The Overland Journal Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Principles of Overlanding Vehicle Recovery Part 2 Jan 18, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to another exciting installment of the Overland Journal Podcast series where we explore the critical principles of overlanding vehicle recovery. Hosted by Scott Brady alongside co-host Matt Scott, with special guest Jim West, a Camel Trophy veteran and recovery expert, we delve into essential equipment, safety practices, and techniques necessary for successful vehicle recovery in the wild.

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Principles of Overlanding: Vehicle Recovery Part 1 Jan 01, 2021

Show notes

Principles of Overlanding: Vehicle Recovery Part 1

Welcome to an exploration of the principles of overlanding and vehicle recovery, inspired by a recent episode of the Overland Journal Podcast. Join hosts Scott Brady and Matt Scott, along with their special guest, the seasoned adventurer Jim West, as they delve into the essentials of overlanding safety, equipment, and techniques. In this blog post, we summarize their insightful conversation, share tips, and recount some entertaining tales of getting stuck and getting out.

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Interview with Kurt Williams, Overlander and Land Cruiser Guru Dec 22, 2020

Show notes

Host Scott Brady records from Salt Lake City with Kurt Williams of Cruiser Outfitters, discussing Kurt’s path from buying the business at 21 while studying mechanical engineering to building a Toyota-focused reputation through community involvement, deep product knowledge, and complete, vetted parts kits sourced globally. Kurt shares why Land Cruisers matter most to him—reliability, global support, community, and customization—and highlights favorites like his imported turbo-diesel BJ74. They connect racing experience, including Kurt’s recent Baja 1000 class win, to overland driving skills, mechanical sympathy, safety margins, and rigorous inspections. Lessons from Expedition 7, Greenland, and xOverland emphasize team dynamics, fatigue management, simplicity, quality gear, and daily/weekly vehicle checks. Kurt suggests key travel upgrades: suspension/shocks for load, appropriate tires, safe fuel capacity, and organized interior storage, and notes new e-commerce efforts under CruiserTeq.

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Principles of Overlanding: Planning Your First Overland Journey Nov 27, 2020

Show notes

Scott Brady and Matt Scott introduce the Overland Journal Podcast’s new YouTube live video format and discuss how to plan your first overland adventure by balancing preparedness with simplicity. They share early mistakes like carrying excessive fuel, unnecessary gear, and underestimating anxiety, emphasizing that everyone starts somewhere and that small, local trips close to home are a great way to learn. They encourage involving partners and family in planning, focusing on personal interests rather than emulating others, and giving yourself grace while accepting that plans will change. Practical planning tools include Google My Maps for routes and services, plus Gaia/onX for technical travel, iOverlander for camps, and paper maps for redundancy. They stress responsible travel, proper training, and essential safety items like water, navigation, medical basics, communication devices (especially inReach/PLBs), suitable tires, and low-consequence recovery gear.

This episode is brought to you by Danner Boots: https://www.danner.com/

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Field Interview with Jon Turner, Engineer and Overlander Nov 04, 2020

Show notes

Recorded on the Black Rock Desert playa after a day exploring northern Nevada’s Calico Mountains, this podcast episode features John’s path from a childhood of frequent UK/US and European travel to Army aerial reconnaissance and signals intelligence missions that took him from Key West to Greenland, Iceland, Scotland, and the Middle East. He explains how returning to college led to an electrical engineering degree and executive roles at GE (including a Budapest assignment during the Jack Welch era), Sony, and Johnson & Johnson through Six Sigma process improvement. The conversation turns to overland travel lessons learned from getting vehicles stuck, the importance of weight and choosing the right base platform, and why a true overland rig must perform on-road and off-road. John shares design priorities for expedition campers—comfort, capability, and security—along with advice on suspension setup, using quality components, getting driver training, and starting trips locally.

Jon Turner is the Founder and Chief Engineer of Nimbl Vehicles. A lifetime traveler with a taste for adventure, Jon made his first international trip when he emigrated from England to the USA at 6 months of age. Since then he has traveled, lived, and worked as both soldier and engineer throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. As an electrical engineer (North Carolina State University) and a service disabled veteran (US Army - Gulf War), Jon has taught numerous overlanding classes at events like Overland Expo, and can be found most weekends out exploring the rugged beauty of northern Nevada.

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The Overlander's Every Day Carry (EDC) Sep 30, 2020

Show notes

Host Scott Brady and co-host Matt Scott discuss Principles of Overlanding for practical everyday carry (EDC) and travel gear for overland travel, emphasizing minimizing items, avoiding overtly tactical-looking clothing abroad, and complying with local knife laws. They describe preferred clothing (durable, understated jackets), sunglasses, and how smartphones have replaced many pocket items, especially for navigation, light, and secure contactless payments. Scott covers carrying knives and, in North America, occasional firearms with proper training and secure storage, while recommending buying cheap knives in-country when flying or traveling internationally. They compare electronics choices (Surface vs Apple ecosystem), highlight cloud document storage and international service with Google Fi, and advocate USB-C standardization and noise-canceling headphones. They also cover camera kits (Leica vs Canon/Sony and iPhone capabilities), luggage solutions (Pelican Air, duffels, waterproof bags, Rimowa), and vehicle “hacks” like a 12V rice cooker, Snow Peak cutting board/knife, packing cubes, and comfort items.

Summary:
For this Principles of Overlanding, Matt and Scott discuss the merits of EDC, and the critical items they use for international and domestic overland travel. Topics of discussion include luggage, electronics, clothing, firearms, camera equipment, knives, watches, and more.

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Vehicle Review Mashup (Summer 2020) Sep 17, 2020

Show notes

Host Scott Brady and cohost Matt Scott discuss a recurring quarterly format reviewing new vehicles they’ve recently driven, focusing on pros and cons for overland and off-road use. They cover the Jeep Gladiator Mojave’s desert-focused tuning, interior upgrades, stronger axle components, and tradeoffs versus the Rubicon (no front locker or sway-bar disconnect, different low range), and they also discuss diesel Wrangler benefits and fuel economy alongside concerns about diesel availability and long-term reliability. Scott reviews the Ram 1500 Limited EcoDiesel’s luxury interior, air suspension, strong economy but modest power, and compares it unfavorably for value against the Nissan Titan SL, which they find unrefined, weak off-road, and uncompetitive at its price. They praise an ARB-modified Ford Ranger’s suspension and performance and preview upcoming ARB-Ford collaboration. They revisit the newly available Land Rover Defender’s outstanding interior practicality and ride quality, noting styling reservations and the need to prove long-term reliability. Matt reviews the GMC Yukon AT4’s comfort, payload, air suspension, and underwhelming 5.3 power and traction control in a pre-production unit, and they close by teasing upcoming tests including a Power Wagon, diesel Gladiator, and AWD Ford Transit.

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Behind the Builds: Overland Journal's Latest Projects and Tech Aug 27, 2020

Show notes

Project Vehicle Updates: Lexus GX 470 Build, Gladiator Suspension Tuning, and Future AEV Prospector PlansScott Brady and Matt Scott share project vehicle updates on the Overland Journal Podcast, including a deep dive on Scott’s Lexus GX 470 (2007) build inspired by driving a Prado 120 in Tasmania and chosen for the 4.7L V8, reliability, payload, and strong aftermarket support. Scott discusses installing ARB Old Man Emu BP-51 suspension, AEV Crestone DOT-legal beadlock wheels, plans for an ARB front bumper, Warn winch, and possibly keeping the factory rear air suspension for ride quality and leveling. Matt reviews ongoing Jeep Gladiator suspension tuning, potential Icon components or airbags, and a full electrical refit using Redarc systems (Manager30 and upcoming RedVision) with lithium power and added solar. They also cover G-Wagen updates, tire and roof tent testing, vehicle cost-of-ownership strategy, and Matt’s interest in an AEV Prospector full-size Ram conversion.

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Capturing Africa: The Life and Lens of Safari Expert Andy Biggs Aug 11, 2020

Show notes

Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady interviews certified safari guide, entrepreneur, and photographer Andy Biggs about shifting from corporate consulting into a travel-focused life centered on Africa and photography. Biggs describes an early six-week African trip that sparked his passion, emphasizes balancing income, family, and adventure, and advises aspiring entrepreneurs to treat themselves as a business while diversifying income streams through guided and bespoke safaris, print sales, and licensing. They discuss how the 2020 pandemic halted bookings and prompted Biggs to build a new website and support conservation fundraising. Biggs offers safari planning guidance—defining desired experiences and budgets, and prioritizing great guides—plus equipment advice focused on investing in lenses and composing with storytelling adjectives. The conversation also covers family overland travel, guided vs self-drive safaris, and vehicle perspectives on G-Wagons and the Land Cruiser 70-series, along with future travel goals.

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Why Full-Size Trucks Should Be Seriously Considered for Overlanding Jul 22, 2020

Show notes

Host Scott Brady and co-host Matt Scott argue that many overlanders overload midsize pickups like the Tacoma due to limited payload (often around 1,000–1,200 lbs before passengers and gear), making full-size 3/4-ton and 1-ton trucks a better choice for carrying campers, bumpers, winches, water, and supplies while staying under GVWR. They discuss full-size durability as commercial equipment, better bed space, comfort, and fuel range—especially with diesels and large or auxiliary tanks—plus the ability to fit 40-inch tires with less drivetrain upgrading. They note tradeoffs: size challenges in big cities and small villages, and diesel reliability/service complexity internationally, sometimes requiring specialized mechanics. They compare models and packages like Ram 2500/Power Wagon and Ford Super Duty Tremor, praise AEV Prospector builds, and review aftermarket options, concluding full-size trucks suit heavy, feature-rich travel setups.

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