Great British Adventures

Danny Bent has spent years chasing adventure.
From ultra-endurance survival challenges to being marooned on a deserted island in the Maldives, he's built a life around pushing boundaries and stepping into the unknown.
But recently, his focus has shifted.
The next challenge isn't about going further, faster, or enduring more. It's about becoming more human.
In this deeply personal conversation, Danny reflects on a journey that began with an ayahuasca retreat and led him towards what he calls his "primal age" - a growing desire to reconnect with the experiences that shaped us long before modern life arrived.
We talk about swimming in near-freezing water, spending a week alone in a remote Norwegian cabin, learning to hunt deer, disconnecting from technology, the importance of play, self-love, masculinity, and why shared adversity brings people together like nothing else.
At its heart, this is a conversation about stripping life back to its essentials. Less noise. Less distraction. More presence, connection and adventure.
Because perhaps the wildest thing we can do in the modern world is return to what made us human in the first place.
Listen to Danny's previous recording, here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2jn6zsMXRw2WO61McbEz5y?si=a0b45bc6bb4c40a1
Support the podcast:
Get a whopping 65% off your first Gousto box at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=TOM42277653⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow Danny: https://www.instagram.com/danny_bent/https://www.dannybent.com/
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Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:21: Ayahuasca Retreat
17:03 Other ways to go within yourself
21:18 Finding ways to soothe
27:08 One day a week unplugged
37:59 Marooned on an island
49:24 The group dynamics on the island
01:04:58 Hunting for deer for the first time
01:24:42 Cold Water Swimming Championships
01:33:54 Tom's magical sea adventure
01:42:41 What the sitcom Scrubs taught Tom about Masculinity
01:55:02 Self Love

Esther Lloyd didn’t grow up as a cyclist, and she didn’t ease her way into the sport either.
What started as a complete beginner journey just a few years ago, has turned into racing across continents in some of the toughest ultra-endurance events in the world, including the Transcontinental Race (TCR).
Along the way she’s taken on brutal challenges like finishing third in the Trans Pyrenees Race and completing epic audaxes such as All Points North, building a reputation as someone who goes long and deep when many others would stop.
In this conversation, recorded as I prepare for my own first attempt at the Transcontinental Race, Esther generously opens up everything she’s learned from her rapid rise in the world of endurance cycling.
We get into the practical realities like where to sleep, what to eat, how to actually prepare, and what training really looks like when the distances start stretching beyond logic.
But beyond the logistics, this is really about how someone who only recently discovered cycling can become the kind of rider who lines up for one of the hardest bike races on the planet.
If you’re new to cycling and curious about how far it can take you, or if you’re already drawn to ultra-endurance racing and want a grounded, honest look at what it takes, this conversation is for you.
Follow Esther:
https://www.instagram.com/vistadelmotrone/
If you’ve been affected by anything discussed in this conversation, or are struggling with an eating disorder yourself, these organisations may be able to help:
https://red-s.com
https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/
Support the podcast:
Get a whopping 65% off your first Gousto box at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=TOM42277653⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Mentioned in the Podcast:
Lost Dot Races: https://www.lostdot.cc/
Audax UK: https://www.audax.uk/

Bivy Nation: https://www.instagram.com/bivy_nation/
Join the mailing list:
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Get in contact:
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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@tombryanyeah⁠
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:28 Britain through the eyes of a Kiwi
11:35 Tom's first bike race
18:50 Esther's journey into cycling
37:44 Group Riding
48:28 Audaxing
53:15 All Points North
57:18 Sleeping in the wild
01:02:56 Safety Sleeping Alone
01:09:07: Eating Disorder + Role Models
01:22:43 Trans Pyrenees
01:30:50 Transcontinental Race

In this episode, Tom shares his journey behind training for his first bike race (and it's a big one!)
After a period of burnout, mental health struggles, and being forced to step away from life for a short while, this episode is more about what it really means to rebuild - physically and mentally and how “pushing through” doesn’t always work (Tom found out the hard way.
Ben's been on a solo ski tour outside of Europe and gives all his tips and advice for travelling further afield for some good times.
We dive deep into the importance of boundaries, processing anger, and the importance of protecting your energy.
And of course - Tom dips into the jar of Great British Misadventures to regale a story from his own misadventures.
Support the podcast:
Get a whopping 65% off your first Gousto box at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=TOM42277653⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Join the mailing list:
⁠⁠https://substack.com/@tombryanyeah?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page⁠⁠
Get in contact:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@tombryanyeah
Chapters:00:00 Intro03:48 Checking in re: Tom's mental health06:18 Deleting people from your life10:38 How you express anger16:38 'If' Poem22:37 Solo ski tour in Banff37:09 Two months off with exhaustion53:57 Ben's new addition58:55 Tom's first bike race01:19:39 Cycling's culture problem01:29:43 The most wonderful Wednesday01:37:58 Tour de France in the UK01:40:47 Great British Misadventures

For Mark White, gratitude is more than just a word.
It’s a daily practice that helped him rebuild his life - from rehab for drug addiction to creating a movement that encourages others to live with more intention, connection, and perspective.
Now celebrating 23 years of sobriety, Mark has built gratitude into his daily life.
He is the founder of Run Grateful, Your Town CIC, and the Daily Five app - a platform designed to promote wellbeing in simple, five-minute daily practices.
In this conversation, we explore how gratitude became the one thing that stuck when nothing else did. Mark opens up about not being ready to change, how addiction can feel like a solution rather than a problem, and why gratitude isn’t about ignoring difficult thoughts and feelings.
We also talk about the reality of showing up when you don’t want to, the importance of building evidence over time, and how small, consistent actions can begin to shift the direction of your life.
Follow Mark: https://www.instagram.com/markwhite_120602/
Support the podcast:
Get a whopping 65% off your first Gousto box at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=TOM42277653⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Mentioned in the Podcast:
Run Grateful: https://www.rungrateful.com/
The Daily Five App: https://www.dailyfiveofficial.com/

Join the mailing list:
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Get in contact:
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
02:49: What Mark is grateful for today
05:20 Why practising gratefulness is important to Mark
12:15: Taking stock of the here and now
16:19 Mark's journey into gratefulness
20:08 Finding acceptance to begin change
28:17 It starts with a pen and paper
35:04 Mark's role models
39:31 The ripple effect of addiction
44:32 Tom's journey into sobriety
56:56 Inspiring others into gratefulness
01:03:56 The Grateful Mile
01:13:13 Tom's journey to gratefulness
01:20:16 Spirit before purpose
01:29:02 Daily Five
01:35:42 Prison rehabilitation
01:39:40 It only takes a moment
01:44:16 Grateful mile at Love Trails
01:46:55 For those who feel they have nothing to be grateful for
01:51:05 Mark's tally tattoo

Here's the best of 2025 - thanks so much for tuning in!
Charlie Wild (The Travel Project):
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4bUcPWa
Apple: https://apple.co/3XXfXe2
Youtube: https://youtu.be/IAHqxY_vdNk
Alex Staniforth - Caught in Everests Darkest Hour:
Spotify: https://bit.ly/48UXJP0
Apple: https://apple.co/4seGLEr
Youtube: https://youtu.be/Uat6ExQZ4gQ
Sarah Ruggins - From Novice Cyclist to Record Breaker in 2 Years
Spotify: https://bit.ly/3MD9MZV
Apple: https://apple.co/49bbcUd
Youtube: https://youtu.be/xitHPmorq6Y
Charlie Bennett: A Tale of Coca-Cola Ponds:
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4lwkiPB
Apple: https://apple.co/3Rgqg9x
Youtube: https://youtu.be/L2evrfYc3D0
Horatio Clare - The Real Story of the Small Boats Crossings:
Spotify: https://bit.ly/4oVWeGi
Apple: https://apple.co/4q9Tp5F
Youtube: https://youtu.be/_TG7N3mm34g
Jacquetta Megarry - A Second Life On Foot
Spotify: https://bit.ly/3W0AtcB
Apple: https://bit.ly/3W0AtcB
Youtube: https://youtu.be/ByH4E6AomnM
Deo Kato - From Cape Town To London:
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4asQhuM
Apple: https://apple.co/48D89nH
Youtube: https://youtu.be/afhHa9yG_rU
Tracey Bravo - The Donor Route
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/43kr0Bz
Apple: https://apple.co/43lir9J
Youtube: https://youtu.be/Nr2dp_Ds1L8
Nick Bester - Cracking the Sub 2:20 Marathon
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/430uUzt
Apple: https://apple.co/4gQhNUK
Youtube: https://youtu.be/ZKQAwV0Za4A
Nick Butter - Mr. Possible:
Spotify: https://bit.ly/4rUQdMQ
Apple: https://apple.co/4iTV9NM
Youtube: https://youtu.be/-PLhKZuK134
Rave On For The Avon
Spotify: https://bit.ly/48Sr7W3
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rave-on-for-the-avon-bristols-swimming-revolution/id1682803081?i=1000726865001
Youtube: https://youtu.be/jq1Cmkt2q6Q
Great British Misadventures:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2NuDY8zQAj5haZVaoJnPPx?si=1f8795b5e0b14379
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cycling-the-coast-of-wales-garlic-ice-cream/id1682803081?i=1000733651056
Youtube: https://youtu.be/krhcwJaVEwE
Support the podcast:
Get a whopping 65% off your first Gousto box at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=TOM42277653⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Join the mailing list:
⁠https://substack.com/@tombryanyeah?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page⁠
Get in contact:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@tombryanyeah⁠
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
04:19 Charlie Wild's UK seasonal highlights
14:29 Alex Staniforth - Caught in Everest's Darkest Hour
24:38 Sarah Ruggins - From Novice Cyclist to Record Breaker in 2 Years
33:19 Charlie Bennett: A Tale of Coca-Cola Ponds
41:38 Horatio Clare - The Real Story of the Small Boats Crossings
48:59 Jacquetta Megarry - A Second Life On Foot
54:22 Deo Kato - From Cape Town To London
01:02:58 Tracey Bravo - The Donor Route
01:14:18 Nick Bester - Cracking the Sub 2:20 Marathon
01:26:00 Nick Butter - Mr. Possible
01:36:16 Rave On For The Avon
01:44:00 Great British Misadventures