
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

Jul 5, 2024
Jul 5, 2024
33 min
On the latest episode of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks explore a few of the incredible natural wonders located throughout the West—a dogsled excursion to view the northern lights in remote Alaska is just the tip of the awe-inspiring iceberg.
Guest Lulu Miller, host of the podcasts Radiolab and Terrestrials, takes you on a journey to discover the science behind these natural creations and reveals her own adventures in search of them.
Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.

Jun 21, 2024
Jun 21, 2024
37 min
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.

Jun 7, 2024
Jun 7, 2024
29 min
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.

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.
