The 4x Signal Award winning and Webby Award-nominated Via Podcast wants to show you the West like you’ve never seen it before.
Join hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks as they talk to incredible storytellers who recount their travel experiences in the Western United States—from Radiolab’s Lulu Miller to Pulitzer Prize finalist Tommy Orange.
In these stories, we uncover the heart of places rich in history yet ever-evolving, and home to wild, weird, and wonderful destinations that will change your perspective on life.
The Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.
Episodes
May 17, 2024
May 17, 2024
33 min
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.
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
24 min
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.
Apr 19, 2024
Apr 19, 2024
34 min
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.
Apr 3, 2024
Apr 3, 2024
58 sec
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.