Cool Conversations with Kenton Cool

This week, Kenton sits down with Ross and Hugo Turner, also known as The Turner Twins. The identical twins are adventurers who embark on a variety of different challenges, often linked to scientific studies due to sharing the same DNA. Kenton talks to them about their recent project driving the first fully electric 2-seater convertible MG from London to Shanghai, visiting 27 countries along the wa...

Lukas is a mountaineer, geographer, adventurer, leader of countless expeditions and founder of Furtenbach Adventures. He has established Furtenbach Adventures as one of the premier operators on Everest, and he and Kenton reflect on the 2024 season together. Lukas was one of only three foreign operators granted permits to climb Everest from the North Side this year and he tells Kenton about the cha...

This week, Kenton sits down with Arctic photographer, Martin Hartley, to hear about his latest project. Martin has recently returned from a research project on a boat off Norway, photographing previously undiscovered species from the deep sea - something he never thought he would do. Martin and Kenton talk about sea ice levels, macro-level photography, the terrifying effect of global warming, and...

Tim Howell is an alpinist, a mountaineer, a climber and one of the world's leading wingsuit base-jumpers. Kenton sat down to talk to Tim at Everest Basecamp where he is based in pursuit of his next goal: claiming a record high-altitude wingsuit flight. Tim and Kenton talk about risk-taking: the importance of balancing risk and understanding the conditions in pursuit of goals. It is not unusual for...

Anna Hemmings is a phenomenal athlete who has been crowned World Champion six-times and competed at two Olympic games. Her chosen sport is marathon kayaking which requires high levels of strength, endurance, and skill (you will learn how difficult Kenton finds it to sit in a kayak, let alone race in one!). Anna's story is a remarkable one: she tells Kenton how she was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigu...

This week, Kenton sits down with James Peach - a brand strategist by trade, who likes to add side-helpings of adventure to keep things interesting! James has worked for brands such as Innocent, Uber and Vinted and he shares some fascinating insights into their cultures and his experiences with these organisations. He talks about 'hustle', 'toe-stepping' and 'teetering on the edge of the red' among...

This week, Kenton talks to Justin Wateridge who is MD of boutique travel agency, Steppes Travel, and extremely passionate about travel. Justin has visited over 80 countries around the world and talks enthusiastically about each and every one of them. Justin travels with curiosity, learning about aspects of people and culture that aren't covered by headlines or magazine articles. He is also a heart...

This week, Kenton chats to Anna Wells who, just two weeks ago, became the first female to ever complete a Winter Munro Round. Anna climbed all 282 Munros between 22nd December 2023 and 14th March 2024 - a feat only achieved by three others in history. Anna took three months leave from her day job and careered head first into this awe-inspiring challenge. She climbed mountains in all weathers, many...

This week, Kenton speaks to ultra-runner and endurance coach, Allie Bailey. Allie's story is not straight-forward. From the age of 14, she battled with addiction to alcohol, she was severely depressed, and she suffered numerous mental health crises. She started running in the midst of her addiction and completed many marathons and ultra-marathons whilst hungover or under the influence. This only s...

This week, Kenton chats to Jono Sumner who runs a very successful business with his brother and his best friend. The threesome co-founded LifeJacket Skin in 2020 after several of their friends, and Jono himself, were diagnosed with cancer. LifeJacket has a single vision: to halt the increase in skin cancer, which is the world's most common cancer even though it is 90% preventable. Their skin prote...

Kari is a Swiss born mountain guide who was the founder of 'Kobler and Partner', a highly successful guiding company. Having led 38 expeditions to 8,000m peaks, Kari's focus has shifted from chasing high altitude summits to enjoying what he calls a 'rich life'. With his booming voice and infectious laugh, Kari really is one of the big characters of the Himalayan guiding world. Today Kari splits hi...

A much overdue return to expedition live, this time on the slopes of the highest peak in the Americas. Standing at 6,961m, Aconcagua provides a fabulous introduction to high altitude climbing and is the focus of this weeks podcast. In this episode Kenton teams up with client and friend Richard Williams as they attempt this mountain of ancient volcanic origin. Follow their journey from the vibrant...

This week, I speak to Hugo Tagholm, current CEO of Oceana and former CEO of Surfers Against Sewage. Hugo has fused his work with his passion and has dedicated his life to protecting our oceans through innovative ideas, collaborations, campaigns, communications and action. Hugo is an enthusiastic sportsman, with surfing being his number one sport, and it was through this that he first became aware...

This week, I speak to ultra-runner and current 50K World Champion, Carla Molinaro. Her energy, enthusiasm and joy for life come through in bucket loads during this episode and we defy any listener not to find it infectious! Carla grew up in the UK and now lives and trains in Cape Town. She holds the World Record for running from Lands End to John O’Groats (LEJOG) and became 50km road World Champio...

This week we grab an opportunity. After climbing Pen-Y-Fan in Wales with photographer and community champion Dan James, we utilised the time on the drive home to interview this special individual. Today, Dan follows the path of ‘what feels best’ in the moment, pursuing what his heart tells him rather than what society deems best. What would appear to most as a carefree journey through life, actual...

Neil is one of the best all-round athletes I’ve ever met, innately talented across a spectrum of sports, although it was Snow Boarding where he made his name as the sport began to grow. In this episode we chart Neil’s career and what motivates him to constantly strive to be the very best version of himself. We also talk about longevity and the importance of putting the work in on yourself to maint...

Alastair Humphreys is an adventurer and author. In the past, he has embarked on huge adventures, such as cycling around the world and rowing the Atlantic, but he has found a new passion in micro-adventures and challenges closer to home. In this classic 'cool conversation', Al tells Kenton about walking across Spain and busking with a violin, sleeping on his local hill, and most recently exploring...

Artistic director and CEO of The Barn Theatre in Cirencester, Iwan has established himself as a leading light of regional theatre. Growing up in West Wales, it was all about rugby, but an epiphany took him down a different path and into West End Theatre. The Barn is considered one of the very best of the UK's regional theatres, and talking to Iwan we gain a glimpse into why. In this episode, Iwan...

Steve McClure The mild-mannered janitor of British Climbing is really a full-blown Jedi. Steve has been at the very top of world climbing since his first ascent of 'Mutation' back in 1998, which may have been the hardest climb in the world at the time. Since then, this climbing CV is a catalogue of mind-boggling hard grades, both on sport and hard (dangerous) trad routes. In this episode, Steve ex...

How do you balance the work/life conundrum? Now add the extra dimension of being an acclaimed ultra-runner and the training that is required to be competitive.... Rob appears to have found the sweet spot as well as being confident to move his family overseas for a prolonged period of time in order to educate the children beyond the normal, as well as to win all the local ultra-races as the unknown...

Kenton teams up with his long-time friend Neil Brodie and together they embark on a multi-pitch rock climb which pushes them both (especially Kenton) to the limit. Situated in the stunning Aravis Alps the boys decide to take on a climb on the little frequented cliff above Le Sappey. What (on paper) should have been a mellow day out turns into a much more intense rollercoaster-like experience which...

Two world titles and Olympic medals don’t necessarily set you up for what comes next.  Following the London 2012 Olympics Alex stepped away from the sport that had defined him. He then spent time carving a ‘successful’ path in the city, only to find that his life lacked the purpose that he needed to live in a wholesome way. After years of trying to find a substitute for what elite sport gave, Alex...

There can be no doubt that the Matterhorn is the most iconic mountain in the world. It dominates the view from the Swiss village of Zermatt becoming a focus for Victorian era mountaineers vying for the first ascent.  Today over 150 years later it still represents a challenge for the ambitious Alpine climber. In this world of commercialism most people employ the help of a professional mountain guid...

In this episode I venture into the world of sports and personal training with Matt Mullan, the erstwhile professional rugby player turned personal trainer extraordinaire. Nestled in the heart of the scenic Cotswolds, Matt's gym, Front Row Fitness, is where dreams meet reality. From his early career on the field, tackling formidable opponents with Worcester, Wasps, and England, to his current avata...

Matt DeSantis has spent the last 10 years invested in the people and culture of Bhutan. Turning his back on a corporate job after an impromptu visit to the little-known Himalayan kingdom, Matt has become a pivotal figure in Bhutan. In this episode, we discuss his love for the country and what makes the culture and people unique. - Sponsors - @lasportivauk @petzl_official @Arcteryxuk @landrover @ly...