#17 Olie Hunter Smart (kayaking the Amazon, walking India, adventure filmmaking)

Olie Hunter Smart is a British adventurer, filmmaker and endurance athlete.

Olie celebrating in the Atlantic Ocean after paddling down the entire Amazon River.

In this episode we talk about his kayak expedition which took him from source to sea on the Amazon River, and his 7 month, 4,500km walk down the length of India during which he explored untold stories of independence and partition in the country.

Olie in north India, making his way south.

Olie made a feature documentary about his walk through India called The Road to Independence, which is now available on YouTube.

#16 Steven from Caravanistan (Central Asia and Silk Road travel guide)

Steven Hermans is the cofounder of Caravanistan.com. After his first few times traveling in Central Asia and on the Silk Road, Steven was underwhelmed by the amount of accurate and up to date information about this region as a travel destination. 

To solve this problem he built Caravanistan.com, which is now widely considered to be the internet's best source for information about traveling in Central Asia and on the Silk Road. 

Home to tons of practical advice and resources, an active forum community, and a list of vetted visa companies and tour operators, Caravanistan is an extremely useful collection of information for anyone interested in traveling to Central Asia. 

In this episode, we talk about traveling in Central Asia, the formation and management of the website, an ideal 30 day itinerary, how travel influencers and organized events are changing travel in the region.

Take a read through Caravanistan for more information.

#15 - Harley Rustad (new book: Lost in the Valley of Death: A Story of Obsession and Danger in the Himalayas)

Harley Rustad is a journalist, author and a features editor at The Walrus. His newest book, Lost In the Valley of Death: A Story of Obsession and Danger in the Himalayas is out January 11th, 2022.

This book is about American traveler Justin Alexander, who disappeared in 2016 while traveling in India's remote Parvati Valley.

In this episode we talk about Justin, traveling in India, and Harley’s book, Lost in the Valley of Death: A Story of Danger and Obsession in the Himalayas, which is available now.

To learn more about Harley and to see more of his work, check out https://www.harleyrustad.com/

To see some of Justin's photos referenced in this episode, visit https://www.instagram.com/adventuresofjustin/?hl=en

In the episode intro, I mention a drawing and note of Justin’s I came across in Nepal. It is pictured below.

Harley Rustad

#14 - Andrew Skurka (adventure athlete, guide, writer)

Andrew is an adventure athlete, guide, and writer based in Boulder, CO. He's well known for his extremely long and difficult thru hikes. He's done too many cool expeditions to list, but some notable ones are his Alaska-Yukon Expedition (6 months, 4,700 miles), Great Western Loop (7 months, 6,875 miles), and the, Sea-to-Sea Route (11 months, 7,775 miles). Incredible stuff.

From the Best of NG Live Collection: Get the inside story of the gear - and the grit - needed by National Geographic grantee Andrew Skurka for his six-month,...

Andrew also runs guided trips, which we talk about in this episode.

Check out Andrew's website here: https://andrewskurka.com/

Buy Andrew's book, Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide: Tools and Trips to Hit the Trail

Check out Andrew's Instagram here: @andrewskurka

Andrew is an adventure athlete, guide, and writer based in Boulder, CO. He's well known for his extremely long and difficult thru hikes. He's done too many cool expeditions to list, but some notable ones are his Alaska-Yukon Expedition (6 months, 4,700 miles), Great Western Loop (7 months, 6,875 miles), and the, Sea-to-Sea Route (11 months, 7,775 miles).

#13 - Tom Rhodes (comedian, podcaster, professional traveler)

Tom is a stand up comedian, a podcaster, a television host, a writer and a professional traveler. He regularly travels all over the world to tell jokes and stories on stage. For a time, he had no home base, and lived out of a suitcase in Europe and Asia. He is a traveler in in the truest sense of the word.

In this episode, we tell travel stories and talk about Tom's newest album, Around the World, which was recorded in 24 different international cities over the course of several years. 

You can hear more from Tom on his podcast, Tom Rhodes Radio Smart Camp, on his standup albums, or as a frequent guest on a number of comedy podcasts.

Find Tom on Twitter and Instagram @_tomrhodes

Check out Tom’s website and his podcast, Tom Rhodes Radio.

Tom is a stand up comedian, a podcaster, a television host, a writer and a professional traveler. He regularly travels all over the world to tell jokes and stories on stage. For a time, he had no home base, and lived out of a suitcase in Europe and Asia.

#12 - Brendan Leonard (semi-rad.com, writer, filmmaker, graphic artist)

Brendan is a writer, filmmaker, cartoonist, graphic artist, and the mind behind the widely read website semi-rad.com.

In this episode, we talk about Brendan's creative journey, navigating the internet with a large social media following, van life, and looking back on past projects after the passage of time.

Find Brendan on Twitter and Instagram @semi_rad

Here’s The New American Roadtrip Mixtape, one of Brendan’s books we discuss in the episode.

Listen to our conversation here:

Brendan is a writer, filmmaker, cartoonist, graphic artist, and the mind behind the widely read website semi-rad.com. In this episode, we talk about Brendan's creative journey, navigating the internet with a large social media following, van life, and looking back on past projects after the passage of time.

#11 - Malcolm Daly (climbing legend, epic Alaska mountaineering accident)

Malcolm Daly is a climber and outdoor industry legend.

Photo by Isaac Savitz

We worked together at Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder. Before that, he worked all over the outdoor industry in retail, as a gear designer, as a guide, and as a sales rep, he founded climbing equipment company Trango, founded Paradox Sports, a non profit that offers accessible climbing experiences for people with disabilities, and was a founding board member at The Access Fund, a non profit that works to keep climbing areas open and to conserve the climbing environment. 

In 1999, Malcolm was involved in a serious mountaineering accident in Alaska which led to the amputation of his leg.

In this episode, we talk about the outdoor industry, Malcolm's accident, and how it changed the course of his life, his career, and how he approaches challenges.

Check out Malcolm's instagram @maldaly

Listen to our conversation here:

Malcolm Daly is a climber, an entrepreneur, and a fixture in the adventure community. He's worked all over the outdoor industry, and founded climbing equipment company Trango, helped to found Paradox Sports, and was a founding board member at The Access Fund.

#10 - Marcus Hudson (Russian travel, culture, visas and language, Let's Russia visa service)

Marcus Hudson is an American living in Moscow. He is the founder of Let's Russia, a Russian Visa service and travel resource. I stopped in Moscow and met up with Marcus on my recent train trip from Morocco to South Korea.

We talked about how he came to live in Russia, traveling in Russia, applying for a visa, how Russian grammar might affect aspects of Russian culture, and being an expat in general.

Check out Marcus's company at https://letsrussia.com/

Listen to our conversation here:

Marcus Hudson is an American living in Moscow. He is the founder of Let's Russia, a Russian Visa service and travel resource. We talked about how he came to live in Russia, traveling in Russia, applying for a visa, how Russian grammar might affect aspects of Russian culture, and being an expat in general.

#9 - Dave Imus (master cartographer, Imus Geographics, The Essential Geography of the United States)

Dave Imus is an award winning and world renowned cartographer based near Eugene, Oregon.

He's the artist behind The Essential Geography of the United States, which is widely considered the best paper map of the US that's ever been produced. Dave and I sat down to talk about his background and inspiration as a mapmaker, his work process, the heritage behind his cartographic style, and the importance of strong geographic literacy.

Dave Imus is an award winning and world renowned cartographer based near Eugene, Oregon. He's the artist behind The Essential Geography of the United States, which is widely considered the best paper map of the US that's ever been produced.

Check out Dave's work at https://www.imusgeographics.com/

Oregon Public Broadcasting produced this nice video piece on Dave last summer:

Episode 8 - Max Sugerman (South America in a school bus, On The Bus Productions)

Max Sugerman is a videographer and a photographer, and a part of multimedia group On The Bus Productions.

Recently, Max and his colleagues from On The Bus took a converted school bus on a road trip through South America. Along the way, they documented the experience and the people they met with videos and a podcast.

Max and I talked about traveling on a school bus and how it changes the dynamic of a trip, difficult driving conditions, and some of the experiences and challenges they had on their journey.

Check out Max’s Instagram page, the On The Bus YouTube Channel, and the On The Bus Podcast.

The switchbacks between Chachapoyas and Cajamarca, Peru.

Max Sugerman is a videographer and a photographer, and a part of multimedia group On The Bus Productions. Recently, Max and his colleagues from On The Bus went on a road trip through South America on a converted school bus. Along the way, they documented the experience and the people they met with videos and a podcast.

Episode 7 - Shane Mauss (Psychonautics documentary)

Shane Mauss is a standup comedian, a podcaster, and an explorer of inner space. In this interview, we discuss Shane's last big tour, "A Good Trip" which featured standup comedy about psychedelic research and psychedelics in our culture. 

More recently, Shane made a documentary called Psychonautics: A Comic's Exploration of Psychedelics.

Comedian Shane Mauss goes on a series of adventures to deepen his understanding of psychedelics. He describes the indescribable and takes us through some of his most intense experiences, while getting the added perspectives of some of the top scientists and experts in this realm. With moments of both confusion and clarity, this is as an honest account of the experiences of a genuine Psychonaut.

Listen to our conversation here:

Shane Mauss is a standup comedian, a podcaster, and an explorer of inner space. In this interview, we discuss Shane's last big tour, "A Good Trip" which featured standup comedy about psychedelic research and psychedelics in our culture.  More recently, Shane made a documentary called Psychonautics: A Comic's Exploration of Psychedelics.

He also has a new tour, Stand Up Science, coming to a city near you.

This interview was part of some research for a project on public relations for "fringe" movements. We don't talk about travel, an expedition, or anything like that. But, after watching Psychonautics recently, it became very clear to me that Shane embodies the spirit of adventure and exploration that this show is about. 

Shane's podcast, Here We Are, features weekly interviews with scientists around the world.

Shane's website: http://www.shanemauss.com/

Episode 6 - Tal Oran (The Traveling Clatt)

Tal Oran (@thetravelingclatt) is a travel vlogger and filmmaker. His YouTube channel, TheTravelingClatt, features informative and entertaining videos about his world travels. You'll find information about cities, areas, things to do, places to eat and stay, and how to organize a trip of your own.

Cargo / Container Ship Travel Guide: Everything you need to know. How do you travel on a cargo / container ship! This is you all you need to know guide! Cargo and Container ships are such a cool means of travel! Make sure you check out the entire playlist below.

In this episode, we talk about crossing the Atlantic ocean aboard a cargo ship, train journeys, and Tal's video making process. He also shared some behind the scenes insight about YouTube's travel video category.

Check him out on social media @thetravelingclatt

Listen to our conversation here:

Tal Oran (@thetravelingclatt) is a travel vlogger and filmmaker. His YouTube channel, TheTravelingClatt, features informative and entertaining videos about his world travels. You'll find information about cities, areas, things to do, places to eat and stay, and how to organize a trip of your own.

Episode 5 - Dan and Elaine Vardamis

Dan and Elaine are the real deal.

They ski, hike or bike in the mountains above Boulder, Colorado almost every single day, and often travel for far away snow and mountains. Among other things they’ve thru hiked the Continental Divide Trail, completed a notable traverse in Colorado’s San Juan Range, skied all over Norway, have raced competitively on the ski mountaineering circuit.

In the spring of 2018, they traveled to Greenland to attempt a ski traverse of the ice sheet. And, as is so often the case with challenging expeditions like this one, things didn’t go exactly as planned.

We talked about their trip to Greenland, logistics for Arctic expeditions, and how to integrate adventure and connection with nature into our everyday lives.

You can check out Dan and Elaine’s blog at https://altabackcountry.com/

Listen to our conversation here:

Dan and Elaine are the real deal. They ski, hike or bike in the mountains above Boulder, Colorado almost every single day, and often travel for far away snow and mountains. Among other things they've thru hiked the Continental Divide Trail, completed a notable traverse in Colorado's San Juan Range, skied all over Norway, have raced competitively on the ski mountaineering circuit.

Dan and Elaine were featured in a Warren Miller film. Check it out here:

It can be hard to pinpoint what exactly we look for in ski partners. Sometimes, it’s more about the friendships that transcend beyond the days spent on the mountain. And other times, it’s only about sharing turns. We followed a Colorado couple in their journey to prepare for one of the world’s toughest cross-country ski races. Watch how their partnership enhances their love for both the sport of skiing and each other. The original version of this edit lives on warrenmiller.com.

Episode 4 - Jonathan George

Today’s guest is Jonathan George.

Jonathan speaks a handful of languages fluently. He’s worked in the Rocky Mountains for the US Forest Service, was a tour guide for three years in Egypt and Jordan, and has led trips and semester long programs in Central and South America, Africa, India and Southeast Asia.  

He’s taught SCUBA in Honduras and Indonesia, French language in Mumbai, and led cycling tours in Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar.

He’s driven from England to Mongolia, and from Switzerland to Namibia down Africa’s west coast in a Fiat Panda.

In this episode, we focused on his Africa road trip.

(In the first photo, Jonathan’s on the left in the brimmed hat.)

We talked about traveling in West Africa, overland travel, and the places, people and challenges he encountered on his journey.

Listen to our conversation here:

Jonathan George is an adventurer and an experiential educator. He's guided and traveled all over the world, speaks a handful of languages, and has taught French, SCUBA diving, and ballroom dance. In this episode we talk about one of Jonathan's adventures, an 8 month road trip from Switzerland to Namibia.

Episode 3 - Julian Smith

Julian Smith is a writer based in Portland, Oregon. Specializing in travel and science, he’s written guidebooks to El Salvador, Ecuador, Virginia, the Four Corners region, and Portland, and his writing has been featured in Smithsonian, Wired, Outside, National Geographic Traveler, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post, among many others.

He’s also the author of a book called Crossing the Heart of Africa: An Odyssey of Love and Adventure.

After learning about Ewart Grogan, a British explorer who in 1898 made a landmark crossing of the African continent, Julian was inspired to explore some of the same parts of Africa himself. Like Grogan, Julian started in the south and headed north. In the book, Julian tells Grogan’s story, details his own journey, and explores some of the parallels between his life and Grogan’s.

We talked about Crossing the Heart of Africa, Ewart Grogan, travel writing, and traveling in Africa.

Listen to our conversation here:

Julian Smith is a writer who specializes in travel and science. He's written several travel guidebooks, and his work has been featured in publications like Smithsonian, Wired, Outside, National Geographic Traveler, and many others. He also wrote an award winning book called Crossing the Heart of Africa, which we discussed in this episode.

Check out Julian’s website at http://www.juliansmith.com/

Photos property of Julian Smith.

Episode 2 - James Simmons

James Simmons is an experiential educator, a former wilderness therapy instructor, a musician, a climber, a yogi, and an experienced and thoughtful traveler.

James has hitchhiked all over the world. We talked about hitchhiking, letting go, and what we stand to gain from being brave.

Listen to our conversation here:

James Simmons is a traveler and experiential educator. He has traveled and hitchhiked all over the world. We talked about hitchhiking as a practice, his background, and what we stand to gain from being brave. For more information about this podcast, check out https://www.longwayradio.com/     .........

Photos property of James Simmons.

Episode 1 - Jorge Latre

Jorge Latre is an ultra runner, an Arctic explorer, a pilot, an electrical engineer, and a fascinating and insightful man. In winter 2018, he completed the Iditasport 1000 (which runs from Anchorage to Nome along the Iditarod trail) on foot, using snowshoes.

We talked about the Arctic, this race, how he prepared for it, and the concepts of mastery, pain, and how to discover what you’re good at.

Listen to our conversation here:

Jorge Latre is an Arctic explorer, an ultra runner, and a pilot, among other things. In February 2018, he went to Alaska and completed the Iditasport 1000 by running (on foot) the Iditarod Trail from Anchorage to Nome. We talked about the Iditasport, traveling in Arctic conditions, the concept of mastery, pain, and about how to design an interesting and fulfilling life.

Photos property of Jorge Latre.

Where will curiosity take you if you let it be your North Star? Lessons from 600 self-powered winter miles on the Iditarod Trail.

Check out Jorge’s website at https://coldlatitudes.com/