Tales of Adventure, by Haus of Hiatus

In episode 14, I talk to Wendy Searle, who in January 2020, became the 7th Woman in history to ski solo to the South Pole. Now, she’s a polar expedition leader, speechwriter, an inspirational speaker on adventure and mental resilience, and also a mother of four. In the episode, Wendy highlights she had a relatively ordinary existence until 2015, when she met a team going to Antarctica. Afterwards, she began to wonder if someone with no experience, time, or money, could successfully complete a Polar expedition. An almost impossible challenge. Her story is one of the highs and lows of training with the dedication of an Olympic athlete, how she completed a fully unsupported crossing of Greenland, raised tens of thousands of pounds to fund the trip, and juggling the commitments of everyday life. She also offers insight into how to cope in the most difficult of situations, how to build mental resilience, and offers life lessons from the edge of existence. Image credit: Richard Grassie / Compeed / Shackleton Social media: https://www.instagram.com/betweensnowandsky/ https://twitter.com/betweensnowsky?lang=en Web: https://southpole2020.com https://shackleton.com/en-ee/blogs/articles/wendy-searle-she-who-dares https://www.chartwellspeakers.com/speaker/wendy-searle/

In episode 13, I talk to Nick Spicer FRGS, a father, disaster response volunteer, and founder of renewable energy company, YourEco, about his personal goal of completing the Yukon 1000, a race held in the remote backcountries of the US and Canada that ends inside the Arctic circle, and is completed in pairs using either sea kayaks, canoes, or stand-up paddleboard, in under 10 days. We discuss his experiences on other big endurance events (such as the Marathon des Sables, Brutal iron-distance triathlon, and ultramarathons), how he balances personal adventure goals whilst having a family and running a business, how to train when you’ve got a busy lifestyle, and what he plans to do to keep his life vibrant as he enters his forties. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yukon1000race/ https://www.instagram.com/your_eco_/ https://instagram.com/reduce_our_carbon_foundation Web: https://www.yukon1000.org https://www.yourecouk.com https://reduceourcarbon.org Charity fundraising page: https://express.adobe.com/page/9aYvoTiBt0zGc/

In episode 12, I talk to Sam Cox, a Royal Marines Major who will embark on a unique solo and unsupported crossing across Antarctica to set a world record in November 2023. Starting at the coast of Berkner Island and finishing at the base of the Reedy glacier, via the South Pole, this expedition will see him ski a total distance of 1,950km, in one of the last wildernesses - a pure test of physical and mental endurance. Joining the Royal Marines in 2010, he has tested himself throughout the globe’s harshest environments, from the humidity of the jungles in Brunei, the heat of Central Asia, to the depths of the iciest temperatures in Norway. Sam will be using this expedition to fundraise for Movember and Rock to Recovery charities, build a unique platform to highlight the power of human resilience and mental strength to engage with a global audience, and promote positive mental well-being. Website: https://frozendagger.co.uk Instagram: @frozendagger

In episode 11, I talk to mountaineering charity Founder, Sam Sidiqi, who’s embarking on a hugely inspiring world-first mountaineering endeavour in 2023. After unofficially becoming the first Afghan to summit the highest mountain in the US, Mount Denali (subject to official confirmation) in 2021, Sam will try to become the first Afghan to summit Everest in the spring 2023. The focus of his climb will be to raise awareness and funds for the Afghan Peaks charity to help in its mission of promoting skiing, climbing, and mountain sports in Afghanistan. He has degrees in economics and political science from MIT, and now shares his experiences growing up in Afghanistan, and how he wants to help grow mountain sports in this often-misunderstood country. I: https://www.instagram.com/afghanpeaks/ F: https://www.facebook.com/AfghanPeaks W: https://www.afghanpeaks.org

In episode 10, I talk to Alice Morrison, an international author, explorer, and adventurer, known for her writing about her travels to and experiences in remote, challenging, and sandy locations in the Middle East and North Africa (‘MENA’). Often highlighted as the ‘Indiana Jones for girls’, she is the author of "Walking with Nomads", and "Dodging Elephants," which detail her journey through the Sahara Desert (where she stumbled upon dinosaur footprints and discovering a lost city whilst trying to avoid landmines, quicksand and deadly snakes) and her experience cycling across Africa, respectively. Alice has also notably completed the Marathon des Sables, cycled some 12,500km from Cairo to Cape Town in the Tour D’Afrique, completed the Everest trail marathon (a multi-day event covering 160 kilometres in the Himalaya), worked behind and in front of the cameras at the BBC, led and grown companies, and has a background in anthropology and archaeology. Her writing often explores themes of cultural exchange and understanding, and she is known for her ability to capture the warmth and humanity of the people she encounters on her travels, as well as conveying the beauty and majesty of the natural world. You can follow her on her adventures and see her work at: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliceoutthere1/ Website: https://alicemorrison.co.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alicehuntermorrisonadventures/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/aliceoutthere1/

Starting his professional career in architecture; Wim shares his story of how he came to end up in marketing for a prestigious British outdoor clothing company, what the future might hold for the outdoor industry, and also practical tips for those aiming to get expeditions funded or supported with equipment or clothing.

‘They say that being a good doctor boils down to just four things: shut up, listen, know something, care. The same could be said for life on the road, too.’ In episode 8, we talk to Dr Stephen Fabes - a medical doctor who finally found his way home in 2016 after cycling the length of six continents - a six-year adventure across 75 countries and 53,000 miles. When Stephen left his job as a junior doctor and set out to cycle around the world, frontline medicine quickly faded from his mind. Of more pressing concern were the daily challenges of life as an unfit rider on an overloaded bike, helplessly in thrall to pastries. But leaving medicine behind is not as easy as it seems. As he roved continents, he found people whose health has suffered through exile, stigma or circumstance, and others, whose lives have been saved through kindness and community. After encountering a frozen body of a monk in the Himalayas, he is drawn ever more to healthcare at the margins of the world, to crumbling sanitoriums and refugee camps, to city dumps and war-torn hospital wards. And as he learns the value of listening to lives – not just solving diagnostic puzzles – Stephen challenges us to see care for the sick as a duty born of our humanity, and our compassion. His writing has appeared in The Guardian, the Telegraph, Geographical, CNN and the BBC among others. He is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, an inspiring public speaker and a regular at live storytelling nights. He currently works in the Emergency Department at St Thomas’ Hospital in London, and time off is for running trails. His first book, ‘Signs of Life’, was published in Autumn 2020. W: stephenfabes.com I: @StephanFabes T: @DrStephanFabes

In episode 7, we talk to Sally Orange, a holder of multiple Guinness World Records and world firsts! Sally has run over 50 marathons, completed 7 full Ironman triathlons and has completed 22 years’ exemplary service in the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Physiotherapy Officer. This included an operational tour of duty in Afghanistan. Sally captained the first British female team to complete the relentless Race Across America, the world’s toughest cycle race and has also ran the toughest footrace on earth, the Marathon des Sables. Add cycling the length of New Zealand, swimming the English Channel relay, climbing several 6000m+ mountains in Nepal and Bolivia and skiing 250km across the largest plateau in the Arctic circle and you will gain an understanding of her zest for life! W: sallyorange.com I: @sally0range

In episode 6, we talk to remote explorer, mountaineer, arctic pathfinder, and jungle survivor, Lucy Shepherd. Lucy explains the personal importance of her term 'don't lose your botheredness’ using epic tales from past expeditions as the vehicle. She shares her perspective on what she thinks are the fundamentals needed to accomplish seemingly impossible goals and dreams. Made a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society at just 23, Lucy is an adventurer in every sense of the word: She has travelled all over the globe scaling gnarly peaks; leading solo and team expeditions to the Arctic and has crossed countries by foot. Most recently, Lucy headed to Guyana in South America.  In January 2020, she led an expedition to cross the Kanuku Mountain range: An isolated and protected area of the rainforest. Originally it was to be Lucy with two Amerindians however upon arrival, more indigenous brothers approached Lucy after hearing about the mission. They had wanted to complete this never before recorded crossing their whole lives since they lived beneath the range. After much discussion, it was agreed that Lucy would take all five Amerindians (and a fantastic team they were). The crossing is never known to have been done in this exploratory way in recent history and the Amerindians and local communities have stories dating hundreds and hundreds of years back saying so and with regards to the mountains. The team completed the crossing after a few weeks in the mountains. Lucy shares insights into times when she came face to face with jaguars, chased by bushmaster snakes and were even taken down by bullet ants! With a television background, she films each expedition and uses them to communicate her story as well as highlight the climate emergency that she observes during her expeditions. W: lucyshepherd.net I: @LucySheps FB: @LucyShepherdAdventurer

In episode 5, I talk to ex-SAS mountain leader, charity founder, and former Gurkha soldier, Krishna 'Krish' Thapa about the philosophy of adventure . Born in a village near AnnaPurna, Nepal and joining the British Army at a young age, Krish has led and summited expeditions to some of the highest and most challenging peaks in the world, notably: Everest, Dhaulagiri; Makalu; Manaslu and K2! Founding his own guiding company, HST adventures, and the Sustainable Himalayan Foundation, a not-for-profit that supports and promotes sustainable mountain tourism, leads female empowerment initiatives and works to improve the lives of mountain communities. Krish now focuses his effort on helping veteran amputees get into mountaineering and has successfully led them to the summits of Kilimanjaro, Mera Peak, Mount Kenya and Mont Blanc – with Elbrus and Aconcagua already pencilled in for the not-to-distant future. W: hstadventure.com & sustainablehimalayanfoundation.org I: @HSTadventures & @SustainableHimalayanFoundation FB: @HSTadventures & @SustainableHimalayanFoundation

“I now accept that I have been set on a completely different pathway - one of learning, adapting, discovering, enlightening, sharing and challenging. I now aim to continually push my personal and physical limits to summit the highest peaks in the World, and in doing so, raise awareness for the disabled and less fortunate in the World.“ In [episode iv] of the intrepid podcasts, we talk to retired soldier, double amputee, mountaineer, adventurer and keynote speaker: Justin Oliver Davis (aka inspiration through adversity). In 2011 Justin was serving with 2nd Battalion The Rifles, in Afghanistan. While leading a Quick Reaction Force patrol to intercept a group of enemy insurgents, that had ambushed another British patrol, Justin was providing safe passage by searching for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) when unfortunately he stood on and detonated one resulting in the loss of both of his lower legs. After eight years of rehabilitation filled with trials, tribulations, surgeries and set-backs Justin is now ready to begin pursuing his personal physical and psychological boundaries, once again. Having recently set his sights on completing the seven summits he now aims to inspire the world in the process. W: @justinoliverdavis.com/ I: @justin_oliver_davis FB: @InspirationThroughAdversity

In [episode iii] of the Intrepid podcasts, we talk to the indomitable ocean rower Laura Try (otherwise known as ‘LT’ to her friends!). In her talk at August’s Tales of Adventure, Laura shared her story of how she went from a shopaholic-salon owner to minimalist Atlantic Ocean rower and adventurer in the space of just 4 years. In this update, Laura uses anecdotes from her time on the Atlantic Ocean with team Row for the ocean, and how endeavour has helped make lasting and monumental life changes in this challenging time!

Benjamin 'Bags' Simmons: co-founder of Bare Arms  Hear how Bags' experiences in the British Army's Royal Tank Regiment - and deployments to Afghanistan - helped shape and inspire him to start his own business; 'Bare Arms' - an innovative and forward-thinking organisation teaching extras to use firearms on film and TV sets, safely and authentically.

Toby Cronshaw: owner and designer of Mantis Tools; mountaineer; snowboarder; graphic designer; climber and speed-wing enthusiast. Hear how Toby’s experiences as a youngster helped shape him, his love of graphic design, 80’s adventure sport branding and the influences that inspired him to create an indoor ice climbing tool and how the demand has kept him on his toes (and in the laboratory!)