Adventure Diaries

• Chaz Powell: Walking The Wildest Rivers In Africa

  🎙️ Please make sure to click the 'Follow' the show – It really helps the show, Thanks!In this raw and riveting episode of Adventure Diaries, I’m joined by expedition leader Chaz Powell—a man who walked into some of the most extreme wildernesses on Earth and returned with stories of survival, connection, and purpose. From dehydration in Zambia’s 50°C heat to being kidnapped in Mozambique, Chaz’s journey isn’t just about distance—it’s about transformation.We cover his treks along Africa’s wildest rivers—the Zambezi, Gambia, and Mangoky—where he faced wild animals, dodged bandits, and survived by intuition, diplomacy, and grit. But this isn’t just a story about adventure. It’s about how walking saved his life, pulled him out of a troubled past, and became his way of giving back—to people, to rivers, and to the wild.You’ll also hear about his off-grid plans in Scotland, reflections on fatherhood, bushcraft, and how a simple walk along the River Tay became a form of healing and tribute after losing his dad.🎧 What You’ll LearnIDEAS – How adventure can become a personal and societal turning point. INSIGHTS – What wild rivers teach us about life, growth, and human endurance. QUOTES – “Walking saved me. I’d just go—bag on back—and keep moving forward.” FACTS – The Zambezi River trek covered 3,000km over 137 days in 50°C heat. RECOMMENDATIONS – Walk your local river from source to sea. See what it teaches you.🔗 Resources & MentionsThe Wildest Journey – Chaz Powell’s websiteChaz Powell on InstagramAfrican Wildlife FoundationInto the Wild by Jon Krakauer – book inspirationSidetracked Magazine – Chaz’s Madagascar articleSend us a text Support the showThanks For Listening.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Follow us https://linktr.ee/adventurediaries for updates. Have a topic suggestion? Email us at [email protected]. AdventureDiaries.com#AdventureDiaries #AdventureStories #NationalGeographic #Discovery #NaturalWorld

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• Luisa Hendry: Scottish Geologist On How Volcanoes and Fault Lines Shaped Scotland

  🎙️ Please make sure to click the 'Follow' the show – It really helps the show, Thanks!Louisa Hendry, aka The Scottish Geologist, joins me for a raw, funny, and unexpectedly mind-expanding chat about rocks, identity, tectonic plates, Instagram fame, and the untold beauty of Scotland’s ancient landscapes.From her early days smashing stones on the beach in Largs to running geology tours across the Highlands, Louisa’s story is a brilliant mix of passion, science, humour, and community. We get into everything from the geology of Loch Lomond, granite vs. magma, ancient oceans, volcanoes, climate change, and how she’s built a wildly successful brand by being unapologetically herself.Whether you think geology is dry or exciting..., this episode will open your eyes to the rocks beneath your feet—and make you think differently about stories they hold.🎥🎙️ Watch & Listen HereWhat You’ll Learn:IDEASHow Scotland’s rocks tell a billion-year-old storyWhy volcanic eruptions and climate shifts go hand in handHow geology helps explain the tech in your pocketWhat Mount Everest’s summit reveals about the ancient oceanThe unexpected connection between social media, geology, and dogsINSIGHTSYou don’t need a polished accent to educate and inspireGeological time reframes how we view climate, resilience, and human impactThe best way to spark curiosity is to lead with honesty and humourQUOTES"You could walk your dog across 3-billion-year-old rocks and never know it." "Geology’s not just rocks. It’s climate, tech, history—it’s everything." "I’m just being me, talking about rocks. Turns out, people love that."Episode TakeawayScotland’s landscapes aren’t just beautiful—they’re alive with stories, and Louisa is the guide we didn’t know we needed.Resources & Mentions🌍 Scott Rock Walks – Louisa’s geology tour company📱 @ScottishGeologist on Instagram🎙️ Follow the show here to catch all episodes exploring the natural world, adventure, and human potential.Send us a text Support the showThanks For Listening.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Follow us https://linktr.ee/adventurediaries for updates. Have a topic suggestion? Email us at [email protected]. AdventureDiaries.com#AdventureDiaries #AdventureStories #NationalGeographic #Discovery #NaturalWorld

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• Warrior Walker’s 24k Mile Journey: Paul Harris Walking Around The UK - (PART 2/2)

  🎙️ Please make sure to click 'Follow' the show – It really helps the show. Thanks!In this emotional and unfiltered episode of Adventure Diaries, we welcome back Paul Harris, aka The Warrior Walker, for Part Two of his astonishing journey: walking over 20,000 kilometers around the UK—twice. From sleeping in graveyards and castles to withstanding minus 16°C winters alone in the Highlands, Paul opens up about solitude, near-death moments, mental health, kindness from strangers, and the aftershock of completing an adventure of this scale.🦌 Ever been stared down by a wild stag while sleeping under the stars?🥾 What does walking 135km on 90 minutes of sleep really do to your body and mind?💬 Why did people across the UK start calling Paul a brother, son, and friend—without ever knowing him?In this conversation, we go deep into:What You’ll LearnIDEAS • How a solo walk turned into a national movement of kindness and reconnection. • Why adventure isn’t about the destination—it’s the coffee stops, the hugs, and the small talk. • The reality of post-expedition burnout and how to find purpose again.INSIGHTS • You don’t need a plan, you need to start. • Community isn’t built on followers—it’s built on honest moments. • Letting go of baggage—literal and emotional—is freedom.QUOTES“The more you walk, the more you talk, the less you carry.”“One day, I won’t be able to hug these people or drink that coffee—so I just start walking.”Resources & Mentions📚 Book coming Autumn 2025 – Stay tuned!💪 Rock to Recovery – Veteran mental health support🌍 Doctors Without Borders – Global medical humanitarian aid🧭 Follow Paul: https://www.instagram.com/thewarriorwalker🗺️ Try the Local Adventure Tool (by Chris): Hiking Routes - Adventure DiariesEpisode TakeawayHardship doesn’t define us—how we share it does. Start walking. Start talking. And don’t carry it alone.🎙️ Watch & Listen Here or wherever you get your podcasts.Send us a text Support the showThanks For Listening.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Follow us https://linktr.ee/adventurediaries for updates. Have a topic suggestion? Email us at [email protected]. AdventureDiaries.com#AdventureDiaries #AdventureStories #NationalGeographic #Discovery #NaturalWorld

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• Nina Watson: Amazon River Facts - Source, Ecosystem, & Wildlife (My School Project)

  🔗 Follow the Show & Support UsClick here to follow Adventure Diaries – new stories every week.Today on Adventure Diaries, we welcome Nina Helen Watson—a bright, inquisitive young explorer who turned a school assignment into a beautifully told podcast on one of the world’s greatest rivers: the Amazon.At almost ten years old, Nina guides us through the source of the Amazon near Mount Quehuisha in Peru, its astonishing biodiversity, and a few facts you may not believe—like how it once flowed in the opposite direction. She talks jaguars and giant otters, pink river dolphins and capybaras (her personal favorite), all while threading it together with the clarity and confidence of someone twice her age.What starts as a geography lesson quickly unfolds into something bigger: a celebration of curiosity, family support, storytelling, and the way learning can become magical when it’s shared.We talk about:Where the Amazon River really begins—and how close it is to the PacificThe complex ecosystems that sustain some of Earth’s rarest wildlifeHow the river flows through nine countries and multiple indigenous culturesNina’s personal favorites: from capybaras to rain-soaked camping tripsWhy local river cleanups matter—and how you can take partHer ‘Call to Adventure’ is a gentle one: go camping, reconnect with nature, and bring good snacks. And her ‘Pay it Forward’ is equally grounded—help clean up a local river and notice what grows around it.This episode is packed with joy, insight, and the reminder that wonder doesn’t need to be complicated. Sometimes, it sounds like a capybara pencil case and a story well told.📚 Resources & Mentions📍 Apacheta Valley & Mount Quehuisha, Peru – Source of the Amazon🐬 Pink River Dolphin – A unique Amazonian species🐊 Black Caiman – Apex predator of the Amazon🐒 Capybara – The world’s largest rodent🐍 Green Anaconda – One of the world’s biggest snakes🧭 Francisco de Orellana – Spanish explorer who named the river🌿 Indigenous river names like Riomar Tama📖 Dork Diaries – Nina’s favourite book🎬 The Lion King – Her favourite film🌍 Local River Cleanup – Nina’s Pay it Forward suggestion🏕️ Go Camping – Her Call to AdventureIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating, share it with a curious soul, or ask a young person what they love about nature. You might be surprised by the answer.Thanks for listening.Send us a textSupport the showThanks For Listening.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Follow us https://linktr.ee/adventurediaries for updates. Have a topic suggestion? Email us at [email protected]. AdventureDiaries.com#AdventureDiaries #AdventureStories #NationalGeographic #Discovery #NaturalWorld

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• Paul Harris: Warrior Walker’s 24k Mile Journey for Purpose, Peace & People - (PART 1/2)

  🎙️ Please make sure to click 'Follow' the show – It really helps the show. Thanks!Paul Harris: The Warrior Walker joins me for an unforgettable two-part conversation that begins in trauma and ends in transformation. A man who’s walked over 24,000 miles around the UK coastline—twice—Paul wasn’t chasing a record. He was trying to survive.From his early years as a shy, lost kid to becoming a Royal Marine, then a private security contractor in Kabul, Paul’s life has veered from extreme danger to deep reflection. He’s witnessed war, grief, and collapse. But it was a moment of breakdown back home, in the wake of losing a dream life in Thailand, that led to a message from a friend: “You should walk around the UK and write a book about it.” Paul did more than that. With no plan, no tent, and just £300, he started walking. And never stopped.In this episode, we go deep into:Walking as a tool for mental recovery and reconnectionLife in Afghanistan: the beauty, the trauma, and the wild storiesHow teaching kids in Thailand gave him more peace than war zonesThe power of vulnerability and why Instagram became his support networkFinding purpose through simplicity, grief, and cold nights under the starsWhether he was being watched by a wild stag in the middle of the night, dodging Taliban checkpoints, or sipping overpriced espresso in Kabul’s “Secret Garden” café—Paul’s story is one of radical honesty, resilience, and the healing magic of walking forward, one step at a time.Resources & References Mentioned  📷 The Warrior Walker on Instagram 🌟 What You’ll Learn IDEAS: How walking becomes a metaphor for rebuilding a broken life INSIGHTS: Grief can be fuel. Walking can be a spiritual act. QUOTES: “Be careful what you say to yourself. The warrior within you is listening.” FACTS: Paul walked more than the circumference of the Earth—twice. RECOMMENDATIONS: Don’t wait. Just take the first step. Send us a text Support the showThanks For Listening.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Follow us https://linktr.ee/adventurediaries for updates. Have a topic suggestion? Email us at [email protected]. AdventureDiaries.com#AdventureDiaries #AdventureStories #NationalGeographic #Discovery #NaturalWorld

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