The Wild Podcast

Mike King is a professional forager and founder of Finders Eaters. He's on a mission to discover the unique and unusual flavours of New Zealand's native plants. Some of his discoveries will open your mind to a new world of edible goodness that's all around us.If you are interested in learning more about edible plants that you can find in the bush, at the beach and even in your own backyard, you'll get a lot out of this episode.//EPISODE EXTRAS//Check out the Finders Eaters website here (you can book foraging tours in Kāpiti and Wellington)Follow Finders Eaters on Facebook and InstagramCheck out the episode of Country Calendar featuring Mike here//EPISODE SPONSOR//This episode of The Wild Podcast is brought to you by Water To Go. Water To Go has created a drink bottle with a unique 3 stage water filtration system, using 1 traditional and 2 nanotechnology methods to filter your water. The filter is lightweight, lasts for ages and is easy to use.For us, using the Water To Go bottle means we don't have to boil or chemically treat water and we can fill it anywhere - even a dirty, stagnant tarn - and know we're drinking clean clear water. It's perfect for hunting, tramping, international travel, bike packing or everyday use. The active bottle is the only filtration bottle designed for biking on the market.Check out the Water To Go website at watertogo.co.nz and use the code THEWILD at checkout to get 15% off your order.//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonny

Eleanor Arnst and Katie Wright are two New Zealand based ultra running legends. Having recently completed the first known non-stop traverse of the Ruahine Range they speak to Andy about all things ultra, FKT and other extreme exploits. //EPISODE EXTRAS//Katie's InstagramEleanor's  InstagramThis episode of The Wild Podcast is brought to you by Water To Go. Water To Go has created a drink bottle with unique 3 stage water filtration system. using 1 traditional and 2 nano technology methods to filter your water. The filter is lightweight, lasts for ages and easy to use.For us, using the Water To Gobottle means we don't have to boil or chemically treat water and we can fill it anywhere and know we're drinking clean clear water. Its perfect for hunting, tramping, international travel, bike packing or every day use. Their active bottle is the only filtration bottle designed for biking on the market.Check out the Water To Go website at watertogo.co.nz and use the code THEWILD at checkout to get 15% off your order.//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.com

In this breaking news episode we speak to an anonymous Conversation Board member about the Department of Conservation's Options Development Group.  We talk about the group's controversial leaked draft recommendations and the potential implications for New Zealand's environment and native species. The Options Development Group was established in late 2020 to make sure the partial reviews of the general policies are guided by perspectives and insights from te ao Māori at a national level. Our anonymous source is now alleging that the group is working outside of their remit and that the process has largely been kept behind closed doors.The Department of Conservation was invited to appear on the show but declined our offer.//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.com

In 1998 Alistair Matthew  found himself with a bike high up in the Bolivian Andes. He explored the mountains surrounding La Paz and found a ride he knew people would love - The World's Most Dangerous Road. He found a couple more bikes and offered the ride to anyone who would listen, and soon enough it became the bike ride to do in South America. In this episode Alistair and Andy chat about pioneering adventure tourism in Bolivia, life and the importance of growing your skills on a bike. //EPISODE EXTRAS//Gravity Nelson WebsiteGravity Nelson InstagramThis episode of The Wild Podcast is brought to you by Water To Go. Water To Go has created a drink bottle with unique 3 stage water filtration system. using 1 traditional and 2 nano technology methods to filter your water. The filter is lightweight, lasts for ages and easy to use.For us, using the Water To Gobottle means we don't have to boil or chemically treat water and we can fill it anywhere and know we're drinking clean clear water. Its perfect for hunting, tramping, international travel, bike packing or every day use. Their active bottle is the only filtration bottle designed for biking on the market.Check out the Water To Go website at watertogo.co.nz and use the code THEWILD at checkout to get 15% off your order.//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.com

Ray is a tramper, photographer and graphic designer based in Nelson, New Zealand. His relatives were the first europeans to find and explore the Tableland area behind Mt Arthur in what is now Kahurangi National Park. After years of researching and photographing he released the book Tableland - The History Behind Mt Arthur. Andy chatted to him about the process of researching and writing the book, his family history and some epic adventures he's had in his many years tramping around New Zealand.//EPISODE EXTRAS//Rays WebsiteTableland website//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.com

Nathan Dahlberg is a mountaineer, explorer and former professional mountain biker. In this episode Nathan talks about what it's like to ride in the Tour De France and his latest adventures in Pakistan and China. Opting for the ultra simple and ultra practical approach to mountaineering, Nathan runs us through adventuring in some of the worlds most inaccessible locations. //EPISODE EXTRAS//Nathans WebsiteTumble Home Visions on Youtube//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.com

Robert Mads Andreson is a mountaineer, author and former managing director in the advertising industry. In this episode we talk to Robert about his latest book Nine Lives which details his adventures on Mt Everest. The beautifully written book features a foreword from Peter Hillary and talks about his nine lives on the tallest mountain in the world. Recorded on Christmas Eve and intended to be a Christmas day episode this is our belated Christmas present to our listeners.//EPISODE EXTRAS//Follow Robert on Instagram Roberts website / blog//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.com

Dick Vietch is one of New Zealand's conservation icons. In this episode Andy and Dick chat about everything from saving the South Island Saddleback from extinction on Big South Cape Island in 1964, discovering a new species of bird on Campbell Island through to helping eradicate cats off Hauturu / Little Barrier Island in the 1970's.They also discuss the incredible book Hauturu which features a complete survey of the flora and fauna of Te Hauturu-o-Toi/Little Barrier Island which Dick co-edited along with Lyn Wade.//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonny

Dave Shaw is the founder, creator and cameraman behind The Hunters Club TV show and he's just released a new book called 'Off the Beaten Track: Hunting Tales from the New Zealand Backcountry'. In this episode, Andy talks with Dave about his background in zoology, the origin of The Hunters Club TV show, his new book, and, of course, all things hunting in New Zealand.Whether or not you're into hunting yourself or not, Dave's story will resonate with anyone who's into the outdoors. //EPISODE EXTRAS//Follow The Hunters Club on Facebook and Instagram.Watch the latest episodes of The Hunters Club on Prime here.//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.com

David Cary is the founder of Empty Packs, a new brand of ultra-light tramping packs custom-made in a shed in Te Anau, New Zealand.David's story is similar to many of the great outdoor brands of today. Patagonia started with Yvon Chouinard creating hand-forged mountain climbing gear in the 1950s.  Macpac started with Bruce McIntyre making backpacks in his Christchurch garage in the 1970s.Empty Packs has started with David teaching himself how to sew ultra-light tramping gear in a small workshop in Te Anau. In this episode, we talk about how Empty Packs got started, why David thinks heavyweight, factory-made tramping packs are unnecessary for most outdoors people, and putting Empty Packs to the test on some epic adventures.The remarkable thing about David is that he's not driven by profit, rather he wants to do as much good in the world as possible. If Empty Packs becomes the next big thing in tramping gear - which we think it could - you heard it here first.//EPISODE EXTRAS//Check out the Empty Packs website here. Follow Empty Packs on Instagram here.Follow David on Instagram here.//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.com

Alec Milne is a conservationist and amateur ornithologist (a person who studies birds).He's is a member of Friends of Cobb, a conservation group that does pest control and trapping in the Cobb Valley in Kahurangi National Park - one of the most geologically diverse places in New Zealand.Friends of the Cobb has been achieving amazing results in the valley and surrounding areas and the group's helping to protect many of our endangered native species.Alec's work in the Cobb Valley means he gets a close-up view of New Zealand's conservation issues.Andy talks to Alec about rock wren, New Zealand's only true alpine bird, and the newly-discovered threat it faces from climate change (scary stuff!). They also talk about discovering a new species of lizard and Alec's search for the Grey Ghost, the South Island kōkako that was presumed extinct. Alec claims to have seen the Grey Ghost in the Cobb Valley in 2005 and there have been other sightings since. The search for the Grey Ghost has captivated many conservationists and ornithologists over the years, but the elusive bird remains a mystery.Alec's one of many volunteers across who New Zealand who are doing incredibly important work that flies under the radar.These are the types of people we love to celebrate on The Wild Podcast and it was great to have Alec on the show.This was an incredibly illuminating conversation that's sure to awaken the conservationist within all of us.//EPISODE EXTRAS//Follow Friends of Cobb on Facebook.//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.com

In this special Election 2020 episode of The Wild Podcast, we asked the five political parties that are currently sitting in parliament - Labour, National, The Green Party, ACT, and NZ First - the same five questions so we could get an idea of who they are, what they stand for, and why we should vote for them or not.The only party that didn't respond is NZ First so they aren't included in the episode.The party spokespeople are:ACT - Nicole McKee (#3 on the party list)National - Jacqui Dean (opposition spokesperson for Conservation and on the Environment Select Committee)Labour - Rachel Boyack (Nelson candidate)The Green Party - Chlöe Swarbrick (current MP)The questions are focussed on conservation, the environment and the outdoors - the stuff our listeners are typically most interested in.The five questions we asked are: 1. Tell me about the best outdoors experience you've had in New Zealand. 2. What is New Zealand doing really well regarding conservation and the environment. 3. What do you see as the biggest issues facing conservation and the environment right now? 4. What do you see as the biggest opportunities? 5. Why should an outdoors enthusiast vote for you?Dabbling in politics is a bit outside our wheelhouse but we think it's important to know how our vote might influence New Zealand's environment, the places we love to explore, and the future of our wild places and the flora and fauna that inhabit them.For our international listeners, this episode won't be particularly interesting or useful. But for our New Zealand listeners, we hope this helps to provide a better understanding of where the main parties stand on conservation and the environment.//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.comThe Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nz

The Whanganui River in New Zealand is the first river in the world to be granted the status of a legal person. But what does that really mean?In this episode, Andy talks with Jonny about the short documentary he produced on the Whanganui River, called Ko Au Te Awa (I Am The River). The film explores the concept of legal personhood from a Māori worldview.When the legislation passed in 2017 there was a lot of confusion around how a river could be seen as a living entity. In this conversation, we talk about how legal personhood isn't a Māori concept at all, the 150-year struggle by iwi to have their relationship to the river recognised at law, and what this potentially means for the health and conservation of the river going forward.//EPISODE EXTRAS//Watch the documentary Ko Au Te Awa here.Follow Jonathan on Instagram.//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.comThe Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nz

Levi Harrison is a modern day hunter-gatherer who lives in a tipi in the forest somewhere at the Top of the South Island of New Zealand. After living most of his life in a big city, Levi felt the call of the wild and decided to unplug himself from society.Levi hunts, fishes and forages for 90 per cent of his food, he bathes in a stream, and experiences a deep connection to nature.However, in his own words, he lives between worlds. Despite his hunter-gatherer lifestyle, he still lives in close contact with the modern world.He works as a freelance voice actor for major companies and has to leave the wild to spend time with his children.In this episode, Jonny talks with Levi about how he came to be living this way, how he balances work and family life with living in the wild, and the way that he's come to see himself as part of nature not apart from it.While living like a hunter-gatherer is not for everyone, Levi says there a simple steps we can all take to live a life that's more simple and connected to nature.//EPISODE EXTRAS//Watch the short documentary about Levi, Becoming a Wild Man, on Youtube.Visit Levi's website Living Wild to learn more about the workshops he leads.//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.comThe Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nz

Gavin Lang is a New Zealand mountain guide and photographer who combines self-development with nature and adventure to help people overcome the mountains within themselves.In this episode, Jonny talks with Gavin about how he developed a passion for mountaineering, despite growing up in Ireland where the highest mountain is about 1000m.They also talk about his Seeking the Light project, in which Gavin is climbing the 24 New Zealand mountains higher than 3000m to tell the story of the mental health benefits of adventure, challenge and the outdoors.It's a really inspiring conversation that goes deep into the healing power of nature and the mind.One quick note, the neck injury that Gavin talks about that led to some of his darkest days happened while he was rock climbing and he twisted his neck in an awkward way - they don't actually cover that back story in the conversation, so it's helpful to have that context going in.//EPISODE EXTRAS//Follow Gavin on Facebook and Instagram.Check out his guiding company First Light Guiding.Find more information on Gavin's Seeking the Light project here.Watch the video of the Peru expedition Gavin led with Penny Brothers (mentioned in the podcast starting at 27:50).Get a glimpse of what Gavin's Self Mastery Through Mountaineering course is like here.//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.comThe Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nz

Dylan van Winkel is a renowned Kiwi wildlife ecologist and herpetologist, which means he studies reptiles and amphibians like lizards and frogs. He literally wrote the book on reptiles and amphibians in New Zealand. In this episode, Andy talks with Dylan about how his interest in lizards from a young age developed into a life devoted to research and conservation. His conservation work has led to the recognition of new species, including an endemic gecko, and his career has seen him undertake projects in New Zealand, Tasmania, Tonga, and Papua New Guinea.New Zealand has at least 123 different species of reptiles and amphibians and yet they aren't nearly as recognised as our native birds. The work Dylan is doing is helping to change that and he says there's been a surge of interest in the reptile world in recent years.We're sure you'll come away from this episode with a new appreciation for the many wonderful creatures of the reptile world.//EPISODE EXTRAS//Buy Dylan's excellent book Reptiles and Amphibians of New Zealand: A Field Guide here.Read Dylan's adventure blog //SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.com

Crystal Brindle is a nature photographer, a community ranger at the Department of Conservation in New Zealand, and a keen adventurer.She grew up in the United States where she worked for the National Park Service (following in her parents' footsteps) before moving to New Zealand. A talented landscape photographer, Crystal uses her creativity to try and foster deeper connections between people and the land.In this episode, Andy and Crystal cover a lot of ground, including her photography, thoughts on social media influencers, what it's really like working for DOC, encountering bears in the parks of Alaska, and a few of her favourite adventure stories.Crystal's energy and love for nature is infectious, so be prepared for a sudden urge to get into the outdoors after listening to this episode.//EPISODE EXTRAS//Follow Crystal on Facebook and Instagram. Check out her photography and blog here//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.com

Kate Uwins aka Naked Kate is a skinny dipping enthusiast and a body positivity advocate who's working on New Zealand's first guidebook for skinny dipping, called Newd Zealand.To most people, skinny dipping is simply swimming in the nude. But in this episode, Kate shares her personal story of how skinny dipping has given her more confidence and helped her to feel comfortable in her own skin.Through this deeper connection with the environment, Kate says nature has taught her that there is great beauty in imperfection, helping her to break free from the expectations and limits placed on her - and all of us - by society.We also talk about why New Zealand is such a great place for skinny dipping, given the wealth of stunning, secluded swimming spots, and her recent challenge of skinny dipping for 30 days straight in the Queenstown Lakes area in the middle of winter (Wim Hof style!). It was a fascinating conversation that really opened our eyes to the stigma around the human body and we're sure Kate will get you thinking about stripping your kit off the next time you take a dip in nature.//EPISODE EXTRAS//Follow Kate Uwins on InstagramCheck out Kate's blog//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.comThe Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nz

Billy Stairmind is a record-holding 7x New Zealand surfing champion, future Olympian, and a competitor on the World Qualifying Series.Growing up in Raglan, the surfing capital of New Zealand, Billy got introduced to the ocean at a young age. Since turning pro, he's won seven New Zealand titles and recently qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games, which have been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.In this episode, we talk about his backstory, turning pro, qualifying for the Olympics, the time he beat Kelly Slater, the greatest surfer of all time, in a heat, and his love for the ocean.Billy also opens up about a particularly difficult period in his life a few years back and how he's built himself back up to achieve some of the best results of his career.//EPISODE EXTRAS//Follow Billy Stairmind on Instagram and Facebook.Check out the video of Billy beating Kelly Slater in a heat in 2011. It's epic!Watch a short clip of Billy talking about making the New Zealand Olympic team.//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.comThe Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nz

Geoff Reid is a passionate environmentalist, talented photographer and reluctant social media influencer from New Zealand.He uses activism and storytelling to campaign for fresh water, healthy marine reserves, protecting forests and to help deepen environmental awareness and the need for biodiversity restoration.In this episode we talk about everything from dirty dairying to invasive weeds, his campaign to save the world's last giant rātā forest, and the power of social media to create change. Geoff is extremely passionate about being a voice for nature and helping to build a more sustainable future for people and wildlife.//EPISODE EXTRAS//Follow Geoff on Facebook and Instagram.Watch the video from TVNZ News about Geoff's campaign to save the Akatarawa Giant Rātā Forest. Sign the petition here.//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.com

Amber and Serena Shine are The Wild Twins and they well and truly live up to their name. They hunt, fish, dive, hike, climb, snowboard, skydive... They've climbed Mount Cook, attempted Denali, completed the world's highest marathon in the Himalayas on a day's notice and, most recently, they became New Zealand's first contestants on the survival TV show, Naked and Afraid.In this episode, we talk about their rural upbringing, Amber's snowboarding injury and her somewhat miraculous recovery, the incredible challenges of Naked and Afraid, and what it's like being social media "influencers" while staying true to who they are.Amber and Serena are inspiring, down to earth, Kiwi women who are all about making the most of the limited amount of life they have. We're sure you'll all enjoy and learn something from their story.//EPISODE EXTRAS//Follow The Wild Twins on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube. Watch the full episode of the twins on Naked and Afraid here.//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.comThe Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nz

Chloe Phillips-Harris is a New Zealand explorer and expedition leader. The unique thing about Chloe is that her adventures around the world almost always involve animals. She completed the world's most gruelling horse race, The Mongol Derby, leads expeditions across the Gobi Desert on camels in temperatures below -40 degrees Celsius, and she's spent time with the nomadic Dukha people, the world's last reindeer herders, in the mountains of northern Mongolia. In this episode we talk about her introduction to horses and adventure through her intrepid parents and how she went from her first pony to taming and training the wild Kaimanawa horses at her family farm in the Bay of Islands. We go deep into adventure stories, including overcoming crippling pain on the Mongol Derby, camel snowboarding in the Gobi Desert, a harsh winter spent with the Dukha tribe, and Chloe's philosophies around fear and perseverance. Chloe's story will inspire anyone who has a goal or a dream to chase after it - to feel the fear and do it anyway.//EPISODE EXTRAS//If you enjoy this episode, make sure to grab a copy of Chloe's book, Fearless: The life of adventurer, equestrian, and endurance rider Chloe Phillips-Harris. You can follow Chloe on Facebook and Instagram.//SUPPORT THE WILD PODCAST//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.comThe Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nz

Philip Temple is a living legend and one of New Zealand's great explorers. He made the first ascent of the Carstensz Pyramide in West New Guinea (now known as Papua) back in 1962, which has come to be regarded as the technically most difficult of the 'Seven Summits of the Seven Continents'. During his exploration of the island, Philip was among the last to witness the tool-making rituals of a stone-age culture before it was overtaken by the modern world.He went on to explore a swathe of unmapped central New Guinea Highlands, and he risked his life to recover the human remains from a US aircraft that had crashed on a sheer mountain.Philip is perhaps better known as an author and has written several non-fiction books, novels and even children's books.In this episode, we discuss his adventures in New Guinea and the book, The Last True Explorer, that he wrote about the expedition.It is truly our privilege to share part of Philip's story with you. He wears his achievements lightly and, aside from his own books, he hasn't received much recognition or attention for his remarkable feats.Philip lives in Dunedin with his wife, poet and novelist, Diane Brown.We will endeavour to bring your part 2 with Philip so we can cover his many other expeditions and first ascents.//EPISODE EXTRAS//For more information on Philip and his books, you can visit his website here.//SUPPORT THE SHOW//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon.We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors.Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.You can also support the show by leaving a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes.Thanks heaps,-- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.com

Guy Cotter is one of New Zealand's most accomplished mountaineers, having summited Mount Everest five times and led many other expeditions on the world's highest mountain. He has completed a long list of first ascents on some of the world's most impressive peaks.As CEO of Adventure Consultants, a mountain guiding company, he has helped countless numbers of people achieve their dream of climbing Everest. In this episode, we talk about Guy's history in the mountains, including the influence of his father, Edmund Cotter, who was on New Zealand's first Himalayan expedition with Sir Edmund Hilary. We also touch on the deaths of his two mentors Gary Ball and Rob Hall in the mountains and how that impacted him.And of course, we go deep into Everest and the romance and climbing culture that surrounds it.Guy is someone who will go down in history as one of New Zealand's great mountaineers and it's a privilege to bring you part of his story."My favourite mountain is the next one I'm gonna go to." -- Guy Cotter //EPISODE EXTRAS//For a full list of Guy's mountaineering accomplishments, go here.Guy featured in the 2015 film Everest, played by actor Sam Worthington. //SUPPORT THE SHOW//If you like what we do, please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon. We've set it up so you can choose from:1. The cost of staying in a backcountry hut in New Zealand2. The cost of staying in a serviced hutWe thought that was cool because our goal with every episode is to transport you from wherever you are into the outdoors. Your support helps us to cover our costs and keep bringing you stories of explorers, adventure, and the great outdoors.It would mean a lot to us if you could leave a five-star rating and/or a short review on iTunes. Thanks, -- Andy & Jonnywww.thewildpodcast.com The Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nz

Sam Smoothy is a New Zealand professional freeride skier and filmmaker who pushes the limits of what's possible on some of the world's most threatening mountains. Sam competed on the Freeride World Tour for close to a decade before deciding to focus on making epic ski films.In this episode, we talk about Sam's backstory and how he was thrust into the world of skiing from an extremely young age (we're talking from just a few weeks old). We go into a couple of his film projects, including the documentary 'Skypiercer' about climbing up and skiing down Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain, and infiltrating the iron curtain of North Korea. We also talk about flow states, balancing risk and reward in an environment where one wrong decision could end everything, and the joy and interconnectedness of nature.If you enjoy a good adventure story with some deep and meaningful chats sprinkled in, you're going to love this episode with Sam Smoothy.//EPISODE EXTRAS//There are a tonne of extras for this episode. To truly appreciate this conversation, you should go and check out the following films.Skypiercer (the Mount Cook documentary)Inside North Korea Sam's Near Death Crash Sam on the Freeride World Tour in what's described as "the best run ever"There are a whole lot more you can check out on Youtube.Follow Sam on Instagram and Facebook//SUPPORT US//Follow The Wild Podcast on Instagram and FacebookIf you enjoyed this episode it would mean a lot to us if you could leave a five-star rating and/or a short review. This helps us to reach more people and to keep producing more episodes. We love doing this, but it does cost money and take time, so we really appreciate all the support we can get from our awesome listeners. The Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nz

Josh James the Kiwi Bushman has forged a career hunting, trapping and fishing all over the world. From humble beginnings as a raft guide and possum trapper Josh has built an audience that eagerly follows his exploits on social media and patreon. We talk about how Josh got started, staying sane during the nationwide lockdown and whats next for the Kiwi Bushman

Marco de Kretser is a 19-year-old music producer, photographer, environmental science student and adventurer. In March 2019, he went on an expedition to Antarctica as an Antarctic Heritage Trust Inspiring Explorer. Marco's idea was to record the natural sounds of Antarctica and transform them into music. The result is his epic electronic track, The Frozen Wild. In this episode we talk about how Marco went about capturing audio on the ice and turning it into a song, the highlights (and lowlights) of the expedition, and his bizarre introduction to photography which started with photographing video game worlds.Marco is a super talented young guy who tends to work at the intersection of the natural and digital worlds. //EPISODE EXTRAS//Check out Marco's work at www.marcodekretser.com Follow him on Instagram here.Listen to his music on Soundcloud here.//SUPPORT US//Follow The Wild Podcast on Instagram and FacebookIf you enjoyed this episode it would mean a lot to us if you could leave a five-star rating and/or a short review. This helps us to reach more people and to keep producing more episodes. We love doing this, but it does cost money and take time, so we really appreciate all the support we can get from our awesome listeners. 

Elina Osborne is a New Zealand filmmaker who hiked 4270 kilometres from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail over 4.5 incredible months. The PCT was her first thru-hike. She did it to prove to herself what she was capable of and push beyond her personal limitations. The PCT was a life-affirming experience for her and, luckily for us, she documented the entire journey in a short film called It Is The People.In this episode we talk about Elina's reason for hiking the PCT (her 'why), as well as the many highlights and lowlights along the way. This is a great episode for anyone who's interested in learning more about thru-hiking, especially if you're considering the PCT.//EPISODE EXTRAS//Watch Elina's short film on the PCT 'IT IS THE PEOPLE' here.Check out her other videos from the trail here (there are 8 chapters so far). Follow Elina on Instagram here.//WELCOME TO SEASON 2//This episode officially marks the start of season 2 of The Wild Podcast. Nothing really changes for you, but we just wanted to celebrate kicking into another year of awesome guests and epic adventure stories. If you want to celebrate with us, please read the 'Support Us' section below.//SUPPORT US//Follow The Wild Podcast on Instagram and FacebookIf you enjoyed this episode it would mean a lot to us if you could leave a five-star rating and/or a short review. This helps us to reach more people and to keep producing more episodes. We love doing this, but it does cost money and take time, so we really appreciate all the support we can get from our awesome listeners. 

Canyoning is one of the world's fastest growing adventure sports, and Dan Clearwater is one of New Zealand's true canyoning pioneers. Dan literally wrote the book on canyoning in New Zealand, as well as founding the New Zealand Canyoning Association. Canyoning is a bit of a catch-all adventure sport, combining aspects of hiking, climbing, caving, abseiling, and even swimming. It's all about exploring places that seem to be inaccessible, exploring between the cracks. Dan's completed at least 40 first descents and has many more on his to-do list.Dan is a passionate explorer and you can hear it in his voice as he describes many of his adventures and favourite locations around New Zealand in this episode. As well as canyoning, Dan is also into hiking, paragliding, and packrafting. He even does what's called "hike & fly" where you hike up to a decent elevation, stay the night, and then "fly" back down on a paraglider the next morning. This episode will resonate with anyone who has an appetite for adventure, especially if you're interested in giving canyoning a go sometime. This is your chance to learn from the best.//EPISODE EXTRAS//Buy Dan's book Canyoning in New Zealand here.Follow the New Zealand Canyoning Association here.//HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US//This episode marks our first birthday as a podcast. It's been an incredible first year and we've been blown away by the calibre of our guests and their amazing, inspiring stories. It's been a privilege to share the stories of many of New Zealand's great adventurers. We also couldn't have done it without you - our listeners. Thank you so much for all your support, messages & emails. They've helped to give us a lift and make the hours we put into this thing so much more worth it. Here's to an even better second year. We can't wait! -- Andy & Jonny//SUPPORT US//Follow The Wild Podcast on Instagram and FacebookIf you enjoyed this episode it would mean a lot to us if you could leave a five-star rating and/or a short review. This helps us to reach more people and to keep producing more episodes. We love doing this, but it does cost money and take time, so we really appreciate all the support we can get from our awesome listeners. 

Lisa Tamati is arguably New Zealand's most well known ultra runner, clocking up over 70,000km, racing everywhere from the Himalayas to the Outback of Australia. In addition to ultra running Lisa runs a successful coaching business, a podcast (Pushing The Limits) and has authored 3 books.In this episode we talk about her path to becoming an ultra runner, overcoming adversity, and how challenging yourself can set you up for success in everyday life.//EPISODE EXTRAS//Follow Lisa on Facebook and Instagram.Pre-order her new book Relentless here.Check out her podcast Pushing The Limits here.Watch the documentary about Lisa taking on the world's highest ultramarathon - La Ultra - a 222km race in the Himalaya. //SUPPORT THE SHOW//Follow The Wild Podcast on Instagram and FacebookIf you enjoyed this episode it would mean a lot to us if you could leave a five-star rating and/or a short review. This helps us to reach more people and to keep producing more episodes. We love doing this, but it does cost money and take time, so we really appreciate all the support we can get from our awesome listeners. 

Mat Goodman is pretty much the David Attenborough of New Zealand (our words, not his), except he's behind the camera not in front of it. He's been all over the world making wildlife documentaries, having intimate encounters with lions and tigers and bears - and a whole lot more.The latest project he worked on is a documentary series for the BBC called Serengheti, which is all about the wild animals of Africa.We talk about his unlikely path to becoming a filmmaker, some of his craziest work stories, including being charged at by bull elephants, and many of the conservation issues he's come face-to-face with on the job.// EPISODE EXTRAS // See the trailer for Serengeti here.Watch the series on TVNZ On Demand here.You can follow Mat on Instagram here.//SPONSORS//This episode is brought to you by Absolute Wilderness, delicious free-dried meals to fuel your next adventure, made locally in Nelson, New Zealand. Try their new range today. Visit absolutewilderness.co.nzThe Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nzFollow The Wild Podcast on Instagram and FacebookIf you enjoyed this episode it would mean a lot to us if you could leave a five-star rating and/or a short review. This helps us to reach more people and to keep producing more episodes. We love doing this, but it does cost money and take time, so we really appreciate all the support we can get from our awesome listeners. 

Isobel Ewing is a New Zealand journalist and all-round adventurer, who recently cycled part of The Silk Road with her brother, Jack. It was a 2500-kilometre, 49-day journey along the ancient trade route in Central Asia, made famous by medieval explorer, Marco Polo. Isobel was feeling burnt out from the 9-5 grind and wanted a journey that presented a significant challenge and would allow her to reconnect with the beauty and simplicity of nature. The Silk Road delivered on all counts.Isobel shares her story through beautiful vignettes, like only a TV reporter could. We cover the culture, the scenery, the risks, and the rewards of a journey that pushed her to the limit of what she thought she was capable of, and then pushed her some more.She also recounts one of the most legitimately terrifying wild animal survival stories that you'll ever hear on this show. That starts at around the 30-minute mark and you don't want to miss it. Seriously! If you enjoy adventure stories that  you're going to love this episode. //EPISODE EXTRAS//You can read more about Isobel's Silk Road journey on her website - isobelewing.comYou can also follow Isobel on Instagram hereSee a short clip of Isobel training for the Silk Road here//SPONSORS//This episode is brought to you by Absolute Wilderness, delicious free-dried meals to fuel your next adventure, made locally in Nelson, New Zealand. Try their new range today. Visit absolutewilderness.co.nzThe Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nzFollow The Wild Podcast on Instagram and FacebookIf you enjoyed this episode it would mean a lot to us if you could leave a five-star rating and/or a short review. This helps us to reach more people and to keep producing more episodes. We love doing this, but it does cost money and take time, so we really appreciate all the support we can get from our awesome listeners. 

Will Trubridge is a 7x world champion freediver from New Zealand who has 18 world records to his name, including the record for the deepest unassisted free dive (102 metres). He's an incredible athlete who's redefining what the human body is capable of. He's also spent a lot of time exploring the nature of the human mind. This episode gets deep - pun intended. We talk about pushing the limits of the human body, the risks and rewards of free diving, consciousness and flow states, and Will's recent world first underwater swim between the North and South islands of New Zealand to raise awareness of the plight of the Hector's and Māui dolphin.//EPISODE EXTRAS//Watch Will's incredible world record 102m free dive hereWe reference Will's TED Talk 'This is Why I Free Dive' quite a lot during the episode. You can watch it hereWatch the short documentary about Will's underwater crossing of the Cook Strait hereFollow Will on Instagram here and on Facebook here//SPONSORS//This episode is brought to you by Absolute Wilderness, delicious free-dried meals to fuel your next adventure, made locally in Nelson, New Zealand. Try their new range today. Visit absolutewilderness.co.nzThe Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nzFollow The Wild Podcast on Instagram and FacebookIf you enjoyed this episode it would mean a lot to us if you could leave a five-star rating and/or a short review. This helps us to reach more people and to keep producing more episodes. We love doing this, but it does cost money and take time, so we really appreciate all the support we can get from our awesome listeners. 

Ben Paris aka New Zealand Batman is a real life conservation superhero. By day he works at Auckland Zoo, but come night he is New Zealand's greatest champion for our only native land mammals.Bats are one of New Zealand's most fascinating creatures and there's still so much we don't know about them. It doesn't help that they're tiny and only come out at night. Unlike our native birds, bats have had a bit of a PR problem over the years thanks, in part, to their association with horror movies and vampires. For this reason, they've been a bit neglected in conservation funding and, today, they're at risk of disappearing forever. The more we learn about them, the more we understand how crucial they are to the health and conservation of our native forests.In this episode, Batman Ben talks about how important these creatures could be to the future of New Zealand's forests and the work that's being done to recover populations around the country.If you want to learn more about the Less Short-Tail Bat in particular, you can check out the article that Jonny wrote for New Zealand Geographic here. You can follow Ben on Twitter here and on Facebook here.

Shaun Barnett is an outdoors author, editor and photographer. Based in Wellington, he has written over 900 articles for major magazines and newspapers, along with eight books, including his most recent book Day Walks in New Zealand.Andy caught up with Shaun for a discussion on wilderness culture, social media's effect on wild places and the simple beauty of New Zealand's many day walks.Grab a copy of Shaun's latest book here.

Lydia is one of New Zealand's great mountaineers and climbers. She's the first woman to summit Mount Everest without oxygen, back in the 1988. She's since gone on to climb Everest another four times. She also completed the first female ascents of several climbing walls in California's Yosemite National Park, recently popularised in the award-winning film, Free Solo.We talk about Lydia's childhood and how a girl who hated sports developed a deep love for the mountains. We also go into her time in Yosemite, the time she almost died in an avalanche in India, and touch on the unfortunate controversy surrounding her first Everest ascent.Here a just a few of Lydia's achievements to date:- The first woman in the world to climb Everest without oxygen (1988)- Probably the first woman in the world to climb an "8000er" alpine-style (one push, bottom to summit) without oxygen (1987)- 7 first female ascents of "Big Walls" in Yosemite Valley, California (early 1980s)- One of three Kiwis to make the first NZ ascent of the world's 7th highest mountain, Dhaulagiri in Nepal (2017)If you're interested in learning more about Lydia you can grab a copy of her book, Going Up is Easy, here or here. You can follow Lydia on Instagram here.The Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nzFollow The Wild Podcast on Instagram and Facebook.If you enjoyed this episode it would mean a lot to us if you could leave a five-star rating and/or a short review. This helps us to reach more people, to keep producing more episode, and to keep celebrating and telling the stories of high performers, modern explorers and our wild places.

Richard Johnson epitomises what it means to be an adventurer. He sets his sights on epic feats all around the world and goes to extraordinary lengths to achieve them. In this episode, Andy talks to Richard about a few of his adventure highlights, including trekking across the Gobi Desert with the help of a few camels, and completing the first ever crossing of Papua New Guinea on foot at its widest point with close friend and sidekick Patrick Hutton. Richard has so many incredible yarns, from bush bashing through dense jungle and encountering remote tribes, to cringe-worthy cures for injured camels. He's a great storyteller and it feels like we only got to scratch the surface. Nevertheless, the conversation should serve as inspiration for anyone who's interested in pushing the limits and living a full life full of adventure.Richard is currently based in the UK, but has links to New Zealand having spent time here and competed in the Coast to Coast. He runs Mammoth Journeys, which leads cycle tours all around the world.Go here to watch the documentary series on the crossing of Papua New Guinea.This episode is brought to you by Absolute Wilderness, delicious freeze-dried meals to fuel your next adventure. Absolute Wilderness has just released a brand new range of meals. Check them out here.

Ben Brown is considered a New Zealand whitewater legend. He's completed at least nine first descents of rivers or rapids in nine different countries. He became the first Kiwi to be given a Red Bull helmet, which is akin to being knighted in the world of extreme sports. And now he's started his own TV show, Built to Fish TV, which is gaining a huge online following.In this episode, we talk about how Ben got started with kayaking on the Waikato River in his hometown of Hamilton, the extreme life of a Red Bull athlete, and some of his most incredible adventures, including kayaking through rebel territory and crocodile-infested waters in Uganda.We also get into facing fear, flow states, and bouncing back from a couple of horrific injuries.This is a rare insight into the life of someone who's constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible.Follow Ben on Instagram hereWatch Built to Fish TV on Facebook hereOr visit https://builttofish.tv/ The Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, which provides content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nz

This episode is a bit different in that we (Andy and Jonny) decided to chat to one another about why we started the podcast, some of our own adventure stories, and a bit about our personal lives. It might sound like a bit of a cop out, but it's actually something we've been meaning to do for a while now. We thought it would be cool to let you all know who we are so that we're not just some anonymous voices you hear in your earphones every couple of weeks. We talk about the origins of The Wild Podcast and how we both developed a love for the outdoors, how Andy discovered a new species of spider, Jonny's experience on Te Araroa, a river that's been granted legal personhood, and the serendipitous story behind the world's tastiest freeze-dried meals.We'll be back with another epic guest in the next episode, but for now we hope you enjoy this conversation with us, Andy and Jonny, the hosts of The Wild Podcast.The Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nz

What happens when tragedy strikes in the outdoors? It's a possibility we all have to reckon with when we head out on an adventure. But few of us ever experience it. In this special episode, New Zealand caver and explorer Kieran Mckay opens up about one of his darkest days. On May 20, 1995, Kieran and his friend Dave Weaver performed a deep cave dive in the Pearse Resurgence, near Nelson. They were pushing the limits of what was possible at the time. At the deepest point, Dave lost consciousness and began drifting down. Kieran was unable to save him. In this confronting episode, Kieran and Andy discuss the event, the mistakes that were made and the lessons to be learnt from this tragedy. Everyone who spends time in the outdoors can learn something from this episode - about safety, preparedness, emergency management, and coping with the worst case scenario.

What happens when trampers disappear without a trace? Naomi Arnold is a journalist and writer based in Nelson, New Zealand, who has covered several high profile missing tramper cases. We talk about one of New Zealand's most puzzling cases - the disappearance of German tourist Christian Prehn in Nelson Lakes National Park. A keen hiker herself, Naomi often retraces the steps of missing people to bring the story to life in the hope of one day finding them. We talk about the missing people stories she's covered, search and rescue, and some of the other pressing issues facing the outdoors in New Zealand.Naomi's book latest book Southern Nights is due out in October. It looks at what is special about our southern skies, which have only been explored very recently compared to those in the northern hemisphere. It showcases our 'family of light', the major stars and objects of our sky and their associated meanings, history and cultural importance, explains Polynesian celestial navigation, which brought the first people here, and Maori astronomy or tatai arorangi, which helped people live here once they arrived. You can learn more about Naomi on her website.This episode is brought to you by Absolute Wilderness, delicious freeze-dried meals to fuel your next adventure made locally in Nelson, New Zealand, using the freshest, tastiest ingredients. Visit absolutewilderness.co.nz The Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nz

Brando 'Wildboy' Yelavich is back, this time from "the middle of nowhere" at the half-way point of Expedition Dust, his epic 5000km bicycle adventure through outback Australia. The last time Brando was on the show (Episode #7), we said it would be cool to catch up during his journey. Despite questionable internet access, we managed to make it happen. It's the first time we've recorded an episode during an ongoing expedition and it definitely brought some rawness to the conversation. We talked about the highs and lows of Expedition Dust so far, grappling with mental health, and some incredible adventure stories, including running with a herd of wild camels in the desert. If you enjoyed our first conversation with Brando, we're sure you're going to love this one, too.You can follow Brando and Expedition Dust here. Seriously, get behind him. He's possibly the first person ever to attempt this journey on bike.This episode isThis episode is brought to you by Absolute Wilderness, delicious freeze-dried meals to fuel your next adventure made locally in Nelson, New Zealand, using the freshest, tastiest ingredients. Visit absolutewilderness.co.nz The Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, which provides content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nz

Warren Bates is a former world champion adventurer racer and the co-founder and event director of GODZone, the world's largest expedition adventure race held in New Zealand every year. In this episode, we attempt to define exactly what adventure racing is and go into Warren's personal story from investment banker to adventure racer. We also talk about the physical and mental conditioning required to undertake one of the most gruelling races on earth.To learn more about GODZone visit godzoneadventure.com This episode is brought to you by Absolute Wilderness, delicious freeze-dried meals to fuel your next adventure made locally in Nelson, New Zealand, using the freshest, tastiest ingredients. Visit absolutewilderness.co.nz The Wild Podcast is produced by The Content Lab, content marketing, copywriting, and brand storytelling services for New Zealand businesses that want to build audiences and authority online. Visit contentlab.co.nz 

Dr Mike Joy is an award-winning freshwater ecologist. He's one of the few scientists in New Zealand who is outspoken on environmental issues, particularly the impact of agriculture on freshwater. In this episode, we talk about the problems with New Zealand's 'clean, green, 100% pure' image, the true state of New Zealand's freshwater, the potential links between nitrates in the water and higher rates of colorectal cancer (scary stuff!), and the importance of activism to put pressure on the government and preserve the environment. If you care about New Zealand's freshwater, you should definitely give this episode a listen. Warning: It might make you angry.You can get Dr Mike Joy's latest book, Mountains to Sea: Solving New Zealand's Freshwater Crisis, here.This episode is brought to you by Absolute Wilderness, delicious freeze-dried meals to fuel your next adventure made locally in Nelson, New Zealand, using the freshest, tastiest ingredients. Visit absolutewilderness.co.nz 

Robert Bruce is the founder of Got To Get Out, a social enterprise adventure group that aims to get more people into the outdoors, and a 2019 New Zealander of the Year semi-finalist. Over the past five years, Got To Get Out has grown into a thriving outdoors community, taking thousands of people on trips all across New Zealand. Robert's a rather unlikely outdoors guide. He spent most of his 20s in a high-level, high-stress corporate job. After losing his job, an impulsive trip to Mount Everest Basecamp in Nepali Himalya, following in the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary, changed the course of his life.In this episode, we talk about Robert's personal transformation, the origins and mission of Got To Get Out, and the importance of 'getting out' into nature to your health and wellbeing. For more information, visit https://gottogetout.com/This episode is brought to you by Absolute Wilderness, delicious freeze-dried meals to fuel your next adventure, made locally in Nelson, New Zealand, using the freshest, tastiest ingredients. Use the code 'The Wild' at checkout to get 15% off your order for the next two weeks. Visit https://www.absolutewilderness.co.nz/

Miriam Lancewood is a true wild woman. She and her partner Peter left civilisation behind in 2010 and went to live in the wilderness in New Zealand. She learned to hunt for their feed and experienced a complete lifestyle transformation as she adapted to a world away from technology, traffic, and convenience. In this episode, we talk all about her life in the wilderness, how she copes with isolation and boredom, her thoughts on the modern world, walking 2000 kilometres across Europe, the importance of a good night's sleep, and a whole lot more. Miriam is a fascinating woman who has chosen to live a life that many of us might dream of, but few will ever do.If you're interested in learning more about Miriam, she wrote a book about her life in 2017, called Woman in the Wilderness. This episode is brought to you by Absolute Wilderness, delicious freeze-dried meals to fuel your next adventure, made locally in Nelson, New Zealand. Visit www.absolutewildnerness.co.nz 

Craig Potton is New Zealand's best known landscape photographer and an ardent conservationist. In 2013, he received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to photography and conservation over the past 35 years. In this episode Andy sits down with Craig in person to talk about how Craig got started in photography and the merging of art, science, and politics to inspire change that can help save our planet. Craig talks about the importance of engaging your heart in your art, the biggest conservation issues of our time, and his philosophy of happiness, which, unsurprisingly, is deeply connected with nature. For more information on Craig and his art and photography, visit www.craigpotton.co.nz This episode is brought to you by Absolute Wilderness, delicious freeze-dried meals to fuel your next adventure, made locally in Nelson, New Zealand. Visit www.absolutewildnerness.co.nz 

Brando 'Wildboy' Yelavich is an explorer and the first person to circumnavigate the coastline of New Zealand on foot. He's also spent 35 days alone on Stewart Island, traversed the Greenland icecap, and circumnavigated Vancouver Island in a kayak with his partner, Ngaio. Brando is always pushing the limits of adventure and has just announced his next major expedition, which we talk about at length. He's also a deeply philosophical thinker and we touch on his struggles with drugs and lack of direction as a teenager and his path to finding himself and discovering fundamental happiness. 

Kieran Mckay is one of New Zealand's greatest living explorers. He's at the forefront of caving in New Zealand and has been involved in many of the country's most important underground discoveries in recent history. He's also an experienced outdoor instructor and Search and Rescue volunteer. In this episode, we talk all things caving, overcoming self-doubt and mental limits, and how to forge your own path in life.

In this episode we chat with explorer, adventurer and outdoors educator Dulkara Martig. We talk about travelling the world as a nomad, her epic traverse of the Southern Alps in New Zealand, gourmet cooking in the outdoors (think pizza and chocolate cake), her love of pack rafting, and the links between spending time in the wild and mental wellbeing.

Ben Logan a survivalist, bushcraft expert and outdoors specialist. We covered a lot of ground from survival tactics, to cold shock therapy and bathing in glacier lakes, to what it means to a good man, husband, and father in the modern world.For more information on Ben, visit https://www.loganlore.co.nz/ Follow him on Instagram @the.logan.lore