Living Adventurously

Craig Mod, a writer and photographer celebrated for his long-distance walks in Japan, shares his unique blend of adventure and creativity. He discusses the tech-savvy navigation methods he employs compared to Alastair's minimalist approach. The joys of meticulous documentation and the artistic integrity behind book design are highlighted, alongside the deeper connections formed through long walks. They explore the contrasting cultural practices around litter and nature responsibility, ultimately emphasizing how walking fosters mindfulness and creativity.

Sadly this is the Final Episode of the Podcast (until I find a new sponsor)! Jack Thurston is a cyclist, a food lover, a photographer, a guide-book writer and an early podcast pioneer. He is the host of The Bike Show podcast and author of the Lost Lanes cycling guidebooks. We talked about adventures close to home and what the world of 'Adventure' looks like in the 21st Century.THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY Trees for Cities, the only UK charity working at a national and international scale to improve lives by planting trees in cities.(If your company or organisation is interested in sponsoring Living Adventurously, please get in touch!)PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE LIVING ADVENTUROUSLY PODCAST(It’s completely free, zero hassle to do (click here), but very helpful for me. If you’re feeling extra kind, please leave a review on the app – that really helps.)Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn (“Alexa, please play the Living Adventurously podcast”) or on your favourite podcast platform such as Overcast, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Breaker, Soundcloud, Castbox, Castro.www.alastairhumphreys.com/podcastsSHOW NOTESIf you enjoy listening to this episode over a cup of coffee and think it might be worth the price, you can buy me a "coffee" here: www. ko-fi.com/al_humphreysKeep up to date with future episodes (and my other adventures, projects and books) with my free monthly newsletter: alastairhumphreys.com/newslettersSay hello on Twitter and Instagram: @al_humphreys@jackthurston - https://twitter.com/jackthurstonLost Lanes - lostlanes.co.ukThe Bike Show podcast has been running since 2005 Alastair Humphreys on the Bike Show - http://thebikeshow.net/alastair_humphreys_part1/Podcasts don't usually make money. But you have to do something that you love - that is the price of entry.Bike Show tries to pick up sounds and experiences - the sonic colour - from outside the studioThere are different kinds of audio perfectionAsking open questions is important. Ask them how they feel. Get beyond the facts into the emotion.Conversation ought to be structured but also feel naturalIf you let silence happen, people will fill it with something interestingYou need to give the audience what they are interested inLouis Theroux podcast - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p089sfrz/episodes/downloadsCheryl Strayed podcast - Sugar Calling - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sugar-calling/id1505881384There are so many different methods of cycling.Cycling is a great way to interact with the environmentraphael kraft caribbean cycling podcast - https://thebikeshow.net/raphael-krafft-reportage-on-two-wheels/Cycling breaks down barriers, gets you unexpected places, and you are not cut off from the world. Therefore it is a good way to have experiences.The bicycle is a tool to take in the world at the right pace (and at the right price)Jack is a touring cyclist and a utility cyclistTakes kids to school on the bike. Does the shopping on the bike.You can travel further, for less effort, than walking. It's the perfect vehicle for travelling at the speed of the land and of my mind.fuchsia dunlop every grain of rice - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Every-Grain-Rice-Chinese-Cooking/dp/140880252XJack's spice concoction for cycle touring - https://www.instagram.com/p/CDqv79llTaT/Jack takes tins of sardines, marzipan, parmesan, harissa on a bike tourI like a bike ride that starts and finishes at my front doorJack has done a lot of flying in his life, but now is repulsed by the connotations. It makes him feel queasy.Has committed to not flying for workThings (like not flying) which seem difficult to consider are actually not that hard once you do themThere are a lot of issues related to 'adventure' that are problematicAdventure is a useful word for the sort of things we do - embracing the unexpected as a leisure activityTo me 'adventure' has a lot of baggage from history500 years ago adventure was the manifestation of privilege - colonial expansion right up to Edwardian's doing it for 'queen and country'Money, power, privilege, whiteness were the preconditions for adventurePeople doing adventure - voluntarily putting themselves in harm's way. If danger is a normal part of your life then you're probably unlikely to want to go bungee jumpingJack enjoys wild camping, but acknowledges that if he didn't look the way he does [white] then it would be a much more intimidating experienceCycling guidebooks over 100 years agoWanted to make the Lost Lanes books seductiveMake going out for a ride around London really appealing: nice photos, make it look appealing, eat oysters by the sea rather than get sweaty, evocative writingLiving in London in the 90s Jack had to come up with stories / temptations to lure his flatmates to come out of the city and ride with himThe book is supposed to fire up people's imaginations, and then the website has the technical detailsEmphasis of Lost Lanes is on very quite lanes and roadsYorkshire WoldsBeverley MinsterSomerset LevelsSamuel Palmer, artistWhat makes a good bike route? Needs a good sense of flow. You don't want all the climbing at the start/end, need different landscapes, good reveals, good vistas, hills are important for the views, try to...

Rhiane Fatinikun was a self-confessed fan of Netflix and raving when she spotted hikers getting off a train in the Peak District and, on the spur of the moment, decided to take up hiking! She set up the Black Girls Hike Instagram page and began leading groups of black women on hikes. Rhiane's mission now is to make the outdoors a safe and welcoming environment for people like her, breaking down barriers, broadening people’s horizons and empowering women to get outside their comfort zone.THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY Adventurous Ink, the book club for outdoor folk. Life is too short not to fill it with adventure. An Adventurous Ink subscription will inspire more memorable experiences and help you reconnect with the natural world whilst you're out there. Each month you'll receive a new book or journal featuring writers, photographers and illustrators who really 'get' the great outdoors.(If your company or organisation is interested in sponsoring Living Adventurously, please get in touch!)PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE LIVING ADVENTUROUSLY PODCAST(It’s completely free, zero hassle to do (click here), but very helpful for me. If you’re feeling extra kind, please leave a review on the app – that really helps.)Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn (“Alexa, please play the Living Adventurously podcast”) or on your favourite podcast platform such as Overcast, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Breaker, Soundcloud, Castbox, Castro.www.alastairhumphreys.com/podcastsSHOW NOTESIf you enjoy listening to this episode over a cup of coffee and think it might be worth the price, you can buy me a "coffee" here: www. ko-fi.com/al_humphreysKeep up to date with future episodes (and my other adventures, projects and books) with my free monthly newsletter: alastairhumphreys.com/newslettersSay hello on Twitter and Instagram: @al_humphreysBlack Girls Hike Instagram pageWent on a 5 to 9 adventure to watch the Perseid Meteor shower - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PerseidsI hadn't done a midweek adventure before, but this showed I can fit more things in.Had a great night's sleep in a bivvy bag4 years ago her aunty took her on a hike in Rivington, aged 28I used to come home and watched NetflixI loved raving, Carnival and reggae festivalsChronixx - https://chronixx.com/Buju Banton - https://www.bujubanton.com/When you admire someone you feel like if you meet someone you might cry.Was on a train journey from Barnsley to Manchester when she saw hikers getting on and off.Said to herself "I'm going to take up hiking this year", then a week later set up @bgh_ukThe day before my first hike I went and bought a raincoat and new bootsI was late for the first hike and there were 13 people waiting for meFollowed a route she found in the Manchester Evening NewsOn that first hike I was winging it a bit, but I managed to get us back to the start. I was an imposterI don't have a favourite hill yet as I haven't done enoughLikes Mam TorChooses places to go from what she sees on InstagramAnyone can get out in the hills. You don't need all the gear. Try to find a community.Start small, start local.When you don't have experience in something you lack confidence and you need someone cheering you on. It's just about finding a community.Don't live in the prism of other people's opinionsBouji - https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=BoujiBlack Girls Hike is a safe space for black women to explore the countryside togetherNot connected to the other BGH groups worldwide - just doing her own thingHer idea of building a community came straight away - "This is great - you need to come!"Delegating her 'baby' is hard. The other group leaders she met via Instagram. It felt natural to try to target the UKI don't always want to be in the spotlight, just because I'm the founder. I'm just leading the spirit.Safe space: you experience so much racism in the UK that you want to be around people who have the shared experience.Good to go where people don't ask "stupid questions about your tan / hair" and everyone is in the same boat as you.You can be your authentic self in a safe space. In her work she senses people have lots of negative perceptions about black people from TV. She is always code-switching so as to not conform to the ideas they have about her.Conversations in the hills - people are more focussed on their well-being. Positive energy.BGH is a way to connect people. Friendships form.Manchester is a transient city so this is place for people to form relationships.A chance for people to be their best selvesOver 100 people came to the first hike in LondonMost of them were new to the outdoors and had never really considered going hiking99% of the time everyone is really happy to share the outdoors and see you enjoying what they are enjoying.Marketing the outdoors to black people is not being done right.The management of National Parks, brands etc are too white and cannot relate. They want you to be involved but they don't want to include you in the decision making.Need more than just having the odd black person in the marketing.It's quite exhausting when people seek her opinion as representative of all black people. The girls that come to the Black Girls Hike events do not come to the other ones that Rhiane organises - they want to be in that safe space@talesofahiker - https://www.instagram.com/talesofahiker/?hl=enhttps://www.humansofnewyork.com/By the time I was 33 I should be married with a mortage, but I'm not like other people my age. I don't want to get old before my time.Don't compare your journey to anyone else's.We are supposed to have an abundance mindset. ★ Support this podcast ★

Karen Darke is an adventurer and Paralympian handcyclist. It is lucky that Karen has what she describes as “an adventurous gene”, as life in a wheelchair is full of the unexpected. Karen was a keen runner and climber (she had climbed Mt Blanc and the Matterhorn), but fell off a cliff and became paralysed from the chest down at age 21. Whilst initially she thought “I’d rather be dead than paralysed”, Karen soon learned that with friends, creativity and perseverence most things are still possible. She says, “it is thanks to those ingredients that I have a pretty extraordinary life.” Continuing her adventures, Karen has handbiked the Silk Road through Central Asia, through the Indian Himalaya from Leh to Manali and the length of Japan. She has kayaked the ‘Inside Passage’ from Vancouver to Alaska and also paddled on an expedition in Patagonia. Karen crossed Greenland's ice cap whilst sitting on skis using her arms and poles to cover the 372-mile crossing. She even returned to climbing, summiting the iconic El Capitan in Yosemite. Always eager to challenge herself, in 2009 Karen became World Paratriathlon Champion and is now a full-time athlete. She was a silver-medallist in the London 2012 Paralympics and became Paralympic Champion in the Rio 2016 Paralympics. At London 2012 Karen missed out on a second medal by a whisker. After crossing the finishing line holding hands with team mate Rachel Morris, both in a time of 1:43:08, Morris was awarded the bronze medal. Karen is currently training for her third Paralympic Games. THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, a small charity doing big things to protect & enhance a very special place & enable everyone to enjoy it.(If your company or organisation is interested in sponsoring Living Adventurously, please get in touch!)PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE LIVING ADVENTUROUSLY PODCAST(It’s completely free, zero hassle to do (click here), but very helpful for me. If you’re feeling extra kind, please leave a review on the app – that really helps.)Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn (“Alexa, please play the Living Adventurously podcast”) or on your favourite podcast platform such as Overcast, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Breaker, Soundcloud, Castbox, Castro.www.alastairhumphreys.com/podcastsSHOW NOTESIf you enjoy listening to this episode over a cup of coffee and think it might be worth the price, you can buy me a "coffee" here: www. ko-fi.com/al_humphreysKeep up to date with future episodes (and my other adventures, projects and books) with my free monthly newsletter: alastairhumphreys.com/newslettersSay hello on Twitter and Instagram: @al_humphreyshttps://www.karendarke.com/Perhaps I'm an expert in reframing things to see them in a positive lightI wouldn't choose to be paralysed, but my life has been special and interesting since then.The one thing we always have control over is our perspective and how we view things.I try to bring more possibility to life.Aged 21 when a climbing accident paralysed herThe impact of realising the paralysis was about a month later when she saw other people in wheelchairs in hospitalI had a couple of weeks when being asleep was far more attractive than being awakeBut there were people around her in a far worse condition. Her perspective shifted from "this is the end of the world" to "come on..."Thought differently about herself after the accident - she was very judgemental about herself. Embarrassed to be in a wheelchair.Her whole body image changed totallyEarly on she realised that there are "helpful but over-helpful" people, and then other people who didn't know how to respond to her.When you meet someone in a wheelchair: just be yourself. But don't launch in with personal questions straight away. "Do you need a hand?" is nice. Just be a nice human being.At first it felt too painful to go back into the mountains so she considered totally changing her lifestyle. But what are the elements of being attracted to adventure? Uncertainty, nature, being with friends. She learned that it was possible to still get all those things.She got a special tandem so that she could share adventure with people. She misses that "shared" side of adventure now she is a professional athlete.Cats only have 7 lives in Spain, not 9Not always good at mitigating risk!I do actually quite like being alive...Hard to say what is the 'best' adventure, because they are all different.It's about the people, the landscapes, the lessons.Spent a few months seakayaking up the coast of Alaska. Had to leave her wheelchair behind. Group of 9 people, living in harmony with the tides and moon, looking out for bears.Suresh Paul - https://www.equaladventure.org/"I wonder how good you could be if you just applied yourself to one thing"I believe that if you put enough hours work in, if you like it enough to put the hours in, then we can all get surprisingly good at things.Karen has won gold and silver medals in the Paralympic gamesIt's much easier to focus when there's a clear timescaleEvery day makes a difference. Every thought makes a difference. The devil is in the detail.My future self will be disappointed if I make excuses and skip things.Karen and Rachel Morris crossed the line together, holding hands, at London 2012 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUeTQcbxl74Who really cares who can ride a handbike faster? It's ridiculous. And yet it's also very special.Rivals don't motivate me, but they inspire me.One of my first races I came last - the finish line didn't even exist by the time I got there! They'd all packed up.Alongside the physical challenge of paralysis, there was also a mental journey. Karen went to study Chinese acupuncture.There is an invisible, hard to define element to life. Connecting with nature is a part of that.I'm not into stuckness. Everything is possible.Before Rio she bought gold shoes and a gold phone case - total commitment to Gold. It shifted her mindset.Feeling free does not necessarily equate to being able to go to physical places. There are many levels to freedom.Our freedoms are all different. Our prisons are all different.Karen's thoughts on freedom -

David Elliott is Chief Executive at Trees for Cities, having previously cleared landmines around the world. Trees for Cities is the only UK charity working at a national and international scale to improve lives by planting trees in cities. David has overall leadership responsibility for the organisation. He has worked in the non-profit sector for a number of international organisations, prior to which he was a management consultant.He is a Commissioner for the London Sustainable Development Commission, a Trustee for the African Conservation Foundation and previously for the International Tree Foundation.He holds BSc degrees in Biological Sciences from Edinburgh University and Politics & International Relations from LSE, and an MBA from Cambridge University.THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY Happy People Hike who believe in the power of fresh air and camaraderie of strangers. The genuine joy experienced on the side of a mountain is a feeling they try to bring back to everyday life. Being outdoors can lift even the lowest of spirits and their apparel is meant to remind you of how great life can be when you spend your time truly experiencing it.​(If your company or organisation is interested in sponsoring Living Adventurously, please get in touch!)PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE LIVING ADVENTUROUSLY PODCAST(It’s completely free, zero hassle to do (click here), but very helpful for me. If you’re feeling extra kind, please leave a review on the app – that really helps.)Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn (“Alexa, please play the Living Adventurously podcast”) or on your favourite podcast platform such as Overcast, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Breaker, Soundcloud, Castbox, Castro.www.alastairhumphreys.com/podcastsSHOW NOTESIf you enjoy listening to this episode over a cup of coffee and think it might be worth the price, you can buy me a "coffee" here: www. ko-fi.com/al_humphreysKeep up to date with future episodes (and my other adventures, projects and books) with my free monthly newsletter: alastairhumphreys.com/newslettersSay hello on Twitter and Instagram: @al_humphreyshttps://www.treesforcities.org/After uni began working for big corporations because he didn't really know which direction he wanted his career to go. He just fell into it.There's not always a grand career plan for people. Need to test the water a bit.What I really wanted to do was travel, explore, and break out of the city.Clearing landmines with the HALO Trust - https://www.halotrust.org/Moved to CambodiaTurned down corporate career ladder to go and clear landmines. Quite an extreme change!Famiy were a little concerned. Friends not so surprised. Good for young people to chop and change, try things out to work what the right path was.I had no qualifications whatsoever to clear landmines. The main qualification was the desire.Straight in at the deep end, learning to clear mines.It was one of the most amazing, grounding experiences of my lifeCambodia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Kosovo, Guinnea Bissau, LiberiaThe first time you dig up a landmine is terrifying - like anything in life the first one is hard. You come to realise that the greatest fear is fear itselfYou get a one-metre lane to clear - first mine took about 5 hours to doMBA at CambridgeLandmine clearing, management consultancy and MBA all combine to really help with the role of CEO at Trees for Cities. You draw on them all in very different waysNon-linear career - everything is useful. Variety is not something to be embarrassed about.http://www.100yearlife.com/Trees for Cities is a charity that originally began by hosting parties then planting trees. The founders were DJs, so they put on parties for their friends and then planted treesNational charity with some international projectsThe least green areas often overlap with social deprivation.Initially people liked trees for the aesthetics, but they are vital for carbon storing, trees absorb heat, provide shade, prevent flooding, filter pollutants.Green space is vital to the infrastructure of cities, and integral to the design of citiesTfC have planted a million treesNot so much about lots of trees, but finding the most effective place to plant trees in citiesTree planting is not always right - you don't want to convert peat bogs to forest, for example. Even a single tree planted strategically in a city can have hundreds of years of benefits for that community, to be engaged and care for it.The benefits on air quality and aesthetics.Trees get people outdoors and experiencing the outdoors, to get them engaged, loving and cherishing the outdoorsNature is thought of as a rural thing, but 80% of us live in cities so we need to make this available on our doorstepsCOVID has shown the importance of local green spacesMany urban green spaces are poor quality - just muddy grass. Green Recovery in the UK - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-commits-350-million-to-fuel-green-recoveryMany local authorities are really trying to make positive changesGB is one of the most nature-depleted countries on the planetWe need to think more radically about transforming our environmentThere are a lot of under-used green spaces. Sections of society don't use them at all. Make them safer, greener, healthierGreen belt is mostly farmland. It can be used better for nature and for people to use. We have crazy rules about wild camping in Britain - we do so much to stop people enjoying the outdoors. This might be part of the reason why there was so much camping littering after lockdownThe Young People they work with have limited engagement with nature. At first there is repulsion with soil / worms etc. But once they plant something this really can transform their lives. TfC Volunteer Planting days - volunteers do most of the planting. Helps them engage with their community. Hundreds of people from all walks of life come along and join in.They have great diversity in the people who join in and participate.A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in. Favourite tree = bee...

Sabrina Pace-Humphreys is an ultra-runner, a businesswoman, a mother of four and a grandmother of two. She is very clear which is the toughest of these challenges...! We talked about becoming a teenage mother, taking up running to lose weight, training for the Marathon des Sables, enduring rural racism, and the launch of Black Trail Runners whose mission is to increase the inclusion, participation and representation of black people in trail running.THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY The Outdoor Swimming Society which has spearheaded significant cultural change in the way outdoor swimming is viewed and the number of people who take part in it. Full of doers, thinkers and creatives, The OSS team uses its talents and personal time to drive change. Over the last 15 years we have had a direct impact on individuals’ swimming habits, inland access, social swimming networks and open water events, all of which has contributed to the lido revival, and the current art, science and culture around swimming.(If your company or organisation is interested in sponsoring Living Adventurously, please get in touch!)PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE LIVING ADVENTUROUSLY PODCAST(It’s completely free, zero hassle to do (click here), but very helpful for me. If you’re feeling extra kind, please leave a review on the app – that really helps.)Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn (“Alexa, please play the Living Adventurously podcast”) or on your favourite podcast platform such as Overcast, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Breaker, Soundcloud, Castbox, Castro.www.alastairhumphreys.com/podcastsSHOW NOTESIf you enjoy listening to this episode over a cup of coffee and think it might be worth the price, you can buy me a "coffee" here: www. ko-fi.com/al_humphreysKeep up to date with future episodes (and my other adventures, projects and books) with my free monthly newsletter: alastairhumphreys.com/newslettersSay hello on Twitter and Instagram: @al_humphreys@blacktrailrunners@sabrunsmilesBeing a mum of 4 is harder than being an ultrarunner or a businesswomanBeing a mum is good ultramarathon training - the pain, the exhaustion etc.!Jasmin Paris - winner of the Spine RaceBeing a teenage mother means you have energy, you don't have competitive pressure or comparisonsA firm believer that life happens for a reason. You take the path that is in front of you. Put on 5 stone (31kg) after giving birth. This was what prompted to her to begin runningI was so ashamed of my body that I didn't dare go to the gymSymphisis pubis dysfunctionBegan running purely to shift weightBeing overweight with a baby, a toddler and a business to run meant that she could not move quick enough for everyday life. Needed to be more mobileManaged half a mile on her first run. A friend said "it looks like you are breathing out of your arse." I was as red as a beetroot.Gave up alcohol 5 years ago. 40th birthday decided to set a huge challenge, an adventure, something out of her comfort zone. Signed up for the Marathon des Sables. Took up trail running to get the rough terrain training needed for the MdSMdS - have to carry all your clothes, food etc.James Cracknell MDS film - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0Qak8e4vYA - That looks horrendous - I have to get an entry to that race!Dean Karnazes - Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night RunnerCommitted to the race by immersing herself in the MdS, learning everything she could. Every adventure I do I want to taste it before committing to it by researching as much as I canCoached by Elisabet Barnes - http://lessonsinbadassery.com/elisabet-barnes-queen-desert-ultra/Training had to fit into my life, not life had to fit into training: lots of 4am runsI couldn't afford to break myself in the Sahara as I had a family back homeFamily acknowledges that running helps manage her mental healthMission is to be the best version of myselfThere's a lot of pressure on females that training is being selfishLuxury item on the MdS - pictures and photos from her familySilly MdS decision not to take running polesSucceeding at this enormous event brought deep satisfaction... for about 2 hours! And then came the "what next"Depressed for about a month afterwardsOnce you've achieved the impossible, where do you go from here?She knew she needed to commit to another challenge to pick herself up againNeeds goals in her lifeI don't know if I'll ever find that pinnacle, and now feeling fulfilled and able to move on to crochet knitting or whatever!I believe we are all here for a specific purposeEnduring rural racism since childhood and adult microagressions has had an impact on her mental healthLiving in a small minority means she feels she needs to prove her existence.Racism prods and pokes at self-esteemMicroagressions in the running community; access to wild placeshttps://www.instagram.com/blacktrailrunners/The countryside is a very white place. She feels like an oddity.Running up a hill listening to music - people looking in a disapproving wayBecome very sensitive to microaggressions when you live with them day in, day out.People jumping out of the way to avoid herRunning places do not always feel like safe placesYou can't be what you can't see (https://www.instagram.com/p/CEl2wRTnBpr/)

David Hanney is the Co-founder and CEO at Alpkit, an outdoor and bike brand for enthusiasts and adventurers. We chatted about buying and selling stuff, what makes a good adventure film, the community of working in an outdoor brand, taking the elitism out of adventure, the need for a new approach to adventure, sustainability, and Blue Peter annuals.THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY WildBounds, who deliver both exceptional kit from independent brands and inspiration for your next adventure.(If your company or organisation is interested in sponsoring Living Adventurously, please get in touch!)PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE LIVING ADVENTUROUSLY PODCAST(It’s completely free, zero hassle to do (click here), but very helpful for me. If you’re feeling extra kind, please leave a review on the app – that really helps.)Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn (“Alexa, please play the Living Adventurously podcast”) or on your favourite podcast platform such as Overcast, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Breaker, Soundcloud, Castbox, Castro.www.alastairhumphreys.com/podcastsSHOW NOTESIf you enjoy listening to this episode over a cup of coffee and think it might be worth the price, you can buy me a "coffee" here: www. ko-fi.com/al_humphreysKeep up to date with future episodes (and my other adventures, projects and books) with my free monthly newsletter: alastairhumphreys.com/newslettersSay hello on Twitter and Instagram: @al_humphreyshttps://twitter.com/alpkithttps://alpkit.com/If a product we develop is something I want to take to the Alps, and if it works in the Peak District, then it's a good product.Years of buying far too much stuff teaches you to manage stock - to flow stuff in. Good buying and retailing is about flowing stock.Being able to sell a t-shirt for £3 raises so many horrible issuesSteepEdge - Video on Demand - https://vimeo.com/steepedgeWhat makes a good adventure film - good narrative, good charaters, interesting peopleIt's a very modern world when we all make films / social media about our holidays52 Peaks adventure - https://www.matthewdickinson.com/52peaks/Lives on the edge of the Peak District deliberately - to be close to the outdoorsLoves the community of working in an outdoor brandAlpkit doesn't see itself as 'hardcore' and therefore can help take the elitism out of adventureThe queue on Everest - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/26/i-wont-be-joining-queue-everest-overcrowding-summitCan't justify flying to Nepal or Antarctica for "middle aged man going on holiday"Alpkit tries to make gear for UK conditionsArc'Teryx and Mountain Equipment are doing good jobsPatagonia have held good principles over 30-40 yearsLet My People go Surfing - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Let-People-Surfing-Education-Businessman-Including/dp/0143109677/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=58661334172&dchild=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwqML6BRAHEiwAdquMnZGqCfCRTFSF_lU9BV8YAsnvLebpFhO5Cpv4sp49YBSwmO7c_RyzNhoCfyAQAvD_BwE&hvadid=259100687418&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9044998&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=5075519006684598494&hvtargid=kwd-296089210690&hydadcr=18711_1817486&keywords=let+my+people+go+surfing&qid=1599130212&sr=8-1&tag=googhydr-21Alpkit founded by a group of friends who enjoyed the outdoors but were frustrated by the gatekeepers of the retail stores. Listen to your customers. Make a really good product. Serve your customers.Alpkit moved from online to stores. Retailers just have an urge to have shops. Commercially it makes sense as the internet isn't the free democratic space it seems to be. Google and Amazon are the gatekeepers.Web sales are stronger in places that they have stores. The stores make a sense of place. Becomes a hub to do stuff.Half of product searches are on Amazon. Rosie Watson's article: https://adventureuncovered.com/stories/building-a-sustainable-outdoor-community-after-covid-19/There's a contradiction of brands who make stuff claiming to be benefiting the environmentNeed to build a relationship with your equipment and make it lastBlue Peter Green Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blue-Peter-Green-Book-Laminated/dp/0563208864Really hard to make a work environment a 'green' placeDon't want to be all doom and gloom - a 'shouldist'The outdoors is a good place, it's where we want to be, it can play a crucial role in the revitalisation of our citiesUs outdoor enthusiasts can lead by exampleAlpkit Foundation - https://alpkit.com/pages/foundationWe need better infrastructure to help larger numbers enjoy the outdoorsCircular economy - the Continuum project finds good homes for old gear: https://alpkit.com/pages/continuumHave a meaningful specific - don't try to please everyoneIf you want to do really quality work that only appeals to a niche - go for that. Do it. ★ Support this podcast ★

Paul Sinton-Hewitt is the founder of Parkrun, the worldwide phenomenon that sees thousands rock up to local parks around the world every Saturday morning to run a timed 5k. Parkrun is a positive, welcoming and inclusive experience where there is no time limit and no one finishes last. Everyone is welcome to come along, whether you walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate.THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY Outdoors Rocks, a well-curated collection of outdoor and adventure movies, from mountain biking to kayaking, extreme skiing to climbing the biggest mountains. Outdoorsrocks.com is the hub for outdoor video content.(If your company or organisation is interested in sponsoring Living Adventurously, please get in touch!)PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE LIVING ADVENTUROUSLY PODCAST(It’s completely free, zero hassle to do (click here), but very helpful for me. If you’re feeling extra kind, please leave a review on the app – that really helps.)Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn (“Alexa, please play the Living Adventurously podcast”) or on your favourite podcast platform such as Overcast, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Breaker, Soundcloud, Castbox, Castro.www.alastairhumphreys.com/podcastsSHOW NOTESIf you enjoy listening to this episode over a cup of coffee and think it might be worth the price, you can buy me a "coffee" here: www. ko-fi.com/al_humphreysKeep up to date with future episodes (and my other adventures, projects and books) with my free monthly newsletter: alastairhumphreys.com/newslettersSay hello on Twitter and Instagram: @al_humphreysParkRun: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/https://twitter.com/paulsintonhewitPeople have even run ParkRun in AntarcticaDon't pay a great deal of attention to the figures of ParkRun because it's never really been about the figures.Ambitious to have a ParkRun in every villageMotivation has moved towards health and well-being more than sheer runningDarren Wood has run almost 800 ParkRunsA few thousand people have done 250 runsVolunteering is not giving something back, it's doing something for yourselfWhen you volunteer you come away energised and feel greatThe average time for ParkRun is going up - more people are getting involvedTrying to take away the barriers so that everyone can get involved5km for someone who has never done a 5km feels huge. Once you've done it, your perspective changes.For many people ParkRun is the one highlight of their week. They operate on Xmas Day because some people are very lonely that day.Paul began ParkRun at a time when his own life was not going very well. He wanted people to not only run, but mostly join him for coffee afterwards.13 runners on the first day.2 prizes that day - for the fastest and for the slowestParkRun is not a race. It can be a race against yourself.There were volunteers on the first day, so that has been a core part of it ever since. First ParkRun was at Bushey Park in LondonHe needed community to help his own life - it was a key part of that first eventThe social communion is vital to ParkRunA well-functioning team can get almost anything done.You don't have to be competent yourself - surround yourself with good people.The first step is the hardest, the decision that "I am going to do this no matter what"In the first 10 years there were many times when he questioned whether it was worth itThere are times when you know that what you are standing for is good and proper.Sleeping under the stars - a simple, lovely idea, but there is a lot of resistance. Paul slept outside his van throughout a tour round France. Loved it.If I planned to create what we've got today I would have failed. ParkRun has been a step at a time affair.It started gently, under the radar, so he could make mistakes and learn from themMalala - https://malala.org/malalas-storyGreta - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMrtLsQbaokYou've got to try and live every single day to the fullest - embrace the opportunities that exist and be as happy as you can about everythingVery early on I realised my own limitations. I am a generalist. I need specialists around me. Brought in experts to ParkRun - handed over control of ParkRun UK and then worldwide. Feelings of immense loss.The handover period was unpleasant and uncomfortable, but he knew that the right things were happening.Difference between being inclusive and actively targeting under-represented groups. ParkRun targets disadvantaged communities deliberately and tries to draw people out.ParkRun takes place in prisonsBehavioural Insights: things need to be Easy, Attractive, Social and Timely.Everyone is welcome to ParkRunI was not looking for monumental growth. Began with 13. When it got to 100, Paul thought "oh my god!"Didn't ask anyone's permission to beginGood decision in life - try to understand yourself. Be honest about your weaknesses. Then be honest to those you love about your weaknesses.  ★ Support this podcast ★

David Lindo, also known as The Urban Birder, is a broadcaster, writer, naturalist, photographer, public speaker, tour leader and passionate birder. Born and raised in London, David loves anything to do with nature, but for as long as he can remember birds have been his particular obsession. David says, "You don’t have to wear green anoraks; you can look cool and fashionable, I find the birds prefer it too.Get your friends involved.Find a local patch to regularly visit.Think that anything can turn up anywhere at anytime - that still works for me to this day.Don’t go out expecting to see anything. That way you’ll never be disappointed but most likely be surprised. And remember: look up!"THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY Offgrid Design Agency who want to work with people who aren’t scared to look at things differently, that want to make a difference and are willing to go a (little) Off Grid.(If your company or organisation is interested in sponsoring Living Adventurously, please get in touch!)PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE LIVING ADVENTUROUSLY PODCAST(It’s completely free, zero hassle to do (click here), but very helpful for me. If you’re feeling extra kind, please leave a review on the app – that really helps.)Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn (“Alexa, please play the Living Adventurously podcast”) or on your favourite podcast platform such as Overcast, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Breaker, Soundcloud, Castbox, Castro.www.alastairhumphreys.com/podcastsSHOW NOTESIf you enjoy listening to this episode over a cup of coffee and think it might be worth the price, you can buy me a "coffee" here: www. ko-fi.com/al_humphreysKeep up to date with future episodes (and my other adventures, projects and books) with my free monthly newsletter: alastairhumphreys.com/newslettersSay hello on Twitter and Instagram: @al_humphreysThe Urban Birder - https://theurbanbirderworld.com/https://www.instagram.com/theurbanbirder/In Conversation With interviews - https://theurbanbirderworld.com/live-webinars/The Great Bustard (went extinct in the UK in 1840) - http://greatbustard.org/the-project/Birders make annual bird lists. A 'big year' is a personal challenge or an informal competition among birders who attempt to identify as many species as possible by sight or sound, within a single calendar year and within a specific geographic area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_year620 bird species seen in London, if only once.Possible to see 200 bird species in a year in LondonI remember watching a puffin from Hammersmith BridgeBeen to 350 cities birdingAlmost nobody considers birding in cities - you become an urban explorerWild places exist even inside your house. Nature surrounds you.Been birding since the devil was a boyBirding is my reason for being. It was my destiny.Birding makes me feel good. The moment you connect with nature you feel good. It's a great thing to do when you are in a tight cornerTrying to 'sell' birding as a life choice, like meditation or yogaSome ornithogists think urban birding is not 'real' birdingYou have to work harder in a city to see birds. This hones your skillsAnything can turn up at any timeTrying to make birding more accessible worldwide. Cleveland, US. Starting a birding project in an urban, African American neighbourhood.Urban birding is a way of helping people get to know their areaGrew up in Wembley, used to explore the local park and wasteground. Exploring wilderness, making camps, making dens, studying the bird life. The top of tall buildings - the same height as migrating birdsBritain's national bird - the robinHoming: on Pigeons. Did a talk in prisons about birding - everyone enjoyed it and was engaged.Takes urban kids on nature walks. There is a problem with inner city engagement - they don't think it is for them.TV always portrays nature as being out in the countryside, so people in cities think it's not for them.Need to get more nature in the curriculum.Media portrays nature via white middle-class men. That's a problem.Needs to be a wider range of nature programming - not just epic David Attenborough stuff.Nature TV is always about entertainment now. Becomes unattainable.Too much emphasis on jaws, claws and fangsI was born interested. I think I was born as a puma in a previous life.My interest in nature was instinctive. None of my friends and family were interested. Good to keep areas of gardens wild. Don't over-manicure parks. Allow things to flourish.New housing estates should be built with more green and blue and less grey.Build new houses with holes in for swifts and bats. You don't need to do a lot to be a birder. Have an open mind and wonderment.It's not that important to know what you are looking at. At first it's just about noticing that it is there. You don't have to wear green and wellies - you can just go out and be coolIf you're single it's great to tell people that you are a birderI'm addicted to custardEarly Electric Light OrchestraMoney buys you anything and nothing ★ Support this podcast ★

ReRun is a Community Interest Company aimed at prolonging the life of running clothes and equipment. Founded and run by Dan Lawson, Team GB 24hr Ultra runner and his wife Charlotte. They say, "the biggest thing we can do is to ask "do I really need this?" before buying something. It is good for the planet, but also saves you money so you can work less, and therefore spend more time with your family or out in nature."Adidas makes 400 million shoes a year, but every trainer ever made still exists! So ReRun is trying to eradicate waste in the running community by prolonging the life of every item.As well as clothing, we talked about Ultrarunning, taking a degree in dance, and the world of Bollywood movies!THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY The Wave Project, the world’s first ‘surf therapy’ course funded by a government health service. The Wave Project brings people together through surfing. (If your company or organisation is interested in sponsoring Living Adventurously, please get in touch!)PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE LIVING ADVENTUROUSLY PODCAST(It’s completely free, zero hassle to do (click here), but very helpful for me. If you’re feeling extra kind, please leave a review on the app – that really helps.)Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn (“Alexa, please play the Living Adventurously podcast”) or on your favourite podcast platform such as Overcast, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Breaker, Soundcloud, Castbox, Castro.www.alastairhumphreys.com/podcastsSHOW NOTESIf you enjoy listening to this episode over a cup of coffee and think it might be worth the price, you can buy me a "coffee" here: www. ko-fi.com/al_humphreysKeep up to date with future episodes (and my other adventures, projects and books) with my free monthly newsletter: alastairhumphreys.com/newslettersSay hello on Twitter and Instagram: @al_humphreysReRun Clothing: https://rerunclothing.org/https://www.instagram.com/rerun.clothingDan ran a half marathon at 12Dan Lawson is now a GB ultramarathon runner - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_LawsonDan didn't run a marathon until his late 30s - ran it on his own in the South Downs with no training - as the result of an argument with a friendIf you want to run a good time in a marathon you have to train, but if you just want to do it then anyone can do it.Charlotte has run a 5.30 marathon. "It was worse than giving birth!"Charlotte - "I like the idea of being a runner"Charlotte wanted to be a Top of the Pops dancer. She went to the Brit school at 14 - https://www.brit.croydon.sch.uk/Degree at London Contemporary Dance School - https://www.lcds.ac.uk/lcds-homepage"I did all my professional training... and then I got pregnant."A degree in dance - 90 mins ballet, 90 mins contemporary dance, pilates every dayChoreography, dance theory, dance history, dance notation, preparing routinesMartha Graham - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_GrahamTwyla Tharp - the Creative Habit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Habit-Learn-Use-Life/dp/0743235274C: My love of dance was not creating it, but perfecting somebody else's visionC: dancers are fitter than ultrarunners. Dan agrees. "Dancers are very strong"D: Ultrarunning is easy: you've just got to want to do it. It is more about blocking out the noise in your head than being physically fit.D: I've always had a vice in my life. Running is a vice.What are you running away from?Ultrarunning is a form of self-harmI run to calm my mind - it's like a drug. You need to run longer and longerRunning is a moreish addiction.C: Running also brings you joy, DanD: Running brings me immense joy. I also meditate. Running is like a fast-track to that point of stillness.Runs without headphones so that his mind quietens downThe flow state in both running and dancingBritish Athletics 24 hour team - https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/news-and-features/12-british-athletes-selected-for-24-hour-world-championships/24 hour running round a running trackUltraGobi 400Charlotte is part of the GB 24 hour support crewRole of crew: don't sleep, don't have empathy/emotion, have to be harsh at them and say "just keep running"Ultrarunning is actually a team game - you can't run far, fast without someone looking after you. The crew is vitalSetting off to attempt to break the record for running Land's End to John O'Groats. (Spoiler: he did it! https://www.instagram.com/p/CD7v54nHJiH/?utm_source=ig_embed) - 9 Days 21 hours 14 minutes 2 secondsPrevious attempt Dan just ran out of steamThe record for cycling from Land's End to John o' Groats is held by Andy Wilkinson, who completed the journey in 41 hours, 4 minutes and 22 seconds on a Windcheetah recumbent tricycle. Charlotte danced in Bollywood moviesWith 2 small children we decided that life could be more exciting and decided to move to IndiaPatnem, GoaA lady asked Charlotte what she did for a living. She lied and said "a dancer" because she had always wanted to be a dancer. The lady happened to be an agent for Bollywood movies and offered her an audition. 2 weeks later she was tapdancing to "diamonds are a girls' best friend" on a piano in a 7-star hotel!Dan used to be sponsored by running companies. Got tired of plugging stuff on Instagram to sell stuff nobody needs. It was kind of an ego thing.We wanted to promote something...