Episode 159: Guided to Nature Through an Inciting Incident with Mary Leavines

“On the Appalachian Trail, nothing goes according to plan. The trail laughs at your plans.”

— Mary Leavines

This week on the Inspire Campfire podcast, we’re excited to welcome Mary "Newfound" Leavines, a storyteller, writer, photographer, and the owner of a popular hostel for thru-hikers along the Appalachian Trail. Mary’s journey to the AT began with an inciting incident that set her on a path of self-discovery—one that led her to thru-hike the trail in 2022. During her time on the trail, she not only reconnected with her inner self but also rewrote her own story. Now, back home in Franklin, North Carolina, Mary has purchased a hostel to stay closely connected to the trail and provide a supportive space for fellow hikers.

Join us as we dive into Mary’s transformative adventure and explore how the call to adventure often begins with a single, life-changing moment. Her journey is a testament to how embracing the unknown can help us discover what truly matters.

Mary also discusses:

2:00 - Experiencing an inciting incident
3:40 - Planned vs unplanned experiences
8:10 - Her inciting incident and how she found the trail
13:00 - Her call to adventure
18:20 - Deciding to hike the Appalachian Trail
22:10 - Her time on the AT
25:30 - What it was like to arrive at Newfound Gap
30:00 - Reconnecting with the feelings of knowing she could do this
31:30 - Her trail name
34:40 - The significance of the name Newfound
36:30 - The next 1,900 miles on the AT
38:50 - What was finishing like for her
44:10 - Staying connected to the AT with her hostel
48:30 - Transformations she’s seen on the trail
50:30 - Trail magic
51:50 - The name of her hostel and how people can find her
52:30 - Her memoir
53:00 - Advice for people who have had an inciting incident but don’t see the next step
45:50 - Who is going to play her in a Hollywood movie about her life