In this episode, I take you deep into the heart of Sumatra, starting from the jungle village of Bukit Lawang a gateway to the vast Gunung Leuser National Park, one of Southeast Asia’s last true wildernesses. Trekking through dense rainforest, I encountered wild orangutans, swinging gibbons, and even bioluminescent millipedes lighting up the jungle floor at night. I camped on the edge of a jungle river, surrounded by the sounds of the wild, and spent time in the village connecting with locals sharing laughter, music, and late night jam sessions with guitars and dancing.

This is a story of raw nature, wildlife encounters, and the rich human spirit found deep in the Sumatran jungle.

Follow me on YouTube for full videos of my travels: https://www.youtube.com/@itsawildlife4999

You can reach out to me on my blog if you have a story you would like to share, or if you are interested in learning more about my journey or my guests: https://wildlifequests.com

In this episode, I sit down with Seth Kantner, acclaimed author, subsistence hunter, and lifelong Alaskan who grew up in a sod igloo on the remote tundra of Arctic Alaska. We dive into what it was really like to be raised off the grid hauling water, hunting for food, and living in deep connection with the land and its rhythms.

Seth shares vivid stories from his wild upbringing among the Inupiat people, his deep respect for caribou and Arctic wildlife, and the challenges of balancing tradition with the modern world. We talk about hunting not just as survival, but as a way of life and what it means to live in a place where winter lasts nine months and the sun doesn't rise for weeks.

From gritty survival to lyrical storytelling, this conversation is a rare glimpse into a disappearing world one Seth has spent his life living, preserving, and writing about.

Show links:

Seth's website: https://www.sethkantner.com/

Follow me on YouTube for full videos of my travels: https://www.youtube.com/@itsawildlife4999

You can reach out to me on my blog if you have a story you would like to share, or if you are interested in learning more about my journey or my guests: https://wildlifequests.com

Guinness World Record–holder Erden Eruç joins me to talk about rowing solo across three oceans, cycling across continents, and what it means to live a life of human powered exploration. An unforgettable story of determination and discovery.

Follow me on YouTube for full videos of my travels: https://www.youtube.com/@itsawildlife4999

You can reach out to me on my blog if you have a story you would like to share, or if you are interested in learning more about my journey or my guests: https://wildlifequests.com

In this episode, I take you deep into one of the most remote and raw corners of Indonesia Lumarara, a traditional whale hunting village on the island of Lembata.

After a motorbike journey spanning over 1,800 km, ferries between islands, language barriers, and sleeping in strangers’ homes, I finally reached this elusive coastal village known for its ancient whaling traditions.

From arriving with no plan, to being welcomed with strange gifts and sharing coffee with locals beneath trees hung with shark fins, this story is as real as it gets. I share what I saw, how I felt witnessing manta rays and a whale shark being brought in, and the tension between cultural heritage and modern conservation.

Unfiltered. Personal. Eye-opening. This is the side of travel most people never see.

Follow me on YouTube for full videos of my travels: https://www.youtube.com/@itsawildlife4999

You can reach out to me on my blog if you have a story you would like to share, or if you are interested in learning more about my journey or my guests: https://wildlifequests.com

In one of the wettest regions on Earth Meghalaya, India a remarkable tradition thrives: bridges made not from steel or stone, but from the living roots of rubber fig trees. In this episode, I speak with Morningstar Khongthaw, founder of the Living Bridge Foundation, to learn how these extraordinary living structures are created, maintained, and passed down through generations. With over 130 bridges still standing some dating back 500 years Morningstar shares the cultural significance, ecological value, and the need to protect these natural marvels. We also dive into his personal journey, including the moment he saved a sacred tree destined to be chopped down.

Follow me on YouTube for full videos of my travels: https://www.youtube.com/@itsawildlife4999

You can reach out to me on my blog if you have a story you would like to share, or if you are interested in learning more about my journey or my guests: https://wildlifequests.com

In this solo episode, I share my raw, real story of how I stumbled into the mysterious and beautiful world of the pearling industry. From having no clue about oysters to spawning them by hand, I take you on my journey to Beagle Bay a remote Aboriginal community two hours north of Broome, Western Australia where I lived and worked for eight months on private land.

I talk about the unexpected path that led me there, the gritty life in a hatchery, unforgettable moments at sea aboard a pearling ship with Clipper Pearls, and the wild freedom of fishing in untouched waters. It's a story about saying yes to the unknown, learning fast, and finding adventure in the most remote corners of Australia.

Follow me on YouTube for full videos of my travels: https://www.youtube.com/@itsawildlife4999

You can reach out to me on my blog if you have a story you would like to share, or if you are interested in learning more about my journey or my guests: https://wildlifequests.com

Dive into the untold story of Keiko, the beloved orca who captured the world’s heart in Free Willy. Join me as I sit down with environmentalist and wildlife filmmaker Karla, along with musician and director Theresa, to uncover the real life journey of Keiko beyond the Hollywood spotlight. This episode explores the truth behind his captivity, the efforts to return him to the wild, and the powerful documentary Keiko: The Untold Story, which shines a light on his legacy. If you’ve ever wondered what really happened to Keiko or questioned the ethics of marine captivity this is a must listen.

Follow me on YouTube for full videos of my travels: https://www.youtube.com/@itsawildlife4999

You can reach out to me on my blog if you have a story you would like to share, or if you are interested in learning more about my journey or my guests: https://wildlifequests.com

In this episode, we sit down with Christine Rose founder and chair of Māui and Hector’s Dolphin Defenders to explore her remarkable three decade journey protecting two of the world’s rarest marine mammals. Christine shares powerful stories from her encounters with these elusive dolphins, both from the shoreline and at sea, and discusses what first sparked her passion for their protection.

We unpack the serious threats these dolphins face from fishing bycatch to habitat degradation and why every New Zealander should care about their survival. With fewer than 60 Māui dolphins left, this is a conversation about urgency, hope, and what it means to become a lifelong guardian of our oceans.

Follow me on YouTube for full videos of my travels: https://www.youtube.com/@itsawildlife4999

You can reach out to me on my blog if you have a story you would like to share, or if you are interested in learning more about my journey or my guests: https://wildlifequests.com