Write Us

Suggest A Story

Our stories come from friends, from friends of friends, and from you: our community. We know that you know amazing humans. If you have a compelling idea for a guest or a story lead, please give us a shout!

It’s helpful if you can:

Write a short synopsis of your story idea
Provide relevant links or contact info (email, IG handle, website, etc.)
If you would like to submit a Trail Byte, please see below.

Trail Bytes are conversational style essays that explore the stories and themes of life (think friendship, change, healing, ridiculous encounters) through the lens of the outdoors. They are written by you. Together, we turn your essay into a 10-15-minute-long episode on Team and Trail.

We typically receive over 100 submissions and select 10 essays. We work with each writer to develop their story into an audio experience, which includes several rounds of edits and revisions, as well as recording the Short. Submit your essay today.

Please read through the guidelines to help us say, “Yes!” to your Trail Byte.

Story should include an experience (preferably mushing, adventures or at least the outdoors), and a takeaway about how that experience shifted your perspective or gave you new insight. The tone might be serious, funny, contemplative, heartfelt, or likely, it’s a mix.
Your story needs a beginning, middle and end.
Think about the takeaway from your piece.
We like details. Stories should show, not tell. More “the wind whipped our team across the trail as we approached a section that is notoriously called The Blowhole.,” less “it was rough.” Plus, it helps activate the writing voice.
We prefer pieces written in the past-tense and in chronological order to create a better listening experience.
Bonus material (video): Anecdote + Reflection = Story
Ideal length: 2,000 words. We will not accept submissions over 2,500 words.

We are encouraging essay submissions from diverse perspectives, especially those from historically underrepresented groups in the outdoors. We offer compensation for each selected essay.

Deadline: June 30, 2025

We can’t wait to hear from you!

Submissions for Episodes

We are interested in stories where people move beyond their comfort zone, whether intentional or not, and can tell us why it mattered. We focus on stories that are rooted in the mushing, adventures with your dog, though it doesn’t have to be about or take place in the outdoors.

Feature episodes have a narrative arc or plot- with a beginning, middle and end– that are told from the first-person perspective. These stories begin with detailed interviews and our team shapes them into 30–40-minute episodes.

Have a story you think would make a great feature episode for Team and Trail? Please send us a pitch in a few paragraphs. Incorporating the following into your pitch is helpful:

Main character and plot or synopsis of the story.

Why do you think this story would make a great Team and Trail episode?

Is this a story you want us to consider or one you want to produce?

- If you’d like to produce the piece, please tell us about your experience with audio production and include a link to at least one work sample.

We are a small team, dedicated to making a great show. We read every email and suggestion we receive, and try to respond, but unfortunately, we cannot reply to everyone. Thank you for understanding.

Submit a Musher Q&A

Our goal is for our readers to learn a little more about you. This will be included or shared on our media (podcast, magazine, website, socials etc.)

This has quickly become one of our favorite sections on the website. Fill out the Musher Q&A form today!