Who is Puddin?

Welcome back to the Off Trail Podcast!

Today we have the privilege of chatting with the one and only, Puddin.

Catching up with her fresh off her 4400 mile thru-hike of the Eastern Continental Trail, and her first thru-hike ever, we begin unpacking the introduction to long distance hiking and the change of life.

We begin the show with learning she is a hiker, a entrepreneur, and a mental health advocate. We chat about her journey through mental health and her growth in wanting to share it with others. We chat day hiking and moving to Virginia and first seeing thru-hikers. We discuss the difference between a section hike and a thru-hike, and the fact that defined by the singular activity of walking, how different they can be.

We chat the demands of life, work, an elderly dog, relationships, and the dominoes that led her to begin the Appalachian Trail. What began as one trail would extend to include many more, but first she would have to walk to find.

We discuss realities of fog and rain compared to perceptions of sunrises and rainbows. We chat the question of what did I sign up for, and the fuel that is found when starting something and the word quit never being in your vocabulary. We chat letting go of control and embracing the knowledge of everything will work out in its own time.

We chat about being halfway into the Appalachian Trail and plans for life changing. We chat not necessarily knowing what to do and the moment of a decision at the end coming extremely quickly. We dive into the feeling of finishing but almost feeling more lost than when beginning. We chat not looking for something specific but finding, connecting pieces falling into place, and the realization that the end on Mt. Katahdin was just another step.

We listen to the heart and intuition to guide, hiking to Canada, going to the Pinhoti, and saying no to hiking Florida. Then the trail and her journey finding Florida was another step.

We chat the bodies growth into such a large trail, not having the right shoes, and taking it slow to learn as one walks. We trust the body, take it in stages, and learning not to fixate on something not going your way. We discuss taking steps back to take steps forward, finding gratitude, and what happens if you foucs on the "suck" too much.

We then dive deep into the terminus feelings at the end of such a massive hike, specifically it being a first thru-hike. We discuss reflection before the actual end, mixed emotions, and finishing not fully sinking in. We chat indecisiveness, reentering society, and the world being to loud. We crack a window to let in some fresh air, and learn about finding a new identity.

We discuss the large amounts of change one goes through on a hike, and what happens when you come back home to much being the same. We get a recommendation on how to cope, with movement, routine, and journaling. We try to harness and hold the clarity and learn steps to keep it close by.

We then go into all things business and learn more about Puddin's work. Focusing on how to run ads on Instagram and promote yourself as well as your passion. We chat about building it on trail for off trail and vice versa. A business that focuses on mental health, passion, and living your best life.

We then learn that her off trail time is already limited, and she had planned a day before, another hike! Fully bitten by the bug, still less than a full month off 4400 miles, and she is ready to get walking once again. Sounds like we have a lifer on our hands. We discuss growth on the trail through challenges and continuing to seek becoming a stronger, healthier, and happier person.

As she puts it let intuition lead you, and let the trail create you.

To learn more about Puddin:

Instagram: @hikingwithpuddin

YouTube: @hikingwithpuddin

To learn more about who we are click below:

⁠⁠⁠Website: www.ElevenSkys.com