The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast is giving control of the show over to someone else.
As it is soon coming up on its fifth anniversary, The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast is trying out something never done over the course of 150+ episodes. It is giving control of the show over to someone else.
While Team Dark Zone Podcast/NYARA is racing the 5-day Endless Mountains Adventure Race starting on June 22, 2026, Rootstock Racing, the organization behind one of America’s premier expedition-length adventure races, will produce and distribute a limited podcast series from the field, offering audio dispatches from the race as it unfolds.
The experiment is deliberately unconventional. Rather than reporting on adventure racing from a distance, the EMAR podcast will place listeners inside the event and share with listeners the same challenges, big terrain, and unscripted moments that define expedition-length adventure racing.
“Adventure racing is one of the hardest things to explain to someone who hasn’t done it,” said Freedland. “This is our chance to bring people into the race and offer a fuller experience to those at home.”
Perkiss emphasized what makes the format different from traditional race coverage: “We’re going to do our best to capture the essence of the race. We believe that adventure racing is not only a sport, but an experience, and we want to tell the story of the race and the racers.
For The Dark Zone, the collaboration represents a deliberate departure from the show’s established format — and an experiment worth trying.
“I’ve spent years talking to adventure racers, volunteers, and race directors about what happens out there,” said Brian P. Gatens, founder and host of The Dark Zone. “What Brent and Abby are doing with their podcast is something I’ve never seen attempted on this platform. TDZ is handing the keys to the people running the race and creating and opportunity for them to tell the story of the race. We look forward to hearing what they do.”
The EMAR podcast will air on The Dark Zone podcast feed, telling the story of the race and its participants over 4-6 episodes. Listeners can expect insights into competitor expectations, course conditions, race direction decisions, and the human stories that emerge when athletes push past their ability and comfort level.
About Rootstock Racing: Rootstock Racing is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that fosters the sport of adventure racing in New England and the Mid-Atlantic. As some of the most experienced racers and race directors in the United States, they bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion to their race design, aiming to offer accessible adventures to outdoor enthusiasts of all levels and committed to creating inclusive spaces in the sport. Their slate of races varies year to year, but they have something for everyone.
About The Dark Zone (The Dark Zone): An Adventure Racing Podcast is produced by Six Lousy Minutes Media and covers the global adventure racing community, adventure racing culture, and the athletes and organizers who define the sport. Available at ardarkzone.com and on all major podcast platforms.
.jpg)
