Apes on Tape

Probably one of the most open and meaningful conversations we've ever had on the podcast. Recorded face to face in Portugal, what started as an amazing trip slowly turned into feelings of guilt, insecurity and pressure to enjoy every moment. We talk about feeling like a burden, regressing into old dynamics, and the immense power of friendship and understanding.

Benji’s living off-grid in Portugal and somehow ended up with thousands of bees swarming around his new home. We get into that, and a few other things along the way.

A new dog called Roger, and a new magic chapter. Portugal storms, flooded fields, and some honest chat about optimism, relationships, and staying positive when life doesn’t go to plan.

Fred sits down with his good friend Mickey for a long overdue catch up and a candid reflection on one of the biggest years of Mickey’s life. From travelling the world and working on ambitious creative projects to living what many would call the dream, Mickey opens up about the real lessons behind the highlight reel. They talk success, momentum, mental health, personal growth, and what it actually...

Fuel leaks, ferry drama, wildfires and hernia ops, Benji is the luckiest unlucky man on this disaster of a road trip. His story is pure carnage from start to finish.

Fred shares the full story of how a relationship retreat turned into one of the biggest moments of his life- proposing to Cris! Between deep chats, emotional breakthroughs, and a perfectly-timed romantic moment, it’s a story of nerves, laughter, and love. Benji also fills us in on his homestead life in Portugal, from catching rainwater off the new roof to escaping the heatwave.

Benji opens up about the emotional journey behind his move to Portugal - the challenges, the pride, and the quiet satisfaction of building the life he always dreamed of. Fred wheels out of his comfort zone with his first ever proper magic gig, sharing the nerves, surprises, and moments of connection that came with it. He also talks candidly about a bold entrepreneurial pivot - selling nudes online...

Fred and Benji catch up on the beautiful chaos of life’s latest chapters. Benji shares the joy and hustle of working on his place in Portugal and pulling off a heartfelt birthday surprise for Roz. Fred reflects on the emotional rollercoaster of moving house — the clarity that comes with decluttering, the stress of letting go, and the strange peace found in downsizing. Benji encourages Fred to open...

In this episode of Apes on Tape, Fred and Benji dive into some big life changes and deep conversations. Fred talks about moving into a new place, the challenges of downsizing, and how minimalism takes on a whole new dimension when you have a disability. Meanwhile, Benji reflects on his gratitude for becoming a Portuguese resident. They also revisit a listener’s message about God—someone who found...

It's NYE 2025 and Benji takes us on a wild ride through his Ayahuasca ceremony, sharing the highs, the lows, and everything in between. It’s a hilarious and captivating story that sparks plenty of laughs and some surprising parallels to past psychedelic experiences. Before that, Fred opens up about his insecurities meeting his girlfriend’s parents for the first time—navigating language barrier...

Embracing hair loss, buying shipping containers and the secret to being festive this Christmas. patreon.com/FreddoTheWheelchairGuy Free Christmas Cards : https://buymeacoffee.com/freddosmith/e/50076 Try Waking Up for free with a 30-day guest pass: https://dynamic.wakingup.com/guestpass/SC20FE1A9

Fred and Benji dive into the highs and lows of life, from Benji’s recent quiet wedding to Fred’s ongoing struggle with phone addiction. They discuss how unmet expectations—whether on psychedelics or in daily routines—can spark deep dissatisfaction. With honesty and humor, they explore the impact of manifesting life goals, the courage to change bad habits, and how sometimes support from a friend ma...

After a summer filled with fun and his recent engagement to his fiancée, Benji is finding it hard to adjust to having a long distance relationship, experiencing the post-summer blues and grappling with feelings of purpose and meaning.  Freddo provides a supportive space and shares his own difficulties of maintaining healthy habits when in a funk, and how knowing the right things to do doesn’t alwa...

In this heartwarming episode, we celebrate Benji's recent engagement. The first half of the conversation is all about the love story of Benji and Roz —how he knew she was the one, the details of his proposal, and the unforgettable moment they got engaged. It’s a beautiful and uplifting discussion about love and commitment. As the episode wraps up, Freddo opens up about feelings of envy, and Be...

Hello, dear listeners! I'm thrilled to introduce you to my friend Matt Barker. On a recent trip to Southampton for my nephew's wedding, I had the pleasure of staying with Matt and his wonderful wife Becky for four days.  During my stay, Matt and I recorded an informal chat, where we reminisced about our favourite teachers, discussed the nuances of people-pleasing, and shared some of our pr...

Meet Erik Kondo, a paraplegic inventor who’s turning the wheelchair industry on its head. From wheelchair skateboarding to DIY innovations, Erik shares affordable, open-source solutions on his website for everyone to use. In this episode, Erik reveals why custom-fitted wheelchairs often fall short and how we can learn from the bike industry to offer different chairs for different needs. He challen...

Mark Holland didn’t realise that this would be the last time he’d ever ride his beloved bike. Mark was on a mountain bike holiday with his friends in Morzine when tragedy struck  The accident was bad and diagnosis was dire. It’s tough being told you’ll never walk again.  Find out more about the events of that fateful day, as they unfolded. Mark talks of his journey from then until now with raw hon...

A thoughtful gift prompts deep discussion about childhood insecurities and overcoming them. From the flow state things that make you forget about time, to the pro’s and cons of being self employed vs having a job, we cover a lot of ground. Finally, we talk about a heavy topic: assisted suicide. We share feelings and thoughts, showing that tough subjects can be handled with care. Join us for a laid...

A candid conversation about all the weird and wonderful things that being a paraplegic entails. We hope that hearing us laugh about it can help newly injured folk come to terms with their situation.

A conversation on honesty, relationships and distance.  Benji talks about the joys of his recent holiday with his mum and girlfriend and the challenges of long distance relationships.  Freddo talks of having the opposite experience when enveloped in a love bubble with his girlfriend. We explore the nature of direct communication and ask why it can feel so uncomfortable sometimes, while remaining c...

Pedaling dreams from Argentina to Alaska. I was fortunate to recently meet Christian Hosking, who accomplished something truly extraordinary by cycling not only through the rugged terrains of Patagonia and the demanding Alaskan wilderness but also enduring a continuous mental trial. Over 18 months, he cycled two continents. Each pedal seemed to bring new challenges and insights, which he shares wi...

Pete was there on the day of my Spinal Cord Injury, playing a pivotal role in the rescue mission after I snowboarded off a cliff. Now, in his second podcast visit, we catch up on life post-accident. It's a down-to-earth conversation, full of real talk and reflections on where life has taken us since that fateful day.  We share how the accident's ripples have affected us in different ways,...

In this special in person episode, Benji shares how he met Roz, and Freddo shares how he met Cris, a pair of equally sweet stories of romance and love ❤️ We share how special the serendipitous journeys running in parallel have multiplied the joy for both of us. We share the biggest lessons learned, highlights, lowlights and accomplishments from both of us. We also end up in tears at the end when B...

“Yule Can’t Handle The Truth” Welcome, dear listeners, to another heartfelt episode of apes on tape, where raw conversations intertwine with laughter, exploring the profound tapestry of friendship, mental health, and the quirks that make us human. In this week's authentic exchange, Benji vulnerably unfolds the recent loss of a dear friend, unravelling the intricate tapestry of emotions that inevit...

In today's conversation, Freddo chat’s with Tom Powell, a dedicated listener of the podcast, who recently reached out with a question about mushroom ceremonies. Little did we know, our connection would lead us to a story too incredible not to share. Tom just happened to be there on the day when Freddo snowboarded off a cliff, resulting in a life-altering accident that left him paralysed from t...