This is one of the most powerful conversations I’ve had on the podcast. James ran 230km across the Amazon rainforest, carrying everything he needed to survive on his back – all to raise money and awareness for multiple sclerosis, a condition his mum has lived with since he was a baby.

In this episode, James opens up about the Jungle Ultra, the extreme mental and physical toll it took, and the emotional drive behind it: his mum’s strength, love, and resilience. He shares what it’s like growing up with a parent who is bed-bound, how he coped at university, and why he now uses social media to open up about something he once felt ashamed to talk about.

We dive into:

• Why he chose this challenge and what it entailed

• The darkest moments of the race (and how he kept going)

• The emotional impact of placing his medal around his mum’s neck

• Raising over £20,000 for MS and spinal cord research

• The power of vulnerability and sharing your story as a man

Follow James on TikTok: @jamesultras
Donate or follow his journey: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jgjungleultra25?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAae_ADCPPX8hdNp9FUWkuBS8YaKW-g7rZMvEN3Qa8ZiG8ek2253YPVFRScD7XQ_aem_41_ZKy7k7cmlQe2tIL5Jvg