Whiskey and a Map: True Stories of Adventure.

Michael J Reinhart
  • 4.7 (41)
  • Places & Travel

These are the true stories of adventure as told by those who lived them. This adventure story podcast brings you an up close and personal conversation with people who travel the world and live extraordinary lives Travel with us to the faraway jungles of the Amazon, the Himalayan mountains, deep water ship wrecks, and people and places lost in time.   Many an adventure has started with a map and a glass of whiskey.  May this podcast inspire you to seek you own. Hosted by Michael J. Reinhart https://www.michaeljreinhart.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 5d ago

    Trapper Haskins Adventure and Redemption: Source to Sea by Open Rowboat on the Mississippi River. Part One

    An author and a musician, a boatbuilder and a carpenter, a deckhand and a dishwasher, Trapper Haskins has earned his keep in myriad ways since leaving school and his hometown of Memphis more than two decades ago. In 2000 Trapper moved to Maine where he undertook a two-year apprenticeship learning traditional wooden boatbuilding in Rockland. Once finished, he took a rowboat he built 2,300 miles down the Mississippi River. Haskins wrote about the experience in a memoir titled Crooked Old River, released in April of 2024. In the years after his apprenticeship, Trapper followed work opportunities and his own fervent curiosity from New York to New Orleans and from the mountains of North Carolina to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula before returning to Tennessee. There he maintains a custom woodworking business while continuing to write, record, and perform under his own name. Haskins is a type 1 diabetic, a diagnosis which keeps health and wellness at the forefront of his mind. He is a triathlete with several Half-Ironman finishes. He has canoed and documented the length of the Harpeth River in Middle Tennessee, and he has cycled the entire 444 miles of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Trapper is also active in the vintage base ball community (the national pastime under 1860s rules). In 2013 he co-founded the Tennessee Association of Vintage Base Ball to promote the historic game in his home state. His writing has appeared in national publications including Sports Illustrated, WoodenBoat, and American Songwriter. Get Trapper's book Crocked Old River on Amazon Follow Trapper on all the usual social media @TrapperHaskins Support this Podcast: buy me a coffee Hosted by Michael J. Reinhart MichaelJReinhart.com True stories of adventure and exploration as told by those who lived them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Trapper Haskins Adventure and Redemption: Source to Sea by Open Rowboat on the Mississippi River. Part One

  2. Aug 18

    Corne Schalkwyk: The Life and Adventures of Africa's Legendary Wildlife Guide.

    Growing up in South Africa’s bushlands, Corne Schalkwyk is one of Africa’s premier wildlife guides.   Corne is a distinguished commercial leader and elite expert in the African safari sector, currently driving growth as the Head of Partnerships and founder of Bushwise Exclusive. Renowned for his expansive operational knowledge across major wildlife destinations, Corne previously shaped the industry as the General Manager of Premier Safaris and Head of Sales for EcoTraining, where he expertly curated world-class wilderness adventures and specialized Safaris. His forward-thinking approach earned him the prestigious SA Tourism / Africa Travel Indaba Innovation Award as Innovator of the Year in 2024, celebrating his development of game changing, deeply immersive wilderness experiences that redefine standard travel. Recently highlighted in Forbes for his insight into sustainable tourism and conservation, Corne stands as a premier global authority on how meaningful connection, wilderness education, and active exploration are transforming the adventure travel landscape.   Follow Corne at his LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corneschalkwyk/   Support this Podcast:  buy me a coffee Hosted by Michael J. Reinhart MichaelJReinhart.com True stories of adventure and exploration as told by those who lived them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Corne Schalkwyk: The Life and Adventures of Africa's Legendary Wildlife Guide.

  3. Jul 2

    Bill Steele: Extreme Explorations of the World's Deepest and Longest Caves.

    Charles William Steele, Jr is a cave explorer and speleologist who has led and participated in expeditions to many of the longest and deepest caves in the United States, Mexico, and China. He has explored hundreds of caves across North America and Asia and has written two books chronicling his expeditions: Yochib: The River Cave, and Huautla: Thirty Years in One of the World's Deepest Caves. TV shows such as National Geographic Explorer and NOVA have featured his expeditions. Support this Podcast:  buy me a coffee Get Bill's books: Huautla: Thirty Years in One of the World's Deepest Caves* Yochib: The River Cave* Hosted by Michael J. Reinhart MichaelJReinhart.com *Michael Reinhart receives a small fee for each book sold via this link. True stories of adventure and exploration Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Bill Steele: Extreme Explorations of the World's Deepest and Longest Caves.

  4. May 22

    Justin Fornal: Rituals, Talismans and Saving the Legacies of Ancient Cultures.

    Justin Fornal is an explorer, writer documenting vanishing traditions in some of the world’s most challenging regions. His work focuses on ancient textiles, traditional foodways, and the material culture of ritual.. Justin has led research expeditions across Iraq, Somalia, Haiti, Yemen, Ethiopia, Liberia, the West Bank, and Arctic Greenland. A 2025 Society of American Travel Writers Gold Medal Awardee, his work has appeared in National Geographic, VICE, The Explorers Journal, Adventure Journal, Parts Unknown, and Roads & Kingdoms. Through his nonprofit, the History, Arts, & Science Action Network (HASAN), Justin collaborates with minority communities facing discrimination and genocide, helping them preserve cultural heritage and reclaim their narratives on an international stage. In 2026, Justin launched Sahel by the Sun — a solar-powered crossing of Africa from Dakar, Senegal to Xaafuun, Somalia in a Land Rover Defender — highlighting endangered Sahelian cultures while advancing sustainable exploration. He has been a fellow of Explorers Club since 2011  Justin's website JustinFornal.com Instagram Justin Fornal Support this Podcast:  buy me a coffee Hosted by Michael J. Reinhart MichaelJReinhart.com True stories of adventure and exploration Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Justin Fornal: Rituals, Talismans and Saving the Legacies of Ancient Cultures.

  5. May 3

    Jacob "Val" Myers Stories from the next generation of artic explorers.

    Jacob “Val” Myers is an Appalachian-born adventure athlete with a growing list of accomplishments stretching across the board from ultramarathons, expeditions, published writings, and community service projects. Getting his start working with public lands as a young man in Gorges State Park, Val has hundreds of hours of volunteer service on trail crews and as a fundraiser supporting conservation projects around the country. Val has taken on extreme expeditions in the coldest regions of the world such as Antarctica, the Yukon, Norway, and Alaska since entering the field as an aspiring polar guide in 2022. In parallel to his fascination with wild and rugged spaces, Val has completed multiple mountainous ultramarathons extending over one-hundred miles across the American landscape. Val is currently publishing a book detailing his attempted world record skiing solo and unsupported to the geographic south pole while providing context and honor to the complicated Appalachian landscapes that raised him. When not writing, Val has continued planning for future expeditions, Fastest Known Time (FKT) attempts and is supporting his community through volunteerism. Get Val's new book Blue Ridge - White Desert: A Young Man's Journey Through Appalachia, Antarctica, and the Self Val's website: jacobvalmyers.com Val's You Tube Channel Support this Podcast:  buy me a coffee Hosted by Michael J. Reinhart MichaelJReinhart.com True stories of adventure and exploration Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Jacob "Val" Myers Stories from the next generation of artic explorers.

  6. Apr 17

    Oscar Scafidi: Madagascar Crocodiles Bull sharks and the Mangoky River. Part Two.

    Oscar Scafidi is a travel writer, international educator and risk consultant. Originally from the UK and Italy, he has lived, worked and travelled across over thirty African nations. Oscar tends to focus on difficult destinations and post-conflict zones which do not attract many tourists. His work has included everything from interviewing pirates in Somalia to chasing elephants around the forests of Gabon. Among his many accomplishments, he kayaked 1,300km along Angola's longest river and 750km along Madagascar's longest river. Oscar’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScafidiTravels/  Social media links:  lnk.bio/ScafidiTravels Kayak The Mangoky Official website: https://kayakthemangoky.com/  Support this Podcast:  buy me a coffee Hosted by Michael J. Reinhart MichaelJReinhart.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Oscar Scafidi: Madagascar Crocodiles Bull sharks and the Mangoky River. Part Two.

  7. Mar 23

    Oscar Scafidi: Somali pirates, hypo attacks and other tales of adventures in Africa. Part One.

    Oscar Scafidi is a travel writer, international educator and risk consultant. Originally from the UK and Italy, he has lived, worked and travelled across over thirty African nations. Oscar tends to focus on difficult destinations and post-conflict zones which do not attract many tourists. His work has included everything from interviewing pirates in Somalia to chasing elephants around the forests of Gabon. Among his many accomplishments, he kayaked 1,300km along Angola's longest river and 750km along Madagascar's longest river. Oscar’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScafidiTravels/  Social media links:  lnk.bio/ScafidiTravels Kayak The Mangoky Official website: https://kayakthemangoky.com/  Support this Podcast:  buy me a coffee Hosted by Michael J. Reinhart MichaelJReinhart.com     Whiskey and a Map: Stories of Adventure and Exploration.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Oscar Scafidi: Somali pirates, hypo attacks and other tales of adventures in Africa. Part One.

  8. Feb 2

    Victor Vescovo: Diving to the deepest point of all 5 oceans; Completing the Explorers Gran Slam and other Extreme Expeditions.

    In 2017, Victor completed the “Explorer’s Grand Slam” which requires climbing the highest peak on all seven of the world’s continents including Mt. Everest and skiing at least 100 kilometers to the North and South Poles. He piloted the first repeated dives to the ocean’s deepest point, Challenger Deep, in the Pacific’s Mariana Trench -- now fifteen times, and in August 2019 became the first person to visit “The Five Deeps,” the deepest point in all five of the world’s oceans. Victor has now personally explored the bottom of seventeen deep ocean trenches and has made three dives to the Titanic including the only solo dive ever made there. He and his team also discovered and surveyed the two deepest shipwrecks in the world: the USS Johnston in 2021 and the deepest, the USS Samuel B. Roberts at 22,600 feet, in 2022. In 2025, the US Navy announced that T-AGOS 26, a new ocean surveillance vessel of the Explorer class, would be named after him. He is also a commercially rated, multi-engine jet, seaplane, and helicopter pilot, a certified submersible test pilot, and recently flew into space on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, becoming the first person in history to climb Mount Everest, dive to the bottom of the ocean, and visit space. Victor received his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, a Master’s Degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and received an MBA from Harvard Business School where he graduated as a Baker Scholar. Additionally, Victor served 20 years in the U.S. Navy Reserve as an intelligence and targeting officer, retiring in 2013 as a Commander. Support this Podcast:  buy me a coffee Hosted by Michael J. Reinhart MichaelJReinhart.com     Whiskey and a Map: Stories of Adventure and Exploration.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Victor Vescovo: Diving to the deepest point of all 5 oceans; Completing the Explorers Gran Slam and other Extreme Expeditions.
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4.7
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About

These are the true stories of adventure as told by those who lived them. This adventure story podcast brings you an up close and personal conversation with people who travel the world and live extraordinary lives Travel with us to the faraway jungles of the Amazon, the Himalayan mountains, deep water ship wrecks, and people and places lost in time.   Many an adventure has started with a map and a glass of whiskey.  May this podcast inspire you to seek you own. Hosted by Michael J. Reinhart https://www.michaeljreinhart.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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