The Adventure Podcast

Episode 216 of The Adventure Podcast is Part Two of the conversation with Charlie Reynolds. If you've not listened to the first half, go back to episode 215. We start this episode where left off, on a canoe in the waves after a brutal storm. Matt and Charlie continue unpacking his extraordinary journey, and several near misses, through South America. They dig into what those moments taught Charlie about instinct, trust, risk, and why some of his most meaningful insights came from silence rather than adrenaline. Charlie speaks openly about the emotional crash that followed his expedition. The hollow feeling of coming home, how identity becomes intertwined with extreme experiences, and why the aftermath can sometimes be the hardest to navigate. It's an episode packed full of adventure - from crossing an abandoned railway bridge with a no-fall zone, to accidentally befriending illegal gold miners, being robbed at knifepoint while camped in the mountains, and spending hours stuck in volcanic mud between two enormous Ecuadorian volcanoes - its a ride and a half. If Part 1 was about the catalyst that launched him, Part 2 is the proof that once Charlie started chasing uncertainty, the world kept handing him more.Chapter Breakdown00:00:00-00:05:00: Charlie arrives exhausted in Bogotá, sleeps for days, and rebuilds his bike setup before launching into the second half of the journey.00:12:50-00:15:25: He describes arriving in Colombia soaked, gear ruined.00:22:07-00:24:50: Charlie tells Matt about riding across a terrifying abandoned railway viaduct - narrow, unsupported, rattling, and suspended high above a Colombian river.00:31:04-00:33:51: He recounts being approached by armed miners who ended up asking for drone shots, following him on Instagram, and turning what could have been a dangerous situation into a strangely wholesome encounter.00:34:14-00:36:35: Riding south, he meets Diego, who gives him a list of spicy routes, including one that would become one of his biggest “struggle-fests” of the whole expedition.00:36:35-00:38:35: Charlie explains the notorious volcanic mud route.00:40:15-00:42:33: He describes camping in freezing marshland beneath Chimborazo, eating frozen tuna-rice for breakfast, and spending hours trying to haul his 200kg bike up a slope.00:46:04-00:48:28: With an injured leg and almost no energy, Charlie sends a single InReach message home.00:49:52-00:52:14: He recounts being robbed by men who spent hours at his tent demanding money.00:59:38-01:01:32: A detour with a friend ends in them burying a rental car deep in a canyon01:07:16-01:08:24: As he reaches southern South America, the adventure becomes less intense, but not less meaningful.01:08:42-01:11:47: Worried about losing momentum and returning to rent-paying normality, Charlie impulsively buys an old expedition truck in Quebec and limps it across North America with almost no money.01:11:47-End; Charlie reflects on how the journey has rewired him.For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.

Episode 215 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer and overland explorer, Charlie Reynolds. In 2024, Charlie left the UK with almost no experience and rode a motorbike the length of North and Central America. He then attempted something far more daring. The Darién Gap is one of the most dangerous jungles on Earth and represents a frontier very few people attempt. Charlie decided to cross it by a hand-built boat. In this episode, Matt and Charlie explore the catalysts behind his journey, a confrontation with mortality, a hunger for discomfort, and what exactly happened on that trip. Fuelled by equal parts curiosity and chaos. This is only Part One, but it already feels like the start of a legend. There's a whole load more wild stories to follow in Part Two.For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.Chapter Breakdown00:00 - 00:06: Introductions and early reflections. What drives someone to step into the unknown?00:06 - 00:09: Charlie breaks down what the Darién Gap actually is, and why nobody is 'supposed' to go there.00:09 - 00:13: The mindset shift. Chasing discomfort to feel alive.00:32 - 00:34: The Catalyst, facing mortality, and deciding to leave the UK.00:38 - 00:40: Riding south through the US, learning logistics the hard way, and finding rhythm in chaos.00:48 - 00:51: Arriving in Panama and negotiating for a dugout canoe in a language he barely speaks.00:54 - 00:56: Steep learning curves, wind, reefs, survival and pride.00:56 - 00:58: The reality of solitude, risk and responsibility - and dolphins guiding his boat.00:58 - 01:00: He realises people already know he's coming. A mystery takes shape.01:00 - 01:03: A surreal moment; Charlie is asked to speak at the funeral of a man he never met.01:03 - 01:05: Maybe this is what he came looking for all along.

This episode is available for subscribers to watch in vision on The Adventure Podcast+ substack.Episode 214 of The Adventure Podcast features solo sailor and triple amputee, Craig Wood. Craig's life changed at 18 years old when, three months into his first military tour, he lost both legs and his left hand in an explosion in Afghanistan. It took eight months for him to learn to walk again. He recently made history by becoming the world’s first triple amputee to sail solo, nonstop and unsupported across the Pacific Ocean. In this episode, Craig talks to Matt about trauma, radical acceptance, and the pursuit of contentment instead of happiness. They unpack how Craig rebuilt his life through Paralympic sailing, discovered peace living aboard a boat with his young family, and learned to find meaning in waiting, patience, and purpose. For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.Chapter Breakdown00:00 - Craig recalls the explosion in 2009 that left him a triple amputee, his surreal coma hallucinations, and the first moments of realising life would never be the same.07:00 - A powerful turning point: Craig’s mother challenges him to take action rather than despair. He begins the long road of rehab, learning independence and resilience.10:00 - Introduced to Paralympic sailing while in recovery, Craig rediscovers competition, identity, and hope - leading him to represent his country and dream of open water.13:00 - After Paralympic sailing is cut from the Games, Craig pivots, buying his own boat and setting his sights on the ocean.16:00 - Matt and Craig dive into what it’s really like to live aboard with his wife and two small children; balancing risk, love, and the constant hum of adventure.23:00 - Craig recounts his 7,500-mile solo voyage from Mexico to Japan; the storms, the stillness, the pizza-making, and the lessons in solitude and self-sufficiency.33:00 - They discuss how society defines disability, the importance of trying over assuming limits, and how Craig’s story challenges ideas of what’s possible.45:00 - Craig opens up about raising £68,000 for veterans’ charities, finding meaning in contribution, and sailing not just for himself but for others.53:00 - Reflections on fatherhood, partnership, and what true contentment means; the quiet power of being “okay” rather than endlessly chasing happiness.59:00 - Craig and Matt wrap up on how adventure can rebuild a life - not through escape, but through deep engagement with the world, family, and self.

Episode 213 of The Adventure Podcast features French-born adventurer, horsewoman, and advocate for Australia’s wild brumbies, Alienor Le Gouvello. A few years ago, Alienor travelled 5,000+ kilometres on a 13-month solo trek along the Bicentennial National Trail, a journey she completed with three wild horses she had tamed herself and her loyal dog, Fox. It starts as a tale of grit and endurance - surviving tropical fever, infection, and crocodile-infested rivers. But it unfolds into a story about connection, resilience, and purpose. Alienor and Matt explore her years working in remote Indigenous communities, her bond with the land and her animals, and how taming wild horses taught her trust, patience, and empathy. They discuss the ethics of animal management, and how the wilderness can reshape our sense of identity and belonging. This is a story of wild places and wilder spirits. Of what it means to find family, freedom, and purpose in the saddle.For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.Chapter Breakdown00:00 – 07:00 | Alienor recounts the brutal closing chapter of her 5,000km trek; battling Ross River fever, a severe staph infection, and crossing crocodile rivers with her leg wrapped in plastic.07:00 – 10:30 | Why she chose to tame and travel with wild brumbies, and how the journey became an act of advocacy for humane horse management.10:30 – 16:30 | Growing up in France, travelling to Australia at 20, and discovering a lifelong connection to the desert and Indigenous culture.16:30 – 21:00 | Working for over a decade in remote Aboriginal communities; learning language, culture, and the healing power of land and open space.21:00 – 24:00 | Why Alienor feels compelled to defend both Indigenous heritage and wild horses, and how these causes became her life’s purpose.24:00 – 28:30 | The process of earning the trust of wild brumbies through natural horsemanship. Rejecting the idea of “breaking”, in favour of gentle communication.28:30 – 33:00 | The year-and-a-half-long process of taming, training, and learning to live alongside her horses before setting out.33:00 – 38:00 | Gruelling early months through steep mountains, moments of doubt, and learning to work as one herd.38:00 – 44:00 | How Alienor’s bond with her horses deepened into mutual trust and companionship, and the small, powerful moments that defined that connection.44:00 – 48:30 | Finishing the expedition broken but transformed, finding herself adrift between adventure and normal life.48:30 – 52:00 | Writing her book, becoming a mother, and finding her calling in equine-assisted therapy - helping others heal through the wisdom of horses.52:00 – 56:00 | Alienor reflects on motherhood, hope for the future, and why she believes the next generation, and their connection to nature, will carry the torch forward.

Episode 212 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer, cyclist and skiier, Chris McCaffrey. Chris rowed across an ocean having never rowed before. He cycled around the world with limited bike experience. He nearly lost his life, more than once. What begins as a discussion about extreme adventure unfolds into an exploration of motivation, ego, purpose, and the pursuit of joy. In this episode, Matt and Chris talk openly about failure and identity. Why we chase “epic” experiences, what happens when they stop fulfilling us, and how joy can become more powerful fuel than grit. Chris has a striking amount of self-awareness and isn't afraid to challenge himself and his motivations. This is a conversation about what happens after you’ve ticked some of the 'biggest boxes' of adventure, and what’s left when the applause fades.For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.Chapter Breakdown00:00 – 07:30 | Chris recounts contracting typhus, facing mortality, and how he ended up in a hospital bed in Vietnam.07:30 – 17:00 | Matt digs into what drives people to pursue extreme adventures and the psychology of needing to prove oneself.17:00 – 25:00 | Chris reflects on motivation, the pull of ego, and how perspective shifts after failure.25:00 – 33:00 | Chris revisits his attempt to row across an ocean, what went wrong, and how it changed him.33:00 – 47:00 | A raw conversation about coping mechanisms, crisis-seeking, and finding purpose outside of chaos.47:00 – 58:00 | Matt and Chris discuss ambition, validation, how to let go of needing to impress others and stop being 'epic'.58:00 – 01:11:00 | The truth behind the motivation to begin cycling around the world, the reality of the journey, and how it reshaped his outlook.01:11:00 – 01:20:00 | Chris explains why joy, not toughness, now drives him through challenges.01:20:00 – 01:32:00 | Revisiting illness, danger, and how acceptance replaces ambition.01:32:00 – 01:37:30 | The lessons of failure, friendship, and learning to value the process over the outcome.01:37:30 – 01:46:00 | A closing reflection on fear, sensation-seeking, insignificance, and finding beauty in it all.

This dispatch episode was recorded in front of a live audience for an event with Montane and The Turner Twins. Matt sits down with Hugo and Ross Turner, as well as Montane's Materials Manager, Liam Steinbeck. Together they unpack the twins' bold new expedition, Mallory Reimagined: Climbing Back In Time. In early October 2025, the twins will set off to Nepal to climb Mera Peak, with one wearing a replica of Mallory's 1924 Everest outfit, and the other wearing Montane's modern high altitude kit. In this conversation Matt and the guests dive into themes of exploration, risk, science and history - covering how preparation shapes expeditions, the role of technology in survival, and the mindset of pushing into the unknown. Liam also gives unique insight into the materials development process. From replica boots and wool jumpers to wearable sensors tracking cognition, stress, and thermal data. This is adventure at the crossroads of past and future.For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.

Episode 211 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer Ollie Treviso. Ollie recently completed a 14,000km, 20-month walk along the Andes, from Tierra del Fuego to the Caribbean Sea. In this episode, Ollie opens up about how far he's come - from a rugby-playing teenager abusing steroids and working as an insurance broker, to living in a cave in Gran Canaria, working on farms, and eventually discovering the power of slow, human-paced travel. Matt and Ollie explore his first long-distance walk across the UK, complete with an over-packed rucksack, no tent experience, and a rule never to pay for accommodation, and how these early stumbles laid the foundations for his South American journey. They also talk candidly about grief and loss, why walking feels most meaningful, resilience, identity, and the uneasy balance between adventure, ego, and storytelling. This conversation is longer than normal. But its honest, fun, and full of surprising side stories. What emerges is not just the tale of an epic trek, but an honest reflection on what drives someone to keep walking into the unknown.For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.Chapter Breakdown 00:00 – 09:00 | Beginnings & Pandemic Shift: Ollie’s early restlessness, failed plans for South America, and how COVID lockdowns unexpectedly pushed him into walking across the UK.09:00 – 14:30 | Discovering Slow Travel: First long walks through Wales, Scotland, and Land’s End to John O’Groats; learning the hard way about kit, endurance, and the joy of stripping life back to basics.14:30 – 20:00 | Tragedy & Turning Points: Family loss and grief collide with his travels, bringing him home but also deepening his sense of purpose and the need to carry on.20:00 – 40:00 | Setting Out for South America: Why Ollie chose to walk the Andes, the decision to commit step by step, and the fears and motivations behind such a huge undertaking.40:00 – 1:05:00 | Hardship & Kindness on the Road: Encounters with strangers’ generosity, moments of danger, and surreal cultural exchanges - from Venezuela to Argentina, including being mugged in Colombia.1:05:00 – 1:20:00 | Companions & Survival: The story of a stray dog that joined him in Chile, brushes with wilderness, and reflections on walking’s unique intensity.1:20:00 – 1:32:00 | Records, Recognition & Resistance: How the “first to walk the Andes” label sat uneasily with him, fundraising realities, and the tension between storytelling and self-promotion.1:32:00 – 1:40:00 | Coming Home & Looking Forward: Post-expedition decompression, finding peace away from the road, and searching for balance between adventure, career, and life at home.

Episode 210 of The Adventure Podcast features polar guide, explorer, and adventurer Sarah McNair-Landry. Growing up in Iqaluit on Baffin Island with parents who pioneered polar guiding, Sarah’s childhood was shaped by dog sledding, camping, and life in the Arctic wilderness. In this episode, Matt and Sarah explore her journey from early expeditions to guiding at the North and South Poles, the unique challenges of dog sledding and kite skiing, and how she and her partner Boomer combine kayaking, climbing, and polar travel into bold multi-sport expeditions. They touch on themes of resilience, heritage, adventure for adventure’s sake, and the delicate balance between tourism, culture, and conservation in the North. Sarah reflects on recreating her parents’ legendary circumnavigation of Baffin Island, how growing up in an Inuit community shaped her, and why, despite the hardships, she continues to push further into remote landscapes. This is a story of family legacy, human endurance, and finding joy in the harshest environments on Earth. It's an episode that will make you want to pack your sled and chase the wind.For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.Chapter Breakdown:00:00 – 06:30 | Growing up in Iqaluit: childhood in the Arctic, parents as polar guides, and early exposure to outdoor life.06:30 – 12:30 | Progression into expeditions: dog sledding, kite skiing, and first North and South Pole journeys.12:30 – 18:30 | Dog sledding vs. skiing: the dynamics of working with animals, expedition challenges, and recreating her parents’ 1990 Baffin Island circumnavigation.18:30 – 24:30 | Expedition mishaps and resilience: kite skiing accidents, breaking her back in Greenland, and pushing through setbacks.24:30 – 31:30 | Multi-sport exploration: combining polar travel with kayaking, climbing, and the appeal of first descents.31:30 – 37:30 | Adventure at home: affordability of Arctic expeditions, rediscovering the backyard, and the accessibility of Baffin and Greenland.37:30 – 44:30 | Tourism and community: the opportunities and challenges of opening Nunavut to more visitors.44:30 – 47:00 | Partnerships and teamwork: traveling with Boomer, team dynamics, and the importance of good expedition partners.47:00 – 52:00 | Culture and identity: growing up white in an Inuit community and how it shaped her outlook.52:00 – 57:00 | Life balance: guiding, running a business, time outdoors vs. computer work, and the changing role of tech like Starlink in remote expeditions.57:00 – 01:04:40 | Reflections: the future of polar travel, fear of snakes and heights, learning to climb, and finding hope in people who care about the planet.

Episode 209 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer, writer, and filmmaker, Tom Allen. In this episode, Tom talks to Matt about the wild and winding path that shaped his life on the road. At just 23, Tom left behind a career in web development to cycle around the world with no real plan - a journey that would transform him in ways he couldn’t have imagined. From naïve beginnings and near-disasters to profound moments of liberation, Tom shares what it really feels like to embrace a life of radical freedom. He recounts moments that forced him to question the true value of endless wandering. Along the way, he opens up about falling in love, and the delicate balance between pursuing boundless adventure and choosing deep connection. The discussion also touches on Tom’s shift from pure adventure to purposeful projects, like building hiking trails in Armenia, and his evolving role as both a storyteller and facilitator of others’ journeys. This is a story of bikes, deserts, love, and finding home in unexpected places.For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.Chapter Breakdown:00:00 - IntroductionMatt welcomes Tom and sets up a conversation about adventure, risk, and the unexpected turns of life.02:30 - From Northampton to NowhereTom recalls his ordinary upbringing and the decision to abandon a career in web development for a round-the-world bike ride.10:00 - Early Missteps on the RoadThe chaos of over-packed bikes, failed routes, and falling-out with friends on the first stretch of the journey.18:00 - Going SoloLiberation, loneliness, and the first real lessons of responsibility when Tom finds himself riding alone.20:00 - Meeting TennyThrough couchsurfing in Yerevan, Tom encounters Tenny - sparking the love story that would change the course of his travels.26:00 - Love vs. AdventureThe push and pull between a relationship rooted in Armenian life and the restless call of the open road.32:00 - Cycling into the Middle EastTom pushes south through Syria, Jordan, and Egypt, carrying both the thrill of freedom and the weight of leaving love behind.40:00 - The Yemen Beach EpiphanyStranded and questioning everything, Tom begins to see the diminishing returns of endless solo adventure.43:00 - Choosing ConnectionTom returns to Armenia, and reshapes his understanding of what it means to “go forward” in life.47:00 - From Story to ServiceHow Tom shifted from personal expeditions and films to helping others access adventure, including his work building trails in Armenia.1:12:00 - Lessons in MeaningAdventure, love, identity, and the biggest truths travel has to offer.1:20:00 - Closing ReflectionsTom’s final words on freedom, purpose, and why he never really “went back.”