Wild Chats with Ben Southall

Can a tick bite make you allergic to red meat? And what’s the safest way to remove a tick?

Join Ben Southall and Professor Stephen Barker for a fascinating conversation about tick bites in Australia, from paralysis ticks and the illnesses they can cause to practical ways to avoid bringing one home from your next hike.

With more than three decades spent studying Australian ticks, Stephen explains how they find us, what happens when they bite, and the surprising link between tick bites and mammalian meat allergy.

Whether you’re wondering how to remove a tick, protect your dog or reduce your chances of a bite, this episode is packed with strange science and useful advice for your next outdoor adventure.

For a free pdf copy of his book: Ticks of Australasia: 125 species of ticks in and around Australia by Stephen Barker & Dayana Barker contact Stephen Barker ([email protected])  and learn more about his work: https://ticksofaustralia.org/

🎙️ Hosted by
Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures: https://bestlifeadventures.com/  
Wild Earth Australia: https://www.wildearth.com.au/

Join Ben Southall and filmmaker and professional tinkerer Beau Miles for a very special milestone episode of Wild Chats... our 100th episode of the podcast!!!

Beau returns for a wide-ranging conversation about how his idea of adventure has changed over the years. Once known for big endurance missions, backyard marathons and wonderfully odd experiments, Beau is now finding just as much meaning in fixing broken things, restoring an old mountain shack, picking up rubbish, planting trees and making something useful from what already exists.

From DIY, fatherhood and creative burnout to YouTube, gear, rubbish runs, celebrating small wins and the strange satisfaction of knowing exactly how salty your sweat is, this is a conversation about finding adventure closer to home!

Buy tickets to Beau's Secret Screenings:
https://beaumiles.com/screenings/

Connect with Beau Miles:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeauMiles
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beauisms/
Website: https://beaumiles.com/

🎙️ Hosted by
Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures: https://bestlifeadventures.com/
Wild Earth Australia: https://www.wildearth.com.au/

Australian adventurer Oliver Foran joins Wild Chats for a fascinating conversation about what it takes to travel from sea level to the summit of Mount Everest!

Ollie cycled 1,150 kilometres from the Bay of Bengal, trekked through the Himalayas and ultimately stood 8,848 metres above sea level on the summit of Everest, completing the journey in just 50 days. But getting there meant battling 40+ degree heat, brutal Himalayan roads, altitude sickness, an avalanche and days without proper sleep.

He also breaks down the gear, preparation and mindset that kept him moving.

Connect with Oli Foran: 
https://www.instagram.com/oliverforan

🎙️ Hosted by Ben Southall  
Best Life Adventures: https://bestlifeadventures.com/ 
Wild Earth Australia: https://www.wildearth.com.au/

Join Ben Southall and elite ultra runner and physical therapist Rachel Entrekin for a fascinating conversation about endurance, resilience and what it takes to run over 400 kilometres... and beat every other runner in the field.

Rachel made history as the first female athlete to win the Cocodona 250 outright, covering 250 miles (400 km) across Arizona and finishing ahead of the entire field. But her journey into ultra running didn’t begin with obvious talent. Rachel hated running growing up and only gradually discovered that the longer and harder the challenge became, the more she seemed to thrive.

Rachel shares what really happens to the body and mind during multi-day races, from five-minute trailside naps and managing nutrition to the moments of doubt that arrive when you’ve already run 240 kilometres and still have 160 to go.

From FKTs and alpine adventures to Cocodona, UTMB and the Snowman Race in Bhutan, this is a conversation about discovering just how far your body and mind might be capable of going.

Connect with Rachel Entrekin:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachel__entrekin/
Blog: https://blondeidiotrunning.wordpress.com/

🎙️ Hosted by
Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures: https://bestlifeadventures.com/
Wild Earth Australia: https://www.wildearth.com.au/

Join Ben Southall and emergency physician, expedition doctor and mountain medicine expert Dr Hannah Lock for a fascinating conversation about altitude sickness, frostbite and how to stay safer in the mountains.

Hannah explains what actually happens to your body as you climb higher, why even extremely fit people can suffer from altitude sickness and why preparation and a slow ascent are so important. She breaks down the warning signs of acute mountain sickness, HAPE and HACE, and discusses acclimatisation, hydration, Diamox and the usefulness (and limitations) of pulse oximeters at altitude.

The conversation also heads into the cold, with Hannah explaining the difference between Raynaud's, frostnip and frostbite, what freezing temperatures actually do to your tissue and why early treatment matters.

From building a practical expedition first aid kit to knowing when it's time to descend or turn around, this episode is packed with useful advice for hikers, trekkers and anyone planning to venture into high-altitude or cold environments.

Connect with Hannah
https://drhannahlock.co.uk/

🎙️ Hosted by
Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures: https://bestlifeadventures.com/
Wild Earth Australia: https://www.wildearth.com.au/

Join Ben Southall and world-renowned adventure photographer and director Krystle Wright for a fascinating conversation about creativity, resilience and what it takes to capture extraordinary moments in some of the world’s most extreme environments.

Krystle shares her journey from digital and film photography to climbing, underwater shoots and storm chasing. She explains why she loves the problem-solving involved in trad climbing, what it is really like to film tornadoes, and how adventure sports have shaped her perspective both behind and beyond the camera.

Connect with Krystle:
Website: https://www.krystlewright.com
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/krystlejwright/

🎙️ Hosted by
Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures: https://bestlifeadventures.com/
Wild Earth Australia: https://www.wildearth.com.au/

Join Ben Southall and bestselling author, journalist and endurance expert Alex Hutchinson for a fascinating conversation about curiosity, exploration and why stepping into the unknown might be one of the most important things we can do for our brains.

Alex, author of The Explorer's Gene and Endure, explains why humans are naturally driven to explore, how modern technology is quietly removing uncertainty from our lives, and why getting a little lost could actually make us happier, more resilient and more creative.

Connect with Alex:
Website: https://www.alexhutchinson.net

🎙️ Hosted by
Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures: https://bestlifeadventures.com/
Wild Earth Australia: https://www.wildearth.com.au/

Join Ben Southall and mountain guide, climber, backcountry skier and K7 Adventures co-owner Lewis Foster for a conversation about growing up in Australia's alpine country, finding purpose in the outdoors, and why wild places continue to shape who we are.

Raised in Thredbo by ski-loving parents, Lewis spent his childhood exploring the Snowy Mountains long before he realised how special they were. From skiing and snowboarding to climbing, mountaineering, highlining and backcountry travel, he shares the adventures, mistakes and lessons that led him from mountain kid to outdoor guide and adventure business owner.

Connect with K7 Adventures:
https://www.k7adventures.com
https://www.instagram.com/k7adventures

Learn more about the Wild Winter Immersion:
https://explore.k7adventures.com/wild-winter-immersion

🎙️ Hosted by
Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures: https://bestlifeadventures.com/
Wild Earth Australia: https://www.wildearth.com.au/

Join Ben Southall and filmmaker, long-distance hiker and storyteller Bart Schrijver for a conversation about life on the trail, the freedom of walking, and how adventure can shape the way we see ourselves and the world around us.

From hiking the 3,000-kilometre Te Araroa Trail across New Zealand to solo journeys through the remote landscapes of Norway, Bart shares how long-distance walking became a path to self-discovery, creativity and a completely different way of living. They explore the mental challenges of spending months on the trail, the surprising lessons that come from solitude, and why some of the most important adventures happen inside your own head.

Bart also takes us behind the scenes of his award-winning films, including Human Nature and his latest release, The North, a cinematic journey through the Scottish Highlands. He shares what it's really like to create films in remote wilderness, carrying everything on foot, working with tiny crews, embracing unpredictable weather, and capturing authentic stories in some of the world's wildest places.


Connect with Bart:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bartschrijver1
Tuesday Studio: https://tuesdayfilm.com/
Watch Human Nature: https://tuesdayfilm.com/human-nature/
Watch The North: https://tuesdayfilm.com/the-north/

🎙️ Hosted by
Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures: https://bestlifeadventures.com
Wild Earth Australia: https://www.wildearth.com.au

Join Ben Southall and adventurer Alastair Humphreys for a conversation about big expeditions, small adventures and why the outdoors doesn’t have to be far away, expensive or extreme to change your life. From cycling around the world and walking across deserts to the rise of microadventures, Al shares how curiosity, storytelling and paying attention to nature can help us reconnect with the world around us.

Connect with Al: https://alastairhumphreys.com
Buy his new book: https://www.amazon.com.au/Unwilded-Natural-Without-Noticing-Matters/dp/1785634836
Check out the beer can camera: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXrpldrDU3G/

🎙️ Hosted by
Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures: https://bestlifeadventures.com/
Wild Earth Australia: https://www.wildearth.com.au/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Adventure and Micro-Adventures
05:04 The Journey Begins: From University to Adventure Travel
10:51 Cycling the Karakoram Highway: A First Big Adventure
16:10 The Evolution of Adventure Storytelling
21:53 Challenges in Adventure: Pushing Boundaries
28:07 The Future of Adventure and Storytelling
33:17 Final Thoughts and Resources for Adventure Seekers