Kindred Roads Podcast

What happens when two travelers leave everything familiar behind and cross the Middle East on foot and by camel, following a path few Westerners have ever taken?

In this episode, Wells Jones shares the story of a 1,100 mile trek across Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria, retracing the route of T.E. Lawrence through deserts, border crossings, and remote communities, alongside his close friend Miles. What he expected to find was tension and danger. What he found instead was something far more complex, moments of uncertainty paired with unexpected kindness, generosity, and deep humanity.

Wells talks about riding camels through Wadi Rum, navigating intense checkpoints, preparing for real risk, and learning how listening and humility opened doors that fear never could. This conversation explores long distance travel in politically complex regions, cultural respect, trust, and what happens when you let curiosity lead instead of assumptions.

It is a powerful reminder that the world is often more human than we are taught to believe.

Connect with Wells:

Follow along on other platforms:

~

KEYWORDS

Middle East trek, 1,100 mile journey, desert expedition, camels, cultural understanding, T.E. Lawrence, long distance travel, humanity and travel, middle east travel

Max Campbell is sailing around the world on a 50 year old Swan 37 named Elixir, a boat he rebuilt by hand and turned into a fully functioning home at sea. Over the past few years, he has sailed from the UK to New Zealand with an ever changing crew, navigating open ocean crossings, remote coastlines, and places that can only be reached by boat.

In this episode, Max walks us through the moments that defined his journey. He shares the story of being caught on fire during a solo Atlantic crossing, then sailing alone for two more days with serious burns to reach land. He explains what daily life actually looks like at sea, how it feels to be disconnected for weeks at a time, and why that level of isolation can bring clarity rather than fear.

We also dive into experiences that still feel hard to believe, such as being boarded off the coast of Venezuela, spending time in an immigration jail in southern Mexico, listening to firsthand stories from people who crossed the Darien Gap, and reaching South Pacific islands where boats are the only way in and trading supplies for food is still part of everyday life. This conversation is raw, eye opening, and deeply human, and it offers a rare look at what it really means to live at the edge of the world.

Let’s dive in!

Connect with Max and follow the journey below:

Follow along on other platforms:

~

KEYWORDS

Max Campbell, Untide, un tide, Elixir sailboat, Swan 37, sailing around the world, circumnavigation, solo Atlantic crossing, Atlantic crossing fire, boat fire accident, ocean sailing crew, sailing New Zealand, South Pacific remote islands, being boarded at sea, Venezuela coast guard boarding, piracy at sea story, Mexico immigration jail, Tapachula detention center, Darien Gap stories, sailing content creator

Natalie Ng is a videographer and writer from Perth, Australia who spent 20 months traveling the world alone. She did not leave with everything figured out. She left with questions, curiosity, and a willingness to learn as she went.

In this episode, Natalie talks honestly about what it was like to travel solo as a woman for the first time. She walks through the fears she had before leaving, how she approached safety on the road, and how she handled the concerns and expectations of family back home. She shares the practical ways she built confidence over time, learned to trust her instincts, and made decisions that kept her grounded while constantly moving.

We also talk about the places that shaped her experience most, including time in Italy, the Balkans, Morocco, Nepal, and Southeast Asia. Natalie shares stories from trekking to Annapurna Base Camp, volunteering in Nepal, navigating different cultures as a solo woman, and learning when to slow down instead of rushing to the next place.

This conversation is for women who want to travel alone but feel unsure about safety, judgment, or not knowing where to start. It is an honest look at long term solo female travel, what actually helps, what matters most, and why you do not need a perfect plan to begin. Let’s dive in!

Connect with Natalie:

.

Follow along on other platforms:

~

KEYWORDS

Colonel Terry Virts is a retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, test pilot, NASA astronaut, and former Commander of the International Space Station. He has flown 45 combat missions, piloted the Space Shuttle Endeavour, and spent more than 200 days in space, including three spacewalks.

In this episode, Terry shares his extraordinary journey, from growing up with a dream of becoming an astronaut, to the moment he first looked out over Earth from the Cupola. We talk about the discipline of flying F-16s, the lessons of leadership learned in the Air Force Academy, and what life is really like on the ISS…from sleeping weightless to handling false alarms.

He also opens up about filming the IMAX documentary, "A Beautiful Planet," narrated by Jennifer Lawrence, directing "One More Orbit" to set a world record flying around the globe, and how his love for storytelling and photography led to his art exhibit,"View From Above."

Now, as a U.S. Senate candidate in Texas, Terry is focused on bringing ethics, service, and integrity back to public office.

Lastly, he talks about the values that have guided every mission of his life, including courage, humility, and service before self, and why he still believes America’s best days are ahead. This episode is a look inside spaceflight, leadership, and what happens when you choose to serve beyond yourself.

Connect with Terry:

Follow along on other platforms:

~

KEYWORDS

Terry Virts interview, NASA astronaut, International Space Station, astronaut podcast, space travel stories, One More Orbit documentary, A Beautiful Planet IMAX, How to Astronaut book, astronaut photography, astronaut training, space shuttle Endeavour, fighter pilot stories, F16 pilot, spacewalk experience, view from above art, life in space, astronaut sleeping weightless, NASA leadership lessons, astronaut turned politician, Terry Virts Senate campaign

Julio Campis Díaz is a 24-year-old Puerto Rican ecologist and PhD student whose career took a dramatic turn the day he stepped into El Yunque National Rainforest. What began as a required research assignment led him from freshwater shrimp studies to working inside Great Smoky Mountains and Yosemite National Park.

In this episode Julio shares how that moment reshaped his path, the mentors who guided him, and the field experiences that shaped his love for conservation. He talks about tracking rare owls, teaching visitors in national parks, witnessing shrimp migrations, and navigating close encounters with wildlife. We also discuss the challenges national parks face today and the importance of including native knowledge and strong community partnerships.

In this episode

• The unexpected moment in El Yunque that sent Julio from pre med to wildlife science

• What it is really like to work as a ranger in Great Smoky Mountains and Yosemite

• The wild encounters waking up to a bear, tracking a rare owl for hours, and seeing shrimp migrations that look unreal

• How national parks are changing and why native knowledge is shaping better conservation

• The surprising role kids have played in his passion for education and outreach

• His current PhD work removing old dams to reopen migration routes for fish and shrimp

• The long term dream that keeps him motivated leading El Yunque National Forest

Connect with Julio:

.

Follow along on other platforms:

~

KEYWORDS

Jamie Edwards didn’t plan to become a travel writer, and she definitely didn’t plan on writing for National Geographic. But after moving from New York to Tokyo, her world opened up in ways she couldn’t have imagined. What began as a small blog turned into a thriving platform called I Am Lost and Found, and eventually, a dream project as a contributing author for National Geographic’s Traveler’s Atlas.

In this episode, Jamie shares her story of becoming one of the few travel writers to contribute to National Geographic’s newest global book, how she balances writing with motherhood, and what it felt like to stand in Antarctica with her 78-year-old stepfather as whales surfaced beside their kayaks. From the Arctic to the streets of Bhutan, Jamie’s adventures are a reminder that it’s never too late to reinvent your life or pursue the stories that light you up. Let’s dive in!

Connect with Jamie:

.

.

Follow along on other platforms:

~

Keywords

Jamie Edwards interview, National Geographic writer, how to write for National Geographic, National Geographic contributing author, travel writer career, how to become a travel writer, pitch National Geographic, National Geographic book opportunity, Travelers Atlas National Geographic, I Am Lost and Found blog, Instagram DM to book deal, Antarctica travel stories, Arctic Svalbard trip, polar bears in Svalbard, humpback whales Antarctica, Quark Expeditions review, polar plunge experience, travel coaching explained, living in Tokyo with kids, Bhutan Tigers Nest story, Uganda gorilla trekking, starting a travel blog, switch careers to travel writing, women in travel writing, inspirational travel podcast

Ricardo Kaljouw is a Dutch mountaineer, author, and Royal Dutch Navy veteran whose life has been built around pushing beyond limits. He has visited 117 countries, climbed 75 high-altitude peaks, and stood on 45 volcanoes around the world. He’s one of only about fifty people on earth to complete the Volcanic Seven Summits, a rare challenge that involves climbing the highest volcano on each of the seven continents. In addition, he was the first Dutch climber to reach the top of Mount Sidley, Antarctica’s most remote volcano.

His journey has taken him from the icy ridges of Mount Giluwe in Papua New Guinea to the lava slopes of Ojos del Salado in Chile, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and Mount Elbrus in Russia. Each climb tested his endurance, his focus, and his faith in himself.

In this episode, Ricardo takes us inside the decade of storms, setbacks, and silent triumphs that defined his pursuit. We talk about surviving avalanches, snow blindness, and isolation in some of the harshest environments on Earth. He shares how his military training shaped his resilience, the love story behind a summit proposal in Mexico, and his next mission, the Volcanic Grand Slam, a world-first expedition to climb the highest volcano in twenty-five volcanic countries across all seven continents.

Ricardo also opens up about his book A Million Steps on Lava, what standing on the edge of an active crater does to your sense of fear, and why adventure, to him, is as much about stillness as it is about summits. Let's dive in!

Connect with Ricardo:

.

Join My Costa Rica Trip Feb 2026 With Worldpackers!

We’ll surf, explore the rainforest, do salsa dancing, and have beach bonfires together!

Accommodation, meals, activities, and transport within the trip are all included and organized for you, so you just show up and get ready for the best week ever!

Join the WhatsApp Group Here To Find Out More Details: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DwPFDBmTU526n5zvEYVKnk?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaebo8Fv82ChKcXgtFErcNPtY-4Zf4w0eLIZAK4hWO_suxUK8Iyweod2dt47pA_aem_V3IWwrcbgnXjuA_jHJq9oQ

.

Follow along on other platforms:

~

KEYWORDS

mountaineering, volcano climbing, volcanic seven summits, adventure travel, antarctica expedition, climbing stories, extreme sports, explorers podcast, travel podcast, dutch climber, mount sidley, survival stories, volcanic grand slam, adventure inspiration, world travel

At 25, filmmaker and surfer Meredith Rodgers found herself sailing across every ocean on Earth, filming one of the most intense races in the world. It all started with one cold email that somehow turned into a dream job she didn’t even know existed. For almost a year, she lived on a 70-foot sailboat surrounded by strangers, capturing storms, sunrises, and everything in between.

In this episode, Meredith shares how she made that opportunity happen, what life at sea actually looked like day to day, and the moments that tested her the most. We talk about the transition that came after…the shock of coming home, the feeling of starting over, and the new documentary she’s creating about women surfing through freezing East Coast winters! And some of her best pieces of advice, of course :)

Connect with Meredith:

.

About My Costa Rica Group Trip With Worldpackers:

It’s a 7-day surf and adventure experience happening February 16–22, 2026, hosted through Worldpackers. Everything’s organized for you, accommodation, meals, activities, and transport within the trip, so you just show up and we will have the best week ever!! We’ll surf, explore the rainforest, do salsa dancing, and have beach bonfires together!

Right now there’s an early bird discount for the first few people to book. Here’s what’s included:

You just pay a small deposit now to save your spot, and the rest later with flexible payment options!

Here’s the link to see all the details and book your spot 💙 https://www.worldpackers.com/en/epic/experiences/costarica-surfweek-double/slots/KINDREDROADS02152026

~

Follow along on other platforms:

~

KEYWORDS

sailing around the world, filmmaker interview, ocean adventure stories, Clipper Round the World Race, women in film, creative career journey, freelance filmmaker life, surfing documentary, travel and storytelling, resilience and personal growth

There are few people who live their calling as boldly as Dr. Clifford Redford. He is a veterinarian, documentary filmmaker, and lifelong animal advocate whose work has taken him far beyond the walls of his busy clinic in Canada. From rescuing street dogs in Jamaica to saving wildlife in India and performing surgeries in Ukraine as missiles shook the ground, Cliff has made it his mission to help animals wherever they need him most, often alongside his daughter, who travels with him on many of these rescue missions.

In this episode, Cliff shares how his passion for animal welfare led him to begin volunteering on rescue missions around the world. What started as a three-week trip to Jamaica turned into a lifelong journey of bringing care and compassion to animals in crisis. We talk about what it’s like to perform surgery with little supplies, how he’s learned to adapt to different cultures and conditions, and how traveling with his daughter has deepened the meaning of his work.

Cliff also opens up about the emotional highs and lows of rescue work, filming his documentary World Wide Vet, and why he believes kindness and education are the most powerful tools for change. His stories reveal the quiet courage it takes to keep showing up, the hope that comes from helping, and the reminder that one person’s compassion can ripple across the world.

Connect with Dr. Cliff:

.

Follow along on other platforms:

~

veterinarian, animal rescue, adventure, documentary, veterinary medicine, wildlife, cultural experiences, family, kindness, travel podcast, adventure podcast, inspiring, storytelling, service, courage, compassion, humanitarian, volunteering, resilience

Emily Corinne is a yoga teacher who has lived in Thailand, taught abroad, and spent nine months backpacking through 17 countries. Along the way she moved between classrooms and retreat spaces, traded city rush for sunrise meditations, and learned how to build simple routines in unfamiliar places. Those months held everything from missed buses and last-minute detours to quiet mornings spent journaling, practicing, and noticing the small details that make a place feel like home.

Now she leads group trips and retreats around the world, bringing people together through yoga, community, and adventure. She talks about why saying yes to new experiences matters, how staying present changes the entire arc of a journey, and why the connections you make with people often become the most meaningful souvenirs.

In this episode we get into what teaching overseas taught her about culture and resilience, how meditation and presence reshape the way you move through the world, and a few unforgettable backpacking stories that still make her laugh.

Connect with Emily:

.

Follow along on other platforms: