“Getting Lost on Purpose”: Author Peter Stark and Broadcaster Jimmy Mac Launch New Podcast The Last Empty Places

New weekly show explores America’s shifting frontiers and the forgotten art of purposeful wandering.

NEW ORLEANS, LA : At 8 PM on Sunday, March 22, acclaimed author and adventurer Peter Stark and travel and transportation broadcaster Jimmy Mac will launch The Last Empty Places, a new weekly podcast inspired by Stark’s acclaimed book of the same name. The show celebrates a time-honored American tradition: getting lost on purpose.

Each episode explores the history of the country’s shifting frontiers and the unexpected discoveries, both personal and geographical, that result from leaving the map behind.

At a time when “purpose” has become a buzzword in both corporate culture and the self-improvement industry, The Last Empty Places flips the word’s meaning on its head.

“Lost is not a failure. It is a skill,” said Stark. “Americans have always discovered themselves by pushing beyond the edge of the map. This show explores why that instinct still matters.”

The podcast blends the hosts’ personal experiences with historical storytelling, examining how Americans have navigated wilderness, cities, leadership crises, and cultural upheavals by embracing uncertainty rather than avoiding it.

Season One will explore why getting lost matters and how people learn to navigate the unknown.

New episodes of The Last Empty Places will be released weekly and will be available on major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.