Wells Jones - From Pararescue Missions in Antarctica to Trekking Across the Dunes of Arabia

In this episode, we sit down with Wells Jones—adventurer, author, and all-around renaissance man. Wells joined the U.S. Navy at 18, launching a life of thrill and purpose as a precision skydiver on the Navy’s Antarctic Pararescue Team. We dive into some of his wildest missions, then head to the desert to hear how he was inspired by explorer T.E. Lawrence—and how retracing a historic route through the Middle East led to his historical fiction novel, A Line in the Sand.

A Line in the Sand on Amazon 

Felicity Aston episode 

NOTABLE TIMESTAMPS:

10:03 Welcome, Wells Jones!

12:51 How Wells joined the U.S. Navy Antarctic Pararescue team

24:32 Precision skydiving into Antarctica + rescue missions

43:01 The famous Middle East trek inspired by T.E. Lawrence

49:52 What it's like hiking in the Middle East

57:22 The historical fiction, A Line in the Sand

1:01:04 Why meeting people from different cultures is important

1:05:06 What role imagination plays out in the wild

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Chapters

• 0:00 Intro
• 10:03 Welcome, Wells Jones!
• 12:51 How Wells joined the U.S. Navy Antarctic Pararescue team
• 24:32 Precision skydiving into Antarctica + rescue missions
• 43:01 The famous Middle East trek inspired by T.E. Lawrence
• 49:52 What it's like hiking in the Middle East
• 57:22 The historical fiction, A Line in the Sand
• 1:01:04 Why meeting people from different cultures is important
• 1:02:17 Wells's trip to Havana, Cuba + where to find his book
• 1:05:06 What role imagination plays out in the wild
• 1:07:40 What is next for Wells