The Wilderness Medic Podcast

Ben Lyon, a former combat medic in the Royal Marine Commandos, shares his insightful journey on mental health and the importance of support systems. Having served for over a decade, Ben brings a unique perspective on the challenges faced by service members, especially regarding mental health issues.

After experiencing inadequate mental health support within the military, Ben decided to take action. This led to the founding of Resilient Minds Education, an organisation aimed at using profits for mental health support tailored to veterans and blue light responders. His goal is to utilise the outdoors as a therapeutic tool, encouraging individuals to find healing in nature and wilderness experiences.

Join me as I talk with Dr Ben Alba, an A&E doctor and expedition medic who set up the Ubuntu network, a peer support community for remote medics, where cases are shared and discussed, with a focus on the human factors, leadership and decision-making challenges that are uniquely faced in remote medicine.

Find out more at www.theadventuremedic.com/features/ubuntu-network/

Join me as I talk with Jack Fisher, an award-winning expedition film-maker, who has worked on a wide range of projects including tracking snow leopards in Mongolia.

We discuss his journey into travel and story telling and his upcoming project to cross the Darian Gap.

Find out more at: www.jackrfisher.com

Join me as I catch up with Dr Jack Watson who has just returned from being the doctor for "The Great World Race" a 7-continent challenge that flies competitors across the world to complete 7 marathons in 7 days.

Join me as I catch up with Dr Josh Allison, an expedition and A&E doctor who has been all over the world doing exciting things.

We discuss how his career has evolved and explore his experiences working with a remote jungle tribe with Bruce Parry.

Note to listeners: this episode was recorded in April 2025

Welcome back to the Wilderness Medic Podcast- after some time away it is great to be back talking to exciting people from the world of expedition medicine, adventure and travel.

Opening season 4 is a super interesting chat with James Dyer. James and I were in Zambia together a few years ago and during this episode we discuss his journey, expedition skills and what expedition leaders look for in medics- essential listening!

Note to listeners: this podcast was recorded in March 2025

In this episode I am joined by Dr Simon Latham, direct from his clinic on board one of the Mercy Ships boats which is docked in Freetown Sierra Leone.

We discuss how he has carved this unique career path and how Mercy Ships work collaboratively with local governments to provide life changing surgery and sustainable healthcare outcomes.

Find out more: www.mercyships.org.uk

In today's episode I am joined by Donna Finnis, an expedition medic with a passion for adventure and medical care provision in remote and challenging environments.

She has supported expeditions from the dizzy heights of Kilimanjaro, to the frozen northwest of Mongolia, which is what we are discussing today!

When she’s not out on expedition, Donna can be found working frontline as a paramedic, teaching medicine in remote environments, volunteering her time as a coastguard.

Season 3 Episode 7: David Tamale-Sali Medic SOS and Shame in Medicine

In this episode I am joined by David Tamale-Sali where we discuss shame within medicine and how this lead him to develop his Medic SOS project.

In the spring of 2003, David found himself kicked out of Medical School at the start of resitting his third year. He spent the next two decades off the beaten path, working in various jobs and even returned to medical school, but he kept encountering distressed and frustrated Medics from around the world .

After encouraging a Doctor in distress on Facebook, he felt inspired to put together a book that gathers encouragement, insights, and strategies for overcoming burnout from over 100 doctors, to raise money for: Doctors in Distress, You Okay Doc? The Lorna Breen Foundation, Physicians Anonymous and Practitioner Health.

Medic SOS E-book

https://www.okaydoctor.net/

In this latest episode I am joined by Dr Sophie Redlin who is a GP, expedition doctor and anthropologist. We explore the topic of moral injury and discuss the moral injury partnership that she has co-founded.

Find out more: https://www.churchillfellowship.org/news-views/blogs/moral-injury-and-the-current-crisis-in-healthcare/