The Adventure Podcast - podcast cover

The Adventure Podcast

Coldhouse Collectivetheadventurepodcast.co.uk

An ongoing series of long-form conversations with individuals at the forefront of exploration and adventure in which filmmaker Matt Pycroft speaks to the most knowledgeable, accomplished and respected voices in the field. From mountaineers to wildlife cinematographers, environmental activists to polar photographers, The Adventure Podcast brings you up close and personal with those who live extraordinary lives.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last refreshed:
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Episode 206: Luke Tarrant, Half a Tank of Gas and One Leg Left

Episode 206 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer and amputee, Luke Tarrant. In 2024, Luke was travelling from the USA to Antarctica on his motorbike when he crashed in Colombia. He had to have his leg removed after contracting sepsis and was left fighting for his life. Matt got in touch with Luke after seeing his dad's update post on Instagram, and they quickly became friends and started filming together. All while this was happening, Luke blew up on social media and has gathered a massi...

Jul 07, 20251 hr 13 minEp. 206

Episode 205: Lise Wortley, Women With Altitude

Episode 205 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer, researcher and storyteller, Lise Wortley. Lise has spent the last few years following in the footsteps of forgotten women. She retraces their paths, as faithfully as she can, right down to the scratchy tweeds and antique kit. No Gore-Tex. No modern boots. Just a deep curiosity for how these women moved through the world, and what they had to say about it. In this conversation, Lise talks about how the project began, the strange intimacy o...

Jun 26, 20251 hr 5 minEp. 205

Episode 204: Paul Harris, Around the UK. Twice.

Episode 204 of The Adventure Podcast features former Royal Marine, adventurer and mental health advocate, Paul Harris. Paul is more commonly known as 'The Warrior Walker' and uses huge walking challenges, covering thousands of miles, to raise awareness for veterans and others battling issues like PTSD. In this episode, Matt talks to Paul about his decision to walk around the UK and how it came from a place of fairly serious trauma. He looks at his life before the walk, as a Royal Marine, a barma...

Jun 13, 20251 hr 19 minEp. 204

Episode 203: Kim Frank, Elephants In The Hourglass

Episode 203 of The Adventure Podcast features writer, photographer, and documentary filmmaker, Kim Frank. Kim has spent the past seven years immersed in an incredibly complex and emotionally charged story centred around human/wildlife conflict. Her project follows the lives of people and elephants in North Bengal, India—where deforestation, migration, and survival all collide. In this episode, Kim talks to Matt about creative risk, the emotional weight of telling other people’s stories, personal...

May 19, 20251 hr 5 minEp. 203

Episode 202: Jack Scott, Two and a Half Days

Episode 202 of The Adventure Podcast features, long distance runner and construction worker, Jack Scott. Over the past few years Jack has grabbed the attention of the British ultra running scene for some stellar achievements that most people in the know thought were literally impossible. In 2024 Jack won the infamous Spine Race, a 268-mile ultramarathon along the Pennine Way, shattering the previous course record by over 10 hours. This isn't a conversation discussing trail shoes or favourite ene...

Apr 29, 20251 hr 7 minEp. 202

Episode 201: Dr Gina Moseley, Underground Treasure Hunting

Episode 201 of The Adventure Podcast features cave scientist, climate researcher, and expedition leader, Dr Gina Moseley. Gina's paleoclimatology work has taken her to some of the most remote and extreme parts of the planet. In this episode, Gina talks to Matt about how she started caving as a kid in the Midlands, saving up her pocket money to go underground in the school holidays, and how this turned into a career in science along the way. They cover her groundbreaking expeditions to caves in G...

Apr 24, 20251 hr 7 minEp. 201

The Far Reaches: Matt Barr, The Announcement

Episode three of The Far Reaches features journalist, podcaster, and founder of the Looking Sideways podcast, Matt Barr. In this conversation, we unpack Matt's latest project: a multi-episode documentary podcast called 'The Announcement', which explores the fallout of Patagonia’s now-famous announcement that "Earth is our only shareholder." On the surface, it looked like a bold, revolutionary move. But dig deeper, and you're into thornier territory—philanthropic capitalism, tax implications, the...

Apr 14, 20251 hr 3 minEp. 3

Episode 200: Stephan Kesting, 1000 Miles of Canadian Arctic

Episode 200 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer, firefighter, martial artist and author, Stephan Kesting. In 2015, Stephan was dying from polycystic kidney disease. He underwent a transplant that saved his life, and in the fog of pre-surgery uncertainty, he made a promise: if he survived, he’d complete a journey he’d dreamed of for decades. Four years later, he set off on a solo canoe expedition across 1000 miles of the Canadian Arctic. Stephan talks to Matt about that journey, but also...

Apr 08, 20251 hr 17 minEp. 200

Episode 199: Shauna Coxsey, Just Another Comeback

Episode 199 of The Adventure Podcast features one of the most successful British climbers of all time, Shauna Coxsey. Shauna is a World Cup champion, an Olympian, and a true pioneer in the sport. But this conversation isn’t just about climbing, it’s about what it takes to build a professional athletic career from the ground up when the path doesn’t even exist yet. Shauna talks to Matt about her journey to become a world-class athlete; challenging what it meant to be a professional climber, fight...

Apr 01, 202559 minEp. 199

Episode 198: Paul Besley, We Decide To Live

Episode 198 of The Adventure Podcast features hillwalker, mountain rescue volunteer, and author, Paul Besley. Paul has written several acclaimed guidebooks but his memoir, The Search: The Life of a Mountain Rescue Search Dog Team , chronicles his transformation from a Yorkshire steel town upbringing to training his Border Collie, Scout, as a search dog. In this episode, Paul tells Matt his life story, and recounts many amusing tales of his escapades in the hills. The story has a twist though, as...

Mar 10, 20251 hr 25 minEp. 198

Episode 197: Dave MacLeod, Moving The Needle

Episode 197 of The Adventure Podcast features Scottish climber, Dave Macleod. Dave is celebrated for being one of the finest climbing all rounders in the world, from trad and sport climbing to winter mountaineering. He’s best known for his bold and groundbreaking climbs, including Rhapsody at Dumbarton Rock, the first-ever E11 trad route. Dave isn’t just about physical feats, he’s also deeply interested in the mental side of climbing and loves sharing what he’s learned through his writing, films...

Feb 11, 20251 hr 7 minEp. 197

Episode 196: Leo Houlding, Life on the Line

Episode 196 of The Adventure Podcast was recorded online with a live audience, and features Leo Houlding. Leo is, in the simplest of terms, a climber. But really there’s so much more to him than that. He’s a big wall specialist, an expedition specialist and an alpinist, and he’s led a multitude of world class climbing expeditions all over the world from Antarctica to Baffin Island and Greenland to Guyana. Matt and Leo have worked together on a few of those expeditions, and really it was Leo who ...

Feb 03, 20251 hr 25 minEp. 196

Episode 195: The Name's Torbet, Andy Torbet

Episode 195 of The Adventure Podcast features stuntman, cave diver, ex soldier and parachutist, Andy Torbet. For reasons you’ll understand when you listen to this episode, if James Bond exists then he looks a lot like Andy Torbet. So much so, in fact, that Andy has quite literally doubled Daniel Craig and been a stuntman on a Bond film. In this episode, Andy talks to Matt about his life experiences, diving, why he assumes if he can't guarantee, and how he resets his 'appreciation button'. We get...

Jan 27, 20251 hr 17 minEp. 195

Episode 194: Dr Mark Hines, Ultra Physiology

Episode 194 of The Adventure Podcast features exercise physiologist and endurance athlete, Dr Mark Hines. Mark is a senior lecturer in exercise physiology at Oxford Brookes University, with a background in ultra endurance racing of the gnarliest kind. If it’s long, cold, snowy and potentially deadly, then Mark has probably raced it. In this episode, Mark shares the story of how he got into endurance racing, starting from his childhood experiences of camping and cross country running, to eventual...

Jan 20, 20251 hr 29 minEp. 194

Episode 193: Jane Dotchin, 600 Miles On A Horse

Episode 193 of The Adventure Podcast features horse rider and adventurer, Jane Dotchin. Jane is an incredible woman. She has been embarking on a remarkable 600 mile horseback journey from her home in Northumberland to Inverness every year since 1972. Now in her eighties, Jane's annual trek, accompanied by her pony, Diamond, and her Jack Russell Terrier, Dinky, has become a testament to resilience, independence, and a style of living that feels lost in the modern world. Traveling with just the es...

Jan 14, 20251 hr 18 minEp. 193

Dispatch: Dr Niall McCann, Legacy

Dispatches are our shorter form episodes, usually around a single question, subject or story. In this episode, Matt asks Dr Niall McCann, a biologist, conservationist and explorer, to speak about his family history of exploration and adventures, and to speak to the idea of legacy. 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. S...

Jan 06, 202521 min

Episode 192: Matthew Irving, Living The Line

Episode 192 of The Adventure Podcast features adventure filmmaker and photographer, Matthew Irving. Matthew has a background in wildland firefighting, having worked on engine crews, hotshot crews, and a helitack crew for around 8 years earlier in his career. In more recent years, Matthew has transitioned into adventure filmmaking, often working on expeditions and projects that mirror or overlap with host Matt's own work. This is quite an honest conversation, and they dive in head first with Matt...

Dec 30, 20241 hr 10 minEp. 192

Episode 191: Hillary Gerardi, Records Or Reasons

Episode 191 of The Adventure Podcast was recorded live at Kendal Mountain Festival 2024 and features ultra-marathon runner and alpinist, Hillary Gerardi. Hillary recently broke the women's Mont Blanc fastest known time, setting a new record of seven hours, 25 minutes and 28 seconds. In the episode, Matt talks to Hillary about her skyrunning journey, what it took to break the FKT, and the importance of savouring that experience rather than immediately moving onto the next big thing. Hillary also ...

Dec 23, 202457 minEp. 191

Episode 190: Dr Steve Boyes, The Pulse of the Okavango

Episode 190 of The Adventure Podcast features conservationist and National Geographic Explorer, Dr Steve Boyes. Steve is the driving force behind the Okavango Wilderness Project, working to protect Africa's wild rivers and wetlands. He’s spent years uncovering new species, exploring uncharted ecosystems, and partnering with local communities to keep these landscapes thriving. Steve is also a cancer survivor, a devoted dad, and a natural storyteller. In this episode, Steve gives an insight into h...

Dec 16, 20241 hr 2 minEp. 190

Episode 189: Charlotte Young, Ocean Magpie

Episode 189 of The Adventure Podcast features marine scientist, sailor, communicator, and freediver, Charlotte Young. Charlotte is now living aboard and travelling the world on a boat she renovated with her partner. In this episode, Charlotte describes her transition to living a life of adventure - moving onto a sailboat and restoring a 40-foot catamaran to use as her "adventure vessel." She talks about the lessons learned from living at sea, and her project "Voyage to the World". Charlotte also...

Dec 09, 20241 hr 20 minEp. 189

Episode 188: Jason Fox, It's Easy To Be Tough

Episode 187 of The Adventure Podcast features ex-Special Forces operator, Jason Fox (aka. Foxy). Foxy is known for his work on TV shows like 'SAS: Who Dares Wins' and 'Inside The Real Narcos'. In this episode, Matt tries to cover new ground with him. The result is not a rip-roaring tale of misadventure, instead it's the honest life story of a man who's achieved a huge amount, but also made mistakes along the way. Foxy talks about his time in the military, being medically discharged, and his pers...

Dec 02, 20241 hr 14 minEp. 188

Episode 187: Guy Grieve, All The Wealth In The World

Episode 187 of The Adventure Podcast features scallop diver, seaweed farmer, author, writer, and father, Guy Grieve. Guy spent a year off-grid living in a cabin he built in the Alaskan wilderness. In this episode, Guy talks to Matt about his past and what made him the man he is now. He tells stories of his time in the Alaskan wilderness, why he left his family behind in the UK, and what happened while out there. It's an emotional episode, and Guy is one of the most gracious, genuine, and grounde...

Jul 26, 20241 hr 22 minEp. 187

The Far Reaches: Emma Linford, Wild Service

In the second episode of our new series The Far Reaches, our guest is Emma Linford. Emma is an outdoor professional with a number of different strings to her bow. She’s a mountain instructor, international mountain leader, outdoor education and is heavily involved in the Right To Roam movement in the UK, as well as the Stars Are For Everyone movement that is campaigning to defend the right to wild camp on Dartmoor. This conversation is far reaching. Matt talks to Emma about her early life and in...

Jul 19, 20241 hr 22 minEp. 2

Episode 186: Victoria Monk, There She Rows

Episode 186 of The Adventure Podcast features rower and sports advocate, Victoria Monk. Victoria is Captain and one quarter of 'There She Rows', an all-female team who recently rowed across the Atlantic. In this episode, Matt and Victoria discuss the crossing in detail, including her motivation and inspiration, as well as why she picked this specific challenge given her limited experience of big adventures and expeditions. They go into the realities of life on the water, and also get into the ni...

Jul 12, 20241 hr 4 minEp. 186

Episode 185: Lyanda Haupt, Someone Of Service

Episode 185 of The Adventure Podcast features award-winning author, naturalist, and eco-philosopher, Lyanda Haupt. Lyanda's work bridges the gap between scientific observation and poetic exploration. In this episode, Matt and Lyanda discuss her journey in a lot of detail. They talk about her unique perspective on urban ecology, and the profound lessons she draws from her close encounters with animals. They spend some time talking about her early inspirations and travels around the world, before ...

Jul 05, 20241 hr 8 minEp. 185

Episode 184: Sunniva Sorby, Minor To Major

Episode 184 of The Adventure Podcast features expedition leader, citizen scientist, and polar expert, Sunniva Sorby. Sunniva was part of the first all-female team to reach the South Pole, and has worked in Antarctica over 100 times. She recently spent 19 months living in a cabin in Svalbard. In large parts, this is a conversation about Sunniva’s life; where she comes from, where she went, how these expeditions came about and ultimately what motivated her. But Matt and Sunniva also discuss the de...

Jul 01, 20241 hr 32 minEp. 184

Episode 183: Matt Pavitt, Maybe Masochistic

Episode 183 of The Adventure Podcast features alpinist, skier, outdoor instructor, and climber, Matt Pavitt. Matt recently broke the fastest known time record for the winter Cuillin Ridge traverse. The ridge is a coveted prize and the previous record was impressive, so to see Matt break it was somewhat of a shock. In this episode, they discuss Matt's early life and what led him to move to Scotland rather than Chamonix or Canada. He talks about his career progression, and what it is that makes Sc...

Jun 21, 20241 hr 2 minEp. 183

Episode 182: John Porter, A Path Of Shadows

Episode 182 of The Adventure Podcast features mountaineer, writer, historian and poet, John Porter. John is arguably one of the most accomplished but understated mountaineers of his generation. He made pioneering ascents of the North Face of Bandaka and the South Buttress of Changabang. Neither route has been repeated. In this episode, John talks to Matt about his early life and how he managed to avoid the Vietnam war draft, how he landed on his feet as part of blossoming British climbing scene ...

May 30, 20241 hr 13 minEp. 182

Episode 181: Hazel Findlay, State of Mind

Episode 181 of The Adventure Podcast features one of the most accomplished rock climbers in the world, Hazel Findlay. Hazel featured on the podcast before, back when it first started for episode 19, and is good pals with Matt. A lot has changed for Hazel since then. She bought a house, got married and is now expecting a baby. In this episode, Hazel talks to Matt about giving up the dirtbag life, or more so about how she actually hasn’t given it up entirely. They talk about realities of life on t...

May 17, 20241 hr 23 minEp. 181

Episode 180: Guy Deacon, Running On Empty

Episode 180 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer and Parkinson's campaigner, Guy Deacon CBE. Guy is a retired army officer who, towards the end of his career, was diagnosed with Parkinson's. In 2019, Guy embarked on a solo overland expedition from his home in Dorset to Cape Town in South Africa. He wanted to use the journey as a platform to raise awareness and understanding of Parkinson’s disease in the UK and throughout Africa, and to expose the prejudice and stigma associated with this...

May 10, 20241 hr 11 minEp. 180
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android