Episodes
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In this week’s episode, hosts Tim & Amy answer all your ExplorerFest questions, go through their ins & outs for 2025, and discuss their upcoming adventures.
ExplorerFest – Everything you need to knowIns & Outs 2025Tim’s recent MTB crash2025 adventure plans
ExplorerFest is our first time venturing into the festival space, and in this episode, we unpack what makes ExplorerFest unique, and what kind of activities, workshops, and entertainment you can expect on the long weekend.
In the lead-up to the new year, the We Are Explorers team has been chatting ins & outs for 2025, as well as their next 12 months of adventure plans, and this episode includes a sneak peek of both.
Tune in for the last time in 2024 and we’ll chat in the new year!
In This Episode We Cover
Get Your ExplorerFest Tickets!4 Insights From My First Climbing Project
Show notesFollow Along for More!
Show us some love and subscribe wherever you get your audio fix. It helps us continue to bring you the goods and uncover the weird and wonderful adventure folk (that’s you!) who are doing inspiring things.
Find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, with new episodes every second hump day.Or check out the We Are Explorers Podcast page.
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We Are Explorers Podcast host, Amy Fairall, chats with Jayden O’Neill (in person!), whose laundry list of titles includes We Are Explorers contributor, MOMENTS film category winner, and National Geographic Photo Instructor and Naturalist. By combining his knowledge from his bachelor’s degree in marine biology with the hard skills he’s learnt as a photographer and videographer, Jayden’s worked all over the world, from Antarctica to the Top End.
In this chat, we hear about Jayden’s career path so far, as well as stories from his adventures, one of which helped him take out the top film prize in our inaugural photo, video, and writing competition, MOMENTS. Jayden’s journey may not be a blueprint everyone can follow, but it’ll definitely inspire you to make decisions based on your passions.
Working as a Marine Biologist in AntarcticaJayden’s passion for natureThe importance of science communicationPhotographyStorytellingWorking with crocodilesLiving in the Northern TerritoryThe story of The Bleeding Assholes filmUpcoming adventures
In This Episode We CoverCheck out Jayden’s winning adventure film, The Bleeding Assholes, from our inaugural photo, video, and writing comp, MOMENTS
Follow Along for More!Show us some love and subscribe wherever you get your audio fix. It helps us to continue bringing you the goods and to uncover the weird and wonderful adventure folk (that’s you!) who are doing inspiring things.
Find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts with new episodes every second hump day.
Or check out the We Are Explorers Podcast page.
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Missing episodes?
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Hosts Tim and Amy have been chatting all things spooky in the outdoors, with inspo and tales from our readers.
What’s the spookiest thing that’s happened to you on the trail? Maybe you’ve walked through spiderwebs before sunrise or dropped something valuable down a drop dunny. Hosts Tim and Amy deep dive their biggest outdoor nightmares come to life as well as some of our readers.
Listen on, if you dare…
Household crittersDehydrating foodWashing & Repairing expensive outdoor gearOutdoor horror stories
In This Episode We Cover:Show Notes:
Hiker Rescued After Hanging by Her Bare Feet For 7 Hours
Follow Along for More!Show us some love and subscribe wherever you get your audio fix. It helps us to continue bringing you the goods and to uncover the weird and wonderful adventure folk (that’s you!) who are doing inspiring things.
Find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts with new episodes every second hump day.
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Dr Sheddy's story is one many people can relate to – finding out your career isn't exactly what you thought it'd be and trying to make sense of it all. But the way Sheddy found balance is pretty unique.
Leaving a veterinary clinic in Australia, she moved to China to save bears before buying a sailing boat in Panama. She now sails around Central America treating animals that'd never otherwise have access to care, and she does it all thanks to the support she gets online.
Listen to the episode to hear how she learnt to sail on her own boat, some of her wildest animal rescues, and what her future sailing vet adventures hold.
If you'd like to support Vet Tails, you can pledge a monthly donation to help Dr Sheddy keep up her work and follow along the sailing vet journey.
Dr Sheddy's early careerLearning to sail and upkeep a boatLiving through Covid on the boatAccess to resourcesHow Dr Sheddy gets fundingWork-life balanceThe online sailing communityInteresting animal treatmentsHow to support Vet Tails
In This Episode We Cover
Follow Along for More!Show us some love and subscribe wherever you get your audio fix. It helps us to continue bringing you the goods and to uncover the weird and wonderful adventure folk (that’s you!) who are doing inspiring things.
Find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts with new episodes every second hump day.
Or check out the We Are Explorers Podcast page.
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After a huge call from our Assistant Editor that Jatz Tim Tams are better than the originals, we got to thinking – what weird and wonderful snacks do our audience take hiking? We threw the question out to you on Instagram and people came back with some pretty quirky answers.
Have a listen!
In This Episode The Hot Takes We Cover Are:
Hiking snacksOverland TrackHiking nutritionDehydrating mealsReady made meals – shout out to On Track MealsTrail DrinksShow Notes:
Dehydrated Tex Mex riceOn Track Meals reviewRadix Nutrition reviewDehydrated and freeze dried hiking meals review
Cut your kangaroo fillets into thin strips.In a bowl, combine soy sauce and honey, or use teriyaki sauce (any marinate you like works really).Add in finely grated garlic and ginger. If you want, dry rubs of spices also work.Allow to marinate in a covered bowl for at least a few hours.Remove strips and let them drip, then add to the dehydrator and run for 24 hours.Keep checking for optimal firmness. This will depend on your dehydrator but you don’t want to completely dry out the jerky, it should be just a little soft.Try not to eat it all in the car on the way to the trailhead.
Aidan’s Skippy Jerky ‘Recipe’
We always winged it and it never failed:Enjoy this episode? Listen to the next Tim & Amy episode, it’s full of outdoor hot takes.
Or if you’re after something different, learn How Nature Saved Kane Ford’s Life.
Follow Along for More!Show us some love and subscribe wherever you get your audio fix. It helps us to continue bringing you the goods and to uncover the weird and wonderful adventure folk (that’s you!) who are doing inspiring things.
Find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts with new episodes every second hump day.
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Please note! This article and podcast contain references to mental health and suicide.
This week Tim is joined by Kane Ford, a Movember ambassador, and founder and guide for Get Outside Australia. Kane opens up about the series of events that led to him quitting his corporate job, reconnecting with nature, and confronting his anxiety.
From growing up as a gay kid in a country town, to working a high-pressure corporate job, anxiety has been a constant throughout Kane’s life – but it wasn’t something he ever talked about. It took a series of panic attacks to force him to confront it and make a decision about his future.
While this episode won’t give you all the answers on how to find balance or deal with anxiety, it’ll explain how Kane is constantly working to find his own balance.
Kane’s also raising money as a Movember Ambassador! Check out his Mo Space to donate and follow @getoutside.australia to stay up to date with the epic hiking challenge he’s tackling this year as part of the fundraising!
Kane’s early lifeFeeling isolated in high school as a gay kid in a country townAnxiety and panic attacksThe importance of destigmatising conversations about mental healthBeginning Get Outside to share the power of the outdoorsWorking with MovemberChecking in with others and yourselfHow to improve the experience of the LGBTQIA+ in the outdoor communityThe goal of Get Outside Australia
In This Episode We Cover:
Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467Lifeline on 13 11 14Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARN on 13 92 76MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
If you or anyone you know needs support, please reach out to:Follow Along for More!
Show us some love and subscribe wherever you get your audio fix. It helps us to continue bringing you the goods and to uncover the weird and wonderful adventure folk (that’s you!) who are doing inspiring things.
Find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts with new episodes every second hump day.
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We recently asked about your hot takes and controversial opinions on the outdoors. Tune in to find out which takes they agree with and which they think are just plain wrong. If you have an outdoor hot take you’ve been keeping from the world, now’s the time to let it out! Check out the original Instagram post and share your thoughts.
Jess Nehme thinks waterfalls are underwhelmingHiking Bec thinks 4WD shouldn’t be allowed to drive on beachesKate Donald hates the beachJosh Fletcher thinks taking chairs on hikes is pointless – just sit on the groundSarah Larcombe wants more walks to be wheelchair accessibleTim Ashelford thinks campfires in summer are unnecessary – unless you’re cooking on itBrooke Nolan and Elissa Ward think ultralight hiking is overrated@danielclarkephoto thinks ultralight hiking is worth it – trip dependentMogely Tessa thinks camping is more effort than it’s worthBen Dawson thinks bluebottles are absolutely absurd creatures and there’s no need for themRhys John thinks the odd person taking a stone isn’t that badPaul Fencaros wants to remove handrails and safety bars – people should be responsible for their own safetyCaitlin Skye hates walking uphill – give her downhill any dayCrisps on Tour/Anika Ebner asks how come everyone has forgotten to swim, filling all of the swimming holes in the Northern Territory with inflatables and pool noodlesThe Eastern Thredbo Village thinks cold water plunges are too cold@inthewildernessoz doesn’t want to hear how many steps you did, tell her about the adventure you did instead@littlechirpybird asks why people need music, podcasts or talking just for the sake of talking. When did people lose interest in the sounds of nature?
In This Episode The Hot Takes We Cover Are
Follow Along for More!Show us some love and subscribe wherever you get your audio fix. It helps us continue to bring you the goods and uncover the weird and wonderful adventure folk (that’s you!) who are doing inspiring things.
Find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, with new episodes every second hump day.
Or check out the We Are Explorers Podcast page.
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From studying spatial science at uni to being diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition that changed how he lives, Matt’s story is a tale of dealing with challenges as they come and turning passion and community into a career. Join We Are Explorers Podcast host, Tim Ashelford, as he chats with Matt about his personal journey and how it led him to founding Fractel.
They chat about the importance of community in building a brand, the challenges of creating sustainable products, and the difference between being tokenistic verses actually holding yourself accountable.
In This Episode We Cover
Importance of sport in Matt’s lifeMatt’s early careerDegenerative eye condition diagnosesDealing with changes/challenges in lifeGetting back into runningStarting FractelCommunity and sustainabilityWorking with and showcasing First Nations artistsUpcoming work from Fractel -
In this week’s episode, our hosts unpack how MOMENTS entries are going and the harmony between creativity and the outdoors. They yarn about outdoor sports in the Olympics, and how different this version of each sport is to the activities most of us know and love.
Finally, with a variety of articles catching the interest of our audience recently, they go deep into the stories that caused a stir!
MOMENTS – photo, video, and writing competitionOlympics – sport in a controlled environmentArc’teryx’s new ‘MO/GO’ pantsPros & cons of Tassie’s controversial ‘Next Iconic Walk’Fires in the bush – K’gari bushfire investigationPFCs in rain jackets – Your rain jacket is probably harming the planet9 best 4WD tracks in AustraliaJunk sailing from Hobart to Sydney
In This Episode We Cover -
Join We Are Explorers Podcast host, Tim Ashelford, as he learns how Cezary & Leo dreamt up this unique gap year, and what's gone down in the first six months. Joining the podcast from the Western Treatment Plant (yep, a sewage treatment farm that apparently has great spot bird watching), the pair are over 10,000km and 590 birds into their year-long adventure.
The 700+ bird species in AusGetting into birdingWhy the pair chose to travel by bikeTrip budgetBikepacking experienceFundraising for a school in East TimorBird highlightsChasing the common redshankCharacters on the roadBike setupsSafety on the roadWhat's nextSpend it well – school in East Timor
They've both deferred uni in favour of a wild adventure, combining their passion for birds, their bikes as a means of affordable transport, and a fundraising effort to build a school in East Timor.
In This Episode We Cover
Show Notes
Cezary and Leo are raising money for Spend It Well, a charity that builds schools in East Timor. You can follow along their journey via their joint Instagram @twobirderstwobikes.
Ready for an adventure of your own?
Follow We Are Explorers:
Website: https://weareexplorers.co/
Instagram: @we_are_explorers
Events Calendar: https://weareexplorers.co/events/list/
Enjoying the podcast? Why not subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an ep. It helps us to continue bringing you epic adventure content!
Host: Tim Ashelford -
Join our hosts as they recap some recent articles that have captured your imagination and take a deep dive into the world of misadventure. They also talk about the recent launch of Explorer Basecamp, our accommodation vertical and MOMENTS, our first creativity and storytelling competition which opens today! There are $15,000 worth of cash prizes to be won and entries are open until the 15th August.
In this chat we cover:Recent articles
Wombats – Tourism Tas & Maria IslandSeasonal articles – Best Coastal Towns for a Beach HolidaySolo hikingMisadventure
NZ Bikepacking AdventurePitches – what we do and don’t publishInfinite Raspberry Excerpt – Katrina Hemingway Tips to avoid misadventureSafety Messaging/articlesRecent We Are Explorers Launches
BasecampMoments -
Brendan Waters set up his disability service provider Limitless Ability because he believed disability care should be individually tailored to each client. From group camping to gold panning, listen on to hear how he is providing people with disabilities the same coming of age experiences as everyone else.
In this week's episode, join We Are Explorers host Amy Fairall as she chats to Brendan to unpack how he got into the industry, the cookie cutter approach large scale providers take, and what he thinks is most important for people living with disabilities.
In this chat we cover:
Brendans Journey into disability careWhat makes Limitless Ability different from other providersThe activities Limitless Ability takes its clients onThe benefits of getting outdoorsThe isolation that living with a disability can createWhy the outdoors is so powerfulWhy family and friends can't offer this experienceThe importance of independenceTerrible Trojans All Abilities Rugby Union teamHow to find similar providers
Find out more about Limitless Ability:
Website: https://www.limitlessability.com.au/
Ready for an adventure of your own?
Follow We Are Explorers:
Website: https://weareexplorers.co/
Instagram: @we_are_explorers
Events Calendar: https://weareexplorers.co/events/list/
Enjoying the podcast? Why not subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an ep. It helps us to continue bringing you epic adventure content!
Host: Amy Fairall -
Join We Are Explorers Podcast hosts, Tim Ashelford and Amy Fairall in this week’s episode without all the distractions that come with doing a bushwalk at the same time.
They chat about recent articles that’ve been published about conservation and accessibility to nature in Australia. You'll also find out how the editorial team writes news and chooses what to publish, plus some more lighthearted discussion on fishing in the NT, Tim’s recent trail race in the Red Centre, and of course the wrap up from Alone Australia Season 2.
Conservation issuesLee Point land clearingNational Parks – what can we learn from US National Parks and what makes Australia’s National Parks so special?Gardens of Stone State Conservation AreaMaking parks accessible to allHow WAE write news and chooses which stories see the light of dayFishing in the NTAlone Australia finaleWest Macs Monster Trail Run
In this chat we cover:Follow Tim Ashelford:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tim_ashelford/
Follow Amy Fairall:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy.eloise/Ready for an adventure of your own?
Follow We Are Explorers:
Website: https://weareexplorers.co/
Instagram: @we_are_explorers
Enjoying the podcast? Why not subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an ep. It helps us to continue bringing you epic adventure content!
Hosts: Tim Ashelford and Amy Fairall -
On the 64th day of the show, the winner of Alone Australia Season 2 was crowned. We Are Explorers were lucky enough to record this chat with the winner.
The winning feelingThe motivation to keep goingKrzysztof’s shelterHow he ended up on Alone Australia Season 2Neurodivergence and positivity CrafternoonsPacking listThe isolationHow the experience changed him
*Alone Australia Season 2 Finale spoilers below*
We Are Explorers host (and Alone Australia fanboy) Tim spoke to Krzyzstof about bed construction, the edit, Krzysztof’s favourite piece of gear and how the experience changed him.
In this chat we cover:Ready for an adventure of your own?
Follow We Are Explorers:
Website: https://weareexplorers.co/
Instagram: @we_are_explorers
Events Calendar: https://weareexplorers.co/events/list/
Enjoying the podcast? Why not subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an ep. It helps us to continue bringing you epic adventure content!
Host: Tim Ashelford
This podcast was made possible thanks to our mates at Arc'teryx. -
Divya Gordon is a visionary outdoor filmmaker who produced and directed the recently released film Maven, showcasing the women at the forefront of Australia's backcountry skiing community.
Living in a vanHighliningDivya’s previous film Seven 7 SevenDivya’s latest film MavenArc’teryx film tourSnow seasons and the impact from climate changeBackcountry skiingFilming in the snowWomen in the outdoors
We Are Explorers host Amy Fairall had the chance to talk to Divya about how she got into the outdoors, filmmaking and why it's important to put a spotlight on women in the outdoors.
In this chat we cover:Follow Divya Gordon:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divyagordonfilm/
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/divyagordoncreativeReady for an adventure of your own?
Follow We Are Explorers:
Website: https://weareexplorers.co/
Instagram: @we_are_explorers
Events Calendar: https://weareexplorers.co/events/list/
Enjoying the podcast? Why not subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an ep. It helps us to continue bringing you epic adventure content!
Host: Amy Fairall
This podcast was made possible thanks to our mates at Arc'teryx. -
Join We Are Explorers hosts Tim Ashelford and Amy Fairall as they take you on a walk through Sydney Harbour. Find out what the hosts do at We Are Explorers, hear some of their tales from past adventures and what they both have coming up.
Tim and Amy go on a walk in Sydney harbour NPWho is TimWho is AmyAmy in DarwinTim in SydneyAmy’s favourite thing to do outdoorsTims favourite thing to do outdoorsLarapinta ultraBoulderingStories on the siteAdventures where things went wrong
In this chat we cover:Follow Tim Ashelford:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tim_ashelford/
Follow Amy Fairall:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy.eloise/Ready for an adventure of your own?
Follow We Are Explorers:
Website: https://weareexplorers.co/
Instagram: @we_are_explorers
Enjoying the podcast? Why not subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an ep. It helps us to continue bringing you epic adventure content!
Hosts: Tim Ashelford and Amy Fairall -
Alone Australia Season 2 will premiere on Wednesday 27th of March at 7:30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand.
Rick's childhood on Tasman IslandHis love for Northern Australia 15 years in the army and SASInterest in Aboriginal cultureAlone Australia Season 2New Zealand wildlife, climate, and terrainRick's survival coursesTikTok
We Are Explorers host Tim Ashelford talks with Alone Australia contestant Rick J Petersen on how he developed his survival skills from a young age, his preparedness for undertaking Alone in the New Zealand climate and terrain, and his popularity on TikTok.
In this chat we cover:Follow Rick J Petersen:
Website: https://rickjpetersen.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickjpetersen/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rickjpetersen5921
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rickjohnpetersen
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rickjpetersen?lang=enReady for an adventure of your own?
Follow We Are Explorers:
Website: https://weareexplorers.co/
Instagram: @we_are_explorers
Enjoying the podcast? Why not subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an ep. It helps us to continue bringing you epic adventure content!
Host: Tim Ashelford -
Buckle up for some good old fashioned campfire storytelling of adventures gone awry.
These stories were first heard at The North Face’s inaugural Adventure Story Slam event in Hobart.
The winners (and our guests today) Jack, Sam and James chucked their names in a hat, threw caution to the wind and got up on stage in front of a crowd to tell their tales in 5 minutes.
The theme of the night was Misadventure in Wild Places, and misadventure there was.Show Notes
Jack Saward tells her story about mountain biking in Maydena, Tasmania Sam Cramer tells his story about a jaguar in the Bolivian Amazon jungleJames Hattam tells his story of misadventure in the Chacabuco mountains
Ready for an adventure of your own?
Follow We Are Explorers:
Website: https://weareexplorers.co/
Instagram: @we_are_explorers
Enjoying the podcast? Why not subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an ep. It helps us to continue bringing you epic adventure content!
Host: Tim Ashelford
Producer: Sian Brain -
Amellia Formby is a zoologist, pilot, artist and adventurer extraordinaire. She flew around Australia in a tiny open cockpit aircraft to experience what it was like to be a migratory shorebird, share how amazing they are and promote stewardship of their wetland habitats across the country.
Wing Threads adventureFlying the microlight aircraftMigratory shorebirds What's going on with wetlands?How can we help?Milly's favourite places she flew overFlight logistics Empowering young peopleBackground in the artsFavourite shorebird
In this chat we cover:Follow Milly Formby:
Website: https://wingthreads.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wingthreads/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDt3XOvAwPCsSjuOoEbFizg
Book: https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/8006/#forteachers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wingthreads/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wingthreadsOther Show Notes:
Toondah Harbour development Moreton Bay
Milly's favourite bird, the Terek SandpiperReady for an adventure of your own?
Follow We Are Explorers:
Website: https://weareexplorers.co/
Instagram: @we_are_explorers
Enjoying the podcast? Why not subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an ep. It helps us to continue bringing you epic adventure content!
Host: Tim Ashelford
Producer: Sian Brain -
**Spolier Alert** This episode discusses the results of Alone Australia Season 1.
Modern Day CastawayStorytelling with history and place Getting into making adventure films Talking to Traditional Custodians Solo adventuring Emergency situations Alone Australia What’s next Tips - where to start with survival
Michael Atkinson, better know as Outback Mike, starred in the inaugural season of Alone Australia. Long before the lenses of Alone showcased his remarkable bushcraft prowess, Mike had been producing his own adventure films. He sailed the Great Barrier Reef in a dugout canoe he made himself and escaped from the remote Kimberley relying on nothing but his survival skills and primitive tools.
In this chat we cover:Follow Outback Mike:
Website: https://outbackmike.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outback_mike/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OutbackMike
Podcast: https://outbackmike.com/podcast/
Book: https://outbackmike.com/product/modern-day-castaway-book/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/Outbackmike/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@outbackmike
X: https://twitter.com/Outback_MikeOther Show Notes:
Alone Australia: https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/alone-australia
Zoleo satelite tracker: https://www.zoleo.com/en-au/satellite-communicator
Longest recorded case of survival without food and water: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/67607-longest-survival-without-food-and-water
Bushcraft Survival Australia: https://bushcraftsurvivalaustralia.com.au/Ready for an adventure of your own?
Follow We Are Explorers:
Website: https://weareexplorers.co/
Instagram: @we_are_explorers
Enjoying the podcast? Why not subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an ep. It helps us to continue bringing you epic adventure content!
Host: Tim Ashelford
Producer: Sian Brain - Show more
