The XOVERLAND Podcast

On this episode of the X Overland Podcast, we sit down with International 4wd Trainers Association Certified Master Trainer, Nena Barlow and Rebelle Rally Champion and X Overland Co-Founder, Rachelle Croft. Nena owns and operates Barlow Adventures, a business focused on teaching people how to operate their 4-wheel drive vehicles safely and effectively. As an I4WDTA Master Trainer, Nena is currently engaged in working to help others become certified trainers in an effort to bring more effective off-pavement driving education to the vehicle-based adventure and overlanding community. Having spent time with Nena as both a student and a fellow competitor in the Rebelle Rally, Rachelle Croft also joins the conversation in this episode, where the focus is on developing an effective mindset for off-pavement/off-road driving and vehicle recovery.Nena and Rachelle additionally provide several useful action steps you can take to both avoid recovery situations and effectively manage them if you find yourself in one. Read the full show notes here!Watch this podcast here!

What were the best parts of Expedition Overland’s Nordic travels? Expedition leader and film director Clay Croft reflects upon his experiences while overlanding throughout Northern Europe, Scandinavia, and perhaps the most intriguing country yet—Iceland.Listen in as Clay discusses everything from camping opportunities along the T.E.T. (Trans Euro Trail) to exploring European history to river crossings in Iceland.Get insight into the differences between overlanding in Europe vs. Central America, tips for developing a traveler’s mindset, and the seemingly daunting task of shipping your overland vehicle overseas.When we recorded this episode, Clay, Rachelle, Cyrus, and the X Overland team had just returned from 10 weeks of overlanding throughout Europe and Scandinavia while filming Season 5, The Nordic Series.Want more Croft family Nordic team perspectives? Check out our podcasts with Rachelle here and Cyrus here.Read the full show notes here!Watch this podcast here!

Richard and Ashley Giordano of Desk to Glory are back at the X Overland Hangar preparing for  their next adventure, so we thought we’d better catch up with this dynamic overlanding couple before they disembark.The two are sporting a new build and have big plans for the future. After spending some time discussing their work with Expedition Overland Season 5, The Nordic Series, Richard and Ashley share the details of their new build and the why behind their choice of platform.Finally, the couple shares their big news involving global travel and their work with Overlander Network.There’s lots to find out and lots to learn, so jump into the conversation and let’s get started! Read the full show notes here!Watch this podcast here!

Have you thought about shipping your overland vehicle across the ocean to venture to far-off destinations? Across the Atlantic to begin overlanding throughout Europe or maybe Africa? Or south to Columbia to begin the second leg of the Pan-American Highway? Maybe you’d like to ship your vehicle to New Zealand or Australia? You may have imagined these dreams but are feeling overwhelmed by the thought of such an undertaking, or perhaps you’re committed to getting your vehicle overseas but are in need of some solid education on the topic.We’ve been in your shoes and have learned a lot over the past decade about moving overland vehicles around the planet that we’re eager to share with you. That’s why we reached out to our Global Shipping Logistics Coordinator, Matt Hopkins, to offer insight and know-how based on lots of real-world experience. After listening to this episode, we’re confident that you’ll be more confident in taking this significant step as an overlander. It’s a big world out there with a lot of water to cross over to reach the places we’d like to travel. Join our conversation to start on the path toward realizing your dreams of overlanding in your own vehicle in the distant-most places of the world. Read the full show notes here!Watch this podcast here!

Relationships and marriages can be as tough as they are rewarding, and starting and running a successful business with your partner can present even more challenges.Clay and Rachelle Croft discuss what it’s been like for them to start and operate a successful business together based on an original idea of filming overland travel.Clay and Rachelle open up about both the challenges and rewards found in traveling and working together and share their thoughts on the concept of work-life balance and how a business can become both a calling and a lifestyle. If you’re interested in hearing about what Clay and Rachelle have learned–and continue to learn–about life, family, and business by operating in the world as a couple committed to each other, their family, and what they see as their unique calling in life, then this is an episode you don’t want to miss! Read the full show notes here!Watch this podcast here!

If you're a fan of Epic Family Road Trip (EFRT), then you know all about the amazing camp cooking that goes on in the van Stralen family.Today, we sit down with Carol van Stralen, mother to Peter, Dan, and Caroline and wife of Pete Sr., to discuss philosophy, mindset, and best practices for delicious overland camp cooking!Carol shares her own origin story as a camp chef, her original sources of inspiration, and how she came to understand the joy of cooking in all areas of life–especially while overlanding!Recipe creation, what cooking items to have in your overland galley, clean-up and sanitation methods, and how to assign roles to others so you can get your family, partner, or team involved are all discussed in detail.Join the conversation and let’s get cooking!Read the full show notes here! Watch this podcast here!

Few would argue that Goose Gear builds some of the best cabinetry and storage solutions for overlanding vehicles in the industry. At X Overland, Goose Gear has continued to meet our demanding needs as both overlanders and filmmakers, equipping our vehicles with custom-built storage solutions that keep our overlanding gear and camera equipment safe, secure, and accessible.In this episode of the X Overland Podcast, we have a conversation with Goose Gear owner/founder and CEO Brian Fulton. Join the conversation as Brian shares the origin story and inception of Goose Gear, the evolution of his relationship with X Overland, and how he built a successful business around his passion for overlanding adventure. Read the full show notes here!Watch this podcast here!

When it comes to taking kids on adventures in the outdoors, Megan Walthall has a lot of experience to draw from. The mother of three children (two girls and one boy), Megan and her husband, Bryan Walthall, have seen a lot in their years together adventuring as a family. Along with a host of outdoor experiences in their everyday lives, Megan and Bryan teamed up with Expedition Overland in 2020 to take their three children on an epic overlanding adventure: The Walthall Family Solo Series.Learn from Megan, as she shares insight she has gained from her experience as an adventure-mother while offering tips for those who are new to parenting as well as those who have been at it a while.Listen in on the conversation, as Megan and Jimmy discuss how to give your kid’s a voice in family adventures and how to help them gain confidence through participation, knowledge building, and skillsets. Megan also discusses the valuable lessons kids learn through adventure and how to develop an effective mindset as an adventure-parent, finding the balance that leads to growth and memorable experiences for the entire family. Read the full show notes here!Watch this podcast here!

X Overland editor, Laura Titensor knows how to take risks and go after her passions. Now, this critically acclaimed filmmaker of her mini-documentary The Mark We Make is here to share her insight and story of how an idea and goal, turned into much more.As one of the final selects from the inaugural Overlander Film Fest, Laura is no stranger to taking chances. Growing up in Utah, she loves canyoneering, camping, overlanding, and travel. If you are interested in making your first film or how to pursue that idea you have, you will surely be inspired by her story of growth and taking risks as she displays how to #startsomewhere in all aspects of her life.You can follow Laura here: @crayonsandcairns Read the full show notes here!Watch this podcast here!

With the increased popularity of overlanding and vehicle-based adventures of all kinds, our campsites and trails on public lands are experiencing unprecedented use. While increased use of public lands creates issues, it also creates opportunities for more support directed toward their conservation, restoration, and enhancement. In this episode of the X Overland Podcast, we sit down with Executive Director of Tread Lightly!, Matt Caldwell, to explore the issues, solutions, and opportunities surrounding the use of our public lands, trails, and camping areas. Tread Lightly! is a non-profit organization with the mission of educating the public on how to enjoy their public lands in a way that keeps access open to the trails and campsites we love. Tread Lightly! teaches practices that involve all forms of recreational use on our public lands but is especially focused on those of us who enjoy motorized recreation: vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs/UTVs, and even electric bicycles. Executive Director of Tread Lightly!, Matt Caldwell, joins today’s podcast to share insight and information into issues currently affecting our public lands while providing us with the tools we need to address these problems so we can keep the doors to our favorite recreational areas open and leave lands we love looking better than we found them. Read the full show notes here!Watch this podcast here!