Episode Details

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Andy Laub. Andy is a thru-hiker, documentarian, cinematographer, director, editor, visual effects artist...basically all things under the sun dealing with making videos. His work has been featured on the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, BBC World, Amazon Prime, Hulu & PBS World Channel. His first trail documentary, As It Happens, has more than a million views on YouTube. We chat all about his backpacking career, what goes into a professional video production, juggling his adventures while being a parent of two youngsters, and we go deep on his latest project, THRU, a six-part series featuring his 2018 thru-hike of the Pacific Northwest Trail. Whether you nerd out on video stuff or not, I guarantee you'll enjoy this chat. It's a fun one.

We wrap the show with a more formal announcement of the winner of the Backpacker Radio Sponsorship, we get a fan submission patent-pending about drinking sunscreen, and do a triple crown of thru-hiking phrases, clichés, and acronyms.

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Interview with Andy Laub

• Watch THRU here
• @thru_film on Instagram
• @laub.films on Instagram
• andylaubfilms.com
• @pjoart on Instagram

Time stamps & Questions

00:06:22 - QOTD: Do you Wordle?

00:10:12 - BPR Announcements: Trail Days Road Trip & Meetup Location

00:14:56 - Introducing Andy Laub

00:15:20 - Where'd you get into backpacking?

00:17:42 - What was your AT start date?

00:18:35 - Did you start at the stars?

00:19:41 - When you're stuck, do you think like a film narrator?

00:20:01 - Were you in front of or behind the camera?

00:20:56 - Discussion of on-camera hand gestures and film angles

00:22:14 - Is there a bubble in February on the AT?

00:23:05 - What research did you do pre-trail?

00:24:30 - Tell us about meeting your first trail friend.

00:25:33 - Tell us about The Dusty Camel.

00:27:02 - Tell us about your time at the Discovery Channel.

00:28:45 - What's Ian's background at this point?

00:29:14 - Was the idea for the PCT film first or the idea to hike?

00:29:25 - Tell us about the PCT in 2011.

00:32:10 - What was your film equipment and how heavy was it?

00:32:35 - How do you decide who films what?

00:34:06 - Is it tough to capture both the highs and the lows?

00:36:53 - Is it harder for you to be in front of or behind the camera?

00:38:19 - What doors did As It Happens open for you?

00:39:16 - How did the National Geographic Society project come about?

00:41:05 - How did you