Armchair Explorer

Today we are going to travel across all seven continents, through steaming craters and frozen summits, into the heart of the world's most active volcanoes. This is a story about chasing fire.
Ricardo Kaljouw is one of only a handful of people on Earth to have completed the Volcanic Seven Summits — climbing the highest volcano on every continent. From his first glimpse of Kilimanjaro rising above the Tanzanian savannah, to standing alone on the roof of Antarctica in minus 49 degree cold, Ricardo's story is one of extraordinary resilience, raw adventure, and the kind of fire that, once lit, simply cannot be put out.
Highlights of The Volcanic Seven Summits:
Standing on the roof of Africa — and the sunrise that greeted Ricardo on the way down from Kilimanjaro that changed everything.
Watching the largest lava lake in the world come alive at night on the slopes of Nyiragongo in Rwanda.
Surviving a lightning storm at altitude on Iran's Mount Damavand.
Getting lost in the jungle of Papua New Guinea with no food, a missing porter, and a village of locals who may have been hunting him.
Being stranded alone on the highest volcano on earth, Ojos del Salado in Chile.
That final, extraordinary moment on Mount Sidley in Antarctica — six years in the making, 17,000 kilometres from home.

FIND OUT MORE
Ricardo Kaljouw's book is called A Million Steps on Lava: Climbing the Highest Volcano on Each Continent. It's a gripping, inspiring read — and what makes it especially unique is that Ricardo started exactly where many of us are: dreaming of high peaks without any real experience of climbing them. It's a story that makes the extraordinary feel possible.
Follow Ricardo's ongoing expeditions on Instagram at @volcanicsevensummits and search up the book wherever books are sold.

SHARE THIS EPISODE
If this story lit something up in you, do me a favour — send it to just one person. One friend, one family member, one person you think needs a little fire in their life right now. Hit the share button in your podcast app, it takes about ten seconds. Or go Old School and tell someone about it over a cheeky pint! I'm trying to reach 1,000 new listeners this series, and every single share genuinely moves the needle. You'd be helping Ricardo's story reach someone who really needs to hear it.

FOLLOW US: Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast

CONNECT WITH US: If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you're reading this on right now. Go on, do it! It helps us grow the show, and continue to bring this content to you.
Armchair Explorer is written and presented by Aaron Millar. Audio editing and sound design by Charles Tyrie. Theme music by Sweet Chap. Produced by Armchair Productions.
Mentioned in this episode:
Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world
This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.

For advertising or sponsorship opportunities across the network, see the link below.
Voyascape Podcast Network
Check out the Smart Travel Podcast
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:
Smart Travel Podcast

The Black Hills are home to more than 100 known caves - including the world's third-longest cave system at Jewel Cave National Monument with it's miles of unmapped passageways, and the complex caves systems at Wind Cave National Park, which are not merely a geological wonder they also make up a sacred site for the Lakota people.

We join pioneer explorer Chris Pelczarski for some hands-on spelunking in seriously narrow caves (that are sometimes home to mountain lions). Then we meet indigenous park ranger Sina Bear Eagle and learn about the Lakota emergence story and its deep spiritual meaning.
-Brian Thacker, presenter

Thank you to everyone who featured in this episode:
Chris Pelczarski and Adam Weaver from the Black Hills Cave and Nature Conservancy
Sina Bear Eagle from Wind Cave National Park

Recorded on location, this audio adventure is designed to do more than just let you hear what it's like to be there. It's designed to let you feel what it's like for real.

Find out more at Travel South Dakota.com where you'll find lots of inspiration, ideas and everything else you need to know to plan your great South Dakota adventure.
CONNECT WITH US
Instagram: ⁠@armchairexplorerpodcast⁠
Facebook: ⁠@armchairexplorerpodcast⁠
⁠Armchair Explorer⁠ is produced by ⁠Armchair Productions⁠. Aaron Millar and Jason Paton presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design.
Armchair Explorer is a part of the Voyascape Podcast Network check out their other shows from around the world at voyascape.com
Mentioned in this episode:
Check out the Smart Travel Podcast
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:
Smart Travel Podcast
Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world
This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.

For advertising or sponsorship opportunities across the network, see the link below.
Voyascape Podcast Network

Sometimes the wrong path is the best path. I was stumbling down the side of a steep mountain slope, pushing through thorny bushes, scratched, thirsty and utterly confused. But I was smiling. While on a week-long hike across the Ligurian hills in northwest Italy – I had become hopelessly lost.
But then something magical happened: I rounded a corner into a mountain meadow filled with dozens of wild horses - muscled stallions with jet black manes, gold skinned mares and tiny foals. Startled at first, they soon found themselves more curious than afraid and gradually came to graze by my side.
It took me half a day to find my way back again, but it was worth every cut and bruise. The best adventures always happen when you least expect it.
Aaron Millar

In today’s episode, host Aaron Millar shares the story of one of his favorite long-distance hikes of all time.
The Old Salt Road is part of a network of ancient trading paths that crisscross northwest Italy. For over a thousand years mule herders, laden with precious salt from the ports of Liguria, would use this trail to trade with the rich plains of Lombardy, returning with goatskins of wine, salami and cheese.
The hike begins in the fertile wine-growing plains of Oltrepo Pavese - 50 miles north of Genoa – and then heads steadily south, crossing the Apennine Mountains, before dropping down 80 beautiful miles later to the small fishing village of Camogli on the Ligurian coast.
This is a story about a bucket list hike through one of the most beautiful places in Europe. But it’s also the story of how this old road was now nearly forgotten, and the trail that is bringing it back to life.
CONNECT WITH US
Ready to Explore? If you're into real stories of epic places told by the people who’ve lived them, make sure to subscribe so you won’t miss an episode of Series 4 of Armchair Explorer.
If you’re interested to find out more about how to do this hike for yourself drop Aaron a line on Instagram
Instagram: ⁠@armchairexplorerpodcast⁠
Facebook: ⁠@armchairexplorerpodcast⁠
⁠Armchair Explorer⁠ is produced by ⁠Armchair Productions⁠. Aaron Millar and Jason Paton presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design.
Armchair Explorer is a part of the Voyascape Podcast Network check out their other shows from around the world at voyascape.com
Mentioned in this episode:
Check out the Smart Travel Podcast
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:
Smart Travel Podcast
Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world
This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.

For advertising or sponsorship opportunities across the network, see the link below.
Voyascape Podcast Network

"Humans are meant to excel. And when you start pushing that and seeing how capable we are, it's phenomenal what you can actually go and do."
-Justin Packshaw
When Justin Packshaw was trekking in Antarctica several years ago, he noticed something disturbing: The ice shelf had visibly melted since his previous visit, just a few decades prior. "In the grand scheme of how old our world is, and its present state, that's a really quite frightening thing," he said. And with that, he had an idea. Not all scientists have the time, resources, or, frankly, the stamina to conduct invaluable in-person research in the heart of Antarctica, which holds the record as the world's coldest, windiest, and driest continent. But Justin did.
He and his adventure partner, Jamie Facer-Childs, proposed a data-gathering mission to several universities: They would cross Antarctica's heart and gather critical scientific data about climate change. But other agencies were interested in the trip as well.
As it turns out, pushing the human body to its limits - physically, psychologically, mentally - is one of the key areas of research for space agencies like NASA and the European Space Agency. Justin and Jamie's expedition would collect critical data on behavior, coping abilities, teamwork, endurance, even eyesight, that would be invaluable for future space missions in which astronauts will live for years in a space no larger than a studio apartment.

This is a good, old-fashioned adventure romp - but it's more than that too. It's also a story about science, psychology, Mars, and climate change. It's about how we cope with the most extreme physical challenges imaginable and ultimately how that defines us as humans.

FIND JUSTIN
Learn more about Justin and his adventures at his website, JustinPackshaw.com, or follow him on Instagram @JustinPackshaw. Find more details about the Antarctica expedition at ChasingTheLight2021.com.

SOCIAL
Share the show with your friends! Subscribe to the podcast wherever you're listening, follow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook, check out Armchair Explorer's website, armchair-explorer.com

CREDITS
This episode was produced by Armchair Productions. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com. Jenny Allison wrote and produced this episode, along with host and producer Aaron Millar. Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Theme music written by the artist Sweet Chap.
Mentioned in this episode:
Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world
This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.

For advertising or sponsorship opportunities across the network, see the link below.
Voyascape Podcast Network
Check out the Smart Travel Podcast
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:
Smart Travel Podcast

Every Pathways, host Aaron Millar and producer Jason Paton crack open a few stories, play their favorite clips, and take you on a whirlwind preview of what’s coming up on Armchair Explorer.
In this episode, we’ll be traveling from the craziest white water race in the world to the highest volcanoes on the planet, from ancient trade routes in Italy to the sacred storytelling landscapes of Australia and beyond.
If you like travel and adventure, come and hang out, we’re going to have some fun.
Climb the Seven Volcanic Summits Challenge, summiting the highest volcano on every continent.
Explore the fjords of Norway in search of the Northern Lights.
Hike across Italy’s Old Salt Road, an ancient trade route across the Apennine Mountains to the Mediterranean Sea.
Descend into Wind Cave, South Dakota, one of the longest cave systems on Earth, to hear the Lakota Emergence Story.
Take part in the River Nevis Race in Scotland — if Monty Python went white-water rafting, this would be it.

Ready to Explore? If you're into real stories of epic places told by the people who’ve lived them, make sure to subscribe so you won’t miss an episode of Series 4 of Armchair Explorer.
Instagram: ⁠@armchairexplorerpodcast⁠
Facebook: ⁠@armchairexplorerpodcast⁠
⁠Armchair Explorer⁠ is produced by ⁠Armchair Productions⁠. Aaron Millar and Jason Paton presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design.
Mentioned in this episode:
Check out the Smart Travel Podcast
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:
Smart Travel Podcast
Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world
This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.

For advertising or sponsorship opportunities across the network, see the link below.
Voyascape Podcast Network