Wild Chats with Ben Southall

From escaping a kidnapping attempt in India to surfing freezing Arctic waters and surviving alone on a remote Queensland island, Aaron Shanks has lived a life full of wild adventures. But what has he learnt from it all?

In this episode of Wild Chats, Ben Southall sits down with Aaron, adventurer and host of Diaries of the Wild Ones podcast, to explore the experiences that shaped his life and the extraordinary stories he's collected along the way.

Aaron's podcast website:
https://www.diariesofthewildones.com

Aaron's Instagram: @diariesofthewildones

Wild Earth Australia:
https://www.wildearth.com.au/

Best Life Adventures:
https://bestlifeadventures.com/

00:00 Introduction to Adventure Stories
05:22 The Journey of Matt Foy: Traveling Without Money
10:53 Cultural Sensitivity in Travel
16:38 The Importance of Open-Mindedness in Travel
27:22 Navigating Challenges and Misadventures
35:16 The Journey of Adventure and Storytelling
41:12 From Backpacking to Expeditions
49:05 Finding Authentic Stories and Storytellers
58:33 Microventures and Everyday Adventures
01:03:47 Inheriting a Spirit of Adventure
01:15:01 Wildly Useful Insights and Experiences

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 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

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/

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/