Armchair Explorer

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We'll Make a Cowboy Out of You: On Location in Laramie, Wyoming Nov 13, 2023

Show notes

The 'Old West' is alive and well in Laramie, a small city at the southern edge of Wyoming's great expanse. Here, ghosts of outlaws stalk the streets as the bustle of 21st century commerce and culture whirs to life. This is a pioneering town to its core - a place where layers of history intermingle with the ever-evolving, trailblazing present.

And today, you'll come to see why Laramie is known as the place where 'the Old West meets the New.' Join us as we embrace the cowboy lifestyle in its entirety - from booting up with Western apparel to going horseback riding, sitting around a campfire, and even visiting the infamous Wyoming Territorial Prison - the only one to ever hold the legendary Butch Cassidy. By the end of the episode, you'll be ready to saddle up and ride!

Interested in recreating some of the experiences from today's episode? Plan your trip at VisitLaramie.org.

Also, please share the show with your friends! Subscribe to the podcast wherever you're listening, follow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook, check out Armchair Explorer's website, and learn more about APT Podcast Studios on their website.

How Akashinga - Africa's All-Women, Plant-Based, Anti-Poaching Unit - is Changing the Faces of Conservation with Founder Damien Mander Nov 06, 2023

Show notes

Wildlife poaching is a complicated problem. But for many years, most anti-poaching groups had only one way of fighting it. Many organizations adopted the same formula: A battalion of men, armed to the teeth, ready to act as a last line of defense between the poachers and the animals. But these efforts lacked community stewardship - they didn't build solutions, they burned bridges. They were costly, they were deadly, and they were lacking one critical thing:

Women.

Now, Akashinga - Africa's first all-women, plant-based, armed anti-poaching group - has forged a new model for anti-poaching and conservation. Beginning as a group of 16 women, Akashinga is now over 600 strong, protecting over 9 million acres across several countries. Each Akashinga ranger comes directly from the communities that she is working to protect. And the ripple effects are massive, shifting conservation into something truly community-led and sustainable.

Despite their revolutionary approach, the group was founded by somebody who never expected to be working in anti-poaching. Damien Mander is an Australian who began his career working in some of the most elite military groups in the world. When he developed a passion for anti-poaching, he knew he had to do something. "I had two things," he says, "and those were particular set of skills, and some money." So he liquidated his life savings to train the first class of the women who would become the original Akashinga Rangers.

This is a story about how to truly build change from the ground up, how to protect what matters most, and how to harness one of the most powerful forces on this planet - women - to create a more vibrant future for everyone.

FIND AKASHINGA AND DAMIEN

Learn more about Akashinga on their website, Akashinga.org. You can watch the National Geographic short film titled 'Akashinga: The Brave Ones' on National Geographic's website or on Disney Plus. You can also follow them on Instagram, Facebook, X, and other social channels @weareakashinga.

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Share the show with your friends! Subscribe to the podcast wherever you're listening, follow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook, check out Armchair Explorer's website, and learn more about APT Podcast Studios on their website.

CREDITS

This episode was produced by Armchair Productions. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com. Jenny Allison wrote and produced this episode, along with host and producer Aaron Millar. Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Theme music written by the artist Sweet Chap. Cover artwork courtesy of Akashinga.org. In-episode video excerpts from the short film courtesy of National Geographic and Akashinga.

Restoring Coral Reefs and Rescuing Turtles: Marine Conservation On Location in the Florida Keys Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

From colorful schooling fish to dolphins, sea turtles, crabs, sponges, and more, the Florida Keys are known for their abundant marine life - so it's no surprise that they're also a hotspot for marine conservation. That's why today's episode is a special 3-in-1 feature, showcasing clips from three different episodes of our on-location series, Florida Keys Traveler. And not only will you get to hear highlights from multiple episodes - you'll also be hearing from a special guest host, travel writer and radio personality Elizabeth Harryman Lasley!

First, Elizabeth she'll speak with Dr. David Vaughan, who is revolutionizing coral restoration around the world with a new process that he discovered completely by accident. Next, she'll stop by the Turtle Hospital in Marathon - the world's first licensed veterinary hospital just for sea turtles - to meet some patients and learn about the rescue process. Finally, she'll chat with Ken Nedimyer about the unique methods he's developing to restore coral on North America's only barrier reef (hint: rope and cement).

Recorded entirely on location, this episode will drop you directly into the sun-soaked paradise known as the Florida Keys. So grab your favorite tropical drink and join us!

Learn more about the organizations featured in today's episode:

For more details and travel inspiration, visit Fla-Keys.com. To call from the United States or Canada, dial 1 (800) FLA-KEYS or contact your travel advisor. Produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry.

In the Valleys of the Noble Beyond: In Search of the Sasquatch with Writer John Zada Oct 23, 2023

Show notes

Whether you known him as Sasquatch, Bigfoot, Yeti, Thla'Thla, Sninik, or something else, you've heard the legends - the stories of the hairy mountain man who lives, as writer John Zada says, "in primeval nature and collective memory." And today, we're plunging deep into Canada's ancient forests to find him.

But make no mistake - this isn't Bigfoot searching like you've seen before. There are no infrared cameras, scanners, or traps. Instead, we'll follow John as he listens and learns from Canada's First Nations peoples, framing his investigation within a greater story of indigenous myth, community, and sacred land.

When John first began hearing about a flurry of Sasquatch sightings, he was visiting the Heiltsuk Nation in British Columbia on an unrelated assignment. But he couldn't shake the stories from his mind. Intrigued, he decided to embark on a trip dedicated entirely to following these stories to their roots. And in so doing, he uncovered something that goes much deeper than footprints or rumors.

This is a story about monsters - but it's also one that tells us about ourselves. And along the way, it's about the power of myth, the need for environmental activism, and the tangled webs of our own psyches.

FIND JOHN

Get a copy of John's book, In the Valleys of the Noble Beyond: In Search of the Sasquatch, online or from your local bookstore. Connect with John and see more of his work, including his photography, at his website johnzada.com, and follow him on Instagram @JohnZada.

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Campfire Ghost Stories and a Haunted Lodge: On Location in Rocky Mountain National Park Oct 16, 2023

Show notes

Estes Park was founded more than 100 years ago, and of course it was inhabited for thousands of years before then by the Ute and Arapaho Native American tribes. You don’t get that kind of history without a few tall tales building up along the way; legends and ghost stories retold through generations.

But myths are more than just tales. They are a part of living history, part of the fabric of a place passed from campfire to campfire, woven through the land in the invisible threads of our imagination. And by following those threads, we’ll not only have some fun, but we’ll also see a side to these Rocky Mountains that most people don’t even know exist.

This episode follows three different stories: the Earl of Dunraven, the legend of the blue mist and the story behind the keys at the Seven Keys Lodge, which historically was called the Baldpate Inn.

Two of these stories are told by Estes Park’s professional storyteller, Kurtis Kelly. Learn more about historic characters from Estes Park through Kurtis’ upcoming events or book a private show.

Learn more about the Earl of Dunraven here.

Learn more about the haunted sides of the Seven Keys Lodge and the blue mist here.

The Seven Keys Lodge opened their tasting room this past summer in their famous key room marveled about in this episode. Here you will find handcrafted cocktails and a variety of an ever-changing menu of food.

Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry.

Following in the Treads of the 1897 All Black Bicycle Corp with Erick Cedeño Oct 09, 2023

Show notes

“Those are my heroes, those guys paved the way for me to be able to travel through this country, free, and they're almost superhuman to me.”

- - Erick Cedeño, Bicycle Nomad

In 2013, Erick Cedeño, aka. Bicycle Nomad, came across an old photograph that changed his life. Taken in 1897, it showed 20 black soldiers riding bicycles across the American West. As he dug deeper, he learned that these were the Buffalo Soldiers, an all-black infantry regiment formed after the civil war. The photo was taken during a grueling 1,900-mile journey, in which they traveled by bike from Montana to Missouri in order to test the efficacy of the bicycle as a form of military transport. To this day, it is one of the most difficult bike trips ever undertaken.

As a black man, growing up in America, Erick had never seen people that looked like him riding bikes. It changed his life, and he knew he had to bring their story back to life. But he did it not by telling it, but by living it - pedaling every mile that they did, sleeping where they slept, eating where they ate, taking the hard roads where modern paved highways do not go. And in doing so he invites us to live it too.

“Curiosity drives me. It fuels my insatiable desire to know what’s beyond the next bend of the road, to discover what’s there beyond the edges of the map. If it is my muscles that propel me forward physically, it is curiosity that propels me mentally.”

FIND ERICK CEDEÑO

Follow all Erick’s adventures at iambicyclenomad.com, Instagram: @bicycle_nomad, and Facebook:@bicyclenomad

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If you enjoy this show, please take a minute to leave a review, it makes a huge difference and enables us to keep brining these stories to you. Remember also to subscribe to the podcast wherever you're listening, follow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook, check out Armchair Explorer's website, and learn more about our network partner, APT Podcast Studios, on their website.

CREDITS

Moonshine, Mad Scientists and The Scariest Distillery in the World: On Location on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail Oct 02, 2023

Show notes

Armchair Explorer goes on-location!

"Whiskey is a combination of fire, water, wood, time - and feelings."

Join host Aaron Millar as he samples a recipe as old as the Revolutionary War; visits a haunted prison that distills one-of-a-kind moonshine; meets a mad scientist blending chemistry and artistry in the glass; and learns the untold tale of the legendary whiskey maker that the world never got to meet.

Spanning 600 miles across the state of Tennessee, the Tennessee Whiskey Trail takes visitors through dozens of craft distilleries where no sip is like the last. Along the way, distillers share the inspiring - and often grisly - stories behind whiskey production in Tennessee, illustrate the process of creating a unique flavor, and of course, offer some delicious pours. Whether or not you're already a whiskey drinker, this episode will have you ready to pour a glass!

How about a musical chaser with that glass?

The Whiskey Trail has a sister series exploring the soundtrack of America, made in Tennessee! Produced in a documentary style, the Tennessee Music Pathways series takes listeners on a more than 1,000-mile road trip, from Bristol and the birth of country music to Memphis and the start of rock n’ roll. Along the way, listeners will hear bluegrass played fast as lightning and traditional Appalachian music performed live in the Great Smoky Mountains. Follow along as host Aaron Millar shops in Elvis’ favorite clothing store, bangs drums in the studio that made Uptown Funk, learns to play the spoons and drinks whiskey in a distillery housed in a more than 100-year-old former prison.

The Tennessee Whiskey Trail knits together 25 distilleries across the state, offering visitors an immersive experience rich with history, culture, and taste. Learn more and plan your visit at TNWhiskeyTrail.com.

The Tennessee Music Pathways is a guide that connects visitors to the rich musical heritage of our state. Visitors can curate their own path based on interests using an interactive guide at TNmusicpathways.com. Follow the conversation on social media using or searching hashtag #tnmusicpathways.

TNvacation.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Thank you to our guests:

Heath Clark, Company Distilling companydistilling.com
Alex Castle, Old Dominick Distilling olddominick.com
Bill Lee, Gate 11 Distillery gate11distillery.com
Stanton Webster, PostModern Spirits postmodernspirits.com
Nick Bianchi, Lost State Distilling loststatedistilling.com
Canaan Brock, Brushy Mountain Distillery brushymtndistillery.com
Fawn Weaver, Uncle Nearest Distillery unclenearest.com/distillery
Visit Memphis memphistravel.com
Visit Chattanooga visitchattanooga.com
Visit Knoxville visitknoxville.com
Discover Bristol discoverbristol.org

This series was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Aaron Millar wrote and presented it, Jason Paton did the field recording and production. Theme music by the artist Sweet Chap

The Way of St James to the Burning Ghats of Varanasi: Walking on Sacred Ground with Travel Writer Rosemary Mahoney Sep 25, 2023

Show notes

“When I first decided to do these pilgrimages, I told myself I'm doing this as an investigative reporter. I'm doing it as an observer, and as an outsider … and in the end, that isn't what happened.”

Rosemary Mahoney, author The Singular Pilgrim: Travels on Sacred Ground

When Rosemary Mahoney got off the ferry at the tiny island of Tinos, in Greece, she witnessed something extraordinary. Pilgrims dressed in black exited the boat and immediately flung themselves to the ground, crawling on hands and knees to worship at a shrine at the top of a nearby hill.

Watching these men and women rolling in the dirt, sweating beneath a scorching sun, she asked herself a simple question. Every human culture that has ever existed has had some concept of the divine, however you define that. She wanted to understand why.

Her search for an answer began a remarkable journey to undertake six of the world’s most prominent religious pilgrimages. Her journey would take her from the Way of St James, trekking hundreds of miles across the Pyrenees of southern France and Spain, to the burning ghats of Varanasi, on the banks of the Ganges River, in India, and beyond.

This isn’t a story about religion, or faith. It is an investigation into one of the most fundamental, but little understood, aspects of humanity. It is a quest to discover the roots of belief itself. And to find it, she will have to travel to six countries, walk hundreds of miles, and stare death in the face.

Insightful, evocative, and inspiring. Rosemary’s story is an adventure into the heart of what it means to be human.

FIND ROSEMARY

Get a copy of Rosemary’s book The Singular Pilgrim: Travels on Sacred Ground, online or from your local bookstore. Find out more about her work at rosemarymahoney.net. Facebook: @RosemaryMahoneyWriter

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Riding with the Herd on Location at the Buffalo Round Up South Dakota Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

“You’re experiencing what you see on TV and the old western movies, the buffalo roaming across the prairie like that. It's that old west tradition that you don't see anywhere else in the world.”

– Matt Snyder, Superintendent of Custer State Park

Feel the ground rumble and the dust fly as sixty cowboys and cowgirls saddle up to bring in a thundering herd of 1,300 buffalo at the 57th Annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup. But we’re not just watching it, we are in the thick of it as we get thrown around on the back of a truck chasing the herd across the wide-open plains. Listen to one of the riders Molly as she cracks her whip and corals the galloping beasts.

We also meet Lakota rider and manager of Bear Butte State Park, Jim Jandreau, who tells us what the buffalo means to the Lakota people, and Molly’s 87-year-old dad, who had just taken part in his 53rd roundup.

Along the way we discover that although the roundup harks back to a different time, the adventurous spirit of South Dakotans that has been a way of life for centuries still lives on. And that spirit is infectious.

Recorded on-location, this audio adventure is designed to do more than just let you hear what it’s like to be there; it’s designed to let you feel what it’s like for real.

Find out more at www.travelsouthdakota.com where you'll find lots of inspiration, ideas and everything else you need to know to plan your great South Dakota adventure.

Thank you to everyone who featured on this show:

- Jim Jandreau, Bear Butte State Park

- Molly Olivia, Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup

- Bob Lantis, Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup

- Matt Snyder, Custer State Park

- Kobee Stalder, Custer State Park

- Lydia Austin, Custer State Park

Produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry www.armchair-productions.com. Written and presented by Brian Thacker. Field recording and audio production by Jason Paton. Executive Producer Aaron Millar. Theme music by the artist Sweet Chap

Expedition Deep Ocean: Diving to the Deepest Part of the World's Oceans with Victor Vescovo Sep 11, 2023

Show notes

"Half of planet Earth is still completely unexplored...and nobody seems to be paying attention."

When Victor Vescovo learned in 2016 that nobody had been to the deepest point of four of the five's oceans, he was flabbergasted...and he was up for the challenge.

Victor had earned his pilot's license at only nineteen, and he had spent much of his life pursuing adventure. He was one of the only people in the world to complete the Explorer's Grand Slam, during which he climbed to the highest peak on every continent and skied to both Poles. But he had never been far below the surface - and he quickly became obsessed with the idea.

He assembled a world class crew and tasked them with an extremely ambitious mission: Build a deep-sea submersible more durable, safe, and sturdy than anything in existence. Previously, subs had been built to survive one deep-sea dive. But Victor's team needed to figure out a way to replicate it - for at least five dives - if they wanted a shot at breaking this record.

And the mission wasn't purely adventure for adventure's sake. The ocean's depths are quickly becoming more and more critical for climate change science, species conservation, and more, and Victor knew that the science to be found under the surface was something that could be life-changing for the entire globe.

Riveting, inspiring, and terrifying all at once, Victor's story will take you deeper into the truth about our planet than anybody has ever been.

FIND VICTOR

Get a copy of Victor's book Expedition Deep Ocean, written by Josh Young, online or from your local bookstore. You can also catch the docu-series of the same title on Amazon Prime. Learn more about the Five Deeps Expedition at FiveDeeps.com, learn more about Victor's aquatic pursuits at his Caladan Oceanic website.

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