In this episode of The 10Adventures Podcast, we explore one of the most fascinating and extreme landscapes on Earth—the Atacama Desert. We’re joined by journalist and author Mark Johansen, whose latest book, Mars on Earth, is both a travel memoir and a deep dive into Chile’s culture, history, and the experience of being an outsider in a foreign land.

Mark shares his journey from New Zealand to Chile, where he has lived for over a decade, and how his desire to better understand the country led him north to the Atacama. We discuss Chile’s complex history, including the 1973 coup and the social uprisings of recent years, and how these events continue to shape life in the country. Mark also paints a vivid picture of the Atacama’s harsh yet captivating landscape, its indigenous communities, and the economic forces—like lithium mining—that are transforming the region.

Join us for an insightful conversation about travel, identity, and the pull of remote places. Be sure to check out Mark’s book and follow him on social media. And if this conversation sparks your wanderlust, visit 10Adventures.com to browse our curated tours and start planning your next great adventure!

Check out Mark's website: https://markjohanson.com/

Find his book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Mars-Earth-Wanderings-Worlds-Driest/dp/1771606762

Connect with Mark on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/markonthemap/

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 sit down with our show producer and returning guest, Mico, to dive into the art of backpacking and long-distance trekking. Last time, we focused on the best trails in the Canadian Rockies — but today, we’re talking about everything else that makes a backpacking trip successful. From choosing the right gear to packing light and learning from years of trial and error, this conversation is full of practical tips and personal stories.

We also share some of our own packing mistakes and talk about the importance of finding a system that works for you — whether that’s planning gear parties with friends or embracing the simplicity of cold soaking your meals.

If you’re new to backpacking or looking to lighten your load on the trail, this episode is packed with advice to help you get started.

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 dive into the crucial topic of brain health and injury prevention in outdoor sports. We chat with Kelsey Boyer, a passionate snowboarder whose journey took an unexpected turn after suffering multiple concussions during an Olympic qualifying year. Kelsey shares her experience of unknowingly sustaining repeated head injuries, the terrifying moment she discovered her brain had been bleeding for weeks, and the long road to recovery that followed.

We discuss the complexities of concussions, the surprising sports with the highest risk, and why brain injuries are often misunderstood. Kelsey also opens up about the physical and emotional challenges of recovery, including PTSD, mood swings, and the struggle to return to normal life. She highlights the healing power of mindfulness, yoga, and professional concussion therapy, offering valuable insights for anyone who loves adventure.

Tune in for an eye-opening conversation about protecting your brain while doing what you love! Be sure to check out Kelsey’s work and follow her journey, and if you’re inspired to embark on your own adventure, explore guided tours at 10Adventures.

Connect with Kelsey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saveabrain/?hl=en

Check out her website: https://saveabraininc.com/

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 flipping the script! Mico takes over as host to interview Richard about backpacking in the Canadian Rockies—a place he’s been exploring for over 20 years. With endless trails, stunning alpine scenery, and the chance to truly disconnect, backpacking here is unlike anywhere else.

We dive into what makes the Rockies so special, the best time of year to go, and what to expect when hiking deep into the backcountry. Richard shares insights on picking the right trail, dealing with unpredictable weather, and even how to make backpacking work with a family. Whether you’re a seasoned backpacker or planning your first trip, you’ll come away with plenty of useful tips.

If you’ve ever dreamed of trekking through the Canadian Rockies, this episode is for you. Tune in to hear Richard’s advice, stories, and recommendations for making the most of your next adventure.

Check Out Our Trail Guides for the Canadian Rockies: https://www.10adventures.com/hikes/alberta/

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 sit down with Crystal Gail, whose journey into the outdoors began in an unexpected way. After battling intracranial hypertension—a rare brain disease—she faced multiple surgeries before ultimately choosing a neuromodulator that changed everything. With a new sense of energy, she quickly went from recovery to running a half marathon in just six weeks. That momentum led her to a deep connection with nature, which eventually inspired her to take on one of the most challenging hikes out there—the Pacific Crest Trail.

With no prior backpacking experience, Crystal learned on the go, proving that resilience and a love for the outdoors can take you further than you ever imagined. We talk about her experience on the trail, what she’s learned along the way, and how time in nature continues to shape her life. Tune in for an inspiring conversation, and be sure to check out Crystal’s journey on her social channels.

Connect with Crystal on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/footprintsforchange/

Or check out her website: https://www.footprintsforchange.com

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 venture into new territory—literally and figuratively—by exploring the world on two wheels. Our guest is Kix Marshall, an author and filmmaker who undertook an epic motorcycle journey from Canada to Argentina. Along the way, he discovered the power of food, culture, and adventure in shaping an unforgettable travel experience.

Kix is a passionate traveler who, despite having minimal motorbike experience, set off on a life-changing adventure. His story is one of perseverance, adaptability, and the incredible people and places he encountered along the way.

Connect with Kix on his website: http://www.kixmarshall.com/

Or check out his YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Kix3000000/featured

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 sit down with Emily Keddie, an inspiring endurance athlete known for her record-breaking Fastest Known Times (FKTs) across the American West. From car camping as a child to conquering ultra-distance challenges, Emily shares her journey of embracing the outdoors and discovering her passion for pushing physical and mental boundaries.

Whether you’re curious about FKTs, love tales of outdoor resilience, or simply need inspiration to chase your own goals, Emily’s story is sure to captivate.

Check out Emily’s social channels @emilyin.thewild for more of her adventures, and don’t forget to visit the 10Adventures website to plan your own epic journey!

Connect with Emily on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyin.thewild/?hl=en

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 sit down with Jacob Lemanski, who shares the story of his awe-inspiring 999-day journey cycling 38,000 miles across six continents—twice! What started as a personal challenge to discover his limits turned into an epic adventure of resilience, exploration, and connection with people worldwide.

Jacob recounts his route, from Portugal through Europe and Asia, to the Arctic Circle, all the way to the southern tip of South America, and even across Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. He talks about life on the road, camping in remote places, and the unexpected kindness of strangers. We also dive into the mental and physical challenges of such an ambitious goal and how the journey shaped his perspective on life, adventure, and human connection.

Check out Jacob's website: https://www.howtomovethestars.com/

Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howtomovestars/

Link to his Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@HowToMoveTheStars/videos

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 10 Adventures Podcast, we chat with Kevin Crowe, an incredible individual who is about to take on the Montane Yukon Ultra Arctic Marathon—a 700 km race across the Arctic, all to support his charity, Give a Mile. Kevin shares the powerful story behind his decision to challenge himself with this extreme race, including the loss of a close friend to brain cancer and his own battle with a painful condition called trigeminal neuralgia. These life-changing experiences led Kevin to realize the importance of seizing the day and pushing beyond his limits.

We dive into what it’s like to prepare for a race in extreme conditions, where the weather could be as cold as -40°C, and how he’s using this challenge to raise funds for his charity. Give a Mile connects people with their loved ones during end-of-life moments by providing flights, funded by donated travel miles. Kevin’s goal is to raise enough funds for 37 flights, in honor of Ryan, who was 37 when he passed.

To support Kevin’s mission, check out his social channels and head to 10Adventures.com to browse for your next big adventure!

Check out Kevin's website: https://giveamile.org/

Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinstuartcrowe/?hl=en

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 sit down with Ray Zahab, a world-renowned ultrarunner and explorer, to talk about resilience, transformation, and pushing beyond perceived limits. Ray shares how he went from an uninspired lifestyle to conquering some of the world’s most extreme environments, running over 17,000 kilometers across deserts and completing unsupported expeditions to the coldest places on Earth.

We dive into Ray’s journey of self-discovery, his transformative first ultramarathon, and his monumental 7,500-kilometer Sahara Desert crossing, completed in a little over 100 days. Ray discusses the mental and physical challenges of endurance expeditions and how he thrives in environments where most wouldn’t dare to venture.

Check out Ray's instagram https://www.instagram.com/rayzahab/?hl=en

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/