Award-winning travel writer Adam Weymouth joins Chris to talk about Lone Wolf, his account of retracing the epic 1,000-mile journey of Slavc — a gray wolf who walked from Slovenia, across the Alps, into Italy in 2011. It's a story about rewilding, politics, folklore, and an unlikely wolf love story.

Key Takeaways

• Europe's carnivores are quietly returning. There are now more wolves in Europe than in the continental US, and more bears in Europe than lions in Africa. Every mainland European country has wolves — and they came back on their own, not through reintroduction.
• Slavc's journey was remarkable for its success, not just its distance. He walked ~1,000 miles (possibly 3,000 with detours), then against staggering odds met a lone female wolf, "Juliet." Their descendants — 42 pups, 17 packs — repopulated the Eastern Italian Alps.
• Wolves are extraordinarily hard to track. Researcher Hubert Potočnik boils his equipment, buries it over winter, and works in two pairs of gloves — because if one wolf sees a packmate trapped, the whole pack becomes uncatchable.
• The wolf is one of the world's longest-running culture wars. Weymouth met farmers whose livelihoods are genuinely threatened; far-right parties have weaponized the issue. After a wolf ate EU Commission President von der Leyen's pony, the wolf's protected status was downgraded.
• Werewolf trials were real. A lesser-known twin to the witch trials, mostly targeting men — scapegoating outsiders and vagrants, often under torture.
• We embraced the dog but never forgave the wolf — despite them being nearly the same animal, separated only ~20,000 years ago. Far more people are killed by domestic dogs than wolves.
• Slow travel builds genuine human connection. Walking and canoeing let Weymouth meet people on equal terms and represent even opposing views fairly — the real purpose of travel writing.
• The book is really about change and fear of it — climate, migration, dying industries — and the wolf as a model of meeting crisis with movement and resilience.

Chapters

• 00:00 A Chance Meeting of Wolves
• 00:43 Intro & Welcome
• 03:27 Meet Adam Weymouth
• 08:18 Walking to Istanbul
• 17:05 The Yukon, Salmon & Indigenous Alaska
• 28:42 Tracking Slavc: Why Wolves Are So Hard to Catch
• 30:38 Retracing the Lone Wolf Walk Across Europe
• 36:27 Farmers, Politics & the Wolf Culture War
• 42:19 Werewolf Trials & Folklore
• 49:57 Slavc & Juliet: A Wolf Love Story
• 1:05  Change, Climate & the Wolf's Return
• 1:07  Quickfire Questions & Closing Traditions

Links & Mentions

• Book: Lone Wolf by Adam Weymouth (also available on audiobook)
• Website: adamweymouth.com — articles and links to buy the books
• Charity shoutout: Io Non Ho Paura del Lupo ("I'm not scared of the wolf") — working with Italian farmers to shift cultural perceptions of the wolf
• Call to adventure: Donkey trekking in the Pyrenees for families

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Para Horse Rider Stephanie Quintrell Crosses The Pyrenees  In A World First Expedition.

In 2023, Stephanie Quintrell became the first wheelchair-dependent woman to traverse the Pyrenees on horseback — five days in the saddle, over 130 kilometres from France into Spain, following the World War II Freedom Trails. In this episode, Steph shares how a sudden 48-hour illness in July 2019 changed her life, the bond with her horse Bubba that pulled her through, what it took to ride that mountain pass, and her next world-first attempt: crossing the Andes from Argentina to Chile in February 2027.

Chapters

• 00:00 — Freedom in the Saddle
• 01:01 — Welcome & Episode Intro
• 02:43 — Meet Stephanie Quintrell
• 03:52 — Growing Up with Horses
• 06:46 — Riding Across Scotland
• 08:21 — Meeting John & Becoming a Military Wife
• 10:46 — 48 Hours That Changed Everything
• 12:56 — Diagnosis: Functional Neurological Disorder
• 15:27 — Grief, Identity & Rebuilding
• 19:33 — The Bond That Pulled Her Through
• 22:35 — Back in the Saddle
• 28:15 — Forces Wives Challenge
• 32:51 — Ride to Freedom: Crossing the Pyrenees
• 34:16 — The Mérens Horses
• 37:14 — Adapted Tack & Riding Gear
• 38:15 — Day One on the Trail
• 40:56 — Weather, Teamwork & Trust
• 46:22 — A Day Without the Wheelchair
• 48:35 — Crossing into Spain
• 51:28 — What's Next: Equine Para Adventures
• 54:01 — Ride to Independence: The Andes 2027
• 58:10 — Inspiring Others to Adventure
• 1:03:53 — Pay It Forward: Adaptive Grand Slam
• 1:05:18 — Call to Adventure: Get on a Horse
• 1:07:34 — 10 Quickfire Questions
• 1:11:43 — Where to Find Stephanie Quintrell

Key Takeaways

• A sudden onset: Steph went from full-time working mum and competitive rider to losing the ability to walk within 48 hours in July 2019, later diagnosed with Complex Functional Neurological Disorder.
• Horses as freedom: In the saddle she's independent — able to access mountains and trails her wheelchair can't reach.
• A world first: Five days, 130+ km, ascents to 2,500 m across the Pyrenees, following WWII Freedom Trails on native Mérens horses.
• The wheelchair stayed strapped to the pack pony: On the toughest day, she spent nine hours out of her wheelchair entirely.
• Next up: Ride to Independence — crossing the Andes from Argentina to Chile, up to 4,400 m, February 2027.

• Equine Para Adventures 
• Forces Wives Challenge 
• Steph on Instagram

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Listen to the FULL Episode here

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From a desk job in IT to flying one of the world's most dangerous bush pilot routes — Matt Dearden spent seven years flying the Pilatus Porter into 30% gradient mountain airstrips in the remote highlands of Papua, Indonesia. After landing a Susi Air co-pilot job with just 10 days' notice, Matt sold his car, rented out his house, and boarded a one-way flight to a country he'd never visited.

In this episode of The Adventure Diaries, Matt shares how crippling anxiety nearly grounded his flying career, what it's like supplying indigenous Papuan villages only reachable by air, and the near-misses, jungle landings, and cultural encounters that turned a two-year plan into a seven-year adventure. Featured in Channel 4's The Worst Place to Be a Pilot and author of Flying from Shangri-La, Matt offers a rare look at frontier aviation, mental health in high-pressure careers, and the power of pushing your comfort zone — in the air and in life.

Chapters
00:00 - Bush Pilot in Papua, Indonesia
2:48 — Welcome Matt Dearden to the Adventure Diaries
3:41 — Expat Childhood: Middle East to Boarding School
5:40 — RAF Cadets and the First Taste of Flying
8:37 — From IT Career to Commercial Pilot Training
12:31 — Mental Health, Anxiety, and Finding Clarity in the Cockpit
17:20 — Landing a Pilot Job in Indonesia with 10 Days Notice
20:41 — Arriving in Jakarta: Culture Shock and Susi Air Training
33:30 — Discovering Papua: Bush Flying the Pilatus Porter
50:00 — Extreme Airstrips, 30% Gradients, and Near Misses
1:08:01 — The Worst Place to Be a Pilot: Channel 4 TV Series and Book
1:13:25 — Closing Traditions: Pay It Forward, Call to Adventure & Quickfire


Follow Matt

• https://mattdearden.co.uk/
• https://www.instagram.com/indopilot/
• His Book - Flying From Shangri La
  
  
  
• Topics: bush flying, Pilatus Porter, Susi Air, Papua Indonesia, Cessna Caravan, mountain airstrips, aviation careers, mental health, anxiety, adventure travel, expat life, career change.

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Today's guest is Henry Brydon — adventurer, writer, and founder of We Are Explorers (Australia's biggest adventure publication) and Outside Kids (a platform for dads raising adventurous children).

In this episode, Henry shares his epic two-year, 38,000km bicycle journey from London to Sydney through 30 countries — including Central Asia in minus 30°C temperatures and the Middle East during the Arab Spring, all on a $5/day budget. He unpacks what the trip taught him, how it shaped his mission to raise adventurous kids, and why "good friction" matters for children growing up in a world full of digital distractions.

This is great conversation and even more so for fathers

Guest Links

• Outside Kids: https://outsidekids.co.uk
• We Are Explorers: https://www.weareexplorers.co
• Henry Brydon Instagram

Chapters
00:00 —"Let's go to Beijing"
00:56 — Welcome to the Adventure Diaries Podcast
02:31 — Meet Henry Brydon of Outside Kids & We Are Explorers
03:26 — Growing up in Shrewsbury & the road trip that sparked it all
07:22 — From Dubai recruiter to London–Sydney by bike</title>
10:16 — The route: Europe → Balkans → Middle East → Asia
11:28 — Kurdistan in midwinter & the kindness of strangers
12:56 — Arab Spring, Syria, Iraq & shifting world views
16:54 — Iran, Tehran couch-surfing & Indonesia highlights
19:15 — Arriving in Sydney & meeting Susie on day one
22:35 — Lessons from the trip: agency, self-belief, comfort with uncertainty
27:20 — Founding We Are Explorers
39:13 — Why he launched Outside Kids
43:22 — Dads, rough-and-tumble & writing with humor
47:26 — "Good friction": building resilience through discomfort
50:35 — Shared family memories & making the most of time with kids
54:46 — Advice for parents new to the outdoors (start small, geocaching, litter-picking adventures)
1:01:32 — Off-grid cabin trips & digital detox with "Brick"
1:05:11 — Upcoming dads & kids camp-out (June)
1:06:35 — Pay It Forward: Marcus Skeet (The Whole Boy)
1:08:50 — Call to Adventure: Tasmania & the Franklin River
1:10:27 — 10 Fire-Round Questions
1:17:51 — Wrap-up & where to find Henry

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Daniel Eggington is an adventurer from the Black Country in the UK who has spent the last decade pushing himself deeper and deeper into the world's most demanding jungles. At 17, he booked a £500 flight to Sumatra with no plan, no preparation, and no clue — and ended up tracking a wild Sumatran tiger in the rainforest just before his 18th birthday. That trip set the trend for everything that followed.

Since then, Daniel has paddled 300km down Guyana's Essequibo River in a handmade dugout canoe with indigenous Wapichan guides, encountered shapeshifters and Kanaima folklore deep in the rainforest, and — on his third attempt — crossed the Darien Gap on foot from Colombia to Panama. That four-year project involved meeting cartel commanders, hiding for ten days in a safehouse, paying the Gulf Clan $1,500 for safe passage, being abandoned by his guide on day two, and walking out alone through some of the most hostile terrain on earth.

This episode covers the full story — Sumatra, the Essequibo, the Darien Gap, the hostage training that prepared him for it, and his next ambition: walking the entire length of the Congo River from Zambia to the Atlantic.

Chapters:
00:00 Colombian military, the Darien border, and armed traffickers
00:39  Daniel Eggington, jungle expedition adventurer
03:34 Growing up in Birmingham — the seeds of adventure
06:11 First overseas trip — Sumatra at 17 with no plan
08:35 Encountering a wild Sumatran tiger
12:42 Why Guyana? The Essequibo River expedition begins
16:10 Buying a dugout canoe and 12 days down the Essequibo
24:55 The Kanaima — shapeshifters and indigenous belief systems
30:03 Why the Darien Gap? Four years of planning
34:12 Getting cartel permission — and an airstrike kills the contact
37:33 Meeting the Gulf Clan fixer and entering the jungle
41:24 Abandoned by the guide — alone in the Darien
44:41 Hostile environment and kidnap training
47:22 Finding a skeleton and a Venezuelan ID in the jungle
48:51 Crossing into Panama — stripped, interrogated, and finally safe
56:59 Decompression and the lasting effects of the Darien
58:44 Next up — walking the entire Congo River
1:03:19 Pay it forward — sponsoring Victoria, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion
1:04:57 Call to adventure and where to find Daniel

Daniel Eggington — expedition adventurer, jungle traveler

Website: danieleggington.com 
Instagram: @Daniel Eggington

Pay it forward: Sponsor Victoria, an 18-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete ranked #1 in her weight class in Brazil, training her way out of one of Rio's high-risk favelas — details available via Daniel's website.

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Oscar Scafidi has spent two decades living and working across 36 countries in Africa — writing travel guides for Bradt, teaching African history, and launching himself down some of the continent's most remote rivers. In 2022, he and a teammate attempted the first descent of Madagascar's Mangoky River: 750km, 28 days, and a 200km portage across a waterless mountain range that nearly broke the expedition before it began.

The Mangoky has no agreed source — no GPS coordinates, no signpost. Getting to the start meant heading towards a mountain and asking locals which way the water flowed. Getting to the finish meant nine days on foot through terrain with no water and no settlements, carrying a 40kg Klepper folding kayak in pieces, before finally reaching the river proper.

This episode covers the full story — the five years of planning, the crocodiles, the schistosomiasis, the team dynamics, and the entirely unplanned French feast that closed it all out.

 
Chapters:
00:00 Crocodile Canyon and why hippos are the real danger
01:28  Oscar Scafidi, expedition kayaker and Africa travel writer
03:45 From Italy to Sudan — how an accidental teaching job started everything
07:35 Why Africa? The British Airways flight that set Oscar up for the continent
09:45 Travel writing and Bradt guides — how an accidental career took off
13:25 The Angola Kwanza River expedition — how Oscar became an expedition kayaker
18:10 Why Madagascar? Five years of planning a first descent
20:55 Finding the source of the Mangoky — a river with no agreed starting point
23:35 The 200km portage — when the worst-case scenario gets worse
27:05 The Klepper kayak — a century-old design built for expeditions
31:00 Crocodiles, pirogues, and 50km days on the main Mangoky
47:25 Schistosomiasis, team dynamics, and 28 days of isolation
49:00 Finishing on the Mozambique Channel — a surprise ending and a French feast
55:00 Pay it forward — Our Kids Are Future Madagascar
 

Oscar Scafidi — travel writer, history teacher, expedition kayaker

Website / expedition: kayakthemangoky.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ScafidiTravels

Documentary: https://youtu.be/KlVlWQcZlA8

Book: Kayak the Mangoky 

Charity: Our Kids Are Future Madagascar — educational charity supported by 25% of book profits

For full show notes and links, visit: adventurediaries.com/podcast

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In 2008, Louis-Philippe Loncke became the first person to walk the full length of Australia's Simpson Desert unsupported — 35 days, a 215kg cart, no water cache, no drops, no helicopter rescue within range. Last year, he tried again. He covered 75 kilometres in 13 days and turned back. Climate change, he believes, may have made this crossing permanently impossible.
 
The Belgian engineer turned explorer nicknamed The Mad Belgian first understood the scale of what he'd done when Jon Muir — who had been to both Poles — wrote that unsupported desert crossings make Mount Everest look like child's play. Louis-Philippe has catalogued 21 near-death experiences and is building a classification system to prove exactly why Everest barely makes a Class 2.
 
What You'll Learn:
• Why Australia has two million wild Afghan camels — and why eating them is an ecological good
• The frog that lies dormant in a salt crust for 30 years and revives when floodwater returns
• Why Mount Everest rates only Class 2 on the Mad Belgian's expedition scale
• How a 10-degree temperature rise may have closed the Simpson Desert to solo crossings forever
• What it's like to be chased by 14 wild camels with nowhere to run
 
LOUIS-PHILIPPE LONCKE | The Mad Belgian
www.louis-philippe-loncke.com
YouTube: Luffy Tests | Meet Explorers with Lou-Phi
Charity: Jane Goodall Institute — tree-planting events across Europe
Project: Expedition Database — global index of adventurers and expeditions
 
ABOUT LOUIS-PHILIPPE LONCKE
Belgian adventurer and Explorers Club Fellow known as The Mad Belgian. In 2008 he completed the
world's first unsupported north-to-south crossing of the Simpson Desert in 35 days. A former bank
IT engineer, he has completed 20-plus expeditions across Tasmania, Australia, Poland, and
Azerbaijan, surviving 21 documented near-death experiences. Currently building the Expedition
Database, a free global index designed to work like IMDB for the adventure community.
 
00:00 Louis-Philippe Loncke — who is The Mad Belgian Explorer?
01:49 Growing up in Belgium: from furniture makers to Boy Scouts
06:00 From ING Bank Singapore to hiking 2,000km across Australia
13:19 Why the Simpson Desert? Finding the world's most impossible walk
18:37 The 2008 world first: crossing the Simpson Desert unsupported
26:00 How to survive without resupply in the world's most arid desert
31:00 Wild camels, dingoes and the world's most venomous snake
41:00 Going back: the 2016 backpack attempt and 2024 cart failure
54:00 How to grade an expedition — the Class 1 to 6 adventure scale
1:04:00 The Expedition Database: IMDB for the world's adventurers
1:13:00 21 near-death experiences: barge cables, cliff falls and floods
1:19:00 What's next: Azerbaijan, the Tintin rocket and future films
1:31:00 Pay it forward, call to adventure and quick-fire questions
 
For full show notes and links, visit: adventurediaries.com/go

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Pete Casey was chest-deep in floodwater, five days without food, in the middle of the Amazon at dusk. His guide said: "This is a beautiful place to die, and the day you die is the best day of your life." No higher ground in sight, no GPS signal, no way out. This is the story of the first ever sea-to-source ascent of the Amazon River.

No military training, no wealthy sponsors, no support team. Pete sold his home, scraped together £110,000 in equity, and walked into the Amazon alone. What followed was six and a half years, over 7,000 kilometres, swimming every river crossing against the current, trekking through flooded rainforest, and navigating remote indigenous communities that had never seen a Westerner pass through on foot.

From near-death in flood season to coca plantations in the Andes, this is the full arc of one of the most extraordinary human-powered expeditions ever completed.

What You'll Learn:
• Why Pete ascended the Amazon sea-to-source — and why almost nobody does it that way
• The method he built for swimming river crossings with a packraft and local guides
• How 23 days in flooded forest without food nearly killed him
• What encounters with remote indigenous communities actually look like
• The brutal reality of coming home to nothing after six and a half years

Pete's presentation at the explorers club in NYC.

🌐 ascentoftheamazon.com

📸 Instagram: @p.c.casey
🌿 Junglekeepers (pay it forward): junglekeepers.com

00:00 Cold open — chest-deep in floodwater
01:18 Who is Pete Casey and what is the Ascent of the Amazon?
03:21 Growing up with no money in Sussex — how adventure didn't come naturally
05:19 First trip to South America — joining Ed Stafford's Amazon walk
07:50 Photography dreams and why building became his career
11:32 How Pete decided to ascend the Amazon sea-to-source
17:23 Selling his home — the point of no return
21:17 Route planning on Google Earth and arriving alone
26:26 Why Pete swam every river crossing — method and fear
29:27 The Pororoca tidal bore and using the Amazon tide to gain ground
34:00 First Una tribe encounters — being surrounded
47:11 23 days in flooded forest, no food, chest-deep in water
51:50 Recovery in Manaus and planning the next leg
55:28 How kit evolved over 6.5 years — Wellington boots vs jungle boots
1:00:40 What Pete ate in the jungle — farinha and sardines
1:05:00 Walking alone through cocaine plantations in the Andes
1:13:40 The Explorers Club, coming home, and the food bank
1:23:34 Pay it forward: Junglekeepers

For full show notes and links, visit: adventurediaries.com/podcast

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The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

Beki Henderson is a BAFTA-nominated adventure filmmaker and expedition safety specialist with years of experience leading camera teams into some of the world's most remote and demanding environments. She's worked alongside Steve Backshall, Ben Fogle, Levison Wood, Aldo Kane, and most recently Will Smith on the landmark Pole to Pole series — premiering at the Natural History Museum in London.

In this episode, Chris sits down with Beki to dig into the Green Abyss — her personal expedition into Gabon's Waka National Park in 2024, launched in the wake of the country's military coup. The plan was to pack-raft the undocumented Akoi River for a month, reaching remote communities to understand the human cost of conservation policy. What followed was a masterclass in expedition reality — strainers, flash flood risk, a support team walking in entirely the wrong direction, and a village that no longer existed.

Beki also reflects on building a career in adventure television from scratch, why qualifications mean nothing without field experience, and what it really means to take risk seriously — not the dramatic kind, but the deep, lasting uncertainty that keeps you up at night two metres above a rising river in the middle of a Gabonese gorge.

Chapters:
00:00 — Risk Isn't Dramatic: What Expedition Danger Really Looks Like
01:25 — Introduction & Welcome to Adventure Diaries
03:12 — Growing Up in North Yorkshire With No Adventurous Instincts
06:53 — Building a Career in Adventure Filmmaking From Scratch
10:00 — Wilderness First Responder: Why Qualifications Mean Nothing Without Experience
12:17 — First Break Into Adventure Television: Steve Backshall & Expedition Series
14:07 — The Green Abyss: Pack Rafting Gabon's Undocumented Akoi River
16:29 — Building a Team in the Field & Getting Government Permission Post-Coup
22:29 — Strainers, Portaging & Why the River Always Wins
26:43 — Trapped in a Gorge: The Flash Flood Decision That Changed Everything
33:37 — The GPS Disaster: When the Support Team Walked the Wrong Way
38:10 — Ingondé Doesn't Exist: Conservation, Gold Panning & The Human Cost
44:24 — Recording Undocumented Species & Reflections on the Green Abyss

Pay It Forward: Beki shines a light on the Black Mambas — an all-female anti-poaching unit in South Africa working to protect wildlife and educate communities before poaching ever starts. Find them at blackmambas.org.

Call to Adventure: Figure out where your own edge is — and go there. Adventure doesn't have to cost money or require extreme skill. Start with what takes you outside your comfort zone.

Follow Beki Henderson:
Instagram: @bekihenderson
Website: beckihenderson.com

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What happens when you walk for days through some of the most remote jungle on Earth — and stumble across a cave covered floor to ceiling in ancient drawings that no outsider has ever documented? In this Season 5 episode, Chris sits down with Joe Trevorrow, former Royal Navy sailor turned expedition guide with The Wild Tales — an indigenous-led adventure company operating deep in Guyana's interior — to unpack three extraordinary expeditions into barely explored territory.

Alongside the on-the-ground stories (rapids, sand flies, night terrors in hammocks, and jaguar tracks beside your sleeping spot), Joe shares how The Wild Tales partners with indigenous communities — the Wai Wai, Patamona, and others — to create sustainable tourism that preserves ancient sites and dying traditions. We discuss the complex tribal history of Guyana's nine indigenous nations, how a Tomb Raider game sparked a life-changing decision, and what the jungle teaches you when you stop fighting it.

Chapters:

• 00:00 A Hidden Cave in Guyana's Jungle
• 01:07 Meet Joe Trevorrow: Royal Navy to Rainforest
• 05:30 Joining the Navy and Travelling the World at 20
• 07:56 How a Tomb Raider Game Led to Guyana Expeditions
• 11:33 How Indigenous-Led Expedition Tourism Works
• 16:45 The River of Death: Paddling the Cassai Chi
• 20:09 Undocumented Petroglyphs Along the Riverbank
• 24:18 Welcome to Masakenari: The Most Remote Village
• 29:30 Tourism as a Lifeline: Keeping Traditions Alive
• 32:40 Don't Fight the Jungle: Lessons the Hard Way
• 35:21 Sitting Under the Milky Way on the River of Death
• 38:10 Night Terrors: The Scariest Night in the Jungle
• 40:12 Makarapan Mountain: 3.5 Billion Years Old
• 46:00 The Mystery Pots Nobody Can Explain
• 55:12 The Cave Expedition: 45km Through Patamona Territory
• 01:03:21 Ancient Drawings That Left Everyone Speechless
• 01:12:00 Conservation: Keeping Sites Secret vs Raising Awareness
• 01:17:49 Future Expeditions and What's Next for The Wild Tales
• 01:23:17 Pay It Forward and Call to Adventure

What You'll Learn

• What the "River of Death" actually means — and the disease theory behind its name
• How indigenous-led expedition tourism works (and why it matters)
• Why two enormous pots were found near the summit of a 3.5 billion year old mountain — and nobody can explain how they got there
• What it feels like to walk into an ancient cave and see drawings no outsider has recorded
• The leadership lesson Joe learned — and why "Navy mode" doesn't work in the jungle
• What The Wild Tales has planned for 2026–2027

Connect with Joe & The Wild Tales

• Joe Trevorrow Instagram
• The Wild Tales: https://www.thewildtales.com
• Anders Anderson episode (S3): Adventure Diaries back catalogue

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The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

Chris sits down with Brazilian conservation biologist Letícia Benavalli to talk about her work protecting jaguars in the Cerrado — one of the world's most biodiverse yet overlooked biomes. From growing up in São Paulo to founding the Pro Onça Institute, Letícia shares how a childhood fascination with nature led her to track some of the rarest cats on the planet, including melanistic (black) jaguars. She also opens up about the importance of community-led conservation, empowering women and young people in rural Brazil, and her ambition to create wildlife corridors connecting isolated jaguar populations across biomes.

Chapters

00:00 Tracking Melanistic Jaguars
04:43 From City Life to Conservation Biologist
07:10 The Cerrado: Saving Brazil's Biodiverse Savanna
14:47 Learnings from Oxford University & African Wild
22:53 Rare Black Jaguar Encounter in the Wild
27:07 Survival Story: Lost Alone in the Brazilian Jungle
36:38 Jaguar Hunting Threats & Landowner Conflicts
40:58 Pro Onça Institute: Conservation & Community Empowerment
47:02 Women Leadership in Ecotourism
1:00 Urban Jaguars in Brasília National Park
1:06 Rolex Explorers Club Grant & Future Goals
1:14 Call to Adventure: Climbing Brazil's Serra do Cipó

Guest Bio

Letícia Benavalli is a conservation biologist and founder of the Onça Institute (Instituto Onça), an NGO dedicated to jaguar conservation in Brazil's Cerrado and Atlantic Forest. She has worked across multiple Brazilian biomes — including the Pantanal, Caatinga, and Amazon — studying large carnivores and developing community-based conservation programmes. Letícia is a Rolex/Explorers Club grant recipient and a member of the IUCN's Wildlife Conservation and Protected Areas group. She presented her research at the Explorers Club in New York and is preparing a PhD focused on jaguar density, diet, and the genetics of melanistic jaguars in the Cerrado.

Key Topics Discussed

1. Growing up in São Paulo & finding conservation — How a city kid from Latin America's largest metropolis ended up dedicating her life to wildlife, sparked by a childhood visit to the zoo and a love of nature documentaries.
2. The Cerrado: Brazil's forgotten biome — Why this vast savanna is critically important for biodiversity but receives far less attention and protection than the Amazon or Pantanal.
3. Black jaguars and the Onça Institute — Letícia's face-to-face encounter with a wild melanistic jaguar, the rare genetics behind black colouration, and the founding mission of her NGO to connect isolated jaguar populations.
4. Community-led conservation & empowering women — Why conservation cannot succeed without involving local and rural communities, particularly women and young people, and how traditional knowledge strengthens scientific work.
5. The Rolex/Explorers Club grant & global ambitions — Winning the grant, presenting findings in New York, and building international collaborations to document and protect jaguars across Latin America.

Closing Traditions

Pay It Forward: WE CAN — an organisation empowering indigenous women globally, with projects supporting habitat restoration by indigenous communities in the Brazilian Amazon.

Call to Adventure: Rock climbing and bouldering at Cocalzinha de Goiás in Brazil — one of the top bouldering destinations in Latin America.

Mentioned Links & References

• Onça Institute (Instituto Onça) — Letícia's NGO for jaguar conservation
• The Explorers Club — Rolex/Explorers Club gr

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Ricardo Kaljouw is a Dutch adventurer and mountaineer from Flushing (Vlissingen) in Zeeland, Netherlands — a province that sits below sea level, making his obsession with the world's highest volcanoes all the more fitting. By day he works in military shipbuilding, constructing frigates for governments around the world. By adventure, he has just become the first person from the Benelux to complete the Volcanic 7 Summits — a challenge so rare that only around 68 people in the world have ever achieved it.

Chapters

• 00:00 – Introduction: A Dangerous Encounter
• 01:28 – Welcome to The Adventure Diaries
• 01:50 – Meet Ricardo Kaljouw: Volcanic Seven Summits
• 04:35 – Growing Up Below Sea Level
• 06:39 – Navy Life: Battling Pirates in Somalia
• 09:13 – Inspiration: Climbing Kilimanjaro
• 12:16 – Inside the Crater: Virunga's Lava Lake
• 17:19 – Mount Damavand: Winter Climbing in Iran
• 23:41 – Mountaineering Lessons: Snow Blindness
• 28:04 – Papua New Guinea: Jungle Trekking Challenges
• 31:49 – Close Call: Mistaken for a Witch
• 33:07 – Survival Story: Stranded on Ojos del Salado
• 41:00 – Romance on the Peak: Pico de Orizaba
• 42:33 – Antarctica: The Ultimate Expedition
• 45:40 – Landing on the Frozen Continent
• 1:00:25 – Summiting Mount Sidley: A Historic Feat
• 1:13:26 – What's Next: The Volcanic Grand Slam
• 1:17:16 – Book Launch: A Million Steps on Lava

Key Topics Covered

• Growing up in the flattest country on earth and joining a walking club as a kid
• Serving in the Royal Dutch Navy, including an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden in 2010
• How a safari to Kenya and a first glimpse of Kilimanjaro sparked a lifelong obsession
• The Virunga documentary that sent him to the Democratic Republic of Congo — and sleeping on the rim of Nyiragongo, home to the world's largest lava lake
• Climbing Damavand (Iran) in winter and going snow blind on the descent
• Surviving near-starvation and a machete encounter in the jungles of Papua New Guinea
• Getting stranded alone at 6,600m on Ojos del Salado (Chile/Argentina) in whiteout conditions
• Mount Elbrus (Russia, 2017) — his first experience on glaciers, roped teams and crampons
• Carrying his proposal ring to the summit of Pico de Orizaba (Mexico) and the Aztec legend behind it
• The full Antarctica chapter — flying to Union Glacier, a 1,000km internal flight to Mount Sidley, two weeks in a 10-metre safe zone, a guide evacuated with pulmonary oedema, and a last-gasp summit window in minus 42°C
• Reflecting on what it means to finish a multi-year, multi-continent challenge

Lessons from the Mountains

• You're only at 70% when you think you're at 100% — but know where the real limit is
• The descent is where most accidents happen; the summit is only halfway
• Always use your equipment — Ricardo learned this the hard way going snow blind on Damavand
• Build altitude experience gradually; don't rush to the highest peaks

Pay It Forward 🌍 Virunga Foundation — Supporting conservation and ranger funding in Virunga National Park, the first national park in Africa.

Calls to Adventure 🌋 Ubinas Volcano, Peru — An active, accessible volcano near Arequipa that gets you right to the crater rim. Check activity levels before going, but a fantastic entry point into volcanic adventure.

🧊 Jan Mayen Island, Norway — The world's most northerly active volcano. Glaciated, remote, accessible only by sailing boat from Svalbard or Iceland. A handful of expeditions per year. For experienced mountaineers only.

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What does it actually feel like to sleep alone in a West African rainforest — the noise, the insects, the pitch-dark uncertainty? In this Season 5 opener, Chris sits down with Jude Kriwald, adventure filmmaker and cyclist, to unpack Alone Across Gola — Jude’s solo ride across West Africa, including a remote jungle crossing in Liberia/Sierra Leone’s Gola region.

Connect with Jude 

• Book Jude For Your Next Event:  https://JudeKriwald.com/Speaking 
• Follow On Insta: https://www.instagram.com/judekriwald
• Need Mentoring?  AdventureMentor.org 

Alongside the on-the-ground stories (heat, hydration, kit failures, and a few genuinely sketchy moments), Jude shares a thoughtful take on neurodivergence (autism + ADHD), why “analogue adventures” matter, and how we can build a life that’s more honest to who we are.

What You’ll Learn

• What jungle nights are really like — and why the soundscape is unforgettable
• How Jude manages risk when travelling solo (and what satellite SOS can’t solve)
• Why ADHD/autism traits can be powerful outdoors: hyperfocus, pattern-spotting, rapid problem-solving
• The “stepping stone” approach to confidence and route planning
• Why rest days aren’t optional on long bike trips

Chapters:

• 00:00 Exploring the Unknown: A Journey into the African Rainforest
• 01:45 The Call of Adventure: Jude's Formative Years
• 06:49 The First Big Expedition: Cycling to India
• 11:58 Navigating Life's Gaps: The Lost Decade
• 17:34 Harnessing Neurodivergence: ADHD and Autism as Superpowers
• 22:45 Adventure Mentoring: Leveling the Playing Field
• 28:26 West Africa: A New Frontier for Exploration
• 29:44 Exploring the Unknown: Journey to West Africa
• 31:19 First Night in the Jungle: A Personal Experience
• 34:59 Planning and Preparation: The Adventurer's Mindset
• 36:30 Camping and Rest: Balancing Adventure and Recovery
• 38:05 The Trusty Bike: A Companion on the Journey
• 41:29 Hydration and Health: Navigating the Jungle's Challenges
• 43:46 Self-Reliance and Communication: The Importance of Preparedness
• 47:16 Cultural Interactions: Bridging the Gap
• 51:19 Understanding Poverty: A Lesson in Empathy
• 54:29 The Gola Rainforest: An Adventurer's Discovery
• 57:25 Navigating the Unknown: The Adventure of Exploration
• 58:37 The Art of Filmmaking: A Journey into Storytelling
• 01:02:54 Reflections on Courage: The Impact of Adventure
• 01:05:31 Creating a Platform: The Power of Sharing Stories
• 01:08:14 Paying It Forward: Supporting Future Adventurers
• 01:12:25 Embracing Analog Adventures: A Call to Disconnect
• 01:19:51 Connecting with Jude: Where to Find More Adventures

Guest Bio

Jude Kriwald is an adventure filmmaker and cyclist whose documentary Alone Across Gola follows a solo expedition across West Africa and into remote rainforest terrain. Jude also founded Adventure Mentor, offering one-to-one mentoring support to help more people access adventure, particularly those underrepresented in the space. 

Resources & Mentions

• Alone Across Gola (film on YouTube) 
• Adventure Mentor (free 1:1 mentoring) 
• https://www.britis

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Reaching the North Pole wasn’t just about distance—it was about whose work could survive the ice. For over 20 years, Matthew Henson led expeditions where others failed, mastering indigenous travel and keeping teams alive through the harshest conditions on Earth. Yet when history was written, his role was reduced to the margins. 

This is the story of how polar exploration actually functioned, and why recognition followed authority rather than effort.

Listen to the full immersive story of Matthew Henson in our premiere episode of the Adventure Diaries Exploration series.

👉 Listen now: AdventureDiaries.com/Story

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In this highlight reel from the Adventure Diaries Podcast, Chris W. revisits his conversation with explorer Katharina Kneip. Katharina shares the harrowing story of hitchhiking on a French sailboat to cross from Iceland to Newfoundland, battling 50-knot winds and ice in one of the most remote regions on Earth. She also discusses life under the eternal sun of Svalbard, camping near existing settlements to stay safe from polar bears, and offers a grounding "Call to Adventure" that encourages everyone to find exploration simply by walking out their front door.

FULL Episode With Katharina 

Timestamped Chapters

00:00 - The Danger of Sailing: Hitchhiking from Iceland to Newfoundland
05:14 - Svalbard's Eternal Sun and Polar Bear Safety
07:01 - Comparing the Rough Beauty of Iceland vs. Svalbard
08:29 - Call to Adventure: The Simple Power of Walking
10:51 - Season 5 Launch Updates & Patreon Support

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In this highlights episode, we revisit an inspiring conversation with Georgia Barker, who is on a mission to make birdwatching cool again. Georgia takes us back to her unconventional childhood growing up on a goat farm in Essex, complete with goat funerals and walking them on leads. She shares the pivotal moment she realized a standard office job wasn't for her—fearing that a two-week annual holiday was the only thing to look forward to—which spurred a one-way ticket to Australia.

Full Episode with Georgia

From working in rough Outback pubs to terrifying whitewater rafting adventures in Victoria Falls, Georgia recounts the transformative experiences of her travels. She also discusses her "Happiness Project," where she collected definitions of happiness from strangers, and reveals the quiet epiphany she had in a bird hide that changed her perspective on nature and life. Finally, Georgia shares her simple "Call to Adventure" for anyone looking to reconnect with the outdoors.

Timestamped Chapters

00:00 - Growing Up with Goats
02:50 - The Fear of a Two-Week Holiday
04:29 - Working in the Outback
06:52 - Rafting Victoria Falls
08:59 - The Happiness Project
11:31 - Birdwatching Epiphany
12:31 - Call to Adventure

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In this highlight episode of the Adventure Diaries Podcast, we revisit the incredible journey of Ollie Treviso, who walked the entire length of the Andes—from Patagonia to Venezuela.

FULL EPISODE with Ollie

Ollie shares unforgettable moments from his expedition, including sailing across the Atlantic in a dilapidated boat, surviving a terrifying fall into a gorge, and experiencing the vast solitude of the salt flats. He also reflects on the surprising kindness he encountered at dangerous borders and the joy of being joined by locals for the final leg of his walk. The episode wraps up with Ollie’s "Call to Adventure," inspiring listeners to disconnect and experience the outdoors with a wild damp.

Chapters

• 00:00 Sailing the Atlantic
• 01:55 The Fall
• 03:31 Salt Flats
• 05:45 Border Kindness
• 08:12 Walking with People
• 09:15 Call to Adventure
• 09:54 Outro & Patreon Updates

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The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

Join us for the adventure of a lifetime! We are opening up limited spaces for listeners to come along on our upcoming 11-day, 250km human-powered expedition across Uganda this October. This trip involves hiking, cycling, and pack rafting across three national parks, including summiting volcanoes, exploring local lakes, and trekking through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with a chance to spot mountain gorillas.

Timestamped Chapters

• 0:00 Announcement: 11-Day Uganda Adventure
• 0:22  Open Invitation for Listeners
• 0:45 What to Expect: Volcanoes, Lakes & Rainforests
• 1:09 Trip Highlights: Mt. Sabinyo & Gorillas
• 1:28  Finale: Descending the Birira River

Call to Action

Join the Adventure in Uganda

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The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

In this highlights reel from the Adventure Diaries Podcast, we revisit the incredible journey of the Global Convoy team. From their humble beginnings rallying £75 scrap cars across the globe to converting a massive US school bus for a Pan-American expedition, Max, Joel, and Becca share stories of mechanical mayhem, unexpected local hospitality, and the sheer joy of the open road.

Support the Show: Join the new Patreon for exclusive after-shows, extended newsrooms, and meetups at adventurediaries.com/go.

Click here For The Full Episode: 

Chapters

• 00:00 – Origin Story: Exploring the world with a convoy of hitchhikers
• 01:07 – The £75 Cars: Why cheaper vehicles make for better adventures
• 01:46 – Mechanical Mayhem: Breakdowns, repairs, and the beauty of "bangers"
• 03:49 – The Bus Idea: How a campfire conversation turned into a double-decker dream
• 05:27 – Driving a School Bus: Navigating a massive rig on a standard license
• 05:52 – Nicaragua Incident: A chaotic wrong turn involving a fire engine
• 06:46 – Stacey's Mom Legacy: The perfect retirement for their faithful bus
• 07:52 – Kazakhstan Lamb: A terrifying police stop turns into a warm welcome
• 09:04 – Samurai Sword: Accidentally forging katanas while hitchhiking in Japan
• 09:58 – Call to Adventure: Advice for starting your own journey

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The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

In preparation for the Season 5 launch of the Adventure Diaries Podcast, we’re revisiting the most intense and inspiring moments from Chris McCaffery’s global cycling odyssey. From surviving a violent capsize in the North Atlantic to battling life-threatening illness in Vietnam, Chris’s journey is a testament to resilience. This highlights reel also covers the surreal beauty of the Silk Road, unexpected encounters with Eagle Hunters, and a heartwarming display of hospitality in Tajikistan.

CLICK FOR FULL EPISODE 

Key Topics

• The North Atlantic Storm: A terrifying account of capsizing and repairing a broken rudder hundreds of miles from land.
• Battling Illness: Chris’s struggle with severe Typhus and Dengue Fever while solo in Vietnam.
• The Silk Road: Crossing the "no-world" emptiness of Western Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
• Cultural Encounters: Meeting Eagle Hunters in a Range Rover and a surprise birthday party in Tajikistan.
• Call to Adventure: A challenge to listeners to reimagine their local surroundings and find adventure close to home.

Chapters

• [00:00] Introduction
• [00:32] Surviving a North Atlantic Storm
• [03:41] Battling Illness in Vietnam
• [07:49] The Silk Road & Eagle Hunters
• [10:09] Kindness in Tajikistan
• [11:34] A Call to Adventure
• [14:26] Outro & Patreon Launch

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The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

This new channel will feature his own adventures and personal content, fulfilling the "call to adventure" theme of the podcast. It’s a space for authentic, non-performative storytelling that allows him to scratch his creative itch in environments he loves.

Links & Resources

• Chris Watson’s YouTube Channel: AdventureDiaries.com/Watson

Chapters

• 00:00 – Introduction to the new personal YouTube channel
• 00:19 – The "why" behind the channel: Authentic adventures & creative expression
• 00:30 – Invitation to follow the personal side of Chris Watson
• 00:35 – How to subscribe and connect

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The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

In this highlights episode of the Adventure Diaries Podcast, we revisit the most powerful moments from our conversation with wildlife conservationist and author Jonny Hanson.

Full Episode Here

From terrifying encounters with snow leopards and working with dangerous animals in "Tiger King-style" facilities to climbing 20,000-foot peaks in the Himalayas without a guide, Jonny shares incredible stories of survival and exploration. But the true heart of this episode lies in his philosophy of coexistence—bridging the gap between wild carnivores and livestock farming—and his profound "Call to Adventure" that looks inward rather than outward.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Big Cat Encounters: The chilling story of a snow leopard attack that killed 100 livestock in one night.
• A Life of Adventure: How Jonny’s path led him from smuggling Bibles through the Iron Curtain to working with jaguars, tigers, and rhinos.
• Himalayan Expeditions: The humbling experience of researching in Nepal and a near-death experience on a 20,000-foot peak.
• Conflict & Coexistence: The tension between loving wildlife and protecting livelihood, illustrated by "The Fox and the Gander."
• Mental Wellbeing: Why the "mountains of the mind" are the hardest peaks to conquer.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro: Season 4 Highlights
• 00:26 - The Snow Leopard Attack
• 00:54 - Growing Up Between Worlds & Building Bridges
• 01:45 - Working with Dangerous Animals (Tigers, Jaguars, Snakes)
• 02:18 - Discovering the Himalayas
• 03:08 - The Fox and the Gander: A Story of Predation
• 03:41 - Survival on a 20,000ft Peak
• 04:09 - Jonny’s Call to Adventure: The Adventure Within
• 05:14 - Podcast Updates: Season 5 & New Patreon

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In this Highlights Episode, we revisit key moments from Chris's conversation with Tom Turcich, who spent seven years walking around the world with his dog, Savannah. 

FULL EPISODE

Tom shares profound insights on facing the inevitability of death, the freedom it brings, and the life-changing bond he formed with Savannah. From surviving near-death experiences in the desert to finding peace in the realization that "one rich, beautiful life" is enough, this episode captures the essence of his incredible journey.

Chapters
00:00 Facing Fear & Embracing Risk
01:31 Death & Fearlessness
03:19 Antarctica: An Alien World
06:20 Savannah's Near-Death Experience
07:35 Life's Bigger Forces & True Meaning
09:35 The Moment I'd Relive & Call to Adventure

Connect & Support

• http://adventurediaries.com/go

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The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

Join us as we revisit the most thrilling moments from Season 4 of the Adventure Diaries Podcast! In this highlights reel, Albert Weckman takes us through his incredible solo expedition across the Arctic wilderness of Finland. From surviving in -20 degree temperatures with minimal gear to capsizing in freezing rapids, this episode is packed with lessons on resilience and the raw beauty of nature.

Full Episode With Albert Weckman

Chapters:

• 0:00 - Introduction
• 0:27 - Survival Training - Minus 20 Degrees
• 2:29 - Capsizing in the Rapids
• 4:22 - Lake Crossing Challenge
• 4:37 - 40kg Backpack Journey
• 7:22 - Random Encounter with Bosnians
• 8:12 - Call to Adventure

Connect & Support:

• Join our Patreon for exclusive content: AdventureDiaries.com/GO

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In this highlights reel, we revisit Gilbert Moukheiber’s incredible adventures across Lebanon. From the unique ability to ski and swim in the same day to joining shepherds on their transhumance journey, Gilbert showcases a side of the Middle East few get to see. Discover the "Switzerland of the Middle East," explore Roman temples on Mount Hermon, and learn about the deep human connection found in slow tourism.

Link to FULL Episode 

Chapter Markers

00:00 Beyond Tourism - Human Connection
01:00 Four Seasons - Ski & Swim Same Day
01:24 Eternal Snow - Skiing in June
02:01 Winter Expedition - Only in Middle East
03:00 The 400km Trail - Transhumance with Shepherds
04:25 Respecting Shepherd Life - Slow Tourism
05:41 Shepherd Food - Fresh Bread & Mountain Cuisine
07:34 Mount Hermon Tour - Sacred Mountain & Roman Temples
09:03 Call to Adventure
10:07 Outro & Season 5 Updates

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In this adrenaline-packed highlight reel, we revisit the most heart-stopping moments from our conversation with expedition leader Chaz Powell. 

FULL Interview Here:

From trekking the length of the Zambezi River to dodging bandits in Madagascar's lawless zones, Chaz shares the raw reality of walking the wildest rivers in Africa.

Featured Highlights:

• (00:28) Zambezi Survival: Battling 50°C heat, dehydration, and getting trapped in a gorge alone.
• (01:58) Mozambique Kidnapping: A terrifying account of being detained during a civil war.
• (03:28) Elephant Charge: A pulse-pounding close encounter with a charging elephant.
• (04:50) Madagascar Bandits: Playing "cat and mouse" with armed bandits and spotting ominous warnings in the sand.
• (07:26) Call to Adventure: Chaz’s advice on how to find a wild journey right on your doorstep.

🚀 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN PATREON: adventurediaries.com/go

Quote of the Episode:
"I realized I wasn't going to be able to do what I planned... temperatures were nearly 50 degrees Celsius... I ended up having to drink my own urine. It was very surreal." — Chaz Powell

🌍 GET READY FOR SEASON 5: adventurediaries.com/go

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Revisiting Season 4 Highlights: Luisa Hendry aka the Scottish Geologist

Full Episode Link 

Join us for this highlight reel from Season 4 Episode 3 featuring Louisa Hendry, aka the Scottish Geologist, as she takes us on a fascinating journey through Scotland's geological history. From volcanic eruptions to ancient mountain chains, discover how Scotland's dramatic landscapes were formed over millions of years.

Louisa Hendry is a geologist, science communicator, and social media creator known as @thescottishgeologist. Originally from Largs, Scotland, Louisa turned her passion for rocks into a thriving online presence, making geology accessible and entertaining for thousands of followers. She specializes in metamorphic and igneous rocks and is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of geologists.

Key Topics Covered

• How Louisa became a geologist: From collecting rocks on the beach as a child to discovering her passion through geography class
• Scotland's unique geology: Why Scotland is a geological paradise with diverse rock types within just 500 miles
• Why Scotland is a geological paradise with diverse rock types within just 500 miles
• The Highland Boundary Fault & The ancient fault line that separates the Highlands from the Lowlands
• Volcanic history & Scotland's explosive past and evidence of ancient volcanoes
• Plate tectonics & how Scotland was once joined to North America and sat near the South Pole
• Types of rocks & understanding metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary rocks (and why Louisa has a least favorite!)
• Mountain formation &  How the Scottish Highlands were created through tectonic forces
• Modern volcanism & Understanding different types of volcanic eruptions and how they're monitored
• Granite formation &  The science behind one of Scotland's most iconic rocks
• Science communication & How Louisa uses social media to make geology accessible and exciting

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FULL EPISODE LINKS:  Part 1  &  Part 2

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As we prepare for the launch of the Adventure Diaries Podcast, Season Five, we revisit highlights from Season Four. This episode focuses on Paul Harris, aka The Warrior Walker. Despite a tough upbringing and losing friends, Paul walks extensively—equivalent to the distance from London to Sydney—finding solace and purpose in his treks. He shares gripping stories from his time in Afghanistan, his struggles with mental health, and how walking became a tool for recovery. Paul's journey, filled with danger and introspection, underlines the healing power of putting one foot in front of the other. Don't miss his full episode for a deeper dive.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Season Four Highlights
00:31 Paul Harris: The Warrior Walker's Journey
00:43 Overcoming Personal Struggles
02:06 Facing Danger in Afghanistan
03:30 Returning Home and Struggling with Identity
05:17 Finding Solace in Walking
06:34 The Power of Human Connection
07:19 Reflections and Advice on Walking
08:25 Conclusion and Next Week's Preview

Look out for next week's highlights from Louisa Hendry, AKA, the Scottish geologist. Please leave a rating and review to help the show reach a wider audience. Thank you!

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In this special mini-episode, host Chris shares an exciting opportunity for Adventure Diaries listeners! As we gear up for the launch of Season 5 in February 2026, we’re producing a brand new podcast trailer—and we want your voice to be part of it.

If you’re a regular listener or a fan of the show, you can submit a sound bite to be featured alongside our amazing guests. Simply click the link in the show notes or visit adventurediaries.com/trailer to share your thoughts and help shape the next chapter of Adventure Diaries.

Don’t miss your chance to get involved and be heard in our upcoming trailer. We can’t wait to feature your stories and celebrate the Adventure Diaries community!

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Megan Hine Highlights Reel – Show Notes
Introduction

• The Adventure Diaries Podcast revisits season four highlights as a lead-up to season five.
• This episode features memorable moments and lessons from survival expert Megan Hine.

Megan’s Adventure Story

• Megan recounts a tense experience building a rope bridge in a remote gorge, unexpectedly caught in crossfire between local tribes and rangers.
• She describes the chaos, quick thinking, and eventual escape to safety, emphasizing the unpredictability of adventure.

Survival Tips & Mindset

• Megan explains the “Rule of Threes” for survival: 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food.
• She adds her own: 3 months without company (for mental health) and 3 seconds without thinking (the importance of staying alert).
• Introduces the STOP acronym: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan—useful for both wilderness and everyday life to avoid panic and make rational decisions.

Adventure Mishaps

• Megan shares a story about returning from Borneo with a parasite in her foot, and the creative (if gross) method she used to remove it.

Call to Adventure

• Listeners are encouraged to stop procrastinating and step out their front door—adventure can be found anywhere, even in city green spaces or by joining a local climbing wall.
• The key message: Don’t let dreams stay dreams—take action!

Outro & Links

• Enjoyed the highlights? Listen to the full Megan Hine interview for more insights.
• Stay tuned for next week’s highlight episode featuring Paul Harris, the Warrior Walker.
• Find Adventure Diaries Podcast on YouTube: adventurediaries.com/youtube

Let me know if you’d like these notes in a different format, or if you want a shorter summary or bullet points!

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Adventure Diaries Podcast: Quick Update

Welcome to a special solo episode of the Adventure Diaries Podcast! In this update, your host reflects on two incredible years of the show, shares recent milestones, and gives a sneak peek at what’s coming next.

Highlights:

• The podcast just turned two years old! Over 60 amazing guests have shared their stories and adventures.
• The show was nominated for two awards and recently won the People’s Choice Award for Best Outdoor Podcast.
• As promised, for every vote received for the award, a donation was made to Blue Cross for animals in need.
• Season 4 has wrapped up, featuring 15 inspiring guests. Highlights and best moments from this season will be replayed in upcoming mini-episodes.
• A short break is planned before Season 5, which is already shaping up to be the best yet, with exciting guests and interviews lined up.
• The Adventure Diaries Map Project is launching soon—an immersive storytelling series with hand-illustrated maps and soundscapes. Beta testers worldwide will receive their copies before Christmas.
• Starting in 2026, expect an additional weekly solo episode from the host, offering short, punchy insights and stories. The release day is still being decided—listeners are invited to share their preferences!
• Thank you  to all listeners, guests, and supporters for making the show a success.
• Final ask: If you enjoy the podcast, please follow, subscribe, and leave a rating or review on your favorite platform to help keep the adventure going!

Contact:
Have feedback or suggestions? Email contact@adventurediaries.com

Thank you for listening and supporting Adventure Diaries. Stay tuned for more inspiration and adventure in 2026!

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Katharina Kneip is two and a half years into a human-powered and wind-powered northern loop of the Earth — walking, skiing and hitchhiking on sailboats across some of the most remote regions on the planet. In this conversation, she speaks from Nova Scotia while continuing her multi-year art project Round Motion, a slow, honest look at how people live on the edge of wild landscapes. Her story stretches from Germany to Arctic Norway, Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, Newfoundland and now mainland Canada — shaped by weather, chance encounters and the generosity of strangers. 

What You’ll Learn

• How Round Motion blends long-form travel with contemporary art.
• Life in the High North: polar night, sea ice, winter tenting and borderlands.
• The realities of sailing early-season sea ice, storms and remote crossings.
• How landscapes, politics and people shape the way she thinks about culture and nature.
• Why this journey has no fixed story, no race and no heroics — just honest field experience.

Guest Bio (short)

Katharina Kneipp is a German artist walking, skiing and sailing a northern loop around the Earth as part of her ongoing project Round Motion. Her work focuses on slowness, field experience, borderlands, and how people live with weather, terrain and history. 

Resources

• Katharina’s project: Round Motion
• Newsletter: KONTAKT - ROUND:MOTION

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Overview

In this short update, Chris shares exciting news from the Adventure Diaries Map Project — an immersive, story-driven map experience designed to bring the spirit of exploration into your hands. After months of fine-tuning and a few expected production tweaks, the first full prototype has arrived, ready to be shipped to beta testers across the world.

This isn’t just a map. It’s an experiment in slow storytelling — a physical artefact that captures the wonder of exploration, the pull of curiosity, and the joy of discovery. Chris explains how listeners can still join the final beta testing round, receive a free prototype, and help shape the finished Adventure Map before its official release.

What You’ll Learn

• 🗺️ How the Adventure Diaries Map Project blends storytelling with geography.
• 📦 Why physical storytelling creates deeper connection than digital screens.
• 🌍 How global beta testers are shaping the project’s final version.
• 🧭 How to join the final testing round and contribute feedback.
• 💌 The importance of gratitude and community in creative work.

Guest Bio

Host: Chris Watson
Chris is the host and creator of Adventure Diaries, a podcast that documents stories of wild places, slow travel, and human connection to the natural world. Through both field recording and narrative craft, he’s now expanding that storytelling into the tactile world through The Adventure Diaries Map Project — a physical, story-driven map designed to be explored and experienced.

Resources

• Sign up for the beta list → adventurediaries.com/yes
  
  

Subscribe to the podcast → Adventure Diaries on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.

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This week, Chris sits down with Georgia Barker, the voice and lens behind Nature with Georgia. From growing up on a goat farm in Essex to rafting below Victoria Falls and rediscovering the beauty of UK wildlife, Georgia’s story proves that adventure is often right outside your door.

She’s built a fast-growing community of bird lovers and everyday nature enthusiasts by sharing her honest learning journey — proof that you don’t need to be an expert to inspire others. Georgia’s mission is simple: to make birdwatching cool again and show that the wild is never far away.

What You’ll Learn

🕊️ How Georgia fell in love with birdwatching during a random day out at an RSPB reserve
 📸 Why photography helped her slow down and reconnect with nature
 🌍 What seven years of solo travel taught her about happiness and purpose
 💡 The importance of accessibility and community in conservation
 🎙️ How she’s using storytelling to change perceptions of British wildlife

Guest Bio

Georgia Barker is a wildlife photographer and creator from Essex, UK. Through her platform Nature with Georgia, she documents her journey into birdwatching and outdoor storytelling, encouraging people to reconnect with their local environment. She’s passionate about community nature walks, ethical photography, and making the outdoors welcoming for everyone.

Follow her work here:
 📸 Instagram → @naturewithgeorgia

 🎥 YouTube → Nature With Georgia

 🌍 Website → www.naturewithgeorgia.co.uk

Resources Mentioned

• RSPB – Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
• Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
• Victoria Falls, Zambia & Zimbabwe

Closing CTA

🎧 Watch & listen on all major platforms.
 Subscribe to Adventure Diaries for weekly conversations about exploration, conservation, and what drives people to seek the wild — near or far.

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Overview

From a Swansea estate to the peaks of Patagonia, Ollie Treviso became the first person to walk the entire length of the Andes — 14,000 kilometres across seven countries, taking 20 months of near-continuous motion. His story isn’t about records or ego, but about endurance, kindness, and rediscovering humanity step by step.

In this episode, Ollie speaks openly about losing direction in his twenties, leaving behind a job in insurance, and how walking became his therapy. He reflects on the extremes of the Andes — from the Salar de Uyuni’s white infinity to the Venezuelan jungle — and the strangers who saved him time and again. Through fractured bones, altitude sickness, and moments of despair, he found that the world is still full of good people and that adventure, at its heart, is about carrying on when no one is watching.

Chris and Ollie talk about how walking can heal mental health, the beauty of simplicity, and what modern life has lost in the rush for comfort. It’s an episode about grit, humility, and gratitude — a reminder that you don’t need to be special to do something extraordinary.

What You’ll Learn

• 💡 How a lost young man from Swansea became a global adventurer.
• 🧭 The unseen kindness and generosity of South America’s rural communities.
• 🗣️ Lessons in endurance, patience, and humility from 14,000km on foot.
• 🌍 Why walking can be a powerful tool for mental health and reflection.
• 🔥 How simplicity and gratitude can rebuild connection and purpose.

Resources

• Follow Ollie’s future projects: coming soon via Adventure Diaries updates.
• The BloomSpace Foundation— mental health charity supported by Ollie.
• Books mentioned: Endurance (Shackleton), Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know (Fiennes), Shantaram (Gregory David Roberts).
• Watch the Andes visual diaries on Adventure Diaries YouTube.

🎙️ If Ollie’s story moved you, Follow the show here
.
Each listen, rating, and share helps Adventure Diaries continue bringing real stories of endurance, kindness, and wild places to life.

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What happens when you try to drive the world in £75 cars and a big yellow school bus? 

In this episode of The Adventure Diaries, Chris Watson is joined by Global Convoy founders Max White, Joel & Becca — the adventurous trio who turned a summer road trip idea into a worldwide overlanding community.

From rusty £75 bangers on Gumtree to a Pan-American Highway expedition in a converted US school bus, this episode dives into the chaos, charm, and community of traveling the world on a shoestring.

You’ll hear:
 ✨ The origin story of Global Convoy — how strangers became a family on the road.
 ✨ Why cheap cars = the best adventures.
 ✨  Mishaps, breakdowns & roadside repairs across Russia, Central Asia, and the Americas.
 ✨ Stories of kindness from locals in Uzbekistan, Japan, and South America.
 ✨  The epic Pan-American road trip in a big yellow school bus.
 ✨ How Global Convoy turned into a movement — and how you can join.

This isn’t just a travel story. It’s an adventure about community, resilience, and discovering magic in the unexpected.

🔗 Links & Resources

🌍 Follow Global Convoy
Website: globalconvoy.com
Instagram: @globalconvoy
YouTube: Global Convoy

 #GlobalConvoyPodcast #OverlandingAdventures #PanAmericanHighwayRoadTrip #CheapCarAdventureTravel #75CarChallenge #OverlandingCommunityStories #AdventureTravelPodcast #DrivingAroundTheWorldStories #SchoolBusConversionPanAmerican #HitchhikingAndOverlandingExperiences 

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Fitz Cahall—founder of The Dirtbag Diaries and co-founder of Duct Tape Then Beer—joins me to trace a life built around curiosity, craft, and the wild. We get into the nomadic childhood that pushed him outdoors, the dog-mauling that forged resilience, discovering climbing in Seattle, and the early podcasting leap that turned unsold magazine stories into a movement. We talk States of Adventure (DK), how to choose stories that reflect a lifetime outdoors, making inclusive adventure culture, and the 50-day Sierra traverse with Becca that reset his compass. We also explore creative stamina, running a mission-driven studio, and building family identity through shared time outside—plus Alex Honnold, Climbing Gold, and where audio can still surprise us.

What you’ll learn

• How childhood instability became a foundation for autonomy, authenticity, and adventure
• The moment podcasting “clicked” and scaled from 30 friends to thousands overnight
• Anatomy of States of Adventure: selecting 30 stories that mirror a life lived outside
• Why inclusive, everyday adventures expand the ecosystem (burro racing, rollerblading Iowa, etc.)
• Sustaining creative passion for 18 years without burning out
• Designing a family life that keeps mountains and forests in the calendar

Memorable threads

• The power of medium choice: audio stories at the length they need
• Craft over clout: playful branding as a filter for the right partners
• Lessons from a stormy, illness-riddled, unforgettable Sierra crossing
• Curiosity as a daily practice—for interviews, parenting, and purposeful work

Resources & links mentioned

• The Dirtbag Diaries — https://www.dirtbagdiaries.com
• Duct Tape Then Beer — https://www.ducttapethenbeer.com
• States of Adventure (DK) — https://www.dk.com
• National Geographic — https://www.nationalgeographic.com
• This American Life — https://www.thisamericanlife.org
• Climbing Gold (with Alex Honnold) — https://www.climbinggold.com
• Alex Honnold — https://www.alexhonnold.com
• Grand Canyon (NPS) — https://www.nps.gov/grca
• Yosemite (NPS) — https://www.nps.gov/yose
• RAGBRAI (Iowa cross-state ride) — https://www.ragbrai.com
• Pack Burro Racing — https://www.packburroracing.org
  Episode takeaway

Adventure—as practice and culture—builds resilient creativity, community, and meaning when we protect curiosity and time outside.

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Do you love maps, exploration, adventure, travel, and stories of the natural world? Maybe you’ve got a shelf full of National Geographic, or you find yourself daydreaming about places you’ve never been.

If so, I’ve got something special just for you.

I’m testing a brand-new Adventure Diaries project – and before anyone else gets to see it, I’m inviting listeners like you to help shape it. Here’s the deal:

✨ I’ll mail you 2–3 physical prototypes of this project completely free.
📍 All I ask in return is your honest feedback – what excites you, what could be better, what captures your imagination.

These aren’t digital downloads. They’re tactile, feature-rich, immersive items designed to capture the spirit of adventure, history, exploration, and storytelling.

If you’ve been enjoying the podcast – the stories, the guests, the wild places we explore – this is your chance to be part of something new from the very beginning.

👉 Visit adventurediaries.com/yes
to join the tester list.
It’s free, spots are open, and I’d love your help to refine and launch this project.

Thanks so much for supporting Adventure Diaries – I can’t wait to share this with you.

Call to Action

🔗 Join the tester list now: adventurediaries.com/yes

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In todays episode i sit down with Jeff Jenkins — creator of Chubby Diaries and host of Nat Geo’s Never Say Never. Inclusion in adventure. Owning your story. Building a mission-first business that opens doors for plus-size travelers.

 Jeff grew up in Orlando, found purpose building low-cost wells in Rwanda, and—after a life-check moment—committed to “travel the world, help people, and get paid.” He turned Chubby Diaries into a real company (S-Corp), consults across the travel industry, and fronted a National Geographic series by doing the simplest, hardest thing: being himself on camera. We dig into practical access for plus-size travelers (wetsuits, chairs, seats, hills and trams), brand storytelling, and why “live life now” beats waiting for permission.

• Candid, practical guidance for plus-size travelers who want to start today
• Behind the scenes of landing a Nat Geo show—and keeping it authentic
• A playbook for turning a niche into impact, community, and revenue

Highlights

• From choir teacher to creator: the pivot that followed personal loss
• Rwanda wells: proof that mission + action builds confidence fast
• Consulting travel brands: speak the language of outcomes and revenue
• Accessibility wins: seating, spaces, gear, and inclusive marketing moving mainstream
• “Your pace still gets the view”: adventure without comparison
• Creativity with guardrails: protecting the brand while you grow a team
• Next big dream: Antarctica (seven continents, here we come)

Call to Adventure
You don’t need permission. Start local, choose your pace, and go anyway. The view’s still yours.

Resources & Links

• Chubby Diaries — Live Life Now: https://chubbydiaries.com/
  
  CHUBBY DIARIES - LIVE LIFE NOW
• Jeff’s show Never Say Never: https://chubbydiaries.com/never-say-never/
  
  CHUBBY DIARIES - LIVE LIFE NOW
• Trailer (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHisUWlH4VU
  
  YouTube
• Florida A&M University (FAMU): https://www.famu.edu/
  
  famu.edu
• East Africa Energy Solutions (biodigesters in Uganda): https://www.eastafricaenergysolutions.org/
  
  EAES
• Jeff on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chubbydiaries/
  
  Instagram

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Today on Adventure Diaries I sit down with Chris McCaffrey — better known as @chrisinthecold — an adventurer who has tested himself on some of the toughest human powered challenges imaginable. From sailing as a teenager to attempting an unprepared row across the North Atlantic, to cycling 16 months across 21 countries, Chris has a knack for throwing himself into the unknown and coming back with stories of resilience, awe, and human connection.

In this conversation, Chris shares what it’s like to face hurricanes at sea, capsizes, rescues by oil tankers, and the daily grind of pushing a bike across continents. His global cycle took him from Europe through the Silk Road, into the Pamirs, across Southeast Asia, and beyond. Along the way he battled illness, typhus, road collisions, and moments of collapse — yet also found kindness in strangers, moments of stillness in vast landscapes, and the perspective that comes from living on the edge of your limits.

We cover the highs, lows, and the lessons that come with chasing audacious dreams. Chris reflects on fear, risk, and the difference between physical endurance and mental endurance. There are stories of six-foot monitor lizards in the road, collapsing in a Thai guesthouse, being taken in by strangers with no common language, and the stark beauty of cycling across the Pamir Mountains.

Most of all, this is a story about why people step into the unknown, and what they learn about themselves when they do.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How Chris attempted to row the North Atlantic without rowing experience.
• The realities of long-distance cycle expeditions across 21 countries.
• Surviving hurricanes, capsize, illness, and isolation.
• The role of human kindness and connection in endurance adventures.
• Reflections on risk, fear, and pushing beyond personal limits.

Resources & Links Mentioned

• Follow Chris on Instagram: @chrisinthecold
• Adventure Diaries on Instagram: @AdventureDiaries__
• Follow the show: Adventure Diaries Podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, and don’t forget to 'Follow' the show. Every follow helps us bring more authentic stories of adventure, exploration, and the natural world.

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In this thought-provoking episode of Adventure Diaries, I’m joined by conservationist, academic, and author Jonny Hanson to explore one of the most complex and emotional topics in modern conservation: how humans and apex predators can share the land.

Jonny is the author of Living with Lynx: Sharing Landscape with Big Cats, Wolves and Bears, a compelling blend of field research, personal story, and social insight. From the mountains of Malawi to the peaks of Nepal, and from Scottish farmlands to the Snow Leopard Conservancy, Jonny has spent his life navigating the thin line between wild nature and domestic life.

We go deep on the ecological, emotional, and political dimensions of rewilding. What does it really mean to reintroduce predators like lynx and wolves to Britain and Ireland? What do they offer our ecosystems—and at what cost to farmers and communities?

Jonny speaks candidly about his own conflicted identity as both a farmer and a conservationist, the damage done by illegal predator releases in Scotland, and the urgent need to build long-term trust and governance if we’re to truly live with wild nature once again.

This episode is a journey into big landscapes, difficult questions, and the wild edges of our own imagination.

🔍 What You’ll Learn

• Why apex predators matter—and what they do that humans can’t replicate
• The surprising story behind illegal lynx releases in Scotland
• How rewilding taps into both our deepest fears and wildest hopes
• Lessons from Malawi, the Himalayas, and Swiss lynx coexistence projects
• Why conflict over predators is often really conflict between people

🌍 Resources & Mentions

• 📘 Living with Lynx by Jonny Hanson
  https://www.jonnyhanson.com
• 🐆 Snow Leopard Conservancy
   https://snowleopardconservancy.org
• 🎞️ Snow Leopard Trail – Jonny’s new documentary (screenings in 2025)
  Teaser: https://www.jonnyhanson.com
• 📚 Feral by George Monbiot – rewilding inspiration
  https://www.monbiot.com/2013/05/27/feral/
• 🎥 Gordon Buchanan – wildlife filmmaker (referenced story: grizzly bear in Scotland)

🧭 Whether you're a farmer, naturalist, or nature-curious listener, this one will challenge your views and expand your sense of what wild really means.

🎙️ Please make sure to click the 'Follow' the show – It helps more than you know.

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What happens when you stop chasing life... and start walking through it—one step at a time?

In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, I sit down with Tom Turcich, the tenth person ever to walk around the world—and the first to do it with a dog. Over the course of seven years, six continents, and nearly 30,000 kilometers, Tom and his rescue pup Savannah navigated deserts, war zones, snowfields, mountains, and megacities. But what they really explored was the human condition—mortality, solitude, fear, love, and how to find peace in just existing.

What began as a response to the sudden death of a close friend transformed into a global odyssey—one that asked more questions than it answered. We talk about:

• The real reason he chose to walk the world
• What fear actually feels like in the middle of Central America
• Training Savannah into the perfect walking companion
• Living through exhaustion, sickness, and uncertainty—and what it teaches you
• Why photography became his gateway to connection
• Letting go of social media, letting go of ego, and letting life just be
• What he thinks about adventure now, in his post-walk life

From the wilds of the Atacama to the stillness of Antarctica, from dusty roads to TEDx stages, this is a reflection on what it means to live intentionally, with humility and grace.

If you’ve ever questioned your path—or wondered what lies on the other side of fear—this one is for you.

🔗 Resources & Mentions

• 📖 The World Walk by Tom Turcich – Buy it here
• 🐶 Savannah, the dog who walked the world – @theworldwalk
• 📹 Tom’s TEDx Talk – Watch on YouTube
• 
  

✨ Key Themes

Adventure & Fear – Walking into the unknown with no backup plan
Solitude & Resilience – What it means to be your own best company
The Bond with Savannah – How a dog can become your home
Slow Travel & Privilege – Seeing the world at human pace
Letting Go – Of productivity, ambition, and becoming “more”

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What drives someone to venture deep into Arctic Finland—alone, for a month—armed with just a packraft, backpack, and wilderness grit?

In this episode, I sit down with Finnish adventurer and political scientist Albert Weckman—also known for his YouTube and Instagram project Wilderness Bastards—to unpack his epic 300km solo expedition through the wild heart of Finnish Lapland.

We cover Albert’s early connection to Finland’s vast archipelagos and forests, his formal survival training in harsh Arctic conditions, and the mindset shifts required for long solo adventures.

Albert shares the highs and lows of his month-long trek through four remote regions:

• The Vatsari Wilderness, Finland’s wildest terrain bordering Russia and Norway
• The daunting Lake Inari, Finland’s third-largest lake, known for brutal winds
• The swampy and mountainous Hammastunturi Wilderness
• The tranquil Lemmenjoki National Park, where his journey concludes

We dive into the unexpected moments—like a chance meeting with Bosnian fishermen who offered him beer and a Snickers—and explore deeper themes: mental resilience, the myth of needing expensive gear, and how solitude in the wild transforms your perspective.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be totally alone in the Arctic, this episode delivers.

What You’ll Learn:

• How growing up in Finland’s archipelago shaped Albert’s adventurous mindset
• The brutal reality of survival training in minus 20°C with no food or shelter
• Why planning safety in remote solo expeditions is absolutely non-negotiable
• Packrafting lessons from crossing Lake Inari with 40kg of gear
• How adventure isn't about fancy equipment—but simple, deliberate experiences

Resources & Mentions:

• Wilderness Bastards (Instagram & YouTube): Instagram | YouTube
• A Life on Our Planet by David Attenborough
• BioSur Foundation, Costa Rica (Rainforest Conservation): Website
• Lake Inari: More Info
• Lemmenjoki National Park: More Info

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What if your next adventure wasn’t just a hike—but a journey into ancient traditions, mountain culture, and deep human connection?

In this episode, I sit down with Gilbert Moukheiber—Lebanese adventurer, wilderness guide, and founder of 33 North—to explore one of the world’s most unexpected adventure destinations: Lebanon.

From snow-covered peaks to ancient shepherd migration routes, Gilbert reveals how Lebanon’s dramatic geography lets you ski in the morning and swim in the Mediterranean by afternoon.

We dive into the Boukaat Loubnan Trails, a 400km network winding through forgotten Roman temples, Phoenician trade routes, and remote shepherd communities. But this is far more than a trek—it’s a cultural expedition where you walk alongside shepherds, share their meals, and even help tend their goats.

Gilbert also shares his vision for sustainable, community-driven tourism through his Wilderness and Adventure Academy, which trains guides and outdoor lovers in safe, respectful adventure practices—protecting both nature and heritage.

What You’ll Learn:

• How human-powered adventure helps preserve Lebanon’s culture and landscapes
• The magic of transhumance: shepherds’ seasonal migrations through the mountains
• Why Lebanon remains an underrated but world-class adventure destination
• How adventure tourism uplifts and sustains remote mountain communities
• Practical ways to explore Lebanon responsibly, beyond mass tourism

Expect campfire stories, fresh-baked bread, and unforgettable moments of connection—this one is a true hidden gem.

Please Check Out

Boukaat Loubnan Trails | 33North

https://www.instagram.com/33northleb/

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In this raw and riveting episode of Adventure Diaries, I’m joined by expedition leader Chaz Powell—a man who walked into some of the most extreme wildernesses on Earth and returned with stories of survival, connection, and purpose. From dehydration in Zambia’s 50°C heat to being kidnapped in Mozambique, Chaz’s journey isn’t just about distance—it’s about transformation.

We cover his treks along Africa’s wildest rivers—the Zambezi, Gambia, and Mangoky—where he faced wild animals, dodged bandits, and survived by intuition, diplomacy, and grit. But this isn’t just a story about adventure. It’s about how walking saved his life, pulled him out of a troubled past, and became his way of giving back—to people, to rivers, and to the wild.

You’ll also hear about his off-grid plans in Scotland, reflections on fatherhood, bushcraft, and how a simple walk along the River Tay became a form of healing and tribute after losing his dad.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

IDEAS – How adventure can become a personal and societal turning point.
INSIGHTS – What wild rivers teach us about life, growth, and human endurance.
QUOTES – “Walking saved me. I’d just go—bag on back—and keep moving forward.”
FACTS – The Zambezi River trek covered 3,000km over 137 days in 50°C heat.
RECOMMENDATIONS – Walk your local river from source to sea. See what it teaches you.

🔗 Resources & Mentions

• The Wildest Journey – Chaz Powell’s website
• Chaz Powell on Instagram
• African Wildlife Foundation
• Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer – book inspiration
• Sidetracked Magazine – Chaz’s Madagascar article

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Louisa Hendry, aka The Scottish Geologist, joins me for a raw, funny, and unexpectedly mind-expanding chat about rocks, identity, tectonic plates, Instagram fame, and the untold beauty of Scotland’s ancient landscapes.

From her early days smashing stones on the beach in Largs to running geology tours across the Highlands, Louisa’s story is a brilliant mix of passion, science, humour, and community. We get into everything from the geology of Loch Lomond, granite vs. magma, ancient oceans, volcanoes, climate change, and how she’s built a wildly successful brand by being unapologetically herself.

Whether you think geology is dry or exciting..., this episode will open your eyes to the rocks beneath your feet—and make you think differently about stories they hold.

🎥🎙️ Watch & Listen Here

What You’ll Learn:

IDEAS

• How Scotland’s rocks tell a billion-year-old story
• Why volcanic eruptions and climate shifts go hand in hand
• How geology helps explain the tech in your pocket
• What Mount Everest’s summit reveals about the ancient ocean
• The unexpected connection between social media, geology, and dogs

INSIGHTS

• You don’t need a polished accent to educate and inspire
• Geological time reframes how we view climate, resilience, and human impact
• The best way to spark curiosity is to lead with honesty and humour

QUOTES

"You could walk your dog across 3-billion-year-old rocks and never know it."
 "Geology’s not just rocks. It’s climate, tech, history—it’s everything."
 "I’m just being me, talking about rocks. Turns out, people love that."

Episode Takeaway

Scotland’s landscapes aren’t just beautiful—they’re alive with stories, and Louisa is the guide we didn’t know we needed.

Resources & Mentions

• 🌍 Scott Rock Walks – Louisa’s geology tour company
• 📱 @ScottishGeologist on Instagram

🎙️ Follow the show here to catch all episodes exploring the natural world, adventure, and human potential.

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In this emotional and unfiltered episode of Adventure Diaries, we welcome back Paul Harris, aka The Warrior Walker, for Part Two of his astonishing journey: walking over 20,000 kilometers around the UK—twice. From sleeping in graveyards and castles to withstanding minus 16°C winters alone in the Highlands, Paul opens up about solitude, near-death moments, mental health, kindness from strangers, and the aftershock of completing an adventure of this scale.

🦌 Ever been stared down by a wild stag while sleeping under the stars?

🥾 What does walking 135km on 90 minutes of sleep really do to your body and mind?

💬 Why did people across the UK start calling Paul a brother, son, and friend—without ever knowing him?

In this conversation, we go deep into:

What You’ll Learn

IDEAS
• How a solo walk turned into a national movement of kindness and reconnection.
• Why adventure isn’t about the destination—it’s the coffee stops, the hugs, and the small talk.
• The reality of post-expedition burnout and how to find purpose again.

INSIGHTS
• You don’t need a plan, you need to start.
• Community isn’t built on followers—it’s built on honest moments.
• Letting go of baggage—literal and emotional—is freedom.

QUOTES

“The more you walk, the more you talk, the less you carry.”“One day, I won’t be able to hug these people or drink that coffee—so I just start walking.”

Resources & Mentions

• 📚 Book coming Autumn 2025 – Stay tuned!
• 💪 Rock to Recovery – Veteran mental health support
• 🌍 Doctors Without Borders – Global medical humanitarian aid
• 🧭 Follow Paul: https://www.instagram.com/thewarriorwalker
• 🗺️ Try the Local Adventure Tool (by Chris): Hiking Routes - Adventure Diaries

Episode Takeaway

Hardship doesn’t define us—how we share it does. Start walking. Start talking. And don’t carry it alone.

🎙️ Watch & Listen Here or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Today on Adventure Diaries, we welcome Nina Helen Watson—a bright, inquisitive young explorer who turned a school assignment into a beautifully told podcast on one of the world’s greatest rivers: the Amazon.

At almost ten years old, Nina guides us through the source of the Amazon near Mount Quehuisha in Peru, its astonishing biodiversity, and a few facts you may not believe—like how it once flowed in the opposite direction. She talks jaguars and giant otters, pink river dolphins and capybaras (her personal favorite), all while threading it together with the clarity and confidence of someone twice her age.

What starts as a geography lesson quickly unfolds into something bigger: a celebration of curiosity, family support, storytelling, and the way learning can become magical when it’s shared.

We talk about:

• Where the Amazon River really begins—and how close it is to the Pacific
• The complex ecosystems that sustain some of Earth’s rarest wildlife
• How the river flows through nine countries and multiple indigenous cultures
• Nina’s personal favorites: from capybaras to rain-soaked camping trips
• Why local river cleanups matter—and how you can take part

Her ‘Call to Adventure’ is a gentle one: go camping, reconnect with nature, and bring good snacks. And her ‘Pay it Forward’ is equally grounded—help clean up a local river and notice what grows around it.

This episode is packed with joy, insight, and the reminder that wonder doesn’t need to be complicated. Sometimes, it sounds like a capybara pencil case and a story well told.

📚 Resources & Mentions

• 📍 Apacheta Valley & Mount Quehuisha, Peru – Source of the Amazon
• 🐬 Pink River Dolphin – A unique Amazonian species
• 🐊 Black Caiman – Apex predator of the Amazon
• 🐒 Capybara – The world’s largest rodent
• 🐍 Green Anaconda – One of the world’s biggest snakes
• 🧭 Francisco de Orellana – Spanish explorer who named the river
• 🌿 Indigenous river names like Riomar Tama
• 📖 Dork Diaries – Nina’s favourite book
• 🎬 The Lion King – Her favourite film
• 🌍 Local River Cleanup – Nina’s Pay it Forward suggestion
• 🏕️ Go Camping – Her Call to Adventure

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating, share it with a curious soul, or ask a young person what they love about nature. You might be surprised by the answer.

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Paul Harris: The Warrior Walker joins me for an unforgettable two-part conversation that begins in trauma and ends in transformation. A man who’s walked over 24,000 miles around the UK coastline—twice—Paul wasn’t chasing a record. He was trying to survive.

From his early years as a shy, lost kid to becoming a Royal Marine, then a private security contractor in Kabul, Paul’s life has veered from extreme danger to deep reflection. He’s witnessed war, grief, and collapse. But it was a moment of breakdown back home, in the wake of losing a dream life in Thailand, that led to a message from a friend: “You should walk around the UK and write a book about it.” Paul did more than that. With no plan, no tent, and just £300, he started walking. And never stopped.

In this episode, we go deep into:

• Walking as a tool for mental recovery and reconnection
• Life in Afghanistan: the beauty, the trauma, and the wild stories
• How teaching kids in Thailand gave him more peace than war zones
• The power of vulnerability and why Instagram became his support network
• Finding purpose through simplicity, grief, and cold nights under the stars

Whether he was being watched by a wild stag in the middle of the night, dodging Taliban checkpoints, or sipping overpriced espresso in Kabul’s “Secret Garden” café—Paul’s story is one of radical honesty, resilience, and the healing magic of walking forward, one step at a time.

Resources & References Mentioned
  📷 The Warrior Walker on Instagram
 
🌟 What You’ll Learn
IDEAS: How walking becomes a metaphor for rebuilding a broken life
INSIGHTS: Grief can be fuel. Walking can be a spiritual act.
QUOTES: “Be careful what you say to yourself. The warrior within you is listening.”
FACTS: Paul walked more than the circumference of the Earth—twice.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Don’t wait. Just take the first step. 

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What does it take to survive the extremes—not just of the wild, nature, but of pressure, fatigue, and the unpredictable?

In this episode, I sit down with Megan Hine, one of the most trusted survival consultants, expedition leaders, and adventure safety producers on the planet. 

From guiding A-list celebrities across jungle gorges and desert canyons to building trust with tribes, cartels, and government fixers in far-flung corners of the world—Megan’s story is a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and reading the wild.

We dig into Megan's roots—from muddy childhoods in Snowdonia to cycling the Malvern Hills, her ADHD diagnosis, and how early outdoor exposure lit a lifelong fire. She shares behind-the-scenes stories from Man vs. Wild, talks about the psychology of rigging fake-peril challenges, and explains how STOP and the Survival Rule of 3 can help you avoid panic and poor decisions in the wild—or modern life.

There’s grit, humour, and wisdom throughout this one. Whether you're leading a team or just need a push to step outdoors, Megan's stories might change how you view risk, trust, and what it means to truly be alive.

🎥🎙️ Watch Here

👉 YouTube
 

What You’ll Learn

🧠 IDEAS
• Why perception of risk often matters more than the actual danger
• How wilderness lessons apply to leadership, TV, and life
• The role of empathy and autonomy in high-stress team dynamics

🪖 INSIGHTS
• “Luck opens the door, but graft keeps it open.”
• Good fixers are the unsung heroes of global adventure filmmaking
• Burnout isn’t just physical—it’s emotional backlog catching up once the mission ends

📚 REFERENCES
• Land of the Long White Cloud (book): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39345619
• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
• Cliffhanger (film)
• STOP Framework: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan
• UK Scouting: https://www.scouts.org.uk
• PSYCH Media Solutions (Megan's company): https://www.psychmediasolutions.com
• Megan Hine Instagram: @megan_hine

🌍 FACTS
• Megan once lowered a Jeep Wrangler on a single rope
• She’s led safety for shows involving 400+ crew in remote terrain
• Lyme disease, caught in the UK, changed her approach to adventure health

🎒 Episode Takeaway

You don’t need a passport or a plan—adventure begins the moment you step outside your front door

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What if the heart of adventure isn’t in conquering landscapes, but in the friendships you forge along the way? In this episode, expedition cyclist and filmmaker Gerhard Czerner joins us to reflect on what it really means to travel deeply—where human connection becomes the compass and the journey is shared.

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Gerhard’s pay-it-forward isn’t about a single organization. It’s about a philosophy: give something back. Whether it’s hiring local guides, teaching a skill, or sharing a story, his adventures are built on mutual exchange. “It’s not just about giving money,” he says. “It’s about giving ideas, time, and respect.” For Gerhard, this creates richer, more grounded travel—and often friendships that last years.

His call to adventure is refreshingly analog: go out for two days with no map, no GPS, no phone. Just your instincts. Just the land. Adventure, he reminds us, isn’t about distance—it’s about uncertainty. If you don’t know exactly what will happen, you’re already on your way.

Lesson:
You don’t need to fly to the Karakoram to feel something stir. You just need to step away from routine. Strip back the plans. Make space for the unknown. As Gerhard puts it, “Adventure begins when you leave your habits behind.”

Resources & Guest Links:

• Gerhard Czerner
  • Website: gerhardczerner.com
  • Instagram: @gerhardczerner
  • YouTube: Gerhard Czerner
  • Articles: Sidetracked Magazine and other publications 

Note: Gerhard’s site is in German but easily viewable via browser translation tools.

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What happens when a bear sneaks up behind you—while you’re mid-squat in the Alaskan wilderness? For Erin Ranney, it's just another story from the field. In this episode RECAP, Erin—wildlife cinematographer, conservationist, and chicken-showing champion! —joins us for a conversation that blends humour, purpose, and awe for the natural world.

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Erin’s pay-it-forward suggestions are deeply rooted in the landscapes and communities she works with. She champions two powerful causes in Alaska:

• Defend Yakutat: A small nonprofit working to protect traditional fishing grounds in Yakutat, Alaska.
• United Tribes of Bristol Bay: An Indigenous-led coalition fighting to preserve the vital ecosystems of Bristol Bay from threats like the proposed Pebble Mine.

Both organizations exemplify what Erin stands for—local voices, cultural stewardship, and protecting what’s irreplaceable.

For her call to adventure, Erin keeps it close to home:
“Explore your backyard like you’ve never been there before.” Whether it's taking a visitor around your hometown or stepping onto a trail you’ve overlooked for years, there's wonder waiting. And chances are, you’ll see things differently when you’re showing someone else the ropes.

 Big adventures don’t require big distances. Whether you’re hiking through old growth or showing a friend the trail for the first time, connection is the real journey. Add in Erin’s guiding mantra—lift as you climb—and it’s clear: exploration is better when it includes others.

Also, you’ll want to hear about her former life as a champion chicken show-er. Trust us.

Resources & Guest Links:

• Erin Ranney
  • Website: erinranney.com
  • Instagram: @e.ranney
• Charity Mentions:
  • Defend Yakutat: defendyakutat.org
  • United Tribes of Bristol Bay: utbb.org

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How do you balance big dreams with grounded impact? In this episode, polar explorer, army veteran, entrepreneur, and adventurer Justin Packshaw reminds us that change—both personal and planetary—begins with a bold step, a bit of discipline, and a deep belief in what’s possible.

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Justin’s pay-it-forward is refreshingly broad yet deeply personal. First, he puts the spotlight on climate action, not by pointing fingers, but by urging everyday ownership. “There are 8 billion of us,” he says. “That collective effort has power.” His challenge? Start small. Turn off lights. Reduce waste. Be intentional. Then, he shifts to youth empowerment—encouraging us to invest time and energy into the next generation, especially those facing hardship. He champions the value of youth groups, life skills training, and mentorship as pathways out of tough circumstances and into purposeful futures.

His call to adventure is equally timeless: begin what you've been putting off. Learn the guitar. Take a flying lesson. Start a new project. He quotes Goethe:

“Whatever you believe you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, magic and power in it.”

Justin’s message isn’t about perfection—it’s about momentum. The magic comes after you start.

 Push yourself into discomfort. Whether it’s a morning run, a creative pursuit, or a long-delayed dream, the formula is simple: discipline + effort = transformation. It’s not about overnight success. It’s about the quiet reward that comes with action, over and over again.

And remember, you don’t need permission. Most people are too busy thinking about themselves to dwell on your fears. So take the shot. Be bold.

Resources & Guest Themes:

• Climate Action Tips:
  • Search “What can I do about climate change at home” for practical, low-cost steps
  • Focus on habits: recycling, energy use, water conservation, and transport
• Youth Empowerment:
  • Support local youth groups, school programs, and mentorship initiatives
  • Consider charities like Walking With the Wounded, Help for Heroes, or local after-school programs
• Justin’s Personal Motto:
  • “Discipline + Effort = I’m going to feel amazing” – a daily mindset learned through years of expeditions and army life

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Adventure doesn’t always require plane tickets and summit selfies. Sometimes it starts with a ferry, a friend, and the commitment to pass on what you’ve learned. In this episode, adventurer, author, and advocate Lauren Roerick shares what happens when you stay local, go slow, and share the wild with someone new.

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Lauren’s call to adventure isn’t about solo quests or exotic destinations. It’s about mentorship and proximity. When she took a friend on her first backpacking trip along British Columbia’s Juan de Fuca Trail, it became more than a hike—it was a lesson in resilience, gear, and joyful struggle. Sharing what you know, she reminds us, is one of the most powerful things you can do in the outdoors.

And when it comes to her pay-it-forward, Lauren speaks from the heart:
Women’s health—especially issues like period poverty—are historically underfunded and misunderstood. Through regular donations to the BC Women’s Health Foundation and Canadian Women’s Health Foundation, and by supporting projects that deliver menstrual products to underserved communities, Lauren advocates for dignity, access, and equality—values that extend far beyond the trail.

Your adventure doesn’t need to be far. It needs to be shared. Look around. Invite someone in. And while you’re at it, consider the quiet, ongoing battles many face just to get outside—especially those affected by health inequality. As Lauren puts it, “Period poverty doesn’t just affect school and work—it can affect your ability to adventure, too.”

Resources & Guest Links:

• Lauren Roerick
  • Website: laurenroerick.com
  • Instagram: @laurenroerick
  • YouTube: @laurenroerick
  • TikTok: @laurenexplores
• Referenced Charities:
  • BC Women’s Health Foundation
  • Canadian Women’s Health Foundation
• Trail Mentioned:
  • Juan de Fuca Trail – BC Parks

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What if your next great adventure isn't out there waiting—but already inside you? In this recap episode, outdoor enthusiast and founder of the True North Project, Deon Barrett, joins us to remind us that adventure doesn’t need to be epic—it just needs to be honest.

Deon’s call to adventure is disarmingly simple: do the thing your heart’s already whispering about. We often ignore that nudge, especially when we don’t know the outcome. But as Deon puts it, “Most people toy with the idea—they just don’t act on it.” His advice? Think back to childhood. What did you love? Mountains, bikes, rivers, running in the woods? Chances are, those moments still hold the key to your joy.

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE

You don’t need to summit Everest or cross continents to feel alive. Often, the boldest thing is choosing to follow what genuinely lights you up—even if it’s a walk, a climb, or a bike ride that reminds you of being ten years old. Don’t wait to be an expert. Don’t wait at all. And if you’re stuck? “Give Deon a buzz.”

Resources & Guest Links:

• Deon Barrett – True North Project
  • Website: truenorthproject.co.uk
  • Instagram: @truenorth_project_

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What does it feel like to immersive in the landscape, to meet strangers with no barriers, to carry your home on your back and sleep under the stars? In this recap episode, adventurer and Desert Island Survival founder Tom Williams joins us to explore the raw intimacy of travel, from bike packing the Spanish coastlines to makeshift raft rides down the River Severn.

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE 

Tom’s passion isn’t just for castaway survival—though that’s his day job—it’s for microadventures that anyone can begin. He shares his love for wild kayaking trips, inflatable river journeys, and a recent first-time bike tour across Spain. These aren’t just travel stories. They’re invitations to reconnect with our senses, our surroundings, and the strangers we meet along the way.

And when it comes to giving back, Tom offers a deeply considered pay-it-forward:
GiveDirectly (givedirectly.org), a nonprofit that sends money directly to people living in extreme poverty. No middlemen. No assumptions. Just trust in the agency of those who need it most. In Tom’s words: “They don’t lack motivation. They lack money.”

You don’t need to start with a grand escape. Begin with a weekend. Inflate a kayak. Ride your bike somewhere unknown. Share a meal with strangers. The more personal and low-to-the-ground the adventure, the more it opens you up. And as Tom puts it, “You smell the rosemary, you feel the landscape, and you can eat so much.”

Resources & Guest Links:

• Tom Williams:
  • Instagram: @tomwilliamsalone
  • Website: desertislandsurvival.com
• Referenced Charity:
  • GiveDirectly: givedirectly.org
    • Learn more about the charity model: Doing Good Better by William MacAskill
• Adventure Mentions:
  • Bike tour from Bilbao to Valencia
  • Kayak microadventures in Chile
  • Severn Estuary float trip (inspired by Alastair Humphreys’ microadventure)

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The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

What if adventure wasn’t something distant or dramatic—but something you could claim this Saturday? David Haze, known as The Nomadic Paddler, believes that adventure isn’t about the epic—it’s about the everyday. In this episode, he reminds us that you don’t need to cross oceans to find purpose. You just need to get out the door.

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David’s own journey—from incarceration to becoming a world-record-holding paddleboarder—is steeped in transformation. But he’s quick to bring that idea down to earth. “Even a 5K walk can be an adventure,” he says. It’s about stepping out of your comfort zone and into something that reminds you you’re alive. Adventure, for David, is a way of living—not a destination.

His pay-it-forward is deeply personal. David is an ambassador for Dorset Mind, a mental health charity doing essential work in the community—particularly with men, who still face barriers in opening up. David speaks openly about his own mental health journey and how getting outdoors has been key to his recovery. This isn’t just about raising funds. It’s about raising awareness, starting conversations, and creating space for healing.

Stop waiting. That weekend you're vaguely thinking about? Make it this one. Reach out to a friend. Make a plan. Walk, paddle, cycle—whatever nudges you out of autopilot. Adventure doesn’t need to be big to be meaningful. As David puts it, “Through adventure, we live.”

Resources & Guest Links:

• David Haze (The Nomadic Paddler):
  • Website: nomadicpaddler.co.uk
  • Instagram: @NomadicPaddler
  • YouTube: Nomadic Paddler
  • LinkedIn: David Haze
• Dorset Mind: dorsetmind.uk
  • Learn more: About Dorset Mind
  • David’s Fundraising & Events: Check his social platforms for updates on his Dorset coast paddle challenge

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Support the show

Thanks For Listening.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content.

Please visit AdventureDiaries.com/GO  For more authentic stories of Adventure Exploration and the natural world

The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

What does it mean to truly explore—not just terrain, but trust, time, and human connection? In this episode, legendary explorer and storyteller Benedict Allen joins us to reflect on a life shaped not by conquest, but by curiosity and community.

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Benedict doesn’t chase adventure for its own sake. He’s driven by a deeper impulse: to learn from others. From the remote communities of Papua New Guinea to the symbolic weight of the rhino in Namibia, Benedict’s stories remind us that exploration is most meaningful when it’s rooted in relationships. He speaks candidly about the people who saved his life, the places he hopes to return to, and the pressing need to honour both time and the natural world.

His pay-it-forward is twofold:

• Environmental Justice Foundation – advocating for communities who live closely with nature but suffer disproportionately from environmental degradation.
• Save the Rhino Trust – conserving one of Earth’s most iconic species and the habitats they anchor.

 Benedict’s call to adventure is deceptively simple: blank out a weekend in your diary. Make it sacred. Tell others about it. Then do something—anything—that takes you outdoors and into a sense of aliveness. It might be the highest hill near home, a search for a bird you've never seen, or just a quiet walk. What matters is that you go, because that time won't come around again.

As Benedict says, “Time just goes by.” Adventure isn’t a grand expedition—it’s a decision. And the best way to keep the flame lit is to act now.

Resources & Guest Links:

• Benedict Allen Website: benedictallen.com
• Instagram: @benedictallenexplorer
• Twitter: @benedictallen
• Books by Benedict Allen: Available via his website

Referenced Charities:

• Environmental Justice Foundation: ejfoundation.org
• Save the Rhino Trust Namibia: savetherhinotrust.org

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Thanks For Listening.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content.

Please visit AdventureDiaries.com/GO  For more authentic stories of Adventure Exploration and the natural world

The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

In this conversation, we journey with Alice Morrison—broadcaster, adventurer, and storyteller—as she reflects on what it means to begin, to belong, and to believe in something greater than yourself.

LISTEN TO THE GULL EPISODE HERE

Alice's pay-it-forward takes us to Uganda, where her heart remains deeply rooted. Through the charity S.A.L.V.E. International, she supports street children—some as young as six—helping them escape lives of addiction, exploitation, and survival. For £30 a month, a child is not just educated but given a future. As Alice shares, this isn’t charity at a distance—she’s met the boy she helped through school. He’s now a mechanic. He’s got a chance. And in Alice’s eyes, that’s what matters: that help actually reaches the hands it was meant for.

Her call to adventure is equally grounded and urgent: stop waiting. Whatever’s been quietly calling you—Snowdon, a parkrun, a solo cycle—say yes to it now. Not when you’re thinner, fitter, or richer. Now. “You are good enough to do it now,” she says, with the kind of conviction that comes from having done exactly that, again and again. And she's right. Most of us already know what our next step is. We just need to take it.

Along the way, Alice teases her upcoming BBC series Arabian Adventures: Secrets of the Nabateans, airing this June. Expect camels, ancient secrets, and Alice’s trademark honesty.

Links & Mentions:

• S.A.L.V.E. International: sidcn.org/post/s-a-l-v-e-international
• Alice Morrison: alicemorrison.co.uk
• Instagram/X: @AliceOutThere1
• BBC Series: Arabian Adventures: Secrets of the Nabateans (June 2025)