“At the end of the day, it’s their country and they won.” Levison Wood
Become a Patron of H-Hour at patreon.com/hkpodcasts ***** Levison Wood returns to H-Hour for his second appearance on the podcast, having first featured in 2019. This expansive conversation covers war, exploration, history, the natural world and the experiences that have shaped his life. The interview begins with Afghanistan and the writing of Escape from Kabul, his co-authored account of the final stages of the 20-year campaign and Operation Pitting, written with Geraint “Gez” Jones. Wood explains how he and Gez gathered testimony from paratroopers, airmen, sailors, diplomats, American special forces, security contractors, United Nations personnel and Taliban representatives to create a multi-perspective historical record of the withdrawal.Wood reflects on Afghanistan five years after the fall of Kabul, arguing that the Taliban ultimately succeeded because they were prepared to wait while Western governments lacked a clear long-term strategy. He discusses the human consequences of the withdrawal, the fate of interpreters and other Afghans, and his continuing support for a school in northeastern Afghanistan that is still educating girls. The conversation also examines the gap between military achievement and political purpose, and whether the West can ever impose a lasting solution through an open-ended counterinsurgency campaign.The discussion then moves to Burma and Wood’s personal connection to the Second World War. His grandfather served in Burma with the Royal Welch Fusiliers, and Wood describes meeting a 100-year-old Burmese veteran who had served alongside British forces. During the encounter, he presented the veteran with a Burma medal that had gone unclaimed for 80 years, along with a letter from King Charles. Wood explains why the Burma campaign has been overshadowed by better-known battles in Europe and the Pacific, and how the conflict’s ethnic divisions helped create one of the world’s longest-running civil wars.Wood also recounts his own extraordinary journey into Burma after leaving 3 PARA, including crossing the Salween River hidden in a rice sack with the Karen National Liberation Army. He discusses his interest in overlooked military history, the possibility of turning Escape from Kabul into a film, and a potential screen project about the Falklands War—one he hopes will explore both the campaign’s military success and its wider political and imperial consequences.The interview ranges further into Wood’s travels across South America, his fascination with lost civilisations and the archaeological discoveries revealed by LiDAR, and the hidden history of the Amazon. He explains the thinking behind The Great Tree Story, a book that examines humanity’s relationship with forests, from ancient cultures and sacred trees to modern deforestation and the ecological importance of individual trees. He also talks about elephants, conservation, ayahuasca and how psychedelic experiences changed his perspective on nature, creativity and other people.Along the way, Wood recalls close calls during his time in Afghanistan, including patrols through minefields and an incident in which a Taliban fighter opened fire on his platoon at close range. He discusses the transition from soldier to explorer, the formative effect of hitchhiking through countries including Iraq, Zimbabwe and Bosnia, and the hospitality he received from people who might reasonably have viewed him with suspicion. The episode closes with reflections on media stereotypes, Iran, the countries Wood has visited and the future of his books, documentaries and film projects.Levison Wood is a former officer of the Parachute Regiment, including 3 PARA, with operational experience in Afghanistan. He is an internationally recognised explorer, bestselling author, photographer and television presenter whose work includes Walking the Nile, Walking the Himalayas, Walking the Americas, Arabia, Walking with Elephants, Escape from Kabul and The Great Tree Story. He is also a UNICEF ambassador and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.Send us Fan Mail This episode is sponsored by Sin Eaters Guild - sineatersguild.co.uk Support the show Free H-Hour giveaways and exclusive access to guests. https://patreon.com/hkpodcastsH-Hour on Substack: https://hughkeir.substack.comH-Hour on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWSj4p05MUbVlHmFu3yH-Hour on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HHourPodcast
