EP-235 SAINTS, SINNERS AND PILGRIMS: The Story of the Camino de Santiago

What would it look like to explore Europe with nothing but a bike, a few friends, and complete trust in human kindness? In this week’s episode, we chat with Nathaniel Allenby, author of Cycle of Kindness, which chronicles the first leg of his six-year, 28,000-mile cycling journey across ten countries. The twist? Nathaniel did it almost entirely without money, relying on the generosity of strangers, dumpster diving, and the spirit of community to make it from Amsterdam to the edges of Europe. They discuss what it’s like to live fully outside of society’s norms, the lessons learned from minimalist travel, and how uncertainty can become a pathway to resilience and human connection. Nathaniel also reflects on how this journey — part physical challenge, part social experiment — reshaped his worldview and inspired a deeper belief in people’s inherent kindness. 👉 To learn more, visit: Cirque Quirk https://cirquequirk.com/ https://linktr.ee/CirqueQuirk The Cycle of Kindness           https://linktr.ee/TheCycleOfKindness   Allenby Art https://allenbyart.myshopify.com/ https://www.instagram.com/allenbyart   About Us 🌍     10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄   Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨   To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐 Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/

The Camino de Santiago isn’t just a walk — it’s a 1,200-year-old tradition that has shaped European history, faith, and culture. In this fascinating episode, Richard is joined by Eva Schubert, host of the Villains and Virgins Podcast, to explore the real history of the Camino de Santiago. Eva dives into how this world-famous pilgrimage began, how it evolved through plagues and reformations, and why it continues to captivate hundreds of thousands of modern-day pilgrims every year. From the discovery of Saint James’s remains in 9th-century Spain to the influence of medieval trade, Muslim culture, and even marketing in modern times, this conversation uncovers the rich layers of meaning behind one of the world’s greatest walks.   👉 To learn more, visit: Website: https://villainsandvirgins.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evaschubert/?hl=en 👉 Listen to the Villains and Virgins History Podcast: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/villains-and-virgins-history-podcast/id1517874816 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLteESDDVIavTfrljkgjFpLlrlCuC3I2dV About Us 🌍     10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄   Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨   To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐 Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/ Also, you can check one of our local tours at: https://www.10adventures.com/tour/camino-sanabres-to-santiago-de-compostela/

What happens when life throws you its hardest challenges — and you decide to face them on a bicycle? In this episode of the 10Adventures Podcast, Richard talks with Risa August, author of The Road Unpaved: Border to Border with a Brain Tumor and a Bike. Her memoir chronicles her ride from Canada to Mexico while navigating a rare pituitary disease and the collapse of her marriage. Risa shares how cycling became a vehicle for resilience, healing, and rediscovery. From the fatigue of post-surgery recovery to relentless rainstorms, from group dynamics on the road to finding unexpected strength in vulnerability, her story is a powerful reminder that adventure is not just about distance — it’s about courage.   👉 To learn more, visit: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Road-Unpaved-Border-Brain-Tumor-ebook/dp/B0CLZ19WHX?ref_=ast_author_dp Website: https://www.risaaugust.com/ About Us 🌍     10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄   Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨   To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐 Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/ Also, you can check one of our local tours at: https://www.10adventures.com/tour/camino-sanabres-to-santiago-de-compostela/

What does it take to run around the entire world? In this episode, Richard sits down with Marie Leautey, a French ultra-endurance runner who became the fastest woman — and only the second woman in history — to complete a run around the Earth. Marie recently released her book Lootie's World Run, sharing her incredible 700+ marathon journey across continents. Marie’s story is one of resilience, perseverance, and the pursuit of impossible goals. She explains how she broke down the monumental task into manageable steps, how running connected her to cultures and landscapes most tourists never see, and why the journey was as much about mindset as it was about mileage. This episode is a must-listen for anyone facing a challenge that feels out of reach — because if Marie can run around the world, what might be possible for you? 👉 To learn more, visit: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Looties-World-Run-Extraordinary-Fastest/dp/B0F4RTKXXL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lootierun/?hl=en   About Us 🌍     10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄   Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨   To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐 Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/ Also, you can check one of our local tours at https://www.10adventures.com/tours/  

When you think of hiking in the U.S., Texas might not be the first place that comes to mind — but maybe it should. In this episode of the 10Adventures Podcast, Richard is joined by E. Dan Klepper, a Texas native, acclaimed artist, writer, and outdoor adventurer. Klepper is the author of the newly released second edition of 100 Classic Hikes in Texas, and he shares why Texas offers some of the most diverse, rewarding, and surprising hiking in America. From the desert canyons of Big Bend to hidden Hill Country trails, Klepper explains what makes Texas hiking unique, what dangers and challenges hikers should be prepared for, and which hikes best capture the soul of the state. Along the way, he reflects on his father’s legacy as a longtime outdoor editor, the role of serendipity in his career, and his passion for connecting people with the landscapes of Texas.   👉 To learn more, visit: Website: https://www.edanklepper.com/ Instagram: @edanklepper   About Us 🌍     10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄   Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨   To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐 Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/ Also, you can check one of our local tours at https://www.10adventures.com/tours/

What drives someone to paddle a thousand miles alone through the Canadian subarctic? In this episode, Richard talks with Stephan Kesting, author of Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic. Stephan shares the story behind his epic 50-day canoe journey, a trip shaped by health challenges, risk, and a relentless drive to keep moving forward. Along the way, he reflects on lessons about wilderness, resilience, and the balance between risk and reward. From grueling days of non-stop travel, to swarms of northern bugs, to the history of fur traders and Indigenous canoe routes, Stephan brings listeners into the harsh but awe-inspiring world of the subarctic. His book combines gripping adventure with reflections on life, nature, and the meaning of perseverance itself. 👉 Find the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612 👉 To learn more, visit: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/essentialwilderness/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@essentialwilderness Website: https://essentialwilderness.com/   About Us 🌍     10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄   Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨   To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐 Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/ Also, you can check one of our local tours at https://www.10adventures.com/tours/

Can the wilderness really teach us how to lead? Sandy Colhoun, President of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), says yes. In this episode of the 10Adventures Podcast, Sandy shares stories from his outdoor journey, explains how NOLS has taught leadership through expeditions for 60 years, and reflects on why the wilderness remains the ultimate classroom. From expedition behavior to wilderness skills to building lifelong confidence, this episode will inspire you to see the outdoors in a new way. 👉 Learn more about NOLS:  http://nols.edu/  https://www.nols.edu/about/expedition-behavior/ 👉 Or, find them on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/nols1965 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nolsedu   About Us 🌍     10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄   Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨   To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐 Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/ Also, you can check one of our local tours at https://www.10adventures.com/tours/

Thinking about escaping the cold this winter? Look south! In this episode of the 10Adventures Podcast, Richard is joined by Nadine — fresh back from maternity leave — to count down the 10 best treks in South America. These are the adventures most loved and most booked on Ten Adventures, mixed with a few insider favorites that pack an unforgettable punch. From the rugged peaks of Patagonia to the cultural wonders of Peru and the hidden gems of Bolivia and Colombia, this episode is full of inspiration for your next big adventure. Whether you’re looking for a guided trek, a challenging circuit, or a once-in-a-lifetime view of Machu Picchu, there’s something here for every hiker.   🥾 The Top 10 Treks in South America Here are the trails discussed in the episode (with links to start planning your own trek):   Lost City Trek – Colombia 👉 Colombia Hiking Tours 👉 Lost City Trek   Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain Trek – Peru 👉 Peru Hiking Tours 👉 Peruvian Andes Tours 👉 Ausangate & Rainbow Mountain + Machu Picchu   Chimborazo Summit – Ecuador 👉 Ecuador Hiking Tours 👉 Climb Chimborazo   Salkantay Trek – Peru 👉 Peru Hiking Tours 👉 Machu Picchu Tours 👉 Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu   Trekking Ecuador’s Volcanoes 👉 Ecuador Hiking Tours 👉 Trekking the Avenue of the Volcanoes   W Trek – Torres del Paine, Chile 👉 Chile Hiking Tours 👉 Torres del Paine Tours 👉 W Trek Torres del Paine 👉 Self-Guided W Trek   Inca Trail – Peru 👉 Peru Hiking Tours 👉 Machu Picchu Tours 👉 Classic Inca Trail (Private)   Cordillera Real Trek – Bolivia 👉 Bolivia Hiking Tours 👉 Cordillera Real Trek   Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit Trek – Peru 👉 Peru Hiking Tours 👉 Peruvian Andes Tours 👉 Huayhuash Trek 👉 Short Huayhuash Tour   O Circuit – Torres del Paine, Chile 👉 Chile Hiking Tours 👉 Torres del Paine Tours 👉 Self-Guided O Circuit 👉 O Circuit Torres del Paine Tour About Us 🌍     10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄   Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨   To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐 Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/ Also, you can check one of our local tours at https://www.10adventures.com/tours/    

What if the best prescription for better health isn’t found in a bottle, but just outside your front door? In this episode of the 10Adventures Podcast, Richard speaks with Professor Jay Maddock, a global leader in the science of nature and health. Jay shares fascinating research on how spending time outdoors — whether it’s a quick 10-minute break in a park or a weekend in the wilderness — restores our attention, reduces stress, improves creativity, strengthens the immune system, and even speeds recovery in hospitals. From the importance of getting children outdoors to why doctors and even the military are prescribing time in nature, this episode is packed with evidence and inspiration to make nature a daily part of life.   To learn more, visit: Website: https://www.natureandhealthalliance.org/   About Us 🌍     10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄   Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨   To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐 Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/ Also, you can check one of our local tours at https://www.10adventures.com/tours/  

We all know travel can broaden our horizons — but what happens when our adventures harm the very places we love? In this episode of the 10Adventures Podcast, we sit down with Rebecca Thompson, an award-winning sustainability leader and founder of Sustainable Travel Technologies, to discuss how we can move beyond “less harm” and into travel that actively creates a positive impact. Rebecca has worked across the globe helping tourism companies and travelers rethink their choices. She shares insights from destinations grappling with overtourism, explains the hidden social and economic costs of our travel habits, and offers easy, practical tips anyone can use to make their next trip more sustainable — without losing the joy of discovery. Rebecca’s stories will challenge the way you think about your role as a traveler. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or a weekend road-tripper, this conversation will inspire you to travel better.     To learn more, visit:   Website: https://sustainabletravel.tech/ LinkedIn: Rebecca Thompson   About Us 🌍     10Adventures 🌟 was founded with one goal in mind: to make active travel accessible, promoting mental and physical well-being. 🚶‍♀️🚴 Our mission is to eliminate the stress of holiday planning, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey. We offer seamless trip coordination, handling accommodations, meals, transfers, and guides 🗺️ through our network of vetted local tour operators in over 80 countries. For those who prefer a lighter load, we arrange luggage transfers, ensuring a stress-free biking or hiking experience. 🧳🌄   Specializing in private and personalized travel experiences, our team 🧑‍💼🌐 is dedicated to tailoring trips to your preferences. We understand that travel is more than just a trip; it's an opportunity to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories. As fellow active travelers, we provide genuine, human support to ensure your journey with 10Adventures is as unique and fulfilling as possible. 🤝✨   To learn more, visit https://www.10adventures.com/ 🌐 Or contact us at https://www.10adventures.com/contact/