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Martin Kern was the winner of the inaugural Great Southern Endurance Run (GSER100) in 29h 20m, beating second place by 4.5 hours. The GSER is the toughest 100 mile trail ultramarathon in the Southern Hemisphere and is in the top five most difficult in the world. It covers 181km from Mt Buller to Bright in Victoria with 10,058m of vertical gain and 11,338m of vertical loss, and runs across some of the most spectacular, rugged and remote alpine back country. In this episode Martin talks about what he went through, as well as shares invaluable knowledge around his approach, mindset and motivating factors. Links mentioned in this episode: Facebook Instagram Enjoy the interview.

Ed Stafford was European Adventurer of the Year in 2011 and holds the Guinness World Record for walking 4,000 miles along the entire length of the Amazon River from source to sea. Ed filmed and blogged his deadly journey and engaged followers all over the world for two and a half years. Ed is also the star of a number of survival-based, documentary TV series on the Discovery Channel, including, Walking the Amazon Marooned with Ed Stafford Ed Stafford: Into The Unknown Links mentioned in this episode: Ed Stafford (website) Walking the Amazon Facebook Enjoy the interview.

Yossi Ghinsberg is an Israeli-Australian adventurer, musician, tech entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker. In 1981, Yossi ventured into the remote and unchartered Bolivian Amazon jungle with three other backpackers, in search of adventure. After a series of events and accidents, Yossi was separated from the others and spent 3 weeks alone and lost, deep in Amazon. Yossi was faced with tremendous hardships including almost drowning in white-water rapids and going over waterfalls, starvation, hallucinations, multiple full-body wounds, trench foot, coming face-to-face with a Jaguar at night, being enveloped by tens of thousands of fire ants, flooding, being trapped torso-deep in a swamp, sleep deprivation.. all of which happened during the heaviest torrential rain season in a decade. Yossi’s famous story has now been made into a feature film called Jungle, which will be released in 2017 – starring Daniel Radcliffe, from Harry Potter fame. Yossi goes into detail around his extraordinary experience and chance rescue, and has since gained enlightened wisdom. Yossi’s book Jungle: A Harrowing True Story of Survival in the Amazon is available as an audio-book from Audible, or hard-copy from Amazon. Links mentioned in this episode: Ghinsberg (website) Facebook Twitter Youtube Enjoy the interview.

Peter Thompson from the UK completed a gruelling test of physical and mental endurance by running 44 marathons, across 44 European countries, in 44 back-to-back days. Starting in St Petersberg, Russia and snaking his way across Europe, Peter’s 44th consecutive marathon finished in Dublin, Ireland. In this episode Peter talks about what it was like and shares some of his experiences along the way. Links mentions in this episode: Marathons for the Mind Twitter Instagram Facebook Enjoy the interview.

Herbert Nitsch is the greatest freediver of all time, current freediving world record holder and “Deepest Man on Earth”. Herbert can hold his breath for more than 9 minutes and has set a total of 33 world records, across all of the 8 recognised freediving disciplines. On June 6th, 2012, Herbert dove to a world record 253.2 m (830.8 ft), in the No-Limits sled-dive discipline. On the ascent, at 80m, Herbert temporarily fell asleep due to nitrogen narcosis and consequently missed the critical one-minute underwater decompression stop. Upon surfacing Herbert was alert and asked for a mask to immediately return underwater to re-compress on pure oxygen – but it was too late.. While decompressing underwater, Herbert felt the onset of severe decompression sickness, which would eventually result in multiple brain-strokes. Herbert arrived comatose at hospital and his future did not look good. With a prognosis of remaining a “wheelchair-bound care-dependent patient”, he dismissed himself from long-term facilitated care, and took his healing into his own hands. Today, against all odds, Herbert is fit, training and deep-freediving again. “Each time I think I’ve reached a limit there’s a door.. it opens.. and the limit is gone.” Links mentioned in this episode: Herbert Nitsch (websaite) Facebook Twitter Instagram All photos are copyrighted: HN = © herbertnitsch.com HNPS = © Herbert Nitsch & Phil Simha Enjoy the interview.

Bill Bradley was a successful millionaire owner of 17 video and gaming rental stores, that eventually went bankrupt in 2005. That loss, coupled with a devastating divorce saw Bill lose everything he had, plummeting to the lowest point in his life. Soon after, Bill began to regain his identity by pushing himself further and further in extreme endurance events including, 7 Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim crossings (World Record) – 167 miles and 42,000+ feet of climbing Triple Ironman 3,000 mile Race Across America Furnace Creek 508 mile bike race through Death Valley Susitna 100 – a 100-mile run across the frozen Alaskan tundra while pulling a 40-pound sled filled with survival gear 292 mile Double Badwater Bill’s trademark motto “Show Up and Suffer” allows him to conquer fear and discover new realms of human potential.  Links mentioned in this episode: Epic Bill Bradley (website) Facebook Twitter YouTube Enjoy the interview.

Helena Merten is a professional cliff diver in the Red Bull World Series and travels the world jumping off cliffs, bridges and monuments – regularly up to 25 meters high. Cliff diving is one of the most technical and dangerous sports in the world. Helena provides some insight into the mindset required to compete at the highest level in diving, and what it takes to confront and overcome fear.. at the edge of an 80 foot cliff. Links mentioned in this episode: Facebook Instagram Red Bull Cliff Diving Photo credit – Red Bull Content Pool Enjoy the interview.

Mimi Anderson is one of the toughest athletes on the face of the planet who has set World Records for the fastest run from the top to bottom of both Great Britain and Ireland. Mimi is the first female to have ever completed a double-Comrades, as well as double-Spartahlon – which is a grueling 153 miles each way, from Athens to Sparta. In 2011, Mimi also completed a double-Badwater. This infamous ultramarathon is run in the middle of summer where temperatures have reached as high as 135F / 57C. Mimi is the double-crossing female course record holder, covering 146 miles each way from Badwater in Death Valley, to the summit of Mt Whitney. In this episode Mimi shares what it was like to suffer from anorexia for 15 years, and gives an insight into the mindset of someone who has transcended limitations. Links mentioned in this episode: Marvellous Mimi (website) Twitter Facebook Enjoy the interview.

John McAvoy was born into one of the most infamous criminal families in the United Kingdom. His uncle Micky McAvoy was the ring-leader in London’s 1983 Brinks-Mat heist, which saw a record £26 million worth of gold bullion, diamonds and cash stolen from a warehouse (today approximately £500 million). From the age of 8, John was schooled in the criminal arts by his step-Dad and close-knit circle of family and friends – all of whom where notorious gangsters and king-pins of the criminal underworld. In 2005, John was caught plotting to rob an armoured security van and was given an almost unheard of ­double-life sentence, due to his criminal associates and risk of escape. John was thrown into maximum security prison alongside Islamic terrorist Abu Hamza, the London Underground bombers and mass murderers. Inside prison, John turned to circuit training and  indoor rowing as a means to mentally escape from confinement – eventually going on to smash numerous British and World Indoor Rowing Records. After a decade in prison, John eventually became a free man and is inching closer to his dream of becoming a professional Ironman triathlete. John McAvoy ‘s incredible story has been turned into a book called Redemption: From Iron Bars to Ironman. He now visits universities and schools, preaching against a life of crime. Book mentioned in this episode: Links mentioned in this episode: The Real McAvoy Twitter Enjoy the interview..

Gavin Sandford is an ex-soldier who now works as an Anaesthetic Practitioner in Operating Theatres. In both careers Gavin became inspired by how people deal with their sufferings, especially the sick children he worked with in hospital. Gavin founded an initiative called “I Can and I Will” to bring awareness to the urgent need for people to join the ’Bone Marrow’ and ‘Stem Cell’ registers – by doing extreme endurance events globally and raising money for charity. In 2015, Gavin ran 45 marathons in 45 days across the entire length of Great Britain whilst pushing a 50kg oak barrel in a wheelchair. In 2016, Gavin became the first person in history to run a Double “Back-to-Back” Marathon de Sables – one of the toughest ultramarathons in the world. Links mentioned in this episode: I Can and I Will Enjoy the interview.

Martin Frey is the first person in the world to have climbed the 7 Summits (the highest mountain on every continent), and sail the 7 Seas. Martin has also skied to the South Pole and completed numerous adventure races and Ironman triathlons. Martin also spent 13 years as a Senior Director of Cisco Systems in Silicon Valley and is an extremely successful businessman in his own right. In this episode Martin shares some insight into the mind of one of greatest adventurers of our time. Links mentioned in this episode: 7 Summits 7 Seas Facebook Twitter Instagram Enjoy the interview.

Nathan Farrugia is a CEO, entrepreneur, business performance coach, TEDx and motivational speaker, philanthropist and ultra-endurance athlete. Nathan has completed the Marathon de Sables, UTMB twice and numerous other endurance events. In 2011, Nathan completed a world first by running 27 marathons, in 27 days in each of the 27 European Union countries. In this episode Nathan talks about flowstate, altruism and selflessness, leadership and what it takes to go beyond perceived limits. Links mentioned in this episode: Up Your Level (website) Enjoy the interview.  

During the Marine Corps Marathon in 2004, BethAnn Telford heard a loud pop in her head. In the following days BethAnn began to lose her memory – she couldn’t remember names, dates, directions. An MRI not long after, revealed she had a brain tumor. The next year BethAnn had the tumor surgically removed – but it wasn’t without consequences. BethAnn lost the sight in her left eye, she could no longer have children, she had to learn to stand and walk again, her bladder permanently shutdown and experienced seizures. In time, BethAnn’s fighting spirit saw her running again and in 2017 she completed the unimaginable, the World Marathon Challenge – 7 marathons, in 7 days, on 7 continents. Links mentioned in this episode: Team BT (website) Facebook Instagram Twitter Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure World Marathon Challenge Enjoy the interview.

Catra Corbett used to be a crystal meth addict until she was arrested for dealing. After spending a night locked up behind bars, Catra made a decision to change the direction of her life – which included going vegan and giving up drugs and alcohol immediately. Catra has since gone on to conquer over 260 ultramarathons, 120 of which are 100 milers. Catra is a collector of tattoos and piercings, and can be spotted a mile away wearing the brightest coloured outfits possible. Every year Catra celebrates her birthday by running for the same amount of hours, as her age.. and has now been clean and sober for over 17 years. Links mentioned in this episode: Dirt Diva (blog) Twitter Instagram Enjoy the interview.

John Van Wisse is an extreme triathlete and 3 time winner of the prestigious 48km Manhattan Island marathon swim. John is also one of only 24 people in the world to have completed arguably the toughest ultra triathlon on Earth – the Enduroman Arch-to-Arc. The Arch-to-Arc starts with a 140km run from London’s Marble Arch to Dover, then continues with a 34km swim across the freezing English Channel, then finishes with a 291km ride from Calais to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. In 2014, John broke the world record finishing in 61 hours and 27 minutes. Links mentioned in this episode: John Van Wisse (website) Facebook Enjoy the interview.

Drew Manning is a personal trainer who wanted to better understand where his generally overweight clients were coming from, particularly from a nutritional perspective. Drew embarked on an experiment where he went from being extremely fit and shredded, to eating as much junk food as possible with the sole aim of putting on as much weight as he could in 6 months. He then documented his return to to health in the next 6 months, by following a strict and healthy diet, coupled with regular exercise. Over the course of a year, Drew gained, then lost over 75lbs (35kg).. on purpose. Drew’s journey of going from fit to fat then back to fit, became a New York Times best selling book, and is now a TV series. Book mentioned in this episode: Links mentioned in this episode: Fit2Fat2Fit (website – including Facebook, Instagram, Youtube) Fit2Fat2Fit (podcast) Enjoy the interview.

Andy “Snake Man” Turner is an Australian Adventure Racer and Ultramarathon runner. In 2016, Andy won the 270km Amazon Jungle Marathon, which was voted by CNN as the world’s toughest endurance race. This self-supported race see competitors endure temperatures of 40C with 100% humidity, with swamp and river crossings filled with anacondas, caiman and piranhas. Andy recounts the brutality of this race including being attacked by a swarm of wasps. Links mentioned in this episode: Instagram Facebook Enjoy the interview.

Laval St Germain is a Canadian adventurer who has so far climbed 6 out of the 7 highest mountains on every continent.. including Everest – without oxygen. Laval was the first person to ski down from the summit of the highest mountain in Iraq. In June 2016, Laval successfully rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean from Halifax in Canada to Brest in France, in 53 days, 8 hours and 26 minutes. In his day job, Laval is a Boeing 737 Captain for Canadian North Airlines. In this episode Laval talks about what it’s like to explore the very edge of human performance. Links mentioned in this interview: Laval St Germain (website) Twitter Instagram Enjoy the interview.

Jonathan Albon is regarded as the best obstacle course racer in the world. Jonathan has won countless OCR races both in the US and Europe. Most notably Jonathan is: OCR World Champion – 2014, 2015, 2016 Winner of Skyracing Extreme World Series – 2016 World’s Toughest Mudder Team Champion – 2015 Spartan Race World Champion – 2014 In this episode, Jonathan gives an insight into one of the fastest growing sports in the world, and what it takes to become a multiple time World Champion. Links mentioned in this episode: Jonathan Albon (website) Instagram Enjoy the interview.

Karl “Speedgoat” Meltzer is an elite ultramarathon runner, who has won more 100 mile races than any other human on Earth – currently at 38. Karl recently ran the Fastest Known Time along the 3,500km Appalachian Trail in 45 days, 22 hours and 38 minutes. Some of Karl’s incredible achievements include: 2006 Ultrarunner of the Year All time winner, Hardrock 100 – 5 wins All time winner, Wasatch 100 – 6 wins All time winner, Massanutten 100 – 4 wins All-time winner, San Diego 100 – 3 wins All-time winner, Squaw Peak 50 – 5 wins Karl is also the Race Director of the Speedgoat 50km, and has his own line of shoes – the Hoka One One Speedgoat. In this episode Karl drops some knowledge on what it takes to become one of the greatest ultra-trail runners of all time. Links mentioned in this episode: Karl Meltzer (website) Photo Credit  – Karl Meltzer Enjoy the interview.