Wild Chats with Ben Southall

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/

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/

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/