Charlie Walker (S2 EP2 RECAP) : Call To Adventure - Talk To Strangers

An Inspirational Chat with British Explorer Charlie Walker

In the latest episode of The Adventure Diaries, host Chris Watson sits down with the Explorer, Charlie Walker. This engaging conversation is packed with insightful anecdotes and motivational advice, perfect for anyone looking to spark their own sense of adventure.

A Call to Adventure
Charlie's suggestions are refreshingly simple yet profound.

Reading as an Adventure:
"Well, I mean, quite simple really. Uh, I would say, I mean, for one read. You know, read, uh, travel books, read, I mean, novels are, of course, are wonderful escapism, but read nonfiction alongside novels. And it doesn't need to be travel books. It doesn't need to be adventure books," Charlie advises.

Reading, according to Charlie, is a fantastic way to understand the world better and appreciate the universal human experiences and fascinating differences across cultures. Whether it's a gripping novel or an insightful nonfiction book, the act of reading can transport you to new places and expand your horizons.

Connecting with Strangers:
Another piece of advice from Charlie is to talk to strangers. "One of the things that I've most relished and probably have taken away from trips I've been on is the habit of being that person on the train, for instance, who just starts talking to the person next to them," he shares.

Charlie acknowledges that while this might occasionally lead to awkward moments, the benefits far outweigh the discomfort. These spontaneous conversations often lead to memorable encounters and new friendships, adding a rich layer of experience to any journey.

Recommended Reads
When asked about his favorite travel writers, Charlie mentions Redmond O'Hanlon with great enthusiasm. O'Hanlon is known for his wild, often comically disastrous adventures, whether he's navigating the jungles of Borneo or braving the rough seas of the North Sea.

"I'm a huge fan of the travel writer Redmond O'Hanlon. He is a very different type of traveler to me, but he goes off on mad cat journeys for which he, by his own admission, is woefully ill-suited to," Charlie explains. O'Hanlon's ability to empathize with the people he encounters and his hilarious storytelling make his books a must-read for any travel enthusiast.

Paying It Forward
The final tradition in Chris's podcast is the "Pay It Forward" segment, where guests highlight a worthy cause. Charlie chooses Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), an organization renowned for its work in conflict zones and disaster areas worldwide.

"There's nothing I can think of that is more universally important than MSF, Médecins Sans Frontières, or Doctors Without Borders," Charlie states. He praises their unwavering commitment to providing medical care in the most challenging situations, often at great personal risk.

Wrapping Up

Transcript

 Two closing traditions that we've got in the show, one of which is a call to adventure,  and it's an opportunity for the guest to give a suggestion of a, an activity  place or a persons or something, A call to adventure to get people inspired and go to get away from the screen and do something fun.

What would your call to adventure be?  

Well, I mean, quite simple really. Uh, I would say, I mean, for one read. You know, read, uh, travel books, read, I mean, novels are, of course, are wonderful escapism, but read nonfiction alongside novels. And it doesn't need to be travel books. It doesn't need to be adventure books.

If you want those, then I have very good books available for you. Uh, no, I think reading is just a great way to, I suppose, get a sense of the rest of the world to help sort of foster the understanding of how the universals the. positive universals of humanity, and then the interesting sort of differences.

And besides that, I would say, sorry about that. Uh, besides that, I would also say that talk to strangers.  And if you are a child listening to this, don't necessarily talk strangers right away, but one of the things that I've most relished and probably have taken away from  trips I've been on is the habit of.

Being that person on the train, for instance, who just starts talking to the person next to them, and maybe three times in four, you'll piss people off, you'll speak for two minutes, not piss people off, mildly irritate people, you'll speak for two minutes, and that's that, but the other one time in four will easily make those.

Three slight awkwardness is worthwhile because you'll get chatting, you'll meet people, you'll get to know people and they won't necessarily be from the same town at the end of the line that you're going to. It may well be from, you know, the far side of the country or the far side of the world or the far side of the town you're going to that you never would have encountered anyway.

So yeah, chat to strangers, open conversations you know, even if it does just start with the weather as it always inevitably does.  

Fantastic. Most people have something interesting to tell and it's  better than striking up a conversation with someone. Excellent. Fantastic.  Any books that you would recommend other than you're fantastic?

Well, I haven't read your second book to be fair. I can't, I don't want to be here, but, uh, but yeah, other than this, what would you recommend? 

I, uh, I'm a huge fan of the travel writer Redmond O'Hanlon, he is a very different type of traveler to me, but he goes off on mad cat journeys for which he, by his own admission, is  woefully ill suited to.

Uh, he's a sort of bookish don of ornithology. I remember I think uh, so that's a university. I think somewhere in Oxford he lives. And he'll go charging off into the jungle in Borneo or Congo or wherever. Or, you know, go aboard a trawler ship in his late sixties in the North Sea, in rough seas for several days and kind of, you know, struggle to live and observe the life of trawlermen.

And he's hilarious and he's got a wonderful. I and I suppose empathy for the people he writes about and encounters. I'd also say, well, as you know that I'll leave it at those. Those are fantastic.  

Excellent. Thank you. We'll check that out and get it listed. And then finally, the final tradition is pay it forward.

So a suggestion for a worthy cause or projects  that you would like to raise awareness of what would your plan forward suggestion be?  

Well, I think anytime, but especially now, I mean, often when you think of you know, important causes you try and think of ones that are the most opposite, the most important, the most universal.

And there's nothing I can think of that is more universally important than MSF, Médecins Sans Frontières, or Doctors Without Borders. The world, sadly, in so many areas, is, you know, Sort of not improving currently situation. You know, there are so many active conflicts around the world, not least, you know, new ones in the last couple of months and, uh, MSF are always there absolutely on the front line, risking their lives to save people, regardless of who those people are, what side those people might be on.

And so I've never really come across a better, more universal cause.  

Yeah, fantastic. Yeah, Doctors Without Borders. Excellent. Thank you, Charlie. And I couldn't agree, I couldn't agree more. Yeah, I couldn't, I could not agree more. I've had that come up a couple of times recently, particularly because of the recent conflict in the Middle East as well.

So anything they can do to, cause they are active in that conflict zone at the moment.  Thank you.  Uh, it's been epic, Charlie.  I've thoroughly enjoyed this. Hopefully it hasn't been too onerous, me throwing, uh, questions and  very inquisitive. Uh, I've thoroughly enjoyed your audio book, including your accents as well.

 
Talk about those. Go 

on, give us your best Scottish accent. Ah, that's 

one that I would not dare do on a podcast. I struggle with accents a lot. So, uh, I'm very aware that the audio book is, uh, there's plenty of little Easter eggs for people who, uh, who like a badly done accent. 

Yes. I, yeah, I recommend the audio books. Thank you, Charlie. That's been a pleasure.

So that was a short clip from the Charlie Walker episode number two on season two. So please go and listen to the full episode. I'm sure you'll love it. And if you've enjoyed this episode or in fact any of the episodes on The Adventure Diaries, could you please take some time to go and give us a written review on apple or spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.  Thank you.