Episodes
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In this episode, Daniel speaks to Bee Leask, an inspirational person whose enthusiasm for exploring the Scottish landscapes is infectious. Bee was born on Shetland and from an early age lived a life outdoors. Today, she’s getting close to climbing all the 282 Scottish Munros, often running them, as well as any other activity you can manage outdoors from winter mountaineering to cycling.
They talk about her favourite Scottish adventures, how what she takes on the mountains has changed over the years, and inspiring other people to get outdoors. Bee is a passionate advocate for adventure and Scotland. Find her on Instagram at @bumblebambi.
Looking for more Scottish inspiration? Hear from fellow Scot, trail runner Ross Branigan who shares his love for running these inspiring landscapes. You can also get inspired for your own hiking adventures with these recommended UK hikes from #TeamMontane, including a couple based north of the border! -
In this episode Daniel speaks to Ed Salisbury, Will Tucker and Jon Moy, three freeskiers and mountaineers, who have embarked on a remarkable journey to become the first people to climb and ski the tallest mountain on each of the seven continents: Kilimanjaro in Africa, Denali in Alaska, Antarctica to Indonesia, and finishing on a winter expedition on Everest.
But as the trio began their adventure, the true toll of climate change became apparent and it dawned on them that they could be the last people to ski the fragile glaciers on these mountains – one of them is due to disappear next year. The focus of the project changed. In this episode, they talk about the power of realisation, how it changed how they live and the real, tangible differences that anyone can make to help. It’s a story of adventure, of realisation and ultimately of hope.
You can find them @thelastrideproject on Instagram and see some frankly astonishing footage at thelastrideproject.com. -
Missing episodes?
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In this episode, we speak to Ross Brannigan, a Scottish-born writer and environmentalist who has a passion for mountains, especially running up them quickly. In May, he published his first book, Running Adventures Scotland. We spoke about his career in the outdoors, the dangers of becoming too obsessed with running and some of the best trail running routes in Scotland and the Lake District (where he is now based).
Not only that but alongside his passion for running, Ross is also a keen fastpacker and cyclist - having just recently bikepacked in the Outer Hebrides and been involved in the Transcontinental Race. He’s a lovely guy with loads of interesting adventure stories, that we’re sure will inspire you whether you’re a runner, or not.
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In this episode of the Further. Faster. Podcast we chat to Jordan Wylie. This is Jordan's second appearance. Last time we spoke to Jordan, it was the height of lockdown and he'd just abandoned a paddle boarding challenge around Great Britain after making it halfway.
You may also recognize him as one of the hunters on the TV show "Hunted." In the background he's also building a school in Dijouti, running very cold marathons and campaigning on mental health issues - in particular social media addiction and abuse.
So as we look ahead to World Mental Health Day on October 10th, we spoke to him about his own journey, how we can help our children, and how we can help ourselves. It's an essential, yet as always with Jordan, entertaining episode. -
The Montane Dragon's Back Race is the world's toughest mountain race - an event that pushes ultra runners to their absolute limits as they traverse north to south across Wales's rugged peaks.
One runner who knows the race better than most is Helene Whitaker- the winner of the inaugural race way back in 1992, alongside her racing partner Martin Stone. After a lengthy hiatus (discover more about the race's history in this dedicated story behind) Helene joined the start line once again, when the race finally returned 20 years later. She went on to finish first woman and 4th overall.
We catch up with this legendary dragon slayer to find what first inspired her to take on the Dragon's Back Race, her love of fell running, and the enduring lure of this gruelling multi-stage route. Like what you hear? Don't miss your chance to hear from fellow dragon slayer and #TeamMontane runner Simon Roberts, who share's his top tips to slay the dragon. -
Welcome to an extra special podcast episode recorded live at the epic Montane Lakeland 50 & 100, one of the UK’s premier ultras. Based in the Lake District National Park, racers take part in either a 50-mile route, or qualify to take on a lengthier 100-mile route, navigating some of the region’s lesser known peaks.
Both routes are an incredible feat of physical and mental endurance and attract hundreds of racers each year to take on the now notorious challenge. Amongst them are countless inspiring tales, from people running for an extraordinary cause, to those returning to brave the route once again. Our podcast hosts Graham Oakes and Charlie Bryant chat to a just a few of them, including members of #TeamMontane who took part and the mastermind behind the race himself, Marc Laithwaite.
So sit back, grab a cuppa and prepare to absorb the incredible atmosphere of this unique ultra event in the Lake District. Who knows, maybe you’ll be eager to join the ballot for the 2023 event by the time it’s finished? For those still eager for more Lakeland action, don’t miss our official event debrief, as well as the story behind the event which provides insight into the origins of the Lakeland 50 & 100. -
In this week’s episode, we chat to Montane athlete Rebecca "Becks" Ferry from Tiblisi, Georgia. Rebecca is one of those people who seizes opportunities and in doing so she has accomplished some amazing things. She has recently climbed six 8000m peaks, including K2, making her the first British woman to successfully reach the summit.
On top of her climbing exploits, she has raced ultra-distances in Menorca, Arizona and the Himalayas. This September she’ll also be tackling the Montane Dragon’s Back, one of the toughest mountain races in the world. Plus, Becks is about to qualify as a helicopter pilot.
As always, thanks for listening and we'd love it if you could leave a review/rating wherever you get your podcasts. -
In this weeks episode, host Daniel Neilson, chats with adventurer Alice Morrison. Alice is one of those people who you would say ‘lives life’, describing herself as Indiana Jones for girls - crossing Jordan, running the Marathon de Sables, and cycling 8,000 miles from Cairo to Cape Town in the Tour D'Afrique. She has also written four books and made a BBC2 series about her adventures.
We speak to Alice from her home in Morocco, where she describes the story of her latest book 'Walking With Nomads', giving up the corporate world for a life of adventure, and a glimpse at the alarming sex life of camels.
Her latest book, Walking With Nomads, is out now. You can find more details at alicemorrison.co.uk. As always, thanks for listening and we'd love it if you could leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. -
In this episode, host Daniel Neilson speaks to ultra-athlete, Ed Harris. Ed is one of those people who like to run ludicrous distances, pretty quickly. Ahead of the Montane Summer Spine, the fair-weather version of the 268-mile endurance race from Edale in the Peak District to the Scottish Borders. For those unfamiliar, this is regarded as one of the toughest races on earth - you can learn more about it in this official story behind it.
Although Ed won't be on the line on June 18th, he previously competed in the inaugural Summer edition in 2021, finishing 4th place by running a total of 94 hours and 33 minutes. Daniel and Ed discuss how to keep going when things seem very far away, how his training has shifted to focus on his wellbeing, and why the scenery of the Spine race is one of the biggest motivations. -
In this episode, host Daniel Neilson speaks with Emily Law and Ben Roberts who are both climbers, and instruct on the Mountains in Wales.
The trajectory of climbing skills isn’t always straightforward. In fact, there’s one big elephant in the room, one which Emily confronts head-on in her short film Free to Fall. Falling is a real fear at most levels of climbing, and one we all need to address, whether you're just starting out or hitting the lofty grades that Ben Roberts is tackling at the moment.
Emily discusses how she overcame these fears, the methods she used to combat that, and how these skills can be used in other parts of everyday life. -
In this week’s episode, host Daniel Neilson speaks to runner and author Rachel Ann Cullen. She took an extraordinary running experience – one that became loaded with negativity – and turned it into an inspiring book about running and positive mental health in her first book Running For My Life.
In her latest book, Running For Our Lives, the subtitle tells it all: Stories of everyday runners overcoming extraordinary adversity. It's a voice for runners of all types who have found running can help deal with mental health struggles, grief and other serious traumas. In this conversation, we cover her own story of running, unpack how running can sometimes reinforce negative issues, and in turn offer practical ways to help everyone achieve a positive experience when they run. -
Hello and welcome to Further Faster brought to you by Montane. Host Daniel Neilson talks to ultra athletes, explorers, filmmakers, climbers and those involved in the outdoor world who are at the top of their game, to find out why they do what they do and how they do what they do.
In this episode, we touch on a subject we’ve not really covered before...the topic of bikepacking! To help guide us through it is a gravel riding enthusiast Katherine Moore, who is also the senior editor at Komoot, a popular route planning tool for cyclists. Tune in for a delightful chat understanding how she got into bikepacking, and how you can get into it too. We also talk about the things you can see on the trails – about birds, about wildlife, talking about the change in the seasons… basically a reminder that cycling doesn’t have to be about chasing Strava times.
Feeling inspired? Take a look at Montane's bikepacking kit on the website for your chance to get geared up for a cycling adventure. -
In this podcast, host Daniel Neilson speaks with Dr Catherine Flitcroft, Access and Conservation Officer at the British Mountaineering Council. The BMC is an organisation that represents the needs of climbers, hillwalkers and mountaineers, all the while helping protect the landscape that allows us to fulfil our passions.
Montane has supported the BMC’s Climate Project, raising more than £25,000 from sales of the Montane x BMC clothing collaboration. That money has translated into planting more than 1,000 square metres of sphagnum moss. In the following conversation, Dr Catherine Flitcroft talks about her work at a policy level, about how we can help preserve our landscapes and why sphagnum moss is a miracle plant that can help combat climate change. It’s fascinating. Learn about Montane’s partnership with the BMC at montane.com/bmc. -
In this episode, host Daniel Neilson talks to Andrew Arell, who is the Race Director of The Grand Traverse. For the first time in 2022, Montane is headline sponsoring this prestigious, 40-mile, point-to-point ski race.
Starting in Crested Butte, Colorado, racers tackle the Elk Mountain Range, climbing 6,500 feet (2088m) to finish in Aspen. This years race is taking place on April 2nd to 3rd. In recent years the race has also added 2 additional summer experiences. Held in September, racers can tackle the route on foot or on mountain bikes.
Andrew gives us his point of view as the director and delves into the complexities of organising a race that heads deep into the backcountry, with the risks of extreme weather and avalanche terrain. Most importantly he wants everyone to be safe and have a great experience.
Thanks for listening! Please leave us a rating or review and we’ll be back in a couple of weeks.
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In part two of our International Women’s Day special, guest host Jenny Tough catches up with Montane athlete Katy Parrott the night before she flies to Northern Sweden to take part in the Lapland Arctic Ultra.
In this far-reaching interview, the two delve into Katy’s preparation for the race and her impressive career. She also tells us about how her Mum was her source of inspiration growing up and pushed her to go outside her comfort zone. Jenny and Katy also discuss their shared love of painting as a way of decompressing and how everyone appreciates art in their own way. It’s an amazing, inspirational conversation.
If you’re enjoying these podcasts as much as we enjoy making them, please leave a rating or review wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Listen to Part 1 of this special International Women's Day podcast here: Jessie Leong IWD22 (Part 1/2) -
Welcome to Further Faster, brought to you by Montane. This is first of a couple of podcasts with guest host Jenny Tough, an adventurer and author, who, having run across a mountain range on every continent is now cycling across a mountain range in every continent… in 12 months.
In this episode, Jenny speaks to fellow Montane athlete Jessie Leong, who is a mountaineer, adventure photographer and storyteller. They discuss mountaineering, learning new skills, as well as the inspiring Victorian Alpine climber Lucy Walker.
If you’re enjoying these podcasts as much as we enjoy making them, please leave a review wherever you find these podcasts. -
In this episode, Daniel chats with Ellie and Matt Green of Summit Fever Media , an adventure film and content creation production company.
They tell us about their careers and how they first got into the filmmaking industry, as well as their latest film “The Longest Line.” The film followed Jenny Graham and Calum Maclean on the longest straight-line between two roads in the UK and has gone on to win various awards at prestigious film festivals. Their film is now available to watch on YouTube and you can follow Matt and Ellie on Instagram.
Please don’t forget to leave us a rating or review wherever you listen to your podcasts.
*Warning: Contains some explicit language. -
In this episode, host Daniel Neilson talks to alpinist, filmmaker, and climate change advocate Graham Zimmerman. Graham has taken on some of the biggest mountains in the world, such as K2 and Link Sar, and uses his stories to help make the world a better place.
He offers thought-provoking insights into his exceptional climbing career, much of it in the Greater Ranges, and his work with Protect Our Winters. POW is a climate action charity that brings together pro athletes and passionate outdoor enthusiasts to raise awareness and bring about systemic climate change solutions.
If you’re enjoying these podcasts as much as we enjoy making them, please leave us a rating and review so we can continue to bring you stories from inspiring people from around the world.
*Warning: Contains some explicit language. -
In this episode, host Daniel Neilson talks to ultra-runner Kevin Leahy and filmmaker Adrian McCarthy.
While backpacking in Canada’s Yukon Territory, Kevin discovered the Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra. Feeling inspired, he went back a year later to tackle the 100 Mile race and won! On February 3rd 2022, he’s heading back to take on the 300-mile race. Then a few weeks later, he’s flying to Sweden for the Montane Lapland Arctic Ultra.
Filmmaker Adrian McCarthy has been following Kevin over the last two years, documenting his journey through training around Killarney, lockdowns, and cancellations as part of their documentary “1000km of Chaos.” Kevin and Adrian give us an amazing insight into preparing, training, and developing the mindset to take on hundreds of miles in extremely cold conditions.
To follow Kevin’s progress in the Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra from February 3rd visit montane.com/yukonarcticultra. You can also track Kevin from March 6th during Lapland Arctic Ultra via the Montane website. If you would like to know more about their film project visit 1000kmofchaos.com. -
To kick off the new year, we're taking a look at the Montane Spine Race, a 268 mile, 7 day, winter ultra. Starting in Edale the race follows the Pennine Way through the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, and into the Northumberland National Park over the Cheviots, finishing in Kirk Yetholm on the Scottish Border.
To start, we hear from Montane athlete Debbie Martin-Consani, who came first in the women's field, moments after she crossed the finish line. Host, Daniel Nielson chats with Montane ambassador and running coach Howard Dracup, who this year took part in the Spine Challenger North Race and took an impressive third overall. Howard tells us about the nitty-gritty of the race and how he tackled his training. And finally, we caught up with Eoin Keith, the overall winner, at the finish line.
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