When Sam Anderson’s father invited him to go hunting for the first time, Sam was worried. What if he couldn’t bring himself to pull the trigger? And conversely, what if he could? What would that say about him?

On this episode, Sam takes us into the woods of New Jersey and explores the emotional complexity of taking the life of an animal.

This story first aired in 2017, and it won a gold medal for Best Independent Podcast from Public Radio News Directors, Inc.

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We often hear that “the outdoors is free.” But for Charlsie Shaver, just driving to a trailhead was often cost-prohibitive; hitting the road to explore America’s wild places was a luxury she could only dream of.

On this episode, Charlsie explores what it takes to build the life you want. How do you balance the need for stability with a thirst for freedom? And how do you keep dreaming, when you can barely pay the rent?

This story first aired in 2019.

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