Rave on for the Avon: Bristol’s Swimming Revolution - Charlotte Sawyer & Aggie Nyagari
What happens when a group of wild swimmers take on the pollution giants and fight for the soul of their local river? In this episode I sit down with filmmakers Charlotte Sawyer and Aggie Nyagari, the creative duo behind the acclaimed documentary Rave on for the Avon, to explore how their cameras captured one community’s joyful yet defiant battle to reclaim the River Avon.We dive deep into the questions of access, ecology, and the very human need to connect with water. Charlotte and Aggie reveal how the Avon swimmers turned playfulness into protest, from data collection to mermaid costumes - and why sewage, though shocking, is just 4% of the problem.Our conversation ranges from the poetic - attempts to give the river legal personhood - to the profoundly personal, including Meg’s extraordinary story of marrying the River Avon. We discuss how the film’s reception is already reshaping perceptions of rivers, and why falling in love with nature might be the most radical thing we can do in the face of environmental crisis.This is an episode about activism, creativity, and community - but above all, it’s about remembering that rivers are not just scenery. They are living, breathing systems that we depend on, and perhaps even kin.
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From Novice Cyclist to Record Breaker in 2 Years - Sarah Ruggins
In May 2025, Sarah Ruggins made history.She became the fastest person to cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End and back, covering the 1,677-mile route in an astonishing 5 days, 11 hours, and 14 minutes.Sarah didn’t just smash the women’s record - she claimed the outright record.But what makes her achievement all the more extraordinary is everything she had to overcome to get there.Just over two years earlier, she had barely ridden a bike. Before that, she spent years recovering from a debilitating illness that stripped her of her physical strength and sense of identity. And yet, through grit, precision, and an unshakeable mindset, she transformed herself from a complete novice into one of the most elite endurance cyclists in the world.This episode is about more than athletic achievement, it’s a story of what happens when you set an audacious goal, back it with discipline, and believe that setbacks are just the start of something greater.Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarah_ruggins/Mentioned in the Podcast:The Bike Project: https://thebikeproject.co.uk/Bikes for Refugees: https://www.bikesforrefugees.scot/Support the podcast: Get a whopping 65% off your first Gousto box at: https://www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=TOM42277653Get in contact:https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcasthttps://www.threads.net/@tombryanyeah
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Misadventures #3 - The Speed Project, Free UK Getaways and the Surprising Hollywood Follower...
Tom and Benny P are back with more tales of triumph, chaos and the curious art of blagging a bargain.Fresh from The Speed Project, Benny P shares what it was like to run a non-stop relay from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and still somehow make a decent coffee at the end. Meanwhile, Tom’s been gallivanting around Northumberland and Cornwall without spending a single penny on accommodation - he spills the beans on how he did it, and the magic he found along the way.We also reveal the trick to getting into the Eden Project for free and there’s a surprise cameo from a very famous Hollywood Brit who dropped in on Tom’s socials.Plus, we draw from the Great British Misadventures pot and hear one of Tom’s funny and/or embarrassing stories from his own misadventures. Visit Ben's Trailside Coffee Van: https://www.instagram.com/trailsidecoffee/Follow Ben: https://www.instagram.com/mr.bennypalmer/Support the podcast: Get a whopping 65% off your first Gousto box at: https://www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=TOM42277653Trusted Housesitters: Get 25% off your membership: https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/refer/RAF116724/?utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=refer-a-friend&utm_campaign=refer-a-friendMentioned in the conversation:Jonty Brown: https://www.instagram.com/jontyruns/The Travel Project Episode: https://spoti.fi/4bUcPWaGuy Richie's Fountain of Youth https://youtu.be/1gB9h0ELEf0?si=P1sbFq6xP2SQfbwuOrigin Coffee: https://www.origincoffee.co.uk/Knoops: https://knoops.com/ukGet in contact:https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcasthttps://www.threads.net/@tombryanyeahCHAPTERS00:00 Intro01:37 Coming up04:38 Ben takes on The Speed Project17:58 How to manage a 48 hour tempo 25:49 Jonty Brown's Solo Speed Project30:59 Is holidaying in the UK actually expensive?36:54 For the love of stone circles39:48 Is the UK weather actually bad?44:52 Tom's famous Hollywood follower50:49 Tom's birthday in Northumberland58:11 Charlie Bennett's episode59:31 Cornish adventures01:06:49 Fowey's famous authors01:11:18 Getting into the Eden Project for free01:18:55 Minions, Cheesewring and Wild Guides01:25:14 Holidaying off season01:31:34 Trusted Housesitters01:33:12 Merlin Bird ID01:36:14 Writing challenge update01:42:38 Murder your darlings01:45:31 Coffee Corner01:49:54 Great British Misadventures
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A Tale of Coca‑Cola Ponds, Contraception for Squirrels, and the Hidden Lore of Rural Heritage - Charlie Bennett
Charlie Bennett is a regenerative farmer whose passion for history and storytelling transforms seemingly ordinary farming fields into a tapestry of marvels and hidden tales in an episode where wisdom, wit, and wonder converge.When Charlie inherited some farmland in Northumberland, he decided to bring it back to what he calls "common sense farming" - with sustainability, re-wilding and community at its heart.His adventure on the land has seen him plant over 40,000 trees, return stretches of farmland back to nature and persuade Coca-Cola to build him 11 ponds - all part of a bid to boost biodiversity while keeping the farm thriving and productive. Charlie’s storytelling and unyielding curiosity offer a fresh vision for the future - a reminder that sometimes, the most profound journeys begin right at the roots of the land. More information on Charlie: https://charliebennettauthor.co.uk/Mentioned in the podcastWilding by Isabella Tree: https://www.isabellatree.com/booksFat Llama: https://fatllama.com - Use the code 'tomfatlama' when signing up to get £20 free creditSupport the podcast: Get a whopping 65% off your first Gousto box at: https://www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=TOM42277653Get in contact:https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcasthttps://www.threads.net/@tombryanyeah
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Caught in Everest’s Darkest Hour: How Two Failed Everest Summits Built Unbreakable Resilience in Alex Staniforth
From childhood struggles to scaling life’s biggest challenges, Alex Staniforth’s journey is one of resilience, adventure, and mental strength. After two failed attempts to summit Everest, and surviving an avalanche on the mountain's most fatal year, Alex was forced to shift his mindset, realising that true achievement isn’t always about reaching the top - sometimes, no matter how hard we try, external forces are simply out of our control. These experiences reshaped his perspective on resilience, leadership, and overcoming adversity in all areas of life.Alex opens up about the power of mindset, the lessons learned from embracing discomfort, and how the outdoors became his greatest teacher. He also discusses recent attempts to run the UK's Coast to Coast and his work with Mind Over Mountains, a charity helping others find clarity and confidence through nature.With his next big challenge ahead, this conversation is a reminder that adventure is about more than just the destination—it’s about the setbacks, the growth, and the courage to keep moving forward.Follow Alex:https://www.alexstaniforth.com/https://www.instagram.com/alexstaniforth_/https://mindovermountains.org.uk/Support the podcast: Get a whopping 65% off your first Gousto box at: https://www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=TOM42277653Get in contact:https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcasthttps://www.threads.net/@tombryanyeahChapters00:00 Introduction01:36 Alex in the city04:02 Changing travel mindset after losing licence10:26 Who is Alex?12:22 Struggles and stammer at school17:44 Advice to younger self19:54 Grit over Grades23:44 What expeditions teach us.26:42 Finding opportunity in adversity31:27 Alex tragic Everest attempts37:13 How to process a life threatening moment47:54 Finding our own Everests in life54:40 Challenging yourself with what's next?01:01:17 Tackling the UK's Coast to Coast trail01:04:49 2nd Coast to Coast attempt01:12:50 The mountains aren't always there01:16:38 Finding the acceptance to stop01:21:59 Processing 2 failures01:24:58 A completion that was different to the initial goal01:27:49 The balance between performance and pleasure01:33:44 Mind over Mountains01:48:59 Alex's fundraising targets01:52:12 Exciting 2025 challenge01:53:23 Advice to those who doubt themselves
Hey I'm Tom! I'm a film-maker, adventurer and former BBC journalist. Join me in conversation with those who chose a life of adventure, those who don't take normal as normal and those with incredible stories to tell.
If you think you know someone who has a Great British Adventure story to tell, please get in contact: https://linktr.ee/tombryanyeah
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