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What does it feel like to immersive in the landscape, to meet strangers with no barriers, to carry your home on your back and sleep under the stars? In this recap episode, adventurer and Desert Island Survival founder Tom Williams joins us to explore the raw intimacy of travel, from bike packing the Spanish coastlines to makeshift raft rides down the River Severn.

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Tom’s passion isn’t just for castaway survival—though that’s his day job—it’s for microadventures that anyone can begin. He shares his love for wild kayaking trips, inflatable river journeys, and a recent first-time bike tour across Spain. These aren’t just travel stories. They’re invitations to reconnect with our senses, our surroundings, and the strangers we meet along the way.

And when it comes to giving back, Tom offers a deeply considered pay-it-forward:
GiveDirectly (givedirectly.org), a nonprofit that sends money directly to people living in extreme poverty. No middlemen. No assumptions. Just trust in the agency of those who need it most. In Tom’s words: “They don’t lack motivation. They lack money.”

You don’t need to start with a grand escape. Begin with a weekend. Inflate a kayak. Ride your bike somewhere unknown. Share a meal with strangers. The more personal and low-to-the-ground the adventure, the more it opens you up. And as Tom puts it, “You smell the rosemary, you feel the landscape, and you can eat so much.”

Resources & Guest Links:

• Tom Williams:
  • Instagram: @tomwilliamsalone
  • Website: desertislandsurvival.com
• Referenced Charity:
  • GiveDirectly: givedirectly.org
    • Learn more about the charity model: Doing Good Better by William MacAskill
• Adventure Mentions:
  • Bike tour from Bilbao to Valencia
  • Kayak microadventures in Chile
  • Severn Estuary float trip (inspired by Alastair Humphreys’ microadventure)

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What if adventure wasn’t something distant or dramatic—but something you could claim this Saturday? David Haze, known as The Nomadic Paddler, believes that adventure isn’t about the epic—it’s about the everyday. In this episode, he reminds us that you don’t need to cross oceans to find purpose. You just need to get out the door.

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David’s own journey—from incarceration to becoming a world-record-holding paddleboarder—is steeped in transformation. But he’s quick to bring that idea down to earth. “Even a 5K walk can be an adventure,” he says. It’s about stepping out of your comfort zone and into something that reminds you you’re alive. Adventure, for David, is a way of living—not a destination.

His pay-it-forward is deeply personal. David is an ambassador for Dorset Mind, a mental health charity doing essential work in the community—particularly with men, who still face barriers in opening up. David speaks openly about his own mental health journey and how getting outdoors has been key to his recovery. This isn’t just about raising funds. It’s about raising awareness, starting conversations, and creating space for healing.

Stop waiting. That weekend you're vaguely thinking about? Make it this one. Reach out to a friend. Make a plan. Walk, paddle, cycle—whatever nudges you out of autopilot. Adventure doesn’t need to be big to be meaningful. As David puts it, “Through adventure, we live.”

Resources & Guest Links:

• David Haze (The Nomadic Paddler):
  • Website: nomadicpaddler.co.uk
  • Instagram: @NomadicPaddler
  • YouTube: Nomadic Paddler
  • LinkedIn: David Haze
• Dorset Mind: dorsetmind.uk
  • Learn more: About Dorset Mind
  • David’s Fundraising & Events: Check his social platforms for updates on his Dorset coast paddle challenge

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What does it mean to truly explore—not just terrain, but trust, time, and human connection? In this episode, legendary explorer and storyteller Benedict Allen joins us to reflect on a life shaped not by conquest, but by curiosity and community.

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Benedict doesn’t chase adventure for its own sake. He’s driven by a deeper impulse: to learn from others. From the remote communities of Papua New Guinea to the symbolic weight of the rhino in Namibia, Benedict’s stories remind us that exploration is most meaningful when it’s rooted in relationships. He speaks candidly about the people who saved his life, the places he hopes to return to, and the pressing need to honour both time and the natural world.

His pay-it-forward is twofold:

• Environmental Justice Foundation – advocating for communities who live closely with nature but suffer disproportionately from environmental degradation.
• Save the Rhino Trust – conserving one of Earth’s most iconic species and the habitats they anchor.

Benedict’s call to adventure is deceptively simple: blank out a weekend in your diary. Make it sacred. Tell others about it. Then do something—anything—that takes you outdoors and into a sense of aliveness. It might be the highest hill near home, a search for a bird you've never seen, or just a quiet walk. What matters is that you go, because that time won't come around again.

As Benedict says, “Time just goes by.” Adventure isn’t a grand expedition—it’s a decision. And the best way to keep the flame lit is to act now.

Resources & Guest Links:

• Benedict Allen Website: benedictallen.com
• Instagram: @benedictallenexplorer
• Twitter: @benedictallen
• Books by Benedict Allen: Available via his website

Referenced Charities:

• Environmental Justice Foundation: ejfoundation.org
• Save the Rhino Trust Namibia: savetherhinotrust.org

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If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content.

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