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Adventure Diaries: Exploration, Survival & Travel Stories

Chris Watson: Storyteller & Micro-Adventurer
  • 5.0 (30)
  • WILDERNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Real adventure isn't just for the pros. The award-winning Adventure Diaries brings you authentic stories of Adventure, exploration and the wonder of the natural world, specifically curated to inspire your next adventure. Hosted by Chris Watson—an award-winning storyteller and Scottish micro-adventurer—this show bridges the gap between extreme feats and accessible everyday adventures. Whether you are a seasoned mountaineer, a weekend adventurer, a solo traveler planning your next trip, or someone seeking the mental health benefits of nature, you have found your tribe.  We go beyond the standard interview to decode the "why" and "how" behind the world's greatest adventures. What Makes This Show Different? Unlike other outdoor podcasts, every episode delivers three distinct promises to help you live a more extraordinary life: Unique Adventure Stories: Immersive storytelling from National Geographic explorers, survivalists, ultra-athletes, and frontline conservationists. From the peaks of the Seven Summits to the depths of the Amazon, experience the thrill of the unknown.Your Call To Adventure: Passive listening ends here. Each guest issues a practical challenge to inspire you to step out your front door and discover the wild places in your own backyard.Pay It Forward: We believe in sustainable travel and stewardship. Every episode highlights a specific charity, wildlife project, or community cause. Join our global community of explorers. Discover hidden gems, learn survival skills, and find the motivation to push your boundaries. Subscribe now and start your next adventure today.  Visit us: AdventureDiaries.com/Go

  1. Ascent Of The Amazon River - 6.5 Years & 7,000KM - With Pete Casey

    1D AGO

    Ascent Of The Amazon River - 6.5 Years & 7,000KM - With Pete Casey

    🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you Pete Casey was chest-deep in floodwater, five days without food, in the middle of the Amazon at dusk. His guide said: "This is a beautiful place to die, and the day you die is the best day of your life." No higher ground in sight, no GPS signal, no way out. This is the story of the first ever sea-to-source ascent of the Amazon River. No military training, no wealthy sponsors, no support team. Pete sold his home, scraped together £110,000 in equity, and walked into the Amazon alone. What followed was six and a half years, over 7,000 kilometres, swimming every river crossing against the current, trekking through flooded rainforest, and navigating remote indigenous communities that had never seen a Westerner pass through on foot. From near-death in flood season to coca plantations in the Andes, this is the full arc of one of the most extraordinary human-powered expeditions ever completed. What You'll Learn: • Why Pete ascended the Amazon sea-to-source — and why almost nobody does it that way • The method he built for swimming river crossings with a packraft and local guides • How 23 days in flooded forest without food nearly killed him • What encounters with remote indigenous communities actually look like • The brutal reality of coming home to nothing after six and a half years Pete's presentation at the explorers club in NYC. 🌐 ascentoftheamazon.com 📸 Instagram: @p.c.casey 🌿 Junglekeepers (pay it forward): junglekeepers.com 00:00 Cold open — chest-deep in floodwater 01:18 Who is Pete Casey and what is the Ascent of the Amazon? 03:21 Growing up with no money in Sussex — how adventure didn't come naturally 05:19 First trip to South America — joining Ed Stafford's Amazon walk 07:50 Photography dreams and why building became his career 11:32 How Pete decided to ascend the Amazon sea-to-source 17:23 Selling his home — the point of no return 21:17 Route planning on Google Earth and arriving alone 26:26 Why Pete swam every river crossing — method and fear 29:27 The Pororoca tidal bore and using the Amazon tide to gain ground 34:00 First Una tribe encounters — being surrounded 47:11 23 days in flooded forest, no food, chest-deep in water 51:50 Recovery in Manaus and planning the next leg 55:28 How kit evolved over 6.5 years — Wellington boots vs jungle boots 1:00:40 What Pete ate in the jungle — farinha and sardines 1:05:00 Walking alone through cocaine plantations in the Andes 1:13:40 The Explorers Club, coming home, and the food bank 1:23:34 Pay it forward: Junglekeepers For full show notes and links, visit: adventurediaries.com/podcast Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thanks For Listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Please visit AdventureDiaries.com/GO  For more authentic stories of Adventure Exploration and the natural world The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

    1h 32m
  2. Pack Rafting Gabon's Uncharted Jungle Rivers with Beki Henderson

    APR 9

    Pack Rafting Gabon's Uncharted Jungle Rivers with Beki Henderson

    🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you Beki Henderson is a BAFTA-nominated adventure filmmaker and expedition safety specialist with years of experience leading camera teams into some of the world's most remote and demanding environments. She's worked alongside Steve Backshall, Ben Fogle, Levison Wood, Aldo Kane, and most recently Will Smith on the landmark Pole to Pole series — premiering at the Natural History Museum in London. In this episode, Chris sits down with Beki to dig into the Green Abyss — her personal expedition into Gabon's Waka National Park in 2024, launched in the wake of the country's military coup. The plan was to pack-raft the undocumented Akoi River for a month, reaching remote communities to understand the human cost of conservation policy. What followed was a masterclass in expedition reality — strainers, flash flood risk, a support team walking in entirely the wrong direction, and a village that no longer existed. Beki also reflects on building a career in adventure television from scratch, why qualifications mean nothing without field experience, and what it really means to take risk seriously — not the dramatic kind, but the deep, lasting uncertainty that keeps you up at night two metres above a rising river in the middle of a Gabonese gorge. Chapters: 00:00 — Risk Isn't Dramatic: What Expedition Danger Really Looks Like 01:25 — Introduction & Welcome to Adventure Diaries 03:12 — Growing Up in North Yorkshire With No Adventurous Instincts 06:53 — Building a Career in Adventure Filmmaking From Scratch 10:00 — Wilderness First Responder: Why Qualifications Mean Nothing Without Experience 12:17 — First Break Into Adventure Television: Steve Backshall & Expedition Series 14:07 — The Green Abyss: Pack Rafting Gabon's Undocumented Akoi River 16:29 — Building a Team in the Field & Getting Government Permission Post-Coup 22:29 — Strainers, Portaging & Why the River Always Wins 26:43 — Trapped in a Gorge: The Flash Flood Decision That Changed Everything 33:37 — The GPS Disaster: When the Support Team Walked the Wrong Way 38:10 — Ingondé Doesn't Exist: Conservation, Gold Panning & The Human Cost 44:24 — Recording Undocumented Species & Reflections on the Green Abyss Pay It Forward: Beki shines a light on the Black Mambas — an all-female anti-poaching unit in South Africa working to protect wildlife and educate communities before poaching ever starts. Find them at blackmambas.org. Call to Adventure: Figure out where your own edge is — and go there. Adventure doesn't have to cost money or require extreme skill. Start with what takes you outside your comfort zone. Follow Beki Henderson: Instagram: @bekihenderson Website: beckihenderson.com Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thanks For Listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Please visit AdventureDiaries.com/GO  For more authentic stories of Adventure Exploration and the natural world The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

    1h 1m
  3. Guyana Jungle Discovery: Petroglyphs & a Lost Cave — Joe Trevorrow

    MAR 19

    Guyana Jungle Discovery: Petroglyphs & a Lost Cave — Joe Trevorrow

    🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you What happens when you walk for days through some of the most remote jungle on Earth — and stumble across a cave covered floor to ceiling in ancient drawings that no outsider has ever documented? In this Season 5 episode, Chris sits down with Joe Trevorrow, former Royal Navy sailor turned expedition guide with The Wild Tales — an indigenous-led adventure company operating deep in Guyana's interior — to unpack three extraordinary expeditions into barely explored territory. Alongside the on-the-ground stories (rapids, sand flies, night terrors in hammocks, and jaguar tracks beside your sleeping spot), Joe shares how The Wild Tales partners with indigenous communities — the Wai Wai, Patamona, and others — to create sustainable tourism that preserves ancient sites and dying traditions. We discuss the complex tribal history of Guyana's nine indigenous nations, how a Tomb Raider game sparked a life-changing decision, and what the jungle teaches you when you stop fighting it. Chapters: 00:00 A Hidden Cave in Guyana's Jungle01:07 Meet Joe Trevorrow: Royal Navy to Rainforest05:30 Joining the Navy and Travelling the World at 2007:56 How a Tomb Raider Game Led to Guyana Expeditions11:33 How Indigenous-Led Expedition Tourism Works16:45 The River of Death: Paddling the Cassai Chi20:09 Undocumented Petroglyphs Along the Riverbank24:18 Welcome to Masakenari: The Most Remote Village29:30 Tourism as a Lifeline: Keeping Traditions Alive32:40 Don't Fight the Jungle: Lessons the Hard Way35:21 Sitting Under the Milky Way on the River of Death38:10 Night Terrors: The Scariest Night in the Jungle40:12 Makarapan Mountain: 3.5 Billion Years Old46:00 The Mystery Pots Nobody Can Explain55:12 The Cave Expedition: 45km Through Patamona Territory01:03:21 Ancient Drawings That Left Everyone Speechless01:12:00 Conservation: Keeping Sites Secret vs Raising Awareness01:17:49 Future Expeditions and What's Next for The Wild Tales01:23:17 Pay It Forward and Call to AdventureWhat You'll Learn What the "River of Death" actually means — and the disease theory behind its nameHow indigenous-led expedition tourism works (and why it matters)Why two enormous pots were found near the summit of a 3.5 billion year old mountain — and nobody can explain how they got thereWhat it feels like to walk into an ancient cave and see drawings no outsider has recordedThe leadership lesson Joe learned — and why "Navy mode" doesn't work in the jungleWhat The Wild Tales has planned for 2026–2027Connect with Joe & The Wild Tales Joe Trevorrow InstagramThe Wild Tales: https://www.thewildtales.comAnders Anderson episode (S3): Adventure Diaries back cataSend us Fan Mail Support the show Thanks For Listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Please visit AdventureDiaries.com/GO  For more authentic stories of Adventure Exploration and the natural world The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

    1h 24m
  4. Saving Brazil's Jaguars — with Letícia Benavalli

    MAR 12

    Saving Brazil's Jaguars — with Letícia Benavalli

    🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you. Chris sits down with Brazilian conservation biologist Letícia Benavalli to talk about her work protecting jaguars in the Cerrado — one of the world's most biodiverse yet overlooked biomes. From growing up in São Paulo to founding the Pro Onça Institute, Letícia shares how a childhood fascination with nature led her to track some of the rarest cats on the planet, including melanistic (black) jaguars. She also opens up about the importance of community-led conservation, empowering women and young people in rural Brazil, and her ambition to create wildlife corridors connecting isolated jaguar populations across biomes. Chapters 00:00 Tracking Melanistic Jaguars 04:43 From City Life to Conservation Biologist 07:10 The Cerrado: Saving Brazil's Biodiverse Savanna 14:47 Learnings from Oxford University & African Wild 22:53 Rare Black Jaguar Encounter in the Wild 27:07 Survival Story: Lost Alone in the Brazilian Jungle 36:38 Jaguar Hunting Threats & Landowner Conflicts 40:58 Pro Onça Institute: Conservation & Community Empowerment 47:02 Women Leadership in Ecotourism 1:00 Urban Jaguars in Brasília National Park 1:06 Rolex Explorers Club Grant & Future Goals 1:14 Call to Adventure: Climbing Brazil's Serra do Cipó Guest Bio Letícia Benavalli is a conservation biologist and founder of the Onça Institute (Instituto Onça), an NGO dedicated to jaguar conservation in Brazil's Cerrado and Atlantic Forest. She has worked across multiple Brazilian biomes — including the Pantanal, Caatinga, and Amazon — studying large carnivores and developing community-based conservation programmes. Letícia is a Rolex/Explorers Club grant recipient and a member of the IUCN's Wildlife Conservation and Protected Areas group. She presented her research at the Explorers Club in New York and is preparing a PhD focused on jaguar density, diet, and the genetics of melanistic jaguars in the Cerrado. Key Topics Discussed Growing up in São Paulo & finding conservation — How a city kid from Latin America's largest metropolis ended up dedicating her life to wildlife, sparked by a childhood visit to the zoo and a love of nature documentaries.The Cerrado: Brazil's forgotten biome — Why this vast savanna is critically important for biodiversity but receives far less attention and protection than the Amazon or Pantanal.Black jaguars and the Onça Institute — Letícia's face-to-face encounter with a wild melanistic jaguar, the rare genetics behind black colouration, and the founding mission of her NGO to connect isolated jaguar populations.Community-led conservation & empowering women — Why conservation cannot succeed without involving local and rural communities, particularly women and young people, and how traditional knowledge strengthens scientific work.The Rolex/Explorers Club grant & global ambitions — Winning the grant, presentiSend us Fan Mail Support the show Thanks For Listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Please visit AdventureDiaries.com/GO  For more authentic stories of Adventure Exploration and the natural world The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

    1h 19m
  5. Climbing The Volcanic 7 Summits with Ricardo Kaljouw

    MAR 5

    Climbing The Volcanic 7 Summits with Ricardo Kaljouw

    🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you. Ricardo Kaljouw is a Dutch adventurer and mountaineer from Flushing (Vlissingen) in Zeeland, Netherlands — a province that sits below sea level, making his obsession with the world's highest volcanoes all the more fitting. By day he works in military shipbuilding, constructing frigates for governments around the world. By adventure, he has just become the first person from the Benelux to complete the Volcanic 7 Summits — a challenge so rare that only around 68 people in the world have ever achieved it. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction: A Dangerous Encounter01:28 – Welcome to The Adventure Diaries01:50 – Meet Ricardo Kaljouw: Volcanic Seven Summits04:35 – Growing Up Below Sea Level06:39 – Navy Life: Battling Pirates in Somalia09:13 – Inspiration: Climbing Kilimanjaro12:16 – Inside the Crater: Virunga's Lava Lake17:19 – Mount Damavand: Winter Climbing in Iran23:41 – Mountaineering Lessons: Snow Blindness28:04 – Papua New Guinea: Jungle Trekking Challenges31:49 – Close Call: Mistaken for a Witch33:07 – Survival Story: Stranded on Ojos del Salado41:00 – Romance on the Peak: Pico de Orizaba42:33 – Antarctica: The Ultimate Expedition45:40 – Landing on the Frozen Continent1:00:25 – Summiting Mount Sidley: A Historic Feat1:13:26 – What's Next: The Volcanic Grand Slam1:17:16 – Book Launch: A Million Steps on LavaKey Topics Covered Growing up in the flattest country on earth and joining a walking club as a kidServing in the Royal Dutch Navy, including an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden in 2010How a safari to Kenya and a first glimpse of Kilimanjaro sparked a lifelong obsessionThe Virunga documentary that sent him to the Democratic Republic of Congo — and sleeping on the rim of Nyiragongo, home to the world's largest lava lakeClimbing Damavand (Iran) in winter and going snow blind on the descentSurviving near-starvation and a machete encounter in the jungles of Papua New GuineaGetting stranded alone at 6,600m on Ojos del Salado (Chile/Argentina) in whiteout conditionsMount Elbrus (Russia, 2017) — his first experience on glaciers, roped teams and cramponsCarrying his proposal ring to the summit of Pico de Orizaba (Mexico) and the Aztec legend behind itThe full Antarctica chapter — flying to Union Glacier, a 1,000km internal flight to Mount Sidley, two weeks in a 10-metre safe zone, a guide evacuated with pulmonary oedema, and a last-gasp summit window in minus 42°CReflecting on what it means to finish a multi-year, multi-continent challengeLessons from the Mountains You're only at 70% when you think you're at 100% — but know where the real limit isThe descent is where most accidents happen; the summit is only halfwayAlways use your equipmeSend us Fan Mail Support the show Thanks For Listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Please visit AdventureDiaries.com/GO  For more authentic stories of Adventure Exploration and the natural world The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

    1h 27m
  6. Q&A with Jude Kriwald

    MAR 4 ·  BONUS • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Q&A with Jude Kriwald

    Q&A aftershow with Jude Kriwald. If you enjoyed the main interview with Jude then dont miss this.

    7 min
  7. Jude Kriwald Alone Across Gola – A Solo Cycle Through West Africa’s Rainforest

    FEB 26

    Jude Kriwald Alone Across Gola – A Solo Cycle Through West Africa’s Rainforest

    🎧 Follow the show here— it really helps Adventure Diaries reach more listeners. Thank you. What does it actually feel like to sleep alone in a West African rainforest — the noise, the insects, the pitch-dark uncertainty? In this Season 5 opener, Chris sits down with Jude Kriwald, adventure filmmaker and cyclist, to unpack Alone Across Gola — Jude’s solo ride across West Africa, including a remote jungle crossing in Liberia/Sierra Leone’s Gola region. Connect with Jude  Book Jude For Your Next Event:  https://JudeKriwald.com/Speaking Follow On Insta: https://www.instagram.com/judekriwaldNeed Mentoring?  AdventureMentor.org Alongside the on-the-ground stories (heat, hydration, kit failures, and a few genuinely sketchy moments), Jude shares a thoughtful take on neurodivergence (autism + ADHD), why “analogue adventures” matter, and how we can build a life that’s more honest to who we are. What You’ll Learn What jungle nights are really like — and why the soundscape is unforgettableHow Jude manages risk when travelling solo (and what satellite SOS can’t solve)Why ADHD/autism traits can be powerful outdoors: hyperfocus, pattern-spotting, rapid problem-solvingThe “stepping stone” approach to confidence and route planningWhy rest days aren’t optional on long bike tripsChapters: 00:00 Exploring the Unknown: A Journey into the African Rainforest01:45 The Call of Adventure: Jude's Formative Years06:49 The First Big Expedition: Cycling to India11:58 Navigating Life's Gaps: The Lost Decade17:34 Harnessing Neurodivergence: ADHD and Autism as Superpowers22:45 Adventure Mentoring: Leveling the Playing Field28:26 West Africa: A New Frontier for Exploration29:44 Exploring the Unknown: Journey to West Africa31:19 First Night in the Jungle: A Personal Experience34:59 Planning and Preparation: The Adventurer's Mindset36:30 Camping and Rest: Balancing Adventure and Recovery38:05 The Trusty Bike: A Companion on the Journey41:29 Hydration and Health: Navigating the Jungle's Challenges43:46 Self-Reliance and Communication: The Importance of Preparedness47:16 Cultural Interactions: Bridging the Gap51:19 Understanding Poverty: A Lesson in Empathy54:29 The Gola Rainforest: An Adventurer's Discovery57:25 Navigating the Unknown: The Adventure of Exploration58:37 The Art of Filmmaking: A Journey into Storytelling01:02:54 Reflections on Courage: The Impact of Adventure01:05:31 Creating a Platform: The Power of Sharing Stories01:08:14 Paying It Forward: Supporting Future Adventurers01:12:25 Embracing Analog Adventures: A Call to DisconnectSend us Fan Mail Support the show Thanks For Listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Please visit AdventureDiaries.com/GO  For more authentic stories of Adventure Exploration and the natural world The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

    1h 22m
  8. True North: The Story Of Matthew Henson (Trailer)

    FEB 25 ·  BONUS

    True North: The Story Of Matthew Henson (Trailer)

    Listen Now: AdventureDiaries.com/Story Reaching the North Pole wasn’t just about distance—it was about whose work could survive the ice. For over 20 years, Matthew Henson led expeditions where others failed, mastering indigenous travel and keeping teams alive through the harshest conditions on Earth. Yet when history was written, his role was reduced to the margins.  This is the story of how polar exploration actually functioned, and why recognition followed authority rather than effort. Listen to the full immersive story of Matthew Henson in our premiere episode of the Adventure Diaries Exploration series. 👉 Listen now: AdventureDiaries.com/Story Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thanks For Listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Please visit AdventureDiaries.com/GO  For more authentic stories of Adventure Exploration and the natural world The Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

    2 min
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About

Real adventure isn't just for the pros. The award-winning Adventure Diaries brings you authentic stories of Adventure, exploration and the wonder of the natural world, specifically curated to inspire your next adventure. Hosted by Chris Watson—an award-winning storyteller and Scottish micro-adventurer—this show bridges the gap between extreme feats and accessible everyday adventures. Whether you are a seasoned mountaineer, a weekend adventurer, a solo traveler planning your next trip, or someone seeking the mental health benefits of nature, you have found your tribe.  We go beyond the standard interview to decode the "why" and "how" behind the world's greatest adventures. What Makes This Show Different? Unlike other outdoor podcasts, every episode delivers three distinct promises to help you live a more extraordinary life: Unique Adventure Stories: Immersive storytelling from National Geographic explorers, survivalists, ultra-athletes, and frontline conservationists. From the peaks of the Seven Summits to the depths of the Amazon, experience the thrill of the unknown.Your Call To Adventure: Passive listening ends here. Each guest issues a practical challenge to inspire you to step out your front door and discover the wild places in your own backyard.Pay It Forward: We believe in sustainable travel and stewardship. Every episode highlights a specific charity, wildlife project, or community cause. Join our global community of explorers. Discover hidden gems, learn survival skills, and find the motivation to push your boundaries. Subscribe now and start your next adventure today.  Visit us: AdventureDiaries.com/Go

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