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Road Folk America

Road Folk America

By: Mitch Aiken
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Road Folk America is a podcast for the growing community of people who live, travel, work, and dream on the road. Whether you're a full-time van lifer, RVer, overlander, seasonal traveler, weekend adventurer, or simply exploring the possibility of a life with more freedom and fewer walls, you'll find a place here. Each episode features conversations, stories, news, ideas, and practical insights from across the road-living community. We'll discuss everything from travel, camping, and life on wheels to money, purpose, creativity, aging, relationships, and what it means to build a life beyond tMitch Aiken Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • Should You Sell Your House for Van Life? | Road Folk Podcast #2
    Jun 14 2026

    Should you sell your home and hit the road full-time—or keep a home base and travel seasonally?In Episode 2 of the Road Folk Podcast, Mitch explores one of the biggest decisions facing van lifers, RVers, car campers, overlanders, and road travelers: the balance between freedom and stability.This episode introduces the Road Folk community and takes a closer look at the growing movement of people choosing life on wheels, whether full-time or part-time. Along the way, Mitch shares practical advice gathered from the van life community, discusses the hidden costs of road travel, explains the challenge of decision fatigue, and examines why more people are choosing a hybrid lifestyle that combines a home base with extended travel.In this episode:• What "Road Folk" means and who belongs in the community• The growing trend of living and traveling in cars, vans, RVs, and other vehicles• Advice for beginners preparing for van life• Parking laws, overnight camping, and road-life realities• Why van life often costs more than people expect• Decision fatigue and the mental side of life on the road• The rise of seasonal and part-time travel• Advantages of keeping a home while traveling• Financial, medical, and lifestyle benefits of maintaining a home base• Why slowing down can reduce travel costs and vehicle wear• Upcoming van life and RV events across the United StatesWhether you're a full-time nomad, a weekend traveler, an RVer, a car camper, or simply dreaming about life on the road, this episode offers practical insights into creating a road-life lifestyle that fits your goals, budget, and stage of life.Subscribe to the Road Folk Podcast for conversations about van life, RV living, road travel, remote work, minimalism, retirement travel, road culture, and the people behind the wheel.#RoadFolk #VanLife #RVLife #CarCamping #NomadLife #RoadTrip #FullTimeRV #VanLifePodcast #TravelLifestyle #Minimalism #RetirementTravel #LifeOnTheRoad #RoadFolkPodcast

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    35 mins
  • Why Van Lifers Keep Driving to Alaska
    Jun 9 2026

    Welcome to Episode #1 of the Road Folk Podcast.Why does Alaska continue to call road travelers, van lifers, RVers, and adventurers from across North America? Every summer, thousands point their vehicles north toward the Alaska Highway. But what is it about Alaska that creates such a powerful pull?In this first episode of the Road Folk Podcast, I introduce the vision behind the show and explore one of the great road-trip questions: Why Alaska?We discuss the Alaska Highway (Alcan Highway), the long journey through Canada and the Yukon, and why so many van life creators, RV travelers, and road folk see Alaska as a rite of passage. Is it the scenery? The adventure? The challenge? Or is it the stories that come from traveling to one of the last great frontiers in North America?Along the way, I share some of my own road life experiences, talk about the growing Road Folk community, highlight fellow travelers on YouTube, and examine why the journey itself may be more important than the destination.In this episode:• The story behind the Road Folk Podcast• Life on the road and the Road Folk community• Why Alaska attracts van lifers every summer• The Alaska Highway and its history• Travel, freedom, adventure, and storytelling• Van life, RV living, and road travel culture• Summer travel trends across North America• Lessons from years of living and traveling on the roadWhether you're a full-time van lifer, RVer, overlander, seasonal traveler, or simply dreaming about hitting the open road, this podcast is for you.Subscribe and join the conversation as we explore life on the road, one story at a time.#RoadFolk #VanLife #AlaskaHighway #AlaskaRoadTrip #RVLife #VanLiving #FullTimeTravel #RoadTrip #Overlanding #NomadLife #TravelPodcast #LifeOnTheRoad #MitchAndHisVan

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    48 mins
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