# Episode #529 - Michael Neiman (Sharkbait)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/mighty-blue-on-the-appalachian-trail-the-ultimate-mid-life-crisis-220125/episode-529-michael-neiman-sharkbait
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/mighty-blue-on-the-appalachian-trail-the-ultimate-mid-life-crisis-220125/episode-529-michael-neiman-sharkbait.md
Podcast: [Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis](https://stenobird.com/podcast/mighty-blue-on-the-appalachian-trail-the-ultimate-mid-life-crisis-220125)
Published: 2026-02-19T08:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://mightyblueontheat.libsyn.com/episode-529-michael-neiman-sharkbait
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/mightyblueontheat/Michael_Neiman_mixed_show_FOR_UPLOAD.mp3?dest-id=426865
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Duration seconds: 3523

## Resource

Michael Neiman, who, along with Bruce Matson, brought us Platinum Blazing to the trail, is our guest this week. Michael thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2018, and his new book tells that story–as a 98% true novel. Michael, or Sharkbait has been juggling a job, parenthood, and his writing to bring this book to publication, and it's a good read, with plenty of page turning moments. You can check out the book at his website, Hello Neiman , or on Amazon at Hello My Name is Sharkbait: A 2,000-Mile Adventure on the Appalachian Trail . OR you could follow him on Instagram at Michael Neiman (@helloneiman) • Instagram profile . He even appeared on Minnesota local TV promoting his book, here: Hello My Name is Sharkbait on Minnesota's Fox 9 Good Day - December 22, 2025 Ezra Peterson, the last remaining member of the Hike the Good Hike cohort, shares his moving story of transitioning from a woman to a man, and he is feeding his joy of the outdoors by taking on a Fastest Known Time for a non-binary person in hiking the Superior Hiking Trail. He's quite self-deprecating in that there isn't currently a record in that category, but his refreshing attitude to a tricky subject shines through in our conversation. Finally today, the accountability blog takes us to within three weeks of my start on the Appalachian Trail. I've got everything I need, plus a few things I don't need, but I still haven't packed and tried out my darn pack!! I used my hike in 2024 on the South West Coast Path in the UK to help raise money for my absolute favorite charity, Parenting Matters, on whose board I've been privileged to serve for over a decade. You can learn more about the hike and the organization–and donate–by visiting Hike with Steve - Empowering Parents, One Step at a Time | Parenting Matters % .…

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