The Adventure Podcast

Episode 222: Simon Jeffries, Mindset

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 20:18:22 GMT

Episode 222 of The Adventure Podcast features ex special forces operative and mindset coach, Simon Jeffries. After starting out as a Royal Marines Commando and a tour in Afghanistan, he was selected to serve in the SBS. Several tours later, he decided to step away from the military and instead founded his mindset coaching company, The Natural Edge. In this episode, Simon traces a life shaped by long journeys, hard-earned lessons, and a deep curiosity about people and place. He reflects on the experiences that pulled him into adventure in the first place, and rather than focusing on polished outcomes, he shares the messy reality. Matt and Simon talk about risk, resilience, and how perspective changes over time. They also discuss the mindset behind a life of adventure, and how that way of thinking carries far beyond expeditions. That these same principles apply to work, relationships, and long-term direction. At its core, this episode is about taking the lessons learned in extreme environments and using them in the real world; building resilience, clarity, and confidence in the face of the unknown.

For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.

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The Far Reaches: Rhett Butler, Mongabay

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Episode four of our long-term series, The Far Reaches, features conservation journalist Rhett Butler. In 1999, fresh out of high school, Rhett founded Mongabay - an independent, non-profit environmental science and conservation news platform. He ran the project solo for the first few years, publishing thousands of stories and photos. However it has grown immensely since then, with a network of roughly 1,000 correspondents in 80 countries, covering conventional news to deeply reported investigative projects. Rhett also co-founded Tropical Conservation Science, an open-access academic journal that creates opportunities for scientists in developing countries to publish their research. In this episode, Rhett talks openly about his lack of traditional experience, early interest in conservation, his trajectory in finance, and making the leap (or building the bridge) to committing full time. They also touch on the current state of conservation news and its challenges, and the importance of solution-oriented storytelling. It’s a fascinating and inspiring conversation with someone whose genuine modesty feels rare, given the reach and impact of the platform he’s built.

The Far Reaches is a long-term series where we speak to guests about subjects related to our planet and our place on it. These episodes will dig a little deeper, perhaps enter the realm of armchair philosophy, and will tackle some more existential questions surrounding adventure and exploration.

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Episode 221: Adam Skolnick, American Tiger

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Episode 221 of The Adventure Podcast features international journalist and author, Adam Skolnick. Adam has written for countless news outlets, Lonely Planet guidebooks, magazines, and columns, and has travelled to over 40 countries. In this episode, Matt and Adam discuss his journey into writing. His first gigs, travelling for stories, and how to make a living doing so. Adam reflects about the early adventures he went on; cycling around the world in his twenties and how the reality looked very different from the romantic version he imagined. Often including long-stretches of boredom, loneliness and self-doubt. It's a wide-ranging conversation as they discuss everything from the pressure of shaping messy reality into something coherent on page, to ego and validation, the discomfort of being honest about motivations that don’t fit the heroic narrative, and the temptation to chase ever-bigger projects for 'better' stories. Adam also talks about the inspiration behind his new book, American Tiger, which he covered live as a journalist at the time, and how he found transitioning from fact to fiction.

Chapter Breakdown

00:00-05:00: Motivations, ego, and the difference between starting an adventure and finishing one.

05:00-12:00: Adam reflects on riding around the globe, and the uncomfortable truth about why he really left.

12:00-25:00: A raw account of failure at sea, coping in crisis, and how unfinished journeys shape us differently.

25:00-35:00: Why success can be less interesting than failure, and how chasing “epic” creates a moving goalpost.

35:00-45:00: Different ways people experience fear, and why acknowledging it can be more powerful than suppressing it.

45:00-55:00: How children, responsibility, and time away from crisis culture reframed Adam’s sense of purpose.

55:00-01:05:00: Adam introduces a new philosophy: joy over grit, presence over performance.

01:05:00-01:20:00: Why “hero moments” lose value over time, and what actually lasts from a life of adventure.

01:20:00-End: Closing reflections on peace, humility, and finding meaning without needing the next big thing.

To listen to new podcast, Atlantic Canada, head to https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atlantic-canada/id1872073512, or search it wherever you get your podcasts.

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Episode 220: Peter Wright, A Mid-Life Less Ordinary

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 12:39:59 GMT

Episode 220 of The Adventure Podcast features endurance athlete and author, Peter Wright. Peter has undertaken some of the world's most challenging endurance events - completing the Marathon des Sables, the Jungle Ultra, the Western States 100, the Cape Wrath Ultra and rowing the Atlantic. But what's fascinating about Peter is that on the face of it, he's a pretty normal bloke with a full-time career, who made a series of seemingly ordinary decisions. In this episode, Matt speaks with Peter about how a comfortable, “mildly active” life gradually evolved into a decade of endurance challenges. He shares honest stories of failure, imposter syndrome, DNFs, and the mindset shifts that helped him keep going when quitting felt easier. They discuss balancing adventure with family life and a full-time career, the reality of preparing for a two-year project, and the emotional highs and lows of life at sea. At its core, this episode explores motivation, ageing, and fear of regret. And why adventure isn’t necessarily about talent, but about turning up and committing to the long game.

Chapter Breakdown

00:00-03:00: Peter describes his early relationship with sport, comfort, and routine - and the quiet feeling that something needed to change.

03:00-06:30: Moving to Jersey, being inspired by an active island culture, and setting the goal of running the London Marathon.

06:30-10:00: Discovering ultra running through magazines, meeting influential runners, and saying yes to scarier challenges.

10:00-14:00: A disastrous London Marathon; twisted ankle, lost gels and an emergency toilet stop.

14:00-18:30: Preparing for the Sahara, imposter syndrome, conservative early pacing, and finishing stronger than expected.

18:30-23:00: Why DNFs aren’t the end, unfinished business, and returning to races to “wipe them from the record.”

23:00-27:30: Juggling endurance challenges with life.

27:30-31:30: Why ultrarunning is more inclusive than expected.

31:30-34:30: Sunrises, hallucinations, emotional swings, and the mental landscapes of endurance events.

34:30-36:30: A gruelling virtual challenge during Covid leads to an unexpected invitation: rowing the Atlantic.

36:30-42:00: Family conversations, finances, sponsorship, learning to row, and two years of preparation.

42:00-45:30: Departure day emotions, family goodbyes, and the relief of finally being at sea.

45:30-52:30: Peter explains life at sea.

52:30-55:30: Reaching Antigua.

55:30-59:30: Writing a book, recent multi-day Iron-distance challenges, and redefining what’s possible later in life.

59:30-End: Peter reflects on motivation, fear of regret, and why showing up with a good attitude matters more than anything else.

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Dispatch: Waldo Etherington, Trees

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Dispatches are our shorter form episodes, usually around a single question, subject or story. In this episode, Waldo Etherington talks to us about all things trees. Waldo has been on the podcast before, and is also a regular diarist in our sister series, Field Diaries. He's a rope access specialist whose spent months high in rainforest canopies and on expeditions all over the world. His passion for the lungs of the earth is unparalleled and completely infectious. He explains how exactly he sees trees, from their body language to 'visual tree assessments', and drops mind-boggling facts throughout. Hopefully you'll listen to this episode and walk away with a new sense of wonder and appreciation for these magnificent living beings.

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Episode 219: Ash Routen, The State of Exploration

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Episode 219 of The Adventure Podcast features adventure journalist and research scientist, Ash Routen. Ash has written for Explorers Web, Nat Geo, Outside, The Guardian, Sidetracked, Red Bull, and UKC, among many others. This episode is a thoughtful and refreshingly critical debate of sorts. Matt and Ash dive into the evolving world of adventure to ask difficult questions about the expeditions of today. What still counts as pioneering? What has become routine? How should adventure be reported and celebrated in an era where almost anyone can step into the outdoors? They explore the complexity of modern expedition culture, from Everest tourism to ocean rowing, from ethnicity and gender representation to the role of guiding and commercialisation. They tackle the tension between personal achievement and genuine exploration, reflect on how the public engages with stories of risk, endurance and “firsts", and most importantly, discuss why critical voices are needed in adventure journalism. They also shine a light on some lesser known adventures and adventurers. Its a deep dive into ethics, meaning, media, and what progress looks like.

Chapter Breakdown:

Matt sets the scene inside the Expedition Reports Room and explains why he has wanted to interview Ash for years.
Ash outlines why adventure is flourishing publicly, yet diluted at the cutting edge.
They discuss why criticism isn’t about tearing people down, but about clarity around what moves adventure forward.
Ash argues that adventure lacks critical analysis compared to politics and sport, and explains why objectivity is essential.
A deep look at decolonising adventure: class, ethnicity, gender, and why equal reporting isn’t always the same as equal achievement.
Matt and Ash explore why some achievements gain headlines while more technical, groundbreaking climbs go unnoticed.
Ash describes his criteria for covering expeditions: difficulty, remoteness, logistics, and why lesser-known stories matter.
Why feats like Everest climbs or Atlantic rows no longer awe the way they once did.
Matt questions the value of guided “fast-track” climbing and why apprenticeship and experience still matter.
Ash reflects on climbing heroes, style, and the emotional contrast between historic firsts and today’s model of adventure.
A discussion on media digestion- why technical nuance gets lost and why bold headlines win.
Ash and Matt unpack how accidents and viral stories distort public understanding of adventure culture.
They discuss responsibility, storytelling, and how the community can protect authenticity moving forward.

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Episode 218: Adam Weymouth, Lone Wolf

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Episode 218 of The Adventure Podcast features writer, journalist, and adventurer, Adam Weymouth. Over a decade ago, Adam undertook a year-long journey, walking from England to Istanbul. What grew out of burnout from frontline climate activism became a personal experiment in pilgrimage, slowness, and meaning. Adam talks about canoeing the length of the Yukon River while following the salmon run, and walking across the Alps in the footsteps of a lone wolf whose thousand-mile journey helped repopulate parts of Europe. Together with Matt, he explores his earlier years as an environmental activist, including arrests, a high-profile trial, and the emotional toll of sustained direct action. And how it pushed Adam to search for new ways of communicating environmental stories. This is a conversation about walking away from the noise. Slow travel, pilgrimage, storytelling, and how adventure can create empathy rather than spectacle.

Photo credit: Ulli Mattsson

Chapter Breakdown

00:00 - 01:00: Adam reflects on freedom, curiosity, and the privilege of pursuing big questions through journeys.

01:00 - 03:00: Adam’s childhood love of writing, environmental awareness, and early pull towards activism.

03:00 - 07:30: Protests, arrests, climate camps, and the long legal battle.

07:30 -10:30: Why direct action stopped feeling sustainable, and the realisation that storytelling might reach people in a different way.

10:30 - 17:00: The origins of Adam’s year-long walk from England to Istanbul.

17:00 - 24:00: What pilgrimage offers that ordinary travel doesn’t.

24:00 - 27:30: Why fast travel is the historical anomaly, and what is lost when movement becomes frictionless.

27:30 - 30:30: Canoeing the Yukon to explore ecological collapse through human stories and lived experience.

30:30 - 33:30: Adam explains his fascination with wolves and how one animal’s journey opened wider conversations about fear, politics, and coexistence.

33:30 - 37:30: The remarkable thousand-mile journey of a wolf that helped re-establish packs across Europe.

37:30 - 41:30: Why rewilding is deeply contested, how it’s been poorly communicated, and why nuance matters.

41:30 - 45:30: How arriving on foot changes conversations, builds trust, and creates space for hospitality and honesty.

45:30 - 49:30: Why Adam chooses to include himself in his writing.

49:30 - End: Reflections on openness, chance encounters, and why adventure is often about how we move through the world, not how far.

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Episode 217: Ben Tibbetts, Long Projects in Quiet Places

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:35:20 GMT

Episode 217 of The Adventure Podcast features photographer, IFMGA guide, writer and artist, Ben Tibbetts. In this episode, Matt sits down with Ben to explore a life shaped by isolation, long-term creative projects, and a deep need for structure in the wild. The conversation begins with Ben’s 18 months living and working in Antarctica, which quietly rewired how he thinks about solitude, landscape, and meaning. That experience sparked an enduring obsession with small huts in remote places, and ultimately led to years-long projects photographing bivouac huts and high mountain environments across the Alps. Ben also explains why he needs projects, the discipline behind producing large-format books, the thousands of hours of unseen work, and why these projects make little financial sense but enormous personal sense.

They touch on modern creativity, the 'junk food' nature of clickbait content, changing industry, and the quiet rebellion of stepping away to make work that lasts. Depth over noise. A meaningful life one long project at a time.

Chapter Breakdown

00:00 - 01:30: Ben reflects on spending 18 months in Antarctica, the psychological effects of extreme isolation, and how that experience planted the seed for his fascination with tiny huts in wild places.

01:30 - 09:00: Back to his beginnings - exploring whether creativity or mountains came first, and how a fine art background shaped his photographic eye.

09:00 - 26:30: A deep dive into Ben’s approach to photography, mastery of light and colour, and how understanding his artistic roots reframes his mountain work.

26:30 - 34:00: Why huts are not destinations but “scaffolding for journeys.”

34:00 - 40:30: Ben opens up about using long-term projects to maintain mental health, purpose, and motivation - and why structure is essential for him to function creatively.

40:30 - 45:30: They discuss why Ben prioritises books over guiding or brand work, despite the financial reality.

45:30 - 52:30: A candid conversation about social media addiction and clickbait culture.

52:30 - 59:30: They explore the challenges facing photographers and filmmakers today.

59:30 - 01:06:30: A broader reflection on reinvention, relevance, and why diversification is now essential for survival in creative careers.

01:06:30 - 01:12:00: The episode closes with reflections on passion, privilege, persistence, and why doing work for the right reasons, even selfish ones, often leads somewhere meaningful.

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Episode 216: Charlie Reynolds, Pirate Stuff (Part Two)

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Episode 216 of The Adventure Podcast is Part Two of the conversation with Charlie Reynolds. If you've not listened to the first half, go back to episode 215. We start this episode where we left off, on a canoe in the waves after a brutal storm. Matt and Charlie continue unpacking his extraordinary journey, and several near misses, through South America. They dig into what those moments taught Charlie about instinct, trust, risk, and why some of his most meaningful insights came from silence rather than adrenaline. Charlie speaks openly about the emotional crash that followed his expedition. The hollow feeling of coming home, how identity becomes intertwined with extreme experiences, and why the aftermath can sometimes be the hardest to navigate. It's an episode packed full of adventure - from crossing an abandoned railway bridge with a no-fall zone, to accidentally befriending illegal gold miners, being robbed at knifepoint while camped in the mountains, and spending hours stuck in volcanic mud between two enormous Ecuadorian volcanoes - its a ride and a half. If Part 1 was about the catalyst that launched him, Part 2 is the proof that once Charlie started chasing uncertainty, the world kept handing him more.

Chapter Breakdown

00:00:00-00:05:00: Charlie arrives exhausted in Bogotá, sleeps for days, and rebuilds his bike setup before launching into the second half of the journey.

00:12:50-00:15:25: He describes arriving in Colombia soaked, gear ruined.

00:22:07-00:24:50: Charlie tells Matt about riding across a terrifying abandoned railway viaduct - narrow, unsupported, rattling, and suspended high above a Colombian river.

00:31:04-00:33:51: He recounts being approached by armed miners who ended up asking for drone shots, following him on Instagram, and turning what could have been a dangerous situation into a strangely wholesome encounter.

00:34:14-00:36:35: Riding south, he meets Diego, who gives him a list of spicy routes, including one that would become one of his biggest “struggle-fests” of the whole expedition.

00:36:35-00:38:35: Charlie explains the notorious volcanic mud route.

00:40:15-00:42:33: He describes camping in freezing marshland beneath Chimborazo, eating frozen tuna-rice for breakfast, and spending hours trying to haul his 200kg bike up a slope.

00:46:04-00:48:28: With an injured leg and almost no energy, Charlie sends a single InReach message home.

00:49:52-00:52:14: He recounts being robbed by men who spent hours at his tent demanding money.

00:59:38-01:01:32: A detour with a friend ends in them burying a rental car deep in a canyon

01:07:16-01:08:24: As he reaches southern South America, the adventure becomes less intense, but not less meaningful.

01:08:42-01:11:47: Worried about losing momentum and returning to rent-paying normality, Charlie impulsively buys an old expedition truck in Quebec and limps it across North America with almost no money.

01:11:47-End; Charlie reflects on how the journey has rewired him.

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Episode 215: Charlie Reynolds, Pirate Stuff (Part One)

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 09:28:51 GMT

Episode 215 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer and overland explorer, Charlie Reynolds. In 2024, Charlie left the UK with almost no experience and rode a motorbike the length of North and Central America. He then attempted something far more daring. The Darién Gap is one of the most dangerous jungles on Earth and represents a frontier very few people attempt. Charlie decided to cross it by a hand-built boat. In this episode, Matt and Charlie explore the catalysts behind his journey, a confrontation with mortality, a hunger for discomfort, and what exactly happened on that trip. Fuelled by equal parts curiosity and chaos. This is only Part One, but it already feels like the start of a legend. There's a whole load more wild stories to follow in Part Two.

Chapter Breakdown

00:00 - 00:06: Introductions and early reflections. What drives someone to step into the unknown?

00:06 - 00:09: Charlie breaks down what the Darién Gap actually is, and why nobody is 'supposed' to go there.

00:09 - 00:13: The mindset shift. Chasing discomfort to feel alive.

00:32 - 00:34: The Catalyst, facing mortality, and deciding to leave the UK.

00:38 - 00:40: Riding south through the US, learning logistics the hard way, and finding rhythm in chaos.

00:48 - 00:51: Arriving in Panama and negotiating for a dugout canoe in a language he barely speaks.

00:54 - 00:56: Steep learning curves, wind, reefs, survival and pride.

00:56 - 00:58: The reality of solitude, risk and responsibility - and dolphins guiding his boat.

00:58 - 01:00: He realises people already know he's coming. A mystery takes shape.

01:00 - 01:03: A surreal moment; Charlie is asked to speak at the funeral of a man he never met.

01:03 - 01:05: Maybe this is what he came looking for all along.

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Episode 214: Craig Wood, Content

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 08:00:00 GMT

This episode is available for subscribers to watch in vision on The Adventure Podcast+ substack.

Episode 214 of The Adventure Podcast features solo sailor and triple amputee, Craig Wood. Craig's life changed at 18 years old when, three months into his first military tour, he lost both legs and his left hand in an explosion in Afghanistan. It took eight months for him to learn to walk again. He recently made history by becoming the world’s first triple amputee to sail solo, nonstop and unsupported across the Pacific Ocean. In this episode, Craig talks to Matt about trauma, radical acceptance, and the pursuit of contentment instead of happiness. They unpack how Craig rebuilt his life through Paralympic sailing, discovered peace living aboard a boat with his young family, and learned to find meaning in waiting, patience, and purpose.

Chapter Breakdown

00:00 - Craig recalls the explosion in 2009 that left him a triple amputee, his surreal coma hallucinations, and the first moments of realising life would never be the same.

07:00 - A powerful turning point: Craig’s mother challenges him to take action rather than despair. He begins the long road of rehab, learning independence and resilience.

10:00 - Introduced to Paralympic sailing while in recovery, Craig rediscovers competition, identity, and hope - leading him to represent his country and dream of open water.

13:00 - After Paralympic sailing is cut from the Games, Craig pivots, buying his own boat and setting his sights on the ocean.

16:00 - Matt and Craig dive into what it’s really like to live aboard with his wife and two small children; balancing risk, love, and the constant hum of adventure.

23:00 - Craig recounts his 7,500-mile solo voyage from Mexico to Japan; the storms, the stillness, the pizza-making, and the lessons in solitude and self-sufficiency.

33:00 - They discuss how society defines disability, the importance of trying over assuming limits, and how Craig’s story challenges ideas of what’s possible.

45:00 - Craig opens up about raising £68,000 for veterans’ charities, finding meaning in contribution, and sailing not just for himself but for others.

53:00 - Reflections on fatherhood, partnership, and what true contentment means; the quiet power of being “okay” rather than endlessly chasing happiness.

59:00 - Craig and Matt wrap up on how adventure can rebuild a life - not through escape, but through deep engagement with the world, family, and self.

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Episode 213: Alienor Le Gouvello, Wild At Heart

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Episode 213 of The Adventure Podcast features French-born adventurer, horsewoman, and advocate for Australia’s wild brumbies, Alienor Le Gouvello. A few years ago, Alienor travelled 5,000+ kilometres on a 13-month solo trek along the Bicentennial National Trail, a journey she completed with three wild horses she had tamed herself and her loyal dog, Fox. It starts as a tale of grit and endurance - surviving tropical fever, infection, and crocodile-infested rivers. But it unfolds into a story about connection, resilience, and purpose. Alienor and Matt explore her years working in remote Indigenous communities, her bond with the land and her animals, and how taming wild horses taught her trust, patience, and empathy. They discuss the ethics of animal management, and how the wilderness can reshape our sense of identity and belonging. This is a story of wild places and wilder spirits. Of what it means to find family, freedom, and purpose in the saddle.

Chapter Breakdown

00:00 – 07:00 | Alienor recounts the brutal closing chapter of her 5,000km trek; battling Ross River fever, a severe staph infection, and crossing crocodile rivers with her leg wrapped in plastic.

07:00 – 10:30 | Why she chose to tame and travel with wild brumbies, and how the journey became an act of advocacy for humane horse management.

10:30 – 16:30 | Growing up in France, travelling to Australia at 20, and discovering a lifelong connection to the desert and Indigenous culture.

16:30 – 21:00 | Working for over a decade in remote Aboriginal communities; learning language, culture, and the healing power of land and open space.

21:00 – 24:00 | Why Alienor feels compelled to defend both Indigenous heritage and wild horses, and how these causes became her life’s purpose.

24:00 – 28:30 | The process of earning the trust of wild brumbies through natural horsemanship. Rejecting the idea of “breaking”, in favour of gentle communication.

28:30 – 33:00 | The year-and-a-half-long process of taming, training, and learning to live alongside her horses before setting out.

33:00 – 38:00 | Gruelling early months through steep mountains, moments of doubt, and learning to work as one herd.

38:00 – 44:00 | How Alienor’s bond with her horses deepened into mutual trust and companionship, and the small, powerful moments that defined that connection.

44:00 – 48:30 | Finishing the expedition broken but transformed, finding herself adrift between adventure and normal life.

48:30 – 52:00 | Writing her book, becoming a mother, and finding her calling in equine-assisted therapy - helping others heal through the wisdom of horses.

52:00 – 56:00 | Alienor reflects on motherhood, hope for the future, and why she believes the next generation, and their connection to nature, will carry the torch forward.

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Episode 212: Chris McCaffrey, Chasing Sensations

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 09:18:21 GMT

Episode 212 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer, cyclist and skiier, Chris McCaffrey. Chris rowed across an ocean having never rowed before. He cycled around the world with limited bike experience. He nearly lost his life, more than once. What begins as a discussion about extreme adventure unfolds into an exploration of motivation, ego, purpose, and the pursuit of joy. In this episode, Matt and Chris talk openly about failure and identity. Why we chase “epic” experiences, what happens when they stop fulfilling us, and how joy can become more powerful fuel than grit. Chris has a striking amount of self-awareness and isn't afraid to challenge himself and his motivations. This is a conversation about what happens after you’ve ticked some of the 'biggest boxes' of adventure, and what’s left when the applause fades.

Chapter Breakdown

00:00 – 07:30 | Chris recounts contracting typhus, facing mortality, and how he ended up in a hospital bed in Vietnam.

07:30 – 17:00 | Matt digs into what drives people to pursue extreme adventures and the psychology of needing to prove oneself.

17:00 – 25:00 | Chris reflects on motivation, the pull of ego, and how perspective shifts after failure.

25:00 – 33:00 | Chris revisits his attempt to row across an ocean, what went wrong, and how it changed him.

33:00 – 47:00 | A raw conversation about coping mechanisms, crisis-seeking, and finding purpose outside of chaos.

47:00 – 58:00 | Matt and Chris discuss ambition, validation, how to let go of needing to impress others and stop being 'epic'.

58:00 – 01:11:00 | The truth behind the motivation to begin cycling around the world, the reality of the journey, and how it reshaped his outlook.

01:11:00 – 01:20:00 | Chris explains why joy, not toughness, now drives him through challenges.

01:20:00 – 01:32:00 | Revisiting illness, danger, and how acceptance replaces ambition.

01:32:00 – 01:37:30 | The lessons of failure, friendship, and learning to value the process over the outcome.

01:37:30 – 01:46:00 | A closing reflection on fear, sensation-seeking, insignificance, and finding beauty in it all.

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Dispatch Live: The Turner Twins, Mallory Reimagined

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This dispatch episode was recorded in front of a live audience for an event with Montane and The Turner Twins. Matt sits down with Hugo and Ross Turner, as well as Montane's Materials Manager, Liam Steinbeck. Together they unpack the twins' bold new expedition, Mallory Reimagined: Climbing Back In Time. In early October 2025, the twins will set off to Nepal to climb Mera Peak, with one wearing a replica of Mallory's 1924 Everest outfit, and the other wearing Montane's modern high altitude kit. In this conversation Matt and the guests dive into themes of exploration, risk, science and history - covering how preparation shapes expeditions, the role of technology in survival, and the mindset of pushing into the unknown. Liam also gives unique insight into the materials development process. From replica boots and wool jumpers to wearable sensors tracking cognition, stress, and thermal data. This is adventure at the crossroads of past and future.

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Episode 211: Ollie Treviso, Go The Distance

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Episode 211 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer Ollie Treviso. Ollie recently completed a 14,000km, 20-month walk along the Andes, from Tierra del Fuego to the Caribbean Sea. In this episode, Ollie opens up about how far he's come - from a rugby-playing teenager abusing steroids and working as an insurance broker, to living in a cave in Gran Canaria, working on farms, and eventually discovering the power of slow, human-paced travel. Matt and Ollie explore his first long-distance walk across the UK, complete with an over-packed rucksack, no tent experience, and a rule never to pay for accommodation, and how these early stumbles laid the foundations for his South American journey. They also talk candidly about grief and loss, why walking feels most meaningful, resilience, identity, and the uneasy balance between adventure, ego, and storytelling. This conversation is longer than normal. But its honest, fun, and full of surprising side stories. What emerges is not just the tale of an epic trek, but an honest reflection on what drives someone to keep walking into the unknown.

Chapter Breakdown

00:00 – 09:00 | Beginnings & Pandemic Shift: Ollie’s early restlessness, failed plans for South America, and how COVID lockdowns unexpectedly pushed him into walking across the UK.

09:00 – 14:30 | Discovering Slow Travel: First long walks through Wales, Scotland, and Land’s End to John O’Groats; learning the hard way about kit, endurance, and the joy of stripping life back to basics.

14:30 – 20:00 | Tragedy & Turning Points: Family loss and grief collide with his travels, bringing him home but also deepening his sense of purpose and the need to carry on.

20:00 – 40:00 | Setting Out for South America: Why Ollie chose to walk the Andes, the decision to commit step by step, and the fears and motivations behind such a huge undertaking.

40:00 – 1:05:00 | Hardship & Kindness on the Road: Encounters with strangers’ generosity, moments of danger, and surreal cultural exchanges - from Venezuela to Argentina, including being mugged in Colombia.

1:05:00 – 1:20:00 | Companions & Survival: The story of a stray dog that joined him in Chile, brushes with wilderness, and reflections on walking’s unique intensity.

1:20:00 – 1:32:00 | Records, Recognition & Resistance: How the “first to walk the Andes” label sat uneasily with him, fundraising realities, and the tension between storytelling and self-promotion.

1:32:00 – 1:40:00 | Coming Home & Looking Forward: Post-expedition decompression, finding peace away from the road, and searching for balance between adventure, career, and life at home.

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Episode 210: Sarah McNair-Landry, Raised by Ice and Wilderness

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 17:30:07 GMT

Episode 210 of The Adventure Podcast features polar guide, explorer, and adventurer Sarah McNair-Landry. Growing up in Iqaluit on Baffin Island with parents who pioneered polar guiding, Sarah’s childhood was shaped by dog sledding, camping, and life in the Arctic wilderness. In this episode, Matt and Sarah explore her journey from early expeditions to guiding at the North and South Poles, the unique challenges of dog sledding and kite skiing, and how she and her partner Boomer combine kayaking, climbing, and polar travel into bold multi-sport expeditions. They touch on themes of resilience, heritage, adventure for adventure’s sake, and the delicate balance between tourism, culture, and conservation in the North. Sarah reflects on recreating her parents’ legendary circumnavigation of Baffin Island, how growing up in an Inuit community shaped her, and why, despite the hardships, she continues to push further into remote landscapes. This is a story of family legacy, human endurance, and finding joy in the harshest environments on Earth. It's an episode that will make you want to pack your sled and chase the wind.

Chapter Breakdown:

00:00 – 06:30 | Growing up in Iqaluit: childhood in the Arctic, parents as polar guides, and early exposure to outdoor life.

06:30 – 12:30 | Progression into expeditions: dog sledding, kite skiing, and first North and South Pole journeys.

12:30 – 18:30 | Dog sledding vs. skiing: the dynamics of working with animals, expedition challenges, and recreating her parents’ 1990 Baffin Island circumnavigation.

18:30 – 24:30 | Expedition mishaps and resilience: kite skiing accidents, breaking her back in Greenland, and pushing through setbacks.

24:30 – 31:30 | Multi-sport exploration: combining polar travel with kayaking, climbing, and the appeal of first descents.

31:30 – 37:30 | Adventure at home: affordability of Arctic expeditions, rediscovering the backyard, and the accessibility of Baffin and Greenland.

37:30 – 44:30 | Tourism and community: the opportunities and challenges of opening Nunavut to more visitors.

44:30 – 47:00 | Partnerships and teamwork: traveling with Boomer, team dynamics, and the importance of good expedition partners.

47:00 – 52:00 | Culture and identity: growing up white in an Inuit community and how it shaped her outlook.

52:00 – 57:00 | Life balance: guiding, running a business, time outdoors vs. computer work, and the changing role of tech like Starlink in remote expeditions.

57:00 – 01:04:40 | Reflections: the future of polar travel, fear of snakes and heights, learning to climb, and finding hope in people who care about the planet.

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Episode 209: Tom Allen, When To Turn Around

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 14:14:03 GMT

Episode 209 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer, writer, and filmmaker, Tom Allen. In this episode, Tom talks to Matt about the wild and winding path that shaped his life on the road. At just 23, Tom left behind a career in web development to cycle around the world with no real plan - a journey that would transform him in ways he couldn’t have imagined. From naïve beginnings and near-disasters to profound moments of liberation, Tom shares what it really feels like to embrace a life of radical freedom. He recounts moments that forced him to question the true value of endless wandering. Along the way, he opens up about falling in love, and the delicate balance between pursuing boundless adventure and choosing deep connection. The discussion also touches on Tom’s shift from pure adventure to purposeful projects, like building hiking trails in Armenia, and his evolving role as both a storyteller and facilitator of others’ journeys. This is a story of bikes, deserts, love, and finding home in unexpected places.

Chapter Breakdown:

00:00 - Introduction

Matt welcomes Tom and sets up a conversation about adventure, risk, and the unexpected turns of life.

02:30 - From Northampton to Nowhere

Tom recalls his ordinary upbringing and the decision to abandon a career in web development for a round-the-world bike ride.

10:00 - Early Missteps on the Road

The chaos of over-packed bikes, failed routes, and falling-out with friends on the first stretch of the journey.

18:00 - Going Solo

Liberation, loneliness, and the first real lessons of responsibility when Tom finds himself riding alone.

20:00 - Meeting Tenny

Through couchsurfing in Yerevan, Tom encounters Tenny - sparking the love story that would change the course of his travels.

26:00 - Love vs. Adventure

The push and pull between a relationship rooted in Armenian life and the restless call of the open road.

32:00 - Cycling into the Middle East

Tom pushes south through Syria, Jordan, and Egypt, carrying both the thrill of freedom and the weight of leaving love behind.

40:00 - The Yemen Beach Epiphany

Stranded and questioning everything, Tom begins to see the diminishing returns of endless solo adventure.

43:00 - Choosing Connection

Tom returns to Armenia, and reshapes his understanding of what it means to “go forward” in life.

47:00 - From Story to Service

How Tom shifted from personal expeditions and films to helping others access adventure, including his work building trails in Armenia.

1:12:00 - Lessons in Meaning

Adventure, love, identity, and the biggest truths travel has to offer.

1:20:00 - Closing Reflections

Tom’s final words on freedom, purpose, and why he never really “went back.”

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Episode 208: Mark Agnew, There Will Be Headwinds

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:01:21 GMT

Episode 208 of The Adventure Podcast features writer, adventurer and father, Mark Agnew. Mark is a self-confessed failed adventurer, at least he was, until he became one of the first people to kayak the entire Northwest Passage under human power. This is the second time Mark has been on the podcast. The first was not long after he’d come back from this major expedition, and it’s always fascinating to learn what’s changed in someone’s mind after time has gone by and they’ve had time to reflect. Matt and Mark cover some of the same ground in this episode, but it’s clear that Mark is looking at things differently now. In this conversation, Mark opens up with rare honesty about failure, redemption, and the shifting tide of ego. They discuss the year long court case hanging over him and the expedition. He talks about fatherhood, about needing adventure and feeling guilty for needing it. About rethinking what success looks like, and learning to pursue experience, camaraderie, and meaning, rather than just the finish line. This is a conversation about discomfort, doubt, and quietly rebuilding your inner world. It’s about how adventure can hold a mirror to who we are, and how the version of us that emerges on the other side isn’t always who we expected to become.

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Episode 207: Elise Downing, The Crying Crayon

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Episode 207 of The Adventure Podcast features runner and author, Elise Downing. Elise is, by her own admission, not your typical adventurer. She didn’t grow up wild swimming or scrambling ridgelines. In fact, she used to hate the outdoors. But in her early twenties, during a time of deep personal disquiet, she made a decision. She laced up a pair of running shoes and pointed herself at the coastline. What followed was a slow, vulnerable, and deeply human odyssey, running 5,000 miles around the coast of Britain with no real experience, very little money, and only the kind of faith that says ‘I’ll figure it out when I get there.' In this conversation, Elise talks with extraordinary honesty about imposter syndrome, crying in graveyards, running through grief, and the strange awkwardness of coming home after something that should have changed everything, but somehow didn’t. She also speaks to what comes next, how she’s slowly built a life that holds adventure in its everyday edges, and how she’s learned that the most powerful journeys often start not with courage, but with not knowing what else to do. This is a conversation about the long way around. About patience. About learning to move slowly, and gently, and with kindness toward yourself. And about the beauty of having no idea what you’re doing, but going anyway.

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Episode 206: Luke Tarrant, Half a Tank of Gas and One Leg Left

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Episode 206 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer and amputee, Luke Tarrant. In 2024, Luke was travelling from the USA to Antarctica on his motorbike when he crashed in Colombia. He had to have his leg removed after contracting sepsis and was left fighting for his life. Matt got in touch with Luke after seeing his dad's update post on Instagram, and they quickly became friends and started filming together. All while this was happening, Luke blew up on social media and has gathered a massive following that has completely changed his life in lots of ways. In this episode, they go into the full story. Who was Luke before the crash? What happened? What changed? How has he changed? This episode is raw and honest, and it’s a fascinating blend of two different sides of our world. Luke wasn’t interested in fame before his accident (and spoiler alert, he kind of isn’t now). He just wanted to ride his motorbike around the world get into (mis)adventures. But, as Luke puts it, what’s happened has happened, and now he gets recognised walking down the street. What will he do next? Who knows, but it’s bound to be special.

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Episode 205: Lise Wortley, Women With Altitude

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 10:21:48 GMT

Episode 205 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer, researcher and storyteller, Lise Wortley. Lise has spent the last few years following in the footsteps of forgotten women. She retraces their paths, as faithfully as she can, right down to the scratchy tweeds and antique kit. No Gore-Tex. No modern boots. Just a deep curiosity for how these women moved through the world, and what they had to say about it. In this conversation, Lise talks about how the project began, the strange intimacy of stepping into someone else’s shoes, literally, and the complicated task of honouring legacy without romanticising the past. They explore what it means to adventure on your own terms, to go slowly, and to find strength in stories that were almost lost to time. This isn’t just about history. It’s about reclaiming the narrative. About softness and solitude and wildness, and about how the most powerful journeys aren’t always the noisiest ones. Sometimes they’re the ones that make space. For memory, for change, and for other people to follow.

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Episode 204: Paul Harris, Around the UK. Twice.

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 11:04:22 GMT

Episode 204 of The Adventure Podcast features former Royal Marine, adventurer and mental health advocate, Paul Harris. Paul is more commonly known as 'The Warrior Walker' and uses huge walking challenges, covering thousands of miles, to raise awareness for veterans and others battling issues like PTSD. In this episode, Matt talks to Paul about his decision to walk around the UK and how it came from a place of fairly serious trauma. He looks at his life before the walk, as a Royal Marine, a barman and a private soldier. They also talk about why, at the end of his entire circumnavigation of the UK he decided to put his backpack on and do it all again, probably making him the only person to have walked all the way around the UK twice.

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Episode 203: Kim Frank, Elephants In The Hourglass

Mon, 19 May 2025 14:59:18 GMT

Episode 203 of The Adventure Podcast features writer, photographer, and documentary filmmaker, Kim Frank. Kim has spent the past seven years immersed in an incredibly complex and emotionally charged story centred around human/wildlife conflict. Her project follows the lives of people and elephants in North Bengal, India—where deforestation, migration, and survival all collide. In this episode, Kim talks to Matt about creative risk, the emotional weight of telling other people’s stories, personal transformation, and the quiet power of persistence. They also discuss the importance and rarity of following through on a wild idea that won’t let you go.

Photo credit: Jeremy LaZelle

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Episode 202: Jack Scott, Two and a Half Days

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 13:29:37 GMT

Episode 202 of The Adventure Podcast features, long distance runner and construction worker, Jack Scott. Over the past few years Jack has grabbed the attention of the British ultra running scene for some stellar achievements that most people in the know thought were literally impossible. In 2024 Jack won the infamous Spine Race, a 268-mile ultramarathon along the Pennine Way, shattering the previous course record by over 10 hours. This isn't a conversation discussing trail shoes or favourite energy gels, instead this episode gives an insight into Jack's mind, attitude and where he finds his motivation. He talks to Matt about his previous gambling addiction and the 'dark and dangerous' place he has learnt to use, his Spine Race losses and win, his training mentality, and the importance of giving yourself time to grow.

Photo credit: Wild Aperture Photography

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Episode 201: Dr Gina Moseley, Underground Treasure Hunting

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 13:23:30 GMT

Episode 201 of The Adventure Podcast features cave scientist, climate researcher, and expedition leader, Dr Gina Moseley. Gina's paleoclimatology work has taken her to some of the most remote and extreme parts of the planet. In this episode, Gina talks to Matt about how she started caving as a kid in the Midlands, saving up her pocket money to go underground in the school holidays, and how this turned into a career in science along the way. They cover her groundbreaking expeditions to caves in Greenland, sailing through sea ice, getting stuck in storms, and chasing fragments of climate history hidden in stalagmites and flowstone. Or as they call it, ultimate treasure hunting.

Photo credit: Robbie Shone

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The Far Reaches: Matt Barr, The Announcement

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Episode three of The Far Reaches features journalist, podcaster, and founder of the Looking Sideways podcast, Matt Barr. In this conversation, we unpack Matt's latest project: a multi-episode documentary podcast called 'The Announcement', which explores the fallout of Patagonia’s now-famous announcement that "Earth is our only shareholder." On the surface, it looked like a bold, revolutionary move. But dig deeper, and you're into thornier territory—philanthropic capitalism, tax implications, the role of billionaires in shaping our futures, and whether good intentions can ever truly escape the systems they’re trying to fix. This is a conversation about nuance, values, and why asking better questions might matter more than finding neat answers.

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Episode 200: Stephan Kesting, 1000 Miles of Canadian Arctic

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 14:24:14 GMT

Episode 200 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer, firefighter, martial artist and author, Stephan Kesting. In 2015, Stephan was dying from polycystic kidney disease. He underwent a transplant that saved his life, and in the fog of pre-surgery uncertainty, he made a promise: if he survived, he’d complete a journey he’d dreamed of for decades. Four years later, he set off on a solo canoe expedition across 1000 miles of the Canadian Arctic. Stephan talks to Matt about that journey, but also about trauma, grief, parenthood and risk. This is a story about survival, transformation, and what the wilderness can teach us not just about the world, but about ourselves.

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Episode 199: Shauna Coxsey, Just Another Comeback

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 13:34:03 GMT

Episode 199 of The Adventure Podcast features one of the most successful British climbers of all time, Shauna Coxsey. Shauna is a World Cup champion, an Olympian, and a true pioneer in the sport. But this conversation isn’t just about climbing, it’s about what it takes to build a professional athletic career from the ground up when the path doesn’t even exist yet. Shauna talks to Matt about her journey to become a world-class athlete; challenging what it meant to be a professional climber, fighting injury after injury, and helping to reshape the sport. They also discuss her competition retirement, becoming a mother, and how she's still pushing herself as a professional rock climber. This episode is full of honesty, insight, and that rare ability to reflect on ambition, success, and what comes after.

Photo: Maja Hitij

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Episode 198: Paul Besley, We Decide To Live

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 16:35:58 GMT

Episode 198 of The Adventure Podcast features hillwalker, mountain rescue volunteer, and author, Paul Besley. Paul has written several acclaimed guidebooks but his memoir, The Search: The Life of a Mountain Rescue Search Dog Team, chronicles his transformation from a Yorkshire steel town upbringing to training his Border Collie, Scout, as a search dog. In this episode, Paul tells Matt his life story, and recounts many amusing tales of his escapades in the hills. The story has a twist though, as Paul learned recently he’s terminally ill. The conversation ends with a message of hope - how many people get to pass from this world in a place of complete contentment?

Link to Paul's new book: https://bit.ly/3PoxsiG

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Episode 197: Dave MacLeod, Moving The Needle

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 13:52:30 GMT

Episode 197 of The Adventure Podcast features Scottish climber, Dave Macleod. Dave is celebrated for being one of the finest climbing all rounders in the world, from trad and sport climbing to winter mountaineering. He’s best known for his bold and groundbreaking climbs, including Rhapsody at Dumbarton Rock, the first-ever E11 trad route. Dave isn’t just about physical feats, he’s also deeply interested in the mental side of climbing and loves sharing what he’s learned through his writing, films, and coaching. With his mix of humility, passion, and a knack for tackling the impossible, Dave is one of the leading experts when it comes to understanding how to climb at an elite level. Dave previously came on the podcast (episode 091), but Matt asked him back on after hearing about the release of his new book ‘Moving The Needle’ to give us some top level insights and to understand his own journey from very average, to one of the best climbers in the world.

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Episode 196: Leo Houlding, Life on the Line

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 15:38:45 GMT

Episode 196 of The Adventure Podcast was recorded online with a live audience, and features Leo Houlding. Leo is, in the simplest of terms, a climber. But really there’s so much more to him than that. He’s a big wall specialist, an expedition specialist and an alpinist, and he’s led a multitude of world class climbing expeditions all over the world from Antarctica to Baffin Island and Greenland to Guyana. Matt and Leo have worked together on a few of those expeditions, and really it was Leo who gave Matt his first chance at getting up close and personal with far flung climbing expeditions. In this episode, they cover a pretty broad range of topics, from Leo’s backstory and life growing up in a leaky barn in Cumbria to travelling overseas, embarking on major expeditions and then surprising himself by settling down and becoming a dad. They go on to talk about one of his biggest missions yet, and it’s not what you'd expect...

This episode was our first ever live online show - thanks so much to everyone who tuned in! Keep an eye on our Instagram @theadventurepodcast or The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack for future live recordings and Q&A's.

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Episode 195: The Name's Torbet, Andy Torbet

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 16:40:27 GMT

Episode 195 of The Adventure Podcast features stuntman, cave diver, ex soldier and parachutist, Andy Torbet. For reasons you’ll understand when you listen to this episode, if James Bond exists then he looks a lot like Andy Torbet. So much so, in fact, that Andy has quite literally doubled Daniel Craig and been a stuntman on a Bond film. In this episode, Andy talks to Matt about his life experiences, diving, why he assumes if he can't guarantee, and how he resets his 'appreciation button'. We get to meet the real Andy; an honest, funny, self-deprecating man who knows what he likes, knows who he is, and is unapologetic about living life on his own terms. With rip roaring stories, some deeper moments about fatherhood, and risk, this episode takes us on a journey into worlds most of us rarely, if ever, get a chance to see.

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Episode 194: Dr Mark Hines, Ultra Physiology

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 20:43:48 GMT

Episode 194 of The Adventure Podcast features exercise physiologist and endurance athlete, Dr Mark Hines. Mark is a senior lecturer in exercise physiology at Oxford Brookes University, with a background in ultra endurance racing of the gnarliest kind. If it’s long, cold, snowy and potentially deadly, then Mark has probably raced it. In this episode, Mark shares the story of how he got into endurance racing, starting from his childhood experiences of camping and cross country running, to eventually being inspired by a Ben Fogle documentary to compete in the Marathon des Sables. He discusses his academic journey in exercise physiology, emphasising how his own fitness journey and desire to understand the science behind it motivated his studies. This conversation then delves into the physical and mental challenges of endurance racing, with Mark providing detailed insights into his experiences, including the importance of proper preparation, problem-solving, and the emotional and mental impact of these extreme events.

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Episode 193: Jane Dotchin, 600 Miles On A Horse

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 14:27:20 GMT

Episode 193 of The Adventure Podcast features horse rider and adventurer, Jane Dotchin. Jane is an incredible woman. She has been embarking on a remarkable 600 mile horseback journey from her home in Northumberland to Inverness every year since 1972. Now in her eighties, Jane's annual trek, accompanied by her pony, Diamond, and her Jack Russell Terrier, Dinky, has become a testament to resilience, independence, and a style of living that feels lost in the modern world. Traveling with just the essentials, Jane covers up to twenty miles a day, forging connections with people along her route and adapting to the challenges of modern travel which have completely changed her journey over the years. We travelled up to meet Jane in her cabin home in Northumberland and filmed this episode live, sat in a wood store by the river. Hopefully you enjoy this episode with a lady who represents a way of living that we could all learn something from.

This episode is available in-vision on our substack channel, The Adventure Podcast+ ; www.theadventurepodcast.substack.com. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.

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Dispatch: Dr Niall McCann, Legacy

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 06:00:22 GMT

Dispatches are our shorter form episodes, usually around a single question, subject or story. In this episode, Matt asks Dr Niall McCann, a biologist, conservationist and explorer, to speak about his family history of exploration and adventures, and to speak to the idea of legacy.

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Episode 192: Matthew Irving, Living The Line

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 06:00:03 GMT

Episode 192 of The Adventure Podcast features adventure filmmaker and photographer, Matthew Irving. Matthew has a background in wildland firefighting, having worked on engine crews, hotshot crews, and a helitack crew for around 8 years earlier in his career. In more recent years, Matthew has transitioned into adventure filmmaking, often working on expeditions and projects that mirror or overlap with host Matt's own work. This is quite an honest conversation, and they dive in head first with Matthew leading the conversation on their views of each other and how they feel about their careers. They also reflect on the importance of ethics, morals, and personal values in work, and grapple with balancing professional obligations against personal principles. Throughout, they discuss topics like family, the natural world, and the fleeting nature of legacy, emphasising the need to stay true to oneself and find happiness in the present.

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Episode 191: Hillary Gerardi, Records Or Reasons

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 06:00:11 GMT

Episode 191 of The Adventure Podcast was recorded live at Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 and features ultra-marathon runner and alpinist, Hillary Gerardi. Hillary recently broke the women's Mont Blanc fastest known time, setting a new record of seven hours, 25 minutes and 28 seconds. In the episode, Matt talks to Hillary about her skyrunning journey, what it took to break the FKT, and the importance of savouring that experience rather than immediately moving onto the next big thing. Hillary also discusses how to safely build individual pillars for alpinism and skyrunning before attempting to bridge the two. They talk about a lesser known project Hillary embarked on this year, imperfect activism, and how she approaches sustainable living as a competitive athlete. It's a broad-ranging, energetic, and inspiring conversation which will leave you wanting to dust off your running shoes and hit the hills.

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Episode 190: Dr Steve Boyes, The Pulse of the Okavango

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 06:00:04 GMT

Episode 190 of The Adventure Podcast features conservationist and National Geographic Explorer, Dr Steve Boyes. Steve is the driving force behind the Okavango Wilderness Project, working to protect Africa's wild rivers and wetlands. He’s spent years uncovering new species, exploring uncharted ecosystems, and partnering with local communities to keep these landscapes thriving. Steve is also a cancer survivor, a devoted dad, and a natural storyteller. In this episode, Steve gives an insight into his life as an explorer and his approach to conservation. He talks about uncovering new species and massive ecological systems, and how to work closely with local communities to drive real, lasting conservation. He opens up to Matt about how nature shaped him, and how surviving cancer changed his perspective. Through it all, Steve champions the idea of reconnecting with nature, using storytelling to make science matter, and staying hopeful about humanity’s ability to turn things around for the planet.

Photographer credit: Karabo Moilwa

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Episode 189: Charlotte Young, Ocean Magpie

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 06:00:37 GMT

Episode 189 of The Adventure Podcast features marine scientist, sailor, communicator, and freediver, Charlotte Young. Charlotte is now living aboard and travelling the world on a boat she renovated with her partner. In this episode, Charlotte describes her transition to living a life of adventure - moving onto a sailboat and restoring a 40-foot catamaran to use as her "adventure vessel." She talks about the lessons learned from living at sea, and her project "Voyage to the World". Charlotte also reflects on the challenges and rewards of using social media to amplify these stories, emphasizing the need to drive tangible action rather than just producing content. It's a fascinating, inspiring and fiercely passionate conversation, with plenty of stories of adventure and exploration too.

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Episode 188: Jason Fox, It's Easy To Be Tough

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 06:00:59 GMT

Episode 187 of The Adventure Podcast features ex-Special Forces operator, Jason Fox (aka. Foxy). Foxy is known for his work on TV shows like 'SAS: Who Dares Wins' and 'Inside The Real Narcos'. In this episode, Matt tries to cover new ground with him. The result is not a rip-roaring tale of misadventure, instead it's the honest life story of a man who's achieved a huge amount, but also made mistakes along the way. Foxy talks about his time in the military, being medically discharged, and his personal life and challenges throughout this time. He discusses getting into TV presenting and how this was received by his military colleagues, and what life looks like now. It is an open, honest, and vulnerable conversation which goes deep into the 'tough man' we see on screen.

This episode is available in-vision on our substack channel, The Adventure Podcast+ ; www.theadventurepodcast.substack.com. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.

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Episode 187: Guy Grieve, All The Wealth In The World

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 19:00:00 GMT

Episode 187 of The Adventure Podcast features scallop diver, seaweed farmer, author, writer, and father, Guy Grieve. Guy spent a year off-grid living in a cabin he built in the Alaskan wilderness. In this episode, Guy talks to Matt about his past and what made him the man he is now. He tells stories of his time in the Alaskan wilderness, why he left his family behind in the UK, and what happened while out there. It's an emotional episode, and Guy is one of the most gracious, genuine, and grounded guests we've ever had on. Fair to say it's one of our favourite episodes ever recorded.

This episode is available in-vision on our substack channel, The Adventure Podcast+ ; www.theadventurepodcast.substack.com.

They have 10 responsibly sourced house coffees from around the world, so there's definitely something to suit your taste and your brew method. And if you’re extra keen you can head out to Surrey to join their weekend tours and experiences to learn more about the journey from farm to cup. Head to chimneyfirecoffee.com/tap and 15% off your first order will be automatically applied.

Photographer credit: Glenn Dearing

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The Far Reaches: Emma Linford, Wild Service

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 05:00:58 GMT

In the second episode of our new series The Far Reaches, our guest is Emma Linford. Emma is an outdoor professional with a number of different strings to her bow. She’s a mountain instructor, international mountain leader, outdoor education and is heavily involved in the Right To Roam movement in the UK, as well as the Stars Are For Everyone movement that is campaigning to defend the right to wild camp on Dartmoor. This conversation is far reaching. Matt talks to Emma about her early life and inspirations, how she became an outdoor facilitator and why she started travelling overseas. She also speaks about her social and political views and their relevance to the outdoors, before discussing the right to roam movement in a little more detail.

The Far Reaches is a new long-term series where we speak to guests about subjects related to our planet and our place on it. These episodes will dig a little deeper, perhaps enter the realm of armchair philosophy, and will tackle some more existential questions surrounding adventure and exploration.

This episode is brought to you by Chimney Fire Coffee; a Certified B Corp™️, committed to the highest social and environmental standards. What sets Chimney Fire Coffee apart is their dedication to ethical sourcing. They pay their producers on average double Fairtrade prices, building direct, personal relationships. Plus, they give back by supporting Re-Cycle, donating to refurbish and send bikes to rural Africa. They have 10 responsibly sourced house coffees from around the world, so there's definitely something to suit your taste and your brew method. And if you’re extra keen you can head out to Surrey to join their weekend tours and experiences to learn more about the journey from farm to cup. Head to chimneyfirecoffee.com/tap and 15% off your first order will be automatically applied.

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Episode 186: Victoria Monk, There She Rows

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 05:00:27 GMT

Episode 186 of The Adventure Podcast features rower and sports advocate, Victoria Monk. Victoria is Captain and one quarter of 'There She Rows', an all-female team who recently rowed across the Atlantic. In this episode, Matt and Victoria discuss the crossing in detail, including her motivation and inspiration, as well as why she picked this specific challenge given her limited experience of big adventures and expeditions. They go into the realities of life on the water, and also get into the nitty gritty of picking a team and training. They also touch on a subject Victoria is incredibly passionate about - why so many teenage girls give up sport - why Victoria thinks this may be happening, and what we can do about it.

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Episode 185: Lyanda Haupt, Someone Of Service

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 05:00:01 GMT

Episode 185 of The Adventure Podcast features award-winning author, naturalist, and eco-philosopher, Lyanda Haupt. Lyanda's work bridges the gap between scientific observation and poetic exploration. In this episode, Matt and Lyanda discuss her journey in a lot of detail. They talk about her unique perspective on urban ecology, and the profound lessons she draws from her close encounters with animals. They spend some time talking about her early inspirations and travels around the world, before speaking about the much more personal details of her life, including the end of her marriage. Whether you're an avid birdwatcher, a casual nature lover, or simply curious about the hidden wonders in your own backyard, Lyanda is fascinating.

Photo credit: Tom Furtwangler

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Episode 184: Sunniva Sorby, Minor To Major

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 15:15:25 GMT

Episode 184 of The Adventure Podcast features expedition leader, citizen scientist, and polar expert, Sunniva Sorby. Sunniva was part of the first all-female team to reach the South Pole, and has worked in Antarctica over 100 times. She recently spent 19 months living in a cabin in Svalbard. In large parts, this is a conversation about Sunniva’s life; where she comes from, where she went, how these expeditions came about and ultimately what motivated her. But Matt and Sunniva also discuss the deeper meaning of what it is she does - the purpose, the intention, and how these have changed over the decades she’s worked in the polar world.

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Episode 183: Matt Pavitt, Maybe Masochistic

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 15:11:42 GMT

Episode 183 of The Adventure Podcast features alpinist, skier, outdoor instructor, and climber, Matt Pavitt. Matt recently broke the fastest known time record for the winter Cuillin Ridge traverse. The ridge is a coveted prize and the previous record was impressive, so to see Matt break it was somewhat of a shock. In this episode, they discuss Matt's early life and what led him to move to Scotland rather than Chamonix or Canada. He talks about his career progression, and what it is that makes Scottish winter climbing so hard but so special, before detailing his Cuillin Ridge winter traverse - what happened on the route, regrets, and how the community responded to his record.

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Episode 182: John Porter, A Path Of Shadows

Thu, 30 May 2024 12:38:51 GMT

Episode 182 of The Adventure Podcast features mountaineer, writer, historian and poet, John Porter. John is arguably one of the most accomplished but understated mountaineers of his generation. He made pioneering ascents of the North Face of Bandaka and the South Buttress of Changabang. Neither route has been repeated. In this episode, John talks to Matt about his early life and how he managed to avoid the Vietnam war draft, how he landed on his feet as part of blossoming British climbing scene and ultimately went on to climb with some of the very best mountaineers in the world on a string of world class expeditions. They touch on John’s approach to ethics, his views on modern mountaineering and expeditions, and what he’s doing with his days now that he’s, by his own admission, slowing down.

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Episode 181: Hazel Findlay, State of Mind

Fri, 17 May 2024 05:00:21 GMT

Episode 181 of The Adventure Podcast features one of the most accomplished rock climbers in the world, Hazel Findlay. Hazel featured on the podcast before, back when it first started for episode 19, and is good pals with Matt. A lot has changed for Hazel since then. She bought a house, got married and is now expecting a baby. In this episode, Hazel talks to Matt about giving up the dirtbag life, or more so about how she actually hasn’t given it up entirely. They talk about realities of life on the road as a pro athlete, as well as exploring the idea of settling down and becoming 'grown ups'. Hazel is a leading coach, with a real focus on the mind rather than the body, and they get quite deep into the psychology of things - intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation, bravery, real vs perceived risk, and flow state. It's a fascinating conversation which will no doubt make you question the way your brain works.

Photographer: Jonny Baker

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Episode 180: Guy Deacon, Running On Empty

Fri, 10 May 2024 09:38:05 GMT

Episode 180 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer and Parkinson's campaigner, Guy Deacon CBE. Guy is a retired army officer who, towards the end of his career, was diagnosed with Parkinson's. In 2019, Guy embarked on a solo overland expedition from his home in Dorset to Cape Town in South Africa. He wanted to use the journey as a platform to raise awareness and understanding of Parkinson’s disease in the UK and throughout Africa, and to expose the prejudice and stigma associated with this illness in Africa. Guy’s journey was wracked with issues and problems, not limited to breakdowns, visa issues and a small thing call Covid-19. But despite all this, and living with the reality of Parkinson's disease, Guy just kept going. In this episode, Matt talks to Guy about his early life and military career, before moving onto understanding Parkinson's, what it really is and how it affects people. Guy then talks in detail about his overland expedition and the highs, lows, trips and stumbles that came with it.

Guy's book, Running On Empty: 18,000 Miles Down Africa with Parkinson’s, is out now.

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Explore 014: The Future Of Exploration

Thu, 09 May 2024 10:57:37 GMT

Episode fourteen, the final episode of our specialist series, Explore: How To Plan An Expedition, focuses on the future of exploration. This is actually a live recording taken in 2022 from the opening event for the RGS' annual expedition gathering, Explore, held each November. This is a panel discussion with Sophie Roberts, Oliver Steeds, Leo Houlding, and Dr Heidi Sevestre, on the topic of what it means to be an explorer in the 21st century. They talk about the myriad of global challenges facing exploration today, as well as the responsibilities and tasks facing travellers, adventurers and field scientists, and where they overlap or differ. They also discuss if there's anything left to explore (spoiler alert, there's a lot).

Sophie Roberts is an author and journalist who focuses on travel stories in remote parts of the world, with a special interest in literature and history. She is the author of 'The Lost Pianos Of Siberia'.

Oliver Steeds is an international investigative journalist and broadcaster. He also founded Nekton; a not-for-profit research institute which commits to scientific exploration and protection of the world's oceans.

Leo Houlding is a world-class rock climber, mountaineer and adventurer. He's arguably one of the greatest expedition climbers in history.

Dr Heidi Sevestre is a glaciologist, working at the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme and teaches at The University Centre in Svalbard. She is an avid science communicator and has led numerous field research expeditions from tropical glaciers to the depth of the polar regions. She also features in episode twelve of this series.

You can find out more about the Royal Geographical Society and access advice and support for field research and scientific expeditions by visiting www.rgs.org/in-the-field or follow them on @rgs_ibg on socials.

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Episode 179: Tommy Caldwell, Summit To Senate

Fri, 03 May 2024 05:00:47 GMT

Episode 179 of The Adventure Podcast features one of the world's best rock climbers, Tommy Caldwell. Tommy has set endless climbing records, made the first free ascents of several major routes on El Cap, and is the subject of multiple feature films and books. In this episode, Tommy talks to Matt about how he initially fell in love with climbing, and his motivations and propulsion to rock climbing celebrity. He also opens up about his fateful expedition to Kyrgyzstan, where he was kidnapped by rebel militia, and the lasting impact that had on him. He speaks about balancing family life with adventure, his involvement with the brand Patagonia, and how environmentalism and activism have been a side of his life just as important to him as rock climbing. Matt worked closely with Tommy on an expedition to Alaska in 2023, building up a rapport and trust with each other. This episode is a real personal insight into one of the climbing worlds' major names.

Photo: Bret Lowell

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Explore 013: Coming Home

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 17:47:07 GMT

Episode thirteen of our specialist series, Explore: How To Plan An Expedition, focuses on an often overlooked part of expeditions, coming home. In this episode, Matt chats to Dr Sophie Redlin about the importance of decompression as you transition back from your expedition to everyday life, how to re-engage when you get home, and how to find and give support post-expedition. They also discuss how to answer the 'how was your trip' question.

Sophie Redlin FRGS is a Medical Doctor, Mental Health Researcher and Trainer. Her clinical focus is General Practice with a special expertise in Mental Health and Wellbeing. She also has extensive experience in Expedition and Remote Medicine, supporting predominantly young people in wilderness settings.

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Episode 178: Denise Joi, Fight or Flight

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 08:51:28 GMT

Episode 178 of The Adventure Podcast features wildlife pilot, Denise Joi. Denise is one of four pilots for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, where she flies a small Cessna aircraft in rugged terrain conducting wildlife surveys and carrying out fish drops. In this episode, Matt talks to Denise about her life as pilot. She lets us into her past, and explains how she was drawn to flying as a means to escape early trauma. Denise talks about her life outside of work, and her love of trekking to the lakes she’s stocked from the air to actually go and fish them. They also discuss what a wildlife pilot does, and the challenges involved. This is a raw and sometimes difficult conversation to hear, but one that is full of meaning and purpose. It also gives a fascinating insight into a whole different style of adventurous life in the air.

You can watch Denise's documentary here: https://www.gnarlybay.com/fight-or-flight.

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Explore 012: Communicating Scientific Discoveries

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 07:29:37 GMT

Episode twelve of our specialist series Explore: How To Plan An Expedition, focuses on communicating scientific discoveries. In this episode, Matt speaks with Dr Heidi Sevestre about why science needs communicators, what science communication can look like, how to select your audience, and ideas for teaming up with other specialist communicators. They also talk about the importance of understanding your own science in order to communicate your findings effectively.

Dr Heidi Sevestre is a glaciologist, working at the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme and teaches at The University Centre in Svalbard. She is an avid science communicator and has led numerous field research expeditions from tropical glaciers to the depth of the polar regions. Her focus is on science policy and outreach. Heidi recently featured in the National Geographic series, Arctic Ascent, where she collected crucial climate data whilst on a climbing expedition.

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Episode 177: Robert Lester, A Childhood Dream

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 09:36:47 GMT

Episode 177 of The Adventure Podcast features general outdoorsman, climber and skier, Robert Lester. In 2023, Rob canoed 1300 miles down the Columbia River. He had very little knowledge of canoeing prior to leaving for this expedition. He also decided to take his completely inexperienced cousin, Braxton, along for the ride. In this conversation, Matt talks to Rob about the whole process. Why do this? What was the motivation? How did they plan it, and of course what actually happened. They speak about some bigger picture stuff too, like Rob’s fascination with the changing landscape around them, and the fascinating environmental and conservation elements of their expedition. Rob also talks about why Braxton decided to join the expedition, the impact it had on Braxton's mental and physical resilience, and how he hopes he's given a gift to his cousin.

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Explore 011: Telling The Story

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 06:00:58 GMT

Episode eleven of our specialist series, Explore: How To Plan An Expedition, focuses on storytelling. In this episode, Matt speaks with Leon McCarron about the need for stories, the nuances between journalism and storytelling, and how to get your story out there. They also discuss if everyone has the capacity to be a storyteller.

Leon McCarron is an explorer, award-winning author, and a broadcaster. Known for his long-distance expeditions and immersive multimedia storytelling, in the past decade Leon has travelled over 50,000km by human power sharing stories to help us better understand the world.

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Episode 176: Hanli Prinsloo, Hold Your Breath

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 12:28:36 GMT

Episode 176 of The Adventure Podcast features freediver, speaker, writer and ocean conservationist, Hanli Prinsloo. Hanli is the founder and executive director of I Am Water, an ocean conservation trust dedicated to conserving and protecting the world's oceans through human experience. In this episode, Matt talks with Hanli about her early life growing up on a rural South African farm, how she got into free diving, and what draws her to the ocean. They discuss why she left the competition circuit, motherhood, and conservation. Hanli also teaches us about the physiological effects of freediving, and why you can probably hold your breath for a lot longer than you think.

Photo credit: Peter Marshall

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Explore 010: Camp Life, Mountains

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:10:57 GMT

Episode ten of our specialist series, Explore: How To Plan An Expedition, continues our Camp Life mini series, where we speak to a single individual about a specific type of expedition environment. In this Mountains episode, our guest is Jon Gupta. We talk about navigation, food and water, coping with altitude sickness, and whether or not to use a guide. We also discuss the value in taking a couple of luxuries onto the peaks - after all, any fool can suffer.

Jon Gupta is a mountaineering and climbing instructor, and high altitude expedition guide. He has organised and led over 100+ major expeditions around the world, including to Everest (4 times), K2, a winter ascent of Denali and the seven summits.

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Episode 175: Mark Agnew, An Adventurous Mind

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 11:28:33 GMT

Episode 175 of The Adventure Podcast features journalist and adventurer, Mark Agnew. Mark has recently become well-known for his crossing of the Northwest Passage, as part of a kayak-based team, which we believe is the first recorded crossing of its kind. In this episode, Mark talks to Matt about his early life in Scotland and his decision to move to Hong Kong. They discuss Mark's ancestry and the pressure of living up to his adventurous roots, and intrinsic vs extrinsic motivations. He also speaks about two failed ocean rowing attempts and what that meant to him. This is a broad and far-reaching conversation which explores the psychology and head space of an adventurous mind.

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Episode 174: Fay Manners, Eight First Ascents

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 16:56:23 GMT

Episode 174 of The Adventure Podcast features alpinist, mountaineer and climber, Fay Manners. Fay is from the UK but is now based in Chamonix and spends all of her time in the mountains. Last year she put up eight first ascents. In this episode, Matt talks to Fay about her route into alpinism, and how it was defined by a lack of mentors, instead focusing on getting better in partnership with others of similar ability. They also talk about how her expedition to Pakistan was devastated by the news of one of her closest friends losing her life in an avalanche. They talk about how that affected Fay, how it changed her, and how she dealt with happened. It’s an honest and open chat, and a brilliant example of how you don’t have to be surrounded by superheroes to get good at the things you love.

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Explore 009: Health & Safety

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 06:00:05 GMT

Episode nine of our specialist series, Explore: How To Plan An Expedition, focuses on Health and Safety. In this episode, Matt speaks with Megan Hine, Waldo Etherington and Aldo Kane. They demystify the 'risk assessment' process, and go through in detail how to research and write one. They also discuss how to manage risk effectively in the field, medical preparation, emergency evacuation plans, and comms. It's not only an informative episode, but a pretty exciting one too.

Megan Hine is a survival consultant, wilderness guide and expedition leader. She has been a health and safety advisor on some of the biggest adventure and survival shows on TV, and has led multiple adventures to remote wilderness environments. She has lived and learned from indigenous communities across the world.

Waldo Etherington is a remote location climbing specialist. He has over 15 years of experience in remote-location rigging, and has been a health and safety advisor for countless expeditions and field-research projects. He also features in our Camp Life, Jungles episode.

Aldo Kane is a former Royal Marines Commando and TV adventurer. He has been, both on and off screen, in some of the most extreme, high-risk environments on earth. His company, Vertical Planet, provides safety, security medical and risk management services to the film industry.

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The Far Reaches: Matt James, De-extinction

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 15:45:37 GMT

After a lot of thought and taking note of audience feedback, we've decided to categorise some of our features a little differently. Most of our episodes will be unchanged, but occasionally we feature guests who are definitely relevant to the worlds of adventure and exploration, but don't necessarily have rip-roaring tales of adventure and aren't adventurers in the truest sense of the word. Intro, The Far Reaches. In this new long-term series we'll speak to guests about subjects related to our planet and our place on it. These episodes will dig a little deeper, perhaps enter the realm of armchair philosophy, and will tackle some more existential questions surrounding adventure and exploration.

In the first episode of The Far Reaches, our guest is Matt James. Matt is the Chief Animal Officer at Colossal, a start-up focused on de-extinction. Their goal is to use cutting-edge science to bring back lost species, and secure the health and biodiversity of our planet's future. Matt's job is, in part, to work out what to do with these species once they're back in the world. In this episode, they discuss in detail the meaning and realities of 'conservation', and what de-extinction actually means; the practicalities, methods, reasons, issues, ethics and controversies. It's a fully transparent conversation, and Matt doesn't shy away from the hard questions one bit. No doubt you'll hit play feeling a little skeptical, but hopefully this conversation will teach you about the potential positive impacts these initiatives could have on planet earth. As Matt James puts it, it's not if we can do this, but when.

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Episode 173: Alex Honnold, The Next Pitch

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 08:00:31 GMT

Episode 173 of The Adventure Podcast features climbing legend, Alex Honnold. Alex needs little introduction. He's arguably one of the best rock climbers in history, and is known for his solo ascent of El Capitan, documented in the Oscar-winning film 'Free Solo'. Matt has worked with Alex on two National Geographic documentaries, and has spent endless hours chatting with him at basecamps and on the mountains. In this episode, they briefly speak about Alex's background, but gloss over the more obvious questions that have been asked numerous times in podcasts and movies before. Instead they focus on Alex's transition to fatherhood, redefining adventure, and his partnership with Tommy Caldwell. They also discuss the Honnold Foundation, how he became an environmentalist, and his thoughts on the term 'activist'. They also tackle the question...is Alex Honnold turning soft?

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Explore 008: Camp Life, Jungles

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 13:39:43 GMT

Episode eight of our specialist series, Explore: How To Plan An Expedition, continues our Camp Life mini series, where we speak to a single individual about a specific type of expedition environment. In this Jungles episode, our guest is Waldo Etherington. We talk about the challenges of undertaking rainforest expeditions, and how to up-skill. Waldo goes into detail on navigational limitations, water, wet dry systems, recommendations for camping under the canopy, wildlife considerations, and jungle-specific prevention and emergency medical planning.

Waldo is a remote location climbing specialist. He has over 15 years experience in remote-location rigging for TV and film. The main focus of his career has been in tropical rainforests, where he started as a tree climber supporting research conservation projects.

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Episode 172: Jason Pickles, The Climber's Climber

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 20:28:11 GMT

Episode 172 of The Adventure Podcast features climber, route setter, and 'Britain's Manliest Man', Jason Pickles. Jason is a proper underdog and a climber’s climber. He's proudly northern, and grew up climbing in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cumbria before the climbing scene really exploded and turned into what it is now. In this episode, Jason explores his life as a climber, and how we went from young weekend warrior to full time, talented dirt bagger. He speaks to Matt in detail about first major expedition to climb Mount Agsard on Baffin Island, and his partnership with his best mate, Leo Houlding. They speak about ego and imposter syndrome, and how he’s more than comfortable being surrounded by people who are better at their sport than him. They also look closely at the transition from full time lifer climber to stay at home dad, and the realities of this new life Jason has built for himself. It’s an open conversation with a man who knows exactly who he is, who he isn’t and what he wants from life.

Photographer: Adam Long

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Explore 007: Ethical Fieldwork

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 06:00:47 GMT

Episode seven of our specialist series, Explore: How To Plan An Expedition, focuses on Ethical Fieldwork. In this episode, Matt speaks with Dr Alasdair Harris about getting started in field research and expeditions, the moral dilemma around travelling for fieldwork, and the critical need to forge meaningful partnerships with host communities and countries. Al also speaks passionately and thoughtfully about the impacts of environmental conservation on communities who depend on nature.

Alasdair is a marine conservationist working at the interface of ocean protection and social justice. His organisation Blue Ventures grew out of his first RGS-funded expeditions in 2001, and focuses on developing locally led approaches to marine conservation that benefit people and nature. Blue Ventures is now helping many hundreds of thousands of people address overfishing and safeguard ocean life in fourteen countries across southeast Asia, Africa and the Indian Ocean. Alasdair holds a PhD in marine ecology and an honorary doctorate of science from the University of Edinburgh. He has spent more than two decades working with coastal communities to rebuild small-scale fisheries across the tropical Indo-Pacific.

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Episode 171: Andrew Bisharat, We Need A Voice

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 15:25:32 GMT

Episode 171 of The Adventure Podcast features journalist, writer and climber, Andrew Bisharat. Much of Andrew's career has been focussed on writing about climbing, mountains and adventure. He is a leader in adventure journalism. Andrew is of Palestinian heritage, and was the subject of the film 'Resistance Climbing', which documented his first visit to Palestine in 2020 and a local climbing programme there. The focus of this episode is Palestine, and it's not a bright and breezy episode. It's raw, it's real and it's personal. This conversation purposefully does not shy away from the reality of things. We hope you can enjoy it in some way, that it teaches you something, and that it gives you a personal insight into the conflict, the people, and the place.

At the time this episode is released, 'Resistance Climbing' is free to watch on Reel Rock's website: https://watch.reelrocktour.com/videos/rr17-resistanceclimbing.

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Episode 170: Lee Craigie, Other Ways To Win

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 12:50:15 GMT

Episode 170 of The Adventure Podcast features a legend of the mountain biking world, Lee Craigie. Lee is a bike adventurer, director of The Adventure Syndicate, outdoor therapist and storyteller. In this episode, Lee talks to Matt about her champion-winning mountain biking career, competing in the Commonwealth Games, and the pro's and con's of winning. She goes into detail on her role as Scotland's Active Nation Commissioner, and the challenges she faced in this position. She also covers what happiness means to her now, community, and finding balance by changing her motivations. It's an honest and thought-provoking conversation which gives a gentle reminder on the importance of perspective and not trying too hard.

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Explore 006: Camp Life, Polar

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 09:27:52 GMT

The sixth episode of our specialist series, Explore: How To Plan An Expedition, continues our Camp Life mini series, where we speak to a single individual about a specific type of expedition terrain. In this Polar episode, our guest is Felicity Aston. You may recognise her from our Five P's episode. In this episode, Matt talks to Felicity about polar accessibility, navigation, managing water, avoiding injuries, and her tips and tricks for dealing with extreme temperatures.

Felicity is a British polar explorer, author, speaker and student research scientist. In 2012 she became the first woman to ski alone across Antarctica. Starting out as a Meteorologist with the British Antarctic Survey, her expeditions have included the first British Women’s crossing of Greenland, a 6000km drive to the South Pole, a 36,000km drive to the Pole of Cold, and leading international teams of women on ski expeditions to both the North and South Poles. In 2015 she was awarded The Queen’s Polar Medal and was appointed an MBE for services to polar exploration.

You can find out more about the Royal Geographical Society and access advice and support for field research and scientific expeditions by visiting www.rgs.org/in-the-field or follow them on @rgs_ibg.

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Episode 169: Taran Khan, Shadow City

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 13:05:27 GMT

Episode 169 of The Adventure Podcast features journalist and author, Taran Khan. Taran's work covers intricate themes of conflict, identity, displacement and belonging. The focus of this episode is her book, 'Shadow City: A Woman Walks Kabul'; over a series of long visits, Taran documents Kabul's changes as it begins to heal from conflict, before the Taliban regained control and she observed the cycle of transformation all over again. Her book shares intimate experiences and keen observations of Kabul, in its fragile yet hopeful state. Taran talks about her family connection to Afghanistan, why she chose to travel there, and what it means to walk in Kabul.

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Episode 168: Laura Massey-Pugh, In Tandem

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 06:00:47 GMT

Episode 168 of The Adventure Podcast features long-distance cyclist, and 'back-half' of SteLa tandem, Laura Massey-Pugh. Alongside her husband Stevie, Laura holds the record for riding a tandem bicycle around the world. Niche but impressive. Together they've also completed several ultra-cycling events, like All Points North and the Mille Pennines Audax. In this episode, Matt talks to Laura about and how she transitioned from being a commuter cyclist to a long-distance tandem cyclist, how the world record ride played out, and why they ride a tandem bike. They cover her and Stevie's roles on the bike, how taking on these challenges as a couple affects their relationship, and if the ride was for enjoyment or for the record.

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Explore 005: Leadership, Teamwork and Competence

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 06:00:57 GMT

The fifth episode of our specialist series, Explore: How To Plan An Expedition, focuses on leadership, teamwork, and competence. In this episode, Matt speaks with Lucy Shepherd, James Dyer, and Emily Penn about different leadership styles, what being a 'leader' involves, and the responsibilities that come with it. They also discuss female leadership, teamwork, the importance of showcasing vulnerability, and ultimately, if you have to be born a leader or if you can learn to become one.

Lucy Shepherd has over 10 years of exploration, adventure and expedition experience. In 2020, she led a team of indigenous Amerindians across the Kanuku mountains in the Amazon jungle from South to North, and then went back the following year with them to cross from East to West. She regularly guides expeditions to the Arctic, and has climbed summits in Tajikistan, Alaska, and Chile.

James Dyer is an adventurer, expedition leader, safety advisor and outdoor education practitioner. With a career spanning over 20 years, he has participated in and led expeditions all over the globe, covering all environments from the highest mountains, to the frozen arctic, spending time with indigenous peoples in the jungles of Borneo and the bush of Tanzania, climbing into the canopy of the Peruvian Amazon, canoeing rivers deep in Northern Canada and trekking across the deserts of the Middle East.

Emily Penn is a skipper and ocean advocate. Emily founded eXXpedition - a non-profit organisation which runs pioneering all-female sailing research expeditions at sea and virtual voyages on land to investigate the causes of, and solutions to, ocean plastic pollution. She's sailed the Northwest Passage, been aboard Earthrace for 923 days, and is also the youngest and only female recipient of both the Yachtmaster of the Year and the Seamaster of the Year award.

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Episode 167: Karen & Mark Bennett, SaltPot

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 06:00:14 GMT

Episode 167 of The Adventure Podcast features animal and wildlife photographer, sailor, and grandparents, Karen and Mark Bennett. They recently sailed from their home in the South of England, up past the Hebrides, through Northern Scotland and on to the Faroe Islands, all in pursuit of free-roaming wild ponies. In this episode, Karen and Mark talk about combining their two individual passions together, and integrating Karen's photography into their sailing adventures. They discuss how the journey came about, what happened when they were sailing, why they're so driven by their individual passions and what it was like bringing them together. It's a broad and far-reaching conversation with an under the radar couple who are quietly doing the things they love.

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Explore 004: Camp Life, Deserts

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 06:00:46 GMT

The fourth episode of our specialist series, Explore: How To Plan An Expedition, focuses on Camp Life, and specifically Deserts. Camp Life is a mini series within our series, and will feature five different experts on the subjects of deserts, oceans, mountains, rainforests and polar regions. In this episode, Matt speaks with Mark Evans MBE on the nuances of desert travel, how you navigate, source and carry water, mitigate against heat, as well as discussing Mark's top tips for camp craft, vehicle travel, emergency evacuations, cultural considerations and wildlife concerns. It's a fascinating insight into desert travel.

Mark Evans is Executive Director of Outward Bound Oman, the first Outward Bound school to be established in an Arabic speaking country. He has spent 22 years living and travelling extensively in Arabia, backed up by 80 day camel expeditions, a 49 day crossing of the Rub Al Khali, a 55 day 1,700 km solo kayak journey from UAE to Yemen, and remote 4×4 journeys throughout Saudi Arabia and Oman. He's also an author, lecturer, and fundraiser.

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Episode 166: James Mark Hayden, Nothing Left Unfinished

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:01:08 GMT

Episode 166 of The Adventure Podcast features ultra-endurance cyclist, James Mark Hayden. James started by riding fixie bikes around London, before finding deep purpose in athleticism and training. He shifted his focus from road racing to unsupported ultra-endurance racing, and after two failed attempts, won back-to back wins in The Transcontinental Race. Pushing his limits again, he now focuses on off-road ultra-endurance racing, and events like the Silk Road Mountain Race in Kyrgyzstan. What makes this episode stand out is the more nuanced conversations Matt and James have around subjects like the transition to fatherhood, mental health, autism, personal ethics and living a life on your own terms. It's moving and motivating, and one of our favourite episodes of the year.

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Episode 165: Miriam Lancewood, A Wild Life

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 06:00:05 GMT

Episode 165 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer and author, Miriam Lancewood. Miriam grew up in Holland and travelled around Africa and India, before meeting her now husband, Peter. Peter was a 'modern nomad' and they spent the next few years hiking across mountain ranges, before ending up back in Peter's home country of New Zealand. After questioning the life they were living and the life they wanted to live, they gave up their possessions and moved into the wilderness with a tent and bow and arrow. One year turned into seven. In this episode, Matt and Miriam discuss how to survive in high mountains, what happens to the body and mind in wild spaces, and what it's like to go from a vegetarian to a hunter. Miriam is not a purist - she doesn't live by anyone else's rules or codes. This is a truly fascinating story and insight into a life that is very very rarely lived.

Photo credit: Murdo MacLeod

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Explore 003: Who's Paying, The Reality Of Funding

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 06:00:31 GMT

The third episode of our specialist series, Explore: How To Plan An Expedition, focuses on the reality of funding, and who's paying. Money is one of the least favoured things to talk about when it comes to expedition planning but it's unavoidably essential, as without it, your grand plan is very little more than an idea. In this episode, Matt speaks with Dr Eleanor Drinkwater, Ben Saunders, Tom Allen, and Shane Winser. They go deep into grant applications - how to write them, what to include, and how to review them. They also cover crowdfunding, corporate commercial funding, and even self-funding. They discuss how competitive it can be, how to stand out, and what work remains even when the expedition is over.

Dr Eleanor Drinkwater is an entomologist, expedition leader, lecturer and science communicator. Having completed her PhD on invertebrate personality, she is fascinated by both invertebrate behaviour, as well as understanding how humans can work with and cultivate invertebrates in a sustainable and ethical way. She has worked both in the UK and further afield in Peru, Australia, Honduras and French Guiana. She is committed to science communication, and has also co-founded an entomophagy science festival group.

Ben Saunders is a pioneering polar athlete and a record-breaking long-distance skier, who has covered more than 6,000km on foot in the Polar Regions. He's broken the record for the longest human-powered polar journey in history, and holds the record for the longest solo Arctic journey by a Briton. He has shared his story with a huge range of people, businesses and organisations, and his focus is now on climate technology investment.

Tom Allen has been a full-time traveller, writer and filmmaker for over 15 years. He has undertaken adventurous journeys on 5 continents, runs a long-established adventure cycling website, and now describes himself reluctantly on his social media profiles as a 'self-unemployed creative explorer'. In 2016 he led the RGS-supported Land Rover Bursary expedition to explore and map the first long-distance hiking trail across the Caucasus. The Transcaucasian Trail, as it is now known, has since evolved into a massive international development project which he estimates will take a good decade or so to complete.

Shane Winser works for the Royal Geographical Society where she curates the annual Explore symposium and Festival. A zoology graduate, she assisted in the planning and organisation of the RGS's own research programmes to the tropical forests of Sarawak and Brunei, the mountains of the Karakoram, and the drylands of western Australia, Kenya and Oman. She chairs the technical panel for BS 8848: the British Standard for organisers of a wide variety of ventures, including university and academic fieldwork, gap year experiences, adventure holidays, charity challenges and research expeditions.

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Episode 164: Kendal Mountain Festival Live 23, The Power of Storytelling - New Perspectives

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 15:07:40 GMT

Episode 164 of The Adventure Podcast is a special live episode recorded at Kendal Mountain Festival 2023. This is a definite deviation from our standard episode format, and instead of focussing on a single individual, this is the recording of a live panel discussion in front of a crowd. Matt co-hosted this discussion alongside Matt Barr, who runs the Looking Sideways podcast, and is joined by guests Adam Raja, Soraya Abdel-Hadi and Lauren MacCallum. The theme of this roundtable was The Power of Storytelling - New Perspectives, and covers vulnerability in storytelling, how to take climate storytelling out of the echo chamber, and is long-form content dying? This podcast gets a bit full on, and is emotional, deep and perhaps a little controversial. In a good way. There’s some regular fruity language as well, so consider that a warning...

Photo credit: Joe Kershaw

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Episode 163: Bruce Luyendyk, The Eighth Continent

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 14:30:00 GMT

Episode 163 of The Adventure Podcast features world-class geologist and polar explorer, Bruce Luyendyk. A marine scientist, Bruce expanded his interests over four decades into the geology of California, New Zealand, and primarily, Antarctica. In this episode, Matt and Bruce talk about his background and early inspirations, various field expeditions, and the global significance of geology. They also go into detail on the exploration efforts of Bruce and his team of geologists, which revealed important discoveries of an 'eight continent', Zealandia.

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Explore 002: Five P's: Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 06:00:23 GMT

The second episode of our new specialist series, Explore: How To Plan An Expedition, focuses on The Five P's - Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance. In this episode, Matt speaks with Nigel Winser, Felicity Aston, and Stephen Jones about the importance of proper planning. The vast majority of the time, expeditions are won or lost in the planning stage, and often, the moment you step into the field isn't the start of your expedition, it's half way. Matt, Nigel, Felicity and Steve discuss common pitfalls in planning, methods of team selection, and advice and resources out there.

Nigel Winser needs little introduction; his career directing interdisciplinary research and learning programmes in Africa, the Middle East and Asia spans decades. He was Deputy Director of the RGS, responsible for developing and managing 11 major field programmes, and Executive Director at Earthwatch leading its ‘citizen science’ programmes to support conservation and sustainable development priorities worldwide.

Felicity Aston MBE is a British polar explorer, author, speaker and student research scientist. In 2012 she became the first woman to ski alone across Antarctica. Starting out as a Meteorologist with the British Antarctic Survey, Felicity has since been involved in many ground-breaking expeditions. She is currently undertaking research investigating airborne microplastic deposited on Arctic Ocean sea ice.

Steve Jones is an Expeditions Manager for Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions. He also works as a speaker, and advises on safety management and crisis management to projects around the world. Steve is also a contributor to the Oxford Handbook of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine, and Vice-President for Expeditions and Fieldwork on the RGS Council.

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Episode 162: Kimber Cross, How Not Can

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 06:00:20 GMT

Episode 162 of The Adventure Podcast features alpinist, climber, adaptive athlete, and kindergarten teacher, Kimber Cross. Kimber is an adaptive climber who was born with one hand, and now uses a custom prosthetic ice tool. She is compassionate, resilient, witty, and candid. In this episode, Kimber talks to Matt about her early life; when did she realise she was different, and how did that impact her? They go on to discuss how she got into ice climbing and alpinism, and the importance of belaying anyone and everyone she can.

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Episode 161: Rupert Grey, Homage To Bangladesh

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 06:00:53 GMT

Episode 161 of The Adventure Podcast features lawyer and photographer, Rupert Grey. Rupert is, by his own admission, of a world that has now disappeared. His father and grandfather were both colonial governors overseas, and in this episode Matt and Rupert discuss his lineage and how his upbringing and that world impacted him. They travel through a number of Rupert's careers, and explore how his origins and travels shaped him. Rupert also explains how and why he fell in love with Bangladesh, and his work as a lawyer there.

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Explore 001: Designing A Successful Field Research Project

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 06:01:38 GMT

The first episode of our new specialist series, Explore: How To Plan An Expedition, focuses on Designing A Successful Field Research Project. In this episode, Matt speaks with Dr James Borrell and Professor Katie Willis about how to plan a field research project. They go into detail about their own experience getting into the world of field science, as well as explore and explain what makes a good research project. They also touch on the associated ethics and responsibilities.

Dr James Borrell is a conservation biologist with research interests ranging from tropical ecology to evolutionary genomics. He’s been involved with expeditions and fieldwork in a diverse range of environments, including Lapland, Botswana, Borneo, Peru, and Madagascar. Katie Willis is Professor of Human Geography at Royal Holloway, and is a social and development geographer. Katie has conducted research in Latin America, East and South-East Asia, and the UK, and has taught field classes across the globe.

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Explore 000: Introduction

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 06:00:53 GMT

Welcome to our new specialist series; Explore: How To Plan An Expedition. This series has been created for the Royal Geographical Society and, at its core, is an introduction to how to plan an expedition and fieldwork project, and how to get involved in these worlds. Our hope is that it will encourage you to undertake your own expeditions - be it big or small in scope, long or short in duration, and personal or altruistic by nature.

In this introductory episode, Matt gives an overview on what an 'expedition' is, the RGS' role in adventure and exploration, and what to expect from this series.

You can find out more about the RGS and use the Explore digital resources by visiting rgs.org/explore, or @rgs_ibg on socials.

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Episode 160: Al Humphreys, What Adventure Means

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 06:00:41 GMT

Episode 160 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer and writer, Al Humphreys. For those of you who have been around for a while, you'll recognise Al as our first ever guest on the podcast. He was the originator of the 'micro-adventures' movement, and after many years adventuring further afield, now focuses on pursuing journeys a little closer to home. In this episode, Al talks about his Seven Summits (but not as we know it) expedition, his latest challenge involving an Ordnance Survey map, and what freeing up the definition of 'adventure' has meant.

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Episode 159: Jon Gupta, No Such Thing As Too Much Experience

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 06:00:55 GMT

Episode 159 of The Adventure Podcast features climber, alpinist and high altitude mountain guide, Jon Gupta. Jon's made a name for himself as a Himalayan high altitude expert, and is responsible for organising and guiding multiple records and world firsts. He's spent most of his adult life in the greater ranges. In this episode, Matt and Jon chat about the world of high altitude, and how the niche of guided mountaineering has changed due to recent media hype. Jon was extremely open and was happy to be challenged, and challenged back. They also discuss the 'post-expedition comedown'.

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Episode 158: Matt Sharman, All The Best Laid Plans

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 08:28:53 GMT

Episode 158 of The Adventure Podcast features mountaineer and filmmaker, Matt Sharman. Matt was on the podcast back in 2020 to talk about his life and experiences in the mountains, but this episode focuses on his recent trip to Pakistan. His latest expedition followed the trail of Shipton and Tilman in the Shaksgam mountains of the Karakoram. Adventures don't always go to plan, and this one derailed pretty spectacularly. They ask: does that matter? Does it make it better? And ultimately, was it a failure?

Matt's previous episode is Episode 058, To Humbly Go.

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Episode 157: Pip Stewart, Lessons From The Jungle

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 05:00:00 GMT

Episode 157 of The Adventure Podcast features Pip Stewart. Pip is a journalist, explorer, neglected disease campaigner, and mother. In 2013, after working as a political and travel reporter in Hong Kong, she decided she wanted to recalibrate her life and cycled 10,000 miles home to London. A few years later and she was heading to the Essequibo River in Guyana for a world-first source to sea expedition. On her return from the rainforest, she discovered she had a flesh-eating parasite. In this episode, Matt talks to Pip about her hard-won insights; from community and self-belief, to recognising and owning up to her mistakes.

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Episode 156: Thor C. Pedersen, Once Upon A Saga

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 13:30:00 GMT

Episode 156 of The Adventure Podcast features the first person to travel to every country in the world unbroken without flying, Thor C. Pedersen. Originally Thor's trip was meant to take 4 years, but it went on for more than a decade. His story is full of determination, ambition and perseverance. Matt goes deep on Thor's motivations and the big 'why'. Did he do this for himself, or is he trying to live a life he wants to be seen living?

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Episode 155: Jamie McDonald, Adventureman

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 18:00:00 GMT

Episode 156 of The Adventure Podcast features Jamie McDonald, a.k.a 'Adventureman'. Jamie is a fundraiser, speaker, author, and challenge-adventurer-extroadinaire. Jamie spent the first nine years of his life in and out of hospital with a rare spinal condition, Syringomyelia. In 2012, he began an adventurous fundraising quest to give back to the hospitals that helped him as a child by cycling 14,000 miles from Bangkok to Gloucester, using a £50 second-hand bike and cycling through more than twenty countries. He's since set multiple world records including static non-stop cycling, running 200 marathons across Canada, and spending 7 days straight on a treadmill. All while wearing a custom superhero outfit. Jamie is selfless, funny, determined, and the perfect example of creating something of yourself that seems impossible.

Jamie founded the Superhero Foundation which supports families' fundraising missions - more information can be found on their website: www.superherofoundation.org

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Episode 154: From The Archives - Iain Miller

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 05:00:17 GMT

At the point at which this episode is published, Matt is on an expedition in Alaska directing a film for National Geographic. Instead of taking a break from weekly releases, we thought we’d share some of his favourite episodes from early on in the life of the podcast.

Episode 154 is From The Archives and features Iain Miller. Iain is a sea kayaker and first-ascent sea stack climber. After twenty years sailing the world with the Merchant Navy, Iain made a home in western Donegal, and he has barely left since. Now, Iain's days are spent out in his kayak looking for unclimbed rock, and – in his own words – "Those moments in time that can't be replicated". This episode is a testament to the possibilities of a life of adventure close to home, but is also a deep reflection on the tolls of an institutionalised life that one feels trapped in, and how an eventual escape and reinvention can make all the difference.

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Episode 153: From The Archives - Conrad Anker

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 05:00:34 GMT

Episode 153 of The Adventure Podcast is From The Archives, and was originally released in April 2019. It features one of the world’s most accomplished mountaineers, Conrad Anker. When Matt first decided to start a podcast, he wrote five names down on a piece of paper as ‘end game’ guests, and Conrad was the first to be ticked off. There is much to be said about Conrad, but he is perhaps best known for his truly epic ascent of Meru with Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk. Only two days before recording this episode, three of Conrad's friends and mentees were tragically killed in an avalanche in the Canadian Rockies. In this episode, Conrad reflects honestly, openly and at points heartbreakingly, on a life in the mountains which provides him with untold joy and a sense of identity, whilst also struggling with survivor guilt and the death of friends that has happened ‘far too many times’.

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Episode 152: From The Archives - Erling Kagge

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 05:00:13 GMT

Episode 152 of The Adventure Podcast is From The Archives, and revisits Matt's conversation with Erling Kagge back in October 2019. Erling is an explorer, publisher and philosopher, who's feet have taken him from the ends of the Earth, to the sewers of Manhattan and across the world's oceans. His views on walking, silence and the philosophy of travel are still so relevant today, and will hopefully inspire you to lace up your boots and get out there.

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Episode 151: From The Archives - George Monbiot

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 05:00:26 GMT

Episode 151 of The Adventure Podcast is From The Archives, and revisits George Monbiot's first episode which was originally released as episode 9 back in 2019. George is an author and journalist who has views and opinions that can be very divisive. Whilst his early work was important journalistically, it was also full of unbelievable tales of adventure. In 1988, George bluffed his way into West Papua with forged travel documents. In this episode, Matt asked him one question, and George spent an hour answering with tales of rebels, of incredulous adventure through magical wilderness, and of a little-known story of dispossession and devastation.

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Episode 150: Dr Rosa Vásquez Espinoza, Rediscovery

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 05:00:00 GMT

Episode 150 of The Adventure Podcast features Nat Geo explorer, biologist, and conservationist, Dr Rosa Vásquez Espinoza. Rosa is of Peruvian-Andean and Amazonian descent, and grew up learning about traditional medicine from her grandmother in their backyard’s "natural pharmacy". She now travels to the most extreme environments, from the Amazon Rainforest to Yellowstone’s acidic, boiling waters, to discover new antibiotics, stingless bees, and green chemistry tools. Rosa speaks passionately and intelligently about the importance of indigenous knowledge and involving local communities in scientific research. This episode is an insight into the incredibly exciting, varied and critical world of frontline field science. It's unlike any other episode we've done.

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Episode 149: Vanessa Ruck, The Girl On A Bike

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 05:00:56 GMT

Episode 149 of The Adventure Podcast features motorcycle racer and 4x4 rally driver, Vanessa Ruck. Vanessa was a self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie, but in 2014 she was hit by a car. It left her with a series of life-changing injuries and long-term chronic pain. In this episode Matt talks to Vanessa about her recovery and the mindset that forged who she is today, and how she eventually became a motorcyclist competing in some of the world's toughest Enduro events. It’s a frank, real and humbling exposé on what it’s like to live with chronic pain and long-term injuries, but it's also an exhilarating insight into what it takes to ride motorcycles in extreme and harsh environments.

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Episode 148: Sophie Pavelle, Forget Me Not

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 10:33:55 GMT

Episode 148 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurous zoologist, author and environmental campaigner, Sophie Pavelle. Sophie is known for putting a fresh twist on contemporary Natural History content. She's a first-class communicator, with a natural ability to break data-heavy, and often overwhelming science, into digestible truths. Matt and Sophie chat about her new book 'Forget Me Not', which recently won the People’s Book Prize for Non-Fiction, and took Sophie on a low-carbon journey across Britain in-search of ten rare native species threatened by climate change in the UK. They also discuss her work as a campaigner and activist, and delve deep into the benefits and challenges of beaver re-introduction.

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Episode 147: Patty Upton, The Final Mile

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 05:00:02 GMT

Episode 147 of The Adventure Podcast features overlander, Patty Upton. Patty is on a mission to share and tell stories of her husband, Loren's, adventures. Together they embarked on a number of sensational overland journeys. In 1966 Patty and her husband Loren, on their 4th attempt, completed the first overland crossing of one of the world's most dangerous, remote and roadless border crossings - the Darien Gap in Panama. Ultimately this turned into a bigger global journey which took decades to complete. This episode shows what partnership, companionship and love can bring to an adventurous life. It's a tale of loyalty, commitment and bravery.

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Episode 146: Leigh Timmis, The View From The Balcony

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 05:00:00 GMT

Episode 146 of The Adventure Podcast features endurance cyclist and adventurer, Leigh Timmis. Leigh holds the world record for the fastest cycle across Europe, breaking the previous record by an incredible eight days. He also recently set a new world record for the greatest distance cycled in seven days. As well as covering his background and early career, they discuss what motivated Leigh to set off on his bike in 2010 and travel 44,000 miles across 51 countries. He speaks openly and thoughtfully about his past struggles with mental health - what he was running away from, and if really, he was just carrying his problems around the world with him.

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Episode 145: Tim Jarvis, We Can All Be Heroes

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 05:00:07 GMT

Episode 145 of The Adventure Podcast features polar traveller, historian and environmental scientist, Tim Jarvis. Tim is clearly a polymath. From his work dealing directly with governments and policy makers as a climate change specialist, through to his expeditions tracing the journeys of Shackleton and Mawson using the same kit and clothing as them, this episode travels through a lot. Tim describes himself as a pragmatic optimist, and drops some note-worthy pithy one-line pearls of wisdom throughout.

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Episode 144: Eric Larsen, Things Require Effort

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 05:00:16 GMT

Episode 144 of The Adventure Podcast features polar explorer and adventurer, Eric Larsen. Eric is one of the most accomplished polar travellers and guides in the world. In this episode, Matt and Eric discuss the world of ice and snow, or as Eric refers to it, '1000km of white nothingness'. He speaks about his time as a dog sled musher, as well as getting value from different kinds of adventures. Eric also opens up about his cancer diagnosis, the effect that had on his life, and how it has changed his perspective and mentality.

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Episode 143: Jerry Gore, What We Do With It

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Episode 143 of The Adventure Podcast features climber, mountaineer, cyclist and endurance athlete, Jerry Gore. Jerry is also a Type 1 diabetic. He has been on an incredible list of expeditions alongside some titans of the game, was a Royal Marine, has broken his neck twice, was caught in an avalanche and even struck by lightning... then in 2001 he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Jerry refuses to let diabetes be an excuse, and instead uses it as a motivator. This episode is a long one as there's so much to cover. As well as Jerry's early life and diagnosis, they touch on life and loss in the mountains, and disagree agreeably on a few more philosophical points.

Jerry's charity, Action4Diabetes, provides free access to life-saving medical supplies and healthcare services to young people suffering from Type 1 Diabetes in South-East Asia. To support or find out more, head to: action4diabetes.org

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Episode 142: Anna Levesque, Feeling Powerful

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 17:00:00 GMT

Episode 142 of The Adventure Podcast features adventure coach and author, Anna Levesque. Anna has been named 'one of the most inspirational paddlers alive' by Canoe & Kayak magazine. She is a leading kayak instructor, and a champion for women accessing paddle sports. Anna is also a specialist yoga instructor for paddling. Matt talks to Anna about her journey to becoming a river guide, as well as touching on themes of mental resilience, grit and emotion. They discuss competition kayaking vs. kayaking white water in wilder places, and how to manage, control and overcome fear.

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Episode 141: Megan McCubbin, Back To Life

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 14:30:00 GMT

Episode 141 of The Adventure Podcast features Zoologist and wildlife TV presenter, Megan McCubbin. Megan travelled the world from a young age and quickly became familiar with living in remote areas whilst searching for incredible wildlife. She found her passion and her cause early on, and went on to study Zoology. Despite the heavy themes this is an immensely hopeful conversation, and in many ways is a call to arms. Matt and Megan talk about the state of nature in the UK, our right to protest (including reclaiming the word 'activist'), and how IVF in animals might be able to bring lost and extinct species back to life...and the blurry ethical debate surrounding this.

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Episode 140: Kate Rawles, Adventure Plus

Wed, 31 May 2023 13:30:00 GMT

Episode 140 of The Adventure Podcast features cyclist, writer, environmentalist and academic, Kate Rawles. Kate has a pretty expansive background. She spent a decade working as a lecturer in Outdoor Studies, teaching big picture environmental issues, as well as being a freelance outdoor philosopher, writer, and environmental campaigner. In 2006 she set out to complete the first of her 'Adventure Plus' journeys, The Carbon Cycle, where she cycled from Texas to Alaska, following the spine of the Rockies and exploring North American attitudes to climate change. Matt and Kate also talk about her more recent 'Adventure Plus' journey, where she cycled from Colombia to Cape Horn on a self-built bamboo bike. Kate's determination, passion, and positive outlook on sustainability and finding suitably radical solutions comes across clearly. It's a thought-provoking, and at times, challenging conversation.

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Episode 139: Leon McCarron, Wounded Tigris

Mon, 22 May 2023 05:00:30 GMT

Episode 139 of The Adventure Podcast features the return of award-winning writer, broadcaster and explorer, Leon McCarron. Leon is likely best known for his long distance expeditions; over the past decade he’s travelled over 50,000km on foot. Matt has spoken with Leon in a previous episode, however he's come back to talk about his new book which details his latest major expedition - in 2021, Leon journeyed the full length of the Tigris River, taking him through Turkey, Syria and Iraq. The river was the lifeblood of ancient Mesopotamia, and is now under serious threat. This episode is longer than normal, as there's so much to cover - from Leon’s personal views on modern day Iraq and why he chooses to live there, through to the intricate details of the journey and what he experienced and discovered on that river.

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Episode 138: Mikey Schaefer, Placing Value

Mon, 15 May 2023 05:00:56 GMT

Episode 138 of The Adventure Podcast features alpinist, cinematographer and photographer, Mikey Schaefer. Mikey is a big name in the climbing world, and is renowned for his world class ascents and commitment to the vertical life. You might also know him as part of the crew behind the Oscar-winning Free Solo. Matt met Mikey on a Nat Geo expedition last summer and they spent 6 weeks together navigating some of Greenland’s unclimbed walls. In this episode, they chat about Mikey's background and early days in Yosemite Valley, as well as discussing views on the world of alpinism, reflecting on where he's at with his climbing today, and what it means to find and place value.

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Episode 137: Chris Burkard, It Should Always Be Scary

Mon, 08 May 2023 05:00:04 GMT

Episode 137 of The Adventure Podcast features photographer, Chris Burkard. Chris is an icon in the adventure world. His images showcasing untamed, powerful landscapes, have gone on to define a corner of the adventure photography genre. In this episode Matt talks to Chris about his humble background and his journey into surfing, adventure and photography. They drift into armchair philosophy mode, and go heavy on ethics and personal values.

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Episode 136: Tim Howell, At The Edge

Mon, 01 May 2023 05:00:53 GMT

Episode 136 of The Adventure Podcast features para-alpinist, Tim Howell. Tim is an extremely accomplished base jumper and wingsuit pilot, as well as an expert rock, ice and alpine climber, and an ex-marine. In this episode, Tim speaks to Matt about becoming the first person to climb and jump from the six classic north faces of the Alps. They also discuss Tim's decision to head to the frontline of Ukraine. This episode is packed with adrenaline, but also features some more considered conversations on how to live a life on your terms, finding a niche, and doing what you believe to be right.

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Episode 135: Sam Branson, Striving

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 05:00:06 GMT

Episode 135 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer, charity founder, filmmaker, and singer songwriter, Sam Branson. Sam was born into a life of privilege, but as you will come to hear, is acutely aware of who he is and where he comes from. Matt was only willing to have this conversation if Sam was willing to go deep and be challenged with a few tougher questions. He is clearly comfortable with who and what he is, and his life and journey are fascinating in so many ways. They talk about the burden of privilege, the dangers of resentment, and the importance of personal growth.

If you’d like to learn more about Sam, you can follow him on IG @bransonsam and music @wavesrushin.

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Episode 134: Hugo Tagholm, Turning the Tide

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 11:20:00 GMT

Episode 134 of The Adventure Podcast features ocean activist, conservationist, and surfer, Hugo Tagholm. Hugo spent over a decade leading Surfers Against Sewage, and is now Executive Director and Vice President of Oceana UK. He is knowledgable, accomplished, passionate and exceptionally committed. In this episode, Matt and Hugo discuss the state of our oceans, the issues which face them, and what needs to be done to protect the place where so many of us love to play.

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Episode 133: Adam Raja, Redefining

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 05:00:30 GMT

Episode 133 of The Adventure Podcast features climber, photographer, and activist, Adam Raja. Adam also works as a marketeer for Protect Our Winters UK. He first spoke to Matt almost a year ago but that episode was never released. After spending more time together, they became good friends and Adam opened up to Matt, resulting in this re-record. In this episode, Adam speaks honestly about what it was like growing up in Glaswegian gangs, and how he was arrested, and ultimately sent to prison for possession of Class A drugs. On his release, Adam decided to alter his life's path. He goes on to tell Matt how the discovery of Glen Coe changed everything. It's a raw, honest, and inspirational story.

You can watch Adam's episode of Berghaus, The Ascension Series (created by Matt and the Coldhouse team) here: https://youtu.be/cpPWQwXdfow.

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Episode 132: Mike Guest, Where Thoughts Meet Water

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 05:00:38 GMT

Episode 132 of The Adventure Podcast features photographer Mike Guest. Mike has a particular passion for the ocean, waves and surfing. In this episode, Matt and Mike chat about the creative journey, and the impossible pursuit of perfection. Despite the deep and personal topics also covered, it's an incredibly uplifting conversation.

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Episode 131: Gail Jenkinson, The Door Marked Private

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 05:00:21 GMT

Episode 131 of The Adventure Podcast features Natural History Director of Photography, Gail Jenkinson. Gail is a seasoned specialist, having filmed on all seven continents. She gives a humble insight into her journey from a drama camera trainee to filming while free-diving with sperm whales, and going behind the door 'marked private'. Matt and Gail really dive into what it was and is like to be a female in a heavily male-dominated industry and specialism. They also leave us with a little bit of homework.

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Episode 130: Jon Gower, Why Words Matter

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 06:00:30 GMT

Episode 130 of The Adventure Podcast features author, broadcaster and correspondent, Jon Gower. Jon has published over forty books, and his passion for the Welsh language and landscape is contagious. This episode is a little different in the sense that it is not full of action-packed tales of exploration, but instead gives an insight into the importance of language, and how understanding the names of places can give us a deeper sense of the place we live or are visiting. Jon goes on to share some genuine tales of adventure, and also touches on his new book, The Turning Tide.

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Episode 129: Seamus McGoldrick, Big Wave Bodyboarding

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 06:00:01 GMT

Episode 129 of The Adventure Podcast features the Irish big wave surfing legend, Seamus McGoldrick. Seamus is a bodyboarder, surfer and surf coach, and was part of the crew that defined Irish big wave surfing. He was an early pioneer, seeking out some of the biggest waves in the world. This is a fluid informal conversation which spans many topics, from risk-taking, to surfing for locals, and the rugged Irish coastline.

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Episode 128: Alex Moran, Legacy

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 06:00:30 GMT

Episode 128 of The Adventure Podcast features mountaineer, teacher and mountain instructor, Alex Moran. He is the son of the late Martin Moran, who was killed in 2019 whilst climbing the unnamed, unclimbed peak 6477m in the Nanda Devi region in India. The Martin Moran foundation is our full-time charitable partner, and is founded in memory of Martin. This is a deeply honest, personal, and ultimately cathartic conversation for both Alex and Matt.

The Martin Moran Foundation is a charitable foundation with a mission to elevate the lives of young people through purpose, passion and powerful experiences in the mountains. The Foundation works with young people aged 16-18 with a keen interest in the outdoors but due to their circumstances, they may face difficulties accessing them. They may belong to an underrepresented group with limited opportunities to explore the mountains, be facing financial barriers to adventure, or have limited family support to pursue these experiences independently. MMF provide fully funded mountain adventure programmes to young people who want to explore the beauty, freedom and value of our natural world. If you would like to get involved, head to the website www.martinmoranfoundation.com where you can nominate a young person for this opportunity, make a donation or fundraise to support their mission.

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Episode 127: Tristan Gooley, The Natural Navigator

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:36:29 GMT

Episode 127 of The Adventure Podcast features The Natural Navigator, Tristan Gooley. Tristan is an award-winning author and has spent decades hunting for clues and signs in nature across the globe. He has been nicknamed 'the Sherlock Holmes of nature' by the BBC. This conversation is an honest, humbling insight into the life of a man who has found his place outdoors, and the path that led him there.

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Episode 126: Jamie Leibert & Sandra Zinovyev, Captain Manicorn & Ladycorn

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 07:00:58 GMT

Episode 126 of The Adventure Podcast features Jamie Leibert and Sandra Zinovyev, a.k.a Captain Manicorn & Ladycorn. After addiction, alcoholism and prison, Jamie and Sandra are now in the midst of attempting a world record to do airsports in every country. This episode is full of wild stories, energetic explorations of adventure and beating the odds, and how to turn an impossible dream into a possible one.

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Episode 125: Jon Moses, How to Trespass, and Why You Should

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 08:00:00 GMT

In this dispatch episode, Matt chats with Jon Moses; a writer with a PHD in geohumanities, and a campaigner for Right to Roam. We discuss the issues regarding access to wild space in the UK and why that needs to change. We also talk about civil trespass, what it is, how to do it, and why you should.

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Episode 124: Jamie Ramsay, More More More

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 07:00:35 GMT

Episode 124 of The Adventure Podcast features endurance athlete, presenter, public speaker and brand ambassador for Cotswold Outdoor, Jamie Ramsay. Jamie has completed over 43,000km of human-powered adventuring in 31 countries and over 25 different adventures. He is a runner, cyclist, hiker, ski tourer, paddleboarder and mountaineer. In this episode we go pretty deep into Jamie’s past life and what motivated his fairly sudden and drastic exit from the world he knew. We discuss micro-adventures, the importance of protecting the outdoors, and how his journeys have formed the person he is today.

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Episode 123: Lucy Shepherd, Reflection

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 08:00:36 GMT

Episode 123 of The Adventure Podcast features Adventurer, Lucy Shepherd. In this episode of the podcast, Matt and Lucy talk about her life, her early exposure to adventure and her career in the world of exploration and expeditions. Lucy has done some incredible things, and she’s at the stage now where she’s really reflecting on her experiences to date, and the successes and some of the lessons learned. She’s clearly had a lot of time to reflect on what she’s achieved and how she wants to alter how she navigates her projects in the future. There are some rip-roaring tales of adventure in this episode, as well as some more philosophical commentary on the world of adventure and exploration.

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Episode 122: Dr. Heïdi Sevestre, Glaciology

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 08:00:45 GMT

Episode 122 of The Adventure Podcast features glaciologist and science advocate, Dr Heidi Sevestre. Heidi invests a lot of her time in science policy and science outreach, believing that scientists and researchers have the duty to communicate about their work and tell the world about the wonders of the cryosphere and the threats targeting it. Matt met Heidi on an expedition to Greenland this summer for National Geographic. They became close friends quickly, and her passion and enthusiasm for her subject matter was obvious from the first second. She’s an incredibly talented expedition field scientist, and is at the cutting edge of glacier and climate science.

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Episode 121: David Shukman, The Greenwashing Troubleshooter

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 08:00:39 GMT

Episode 121 of The Adventure Podcast features journalist, David Shukman. David has been a journalist for 40 years, and spent twenty of those year leading the BBC's coverage of climate change and other environmental issues. He has broadcasted from the Arctic, the Amazon, and most places in-between. In this episode we talk about how he accessed the industry, and the defining moments that profoundly affected his career and decision making, before looking at some of the issues we now collectively face, and ultimately his decision to become an independent speaker, writer and consultant with a focus on climate action.

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Episode 120: Person Irresponsible, Teetotal

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 08:00:47 GMT

Episode 120 of The Adventure Podcast features teetotal thru-hiker, Person Irresponsible. It’s a very human story about an alcoholic who sought help and went on to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail. We think every human will find something in this episode to identify with. Matt and the anonymous PI talk about anonymity, mental health, feminism and so much more.

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Episode 119: Ian Finch, Storytelling

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 08:00:01 GMT

Episode 119 of The Adventure Podcast features expedition guide and adventure and outdoor photographer, Ian Finch. Ian cut his teeth in the adventure world as a Royal Marine Commando. His desire to record, capture or lead expeditions in unfamiliar corners of the globe is clearly driven by his passion to learn about heritage and traditions from the native cultures that call it home. In this episode we talk about Ian’s life and his journey into the world of expeditions, as well as talking through the stories of his last major expeditions.

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Episode 118: Brian Hall, The Games Climbers Play

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 08:00:23 GMT

Episode 118 of The Adventure Podcast features climber, mountaineer and author, Brian Hall. Brian has been a key figure on the big mountain scene, and has carried out expeditions to some of the bigger and bolder mountains of the world including Mount Everest (in winter), K2, Jannu, Nuptse, Makalu, Baltoro Kangri, Shivling, Ogre II and peaks throughout the Andes. He’s a mountaineers mountaineer, and has had a sensational career, often shying away from the fame and glory that often comes with climbing at that level.

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Episode 117: Polly Neate, Stereotypes

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 08:00:06 GMT

Episode 117 of The Adventure Podcast features the CEO of Shelter, a British homelessness and housing charity that campaigns for tenant rights, Polly Neate. This episode is a riveting one featuring in depth discussions from everything from homelessness in the UK to women’s rights to Polly’s life and taking up climbing in her 50’s.

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Episode 116: Davor Rostuhar, Love Around the World

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 08:00:52 GMT

Episode 116 of The Adventure Podcast features author, photographer and adventurer, Davor Rostuhar. Davor has worked all over the world for a proud client list including years working alongside National Geographic. His early life is fascinating, and he tells the story of just setting out on his bike to explore the Middle East. He goes into detail on some of his past projects before explaining the concept of his latest project, an exploration of love around the world.

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Episode 115: Ekspeditsiya - Part 4 - On Homecoming

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 08:00:00 GMT

Welcome to The Adventure Podcast and the final episode of our four part specialist series, Expeditsiya. When Charlie Walker got released from prison and finally arrived back in the UK, he woke up in the night and couldn’t get back to sleep. He, rather admirably, made the decision to make one final recording. How was he feeling now? How had the experience changed him? And that, without any fancy frills is episode four.

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Episode 114: Ekspeditsiya - Part 3 - Existence in Isolation

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 08:00:27 GMT

Welcome to The Adventure Podcast and the third episode of our four part specialist series, Expeditsiya. In this episode, we pick up where we left off and cover the second half of Charlie Walker’s expedition. Enjoy!

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Episode 113: Ekspeditsiya - Part 2 - The Special Operation

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 08:00:51 GMT

Welcome to The Adventure Podcast and the second episode of our four part specialist series, Expeditsiya. This series is an interwoven mix of studio conversations between Matt Pycroft and Charlie Walker, and his recordings from the field during an expedition to Siberia in early 2022. This episode tells the first half of the story in much more detail, exploring what literally happened on the ground, but also Charlie’s reactions, feelings, expectations and motivations.

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Episode 112: Ekspeditsiya - Part 1 - The Last Tourist in Russia

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 07:42:50 GMT

We’re kicking off season 7 of The Adventure Podcast with Ekspeditsiya, a four part specialist series with writer and adventurer Charlie Walker.

In February 2022, Charlie touched down in Siberia to undertake a long, Arctic expedition. A few days later Russia invaded Ukraine. Most journalists left the country, and so did most of the tourists. Charlie decided to stay.

The series is an adventurous story of one man’s expedition, but really it’s so much more than that. Charlie’s journey tells the story of the changing way of life for Siberian reindeer herders. But for us, most interestingly, this story is a real life, on the ground account of what a remote part of Russia feels like in the weeks and months following Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Part 1 is the abridged version of the full story of what happened to Charlie in Russia in Spring 2022.

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Episode 111: Season 7, Matt Pycroft

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 08:00:45 GMT

Welcome back to The Adventure Podcast, and this introduction to season 7. We have a sensational line up of guests to share with you over the coming months. The first thing we’re releasing is a 4-part specialist series that tells the story of Charlie Walker, an author who found himself on the wrong side of Putin’s Russia just after the invasion of Ukraine. It’s a new format of podcast that features recordings from in the field intercut with an interview I did with Charlie when he returned home from his eventful expedition. We’ve also got interviews with expedition guide and photographer Ian Finch, addicts turned adventurers Jamie Leibert and Sandra Zinovyev, glaciologist and science advocate Dr Heidi Sevestre, explorer and adventure Lucy Shepherd, CEO of Shelter, Polly Neate and mountaineer and author Brian Hall. There’s also an episode about what it means to love with Davor Rostuhar, and a wonderful chat with David Shukman who spent 20 years reporting on climate change for the BBC. Enjoy!

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Episode 110: End of Season 6, Matt Pycroft

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 06:00:46 GMT

That's all for season six! Matt is off in Greenland on expedition for the next few weeks so we'll be taking a little break and will be back in September for season seven! Thanks so much for listening.

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Episode 109: Katie Arnold, The Forgotten Revolution

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 06:00:04 GMT

Episode 109 of The Adventure Podcast features award winning documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist, Katie Arnold.

In this episode, Matt and Katie discuss her ascendancy into the world of investigative journalism and filmmaking, storytelling, the importance of bringing these issues to the fore, and the critical need for independent journalism.

Katie’s latest documentary, is being screened on Channel 4 at 11.05pm UK time on the 25th July, and will then be available on 4OD.

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Episode 108: Tom Turcich, The World Walk

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 06:00:46 GMT

Episode 108 of The Adventure Podcast features world walker, Tom Turcich. Tom has recently become the tenth person ever to walk around the world after walking 18,000 miles with his dog Savannah (the first dog to walk around the world!). This episode was recorded in May 2022 on Tom’s last few days of his world walk. In it, Tom and Matt talk about the decision to step away from everything, that time in Azerbaijan two years ago when the world went into lockdown and what he has learned from his time on the road.

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Episode 107: Kenton Cool, Ego vs Humility

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 06:00:01 GMT

Episode 107 of The Adventure Podcast features one of Britain's leading alpine and high altitude climbers, Kenton Cool. He has summited Everest 16 times and is the first person to climb Nuptse, Everest and Lhotse in a season. He is also the only Brit to have skied two 8000m peaks. In this episode, Matt and Kenton get deep, with candid discussions about being called a ‘sell-out’ and the current state of Everest.

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Episode 106: Belinda Kirk, Adventure Revolution

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 08:00:49 GMT

Episode 106 of The Adventure Podcast features British Explorer and founder of Explorers Connect, Belinda Kirk. Belinda has spent her life leading dozens of international expeditions and remote filming trips. She has walked through Nicaragua, sailed across the Atlantic, searched for camels in China’s Desert of Death, discovered ancient rock paintings in Lesotho and gained a Guinness World Record for rowing unsupported around Britain. In this episode, Matt and Belinda chat all things life and the importance of adventure.

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Episode 105: Zofia Reych, Born to Climb

Thu, 26 May 2022 07:00:39 GMT

Episode 105 of The Adventure Podcast features climber and writer Zofia A. Reych. According to Zofia’s Instagram bio, they are the Director of the Women’s Bouldering Festival, author of the book ‘Born to Climb’, non-binary, queer and autistic. Born and raised in Warsaw, they now call Fontaine-Bleu in France their home.

This is a proper mixed bag of a conversation in a really fun and brilliant way. There’s a time and a place for rip-roaring adventure stories, but this is not that time and this is not that place. In this episode we cover a vast swathe of topics, from Zofia’s backstory and life, feminism, autism, climbing, ethics, a little bit of philosophy amongst various other topics.

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Episode 104: Joss Naylor, The Fell Runner

Fri, 20 May 2022 10:25:56 GMT

Episode 104 of The Adventure Podcast features English fell running legend, Joss Naylor. We recorded this conversation in November 2021, but delayed its release due to Joss suffering a stroke just before Christmas. He is now back home in Wasdale, but is on a huge road to recovery. Apparently he’s in good spirits and is still ‘same old Joss’. We’ve been in touch with his friends who have sought permission to release this episode, as obviously the conversation happened before such a radical change to Joss’s life.

But the conversation is still extremely relevant and poignant. For those of you who need an introduction, Joss is, and we use this word extremely specifically a ‘legend’ in the fell running community. Hailing from the remote Wasdale Valley in the Lake District, Joss has been not just a pioneer of fell running, but also one of its most infamous athletes.

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Episode 103: Ella Wright, Not Perfect Yet

Thu, 12 May 2022 08:45:36 GMT

Episode 103 of The Adventure Podcast features Kenyan mountaineer, whitewater kayaker, mountain biker and outdoor instructor, Schaniela Wright.

Ella is a former professional hockey, water polo and athletics player, who moved to the UK (after some solid advice from none other than Reinhold Messner) to get her outdoor qualifications. In this conversation, host Matt Pycroft and Ella talk about overcoming fear in the mountain, the culture shock of moving from Kenya to the UK, and the ultimate goal; to stand on top of the world’s highest mountain.

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Episode 102: J.J. Kelley, Exploring Frontiers

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 07:00:29 GMT

Episode 102 of The Adventure Podcast features Adventurer and Award Winning documentary filmmaker, J.J. Kelley. J.J is best known both for his work with National Geographic and his coverage of stories about environmentalism and conservation. His career began when at age 19 when he had the thought that there has got to be more to life and he loaded his pickup truck up with camping gear and drove to Alaska. From there, life only got more interesting…

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Episode 101: Ana Zirner, Anas Ways

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 14:05:13 GMT

Episode 101 of The Adventure Podcast features athlete, adventurer, activist, and author, Ana Zirner. Ana grew up in the Bavarian foothills of the Alps and is a former theater director turned mountain guide.

Once a year, Ana takes on a big adventure in the outdoors. In 2017, she crossed the Alps on foot from east to west, followed in 2018 by the Pyrenees in the same direction. In 2019, she walked and packrafted the Colorado River from its source in the Rocky Mountains to the ocean in Mexico. In 2022, she set off on a crossing of the High Caucasus on horseback (while pregnant).

In this episode, Matt and Ana dive deep into topics like slow and sustainable travel, the effect social media has on the outdoors and becoming a parent.

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Episode 100: Vaughan Smith, Straight from the Frontline

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 07:00:44 GMT

In episode 100 of The Adventure Podcast, host Matt Pycroft sits down with Vaughan Smith. Vaughan introduces himself, but in overview he’s a conflict journalist at heart. He’s also the founder of The Frontline Club, a charity he set up to support freelancers in honour of the many friends and colleagues he lost doing the job he has done. Please do listen this conversation with Vaughan, and if the story resonates with you then please do donate to the #straightfromthefrontline campaign here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/frontline-ukraine-support-courageous-reporting

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Episode 099: Lael Wilcox, Going the Distance

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 07:00:54 GMT

Episode 099 of The Adventure Podcast features ultra-endurance cyclist, Lael Wilcox. Her story is jaw dropping. She tells it brilliantly herself so we’ll leave her to it, but suffice to say Lael doesn’t seem to have anything in her head holding her back. She just seems to get up and get on with whatever she feels like doing next. We loved this conversation, mostly because it’s a rip roaring adventure story of a woman who found long distance adventure by chance, accidentally became a competition winner, and has now gone on to inspire a whole new generation of cyclists.

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Episode 098: Renan Ozturk & Freddie Wilkinson, The Sanctity of Space

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 11:05:14 GMT

Episode 098 of The Adventure Podcast features two world class rock climbers and alpinists, Renan Ozturk and Freddie Wilkinson. In terms of quick intros, both Freddie and Renan are world class rock climbers and alpinists. Freddie is also a historian and writer and Renan is a filmmaker, photographer and artist. They are currently on their PR tour for their latest film 'The Sanctity of Space’.

"More than eighty years after Brad Washburn first photographed Denali in Alaska, climbing buddies Renan Ozturk and Freddie Wilkinson look at some of Washburn’s images and have this crazy idea: rather than go up, their dream is to go sideways — across the range’s most forbidding peaks, the Moose’s Tooth massif. It’s a decidedly new school way to explore the same landscape Washburn first discovered.

As they pioneer the route over the course of two expeditions, enduring freezing bivies, cut ropes, and rockfall along the way, their desire to be the first to complete the audacious line grows into an obsession."

It's a wonderful and really authentic piece of filmmaking. Find out where you watch ‘The Sanctity of Space’ on their website: https://www.thesanctityofspace.com/

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Episode 097: Thomas Bukowski, Visibility Matters

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 10:44:15 GMT

Episode 097 of The Adventure Podcast features climber and alpinist, Thomas Bukowski. We first stumbled upon Thomas when we were on the hunt for stories to tell for Pertex, one of our outdoor brand clients. We worked really closely with photographer Ted Hesser to find and then shoot a story based in the US and Thomas was the subject of that story. You can read that article here: https://pertex.com/2022/01/28/visibility-matters/.

Thomas does a brilliant job of introducing himself but to quickly outline who he is, he is predominantly a rock climber and an alpinist. He currently lives in his van full time but at the time of recording this, he was down in Patagonia on a climbing trip. He grew up in Hong Kong and in this episode he tells me about how his life has being shaped and changed by not being from the place he now calls home, as well as by being a gay man. We dig into the philosophy of all I’ve just mentioned fairly seriously and despite the sketchy connection and background noise of the cafe he is in, it’s a great chat.

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Episode 096: James Shimizu, A Close Call

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 09:36:26 GMT

Episode 096 of The Adventure Podcast features whitewater kayaker, James Shimizu. This episode is a return to our rarely featured dispatches. The dispatches are our shorter form episodes that usually focus on one particular story, a moment or a theme.

In this episode, we chat to James about a recent experience getting knocked out in a kayak in tricky white water and the ensuing rescue that changed his life. We got the idea for the episode after seeing the video of James' encounter that went kind of viral on instagram. You can watch the video here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CaAUh9Gpv8T/ .

We also dig into a bit more detail and talk about James' childhood in Asia and how that influenced the person he is today. Enjoy!

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Episode 095: Donna Carpenter, Dear Rider

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 07:00:11 GMT

Episode 095 of The Adventure Podcast features Donna Carpenter. Donna was one of the founders of Burton Snowboards, alongside her husband, Jake Burton. It’s not overstating things to say that as a pair, Donna and Jake are responsible for launching the modern snowboard and turning a largely unknown hobby into a mainstream sport.

Donna has spent her entire career building, shaping and growing the business they founded in 1977, and she eventually took on the role of CEO, leading the company to become the icon that it is today.

In this episode we talk about Donna’s origins and how it was she turned from a young rebel into a Forbes listed power woman. We discuss what she’s learnt along the way, and what makes the business special, as well as the tragic story of Jake passing away from cancer in 2019.

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Episode 094: Ed Davis, Beats and Rhythms

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 07:00:23 GMT

Episode 094 of The Adventure Podcast features freight train rider and author Ed Davis. Ed began his writing career over forty years ago, pausing in boxcars, under street lamps, and in hobo jungles to record the beats and rhythms of the road as he caught freight trains and vagabonded around the Pacific Northwest and Canada. If you’re a fan of the words of Kerouac or Steinbeck or ‘suffer’ from wanderlust, you’ll love this episode.

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Episode 093: Henry Gold, Gold Rush

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 07:00:53 GMT

Episode 093 of The Adventure Podcast features the founder of TDA Global Cycling, Henry Gold. The son of a Holocaust survivor, Henry was born in Czechoslovakia and moved to Canada at 16 years old . After years spent managing an international NGO that delivered humanitarian assistance to disadvantaged communities in Ethiopia and Sudan, he set up Tour d’Afrique (a Cairo to Cape Town cycle expedition) at 50 years of age. Tune into this riveting episode for stories of empathy, immigration, identity, civil disobedience and so much more.

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Episode 092: Rotimi Odukoya, Clmbxr

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 07:00:46 GMT

Episode 092 of The Adventure Podcast features the founder of the London climbing community, Clmbxr, Rotimi Odukoya. Rotimi grew up in London, and spent the majority of his childhood outdoors, albeit within the confines of the city, as well as playing traditional sports to a high standard. Rotimi took up climbing a couple of years ago and almost accidentally created a club that has grown into a community of black rock climbers. In this episode, we talk about Rotimi’s childhood growing up in inner city London, his exposure to the outdoors and how it was that he discovered and ultimately fell in love with rock climbing.

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Episode 091: Dave MacLeod, Requiem

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 07:00:42 GMT

Episode 091 of The Adventure Podcast features Dave MacLeod. It’s hard to summarise who and what Dave is, but if you had to condense it into three words, he’s a climber, a filmmaker and an author.

Dave was born in Glasgow but now lives in the Highlands where he spends as much of his time as he can climbing in one way or another. What separates Dave from most climbers is his ability as an all rounder. He spends just as much time adventurous traditional rock climbing at an elite level as he does winter climbing, bouldering, sport climbing and running in the mountains of Scotland.

He’s incredibly well travelled, but as time has gone by Dave has found that Scotland gives him practically all he needs, and as you’ll hear in this episode he feels like there are multiple lifetimes of unclimbed rock to work with. We also touch on environmentalism in the highlands, and how his outdoor pursuits have led Dave to a wider understanding of the world around him.

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Episode 090: Colin Prior, High Light

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 07:00:18 GMT

Episode 090 of The Adventure Podcast features Colin Prior. Colin is known as one of the world’s most respected landscape photographers. He was born in Glasgow, his ability to get out and into the Highlands is definitely what shaped his passion for the outdoors and fostered his interest in photography.

His photographs are sensational, and capture real sublime moments of light and the landscape, which, as you’ll find out in the episode, are the result of meticulous planning and preparation and often take years to achieve. Colin is a photographer who seeks out patterns in the landscape and the hidden links between reality and the imagination.

In this episode we talk about his origins as a photographer, how his craft has taken him around the world, and discuss his latest project in the Pakistani Karakoram.

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Episode 089: Victor Saunders, Structured Chaos

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 07:00:42 GMT

Episode 089 of The Adventure Podcast features world-renowned British mountaineer, Victor Saunders. The 71-year old IFMGA guide has completed each of the Seven Summits, summited Everest six times and ticked off many first ascents including the North Pillar of Spantik.

In this episode, Matt and Victor discuss climbing partners, the rules of mountaineering, and quitting your stable job as an architect at 46 to become a mountain guide. It’s a philosophical one and opens up the floor for some interesting discussions around the current state of mountaineering.

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Episode 088: Aldo Kane, Lessons from the Edge

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 07:00:14 GMT

Episiode 088 of The Adventure Podcast is features ex royal marine sniper, turned adventurer, explorer and TV rigger and safety specialist, Aldo Kane. This is Aldo’s third time on the podcast and there’s a reason we keep inviting him back. In this episode, we talk about his latest expeditions and experiences as well as adapting to fatherhood and the inevitable changes that being a parent brings.

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Episode 087: Teddy Keen, The Unknown Adventurer

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 09:28:01 GMT

Episode 087 of The Adventure Podcast features author, illustrator and outdoor adventurer, Teddy Keen. Creator of the magical and intrepid children’s books, The Lost Book of Adventure and Journey to the Last River which follow the journey of the mysterious Unknown Adventurer. In this episode, host Matt Pycroft and Teddy chat about Teddy’s own adventures, growing up in a family of explorers, ex-military and storytellers, and living a life of interest.

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Episode 086: Alishba, From Manchester to the Mountains

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 07:00:52 GMT

Episode 086 of The Adventure Podcast features 19-year old Alishba, who grew up in inner city Manchester under difficult circumstances and was introduced to the outdoors and hill walking by a local youth group. She went on to lead others as part of the same group as well as excelling both academically and in various sports before eventually becoming head girl at her school.

Her story is unbelievably inspiring and host Matt Pycroft spent the whole thing awestruck and gobsmacked at how much one young woman could achieve in such a short space of time and with so much working against her. There’s no doubt that Alishba is a self starter that has carved her own way in this world but she’s also the first to acknowledge that the support and mentorship of others has been a huge factor in her life, particularly when it comes to her discovery of an adventurous and outdoor life. This conversation digs into some harder details. We talk about whether the outdoors really is as accessible as many of us think it is. Do people from ethnic minorities believe that to be the case and how much can we who take that unchallenged access for granted do to help others feel include. It’s an eye-opening, educational and ultimately hopeful episode.

Listen for determination, resilience, passion and hope.

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Episode 085: Paul Pritchard, Disabled Not Unable

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 12:20:28 GMT

Episode 085 of The Adventure Podcast features the legendary British rock climber and mountaineer, Paul Pritchard. Paul dominated the climbing scene of Britain and beyond in the 80s and 90s, until Friday the 13th of February 1998 when everything changed. A fallen boulder on The Totem Pole in Tasmania left Paul facing the prospect of never walking or speaking again. This conversation between Matt and Paul is a powerful one, retracing Paul’s life from a wayward youth trying to find his path in life to the thriving ‘rock and roll’ climbing scene of North Wales where he found solace, to the day when everything changed. It’s a story of mortality, resilience and optimism.

Listen for inspirational, heavy-hitting but hopeful stories of disability and climbing.

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Episode 084: Andrew Cotton, Soul Hunger

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 15:00:53 GMT

Episode 084 of The Adventure Podcast features big wave surfer Andrew Cotton. Back in August, Coldhouse teamed up with Sidetracked Magazine on a rather exciting project for Porsche featuring Andrew Cotton. At the end of the week, Matt Pycroft sat down with Andrew to dig a little deeper. What followed was quite a lot of introspection and rumination to discover what is the appeal and motivation to do this sport and what it will take to sate that voice in your head that constantly shouts ‘you can do better’.

Listen for introspection, inspiration and stories of commitment and dedication.

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Episode 083: Christian Shaw, Chasing Tides

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 13:00:32 GMT

Episode 83 of The Adventure Podcast features the Founder and Executive Director of Plastic Tides, Christian Shaw. An avid water man and professional kiteboarder with a mission to inspire and catalyse action toward a plastic-free future through adventure, education and youth empowerment.

In this episode Matt and Christian discuss living life in a way that causes less harm, the ocean plastic pollution crisis and how adventure can be used as a tool for change.

Listen for passion, perseverance, and activism.

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Episode 082: Chris Dyer, A Simpler Life

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 07:00:44 GMT

Episode 082 of The Adventure Podcast features Chris Dyer, a Crofter/Archaeologist/Historian/Firefighter, who lives on a smallholding on the Shetland Isles off the coast of Northern Scotland.

We met Chris while working on a project in the Shetlands for Best Made Co. He moved there from England some time ago and has built a life for himself amongst the once derelict stone walls of Garths Croft, the property he bought and has since renovated.

In this episode, Matt talks to Chris about his life on the island, the traditions of the place and why living a quieter, simpler, deliberately harder life might be the way forward.

Listen for stories of island life, living in harmony with the land, and escapism.

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Episode 081: Conrad Anker, The Four Stages of Life

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 06:00:15 GMT

Episode 081 of The Adventure Podcast features one of the world’s elite alpinists, Conrad Anker. Some of Conrad’s achievements in the world of mountaineering include summiting Everest without the aid of supplemental oxygen, a first ascent of Meru’s “shark fin” route, numerous Antarctica expeditions, and multiple ascents of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. He’s much more than just a climber though, he’s an activist, a mentor and a family man.

In this episode, host Matt Pycroft hands the stage over to Conrad to discuss topics and issues important to him. What ensues is a meaningful, rather thought-provoking conversation between two friends touching on everything from long-debated topics like footfall on Everest to mentorship to living up to people’s expectations. They talk about the accessibility of the mountains, how mountaineering has changed over the years, and reflect on the stages of life. It's Conrad Anker as you've never heard him before...

Listen for tales from a legend, an insight into the inner workings of the world of mountaineering and Conrad's views on the world.

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Episode 080: Sara Cincurova, A Fellow Human

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 06:00:44 GMT

"In a humanitarian context, in war zones or on a ship rescuing refugees, I think it is very important to really show the people that amidst this great, great suffering that you are a fellow human and that you are with them."

Episode 080 of The Adventure Podcast features Slovakian human-rights journalist Sara Cincurova. Sara’s work focuses on migration, human rights, humanitarian issues and women’s rights. Her work has been featured in The Guardian, BBC, Al Jazeera, and Huffington Post.

In this episode, Sara and host, Matt Pycroft, discuss finding the balance between acting as a passive observer to difficult and often tragic situations and showing compassion to people who are suffering. They discuss the term ‘adventure’, ethics and the human psyche, in this intense and riveting episode of The Adventure Podcast.

Listen for humanitarian stories, migration, refugees and current affairs journalism.

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Episode 079: Gail Muller, Overcoming Chronic Pain

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 11:46:53 GMT

At a young age, Gail was diagnosed with muscular-skeletal issues; she was told she’d likely be in a wheelchair by the age of forty. Chronic illness dominated her life for fifteen years and almost destroyed her, yet she never lost hope. Since 2019, she has thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, the South West Coast Path, the Continental Divide Trail and the Tour Du Mont Blanc and she is just getting started. This is her story...

Listen for overcoming adversity, emotional rollercoaster, uplifting and heartwarming.

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Episode 078: Sean Conway, Embracing the Extraordinary

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 15:58:15 GMT

Sean Conway is an ultra endurance adventure athlete who is keen to champion the athletic side of adventure. Born in Zimbabwe, his childhood was spent in the bush and chasing elephants out of his garden. Sean has swam the length of Britain, cycled across Europe and came second in the famous cheese rolling competition - all this while breaking world records and pushing himself to the absolute limit.

In this episode Sean explains how he strives to lead a unique and interesting life, plus have enough stories to bore the grandchildren.

Listen for breaking records, pushing the limits and embracing the extraordinary.

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Episode 077: Anna McNuff, Mischief Maker

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 11:05:39 GMT

Anna McNuff is an adventurer, speaker and self proclaimed ‘’mischief maker’’. Anna has run the length of Britain in bare feet, cycled the 50 states of the US and run the length of New Zealand (amongst many other achievements). Anna’s energy is infectious; raised by two Olympians she explores how this has shaped her outlook and forged her never-quit attitude.

In this episode Anna is honest about how hard it is to follow your dreams and how these things take time. She tells Matt what adventure means to her, the sacrifice it takes and how having a baby changes all that.

Listen for motivation, inspiration and positivity.

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Episode 076: Nick Hayes, The Land They Stole

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Nick Hayes is an illustrator by trade and the author of ‘The Book of Trespass’ which details how we, the public, have been excluded from nature throughout history. Living on a canal boat Nick is passionate about public access to the countryside and our right to roam, actively encouraging people to trespass in a responsible manner. In this episode Nick explains what his rebellion involves, how he wants all of us to be able to better connect with nature and how it is the power of the people which will change government policy. An ardent believer in his cause - Nick is punchy, articulate and opens up the debate around our right to roam. Listen for debate, protest and challenge the status quo

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Episode 075: Lara Maiklem, The London Mudlark

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Lara Maiklem is an author with an obsessive hobby: Mudlarking. Also known as the ‘London Mudlark’ she spends hours searching the Thames foreshore for items left behind by the river from the past 2,000 years. Strictly never using a metal detector she patiently hunts for what the river chooses to reveal. From discarded engagement rings, to a glass eye and even a tudor shoe.

In this episode Lara tells Matt about her fascination with these objects, the indescribable excitement of finding items which link us to the past and the human connection they bring. Listen for hidden treasures, local adventure and perspective.

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Episode 074: Megan O'Neill, Running For Creativity

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 10:35:01 GMT

Megan O’Neill is an Irish Singer-Songwriter who has opened for Sir Tom Jones as well as performing with the Lighthouse Family and Jamie Cullum. Her love of music has led her on numerous adventures from arriving in Nashville fresh out of university to performing at private Oscars parties in L.A.

In this episode Megan tells Matt how pushing herself physically is integral to her song writing - she is always exploring her limits whether it’s trial running or writing her next album. Listen for alternative adventure, running and music.

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Episode 073: Emily Penn, EXXpedition

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 14:49:33 GMT

Emily Penn is a Skipper and an Ocean Advocate. During a sailing trip around the world, Emily was having a swim and surfaced to find she was surrounded by plastic - from lighters to toothbrushes. Since this moment Emily has dedicated her career to solving the issue of plastic pollution.

In this episode Emily tells Matt about how we’re all contributing to the plastic problem and the impact it is having on us. Emily shares some sobering facts about the plastic crisis whilst offering a message of hope, ‘’it’s just about everybody doing something’’.

Listen for a ‘green’ education, solutions and hope for the future.

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Episode 072: Sophy Roberts, A Silent City

Thu, 27 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT

Episode 072 of The Adventure Podcast sees a return of our dispatches - shorter form content where we delve into a specific subject, issue, idea or story.

In this episode Matt speaks with Sophy Roberts (who featured in Episodes 50 and 51). Sophy is an author and journalist, currently in isolation in Portugal having just been evacuated from Nepal due to the rapid spread of the Indian variant of COVID 19. In this dispatch Sophy offers commentary and opinion on the situation on the ground in Nepal, and from the valleys below Mount Everest. Sophy explains how the last 12 months may have changed travel forever.

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Episode 071: Corin Smith, Home Truths

Mon, 17 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT

Corin Smith is a fly fisherman, photographer and salmon farm campaigner. Born in the highlands of Scotland, Corin's working life has taken him from a tech startup in London to fly fishing in the Seychelles. He's never been one to sit still. Now back in his homeland, Corin has taken up the role of ‘activist’, exposing the harsh realities of salmon farming.

In this episode Corin talks about the high and lows of remote fly fishing across the world, his complicated relationship with alcohol and his determination to fix salmon farming.

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Episode 070: Robert Martineau, Waypoints

Tue, 11 May 2021 07:08:01 GMT

Robert Martineau has many strings to his bow, most recently adding ‘author’ to his list of achievements. His book ‘Waypoints - A Journey on Foot’ is about his 1,000 mile walk across West Africa. Robert is also the co-founder of Tribe, a natural nutrition company, running community and charity which fights human trafficking.

In this episode Matt and Robert talk about his trip but quickly delve into the reasons we’re drawn to wander. From religious pilgrimages to just putting one foot in front of the other - we’re talking flow states, spirituality and the beauty of exploring on foot.

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Episode 069: Henry Fletcher, The Freedom to Roam

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT

Henry Fletcher is a facilitator, storyteller and maker. As a facilitator, Henry helps people immerse themselves in nature. As a storyteller, he seeks a positive narrative around our relationship with our surroundings and the environment. As a maker, he creates beautiful cairns – a pile of stones, which when carefully structured, can last centuries. In this episode Matt and Henry discuss concepts of freedom, our ‘eco-identity’ and how nature plays a vital role in finding meaning within our lives.

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Episode 068: Emily Chappell, From Courier to Commentator

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT

An ultra-endurance cyclist, Emily Chappell started her biking adventures as a cycle courier in London before cycling from Wales to Japan. The cycling feats didn't end there and in 2016 Emily was the fastest woman home in the 2016 Transcontinental Race. In this episode Emily draws on her Masters in Gender Studies as she discusses the importance of not being defined by your gender and why it's now time for men to join the conversation.

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Episode 067: David Yarrow, It's Not All Black and White

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 07:02:04 GMT

David Yarrow is a fine art photographer, conservationist and author. David is best known for his iconic monochrome wildlife photography, as well as for capturing celebrity portraits including Cindy Crawford and Cara Delevingne. David has many boasts, from taking the historic image of Maradona at the 1986 World Cup to his work in wildlife conservation. He calls himself ‘an artist’ but is also emphatically a businessman, and his commercial success has been built on an earlier career in banking. In this episode Matt speaks to David about his life as a photographer, his process for generating ideas, and how failure has been an integral part of his work.

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Episode 066: Reza Pakravan, Crossing the Line

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Reza Pakravan is an explorer, filmmaker and writer. In a past life Reza was working the 9 to 5 but today he documents his epic adventures. From travelling the full length of Africa via the Sahel region to earning a Guinness World Record for crossing the Sahara Desert by bicycle. In this episode Reza is incredibly frank about the commercialisation of exploration, his attitude to breaking world records and how he deals with the necessary risks associated with his work.

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Episode 065: George Butler, Drawn Across Borders

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT

George Butler is an award-winning artist and illustrator who specialises in documenting reportage and current affairs in ink rather than with a camera. In 2012 he walked into Syria from Turkey where he started to capture the war-damaged town of Azaz as a guest of the rebel Free Syrian Army. Since then, his work has taken him to Afghanistan, Ghana, Yemen, Belarus and Myanmar, and in this episode George speaks about the extraordinary moments he has witnessed, the pressure to get his art ‘right’ and how he struggles with the concept of bravery.

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Episode 064: Niall McCann, The Conservation Frontline

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Describing himself as a "biologist with a lot of other interests", Dr Niall McCann works on the frontline of conservation, and in his spare time has skied across Greenland, rowed the Atlantic and cycled through the Himalayas. In this episode Niall talks to Matt about the accessibility of adventure if you're willing to look for it, his recovery from a near fatal speed flying accident, and the importance of conservation for the future of our planet.

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Episode 063: Steph Jeavons, Starting Afresh

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Steph Jeavons is an author, journalist and adventurer from Wales. The first person to circumnavigate the globe and ride a motorbike on all seven continents, Steph has always led an unconventional and adventurous life, embracing even the ‘darker adventures’ from her youth. At the age of twenty she found herself in prison – looking out of her cell window and making herself a promise: get off drugs, get out of jail, travel the world. And that’s exactly what she did.

In this episode Steph talks to Matt about her round-the-world journey by motorbike, how to start again and what it means to travel alone as a woman.

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Episode 062: Leon McCarron, Slow Travel

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Leon McCarron is a writer, broadcaster and adventurer - originally from Northern Ireland, he now calls Iraq home. Leon’s championing of ‘slow travel’ has taken him across China on foot, walking through the Empty Quarter Desert and riding across Patagonia on horseback. Now based in Iraq, he uses storytelling to address the myriad misconceptions around this country and its people, and in this episode Matt and Leon get philosophical discussing what ‘home’ really means, the importance of relationships and the responsibility of telling someone else’s story.

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Episode 061: Robert Swan, The Last Great Wilderness

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Robert Swan is the first person in history to reach both the North and South Poles on foot, and undertook both of these pioneering expeditions in an era before GPS or satellite phones. He has gone on to dedicate his life to protecting Antarctica, and to preserving it as a unique natural reserve for science and peace. In Episode 061, Robert shares his extraordinary experiences of the polar regions, the promise he made to Jacques Cousteau 26 years ago, and how he appears to have a knack for staying alive against all the odds.

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Episode 060: Cal Flyn, Islands of Abandonment

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Cal Flyn is a writer and journalist who lives on Orkney, off the north coast of Scotland. Her latest book tells the story of a dozen abandoned places around the world, from Chernobyl to the volcanic Caribbean, and particularly at how nature reclaims and rebounds after humans leave.

Cal’s conversation with Matt explores the peculiar connection humans have to abandoned spaces, as well as the concept of ‘jolie laid’ – or ‘ugly beautiful’ – and how awe and wonder can be found in the bleakest and most desolate of landscapes.

We apologise for the audio quality in this episode, recorded remotely via an online app. The conversation is extraordinary, but the sound quality leaves a little to be desired at times. We’re already working on improving this for future episodes that we’re unable to record in the same room.

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Episode 059: Ed Caesar, Things You Have Not Dreamed Of

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT

Acclaimed journalist and author Ed Ceasar has written on subjects as varied as gorillas in the Congo, an imprisoned Russian billionaire and the world’s longest tennis match. Most recently, his book 'The Moth and the Mountain' tells the extraordinary tale of Maurice Wilson's 1935 attempt on Everest. In Episode 059, Ed shares his stories – and his love of stories – from the quirkier and less conventional corners of the world.

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Episode 058: Matt Sharman, To Humbly Go

Sat, 12 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT

There are many reasons to venture into the mountains. Matt Sharman is the antithesis of the ‘conqueror’. A gentle but accomplished mountaineer, this episode of the podcast details Matt’s life as a mountain guide, and the formative experiences he’s had at high altitude, and how they’ve changed him. He also tells the story of his personal attempt at Mount Everest and his views on the ever-changing mountain.

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Episode 057: Ben Saunders, Striving Well

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT

Explorer, endurance athlete and renowned speaker, Ben Saunders holds the record for the longest polar journey on foot, and has skied more than 7,000km in the polar regions. In this episode he tells the story of these vast journeys on foot, and of the parallel journey of internal exploration over two decades. Ben shares what inspired him at the outset of his career, and what continues to motivate him now.

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Episode 056: Gilly McArthur, The Choices that Matter

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT

In this episode, cold water swimmer, rock climber, and deep thinker, Gilly shares her unique, heart-warming and enlightening perspective on the world. Her story takes us through a diverse career path (including stints in a knitting shop in Edinburgh and a fashion brand in NYC) and face-to-face with profound loss and grief that changed her, and how she now sees the world.

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Episode 055: Hunter Workman, Land of the Midnight Sun

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 07:47:19 GMT

Hunter describes himself as a ‘fencing contractor, deerstalker, turner of stones and walker of paths’. Brought up in the woodlands of Gloucestershire, Hunter lives with his hands in the earth. Heavily influenced by the poetry and prose of those who have wandered the countryside before him, Hunter took it upon himself to canoe the length of the Yukon river with no past experience, and entirely on his own.

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Episode 054: Tom Randall, A Life of Percentages

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 10:09:23 GMT

Tom Randall used his student loan to trade the stock market and pay his way through university, before moving to London and dividing his time between a brake-neck-paced stockbroking career and more than a dozen climbing trips to Yosemite. Deciding to turn his back on the City, Tom moved to Sheffield to focus on rock climbing full-time, and is now both an accomplished professional athlete and an entrepreneur with multiple climbing-based businesses on his roster. In this episode we explore Tom’s past, as well as hearing about his attempt to combine two of the Lake District’s hardest endurance challenges, and his struggle to stitch together a life at the extremes.

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Episode 053: Time travel, Michael Turek

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Michael Turek has been taking photographs since he was eight years old. In this conversation with Matt Pycroft - that ranges from a close encounter with a Siberian tiger to a lifelong affection for the Yorkshire Dales - he makes an eloquent case for photography being one of the closest things we have to teleportation.

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Episode 052: Respect is Earned, Jay Morton

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 09:35:56 GMT

After a fourteen year career in the British Army, Jay Morton found himself catapulted from clandestine special forces secrecy to household-name celebrity. In this conversation with Matt Pycroft, Jay talks about growing up on active military service in Afghanistan in his early twenties, as well as the roles that both commitment and suffering have to play in a life well lived.

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Episode 051: The Lost Pianos of Siberia - Part Two, Sophy Roberts

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT

In the second half of this two-part interview, Sophy Roberts shares the epiphany that led to her debut book The Lost Pianos of Siberia, and the ‘pursuit of an object’ that ultimately took six expeditions, thousands of miles of travel and three years of her life. Sophy eloquently describes an odyssey through communities living by the rhythm of the earth, and the surprising freedom she found deep in the Siberian wilderness.

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Episode 050: The Lost Pianos of Siberia - Part One, Sophy Roberts

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Sophy Roberts cut her journalistic teeth reviewing luxury hotels for glossy magazines, before turning her back on the world of ‘infinity pools, free lunches and free flights’ to tell the story of a vast swathe of Russia – eleven percent of the earth’s landmass – that is arguably the least luxurious destination on the planet. In the first half of this two-part interview Sophy looks back on the path that led to Siberia.

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Episode 049: Finding the Last English Poacher, Emma Crome

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Filmmaker and producer Emma Crome specialises in adventure and documentary film production. Following an unexpected insight into the decline of Britain’s wild spaces, Emma embarked on a long-term documentary project exploring the contemporary and precarious state of nature in the UK. Along the way she discovered the story of the father and son subjects of John MacDonald’s book ‘The Last English Poachers’, and set about tracking them down. In this episode we hear their tale, and that of Britain’s shrinking pockets of wilderness.

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Episode 048: Ascent of Mount Gongga, Nick Bullock

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Nick Bullock describes himself, in a self-deprecating manner that is a refreshing hallmark of his storytelling, as “someone who likes to go climbing”. Preferring off-the-radar mountains to well-trodden summits, his 24th expedition was to the rarely-climbed 7555m Mount Gongga, in the Sichuan region of China, “a massive mountain that launches up into the sky out of nowhere.” In this conversation with Matt Pycroft, Nick talks honestly and movingly about his own relationship with risk, ego, ambition, conflict, and the ‘lack of imagination’ that he feels is hampering the newest generation of alpinists.

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Episode 047: Cycling the World, Vedangi Kulkarni

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Five weeks after first arriving in the UK to study, Vedangi Kulkarni set off on her bike with the aim of discovering the country she had chosen to call home. Three weeks later, she stopped pedalling in John O’Groats, having cycled the length of mainland Britain. The story of how she got there is far from the usual bike-packing tale - with no sleeping bag, and an accidental foray onto the M27 - but one of dogged resilience, brave determination and an unwillingness to give up; qualities that were stretched to breaking point when she set out to cycle around the world the following year, aged nineteen.

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Episode 046: Presumed Dead in Brazil, George Monbiot

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT

In 1989, George Monbiot travelled to Brazil to explore the troubling stories emerging from the rainforest. He lived in Manaus - in the heart of the Amazon - for two years, learning Portuguese and immersing himself in the country. George describes this time as “the beginning of my political education”, and his story spans a series of encounters that trump any Hollywood film, with investigations into local Brazilian land seizures leading to his reported death in the national press, and his dogged scrutinization of the gold rush finding him in a Wild-West-style shootout in the Amazonian hinterland.

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Episode 045: A Life in the Mountains, Sir Chris Bonington

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Still climbing in his ninth decade – and with nearly 30 first ascents under his belt – Sir Chris Bonington’s appetite for adventure has made him both a trailblazer and a mainstay of the mountaineering community. This conversation spans the peaks and valleys of a life well lived, and offers insight, humour and pathos. From an unsuccessful boyhood attempt on Snowdon to breaking new ground on distant Himalayan summits, Chris shares his hard-won wisdom on triumph, tragedy and the ingredient he calls ‘the most important thing in life’.

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Episode 044: Finding Home, Iain Miller

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 14:45:36 GMT

Iain Miller might just be the only professional sea stack climber on Earth. After twenty years sailing the world with the Merchant Navy, Iain made a home in western Donegal, and he has barely left since. Now, Iain's days are spent out in his kayak looking for unclimbed rock, and – in his own words – "Those moments in time that can't be replicated". What follows is an extraordinary collection of Iain's stories from a life on the high seas in a time gone by. To watch 'A Feather in the West', head over to Pertex.com

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Episode 043: The Solitude Specials, Jenny Tough

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 07:47:14 GMT

The eighth episode in this lockdown series is with Jenny Tough.The Solitude Specials are a new series of shorter conversations with adventurous souls who know a thing or two about managing their physical, mental and emotional energy in peculiarly challenging and stressful times.

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Episode 042: The Solitude Specials, Beth Healey

Tue, 26 May 2020 06:00:13 GMT

The seventh episode in this series is with Dr Beth Healey. The Solitude Specials are a new series of shorter conversations with adventurous souls who know a thing or two about managing their physical, mental and emotional energy in peculiarly challenging and stressful times.Image: Lorenzo Moggio

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Episode 041: The Solitude Specials, Dee Caffari

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 07:12:42 GMT

The sixth episode in "The Solitude Specials" is with Dee Caffari.The Solitude Specials are a new series of shorter conversations with adventurous souls who know a thing or two about managing their physical, mental and emotional energy in peculiarly challenging and stressful times.To hear more from Dee, check out Episode 024 in our archive!

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Episode 040: The Solitude Specials, Tim Howell

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:21:47 GMT

The fifth episode in "The Solitude Specials" is with Tim Howell.The Solitude Specials are a new series of shorter conversations with adventurous souls who know a thing or two about managing their physical, mental and emotional energy in peculiarly challenging and stressful times.

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Episode 039: The Solitude Specials, Aldo Kane

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 11:02:53 GMT

The fourth episode in "The Solitude Specials" is with Aldo Kane.The Solitude Specials are a new series of shorter conversations with adventurous souls who know a thing or two about managing their physical, mental and emotional energy in peculiarly challenging and stressful times.Listen to Episode 006 in the archive for a longer conversation with Aldo.

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Episode 038: The Solitude Specials, Hazel Findlay

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 07:00:13 GMT

The third episode in "The Solitude Specials" is with Hazel Findlay.The Solitude Specials are a new series of shorter conversations with adventurous souls who know a thing or two about managing their physical, mental and emotional energy in peculiarly challenging and stressful times.Listen to Episode 019 in the archive for a longer conversation with Hazel.

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Episode 037: The Solitude Specials, Ben Saunders

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 14:02:09 GMT

The second episode in "The Solitude Specials" is with Ben Saunders.The Solitude Specials are a new series of shorter conversations with adventurous souls who know a thing or two about managing their physical, mental and emotional energy in peculiarly challenging and stressful times.

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Episode 036: The Solitude Specials, Megan Hine

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 14:00:51 GMT

The first episode in 'The Solitude Specials' is with Megan Hine.The Solitude Specials are a new series of shorter conversations with adventurous souls who know a thing or two about managing their physical, mental and emotional energy in peculiarly challenging and stressful times.

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Episode 035: Life in Antarctica - The Not-So-Common Cold, Tash Burley

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 09:29:30 GMT

Having spent years working for the Royal Flying Doctors in Australia, and a season at Everest Basecamp, Tash Burley spent the 2019-2020 Antarctic season as camp medic for Antarctic logistics specialists White Desert. Amidst tales of hanging out of helicopters, and nighttime landings at remote bush airstrips lit by burning oil drums, Tash considers fear, the importance of staying true to yourself, and following the career path less travelled. Image: Kelvin Trautman

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Episode 034: Life in Antarctica - Tracks in the Snow, Kobus Stadler

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 17:43:15 GMT

The first episode in our Antarctic mini-series is with fourth-generation South African farmer Kobus Stadler, who spent the end of 2019 in Antarctica, helping maintain the camp and ski-way for Antarctic logistics specialists White Desert. Given the current global crisis, Kobus's tips for surviving an Antarctic whiteout in isolation are perhaps more relevant than we foresaw.

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Episode 033: A High-Latitude Life, Ian 'Spike' Sykes

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 15:03:39 GMT

In the 1960s, Ian (Spike, to his mates, his family, and pretty much everyone else) Sykes spent two years as a dog sled driver for the British Antarctic Survey. With no previous experience, he boarded a ship South and learnt to drive the dogs as he went.In this episode of The Adventure Podcast, Spike regales us with tales of calling mayday on the radio, stitching a dog’s eye socket back together, and listening to the moon landing on his wireless in one of the wildest environments on the planet.

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Episode 032: Mount Roraima – Anna's Journey

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 13:56:23 GMT

Anna Taylor had never travelled further than Germany when she boarded the plane to Guyana to join Leo Houlding on a world class expedition to Mount Roraima. The day after the helicopter whisked her away from the summit, Matt sat down with Anna to talk candidly about her experiences throughout the month in the jungle, looking at what has changed, and what has remained the same.

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Episode 031: Mount Roraima - The Summit

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 13:52:26 GMT

On the 4th December 2019, Leo and the team stood on top of Mount Roraima in the darkness. With everyone on the summit, all that was left to do was haul the bags to the top and await the helicopter. This episode of the Roraima Expedition series is a montage of conversations with Leo, Waldo and Wilson as they describe the journey from Invisible Ledge to the summit, and their closing remarks on the expedition as a whole.

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Episode 030: Mount Roraima – The Wall Camp

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 08:54:20 GMT

The team are now living on the wall, and finding their way up it. Waldo talks us through the route so far - right at Tarantula Terrace, right again at Invisible Ledge and round The Anvil - and the roles each team member plays in getting the expedition to the top of Mount Roraima.

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Episode 029: Mount Roraima – The Tepui Land

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 08:50:40 GMT

Advanced base camp has been established, and it's time to head up the wall. Before they do, here's an in-depth expedition update from team leader Leo Houlding.

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Episode 028: Mount Roraima – Learning the Ropes

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 10:25:03 GMT

One week in to the Roraima Expedition, Matt sits down with the youngest member of the team, Anna Taylor, to talk about her jungle experience so far.

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Episode 027: Kendal Mountain Festival, Steve Scott

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 16:55:44 GMT

Ahead of Kendal Mountain Festival 2019, Matt spoke to festival director Steve Scott about what's in store for you this year, and how he ended up running one of the world's biggest mountain festivals. From the Lake District to the Norwegian slopes, via the French Alps, Steve has his own fair share of adventurous tales to tell.

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Episode 026: Mount Roraima – The Lost World

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 18:40:01 GMT

An update from Guyana. In this episode, Matt talks to Waldo Etherington (of Episode 002) as they trek through the Amazonian forest, en route for Mount Roraima. Waldo describes the nature they're walking through, and how to survive in this difficult climate.Producer's note: The sound is somewhat muffled due to the compressed files that were necessary in order to send these audio files out of the jungle!

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Episode 025: Mount Roraima – Faffing

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 07:55:04 GMT

This is it: our first expedition podcast, sent back from Guyana where Matt is on expedition with Leo Holding and team, heading for Mount Roraima.We hear from all of the team, in Georgetown, as they get their kit ready for the parachute drop and the ensuing jungle trek to the base of the wall.

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Episode 024: Against Prevailing Winds, Dee Caffari

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 17:02:41 GMT

The first woman to sail solo, non-stop, around the world in both directions, Dee Caffari's honest tales of breaking boundaries as a female sailor are pertinent to the idea of adventure in the 21st century. Having faced Mother Nature on the Southern Ocean, Dee reflects on how to enjoy what life throws at you, and offers a few suggestions on how we can help #turnthetideonplastic.

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Episode 023: Born an Explorer, Erling Kagge

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 16:05:02 GMT

Our first episode of Series Two is with explorer, publisher and philosopher Erling Kagge. We spoke to him earlier this year about his book 'Walking' and the importance of the strides we take in life, "A good example that some of the greatest things in life are free". Erling's feet have taken him from the ends of the Earth, to the sewers of Manhattan and across the world's oceans. Sit tight for a conversation that we hope might inspire you to put down your phone and lace up your walking boots.

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Episode 022: Season Two, Matt Pycroft

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 16:04:56 GMT

A podcast update from Matt, and what's in store for you in Series Two. @theadventurepodcast

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Episode 021: Leave me here at home, Al Humphreys

Sat, 01 Jun 2019 07:30:07 GMT

Al reads the final chapter from his new book 'My Midsummer Morning'.

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Episode 020: Busking for Bocadillos, Al Humphreys

Fri, 31 May 2019 07:49:29 GMT

Following in the footsteps of Laurie Lee, Al set out to walk through Spain with only a violin, and a modest repertoire of elementary tunes. Along the way he experienced vulnerability and uncertainty, but also extraordinary kindness on "The most frightening adventure I have done in years".

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Episode 019: Mind Control, Hazel Findlay

Tue, 28 May 2019 09:14:39 GMT

Hazel grew up climbing the limestone sea cliffs of Pembrokeshire. In the twenty years since those first adventurous forays, she has travelled, and climbed, the world, making numerous first female ascents en route. Now, as a coach, Hazel draws off her training in psychology to help climbers train mentally, and overcome that 'fear of falling'.

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Episode 018: Hold Fast, Conrad Anker

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 08:15:52 GMT

Conrad Anker is one of the world’s most accomplished mountaineers. He made a name for himself in the 80s and 90s undertaking cutting edge first ascents with climbing partner Alex Lowe. There is much to be said about Conrad, but he is perhaps best known for his truly epic ascent of Meru with Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk. In 2016 Conrad suffered a heart attack whilst climbing with David Lama on Lunag Ri in Nepal. Tragically, David was killed on 16th April 2019 in an avalanche in the Canadian Rockies alongside Hansjorg Auer and Jess Roskelley. In this episode Conrad reflects on a life in the mountains that provides him with untold joy and a sense of identity, whilst also struggling with survivor guilt and the death of friends that has happened ‘far too many times’.

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Episode 017: The Farmer at the Edge of the World, Jóhannus Kallsgard

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 10:46:32 GMT

Jóhannus Kallsgard lives on Kalsoy, one of 18 islands in the North Atlantic that make up the Faroe Islands. Sheep farming in the Atlantic Ocean, where they have recorded windspeed of up to 280km/hr, is not without its challenges, but it does offer a peaceful existence.Matt was in the Faroe Islands working on a commercial shoot, when he met Jóhannus on a ferry. They got chatting and it transpired that not only was it his land that they’d like to film on but also that he’d be able to guide us if needed. During the shoot, Matt and Jóhannus were able to sneak away to record this interview while the rest of the team sat down to lunch. If you want to visit the Faroe Islands, start your search here - hiking.fo.

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Episode 016: Walking, Erling Kagge

Thu, 04 Apr 2019 17:48:30 GMT

Erling Kagge has been walking since he was thirteen months old. He has walked to the North Pole, to the South Pole, and to the top of Mount Everest. He has walked through the sewers of New York and the tunnels of Los Angeles, and he walks to work everyday in his hometown of Oslo. Erling's new book, Walking, is about the love of exploration, the delight of discovery and the equilibrium that can be found in this most simple of activities. Published by Viking, Penguin.

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Episode 015: An Unconventional Life, Sophie Darlington

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 17:41:24 GMT

Sophie Darlington’s thirty-year career as a wildlife cinematographer has borne witness to the effects of climate change – and the decline of endangered species – across the world. From 78 degrees South to 78 degrees North, Sophie’s BAFTA-winning visual documentation of our planet’s wildlife has been the mainstay of productions including Planet Earth, Dynasties, Wild Plant and Netflix’s forthcoming Our Planet.

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Episode 014: Learning To Fly, Waldo Etherington

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 17:01:58 GMT

With a paraglider, bought via eBay, and a marathon of YouTube tutorials, Waldo taught himself to fly. In this dispatch, Waldo recalls one of his 'whimsical' speed-flying adventures in Chamonix.

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Episode 013: A Couple Of Cold Winters, Martin Hartley

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 08:33:04 GMT

A raw, honest and poignant conversation with acclaimed polar photographer Martin Hartley. In 2009, Martin was nominated as one of Time magazine's Heroes of the Environment for his work documenting the state of the Arctic Ocean's pack ice. A decade later, he's setting off to photograph the last of the multi-year Arctic sea ice, before it's all gone.

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Episode 012: Sidetracked, Martin Hartley

Thu, 07 Mar 2019 12:16:00 GMT

Sidetracked's Director of Photographer, Martin Hartley, speaks about the joy The Sidetracked Journal brings him. Sidetracked Issue 14 is out now.

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Episode 011: Mind Of A Survivor, Megan Hine

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 16:27:12 GMT

Survival expert Megan has travelled far and wide in her search for answers and adventure. Serving up a healthy dose of outdoors enthusiasm, Meg talks about bushcraft and the importance of 'dirt time', as well as the need for more transparency on social media.

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Episode 010: Losing Sight Of The Shore, George Monbiot

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 12:12:36 GMT

In an age when the ping of an email or the silent buzz of a social media notification can interrupt you almost anywhere on the globe, how do we find solitude? For George, the answer is his sea kayak.

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Episode 009: Poisoned Arrows, George Monbiot

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 09:00:05 GMT

In 1988, investigative journalist George Monbiot bluffed his way into West Papua with forged travel documents. What follows is a tale of rebels, of incredulous adventure through magical wilderness, and a little-known story of dispossession and devastation.

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Episode 008: Climbing The Pyramids

Sat, 26 Jan 2019 09:00:03 GMT

What is urban exploration? The tabloids would have you believe that it’s teenagers dangling from cranes on building sites, but the reality is very different. Over decades, a group of larger-than-life characters have carved out a lifestyle that you might consider a work of fiction. For now, this particular guest would like to remain anonymous. However, he has agreed to a full length feature interview that we’ll record and release when the time is right. In this introductory dispatch ‘Fish’, as we’ll call him, tells us about the time he climbed the Great Pyramid of Giza and escaped from the Egyptian Army on the back of a rented camel.

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Episode 007: Unseen Enemy, Aldo Kane

Thu, 24 Jan 2019 16:47:06 GMT

In this dispatch, Aldo dives deep into his experience in West Africa helping document the 2014 outbreak of the Ebola virus, and talks about his appetite for risk, and how the reality on the ground differed dramatically to the story the world's media were telling.

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Episode 006: Cheerfulness In The Face Of Adversity, Aldo Kane

Fri, 18 Jan 2019 15:19:14 GMT

How do you deal with fear? For former commando sniper Aldo Kane, it's about understanding that that feeling is normal, a physiological reaction to get you ready for what you need to do next. From navigating the raging rapids of West Papua, to abseiling into Congolese volcanoes, Aldo is no stranger to unnerving situations and this conversation is overflowing with tales of courage, determination, and humility.

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Episode 005: A Climber's Voyage, Nick Bullock

Thu, 17 Jan 2019 13:10:22 GMT

The first in our ongoing series of book recitals, climber Nick Bullock reads from his 2018 book Tides; a treasury of his antics with some of the world's leading climbers, pushing the limits on serious routes around the globe.

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Episode 004: Exploring The Canopy, Waldo Etherington

Thu, 10 Jan 2019 14:33:26 GMT

In our first dispatch, self-proclaimed extreme recreational tree-climber Waldo Etherington reveals the secrets of the rainforest canopy, and its mysterious inhabitants.

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Episode 003: Quest Into The Unknown, Tony Howard

Sun, 23 Dec 2018 18:14:08 GMT

A series of chance encounters, and a whaling ship, led Tony Howard from the rocky outcrops of Yorkshire to a first ascent of Troll Wall, the tallest vertical rock face in Europe. Howard then turned his sights east, to the sandstone towers of Jordan.

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Episode 002: A Life In The Trees, Waldo Etherington

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 15:44:04 GMT

If you’ve ever wondered how to become a professional tree climber, then this conversation with Waldo Etherington covers the basic necessities for getting started; a love of nature, a passion for “questing out”, and a hand-me-down sleeping bag.

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Episode 001: Why We Need Adventure, Al Humphreys

Sat, 15 Dec 2018 17:09:12 GMT

If you’re looking for ways to live more adventurously, step away from your screen and spend more time in nature, then this conversation with Al Humphreys – around-the-world cyclist, ocean rower, desert walker and the inventor of the Microadventure – is chock-full of wisdom and inspiration.

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Episode 000: Introduction, Matt Pycroft

Fri, 14 Dec 2018 09:48:00 GMT

A few words from Matt on the origins of this podcast, and his hopes for its future.@theadventurepodcast

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