The Call to Adventure Podcast

CTA 029 - Ben Turner, Personal Trainer, Nutritionist and endurance athlete on becoming fit for life Aug 01, 2022

Ben Turner is a real-life man of the mountains. Since starting his outdoor career as a Physical Training Instructor in the Army, Ben’s been passionate about physical fitness and exploring the world’s extreme mountain environments.

As well as winning international military competitions, he has led mountaineering expeditions in remote and dangerous places including South Africa and the Himalayas. Ben has also completed a series of impressive endurance challenges including a 3373-kilometer solo bikepacking trip around Iceland and 16 marathons in 16 days in all 16 National Parks in the UK. During his travels, he developed a keen interest in exploring the limits of what the human body can do. The most important lesson Ben learned is that exercise should be a celebration of what the body can do, and he set out to learn how to adapt the body to not only become adventure-ready and expedition fit but fit for life.

Now a Level 4 Personal Trainer and MNU Certified Evidence-Based Nutritionist, Ben is on a mission to change the way fitness and nutrition are taught. We dig into the juicy deets and how you can transform your own fitness, prepare for adventure and get fit for life, just by starting from where you are.

Be prepared to be inspired to up your game!

CTA 028 - Dan Yates – white-water kayaker, environmental campaigner and co-founder of Save Our Rivers Jun 28, 2022

Dan Yates has been passionate about white-water kayaking for over 30 years. He’s travelled to some of the wildest and remotest landscapes on earth and has had some incredible adventures, including being lost on the Tibetan Plateau with no food or water! He has a boatload of first white-water descents under his belt and kayaking has taken him to some seriously epic places where no human has ever been before.

During the last decade, he has become more focused on the environment and the need to protect these beautiful landscapes. A plan to dam and divert the Fairy Glen Gorge in Snowdonia led to him co-founding Save Our Rivers in protest, and after a three-year campaign, the plans were dropped.

Since then, Save Our Rivers has successfully campaigned against plans for dams in protected areas and fought changes to legislation that would remove protections of our most beautiful landscapes.

Listen in as we dig into Dan’s kayaking adventures, his work with Save Our Rivers and the need to protect our wild rivers and National Parks for future generations to enjoy.

CTA 027 - Laura Owen Sanderson discusses combining her passions for wild swimming and environmental research May 27, 2022

Laura describes herself as a wild swimmer, ‘waterlogger’, adventurer, environmentalist, company director, artist and a mum – sounds like an awesome job description to us!
She wasn’t always a passionate advocate of wild swimming though. In her previous life, she worked in a senior position in teacher training in Llandudno. It was a very busy and stressful career that eventually led to burn-out and Laura becoming extremely unwell with fibromyalgia, even needing a full blood transfusion at one point.
To help relieve her stiff joints a doctor suggested taking cold baths, which didn’t really appeal to Laura. She took her treatment into her own hands by swimming in the nearby sea and noticed it had a positive effect on her symptoms.
Laura soon became hooked on wild swimming, loving the sense of freedom and the beauty of her surroundings. Eager to help others experience this, she founded We Swim Wild, a not-for-profit that promotes open water swimming coupled with environmentalism.
Laura has taken part in various environmental research projects and is currently partnering with Bangor University, collecting water samples from the UK’s National Parks for testing for the presence of microplastics.
Listen in as she discusses burnout, her recent ADHD diagnosis and the importance of protecting what you love.

CTA 026 - Instructor, author and Search and Rescue expert Moose Mutlow talks about a career in the outdoors and the emotional impact of being a First Aid Responder May 02, 2022

From instructing, teaching, Search and Rescue to family liaison with a smattering of street entertaining along the way, Action Man Moose Mutlow has definitely been there and done that!

Born in Birmingham, Moose spent some years living in Australia, South Africa and Europe before settling in the United States. Like many future adventurers most of his childhood was spent outdoors in nature exploring and building dens, but it was a trip to Scotland to take part in a survival course that changed the course of his life. Watching the instructors at work was a lightbulb moment as he realised he could actually make the outdoors his career.

Since then he’s directed Outward Bound training courses in Appalachia and been a deputy Headmaster in the Kalahari Desert, taking middle school students on expeditions through the Australian rain forests and beyond. He’s also worked as a ski instructor and has recently returned from teaching a canoe program to Veterans in the Gulf of Mexico.

Moose has been a senior trainer for Search and Rescue at Yosemite National Park for more than a decade. And if that’s not enough he’s also Lead Trainer for Family Liaison Officers for the National Park teaching services – phew!

Amongst that little lot he’s also found the time to write a couple of books based on Search and Rescue and his work as a Family Liaison Officer. Listen in to hear more about Moose’s amazing and diverse career.

CTA 025 - Nick Hounsfield, founder of The Wave, stroke survivor and Blue Health advocate Apr 03, 2022

Wavemaker’ Nick Hounsfield was introduced to surfing by his father in the 1970s and soon developed a passion for it. He started to see surfing as a tool for having conversations around wellbeing, which led to him founding The Wave – an inland surfing destination for people of all abilities and backgrounds. Nick’s idea was to create a space where people could connect with each other, themselves, and with nature. He champions ‘blue health’ – the physical and mental health benefits of being in and around water.

The Wave opened in Bristol in 2019 using ground-breaking technology, and Nick is planning on expanding the concept across the UK.

Nick has been involved with supporting and growing the para-surfing community, and The Wave hosted the English Adaptive Surf Championships in 2020 and 2021. Nick experienced first-hand the role surfing can play in overcoming health issues when he suffered a series of strokes in February 2020. Luckily he has made a good recovery but recognises that things could have been so much worse. The experience has made him more determined than ever to create a safe, sustainable space to promote health in body and mind.

Listen as we get into the details of how Nick was inspired to create The Wave and the lessons he’s learned from his own health challenges.

CTA 024 - Keen climbers Charlie and Dale from Nohma (prev. Climbingvan) talk about living and travelling full time in Ringo, their self-built van Mar 07, 2022

Meet Charlie and Dale of Nohma, currently travelling Europe and living full time in their self-built camper van.

Fed up with living for evenings and weekends, Charlie and Dale gave up their secure 9-5 office jobs for a life on the road – working remotely from wherever their fancy takes them and waking up to gorgeous mountain views.

They started building Ringo, their bright yellow Sprinter van, in January 2019, fully intending to go exploring when they were done. Ringo was finished in March 2020 – just before the first UK lockdown!

Undeterred, Charlie and Dale turned their hands to helping others with their van conversions, becoming Instagram stars in the process. They used their backgrounds in science and engineering to write the Van Conversion Bible, which fast became the bestselling van conversion book of all time.

They've also launched their electric design service for campervans

When they’re not chilling and working in their van, they’re out climbing. Join us as we dig into all things van conversion, nomadic living and their passion for climbing.

CTA 023 - Adventurer, Conservationist and Regenerative Farmer Ness Knight Digs Deep into the Lessons She's Learned from Years of Exploration Feb 14, 2022

Long-term adventurer and explorer Ness Knight has not always called her West Yorkshire farm home. Ness has pioneered some of the world's toughest and most intriguing expeditions, such as her trip to the Essequibo River with the Wai Wai tribe and her adventure partners Pip Stewart and Laura Bingham. A quest which led them to discover much more than the previously unknown source of the river. Ness has also crossed the Namib Desert region solo, swum the length of the Thames and made a world-first descent of the third largest river in South America.

It isn't merely firsts and records Ness is interested in however. Meeting local tribes and indigenous peoples, connecting with their way of life and understanding the way they exist in their home landscapes has led Ness to lay some roots of her own at home by starting up a regenerative farm in Yorkshire. Ness is passionate about regenerative agriculture and biodiversity and we dig deep into what this could mean for the future of the planet.

Join us for this adventure and sustainability belter, Ness really knows what she's talking about.

CTA 022 - Climate Explorers - The Trio Taking on Eco-Adventures for the UK’s National Parks Jan 23, 2022

Join Isaac, Lukas and Alex as we discuss the biking adventure that took them from the Orkney Islands in Scotland down to the Isles of Scilly, fitting as many National Parks as they could in between and navigating the water crossings by water bikes. An adventure taken on by this bunch of eco-adventurers, and it must be said eco-optimists, who hoped to spend their trip shining a light on the issues currently facing the UK’s green spaces and what we can do to protect them for the sake of the planet and our own wellbeing.

The team dig into the people they interviewed en route, the most exciting bits of their adventure, their epic film documentary and what they have planned next. Tune in!

CTA 021 - Pete McNeil on all things biking, racing and what it’s like to spend 2 years cycling to New Zealand for your honeymoon Dec 09, 2021

Pete McNeil has been riding bikes for as long as he can remember. At the age of 12 he started really upping his game, racing and riding wherever he could and always setting the bar a bit higher. Since his childhood riding days Pete has become an accomplished bike guide, racer and adventure leader, whose endeavours have taken him on a 2 year ride to New Zealand with his wife Alice, the infamous Silk Road Mountain Race and most recently the Highland 550.

We chat to Pete about ways to get started as a mountain bike guide, the myth of needing the newest gear before you set off for an adventure, and the strange quiet that comes after a big adventure.

Tune in!

CTA 020 - Empowering Kids to Change the World for Good with Libby Bowles Dec 02, 2021

Libby Bowles had a pretty great life back in the early 2010’s, working as a conservationist and animal behaviour expert in coastal Mozambique, spending her days working on ground-breaking research and living in her beach shack, surfing the evenings away. Eventually, a resurfacing feeling that she had to do something more led her to walking away from paradise and back to rainy Britain to educate, inspire, empower people to do more to combat ocean pollution.

Formerly a school teacher, Libby Bowles recognises a unique power in young children. Full of clout, an untainted feeling that they can change the world (spoiler alert: they can) and quite frankly, cuteness, kids are perfect at getting the message across to the adults in their lives and at creating a more hopeful future for themselves and the planet.

We chat about cycling adventures, building bamboo bikes and the joys of stand up paddle boarding. But predominantly, we dig deep with Libby about just why single use plastic is so bad, what we can do about it on a basic level and why finding our unique superpower, be that implementing policy, creating art, speaking or funding, is the answer to a better future.

CTA 019 - Crossing Oceans for Mental Health with Charlie Head Nov 26, 2021

Charlie Head circumnavigated the country to get people talking about mental health

Charlie Head is no stranger to adventure. His stand up paddle board has taken him across the Arctic, through the Nile and along the Amazon, meeting and living with tribespeople and locals along the way to discuss education, community and the environment. His most recent achievement was his circumnavigation of the UK, which he pursued as an opportunity to spread the word about mental health and encourage conversation up and down the nation.
We discuss Charlie’s motivation for campaigning for mental health, the hardest bits of his journey and the incredible individuals he met along the way. Tune in folks, this one’s a belter.

CTA 018 - Harrison Ward, AKA the ‘Fell Foodie’ on reaching rock bottom, taking one step at a time and the joy of a homecooked meal at 900m Nov 18, 2021

Harrison Ward, or ’Fell Foodie’ on Instagram wasn’t always running up and down the Cumbrian fells with a stove and the ingredients for a hilltop curry in his rucksack.

Though it’s how he spends most of his days now, it was a tough journey to get there. Harrison tells his story of overcoming years of depression and alcoholism and how eventually, it was the fells that saved him.

Harrison talks about pulling himself out of the depths of darkness and making that first physical and metaphorical step towards recovery. It’s been a good few years since that first Hellvellyn summit and Harrison is passionate about spreading his message and getting more people outdoors. We discuss the power of hillwalking, being outdoors and the joy of cooking in the hills.

Tune in to find out more.

CTA 017 - Elise Downing on running around the country, the joy of the UK and never giving up Nov 11, 2021

Elise Downing was sat in her London grad job office, miserable with the corporate grind, when the idea of running around the UK first came to her. In 2015 the spent 10 months running a lap of the UK, gradually building up her mileage to running 30-40 miles a day and for the most part staying with friends or strangers.

It was a trip that would teach her the power and presence of kindness in the UK, the joy of long distance adventures and that the hardest step is simply committing to it in the first place. Elise’s book, Coasting, is a touching, witty and inspiring account of her travels and why every person, however ordinary they think they are, is capable of adventure.

Elise’s book is available to buy from Waterstones, Amazon, Blackwell's and most other book retailers.

CTA 016 - Summiting Mental and Physical Peaks: How the Natural Health Service Saved Alex Staniforth Nov 05, 2021

Alex Staniforth has battled anxiety, disordered eating, depression, bullying and even avalanches to get to where he is, a trailblazer for achieving mental wellbeing through being outdoors.

At just 26, he is already a record-breaking adventurer and ultra-endurance athlete, with a fair few achievements under his belt. Having endured both the 2014 avalanche in Nepal and the earthquake in 2015 whilst attempting an Everest summit, completed the National 3 Peaks by foot in just 9 days and taken on countless other runs, summits and adventures, Alex is a force of nature.

It is the force of actual nature however, that has taken him to where he is now, founder of Mind Over Mountain. Mind Over Mountains is a charity that helps restore people’s mental wellbeing through the outdoors, mindfulness and “walking and talking.” We dig in to Alex’s mental and physical highs and lows over the last few years and how the “Natural Health Service” came to be his knight in shining armour.

If you want to join a Mind Over Mountains event, find out more or learn how you can support them, you can visit their website here - https://mindovermountains.org.uk

CTA 015 - Resilience Through Pain and Disability - Being Extraordinary, with Alex Flynn Oct 27, 2021

We are releasing this podcast a few days after Alex's passing on Mera Peak in Nepal, where he was training to become to first person with Parkinson's to summit Everest. His family commented that "he went out exactly how he would have wanted to, off the high of having completed another adventure on top of the world about to step into a helicopter ready to take on the next challenge."

We hope this episode does such justice to such a trailblazer of a man, and that it goes on to inspire you to live your fullest life, whatever hurdles are thrown your way.

Alex Flynn has always had a high threshold for pain. But when diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at 36, his whole life changed. Determined not to let it define or restrict him, Alex has dedicated his life to raising funds for Parkinson’s research, and aims to inspire others with disabilities to live full, joyous and stretching lives.

We discuss how Alex has become the master of his own life and just how he managed to complete 10 million meters of running, walking and crawling around the globe. Tune in to find out more!

CTA 014 - The power of listening to nature and how it can guide us to be ethical consumers with Jarvis Smith Oct 27, 2021

Jarvis Smith is the co-founder of My Green Pod, the UK's leading ethical lifestyle store and media company, on a mission to help people live more sustainable lifestyles and purchase ethical alternatives to mainstream products. They hope to encourage businesses to change their models and practises, and for individuals to lead the charge.

In this episode, Jarvis shares with us the moment he vowed to dedicate his life to inspiring people to live more conscious lifestyles, on camera in front of millions of viewers.

Guided through life by shamanic teaching and principles, Jarvis offers us the chance to look closely at nature, listen to it, to give back what we take from it. From easy tips to becoming a more ethical shopper, to deeper conversations about what is really need to tackle the climate crisis, this is an episode you won’t forget.

CTA 013 - Wild Swimming Brother's - The Call to Coldwater: Why More and More People are Loving Wild Swimming Jul 01, 2021

Wild swimming is like a secret society these days. With those 'on the inside' having access to a whole new type of outdoor euphoria, connection with nature and mind-body experience.
The good news is, this is no exclusive club. Wild swimming is for everyone. And Wild Swimming Brothers Jack, Calum and Robbie are here to get your psyched and ready.
For those that are curious, seeing people jump ecstatically into cold lakes and hammer through ice with nothing but a swimming costume on can be simultaneously mesmerising and horrifying. If you're wondering how you can get a slice of the magic but have no idea how to start, this episode is for you.
To find out how to get started, what to wear, how to find your first spot and other tips, tune in! Plus, there's a wild swimming quiz at the end and really, who doesn't love a quiz?

CTA 012 - Rebecca Wrigley from Rewilding Britain: Why UK Wild Spaces Need to be Even Wilder Mar 21, 2021

We all know that we need to take drastic action to avoid the imminent climate emergency. Rewilding will play a pivotal role in adapting to the unprecedented challenges to come.
Everyone seems to be talking about rewilding, but what exactly is it, and how does it play into climate change?
Rebecca Wrigley spills the beans. As one of the founders and now Chief Executive of Rewilding Britain, she really knows her stuff.
Buckle up and take a listen.

CTA 011 - Bikepacking, Ultra Endurance, Running, & Tough Women with Jenny Tough Nov 14, 2020

Jenny Tough embodies adventure through and through.
She's competed in ultra bikepacking races around the world including the Atlas Mountain Race, Silk Road Mountain Race No1, the TransatlanticWayRace, and the TransScotland to name a few.

Jenny’s also on a mission to run solo and unsupported across a mountain range on every continent, some of which were world firsts, like her run across the Andes. She's currently on 5 of 6 and raring to go once things open up after covid subsides.

Jenny is also the editor of the book Tough Women.
Get listening for all the inspiration you need to get out on your own adventure.

CTA 010 - Bike Travel, Cycle Touring, & Bikepacking Top Tips From 1000's Miles - Adam Hugill Oct 09, 2020

This week we've gone for a completely different approach.
Instead of delving into the life of an adventurer or activist I've teamed up with a co-host, Adam Hugill, to give you our best cycle touring and bikepacking tips.
There's something for everyone in here from absolute beginners to more experienced bike rats. Our top tips range from the bigger overarching tidbits of advice, right down to specific bits of kit.
Adam's bike toured in Europe, South East Asia, Japan, and North America. He has an awesome YouTube channel too which you'll find in the show notes.
I share my stories bikepacking from our 18 month trip from Alaska to Panama seeking out the best long-distance off-road tracks and trails.
Get listening and get planning your next trip.

CTA 009 - Should Trespassing Be Criminalised? Ramblers, Wild Camping, & Travellers - Nick Hayes Sep 30, 2020

This week we’re chatting with Nick Hayes, the author of a number of books including The Book of Trespass, A Sunday Times Best Seller.

Nick is also a talented illustrator, graphic novelist, political cartoonist, and avid countryside explorer.

We talk about the controversial plan of the conservative government to criminalise trespassing, its impact on ramblers, wild campers, protestors, and the travelling community, the history of land ownership and access in England, and really question the best way forward in a time when we should be encouraging more people to spend more time in nature.
Enjoy!

CTA 008 - Ultra-Endurance Running, LEJOG World Record, Tour De Mont Blanc & Cake With Carla Molinaro Sep 12, 2020

Carla Molina is an Endurance Athlete, Ultra Runner, Running Coach, Speaker and Adventurer, on a mission to explore the world on foot.

She’s represented Team GB at the 100k World Championships and currently competes for Team Massmart, an elite woman’s running team

Carla just broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest women’s time running 1,327km from Land’s Ends to John O Groats, in just 12 days, 30 minutes and 14 seconds.

She’s also done a boatload of other great races and running adventures, running everything from the Matterhorn to the Isle of White, the Haute Route and the Tour de Mont Blanc.
We go deep into her advice for getting into and improving your running, strength and conditioning, footwear, and loads more.

We also delve into Carla’s LEJOG challenge, her other adventure runs, and of course her love of cake.
This one's sure to get you pumped for your next run. Get listening

CTA 007 - Kayaking the Amazon, Walking India, And Film Making With Olie Hunter Smart Sep 06, 2020

Today we’re chatting with one of my good mates in the adventure scene Olie Hunter Smart.

Olie’s most recent adventure involved him walking the length of India, which is over 4,000km by the way, retracing Ghandi’s steps, exploring the theme of India’s Road to Independence from Britain.

But he’s also travelled the length of the Amazon river, first trekking 400 miles through the Peruvian Andes before hopping in a Kayak for the next 3,600 miles finishing up at the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the first to complete the journey unsupported.

He’s also cycled JOGLE (John O Groats to Lands End) and loves a good mid-week micro-adventure.
Enjoy!

CTA 006 - Barefoot Running, Sleep, Digestion, Nature And Spirituality With Tony Riddle Aug 29, 2020

Tony Riddle has a deep knowledge of health and well being and I love his approach of using nature and natural systems to improve our modern lives. We go deep into the importance of play and movement, the microbiome and digestion, sleep, cold exposure and spirituality.

Frustratingly there was a problem with the audio on Tony’s side. Our sound engineer has done his best to rescue it. And it certainly gets better quality as it goes on. But I really think Tony shares so much gold in this that it’s worth persevering.

Many of you will know Tony but for those who don't, he's spent nearly 20 years developing an approach to thriving in the modern world - looking at things like movement, environment, connection, and health more generally.

He rose to prominence after running barefoot roughly 900 miles the length of Britain from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise awareness on issues relating to sustainability.

And for his next adventure, he’ll be doing the 3 Peaks Challenge, barefoot. Well barefoot whilst climbing the mountains and wearing a pair of Vivo's for run between the peaks.

We do offer the 3 Peaks Challenge, but haven’t had anyone do it barefoot yer, so head to CalltoAdventure.uk if you want to book on.

Enjoy this episode of the pod with Tony Riddle.

CTA 005 - Skiing To The South Pole, Environmentalism, And Climate Change Opportunities With Barney Swan Aug 13, 2020

Barney Swan is on a mission to make the world a better place. He's not only an eco-advocate but also an adventurer - the perfect guest for the Call to Adventure Podcast.
In 2018, Barney became the first person to ski to the South Pole using renewable energy. Traversing 1000 kilometres over 65 days, he survived using NASA designed solar ice melters, lithium batteries, and biofuel made from waste. The incredible journey marked the launch of the ClimateForce challenge, a solutions-driven mission to clean up 360 million tons of CO2 before the year 2025.
He's full of enthusiasm and energy. Barney's can-do attitude is exactly what we need to inspire the massive change needed to fight climate change.
I loved talking with Barney and know you'll enjoy this one if you're also an eco-adventurer. Get listening.

CTA 004 - Epic Challenges, Mountaineering, Ultra-Marathons, and Body Confidence With Sophie Radcliffe Aug 06, 2020

Sophie Radcliffe (or Challenge Sophie as she's known to many) is an adventurer, endurance athlete, blogger, writer, motivational speaker, and an all-round force for good in the outdoor scene.
She's about championing the everyday adventurer. After quitting her unfulfilling job in Sales in London, she went in search of a life filled with novelty and excitement.
In this episode, we talk about how Sophie transitioned to a new lifestyle, her wold first Alpine Coast to Coast Challenge, cycling London to Paris 9 times, the positives of social media, body confidence, women in adventure, van life, and loads more.
This one is sure to get you fired up for your next adventure however big or small. Get listening.

CTA 003 - Lizzie Carr - Paddle Boarding, Plastic Patrol, & Eco Campaigner Jul 30, 2020

In this episode, we hear from Plastic Patrol founder Lizzie Carr. Lizzie discovered a love for paddle boarding (SUP) as a way to heal herself and connect with nature. Spending more time on our waterways made Lizzie realise just how much plastic was floating around. And so Plastic Patrol was born. It has since grown into a global movement spanning 82 countries, with over 270,000 bits of trash uploaded to the app and over 400-tonne bags of plastic collected. We dig into environmental activism, the circular economy, greenwashing, and of course a good old bit of adventure. Get listening.

Life in lockdown
Lizzie’s journey into paddleboarding after being diagnosed with cancer - survivors guilt
Lizzies tips on how to get into paddleboarding
Boris Johnson’s paddle boarding skills
Lizzie’s adventures paddling unsupported down the Hudson River
The plastic patrol movement
Paddling the length of Britain
The state of plastic waste in Britain seems to be improving
How to really fix the problem
The circular economy
Working with the UK government
The power of working on something meaningful
How to change the world
Citizen science
Greenwashing
Brands going above and beyond
What should businesses be doing?
Fast fashion and plastic on our plates
Some practical tips and resources
EthicalConsumer.org
Book - Turning the Tide on Plastic - book
Podcast - Outrage and Optimism
Podcast - The Food Chain
Podcast - Costing the US
A few things you can do to make a difference

CTA 002 - Rolfe Oostra - Rock Climbing, Mountaineering, Alpinism, and RPG's Jul 23, 2020

We’d be here all day if I had to list all of his expedition / adventure CV over his 30 year career (I sh*t you not, its 7 pages long!) but here are some to pique your interest:

He’s a high altitude mountain guide, explorer, expedition leader, and all-round adventurer
Led his first expedition to My Kenya’s North Face aged 20
Notable first ascents in the Andes, Karakoram, and Greenland
Put up new rock-climbing routes in Africa, South America, and Australia
This was one of the most insane lines I found when researching for the show
2018 summary: 75 x 6000-meter peaks, 5 x 7000-meter peaks, 6 x 8000-meter peaks.'
Summited Kilimanjaro 60 times
Explored unpadded rivers in the Congo and Amazon basin
Ventured into some of the worlds most isolated deserts
Lived with tribespeople in Kenya
He is A Berghaus and Stubai sponsored athlete
He holds a BSc in Ecology and Biology
Now head guide for his company 360 expeditions - climbing, mountaineering, trekking, all round adventure goodness - as hardcore as you want to go

So without further ago, I’d like to welcome today’s guests to the show, Rolfe Oostra

CTA 001 - What's coming up on the Call to Adventure Podcast? Jul 23, 2020

IT'S HERE! because what the world needs now is another podcast...
Epic tales of adventure and calls to activism.
(Formerly We Need More Heroes)
Let's get after it!

Episode 18 - Ben Jordan (Paraglider, photographer, film maker) May 31, 2020

In episode 18 we hear from adventurer Ben Jordan. Ben went from shy computer programmers to fashion photographer before catching the adventure bug. He's ridden across Canada on a skateboard, is Canada's only professional expedition paraglider pilot, and set a new world record on his 1,200km journey by paraglider along the entire length of the Canadian Rockies.

Episode 17 - Sarah Williams (Tough Girl podcast host, Marathon des Sables, Appalachian Trail) May 14, 2020

In episode 17 we hear from successful podcaster and adventurer Sarah Williams. Sarah hosts the Tough Girl podcast, where she interviews inspiring and active women in an attempt to get more females in the spotlight. She is also the founder of Tough Girl Challenges, helping to motivate and inspire more women to be active and adventurous.

Sarah also takes part in her own adventurous challenges including the Marathon des Sables and the Appalachian Trail. Sarah is down to earth about life as an adventurer and is candid about the choices necessary to fulfil her dreams.

Episode 16 - Erik Weihenmayer (first blind person to summit all 7 summits, athlete, kayak, climber, adventurer) Jun 20, 2018

In episode 16 we hear from one of my heroes, Erik Weihenmayer. Despite losing his eyesight at 13 years old, Erik has gone on to accomplish some truly remarkable things.

Erik has used hardship as 'fuel to his fire' to become the first blind person to summit all 7 summits (the highest peaks on all 7 continents). He's also; kayaked the entire 277-miles of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, skied double black diamonds, competed in adventure races, sky dived, climbed peaks in Antarctica, written books, co-founded an amazing organisation, been a school teacher, a wrestler, and the list just goes on.

We cover all this and loads more.

We finish by touching on some of Erik's heroes, and he's got some great ones!

Enjoy.

Episode 15 - Super Cycling Man (Will Hodson) May 09, 2018

In a world first, Super Cycling Man (AKA Will Hodson) will cycle over 100,000km to all 7 continents, aiming to raise £1 million for charity, all whilst dressed as a super hero...

Episode 14 - Ben Page (Multi-award winning filmmaker, adventurer, and photographer) Apr 06, 2018

In episode 14 we hear from multi-award winning filmmaker, adventurer and photographer, Ben Page.

We kick off by hearing about Ben's cycle trip around the world. He took 3 years and survived on just $3 a day.

We then go on to a film making crash course, focusing on Ben's recent film, The Frozen Road. Ben goes into great detail about his camera set up, recommendations for those getting into film making, and loads more.

We close by discussing Ben's heroes and inspirations.

Episode 13 - Jim Davidson (Speaking of Adventure) - Part 2 Apr 01, 2018

In episode 13 we hear more from climber, resilience expert, expedition leader, and adventurer Jim Davidson. Through years of experience Jim has undertaken some epic climbs including summiting Mount Everest, alongside many other notable peaks.

Jim specialises in the topic of resilience. He is now a professional speaker and distills the lessons he's learned over 20 years out on the mountain and makes them applicable to everyday life.

In this episode he tells the story of losing his best friend in a climbing accident falling into an 80 foot crevasse and what he learned from it.

We also cover what it was like to be on Mount Everest when the earthquake hit Nepal back in 2015. As well as his continued struggle to summit the worlds tallest mountain.

Jim now speaks professionally and co-authored the award winning book 'The Ledge. We discuss his journey through learning the craft of write and getting paid to speak for a living. A major transition from his previous life of a geologist.

It was fascinating to hear Jim's story and great to cover such a breadth of topics but still get into the weeds.

Thanks for listening. Please get in touch with an comments. And subscribe if you'd like to hear more.

Episode 12 - Jim Davidson (Speaking of Adventure) - Part 1 Apr 01, 2018

In episode 12 we hear from climber, resilience expert, expedition leader, and adventurer Jim Davidson. Through years of experience Jim has undertaken some epic climbs including summiting Mount Everest, alongside many other notable peaks.

Jim specialises in the topic of resilience. He is now a professional speaker and distills the lessons he's learned over 20 years out on the mountain and makes them applicable to everyday life.

In this episode he tells the story of losing his best friend in a climbing accident falling into an 80 foot crevasse and what he learned from it.

We also cover what it was like to be on Mount Everest when the earthquake hit Nepal back in 2015. As well as his continued struggle to summit the worlds tallest mountain.

Jim now speaks professionally and co-authored the award winning book 'The Ledge. We discuss his journey through learning the craft of write and getting paid to speak for a living. A major transition from his previous life of a geologist.

It was fascinating to hear Jim's story and great to cover such a breadth of topics but still get into the weeds.

Thanks for listening. Please get in touch with an comments. And subscribe if you'd like to hear more.

Episode 11 - Derek Loudermilk (The Art of Adventure) - Part 2 Jan 11, 2018

In episode 11 (part 2 of 2) we hear more from the uber eclectic Derek Loudermilk (If you haven't listened to part 1, I recommend scrolling back to episode 10 and taking a listen to that before you embark on part deux). Derek is a professional adventurer, bestselling author, publisher, speaker, digital nomad, business coach, and is the host of The Art of Adventure podcast. He also has experience as a professional athlete, sports coach, scientist, and photographer. Can anyone say multipotentialite fast enough?

He specialises in coaching people who want to become location independent entrepreneurs and earn money online whilst living anywhere they desire. His wealth of experience in so many fields made this an in-depth yet far reaching episode.

I thoroughly enjoyed recording this episode and there is certainly something for everyone in here.

Thanks for listening. Please get in touch with an comments. And subscribe if you'd like to hear more.

Episode 10 - Derek Loudermilk (The Art of Adventure) - Part 1 Jan 11, 2018

In episode 10 we hear from the uber eclectic Derek Loudermilk. Derek is a professional adventurer, bestselling author, publisher, speaker, digital nomad, business coach, and is the host of The Art of Adventure podcast. He also has experience as a professional athlete, sports coach, scientist, and photographer. Can anyone say multipotentialite fast enough?

He specialises in coaching people who want to become location independent entrepreneurs and earn money online whilst living anywhere they desire. His wealth of experience in so many fields made this an in-depth yet far reaching episode.

I thoroughly enjoyed recording this episode and there is certainly something for everyone in here.

Thanks for listening. Please get in touch with an comments. And subscribe if you'd like to hear more.

Episode 9 - Dimitri Kieffer Dec 04, 2017

In episode 9 we hear from a titan of human powered adventure, Dimitri Kieffer. Dimitri is possibly the most exciting software engineer going!

He is currently embarking on an epic expedition circumnavigating the globe by human power alone.

Dimitri kicked off his expedition racing the Iditatord over 1,000 miles through Alaska on foot before teaming up with Karl Bushby to become the first people in modern times to cross the Bering Strait from East to West on foot and by swimming. And it only gets more exciting from there!

Now get listening, and starting making things happen!

Thanks for listening. Subscribe if you'd like to hear more.

Episode 8 - Laval St Germain Nov 01, 2017

In episode 8 we hear from one of my favourite adventurers Laval St Germain. Laval is an adventurer, outdoor athlete, air pilot, public speaker, climber, runner, rower, and also a great husband and father.

Episode 7 - Conrad Anker Oct 05, 2017

In episode 7 we hear from climbing superhero Conrad Anker. Conrad is world famous for his exceptional list of climbing achievements. He has summited Everest 3 times, the most recent of which was without assisted oxygen. The recent hit film Meru followed Conrad, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk successfully summit the Shark's Fin on Mount Meru, A climb that had defeated more elite climbers than any other peak in the Himalayas over the last 30 years. Conrad is the lead climber at team North Face. He's also been featured in National Geographic and many of the worlds top climbing magazines for being able to pull off seemingly impossible climbs.

Episode 6 - Pip Stewart Sep 23, 2017

In episode 6 we hear from without doubt one of my favourite adventurers (and humans), Pip Stewart. Pip has a wealth of experience in so many different fields. She is an adventurer, journalist and presenter. A hippy at heart, with a love for travel, meditation, health and wellbeing (in her own words...)

Episode 5 - Paula Reid Sep 09, 2017

In episode 5, we hear from Adventurer, Author, Performance Catalyst and so much more, Paula Reid. Paula has an incredible breadth of experience in everything from skiing to the South Pole and sailing around the world, to boardroom consulting and psychology.

Episode 4 Louis-Philippe Loncke Aug 23, 2017

In episode 4 we hear from the Belgian Beast of exploration and adventure, Louis-Philippe Loncke. He has a whopping 10 world firsts to his name, works as an engineer, has 3 degrees, 3 masters, and speaks 3 languages. Now get listening and start your next adventure - big or small - just do it!

Episode 3 - Henry Brydon Aug 17, 2017

In episode 3 we hear from my mate Henry Brydon. Much like myself, Henry quit his 'boring' job in search of adventure. Raising over £100,000 for charity, he cycled nearly 40,000 kilometers from London all the way to SYDNEY, before starting his online adventure company ,We Are Explorers. Take a listen for some awesome stories that are guaranteed to want to get you on your bike!

Episode 2 - Benedict Allen Aug 17, 2017

In episode 2 TV's first explorer and all round bad Mo Fo Benedict Allen shares some amazing stories, including his initiation ceremony to an uncontacted tribe in Papua New Guinea. But this wasn't just any initiation ceremony. It was pure brutality! Beatings and abuse for 6 whole weeks. Blood, sweat, and tears. And lots of them! Take a listen and get your plane ticket to the jungle booked!

Episode 1 - Sean Conway Aug 17, 2017

Owner of the worlds most powerful beard, Sean Conway drops knowledge bombs in episode 1 of We Need More Heroes. We hear of how Sean went from being uninspired and lost to endurance athlete and lover of life. After selling his photography business for £1, he set his sights on adventure and has never looked back. We cover Sean's thoughts on training, life, happiness, and just about everything else in between.

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