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

Get 35% of all orders at The Hiker's Cachethe official store of Locations Unknown, by becoming a member on Patreon!

Want to help the show out and get even more Locations Unknown content!  For as little as $5 a month, you can become a Patron of Locations Unknown and get access to our episodes early, special members only episode, free swag, swag contests, and discounts to our Locations Unknown Store!  Become a Patron of the Locations Unknown Podcast by visiting our Patreon page.  (https://www.patreon.com/locationsunknown)  

All our Patreon only content (Audio & Video) can now be accessed via Spotify.  (Active subscription to our Patreon channel is required.) -- Locations Unknown Subscriber Only Show | Podcast on Spotify  

Want to call into the show and leave us a message?  Now you can!  Call 208-391-6913 and leave Locations Unknown a voice message and we may air it on a future message! 

View live recordings of the show on our YouTube channel: Locations Unknown - YouTube

View Episode Sources (None for this episode)

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
Podcast Episodes
From the Vault - Gwen Hasselquist - The Police Report - Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43:55
With all the buzz surrounding the Gwen Hasselquist case and the upcoming Crime Junkie episode (releasing October 27, 2025), we thought it was the perfect time to re-release our original four-part series on Gwen’s story,…
Lost in the Shadow of the Rockies – The 40-Year Mystery - Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:01
In January 1982, two women vanished just hours apart while hitchhiking from Breckenridge, Colorado, during one of the worst winter storms the Rockies had seen in decades. As temperatures plunged below –20°F, friends and…
Flight, Fury, and Feathers: Talking Raptors with Jenna Kopp [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:33
This week we take flight into the world of raptors, nature’s most skilled aerial predators. From hawks and eagles to owls and falcons, these incredible birds shape ecosystems and inspire conservation efforts across the g…
Charles McCullar - A Case Re-examined — Myths vs. Facts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:35
In 2019, Locations Unknown covered a young photographer bound for winter shots at Crater Lake National Park. The case spawned wild theories, unsubstantiated lore, and even an episode of The UnXplained with William Shatne…
Angeles National Forest Cold Cases [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:40
Nestled just beyond Los Angeles, Angeles National Forest sprawls over 700,000 acres of rugged wilderness, where jagged peaks, deep canyons, and twisting trails beckon hikers, climbers, and adventurers year-round. With st…
Crime Off the Grid Meets Locations Unknown [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:00
We’ve got a special episode for you this week! Joe and I recently joined the podcast Crime Off the Grid to dive into three fascinating cases alongside two former law enforcement park rangers. Since we’re out of the offic…
Mount Washington Cold Cases [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:57
Towering at 6,288 feet in the White Mountains, Mount Washington—home to world-record 231 mph winds and brutal weather—draws millions with its historic Auto Road, rare alpine plants, and extreme spring skiing. While most…