Alexander Leonard reflects on a life shaped by bicycles, from his long student commutes across Montreal to his two-wheeled explorations through Berlin in search of forgotten corners like an abandoned swimming‑pool complex. In 2013, 18-year-old Alex traveled to Cambodia, where his volunteer work at an orphanage reshaped his sense of the world. He pedaled through Phnom Penh’s swirling scooter traffic, met curious locals, and taught students almost his age geography and astronomy. His journeys eventually led to Sri Lanka, where he studied human–elephant conflict and community‑driven solutions such as citrus buffer zones. Alex finds meaning in motion and wonder in short bicycle excursions close to home. Across these experiences, Alex champions journaling, mindful travel, and a minimalist approach to moving through the world. His stories simultaneously remind us that adventure isn’t confined to far-flung destinations and invite us to slow down, look closely, and rediscover the wonder of the everyday ride.

You can find Alex Leonard Media on Instagram.

You can watch Alex’s film (Humans and Elephants) and his TED Talk on YouTube.

Alex offers a Green Video Essentials: Production Course and Roadmaps (use the code"creativesforclimate" for 50% off all products)

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite episodes from this past year and give feedback on The Accidental Bicycle Tourist Podcast 2026 Survey.

For links to podcast platforms, feedback via email, the podcast website, and Instagram:
https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist

In this inspiring episode, adventurer Renata Chlumska recounts her time supporting Göran Kropp’s historic, self-powered ascent of Mount Everest in 1996 and how witnessing both tragedy (the disaster Jon Krakauer chronicles in Into Thin Air) and triumph (Göran’s successful Everest summit) shaped her lifelong dreams and philosophy. In 2006, Renata followed the perimeter of the 48 contiguous United States by bicycle and kayak. In 2014, she conquered the Seven Summits, the highest mountain peaks on each of the continents. Renata reflects on the values that guided her expeditions, including the power of preparation, resilience, and living without shortcuts. This conversation celebrates courage, love, and the drive to transform passion into purpose. As Renata says, adventure isn’t about avoiding risk; it’s about embracing life fully and discovering what you’re truly capable of.

Photo credit: Kaj Bune @kaj_bune_photography

For links to podcast platforms, feedback via email, the podcast website, and Instagram:
https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist

Imagine visiting a museum to study a penny-farthing—a classic bicycle with a giant front wheel and a tiny rear one—not out of idle curiosity, but with the intent to build one yourself. Then, you decide to hop atop this contraption with no gears, solid rubber tires, and virtually no brakes and eventually take it around the world. It sounds nearly impossible, yet that is exactly what Joff Summerfield did. After designing and constructing his own custom penny-farthing, Joff departed Greenwich, England, in 2006, coming home two and a half years later. Five years after his return, he set out to do it again in the opposite direction, though that effort ended in tragedy. Joff’s mechanical ingenuity, while impressive, was nothing compared to the resourcefulness he needed on the road. His travels required constant improvisation, from overcoming dysentery in Turkey to navigating Tibet without a visa to subjecting himself to DIY dentistry in California. In this episode, Joff joins us to share the unexpected challenges, remarkable encounters, and sheer determination behind his journeys on two highly unequal wheels.

You can watch Joff's daring Death Valley descent, as well as many other videos, on his YouTube channel.

For links to podcast platforms, feedback via email, the podcast website, and Instagram:
https://linktr.ee/accidental_bicycle_tourist