JUMP with Traveling Jackie

What if learning another language could give you an entirely new way to experience being human? 

Jackie sits down with Brazilian-born storyteller, filmmaker and polyglot Jo Franco to talk about the power of language, the doors it can open, and the cultural ideas that simply can’t be translated into a single English word. Jo shares her journey from building the wildly successful travel brand Shut Up and Go to hosting a Netflix series and ultimately creating and self-funding Translated, her documentary series exploring untranslatable expressions and the people, places and histories behind them. 

Along the...

What does it really mean to take a smart risk and live intentionally? 

In JUMP’s first-ever live podcast, recorded onstage at the Travel Gear and Adventure Show in Salt Lake City, Jackie sits down with legendary professional climber Alex Honnold and ski mountaineer Jim Morrison. 

They explore how years of training, failure, preparation, and time outdoors taught them to work with fear rather than be ruled by it. Alex and Jim reflect on the experiences that led to their historic accomplishments, including Alex’s free solo of El Capitan and Jim’s first ski descent...

Why Georgia? Jackie and returning guest Ginger Cooper answer that question by sharing two very different adventures through this mountainous, wonderfully under-the-radar country. 

Ginger recounts a four-day trek through the remote villages of the Svaneti region, while Jackie shares how unexpected snow changed her group’s hiking plans and led them toward Kazbegi, the fortress village of Shatili, and the vineyards of Kakheti. Along the way, they talk guesthouses, local drivers, sketchy mountain roads, Georgian wine, incredible bread, unforgettable tomatoes, and the legendary Svaneti salt. 

They also explore the value of flexible travel, choosing experiences that...

José Gonzalez, founder of Latino Outdoors and fellow Osprey ambassador, joins Jackie for a rich and deeply thoughtful conversation about identity, belonging, culture, and finding your place outside. 

José shares his story of immigrating from Mexico to the U.S., the layered meanings behind identifying as Mexican, Latino, Chicano, and Hispanic, and how those roots shaped his work in creating Latino Outdoors. Together, Jackie and José explore the outdoors as a spectrum, from nearby parks and family walks to backpacking trips and wilderness adventures, and talk about the power of making outdoor spaces feel welc...

Jackie sits down with James Edward Mills, fellow Osprey ambassador, freelance journalist, National Geographic Explorer, and creator of the Joy Trip Project, for a wide-ranging conversation about building an adventurous life on purpose. 

James shares how a childhood in Los Angeles, a job at REI, an unexpected career with The North Face, and a life-changing pivot after 9/11 led him into journalism and storytelling rooted in equal outdoor access, conservation, and community. Together, Jackie and James explore the power of following curiosity, choosing lifestyle over convention, uncovering hidden histories in the outdoors, and creating opportunities f...

What if putting down roots could actually set you free? 

In this deeply personal solo episode, Jackie celebrates buying her first house and takes us through nearly a decade of reflections on home, belonging, freedom, and life as a long-term traveler. Through four essays and the recurring symbol of a rice cooker, she shares how her relationship with possessions, stability, Montana, and the idea of putting down roots has evolved over the years. Jackie recounts the surprising way her house found her, why the buying process felt so easy, and how homeownership released a c...

What happens when you can’t find the community you’re looking for? For Cassidy VanOrden, the answer was simple: create it. In this episode, Jackie sits down with Cassidy, founder of Girl Get After It, a women-focused community built around outdoor adventure, movement, trying new things, and making real friendships as adults.

Cassidy shares the story behind Girl Get After It, from growing up in a tiny Montana town and being shaped by her family’s entrepreneurial spirit, to navigating deep grief after losing her dad, to hosting one free event in Bozeman that u...

Karla Amador, founder of the 52 Hike Challenge, joins Jackie to share the deeply personal story behind a movement that has inspired hundreds of thousands of people to get outside. After becoming a mom at 17, navigating a young marriage, and later going through a painful divorce, Karla found herself in a dark season where hiking became a path toward healing, strength, and self-trust.

What started as a simple goal to hike once a week for a year grew into a nationwide community, complete with chapters, resources, finisher stories, and now a new nonprofit arm called...

What if you stopped waiting to feel ready and just started pedaling? 

In this episode, Jackie sits down with Hana Black, a New Zealand cyclist and guide who, together with her partner Mark, bikepacked from Alaska all the way to Ushuaia, Argentina, covering roughly 32,000 miles through 16 countries over more than four years. Hana shares how a quiet dream became a life-shaping quest, what it actually took to fund and begin such a massive adventure, and why you do not need to be an elite athlete or have perfect gear to do something extraordinary. 

...

What happens when the life you’ve built no longer feels like the life that fits? In this heartfelt conversation, Jackie sits down with guest Jackie Flood for an honest look at what it means to trust yourself enough to make a major change. Jackie Flood shares her journey from suburban Detroit and years in corporate life to making the bold decision to sell her house, leave her job, begin training as a life coach, and step into a more nomadic chapter of life after 40.

Together, they talk about anxiety, courage, societal expectations, paying at...

What happens when you know you’re meant for more, but comfort has quietly started to win?

In this different kind of episode, Jackie sits down with her friend Walker Smith for an honest, unscripted conversation about being at a crossroads. Walker shares how a childhood spent traveling the world shaped his perspective from an early age, why hospitality and human connection still drive his curiosity, and how a delayed dream of becoming a bush pilot in Namibia has forced him to reexamine what he really wants. 

Together, they exp...

What happens when you combine one of the wildest road trips on Earth with local knowledge and a spirit of adventure? Jackie sits down with Chilean travel expert Christian Morrison, founder of EcoChile, to explore the magic of traveling through Chile and Argentina.

From childhood stories of Patagonia and unforgettable nights on a penguin-filled island to driving the legendary Carretera Austral through glaciers, fjords, and rainforest, Christian shares what makes this region so special. Jackie and Christian talk about the power of traveling with local guides, leaving room for spontaneity, and how Patagonia has...

What if quitting your job led you to discover one of the most famous mountains in the world? 

In this episode, Jackie sits down with LeAnn Morris, co-founder of Flashpacker Connect, to share the wild story of how a year-long leap into travel took her from banking in the U.S. to hiking deep in the Peruvian Andes—where she and her husband stumbled upon what would soon become known as Rainbow Mountain. From trekking through Nepal during the earthquake to building a sustainable adventure travel company rooted in local partnerships, LeAnn’s story is a...

What happens when a long-term nomadic traveler rescues a dog and decides not to slow down, but to bring him along? 

Jackie sits down with travel writer and digital nomad Lora Pope to talk about building a life abroad, navigating burnout, and how one tiny pug named Puglo completely reshaped her journey. From backpacking solo across the world to creating a home base in Mexico, traveling through 16 countries with a dog, and pivoting her business when the travel industry changed overnight, Laura shares the honest highs, lows, and logistics of designing a life that a...

What happens when you stop chasing the forecast and start listening to yourself? Jackie sits down with longtime meteorologist turned global traveler Jennifer Broome for a deeply honest conversation about curiosity, courage, and choosing a new direction when life shifts beneath your feet. From breaking glass ceilings in broadcast news to reporting from unforgettable places around the world, Jennifer shares how travel slowly became both her work and her compass.

Together, Jackie and Jennifer explore how grief, silence, and movement intersect, and why travel can be a fast track to self-discovery when everything feels...

What if the thing you love most could become your passport to the world? 

Jackie sits down with ice hockey coach Pete Kamman to explore how following a personal passion can lead to deeper, more meaningful travel experiences.

Pete shares how hockey has shaped his life, from growing up in the Midwest to coaching in Montana and eventually taking his work across the globe. He reflects on living and coaching in Namibia for a year, a decision that changed the course of his career and helped form the foundation o...

What happens when you finally say yes to the idea that won’t leave you alone, only to discover it isn’t meant to last forever?

In this candid conversation, Jackie sits down with Carley to reflect on her eight months living in France, from the thrill of arrival to the quieter challenges that surfaced once the novelty wore off. Carley shares what it really looked like to build a life abroad without a job offer or formal program, navigating visas, housing in Lyon, remote work, and daily life far from home.

As t...

In this special solo episode closing out 2025 and celebrating episode 200 of JUMP, Jackie reflects on a year of travel, growth, and big transitions. Recorded alongside a real-time sunrise over Edinburgh Castle, she shares three lessons from her final JUMP Adventures trip of the year to Peru, including why the in-between moments matter more than landmarks, how taking the road less traveled deepens meaning, and why slow travel creates the strongest connection to place.

Jackie also shares an important update on JUMP Adventures, explaining her decision to step back from leading public group trips after...

What does it really take to build great adventure gear, and what does packing look like for the people designing it? In this energizing conversation, Jackie sits down with longtime friend and colleague Vince Mazzuca, Osprey's Category Director for Technical Products, to explore how Osprey creates the packs we trust on the trail, on the road, and in the unknown.

Vince shares his journey from growing up between Sacramento and Pittsburgh to becoming a Yakima tech rep traveling from Florida to Maine, to working at Ruffwear, and finally landing at Osprey over a decade...

What if travel could become even more meaningful simply by bringing more of yourself into it?

In this wide-ranging and heartfelt conversation, Jackie sits down with trail runner, storyteller, and adventure-driven creative Alex Sanchez, whom she met on a magical trail-running Day of Adventure in Patagonia during the Adventure Travel World Summit. What started as a chance encounter on a bus turned into a conversation about purpose, community, and the uncommon ways we can build deeper meaning into our travels.

Alex shares how an immersive internship in the Dominican...

What if the key to rediscovering joy, connection, and hope in humanity was as simple as slowing down?

Join Jackie as she sits down with adventurer, filmmaker, and lifelong bike advocate Ryan Van Duzer, whose life on two wheels has become a mission to inspire connection, sustainability, and joy through travel. From his early vow at age eight to never own a car to his incredible ride home from the Peace Corps in Honduras, Ryan's story is a testament to how slow travel can open hearts and minds.

In...

What does it mean to truly belong to Rapa Nui? In this second and final part of Jackie’s immersive Easter Island experience, she sits down with local guide Tokerau to uncover the living culture behind the island’s iconic statues. From ancestry and family stories to the protected laws that keep multinational corporations off the island, this episode reveals how Rapa Nui’s people continue to preserve their identity in one of the most remote communities on Earth.

Tokerau shares personal reflections on what it means to be Rapa Nui—how bloodline defines belonging, how Chilean coloniza...

What if the stone statues could actually see you? On Rapa Nui, the moai “came alive” only when coral-and-obsidian eyes were set in place—turning carved stone into guardians watching over their people. In this immersive audio tour, Jackie takes you across Easter Island’s windswept platforms, quarries, and coastal vistas to decode the moai: what they meant, how they were moved, and why most face inland. You’ll hear field recordings from the trail, learn why an official guide is essential for 90% of the National Park, and stand (sonically) before Ahu Akivi’s seven moai aligned with the spring equin...

What if sticking out your thumb on the side of the road turned into one of the most life-changing experiences of your journey? After completing the Great Divide Trail, Jada set out to hitchhike 500 miles back to Montana—and along the way, she discovered the power of trust, the kindness of strangers, and the unexpected magic that happens when you leave room for it. In this continuation of her story, Jada shares unforgettable encounters with trail angels, surprising meals with strangers, and the lessons that only long-distance hiking can teach. From trail magic to her mantra of “live so hard...

What if the accident that nearly ended you became the spark that set your life on fire? A snowboarding crash left Jada “Flo” bedridden—until she turned recovery into an 800-mile trek across Arizona that launched her into the world of long-distance trails. In this episode, we trace her journey from deserts to the Canadian Rockies and the lessons she’s learned about resilience, simplicity, and giving yourself permission to pivot. Part two (Ep. 194) continues with trail angels, hitchhiking, and the kindness of strangers.

Resources:

What if the biggest party on two wheels was happening in the middle of Iowa every summer—and you were invited? Cyclist Eric Whalen joins Jackie to share the magic of RAGBRAI, the week-long ride across the state that’s equal parts endurance, community, and carnival. From pies and slip-n-slides to costumes and late-night music, Eric reveals how this ride became a father-son tradition and why it’s one of the most joyful cycling adventures in the country.

Resources:

She was a corporate high-flyer who traded boardrooms for backcountry trails. After joining Jackie on the O Circuit in Patagonia—celebrating a sobriety milestone and conquering suspension bridges—Ginger Cooper came home and sold her house, quit her job, and built a life on her own terms. From solo camper van trips above the Arctic Circle to kayaking with beluga whales, her story is a joyful reminder of what’s possible when you say yes to what calls you.

Caution: may inspire spontaneous ticket purchases.

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She grew up watching her dad walk across the country—literally—from capital to capital. Decades later, Sherry Ott is finishing what he started… by bike. In this episode, Jackie sits down with the travel veteran (and six-time guest!) to talk about her latest quest: a cross-country cycling journey that’s equal parts tribute, personal challenge, and epic adventure.

What began in the 80s with paper maps and pushpins has become “Capital to Capital,” Sherry’s self-filmed docuseries chronicling her ride through rural America. Along the way, she’s faced down busy highways, wild dogs, flat tires...

He was a small-town guy from Montana, she was living the big city life in New York. They met on a trip to Morocco and got engaged four years later in Antarctica, and they had an adventure date on every continent in between. Listen in as Jackie gets the whole story from guests Andy Austin and Chelsea Anderson, two globe-trotting professionals who fell in love as they journeyed to the ends of the earth, together.

Pairs well with pajamas and champagne.

- The sweetest thing you will watch today: Andy & Chelsea's sw...

Dr. Chelsea Anderson never imagined that becoming a veterinarian would allow her to travel the world and work and live in places like Sri Lanka, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and beyond. But early on in her career, she figured out how to combine her two passions of traveling and working with animals. Today she shares with us her stories from volunteering her veterinary services all across the globe. Tune in to this inspiring story to find out how she does it, where she’s been, and the things she’s learned abroad that she applies every day to her...

Join Jackie and Jason Moore from Zero to Travel Podcast today as they unpack a recent experience in Norway, including first impressions, cultural differences and adaptation in expat life, what makes up the “real" Norway, and a via ferrata on “the highest sea cliff in Europe” that catapulted Jackie straight out of her comfort zone.

Takeaways

- Only WE have the power to get ourselves through hard situations

- Everybody needs a little help sometimes

- Hold on to your curiosity - it has the power to take you FAR bey...

Join Jackie for this solo episode on a balcony overlooking the sea in Albania as she recaps a week-long road trip full of adventures across Southern Albania. Alongside details that will help you plan a future trip to Albania, she shares her experiences and stories, which include delicious food, wild landscapes, the kindness of strangers, and how she and her friend got through a rather scary mishap on a steep mountain pass. Plus, she shares about what she believes is a currency stronger than money in this corner of the planet. Bring a snack or drink and pull up...

Jackie sits down with the one and only Samantha Brown as she shares her journey from being an aspiring musical theater actress to becoming a star TV host on the Travel Channel and ultimately going on to create her own show, 'Places to Love,' on PBS. She discusses the importance of grit, persistence and resilience in achieving dreams, recounts a wild story about a pivotal audition experience, and emphasizes the impact of kindness and support from others. Samantha also reflects on her purpose in travel and authentic storytelling through her TV show, focusing on celebrating the stories of...

Rachel Rudwall (aka RachelRoams) shares her story of growing up in the Midwest to becoming a successful travel TV producer and host and adventuring across the globe. Today we explore her journey, including the exact steps she took to create the career in media that would enable her to pursue her dream of exploring the world. In this conversation, Jackie and Rachel discuss navigating career choices, learning from mentors, embracing your authentic self, chasing what scares you, and aligning with your unique dreams and purpose. Rachel’s story is an inspiring example of doing the hard work and taking ri...

Chris and Sara bought a 1988 Land Cruiser Camper and set out just over a year ago with plans to drive it from the US all the way down to Argentina, with their dog Kramer in tow. Today they tell all as we find out what kinds of adventures and major misadventures they got into throughout Central America, and why they now have their sights set in an entirely new direction. Our conversation flows from traveling with a dog, to balancing home life and camper travel, to the chaos and beauty of life on the road, vehicle issues, interacting with...

Adventure is stepping out into the unknown, whether that takes us deeper into our backyards or across the world, and we have the choice to say yes to it. Saying yes to adventure sets in motion a path toward strength, resourcefulness, education, and ultimately lessons and momentum to carry us forward. Saying yes to adventure has the power to completely alter our paths. Join Jackie and guest Jordan Campbell — journalist, photographer, humanitarian, and documentary filmmaker — as they discuss the idea of the tao of adventure (essentially the natural course of adventure), what adventure means, and what it looks like to l...

This episode is one for the books. Eleven years ago this week, Jackie first launched this podcast. Why? Largely because of the advice of Podcast Hall of Fame inductee Lou Mongello, who is here as a guest host today. Listen in as Lou himself picks up the mic and turns it on Jackie, to reflect on and celebrate the past decade-plus of her podcasting journey.

We’re taking a deep dive behind the scenes, starting with how the podcast began, overcoming fears and challenges, building community through travel, finding purpose and fulfillment, balancing passion an...

Join Jackie and guest Kellee Edwards, licensed pilot, scuba diver, television host, and “Most Interesting Woman in the World.” Kellee shares her story about how she got started on her path to becoming a pilot and having a show on the Travel Channel, plus what inspires and drives her to keep going, as well as her advice on how to act on big dreams. Today we tackle overcoming fears, embracing adventure, empowering women, the essence of bravery, and breaking barriers. Strap in, because we’re blazing a trail of courage, authenticity, and pursuit of living and doing big things. Pro ti...

It’s one thing to feel a connection to a place beyond what you see and what you might already know about it, but it’s another step entirely to truly get off the beaten path and explore the depths of it. Gabe Erivez from Agave Expeditions has done exactly that with Baja California Sur. Beyond the crowded beaches and surf breaks, Gabe has sought out locals and their stories, bringing the real culture of Baja to life for his guests, whom he leads on 4x4 overlanding trips down the peninsula. Join us today as we learn more about Baja...

Meet Sarah & Seth, JUMP podcast listeners and newlyweds who not only went to Patagonia for their honeymoon, but had Jackie personally design their trip! Today we find out what their criteria was for their dream honeymoon, and how Jackie mixed rugged backcountry experiences with cultural adventure, culinary delights, and a little luxury to round out their trip of a lifetime in Southern Patagonia.

- Find Sarah @jacoby_624 and Seth @sethrowsam on IG

- Like the sound of our Patagonia honeymoon itinerary? Let us re-create it for YOU - reach out to us...