The Overland Journal Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Discussing Expedition Campers and Crossing Jungles with Lance Gillies Jul 08, 2020

Show notes

Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady interviews Lance Gillies, founder and CEO of EarthCruiser, focusing on lessons from decades of travel and building expedition campers. Gillies recounts early Australia trips to Cape York in the wet with a Hilux and Holden Rodeo, emphasizing testing oneself responsibly and learning from remote Aboriginal communities, plus practical crocodile safety. They discuss travel mindset: learning basic language and history, and memorable Mongolia experiences with shepherd families. Gillies describes a month-long east–west equator crossing of Kalimantan, Borneo using a short-wheelbase Nissan Patrol, involving deep mud, winching, a river crossing by canoe where his vehicle partially submerged, and sanctuary offered by a remote mosque. He highlights key vehicle priorities—quality winch, water capacity/filtration, fuel range, accessible recovery/medical gear, durability over show—defines overlanding as experiencing life in others’ shoes, and advises buyers to prioritize livability, containerization and serviceability; he explains EarthCruiser’s shift from diesel (Fuso discontinuation due to emissions systems) toward gasoline and recommends negotiation and Stoic-themed books.

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Principles of Overlanding: Storage Solutions Jul 03, 2020

Show notes

Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady and co-host Matt Scott discuss overland storage solutions—roof racks, drawer systems, hard cases, and soft bags—emphasizing that travelers often carry too much gear, which increases weight, hurts handling and safety, and slows camp setup. They recommend continually reevaluating gear use (including a “red dot” reminder method), prioritizing accessibility for frequently used items, and securing everything to prevent projectiles in crashes or rollovers. Roof racks are best kept as reserve capacity, used lightly, and limited by roof load ratings that are affected by vehicle lifts and tires; they caution against heavy roof loads and theft. They cover front/rear weight distribution, packing heavy items low and between axles, seat deletes for space/payload, emergency gear placement, and practical tradeoffs between drawers, nesting boxes, Pelicans, AluBoxes/Wolf Packs, MOLLE panels, and collapsible water/fuel storage.

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Celebrating 50 Years of Range Rover: A Conversation on Heritage, Evolution, and the Future Jun 16, 2020

Show notes

Scott Brady and Matt Scott host the Overland Journal Podcast with guest Simon Turner, Land Rover product manager, to discuss the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Range Rover and its role in pioneering the luxury SUV segment. Turner recounts the clandestine “Velar” prototype era, why capability and breadth of use—from city driving to serious off-road travel—remain central to Range Rover design, and how luxury, refinement, and lineage have evolved while keeping recognizable styling. They compare key generations, especially the L322’s step forward in luxury and build quality, and note historical expeditions and motorsport milestones. Turner explains how Range Rover family expansion (Sport, Evoque, Velar) supports the broader business, including Defender development, and outlines future themes like sustainability, electrification, driver assistance, and lightweight materials, plus ongoing efforts to improve quality and reliability. He says he’d choose a Defender trip to Namibia.

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Exploring Business and the World With Chris Van Dyke Jun 08, 2020

Show notes

Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady records from Bend, Oregon before an EarthCruiser trip to the Alvord Desert and Steens Mountains and welcomes longtime friend Chris Van Dyke, former VP of product development and marketing at Patagonia, nearly two-decade Nike veteran, Now clothing cofounder, and former district attorney. Chris recounts extensive sailing—three years on his own boat to Alaska and Mexico, passages from Tahiti to Hawaii, Peru to Ushuaia, and a five-week Ushuaia-to-Antarctica voyage with severe storms and abundant wildlife—then explains how sailing’s contingency planning and gear security translate to overland travel. The conversation covers protecting company culture at Nike and Patagonia, lessons from Expedition 65 motorcycle travel from Colombia to Ushuaia (training, risk management, avoiding night riding, sand technique), Chris’s Sprinter build philosophy, favorite books, and advice to seek growth by traveling beyond one’s comfort zone.

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Exploring the Journey: An Interview with Matt Scott May 15, 2020

Show notes

Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady interviews co-host Matt Scott, marking 20 podcast episodes. Matt discusses his international relations background and lifelong racing passion, explaining how racing lessons—such as "smooth is fast"—translate to off-road driving, travel, and business. They cover vehicle preferences, the tension between practicality and romance in overlanding, and Matt’s transition from a rugged Wrangler to his current Jeep Gladiator. Matt also details his writing career, emphasizing an ethics-first approach and advising on pitching stories. He shares experiences managing a hostel in Panama, motorcycling through Southeast Asia, and his current role running Adventure Imports in Portland. The conversation provides a comprehensive look at his diverse professional journey and includes a transparent disclosure of his industry conflicts.

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Principles of Overlanding: The Basic Overland Gear Everyone Should Have May 01, 2020

Show notes

For this Principles of Overlanding, Matt and Scott review the top 10 pieces of kit that help support local and international overland travel. Topics include navigation, communications, recovery equipment, medical kits, training, tools, and more.

Overland travel emphasizes exploration and self-sufficiency, and starting with the basics lays a strong foundation for future adventures. Reflect on the essentials discussed, understand your needs, and build your gear around your travel style. Prioritize experiences over equipment, and remember that the spirit of overlanding is about exploration, not just the drive.

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Overland Swaziland with Bonafide Moto Company Apr 23, 2020

Show notes

Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady records from Eswatini’s Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary with Alan Shenton and Joe Fleming of Bonafide Moto Co. following a motorcycle trek on Triumphs (Tiger 1200, Tiger 800, and Street Scrambler). Alan reflects on his international music career in bands like Zebra & Giraffe, opening for The Cure, and how South Africa’s parks fueled his love for travel. Joe discusses relocating from the U.S. to South Africa and his minimalist, moment-focused photography. The group explores packing light, riding conditions, and the story of Bulembu—a former mining town transformed into a ministry supporting 2,000 AIDS orphans through sustainable tourism. They conclude with regional route recommendations and where to find Bonafide Moto Co. online.

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Understanding Overlanding: Defining the Adventure Apr 16, 2020

Show notes

For a complete copy of the show notes: https://www.overlandjournal.com/what-is-overland-podcast/

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A2A Expedition’s Graeme Bell on Family Overlanding, the Defender TD5, and Traveling the World Long-Term Apr 08, 2020

Show notes

Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady interviews overlander and author Graeme Bell of A2A Expedition, speaking from South Africa while sheltered in place and preparing for a new journey. Bell describes traveling long-term with his wife Luisa and their two children, how they homeschool using an American syllabus, and how constant family togetherness builds strong relationships and communication. He recounts choosing and building their Land Rover Defender 130 TD5 (“Mafuta”), its reliability across 25,000-kilometer Africa routes and the Americas, key failures like a broken clutch in Morocco, and a “Little Black Box” engine monitor that helped prevent overheating. Bell highlights converting the truck into a hard-side pop-top camper as a major quality-of-life upgrade, discusses cautious hitchhiking, argues overlanding should prioritize the journey over gear, explains living on about $2,000/month through minimalism and writing, outlines his books, and shares future plans to drive Cape Town to Vladivostok.

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Principles of Overlanding: Rooftop Tent, Ground Tent, or Wedge Camper? Apr 02, 2020

Show notes

In an episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, Scott Brady and Matt Scott discuss various camping sleep systems for overlanding. Their review compares Australian-style swags, soft and hard-shell rooftop tents, interior vehicle sleeping, ground tents, and wedge camper solutions like Go Fast Campers and Ursa Minor. When selecting a setup, they emphasize evaluating comfort, setup speed, weather and privacy management, durability, cost, and vehicle impact, including roof load ratings, center of gravity, and fuel efficiency. Ultimately, they advise travelers to start with simple, budget-friendly options, prioritizing spending on the journey rather than expensive equipment. They encourage testing or borrowing gear when possible and choosing systems based on specific needs rather than appearance.

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