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In this emotional and unfiltered episode of Adventure Diaries, we welcome back Paul Harris, aka The Warrior Walker, for Part Two of his astonishing journey: walking over 20,000 kilometers around the UK—twice. From sleeping in graveyards and castles to withstanding minus 16°C winters alone in the Highlands, Paul opens up about solitude, near-death moments, mental health, kindness from strangers, and the aftershock of completing an adventure of this scale.

🦌 Ever been stared down by a wild stag while sleeping under the stars?

🥾 What does walking 135km on 90 minutes of sleep really do to your body and mind?

💬 Why did people across the UK start calling Paul a brother, son, and friend—without ever knowing him?

In this conversation, we go deep into:

What You’ll Learn

IDEAS
• How a solo walk turned into a national movement of kindness and reconnection.
• Why adventure isn’t about the destination—it’s the coffee stops, the hugs, and the small talk.
• The reality of post-expedition burnout and how to find purpose again.

INSIGHTS
• You don’t need a plan, you need to start.
• Community isn’t built on followers—it’s built on honest moments.
• Letting go of baggage—literal and emotional—is freedom.

QUOTES

Resources & Mentions

• 📚 Book coming Autumn 2025 – Stay tuned!
• 💪 Rock to Recovery – Veteran mental health support
• 🌍 Doctors Without Borders – Global medical humanitarian aid
• 🧭 Follow Paul: https://www.instagram.com/thewarriorwalker
• 🗺️ Try the Local Adventure Tool (by Chris): Hiking Routes - Adventure Diaries

Episode Takeaway

Hardship doesn’t define us—how we share it does. Start walking. Start talking. And don’t carry it alone.

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Today on Adventure Diaries, we welcome Nina Helen Watson—a bright, inquisitive young explorer who turned a school assignment into a beautifully told podcast on one of the world’s greatest rivers: the Amazon.

At almost ten years old, Nina guides us through the source of the Amazon near Mount Quisha in Peru, its astonishing biodiversity, and a few facts you may not believe—like how it once flowed in the opposite direction. She talks jaguars and giant otters, pink river dolphins and capybaras (her personal favorite), all while threading it together with the clarity and confidence of someone twice her age.

What starts as a geography lesson quickly unfolds into something bigger: a celebration of curiosity, family support, storytelling, and the way learning can become magical when it’s shared.

We talk about:

• Where the Amazon River really begins—and how close it is to the Pacific
• The complex ecosystems that sustain some of Earth’s rarest wildlife
• How the river flows through nine countries and multiple indigenous cultures
• Nina’s personal favorites: from capybaras to rain-soaked camping trips
• Why local river cleanups matter—and how you can take part

Her ‘Call to Adventure’ is a gentle one: go camping, reconnect with nature, and bring good snacks. And her ‘Pay it Forward’ is equally grounded—help clean up a local river and notice what grows around it.

This episode is packed with joy, insight, and the reminder that wonder doesn’t need to be complicated. Sometimes, it sounds like a capybara pencil case and a story well told.

📚 Resources & Mentions

• 📍 Apacheta Valley & Mount Quisha, Peru – Source of the Amazon
• 🐬 Pink River Dolphin – A unique Amazonian species
• 🐊 Black Caiman – Apex predator of the Amazon
• 🐒 Capybara – The world’s largest rodent
• 🐍 Green Anaconda – One of the world’s biggest snakes
• 🧭 Francisco de Orellana – Spanish explorer who named the river
• 🌿 Indigenous river names like Riomar Tama
• 📖 Dork Diaries – Nina’s favourite book
• 🎬 The Lion King – Her favourite film
• 🌍 Local River Cleanup – Nina’s Pay it Forward suggestion
• 🏕️ Go Camping – Her Call to Adventure

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating, share it with a curious soul, or ask a young person what they love about nature. You might be surprised by the answer.

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Paul Harris: The Warrior Walker joins me for an unforgettable two-part conversation that begins in trauma and ends in transformation. A man who’s walked over 24,000 miles around the UK coastline—twice—Paul wasn’t chasing a record. He was trying to survive.

From his early years as a shy, lost kid to becoming a Royal Marine, then a private security contractor in Kabul, Paul’s life has veered from extreme danger to deep reflection. He’s witnessed war, grief, and collapse. But it was a moment of breakdown back home, in the wake of losing a dream life in Thailand, that led to a message from a friend: “You should walk around the UK and write a book about it.” Paul did more than that. With no plan, no tent, and just £300, he started walking. And never stopped.

In this episode, we go deep into:

• Walking as a tool for mental recovery and reconnection
• Life in Afghanistan: the beauty, the trauma, and the wild stories
• How teaching kids in Thailand gave him more peace than war zones
• The power of vulnerability and why Instagram became his support network
• Finding purpose through simplicity, grief, and cold nights under the stars

Whether he was being watched by a wild stag in the middle of the night, dodging Taliban checkpoints, or sipping overpriced espresso in Kabul’s “Secret Garden” café—Paul’s story is one of radical honesty, resilience, and the healing magic of walking forward, one step at a time.

Resources & References Mentioned
📷 The Warrior Walker on Instagram

🌟 What You’ll Learn
IDEAS: How walking becomes a metaphor for rebuilding a broken life
INSIGHTS: Grief can be fuel. Walking can be a spiritual act.
QUOTES: “Be careful what you say to yourself. The warrior within you is listening.”
FACTS: Paul walked more than the circumference of the Earth—twice.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Don’t wait. Just take the first step.

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What does it take to survive the extremes—not just of the wild, nature, but of pressure, fatigue, and the unpredictable?

In this episode, I sit down with Megan Hine, one of the most trusted survival consultants, expedition leaders, and adventure safety producers on the planet.

From guiding A-list celebrities across jungle gorges and desert canyons to building trust with tribes, cartels, and government fixers in far-flung corners of the world—Megan’s story is a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and reading the wild.

We dig into Megan's roots—from muddy childhoods in Snowdonia to cycling the Malvern Hills, her ADHD diagnosis, and how early outdoor exposure lit a lifelong fire. She shares behind-the-scenes stories from Man vs. Wild, talks about the psychology of rigging fake-peril challenges, and explains how STOP and the Survival Rule of 3 can help you avoid panic and poor decisions in the wild—or modern life.

There’s grit, humour, and wisdom throughout this one. Whether you're leading a team or just need a push to step outdoors, Megan's stories might change how you view risk, trust, and what it means to truly be alive.

🎥🎙️ Watch Here

👉 YouTube

What You’ll Learn

🧠 IDEAS
• Why perception of risk often matters more than the actual danger
• How wilderness lessons apply to leadership, TV, and life
• The role of empathy and autonomy in high-stress team dynamics

🪖 INSIGHTS
• “Luck opens the door, but graft keeps it open.”
• Good fixers are the unsung heroes of global adventure filmmaking
• Burnout isn’t just physical—it’s emotional backlog catching up once the mission ends

📚 REFERENCES
• Land of the Long White Cloud (book): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39345619
• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
• Cliffhanger (film)
• STOP Framework: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan
• UK Scouting: https://www.scouts.org.uk
• PSYCH Media Solutions (Megan's company): https://www.psychmediasolutions.com
• Megan Hine Instagram: @megan_hine

🌍 FACTS
• Megan once lowered a Jeep Wrangler on a single rope
• She’s led safety for shows involving 400+ crew in remote terrain
• Lyme disease, caught in the UK, changed her approach to adventure health

🎒 Episode Takeaway

You don’t need a passport or a plan—adventure begins the moment you step outside your front door

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What if the heart of adventure isn’t in conquering landscapes, but in the friendships you forge along the way? In this episode, expedition cyclist and filmmaker Gerhard Czerner joins us to reflect on what it really means to travel deeply—where human connection becomes the compass and the journey is shared.

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Gerhard’s pay-it-forward isn’t about a single organization. It’s about a philosophy: give something back. Whether it’s hiring local guides, teaching a skill, or sharing a story, his adventures are built on mutual exchange. “It’s not just about giving money,” he says. “It’s about giving ideas, time, and respect.” For Gerhard, this creates richer, more grounded travel—and often friendships that last years.

His call to adventure is refreshingly analog: go out for two days with no map, no GPS, no phone. Just your instincts. Just the land. Adventure, he reminds us, isn’t about distance—it’s about uncertainty. If you don’t know exactly what will happen, you’re already on your way.

Lesson:
You don’t need to fly to the Karakoram to feel something stir. You just need to step away from routine. Strip back the plans. Make space for the unknown. As Gerhard puts it, “Adventure begins when you leave your habits behind.”

Resources & Guest Links:

• Gerhard Czerner
  • Website: gerhardczerner.com
  • Instagram: @gerhardczerner
  • YouTube: Gerhard Czerner
  • Articles: Sidetracked Magazine and other publications

Note: Gerhard’s site is in German but easily viewable via browser translation tools.

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What happens when a bear sneaks up behind you—while you’re mid-squat in the Alaskan wilderness? For Erin Ranney, it's just another story from the field. In this episode RECAP, Erin—wildlife cinematographer, conservationist, and chicken-showing champion! —joins us for a conversation that blends humour, purpose, and awe for the natural world.

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Erin’s pay-it-forward suggestions are deeply rooted in the landscapes and communities she works with. She champions two powerful causes in Alaska:

• Defend Yakutat: A small nonprofit working to protect traditional fishing grounds in Yakutat, Alaska.
• United Tribes of Bristol Bay: An Indigenous-led coalition fighting to preserve the vital ecosystems of Bristol Bay from threats like the proposed Pebble Mine.

Both organizations exemplify what Erin stands for—local voices, cultural stewardship, and protecting what’s irreplaceable.

For her call to adventure, Erin keeps it close to home:
“Explore your backyard like you’ve never been there before.” Whether it's taking a visitor around your hometown or stepping onto a trail you’ve overlooked for years, there's wonder waiting. And chances are, you’ll see things differently when you’re showing someone else the ropes.

Big adventures don’t require big distances. Whether you’re hiking through old growth or showing a friend the trail for the first time, connection is the real journey. Add in Erin’s guiding mantra—lift as you climb—and it’s clear: exploration is better when it includes others.

Also, you’ll want to hear about her former life as a champion chicken show-er. Trust us.

Resources & Guest Links:

• Erin Ranney
  • Website: erinranney.com
  • Instagram: @e.ranney
• Charity Mentions:
  • Defend Yakutat: defendyakutat.org
  • United Tribes of Bristol Bay: utbb.org

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How do you balance big dreams with grounded impact? In this episode, polar explorer, army veteran, entrepreneur, and adventurer Justin Packshaw reminds us that change—both personal and planetary—begins with a bold step, a bit of discipline, and a deep belief in what’s possible.

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Justin’s pay-it-forward is refreshingly broad yet deeply personal. First, he puts the spotlight on climate action, not by pointing fingers, but by urging everyday ownership. “There are 8 billion of us,” he says. “That collective effort has power.” His challenge? Start small. Turn off lights. Reduce waste. Be intentional. Then, he shifts to youth empowerment—encouraging us to invest time and energy into the next generation, especially those facing hardship. He champions the value of youth groups, life skills training, and mentorship as pathways out of tough circumstances and into purposeful futures.

His call to adventure is equally timeless: begin what you've been putting off. Learn the guitar. Take a flying lesson. Start a new project. He quotes Goethe:

Justin’s message isn’t about perfection—it’s about momentum. The magic comes after you start.

Push yourself into discomfort. Whether it’s a morning run, a creative pursuit, or a long-delayed dream, the formula is simple: discipline + effort = transformation. It’s not about overnight success. It’s about the quiet reward that comes with action, over and over again.

And remember, you don’t need permission. Most people are too busy thinking about themselves to dwell on your fears. So take the shot. Be bold.

Resources & Guest Themes:

• Climate Action Tips:
  • Search “What can I do about climate change at home” for practical, low-cost steps
  • Focus on habits: recycling, energy use, water conservation, and transport
• Youth Empowerment:
  • Support local youth groups, school programs, and mentorship initiatives
  • Consider charities like Walking With the Wounded, Help for Heroes, or local after-school programs
• Justin’s Personal Motto:
  • “Discipline + Effort = I’m going to feel amazing” – a daily mindset learned through years of expeditions and army life

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Adventure doesn’t always require plane tickets and summit selfies. Sometimes it starts with a ferry, a friend, and the commitment to pass on what you’ve learned. In this episode, adventurer, author, and advocate Lauren Roerick shares what happens when you stay local, go slow, and share the wild with someone new.

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Lauren’s call to adventure isn’t about solo quests or exotic destinations. It’s about mentorship and proximity. When she took a friend on her first backpacking trip along British Columbia’s Juan de Fuca Trail, it became more than a hike—it was a lesson in resilience, gear, and joyful struggle. Sharing what you know, she reminds us, is one of the most powerful things you can do in the outdoors.

And when it comes to her pay-it-forward, Lauren speaks from the heart:
Women’s health—especially issues like period poverty—are historically underfunded and misunderstood. Through regular donations to the BC Women’s Health Foundation and Canadian Women’s Health Foundation, and by supporting projects that deliver menstrual products to underserved communities, Lauren advocates for dignity, access, and equality—values that extend far beyond the trail.

Your adventure doesn’t need to be far. It needs to be shared. Look around. Invite someone in. And while you’re at it, consider the quiet, ongoing battles many face just to get outside—especially those affected by health inequality. As Lauren puts it, “Period poverty doesn’t just affect school and work—it can affect your ability to adventure, too.”

Resources & Guest Links:

• Lauren Roerick
  • Website: laurenroerick.com
  • Instagram: @laurenroerick
  • YouTube: @laurenroerick
  • TikTok: @laurenexplores
• Referenced Charities:
  • BC Women’s Health Foundation
  • Canadian Women’s Health Foundation
• Trail Mentioned:
  • Juan de Fuca Trail – BC Parks

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