The Adventure Podcast

Episode 203 of The Adventure Podcast features writer, photographer, and documentary filmmaker, Kim Frank. Kim has spent the past seven years immersed in an incredibly complex and emotionally charged story centred around human/wildlife conflict. Her project follows the lives of people and elephants in North Bengal, India—where deforestation, migration, and survival all collide. In this episode, Kim talks to Matt about creative risk, the emotional weight of telling other people’s stories, personal transformation, and the quiet power of persistence. They also discuss the importance and rarity of following through on a wild idea that won’t let you go.For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.Photo credit: Jeremy LaZelleSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 202 of The Adventure Podcast features, long distance runner and construction worker, Jack Scott. Over the past few years Jack has grabbed the attention of the British ultra running scene for some stellar achievements that most people in the know thought were literally impossible. In 2024 Jack won the infamous Spine Race, a 268-mile ultramarathon along the Pennine Way, shattering the previous course record by over 10 hours. This isn't a conversation discussing trail shoes or favourite energy gels, instead this episode gives an insight into Jack's mind, attitude and where he finds his motivation. He talks to Matt about his previous gambling addiction and the 'dark and dangerous' place he has learnt to use, his Spine Race losses and win, his training mentality, and the importance of giving yourself time to grow. For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.Photo credit: Wild Aperture Photography Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 201 of The Adventure Podcast features cave scientist, climate researcher, and expedition leader, Dr Gina Moseley. Gina's paleoclimatology work has taken her to some of the most remote and extreme parts of the planet. In this episode, Gina talks to Matt about how she started caving as a kid in the Midlands, saving up her pocket money to go underground in the school holidays, and how this turned into a career in science along the way. They cover her groundbreaking expeditions to caves in Greenland, sailing through sea ice, getting stuck in storms, and chasing fragments of climate history hidden in stalagmites and flowstone. Or as they call it, ultimate treasure hunting.For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.Photo credit: Robbie ShoneSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode three of The Far Reaches features journalist, podcaster, and founder of the Looking Sideways podcast, Matt Barr. In this conversation, we unpack Matt's latest project: a multi-episode documentary podcast called 'The Announcement', which explores the fallout of Patagonia’s now-famous announcement that "Earth is our only shareholder." On the surface, it looked like a bold, revolutionary move. But dig deeper, and you're into thornier territory—philanthropic capitalism, tax implications, the role of billionaires in shaping our futures, and whether good intentions can ever truly escape the systems they’re trying to fix. This is a conversation about nuance, values, and why asking better questions might matter more than finding neat answers. For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 200 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer, firefighter, martial artist and author, Stephan Kesting. In 2015, Stephan was dying from polycystic kidney disease. He underwent a transplant that saved his life, and in the fog of pre-surgery uncertainty, he made a promise: if he survived, he’d complete a journey he’d dreamed of for decades. Four years later, he set off on a solo canoe expedition across 1000 miles of the Canadian Arctic. Stephan talks to Matt about that journey, but also about trauma, grief, parenthood and risk. This is a story about survival, transformation, and what the wilderness can teach us not just about the world, but about ourselves. For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this engaging discussion, Shauna Coxsey, a World Cup champion and Olympic climber, dives into her inspiring journey from an ambitious youth to a pioneering athlete shaping the future of climbing. She candidly shares her battles with injuries, the transition from competition to motherhood, and the evolving identity of female athletes in a traditionally male sport. The conversation touches on the emotional challenges of Olympic aspirations amidst life changes, emphasizing resilience, personal growth, and the importance of support networks as Shauna navigates her dual roles.

Episode 198 of The Adventure Podcast features hillwalker, mountain rescue volunteer, and author, Paul Besley. Paul has written several acclaimed guidebooks but his memoir, The Search: The Life of a Mountain Rescue Search Dog Team, chronicles his transformation from a Yorkshire steel town upbringing to training his Border Collie, Scout, as a search dog. In this episode, Paul tells Matt his life story, and recounts many amusing tales of his escapades in the hills. The story has a twist though, as Paul learned recently he’s terminally ill. The conversation ends with a message of hope - how many people get to pass from this world in a place of complete contentment?For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.Link to Paul's new book: https://bit.ly/3PoxsiGSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dave MacLeod, a celebrated Scottish climber known for his groundbreaking climbs and deep insights into the mental aspects of the sport, shares his transformative journey from average to elite. He discusses his iconic ascent of Rhapsody, the first E11 trad route, and reflects on the balance between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in climbing. Dave emphasizes the importance of curiosity, consistency, and embracing self-doubt for personal growth, while his new book, 'Moving the Needle', serves as a motivational guide for climbers at all levels.

Episode 196 of The Adventure Podcast was recorded online with a live audience, and features Leo Houlding. Leo is, in the simplest of terms, a climber. But really there’s so much more to him than that. He’s a big wall specialist, an expedition specialist and an alpinist, and he’s led a multitude of world class climbing expeditions all over the world from Antarctica to Baffin Island and Greenland to Guyana. Matt and Leo have worked together on a few of those expeditions, and really it was Leo who gave Matt his first chance at getting up close and personal with far flung climbing expeditions. In this episode, they cover a pretty broad range of topics, from Leo’s backstory and life growing up in a leaky barn in Cumbria to travelling overseas, embarking on major expeditions and then surprising himself by settling down and becoming a dad. They go on to talk about one of his biggest missions yet, and it’s not what you'd expect... This episode was our first ever live online show - thanks so much to everyone who tuned in! Keep an eye on our Instagram @theadventurepodcast or The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack for future live recordings and Q&A's.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Torbet, a stuntman and ex-soldier, shares his breathtaking experiences from working on James Bond films to diving in extreme conditions. He discusses the balance between fear and hope in adventure, revealing the psychological aspects of technical diving. Andy reflects on family ties and the evolving idea of adventure, emphasizing its purpose beyond personal thrill. With humor and candid insights about fatherhood and success, listeners are treated to a rich tapestry of adventure and introspection, making for an engaging listen.