Adventure Diaries: Exploration, Survival & Travel Stories

Chris Watson: Storyteller & Micro-Adventurer

Real adventure isn't just for the pros. The award-winning Adventure Diaries brings you authentic stories of Adventure, exploration and the wonder of the natural world, specifically curated to inspire your next adventure.

Hosted by Chris Watson—an award-winning storyteller and Scottish micro-adventurer—this show bridges the gap between extreme feats and accessible everyday adventures.

Whether you are a seasoned mountaineer, a weekend adventurer, a solo traveler planning your next trip, or someone seeking the mental health benefits of nature, you have found your tribe.

We go beyond the standard interview to decode the "why" and "how" behind the world's greatest adventures.

What Makes This Show Different? Unlike other outdoor podcasts, every episode delivers three distinct promises to help you live a more extraordinary life:

Unique Adventure Stories: Immersive storytelling from National Geographic explorers, survivalists, ultra-athletes, and frontline conservationists. From the peaks of the Seven Summits to the depths of the Amazon, experience the thrill of the unknown.
Your Call To Adventure: Passive listening ends here. Each guest issues a practical challenge to inspire you to step out your front door and discover the wild places in your own backyard.
Pay It Forward: We believe in sustainable travel and stewardship. Every episode highlights a specific charity, wildlife project, or community cause.

Join our global community of explorers. Discover hidden gems, learn survival skills, and find the motivation to push your boundaries.

Subscribe now and start your next adventure today.

Visit us: AdventureDiaries.com/Go

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149 episodes
Updated July 16

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Episodes149

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July 16 · 1 hr 16 min
Behind the Lens: Volcanoes, Ice Caps & Wild First Ascents with Toby Roney
🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you. Award-winning adventure photographer and filmmaker Toby Roney joins Chris Watson to talk about a life spent documenting expeditions in the world's most extreme environments — from minus-27°C storms on Iceland's Vatnajökull ice cap to a world-first ascent in Kyrgyzstan. We dig into the "say yes first, work out the details later" philosophy that's shaped his career, the reality of solo-shooting for 22 hours on the Matterhorn and the mental-health honesty that underpins it all Chapters 0:00 Saying yes to the Matterhorn 1:26 Intro & welcome 4:29 Young Toby: growing up & early curiosity 5:31 Cycling Britain in his underwear 8:52 The piano, the widow & why positivity spreads 16:46 First expeditions: the Isle of Skye 19:09 The camper van & early entrepreneurship 22:55 Jack of all trades: the philosophy of failing 25:14 Building the skill set & the four kinds of luck 32:04 Storytelling & the filmmaking process 35:13 The Matterhorn: fear, risk & a fatal fall 45:16 Kyrgyzstan: a world-first ascent & the power of community 52:38 Anxiety, journaling & mental health 63:09 Pay it forward, call to adventure & quick-fire questions Key Sources & Links Instagram — @tobyroney Website — tobyroney.com Peak 4122 Media — peak4122.com Seven Days Out — Garmin docuseries (Nepal), on YouTube Millimetres To Mountains Key Takeaways Say yes first, figure it out later. Toby's whole career traces back to saying yes before his rational brain could talk him out of it — from cycling Britain in his underwear to climbing the Matterhorn. Small yeses (a coffee, a course) open doors you can't predict. Failure is the real teacher. He's failed at countless ventures — an underwear company, color grading, businesses — but treating each one as a lesson (not a verdict) is what built his adaptability. Don't stick to one lane. Like the old Greek philosophers who worked many jobs before calling themselves philosophers, having "fingers in many pies" keeps different parts of your brain alive and makes you more interesting and capable. Engineer your own luck. Toby breaks luck into four types — blind luck, luck from "kicking up dust" (visibly doing the work), luck from preparation, and luck from reputation — and deliberately actions all four. Put your ego aside to stay safe. On the Matterhorn and in Nepal, admitting "I need a guide / I'm not well, I need help" wasn't weakness — it mitigated real risk and earned deeper trust from collaborators. Fear never disappears — you get better at operating through it. Preparation, breaking challenges into sections, and clarity over panic are how he manages exposure and risk. Community beats conquering. The Kyrgyzstan first ascent mattered less for the summit than for the people — belonging, purpose and authenticity (echoing Sebastian Junger's Tribe) are what make it meaningful. Do the inner work openly. Journaling, counseling and talking about mental health — especially as men — shouldn't be taboo. Understanding your own brain translates directly to performing in the outdoors. Stand on the shoulders of giants. You don't need to reinvent the wheel — experts are often happy to share over a coffee. Never tell yourself no. 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
July 9 · 1 hr 14 min
Lone Wolf: Walking 1,000 Miles in a Wolf's Footsteps with Adam Weymouth
🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you. 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 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
June 25 · 1 hr 13 min
Para Horse Rider Crosses The Pyrenees: A World First With Stephanie Quintrell
🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you. 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 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
June 16 · 7 min
Q&A with Adventurer & Explorer Jude Kriwald
In this quickfire "10 Questions" segment, Chris chats with adventurer Jude Kriwald behind the scenes about everything from philosophy to survival. Listen to the FULL Episode here 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
June 11 · 1 hr 24 min
The Worst Place to Be a Pilot: Bush Flying Papua's Deadliest Airstrips | Matt Dearden
🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you. 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. 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
May 28 · 1 hr 21 min
Raising Outside Kids in A Digital World - Henry Brydon (We Are Explorers)
🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you. 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 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
May 14 · 1 hr 7 min
Crossing the Darien Gap: Cartels, Jungles & Hostage Training - Daniel Eggington
🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you. 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. 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
April 30 · 1 hr 2 min
Kayaking Madagascar's Longest River - The Mangok with Oscar Scafidi
🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you. 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 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
April 23 · 1 hr 59 min
Crossing Australia's DEADLIEST Desert Unsupported— Louis-Philippe Loncke
🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you 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 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
April 16 · 1 hr 31 min
Ascent Of The Amazon River - 6.5 Years & 7,000KM - With Pete Casey
🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you 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 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
April 9 · 1 hr 1 min
Pack Rafting Gabon's Uncharted Jungle Rivers with Beki Henderson
🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you 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 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
March 19 · 1 hr 24 min
Guyana Jungle Discovery: Petroglyphs & a Lost Cave — Joe Trevorrow
🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you 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 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
March 12 · 1 hr 18 min
Saving Brazil's Jaguars — with Letícia Benavalli
🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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
March 5 · 1 hr 27 min
Climbing The Volcanic 7 Summits with Ricardo Kaljouw
🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you. 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. 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
February 26 · 1 hr 22 min
Jude Kriwald Alone Across Gola – A Solo Cycle Through West Africa’s Rainforest
🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you. 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 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
February 25 · 2 min
True North: The Story Of Matthew Henson (Trailer)
Listen Now: AdventureDiaries.com/Story 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 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
February 19 · 13 min
Hitchhiking The Arctic - With Katharina Kneip
Support the Show: Join the new Patreon for exclusive after-shows, extended newsrooms, immersive short stories and meetups at adventurediaries.com/go 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 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
February 17 · 16 min
Let’s Make Birdwatching Cool - With Georgia Barker
Support the Show: Join the new Patreon for exclusive after-shows, extended newsrooms, immersive short stories and meetups at adventurediaries.com/go 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 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
February 12 · 11 min
Walking from Patagonia To Venezuela With Ollie Treviso
Support the Show: Join the new Patreon for exclusive after-shows, extended newsrooms, immersive short stories and meetups at adventurediaries.com/go 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 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
February 11 · 2 min
Join Us in Uganda: The Ultimate 11-Day Adventure!
Click Here > Join the Adventure in Uganda 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 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