Whether you’re just beginning to explore the Western United States or you’ve been living here since the day you were born, the Via Podcast will introduce you to new and unique adventures that will change your perspective. Hosts Mitti Hicks and Michelle Donati bring their travel expertise to interviews with some of the West’s most fascinating experts, residents, and adventurers. In each episode, you will discover deep conversations in the hopes of igniting a new interest—foraging anyone?—or planting the seeds of a new-to-you road trip. You might even learn something about a place you’ve explored dozens of times before.
Episodes
Friday Jun 21, 2024
Friday Jun 21, 2024
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 can rekindle a sense of wonder in travelers of all ages.
Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
Friday Jun 07, 2024
Friday Jun 07, 2024
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 fascinating creatures in the West.
Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
Friday May 17, 2024
Friday May 17, 2024
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.
Friday Apr 19, 2024
Friday Apr 19, 2024
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, and tips on how to make sure you are safe and prepared before embarking on a trek into the woods (hiring a guide is first on that list).
Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
Friday Apr 19, 2024
Friday Apr 19, 2024
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 desert highway, from stopping in Middlegate for a burger the size of your head to hiking along rock walls covered in Indigenous petroglyphs and even surfing on sand dunes.
Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
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.
Mitti Hicks
Mitti Hicks is a travel writer for Essence and Travel Noire. She’s also a former Fox national news broadcast journalist, covering weather. Mitti has a master's in Broadcast & Digital Journalism from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and bachelor's in Communication and Media Studies from Ohio University.
Michelle Donati
Michelle Donati is a storyteller, road safety advocate, and a voice for AAA. She has spent the last 15 years leading public advocacy efforts for AAA in the Mountain West region. Michelle is also a radio veteran, having worked in promotions for a popular alternative station.