The Adventure Podcast

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.

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

Jason Fox, an ex-Special Forces operator known for 'SAS: Who Dares Wins,' shares his journey from military life to television. He discusses the challenges of adapting to a public persona while maintaining authenticity. Foxy opens up about his mental health struggles, the importance of empathy in relationships, and how COVID shifted his perspective on being present. His candid reflections on personal failures and growth reveal a depth beyond the tough exterior we often see on screen.

Guy Grieve, a scallop diver, seaweed farmer, author, and adventurer, shares his transformative year spent off-grid in the Alaskan wilderness. He reflects on personal challenges, the balance between adventure and parenthood, and the deep connections with nature and family that shaped his identity. Guy recounts his struggles building a cabin, encounters with wildlife, and the lessons of resilience he learned in solitude. Ultimately, he explores the quest for meaning in life and the genuine joy found in shared experiences and camaraderie.

In the second episode of our new series The Far Reaches, our guest is Emma Linford. Emma is an outdoor professional with a number of different strings to her bow. She’s a mountain instructor, international mountain leader, outdoor education and is heavily involved in the Right To Roam movement in the UK, as well as the Stars Are For Everyone movement that is campaigning to defend the right to wild camp on Dartmoor. This conversation is far reaching. Matt talks to Emma about her early life and inspirations, how she became an outdoor facilitator and why she started travelling overseas. She also speaks about her social and political views and their relevance to the outdoors, before discussing the right to roam movement in a little more detail.The Far Reaches is a new long-term series where we speak to guests about subjects related to our planet and our place on it. These episodes will dig a little deeper, perhaps enter the realm of armchair philosophy, and will tackle some more existential questions surrounding adventure and exploration.This episode is brought to you by Chimney Fire Coffee; a Certified B Corp™️, committed to the highest social and environmental standards. What sets Chimney Fire Coffee apart is their dedication to ethical sourcing. They pay their producers on average double Fairtrade prices, building direct, personal relationships. Plus, they give back by supporting Re-Cycle, donating to refurbish and send bikes to rural Africa. They have 10 responsibly sourced house coffees from around the world, so there's definitely something to suit your taste and your brew method. And if you’re extra keen you can head out to Surrey to join their weekend tours and experiences to learn more about the journey from farm to cup. Head to chimneyfirecoffee.com/tap and 15% off your first order will be automatically applied. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.