Wild Chats with Ben Southall
Join host Ben Southall for Wild Chats, a series that dives deep into the world of adventure. We bring you trail runners, hikers, travelers, and explorers sharing their most inspiring and wildest stories from around the globe.
Whether you're chasing ultra-running dreams, planning your next big trek, or simply looking for a spark of adventure, Wild Chats delivers firsthand insights from those who live and breathe the outdoors.
🎙 New episodes every other Friday!
Presented by Best Life Adventures & Wild Earth Australia
Episodes
42 episodes
Tick Bites in Australia: Removal, Paralysis & Mammalian Meat Allergy with Professor Stephen Barker
Can a tick bite make you allergic to red meat? And what’s the safest way to remove a tick?Join Ben Southall and Professor Stephen Barker for a fascinating conversation about tick bites in Australia, from paralysis ticks and the illnesse...
Junk, Running, Creativity and the Meaning of Adventure with Beau Miles
Join Ben Southall and filmmaker and professional tinkerer Beau Miles for a very special milestone episode of Wild Chats... our 100th episode of the podcast!!!Beau returns for a wide-ranging conversation about how his idea of adventure h...
From Sea Level to the Summit of Everest in 50 Days with Oliver Foran
Australian adventurer Oliver Foran joins Wild Chats for a fascinating conversation about what it takes to travel from sea level to the summit of Mount Everest!Ollie cycled 1,150 kilometres from the Bay of Bengal, trekked through the Him...
Running 409 km in 56 hours and 9 minutes with Rachel Entrekin
Join Ben Southall and elite ultra runner and physical therapist Rachel Entrekin for a fascinating conversation about endurance, resilience and what it takes to run over 400 kilometres... and beat every other runner in the field.Rachel m...
Altitude Sickness, Frostbite & Staying Safe in the Mountains with Dr Hannah Lock
Join Ben Southall and emergency physician, expedition doctor and mountain medicine expert Dr Hannah Lock for a fascinating conversation about altitude sickness, frostbite and how to stay safer in the mountains.Hannah explains what actua...
Krystle Wright: Capturing the World's Wildest Moments
Join Ben Southall and world-renowned adventure photographer and director Krystle Wright for a fascinating conversation about creativity, resilience and what it takes to capture extraordinary moments in some of the world’s most extreme environme...
The Explorer's Gene: Why Humans Are Wired to Explore
Join Ben Southall and bestselling author, journalist and endurance expert Alex Hutchinson for a fascinating conversation about curiosity, exploration and why stepping into the unknown might be one of the most important things we can do for our ...
Backcountry Skiing, Climbing and a Life Outdoors with Lewis Foster
Join Ben Southall and mountain guide, climber, backcountry skier and K7 Adventures co-owner Lewis Foster for a conversation about growing up in Australia's alpine country, finding purpose in the outdoors, and why wild places continue to shape w...
Long-distance Hiking, Creativity and Adventure Filmmaking | Bart Schrijver
Join Ben Southall and filmmaker, long-distance hiker and storyteller Bart Schrijver for a conversation about life on the trail, the freedom of walking, and how adventure can shape the way we see ourselves and the world around us.From hi...
MicroAdventures and Getting Unwilded With Alastair Humphreys
Join Ben Southall and adventurer Alastair Humphreys for a conversation about big expeditions, small adventures and why the outdoors doesn’t have to be far away, expensive or extreme to change your life. From cycling around the world and walking...
Dani Lewis on Adventure Racing, Type Two Fun and Surviving the Pain Cave
Ben Southall sits down with Wild Earth’s own Danielle Lewis to unpack the wild, exhausting and addictive world of adventure racing. As Wild Earth’s retail area manager and an experienced adventure racer, Danny has taken on everything from 24-ho...
Ed Stafford on Survival, Rites of Passage and Why We Need to Do Hard Things
Ben Southall sits down with explorer, survivalist and filmmaker Ed Stafford to unpack a life shaped by challenge, discomfort and deep self-discovery. Known as the first person to walk the length of the Amazon, Ed reflects on the two-and-a-half-...
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From Sea to Summit with Tim Macartney-Snape
Ben Southall sits down with legendary Australian mountaineer Tim Macartney-Snape to unpack one of the most iconic adventure stories of all time, his Sea to Summit ascent of Everest. Tim shares how a childhood in East Africa shaped his curiosity...
Behind the Lens: The Art and Science of Underwater Filmmaking with Richard Fitzpatrick
Join Ben Southall as he explores the fascinating world of underwater filmmaking, marine research, and conservation with Emmy-winning cinematographer Richard Fitzpatrick. Discover the stories behind the lens, cutting-edge technology, and the urg...
Steve Jackson on Building Trail Races, Coastal High 50 and the Future of Trail Running
In this episode of Wild Earth Wild Chats, Ben Southall sits down with Steve Jackson, founder of Trail Trips and Events and the race director behind legendary running events like the Wild Earth Coastal High 50.They talk about how trail r...
Packrafting, Wilderness Exploration and the Franklin River with Roman Dial
In this episode of Wild Chats, Ben Southall chats with legendary explorer, biologist and packrafting pioneer Roman Dial about a lifetime spent chasing wild rivers, remote landscapes, and unforgettable journeys. From the early evolut...
Inside the Death Zone and the Mindset Behind 14 x 8,000m Peaks with Andrew Lock
In this episode of Wild Chats, Ben Southall sits down with legendary Australian mountaineer Andrew Lock, the only Australian to have climbed all 14 of the world’s 8,000 metre peaks. Andrew takes us back to the moment it all began, a...
Finding Balance | Lucy Bartholomew's Approach to Running and Life
In this episode of Wild Chats, Ben Southall sits down with Australian trail running star Lucy Bartholomew to explore what it really takes to stay in love with the sport while chasing big goals.Lucy shares the story behind her rise throu...
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Travel That Changes You: Sophy Roberts on Curiosity, Fear, and Meaning
In this episode of Wild Chats, Ben Southall sits down with award-winning travel writer and journalist Sophy Roberts to explore the kind of storytelling that begins with a “lump in the throat” and ends in places most people never think to look.&...
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The Art of Vagabonding with Travel Legend Rolf Potts
In this conversation, Rolf Potts discusses the philosophy of minimalistic travel, emphasising the importance of traveling light and giving oneself permission to explore the world at any age. He shares insights on the evolution of travel storyte...
46,000 km, six continents and 38 countries on foot. Tom Turcich's World Walk
In this episode of Wild Chats, Ben Southall sits down with world walker Tom Turcich to unpack what it really takes to walk around the planet. After the sudden loss of a close friend as a teenager, Tom made a decision that would reshape his enti...
From Pilot to Survivalist: Outback Mike's Story
In this episode, Ben Southall sits down with “Outback Mike” from Alone Australia to unpack how a kid obsessed with adventure became a survival instructor, and why he always planned to trade jets for the bu...
Coree Woltering: The Trials of the Trail
In this episode of Wild Chats, Ben Southall sits down with ultra runner Coree Woltering, whose athletic journey has taken him from the world of triathlons to the heart of the ultra running community.Coree shares how his pas...
From Local to Global: Buha Bali’s Ultra Running Journey
In this episode of Wild Chats, Ben Southall sits down with ultra runner Buha Bali, whose journey has taken her from local races in Australia to competing on the world stage at the prestigious UTMB in Chamonix. B...
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Karla Pound - Challenges & Rewards of Reality TV Survival Shows
Join Ben Southall as he delves into the exhilarating world of reality TV survival shows with adventurer Karla Pound. Discover the intense challenges and unexpected rewards of participating in shows like "Alone" and "Million Dollar Island." From...
