Ruth Millington's Extreme Holidays Podcast

In May 2019, world traveller, the Barefoot Backer, undertook an epic 57-day, 952-mile trek from the furthest Easterly point of Great Britain to the furthest Westerly point. Few people had walked the route before, but it wasn’t the only challenge BB, a somewhat inexperienced trekker, faced.  As his name would suggest, BB’s goal was to walk as much of the route barefoot whilst at the same time dealing with his dyspraxia, a condition which affects physical coordination and spacial awareness.Carrying all his equipment and part wild camping, learn what inspired BB to undertake the challenge, how he planned his route, and the logistics and difficulties he faced each day whilst catching a glimpse of Great Britain in all her glorious geographical and climatic extremes.You can follow BB on Twitter: @rtwbarefootAlso, check out BB’s podcast:https://traveltalesfrombeyondthebrochure.libsyn.comYouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RTWBarefootWebsite:https://barefoot-backpacker.comProduction (for this episode)Creator, producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusHAdditional music: Greensleeves / What Child is this? Piano - Celtic Harp & Violin by JuliusHFind out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

TO WIN A ONE-YEAR POWER PLAN THROUGH HELPYOUFIND.ME, SHARE VIA MY SOCIAL LINKS BELOW A TIP FOR TRAVELLING SOLO SAFELY.In this episode, I’m delighted to have back in the studio Kyle Henning (Episode 23: Cycling Solo From Djibouti to Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro). He’s joined by his friend, James Stevenson, to discuss their new extreme travel challenge: to journey from the lowest point to the highest point of the 21 highest islands in the world. Varying between 3,000 to 5,000 metres and each with its own challenges, Kyle and James will attempt to summit the islands by various means, including cycling, on foot and skis. Find out what inspired them to take up this new challenge, how they prepared and trained for it, the equipment they are taking and how they have been getting along so far.You can follow Kyle on Instagram at @FromAfarBook or email him at FromAfarBook@gmail.comAnd you can catch up with James on Instagram: @mywaywardsoles, @21islands or via his website: waywardsoles.netProduction (for this episode)Creator, producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusHAdditional music: Motivation Epic Inspire by LiteSaturationFind out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

In this episode I’m joined by the writer, Alison Jean Lester, who, in 1985 at just 19 years old, spent a year studying at Peking University and travelling through China. Pre-Tiananmen and seeing a side of China few foreigners have experienced, Alison discusses how she adapted to the Chinese way of life, the challenges, and the extraordinary encounters she had with its people and the state, including a trip into Tibet. Alison also discusses her latest novel, The Sound of It  (available at https://www.benchpressbooks.com).Alison Jean Lester is the author of the novels Lillian on Life, Yuki Means Happiness and Glide; the memoir Absolutely Delicious: A Chronicle of Extraordinary Dying; and the short story collection Locked Out: Stories Far from Home. Her new novel, The Sound of It, came out in December 2022. Born in the US, she was educated in the US, the UK, China and Italy, and has subsequently lived in Taiwan, Japan and Singapore. She is now in England.www.alisonjeanlester.comhttps://linktr.ee/alisonjeanlester Production (for this episode)Creator, producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusHAdditional music: chinese-oriental-tune-04-12064 by AntipodeanWriterFind out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

In this episode, Hannah Scott interviews Ruth Millington about her five week trip to Colombia. Learn about what inspired her to go, the route she took, and tips and advice on how to stay safe in this fascinating and diverse country.Production (for this episode)Creator, producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusHAdditional music: cumbia-colombiana-2713 by JuliusHFind out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

This year's Extreme Holidays Podcast Christmas Appeal is in aid of Juana Flores Vegas who was my guest on Episode 19: Sailing the World.  This brave and adventurous lady is facing a new and extreme personal challenge. Earlier this year, just a few months after she got married, Juana received the devastating news that she had stage 4 bowel cancer.  In this episode, I speak to Juana and her wife, the artist, Hannah Scott, about Juana's diagnosis and the funds they are raising so that Juana can receive some life-saving treatment back in Spain.YOU CAN DONATE TO JUANA'S LIFESAVING TREATMENT HERE:https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-juana-liveFOR FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT HANNAH'S PAINTING/AUDIO RECORDING INSTALLATION IN AID OF JUANA, CHECK OUT THE LINK TO HER WEBSITE: https://www.hannahscott.com/portfolio/short-walks-in-an-ideal-mediterranean-forest/Extracts from the art installation are reproduced with the kind permission of Hannah Scott, all rights reserved.Production (for this episode)Creator, producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusHAdditional music: Angels We Have Heard On High Cold by Julius HFind out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

In 1984, the writer, Sandra Jensen, disillusioned with life, put on her backpack and went off to travel the world. Her first stop was Sri Lanka, but with little funds to support herself, she soon fell into the dark world of travel scams. In this insightful and moving account, Sandra discusses the widespread practices throughout Asia in the 1980s, the risks she took and whether she fell prey to the very person she trusted when offered the opportunity to make some money from selling rubies.You can follow Sandra and learn more about her work at:Website: https://www.sandrajensen.netInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandra_a_jensenFB: https://www.facebook.com/SandraAJensenProduction (for this episode)Creator, producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusHAdditional music: Cold Mind Enigma - Loopable by GioeleFazzeriFind out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

Season 3 of my Extreme Holidays Podcast is returning shortly.  Listen to the trailer to find out about more upcoming, exciting and life-changing travel stories! You can also hear about our special Christmas Appeal for Juana Flores Vegas who was my guest on Episode 19 (Sailing the World) and is facing a new and extreme personal challenge after being diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer.  Production (for this episode)Creator, producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusH Find out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

The Extreme Holidays Podcast is one-year-old!  Thanks to everyone who has tuned in this past year.To celebrate, listen in to some of my previous extreme traveller guests discuss the one thing they could change to make travel more enjoyable and sustainable. It's a light-hearted look at what even the most experienced travellers can sometimes get frustrated about!This is also the last episode of the current series.  For updates on when the podcast will be returning, don't forget to follow me on my social media links below.  See you soon!A special thanks to:Hannah ScottJustin BarkerGail AldwinElicia MillerClive MarsdenEllis CharlesworthPeter H. FogtdalSarah TinsleyClementine SmithClaudia StachelhausDavid T. GarrisonSuzanne BuchananGraydon HazenbergIan PilbeamDr. Kimberley BrownJuana Flores VegasRyan BiddulphGreta WilliamsSophie CapitoKyle HenningJames StevensonProduction (for this episode)Creator, producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonMusic credit: inspiring-cinematic-uplift-piano-short-8701 by Daddy's MusicFind out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

What does it take to fulfil your dream of travelling from the lowest to the highest point in Africa?In January 2011, Kyle Henning left the shores of Lake Assal, Djibouti (508 feet below sea level), destined for the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (19,341 feet above sea level). For sixty-eight days, he travelled by bicycle and on foot to connect the lowest point on the African continent to the summit of its highest mountain, following the Great Rift Valley from the Afar Depression through the Horn of Africa. Traveling alone after finishing his Peace Corps service, he faced the physical demands of cycling through four countries, growing uncertainty as the Arab Spring gripped the continent, and the effects of his own post-traumatic stress from four intense years of working in crisis/disaster management in the USA and his international work in the Peace Corps.  We also discuss how his 10-year-old beginner mountain bike stood up to the harsh road and weather conditions, the kit he took, how he made provisions for water and food, and some of the hair-raising experiences he had cycling including being chased by a local woman with a seven feet spear, before being met with the ultimate challenge: climbing Mount Kilimanjaro!Kyle Henning was worn in Buffalo, New York, USA, and has spent part of his career working in the Peace Corps service and has recently returned to Washington after being based in South America for the Department of State.  You can follow Kyle on Instagram at @FromAfarBook or email him at FromAfarBook@gmail.comOther Links: "From Afar" by Kyle Henning is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats:https://www.amazon.com/Afar-human-powered-adventure-continent-mountain-ebook/dp/B0946CXP7Q  100% of profits from sales of "From Afar" go to two charities: New Day Children's Centre, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia: https://ndccethiopia.org.uk/ AmeriCorps Saint Louis Emergency Response Team: https://www.americorps-stl.org/ Production (for this episode)Creator, producer, writer, host: Ruth MillingtonMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusH Additional Music: African-rythmn-african-groovy-sport-stomping-music-2062 bFind out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

What’s it like to be an expat child?We often hear stories about expat adults living abroad, but rarely do we hear about expat children. In this episode, I’m delighted to be speaking to one of my best friends, Sophie Capito, who I met whilst I was working in London in the 1990s.  Sophie was different to anyone I had met before. I found her interesting and endearing, particularly when I discovered she had been an expat in Japan for a large part of her childhood.  Little, though, did I understand the extent of the challenges she faced during her childhood and beyond.  Sophie reveals the trauma she endured leaving England and her two elder sisters (who were at boarding school) behind, how she integrated into a new schooling system and the family adapted to Japanese society.  We also discuss some of the amazing family holidays she went on, including China in the early 1980s, and examine whether expat children can ever fully integrate back into their own country when they eventually return home.  Sophie also gives lots of tips on moving abroad with kids.Sophie Capito works as a Sports Therapist. She also loves to travel and has visited multiple countries in Asia including Hong Kong, Thailand, Bali and Singapore, and the United States and Europe, and is looking to explore many more.  You can find Sophie at www.sophiecapito.co.ukProduction (for this episode)Creator, producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusHAdditional music: Koto and Shamisen Loop by Zagi2Find out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

Can faith give you perspective even in the most extreme travel situations?In 2010, Jurek Schreiner, a photographer, having completed his studies at the Shedra: College for Buddhist Studies in Nepal, was invited with his future wife, Greta Williams, to Bhutan to participate in the 2nd event of the Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche Centennial Celebrations. To get there, they caught an overnight bus from Kathmandu to the eastern border town of Karkavitta. Traversing across dangerous mountain passes, they were relieved when they finally hit the relative safety of the flat plains of the Terrai region in the south of Nepal. But fate had other ideas, and the bus overturned on the road just before dawn.  Jurek, suffering from head injuries, was eventually taken to a local hospital to be operated on, but even there they faced challenges including language barriers, sanitation issues and being caught up in a Maoist strike.  We also discuss how their faith helped them cope, the effect the accident had on their relationship and Jurek’s work with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.Jurek Schreiner is a photographer & passionate about outdoor action sports & the teachings of the Buddha.  He’s photographed His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 3 separate occasions & some of this material has been part of an ongoing world exhibit: http://tulkus1880to2018.net/exhibition/ You can find Jurek at https://www.lookofjoyphotography.com and also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jurek.schreinerGreta Williams has travelled and lived overseas on and off for a couple of decades after completing a Medical Anthropology degree with a focus on Pre-med. While travel has slowed down as a mom and business owner, it is still an important part of how she recharges, connects with friends around the world, & feeds her soul by learning and exploring different places and cultures. You can find Greta at acupuncturefamilycare.com and also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/greta.williams.37Production (for this episode)Creator, producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusHFind out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

Many people are trapped in their careers based on an intense fear of scarcity and poverty and are simply in survival mode rather than following their passions.  Until his mid-30s, Ryan Biddulph was one of them.  He didn’t have a passport and had never left the USA, but inspired by his future wife, Kelly, who was already travelling the globe, he took his first trip to Bali and never looked back.  11 years and 45 countries later, Ryan and his wife are still on the road, the ultimate nomads, and Ryan becoming a prolific blogger and successful entrepreneur with his business, Blogging From Paradise, which assists bloggers reach their blogging goals with practical tips, simple fundamentals and mindset training through his blog, courses and manuals.  In this episode, we discuss his journey from the moment he put on his backpack, to what he learnt on the road and tricks of travelling on a shoestring, to turning his love for travel and writing into a career in blogging.  Learn some tricks of the trade on becoming a successful blogger and how Ryan, through his business, Blogging From Paradise, can help. Ryan is the owner of Blogging From Paradise. He's a blogger, author and world traveller.  He’s been featured on Richard Branson's Virgin Blog, Forbes, Fox News, Entrepreneur Dot Com and Neil Patel Dot Com and has over 47,000 followers alone on Twitter.You can follow Ryan at:Website: www.bloggingfromparadise.comTwitter: @RyanBiddulphInstagram: @ryankbiddulphFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloggingfromparadiseLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ryanbiddulph/Production (for this episode)Creator, co-producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonCo-producer: Don RobbieMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusHAdditional Music: positive-day by AleFind out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

What's it like to explore the world by yacht? In this episode, I speak with extreme world traveller Juana Flores Vegas who discovered her love for sailing in 2010 after travelling every corner of the globe both on foot and by bicycle.  Since then, she has crossed the Atlantic five times, and in 2017 decided to sail around the world starting from Malaga to the South Caribbean and Panama, crossing the Pacific Ocean to French Polynesia and onto New Zealand returning via Papua New Guinea and Indonesia until the pandemic stopped her.  Juana discusses how she decided the route, the logistics of arranging the trip, the risks sailing brings, and gives tips and advice for those wanting to start sailing.Juana Flores Vegas was born 1975 in Malaga, South Spain. She’s a Shiatsu massage therapist. Her travels include hitchhiking around Europe, and Honduras and Nicaragua in the 1990s just after the war. She’s also worked as an NGO in India, Guatemala and Nepal, and lived in an environmental community in Nimbin, Australia.  She has cycled Spain, The Canal the Midi in France, Danube River in Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand and Nepal. She has sailed extensively including starting a round-the-world sailing trip in 2017.For more information about Juana’s work: www.shiatsujuana.comAnd her travels: https://www.instagram.com/rolandomundotravel/https://www.youtube.com/c/RolandoMundoProduction (for this episode)Creator, producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusHAdditional Music: Waves from Piano and Sea by Julius HFind out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

In 1994, Kimberly Brown embarked on a lifelong dream of travelling the globe overland.  Her trip innocently began in San Francisco on a hippie bus called the Green Tortoise. She worked the Galway Arts Festival in Ireland, traversed Russia on the Trans-Siberian railway, and rode horses on the high Mongolian plains. If it hadn’t been for a nasty stomach bug she caught in China, she may never have volunteered as a teacher at Mae La refugee camp on the Thai/Burmese border in the middle of a war.  Immersing herself in the ways of the Karen people, Kimberly discusses some of the harrowing events she experienced and witnessed (including having her own life threatened twice), the enduring spirit of a country less people, and how the refugees healed her and changed her life forever. Now a naturopathic doctor, in much due to her experience with the Karen refugees, you can find Dr. Kimberly Brown at www.sanjoseintegrativemedicine.com and follow her at: https://www.instagram.com/drkimberlybrown/ https://www.facebook.com/drkimberlybrownProduction (for this episode) Creator, co-producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonCo-producer: Don RobbieMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusHAdditional Music: Thai Lullaby, Sophie KilroyFind out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

In 2008, Ian Pilbeam and his wife, Anne, quit their secure jobs just before the financial crisis hit to take their 8 and 10-year-old son and daughter on a year long round-the-world trip. Visiting 21 countries, Ian discusses what inspired them to take the leap, the highs and lows, the challenges they faced and how it changed him as a father and inspired him to set up his own business. Ian gives lots of tips on how to set the criteria for travel, budgeting, managing kid’s expectations, the life skills it will instil in your children as well as how to survive the ever changing group dynamics as a family!  Tune in to this inspiring, educational and entertaining story!Ian’s book ‘Are We There Yet?: The Year-Long Adventure That Kept On Giving’ is available to buy at all major retailers including Amazon and Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/are-we-there-yet/ian-pilbeam/9781838388201You can also follow Ian at:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originalfamilytrippers/FB: https://www.facebook.com/ipilbeamWebsite: https://familytrippers.co.ukProduction (for this episode)Creator, producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusHAdditional Music: Whistling -7412 by TwisteriumFind out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

In 1998, global nomad, keen bicycle traveller and author, Graydon Hazenberg, decided to cycle across the roof of the world from Islamabad in Pakistan to Mount Kailash (Tibet’s Holiest Mountain) with his sisters and their partners.  It was to be a 3-month trip across 2200 miles of some of the world’s most inspiring and harshest terrain.  Along the way, they met many of the fascinating ethnic groups that live in this remote region, but the trip came with some immense challenges: equipment failures, illness, food shortages, abysmal road conditions and efforts by the Chinese Public Security Bureau to stop them cycling to Tibet.Tune in to find out if they made it!We also discuss Graydon’s other epic cycle journeys, what inspired him to take up cycling and tips for those who want to explore the world by bicycle!Graydon’s book ‘Pedalling to Kailash: Cycling Adventures and Misadventures on the Roof of the World’ is available to buy at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08X6GTK43You can also follow Graydon and his extreme travels at: FB: www.facebook.com/graydon.hazenberg.authorTwitter: www.twitter.com/stanleystravelsInstagram: www.instagram.com/hmstanleystravelsTravel blog: graydonstravels.blogspot.comWebsite: graydonhazenberg.caProduction (for this episode)Creator, producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusHAdditional Music: motivational-inspiring-piano-9836 by ZakharValahaFind out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

In this episode, I speak to Suzanne Buchanan, a British Citizen and the exiled former owner and editor of the Samui Times online newspaper. She has received numerous death threats and there is a warrant out for her arrest in Thailand for articles she published in the Samui Times after she investigated over a dozen suspicious backpacker deaths on the island of Koh Tao. Those investigations also led her to believe that two Burmese men, Wai Phyo and Zaw Lin, have been wrongly sentenced to death for the brutal murders of British backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, in 2014.Speaking to me from a safe house in the UK, we discuss the deaths and murders, why she believes the two Burmese men are innocent, and how she copes with death threats and living in exile.  We also discuss Suzanne’s wanderlust for travel and how travellers, especially young women, can keep safe whilst travelling. Suzanne’s book ‘The Curse of The Turtle: The True Story of Thailand’s Backpacker Murders’ is published by Wildblue Press and further details of how to buy it are here: https://wildbluepress.com/suzanne-buchanan-the-curse-of-the-turtle-true-crime/?fbclid=IwAR3VQSf9j0Q0nc55KhuqhiMQyslZB7d9bUuXbjk55RcvEUNB2NeVsQ7vnlASuzanne is also featured in a three-part documentary series for SKY Documentaries called Death on the Beach about the murders and suspicious deaths airing in March 2022.You can follow Suzanne at:https://www.facebook.com/SuBuchanan70/ https://www.facebook.com/SamuiTimes/ https://www.instagram.com/subuchanan70/https://mobile.twitter.com/subuchanan70Production (for this episode)Creator, co-producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonCo-producer: Don RobbieMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusHAdditional Music: Chasing the Killer's Trail - Dark Detective Thriller Soundtrack (Loopable) by GioeleFind out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

Listen in to this EXTREME tale of bravery from 9/11 hero and world traveller, David T. Garrison!How would you spend time off work? Relaxing? Visiting family and friends? David T. Garrison did the exact opposite and went out to help in one of the most devastating earthquakes and tsunamis to hit Japan.  You can’t get a more extreme holiday than this!On 11th March 2011, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake hit just off the coast of Japan followed by a tsunami that decimated 400 miles of east coastline and severely damaged the Fukushima nuclear power plant, north of Tokyo.  As hundreds of thousands of citizens fled the area and ex-pats were told to leave Japan due to the risk of a nuclear catastrophe, David T. Garrison did an incredibly brave thing - boarded a flight from The States to Japan and went to assist those in need.  Partially raised in Japan, David discusses what it was like to go back to the country he fell in love with as a child, the magnitude of the disaster and the work he undertook and strategies he employed in providing relief.  We also discuss the risks he faced from radiation poisoning, trauma, PSTD and the other rescue missions he has worked on including 9/11.  David also reveals his famous ancestor!David was born in Wilmington NC USA. Part of his childhood was spent in Japan.  At the age of 18 he became an Emergency Medical Technician and then worked in sector including Rescue/Fire, Home Care and Clinical Hospital setting for close to 30 years. He joined the American Red Cross in 2007 and has worked on Disasters in 14 US States including Hurricane Harvey in Texas, the California for Wildfires, and for Hurricane Maria in Costa Rica and 9/11.  You can find him on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/david.t.garrison.9Production (for this episode)Creator, producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusHAdditional Music -  Samurai Asian Music for BackgrouFind out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

As news broke of the outbreak of war in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, husband and wife team, Nick Tadd and Vanessa Warwick, decided to launch a humanitarian mission to Ukraine.  Leaving Vanessa to coordinate efforts from the UK, Nick set off on the morning of 4th March 2022 in his SUV with trailer in tow loaded with donations of food and basic supplies for refugees for the 20-hour drive to the Polish/Ukraine border via a ferry from Dover to Dunkirk.  What he witnessed on the border was horrifying.  Amid the chaos of millions fleeing Ukraine, Nick discovered thousands of pets and animals left behind to suffer and die.   Nick is currently on the front line in Ukraine, delivering food to animals abandoned by fleeing refugees and trying to arrange for some of them to be brought out of the country.In this episode, Don Robbie and I speak to Vanessa in our Extreme Holidays studio and Nick from the front line about their incredible mission to help save the pets and animals of Ukraine caught up in this terrible war. NICK AND VANESSA ARE URGENTLY RAISING FUNDS FOR THEIR MISSION.TO DONATE TO THIS INCREDIBLE CAUSE, PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ukrainemissionnick?fbclid=IwAR1hRnY11HyR01y91485ErdDnHAk9bdu6EW-lpUstp6Jj2EZMbKI2vNAqxwProduction (for this episode)Creator, co-producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonCo-producer, writer and host: Don RobbieMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusHFind out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/

How would you cope if you were involved in a horrific accident in the African bush, thousands of miles away from home?In 2008, ex-City banker, Claudia Stachelhaus, upped sticks after being made redundant to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip across Namibia. On the second day of her adventure, the group tour bus she was travelling in overturned at high speed & Claudia was thrown out of the vehicle onto the dirt track & knocked unconscious. She woke to find herself screaming, having sustained a serious neck injury, but being out in the bush, help was hours away &, when an ambulance finally arrived, it ran out of petrol. In this fascinating tale of survival, Claudia also reveals how her coping strategies & positive outlook on life set her on the road to recovery. Claudia Stachelhaus was born in Germany & has lived in Australia & South Africa. For the last 15 years, she has been based in London. Since leaving her career in structured finance, Claudia has been hosting supper clubs, teaching cooking classes in the community & travelling as much as she can. For more details of her supper clubs: http://whiteroomsupperclub.blogspot.comAt the beginning of the pandemic, Claudia started “Toiletries for the Streets” handing out basic toiletry packs to up to 100 rough sleepers who had no access to facilities. Funds are always needed to keep the service up & running. For more information & how to donate: https://gofund.me/cf582e42 or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toiletriesforthestreets/Production (for this episode)Creator, producer, writer and host: Ruth MillingtonMusic credit: Epic Orchestra - Blockbuster Adventure Music by JuliusHAdditional Music African Inspiration by JuliusHFind out more at www.ruthmillingtonauthor.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmillingtonauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthMillington1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruth.millington.52/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-millington-54915b24/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSupport the ShowSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ruthmillington)SponsorA huge thanks to today’s sponsor HelpYouFind.Me Find out more at https://helpyoufind.me/Extreme10 and get a 10% discount when you sign up! Share Your Story Have an extreme travel story to tell? Contact me at: https://ruthmillingtonauthor.com/contact/