On the Appalachian Trail with Josh PooleOn the Appalachian Trail with Josh Poole
Hope Discovered
What a journey, Josh! After 2,197 miles along the Appalachian Trail, Josh Poole wrapped up an incredible Journey of Solidarity and Hope, an adventure that brought him from Georgia to Maine while raising awareness and support for people in need, both...
27:18•21 Sept 2026
From Appalachian Miles to Acts of Service with Josh Poole
Episode Overview
- Large, distant goals feel less overwhelming when broken down into daily efforts and small wins.
- Consistent sleep, movement and simple self-care routines are crucial for mental and physical wellbeing.
- Acts of kindness, even very small ones, can meaningfully support people facing homelessness, mental health issues or addiction.
- Choosing organisations to support based on trust and their closeness to the problem helps donations have real impact.
- Service doesn’t have to be a formal career; being a good listener and helping family, friends and neighbours are powerful ways to contribute.
“I just really focused on today. What can I do today? Can I work hard today? And I knew that if I stacked together many of those days in a row, that eventually I would start to see some significant progress.”
What remarkable journeys have people faced head-on against addiction? This conversation with Canton native and humanitarian leader Josh Poole puts that question into hiking boots and sends it 2,197.7 miles up the Appalachian Trail.
Across five and a half months, Josh walked from Georgia to Maine, carrying his gear on his back and a clear purpose in his mind: to raise funds and awareness for Catholic Relief Services and CommQuest, organisations focused on supporting vulnerable communities, including those affected by addiction and mental health challenges.
Along the way, he juggled sore feet, trail logistics and the occasional bear, but he says the hardest part was staying mentally steady with such a distant goal: "I just really focused on today. What can I do today? Can I work hard today?" You’ll hear how his first thru-hike years ago pushed him into a life of international service, from Peace Corps work in Madagascar to leading large-scale education and nutrition projects in countries such as Laos and Myanmar.
His second hike, he explains, was about something different: creating space to heal from the emotional toll of humanitarian work and to reset his commitment to helping others. The chat moves easily between funny trail stories (including bumping into a former neighbour from Madagascar in small-town Massachusetts), practical routines like self-care and sleep, and bigger themes of compassion, non-judgement and community support for people facing homelessness, mental health issues and drug abuse.
Josh’s message lands squarely with anyone in recovery or working alongside it: progress comes from small, consistent steps and no act of kindness is too minor. Whether he’s talking trail magic, family hikes, or helping someone pick up spilled oranges at the shop, his focus is on service, self-care and staying present. It might leave you wondering: what small step could you take today to bring a bit more hope to someone’s life?
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