The Adventure Podcast

In the second half of this two-part interview, Sophy Roberts shares the epiphany that led to her debut book The Lost Pianos of Siberia, and the ‘pursuit of an object’ that ultimately took six expeditions, thousands of miles of travel and three years of her life. Sophy eloquently describes an odyssey through communities living by the rhythm of the earth, and the surprising freedom she found deep in...

Sophy Roberts cut her journalistic teeth reviewing luxury hotels for glossy magazines, before turning her back on the world of ‘infinity pools, free lunches and free flights’ to tell the story of a vast swathe of Russia – eleven percent of the earth’s landmass – that is arguably the least luxurious destination on the planet. In the first half of this two-part interview Sophy looks back on the...

Filmmaker and producer Emma Crome specialises in adventure and documentary film production. Following an unexpected insight into the decline of Britain’s wild spaces, Emma embarked on a long-term documentary project exploring the contemporary and precarious state of nature in the UK. Along the way she discovered the story of the father and son subjects of John MacDonald’s book ‘The Last English Po...

Nick Bullock describes himself, in a self-deprecating manner that is a refreshing hallmark of his storytelling, as “someone who likes to go climbing”. Preferring off-the-radar mountains to well-trodden summits, his 24th expedition was to the rarely-climbed 7555m Mount Gongga, in the Sichuan region of China, “a massive mountain that launches up into the sky out of nowhere.” In this conversation wit...

Five weeks after first arriving in the UK to study, Vedangi Kulkarni set off on her bike with the aim of discovering the country she had chosen to call home. Three weeks later, she stopped pedalling in John O’Groats, having cycled the length of mainland Britain. The story of how she got there is far from the usual bike-packing tale - with no sleeping bag, and an accidental foray onto the M27 - but...

In 1989, George Monbiot travelled to Brazil to explore the troubling stories emerging from the rainforest. He lived in Manaus - in the heart of the Amazon - for two years, learning Portuguese and immersing himself in the country. George describes this time as “the beginning of my political education”, and his story spans a series of encounters that trump any Hollywood film, with investigations int...

Still climbing in his ninth decade – and with nearly 30 first ascents under his belt – Sir Chris Bonington’s appetite for adventure has made him both a trailblazer and a mainstay of the mountaineering community. This conversation spans the peaks and valleys of a life well lived, and offers insight, humour and pathos. From an unsuccessful boyhood attempt on Snowdon to breaking new ground...

Iain Miller might just be the only professional sea stack climber on Earth. 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". What follows is an extraordinary collection of Ia...

The eighth episode in this lockdown series is with Jenny Tough. The Solitude Specials are a new series of shorter conversations with adventurous souls who know a thing or two about managing their physical, mental and emotional energy in peculiarly challenging and stressful times. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...

The seventh episode in this series is with Dr Beth Healey. The Solitude Specials are a new series of shorter conversations with adventurous souls who know a thing or two about managing their physical, mental and emotional energy in peculiarly challenging and stressful times. Image: Lorenzo Moggio Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

The sixth episode in "The Solitude Specials" is with Dee Caffari. The Solitude Specials are a new series of shorter conversations with adventurous souls who know a thing or two about managing their physical, mental and emotional energy in peculiarly challenging and stressful times. To hear more from Dee, check out Episode 024 in our archive! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventu...

The fifth episode in "The Solitude Specials" is with Tim Howell. The Solitude Specials are a new series of shorter conversations with adventurous souls who know a thing or two about managing their physical, mental and emotional energy in peculiarly challenging and stressful times. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...

The fourth episode in "The Solitude Specials" is with Aldo Kane. The Solitude Specials are a new series of shorter conversations with adventurous souls who know a thing or two about managing their physical, mental and emotional energy in peculiarly challenging and stressful times. Listen to Episode 006 in the archive for a longer conversation with Aldo. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com...

The third episode in "The Solitude Specials" is with Hazel Findlay. The Solitude Specials are a new series of shorter conversations with adventurous souls who know a thing or two about managing their physical, mental and emotional energy in peculiarly challenging and stressful times. Listen to Episode 019 in the archive for a longer conversation with Hazel. Support this show http://supporter.acast...

The second episode in "The Solitude Specials" is with Ben Saunders. The Solitude Specials are a new series of shorter conversations with adventurous souls who know a thing or two about managing their physical, mental and emotional energy in peculiarly challenging and stressful times. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...

The first episode in 'The Solitude Specials' is with Megan Hine. The Solitude Specials are a new series of shorter conversations with adventurous souls who know a thing or two about managing their physical, mental and emotional energy in peculiarly challenging and stressful times. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...

Having spent years working for the Royal Flying Doctors in Australia, and a season at Everest Basecamp, Tash Burley spent the 2019-2020 Antarctic season as camp medic for Antarctic logistics specialists White Desert. Amidst tales of hanging out of helicopters, and nighttime landings at remote bush airstrips lit by burning oil drums, Tash considers fear, the importance of staying true to yourself,...

The first episode in our Antarctic mini-series is with fourth-generation South African farmer Kobus Stadler, who spent the end of 2019 in Antarctica, helping maintain the camp and ski-way for Antarctic logistics specialists White Desert. Given the current global crisis, Kobus's tips for surviving an Antarctic whiteout in isolation are perhaps more relevant than we foresaw. Support this show http:/...

In the 1960s, Ian (Spike, to his mates, his family, and pretty much everyone else) Sykes spent two years as a dog sled driver for the British Antarctic Survey. With no previous experience, he boarded a ship South and learnt to drive the dogs as he went. In this episode of The Adventure Podcast, Spike regales us with tales of calling mayday on the radio, stitching a dog’s eye socket back together,...

Anna Taylor had never travelled further than Germany when she boarded the plane to Guyana to join Leo Houlding on a world class expedition to Mount Roraima. The day after the helicopter whisked her away from the summit, Matt sat down with Anna to talk candidly about her experiences throughout the month in the jungle, looking at what has changed, and what has remained the same. Support this show ht...

On the 4th December 2019, Leo and the team stood on top of Mount Roraima in the darkness. With everyone on the summit, all that was left to do was haul the bags to the top and await the helicopter. This episode of the Roraima Expedition series is a montage of conversations with Leo, Waldo and Wilson as they describe the journey from Invisible Ledge to the summit, and their closing remarks on the e...

The team are now living on the wall, and finding their way up it. Waldo talks us through the route so far - right at Tarantula Terrace, right again at Invisible Ledge and round The Anvil - and the roles each team member plays in getting the expedition to the top of Mount Roraima. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...

Advanced base camp has been established, and it's time to head up the wall. Before they do, here's an in-depth expedition update from team leader Leo Houlding. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One week in to the Roraima Expedition, Matt sits down with the youngest member of the team, Anna Taylor, to talk about her jungle experience so far. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of Kendal Mountain Festival 2019, Matt spoke to festival director Steve Scott about what's in store for you this year, and how he ended up running one of the world's biggest mountain festivals. From the Lake District to the Norwegian slopes, via the French Alps, Steve has his own fair share of adventurous tales to tell. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast . Hos...