Adventure Diaries: Exploration, Survival & Travel Stories

Climbing The Volcanic 7 Summits with Ricardo Kaljouw

🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you.Ricardo Kaljouw is a Dutch adventurer and mountaineer from Flushing (Vlissingen) in Zeeland, Netherlands — a province that sits below sea level, making his obsession with the world's highest volcanoes all the more fitting. By day he works in military shipbuilding, constructing frigates for governments around the world. By adventure, he has just become the first person from the Benelux to complete the Volcanic 7 Summits — a challenge so rare that only around 68 people in the world have ever achieved it.Chapters00:00 – Introduction: A Dangerous Encounter01:28 – Welcome to The Adventure Diaries01:50 – Meet Ricardo Kaljouw: Volcanic Seven Summits04:35 – Growing Up Below Sea Level06:39 – Navy Life: Battling Pirates in Somalia09:13 – Inspiration: Climbing Kilimanjaro12:16 – Inside the Crater: Virunga's Lava Lake17:19 – Mount Damavand: Winter Climbing in Iran23:41 – Mountaineering Lessons: Snow Blindness28:04 – Papua New Guinea: Jungle Trekking Challenges31:49 – Close Call: Mistaken for a Witch33:07 – Survival Story: Stranded on Ojos del Salado41:00 – Romance on the Peak: Pico de Orizaba42:33 – Antarctica: The Ultimate Expedition45:40 – Landing on the Frozen Continent1:00:25 – Summiting Mount Sidley: A Historic Feat1:13:26 – What's Next: The Volcanic Grand Slam1:17:16 – Book Launch: A Million Steps on LavaKey Topics CoveredGrowing up in the flattest country on earth and joining a walking club as a kidServing in the Royal Dutch Navy, including an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden in 2010How a safari to Kenya and a first glimpse of Kilimanjaro sparked a lifelong obsessionThe Virunga documentary that sent him to the Democratic Republic of Congo — and sleeping on the rim of Nyiragongo, home to the world's largest lava lakeClimbing Damavand (Iran) in winter and going snow blind on the descentSurviving near-starvation and a machete encounter in the jungles of Papua New GuineaGetting stranded alone at 6,600m on Ojos del Salado (Chile/Argentina) in whiteout conditionsMount Elbrus (Russia, 2017) — his first experience on glaciers, roped teams and cramponsCarrying his proposal ring to the summit of Pico de Orizaba (Mexico) and the Aztec legend behind itThe full Antarctica chapter — flying to Union Glacier, a 1,000km internal flight to Mount Sidley, two weeks in a 10-metre safe zone, a guide evacuated with pulmonary oedema, and a last-gasp summit window in minus 42°CReflecting on what it means to finish a multi-year, multi-continent challengeLessons from the MountainsYou're only at 70% when you think you're at 100% — but know where the real limit isThe descent is where most accidents happen; the summit is only halfwayAlways use Send a text Support the showThanks For Listening.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Please visit AdventureDiaries.com/GO For more authentic stories of Adventure Exploration and the natural worldThe Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

Jude Kriwald Alone Across Gola – A Solo Cycle Through West Africa’s Rainforest

🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you.What does it actually feel like to sleep alone in a West African rainforest — the noise, the insects, the pitch-dark uncertainty? In this Season 5 opener, Chris sits down with Jude Kriwald, adventure filmmaker and cyclist, to unpack Alone Across Gola — Jude’s solo ride across West Africa, including a remote jungle crossing in Liberia/Sierra Leone’s Gola region.Connect with Jude Book Jude For Your Next Event:  https://JudeKriwald.com/Speaking Follow On Insta: https://www.instagram.com/judekriwaldNeed Mentoring?  AdventureMentor.org Alongside the on-the-ground stories (heat, hydration, kit failures, and a few genuinely sketchy moments), Jude shares a thoughtful take on neurodivergence (autism + ADHD), why “analogue adventures” matter, and how we can build a life that’s more honest to who we are.What You’ll LearnWhat jungle nights are really like — and why the soundscape is unforgettableHow Jude manages risk when travelling solo (and what satellite SOS can’t solve)Why ADHD/autism traits can be powerful outdoors: hyperfocus, pattern-spotting, rapid problem-solvingThe “stepping stone” approach to confidence and route planningWhy rest days aren’t optional on long bike tripsChapters:00:00 Exploring the Unknown: A Journey into the African Rainforest01:45 The Call of Adventure: Jude's Formative Years06:49 The First Big Expedition: Cycling to India11:58 Navigating Life's Gaps: The Lost Decade17:34 Harnessing Neurodivergence: ADHD and Autism as Superpowers22:45 Adventure Mentoring: Leveling the Playing Field28:26 West Africa: A New Frontier for Exploration29:44 Exploring the Unknown: Journey to West Africa31:19 First Night in the Jungle: A Personal Experience34:59 Planning and Preparation: The Adventurer's Mindset36:30 Camping and Rest: Balancing Adventure and Recovery38:05 The Trusty Bike: A Companion on the Journey41:29 Hydration and Health: Navigating the Jungle's Challenges43:46 Self-Reliance and Communication: The Importance of Preparedness47:16 Cultural Interactions: Bridging the Gap51:19 Understanding Poverty: A Lesson in Empathy54:29 The Gola Rainforest: An Adventurer's Discovery57:25 Navigating the Unknown: The Adventure of Exploration58:37 The Art of Filmmaking: A Journey into Storytelling01:02:54 Reflections on Courage: The Impact of Adventure01:05:31 Creating a Platform: The Power of Sharing Stories01:08:14 Paying It Forward: Supporting Future Adventurers01:12:25 Embracing Analog Adventures: A Call to DisSend a text Support the showThanks For Listening.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Please visit AdventureDiaries.com/GO For more authentic stories of Adventure Exploration and the natural worldThe Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

True North: The Story Of Matthew Henson (Trailer)

Listen Now: AdventureDiaries.com/StoryReaching the North Pole wasn’t just about distance—it was about whose work could survive the ice. For over 20 years, Matthew Henson led expeditions where others failed, mastering indigenous travel and keeping teams alive through the harshest conditions on Earth. Yet when history was written, his role was reduced to the margins. This is the story of how polar exploration actually functioned, and why recognition followed authority rather than effort.Listen to the full immersive story of Matthew Henson in our premiere episode of the Adventure Diaries Exploration series.👉 Listen now: AdventureDiaries.com/StorySend a textSupport the showThanks For Listening.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Please visit AdventureDiaries.com/GO For more authentic stories of Adventure Exploration and the natural worldThe Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

Hitchhiking The Arctic - With Katharina Kneip

Support the Show: Join the new Patreon for exclusive after-shows, extended newsrooms, immersive short stories and meetups at adventurediaries.com/goIn this highlight reel from the Adventure Diaries Podcast, Chris W. revisits his conversation with explorer Katharina Kneip. Katharina shares the harrowing story of hitchhiking on a French sailboat to cross from Iceland to Newfoundland, battling 50-knot winds and ice in one of the most remote regions on Earth. She also discusses life under the eternal sun of Svalbard, camping near existing settlements to stay safe from polar bears, and offers a grounding "Call to Adventure" that encourages everyone to find exploration simply by walking out their front door.FULL Episode With Katharina Timestamped Chapters00:00 - The Danger of Sailing: Hitchhiking from Iceland to Newfoundland05:14 - Svalbard's Eternal Sun and Polar Bear Safety07:01 - Comparing the Rough Beauty of Iceland vs. Svalbard08:29 - Call to Adventure: The Simple Power of Walking10:51 - Season 5 Launch Updates & Patreon SupportSend a textSupport the showThanks For Listening.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Please visit AdventureDiaries.com/GO For more authentic stories of Adventure Exploration and the natural worldThe Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

Let’s Make Birdwatching Cool - With Georgia Barker

Support the Show: Join the new Patreon for exclusive after-shows, extended newsrooms, immersive short stories and meetups at adventurediaries.com/goIn this highlights episode, we revisit an inspiring conversation with Georgia Barker, who is on a mission to make birdwatching cool again. Georgia takes us back to her unconventional childhood growing up on a goat farm in Essex, complete with goat funerals and walking them on leads. She shares the pivotal moment she realized a standard office job wasn't for her—fearing that a two-week annual holiday was the only thing to look forward to—which spurred a one-way ticket to Australia.Full Episode with GeorgiaFrom working in rough Outback pubs to terrifying whitewater rafting adventures in Victoria Falls, Georgia recounts the transformative experiences of her travels. She also discusses her "Happiness Project," where she collected definitions of happiness from strangers, and reveals the quiet epiphany she had in a bird hide that changed her perspective on nature and life. Finally, Georgia shares her simple "Call to Adventure" for anyone looking to reconnect with the outdoors.Timestamped Chapters00:00 - Growing Up with Goats02:50 - The Fear of a Two-Week Holiday04:29 - Working in the Outback06:52 - Rafting Victoria Falls08:59 - The Happiness Project11:31 - Birdwatching Epiphany12:31 - Call to AdventureSend a textSupport the showThanks For Listening.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Please visit AdventureDiaries.com/GO For more authentic stories of Adventure Exploration and the natural worldThe Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering