Alissa Bell takes us on an inspiring adventure as she shares her transformational journey from the corporate grind to the liberating world of global bike touring. Following the motivating stories of women adventurers, Alissa stepped out of her comfort zone, leading to remarkable experiences in East and West Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America…

Join us on an incredible cycling journey with the Bennek family as they share their experiences of leaving behind their life in Southern Germany to embark on a unique family cycle tour. Discover the challenges and joys of bike travel with two young kids as Lorena and Gregor discuss finding the perfect balance between adventure and family life. Thei…

Today’s episode of Bike Life aired earlier this year and quickly became one of our most downloaded shows of all time. All of our 2023 guests have been simply amazing! We hope you enjoy this encore presentation of Biking 4 Biodiversity. What do you get when you combine a love for adventure and cycle touring with a passion for nature conservation and…

Today’s episode of Bike Life aired earlier this year and quickly became one of our most downloaded shows of all time. All of our 2023 guests have been simply amazing! We hope you enjoy this encore presentation of Murdock, the Hosting Legend. Richard Martin, aka Murdock, discovered Warmshowers entirely by chance. Eight years and 200 guests later, Mu…

Jane Hertenstein's cycling journey began at a young age when her father strapped wooden blocks onto her tricycle. Since then, she has been deeply curious about exploring the world on her bike. From early solo trips to her epic cross-country adventure, Jane's love for cycling has allowed her to connect with many people along the way. Jane has author…

Melissa Pritchard embodies the spirit of exploration. Her passion for cycling has shaped her life and taught her many important lessons. From learning to be content with less to finding happiness in the simple pleasures, her experiences on the road have given her a new perspective. Melissa's passion for cycling extends beyond her own adventures as …

Kenneth Wilson, the highway cellist, shares his extraordinary “work of art” journey touring with his cello on his bike. With his book, "Highway Cello," as the backdrop, Kenneth takes listeners on a captivating tale of musical exploration and self-discovery. He recounts the challenges and triumphs of riding with his cello, including the ingenious so…

Ride along as Brandon Bell takes us on a journey of self-discovery and environmental consciousness. After experiencing the impact of the 2008 recession and witnessing the growing complexity of the environmental crisis, Brandon embarked on a quest for answers. Leaving behind his career in the property industry, he pursued marine biology and sustaina…

After being diagnosed with cancer in 2019, Reija underwent extensive treatment and emerged stronger than ever. Inspired to make a difference, Reija and her partner embarked on a 10-week cycle tour, racing against time to raise money for the cancer charity Cycling for Cancer. As Reija shares her story, we learn about the challenges she faced during …

Today, we welcome back former Warmshowers board member, cycle tourer, and legendary host Ken Francis to discuss the important topic of mental health and its connection to both cycling and hosting. Ken brings his deep knowledge and personal experiences to the table, sharing insights about the transformative power of travel and the impact it can have…

Carolyn Stallard, a professor at Brooklyn College and a freelance musician, has found a unique way to combine the freedom of remote teaching, a love of music, a desire to give back, and the joy of bicycle touring. From her first solo trip on the East Coast Greenway to her epic adventure down the West Coast, Carolyn proves that cycle touring is not …

Meet George Balarezo, intrepid global citizen, adventure cycle tourer, seasoned traveler, and author. George shares his fascinating journey through Ethiopia, known for its rich culture and stunning landscapes. From encountering rock-throwing children to navigating through challenging roads, George's experience is both thrilling and eye-opening. Dis…

What do you get when you combine a love for adventure and cycle touring with a passion for nature conservation and awareness? Hanna Ollos and Jonas Sommer embarked on an epic cycling journey from Germany to Southeast Asia, with the goal of promoting nature conservation and raising awareness about the biodiversity crisis. Little did they know that t…

For 25 years, Dan Schmitt dreamed of taking a solo bikepacking trip across the northern tier of the United States into Canada. After retirement, his “Kontiki Dream” finally came true. Dan shares his 4800-mile bike trip, where he encountered numerous challenges, and heartwarming moments, making many meaningful connections with people along the way. …

Stewart Clark and his wife Nancy (the stoker) have been tandem cycling for almost 20 years. They have been all over the world on their tandem and are members of several tandem touring clubs, including the Tandem Touring Club of France. Whether you're an experienced tandem cyclist or just starting, there are many benefits to tandem cycling with a pa…

Tadeo Pueyrredon has always had a love for nature, but it was his father’s passion for cycling that inspired him to take up bike touring. His dad bought his first bicycle and began touring at the young age of 72! After hearing about his dad’s adventures, Tadeo decided it was his turn. He has since cycled in many countries, including Cuba, Spain, Ch…

Sara Qiu Ruan has embarked on a life-changing adventure, conquering her fears and cycling with the profound purpose of helping people. Sara’s solo cycle tour has taken her across 7500km and into 10 countries – and counting. She has overcome her fear of asking for help, adjusted to wild camping, and stepped out of her comfort zone by connecting with…

Four years ago, Tyler Diedrick had never cycled more than 10 miles at a time and didn’t even know that bike touring was a thing. Then he was gifted a book called To Shake the Sleeping Self by Jedidiah Jenkins, and it changed the course of his life. Tyler quit his job, sold a majority of his belongings, bought a bike off of eBay, flew to Sacramento,…

For many years, Jo Davies harbored a natural yearning for adventure. When her US work visa was about to expire last year, she could have just flown back to the UK. But this adventurer decided to take the “scenic route” and ride her bike home instead. Currently in Panama, Jo shares her incredible experience of leaving Boston for Vancouver, turning l…

Is this a joke? That’s what retired fireman and professional grandpa Steve Diaz said when he found out that he won the Warmshowers 2022 Bike Giveaway. Steve and Cindy, who live in beautiful Mt. Shasta, CA, heard about Warmshowers 4 years ago and set up a profile. They were excited to get their first guest soon after, who turned out to be Ken Franci…

What do you get when you combine a historian interested in learning about people and a love of bicycling? A 12,000-mile, 420-day perimeter trip around the USA. When Anne Winkler-Morey and her husband set off, she thought they might only make it through Wisconsin. But pedal by pedal, they made it all the way around the perimeter of the United States…

Sanna Ghotbi and Benjamin Ladraa are bike travelers and activists from Sweden, who are on an epic 2-year, 48 000 km journey through 40 countries to Western Sahara. By the time they are done, they will have traveled more than the length of the equator! This epic trip is not just for fun; they are dedicated activists raising awareness about human rig…

Meet Tucker Atwood, a math teacher, actor, author, and adventurer. In 2019, Tucker and his brother spent 4 months thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. The trip gave him a new perspective on life and inspired him to go on more adventures. So, he bought a bike and began exploring while riding. He bike-toured the East Coast Greenway in 2021 and experien…

Richard Martin, aka Murdock, discovered Warmshowers entirely by chance. Eight years and 200 guests later, Murdock has become a hosting legend! One day, on his way to work as a wildland firefighter, he met a cyclist on the road who had just climbed a steep hill and looked exhausted. He stopped to offer her Gatorade, which turned into an offer of a p…

Meet Kanishka Poddar, the Bicycle Mayor of Ranchi, India. In 2015, Kanishka ran into a woman from Spain who was touring India by bike and thought, “who travels India by bike? That’s insane.” But she inspired him to hop on a bike for the first time in 20 years, and he experienced the sheer joy of exploring places at his own pace. Fast forward 8 year…

You never know what will happen when you stay with a Warmshowers host. When Adriel Klein’s host’s door opened, he met the love of his life! Adriel’s love for biking and charity work began with his first cross-country tour riding across America with a group called Bike & Build. After that trip, he took every opportunity to bike as much as possible. …

Kari Loya got his love for biking and adventure from his dad, Merv. They took their first bike tour together when Kari was in his early teens and always talked about biking cross-country someday. When 75-year-old Merv was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s in 2015, Kari knew that “someday” was here. With very little planning, they set off for a…

Pam and Glen Goodnough are living examples of the saying, “age is just a number.” They married 40 years ago during their first cross-country bike tour and have not slowed down since! Now in their mid-60s, their retirement gift to themselves was to take a world tour, which they started in 2019. They made it through the Pacific Coast, New Zealand, an…

Today’s episode of Bike Life aired earlier this year and quickly became one of our most downloaded shows of all time. With over 30 years of experience, John Bolton knows a thing or two about cycling and the gear that goes with it! He shares his vast knowledge on his YouTube channel called Cycling on a Shoestring. John is passionate about the cyclin…

Today’s episode of Bike Life aired earlier this year and attracted tremendous attention for its unique story. We are happy to bring it to you again and wish you happy riding and hosting! Nate was biking cross-country on his first long-distance tour. Augusta (Gus) was on a 2 ½ month ride from Washington through Canada to Maine. Two people from diffe…

The one thing missing from Sal Garro’s childhood was learning how to ride a bike. As an adult, he was teased about being the only “grown-up” who couldn’t ride. With the help of friends, Sal finally got on two wheels. However, he lives in New York City, where traffic is fierce, and he just wasn’t confident enough to ride. Enter the adult tricycle; y…

What do you do when you dream about taking a long-distance bike tour but know nothing about solo cycle touring? You buy a bike, load it down, and ride 60 miles through the Wisconsin countryside, that’s what! Tarra has been passionate about the outdoors since serving in the United States Marine Corps where she learned to become one with nature to su…

UK resident Antony Butcher considers himself a “terrible cyclist.” He likes to go on grand adventures and then put his bike away for long periods until the next big trip idea comes along. After a mental health breakdown in 2017, the idea hit him to cycle across America from New York City to San Francisco. When he began planning the trip, he panicke…

Sustainability, environment, cycling, community, leadership, and bamboo. These are all passions of today’s guest, Warmshowers Board Member Lucy Binfield. Lucy grew up cycling in the UK lake district and always dreamed of taking a long bike tour. She got her chance after university when she moved to China and took a three-month tour through China, K…

If you have ever dreamt about cycling in Australia, then stay tuned. After today's episode, you will want to update your bucket list to include the world-class, off-road cycling experience known as The Munda Biddi Trail. Rhonda Oshanek, who works with the Munda Biddi Trail Foundation, joins us to share her experiences and fills us in on all we need…

Meet Ben Grannis. He was so inspired by someone else’s story it prompted him to take action in his own life. In August 2021, Ben began a 10,000 mile journey to raise awareness for distracted driving and promote digital wellness. Mission Driven recounts how one family’s response to tragedy taught Ben the importance of community, the impact we make o…

How do you experience the best of humanity? According to Daniel Stein, you experience it from a bicycle seat. Daniel believes other people view cyclists as trustworthy individuals making them more open to interactions. Originally from New York City, having lived in Chicago, and now living in Mexico City, Daniel has a unique perspective because he u…

When you think of retirement, do you wonder how you will fill your days? Do you think retirement may be boring? It doesn't have to be according to today's guest. Meet Anne Breedlove, a seasoned cyclist and soon-to-be author. In 2008, Anne and her husband retired at 54 and 61 to travel the world by loaded bicycles. Before grandchildren, they spent e…

If you are an avid cyclist who has dreamed about traveling the world, meet Joe Diomede. Better known as Bicycle Joe, this cyclist has pursued his passion for seeing the world on two wheels and has authored a book about his many adventures. Cycling has changed Joe’s life, and he has spent many years working and living on his bicycle. Inspired by his…

Can you imagine hosting almost 300 people in four years? That’s precisely what Chuck Atkinson and his wife have done. Chuck and Susan are ex-pats from the U.S. They flew to Istanbul in 2011 with the idea of pedaling on their recumbent trikes for two years. Outside of a few breaks, the couple has remained on the road across the Atlantic for years. F…

If you are a cycle tourer who takes the ability to tour on your own for granted, then meet Priyanka Dalal. She has overcome many cultural barriers to become the first known female solo cycle tourer from India. When Priyanka started touring, not one person in her circle had any experience as a touring cyclist. But she didn’t let that stop her! In 20…

Do you believe your bike touring days will be over if you have kids? Meet Ed and Jocelyn and their two boys as they share their bike touring experiences as a family. This Canadian family joins the Bike Life Podcast from Europe, where they are on a six-month adventure taking them from Spain to Norway. In this episode, they share their current and pa…

Do you want to get into cycling without breaking the bank? With over 30-years of experience, John Bolton knows a lot about cycling and the gear that goes with it! John runs a YouTube channel called Cycling on a Shoestring. He is an avid cyclist who gives honest, objective reviews, tips, and tricks in his videos. Whether it’s clothing, gear, bikes, …

Meet Claude Marthaler – a self-described Cyclonaute. For Claude, traveling by bike is a way of life. He has spent the past 16 years biking around the world and has authored 11 books and bike travelogues. From 1994 to 2001, Claude spent an incredible seven years on a solo bike tour traveling through 60 countries and biking over 122,000 kms. He loves…

Storytelling, adventure, love of cycling, human to human connection . . . that’s what bike touring is all about. And that’s precisely what you’ll see in the “world’s best bike movies” presented at the Filmed by Bike Annual Film Festival. Filmed by Bike is celebrating 20 incredible years of bringing bicycle stories from all over the world to the sil…

What do you do when you are a 71-year-old retired grandmother concerned about climate change, and you want to make a difference? You hop on your pink bike and ride 2500 km from your hometown to the COP26 Summit in Scotland! Meet Dorothee Hildebrandt. She is so passionate about stopping climate change that she spent six weeks cycling alone from her …

The story of Peter and Tracy Flucke is like a book with many chapters centered around bicycling, together and alone, for more than fifty years. Their first tour in 1991 was one for the books; a multi-day fundraiser ride with Peter pulling their 6-month-old daughter in a trailer with his road bike. Changing diapers along the side of the road, warmin…

Ken isn’t one to slow down. When the pandemic hit, he knew he had to find a way to continue touring and hosting his beloved Warmshowers family. It was time to get creative. Ken Francis is a passionate and seasoned cyclist, a longtime Warmshowers user, host, volunteer, and former Board member. He began hosting cyclists through Warmshowers in 2013 an…

Dave and Leo are not your typical Warmshowers hosts. In fact, there is nothing typical about this couple. They met on a scuba diving trip almost 26 years ago, and the rest, as they say, is history. They first heard about Warmshowers through a camping forum, and in their thirteen years of hosting, this 62 and 66 years young couple have welcomed hund…

Adam Swanson has virtually grown up on a bike. He was just an infant when his family took a bike tour across Mexico, and now, at 18 years old, he is on his first solo worldwide tour. After graduating high school last year, he set off for a gap year traveling the world with the full support of his family who are longtime Warmshowers hosts. Adam beli…