We Are Explorers Podcast

Dr Sheddy's story is one many people can relate to – finding out your career isn't exactly what you thought it'd be and trying to make sense of it all. But the way Sheddy found balance is pretty unique.Leaving a veterinary clinic in Australia, she moved to China to save bears before buying a sailing boat in Panama. She now sails around Central America treating animals that'd never otherwise have access to care, and she does it all thanks to the support she gets online.Listen to the episode to...

After a huge call from our Assistant Editor that Jatz Tim Tams are better than the originals, we got to thinking – what weird and wonderful snacks do our audience take hiking? We threw the question out to you on Instagram and people came back with some pretty quirky answers.Have a listen!In This Episode The Hot Takes We Cover Are:Hiking snacksOverland TrackHiking nutritionDehydrating mealsReady made meals – shout out to On Track MealsTrail Drinks Show Notes: Dehydrated Tex Mex riceO...

Please note! This article and podcast contain references to mental health and suicide.This week Tim is joined by Kane Ford, a Movember ambassador, and founder and guide for Get Outside Australia. Kane opens up about the series of events that led to him quitting his corporate job, reconnecting with nature, and confronting his anxiety.From growing up as a gay kid in a country town, to working a high-pressure corporate job, anxiety has been a constant throughout Kane’s life – but it wasn’t somet...

We recently asked about your hot takes and controversial opinions on the outdoors. Tune in to find out which takes they agree with and which they think are just plain wrong. If you have an outdoor hot take you’ve been keeping from the world, now’s the time to let it out! Check out the original Instagram post and share your thoughts.In This Episode The Hot Takes We Cover AreJess Nehme thinks waterfalls are underwhelmingHiking Bec thinks 4WD shouldn’t be allowed to drive on beachesKate Donald h...

From studying spatial science at uni to being diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition that changed how he lives, Matt’s story is a tale of dealing with challenges as they come and turning passion and community into a career. Join We Are Explorers Podcast host, Tim Ashelford, as he chats with Matt about his personal journey and how it led him to founding Fractel.They chat about the importance of community in building a brand, the challenges of creating sustainable products, and the differe...

In this week’s episode, our hosts unpack how MOMENTS entries are going and the harmony between creativity and the outdoors. They yarn about outdoor sports in the Olympics, and how different this version of each sport is to the activities most of us know and love.Finally, with a variety of articles catching the interest of our audience recently, they go deep into the stories that caused a stir!In This Episode We CoverMOMENTS – photo, video, and writing competitionOlympics – sport in a controll...

Join We Are Explorers Podcast host, Tim Ashelford, as he learns how Cezary & Leo dreamt up this unique gap year, and what's gone down in the first six months. Joining the podcast from the Western Treatment Plant (yep, a sewage treatment farm that apparently has great spot bird watching), the pair are over 10,000km and 590 birds into their year-long adventure.They've both deferred uni in favour of a wild adventure, combining their passion for birds, their bikes as a means of affordable tra...

Join our hosts as they recap some recent articles that have captured your imagination and take a deep dive into the world of misadventure. They also talk about the recent launch of Explorer Basecamp, our accommodation vertical and MOMENTS, our first creativity and storytelling competition which opens today! There are $15,000 worth of cash prizes to be won and entries are open until the 15th August.In this chat we cover:Recent articlesWombats – Tourism Tas & Maria IslandSeasonal articles –...

Brendan Waters set up his disability service provider Limitless Ability because he believed disability care should be individually tailored to each client. From group camping to gold panning, listen on to hear how he is providing people with disabilities the same coming of age experiences as everyone else.In this week's episode, join We Are Explorers host Amy Fairall as she chats to Brendan to unpack how he got into the industry, the cookie cutter approach large scale providers take, an...

Join We Are Explorers Podcast hosts, Tim Ashelford and Amy Fairall in this week’s episode without all the distractions that come with doing a bushwalk at the same time. They chat about recent articles that’ve been published about conservation and accessibility to nature in Australia. You'll also find out how the editorial team writes news and chooses what to publish, plus some more lighthearted discussion on fishing in the NT, Tim’s recent trail race in the Red Centre, and of course the wrap ...

On the 64th day of the show, the winner of Alone Australia Season 2 was crowned. We Are Explorers were lucky enough to record this chat with the winner. *Alone Australia Season 2 Finale spoilers below*We Are Explorers host (and Alone Australia fanboy) Tim spoke to Krzyzstof about bed construction, the edit, Krzysztof’s favourite piece of gear and how the experience changed him.In this chat we cover:The winning feelingThe motivation to keep goingKrzysztof’s shelterHow he ended up on Alone Aust...

Divya Gordon is a visionary outdoor filmmaker who produced and directed the recently released film Maven, showcasing the women at the forefront of Australia's backcountry skiing community.We Are Explorers host Amy Fairall had the chance to talk to Divya about how she got into the outdoors, filmmaking and why it's important to put a spotlight on women in the outdoors.In this chat we cover: Living in a vanHighliningDivya’s previous film Seven 7 SevenDivya’s latest film MavenArc’teryx film...

Join We Are Explorers hosts Tim Ashelford and Amy Fairall as they take you on a walk through Sydney Harbour. Find out what the hosts do at We Are Explorers, hear some of their tales from past adventures and what they both have coming up. In this chat we cover: Tim and Amy go on a walk in Sydney harbour NPWho is TimWho is AmyAmy in DarwinTim in SydneyAmy’s favourite thing to do outdoorsTims favourite thing to do outdoorsLarapinta ultraBoulderingStories on the siteAdventures where things ...

Alone Australia Season 2 will premiere on Wednesday 27th of March at 7:30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand. We Are Explorers host Tim Ashelford talks with Alone Australia contestant Rick J Petersen on how he developed his survival skills from a young age, his preparedness for undertaking Alone in the New Zealand climate and terrain, and his popularity on TikTok. In this chat we cover: Rick's childhood on Tasman IslandHis love for Northern Australia 15 years in the army and SASInterest i...

Buckle up for some good old fashioned campfire storytelling of adventures gone awry.These stories were first heard at The North Face’s inaugural Adventure Story Slam event in Hobart.The winners (and our guests today) Jack, Sam and James chucked their names in a hat, threw caution to the wind and got up on stage in front of a crowd to tell their tales in 5 minutes.The theme of the night was Misadventure in Wild Places, and misadventure there was. Show NotesJack Saward tells her story abou...

Amellia Formby is a zoologist, pilot, artist and adventurer extraordinaire. She flew around Australia in a tiny open cockpit aircraft to experience what it was like to be a migratory shorebird, share how amazing they are and promote stewardship of their wetland habitats across the country. In this chat we cover: Wing Threads adventureFlying the microlight aircraftMigratory shorebirds What's going on with wetlands?How can we help?Milly's favourite places she flew overFlight logistic...

**Spolier Alert** This episode discusses the results of Alone Australia Season 1. Michael Atkinson, better know as Outback Mike, starred in the inaugural season of Alone Australia. Long before the lenses of Alone showcased his remarkable bushcraft prowess, Mike had been producing his own adventure films. He sailed the Great Barrier Reef in a dugout canoe he made himself and escaped from the remote Kimberley relying on nothing but his survival skills and primitive tools. In this chat we c...

Nat Gallant (aka the Trail Run Physio) is a physiotherapist and running specialist with a tonne of personal experience to inform her practice. From running the 3000km Te Araroa trail to competing in the gruelling Godzone adventure race, she's physically and mentally prepared for massive running expeditions and nursed herself back from (the inevitable) injury. In this chat we cover: Who is Nat? Running the 3000km Te Araroa trail Injury on the trail Preparation&...

Back in 2009 Ben Southall won ‘The Best Job in the World’ and became the Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Essentially becoming one of the first influencers - He saw hundreds of Queensland destinations, kayaked the length of the Reef and even had an interview with Oprah Winfrey. Since then he’s continued to make adventure his life and share his enthusiasm and wonder for the world with others In this chat we cover: The best job in the world Travellin...

Australia has some of the most unique (and dare we say it darn cutest) wildlife on earth from koalas, emus and long-nosed potoroos (extra points if you've seen that elusive little creature!), but our most well known inhabitant is certainly the kangaroo. Hailey Sullivan spent her time in Australia getting to know and care for these rambunctious marsupials as a volunteer wildlife carer. We find out what it's really like to live and work at a wildlife sanctuary deep in the The Kimberley in Austr...

Jared Anderson is not your average adventure photographer. His passion lays in wild and dangerous photoshoots capturing rock climbing and living on the edge. While his social media has amassed a large following, Jared keeps things local and is adamant that he wants to keep his hobby just that, a hobby. This chat will inspire you to find adventure and creativity in your own way, and not let your skill (or lack thereof) get in the way of participating. In this chat we cover: Jared i...

This week we turn inward and throw the host in the hot seat to find out why Henry Brydon started We Are Explorers. In 2010 Henry quit his corporate job in search of something more. That something more ended up being a two year cycling trip across the globe, some 35,000 km from London to Sydney. After the journey of a lifetime Henry found himself rather unsettled sitting once again in an office chair, right back where he started, yearning for some adventure. In this chat we cover: ...

Last year Alysse and Oscar Gallagher packed it all in for a life on the road with their two kids. They sold their house and all their possessions, and headed off on a lap of Australia. If you’re feeling the pressures of life and looking to make a change this episode might just inspire you to do it. Warning, after listening you may follow your dreams, get outside, and challenge the path you've been told to follow. *This podcast episode mentions suicide. If you or somebody you know needs ...

Lucy Barnard is halfway to her goal of walking the length of the world. Whether you want to plan your own adventure overseas and need logistics advice from a seasoned pro, or are looking for inspiration to follow your dreams - this chat will have you questioning what you thought was possible for yourself. In this chat we cover: Where is Lucy? The routeExperience through South America Thinking about quitting Walking companion Safety What she has in he...

Sarah Pendergrass is a Swiss army knife with her hand in illustration, podcasting, writing, and of course all kinds of adventure pursuits. In this episode, We Are Explorers Publisher Tim chats to Sarah about adventure identity, passion projects and bringing to life those big goals we dream of. In this chat we cover: Sarah's Adventure repertoireContent creation Adventure identity Gear illustrations Passion projects Into the Wee hours podcastLight to Light ...

Scott Williams better known as Scotty's Gone Walkabout chats to us about his wild camping journey and creation of his hit YouTube channel that has followers tuning in from all over the world. His long form content is immersive and refreshing in a world of TikToks and Reels. From hiking to pack rafting, fly fishing and more, Scotty will try and relish in any adventure, as long as he can camp at the end of it. In this chat we cover: Scotty’s YouTube channel Wild camping&n...

Paul Watkins races in marathons, but not just any old marathons. He battles it out for over a week, across 600kms of the frozen terrain in the Arctic Circle. This gruelling race is self supported in conditions that reach below -40 degrees celsius, with lack of sleep and little food, we had to find out what keeps driving Paul to go back and do it all over again. In this chat we cover: Why do an Arctic ultra marathon? The 6633 Race1st attempt in 2017 Advice from a ma...

Ever wanted to give up all your possessions, quit your job and go and live in the wilderness? That's what Miriam Lancewood planned to do for a year with her husband in New Zealand, and then 7 years went by. In this chat we cover: Background as a physical education teacher Travelling to IndiaMeeting Peter Possessions Living in the Wilderness in New Zealand How was it going to work? Learning to hunt with a bow and arrowTe Araroa trail Missing modern lux...

Calumn Hockey is a self-taught adventure photographer who has embarked on a path as a conservation advocate. From humble beginnings using a compact digital camera (that broke after it got too dusty, RIP), he now captures compelling images showing devastating deforestation, climate change, and the plight of protest groups.In this chat we cover: Was photography a passion?The beginning Camera technology Photojournalist Conservation photographer Logging image in Tak...

After cycling 5,000kms off road from Canada to Mexico along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route Richelle Olsen discovered that women around her lacked self confidence and belief in their ability to go on adventures of their own. She decided to do something about it. Richelle started Escaping Your Comfort Zone, a body positive adventure and hiking club for women and non binary people, to make adventure more accessible and to be a cheerleader for people who underestimate themselves. No one get...

Tim chats with full time explorer and travel writer Elisha Donkin on her experience hiking the Heysen Trail. The Heysen trail is a 1200km Thru Hike in South Australia stretching from Parachilna Gorge in the Flinders Ranges in the north to Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula in the south. In this chat we cover: Heysen trail overview Deciding to do the trail Taking time off work How long does it take Vanlife and backpacking Thru hiking v multiday hik...

In this episode Henry has a yarn with survival instructor Alex Mileham and asked him a burning question - what do you do in a survival situation in the depths of a Tasmanian winter? After years of solo adventuring and training from some of the world's most renowned survival experts, Alex began to share his knowledge with others through wilderness survival courses. From bushcraft to mindset, Alex's whole philosophy can be summed up into these three words - Never give up. In this c...

In this episode we chat with Dr Kate Grarock, a contestant on Alone Australia. She fills us in on how her background as an ecologist and avid solo hiker prepared her for the show and influenced her decisions while out there. Do you have what it takes to go on Alone? Kate says yes... you do! In this chat we cover: A Start in the Navy Ecologist Eating on Alone Fishing Introduced Species Impact on a Place Documenting the Experience &nbs...

In this episode we chat with Eva Davis-Boermans about what it's like to do a road trip around Australia, the highs, the challenges, and all the nitty gritty details in between. In this chat we cover: Planning Car Set UpBudgeting Tracking the Trip KM's driving Car RepairsWhen and Where to TravelDestination Highlights BreaksTravelling as a CoupleMeeting PeopleWorking on the Road Jatbula Trail Advice You're in for a treat - Eva has shared her ...

In our final episode of our Inside Out podcast series brought to you by Arc'teryx, we're riding with Evan from Terra Rosa Gear and chatting in his gear loft all things adventure, gear and sustainability. Evan is the first design ambassador in Australia for Arc’teryx’s ReBird program, bringing new life to old gear by cutting up and stitching mishmash fabrics back together to create one-of-a-kind, recycled products.

In Part Three of our Inside Out podcast series brought to you by Arc'teryx, we're shredding mountain faces and huddling in the back of a van to chat to the folk at Mountain Safety Collective. MSC is a non-profit community making backcountry travel safer in Australia. Listen up as we learn about alpine hazards and ski some fresh powder in the process! Show NotesCheck out Mountain Safety Collective hazard reports - LINK 28:30 - Rohan Kennedy Images of slides on The Sentinel Ridge - LINK M...

In Part Two of our Inside Out podcast series brought to you by Arc'teryx, we're scaling a cliff, mic in hand, to chat to Riley Edwards.Riley’s a queer non-binary rock climber, outdoor enthusiast, LGBTQ+ advocate and educator. They are one of the founding members of Climbing QTs, a LGBTQ+ friendly social club on a mission to give everyone the opportunity to get outdoors and feel welcomed to the world of adventure – i.e a certified legend.

The We Are Explorers podcast is back with a little help from our friends at Arc’teryx, and this time, we’re bringing you an extra special four-part series we like to call, Inside Out.In Part One: Hike, Henry finds himself in the wilds of the Blue Mountains, chit-chatting away with hiking tour guide Dan Jee, better known as @hikeandseek.

Beau Miles is back with another super local short film that redefines adventure. Instead of running laps of his block, this time Beau’s turned his head skywards, towards the Big Gums.The special episode was recorded up a gum tree and is hosted by our trusty friend and long-time contributor to We Are Explorers Pat Corden.WATCH BIG GUMS HERE -->https://weareexplorers.co/big-gums/https://beaumiles.com/

In 2016 Neil launched an initiative to take immigrant and refugee youth on their maiden voyage into the bush. This volunteer-run community has since grown across the country, helping countless kids integrate, make friends and understand the importance of the bush within Australian culture.This is such a wonderful story and I feel privileged to share it.https://firsthikeproject.org.au/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTib4WQofCk

Simon French is a Tasmanian who’s committed his life to creating MTB and hiking trails around the world with his company Dirt Art. He also created the Maydena Bike Park in the Derwent Valley which is an adventure playground for anyone into riding. The number of people who have enjoyed the fruits of Simon’s labour and passion must number in the millions, and it seems like he’s just getting started. I really enjoyed chatting to this visionary man about his story, his approach to trail design an...

Athena and Leon Morton created the Port Fairy Adventure Film Festival - Australia’s first standalone international adventure film competition.With absolutely zero event experience they decided to launch the 3 day event in 2019 and not only did they make it happen; they also absolutely nailed it.I hope you enjoy listening to their story - you’ll hear about why they did this, their highs, their lows and also how important Google is when learning how to start a festival.https://www.portfairyfilm...

Monique Farmer is an adventure guide who founded an outdoor adventure community called Women Want Adventure, running epic trips across Australia and New Zealand for like-minded female frothers who want to hike, kayak or canyon. Covid threw a fairly sizeable spanner in the works for Mon, but she’s bouncing back! I love what she’s doing with her company and enjoyed chatting about how and why she built this movement and where we’re at with equality in the outdoor industry.https://www.womenwantad...

Andy's a psychologist who has dedicated his life to helping young people struggling with mental health, childhood trauma or drug and alcohol problems. He does this through Adventure Therapy. Based in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, his not-for-profit 'Human Nature Adventure Therapy' takes at-risk youth (around 14-19 years old) on 10 day wilderness expeditions. Using the power of nature, adventure and therapeutic practice these programs have been transformative for young people. Human ...

This week's guest is Fuchsia Sims, a woman on a mission to change the future of adventure travel. She’s the co-founder of the Adventure Junky app - earth’s sustainable travel game - and she’s spoken at events all over the world about all things sustainable travel. We discuss the future of travel, protecting the places we explore, her fascinating upbringing and saving your mate’s old dreadlock.https://adventurejunky.earth/

Welcome to the Explorer Podcast. Hosted by We Are Explorers founder Henry Brydon, this first episode delves into the mind of pro adventurer and all round ledge-bag Justin Jones. Jonesy's best known for kayaking to New Zealand unsupported, skiing to the South Pole (and back again) and trekking nearly 2000km across the outback with his wife and 18-month old daughter. We discuss how to face fear, the daily need for 'adventure thinking', the adventure-dad life and lots, lots more.Justin Joneshttp...