Meet Your Hosts: Val & Chip

Val and Chip smiling and sitting together by a campfire in the woods.

Val and Chip's complementary personalities and shared passion for sustainable adventure make them the perfect guides for exploring the world's hidden gems. Their commitment to environmental conservation and connecting with local cultures is the heart of Wanderlust Whisperz.

Val

A free-spirited adventurer from a small coastal town, Val grew up exploring the outdoors with her loyal dog, Skip. Her passion for nature shines through in her love for surfing, paddleboarding, and capturing the world's beauty through photography.

  • Hobbies & Skills: Surfing, Paddleboarding, Gardening, Photography
  • Core Values: Environmental Conservation, Social Justice, Community

Chip

A practical and knowledgeable outdoor enthusiast from upstate New York, Chip spent his summers learning primitive survival techniques near his family's cabin with his brother, Andy, and their dog, Jeff. He's a skilled cook, woodworker, and techie with a passion for sustainable living.

  • Hobbies & Skills: Cooking, Woodworking, Eco-Gear Tech, Survival Techniques
  • Core Values: Sustainability, Ethical Consumerism, Supporting Local

Our Story & The Pups

Scout, a Belgian Shepherd, Huskie, Timberwolf mix, and Rufus, a Labrador-pit bull mix, sitting in a sunny, grassy field. Val and Chip met through a mutual friend at an outdoor gear store, where they quickly bonded over their shared passion for adventure and sustainable living. Their friendship soon blossomed into a strong partnership, leading them to create the Wanderlust Whisperz podcast to share their journey with a wider community.

Today, they combine their backgrounds to live a harmonious life together. No adventure is complete without their two rescue dogs, Scout (a brilliant Belgian Shepherd-Huskie-Timberwolf mix) and Rufus (a loyal Labrador-pit bull mix), who join them on many of their travels.