Into the Wee Hours Podcast

Episode 58! Today's conversation is with the incredibly motivated, inspiring and humorous, Brisbane based endurance open water swimmer, born without arms, Kerry-Lee Gockel.

We cover a whole raft of topics based around Kerry-Lee's journey into swimming and in the past five years or so, long-distance ocean swimming events, including:

• Kerry-Lee's birth story; being born - unexpectedly - without arms; and the sanctuary and support her family have provided over the years
• Kerry-Lee's journey from self-proclaimed "the least sporty child" to a highly accomplished swimmer as an adult - initially as a competitor in the pool, before entering her first open water swim in 2004
• The logistics and ins and outs of taking on mammoth 10KM++ ocean swims including training; fuelling and teamwork, "getting into cruising altitude", along with adaptations Kerry-Lee makes as a "wingless warrior" in ocean swells
• Kerry-Lee's experience of the Island Charity Swim from Mudjimba to Moolooolaba on the Sunshine Coast and the connections she and her team have fostered with the Sunshine Coast Special Schools as a result.
• Kerry-Lee's very positive experience of community through open water swimming and how anyone curious about open water swimming can give it a try
• Holidaying with her husband Paul (also a swimmer and former Australian Paralympian) "Ocean Swim Safaris" across the world
• Kerry-Lee's goals and vision for the future, increasing mileage even further!

We recorded this prior to Kerry-Lee taking on the Swim Around Keppel - a 20KM swim, as a team (and in future plans, solo!)

Be sure to say hi to Kerry-Lee on Instagram @thewinglesswarrior

Thanks as always to the podcast Patreon supporters - you're amazing! You can help keep the podcast lights on and join the community here: www.patreon.com/intotheweehourspodcast

Or, if you've enjoyed this episode, I'd love if you'd consider buying me a virtual coffee, to help me create the next podcast episode!!

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Episode 57!

Today's conversation is with UK based adventurer Lottie Dodd.

Currently based in the Wirrall, Lottie gives us a glimpse into life, career changes and travel - and in particular, shares with us stories of her HUGE first year of bikepacking while on a career break from her role as Senior Lecturer of Law at the University of Law in Manchester, including:

• Her journey into bikepacking over the past year 
• Conversation around the bikepacking trips she’s undertaken including her first mission on the Hebridean Way, Scotland. And during a career break - Tour Aotearoa, New Zealand. The East Coast Greenway, USA. Lotties shares with us highlights; challenges, and the contrasting nature of the different trips
• Using "Warm Showers" as a means of accommodation while bikepacking in the USA
• Plans for her upcoming trip in South Korea and Japan
• How Lottie prepares (or doesn’t prepare!) for these multi day missions, and learnings from her first year and thousands of miles
• How Lottie’s intuition and trust guides many of her choices, including when it comes to adventure 

If you want to check out posts Lottie has shared along the way on these adventures, you can find her on Instagram @onyourbikelottie

Thanks as always to the podcast Patreon supporters - you're amazing! You can help keep the podcast lights on and join the community here: www.patreon.com/intotheweehourspodcast

Or, if you've enjoyed this episode, I'd love if you'd consider buying me a virtual coffee, to help me create the next podcast episode!!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the third and final part of our Into the Wee hours Podcast x Gusty Girls Adventure Film Tour mini-series! A huge thanks to our first ever podcast sponsor – the Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour!

I've been thrilled to be partnering with Gutsy Girls, a celebration of adventurous women around the world and in Australia. If you haven't already purchased your tickets, head to www.gutsygirlsadventurefilmtour.com.au - and if you've missed a screening or these aren't accessible to you, don't forget you can access past films via Adventure Reels TV.

Episode 56! My guest is none other than Lisa Blair, a remarkable world record-holding Aussie sailor. As you'll hear, Lisa has faced incredible challenges and achieved extraordinary feats on the open seas. Amongst this great conversation, we cover topics including:

• Lisa's background and journey to becoming a world record-holding sailor.
• The realities of the behind the scenes fundraising hustle and planning for big campaigns
• The most challenging moments of her career so far including facing the possibility of death on her first attempt to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica in 2017
• How Lisa prepares mentally for her missions and the risk assessment involved
• Her boat Climate Action Now, and the science and data capture projects Lisa has taken part in so far while out on her world breaking campaigns, including her latest world record breaking missions sailing solo to, and around NZ
• Lisa’s next campaign to sail around the Arctic solo - and the huge environmental aspect of this mission

Thanks Lisa for your time and we can't wait to follow along on your Arctic campaign. You can find Lisa on Instagram at @lisablairsailstheworld and her website www.lisablairsailstheworld.com

If you've enjoyed this episode and are enjoying listening to the podcast, you can join the Patreon community for as little as $2 a month - any contribution really helps to keep the lights on and would be enormously appreciated. www.patreon.com/intotheweehourspodcast Thanks so much to the existing patrons! I appreciate you!

Thank you for tuning in to this special episode. A huge thank you to our sponsor, Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour, and to my amazing guest, Lisa Blair, for sharing her incredible journey. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

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The second in our Gutsy Girls three part mini series is here!

A huge thanks to Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour for sponsoring this series - make sure to check out the film festival and get tickets to a show near you at www.gutsygirlsadventurefilmtour.com.au

Episode 55! Today's conversation is with Geelong based adventurer, travel writer and author, Laura Waters. Laura shares with us her metamorphosis from city living corporate 9-5er to adventurous travel writer and published author - a journey which was sparked during her 3000KM hike, the length of NZ, over a decade ago.

Laura is this year's Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour Grant recipient and also shares with us her plans for kayaking over 2000KM from source to sea on the Murray River in October this year.

We touch on many aspects of big life changes; hiking; travel writing and paddling including:

• the inspiration for Laura's book "Bewildered" - a life changing 3000KM through hike of the Te Araroa trail when it was a newly established trail
• documenting the experience on the trail and the craft of storytelling
• the process of writing a book with no prior knowledge, including literary speed dating events
• the realities of a life as a travel writer
• Planning for Laura's upcoming Murray River paddle

Thanks Laura for your time and we can't wait to follow along on your Murray River adventure. You can find Laura on Instagram at: @laurawaters_writer and Facebook: Soul Trekkers

If you've enjoyed this episode and are enjoying listening to the podcast, you can join the Patreon community for as little as $2 a month - any contribution really helps to keep the lights on and would be enormously appreciated. www.patreon.com/intotheweehourspodcast Thanks so much to the existing patrons! I appreciate you!

And thanks too to the Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour for supporting this three part mini series, celebrating Gusty Girls in the Aussie adventure space.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first in our Gutsy Girls three part mini series is here!

A huge thanks to Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour for sponsoring this series - make sure to check out the film festival and get tickets to a show near you at www.gutsygirlsadventurefilmtour.com.au

Episode 54! Today's conversation is with Canberra based bikepacker, Stephanie Skinner. After chasing a big goal of racing the Tour Divide in 2023, Steph had to make some serious decisions when struck by injuries which forced her to refocus and push out this enormous, iconic bikepacking challenge. In the meantime, Steph has had the opportunity to stay close to bikepacking in a different form by spending time building community events for women and locals, while rebuilding and navigating surgery and recovery.

We cover all things bikes and bikepacking, including:

• Discovering a love for riding bikes thanks to a work commute
• Rediscovering Canberra through the lens of riding bikes, on road and off-road
• Discovering offroad riding and her Hunt 1000 experience
• Fuelling your races and adventures
• Injury, healing and refocusing - and the (somewhat begrudgingly done but essential!) physio exercises that are required to build overall physical strength and resilience for big goals
• Mental strength in endurance environments
• Creating a women's only bikepacking overnighter out of Canberra
• Making bikepacking more accessible to a wider audience
• Canberra winter solstice camp out and tips for winter bikepacking on a budget

Steph also references "Touring with a Sense of Urgency" - by legends Sarah Hammond and Jesse Carlsson.

And, of course, we have a chat about dogs too, because, dogs!

Thanks Steph for your time and all the best in your post surgery healing. You can find Steph on Instagram at: @steph_skinner

If you've enjoyed this episode and are enjoying listening to the podcast, you can join the Patreon community for as little as $2 a month - any contribution really helps to keep the lights on. www.patreon.com/intotheweehourspodcast Thanks so much to the existing patrons! I appreciate you!

And thanks too to the Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour for supporting this three part mini series, celebrating Gusty Girls in the Aussie adventure space.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A less than ten minute check-in to let you know the latest in the land of the Into the Wee Hours Podcast, and to announce an exciting collaboration coming up thanks to the Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour - www.gutsygirlsadventurefilmtour.com.au .

Listen in and make sure you're subscribed to receive the three part weekly series!

Follow the podcast on Instagram @intotheweehourspodcast

Thanks to the Patreon community for your support! www.patreon.com/intotheweehourspodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 52!

Today's conversation is with the super inspiring, Meanjin, Brisbane based bicycling advocate, Ben Fallon.

Ben shares with us how his love for riding bikes has been so pivotal in his life, including:

• Adventuring with his two young children, taking them bikepacking from the ages of 2 and 4
• Family bikepacking 1000km routes across Tasmania and in New Zealand and tips on choosing gear for bikepacking with children
• Fat biking across the Simpson Desert on an adventure, following in the footsteps of Australian explorer, Cecil Madigan
• Stage Racing the Simpson Desert Bike Challenge several times
• His upcoming European adventure, riding 5000+KM from Norway to Spain along EuroVelo 3

If you're looking for tips on bikepacking with young children, or on riding across the Simpson Desert, or the multitude of other topics we touched on, Ben can be found on Instagram at @benny_pacer

Thanks as always to the podcast Patreon supporters - you're amazing! You can help keep the podcast lights on and join the community here: www.patreon.com/intotheweehourspodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 51! Today I speak to the very lovely Sophie Gray, originally from the UK, now based on SA's Fleurieu Peninsula.

Sophie generously shares with us her reality of a shock diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia at 29, which subsequently resulted in a lifesaving stem cell transplant. While trapped in a hospital ward for over a month, Sophie looked out of the hospital windows at the countryside surrounding Adelaide, wishing she were out exploring. Indeed nature and movement have formed a major part of Sophie's recovery, and without having ever gone on a multiday hike before, Sophie embarked on a through hike of the 1200km Heysen Trail as part of her journey.

Now working as a yoga teacher, we cover a range of topics including:

• the magic of yoga, meditation and breathwork
• movement as medicine
• how you may be able to make a difference to someone else's life through the stem cell registry
• Sophie's own Yoga after Cancer course creation
• hiking the 1200km Heysen Trail (with a few days left to complete, thanks to a sprained ankle along the way!)
• Camel trekking through the desert

Sophie references the organisations Strength to Give and Ur the Cure.

We also mention Sophie Matterson's book, The Crossing.

You can find Sophie on Instagram at @sophiegrayyoga

Thanks as always to the podcast Patreon supporters - you're amazing! You can help keep the podcast lights on and join the community here: www.patreon.com/intotheweehourspodcast

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Episode 50! Wow. And what a great Episode 50 as I'm joined by the super down to earth and engaging, Evan Howard, generously sharing his time with me (on his birthday!) from his home on Wurundjeri Country.

As an accomplished mountaineer, skier, climber, bikepacker and much more, not to mention a talented creator, this was a wide ranging conversation with Evan. Tune in to hear it all! A few of the topics we touched on include:

• the evolution of his business, Terra Rosa Gear, creating and sewing lightweight gear for many adventure purposes
• being an Arc'teryx Design Ambassador and part of the ReBird upcycling program (...and for the dog lovers, Barctery'x!)
• life as a first time father, adventuring with Gwendolyn and his changing views of risk tolerance through life, especially now as a Dad
• Packrafting and the versatility of these boats when it comes to exploring
• Understanding the environment you're adventuring in and the crew you're going with - and the value of backcountry training and courses like Remote Area and Wilderness First Aid

Evan mentions Schusser Threads, Packraft Australia, Survive First Aid,

You can find Evan on Instagram at @terra_rosa_gear

To support the show and keep the lights on, check out www.patreon.com/intotheweehourspodcast - any donation of any size means the world to me and to keeping the podcast going!

And not forgetting, the amazing new podcast music, courtesy of Allie Geddes (Episode 28) @themisadventuresofalice

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Episode 49! Today's episode is a laughter filled, insightful conversation with Rhianna Knight, based on Wurundjeri Country. Rhianna is a fashion designer, hiker, founder of Amble Outdoors and all in all, a really joyful, inspiring creative and adventurous human.

While out on her own hiking adventures, including in Patagonia, Rhianna realised that while the gear she was wearing was technically appropriate for the conditions, her sense of personal style was totally missing in the then offering for women in the outdoors. Building on her experience as a Fashion Design student, and a really valuable internship in a small snow sports brand where her responsibilities were huge and wide ranging, Rhianna set out to design her own line of outdoor apparel which women can feel good in, while also focusing on sustainability throughout the journey.

Rhianna shares with us so many gems when it comes to the realities of creating, and continuing to evolve "Amble" with sustainability in mind, and her knowledge and passion in this space is so incredibly evident, along with her strong desire to see more women outdoors.

Tune in to hear about many things not limited to:

• building an outdoor apparel brand
• sustainability considerations in creating and choosing outdoor gear
• designing for women and size inclusivity for women
• Rhianna's experience in multi-day hikes and her contrasting approaches to different (both solo and shared) adventures

Amongst others that we no doubt didn't cover (!) Rhianna herself has hiked Wilsons Prom; Great Ocean Road Walk; Larapinta Trail; Grampians Peaks Trail, in addition to her overseas adventures. It's clear that her very open minded and really balanced approach to her own adventures brings such an inclusive perspective to the development of her own brand.

Rhianna mentions the book "Let my People Go Surfing" - Yvon Chouinard.

To find Rhianna online, visit @amble.outdoors or www.ambleoutdoors.com.au

Thanks so much to our newest Patreon sign up - Allison W - and to all of our patrons, I appreciate you so much! To support the show and keep the lights on, check out www.patreon.com/intotheweehourspodcast - any donation of any size means the world to me and to keeping the podcast going!

And not forgetting, the amazing new podcast music, courtesy of Allie Geddes (Episode 28) @themisadventuresofalice

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.