Living Adventurously

Alastair Humphreys
  • 4.9 (80)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL
  • WEEKLY SERIES

Living Adventurously, with Alastair Humphreys, is the story of ordinary people choosing to live extraordinary lives. Alastair interviews artists and chefs, students and pensioners, athletes and travellers. He wants to discover what living adventurously means to different people, what universal obstacles stand in the way, and how each of these people took the first step to overcome them and begin their own fascinating journeys.

  1. EPISODE 1

    Learning to Slow Down and Choose Priorities - Living Adventurously #1

    Claire Fuller is training to be an occupational therapist. She loves wild swimming and getting out onto the North Yorkshire moors for overnight camps. Finding the balance between being a busy working woman and a carefree adventurous soul can be difficult. I spent a month cycling around Yorkshire, interviewing people along the way about their perspectives on trying to live more adventurously. I'd never interviewed anyone for a podcast before; Claire had never been interviewed. But she did bake me flapjack and take me on a walk to the birthplace of Captain Cook. So I deemed this opening foray into the world of podcasting to be a success! I was interested to talk to Claire about learning to commit, about adapting to a new career after many years roaming and dabbling, and the ups and downs of being a busy 27-year-old woman who loves the outdoors and adventure.

    32 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    I've Never Really Noticed Things Before, Because I Haven't Looked - Living Adventurously #2

    Kay Willis is the director at Beyond Boundaries, an organisation that provides opportunities for people with learning disabilities in the beautiful setting of Commondale, North Yorkshire. My ride to the farm took me up and over impressive, empty moorland. It was a stunning location and extremely peaceful. The farm exuded an atmosphere of warm, welcoming kindness. I was invited in for a cup of tea amidst the busy bustle of getting ready for the day; choosing activities to get stuck into and preparing to feed all the farm animals.

    23 min
  3. Getting Older, the Benefits of Having Time, and Being Aware of your Mortality - Living Adventurously #3

    EPISODE 3

    Getting Older, the Benefits of Having Time, and Being Aware of your Mortality - Living Adventurously #3

    Mike Bagshaw is a Lancastrian by birth and a zoologist by training. He spent his working career in education, initially indoors, but then for 30 years he worked in outdoor education centres, introducing children and adults to the delights of watersports, mountaineering, forest education and how to understand and appreciate the natural world. I met Mike for lunch at the picturesque Runswick Bay, at the foot of one of the steepest hills of the summer. The pub has a strong claim to the best sea view in the country, I reckon. Over a lunch of laughter and cheesy chips, I found myself hoping that I can be like Mike when I grow up.

    26 min
  4. Living Adventurously is About Trying to Not Be at Work - Living Adventurously #4

    EPISODE 4

    Living Adventurously is About Trying to Not Be at Work - Living Adventurously #4

    Simon Jackson launched the superb Moors One Hundred bikepacking event in North Yorkshire. He guided me around some of his favourite trails on a glorious day of summer heatwave. Simon has a normal job and the usual commitments of raising a family. So he has to work hard to squeeze in bursts of adventure and spending time in the wild places that he loves. I loved the story he told me about setting himself the Strava challenge of cycling every single street in his hometown. Simon is an evangelist for the North Yorkshire Moors and I could see why. We cycled over open moorland, through forests, and sweeping singletrack. It was a hell of a ride. Best of all, given that it was blazing hot, was that Simon planned our ride via a pub lunch and a return ticket on the famous Goathland steam train.

    25 min
  5. Putting Restrictions in Place Enforces Creativity - Living Adventurously #5

    EPISODE 5

    Putting Restrictions in Place Enforces Creativity - Living Adventurously #5

    Tommy Banks was the youngest chef in the world to be awarded a Michelin star. The Black Swan at Oldstead was rated the best restaurant in the world by TripAdvisor in 2017. As a connoisseur of banana sandwiches and dehydrated expedition meals, this was not my usual world! But that is exactly what I was interested in on this bicycle ride: to learn about different people's worlds and ask myself how their lessons might overlap with my own.

    50 min
  6. Adventure is Being Open to the Possibility of Something Changing Your Life in Ways You Can't Predict - Living Adventurously #6

    EPISODE 6

    Adventure is Being Open to the Possibility of Something Changing Your Life in Ways You Can't Predict - Living Adventurously #6

    Helen Mort is a busy woman. She is an award-winning poet and novelist, a runner and a climber. She has also recently become a mum which has transformed her perspective on living adventurously. She told me about being open to the possibilities of change in your life, and the weird way in which an expedition to Greenland can feel less daunting than staying in Sheffield at a gathering of other new parents.

    25 min
  7. The Inspirations and Limitations for Women Getting into the Outdoors - Living Adventurously episode #7

    EPISODE 7

    The Inspirations and Limitations for Women Getting into the Outdoors - Living Adventurously episode #7

    Hetty Key combined her industry experience of the Outdoor / Adventure world with her academic background to investigate issues surrounding women in adventure. Hetty is passionate about using data to increase diversity and improve accessibility within the outdoors. Women in Adventure offers a collective voice for women, empowering others through the sharing of information, inspiration and advice. We took refuge from the torrential rain in a cafe to chat. I asked Hetty what she believes limits women getting more involved with the outdoor community. She is an adventurer, an endurance athlete, and a massive data geek. It's a good combination!

    28 min
  8. What Stories Do You Tell Yourself About Your Barriers? - Living Adventurously #8

    EPISODE 8

    What Stories Do You Tell Yourself About Your Barriers? - Living Adventurously #8

    Sarah Lister was drifting through her twenties until a 'doorstep mile' moment of commitment saw her quit her unloved job and begin again. Today Sarah lives in a cosy cottage at the foot of beautiful fells in the Peak District National Park. She works as a coach these days and this has given her a new way of thinking, teaching her that a fresh perspective comes from asking open, non-judgemental questions. I arrived at Sarah's house in a torrential storm. I was soaking wet and a bit fed-up. So when Sarah invited me to join her for a swim in the stream cascading down the mountain behind her village I was not particularly keen. But I remembered one of life's immutable rules: you never regret a wild swim. And, sure enough, the hills were beautiful, the waterfall was bracing and bouncing and we galloped back down the hill happy, and hungry for homemade pizza.

    37 min
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4.9
out of 5
80 Ratings

About

Living Adventurously, with Alastair Humphreys, is the story of ordinary people choosing to live extraordinary lives. Alastair interviews artists and chefs, students and pensioners, athletes and travellers. He wants to discover what living adventurously means to different people, what universal obstacles stand in the way, and how each of these people took the first step to overcome them and begin their own fascinating journeys.

Information

  • Creator
    Alastair Humphreys
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2019 Alastair Humphreys
  • Show Website
    Living Adventurously

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