The world's greatest adventurers tell their best story from the road. Each episode is cut documentary style and set to music and cinematic effects to create an immersive storytelling experience. 'Best travel podcasts 2020'- The Guardian, 'Thrilling Stuff'-Sunday Times, 'Ear Candy for Listeners' - Washington Post
Similar Podcasts
Radiolab
Radiolab is on a curiosity bender. We ask deep questions and use investigative journalism to get the answers. A given episode might whirl you through science, legal history, and into the home of someone halfway across the world. The show is known for innovative sound design, smashing information into music. It is hosted by Jad Abumrad, Lulu Miller, and Latif Nasser.
La historia es ayer
Descubre cómo un ladrillo del siglo 16 se adelantó a Ikea y cómo el VHS fue el precursor de Netflix. Viaja miles de años en el tiempo excavando unos pocos metros de tierra, aprende lo que los humanos no se atreven a decir removiendo entre su basura. Escrito y dirigido por Marcus H, el arqueólogo Alfredo González Ruibal nos acompaña en este viaje a lo más profundo de la condición humana.
DEMENTES
Conversaciones sin censura con los referentes de cada industria. Todos mis invitados se salieron del camino tradicional y en el episodio hablamos de cómo lo hicieron y los aprendizajes que han tenido en el camino. DEMENTES Podcast es parte del Network de SONORO.
Waypoints: A 1,000-mile Walking Pilgrimage through West Africa with Travel Author Rob Martineau
Follow travel author Robert Martineau on a 1,000-mile solo trek through West Africa. Travelling through Ghana, Togo and Benin, sleeping in villages or on the side of paths he will cross deserts, rainforests and mountains, he will encounter voodoo ceremonies and witches camps, and meet shamans, priests, herdsmen and kings. But this is more than just a long walk. This is a modern day pilgrimage, a young man’s journey in search of a new life, and an escape from the monotony and aimless floating of his old one.At the age of 27 and trapped in a job he hated, Rob ran away from a successful career as a lawyer to spend five months in the African bush. He sought answers and guidance, a freedom and connection to nature he had lost and long craved. But he also discovered hard truths about himself and his place in the world.This is an extraordinary account of his adventure, but it is also a story of his inner journey and the wisdom he learned along the way.Highlights include:· Taking part in a traditional voodoo ceremony· Visiting a ‘witch camp’ in northern Ghana· Witnessing a traditional Adae festival in the Ashanti heartlands· Discovering the fascinating culture and beautiful landscapes of Ghana, Togo and Benin· Being inspired to change your life and go on your own modern-day pilgrimage wherever that may beThe book of this story is called Waypoints: A Journey on Foot, which was recently cited by the Washington Post as one of the best travel books of 2021. You can also connect with Rob directly on instagram, twitter and facebook at @rob_martineauBecome a Patron of the show and get ad-free episodes and membership to the exclusive Explorer’s Club with monthly travel vouchers sent directly to your inbox and much more. The show is free but costs time and money to produce. If you enjoy it and think that our message of love for the outdoors, caring for this planet and living your life to the full is a message worth spreading then thank you for whatever you can do. https://www.patreon.com/Armchairexplorerpodcast Today’s episode is sponsored by wayfarer vans - the backpacker’s version of camper vans. Kick-ass van conversions at literally ¼ price of other people, that are designed to de-clutter your adventure so you can be in the moment, taking in the wild spaces your van has delivered you to. www.wayfarervans.com Follow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode
Voyage of the Swell: A Journey in Search of a Life of Exploration and Adventure with Captain Liz Clark
Follow Captain Liz Clark on the Voyage of the Swell, a surfer’s journey in search of a life of exploration, adventure and the perfect wave. After college, instead of getting a job and starting a career, as her peers were, Liz bought a boat. She had always loved the ocean and felt a calling to follow her dreams, and try and make her passions her life, instead of just something crammed in between all the things she was supposed to do. So she decided to do something crazy. At age 22, with no real experience of sailing alone, she set sail from San Diego and simply headed south. No fixed plan in mind, just sailing the coast at the pace of a slow jog, searching out the best surf breaks in the world, places where no one else had ever ridden waves before.This is a story for ocean lovers, it’s a story for sailors and surfers, but it’s also a story for anyone out there dreaming of escape. For Liz following your dreams and pursuing a life built around your passions isn’t frivolous or selfish. It’s the door to discovering your life purpose. She says: “Your passions are the compass by which your steer your life”. If you dream of a life of exploration and adventure too, this story is for you. Highlights include:· Surfing some of the best breaks in the world along the coast of Central America and in remote atolls in the South Pacific· Discovering the beauty and incredible Polynesian culture of the Marquesas islands, one of the most remote archipelagos in the world· Free diving with Hammerhead Sharks in the Cocos Islands, an under-water paradise 300 miles off the coast of Costa Rica· Exploring the Galapagos Islands and find out what a world untouched by human hands would be likeThe book of this journey is called Swell: a Sailing Surfer’s Voyage of Awakening. it’s out now on Patagonia Books. Instagram and Facebook @captainlizclark, YouTube @captainlizzy and her website and blog is www.swellvoyage.com If you enjoy this show please consider supporting it by becoming a patron. For $5 a month you will get ad-free episodes; $10 a month will also get you access to our exclusive Explorer’s Club, monthly travel vouchers and more. www.patreon.com/armchairexplorerpodcastFollow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook
The Abode of the Gods: Ascending Mt. Meru with Climbing Legend Conrad Anker
Conrad Anker is renowned throughout the world as one of the greatest living mountaineers. Follow him to the Himalayan peaks of northern India to climb the ‘Shark’s Fin’ of Mt. Meru, a sheer 1,500-foot wall of blank granite, one the hardest, most dangerous and beautiful routes on the planet. For 30 years the best mountaineers in the world had attempted to climb Mt. Meru and for 30 years one-by-one they were spit off. It was thought that perhaps no one would ever reach its summit. Sacred to four religions, Mt. Meru is known as the abode of the gods. Perhaps it wasn’t meant to be climbed. Perhaps it was impossible. But impossible is a word that Conrad doesn’t understand. This is the story of that climb. This is the story of the adventure of his life.But it’s more than that too. Coming up as a young climber, Conrad was mentored by a man called Mugs Stump, another legend of his day. For Mugs, Mt. Meru represented the pinnacle of mountaineering. Climbing it would be the greatest achievement of his career. Conrad and him made a promise, they vowed that no matter what they would one day reach the top together. But, tragically, Mugs died before his dream could be realised. After that, climbing Mt. Meru became more than just a mountain or Conrad, it became an obsession. It became the culmination of his life’s work. He put a team together, Jimmy Chin – the renowned mountaineer and filmmaker – and a young climber called Renan Ozturk. Together, they travelled to northern India and began the long journey to the summit. This is a story about what it takes to achieve the impossible. This, is the story of Mt. Meru.Highlights:· Follow the world’s best climbers pitch-by-pitch up the hardest climb on the planet.· Hear what it’s like to survive for 17 days in a ‘Sea of Gravity’, as Conrad calls it, 1000s feet of extreme exposure pulling you down into all sides.· Discover what it takes to survive one of the worst Himalayan storms in 50 years, trapped in a portaledge thousands of feet above the ground, with avalanches raining down all around you· Climb the House of Cards, one of the most dangerous pitches in mountaineering· Hear the wisdom and inspiration that Conrad has learnt from a life in the mountains.The documentary of this climb is called Meru, shot and directed by another legend Jimmy Chin. You can rent it on Amazon, You Tube and elsewhere. You can also follow Conrad on Instagram/Twitter @conrad_anker and on Facebook @conradankerofficial. His website is simply www.conradanker.com If you enjoy this episode, please check out some of the conservation projects, which Conrad is involved with and support them if you can: www.himalayan-foundation.org and www.alexlowe.orgThanks to Wondrium for sponsoring this episode. Wondrium is the new name for The Great Courses Plus, now expanded with more content: documentaries, world-cinema, tv shows and lots of new courses. You can check it all out for free for one month by heading over to www.wondrium.com/armchairFollow @armchairexplorer podcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode
Silk Road Mountain Race: Riding the Toughest Mountain Bike Race in the World with Extreme Bikepacker Cat Jaffee
Follow extreme bikepacker Cat Jaffee as she competes in the Silk Road Mountain Race - the toughest mountain bike race on the planet. 1,200-miles long, with over 115,000-feet elevation gain, athletes traverse the high mountain passes and remote valleys of Kyrgyzstan for 14 grueling days. Traveling completely unsupported, wild camping along the way, only a handful of riders attempt it and a fraction of those reach the end. But the racing is only part of the appeal. For centuries, The Silk Road operated as a network of trading routes connecting China and the Far East with the Middle east and Europe. It was responsible for spreading some of the most important ideas, culture and economics throughout the world and its effects still resonate across the world today. The mountains of Kyrgyzstan, which the race passes through, traces one of the central routes of the Silk Road, used by traders and wanderers throughout the Middle Ages, and the nomadic culture which still grazes their sheep in these high alpine pastures today has remained largely since those days. It had always been Cat’s dream to bikepack the Silk Road. But on the cusp of that dream coming true she came back from an assignment in Africa to the news that she had contracted malaria, dengue fever and had ovarian cancer. It was devastating news. She spent a year undergoing chemotherapy and Stage 4 cancer treatment. Most of us would have given up on the race. Most of us would have struggled to even get out of bed. But Cat kept training throughout it, riding 100s miles each weekend all day and through the night. Then a year later, despite her illness, she found herself on the start line of the toughest mountain bike race in the world. This is a story about that adventure, but it’s also a story about the power of determination to beat the odds and follow your dreams no matter what stands in your way. Get ready to ride the Silk Road.Highlights:· Find out what it takes to compete in the toughest mountain bike race in the world· Explore the spectacular mountains and ancient culture of Kyrgyzstan’s high mountains· Be inspired by Cat’s story of determination and survival in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.Cat is also an award-winning podcast producer. Her latest series, Guardians of the River about the Okavango Delta Wilderness Project, which was recorded on location in Angola and Botswana over four months, won the Tribeca Film Festival’s prestigious Best Podcast award. Find out more here: https://www.houseofpod.org/featured-productions/guardians-of-the-river ... Connect directly with Cat on Instagram: @naturevertThanks to Wondrium for sponsoring this episode. Wondrium is the new name for The Great Courses Plus, now expanded with more content: documentaries, world-cinema, tv shows and lots of new courses. You can check it all out for free for one month by heading over to www.wondrium.com/armchairTo find out more about the Silk Road Mountain Race go to www.silkroadmountainrace.cc / cover image courtesy @silkroadmountainraceFollow @armchairexplorer podcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode
Pedalling to Kailash: Cycling Across the Roof of the World with Adventurer Graydon Hazenberg
Follow travel author and adventurer Graydon Hazenburg on an epic bike journey from Islamabad, in Pakistan, all the way to Mount Kailash, in Tibet thousands of miles away. Travelling across four of the great mountain ranges in the world, the Pamir Mountains, the Hindu Kush, the Karakorum and the Himalayas, it would prove to be an incredibly difficult trip, cycling over some of the highest passes in the world across some of its worst roads.But it was also incredibly fascinating and beautiful. Graydon was cycling through some of the most remote and least visited places on the planet. He would stay with the Kalash people of Chitral and hike the foothills of Nanga Parbat, one the most dangerous mountains in the world. He visited the Hunza River Valley, the inspiration for the mythical enlightened kingdom of Shangri-La, and crossed the vast plains of the Tibetan Plain, staying with nomads along the way. But it was more than just an adventure too. Mount Kailash is the most sacred mountain in the world. Located in western Tibet, it is sacred to billions of Buddhists, Hindus and others around the world, and a pilgrimage around the mountain is walked by thousands of devotees every year. Get ready for one of the craziest bike stories you’ll ever hear …Highlights include: · Here how Graydon won Jeopardy and used the money to quit his career in academia and travel the world instead· Stay with the Kalash people in Pakistan, one of the most remote and rarely visited cultures in Asia, with only a few thousands left on Earth· See the paradise of the Hunza River Valley, the inspiration for the mythical fabled kingdom of Shangri-La · Climb the foothills of Nanga Parbat, one of the most dangerous mountains on the planet, which kills 1 in 5 people that attempt to summit it· Visit Tibetan nomads surviving in the harsh conditions of the Tibetan Plateau· Walk the Mount Kailash pilgrimage, perhaps the most beautiful pilgrimages on Earth· Be inspired to set out on your own journey – “We can always make more money,” Graydon says. “We can never make more time.”The book of this journey is called Pedalling to Kailash: Cycling Adventures and Misadventures on the Roof of the World - https://www.amazon.com/Pedalling-Kailash-Cycling-Adventures-Misadventures/dp/1777593611Connect with GraydonFB: www.facebook.com/graydon.hazenberg.authorTwitter: www.twitter.com/stanleystravelsInstagram: www.instagram.com/hmstanleystravelsTravel blog: graydonstravels.blogspot.comWebsite: graydonhazenberg.caThanks to Wondrium for sponsoring this episode. Wondrium is the new name for The Great Courses Plus, now expanded with more content: documentaries, world-cinema, tv shows and lots of new courses. You can check it all out for free for one month by heading over to www.wondrium.com/armchairFollow @armchairexplorer podcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode
Kayak the Kwanza: The World-Record Paddle Down Angola's Longest River with Travel Author Oscar Scafidi
Follow travel author Oscar Scafidi on his world-record paddle down the Kwanza River in Angola. Stretching 600-miles from its source in the Angolan Highlands, in the centre of the country, to the Atlantic Ocean on the country’s west coast, Oscar and his partner Alfie Weston kayaked the entire length and hiked an additional two hundred miles to circumvent rapids, waterfalls and dams. The going was tough and they were unprepared for the dangers and hardships ahead. But, that’s also part of what’s so inspiring and unique about this story – Oscar and Alfie aren’t professional adventurers, explorers or African bush experts. They’re just two young guys with a crazy idea and a lot of guts. They faced man-eating crocodiles, angry hippos and even angrier police. But over 33 hard days, camping beside the banks of the river and in small settlements along the way, they reached the ocean and in doing so did something no one else had ever achieved before, which has since been recognised as an official world-record by Guinness World Records. This is a story about that adventure, but it’s also a story about dreaming big, taking risks and achieving something extraordinary. If two ordinary guys, with very little kayaking experience, can paddle the entire length of one of Africa's longest rivers, then you can achieve your travel dreams too. Highlights:· Facing 600-miles of man-eating crocodiles, deadly rapids and pods pod of angry attacking hippos· Kayaking the entire length of one of the least explored rivers on the planet – an official Guinness World Record· Discovering Angola, one of Africa’s least visited and most misunderstood countries, still reeling from the aftermath of a brutal civil war. But one that’s also filled with incredible wildlife, surfing, hiking and more· Getting arrested in the middle of the night at gun point by the security forces· Being inspired to follow your own dreams of adventure and hearing what it takes to get it done If you want to connect with Oscar directly his Instagram is @oscarscafidi and his twitter is @scafiditravels. He also has an awesome YouTube channel which charts this trip and his other adventures www.youtube.com/c/ScafidiTravelsThe book of this journey is called Kayak the Kwanza: Source to Sea Along Angola’s Longest River - www.amazon.com/Kayak-Kwanza-Oscar-Scafidi/dp/1789650127Thanks to Wondrium for sponsoring this episode. Wondrium is the new name for The Great Courses Plus, now expanded with more content: documentaries, world-cinema, tv shows and lots of new courses. You can check it all out for free for one month by heading over to www.wondrium.com/armchairOscar and Alfie were raising money for the HALO Trust who are removing landmines from Angola and other war-torn countries around the world. Their goal is a landmine-free wolrd by 2025. Help them get there at www.halotrust.orgFollow @armchairexplorer podcast on Instagram and Facebook or head over to www.armchair-explorer.com to find more background information on this episode
Fighting Monks: Trekking Japan's 750-mile Shikoku Pilgrimage with Black Belt Travel Writer Paul Barach
Follow Black Belt travel writer Paul Barach as he treks the 750-mile Shikoku Pilgrimage in Japan. Dedicated to the 8thcentury Buddhist Holy Man, Kukai, Shikoku is the wildest of Japan’s four main islands filled with steep mountains, thousand-year-old temples and thick cedar forests. Walked for more than 1,200 years, this is one of the hardest Buddhist pilgrimages in the world and Paul will be doing it all on foot, staying in traditional villages and camping out along the way.But this is more than just a trek. A black belt in bare-fisted full contact Kyokushin karate, Paul had dreamed of coming to Japan since he was a small boy. He had trained hard for this moment. He had dreams of fighting monks on hilltop temples, dodging ninjas or perhaps even meeting a wizened old man on the path who would give him a samurai sword and say: “You’re ready.”What he didn’t prepare for was the trek. At all. He arrived in Shikoku during the worst heat wave in over 100 years with shoes that didn’t fit, a map he couldn’t read and no ability to speak Japanese. He survived, but only just.He fought off wild boars and heat stroke. He struggled to find food, water and places to sleep. He was nearly arrested, broke a temple and ended up in hospital. But through that struggle, for fleeting moments, he also caught glimpses of the enlightenment and wisdom he sought. And let’s just say all that kung fu training wasn’t for nothing either …Highlights include:· Find out about the 1,200-year-old Shikoku pilgrimage, one of the hardest but also most beautiful pilgrimages in the world· Join Paul on his many misadventures: wild boar attacks, temple catastrophes, hiding from security guards, hospitalization and more· Hear about the wisdom and enlightenment Paul found along the way, and how you can benefit from that in your own life too· See if Paul’s dreams of fighting monks on mountain top temples comes true … Paul’s book is called ‘Fighting Monks and Burning Mountains: Misadventures on a Buddhist Pilgrimage’ and his Instagram is @barachoutdoors … connect with him, he’s an awesome guy!Thank you to Wondrium for sponsoring this episode! This is the new name for The Great Courses Plus, but it’s now loads more content from documentaries and expert courses to world cinema and more. It’s awesome and we’ve got a deal for you – just go to www.wondrium.com/armchair to get 1 month of content absolutely free. No obligations, just check it out for free. It’s a great way to support the show!Check out Armchair Explorer (www.armchair-explorer.com) for background videos, photos and more on each episode. And please hit that follow button to support the show!Follow @armchairexplorerpodcast across Instagram and Facebook
Tracking Grizzlies in the Gobi Desert with National Geographic Wildlife Biologist Doug Chadwick
Follow National Geographic wildlife biologist Doug Chadwick to the Gobi Desert of Mongolia in search of the world’s rarest bear. There are less than 50 Gobi Grizzlies left in the world and until recently almost no one even knew the existed - including Doug, a self-proclaimed ‘Bear Junkie’ who has spent his life studying Grizzly Bears around the world. While tracking snow leopards in the Himalayas he heard about the Gobi Grizzly and swore then and there to try and find them, and do what he could to help save them. This is a story about that adventure. It’s a story about Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, one of the harshest and most beautiful places on Earth. There are sandstorms and sacred mountains and ticks as big as your thumb. But it’s also a story about us. Because through this adventure, and others, Doug has developed a new theory of nature, an entirely new paradigm of how to look at ourselves and the world around us - and it’s going to blow your mind. Get ready, because the wind is blowing in the Land of the Eternal Blue Sky and somewhere out there is one of the last 50 Gobi Grizzlies on the planet – and we’re going to find her … and in doing that we’re going to discover something about our greater selves that may change the way you look at the world forever.Highlights include:· Track the world’s rarest bear through one of the harshest environments on Earth· Discover the sublime beauty of the Gobi Desert, no trace of the modern world for as far as the eye can see· Feel what it’s like to be hit by a huge sandstorm – a ‘black tsunami’ of dust consuming all in its path· Climb Tsagaan Bogd, one of Mongolia’s most sacred peaks· Find out about Grizzly Bears, here in the Gobi and elsewhere, one of most ferocious, smart and misunderstood animals on the planet· Hear a new theory of nature that will change the way you understand yourself and the world around you in profound ways Doug’s latest book is called ‘4/5th a Grizzly: a New Perspective on Nature that Just Might Save Us All’. It’s a beautiful, fascinating and important book and it would make a wonderful present to yourself or anyone that loves and cherishes the outdoors. Thank you to Juggernaut Wines for sponsoring this episode! We’ve got a special deal for listeners of this show. You can get four bottles – two cabernet sauvignons and two pinot noirs delivered direct to your home for only 1 cent in shipping costs. One cent! Just head over to www.juggernautwines.com and type in the code ARMCHAIR21. Drinking their wine is a great way to support the show … how cool is that?!Check out Armchair Explorer (www.armchair-explorer.com) for background videos, photos and more on each episode. And please hit that follow button to support the show!Follow @armchairexplorerpodcast across Instagram and Facebook
Walking the Yangtze: 4,000-miles Along China's Longest River with Extreme Adventurer Ash Dykes
Follow extreme adventurer Ash Dykes on a world first trek along the entire 4,000-mile length of the Yangtze River in China. Travelling from the Tibetan Plateau in the far northwest of the country, through 11 provinces to the river’s estuary near Shanghai in the south he will face innumerable challenges: dodging aggressive Tibetan bears, fighting off wild Tibetan Mastiffs, he was stalked by wolves, arrested and nearly hit by landslides.But through his journey he also explored a side to China that few travellers have seen before, from thundering white-water gorges and spectacular V-shaped valleys to tropical forests and paddy fields teeming with colour.He also became a Chinese celebrity. Much to his surprise, the further he walked the more the Chinese people walked with too. Internet superstars live-streamed beside him to millions of followers, he was celebrated in the Chinese media, welcomed in by locals, taught Chinese opera, kung-fu, meditation and even asked to join a photoshoot with movie star Jackie Huang.It took him 352 days and eight million steps to complete. It was a world-record, the first time anyone had walked the entire length of China’s great river, and the experience taught him much. He learned about motivation, about discipline, about the power of visualization – skills and wisdom that can be applied to all aspects of life. But more than anything he learned that you can make impossible things happen if you have the courage to ignore the naysayers, prepare for the struggle as well as the successes, and don’t let anything stand in your way. Highlights:· Hear the incredible story of Ash Dyke’s world-recording breaking 4,000-mile trek along the entire length of the Yangtze River· Find out how Ash survived being stalked by a pack of wolves and fought off wild Tibetan Mastiffs· Listen to the best worst food story you’ve ever heard. Spoiler alert: it involves huge worms· Be inspired by the lessons and wisdom Ash learned on his journey: how he uses visualization to achieve success, how to stay motivated and achieve your goals.If you enjoy this adventure, please connect with Ash – he’s a true modern-day explorer and you can you follow along with his crazy adventures. He’s a lot of fun to travel with. Instagram: @ash_dykes / Facebook: @ashdykesofficial / Twitter: @ashdykes / You Tube: @ashdykes. His website is www.ashdykes.com and his book is Mission Possible: a Decade of Living Dangerously reveals the spirit, planning, and sheer determination that goes into his world record-breaking adventures. It’s an awesome read. Thank you to Juggernaut Wines for sponsoring this episode! We’ve got a special deal for listeners of this show. You can get four bottles – two cabernet sauvignons and two pinot noirs delivered direct to your home for only 1 cent in shipping costs. One cent! Just head over to www.juggernautwines.com and type in the code ARMCHAIR21. Drinking their wine is a great way to support the show … how cool is that?!Check out Armchair Explorer (www.armchair-explorer.com) for background videos, photos and more on each episode. And please hit that follow button to support the show! Follow @armchairexplorerpodcast across Instagram and Facebook
Walking with Nomads: 2,800-miles Across the Entire Length of Morocco with Explorer Alice Morrison
Follow explorer Alice Morrison on a world-first 2,800-mile trek across the entire length of Morocco. Starting in the city of Ouarzazate, at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, we will walk with her from the lush valleys of the Draa River across the barren windswept dunes of the Western Sahara to the tallest peaks of the High Atlas Mountains. We will discover lost cities, tombs of giants, singing sands and dinosaur footprints. We will learn about the lives of the nomadic Sahrawis, the people of the desert, and the Amazigh, the original inhabitants of Morocco. This is more than a long walk, this is a journey through the culture and history of one of the most fascinating and beautiful countries on Earth.But Alice didn’t do it just any old way. Mirroring journeys taken by traders and nomads across Morocco for centuries, she decided to travel in a traditional caravan of six camels, led by her two Amazigh companions and camelteers Brahim and Addi. And despite not being very keen on the animals to start with, she ended up falling head-over-heels for them – particularly a very naughty one called Hamish. Yes, that’s right – somewhere in Morocco right now, there is a camel called Hamish. This is a story about history and archeology, it’s a story about endurance and moments of sublime beauty. But mostly it’s a story about a deep exploration of a place and its people. Alice relied on the kindness and hospitality of local communities throughout and because she speaks fluent Arabic she was able to get an intimate insight into their lives that most outsiders would never see.It’s also one hell of an adventure. Alice is known as ‘Indiana Jones for Girls’. This is a story that even Indy himself would have been proud of.-- If you enjoy this episode please connect with Alice, you’re going to have a lot of fun following her adventures. Her Instagram and Twitter is @aliceoutthere1. Her Facebook is @alicehuntermorrisonadventures and her You Tube channel is alicemorrison.She has three books out, the latest of which is called Adventures in Morocco – she’s a great writer and covers loads more than we could fit into this episode. Finally, because I know you love podcasts, please check out hers – it’s called Alice in Wanderland and it’s one of my favourites.--Thank you to Juggernaut Wines for sponsoring this episode! We’ve got a special deal for listeners of this show. You can get four bottles – two cabernet sauvignons and two pinot noir delivered direct to your home for only 1 cent in shipping costs. One cent! Just head over to www.juggernautwines.com and type in the code ARMCHAIR21. Drinking their wine is a great way to support the show … how cool is that?!--Check out Armchair Explorer (www.armchair-explorer.com) for background videos, photos and more on each episode. And please hit that follow button to support the show!Follow @armchairexplorerpodcast across Instagram
The Lost Tribe of the Kogi with BBC Documentary Filmmaker Alan Ereira
In 1990, the Kogi people of Colombia came out of 500 years of isolation to give the world a message. They call themselves the Elder Brothers, the protectors of an ancient wisdom, which we, the Younger Brother, have forgotten. Hidden from the modern world, their culture, way of life and beliefs has remained unchanged since the time of the Incas. They emerged only for a brief moment, inviting one film maker in to help them pass on their warning. This is a story about the making of that film. It is a story about one of the most unique tribes on the planet. It is an invitation into the lost world of the Kogi.If you enjoy this episode, please consider donating to the Tairona Trust. This charitable organisation has been set up to help protect the Kogi and spread their message to the wider world. Recent projects include connecting Kogi elders with western scientists to restore damaged areas of forest in their homeland. It’s one of the few projects which seeks to unify indigenous wisdom with modern ecology and if we can prove it successful will provide a model for other indigenous cultures around the world. Please go to http://www.taironatrust.org to find out more. Instagram: @taironatrust / Facebook: @taironatrustheritage / Twitter: @taironatrustThank you also to Room Steals (www.roomsteals.com) for sponsoring this episode. This is the ultimate hotel hack and if you love travel you are going to want to check this out. Room Steals is a subscription service that offers you wholesale prices of more than 600,000 hotel rooms around the world. On average you will save 30% off of what the major online booking sites will charge you and their Google Chrome extension lets you check out the prices before you buy. The subscription costs $95 per year, but you're going to save loads more than that. Head over to Room Steals (www.roomsteals.com) and type in the coupon code 'armchair' for 20% off the listed price. Check out Armchair Explorer (www.armchair-explorer.com) for background videos, photos and more on each episode. And please hit that follow button to support the show!Follow @armchairexplorerpodcast across Instagram and Facebook
Rowing Solo Across the Atlantic While Recovering from Brain Surgery with World Record Holder Kiko Matthews
Follow world record holder Kiko Matthews on a solo row across the Atlantic Ocean: 3,000 nautical miles in 49 Days 7 hours and 15 minutes. 200 women have completed this challenge, that's it. Only 18 have done it solo. Kiko is the fastest ... and before she started training she hadn't even set foot in a row boat before. But that's not the most remarkable thing about this story. Eight months before she was due to set out Kiko was diagnosed with Cushing's Disease a rare, and often fatal, form of brain cancer. The doctors found a tumour on her pituitary gland at the base of her brain. It was life or death. Most of us would have given up at that point. Not Kiko. She received emergency brain surgery and just a few weeks later got straight back to training. This is a story of an incredible adventure: She faced huge storms, rogue waves that nearly capsized the boat. She paddled with whales, dolphins and sharks. She saw the ocean light up like stars with phosphorescence and felt what it meant to be truly alone and humbled, in the vastness of the ocean.But it's also a story about courage, about mental strength and resilience and her story will inspire you to face your own challenge, to follow your own dream, row your own ocean, whatever that may be. If you enjoy this episode, please connect with Kiko she has a book out about her experience – Kiko: How to break the Atlantic rowing record after brain surgery. Find it at Kiko: How to Break the Atlantic Rowing Record after Brain Surgery and connect with her on social media at @kikomatthews – that’s with two Ts so watch out – and her website is kikomatthews.co.ukThank you also to Room Steals (www.roomsteals.com) for sponsoring this episode. This is the ultimate hotel hack and if you love travel you are going to want to check this out. Room Steals is a subscription service that offers you wholesale prices of more than 600,000 hotel rooms around the world. On average you will save 30% off of what the major online booking sites will charge you and their Google Chrome extension lets you check out the prices before you buy. The subscription costs $95 per year, but you're going to save loads more than that. Head over to Room Steals (www.roomsteals.com) and type in the coupon code 'armchair' for 20% off the listed price. Check out Armchair Explorer (www.armchair-explorer.com) for background videos, photos and more on each episode. And please hit that follow button to support the show!Follow @armchairexplorerpodcast across Instagram and Facebook
Diving the Titanic with Deep Sea Explorer Rory Golden
Follow deep sea explorer Rory Golden to the world’s most famous shipwreck: Titanic. Located 12,600-feet below sea level, in the middle of the North Atlantic, only a handful of people have ever seen her with their own eyes. Descending in a tiny Mir submersible, in a cockpit the size of a small port-a-loo, with enough pressure outside the port windows to crush him in an instant should anything go wrong, this is a once-in-a-lifetime journey into history and the dark depths of the sea. The Titanic is the world’s most famous shipwreck. It was the largest and safest vessel ever built, or so they thought. Four days into its maiden voyage, on a calm night, it struck an iceberg ripping a 300-foot whole in its hull. Panic ensued. There weren’t enough lifeboats. There was no one to save them. Of the 2,200 people on board, 1500 perished. It took only three hours for the greatest ship ever built to sink and for more than 50 years it lay undiscovered there, at the bottom of the ocean. Rory’s mission was to recover historical artefacts from the wreck – they found leather bags with clothes still neatly folded within, a bottle of perfume still unopened, the ship’s wheel last touched by the Captain before he walked calmly to his death in the dark sea. Through Rory’s journey we learn not just the history of the Titanic, but the individual personal stories of heroism and tragedy that he rescued from the bottom of the sea.It’s an incredible adventure. But it’s also a ground-breaking piece of exploration. We know more about the surface of Mars than we do the bottom of the sea. 70% of our planet is ocean, yet only 5% of the ocean depths have been explored. There are creatures down there that no one knows even exist – strange bioluminescent beings living in a world of darkness and extreme pressure, creatures that are as alien to us as any little green man that may or may not one day appear from the sky. The oceans are our planet’s last frontier of exploration. Join him now as we descend into the deep to dive the world’s most famous, and dangerous, wreck. Join him to dive the Titanic. Highlights include:· Find out what it’s like to descend to 12,600-ft beneath the ocean in a tiny Mir Submersible · See the Titanic through Rory’s eyes as he travels across the wreckage in search of historical artefacts to preserve· Hear the story of the Titanic, the greatest shipwreck of all time· Be inspired by the mysteries of the deep ocean, the final frontier of exploration on the planetWho’s the Guest?Rory Golden's dived all over the world, from the coasts of his home in Ireland to deep-sea off-shore rigs and some of the most iconic wrecks on the planet, including The Titanic. He is one of the most respected underwater explorers in the world and the on-board Titanic expert for Ocean Gate Expeditions, a deep sea underwater adventure company which takes ordinary people to extraordinary depths, including the chance this year to dive the Titanic alongside Rory himself. For more information: https://oceangateexpeditions.com. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook @oceangateexped.Thank you to The Great Courses Plus for sponsoring this episode. Head over to www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/armchair to get a free month trail with unlimited streaming of 1000s of videos and audio … it’s a great way to support the show!The Armchair Explorer podcast is produced and hosted by award-winning travel writer Aaron Millar. Follow the show on Instagram & Facebook @armchairexplorerpodcast. www.armchair-explorer.com"Best travel podcasts 2020: Every episode is an immersive experience" - The Guardian
Bonus Episode! Out There Podcast: Conservation 2.0
In this special bonus edition of the Armchair Explorer we are showcasing an episode from one of my favourite travel podcasts: Out There. The episode is called Conservation 2.0, and it's about a subject very close to every outdoor lover's heart: National Parks.The outdoors is a place for everyone. It’s where we all come from, it’s in our DNA, our blood, it is where we all belong. That’s why we have to think carefully about how we conserve and protect it, which is what this episode is all about. Many of Out There’s shows are first person stories, told directly by the individual … this one’s a little different in that it’s an interview with a really incredible nature writer called David Gessner about his book 'Leave it as it is: A Journey through Theodore Roosevelt’s American Wilderness'"Leave it as it is" was the rallying cry spoken by Roosevelt at the Grand Canyon, advocating for its preservation. Roosevelt's vision was for an expansion of the national park system and conservation in general. The idea of national parks is widely heralded as one of the greatest in history, and one of the highest expressions of democracy on the planet – to preserve places of incredible awe and beauty that we all own and share equally. But as amazing as National Parks are, they're not perfect. Much of the land that we preserve was acquired through the expulsion of the native people that had lived there for thousands of years. That’s a huge injustice of course, but it’s also an opportunity, because one way we can rectify that, in part, is by including indigenous practices, passed down for millennia, into the care and preservation of that land. By giving them a say in the preservation of their own heritage. Let’s find a way to marry contempory environmental science with native environmental wisdom … that’s a new vision for conservation, a vision that might help carry us into the future, into the next epoch of our relationship with nature. It’s a development of Teddy Roosevelts original vision. It’s conservation 2.0. So, if you like this episode please search up the Out There podcast on your favourite app and hit that subscribe button – or head over to www.outtherepodcast.com, where you'll find a playlist of their favourite episodes, which is a really great place to start. The social media is @outtherepodcast across Instagram and facebook – they post cool stuff and definitely recommend following them too.
Open Your Mind: Experiencing Indigenous Jungle Medicine with BBC Travel Presenter Mike Corey
Follow BBC travel presenter and You Tube star Mike Corey into the depths of the Brazilian Amazon to experience Ayahuasca, Kambo and other mind-altering indigenous plant medicines. This is not your average psychedelic tourist experience. Mike travels to a traditional village in remote part of the jungle where foreigners have never been before. There, in the thatched roof long house, he gathers by the firelight with a group of elders as the shaman passes around eagle bones filled Rapé powder, burns holes in his skin to rub in poisonous frog venom and gives him shots of ayahuasca as they chant into the night. This is more than just travel. This is adventure of the brain as well as the body - and let’s just say (pun intended) it’s quite trip. But Mike’s not looking for a simple high. Mike is on a war against fear. He wants us to challenge our preconceptions in the same way he challenges himself. He’d never done drugs before. And though nothing he took was illegal, he was scared to try. That’s the point. Jungle medicine may seem strange to us, but in the Amazon it’s been practiced for thousands of years and traditional practitioners claim healing benefits that modern medicine cannot provide. To be a true explorer, Mike says, you must try new things, things you’re scared of, things that make you grow. He should know – he’s made a career out of doing the kind of crazy things that would send most sane people running. So he set off into the jungle in search of answers, in search of authentic cultural understanding. He set off to conquer his fears. What he found was something inspiring, at times painful, but enlightening too and it altered his view of the world forever. Highlights include:· Taking ayahuasca with a shaman in Peru· Experiencing two of the most intense indigenous ceremonies in the world: Rapé, a powder which is shot like a blow dart into your nose, and Kambo a frog venom which is burnt into your skin.· Travelling to a remote village deep in the jungle where tourists had never gone before.· Hearing about Mike’s other crazy adventures including hopping iron ore trains across the Sahara, taking part in an exploding hammer festival in Mexico and drinking blood straight from a cow with the Masai in Tanzania (for real)· Being inspired by Mike’s message of turning your fears into allies and how that can be a catalyst for personal growth· Learning about traditional plant medicine, which has been practiced in the Amazon for thousands of years.Who’s the Guest?Mike Corey is a BBC Travel Presenter and adventure travel filmmaker. His You Tube channel is Fearless and Far where he shares videos of his crazy adventures: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_DmOS_FBvO4H27U7X0OtRg You can also follow him on twitter, Instagram and facebook: @fearlessandfar … and his website is www.fearlessandfar.comThank you to The Great Courses Plus for sponsoring this episode. Head over to www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/armchairto get a free month trail with unlimited streaming of 1000s of videos and audio … it’s a great way to support the show! Follow the show on Instagram & Facebook @armchairexplorerpodcast. www.armchair-explorer.com"Best travel podcasts 2020: Every episode is an immersive experience" - The Guardian"Armchair Explorer is ear candy for listeners” - Washington Post