The Adventure Podcast

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.

Episode 194 of The Adventure Podcast features exercise physiologist and endurance athlete, Dr Mark Hines. Mark is a senior lecturer in exercise physiology at Oxford Brookes University, with a background in ultra endurance racing of the gnarliest kind. If it’s long, cold, snowy and potentially deadly, then Mark has probably raced it. In this episode, Mark shares the story of how he got into endurance racing, starting from his childhood experiences of camping and cross country running, to eventually being inspired by a Ben Fogle documentary to compete in the Marathon des Sables. He discusses his academic journey in exercise physiology, emphasising how his own fitness journey and desire to understand the science behind it motivated his studies. This conversation then delves into the physical and mental challenges of endurance racing, with Mark providing detailed insights into his experiences, including the importance of proper preparation, problem-solving, and the emotional and mental impact of these extreme events.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 193 of The Adventure Podcast features horse rider and adventurer, Jane Dotchin. Jane is an incredible woman. She has been embarking on a remarkable 600 mile horseback journey from her home in Northumberland to Inverness every year since 1972. Now in her eighties, Jane's annual trek, accompanied by her pony, Diamond, and her Jack Russell Terrier, Dinky, has become a testament to resilience, independence, and a style of living that feels lost in the modern world. Traveling with just the essentials, Jane covers up to twenty miles a day, forging connections with people along her route and adapting to the challenges of modern travel which have completely changed her journey over the years. We travelled up to meet Jane in her cabin home in Northumberland and filmed this episode live, sat in a wood store by the river. Hopefully you enjoy this episode with a lady who represents a way of living that we could all learn something from.This episode is available in-vision on our substack channel, The Adventure Podcast+ ; www.theadventurepodcast.substack.com. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dispatches are our shorter form episodes, usually around a single question, subject or story. In this episode, Matt asks Dr Niall McCann, a biologist, conservationist and explorer, to speak about his family history of exploration and adventures, and to speak to the idea of legacy.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 conversation, adventure filmmaker and photographer Matthew Irving shares his journey from wildland firefighting to filmmaking. They discuss the balance between professional obligations and personal ethics. Matthew opens up about the challenges of jealousy and self-doubt in the industry, emphasizing support among creatives. The duo reflects on aging, fulfillment, and the joy of nature, while navigating the complexities of parenthood and societal expectations. Their candid exchange highlights the importance of authenticity and staying true to oneself in both work and life.

Episode 191 of The Adventure Podcast was recorded live at Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 and features ultra-marathon runner and alpinist, Hillary Gerardi. Hillary recently broke the women's Mont Blanc fastest known time, setting a new record of seven hours, 25 minutes and 28 seconds. In the episode, Matt talks to Hillary about her skyrunning journey, what it took to break the FKT, and the importance of savouring that experience rather than immediately moving onto the next big thing. Hillary also discusses how to safely build individual pillars for alpinism and skyrunning before attempting to bridge the two. They talk about a lesser known project Hillary embarked on this year, imperfect activism, and how she approaches sustainable living as a competitive athlete. It's a broad-ranging, energetic, and inspiring conversation which will leave you wanting to dust off your running shoes and hit the hills.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 190 of The Adventure Podcast features conservationist and National Geographic Explorer, Dr Steve Boyes. Steve is the driving force behind the Okavango Wilderness Project, working to protect Africa's wild rivers and wetlands. He’s spent years uncovering new species, exploring uncharted ecosystems, and partnering with local communities to keep these landscapes thriving. Steve is also a cancer survivor, a devoted dad, and a natural storyteller. In this episode, Steve gives an insight into his life as an explorer and his approach to conservation. He talks about uncovering new species and massive ecological systems, and how to work closely with local communities to drive real, lasting conservation. He opens up to Matt about how nature shaped him, and how surviving cancer changed his perspective. Through it all, Steve champions the idea of reconnecting with nature, using storytelling to make science matter, and staying hopeful about humanity’s ability to turn things around for the planet.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.Photographer credit: Karabo MoilwaSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.