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Filming Bears, Deep Seas & the Matriarchs of the Wild
🎙️ Adventure Diaries Podcast

From grizzly bear close calls in Alaska to exploring 4,000 meters below the sea, wildlife cinematographer Erin Ranney takes us deep into some of the wildest places on Earth.

Erin has filmed for National Geographic, Disney, BBC, IMAX, and was part of the groundbreaking all-female production team behind Queens, a visually stunning documentary that redefined how we tell stories about animal leadership—through the lens of matriarchal power.

A third-generation fisherwoman from Bristol Bay, Alaska—home to the world’s largest sockeye salmon run—Erin shares how growing up between forests and fisheries gave her a lifelong connection to nature, a strong work ethic, and a deep respect for wildlife.

We talk about:

• 💥 Her funniest bear encounter (mid-bathroom break in Katmai!)
• 🐾 Filming adolescent grizzlies and why they’re the real troublemakers
• 🎓 Switching from veterinary science to ecology thanks to a fly-fishing class
• 🎥 Getting hooked on photography in Madagascar with a Costco camera
• 🛥️ Exploring the deep ocean with the Nautilus Live team
• 🐘 Filming elephants for Queens and navigating heartbreaking animal moments
• 🎞️ Founding Wildlife Cameramen Community and mentoring through Girls Who Click
• 🧭 Her passion project retracing her bush pilot grandmother’s remote Alaskan adventures

Plus, we round things off with Erin’s Call to Adventure, Pay It Forward conservation picks, and some quick-fire questions—including the advice she lives by:
"Lift as you climb."

🎧 Whether you love wildlife, adventure, conservation, or just great storytelling—this episode has it all.

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Adventure Diaries: Justin Packshaw MBE – Pushing Human Limits in the Harshest Environments

In this episode of Adventure Diaries, I sit down with Justin Packshaw MBE—adventurer, entrepreneur, and modern-day explorer. From the frozen extremes of Antarctica to the summit of Everest, from racing around the world to traversing the North and South Poles, Justin has built a life defined by resilience, boldness, and the relentless pursuit of the unknown.

We dive into Justin’s record-breaking Antarctic expedition, Chasing the Light, where he and his teammate, Jamie Facer-Childs, became some of the most highly monitored humans on the planet. With backing from NASA and the European Space Agency, their mission collected vital data on human endurance, mental resilience, and the effects of extreme environments—insights that may one day shape future space travel.

Justin shares how growing up in Malta shaped his adventurous mindset, how the British Army gave him the discipline for extreme expeditions, and why teamwork, leadership, and mindset are everything in high-risk situations. We explore the mental and physical challenges of survival, the importance of calculated risk, and what Antarctica is teaching us about climate change.

Topics Discussed:

✅ The role of curiosity and boldness in shaping a life of adventure
✅ Lessons from historical explorers like Shackleton, Amundsen, and Knox-Johnston
✅ The Antarctic crossing and its contribution to space travel research
✅ How extreme environments reveal hidden depths of human capability
✅ The reality of climate change, witnessed firsthand in the polar regions
✅ Why positive mental attitude and humor are survival tools
✅ What it takes to build and lead elite teams in dangerous conditions
✅ The philosophy of pursuing excellence and making adventure meaningful

Call to Adventure 🚀

Justin challenges you to try something new—big or small, just take the first step. Whether it’s a new sport, an expedition, or a personal challenge, boldness has genius, magic, and power in it.

Pay It Forward 🌍

Justin emphasizes the power of small actions to combat climate change—turning off lights, reducing waste, and making sustainability part of daily life. He also highlights the importance of mentorship and investing in youth to shape the next generation of explorers and change-makers.

🎧 Listen now and get inspired to push beyond your limits!

👉 Subscribe & Review: If this episode fuels your adventurous spirit, leave a review and share with fellow explorers! #AdventureDiaries #JustinPackshaw #Antarctica #Exploration

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Exploring the Hexatrek with Lauren Roerick

In this episode of Adventure Diaries, I sit down with Lauren Roerick, an adventurer, thru-hiker, and content creator who completed the Hexatrek, a 3,034 km long-distance trail across France. As the first North American woman to complete the trek, Lauren shares her experience of navigating rugged mountain landscapes, immersing herself in French culture, and overcoming the mental and physical challenges of solo adventure.

🌍 In This Episode, We Cover:
✔️ Lauren’s unconventional path from music and film set design to adventure travel
✔️ The Hexatrek experience – diverse terrain, wild camping, and cultural encounters
✔️ Solo hiking lessons – navigating challenges, finding community, and unexpected kindness from strangers
✔️ Thru-hiking culture – how the Hexatrek compares to the PCT and other long-distance trails
✔️ Gear, food, and logistics for planning an extended European hiking adventure
✔️ How adventure builds confidence, self-sufficiency, and resilience

🏔️ Key Takeaways:
🔹 The Hexatrek offers a pioneering adventure with fewer crowds than traditional thru-hikes
🔹 Wild camping is permitted in most areas, but national park rules vary
🔹 France’s diverse landscapes – Vosges Mountains, the Alps, and the Pyrenees – offer unique challenges
🔹 Solo travel fosters independence but also invites unexpected generosity from locals
🔹 Adventure is accessible to everyone – no permission needed to tackle big challenges!

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From a turbulent childhood to nearly facing prison, Deon Barrett found purpose through outdoor adventure, the military, and the True North Project—his initiative to bring outdoor education into schools and make adventure accessible to all. In this episode, Dion shares his powerful journey, the impact of adventure on mental health, and his ambitious plans to summit Everest and ski solo across Antarctica.

We explore:
✔️ How adventure helped Deon overcome trauma and find purpose.
✔️ The True North Project and its mission to transform outdoor education.
✔️ Barriers preventing young people from accessing adventure.
✔️ The mental and physical challenges of preparing for Everest & Antarctica.
✔️ How outdoor learning builds resilience, confidence, and leadership.

Deon’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and paying it forward. If you're passionate about adventure, outdoor education, or personal growth, this episode is for you.

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Deon Barrett is the founder of the True North Project, an advocate for youth outdoor education, and an aspiring high-altitude mountaineer. His journey from a troubled youth to a champion for adventure education is as inspiring as it is impactful.

Follow Dion & The True North Project:
🌍 Website: TrueNorthProject.co.uk
📸 Instagram: @TrueNorthProject

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

🔹 True North Project – Outdoor education initiative
🔹 Everest & Antarctica Expeditions – Deon’s upcoming challenges
🔹 Youth Outdoor Education Reform – Advocating for adventure in schools
🔹 Black Girls Hike – Encouraging diversity in the outdoors
🔹 National Outdoor Expo – Where Dion and Chris first met

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>> The Link You Need

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Join Chris Watson on the Adventure Diaries podcast as he welcomes Tom Williams, adventurer, entrepreneur, and winner of Alone UK. From surviving 35 days in the Canadian wilderness to founding Desert Island Survival, Tom shares how he turned life’s challenges into transformative adventures. Learn about his journey from city life to thriving in nature, his insights on evolutionary health, bushcraft, and the profound benefits of living simply.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How Tom overcame adversity to become an adventurer and survival expert.
• The concept of evolutionary mismatch and its impact on modern health.
• What it takes to survive and thrive in extreme wilderness conditions.
• Behind-the-scenes insights from Alone UK and the realities of bushcraft.
• The transformative power of living closer to nature.
• Tips for micro-adventures, resilience, and embracing challenges.

Key Highlights:

• Survival & Growth: Tom shares how stepping outside his comfort zone, from polar expeditions to survival in Canada, fueled his personal growth.
• Bushcraft Skills: Hear about primitive techniques like friction fire, fishing, and crafting tools that enhance resilience and adaptability.
• Desert Island Survival: Discover how Tom’s passion for nature led to founding a company that offers immersive wilderness experiences.
• Mental & Physical Benefits: Learn how living aligned with hunter-gatherer principles can improve health, reduce anxiety, and boost happiness.
• Adventure Inspiration: Tom provides practical ideas for micro-adventures, such as kayaking and cycling, to reconnect with nature.

Tom’s Recommendations:

• Read Ikigai to align passion and purpose.
• Explore An Island to Oneself for inspiring wilderness stories.
• Try kayaking or survival courses for a taste of adventure.
• Check out GiveDirectly.org for impactful charitable giving.

Call to Adventure:
Tom encourages listeners to embrace challenges, try micro-adventures, and reconnect with nature for personal growth and mental clarity.

Pay It Forward:
Support GiveDirectly, a charity delivering funds directly to families in need, fostering impactful change.

Connect with Tom Williams:

• Website: Desert Island Survival
• Instagram: @TomWilliamsAlone

Join the Adventure:
Visit AdventureDiaries.com/podcast for show notes and inspiration to plan your next adventure. Keep exploring, keep thriving, and keep paying it forward!

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Welcome to another episode of Adventure Diaries! In this inspiring conversation, we sit down with David Haze, also known as the Nomadic Paddler, to uncover his incredible journey from the confines of prison to becoming a world-record-setting paddleboarder and passionate advocate for adventure as a tool for personal transformation.

David shares how his life spiraled after losing his identity in the high-stakes world of finance. He speaks candidly about his struggles with addiction, mental health, and the dark moments that led him to serve two prison sentences. However, it was during this turbulent time that he discovered the profound healing power of nature and adventure.

Paddleboarding became David’s escape and his redemption. What started as a chance encounter on a beach turned into a life mission. Fueled by his mantra, “Through adventure we live,” David broke records by paddleboarding the four longest lakes in the UK and crossing the English Channel. He didn’t stop there, pursuing high-altitude lakes and carbon-neutral expeditions while advocating for sustainable practices.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How David turned failure into a catalyst for personal growth.
• The role of adventure in mental health and rehabilitation.
• His incredible feats, including the English Channel crossing and a 310 km paddle to the NEC.
• His charity, Freedom Through Adventure, which supports at-risk youth and young offenders.
• The importance of embracing failure and asking for help.
• His passion for promoting eco-conscious expeditions and mental health initiatives.

David’s story is a testament to the transformative power of adventure. From planting trees in prisons to organizing carbon-neutral expeditions, he uses his platform to inspire and give back.

Whether you're an adventurer, a seeker of second chances, or someone looking for motivation to overcome life's challenges, this episode is a must-listen.

Follow David Haze:

• Instagram: @nomadicpaddler

Call to Action:
Listen in and be inspired to create your own adventure. This weekend, take a step outside your comfort zone—whether it’s a paddleboard outing, a hike, or a simple walk in nature. Through adventure, we truly live!

For more inspiring stories, visit AdventureDiaries.com and subscribe to the podcast!

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In this fascinating episode of Adventure Diaries, we welcome legendary explorer Benedict Allen, whose remarkable journeys span decades and continents. From surviving ambushes by Pablo Escobar’s men to undergoing the brutal crocodile initiation ceremony with the Niara tribe in Papua New Guinea, Benedict’s stories are nothing short of extraordinary.

We delve into his heartfelt reunion with the Yaifo tribe after 27 years, a moment of celebration and resilience that symbolized hope amidst the challenges of gold mining and environmental destruction. Benedict shares his unique philosophy on exploration—emphasizing vulnerability, trust, and learning from indigenous cultures over conquest or adrenaline-fueled escapades.

Discover how Benedict balances the ethical dilemmas of documenting endangered cultures, the impact of modern media on his work, and the lessons he’s learned from tribes thriving against all odds. He also shares practical advice for anyone seeking adventure, including the importance of dedicating sacred time to explore and reconnect with the world around you.

This episode is a treasure trove of inspiration, wisdom, and stories that will ignite your passion for adventure and humanity.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The transformative power of vulnerability in connecting with remote tribes.
• How the Yaifo thrived by isolating themselves from the chaos of gold mining.
• Insights into the brutal yet life-altering Niara crocodile initiation ceremony.
• The ethics and challenges of documenting uncontacted tribes.
• Why Benedict believes adventure is more relevant than ever in today’s interconnected world.

Episode Highlights:

• Benedict's near-death encounters and how they shaped his view of exploration.
• The Yaifo’s extraordinary resilience and how their culture has adapted over decades.
• Reflections on the media’s distortion of exploration narratives.
• The importance of balancing risk with ethical responsibility in modern adventuring.
• Benedict’s advice to set aside sacred time for personal adventures.

Call to Action:
Inspired by Benedict’s stories? Plan your own adventure, big or small! Start by dedicating a weekend to explore something new in your area.

Resources & Mentions:

• Visit Benedict Allen’s website for books and updates.
• Support the Environmental Justice Foundation and Save the Rhino Trust, two causes close to Benedict’s heart.
• Learn more about this episode and others at AdventureDiaries.com/podcast.

Let’s Connect:

• Follow Adventure Diaries on Instagram: @adventurediariespodcast
• Share your thoughts on this episode and leave a review!

Until next time, embrace the adventure and pay it forward. 🌍✨

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