This is the story that we promised in the last episode - a tale of cold water, dogs in canoes and unexpected swimming. Also a tale of hypothermia, kit choice, decision making and reflecting on the circumstances prior and post. It features our friend (and previous podcast guest) Terry and his buddy 'Grizz', and took place a couple of months ago on the White River in Indiana, US. The story itself is in the main show, the aftershow is more of a conversation and informal sharing of opinions on...

There are many elements which affect how cold you feel and how cold you actually are at the core, in this episode Richard talks about the subtle external factors which can have a big impact on our bodies in lower temperatures. We've covered hypothermia in previous episodes but the exact meaning of the term 'hypothermia factory' relates to the perfect mixture of cold and wet with some wind thrown in for good measure, the ideal conditions for pulling away the heat generated by your...

Firstly, apologies for the change in audio quality partway through the episode. This episode is a little bit different, Richard was invited to go with Dave, Chris and Alistair for a multi-day hike on the Knoydart peninsula in Scotland. This peninsula on the West coast is surrounded by mountains, lochs and bogs. It is only accessible by boat, or by a 16-mile (26 km) walk through rough country, and the seven miles (11 km) of tarred road found in the small (population of 111) settlement of...

The TV show 'Alone' has been a big hit worldwide and the American version has been going strong for 10 seasons now. This year is the first time that there has been a version produced by a British production company and featuring British contestants. So we have recorded a commentary for the first episode of the series. Richard Prideaux talks through the concept of this TV show, choice of location and shares some thoughts about how it is all put together. There are bear encounters, mishaps...

As humans we tend to appreciate comfort in our lives, we function better when everything is just as we like it to be. This doesn't just relate to things like where we sleep and the clothes we wear but also maintaining our perfect temperature and not being in pain. However whenever we spend time pushing our boundaries outdoors we will inevitably end up in discomfort at some point and it can make or break your day. The good news is that you can train for periods of hardship and it will help...

We welcomed Andy Kirkpatrick onto the show this week to talk all things big wall, winter expeditions and doing things the hard way. It's safe to say that Andy has made his way through life so far by pushing himself and deliberately pitting himself against his own barriers. From a young age he learned to climb and handle himself in the outdoors and progressed from there, teaching himself the ropework skills he would need to climb big walls like El Capitan. Since then Andy has become a...

Brief warning: This episode includes talk about menstrual products in relation to wound packing Richard answers questions from our patrons, discord members and audience with a backdrop of crackling campfire, interfering dogs and sheep several fields away.Topics include- luxury items on multi-day hikes, book recommendations, boot advice, a note about wound dressing, the technicalities of packing gear, time-travelling adventurers and coffee making over a fire. Links - Swedish 450km hiking...

Chris Smart is an ex-military SERE (survive, evade, resist, extract) instructor and now runs 112 Survival, a training company based out of a wood in Shropshire, UK. Richard and Chris delve into the interesting world of survival training, some of the fads (like survival tins) and their origins, and what really happens in emergency situations....spoiler alert, there isn't a dramatic soundtrack change. Links 112 survivalThe episode with Adam GentACR beacons survivor storiesGroughDiscordInstagram

This episode is delving into the importance of not making assumptions. You've bought a brand new stove for an outing - have you tested it? You grabbed a bag which should contain your small emergency kit -did you look inside to make sure everything was there and in good condition? We've all been there, done that in terms of forgetting a small item like a fork, and having to make do or borrow a mates, but next time it could be more serious unless you pick up on the little reminders that we can...

Delving a little bit further into why Instagram (and tiktok, twitter, facebook etc.) is not your training provider, inspired by a conversation with our friend Luke This is not to say that there isn't a bounty of useful and legitimate knowledge out there on the internet, just a few pointers on how to sift out the people who are thinking less about how what they say will be used and more about the likes, shares and exposure. Links - Luke - Colin Furze - Alltrails news story - Discord -...

A recent event involving a dog, a chainsaw and quick reactions was the inspiration for this latest episode of Modern Outdoor Survival where we delve into reflexes and our acute stress responses as humans. Richard and Amy talk in detail about how your body reacts to acute stress and the importance of practicing potentially life saving sequences in order to manipulate your body into reacting well. This isn't a quick fix or easy way of doing things, but it is something worth dedicating time...

On this episode of Modern Outdoor Survival, Richard welcomes Ralph to the show to talk about snow, primarily avalanches. Ralph lives within the Arctic circle at 69.18˚ N and has a particular interest in avalanches. He is also a member of the local Search and Rescue team. Richard and Ralph talk about avalanches, what they are, how to avoid being caught in one and the personal skills to develop if you want to spend time on snowy mountains. Links Discord MOS Instagram Ralph's Instagram...

At the weekend, Richard led a group on a 50km supported walk in the Brecon Beacons with the aim of completing it in 10 hours. In this podcast he runs through the kit he carried with him and the reasoning behind it. For links go to - modernoutdoorsurvival.com

For this episode we invited along Alistair, a local friend and someone who has been through a lot of training, to sit in the woods and discuss what to look for when seeking out instruction.

For the first Q&A episode of the season we talk about First Aid Kits, Survival Skills, How to talk about being prepared with others, Favourite Trousers, and Lessons learned from Clients.

This episode Richard answers a question put to him by friend, listener and patron Alistair. What do you do if you end up stuck somewhere, in trouble, with no means of contacting anyone, and having not left a plan?

A different episode to usual, this week Richard is tearing apart a bug out bag. Not just any bug out bag, but one which was purchased by a listener and supporter of the show, before they had even heard of it. We go through item by item, discussing the pros and cons of what has been included and which are going to realistically be of use when "bugging out". To support the show go to www.modernoutdoorsurvival.com/support

Dan and Ghost Element join Richard on the show to talk about the training movement which Dan has started called Future Conflicts. The aims are simple, provide a training scheme and community in which people from all walks of life can learn tactical wilderness skills. The guys talk about teaching these skills, setting up the business and get into the nitty gritty of the difference between bushcraft and survival.

We often come across content about bug out bags and people setting off to adventure around the world, but something which isn't always talked about alongside the flat lays...is fitness. The ability to carry your gear comfortably, stay upright when walking over difficult terrain, pull out an extra 30% or more of effort when required, and heal quickly from injury is all related to fitness. We talk about diet, strength and aerobic training and how these are beneficial to all of your activities.

For this episode of Modern Outdoor Survival we welcome Jodie and Jordan of Tangier Wood to talk about how and why they became small woodland owners in the UK and the unique survival challenge which they run there.

Ash Routen is our guest this week, a British polar adventurer and adventure writer. He and Richard delve into the psychology behind adventure, talk about some of the inspiring people Ash has had the privilege to interview, and discuss risk assessing on the fly. Links Discord - https://discord.gg/9Kz8rkDpDc Ash's website - https://www.ashrouten.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ashrouten Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/ashrouten Exweb - https://explorersweb.com/ Rosie Swale...

This week on Modern Outdoor Survival we talk about sleeping bags and quilts. Rather than naming our favourites, we thought that we would get back to basics and go over what exactly makes a good sleeping bag, which materials and fillings are best in different environments and situations and Richard introduces you to some of the nature on the smallholding. Links Mountain Equipment's Down Codex -...

A guest episode with Barry Stoffell, a hardrock exploration geologist who has led groups as first boots on the ground in some very interesting places. In Africa he encountered hazards presented by the environment, wildlife and people. Barry highlights how important his early career was for training in how to deal with difficult situations on these expeditions, and talks about some of the lasting ingrained behaviours. He has lived and worked in environmental extremes from the equator to the...

This episode takes a close look at power and technology and their use in the outdoors. Before taking any technology into the outdoors it is worthwhile conducting a quick assessment of your choice of equipment. Understanding how to use any gear is important before taking it somewhere in a capacity where it's failure or your lack of knowledge about it could result in a critical situation. If you are putting your life in the hands of any item of gear then you need to ensure that you are...