Darren Edwards - Breaking barriers as a disabled adventurer and explorer

Darren Edwards is a record-breaking Disabled Adventurer, Author, and Motivational Speaker.

Darren’s life was drastically altered in the summer of 2016 when a near-fatal climbing accident left him permanently paralysed from the chest down. Refusing to let his life be defined by his heart-breaking injury and subsequent medical prognosis, he has battled back with determination, grit, and resilience to achieve things many thought impossible for an individual with a high-level Spinal Cord Injury (SCI).

Darren’s exploits since that life-changing moment have seen him lead a team of daring injured and wounded veterans who became the first team to kayak from Land’s End to John O’ Groats, row across the world’s busiest shipping lane of the English Channel, and in 2023, he became the first person with a disability to complete 7 marathons in 7 days across 7 continents – better known as the ‘World Marathon Challenge’. In addition to these physical and mental battles, he has raised over £200,000 for charity and is an established and professional Motivational Speaker.

On this episode of the Outside & Active Podcast Darren talks through his life-altering incident, a hilarious story which involved buying a Kayak just months after his injury, and some of the incredible challenges he has undertaken.

Ray Mears - The importance of the outdoors

Over the past two decades the name Ray Mears has become recognised throughout the world as an authority on the subject of Bushcraft and Survival. He has also become a household name through his various television series, including Tracks, World of Survival, Trips Money Can’t Buy with Ewan McGregor, The Real Heroes of Telemark and many more.

These programmes have reached out and touched the hearts of everyone, from small children to grandparents. They are enjoyed by many because of Ray’s down to earth approach, his obvious love for his subject and the empathy and respect he shows for indigenous peoples and their cultures.

It is obvious to some, and a surprise to others to discover that Ray has spent his life learning these skills and is truly a master of the subject he calls Wilderness Bushcraft.

Jordan Wylie - Extreme adventurer

Jordan Wylie is an extreme adventurer and bestselling author who is also one of the stars of Channel 4’s Hunted and Celebrity Hunted. He has ran through the most dangerous countries in the world, raising hundreds of thousands for charity and has even taken on incredible challenges like climbing Kilimanjaro barefoot.

The former soldier, who is also the UK national ambassador for Army Cadets, ran 15 marathons in 15 days in the 15 National Parks of the United Kingdom in 2019 to promote getting outside and running for better mental health. In this episode I also speak to Jordan about his own battles and experience with anxiety.

Preet Chandi - Becoming Polar Preet on the Antarctic

Preet Chandi is a well-known British-born Indian explorer, physiologist, skier, and athlete.

She recently completed her solo journey to the South Pole trekking 700 miles across the ice in 40 days. Chandi is also an ex-British army who joined the police force in 2007 and started her expedition after serving the task force for 14 years.

Preet updated each and every moment of her journey via her Instagram handle. Besides the good sides, she has also posted some hurdles that she faced.

She had the idea for more than 2.5 years but she restricted herself until 2021. She planned it ahead and trained for it as well. After completing the tough journey, she has now gained more confidence and faith in herself.

Following her successful journey to the pole, Preet is nicknamed Polar Preet. She has further become the first woman of colour to go on a solo trip to the South pole.

Nicky Chisholm - How do you define adventure?

Nicky describes herself as an everyday adventurer. Squeezing adventures into her everyday life from walks, swims and runs to film, podcasts and books.

She just hit 50 and her adventure journey has changed so many times over the years, from a 20-year-old canoeing and sailing instructor, to a Mum with young children teaching them to embrace the outdoors, to a mum of young teens surfing and climbing Ben Nevis!

Now that her children are in their late teens and are slowly flying the nest, she now finds herself ready to embrace the next stage of her adventure journey.

Her adventure journey has included marathon walks along Hadrians Wall, abseiling down castles, a cross country ski marathon in the Arctic Circle, and a recent trip to Peru visiting the Amazon Rainforest.

This episode is all about adventure, and how every day 'normal' people can find adventure in their everyday lives.