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What You Want, When You Want It

The most modern method of storytelling makes its way into one of the world’s oldest forests

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The growth of podcast listenership is staggering.

In 2019, an average 90 million Americans (32 percent) listened to a podcast at least once a month. That’s up 6 percent from 2018. On a weekly basis, 62 million Americans listen with 19 million describing themselves as “avid podcast listeners.”

It is the ease and accessibility of podcasts, where unlike radio you can listen to what you want when you want, that has caused the medium to spread like wildfire.  

Podcasts don’t require you to watch or read.  You can listen to a podcast on your daily commute or while traveling to your vacation destination. You can listen while cooking dinner, relaxing on the porch, or with earbuds while hiking or jogging.

Also contributing to their popularity is that podcasts are relatively inexpensive to produce, leading to an array of shows geared towards specific niche listeners. With Apple reporting over 500,000 active podcasts in 2018, the varying subject matter is as diverse as our culture itself. True-crime, sports and politics still garner the most listeners, but it is niche-genres that have fueled the podcast boom by reaching listeners in the most unexpected of places. 

One example is the growing number of podcasts dedicated to the many different ways to experience nature and travel, and listening to experienced travelers’ informative and colorful stories is both educational and entertaining.

Whether you live in or around the place the podcast is set, or are visiting for the first or the tenth time, podcasts can be an excellent resource for appreciating your surroundings in a different light.

I spoke with the producers of the podcast Everyone’s National Parks that made a six-part series on the Great Smoky Mountains during two visits over recent years. Here is a bit about them, as well as three other podcasts that have focused on the Smokies over the past decade.

Interactive and accessible insights

Husband and wife team Danielle and Bryan Erwin started their podcast Everybody’s National Parks in 2017, and have produced podcasts of their trips ranging from the Virgin Islands to Yellowstone National Park.

Their hands-on recommendations, on everything from where to park to hikes you might not find on the map at the Ranger station. They are informative for both first-time visitors and experienced outdoor adventurists, and their interviews with experts and insiders offer insight into the cultural, archaeological, and ecological history in a way that can be more interactive and accessible than reading a book on the subject.

They also travel with their two young daughters who give interesting takes themselves, helping to inform listeners how best to enjoy the outdoors with the family in tow.

They have visited the Smokies twice, once on the North Carolina side and once on the Tennessee side.

Hailing from Long Island, Brian Erwin was familiar with the northern portion of the Appalachian Mountains, but was surprised by what he saw in the Smokies.

“I underestimated the beauty of Smoky Mountains National Park. Living on the east it didn’t seem at first to be as exotic as the west coast,” said the former Boy Scout who, after retiring from a career in politics, has spent the last 10 years as chairman of Long Island State Park Commission. “It was like a wonderland from the outset, and the stunning beauty was really surprising.”

Danielle especially appreciated the White Oak Pink flowers that were in bloom on their spring trip as well as the verdant setting. “I was by surprised by how lush and how green everything is there.” 

The couple believe locals as well as travelers can gather something from their podcast.

“It’s like the saying that no New Yorker really visits the Statue of Liberty, similarly, some folks may never think to visit some of the places we visit or gather something new from our outside perspective,” Bryan said.

The Erwins plan to visit the Smokies again, specifically when their daughters are old enough to hike the vigorous trails to stay at LeConte Lodge, which at 6,400 feet is the highest guest lodge on the East Coast. They are also excited about their upcoming interview with Ken Burns about the 10th anniversary of his documentary series “The National Parks, America’s Best Idea.”

Selected pods

RV Family Travel Atlas

The Trail Went Cold 

Trust the Trail

The GoSmoky Radio Show 

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