The 10Adventures Podcast

In this powerful episode of the 10Adventures Podcast, we sit down with Michael O’Brien, a former executive turned mindfulness advocate and cyclist, to hear how a near-fatal accident on a morning ride changed his life forever.

After being struck by an SUV in what he now calls his "Last Bad Day," Michael's recovery journey became the foundation for his transformational approach to life. He discusses how meditation, gratitude, and mindfulness helped him shift from chasing happiness to intentionally living it — and how he eventually fulfilled a lifelong dream of cycling across the U.S..

This conversation is for anyone feeling stuck, stressed, or searching for a more purposeful way to live.

To learn more, visit:

About Us 🌍

10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄

Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨

To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐

Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/

On this episode of the 10Adventures Podcast, we’re joined by filmmaker, traveler, and author Matt Tori, whose new book Go See America: 118 of the USA’s Greatest Hits (According to a Guy Who Visited Them All) captures over 100 of the most awe-inspiring places across the US National Park system. From iconic landmarks like Yosemite and Zion to lesser-known gems like Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Matt shares his picks for the Top 10 Hikes in the Western US National Parks — along with insider travel tips and personal stories from his cross-country adventures.

Whether you're planning your next road trip or dreaming of visiting every national park, this episode is packed with trail-tested recommendations and inspiration to hit the trail.

To get Matt’s book, visit:

About Us 🌍

10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄

Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨

To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐

Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/

In this episode of the 10Adventures Podcast, we explore the fascinating connection between neuroscience and the outdoors with Dr. Jamey Maniscalco, a neuroscientist, wellness consultant, and former pharmaceutical industry professional.

Dr. Maniscalco unpacks how our overstimulated, fast-paced modern lives are misaligned with how our brains evolved. He shares compelling research on how time in nature can reduce stress, improve attention and creativity, and even enhance our relationships.

Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a wellness seeker, or someone simply looking to feel more grounded, this episode delivers science-backed reasons to spend more time outside — and how even small steps can make a big difference.

To learn more, visit:

Get Jamey’s 10 Wellness Habits at this link: https://wild-hill-99243.myflodesk.com/123

About Us 🌍

10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄

Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨

To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐

Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/

In this unique episode of the 10Adventures Podcast, we speak with Adam Lee, who walked 700 miles across the United Kingdom — not alone, but with a donkey named Martin. What began as a quest to avoid carrying a heavy backpack turned into an unforgettable journey filled with encounters, laughter, and life lessons.

Adam shares the surprising reasons he brought a donkey, how the pair traveled from Cape Wrath in Scotland to Portland Bill on England’s southern coast, and how walking slowly, and with an animal, transformed the way strangers interacted with him. From finding wild campsites to managing Martin’s grazing schedule, this is a story of simplicity, connection, and self-reliance.

Along the way, Adam shares insights from other major adventures across Latin America, the Pamir Highway, and Scotland — and reveals his dream trek from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.

To learn more, visit:

About Us 🌍

10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄

Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨

To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐

Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/

In this episode of the 10Adventures Podcast, we travel to Japan’s southernmost islands to explore Okinawa, a region known for its tropical beaches, rich cultural history, and unique longevity. Our guest is Yuki Tanimura, an Okinawan native and adventure guide, who shares why Okinawa should be on every traveler’s list, especially for those looking to explore Japan beyond the usual Tokyo-Kyoto route.

Yuki walks us through the natural wonders, historical roots, and wellness lifestyle that make Okinawa so special. He also introduces his company’s circumnavigation cycling tour, offers travel tips, and dives into the Blue Zone secrets of Okinawan food, ikigai (life purpose), and slow living.

Whether you're a beach lover, cyclist, foodie, or cultural traveler, this episode reveals why Okinawa is Japan’s best-kept adventure secret.

To learn more, visit:

About Us 🌍

10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄

Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨

To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐

Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/

EP-221 CROSSING THE PYRENEES: Nikita Grachev’s Solo Journey on the HRP

In this episode of the 10Adventures Podcast, we dive into one of the most demanding and spectacular long-distance treks in Europe — the Pyrenean Haute Route (HRP), with hiker and filmmaker Nikita Grachev.

Starting with just four days of backpacking experience, Nikita set out to walk across the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Along the way, he navigated unmarked trails, carried everything on his back, and captured the entire journey in a stunning seven-part YouTube series.

Nikita shares what makes the HRP special — from remote wilderness and few resupply points to dramatic shifts in terrain and weather. He also opens up about his love for wild places, the joy of solitude, and how he’s preparing for his next big trek in Sweden.

To learn more, visit:

About Us 🌍

10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄

Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨

To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐

Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/

 In this episode of the 10Adventures Podcast, we head to southern Japan to explore Kyushu — one of the country’s most beautiful and least-traveled regions. Our guest, Max Wall, is a Swedish-born cycling guide who has called Kyushu home for over seven years. He shares what makes this rugged, culture-rich island a paradise for adventure travelers, food lovers, and seekers of authentic Japanese experiences.

Max shares how he discovered Japan through manga, became fluent in Japanese, and built a life leading travelers through remote towns, volcanoes, and hidden hot springs. From scenic cycling routes to gourmet meals made with local produce, Max brings Kyushu to life — and explains why this region should be on your list for your second (or even first!) trip to Japan.

To learn more, visit:

About Us 🌍

10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄

Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨

To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐

Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/

⚠️ Content Warning:

This episode contains discussion of addiction, suicidal ideation, and self-harm. Listener discretion is advised.

In this deeply moving and inspiring episode of the 10Adventures Podcast, we sit down with Pawel Durakiewicz — a multiple Guinness World Record holder who turned his life around after battling addiction and suicidal thoughts. Once on the brink of self-destruction, Pavel found healing through nature, movement, and radical resilience.

He shares his journey from the depths of alcohol addiction to running barefoot marathons on ice, walking over 3,000 kilometers without shoes, and founding a recovery center in Sicily. Pavel speaks powerfully about how nature, yoga, and community helped him transform psychological pain into purpose — and how he now helps others rediscover the miracle within themselves.

To learn more, visit:

About Us 🌍

10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄

Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨

To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐

Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/

In this episode of the 10Adventures Podcast, we travel to one of the most underrated adventure destinations in the world: Jordan. Our guest, Ayman Abd-AlKareem, co-founder of Experience Jordan, shares his passion for hiking, cycling, and connecting travelers with the rich culture, history, and landscapes of his home country.

Ayman tells the story of how he helped build Jordan’s premier walking and cycling holidays from the ground up — from mapping trails and launching homestays to guiding travelers into Petra through the “back door.” He shares the true magic of the Jordan Trail, the rise of Jordan’s bikepacking culture, and how tourism is empowering local communities across the country.

Whether you’ve dreamed of hiking in Wadi Rum, floating in the Dead Sea, or experiencing Bedouin hospitality, this episode brings Jordan to life in a whole new way.

To learn more, visit:

About Us 🌍

10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄

Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨

To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐

Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/

In this episode of the 10Adventures Podcast, we’re joined by Beverly and Julian, a couple in their 60s who decided it was time for a radical reset. Instead of easing into retirement, they set out to cycle from the UK all the way to New Zealand, a bold adventure that redefined their lives, their careers, and how they spend their time.

What happens when you decide not to retire, but to reinvent? 

They dive into the highs and lows of the trip, from quiet backroads in Europe to stunning coastal rides in South Korea, less-traveled roads in Japan’s Honshu island, and rugged routes in New Zealand. Whether you're dreaming of your own long-term adventure or simply want to hear how bold life changes really happen, this episode is a must-listen.

To learn more, visit:

About Us 🌍

10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄

Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨

To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐

Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/