I don’t know if you are anything like me, but I absolutely LOVE listening to podcasts. The format is uniquely situated to fit into our busy lives, allowing us to multi-task. When i’m cycling, running or hiking, I can pop on a podcast and be inspired, motivated, entertained and educated, or even just pass the time on a long road trip. Podcasts are also fantastic for finding community, the second you tap “subscribe” on a podcast series is the second you immerse yourself into a community of like-minded listeners.
There’s no shortage of marvellous podcasts out there at the moment, but stumbling across them in and amongst all of the options, and finding topics you’re interested in can be a little overwhelming.
In addition, adventure can mean different things to different people. For some it can mean traveling to exotic places, experiencing new cultures and foods. For others it’s ‘roughing it’ wild camping in the rain. Taking a leap of faith, leaving behind your well payed but unfullfiling job and embarking on a new career as a travel photographer, could also been seen as a grand adventure! I have therefore picked quite a varied collection, from podcasts that delve into super human feats of endurance and world firsts, through to podcast that give you tips and tricks of how to make the most of your weekends in your local hills, in the hope that there is something for everyone.
Here are 30 adventure based podcasts to get you started. Scroll down and see if there a couple you haven’t tried yet!
In no particular order;
1.The Tough Girl Podcast (UK)
Tough Girl is a weekly interview-style podcast that is full to the brim of inspiring stories of women overcoming great challenges. From first time adventurers to world-class Olympians, there is something here for everyone. As well as wonderful life stories, each episode is full of advice and essential tips for you to overcome your own personal challenges. There are hundreds of episodes and I think I have listened to them all. They are my ‘go-to’ when I’m training. I have also been lucky enough to have featured on the podcasts three times.
2.The Rich Roll Podcast (US)
Okay, so this isn’t strictly an adventure podcast, but I had to included it as it’s my absolute favourite podcast. With over 75 million downloads, this is one of the world’s most acclaimed podcasts. Each week Rich delves deep into all things wellness with some of the brightest and most forward-thinking minds in health, fitness, nutrition, entrepreneurship & spirituality. They are not interviews, but rather Intimate, deep and often intense conversations. If you want to dive into some ‘adventure’ based episodes, I would recommend starting with Kilian Jornet, Ross Edgley, Mel Urie and Dean Karnazes.
3.Terra Incognita (UK)
Terra Incognita brings you the very best storytellers to share their incredible adventures and you’ll be hooked on this podcast after just one episode. From treetop explorers to commando snipers, undercover journalists to pioneering climbers, Terra Incognita celebrates the extraordinary lives of adventurers. The podcast is a mixture of short ‘dispatches’, which are usually under 20 minutes, to the longer features which are around an hour long.
4.Living Adventurously (UK)
Living Adventurously, with Alastair Humphreys, is the story of ordinary people choosing to live extraordinary lives. Over the course of a month-long cycling journey, Alastair interviewed artists and chefs, students and pensioners, athletes and travellers. He wanted to discover what living adventurously means to different people, what universal obstacles stand in the way, and how each of these people took the first step to overcome them and begin their own fascinating journeys.
5.The Outdoor Station (UK)
The Outdoors Station is the worlds longest running outdoors podcast and has over 500 episodes to date for you to catch up on. It’s a podcast for the adventurer, the long distance hiker, the backpacker, the camper, in fact anyone seeking an independent life in the outdoors as a self powered traveler. Bob’s chats about kit and gear, as well as conversations with hundreds of interesting guests with stories of adventure to tell.
6.Further. Faster. Podcast (UK)
The ‘Further.Faster. Podcast’ from Montane interviews athletes, explorers and adventurers from around the world, asking them how they do what they do. Each month they speak to different athletes, race organisers and experts from across the world to explore their motivations and what drives them to attempt such intimidating activities in the most extreme environments.
7.The Cycling Podcast – Explore (UK)
The Cycling Podcast has extended its Explore mini series to be a monthly feature within its main content. Explore will look at the world of bikepacking, endurance and ultra-endurance riding. Hosted by Lionel Birnie and Hannah Troop, with regular contributions from former Team Sky and Katusha-Alpecin pro rider Ian Boswell, Explore will cover everything from the hardest of the hardcore, to gravel racing, to adventures that simply enable a rider to see the world on two wheels.
8.Outside Podcast (US)
If you’re a fan Outside Magazine or Outside Online, this one’s for you. They cover pretty broad topics related to outdoor survival and expert interviews about nature, science, and outdoor sports. Across a range of story formats, including interviews with the biggest figures in sports, adventure, and politics, as well as reports from their experts in the field.
9.The Adventure Podcast (US)
The Adventure Podcast is a bit of a geekfest and is where you can find out the latest news on all the big expeditions that are happening, particularly in the polar and mountaineering world. In addition, this weekly show talks about the latest gear innovations and include interviews with athletes in the outdoor space.
10.How To Be SuperHuman (UK)
Have you ever wondered what it really takes to travel to the very limits of human endurance? To do things most mortals couldn’t even dream of? To become superhuman? Red Bull’s new podcast sets out to examine exactly that. Every Monday, host Rob Pope speaks to athletes who have undertaken seemingly superhuman feats of endurance.
11.Ordnance Survey’s Get Outside Podcast (UK)
Ordnance Survey GetOutside inspires everyone to do more outdoors. From a walk with the children around your local park to expeditions or adventures with family and friends, you’ll find guides to get you started, routes to try and inspiration from outdoors enthusiasts. GetOutside transports you to the heart of the high hills, the moors and the shores, each edition includes some simple steps to help make those outdoors dreams a reality.
12.The Outdoors Fix (UK)
The host of the Outdoors Fix, Liv Bolton, walked 1300km of New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail and then returned to the UK on a mission to help you make adventure a bigger part of your life. The Outdoors Fix will bring you In a series of interviews with people who have changed their lives to get outdoors more and their stories and tips can help listeners do the same! There’s also practical advice about hiking, cycling, wild swimming, landscape photography to get stuck into too.
13.Wild Ideas Worth Living (US)
Conversations with people who took the path less travelled and brought their wildest ideas to life. Host and journalist Shelby Stanger interviews world-class explorers, athletes, authors, scientists, health experts, and entrepreneurs about how they’ve taken their own wild ideas and made them a reality, so you can too. Some of the wildest ideas can lead to the most rewarding adventures. Take a listen to start living more wildly today.
14.Looking Sideways (UK)
Presented by Matt Barr, Looking Sideways is a podcast about the best stories in skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, and other related action sport endeavours. It’s about digging a little deeper. Each episode seeks to unearth the most distinctive viewpoints in action sports and find stories that may have slipped under the radar.
15.Why In The World (UK)
People are extraordinary, but why do they do the things they do? Ben Sheppard speaks to inspiring individuals who live a life of adventure!? New episodes every other Wednesday
16.The Sharp End (US)
This is for the climbers and the mountaineers amongst us. Each month, the Sharp End brings to life stories from the pages of Accidents in North American Climbing, which focuses on a serious accident in the outdoors. Host Ashley Saupe interviews the climbers, skiers, and rescuers involved in the life-threatening incidents and shares their lessons, helping all of us become safer climbers.
17.MTN Meister (US)
MtnMeister explores the extremes of human endurance, emotion and intellect. Why is it important to step outside of our comfort zone? How do we weigh risk vs. reward? What impact does human behaviour have on our decision making? They explore these ideas by talking with those who have found answers in the extremes. Host, Ben Schenck, asks thought-provoking and sometimes uncomfortable questions that you won’t hear in a typical interview. Notable guests include Alex Honnold, Sasha DiGiulian, Ueli Steck, Jeremy Jones, Lynn Hill, Conrad Anker, Aaron Gwin and other adventurers in climbing, skiing, hiking, biking, and everything else in the mountains.
18.Wander Woman (UK)
The Wander Woman Podcast is a little different to your typical podcast as its more of an audio magazine that tells the tales from behind the scenes on her adventures as a travel writer. Join her life on the road where she takes you to off-the-beaten track places, reveals wild spaces in unlikely destinations, discovers the world’s best wildlife encounters, tests gear to the limit and meets the unsung heroes behind conservation efforts and grills a travel celebrity.
19.The Travel Diaries (UK)
The Travel Diaries is a weekly interview series where entertainment and travel journalist Holly Rubenstein chats to a special guest about the travel experiences that have shaped their lives and their adventures around the world. Be transported to exotic and far-flung places as Holly and her diverse range of guests from across the arts and world of travel, take you on a journey through the eight key chapters of their life’s travel diaries, from their earliest childhood travel memory and the first place they fell in love with; to their all-time favourite destination, their hidden gem recommendation and what’s at the top of their bucket list. It’s wanderlust guaranteed!
20.Self Propelled (UK)
Self Propelled is a podcast that explores the process of turning ideas into reality, and the secrets behind keeping up momentum once you’ve started. Join host Dave Cornthwaite for stories and conversations with self starters, athletes and entrepreneurs who need nothing more than a good idea to add fuel to that pilot light burning deep within us all.
21.The Adventure Stache (US)
Professional mountain biker Payson McElveen sits down with some of the biggest names in sports and adventure to get an inside look at what sets them apart. With no script, the casual conversations are as diverse as the guests, with topics ranging from harrowing tales of survival, to debates on current events, to everyday tips and tricks and everything in between. As Payson travels the world for his two-wheeled day job, listen in as he rubs shoulders with and learns from some of the most inspiring athletes, entrepreneurs, academics, and others as they chase and inspire greatness.
22.Sparta Chicks (AUS)
How do you find the courage and bravery you need to chase your dreams? This is the question host, Jen Brown, explores in the weekly podcast, Sparta Chicks Radio. Her goal is to share inspiring stories coupled with practical, tried-and-tested-in-the-real-world advice from professional athletes, everyday women chasing their dreams to successful women from all walks of life.
23.The Adventure Sports Podcast (US)
The Adventure Sports Podcast is an in-depth interview into the lives of adventure sports enthusiasts around the globe. You’ll hear from outfitters, guides, instructors, authors and many more who live their lives to the fullest. There are now over 600 episodes!!
24.Zero to Travel (US)
Do you want to learn how to travel the world for as long as you desire, on your terms while spending less money? Whether you’re a travel newbie dying to figure out how to explore the world, an occasional traveller longing to make your holiday every day, or an experienced globetrotter seeking unique ways to keep travelling full time, you’re in the right place. Travel expert Jason Moore from ZeroToTravel.com chats with adventurous people living life on the road so you can discover new ways to travel endlessly. Jason and his guests share insanely actionable advice and key resources, getting down and dirty on topics like; starting and running an online business from anywhere, travel and work opportunities, gutsy budget travel strategies, surprising ways to earn free travel, the digital nomad life, unconventional travel-based lifestyles, fun travel jobs, how to plan epic adventures, backpacking, 4 hours workweek inspired topics, and everything in between.
25.Billy Yang Podcast (US)
Join podcaster & filmmaker Billy Yang as he sits down for one-on-one conversations with some of the most prolific and rising athletes, creatives, entrepreneurs and many others on what drives and inspires them. Although this podcast is predominately ultra-running based, and I’m not really a runner, I still find them super interesting and inspiring.
26.Armchair Explorer (UK)
The world’s greatest adventurers tell their best story from the road. Each episode is cut documentary style and set to music and cinematic effects to create an immersive storytelling experience. No long-winded interviews, just straight to the heart of the action.
27.G.O Get Outside (US)
This Podcast is a radio-style interview show for people who want to spend more time outdoors. Each episode of G.O. delves into the outdoor lifestyle of some everyday person who probably has more in common with you than you think.
28.The Stokecast (US)
Every week hosts Jonathan Ronzio and Emily Holland chat with the outdoor industry’s top athletes, adventurers, entrepreneurs, and activists about how they build their lifestyles, careers, and businesses while in pursuit of adventure and purpose.
29.The Wild Podcast (NZ)
The Wild Podcast is slightly different from the other podcasts in this list due to the fact that it’s a New Zealand based show. However, it’s such a great podcast that it’s definitely worth including. Expect interviews with some of NZ’s most interesting adventurers and athletes who love nothing more than to explore wild places.
30.The Dirtbag Diaries (US)
This is what adventure sounds like. Climb. Ski. Hike. Bike. Paddle. Run. Travel. Whatever your passion, we are all dirtbags. Outdoor writer Fitz Cahall and the Duct Tape Then Beer team present stories about the dreamers, athletes and wanderers.
What are the best outdoor adventure podcasts that you listen to? Have you got any suggestions for more for me to try? Leave a comment below if you do as I’m always looking for new content to listen to and share.
Feel free to ask me any questions, happy to help where I can.
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