Follow extreme bikepacker Cat Jaffee as she competes in the Silk Road Mountain Race - the toughest mountain bike race on the planet. 1,200-miles long, with over 115,000-feet elevation gain, athletes traverse the high mountain passes and remote valleys of Kyrgyzstan for 14 grueling days. Traveling completely unsupported, wild camping along the way, …

“These are the days in our lives that we remember. It's not all the days that went so well. It's the days when you're miserable, when you think you can't go one more step, and then you swear at somebody, and then you keep going. Those are the days that form our spines. They have formed my spine.” - Kris Tompkins Kris Tompkins has spent a lifetime f…

Dinosaurs and dark skies have a lot more in common than you'd think...and Utah happens to be one of the best places in the world to experience both of them firsthand. In this episode, join host Aaron Millar as he explores Utah through both time and space. From coming face to face with a wall of dinosaur bones to stepping onto a top-secret active di…

Conrad Anker is renowned throughout the world as one of the greatest living mountaineers. Follow him to the Himalayan peaks of northern India to climb the ‘Shark’s Fin’ of Mt. Meru, a sheer 1,500-foot wall of blank granite, one the hardest, most dangerous and beautiful routes on the planet. For 30 years the best mountaineers in the world had attemp…

Pub crawls, wine tasting, a distillery or two. The only thing better than summer travel, is summer travel with a drink in hand. That’s what this episode is all about. We’re calling it Liquid Tourism and it’s going to be a lot of fun. Today, we’re going to Yolo County, California. You may remember it from the documentary we made about the Slow Food …

We've now reached the finish line of the Hellenic Mountain Race. This episode is a little longer than previous and for good reason. Allan sits with some of our riders at the seaside in Nafpaktos to hear about their races. These experiences are difficult to capture in such a short time frame, and but we hope these conversations give you a glimpse of…

Welcome to day 7 of the Hellenic Mountain Race. While the vast majority of our riders have reached Nafpaktos, we still have a handful of riders out on course battling the snail in hopes of making the finishers party on Saturday evening. In the small village of Kastania, there's a surprise oasis in the form of a restaurant run by locals Dimitra and …

Welcome to day 6 of the Hellenic Mountain Race. We now have a full podium for both the men and women, as well as our first place pair. Christophe Djikmanns took the top step in the men's race, while Mascha Wahlig won the women's category. After some sleep and food, they sat down with our host Allan to give us the story of their journey from Meteora…

Welcome to day 5 of Hellenic Mountain Race. Today Allan catches up with riders at CP3 in the ski resort town of Karpenisi. Karpenisi is the final major town before riders head out into the wild for the final arduous stretch. We hear from our eventual women's winner, Mascha, as well as a host of other characters. This podcast is made possible thanks…

Welcome to Day 4 of the Hellenic Mountain Race. While the head of the race is nearing the finish line, there's still a long road to go for many. Allan catches up with riders at the haven that is CP2. By now, many stories have begun to surface. Race Director Nelson Trees also provides an update on the field and how things have unfolded so far. Tune …

Benedict Allen has made a name for himself, not necessarily for what he does, but for what he does not do...travel with modern technology. For the last several decades, Benedict has explored some of the most remote corners of the planet, from crossing the Amazon basin to the deserts of Namibia. And instead of navigating those highly complex journey…

Welcome to day 3 of the Hellenic Mountain Race. Many of our riders have now gotten their stamp at checkpoint one and are on their way into the wilderness beyond Metsovo. Allan spent the evening of Day 2 at CP1, catching up with riders before they took off. We also hear from some of our riders further back ahead of receiving their stamp and cap off …

Welcome to day 2 of the Hellenic Mountain Race. After a rainy first night, many riders took shelter while others opted to push through. Allan caught up with our riders at various points along the course, from the beautiful Vikos Gorge, to Kipoi, to the highest point of the race just before checkpoint one. While we're only nearing 48 hours into the …

Welcome to day one of the Hellenic Mountain Race. Early Saturday morning riders set off from the picturesque town of Meteora. After a scenic singletrack loop around the monasteries, riders headed into the mountains. In many ways this year is reminiscent of last year's circumstances, with heavy rain during the day and into the evening. Tune into see…

Welcome to the Hellenic Mountain Race, an 880km fixed route, unsupported, single-stage cycling race through the mountains of Greece. With nearly 28,000 metres of climbing in some of the most remote landscapes in Greece, riders are in for an adventure. Allan Shaw reports live from registration, catching up with riders as they get checked in and lock…

If there's one word that defines Utah, it just might be adventure. From the adrenaline-pumping to the meditative, the outdoors in Utah is a veritable playground for exploration. In Part One of Uniquely Utah adventures, we spent the morning fly fishing on the teal waters of Flaming Gorge, followed by an afternoon of mountain biking, chasing sharp tu…

Growing up in Kenya, Chris Carter fell in love with Africa's wilderness -- with forests and grasslands, mountains and waterfalls, lions and giraffes. But after spending several years backpacking the long-distance treks of the US, he returned to his home country only to realize that Kenya had no comparable established backpacking trails. So naturall…

Welcome to Utah: Life Elevated, the documentary podcast that will take you all around Utah on an unforgettable road trip. Today, we're diving into some of Utah's unique adventures...because if there's one word that defines Utah, it just might be adventure! From rappelling down canyon walls to churning up dirt on a mountain bike, there are so many w…

Writer Tim Moore is no stranger to the unusual and unique. In his early days as a travel writer, he rode a container ship to Iceland, biked across Italy in a period costume, completed the Camino de Santiago with a donkey as his only companion, and more. So when Tim got a call out of the blue one day from his editor, asking if he'd consider biking t…

In Oregon, the natural world doesn't just inspire awe -- it gives a touch of the sublime. In the words of one guide, it's "timeless...important for the soul of humankind." And today, we're immersing ourselves in those sublime experiences along the Central Nature Trail in Oregon! Follow along as we snowshoe to the top of Watchman Peak, for the best …

"Paradise: that elusive place where the anxieties, struggles, and burdens of life fall away. Most of us dream of it, but each of us has very different ideas about where it is to be found. For some it can be enjoyed only after death; for others, it’s in our midst—or just across the ocean—if only we can find eyes to see it." Thus begins the premise o…

In the Florida Keys, the ocean isn't just part of the scenery. Because beneath those shimmering teal waters, there are adventures and discoveries just waiting to be found. And in today's episode, we'll explore two very different - yet equally captivating - gems of the Keys, with excerpts from two different episodes of the 30-part Florida Keys Trave…

“I'm sure bungee jumping is crazy and a real like adrenaline rush. But if you've never walked through Somalia with $15,000 in your backpack, you have never lived. You think you like adventure sports, but that is real, real pumping adrenaline.” In this episode, American journalist Eric Czuleger takes us on a journey into the twilight zone of almost …

St. Patrick might be the most famous of the Irish saints...but he's far from the most interesting. In 2023, St. Brigid’s Day was decreed a National Holiday in Ireland to honor Brigid. Over the millennia, this legendary woman has evolved into a figure encompassing myth, holy legend, pagan icon, and now modern feminist symbol. But who was Brigid, rea…

The Van Gujjar tribes spend half of each year living deep in the forests of northern India and the other half high on the mountain plains of the Himalayas. Herding water buffalo, whose milk nourishes and sustains their livelihoods, every Van Gujjar family makes an annual migration from their winter home in the forests to their summer grazing fields…

This week we are going to Nashville, Tennessee The Country Music Capital of the World … but don’t worry you don’t have to love country to love Nashville. It is a music town. If you like listening to live music – who doesn’t? – then this is a musical odyssey you must take at least once in your life. We’re going to have some fun, we’re going backstag…

"I will show you my Amazon - the Amazon that visitors never get to see." When Alex Robinson heard those words, he knew he was in for the adventure of a lifetime. His guide, Saru Mundurucu, had recently founded his own adventure and travel company, Aracá Expeditions. As the first and only Amazon adventure company owned and operated by an indigenous …

Allan Shaw sits down with some of the recurring racers we've followed over the past week. Hear the highs, lows, and whats on their minds as they pack-up their bikes, say goodbye to friends, and get ready to go back to normal life. This podcast is made possible thanks to the support from Holy Fat, Energy dense sports nutrition. Listeners of the podc…

Allan Shaw sits down with the winner of the overall race, Justinas Leveika, and the winner of the women's category, Cynthia Carson. Hear all about the roller coaster rides that both riders went through on the way to their respective victories at this year's Atlas Mountain Race. This podcast is made possible thanks to the support from Holy Fat, Ener…

Allan heads to CP3 to check-in with riders who have squeaked in before the time cut, as well as those who have had to scratch from the race. With a mix of podcast first-timers, and those we haven't heard from since the beginning of the race, today's episode provides a fresh outlook on the race, as riders discuss the many lessons learnt in the Atlas…

Allan stations himself in the Paradise Valley to get impressions from riders heading into the home stretch of the race. With tired legs, cloudy minds, and some very sore necks, riders take on one last big climb before the relatively tame ride up the coast to the finish line in Essaouira. This podcast is made possible thanks to the support from Holy…

Allan catches up with racers as they work their way from CP3 to the finish on the coast in Essaouira. He then jumps ahead to hear from the leader of the women's race Cynthia, and the leaders of the pairs race, Manuel and Federico. He then heads to the "Moroccan Stelvio" to chat with riders as they climb the last major climb of the race. Finally, Ne…

Allan rolls into CP2 shortly after midnight and finds countless riders fuelling up, resting, and preparing to take on the next section of the race. We also hear from pre-race favourite Mattia De Marchi on scratching from the race. We then get a special guest call-in from race organizer, Nelson Trees, giving us an update from the front of the race. …

As the riders make their way between CP1 and CP2, our faithful podcast host, Allan Shaw, gets stranded in the desert due to multiple flat tires on Control Car 2. Making the most of the situation, he hikes up a climb that the riders are descending and catches them for a stream of quick fire interviews. With the Control Car's tires fixed, it's then o…

Today, we're embracing our weird in Oregon as we explore the Northern Culture Trail! We’re going to discover Portland’s favorite food carts, sample food from around the world and go on a secret bar crawl to hidden local spots. “Portland is the rebel base of the Star Wars universe, we’re sticking it to the forces of normal,” Dresden of Throw Snakes …

The riders head out of the bustling streets of Marrakesh and into the Atlas Mountains. The route from the start to CP1 is significantly changed, with most off road sections being taken out due to flood damage. Allan Shaw checks in with riders on the road to CP1, shares tea with riders passing through CP1, runs alongside riders after dawn on the fir…

As the racers anxiously await the announcement of a start time, Nelson and the race organization work hard to try to get approval to start the race without further delays. Allan is on the ground to get comments and thoughts from racers as they wait in there racing gear to find out if the race will go ahead. With 20 minutes until 6pm, everyone is as…

In the first episode of the 2024 Atlas Mountain Race Podcast, Allan interviews racers during rider registration before the pre-race briefing. Hear stories and insights from seasoned racers, first-timers, and members of the team that put on the race. Before the race gets underway though, the weather throws a curveball which throws everyones best lai…

The Atlas Mountain Race, Detours: An Ultra Cycling and Adventure Podcast, and HolyFat are proud to be presenting the 2024 Atlas Mountain Race Podcast, hosted by Allan Shaw. The Atlas Mountain Race is a self-supported, Ultra-distance bike race across the Atlas and Anti-Atlas mountains of Morocco. Covering 1340 km and 25,000m of climbing on mostly gr…

Today we're journeying to Lake Baikal, the largest, oldest, deepest freshwater lake in the world...and to get there, we're crossing over a thousand miles in Mongolia and Russia by camel, horse, kayak, and rowboat. Like all lakes, Lake Baikal exists because of a river. And in 2018, fishing and river guide Peter Fong led the first-ever expedition fro…

Today, we're returning to the mountains of Colorado to hear about the adventures of Isabella Bird, a British explorer who famously ascended Longs Peak in 1873 with her guide and companion Jim Nugent. The story of Bird and Jim illuminates the early history and character of Estes Park, as her writings helped establish the town as a tourist destinatio…

"There are eight species of bears on the planet. Six of them are threatened everywhere they live." Thus begins Beartrek, a documentary which took Chris Morgan nearly 8 years to make. In Beartrek, he follows the lives of several individual bears around the world, from a friendly spectacled bear in Peru's arid mountains to a shy sun bear cub in the m…

"It was here, on the banks of the Mississippi River, where music changed the world." In Memphis, music has always been more than a melody and lyrics - it's a movement. This is a city that launched some of the world's most beloved musicians, from Otis Redding to Isaac Hayes, Carla Thomas, Elvis Presley, and more. And in the midst of segregation and …

Today's episode is a little bit different - because our very own Aaron Millar is our guest! This re-released episode is one of the most memorable conversations he's ever had, and we're very excited to share it with you. In this interview, which originally aired with the Adventure Sports Podcast in 2020, Aaron shares stories from his years as a trav…

It's hard to imagine Christmas without reindeer. But long before the beloved antlered animals were pulling Santa's sleigh, they were providing a way of life for indigenous peoples around the world, including the Nenets of Siberia’s Yamal Peninsula. The Nenets of Siberia’s Yamal Peninsula are among the world’s oldest existing true nomads, making a l…

When Alastair Humphreys was young, he craved something unknowable. That something - adventure, excitement, wisdom, whatever it was - was close. But he suspected that in order to find it, he'd have to step outside of the familiar shapes of his routines. He'd have to break free from the expectations of his friends and family, of advanced degrees and …

“It's kind of interesting that people that come here to Crazy Horse Memorial, because it's almost like there's a spiritual calling. They don't know quite what it is. But they feel it.” – Paul LaRoche, Lakota tribe member and founder of the band Brulé The great Lakota Sioux Nation have become the international symbol of America’s native people. Over…

"Humans are meant to excel. And when you start pushing that and seeing how capable we are, it's phenomenal what you can actually go and do." -Justin Packshaw When Justin Packshaw was trekking in Antarctica several years ago, he noticed something disturbing: The ice shelf had visibly melted since his previous visit, just a few decades prior. "In the…

Yolo County in Northern California is one of the world’s premier destinations for slow food. But that doesn’t mean waiting for your dinner - it means savoring every bite and building a connection to the land from which it comes. We live in a fast world. 20% of all meals are eaten in cars. One third of Americans eat fast food every single day. That …

This week, we're digging into the Armchair Explorer archives to bring you one of our favorite - and most ridiculous - stories. If Monty Python went on a road trip, this is what it would be. Follow along with journalist Simon Parker as he travels 2,500-miles and two weeks across the length of India … ...in a rickshaw. You read that right. The ricksh…