservation in Connecticut that threatened to shut down the trail, and he is nearly stopped in his tracks by a bite from a tick. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Appalachian Trail Episode 9: Tramily Matters

2025/08/27

While Candy prepares to return to the trail, Matt connects with a fun group of hikers and forms a “tramily.” As Candy rejoins, the group enters New Hampshire’s White Mountains, famous for both spectacular views and extremely challenging terrain. We explore the balancing act that land managers are playing between protecting sensitive ecosystems and allowing access to these spectacular landscapes. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Appalachian Trail Episode 10: The Alpine Hut Paradox

2025/09/03

Matt, Candy and their tramily continue through the White Mountains, reaching New Hampshire’s highest peak, Mt. Washington. A frustrating experience with the Appalachian Mountain Club’s alpine hut system inspires Matt to explore the history of these unique high elevation hotels. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Appalachian Trail Episode 11: The 100-Mile Wilderness

2025/09/10

Matt enters Maine, the last state of his AT journey, and by far the most remote section of the Appalachian Trail. We explore recent plans to protect large swaths of the 100-mile wilderness - but Indigenous leaders from the Wabanaki Alliance have different ideas about what constitutes land protection. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Appalachian Trail Episode 12: Journey's End?

2025/09/17

Katahdin is the Northern terminus of the AT, and one of the trail’s most iconic mountains. As Matt attempts to reach Katahdin’s summit and finish his thru-hike, we explore some of the controversy surrounding Baxter State Park, where Katahdin is located. Park leadership has clashed with both Indigenous governments and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy over the past few decades, and some say that the AT might need to find a new Northern terminus. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Season Two trailer

2025/06/18

Season two of Common Land follows show producer Matt Podolsky as he attempts to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail with his 65-year-old mom, Candy. Matt and his mom face extreme weather, illness, and injury as they trek 2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine. Along the way, Matt shares stories of remarkable people, surprising history, and the modern challenges facing the Appalachian Trail — all as the iconic footpath marks its 100th anniversary. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Dispatches from the Appalachian Trail: Rowan’s Interview

2022/03/27

Before embarking upon a 6-month-long hike across the spine of the Appalachian Mountain range, my 8-year-old son Rowan had some questions. This is the interview that Rowan conducted with me just a few days before my departure. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Dispatches from the Appalachian Trail: Army Ranger Training

2022/04/18

On day two of my journey along the Appalachian trail, an encounter with an Army Ranger training exercise inspired this interview. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Podcast reviews

Read Common Land podcast reviews

4.5 out of 5

33 reviews

★★★★★

Chop-Chop 19 2022/08/07

Chop-Chop’s Review

I had the opportunity to listen to this podcast while thru hiking the Appalachian trail. The podcast was extraordinary. From the storyline, to the ...

★☆☆☆☆

Gffhjijigcddd 2025/09/19

Don’t waste your time with this one

Very light on backpacking, very heavy on politics.

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