Each week new hiker Andy Neal, takes you on a journey to demystify hiking. Andy sits down with voices in the outdoor and hiking community, getting to know the hikers behind the trekking poles. Hikers tell stories of how hiking has inspired them to grow, create, and better the environment, getting past the how and to the why of hiking. A show for those first starting out on the trail and for experienced thru-hikers!

Welcome to Andy Films and Hikes with Andy Neal — formerly The Adventures Out There Podcast and The Hiker Podcast. I’m Andy: filmmaker, outdoor creator, and dad who found hiking during a mental health crisis. This show is about the outdoors, storytelling, mental health, content creation, and real life. Some episodes are solo, others feature amazing guests. If you’ve ever needed a sign to step outside or speak up — this might be it. New episodes weekly, video and audio exclusively on Spotify.
What happens when you mix YouTube, curiosity, charisma, and a whole lot of science? You get this week’s guest: Trace Dominguez!
Trace Dominguez is a science communicator, producer, television presenter, and digital creator. His work appears on channels from Vox Media, Discovery, Science, PBS television, PBS Digital Studios, and more. His production company, Trace Elements Media, develops, pitches, creates, and publishes content with partners and clients. On his podcast That’s Absurd Please Elaborate, Trace and his co-host answer silly questions by citing real research. Trace creates science videos on his YouTube channels Trace Elements and Uno Dos of Trace. He is Telly & Webby award winning and an Emmy-nominated producer and host.
Andy Neal sits down with the beloved science communicator and YouTube veteran to talk about his journey from the early days at Discovery Channel to carving out his own creative path as an independent creator.
They dive into the rise of YouTube, the realities of burnout, and what it really takes to make science accessible (and exciting!) in today’s world. Trace gets real about conspiracies, magical thinking, the decline of media literacy, and how AI is reshaping the way we tell science stories.
From the future of energy storage to why batteries are actually way cooler than you think, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration. If you’re curious about the universe—or just love a good deep-dive conversation—this one’s for you.
More About Trace: https://www.tracedominguez.com
Follow Trace on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/tracedominguez
Follow Trace on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tracedominguez
Music is licensed from Musicbed.com.
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