Here, in the darkest, dourest, deadliest, bleakest doldrums of Winter 2020, I don't feel like making any more podcasts, because what's the point, but I thought I'd slip last year's holiday extravaganza episode back into your feeds, in which we

A Minefield

Nov 24th, 2020 55m 33s

Walking on the beach, in a contemplative mood, I gaze out on what used to be an undersea minefield and discover an atrocious-looking jelly fish, oozed haphazardly over the rocks at my feet. This week's walk is sponsored by The Wild Wine Club, a

Step Into Liquid

Nov 17th, 2020 48m 41s

I accidentally walked into a creek. This week's walk is sponsored by Chris Funk's new solo record, "Songs for Dog Fitness." Pandemic music for walking your dog, or for not walking your dog. (You may know Chris as the creator of the WALKING pod

Coffee Regular

Nov 10th, 2020 45m 26s

I see many funguses. I encounter a massive buck hopping improbably high out of the ferns. Isaac tells me about someone he just met while walking, and I tell him about my imaginary friends. I walk home, in a tiny bit of a rush.

Election Night Special Coverage Special!

Nov 3rd, 2020 3h 54m

Four hours, 10.4 miles. I had to stop at a bakery in the middle. This election night special coverage special is, as always, just a recording of me walking. I hope you'll come along as a way to relax or be distracted. As special coverage theme

Dolphins!

Oct 27th, 2020 52m 24s

While investigating mushrooms at Yucky Pond, I lean over, somehow unleashing the voice of Matthew McConaughey from the phone in my pocket. Then: off to the harbor, where I confront two of life's awe-inspiring and unknowable phenomena: marine ma

Walk of Shame

Oct 20th, 2020 50m 35s

I put the word out on social media that if people made a donation to a cause they believed in, and sent me the receipt, they would be entitled to one (1) classified ad--a message about absolutely anything--which I'd during the ad break in the m

The GOATs

May 19th, 2020 34m 45s

Missing one cohost (medically excused from action; foot injury) the two of us soldier on, and decide to visit the neighbors' goats. Will they bleat? Will we get some bleating on tape? They do not bleat. And they are far away. After recording th

A Bad Case of the Downhill Giggles

May 12th, 2020 37m 34s

This is the second episode of the third season of The WALKING Podcast, a special pandemic mini-season where I am walking with my daughters and giving them the revenue from your classified ads, because my children won't go on a walk with me with

Dad, What Does 'Trespassing' Mean?

May 5th, 2020 38m 29s

Welcome to the first episode of this special pandemic mini-season of The WALKING Podcast. And this time, it’s a family affair! I’ve hired my two daughters as co-hosts because I can’t figure out what else to do with them. That’s right! It’s a wh

SEASON FINALE: You're All WALKING Now!

Mar 31st, 2020 53m 48s

There is a season--turn, turn, turn. A time to listen to someone else take a walk, a time to take a walk yourself. We are now in the latter. As I took this walk out to the harbor the other morning, I recognized that walking has become *the* l

Please buy my book THIS IS CHANCE!

Mar 24th, 2020 5m 45s

I'm sorry but you can't come along on this walk. This one's just for me. My new book is out today. It's called THIS IS CHANCE! You can buy it here on Amazon or support your local shop if that is safe and possible for you right now. Thank you.

America's Designated Walker

Mar 18th, 2020 55m 32s

Nothing much to say here. This--as always--is a recording of me walking in the woods. Maybe it's helpful to you. Maybe you'd like to take a walk but can't. I feel lucky that I can, so I feel obligated to share. This week: no sponsor. But you ca

Let Me Take You Safely Outside

Mar 11th, 2020 54m 27s

I never knew what this podcast was for; I was always surprised that people listen to it. Maybe it has a purpose now? Maybe it has something small of value to offer? Wouldn't that be strange? This week's walk is sponsored by Ian Karmel, who send

Forest Quarantine

Mar 3rd, 2020 1h 2m

Not a very relaxing moment here in Washington State. And yet, thankfully, the trails feel (and sound) exactly the same. This week's walk is sponsored by Ann Friedman, journalist, newsletter-er, and co-host of the Call Your Girlfriend podcast. A

Who Else is Gonna Bring You a Bow and Arrow?

Feb 25th, 2020 43m 15s

Off we go: into the woods, toward the harbor, up the hill, through the old cemetery, and onto my newish pal Berg's house--or, his "almost-house," as he's not quite done building it. Berg needed to set up a rope swing for his boys, and had a fu

Straightforward-Forward

Feb 18th, 2020 52m 36s

Not much to say about this walk: just putting one foot in front of the other. Particularly after the accursed misadventures of last week, this walk was a welcome, uncomplicated delight. It's a walk that unabashedly puts simplicity first: the se

Dive-bombed by Bats!

Feb 11th, 2020 45m 47s

THIS IS NOT A VERY GOOD EPISODE OF THE WALKING PODCAST. A few weeks ago, for reasons I explain in this episode’s ad break, I decided to try something new: instead of a traditional sponsor for each episode, I’d start asking people I admire to t

The WALKING Podcast Is on Vacation

Jan 21st, 2020 1m 2s

See you next week...

Snow Falling on Seavers

Jan 14th, 2020 53m 58s

I was thinking about Growing Pains on this walk--the old TV show. I was thinking about how the dad, Jason Seaver (Alan Thicke), worked at home; he was a psychologist with a private practice in an office right off the family living room. (Horren

Grief Mistaken for Joy

Jan 7th, 2020 56m 12s

Sometimes you're walking in the woods and stumble upon a wedding. Sometimes what looks like a wedding is a memorial service. This week's walk is brought to you by our friends at North Light, the friendliest all-day bar and kitchen, with a speci

BONUS: Holiday Special!

Dec 17th, 2019 58m 51s

Exploding the usual format of the show to bring you a star-studded, Yuletide spectacular that harkens back to the homespun, holiday podcast specials of days gone by! With special guest appearances by: Decemberists guitarist Chris Funk, fine art

Put 'Em In a Tree Museum

Dec 10th, 2019 52m 44s

The school carpool collapses last minute, scrambling my morning agenda, but I manage to sneak in a walk anyhow before getting in the car and journeying down to Portland for a meeting. Sometimes you have to walk before you can drive. Lace up and

Cold Open

Dec 2nd, 2019 50m 47s

Welcome back! It's Season 2 of The WALKING Podcast. Brrrrrr. The theme of Season 2 will be BUILDING BRIDGES (SEO interlude: Jeff Bridges, Phoebe Bridgers, Phoebe Waller-Bridge,) so let's bundle up and take a walk to an actual, new bridge, built

Bonus

BONUS: Scary Crossover Episode

Jun 12th, 2019 55m 27s

I'm proud to present this very special crossover episode of the WALKING podcast, in collaboration with 10 Things That Scare Me from WNYC Studios. Well, I am proud and also mildly mortified. Our most vulnerable episode to date! I took a walk and