Life Beyond the Map: Interview w/ Modern Explorer, Tay Wanders

Life Beyond the Map: Interview w/ Modern Explorer, Tay Wanders

Author: Locations Unknown December 27, 2025 Duration: 58:21
Today we’re sitting down with Tay, a Southern girl turned road-warrior and modern explorer who approaches adventure with confidence, intention, and a grounded perspective.

A single mom and storyteller at heart, Tay creates outdoor and travel narratives designed to help women step into big, wild places feeling prepared and empowered. Through thoughtful destination inspiration, practical safety insight, and carefully built itineraries, she works to make adventure feel accessible rather than intimidating.

What began as traveling out of her truck during COVID quietly evolved into a full-scale business. By working remotely, Tay has built a life that allows her to stay present with her daughter while giving her firsthand experiences of the world from an early age.

Tay’s story is about taking calculated risks, trusting your instincts, and realizing that adventure doesn’t have to wait for “someday.” We’re excited to dig into her journey, how it all came together, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

You can learn more about Tay below:
Instagram
Tay Wanders Linktree
TayWanders.com

YouTube

Learn more about Locations Unknown: https://linktr.ee/LocationsUnknown

Check out our other shows on the Unknown Media Network:
Crime Off The Grid
Off The Trails
Hike N' Seek 
Who Runs This Park

New Patreon Shoutouts: Emily Happy & Sheryl Yankovich

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Presented by Unknown Media Group.

Hosts:
Mike Van de Bogert 
Joe Erato

Intro/Outro “Cornfield Chase” – Cinematic Waves & Rafael Krux (licensed) → https://soundcloud.com/cinematicwav3s/cornfield-chase

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/locations-unknown--6183838/support.

Locations Unknown ventures into the silent, vast spaces where people have simply gone missing. Hosts Mike & Joe guide each episode through a specific case, piecing together timelines from the final known moments, through the often-frustrating official searches, and into the lingering questions that haunt families and park rangers alike. This isn't just a true crime podcast; it’s a close look at the intersection of human error, unpredictable nature, and the peculiar geography of places like dense national forests and isolated mountain ranges that can swallow a person whole. You’ll hear about the decisions made in the critical hours, the terrain that complicated everything, and the community of experts and amateurs who keep looking. The show naturally explores how these landscapes, while beautiful, hold secrets, making the wilderness itself a central character in every story. Tune in for a respectful, detailed examination of stories that end not with a conclusion, but with an open map and a deepened mystery. The podcast digs into the cultural fascination with these vanishings and what they reveal about our relationship with the wild, remote corners of the country.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 173

Locations Unknown
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