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The Everyday Adventure Podcast – Season 8, Episode 10 Marina LeGree: Empowerment and Adventure In the final episode of Season 8, Nicki Bass speaks with Marina LeGree — founder and executive director of Ascend Athletics — about using adventure, movement and community to create spaces for women and girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan. What began as an idea rooted in the mountains of Afghanistan grew into a organisation combining outdoor adventure, leadership development, mental wellbeing support and civic engagement. Marina shares how Ascend evolved from mountaineering expeditions and rock climbing programmes into a broader movement focused on confidence, resilience and access for women, even in the most testing contexts and environments. Together, Nicki and Marina explore: The transformative power of outdoor adventure and movement Why “just starting” matters more than perfection Leadership, confidence and learning through discomfort How women support and uplift one another in challenging environments Adapting purpose when circumstances radically change Hope, resilience and continuing forward in uncertain times The role of community, courage and everyday action This conversation is deeply honest, inspiring and timely — especially for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world, uncertain about taking the next step, or searching for ways to create meaningful impact. About Marina & Ascend: Ascend Athletics co-creates and delivers holistic development programmes rooted in: Adventure sport Mental health and wellbeing Leadership development Civic engagement Entrepreneurship training Ascend works primarily with women and girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan, creating opportunities for confidence-building, community connection and personal growth through both outdoor and indoor programming. Follow Ascend: Instagram – @ascendathleticsngo LinkedIn Facebook Key Themes & Takeaways “Just start.” Marina reflects on the importance of taking action before everything feels perfectly planned: “Something has to be started… if you are paralysed at the start point, you’re missing everything.” Confidence grows through experience From trekking and rock climbing to leadership and entrepreneurship, Ascend’s work centres around helping women trust themselves and navigate uncertainty. Access matters Whether it’s access to mountains, movement, community, mental health support or opportunity, the episode explores how powerful it can be simply to create space. Hope is built through people Despite global uncertainty and immense challenges, Marina shares why seeing the impact on individual lives continues to fuel her work: “If there’s a human being benefiting from what you’re doing, it’s worth doing.” Follow the podcast and Nicki’s work: Everyday Adventure Podcast Instagram Resilience at Work Nicki Bass on LinkedIn If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it, leaving a review, or sending it to someone who might need a reminder that even in difficult times, hope, courage and adventure still matter. Get full access to The Everyday Adventure Podcast at everydayadventurepod.substack.com/subscribe

“This isn’t just about physical access — it’s about creating spaces where people feel they belong.” Will Behenna is an adaptive paddleboarder, accessibility advocate and founder of multiple initiatives focused on improving access to blue spaces across the UK including Inclusive Paddleboarding and The Beach Access Project. Through adapted equipment design, coaching, campaigning and community partnerships, he works to create more inclusive opportunities for people to enjoy the physical and mental benefits of water environments. Growing up on the Cornish coast, Will developed a lifelong connection to blue spaces. After a spinal injury as a teenager left him a full-time wheelchair user, Will refused to let barriers keep him away from the water. He now dedicates his time to ensuring more people can experience the freedom, wellbeing and adventure that water environments can offer. This episode explores: What true accessibility in outdoor spaces really looks like Why “independence” is such a powerful driver for adventure The hidden barriers that prevent many people from accessing beaches and water sports How inclusive design benefits everyone The emotional impact of exclusion from blue spaces Lessons from beach accessibility projects in Europe The future vision for Hengistbury Head Outdoors as a leading inclusive watersports hub How connection to nature encourages environmental stewardship Will also shares the inspiring vision behind making Dorset the “Inclusive Blue Space Capital of the UK” through partnerships, community collaboration and innovative accessibility projects already underway. This is a thoughtful and practical conversation about belonging, dignity and why designing outdoor spaces that welcome everybody matters to us all. Find out more about Will and his work: Inclusive Paddleboarding Beach Access Project Inclusive Paddleboarding on Instagram Inclusive Paddleboarding YouTube Channel Enjoyed the episode? Thank you for listening to Season 8 Episode 9 of The Everyday Adventure Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone who could use a little more adventure in their life :-) To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us: Substack: The Everyday Adventure Podcast Instagram: @everydayadventurepod Get full access to The Everyday Adventure Podcast at everydayadventurepod.substack.com/subscribe

Craig Mathieson is a polar explorer, motivational speaker and founder of The Polar Academy, a groundbreaking Scottish charity that helps young people build confidence, resilience and self-belief through adventure. He was recently awarded The Polar Medal in the King’s New Year’s Honours. Craig has completed expeditions to both the North Pole and South Pole, including leading the first dedicated Scottish expedition to the South Pole in 2004. Having mentored a young person on a life-changing expedition to the North Pole two years later, Craig saw the extraordinary potential of these experiences and was determined that this would act as a catalyst to extend these opportunities. In 2013, the Polar Academy was born. To date, the Polar Academy has worked with nearly 300 young people and their families. The programme deliberately seeks out “invisible kids”— young people who struggle with confidence, anxiety, bullying, bereavement or simply feeling overlooked. Over the course of an 18 month training programme, the teenagers on the programme prepare physically and mentally for an expedition to East Greenland, where they haul sleds across Arctic terrain and discover what they’re truly capable of. Our conversation centres on Craig’s journey to founding The Polar Academy and the work it does to transform the lives of young people struggling with trauma, low confidence and mental health challenges. Craig speaks with honesty, humour and compassion as he shares stories from his own experiences at school, the inspiration that first sparked his dream of becoming an explorer and how that ultimately led him to create a programme that helps young people discover their own strength. We explore themes of belief, resilience, family support and the life-changing impact of nature as Craig reflects on why so many young people feel hidden and what it truly takes to help them thrive. From trekking across Greenland to searching for Yetis on the west coast of Scotland, this conversation is both moving and inspiring — a powerful reminder of what can happen when someone believes in you, before you believe in yourself. Learn more about The Polar Academy: https://www.thepolaracademy.org/ Facebook: @thepolaracademy Instagram: @thepolaracademy Thank you for listening to Season 8 Episode 7 of The Everyday Adventure Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone who could use a little more adventure in their life :-) To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us: Substack: The Everyday Adventure Podcast Instagram: The Everyday Adventure Podcast Get full access to The Everyday Adventure Podcast at everydayadventurepod.substack.com/subscribe

This week on The Everyday Adventure Podcast, I’m joined by two truly inspiring women, Clare Millington and Vicky Balfour. Both are passionate advocates for making the outdoors more inclusive and accessible for everyone. Clare is the founder of Outdoors Is For Everyone and a powerful voice for increasing opportunities for people with disabilities to experience adventure in nature. She’s also a mum of three, including twins Pip and Alix, who both have complex disabilities, and her lived experience shines through in her work. Vicky — also known to many as Vicky Bikes — is a writer, bike mechanic and someone deeply committed to helping others discover their voice, their confidence and their freedom through the outdoors. She’s actively involved with the New Forest Off-Road Club, doing brilliant work to open up cycling and outdoor spaces to more people. Her daughter Cece, who has complex needs, is also one of the club’s ride leaders — which tells you everything about the spirit of this amazing community. In this conversation, we explore resilience, community, the assumptions which can impact inclusion and the many different ways adventure can belong to all of us. Find out more about Vicky and Clare: Instagram: @outdoorsisforeveryone @vickybikes Website: www.vickybikes.co.uk Facebook: @outdoorsisforeveryone Useful links: https://www.bendrigg.org.uk/ - Bendrigg Trust www.thenewforestoffroadclub.com - The New Forest Off Road Club https://www.alltheelements.co/news/5-minutes-with-pip-and-clare - All The Elements Thank you for listening to Season 8 Episode 7 of The Everyday Adventure Podcast. To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us: Substack: The Everyday Adventure Podcast Instagram: @everydayadventurepod Get full access to The Everyday Adventure Podcast at everydayadventurepod.substack.com/subscribe

Ash Alexander Cooper is a former soldier, combat helicopter pilot, athlete, musician, artist and now keynote speaker, who works with businesses and leaders looking to build resilience and adapt in complex environments. He has also recently added author to his impressive CV, having just published ‘Mindful Soldier’ written with Dr Jessica Miller. In the book, Ash draws on his own experiences and the psychology behind them to share strategies that can be applied by anybody who’s looking to build resilience and overcome life’s challenges. Our conversation centres on his motivation for writing Mindful Soldier and his hopes for the impact it can have going forward in terms of supporting others with their mental health. Ash speaks with openess and candour as he shares stories from his life and explores how they have shaped his approach and build his resilience. Ash is a former colleague, long time friend and previous guest on the show (S3 Ep 10 Hotel Marathons and Silver Linings) so it was a huge pleasure to catch up and explore the highly relevant themes of this book in depth - a must read for anyone navigating life’s challenges or simply wanting to feel less alone. Find out more about Ash visit: Instagram: @ashalexcooper Website: www.ashalexandercooper Facebook: @ashalexcooper Substack: To buy Mindful Soldier visit: Gurkha Welfare Trust Amazon RBVE Shop Thank you for listening to Season 8 Episode 6 of The Everyday Adventure Podcast. To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us: Substack: The Everyday Adventure Podcast Instagram:@everydayadventurepod @resilienceatworkLinkedin: @Nicki-bassWebsite: www.resiliencework.co.ukTEDx: The Life Changing Power of Everyday AdventuresEmail: [email protected] Get full access to The Everyday Adventure Podcast at everydayadventurepod.substack.com/subscribe

At the age of 60, Brian Woodley was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s dementia. As a successful business owner, avid footballer, father, grandfather and the last one to leave the dance floor, this diagnosis turned his life upside down. But Brian refused to let dementia define him and with the support of his wife, Keely, he has discovered and embraced the sport of walking football through Bradford City FC, enabling him to keep fit and active whilst bringing renewed purpose, friendship and joy. Brian is a volunteer “Expert by Experience” for the Pathways Programme run by Bradford University which supports those affected by young-onset Alzheimer’s Dementia. Brian and Keely have recently started an Instagram account called The Life of Brian and Loki to share what it is like to live with dementia as a younger person. They are also currently fundraising to help pay for the training of Loki, Brian’s assistance dog, to enable him to provide vital support to Brian in the future. In this episode, Brian and Keely discuss the motivation behind their decision to share Brian’s story on their Instagram account, highlighting that the challenges of young-onset dementia are still relatively hidden. Brian shares his struggle in coming to terms with the disease, the support that has been provided through Pathways and the difference that walking football has made to both his physical and mental health, as well as the joy it has brought to both of their lives. This is a candid and honest account of the realities of living with dementia as well as the joy, hope and strenghth that can be found in sharing experiences, connection and community. Find out more about Brian and Keely visit: Instagram: @lifeofbrianandloki To support fundraising for Loki’s training and enter the prize draw go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-life-of-brian-and-loki To find out more about Pathways visit: https://www.dementiapathways.co.uk/what-we-do/ Thank you for listening to Season 8 Episode 5 of The Everyday Adventure Podcast. To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us: Substack: The Everyday Adventure Podcast Instagram:@everydayadventurepod @resilienceatworkLinkedin: @Nicki-bassWebsite: www.resiliencework.co.ukTEDx: The Life Changing Power of Everyday AdventuresEmail: [email protected] Get full access to The Everyday Adventure Podcast at everydayadventurepod.substack.com/subscribe

Jo Bradshaw is a Keynote Speaker, Leadership Development Coach, Expedition Leader and DofE Outdoor Instructor. Having competed her first challenge in 2004 when she cycled 500kms from Lake Titicaca to Machu Picchu, she has gone on to complete many more adventures including completing the 7 Summits and Mount Everest. Her most recent project is More then a Mountain - a documentary that follows 15 women of all ages and abilities as they face the emotional and physical challenge of climbing 5,550m mountain Yala Peak in Nepal. Led by Jo in April 2025, this expedition was a living tribute to Junko Tabei, the first woman to summit Mount Everest on 16th May 1975. My conversation with Jo is published to coincide with the first screening of More then a Mountain at Kendal Mountain Festival in November 2025. Jo shares her motivation for producing the film and what she learned from the process as well as the expedition itself. We discuss the narratives around failure, the power that is found in vulnerability and why Junko Tabei’s legacy deserves to be pulled from the shadows and given her rightful place in mountaineering history. Find out more about Jo visit: Website: https://www.jobradshaw.co.uk/ Instagram: _jobradshaw Linkedin: Jo Bradshaw More than a Mountain Thank you for listening to Season 8 Episode 4 of The Everyday Adventure Podcast. To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us: Substack: The Everyday Adventure Podcast Instagram:@everydayadventurepod @resilienceatworkLinkedin:@Nicki-bassWebsite:www.resiliencework.co.ukTEDx:The Life Changing Power of Everyday AdventuresEmail: [email protected] Get full access to The Everyday Adventure Podcast at everydayadventurepod.substack.com/subscribe

Nic Wilson is a writer, editor and Country Diarist for the Guardian Newspaper. She has nearly 30 years’ writing experience spanning academia, education, journalism and narrative non-fiction. She works for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, specialising in wildlife and wild plants and her writing has featured in numerous magazines, journals and anthologies. Nic has recently published her debut book, Land Beneath the Waves , a memoir which interweaves her own story with her explorations of the natural environment around her. Our conversation centres on Nic’s motivation for writing Land Between the Wave and the process of crafting the narrative, moving between her observations of the natural world and her own story of living with chronic illness. This is an honest and reflective account of the therapeutic benefits of sharing our stories and the beauty that can be found in front of us when we start to pay attention. Find out more about Nic visit: Website: https://nicwilson.co.uk/ Substack: https://substack.com/@nicwilsonauthor Buy Land Beneath the Waves here Thank you for listening to Season 8 Episode 3 of The Everyday Adventure Podcast! To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us: Substack: The Everyday Adventure Podcast Instagram:@everydayadventurepod @resilienceatworkLinkedin:@Nicki-bassWebsite:www.resiliencework.co.ukTEDx:The Life Changing Power of Everyday AdventuresEmail: [email protected] Get full access to The Everyday Adventure Podcast at everydayadventurepod.substack.com/subscribe

Hetty Kingston is an adventurer, author, event organiser and a self-confessed data geek. She is passionate about improving accessibility and inclusion in the outdoors and her many achievements include organising the Women's Trad Festival, Peak Gravel Gang and the Running Out of Time relay between COP26 and COP27. When she's not up to her eyeballs in spreadsheets and logistics, she relaxes by climbing, mountain biking and wild swimming, often with her twin toddlers in tow - they have even accompanied her on a bikepacking race in Switzerland… Our conversation centres on identity and transition - the profound shifts that often occurs as we move into motherhood, but that are also prevalent at different stages of our lives, whether parents or not. We reflect on how we can navigate these changing dynamics, as well as how our external and internal resources ca n support this. This is an honest and reflective conversation about the realities of losing and finding ourselves alongside the needs and expectations of others and how doing hard things can be the key to so much more. Find out more about Hetty visit: Instagram: Hetty Kingston Substack: Hetty Kingston Thank you for listening to Season 8 Episode 2 of The Everyday Adventure Podcast! To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us:] Substack: The Everyday Adventure Podcast Instagram:@everydayadventurepod@resilienceatworkLinkedin:@Nicki-bassWebsite:www.resiliencework.co.ukTEDx:The Life Changing Power of Everyday AdventuresEmail: [email protected] Get full access to The Everyday Adventure Podcast at everydayadventurepod.substack.com/subscribe

Emma Simpson is a wild swimmer and life-long hobbyist writer specialising in narrative non-fiction. Having spent a couple of decades as an air traffic controller and experiencing two life-wrenching events, she rediscovered her passion for storytelling whilst experiencing the transformative effects of cold-water swimming for the first time. Trained in coaching psychology, she combines her years as an observer of human behaviour in high stress environments with her love for listening to people’s tales around the shores of a lake; mug of steaming hot tea in hand. Her latest book “Breaking Waves” is an exploration into the primal powers of femininity and water with stories gathered from around the world that demonstrate the power of connection and humanity in an often challenging world.This is a powerful and honest conversation focused on Emma’s motivation to write Breaking Waves, the stories that continue to fuel her and our experiences of grief and how we navigate this in our lives. Find out more about Emma visit: Website: https://emmasimpsonauthor.com/ Substack: Emma Simpson Instagram: @emmasimpsonauthor Thank you for listening to Season 8 Episode 1 of The Everyday Adventure Podcast! To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us:] Substack: The Everyday Adventure Podcast Instagram: @everydayadventurepod @resilienceatworkLinkedin: @Nicki-bassWebsite: www.resiliencework.co.ukTEDx: The Life Changing Power of Everyday AdventuresEmail: [email protected] Everyday Adventure Podcast is proud to be part of the Tremula Network of Adventure and Outdoor Podcasts@tremulanetwork https://www.tremula.network Get full access to The Everyday Adventure Podcast at everydayadventurepod.substack.com/subscribe

Recently I have had a number of conversations with friends and clients about guilt - and specifically the guilt we can feel when we take time for ourselves to do things that we love or need. Guilt is a complex interaction between the standards we set for ourselves (or are set by others…) and our assessment of how our behaviour meets those standards. So telling ourselves that we “shouldn’t” feel guilty rarely does anything to temper it! I’ve recorded this video and pod episode to delve a bit deeper into guilt - exploring the causes, when it is helpful and less so and ultimately what we can do about it when it is counterproductive to what we need. I hope you find it helpful - please do let me know what you think! Get full access to The Everyday Adventure Podcast at everydayadventurepod.substack.com/subscribe

The Big Swim is a community driven annual event to celebrate International Women’s Day (8th March). The aim is to foster inclusivity, encourage environmental responsibility and spark collective action in support of women’s causes and campaigns. The event encompasses two locations (Poole and Brighton, UK) and participation has increased from 250 swimmers in 2023 to 1000 swimmers registered to take part on Saturday 8th March 2025. This conversation is with the Big Swim founder, Nicky Chisholm and highlights her motivation for setting up the event, how to get involved as well as a wider conversation on the importance of stepping outside our comfort zones to support out wellbeing. Find out more about The Big Swim hereFind out more about Nicky Chisholm (Pink Nicky) Instagram: @pinknicky1 I hope you have enjoyed this episode of The Everyday Adventure Podcast! To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us:Instagram: @everydayadventurepod @resilienceatworkLinkedin: @Nicki-bassWebsite: www.resiliencework.co.ukTEDx: The Life Changing Power of Everyday AdventuresEmail: [email protected] Everyday Adventure Podcast is proud to be part of the Tremula Network of Adventure and Outdoor Podcasts@tremulanetwork Get full access to The Everyday Adventure Podcast at everydayadventurepod.substack.com/subscribe

In this special solo episode of The Everyday Adventure Podcast, host Nicki Bass celebrates the milestone of reaching 100 episodes. Reflecting on her journey over the past four and a half years, Nicki shares insights into the challenges and unexpected benefits of podcasting. She discusses the importance of taking time to pause and celebrate achievements, the personal growth she has experienced, and the sense of community that has developed around the podcast. Nicki also reveals her plans to expand the podcast's reach by creating a community on Substack, where listeners can engage more deeply with the content. Throughout the episode, she emphasizes the value of taking action to overcome fears and encourages listeners to embark on their own everyday adventures. Get full access to The Everyday Adventure Podcast at everydayadventurepod.substack.com/subscribe

Send us a text Conservationists Bex Band and Catherine Edsell have teamed up to launch the Ocean Advocate Summit on 1 Feb 2025,  a one-day summit offering the chance to reconnect to the ocean, discover more about marine life and the threats they face. This event is for swimmers, surfers, sea-lovers, artists, educators and anyone else who loves the ocean. Bex and Catherine will be familiar names to anyone involved in the UK outdoors and adventure world. Bex Band is the founder of Love Her Wild, a not for profit encouraging women to embrace the outdoors and one of the largest outdoor communities worldwide. Catherine Edsell is a global expedition leaders and founder of the Matriarch Adventure as well as a previous guest on the show - you can find out more about her and her work in Season 1 Ep 16 This conversation explores the motivation behind the summit and what visitors can expect on the day. Find out more about The Ocean Advocate Summit here Find out more about Bex Band here: Website https://www.theordinaryadventurer.com/ Instagram: @bex_band Catherine Edsell Website: www.cathadventure.com Instagram: @cathadventure I hope you have enjoyed this episode of The Everyday Adventure Podcast! To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us: Instagram: @everydayadventurepod @resilienceatwork Linkedin: @Nicki-bass Website: www.resiliencework.co.uk TEDx: The Life Changing Power of Everyday Adventures Email: [email protected] The Everyday Adventure Podcast is proud to be part of the Tremula Network of Adventure and Outdoor Podcasts @tremulanetwork https://www.tremula.network Get full access to The Everyday Adventure Podcast at everydayadventurepod.substack.com/subscribe

Send us a text On 27th December 2024, surfers Chris Howard and Craig Sharp left Bournemouth Pier on a 52 mile prone paddling endurance challenge, aiming to raise awareness and funds for Diabetes UK whilst paying tribute to those who tirelessly manage their diabetes every day. The event tested every element of their capabilities, relying on their physical and mental stamina to combat the cold and ever-changing conditions. To add to the complexity half of the journey was conducted in the hours of darkness.  This is the audio from an Instagram LIVE interview that was conducted with Chris and Craig on 23rd Dec 24, a few days prior to the event. During the conversation, they share their motivation for the challenge, the planning involved and their hopes for the day. It will be followed in a couple of weeks by a post-event interview where they will share what actually happened!  To find out more about the challenge visit: Just Giving - Hell or High Water Instagram: @52miles24hours I hope you have enjoyed this episode of The Everyday Adventure Podcast! To keep up to date with the latest news, follow us: Instagram: @everydayadventurepod @resilienceatwork Linkedin: @Nicki-bass Website: www.resiliencework.co.uk TEDx: The Life Changing Power of Everyday Adventures Email: [email protected] The Everyday Adventure Podcast is proud to be part of the Tremula Network of Adventure and Outdoor Podcasts @tremulanetwork https://www.tremula.network Get full access to The Everyday Adventure Podcast at everydayadventurepod.substack.com/subscribe