“At home, mindfulness is an app, a tool to fight the noise. In the wild, peace and calm rule by default … Out in the open, my mind is released from the noise. It sways with the trees and flows with the rivers. It blows over snow tipped mountaintops and down into wide sunlit valleys expanding to fill its surroundings. The vistas are bigger, but there is less to know.”

-        Jude Kriwald

Today, we are taking a journey to one of the most remote and underexplored places on the African continent. The Gola Rainforest straddles the border of Liberia and Sierra Leone, and is home to the Kissi, Mende and Gola tribes. To walk through it would be difficult. To try and a ride a bike, would be insane. Nonetheless that is exactly what adventurer Jude Kriwald decided to do.

At 20 years old Jude knew exactly what he wanted to do. He’d just returned from a 13-month trip cycling from England to India, and he wanted more. He wanted to be an adventurer and dedicate his life to pure joy of exploring the world. But slowly, inevitably, that dream faded as life, and career, took over. Ten years passed. His mental health deteriorated. He would lie awake at night wondering how he let is all slip away. 

Until one day, he’d had enough. He flew to Senegal, got on his bike with the plan to spend three-months riding from there to Liberia. But things did not go to plan. 

“Alone and in the wild, I am beautifully weird and joyously free. It's not that my rituals and quirks fit in better, they simply exist, unobserved. The road cares not and the sun shines equally on all. In nature I find reprieve. Alone I find myself.”

FIND OUT MORE

Jude made a short documentary film about this journey, called Alone Across Gola. Find out more and connect with Jude on Instagram @judekriwald, You Tube @judekriwald,

FOLLOW US:

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Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Newsletter: armchair-explorer.com

CONNECT WITH US:

If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you’re reading this on right now. Go on, do it! It helps us grow the show and continue to bring this content to you.

Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar wrote and presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Jason Paton is our lead producer and our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.

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This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

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G’day and good onya! Our Discover Guides are deep dives into new destinations, where we interview experts to get the ‘drum’ on the places they live and love. 

Today we’re excited to share the first of two episodes exploring South Australia, a less-trodden state rich in adventure, wildlife and natural beauty. This two-part series is produced as a road trip through a lesser-known part of Australia filled with natural wonders, wildlife and more than one hilarious Aussie character.

We’ll explore indigenous heritage in Port McDonald, and hear the tale of an ancestral giant sleeping at the bottom of a lake beneath Mt. Gambier. We’ll climb into hidden garden sinkholes, race up sand dunes, and ponder primordial hippo-sized wombats in South Australia’s world heritage site, Naracoorte Caves. Of course we’ll enjoy some of the best wine on earth in Adelaide, before meeting a baby joey and their babysitter on the wildlife haven of Kangaroo Island. 

So fair dinkum, no worries mate it’s time to hit the frog and toad!

Thank you to Down Under Endeavours for partnering with us on this episode - they are the South Australia experts and helped us build this itinerary and connect with the experts featured in the episode. 

And don't miss our sweet promo offering from Down Under Endeavors: $500 off your trip for Armchair Explorer listeners.  

Go to:

https://www.downunderendeavours.com/armchair

Pop in code ARMCHAIR25 to score a discount on your Australian adventure Down Under.

You can find out more and literally book this exact trip, with these exact guides:

https://www.downunderendeavours.com/

Special thanks to our guests:

Simon Meares from Coonawarra Experiences

https://coonawarraexperiences.com.au/

Katina Vangopoulos with Flamboyance Tours in Adelaide

https://flamboyancetours.com.au/

Craig Wickham with Exceptional Kangaroo Island

https://exceptionalkangarooisland.com/

CREDITS

Produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. 

Find out more at https://www.armchair-productions.com/

Jason Paton: writing, recording, mixing, sound design

Aaron Millar: host, writing, executive producer

Mentioned in this episode:

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.

Voyascape Podcast Network

Check out the Smart Travel Podcast

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

Smart Travel Podcast

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef system in the world. Covering an area of 135,000 square miles, it is bigger than the United Kingdom, Holland and Switzerland combined. Lay it out across Europe and it would reach from London to Moscow, making it is the largest living structure in the world and the only one visible from outer space. 

Today, we’re going to the best place in the world to experience it: Tropical North Queensland. And we’re in good company with Dr Eric Fisher, a marine biologist who specializes in the Great Barrier Reef. This is a conversation is about one of the great wonders of the natural world, and what it’s like to see it first-hand. But it’s also about something special that Eric has introduced: Dreamtime Dives.

Most experiences on the reef tell its story from a western viewpoint. Eric has developed a new program where you can explore it from an indigenous perspective too. Guided by Aboriginal Sea Rangers, whose connection to the reef stretches back over 60,000 years, it’s an opportunity to see the reef from a new perspective, and in doing so perhaps learn things about the reef we never knew before. 

FIND OUT MORE

Thanks again to Down Under Endeavours for partnering with us on this episode. They are the Tropical North Queensland experts and helped to connect us with the awesome guest you heard from today. 

If the Great Barrier Reef is on your bucket list, head over to DownUnderEndeavours.com/Armchair to find out how you can see it for yourself. They’ve got lots of great ideas, and you book with them you’ll get $500 off your next trip. It’s a great way to support the show. (and please note my American friends, ‘endeavour’ is spelt the proper British way with a U at the end  )

CONNECT WITH TODAY’S GUEST     

Experience Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel at ReefUnlimited.com

Find out more about Eric’s research and conservation work at gbrbiology.com

If you're into real stories of epic places told by the people who’ve lived them, make sure to subscribe—that way you choose the adventure, not the algorithm. 

Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast

____________________________________________________________________________

Presented by: Aaron Millar

Audio & Sound Design: Charles Tyrie

Produced by: Armchair Productions

Mentioned in this episode:

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.

Voyascape Podcast Network

Check out the Smart Travel Podcast

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

Smart Travel Podcast

Today, we are sharing an episode of Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, the chart-topping and Webby Award-winning podcast from our friends at Nature on PBS. Back for a brand new season, Going Wild features some of the coolest champions of nature – like a former butterfly technician who

In today’s episode, you hear from Nat Geo Explorer-slash-stand-up-comic Ella Al-Shamahi about her research in places where people don’t normally do science like “conflict zones.” Ella’s archeological pursuits are not only informative, but inspiring! 

To listen to the rest of their new season, follow Going Wild with Dr. Rae

Mentioned in this episode:

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.

Voyascape Podcast Network

Check out the Smart Travel Podcast

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

Smart Travel Podcast

Welcome back to the Hidden Trails of Oregon! In the first episode

We're going on location in the traditional lands of the Nez Perce to

Visiting the Nez Perce Homeland and the Tamkaliks Celebration powwow:wallowanezperce.org

Local and cultural history at the Josephy Library:library.josephy.org

Thank you to our guests: Bobbie Conner, Rich Wandschneider,

CREDITS

This series was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Find out more at armchair-productions.com

Brian Thacker: pre production

Charles Tyrie: assistant audio editing

Jason Paton: writing, recording, mixing, sound design

Aaron Millar: host, writing, executive producer

Mentioned in this episode:

Check out the Smart Travel Podcast

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

Smart Travel Podcast

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.

Voyascape Podcast Network

In this episode, we’re heading to the city of Victoria on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. They call this the place where ‘land and sea meet, and cultures converge’. Victoria is a city surrounded by wild nature on all sides, from the tranquil waters of the Salish Sea to the mighty rainforests of Vancouver Island.

Our Discover Guides are deep dives into destinations we love. Think of them like a cross between a traditional radio show and an audio magazine: Fast paced, with multiple guests and different segments from traditional interviews to immersive stories.

Highlights include:

Snorkeling in underwater forests of bull kelp with the Mermaid of the Pacific.

Hearing what it’s like to see orcas and humpback whales in the wild.

Discovering what the tallest totem pole in the world, the narrowest street in North America and a statue with two left feet have in common.

Getting the low-down on our local’s ultimate 48-hour guide to the city —a perfect balance of adventure, culture, and salty sea air.

Find out more

Thanks to TourismVictoria.com for introducing us to our awesome guests, and helping to pull this episode together. Head over there to find out more about everything we talked about on the show, or check out @tourismvictoriabc for more adventure inspiration.

Today’s guests

Alan Bruce from the Pedaler Cycling Tours and Rentals, ThePedaler.ca 

Nik Coutinho from Prince of Whales, PrinceOfWhales.com 

Tess Van Straaten, @TessvanStraaten is the X

Amanda Swiminer from Dakini Tidal Wilds, DakiniTidalWilds.com

🌏 Ready to Explore?If you're into real stories of epic places told by the people who’ve lived them, make sure to subscribe—that way you choose the adventure, not the algorithm. And hey, a follow on socials? That’s like giving us a high-five from across the globe.

📸 Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast📘 Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast

🎙️ Presented by: Aaron Millar 🎚️ Audio & Sound Design: Charles Tyrie🌍 Produced by: Armchair Productions

Mentioned in this episode:

Check out the Smart Travel Podcast

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

Smart Travel Podcast

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.

Voyascape Podcast Network

Every month on Pathways, host Aaron Millar and producer Jason Paton crack open a few stories, play their favorite clips, and take you on a whirlwind preview of what’s coming up this month on Armchair Explorer. It’s part travel hangout, part behind-the-scenes, and a whole lot of part “wait, you did what?”

In this episode, we’re going from the dreamtime waters of the Great Barrier Reef to the quiet strength of Chief Joseph’s legacy in Oregon, from biking hidden streets in Victoria B.C. to walking with kangaroos on remote roads in South Australia. These are stories of culture, nature, and the wild places where the two intertwine.

🌍 Coming Up This Month:

Dreamtime Diving – Tropical North Queensland, Australia

Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef guided by Aboriginal Sea Rangers whose connection to this place stretches back over 60,000 years. Most experiences on the reef explain it from a western scientific viewpoint, here we explore it from an indigenous perspective.

Victoria B.C. Discover Destination Guide – Canada

Victoria, on Vancouver Island British Columbia, is a place where ‘land and sea meet, and cultures converge’. We’re going to meet the Mermaid of the Pacific, discover the tallest totem pole in North America, see whales in the wild, and cap it off with our ultimate 48-hour guide to the city —a perfect balance of adventure, culture, and salty sea air.

Hidden Trails of Oregon – Season 2: Homecoming

This season of Hidden Trails of Oregon takes us to the mountains and rivers of eastern Oregon, homeland of the Nez Perce and confederated tribes of the Umatilla. In this episode we reveal the little-known story of Chief Joseph, and how a promise made more than a century ago may finally be coming true.

🚐 South Australia Road Trip – From Adelaide to the Edge of the  Outback

From baby Joeys on Kangaroo Island and swimming with dolphins on the Eyre Peninsula, to exploring ancient caves and sunken gardens of the Limestone Coast, this two-part series is produced as a road trip through a lesser-known part of Australia filled with natural wonders, wildlife and more than one hilarious Aussie character. 

Alone Across Gola – A Solo Ride Through one of Africa’s most Remote Rainforests

In Alone Across Gola, adventurer Jude Kriwald cycles solo through Liberia’s barely crossed Gola Rainforest, confronting extreme physical and mental challenges along the way. This is a story about cultures converging, extreme endurance, and the courage it takes to chase your wildest travel dreams.

🌏 Ready to Explore?If you're into real stories of epic places told by the people who’ve lived them, make sure to subscribe—that way you choose the adventure, not the algorithm. 

📸 Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast📘 Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar and Jason Paton presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Check out the Smart Travel Podcast

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

Smart Travel Podcast

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.

Voyascape Podcast Network

Today we are taking a journey to the arctic circle, in  the far north of the American continent. This is a story about climbing, and surviving, one of the tallest mountains on Earth. It’s about paddling through the most remote national park in America, the Gates of the Arctic; and it’s about finding wonder and hope in places where that hope is nearly lost. 

Taking us on this journey is mountaineer, writer and arctic explorer Jon Waterman. From his winter ascent of the Denali’s Cassin Ridge, the first person to do this extremely dangerous climb, to his expedition on the Noatak River, in Alaska, which sparked a lifelong love affair with Arctic, Jon’s poetic descriptions, and nail-biting storytelling, will immerse you in the beauty and danger of the far north, and what it might take to save it.

Highlights of Shadow of Denali Into the Thaw:

Feeling what it’s like to stand on the top of America’s tallest mountain in winter, and the cost it took to get there.

Exploring the ‘hallucinogenic’  beauty of Gates of the Arctic National Park, in Alaska - America’s most remote national park.

Discovering what it takes to paddle the Northwest Passage solo, a 2,200-mile journey across the roof of the American continent.

Hearing the story of Maniilaq, the innuit prophet of the 1800s, who predicted the missionaries, mining and famine that would come to his people. 

Listening to Jon’s final journey Into the Thaw to document the changes of the last 40yrs, and how he found hope among the people who have lived there since time immemorial.

FIND OUT MORE

Jon’s latest book is called Into the Thaw: Discovering Wonder Amid the Arctic Climate Crisis, published by Patagonia Books. This collection of short stories, and essays, is beautifully written and photographed. It’s a book for your collection, or a coffee table, and a joy to dip into when you’re dreaming of your next adventure. 

Find out more about this book, as well as his other books, including In the Shadow of Denali, at: jonathanwaterman.com, or search it up on Patagonia.com.

FOLLOW US:

Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Newsletter: armchair-explorer.com

CONNECT WITH US:

If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you’re reading this on right now. Go on, do it! It helps us grow the show, and continue to bring this content to you.

Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar wrote and presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Jason Paton is our lead producer and our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mentioned in this episode:

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.

Voyascape Podcast Network

Check out the Smart Travel Podcast

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

Smart Travel Podcast

In this episode, we’re heading deep into the wilds of Tropical North Queensland, Australia—where the oldest rainforest in the world meets the greatest reef on the planet. We’ll be connecting with an Aboriginal guide to learn indigenous perspectives on the land; doing something called ‘River Drifting’ through the ancient forests of Daintree; seeing the Great Barrier Reef from the sky and under the waves, and lots more.

Our Discover Guides are deep dives into destinations we love. Think of them like a cross between a traditional radio show and an audio magazine: fast paced, with multiple guests and different segments from traditional interviews to immersive stories. 

Highlights include:

Find out more:

Thanks to Down Under Endeavours for partnering with us on this episode. They are the Tropical North Queensland experts and helped us build this itinerary and connect with all the awesome guests we’ve heard from today. 

Go to downunderendeavours.com/armchair to get $500 off your next trip! 

Connecting with our partners helps support the show. If you’re looking for some adventure inspiration, check out what they do. They have some amazing adventures to dream about for your next big trip!

Today’s guests:

Jeff Cameron-Smith from https://downundercruiseanddive.com.au/

Jason Heffernan from https://backcountrybliss.com.au/

Juan Walker from https://walkaboutadventures.com.au/

Andrea Bretts from https://www.outbacktastingtours.com.au/

🌏 Ready to Explore?

If you're into real stories of epic places told by the people who’ve lived them, make sure to subscribe—that way you choose the adventure, not the algorithm. And hey, a follow on socials? That’s like giving us a high-five from across the globe.

📸 Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast

📘 Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast

____________________________________________________________________________

🎙️ Presented by: Aaron Millar

🎚️ Audio & Sound Design: Charles Tyrie

🌍 Produced by: Armchair Productions

Mentioned in this episode:

Check out the Smart Travel Podcast

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

Smart Travel Podcast

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.

Voyascape Podcast Network

This is your monthly guide to the world’s wildest travel stories – one adventure at a time.

Every month on Pathways, host Aaron Millar and producer Jason Paton crack open a few stories, play their favorite clips, and take you on a whirlwind preview of what’s coming up on Armchair Explorer. It’s part travel hangout, part behind-the-scenes, part “wait, you did what?”—and all of it is designed to help you find your next great escape.

This month, we’re going deep. Deep into the world’s oldest rainforest. Deep into the soul of South Australia. And deep into the heart of America’s wildest frontier with one of the great explorers of our time.

🌍 Coming Up This Month:

🌿 DISCOVER | Tropical North Queensland

This episode takes us to Tropical North Queensland—home to two of the most unique ecosystems on the planet: the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. We join an Aboriginal guide on a walkabout tour, drift quietly down jungle rivers and explore the reef’s vibrant underwater world. It’s a journey that blends nature, culture, and connection—with a few surprises along the way.

🦘 EXPLORE | South Australia

In this episode, we explore Kangaroo Island, where wildlife roams free and the wine flows easy. We'll explore the wild beauty of the Limestone Coast, go behind the scenes in Adelaide, and discover why South Australia might just be the country’s best-kept secret. Think rugged cliffs, artisan vineyards, and a vibe that feels like the edge of the world—but somehow right at home.

❄️ ADVENTURE | Jon Waterman – Into the Thaw

Based on his epic books Shadow of Denali and Into the Thaw, we take a deep dive into the journeys of Jon Waterman—one of the most intrepid explorers of North America. From near-death climbs on Denali to Arctic expeditions across melting ice, Jon’s stories are raw, real, and radically human. This one’s for the wild-hearted.

🌏 Ready to Explore?

If you're into real stories of epic places told by the people who’ve lived them, make sure to subscribe—that way you choose the adventure, not the algorithm. And hey, a follow on socials? That’s like giving us a high-five from across the globe.

📸 Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast

📘 Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast

🎙️ Presented by: Aaron Millar & Jason Paton

🎚️ Audio & Sound Design: Charles Tyrie

🎶 Theme Music: Sweet Chap

🌍 Produced by: Armchair Productions

Mentioned in this episode:

Check out the Smart Travel Podcast

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:

Smart Travel Podcast

Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world

This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.

Voyascape Podcast Network