Via Podcast explores travel and adventure across the Western United States, whether listeners are new to the region or lifelong residents. Hosts Mitti Hicks and Michelle Donati interview experts, residents, and adventurers about the West’s distinctive places and experiences. Episodes aim to spark new interests, from foraging to road trips, and often include insights about familiar destinations. Presented by AAA, the show also shares travel stories and messages from AAA members.
Episodes
Ghost Hunting in Haunted Hollywood: Spot the Black Dahlia, Marilyn Monroe, and the Starlet Who Haunts the Hollywood Sign
Just in time for Halloween, here’s your star map to haunted Hollywood: On this ghost tour of Los Angeles, you’ll spy Marilyn Monroe’s spirit in a hotel mirror, step inside the grand hotel lobby where the Black Dahlia was last seen alive, and breathe in the lingering perfume of the 1930s starlet (and Kirsten Dunst doppelgänger) who haunts the Hollywood sign. Go beyond tourist territory—Tinseltown’s
Where Day of the Dead Truly Comes Alive: From a Candlelit Island in Mexico to a Skeleton Parade in Austin, Texas
Dia de los Muertos is a celebration of life, and we’re stopping by its liveliest festivals. We’ll board a boat to Janitzio, a sacred island in Mexico’s Lake Patzcuaro, where fishermen light the way with giant butterfly nets and a candlelit cemetery glows like a field of stars. In Mexico City, we’ll squeeze in to watch thousands of costumed participants at the world’s largest Dia de los Muertos par
Weirdly Wonderful Museums: Ancient Computers, Curious Scents, and a Poozeum
An Arizona museum devoted entirely to fossilized poop. A collection of more than one million items that washed up on one Washington beach. A Montana exhibit starring Old Brass Brains, a 116-year-old computer. These quirky stops are unlikely candidates for a must-see list, and that’s entirely the point. They deliver what marquee attractions can’t: genuine surprise, a glimpse into a universe you nev
Coast Through Skate Culture: From Outlaws to the Olympics
Grab your helmet and your grip tape for a ride through the surprising past and thrilling present of skateboarding, a sport that’s indelibly shaped West Coast slang, fashion, and urban landscape design.
Our hosts are joined by former pro skater and current Olympic judge Alex White for a journey through the drained swimming pools, Costco curbs, and other surprising locales that nurtured some of t
Dive into Mermaid Magic: From Underwater Cancan Shows to Kitschy Tiki Bars
Sporting a sparkling sky-blue tail, Rachel Smith goes to work every day as a professional mermaid. It turns out, you can find mermaids swimming all over the West—if you know where to look! Every May, they congregate at the California Mermaid Convention, the longest-running mermaid event in the West (which Smith co-founded), to parade through the cobblestone streets of Old Sacramento.
In this episo
The Native Food Revival: Chef Crystal Wahpepah Shares Her Favorite Native Dishes and Where to Try Them
Taste the stories, history, and energy behind modern Native American cuisine with Chef Crystal Wahpepah. A member of the Kickapoo Tribe and key player in the recent resurgence of Indigenous food, Wahpepah became the first Native woman to own a restaurant in Northern California when she opened Wahpepah’s Kitchen in Oakland in 2021. Her debut cookbook, A Feather and a Fork, came out in 2026.
In this
Searching for Sasquatch: History, Hoaxes, and the Hunt for a Camera-Shy Hominid
According to a 2025 survey, nearly one in three people believes in Bigfoot: that fantastical, forest-dwelling hominid, famously captivating yet camera-shy. And interest is growing. But why? What does science have to say about our contemporary concept of Sasquatch? And how would anyone know what a “Bigfoot call” actually sounds like?
Grab your night-vision goggles and join us as journalist Laura Kr
The Great Wolf Comeback: The Real Story of Their Remarkable Return
By the early 1900s, gray wolves had been hunted, trapped, and poisoned out of the West. Now, more than 3,000 wolves roam here. Our guest, wildlife biologist Diane Boyd, has spent nearly 50 years tracking their remarkable comeback—from the arrival of a lone gray wolf from Canada in 1979 to today’s thriving packs. In pursuit of her resilient quarry, Diane has faced down grizzly bears, forded icy riv
Discover the Real Route 66: A Murderous Zookeeper, a Secret Stairwell, and Feral Donkeys Galore
Pack the car! Route 66 turns 100 this year, and the Mother Road is still one weird and wild ride. We’re hitting the highway from the California border to the New Mexico high desert, where we’ll encounter the feral donkeys who rule the streets of a gold rush boomtown, visit an abandoned zoo with a body count, and climb a 2,000-year-old pueblo with a hidden staircase that outsmarted the Spanish conq
Best of Season 2: Ghosts, UFOs, and Rodeos
Missed a stop? We’ve got you. This season’s recap rewinds our best moments. Join hosts Mitti and Michelle as they recall tales of haunted nights aboard the Queen Mary, close encounters near Area 51, a record-breaking birder who can hoot like an owl, the rhinestone sparkle of Portland’s 8 Seconds Rodeo, and the cuddly joys of goat yoga. Along the way, they share listener shout-outs, unexpected less
Haunted Hotels You Can Visit — and the Ghosts Who Never Checked Out
We visit haunted hotels you can actually book—from the Stanley Hotel (inspiration for The Shining) to Glacier National Park's Belton Chalet—with the hosts of National Park After Dark. Our guests, Danielle LaRock and Cassie Yahnian, share chilling tales of historic lodging near our country’s most majestic parks. Join us (if you dare) to meet the West’s creepiest overnight guests, including Scary Ma
Adventures with the World’s Best Birder: In Your Backyard and Beyond
Noah Strycker is the Indiana Jones of birding, willing to brave jungle heat and Arctic cold just to spot that rare bunting, owl, or hawk. In 2015, in a quest that spanned 41 countries and all seven continents, he set a world record by finding more than 6,000 different kinds of birds—more than half the bird species on Earth—in a single year.
But, as Noah explains in this episode, searching out our
Dive Into Hawaii Surf Culture: Catch a Wave Where Legends Roamed
Drop in to the world of Hawaiian surf culture—its deep roots in island history, why it’s the perfect place for beginners to learn, and how women are reclaiming their places on the waves.
Tourists visiting Hawaii from the mainland might look out from the beach at the surfers riding the waves, and think it’s all just part of the tropical scenery. But to native-born Hawaiians, those surfers signify a
Join a Literary Joyride: 2 Writers, Beloved Bookstores, and Jack London’s Ghost
Hit the road—and the stacks—with literary powerhouses Tommy Orange (Wandering Stars and Pulitzer Prize finalist There There) and Kaveh Akbar (National Book Award finalist Martyr!). The two best friends pulled over during their joint book tour to share their favorite indie bookshops, rising Western writers, and unconventional creative sanctuaries, including a Los Angeles spa where Kaveh’s imaginati
Hop on the Cheese Trail: Views, Moos, and One Cheesy Scandal
Brie for breakfast? Yes, please! Nibble fromage from dawn to dusk on the West Coast’s Cheese Trail. We’ll cuddle baby goats, sample hand-stretched Oaxacan-style cheese, and unwrap Monterey Jack’s unscrupulous origins on the region’s tastiest route.
Along the “whey,” the trail’s founder, Vivien Straus, will share her family’s deep dairy roots, the joys of cheese-fueled road trips, and why the West
The Black Rodeo Boom: Beyoncé’s "Cowboy Carter" Was Just the Spark
Hold on to your hats! From Beyoncé’s "Cowboy Carter" to rising rodeo stars, Black cowboy culture is having a major moment—and we’re saddling up for a closer look. Along the way, we’ll stop to line dance to Kendrick Lamar at L.A.’s star-studded Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, clown around at the lively Arizona Black Rodeo, and chill out at the Compton Cowboys' ranch.
Our guest, photographer Ivan M
Where to Savor the West’s True Flavor: From the Best Al Pastor Tacos to Truffle Garlic Noodles
Get ready to drool: Dungeness crab rolls, sumac-spiced chicken, coconut bread pudding—and those are just the appetizers. In this episode, Chef Preeti Mistry, host of the James Beard Award–winning podcast Loading Dock Talks, dishes on what makes the San Francisco Bay Area the most exciting, flavor-packed, and deliciously diverse food scene in the country.
Together, we dig into the Bay’s secret sau
Close Encounters with UFO Hot Spots: Area 51, Roswell, and the Great ET Road Trip
The truth is out West! We’re hopping on the ET Highway and venturing to the most notorious alien hot spots, including Roswell’s infamous crash site, Area 51’s eerie perimeter, and a mysterious desert watchtower.
Join us as journalist Laura Krantz, host of the podcast Wild Thing, beams up to share stories from the front lines of UFO reporting—from strange sightings and quirky festivals to a mailbo
The Southwest’s Wildest Outdoor Art: From Lightning Fields to Sun Tunnels
A secret field that summons lightning. A massive spiral that disappears into a salt lake. A celestial observatory carved into a volcano. Meet the wild—and sometimes explosive—world of land art, where artists craft masterpieces with dynamite and bulldozers.
In our Season 2 premiere, guest Dylan Thuras, cofounder of Atlas Obscura, takes us off road and into the minds of the artists who literally res
Via Podcast: Bonus Episode
Surprise: The Via Podcast is back with one last episode for the season. Join hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks as they reflect on what they discovered about the American West, from Mormon crickets on the Loneliest Road in America to foraging in their own backyards to a one-armed lawyer whose spirit may or may not be hanging around a ghost town to this day.
Via Podcast is a production of AAA
Uncover Ghost Towns with Brent Underwood
On the season finale of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks head into the high deserts of California and Nevada to visit ghost towns. They learn what it's like to actually live in one—where there may or may not be a resident spirit—and where to go to see the most preserved mining towns in the West.
Guest Brent Underwood, owner and resident of Cerro Gordo near Death Valley, Calif
Frolic in the Foliage with Lauren Oakes
Next up on the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks grab a sweater and head out into the forest for a leaf-peeping adventure. They discover a few great spots to view fall colors, and learn why immersing themselves in a forest is good for the soul.
Guest Lauren Oakes, a forest and climate scientist, shares her best-loved spots in the West to see the leaves change, and encourages us al
Ride the Rails with Laura Kiniry
On the latest episode of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks hop on a train and discover why a slower pace of travel has big benefits, from sights not seen by car or air to the freedom to roam while the landscapes change around you.
Guest Laura Kiniry, a travel writer and train-riding expert, reveals her favorite rail adventures through the towering mountains of Glacier National
Unwrap Regional Foods with Giselle Kennedy Lord
The Via Podcast is back, and in this episode hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks discover where to find the freshest and tastiest local foods around the West, from crisp apples on Hood River's Fruit Loop to salty oysters from the Puget Sound.
Guest Giselle Kennedy Lord, co-author of The Ark of Taste, takes us on a culinary discovery of the West, and reveals the importance of eating local, suppor
Unearth Yosemite's Secrets with Lillian Cunningham
On this episode of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks learn behind-the-scenes stories and insider scoop on Yosemite National Park, from the history of the creation of the park to where to uncover the entirety of the park's archives.
Guest Lillian Cunningham, host of the Washington Post podcast Field Trip, takes you behind the curtain and explores how the park was created and wh
Mosey into the Authentic West with Will Grant
The Via Podcast returns with modern cowboy storyteller Will Grant, who reveals why hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks are “dudes” and so much more.
Listen as Grant uncovers the authentic West—and also defines what that even means—as we trot on horseback through Utah’s west desert amid wild horses and experience the Navajo Nation in Arizona with a Diné guide. Grant also tells us why Sheridan, Wy
Discover Natural Wonders with Lulu Miller
On the latest episode of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks explore a few of the incredible natural wonders located throughout the West—a dogsled excursion to view the northern lights in remote Alaska is just the tip of the awe-inspiring iceberg.
Guest Lulu Miller, host of the podcasts Radiolab and Terrestrials, takes you on a journey to discover the science behind these natura
Explore Quirky Roadside Attractions with Dylan Thuras
Next up on the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks take a road trip to discover offbeat roadside attractions around the West, from homes made deep within giant desert rocks to fire-breathing castles and so much more.
Guest Dylan Thuras, of Atlas Obscura fame, shares the cool places to uncover if you wander off-the-beaten path just a little bit, and reveals how roadside attractions c
Encounter Animals Ethically with Alison Hermance
On the next episode of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks get up close and personal with a few cuddly critters—and a few not-so-cuddly—on a virtual visit to ethical animal sanctuaries.
Guest Alison Hermance chats about how to interact with animals ethically, and with their best interest in mind, whether at a sanctuary or in the wild, and shares cool facts about the abundance of
Make it a State Park Summer with Peter Fish
On the latest episode of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks learn why state parks are their best bet for getting out into nature without the crowds.
Travel journalist and parks expert Peter Fish shares his favorite state parks, the stories behind lesser-known ones, and why you shouldn't judge a park by its name.
Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
Dig Into Nature on a Foraging Trip with Maria Finn
In this next episode from the editors of Via magazine, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks step out of the car and into the forest on a foraging quest.
Joined by expert guest Maria Finn, author of the new cookbook Forage. Gather. Feast., they learn about how the West has a bounty of edible flora and how to travel to find it.
Maria shares stories from her long career as a professional forager, an
Drive the Loneliest Road with Richard Moreno
In this first episode of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks kick off their exploration of the West on an auditory road trip along Nevada's Highway 50, dubbed the "Loneliest Road in America" in a 1986 Life magazine article.
With expert guest Richard Moreno, celebrated author and former publisher of Nevada magazine, they discover there is so much to see and do on this stretch of
Via Podcast Trailer
Come explore the West with us! The Via Podcast—brought to you by AAA—will introduce you to new and unique adventures in the Western United States.
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