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Episode 214 of The Adventure Podcast features solo sailor and triple amputee, Craig Wood. Craig's life changed at 18 years old when, three months into his first military tour, he lost both legs and his left hand in an explosion in Afghanistan. It took eight months for him to learn to walk again. He recently made history by becoming the world’s first triple amputee to sail solo, nonstop and unsupported across the Pacific Ocean. In this episode, Craig talks to Matt about trauma, radical acceptance, and the pursuit of contentment instead of happiness. They unpack how Craig rebuilt his life through Paralympic sailing, discovered peace living aboard a boat with his young family, and learned to find meaning in waiting, patience, and purpose.

For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.

Chapter Breakdown

00:00 - Craig recalls the explosion in 2009 that left him a triple amputee, his surreal coma hallucinations, and the first moments of realising life would never be the same.

07:00 - A powerful turning point: Craig’s mother challenges him to take action rather than despair. He begins the long road of rehab, learning independence and resilience.

10:00 - Introduced to Paralympic sailing while in recovery, Craig rediscovers competition, identity, and hope - leading him to represent his country and dream of open water.

13:00 - After Paralympic sailing is cut from the Games, Craig pivots, buying his own boat and setting his sights on the ocean.

16:00 - Matt and Craig dive into what it’s really like to live aboard with his wife and two small children; balancing risk, love, and the constant hum of adventure.

23:00 - Craig recounts his 7,500-mile solo voyage from Mexico to Japan; the storms, the stillness, the pizza-making, and the lessons in solitude and self-sufficiency.

33:00 - They discuss how society defines disability, the importance of trying over assuming limits, and how Craig’s story challenges ideas of what’s possible.

45:00 - Craig opens up about raising £68,000 for veterans’ charities, finding meaning in contribution, and sailing not just for himself but for others.

53:00 - Reflections on fatherhood, partnership, and what true contentment means; the quiet power of being “okay” rather than endlessly chasing happiness.

59:00 - Craig and Matt wrap up on how adventure can rebuild a life - not through escape, but through deep engagement with the world, family, and self.

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Episode 213 of The Adventure Podcast features French-born adventurer, horsewoman, and advocate for Australia’s wild brumbies, Alienor Le Gouvello. A few years ago, Alienor travelled 5,000+ kilometres on a 13-month solo trek along the Bicentennial National Trail, a journey she completed with three wild horses she had tamed herself and her loyal dog, Fox. It starts as a tale of grit and endurance - surviving tropical fever, infection, and crocodile-infested rivers. But it unfolds into a story about connection, resilience, and purpose. Alienor and Matt explore her years working in remote Indigenous communities, her bond with the land and her animals, and how taming wild horses taught her trust, patience, and empathy. They discuss the ethics of animal management, and how the wilderness can reshape our sense of identity and belonging. This is a story of wild places and wilder spirits. Of what it means to find family, freedom, and purpose in the saddle.

For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.

Chapter Breakdown

00:00 – 07:00 | Alienor recounts the brutal closing chapter of her 5,000km trek; battling Ross River fever, a severe staph infection, and crossing crocodile rivers with her leg wrapped in plastic.

07:00 – 10:30 | Why she chose to tame and travel with wild brumbies, and how the journey became an act of advocacy for humane horse management.

10:30 – 16:30 | Growing up in France, travelling to Australia at 20, and discovering a lifelong connection to the desert and Indigenous culture.

16:30 – 21:00 | Working for over a decade in remote Aboriginal communities; learning language, culture, and the healing power of land and open space.

21:00 – 24:00 | Why Alienor feels compelled to defend both Indigenous heritage and wild horses, and how these causes became her life’s purpose.

24:00 – 28:30 | The process of earning the trust of wild brumbies through natural horsemanship. Rejecting the idea of “breaking”, in favour of gentle communication.

28:30 – 33:00 | The year-and-a-half-long process of taming, training, and learning to live alongside her horses before setting out.

33:00 – 38:00 | Gruelling early months through steep mountains, moments of doubt, and learning to work as one herd.

38:00 – 44:00 | How Alienor’s bond with her horses deepened into mutual trust and companionship, and the small, powerful moments that defined that connection.

44:00 – 48:30 | Finishing the expedition broken but transformed, finding herself adrift between adventure and normal life.

48:30 – 52:00 | Writing her book, becoming a mother, and finding her calling in equine-assisted therapy - helping others heal through the wisdom of horses.

52:00 – 56:00 | Alienor reflects on motherhood, hope for the future, and why she believes the next generation, and their connection to nature, will carry the torch forward.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 212 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer, cyclist and skiier, Chris McCaffrey. Chris rowed across an ocean having never rowed before. He cycled around the world with limited bike experience. He nearly lost his life, more than once. What begins as a discussion about extreme adventure unfolds into an exploration of motivation, ego, purpose, and the pursuit of joy. In this episode, Matt and Chris talk openly about failure and identity. Why we chase “epic” experiences, what happens when they stop fulfilling us, and how joy can become more powerful fuel than grit. Chris has a striking amount of self-awareness and isn't afraid to challenge himself and his motivations. This is a conversation about what happens after you’ve ticked some of the 'biggest boxes' of adventure, and what’s left when the applause fades.

For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.

Chapter Breakdown

00:00 – 07:30 | Chris recounts contracting typhus, facing mortality, and how he ended up in a hospital bed in Vietnam.

07:30 – 17:00 | Matt digs into what drives people to pursue extreme adventures and the psychology of needing to prove oneself.

17:00 – 25:00 | Chris reflects on motivation, the pull of ego, and how perspective shifts after failure.

25:00 – 33:00 | Chris revisits his attempt to row across an ocean, what went wrong, and how it changed him.

33:00 – 47:00 | A raw conversation about coping mechanisms, crisis-seeking, and finding purpose outside of chaos.

47:00 – 58:00 | Matt and Chris discuss ambition, validation, how to let go of needing to impress others and stop being 'epic'.

58:00 – 01:11:00 | The truth behind the motivation to begin cycling around the world, the reality of the journey, and how it reshaped his outlook.

01:11:00 – 01:20:00 | Chris explains why joy, not toughness, now drives him through challenges.

01:20:00 – 01:32:00 | Revisiting illness, danger, and how acceptance replaces ambition.

01:32:00 – 01:37:30 | The lessons of failure, friendship, and learning to value the process over the outcome.

01:37:30 – 01:46:00 | A closing reflection on fear, sensation-seeking, insignificance, and finding beauty in it all.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.