Wild Chats with Ben Southall

In this episode of Wild Earth Wild Chats, Ben Southall sits down with Steve Jackson, founder of Trail Trips and Events and the race director behind legendary running events like the Wild Earth Coastal High 50.

They talk about how trail races are built, what first-time ultra runners often get wrong, Steve’s journey from Hamilton Island to race directing, and where trail running in Australia is heading next. A great episode for runners, adventurers, and anyone curious about the people behind the start line.

🏃 Connect with Steve Jackson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trailtrips_and_events/Website: https://www.trailtrips.com.au/events-2
Sunset Slice: https://events.humanitix.com/host/wild-earth-australia

🎙️ Hosted by 
Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures: https://bestlifeadventures.com/
Wild Earth Australia: https://www.wildearth.com.au/

In this episode of Wild Chats, Ben Southall chats with legendary explorer, biologist and packrafting pioneer Roman Dial about a lifetime spent chasing wild rivers, remote landscapes, and unforgettable journeys. 
From the early evolution of packrafting in Alaska to adventures on Tasmania’s Franklin River, Roman shares the stories, lessons, and hard-earned wisdom that come from decades in the field. He talks through what it takes to plan for true wilderness travel, how to adapt when conditions change, and why the best adventures are often shaped by uncertainty.
Follow Roman's adventures
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dialroman/

🎙️ Hosted by
Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures: www.bestlifeadventures.com
Wild Earth Australia: www.wildearth.com.au

In this episode of Wild Chats, Ben Southall sits down with legendary Australian mountaineer Andrew Lock, the only Australian to have climbed all 14 of the world’s 8,000 metre peaks. 
Andrew takes us back to the moment it all began, a slideshow in the back room of a pub that lit the fuse, and the sharp left turn that followed. Within months he was learning to climb in the Blue Mountains. Within a couple of years he was testing himself on Denali. And not long after that, he was stepping into the Himalaya with a mindset that would shape the rest of his life, to earn the skills, respect the mountains, and keep coming back. 
Ben and Andrew unpack the realities behind big altitude dreams, including what it feels like to turn around short of the summit, why he learned he was a slower acclimater, and how experience changes the way you make decisions when the weather turns, the cold bites, and the margin for error disappears. 
🏔️ Learn more about Andrew
 Guided trips: www.andrewlockadventures.com
 Speaking: www.andrew-lock.com
🎙️ Hosted by
 Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures: www.bestlifeadventures.com
Wild Earth Australia: www.wildearth.com.au

In this episode of Wild Chats, Ben Southall sits down with Australian trail running star Lucy Bartholomew to explore what it really takes to stay in love with the sport while chasing big goals.

Lucy shares the story behind her rise through the trail scene, the role her family has played in keeping her grounded, and why balance matters just as much as grit when you are training, travelling, and racing at the highest level.

They unpack the emotional rollercoaster of UTMB, from unpredictable weather and course changes to the mental battle of the pain cave, plus what consistency looks like when life is busy and motivation comes and goes. Lucy also reflects on the magic of trail running community, the beauty of training in wild places, and what surprised her most about stepping into Ironman events.

🏃 Follow Lucy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucy_bartholomew

🎙️ Hosted by 
Ben Southall from Best Life Adventures: www.bestlifeadventures.com
Wild Earth Australia: www.wildearth.com.au

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Lucy Bartholomew
02:58 Finding Balance in Life and Sport
09:05 The Role of Family in Athletic Development
11:56 Breaking into the Racing Scene
15:07 The Importance of Support and Opportunity
18:03 Training in Diverse Environments
21:07 The Power of Storytelling in Sports
23:52 Engaging with the Community and Inspiring Others
28:55 Navigating the Trail Running Journey
32:19 Understanding the Risks of Trail Running
35:05 The Evolution of a Trail Runner
39:04 Embracing the Pain Cave
41:29 The Role of Community in Trail Running
43:43 The Path to Chamonix and UTMB
46:07 Preparing for the UTMB Experience
53:20 Adapting to Race Conditions
54:48 Learning from Experience
55:28 The Importance of Basics
56:53 Overcoming Low Points
59:37 Highs of Racing
01:01:28 Mutual Respect in Competition
01:04:22 Exploring New Challenges
01:06:46 Community in Endurance Sports
01:08:09 The Joy of Finishing
01:10:49 Gear Preferences and Technology
01:12:12 Future Aspirations

In this episode of Wild Chats, Ben Southall sits down with award-winning travel writer and journalist Sophy Roberts to explore the kind of storytelling that begins with a “lump in the throat” and ends in places most people never think to look. 
Sophy unpacks the strange, irresistible ideas behind her books, from The Lost Pianos of Siberia to A Training School for Elephants, and why she is drawn to places with difficult reputations, not to romanticise them, but to find the human counter-narrative inside them. 
They talk about “xenophilia” (a love of the stranger), the hunt for the un-Google-able, and the real fieldwork behind great travel writing: moving slowly, earning trust, taking handwritten notes, working with the right interpreter, and letting the story decide where you sleep next. 
Listen if you love big landscapes, sharp ideas, and travel that is less about consumption and more about feeling your way back to the world.
🌍 Follow Sophy’s work
 Website: https://sophieroberts.com/
Podcast: https://gonetotimbuck2.com/

🎙️ Hosted by Ben Southall from:
Best Life Adventures: https://bestlifeadventures.com/
Wild Earth Australia: https://www.wildearth.com.au/