Apes on Tape

Fred and Benji catch up on the beautiful chaos of life’s latest chapters.

Benji shares the joy and hustle of working on his place in Portugal and pulling off a heartfelt birthday surprise for Roz.

Fred reflects on the emotional rollercoaster of moving house — the clarity that comes with decluttering, the stress of letting go, and the strange peace found in downsizing.

Benji encourages Fred to open up about his recent mushroom ceremony, the difficulty of holding space for himself, and what it taught him about showing up — especially as a son.

With trademark honesty and a lot of laughter, they both share ongoing battles with procrastination and motivation.

In this episode of Apes on Tape, Fred and Benji dive into some big life changes and deep conversations. Fred talks about moving into a new place, the challenges of downsizing, and how minimalism takes on a whole new dimension when you have a disability. Meanwhile, Benji reflects on his gratitude for becoming a Portuguese resident.

They also revisit a listener’s message about God—someone who found a similar sense of meaning in spirituality that Fred and Benji often discuss through the lens of psychedelics. This sparks an honest conversation about why religious language can feel so loaded, the similarities between mystical experiences and faith, and how to stay open to different perspectives without feeling like you’re being preached to.

It’s a thought-provoking, laid-back chat with plenty of insights, laughter, and a few existential tangents.

It's NYE 2025 and Benji takes us on a wild ride through his Ayahuasca ceremony, sharing the highs, the lows, and everything in between. It’s a hilarious and captivating story that sparks plenty of laughs and some surprising parallels to past psychedelic experiences. Before that, Fred opens up about his insecurities meeting his girlfriend’s parents for the first time—navigating language barriers, snowy terrain, and the unspoken worries that come with being a wheelchair user. A fun and engaging episode full of deep chats and good humor.

patreon.com/freddothewheelchairguy

Embracing hair loss, buying shipping containers and the secret to being festive this Christmas.

patreon.com/FreddoTheWheelchairGuy

Free Christmas Cards :

https://buymeacoffee.com/freddosmith/e/50076

Try Waking Up for free with a 30-day guest pass:

https://dynamic.wakingup.com/guestpass/SC20FE1A9

Fred and Benji dive into the highs and lows of life, from Benji’s recent quiet wedding to Fred’s ongoing struggle with phone addiction. They discuss how unmet expectations—whether on psychedelics or in daily routines—can spark deep dissatisfaction. With honesty and humor, they explore the impact of manifesting life goals, the courage to change bad habits, and how sometimes support from a friend makes all the difference.

After a summer filled with fun and his recent engagement to his fiancée, Benji is finding it hard to adjust to having a long distance relationship, experiencing the post-summer blues and grappling with feelings of purpose and meaning. 

Freddo provides a supportive space and shares his own difficulties of maintaining healthy habits when in a funk, and how knowing the right things to do doesn’t always make it easier. 

Check out WHEEL TALK for weekly updates with Freddo and Brittney : https://open.spotify.com/episode/4H2rKDpMcGuzTOIpVp7SjY?si=Gskh4R5pSIqdDY9P4ca0uQ

In this heartwarming episode, we celebrate Benji's recent engagement. The first half of the conversation is all about the love story of Benji and Roz —how he knew she was the one, the details of his proposal, and the unforgettable moment they got engaged. It’s a beautiful and uplifting discussion about love and commitment.

As the episode wraps up, Freddo opens up about feelings of envy, and Benji offers some thoughtful advice on navigating life’s uncertainties. He asks a few powerful questions that help steer the ship when you’re feeling a bit lost, reminding us all that the journey is just as important as the destination.

Check out WHEEL TALK the new podcast from Freddo and his pal Brittney:

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3N2HfITEwH3qsbzn90MRjb?si=623a55799b854f1a

Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/wheel-talk/id1761903063

Ready for something fresh and inspiring? Tune into WHEEL TALK, the new podcast that’s all about real stories, raw conversations, and the journey of life from a whole new perspective. Whether you’re seeking insight, laughter, or a bit of both, Wheel Talk has it all. Click the link and don’t miss out on the ride!

Hello, dear listeners! I'm thrilled to introduce you to my friend Matt Barker. On a recent trip to Southampton for my nephew's wedding, I had the pleasure of staying with Matt and his wonderful wife Becky for four days. 

During my stay, Matt and I recorded an informal chat, where we reminisced about our favourite teachers, discussed the nuances of people-pleasing, and shared some of our proudest moments. Spoiler alert: Matt once heroically saved babies from a burning building! 

I also shared a emotional story about my my mums diagnosis of early stage dementia and how it has affected us as family.

I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording it!

Get in touch - [email protected]

FB - Freddo Smith

Mark Holland didn’t realise that this would be the last time he’d ever ride his beloved bike.

Mark was on a mountain bike holiday with his friends in Morzine when tragedy struck 

The accident was bad and diagnosis was dire. It’s tough being told you’ll never walk again. 

Find out more about the events of that fateful day, as they unfolded. Mark talks of his journey from then until now with raw honesty. Discover the driving forces behind his optimism, his reflections on Stoke Mandeville rehab centre, as well as his best advice for someone new to life with a spinal cord injury.