In today’s episode, we’re joined by Rob Pope, the first person in the world to complete the legendary run made famous by one of Hollywood’s most beloved characters – Forrest Gump. Yes, you heard that right. Rob took on the challenge of following Forrest’s route mile by mile, crossing the country not once, but FIVE times. That’s like running from the North Pole to the South Pole, and then some.

But this story isn’t just about physical endurance. Rob’s journey is breaking down emotional walls, and embracing the call of adventure. You’ll hear how it all began with a promise to his mom, how he embraced the ups and downs of the journey, and the life lessons learned along the way.

Shoutouts:

Support the Podcast:

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

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Follow best-selling travel author Brian Thacker on a unique, mad-cap adventure to three of the remotest countries on Earth. Inspired by the intrepid spirit of explorers of old, Brian decided to tear up the guidebook, switch off the phone and turn up to a country knowing absolutely nothing about it in advance.

He picked three countries at random: the east African country of Togo, the South Pacific islands of Wallis & Futuna and the Central Asian mountains of Kyrgyzstan. He boarded the plane with absolutely no clue of the language, culture, where to stay or what to see. He was simply rolling the dice and letting the universe decide what kind of trip he would have. 

Like his heroes of the golden age of exploration, when much of the world was still undiscovered and no one knew what wonders awaited beyond the horizon, Brian was taking a step into the unknown.

But, unlike those legends of adventure, Brian’s just an ordinary bloke. He wouldn’t be risking his life searching for lost tribes in the Amazon or crossing deadly deserts, he was just traveling, like all of us do, in search of good times, new experiences and the pure joy of exploring this amazing planet. 

Brian’s story inspires all of us that we needn’t be extreme adventurers to be real explorers, we just need to tear up the guidebook, turn off your phone and step into the unknown.

CONNECT WITH BRIAN

Brian’s book of this story if called ‘Where’s Wallis: Travels Without a Guidebook’, you can find out more about that and all Brian’s other books at www.brianthacker.tv. Instagram: @bthacker

Brian writes and presents a bunch of our other podcasts, if you enjoyed this one check out The Travel South Dakota Stories podcast. Scroll back and look for the episodes about Palm Springs too!

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 means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed. 

Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma!

Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Instagram: @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. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap.

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

At the start of every month, host Aaron Millar and producer Jason Paton preview what’s coming up on Armchair Explorer, play their favorite clips, and reveal the stories they’re most excited to share.

A cross between a highlight reel, an interview, and two people telling travel tales down the pub, our Pathways episodes are your guide to choosing your adventures with us.

MARCH EPISODES

ADVENTURE: No Guidebook, No Google, No Clue: Togo, Wallis and Kyrgyzstan with Best-Selling Travel Author Brian Thacker

We follow best-selling travel author Brian Thacker on a unique, mad-cap adventure to three of the remotest countries on Earth: Togo, East Africa; Wallis & Futuna, in the South Pacific; and the Central Asian mountains of Kyrgyzstan. Inspired by the intrepid spirit of explorers of old, Brian decided to tear up the guidebook, throw away the phone and turn up to a country knowing absolutely nothing about it in advance. 

IMMERSION: Homecoming: Chief Joseph’s Promise and the Flight of the Nez Perce

We go on location to the traditional lands of the Nez Perce, in eastern Oregon, to uncover a piece of history unknown to most outsiders. In the late 19th century, the Wallowa Band of the Nez Perce tribe were driven from their homeland. 200 warriors, protecting hundreds more women and children, fought for five days against 520 US soldiers. Their leader, before surrendering, promised his people that one day they would come home. After nearly 200 years, his promise may just be starting to come true.

BUCKET LIST: Whale Watching in Victoria, B.C.

We go to the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada for a bucket list adventure spotting humpback and orca whales. Victoria is one of the best places in North America for whale watching and Nik Coutino, a local guide and expert, shares his best experiences, all set to immersive music and sound design.

ADVENTURE: Becoming Forrest with Ultra Runner Rob Pope

15,600 miles, 422 days, and 2 boxes of chocolates, Rob Pope tells the story of his epic journey retracing the exact run that Forrest Gump did in the movie. It’s a really fun story, Rob is a hilarious guy, but it’s also incredibly inspiring. Before she passed away Rob’s mum told him to do one thing in his life that truly makes a difference, and boy did he do it. 

Rob is also the host of the Red Bull podcast How to be Superhuman – we shared the first episode of their 3rd series last month. If you missed it, check it out. It’s awesome.

***

If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you’re reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed. 

Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma!

Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Instagram: @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. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap.

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

“I came face to face with grizzly bears. I had to befriend drug lords. I saw two people shot dead. I witnessed a guy trying to kill his wife with five gunshots. I crossed the tallest mountains in the world. I had to swim rivers with horses. I was lost in deserts and nothing, absolutely nothing, brought me more pain and heartache and stress than man made lines drawn across a map.” – Filipe Masetti

A Long Rider is someone who has ridden a horse more than 1,000 continuous miles on a single equestrian journey. Only a handful of people in history have had the skills, and determination, to make it. Filipe Masseti is one of them. 

This is the story of one of the greatest long rides in modern times: two years, ten countries, three amazing horses and 10,000 miles of adventure from Canada all the way to Brazil. 

Get ready for Filipe Masetti’s long ride home …

THE LONG RIDER

If you enjoy this episode, you will love Filipe’s documentary about the trip. It’s beautifully shot, and packed full of adventure, insight, and inspiration. 

The Long Rider - Check it out on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Long-Rider-Sean-Cisterna/dp/B0B643V4R8

Filipe has also three books about this journey, and the two that followed. It’s called the Journey America Trilogy. The story of this book, the first in the series, is called Long Ride Home. 

FOLLOW FILIPE

You Tube: @felipemasetti

Instagram: @felipemasetti

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 means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than let the algorithm guess (wrongly) and miss out on our weekly content.

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

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

As soon as they walked into the barracks at Fort Sisseton, they were handed muskets - heavy Springfield 63s from the Civil war era - given a uniform and told to march. 

Presenter Brian Thacker and producer Jason Paton thought they were just covering the annual Sisseton historical festival, in South Dakota, as spectators. 

Turns out they were getting enlisted in the army. The Union Army that is. 

Join us as we march back in time today to 1864 where cavalry, artillery and infantry reenactors come together each year to bring this piece of history to life with period accurate food and music, military demonstrations, dances and much more. Including a few ghosts in a haunted old hospital where they had to spend the night. 

Thank you to everyone who featured in this episode:

-  Ali Tonsfeldt from Fort Sisseton

-  Captain Bruce Bekkering and Amy from the Cavalry troop

-  Captain Kevin Ganz and the rest of the 13th Sioux Falls regiment

If you feel like joining the Union Army at Fort Sisseton next year, you can. Find out more at www.travelsouthdakota.com

If you enjoyed this episode, check out the full series on the Travel South Dakota Stories podcast

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Brian Thacker wrote and presented the episode, Jason Paton did the field recording and audio production. www.armchair-productions.com

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

Abdullah Zeinab’s epic Rhino Run adventure crossing South Africa and Namibia redefines what’s possible in endurance cycling. Unsupported and unforgiving, this grueling 1,700-mile ultra-cycling race put his mental strength, grit and resilience to the ultimate test through breathtaking but brutal landscapes – where a tiny detail, like a tiny screw, made a world of difference.

This special feed drop episode is taken from Red Bull’s podcast How To Be Superhuman. If you like this episode, you’re going to love the full series.

How To Be Superhuman is about pushing the limits of human potential, from conquering terrifying climbs and kayaking down jaw-dropping waterfalls to swimming the world’s longest rivers, running through uncharted mountain kingdoms, and embarking on solo expeditions to the most remote corners of the globe. In each episode, host Rob Pope and the athlete dive into the physical and mental resilience behind these awe-inspiring feats, offering immersive storytelling and insights into overcoming the world’s greatest challenges. 

Check it out, where you listen to podcasts! 

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

redbull.com

Follow Abdullah on Instagram

Head to instagram.com/redbulladventure for more superhuman content

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

“Those are my heroes, those guys paved the way for me to be able to travel through this country, free, and they're almost superhuman to me.”  

      - Erick Cedeño, Bicycle Nomad

In 2013, Erick Cedeño, aka. Bicycle Nomad, came across an old photograph that changed his life. Taken in 1897, it showed 20 black soldiers riding bicycles across the American West. As he dug deeper, he learned that these were the Buffalo Soldiers, an all-black infantry regiment formed after the civil war. The photo was taken during a grueling 1,900-mile journey, in which they traveled by bike from Montana to Missouri in order to test the efficacy of the bicycle as a form of military transport. To this day, it is one of the most difficult bike trips ever undertaken.

As a black man, growing up in America, Erick had never seen people that looked like him riding bikes. It changed his life, and he knew he had to bring their story back to life. But he did it not by telling it, but by living it - pedaling every mile that they did, sleeping where they slept, eating where they ate, taking the hard roads where modern paved highways do not go. And in doing so he invites us to live it too.

“Curiosity drives me. It fuels my insatiable desire to know what’s beyond the next bend of the road, to discover what’s there beyond the edges of the map. If it is my muscles that propel me forward physically, it is curiosity that propels me mentally.”

FIND ERICK CEDEÑO

Follow all Erick’s adventures at iambicyclenomad.com, Instagram: @bicycle_nomad, and Facebook:@bicyclenomad

SOCIAL

If you enjoy this show, please take a minute to leave a review, it makes a huge difference and enables us to keep brining these stories to you. Remember also to subscribe to the podcast wherever you're listening, follow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook, check out Armchair Explorer's website, and learn more about our network partner, APT Podcast Studios, on their website.

CREDITS

This episode was produced by Armchair Productions. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com. Jenny Allison wrote and produced this episode, along with host and producer Aaron Millar. Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Theme music written by the artist Sweet Chap.

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

At the start of every month, host Aaron Millar and producer Jason Paton preview what’s coming up on Armchair Explorer, play their favorite clips, and reveal the stories they’re most excited to share.

A cross between a highlight reel, an interview, and two people telling travel tales down the pub, our Pathways episodes are your guide to choosing your adventures with us.

February episodes:

ADVENTURE: Long Rider Filipe Masetti takes us on a two-and-a-half-year journey riding his horse from Canada, where he emigrated, to his home in Brazil. Making friends with the cartel, hiding out from gun shots, becoming a local hero, and finding the love of his life. @filipemasetti

RED BULL RHINO RUN: We’ve partnered with Red Bull’s How to be a Superhuman podcast to bring you the first episode of their new series. In it, we follow extreme endurance rider Abdullah Zeinab on the Rhino Run, a 1,700-mile bike packing race across South Africa and Namibia, one of the hardest rides in the world. Check out the full series, it’s awesome: How to be a Superhuman.

IMMERSION: Producer Jason Paton and presenter Brian Thacker get unwittingly drafted into the Union Army for A civil war re-enactment in front of thousands of people. They survive hours of marching drills, musket firing lessons and a spooky stay in the old hospital. Part of our Travel South Dakota Stories series.

JOURNEY: To celebrate Black History Month, we’re bringing back one of our all-time favorite episodes. Eric Cedeño, aka the Bicycle Nomad, rides 1,900-miles from Montana to Missouri to recreate a journey taken by the 1897 all-black infantry unit known as the ‘Buffalo Soldiers’. @bicycle_nomad

***

If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you’re reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed. 

Reviewing the show helps other people discover it and helps us continue to produce it. If you like episode, please consider a quick review on your favorite podcast platform. You don’t have to write anything just click those five (hopefully) stars!

Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma!

Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Instagram: @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. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap.

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

In this episode, we dive into the soul of Ontario’s wild, tranquil landscapes alongside award-winning travel writer and photographer Alex Robinson. 

From serene canoe journeys gliding through Algonquin Provincial Park to exhilarating white-water escapades on the Madawaska River, this journey is an invitation to immerse yourself in the pristine waterways of the Canadian wilderness, and discover the heritage of its first form of transport. 

Episode Highlights:

Paddle through Algonquin Provincial Park where stunning birch and maple forests offer a perfect sanctuary from urban life.

Discover the Sacred Tradition of the Canoe, from its deep-rooted significance to Indigenous peoples to its pivotal role in shaping Canada’s cultural identity.

Feel the Thrill of White-Water Canoeing, navigating the fierce currents and swirling rapids of the Madawaska River.

Connect to Nature as Alex’s evocative storytelling immerses you in the sounds and spirit of the Canadian wilderness.

How You Can Do This Trip

Alex’s canoeing adventure in Ontario is an experience you can have too. For more details on how to plan your own journey, drop Aaron a line on instagram or via the website. You can also check out Travel.DestinationCanada.com for more ideas.

Connect with Alex

Follow Alex on Instagram to check out his award-winning photography, including shots of this trip: @alexrobinsonphotography 

JRNY Magazine

This story was inspired by an article Alex wrote for JRNY Magazine. Find more of their content at jrnymag.com 

Connect with Us

Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Website: armchair-explorer.com

Support the Show:

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the show. It helps others discover Armchair Explorer and lets us continue to share more of these incredible stories with you!

Credits:

Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar is the writer and presenter, with audio editing and sound design by Charles Tyrie. Our theme music is by Sweet Chap. 

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

St. Patrick might be the most famous of the Irish saints...but he's far from the most interesting.

In 2023, St. Brigid’s Day was decreed a National Holiday in Ireland to honor Brigid. Over the millennia, this legendary woman has evolved into a figure encompassing myth, holy legend, pagan icon, and now modern feminist symbol.

But who was Brigid, really? To answer that question, travel writer Nicola Brady set off around Ireland to see how she’s celebrated, and she found that there’s not one simple answer. Because, as with everything in Ireland, you never know quite what’s around the corner.

Listen for a story that takes you into forests and through time, from the windswept hills of Downpatrick to ancient cathedrals of Kildare. And you just might encounter some fire dancers, divine poetry, and even a miniature Batman on a bicycle...

Thank you to everyone who featured in this episode:

Also, much of the music you’ve heard in this episode was recorded live in St. Brigid’s Cathedral. Thank you to Hot Press for helping with the recording and thanks to all the performers from that evening as well. And a big thanks to Paula O’Brien of Brigid 1500 for helping us onsite. The show was hosted by Nicola Brady, and you can find her work at NicolaBrady.com.

And if you want to learn more about booking your own trip to experience the sights and attractions featured in this episode, go to Ireland.com or follow along on social media @Tourism Ireland.

SOCIAL

Share the show with your friends! Subscribe to the podcast wherever you're listening, follow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook, and check out Armchair Explorer's website, armchair-explorer.com.

CREDITS

This show was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Jason Paton recorded, mixed, and sound designed the show. Charles Tyrie helped with the editing. Jenny Allison and Aaron Millar produced it. Nicola Brady hosted and wrote it. Thanks so much.

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