Today we're joined by Ben Keen – the intrepid founder of The Adventure Element, a 13‑year‑old company that runs Duke of Edinburgh school expeditions and large‑scale multi‑activity challenge events for charities and corporates. Ben's also fresh from an epic solo bike‑tour of Vietnam – nearly 1,000 miles of gravel, rain‑soaked mountain passes, all of which we discuss in this episode.

I hope you enjoy this conversation with Ben as much as I did and if you did, please leave a review and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to get the next one. If you'd prefer to watch the interview, you can find it on our Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@adventurepropodcast/

In this episode we discuss:

• What his business Adventure Element actually does

• The challenges and benefits of having two very different products in a business

• The single biggest piece of advice Ben would give his younger self

• Ben's call to action for the wider outdoor industry

• Several valuable resources for outdoor entrepreneurs

• The importance of a tight‑knit, high‑performing team

• Some practical ways of closing the pay gap for freelance staff

• How Ben cycled nearly 1000 miles across Vietnam solo and dealt with weather challenges.

• The simple, low‑cost way he shipped his bike in a cardboard box and got it re‑boxed in Hanoi.

If you'd like to find out more about Ben and get in touch you can do so here:

WEBSITE: https://www.theadventureelement.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-keen-4b72a829a/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_adventure_element/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theadventureelement/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjOtaYQttpa_tr-2pmkpIKw

Here are links to the resources mentioned in the conversation:

• High Performance Podcast - https://www.thehighperformancepodcast.com/

About the Adventure Pro Podcast

The Adventure Pro Podcast is a collection of wide-ranging interviews, stories and inspiration from amazing people that have made adventure their business. It's where adventure, outdoors and travel professionals come together to learn, share and encourage others to carve their own path in life.

I'll be interviewing guides, photographers, designers, instructors, content creators, YouTubers, sponsored athletes, film makers, shop owners and many others that have made a career, business or side hustle from the outdoors and adventure. If you or someone you know would like to be featured, please email adventurepropodcast@gmail.com and make sure you SUBSCRIBE to get the next one.

If you'd like to support the podcast you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/adventurepropod

You can also find the podcast here:

https://www.instagram.com/adventurepropod

https://www.facebook.com/adventurepropod

https://twitter.com/adventurepropod

Today's podcast guest is Alex Mortimer, an outdoor instructor and Compliance Director at Land & Wave, a hugely successful adventure business based in Dorset. We chat about how he got started, careers advice that counted, outdoor instructor training courses and how to balance homelife with a love of all things adventure.

I hope you enjoy this conversation with Alex as much as I did and if you did, please leave a review and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to get the next one. If you'd prefer to watch the interview, you can find it on our Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@adventurepropodcast/

In this episode we discuss:

- How to get started as an outdoor instructor

- When to listen and when to ignore careers advice

- The pros and cons of outdoor instructor training schemes

- Promoting inclusion and diversity in the adventure industry

- Starting with the end in mind

- Feeling and living the weight of adventurous activities

If you'd like to find out more about Alex and get in touch you can do so here:

WEBSITE: https://landandwave.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-mortimer-307b25b4/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/landandwave/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alex.mortimer3

Here are links to the resources mentioned in the conversation:

• Land & Wave Instructor Training: https://landandwave.co.uk/OutdoorInstructorTraining

• Beach Lifeguard Qualifications: https://www.rlss.org.uk/national-vocational-beach-lifeguard-qualification

• Raleigh International: https://raleighinternational.org/

• Duchy College: https://duchy.ac.uk/

About the Adventure Pro Podcast

The Adventure Pro Podcast is a collection of wide-ranging interviews, stories and inspiration from amazing people that have made adventure their business. It's where adventure, outdoors and travel professionals come together to learn, share and encourage others to carve their own path in life.

I'll be interviewing guides, photographers, designers, instructors, content creators, YouTubers, sponsored athletes, film makers, shop owners and many others that have made a career, business or side hustle from the outdoors and adventure. If you or someone you know would like to be featured, please email adventurepropodcast@gmail.com and make sure you SUBSCRIBE to get the next one.

If you'd like to support the podcast you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/adventurepropod

You can also find the podcast here:

https://www.instagram.com/adventurepropod

https://www.facebook.com/adventurepropod

https://twitter.com/adventurepropod

Today's podcast guest is Kate Capelli, founder of adventuressinthewild.com. After spending six years travelling the world she's built a fantastic business providing adventures throughout the world for women. In this episode we discuss:

- How to empower women through adventure

- The importance of a good website and online presence

- Build a community first, business second

- Tackling the lack of diversity in the outdoors

- Managing cashflow in a travel company

- Less booze, more hiking!

I hope you enjoy this conversation with Kate as much as I did and if you did, please leave a review and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to get the next one. If you'd prefer to watch the interview, you can find it on our Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@adventurepropodcast/

If you'd like to find out more about Kate and get in touch you can do so here:

WEBSITE: https://adventuressinthewild.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-capelli/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventuressinthewild/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/adventuressinthewild

Here are links to the resources mentioned in the conversation:

• Meetup - https://www.meetup.com/adventuressinthewild/

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/adventuressinthewild

• National Navigation Award Scheme - https://nnas.org.uk/

• F**k Work, Let's Play: Do What You Love and Get Paid for It book - https://amzn.to/3whFyUJ

• Resilient Minds Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/7C4V1vfFfcDw9wlAMbN6vp

About the Adventure Pro Podcast

The Adventure Pro Podcast is a collection of wide-ranging interviews, stories and inspiration from amazing people that have made adventure their business. It's where adventure, outdoors and travel professionals come together to learn, share and encourage others to carve their own path in life.

I'll be interviewing guides, photographers, designers, instructors, content creators, YouTubers, sponsored athletes, film makers, shop owners and many others that have made a career, business or side hustle from the outdoors and adventure. If you or someone you know would like to be featured, please email adventurepropodcast@gmail.com and make sure you SUBSCRIBE to get the next one.

If you'd like to support the podcast you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/adventurepropod

You can also find the podcast here:

https://www.instagram.com/adventurepropod

https://www.facebook.com/adventurepropod

https://twitter.com/adventurepropod