Wild Chats with Ben Southall

Wild Earth Australia
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Join host Ben Southall for Wild Chats, a series that dives deep into the world of adventure. We bring you trail runners, hikers, travelers, and explorers sharing their most inspiring and wildest stories from around the globe. Whether you're chasing ultra-running dreams, planning your next big trek, or simply looking for a spark of adventure, Wild Chats delivers firsthand insights from those who live and breathe the outdoors. 🎙 New episodes every other Friday! Presented by Best Life Adventures & Wild Earth Australia

  1. Oct 29

    What To Do If You See a Snake (or Get Bitten) with Dr Christina Zdenek

    What should you do if you encounter a snake on the trail? Join Ben Southall and Australian snake expert Dr Christina Zdenek from the Australian Reptile Academy for a fascinating conversation about Australia's snakes, snake bite prevention and the simple first aid techniques that could save your life. *Correction: At 08:23, the audio refers to 800 kHz. The correct frequency is 800 Hz. We accidentally retained the incorrect line during editing.  Christina separates fact from fiction, explaining what to do when you come face-to-face with a snake, how snakes sense the world around them and why they're far more interested in avoiding us than attacking us.  From pressure immobilisation bandages and antivenom to common snake myths, this episode is packed with practical advice for hikers, trail runners, campers and anyone spending time in the Australian outdoors. Shop snake compression bandage. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Snake Safety with Dr. Christina Zdenek 01:57 What to Do When You Encounter a Snake on the Trail 04:01 Understanding Snake Behavior and Species Differences 07:03 How Snakes Sense Their Environment and Detect Threats 09:59 Identifying Common Australian Snakes and Their Habitats 14:57 First Aid for Snake Bites: Do's and Don'ts 20:13 The Role of Anti-Venom and When to Seek Medical Help 25:03 Personal Experience: Christina's Snake Bite and Lessons Learned 29:46 Preventative Measures and How to Prepare for Outdoor Adventures 34:51 Resources and Education for Snake Safety 39:55 Final Tips and Encouragement to Respect and Appreciate Snakes Connect with Christina: Australian Reptile Academy Instagram: @chris.and.christina 🎙️ Hosted by Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures Wild Earth Australia

    What To Do If You See a Snake (or Get Bitten) with Dr Christina Zdenek

  2. Oct 16

    Sailing 4,900 km across Europe in a tiny dinghy with Sandy Mackinnon

    What happens when you set off for a few days in a tiny mirror dinghy… and just keep going? Join Ben Southall and Australian author, teacher and adventurer Sandy Mackinnon for the extraordinary story behind The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow. With no engine and no grand plan, Sandy sailed and rowed from Shropshire, across the English Channel and through Europe’s waterways to the Black Sea! Along the way, he slept aboard his 11-foot boat, patched up holes and relied on the kindness of strangers to keep the adventure afloat. Twenty-five years later, an unexpected message gave him the chance to do it all again, this time setting off from Romania towards Venice. Whether you’re dreaming of a sailing adventure or curious about travelling a little slower, this conversation might have you asking Sandy’s favourite question: “How hard can it be?” 📚 Explore Sandy’s books, including The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow and Realms of Gold: The Remarkable Return of Jack de Crow: A.J. Mackinnon at Black Inc. 🎙️ Hosted by Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures Wild Earth Australia

    Sailing 4,900 km across Europe in a tiny dinghy with Sandy Mackinnon

  3. Oct 1

    Tick Bites in Australia: Removal, Paralysis & Mammalian Meat Allergy with Professor Stephen Barker

    Can a tick bite make you allergic to red meat? And what’s the safest way to remove a tick? Join Ben Southall and Professor Stephen Barker for a fascinating conversation about tick bites in Australia, from paralysis ticks and the illnesses they can cause to practical ways to avoid bringing one home from your next hike. With more than three decades spent studying Australian ticks, Stephen explains how they find us, what happens when they bite, and the surprising link between tick bites and mammalian meat allergy. Whether you’re wondering how to remove a tick, protect your dog or reduce your chances of a bite, this episode is packed with strange science and useful advice for your next outdoor adventure. For a free pdf copy of his book: Ticks of Australasia: 125 species of ticks in and around Australia by Stephen Barker & Dayana Barker contact Stephen Barker (s.barker1206@gmail.com) 🎙️ Hosted by Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures: https://bestlifeadventures.com/   Wild Earth Australia: https://www.wildearth.com.au/

    Tick Bites in Australia: Removal, Paralysis & Mammalian Meat Allergy with Professor Stephen Barker

  4. Sep 17

    Junk, Running, Creativity and the Meaning of Adventure with Beau Miles

    Join Ben Southall and filmmaker and professional tinkerer Beau Miles for a very special milestone episode of Wild Chats... our 100th episode of the podcast!!! Beau returns for a wide-ranging conversation about how his idea of adventure has changed over the years. Once known for big endurance missions, backyard marathons and wonderfully odd experiments, Beau is now finding just as much meaning in fixing broken things, restoring an old mountain shack, picking up rubbish, planting trees and making something useful from what already exists. From DIY, fatherhood and creative burnout to YouTube, gear, rubbish runs, celebrating small wins and the strange satisfaction of knowing exactly how salty your sweat is, this is a conversation about finding adventure closer to home! Buy tickets to Beau's Secret Screenings: https://beaumiles.com/screenings/ Connect with Beau Miles: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeauMiles Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beauisms/ Website: https://beaumiles.com/ 🎙️ Hosted by Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures: https://bestlifeadventures.com/ Wild Earth Australia: https://www.wildearth.com.au/

    Junk, Running, Creativity and the Meaning of Adventure with Beau Miles

  5. Sep 5

    From Sea Level to the Summit of Everest in 50 Days with Oliver Foran

    Australian adventurer Oliver Foran joins Wild Chats for a fascinating conversation about what it takes to travel from sea level to the summit of Mount Everest! Ollie cycled 1,150 kilometres from the Bay of Bengal, trekked through the Himalayas and ultimately stood 8,848 metres above sea level on the summit of Everest, completing the journey in just 50 days. But getting there meant battling 40+ degree heat, brutal Himalayan roads, altitude sickness, an avalanche and days without proper sleep. He also breaks down the gear, preparation and mindset that kept him moving. Connect with Oli Foran:  https://www.instagram.com/oliverforan 🎙️ Hosted by Ben Southall   Best Life Adventures: https://bestlifeadventures.com/  Wild Earth Australia: https://www.wildearth.com.au/

    From Sea Level to the Summit of Everest in 50 Days with Oliver Foran

  6. Aug 28

    Running 409 km in 56 hours and 9 minutes with Rachel Entrekin

    Join Ben Southall and elite ultra runner and physical therapist Rachel Entrekin for a fascinating conversation about endurance, resilience and what it takes to run over 400 kilometres... and beat every other runner in the field. Rachel made history as the first female athlete to win the Cocodona 250 outright, covering 250 miles (400 km) across Arizona and finishing ahead of the entire field. But her journey into ultra running didn’t begin with obvious talent. Rachel hated running growing up and only gradually discovered that the longer and harder the challenge became, the more she seemed to thrive. Rachel shares what really happens to the body and mind during multi-day races, from five-minute trailside naps and managing nutrition to the moments of doubt that arrive when you’ve already run 240 kilometres and still have 160 to go. From FKTs and alpine adventures to Cocodona, UTMB and the Snowman Race in Bhutan, this is a conversation about discovering just how far your body and mind might be capable of going. Connect with Rachel Entrekin: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachel__entrekin/ Blog: https://blondeidiotrunning.wordpress.com/ 🎙️ Hosted by Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures: https://bestlifeadventures.com/ Wild Earth Australia: https://www.wildearth.com.au/

    Running 409 km in 56 hours and 9 minutes with Rachel Entrekin

  7. Aug 15

    Altitude Sickness, Frostbite & Staying Safe in the Mountains with Dr Hannah Lock

    Join Ben Southall and emergency physician, expedition doctor and mountain medicine expert Dr Hannah Lock for a fascinating conversation about altitude sickness, frostbite and how to stay safer in the mountains. Hannah explains what actually happens to your body as you climb higher, why even extremely fit people can suffer from altitude sickness and why preparation and a slow ascent are so important. She breaks down the warning signs of acute mountain sickness, HAPE and HACE, and discusses acclimatisation, hydration, Diamox and the usefulness (and limitations) of pulse oximeters at altitude. The conversation also heads into the cold, with Hannah explaining the difference between Raynaud's, frostnip and frostbite, what freezing temperatures actually do to your tissue and why early treatment matters. From building a practical expedition first aid kit to knowing when it's time to descend or turn around, this episode is packed with useful advice for hikers, trekkers and anyone planning to venture into high-altitude or cold environments. Connect with Hannah https://drhannahlock.co.uk/ 🎙️ Hosted by Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures: https://bestlifeadventures.com/ Wild Earth Australia: https://www.wildearth.com.au/

    Altitude Sickness, Frostbite & Staying Safe in the Mountains with Dr Hannah Lock

  8. Aug 1

    Krystle Wright: Capturing the World's Wildest Moments

    Join Ben Southall and world-renowned adventure photographer and director Krystle Wright for a fascinating conversation about creativity, resilience and what it takes to capture extraordinary moments in some of the world’s most extreme environments. Krystle shares her journey from digital and film photography to climbing, underwater shoots and storm chasing. She explains why she loves the problem-solving involved in trad climbing, what it is really like to film tornadoes, and how adventure sports have shaped her perspective both behind and beyond the camera. Connect with Krystle: Website: https://www.krystlewright.com Socials: https://www.instagram.com/krystlejwright/ 🎙️ Hosted by Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures: https://bestlifeadventures.com/ Wild Earth Australia: https://www.wildearth.com.au/

    Krystle Wright: Capturing the World's Wildest Moments
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About

Join host Ben Southall for Wild Chats, a series that dives deep into the world of adventure. We bring you trail runners, hikers, travelers, and explorers sharing their most inspiring and wildest stories from around the globe. Whether you're chasing ultra-running dreams, planning your next big trek, or simply looking for a spark of adventure, Wild Chats delivers firsthand insights from those who live and breathe the outdoors. 🎙 New episodes every other Friday! Presented by Best Life Adventures & Wild Earth Australia

Information

  • Creator
    Wild Earth Australia
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Wild Chats with Ben Southall
  • Show Website
    Wild Chats with Ben Southall

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