The Outdoors Station

Stormin' Norman is the affectionate nick name of the guy behind Stormin Stove Systems. Originally in construction, his interest now is shared equally between lightweight long distance hiking and manufacturing the very popular and extremely good value for money, range of alcohol stoves and two tier cone windshield system. Check this out for a bit of background and try one yourself.

An epic moment has passed for us as we have now reached over 9 Million downloads. More details in the podcast. This is the third and final part of the series recorded at the Adventure Travel Show and we spend our time with Kev Reynolds discussing 3 recent book projects in more detail. Kev describes himself as the man with the world's best job, earning a modest crust by writing and lecturing about some of the most scenically spectacular places on earth; spending many weeks each year with camera, notebook and tape recorder wandering among mountains straight out of dreams.

Part 2 of the 3 part series form The Adventure Travel Show in Olympia January 2017, once again gives me opportunity to chat with people and groups I feel will be of interest to our audience. There’s a big wide world out there and you don’t always have to have deep pocket to see it. In fact many would agree the least you have, the more you’ll experience. Plus our January winner is announced.

This is the first set of interviews recorded at the Adventure Travel Show at Olympia in January and features content for those who like to travel simply. Caminoways explain the numerous pilgrim routes they support dotted around Europe, Homecamper have opened up rural France to the self powered traveler to camp at private French homes and Phoebe Smith explains the joys of wild camping and sleeping in a bothy. A great all round outdoor podcast so enjoy :)

This Podcast is one from the archives which I thought people might enjoy if they are considering undertaking a challenge this year. In 2008 Shirley Worral undertook the GR20 and recorded an two interviews about her experience the following year. In this Podcast I’ve edited both original Podcasts together to create and much longer one which tells the whole story and Shirley is very eloquent in her thoughts and experience. As it was 2009 when it was recorded, all information provided in the Podcast will need updating and there is certainly now much more information available on-line than when Shirley undertook the trip. Much more detail and all links can be found on the website.

Tread Lite Gear is a UK cottage manufacturing brand name which most people who are interested in the lightweight outdoor scene, may have increasingly become aware of in recent years. The man behind the idea, the business and more importantly, the sewing machine is Paul Stokes. In the podcast you’ll hear how he took the brave step to teach himself the dark skills of the sewing machine and step away from his white collar career as a surveyor to design, create and sew lots of very cool items, using very cool fabrics for very cool people in the outdoors world. This interview will take you through his journey and what it takes to become one of the very few cottage manufacturers in the UK, who like any small business has to struggle against the tides of exchange rates, flaky suppliers, import duties and all the administration activities which actually keep any entrepreneur away from doing their chosen work in the first place.

Tom Way is a professional award winning fine art wildlife photographer based in the UK. He has been awarded in various competitions with his most recent success being awarded in the European Wildlife Photographer Of The Year 2016 competition with his image ‘Beauty, Power, Majesty’. It is hard to believe that he only picked up a camera in earnest less than 6 years ago. Up until then he had never associated it with wildlife or somehow creating images that would sell and eventually give him a living.

This is part two of my conversation with Alex Roddie as we explore his writing and backpacking interests more. In this episode we touch on walking in the Alps, his conscious decision to carry lighter loads to travel easier and some of his equipment choices and why. We also discuss how he takes his night time images which have appeared in recent publications. It is an honest chat about how his writing has evolved, his approach to photography and building these skills. His evolution from mountaineer to a backpacker in a few short years!

Alex Roddie may be a name you are familiar with if you are an avid reader of TGO or Trail magazine. In the last few years his articles have started to appear in many places and prove to be an enjoyable and easy read, describing the familiar and not so familiar places in a romantic and honest style. His writing history is an interesting one, initially starting with well researched but historic fictional mountain adventure stories with characters so strong we are sure we know them! It is an honest chat about how his writing has evolved, his approach to photography and building these skills and how he has slowly transformed from a mountaineer to a backpacker in a few short years!

It is my pleasure to introduce you to two story based outdoor and travel podcasts produced in the UK, which use added audio editing and sound features to bring interesting and inspiring stories of travel to immersion yourself into this holiday season. Delve in, fill up your player and sit back with your sherry tipple and escape from all the madness!