There is nothing more exhilarating or awe inspiring than interviewing someone loved by so many (nearly 60,000 on Instagram to be precise). This was surreal, wonderful, magical, comforting, intimate and illuminating... a bit like standing on a mountaintop in some seriously fresh air.

I have come to love Alastair Humphreys' work - particularly his books, Local and Microadventures - as it has helped me to be ok with not travelling overseas whilst being able to get a backpacker's fix. It has also supported me intellectually, logistically and emotionally - as a mother, an Enneagram 7, an entrepreneur and a climate change fighter... for Alastair pioneered the concept - and coined the term - "⁠microadventure⁠" which has since gained him a global following...

In this conversation, I get to know one of my literary heroes and (somewhat too personally) press him about his own relationship with freedom. He is gracious - of course - offering us his listener a candid, light-hearted and meaningful response that is guaranteed to help you not to feel alone - even when you are - to get out there and do something, and to love where and when you are - now.

Alastair is a "National Geographic Adventurer of the Year". He has cycled, walked and rowed around the world and now promotes simple and short trips close to home.

He began his first expedition in August 2001 from his Yorkshire home. Passing south through Europe and Africa, he crossed to South America by sea from Cape Town and proceeded up the west coast of the Americas, crossed from Alaska to Magadan in Russia, Japan then westward across China and Central Asia to return to Europe. His journey included raising funds and awareness for a charity called Hope and Homes for Children. He arrived home in November 2005, having ridden over 46,000 miles (74,000 km) in four years and three months.

In 2008, Alastair competed in the Marathon des Sables, a 150 miles (240 km) run across the Sahara desert. He broke his foot during the race but still completed the event. He narrowly missed being in the top-100 finishers.

In February 2009, he rowed across the English Channel with Major Phil Packer to raise £1 million for Help for Heroes. And then, in Spring 2009, he walked across India, and walked and packrafted across Iceland in 2010.

Since then he hasn't been less busy and his ⁠wonderful website and the wide range of books he has written about his experiences are the best place to go to find out all about it.

What a man.