Mia talks with trans policy expert Corinne Green about Biden's regulatory rollback of Obama era protections for trans healthcare and how institutional capture of queer orgs has led to disaster in the South.
All of this week's episodes of It Could Happen Here put together in one large file.
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Trolls! These mythical creatures are -- nowadays -- beloved. Most folks think of trolls as creatures of myth, up there with the minotaur, the kraken, the selkie. And yet. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt and Noel dive into the history of troll folklore, ultimately separating fact from fiction and posing a fascinating question: What if troll legends are an oral remnant of early encounters with a previous thing almost-yet-not-quite-human?
James and Shereen discuss the benefits of touching grass, and how to get outside this summer.
Picking your route - keep it short at first. If you’re having fun, you can always loop back.
All Trails (www.alltrails.com )is a great app and has a wheelchair friendly filter. You can search for a local route that is the right length and pretty flat. Try to leave a review so that other trail users can get recent info on conditions.
Avoid too much elevation gain – if you have a paper map this means avoiding crossing too many contours. If you can’t avoid elevation gain, opt for a shorter hike. Going down an be taxing as well, so make sure to keep some energy in reserve.
Lots of modern smartphones have a built-in step counter. Use this to estimate your daily walking right now and shoot for a trail that isn’t more than that in length
Try and set off early, it’s less hot and the animals are more active.
If you’re in front country on groomed trails just bring some water and a snack and a well-charged phone. Any supportive comfy shoes are going to be great, don’t overthink it. All trails will help you navigate and there will probably be a big sign at the trailhead advising of any specifics. For example, some parks might suggest bear spray or warn you about snakes, which can be a risk even in urban areas. You can check online as well to prepare for any specific requirements of being in a given area.
Some hats I like - felted wool hat (I got mine for 15 bucks at one of those REI garage sales, don’t pay $60 for a hat https://tinyurl.com/ymfvc5e7) , legionnaire hat
Trousers – The main focus here is breathing well and having good flexibility to move as you move. One or two extra pockets is nice, as is a waist that doesn’t cut into you. I don’t prefer to wear a belt if I can avoid it when hiking. I have about five pairs of these Prana Stretch Zion trousers, which can often be found on sale. https://www.prana.com/p/stretch-zion-pant/2056941.html?dwvar_2056941_color=Mud
For climbing, buy stretchy jeans at a second-hand shop and cut them between the knee and the ankle.
Socks - Thin Merino socks are great, and you can wear them a long time before they get smelly. I tried the warranty, and both Feetures (https://feetures.com/ ) and darn tough(https://darntough.com/) will replace your socks for free.
Wind layer for chilly alpine starts, or runs that go into the night, or just when it is windy, I have been really enjoying the OR men’s shadow wind hoodie - I like the peaked hood. I see these marked down below $100 all the time, so don’t pay MSRP (https://www.outdoorresearch.com/products/mens-shadow-wind-hoodie-300899)
You might also want a light waterproof but if it’s warm I don’t mind being wet
Boots vs shoes
Most people will be more comfortable in shoes. If you don’t wear boots for work or casually, and you’re not carrying much weight, don’t go spending money on a hiking boot. Getting a stable shoe option gives you some of the benefits of the boot, without as much weight or rubbing.
I lie to trail run, and so all the shoes I use are double-duty for hiking or trail running. I don’t like shoes with stiff, hard midsoles which rules a lot of “hiking” shoes out. My trail running shoe rotation right now is
Salomon Genesis https://tinyurl.com/yz5krn36 -I love how light these are, and they have side walls which make them very stable. They have enough stack to protect my feet, but not so much that I eat shit because I can’t feel the trail.
Saucony Xodus ultra 2, https://www.saucony.com/en/xodus-ultra-2 . These have really nice foam in the midsole that I love for running. They’re also very stable, and well cushioned. I run in these all the time, and they’ve been pretty durable and very comfy. They are a little tall, so if you are really worried about turning an ankle they may not be the best.
Under heavy load, I do like boots. Salomon quest 4 (https://www.salomon.com/en-us/shop/product/quest-4-gore-tex.html#color=77341 ) is my go to, and I have stockpiled spare pairs in case they change it, but I’ve enjoyed Vasque boots a lot in the past and they are often overlooked. It’s really important to try on any boots you want to buy.
You’ll have to choose between frameless ultralight bags, internal frame bags (The majority of the market, and external frame bags)
The lighter you get the less structure and organization you get. A nice option that is pretty light, but still very comfy, is the radix from Mystery Ranch https://www.mysteryranch.com/radix-47-pack You can often find MR gear on sale, and their equipment lasts forever. I have taken other MR bags literally all over the world filled with camera and audio gear and they’re still looking great.
Poles make hiking easier on your knees. I have a pair of One Way poles that I have been using on and off trail recently and have yet to break, I normally massacre hiking poles so these get my seal of approval. Make sure they are sized appropriately for your height. https://www.onewaysport.com/us_en/trekking-poles-highlights
We will cover what goes in your pack in another episode but I do want to say don’t ever hike in the backcountry without a means of communication (which is not your phone if there’s not signal where you’re going), navigation, water, clothing appropriate for the next 24 hours where you are (which might mean packing for overnight lows), any meds you need that day, a small first aid kit, and some snacks
How have notable historic figures been affected by dangerous chemicals? Did the US really suppress secret goggles that allow you to see auras? Why has Pornhub banned itself in Texas? In Letters From Home, the guys learn more about the Food Cube Theory. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.
Mia talks with Simon and Alex, two co-founders and worker owners of the music co-op platform Mirlo, about how streaming changed the music industry and how to fix it.
Civilization only exists as a result of global trade. Without countless trucks, trains, cargo ships and aircraft, the world as humans understand it will collapse. In tonight's episode, Ben, Matt, and Noel explore a particularly fascinating aspect of global shipping -- the freight brokers. These companies are logistical giants: in theory, they intervene to make sure everything gets from Point A to Point Z in the most efficient manner possible. This evening, we ask: What happens when these industries conspire?
Shereen continues her talk with nurse and street medic Eva about the reality on the ground in Palestine, as well as the process of traveling from the West Bank into Gaza.
On November 11, 2018, seismologists began puzzling over a weird low-frequency rumble that rang through the entire planet. The wave wasn’t connected to any known events, and scientists remain mystified by the mysterious phenomenon. Join the guys as the explore the theories behind the world’s weirdest earthquake.
