Find A Sacred Weekend & Commit - with Benedict Allen Artwork

Adventure Diaries: Exploration, Survival & Travel Stories

Real adventure isn't just for the pros. The award-winning Adventure Diaries brings you authentic stories of Adventure, exploration and the wonder of the natural world, specifically curated to inspire your next adventure.

Hosted by Chris Watson—an award-winning storyteller and Scottish micro-adventurer—this show bridges the gap between extreme feats and accessible everyday adventures.

Whether you are a seasoned mountaineer, a weekend adventurer, a solo traveler planning your next trip, or someone seeking the mental health benefits of nature, you have found your tribe.

We go beyond the standard interview to decode the "why" and "how" behind the world's greatest adventures.

What Makes This Show Different? Unlike other outdoor podcasts, every episode delivers three distinct promises to help you live a more extraordinary life:

Unique Adventure Stories: Immersive storytelling from National Geographic explorers, survivalists, ultra-athletes, and frontline conservationists. From the peaks of the Seven Summits to the depths of the Amazon, experience the thrill of the unknown.
Your Call To Adventure: Passive listening ends here. Each guest issues a practical challenge to inspire you to step out your front door and discover the wild places in your own backyard.
Pay It Forward: We believe in sustainable travel and stewardship. Every episode highlights a specific charity, wildlife project, or community cause.

Join our global community of explorers. Discover hidden gems, learn survival skills, and find the motivation to push your boundaries.

Subscribe now and start your next adventure today.

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All Episodes

Adventure Diaries: Exploration, Survival & Travel Stories

Find A Sacred Weekend & Commit - with Benedict Allen

May 23, 2025 • Chris Watson • Season 3

0:00 | 5:23

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What does it mean to truly explore—not just terrain, but trust, time, and human connection? In this episode, legendary explorer and storyteller Benedict Allen joins us to reflect on a life shaped not by conquest, but by curiosity and community.

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Benedict doesn’t chase adventure for its own sake. He’s driven by a deeper impulse: to learn from others. From the remote communities of Papua New Guinea to the symbolic weight of the rhino in Namibia, Benedict’s stories remind us that exploration is most meaningful when it’s rooted in relationships. He speaks candidly about the people who saved his life, the places he hopes to return to, and the pressing need to honour both time and the natural world.

His pay-it-forward is twofold:

Environmental Justice Foundation – advocating for communities who live closely with nature but suffer disproportionately from environmental degradation.
Save the Rhino Trust – conserving one of Earth’s most iconic species and the habitats they anchor.

Benedict’s call to adventure is deceptively simple: blank out a weekend in your diary. Make it sacred. Tell others about it. Then do something—anything—that takes you outdoors and into a sense of aliveness. It might be the highest hill near home, a search for a bird you've never seen, or just a quiet walk. What matters is that you go, because that time won't come around again.

As Benedict says, “Time just goes by.” Adventure isn’t a grand expedition—it’s a decision. And the best way to keep the flame lit is to act now.

Resources & Guest Links: