Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady interviews certified safari guide, entrepreneur, and photographer Andy Biggs about shifting from corporate consulting into a travel-focused life centered on Africa and photography. Biggs describes an early six-week African trip that sparked his passion, emphasizes balancing income, family, and adventure, and advises aspiring entrepreneurs to treat themselves as a business while diversifying income streams through guided and bespoke safaris, print sales, and licensing. They discuss how the 2020 pandemic halted bookings and prompted Biggs to build a new website and support conservation fundraising. Biggs offers safari planning guidance—defining desired experiences and budgets, and prioritizing great guides—plus equipment advice focused on investing in lenses and composing with storytelling adjectives. The conversation also covers family overland travel, guided vs self-drive safaris, and vehicle perspectives on G-Wagons and the Land Cruiser 70-series, along with future travel goals.

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Host Scott Brady and co-host Matt Scott argue that many overlanders overload midsize pickups like the Tacoma due to limited payload (often around 1,000–1,200 lbs before passengers and gear), making full-size 3/4-ton and 1-ton trucks a better choice for carrying campers, bumpers, winches, water, and supplies while staying under GVWR. They discuss full-size durability as commercial equipment, better bed space, comfort, and fuel range—especially with diesels and large or auxiliary tanks—plus the ability to fit 40-inch tires with less drivetrain upgrading. They note tradeoffs: size challenges in big cities and small villages, and diesel reliability/service complexity internationally, sometimes requiring specialized mechanics. They compare models and packages like Ram 2500/Power Wagon and Ford Super Duty Tremor, praise AEV Prospector builds, and review aftermarket options, concluding full-size trucks suit heavy, feature-rich travel setups.

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Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady interviews Lance Gillies, founder and CEO of EarthCruiser, focusing on lessons from decades of travel and building expedition campers. Gillies recounts early Australia trips to Cape York in the wet with a Hilux and Holden Rodeo, emphasizing testing oneself responsibly and learning from remote Aboriginal communities, plus practical crocodile safety. They discuss travel mindset: learning basic language and history, and memorable Mongolia experiences with shepherd families. Gillies describes a month-long east–west equator crossing of Kalimantan, Borneo using a short-wheelbase Nissan Patrol, involving deep mud, winching, a river crossing by canoe where his vehicle partially submerged, and sanctuary offered by a remote mosque. He highlights key vehicle priorities—quality winch, water capacity/filtration, fuel range, accessible recovery/medical gear, durability over show—defines overlanding as experiencing life in others’ shoes, and advises buyers to prioritize livability, containerization and serviceability; he explains EarthCruiser’s shift from diesel (Fuso discontinuation due to emissions systems) toward gasoline and recommends negotiation and Stoic-themed books.

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Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady and co-host Matt Scott discuss overland storage solutions—roof racks, drawer systems, hard cases, and soft bags—emphasizing that travelers often carry too much gear, which increases weight, hurts handling and safety, and slows camp setup. They recommend continually reevaluating gear use (including a “red dot” reminder method), prioritizing accessibility for frequently used items, and securing everything to prevent projectiles in crashes or rollovers. Roof racks are best kept as reserve capacity, used lightly, and limited by roof load ratings that are affected by vehicle lifts and tires; they caution against heavy roof loads and theft. They cover front/rear weight distribution, packing heavy items low and between axles, seat deletes for space/payload, emergency gear placement, and practical tradeoffs between drawers, nesting boxes, Pelicans, AluBoxes/Wolf Packs, MOLLE panels, and collapsible water/fuel storage.

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Scott Brady and Matt Scott host the Overland Journal Podcast with guest Simon Turner, Land Rover product manager, to discuss the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Range Rover and its role in pioneering the luxury SUV segment. Turner recounts the clandestine “Velar” prototype era, why capability and breadth of use—from city driving to serious off-road travel—remain central to Range Rover design, and how luxury, refinement, and lineage have evolved while keeping recognizable styling. They compare key generations, especially the L322’s step forward in luxury and build quality, and note historical expeditions and motorsport milestones. Turner explains how Range Rover family expansion (Sport, Evoque, Velar) supports the broader business, including Defender development, and outlines future themes like sustainability, electrification, driver assistance, and lightweight materials, plus ongoing efforts to improve quality and reliability. He says he’d choose a Defender trip to Namibia.

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Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady records from Bend, Oregon before an EarthCruiser trip to the Alvord Desert and Steens Mountains and welcomes longtime friend Chris Van Dyke, former VP of product development and marketing at Patagonia, nearly two-decade Nike veteran, Now clothing cofounder, and former district attorney. Chris recounts extensive sailing—three years on his own boat to Alaska and Mexico, passages from Tahiti to Hawaii, Peru to Ushuaia, and a five-week Ushuaia-to-Antarctica voyage with severe storms and abundant wildlife—then explains how sailing’s contingency planning and gear security translate to overland travel. The conversation covers protecting company culture at Nike and Patagonia, lessons from Expedition 65 motorcycle travel from Colombia to Ushuaia (training, risk management, avoiding night riding, sand technique), Chris’s Sprinter build philosophy, favorite books, and advice to seek growth by traveling beyond one’s comfort zone.

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Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady interviews co-host Matt Scott, marking 20 podcast episodes. Matt discusses his international relations background and lifelong racing passion, explaining how racing lessons—such as "smooth is fast"—translate to off-road driving, travel, and business. They cover vehicle preferences, the tension between practicality and romance in overlanding, and Matt’s transition from a rugged Wrangler to his current Jeep Gladiator. Matt also details his writing career, emphasizing an ethics-first approach and advising on pitching stories. He shares experiences managing a hostel in Panama, motorcycling through Southeast Asia, and his current role running Adventure Imports in Portland. The conversation provides a comprehensive look at his diverse professional journey and includes a transparent disclosure of his industry conflicts.

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For this Principles of Overlanding, Matt and Scott review the top 10 pieces of kit that help support local and international overland travel. Topics include navigation, communications, recovery equipment, medical kits, training, tools, and more. 

Overland travel emphasizes exploration and self-sufficiency, and starting with the basics lays a strong foundation for future adventures. Reflect on the essentials discussed, understand your needs, and build your gear around your travel style. Prioritize experiences over equipment, and remember that the spirit of overlanding is about exploration, not just the drive.

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Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady records from Eswatini’s Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary with Alan Shenton and Joe Fleming of Bonafide Moto Co. following a motorcycle trek on Triumphs (Tiger 1200, Tiger 800, and Street Scrambler). Alan reflects on his international music career in bands like Zebra & Giraffe, opening for The Cure, and how South Africa’s parks fueled his love for travel. Joe discusses relocating from the U.S. to South Africa and his minimalist, moment-focused photography. The group explores packing light, riding conditions, and the story of Bulembu—a former mining town transformed into a ministry supporting 2,000 AIDS orphans through sustainable tourism. They conclude with regional route recommendations and where to find Bonafide Moto Co. online.

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For a complete copy of the show notes: https://www.overlandjournal.com/what-is-overland-podcast/

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