Great British Adventures Tom Bryan

Adrienne Gordon loves growing veg. 

And after touring the world by bike, volunteering on organic farms along the way, she returned to the UK with a wealth of knowledge and experience in how best to turn seeds into food.

This is the story of how Adrienne found a plot of land close to where she lived and turned a plain 4 acre field, that only grew one crop, into a sprawling, diverse oasis of delicious veg.

In this conversation we discuss Adrienne's journey Wwoofing in New Zealand, what she learned through that experience, how she secured the land to grow on, the real cost of growing food, why we should support local growers, how organic certification works, how her popular veg box scheme took off and how she incorporates community shared experiences though food on her land



For more information on Sweetpea

https://sweetpeamarketgarden.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/sweetpeamarketgarden/



Mentioned in the Conversation:

Wwoof: https://wwoof.net/

Oxford Real Farming Conference: https://orfc.org.uk/

Cambridge Organic: https://cambridgeorganic.co.uk/

Land Workers Alliance: https://landworkersalliance.org.uk/

Eves Hill Farm: https://www.eveshill.uk/



Get in contact:

https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/

https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcast

https://www.youtube.com/@greatbritishadventures

Jessica Hepburn is the only woman in the world to have swam the English Channel, run the London Marathon, and climbed Mt. Everest - the so called 'Sea, Street, Summit Challenge.'

She also claims to be the only person to have listened to every available episode of the popular BBC Radio 4 show, Desert Island Discs (there's over 3,000!)

But that is just the adventure headlines.

And at the heart of Jessica's story is one of loss, heartbreak, trauma, and ultimately how she has been able to own the adversity in her life, and turn it into something that creates positive change for herself and others.

Jessica is an adventure activist, arts producer and author of three books, her latest, Save Me From The Waves is an adventure story with a difference.

Documenting her quest to climb the largest mountain in the world, coupled with her desire to listen to every episode of Desert Island Discs it is a beautifully written story of how the show's Castaway's and their music choices have inspired and helped Jessica make sense of her own life.

In this conversation we discuss Jessica's love of lists, how the comedian Jimmy Carr initially inspired her, how she's been part of a movement to change the stigma on infertility, why and how she swam the channel, her journey to summiting Everest, why everyone should tell there life story creatively, how her destination was not what she was expecting and how she was able to make meaning out of it through art.



Mentioned in the podcast

Buy Jessica’s New Book: Save Me From The Waves: https://geni.us/SaveMeFromTheWaves

Desert Island Discs: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnmr

Swimquest: https://swimquest.uk.com/

Serpentine Swim Club: https://serpentineswimmingclub.com/

Ramblers: https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/ramblers-groups



Get in contact:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcast

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@greatbritishadventures

In May 2023, Geraldine McFaul set off from her home in Glasgow to walk all the way to Rome.

She had two rules, she was not carrying a rucksack, and she was not going over the Alps.

With a buggy in tow, Geraldine passed through 6 countries, walking a distance of 2,000 miles on a journey that took her 6 months.

But Geraldine's story is more than just a long walk to Rome.

At it's heart, this journey was a reminder of the kindness of humanity.

It is a story of strangers taking her into their homes, buying food for her, donating to her two charities, Mary's Meals and Dementia UK, and letting her camp in back gardens, church grounds and on village greens.

She calls it 'kind-napping' and it happened regularly throughout her journey in Britain and beyond.

In this conversation we break down the why and how Geraldine covered such a huge distance on foot, how to break down a journey of such magnitude and how she was inspired with confidence by her experience in the Yes Tribe.

We discuss how Geraldine never knew exactly where or how she was sleeping every night, how the kindness of strangers made her journey more fulfilling, why travelling at a slow pace is a lovely way to experience the world, and Geraldine talks through her once in a lifetime experience being presented to a very important person when she arrived in Rome.

Follow Geraldine's Story: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090430727501

Donate to Geraldine's Cause:

Dementia UK: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/geraldine-mcfaul

Mary's Meals: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/geraldine-mcfaul1

Mentioned in the Podcast

The Yes Tribe: https://sayyesmore.com/tribes

Podcast w/Emma & Dave Cornthwaite: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3CWceGYO8wANjAA1FkCw7P?si=3b37801b96e54f86

Big Sky Hideaway: https://bigskyhideaway.com/

Dementia UK: https://www.dementiauk.org/

Mary's Meal's: https://www.marysmeals.org.uk/



Get in contact:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcast

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@greatbritishadventures

As a former world champion in triathlon, Kate Strong knows what it takes to be at the very top of her game. But she also knows what it feels like to fall back to zero, such is the fragility of competitive sports, and the reality of getting injured as an athlete.

Starting again from the bottom with the bare minimum, Kate built herself back and aimed to be the first woman to set a world record for the greatest distance cycled on a static bike in 24 hours.

And Kate not only rode an astonishing astonishing 433.1 miles in 24 hours, she also claimed the 12 hour and the 1 hour record at the same time, as well as making waves in showing what women in sport can do.

Eager to continue using sport to make an impact on others, last summer Kate cycled 3,000 miles around Britain, connecting with 50 different communities, organisations & charities that positively impact climate change. She called it the Climate Cycle.

In this conversation, we talk about what it takes to become a triathlon world champion, how Kate felt after being injured and having to start again from zero, how discovering the lack of female records in sport inspired Kate to take on the 24 hour cycle, and how her first failure inspired her eventual success.

We talk about her Climate Cycle, how she deals with climate deniers, how the 'vegan' label can be quite limiting, and we talk about some of the places she visited on her epic 3,000 mile ride.



Follow Kate:

https://katestrong.global/

https://www.instagram.com/katestrong01/



Mentioned in the conversation:

Green football weekend: https://www.greenfootballweekend.com/

Forest Green Rovers: https://www.fgr.co.uk/

Lobster Hatchery: https://nationallobsterhatchery.co.uk/

Lake District Foraging: https://totallywilduk.co.uk/

Seaweed Farm: https://www.projectseagrass.org/

Building from rubble: https://www.ediblemadog.co.uk/



Get in contact:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcast

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@greatbritishadventures

Louis Alexander boasts a pretty awesome job title: Professional Explorer.

And it's certainly one he merits, having recently completed 7 marathons on each of the 7 continents - a feat only a few hundred people in history have ever accomplished.

But what is more remarkable about Louis, is that he has achieved all this at the age of 24.

And this is just the tip of his adventurous CV.

Louis' achievements also include rowing the English Channel, swimming across from Alcatraz (without a wetsuit), Summiting Mount Blanc and a much, much more.

Louis owes his adventurous career down to one man - his Grandad, who Louis witnessed battle dementia for 17 years of his life.

After his Grandad sadly passed, Louis made a promise, that he would support the fight against dementia until the day we find a cure.

In this conversation, Louis talks about how he was able to honour his grandad with his first professional project - running 17 marathons in 17 days, his sketchy moment on Mount Blanc, why he undertakes challenging swims, and why he wanted to run 7 marathons across 7 continents.

We discuss the state of dementia in the UK, how his preparation for challenges have evolved, how he got an invite to 10 Downing Street to deliver a letter to the Prime Minister, and his hopes and dreams for pioneering future expeditions.

Follow Louis: https://www.instagram.com/louisalexanderexplorer/

https://www.louisalexander.org/

Mentioned in the Podcast:

Body Lab: https://www.thebodylablondon.com/

Thomas Franks: https://thomasfranks.com/

Sean Conways 496 Challenge: https://www.seanconway.com/the-496-challenge.html

Damian Hall: https://www.instagram.com/ultra_damo/?hl=en

Lewis Pugh: https://www.lewispugh.com/

Get in contact:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcast

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@greatbritishadventures

There are many athletes that are great at doing one thing, but few master multiple disciplines, especially ones as wild as MMA, ultra-endurance triathlons and weight lifting. Justin True really does it all.

And Justin's most recent adventure, lifting the famous 'Dinnie Stones' in Scotland (which have a combined weight of 332kg) is a feat very few people have ever managed. Far more have scaled Everest than have lifted these stones unsupported.

But while Justin may look like a hardened man of steel, behind his athletic physique is a complex story of childhood trauma and depression which has led Justin to want to focus his life on helping others. Justin's story is one you will want to hear.

Growing up in a troubled household in the US, Justin found an escape in the gym and was soon thrown into the world of Mixed Martial Arts - with multiple wins to his name.

But fighting in the octagon was nothing compared to the fights he battled with his brother at home, and this childhood, along with the trauma he face when he found out his mum had been stabbed, led Justin to spiral into depression and attempt to end his own life.

When these attempts failed, Justin emerged wanting to turn his life around, and help others,

In this conversation Justin breaks down his experience attempting to lift the Dinnie Stones. We delve into Justin's violent childhood and how he was able to navigate through the trauma after discovering his mum had being stabbed.

Justin breaks down his 'toolbelt' for dealing with depression, he tells his hilarious story of climbing the UK's 3 peaks in 24 hours, alongside what it really felt like after pulling a car for a whole marathon, how he was abducted in Egypt, and how he resolved his relationship with his brother after taking on America's longest continuous triathlon

Follow Justin:

https://www.instagram.com/therealjustintrue/

https://www.justintrueofficial.com/

Mentioned in the Podcast

The Dinnie Stones: https://www.thedinniestones.com/

Peak District Dinnies: https://www.instagram.com/peakdistrictdinniestones/

Mark Haydock: https://www.instagram.com/haydockmark/

Get in contact:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcast

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@greatbritishadventures