Top Podcast Picks from Adventure Women To Elevate Your Holiday Downtime

As summer unfolds and Christmas celebration wind down, adventure podcasts offer the perfect escape for lazy holiday days. Whether you’re relaxing on a beach, recovering from festive celebrations, or seeking inspiration between adventures, these carefully curated audio stories will transport you from the local coastline to the world’s most remote landscapes. 

Recommended by outdoor enthusiasts, these podcasts promise authentic, thrilling journeys that go far beyond your backyard.

Jemima Robinson

Jemima Robinson is a trailblazing adventurer who transforms stories of courage and exploration into a movement that inspires gutsy girls everywhere. As the founder of the Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour, she has created a powerful platform that showcases the extraordinary capabilities of women pushing boundaries in the great outdoors. Born in Far North Queensland’s rugged landscape, Jemima’s passion for adventure was ignited early, leading her to break away from conventional paths and create a mission larger than herself.

When she’s not championing adventurous spirits, you’ll find her exploring new trails, listening to podcasts that fuel her wanderlust, and continuing to create spaces where gutsy girls can see themselves reflected in stories of incredible journeys.

Here are her recommendations:

1. I SURVIVED:

30 Sept 2024 – From 12:51 onward – warning – this one is not for the squeamish 

This one is not for the faint hearted but it is an incredible story of survival and persistence. Sandy is a nanny working for environmental researchers in the forest of the Democratic Republic of Congo when she is attacked by a 14-foot Nile crocodile.  Make sure you start from 12:51 of this episode.

2. CONVERSATIONS by ABC:

The unexpected plot twist: how a solo hiker stayed alive after shattering her pelvis in Joshua Tree National Park

Claire Nelson hadn’t told anyone where she was going, and her phone lost signal shortly into her hike. As an experienced bushwalker, she never dreamed an adventure would turn out like this. This one is a good reminder to always tell someone where you are going and how a strong will to survive and some smart thinking can help you through the hardest of times.

3. CONVERSATIONS by ABC:

Into the wild with Gina Chick

Gina Chick was the winner of the first season of Alone Australia.  This conversation discusses her life as a creative, outrageous, nature-loving misfit who grew up to live through great depths of love, and grief.

4. Honourable mention:  Outback Mike Survival and Adventure Podcast. Episode 16: The 10 best adventure films of all time.

Full disclosure, I am 100% biased in this choice!!!  Mike recently asked me a question I get asked a lot: What are my all time top 10 adventure films?  As a long time attendee of the Banff Mountain Film Festival Mike already knew a lot of the films we discussed, so it was great to be able to chat about the film, the adventures and the people in them.

Milly Young

Milly Young is a dynamic adventurer who has transformed her roots in Perth, Western Australia, into a life of mountain exploration and environmental passion. You may recognise her from the film ‘Home Run’ where she attempted to run the Fastest Known Time in the Stirling Ranges WA. Now based in the alpine haven of Chamonix, France, she has seamlessly blended her love for extreme sports with environmental advocacy. As an ultra runner and climber, Milly pushes the boundaries of human endurance, traversing challenging terrains that most would consider impossible! Milly loves a good podcast, these are her recommendations:

1. The Cutting Edge

A podcast from the American Alpine Journal, The Cutting Edge presents in-depth interviews showcasing the most significant climbs and achievements in the world of alpine climbing. ‘Changabang: A Legendary Route Repeated’ (episode from 28 June 2022) interviews Dan Joll (NZ) and Matt Scholes (AUS) who, along with Tasmanian climber and mountain guide Kim Ladiges, made the second ascent of the west face of Changabang which hadn’t been repeated since Boardman and Tasker climbed the route in 1976 – incredible!

2. Revisionist History

Malcolm Gladwell, journalist and author of several New York Times BestSellers including The Tipping Point and Outliers, rexamines pieces of history that are overlooked or misunderstood – events, people, songs, ideas. A fascinating podcast which weaves together disjointed stories, anecdotes and deep analysis to make you question elements of history and leave with a new perspective. There’s 10 seasons, I’d recommend starting at Season 1.

3. Planet Money

Economics, but entertaining! 20-30min episodes that explore the forces that shape our lives. Any episode is worth a listen but the latest episode ‘A Nobel Prize for explaining why there is global inequality’ is a great place to start!

Elise Marcianti

An adventurer, Artist and Podcast host hailing from the gorgeous Mount Beauty region, VIC. Elise finds herself perfectly placed between the worlds of creativity and outdoor exploration, she’s a multifaceted artist and her adventure podcast “Explore Your Core” is one to check out! Elise lives life with infectious enthusiasm and stokes her fire for adventure with early morning trail runs, spontaneous river swims, and community connections.

The rugged landscape of Victoria is her playground and inspiration. From the challenging trails of the Razorback to the majestic heights of Mount Feathertop, Elise finds joy in pushing her limits and connecting with like-minded adventurers. We think you’ll love her podcast recs below:

1. Walking around Australia with Terra Roams- Diaries of the Wild Ones

Terra has done not one but multiple huge feats and adventures with such an incredible understanding of nature, herself and the land. She’s even featured on Elise’s podcast ‘Explore Your Core’ to talk about how trekking has been a form of healing, her experience having synesthesia and navigating her world. Check out that episode HERE

2. The Tim Ferris Show #735 Craig Foster of My Octopus Teacher – How to find the Wild in a Tame World. 

Craig has such an interesting perspective and beautiful curiosity to life and is able to take that outside the ocean and instil that in everyday life.

3. Trip 15 | Going out is Going In with McKenzie Barney– The New Age Nomad Podcast

Elise came across McKenzie Barney after watching her short film ‘Cycling The World’ and love her attitude to life. She’s an inspiring adventure and film maker/ producer and speaks about the comfort theory and living in the unknown. (Keep an eye out for an upcoming episode on the Explore Your Core and her book release!) 

Check Out Elise’s Podcast! Find ‘Explore Your Core’ HERE where Elise talks interviews individuals who have paved their own path in the creative, adventurous or entrepreneurial field and explores how they followed their purpose and passions and built the resilience to keep persevering.

Krystle Wright

Krystle Wright is a world-renowned adventure photographer and director who has carved out an extraordinary career capturing the most extreme and breathtaking moments in human exploration. With a portfolio that includes collaborations with industry giants like National Geographic, Garmin, Patagonia, and Red Bull (to name a few), she has established herself as a leading visual storyteller in the adventure world.

For 16 remarkable years, Krystle has traversed the globe, pushing the boundaries of photography and adventure. From camping on frozen fjords in the Arctic to storm-chasing across the American Midwest, she transforms extreme environments into stunning visual narratives. Between her global expeditions, she still finds time to listen to a podcast, or two…Check out two of her recent listens below.

1. ‘Smartless’ Episode 34 with George Clooney– This episode in particular had me in absolute laughter. From year long dedicated prank stories, life’s reflections and the work he and Amal are pursuing. Honestly it’s one episode I’ve recommended to others again and again.

2. ‘Smartless’ Episode 113 with Ethan Hawke– This one speaks about the trials and tribulations as an artist and Ethan is incredibly articulate when diving into that subject.

Whether you’re lounging on a sun-soaked beach or embarking on your own adventure, these podcasts are your ultimate companions. Packed with gripping tales of survival, side-splitting comedy, and heartfelt conversations that feel like catching up with an old friend, these recommendations from highly credible adventurers promise to transport, entertain, and inspire. 

So grab your headphones, find your perfect spot, and get ready to be thoroughly entertained—your holiday listening just got an epic upgrade.