Photo courtesy of Jessica Bowser
Virginia Outdoor Adventures podcast host Jessica Bowser.
Jessica Bowser’s new podcast “Virginia Outdoor Adventures” is more than a guide to best hiking spots in the state — it's an exploration of all things outdoors: the people, places, business and activities surrounding Virginia’s natural landscape.
Bowser has found she is discovering more than she thought she would when she set out to make this podcast.
“If you listen to one interview, I promise you the next interview is gonna be nothing like the one you just listened to,” Bowser said, “and the next one after that isn’t going to be either.”
Each episode is a conversation between Bowser and a featured guest, covering a new location or activity based in Virginia. The podcast official launched earlier this month, and a new episode is released each Tuesday through the website, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Current episodes include a conversation with the author of "60 Hikes Within 60 Miles, Richmond," a woman who has visited every state park in Virginia, and the founder of Keep Virginia Cozy.
Starting a podcast wasn’t something that has always been on Bowser’s radar. Over the years she has had dedicated a lot of time to conservation advocacy. She is active in many organizations, including serving as Fairfax County Tree Commissioner, Friends of Mason Neck State Park, the Virginia Association for Parks and was the founder of Kingstowne Cares Conservation Club, to name a few.
Bowser’s love of nature goes back to her childhood, where her habit of always wanting to be outside started.
“I mean, even as an adult I still want to ride my bike I long past the time when the streetlights come on,” Bowser said.
It was as a fourth-grade teacher Bowser came to understand the significance of the Virginia landscape and grew a passion for all things outdoors in Virginia.
“I spent a lot of time traveling around the state and doing all kinds of different outdoor activities,” Bowser said. “And I love visiting small towns and taking advantage of the beauty and the different things that we have to do here.”
Along the way, Bowser was posting her adventures on social media, and many people told her she should write a book about her experiences. Bowser wanted to share her passion for the outdoors, and after meeting her now-producer, a podcast suddenly became the right fit.
The timing worked out well, because the outdoors was one of the few places people were allowed to go with the safety precautions resulting from the pandemic.
The podcast also allowed for her to bring people from all over Virginia to the audience. Bowser is also able to share more than her own story, bringing in experts from every part of the state.
While Bowser was looking to grow the community focused on nature, she was surprised to find how much she could help people.
“By having this podcast,” Bowser said, “it is a platform to be able to reach a lot of other folks at the platform to be able to deliver information, but it's also a platform to call people to action.”
Almost every time Bowser has suggested one of her guests mentions a project they are looking for help with or donations for, the guest’s reaction is, “you would do that?”
The discovery of being able to help had been Bowser’s favorite surprise of the project.
For those of you who want to get out and start exploring Virginia while the weather is still nice, Bowser’s advice is to just get out there and start even as small as your neighborhood park.
You can find “Virginia Outdoor Adventures” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Click here to visit the podcast website.
