
The Adventure Podcast
An ongoing series of long-form conversations with individuals at the forefront of exploration and adventure in which filmmaker Matt Pycroft speaks to the most knowledgeable, accomplished and respected voices in the field. From mountaineers to wildlife cinematographers, environmental activists to polar photographers, The Adventure Podcast brings you up close and personal with those who live extraordinary lives. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Nov 6, 2023 • 1h 12min
Episode 160: Al Humphreys, What Adventure Means
Episode 160 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer and writer, Al Humphreys. For those of you who have been around for a while, you'll recognise Al as our first ever guest on the podcast. He was the originator of the 'micro-adventures' movement, and after many years adventuring further afield, now focuses on pursuing journeys a little closer to home. In this episode, Al talks about his Seven Summits (but not as we know it) expedition, his latest challenge involving an Ordnance Survey map, and what freeing up the definition of 'adventure' has meant. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 30, 2023 • 1h 18min
Episode 159: Jon Gupta, No Such Thing As Too Much Experience
Episode 159 of The Adventure Podcast features climber, alpinist and high altitude mountain guide, Jon Gupta. Jon's made a name for himself as a Himalayan high altitude expert, and is responsible for organising and guiding multiple records and world firsts. He's spent most of his adult life in the greater ranges. In this episode, Matt and Jon chat about the world of high altitude, and how the niche of guided mountaineering has changed due to recent media hype. Jon was extremely open and was happy to be challenged, and challenged back. They also discuss the 'post-expedition comedown'.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 24, 2023 • 1h 47min
Episode 158: Matt Sharman, All The Best Laid Plans
Episode 158 of The Adventure Podcast features mountaineer and filmmaker, Matt Sharman. Matt was on the podcast back in 2020 to talk about his life and experiences in the mountains, but this episode focuses on his recent trip to Pakistan. His latest expedition followed the trail of Shipton and Tilman in the Shaksgam mountains of the Karakoram. Adventures don't always go to plan, and this one derailed pretty spectacularly. They ask: does that matter? Does it make it better? And ultimately, was it a failure?Matt's previous episode is Episode 058, To Humbly Go.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 16, 2023 • 1h 2min
Episode 157: Pip Stewart, Lessons From The Jungle
Episode 157 of The Adventure Podcast features Pip Stewart. Pip is a journalist, explorer, neglected disease campaigner, and mother. In 2013, after working as a political and travel reporter in Hong Kong, she decided she wanted to recalibrate her life and cycled 10,000 miles home to London. A few years later and she was heading to the Essequibo River in Guyana for a world-first source to sea expedition. On her return from the rainforest, she discovered she had a flesh-eating parasite. In this episode, Matt talks to Pip about her hard-won insights; from community and self-belief, to recognising and owning up to her mistakes.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 9, 2023 • 1h 6min
Episode 156: Thor C. Pedersen, Once Upon A Saga
Episode 156 of The Adventure Podcast features the first person to travel to every country in the world unbroken without flying, Thor C. Pedersen. Originally Thor's trip was meant to take 4 years, but it went on for more than a decade. His story is full of determination, ambition and perseverance. Matt goes deep on Thor's motivations and the big 'why'. Did he do this for himself, or is he trying to live a life he wants to be seen living?Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 2, 2023 • 1h 1min
Episode 155: Jamie McDonald, Adventureman
Adventureman, Jamie McDonald, shares his incredible journey of fundraising through epic challenges like cycling across countries and running marathons. He overcame a rare spinal condition as a child to become a superhero fundraiser, setting world records and inspiring others to push their limits. The podcast delves into his personal growth, resilience, and transformative power of adventurous endeavors.

Sep 4, 2023 • 1h 31min
Episode 154: From The Archives - Iain Miller
At the point at which this episode is published, Matt is on an expedition in Alaska directing a film for National Geographic. Instead of taking a break from weekly releases, we thought we’d share some of his favourite episodes from early on in the life of the podcast.Episode 154 is From The Archives and features Iain Miller. Iain is a sea kayaker and first-ascent sea stack climber. After twenty years sailing the world with the Merchant Navy, Iain made a home in western Donegal, and he has barely left since. Now, Iain's days are spent out in his kayak looking for unclimbed rock, and – in his own words – "Those moments in time that can't be replicated". This episode is a testament to the possibilities of a life of adventure close to home, but is also a deep reflection on the tolls of an institutionalised life that one feels trapped in, and how an eventual escape and reinvention can make all the difference. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 28, 2023 • 1h 6min
Episode 153: From The Archives - Conrad Anker
At the point at which this episode is published, Matt is on an expedition in Alaska directing a film for National Geographic. Instead of taking a break from weekly releases, we thought we’d share some of his favourite episodes from early on in the life of the podcast.Episode 153 of The Adventure Podcast is From The Archives, and was originally released in April 2019. It features one of the world’s most accomplished mountaineers, Conrad Anker. When Matt first decided to start a podcast, he wrote five names down on a piece of paper as ‘end game’ guests, and Conrad was the first to be ticked off. There is much to be said about Conrad, but he is perhaps best known for his truly epic ascent of Meru with Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk. Only two days before recording this episode, three of Conrad's friends and mentees were tragically killed in an avalanche in the Canadian Rockies. In this episode, Conrad reflects honestly, openly and at points heartbreakingly, on a life in the mountains which provides him with untold joy and a sense of identity, whilst also struggling with survivor guilt and the death of friends that has happened ‘far too many times’.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 21, 2023 • 52min
Episode 152: From The Archives - Erling Kagge
At the point at which this episode is published, Matt is on an expedition in Alaska directing a film for National Geographic. Instead of taking a break from weekly releases, we thought we’d share some of his favourite episodes from early on in the life of the podcast.Episode 152 of The Adventure Podcast is From The Archives, and revisits Matt's conversation with Erling Kagge back in October 2019. Erling is an explorer, publisher and philosopher, who's feet have taken him from the ends of the Earth, to the sewers of Manhattan and across the world's oceans. His views on walking, silence and the philosophy of travel are still so relevant today, and will hopefully inspire you to lace up your boots and get out there.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 14, 2023 • 1h 8min
Episode 151: From The Archives - George Monbiot
At the point at which this episode is published, Matt is on an expedition in Alaska directing a film for National Geographic. Instead of taking a break from weekly releases, we thought we’d share some of his favourite episodes from early on in the life of the podcast.Episode 151 of The Adventure Podcast is From The Archives, and revisits George Monbiot's first episode which was originally released as episode 9 back in 2019. George is an author and journalist who has views and opinions that can be very divisive. Whilst his early work was important journalistically, it was also full of unbelievable tales of adventure. In 1988, George bluffed his way into West Papua with forged travel documents. In this episode, Matt asked him one question, and George spent an hour answering with tales of rebels, of incredulous adventure through magical wilderness, and of a little-known story of dispossession and devastation. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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