The Trail Less Traveled

By: Mandela Leola van Eeden
  • Summary

  • Dedicated to documenting humanity by gathering stories & sounds from the most remote locations around the world. The goal for the show is to take you, the listener, back to mankind's earliest form of entertainment: story telling. Therefore, every week features an interview with an adventurer in their natural habitat in order to provide an audible journey packed with adventure (and conservation) information & inspiration. Everyone has a story & different perspective, we aim to share the stories from the world’s diverse cultures & unknown lands. Get bonus content on Patreon

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    All rights reserved
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Episodes
  • The Climate Crisis in Polar Regions with Dr. Jim Halfpenny
    Apr 23 2025

    Dr. Jim Halfpenny is a renowned polar ecologist, expedition leader, and expert in cold-climate ecology with decades of experience studying the extreme environments of the Arctic and Antarctic. With a background in wildlife biology and ecology, Dr. Halfpenny has led and participated in numerous scientific expeditions to the polar regions, where he has conducted groundbreaking research on climate change, snow ecology, and the adaptation of wildlife to some of the planet’s harshest conditions.


    Dr. Halfpenny's firsthand accounts paint a vivid picture of climate change's impact: shrinking glaciers, thawing permafrost releasing dangerous methane, and indigenous communities forced to relocate due to shifting wildlife patterns. His upcoming book "The Last Cold" documents these profound changes, while his research using ice cores reveals how current CO2 levels far exceed anything seen in the past 800,000 years.


    Despite passing certain environmental tipping points, Dr. Halfpenny emphasizes hope through action and the importance of individual contributions to combat climate change. From infrastructure challenges in Alaska to the transformation of the Northwest Passage into a potential trade route, this episode offers crucial insights into our warming world.


    Don't miss this essential conversation about one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Listen now to understand why the Arctic's story is everyone's story.


    Show notes:

    00:02:48 - Climate Change Observations in Greenland

    00:06:05 - Impact of Climate Change on Icebergs

    00:09:27 - Future of Coastal Towns and Trade Routes

    00:11:14 - Understanding Historical Climate Change

    00:14:13 - Carbon Dioxide and Climate Change

    00:17:05 - Tipping Points and Climate Action

    00:19:22 - Impact of Permafrost Thawing

    00:22:43 - Challenges of Northern Train Travel

    00:24:09 - Impact of Climate Change on Northern Communities

    00:26:50 - Impact of Climate Change on Species

    00:30:15 - Impact of Climate Change on Wildlife

    00:34:44 - Impact of Climate Change on Wildlife

    00:38:06 - Impact of Climate Change on Bears

    00:40:12 - Grizzly Bears and Climate Change

    00:41:32 - Advice for Mitigating Climate Change


    • Follow the adventures and interviews in real time at TrailLessTraveled.net and be sure to check out our visual series on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
    • The radio version of the show premieres Sunday nights at 6 MST, streaming live online at Trail1033.com & locally (Missoula) on the Trail 103.3 FM
    • Why listen to the radio version instead of the podcast? Well, because the radio version includes music selected by the folks we interview!
    • Please help us keep the podcast ad free by donating $3/month via PATREON. We really need your help, as of right now we are only brining in $79/month in donations.


    #travelpodcast #adventurepodcast #conservationpodcast #podcast #conservation #storytelling #adventure #travel #traillesstraveled #adventuretravel #climatechange #climateaction #climatecrisis #yellowstonenationalpark #polarbears #polar

    Get bonus content on Patreon

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show more Show less
    47 mins
  • Bush Guides Unplugged: Stories from the Lower Zambezi
    Mar 19 2025

    Join us as we venture into the wilds of Zambia’s Lower Zambezi with three seasoned bush guides—Marshal, Luckson, and Malan. From the rugged seats of a Toyota Land Cruiser, we chat with Marshal and Malan about wildlife conservation, poaching, ecology, and the intricate behaviors of Africa’s iconic animals. Then, we sit down with Luckson, a top-tier guide with the highest level of training, to uncover the rigorous education, testing, and fieldwork required to lead walking safaris—a tradition that was born right here in Zambia. Tune in for an immersive journey into the heart of the African bush.


    Show notes:


    00:06:07 - Protecting Zambia's National Parks from Mining

    00:09:03 - Revisiting the Mating Lions in Lower Zambezi

    00:12:08 - Elephant Encounter in Lower Zambezi

    00:17:12 - Let's Move Together as One Zambia

    00:20:19 - Becoming a Bush Guide in Zambia

    00:22:47 - Intensive Training and Expertise of Safari Guides

    00:25:31 - The Importance of Respecting Animal Boundaries

    00:28:59 - From Whitewater to Walking: A Guide's Journey

    00:30:57 - Family Doubts, Overcoming Fears, and Protecting the Zambezi

    00:32:57 - The Importance of Protecting River Ecosystems

    00:34:53 - Night Drive with Guide Milan in Zambia

    00:39:58 - Transforming Poachers into Conservationists

    00:44:07 - Night Drive with Cooperative Clients


    • Follow the adventures and interviews in real time at TrailLessTraveled.net and be sure to check out our visual series on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
    • The radio version of the show premieres Sunday nights at 6 MST, streaming live online at Trail1033.com & locally (Missoula) on the Trail 103.3 FM
    • Why listen to the radio version instead of the podcast? Well, because the radio version includes music selected by the folks we interview!
    • Please help us keep the podcast ad free by donating $3/month via PATREON. We really need your help, as of right now we are only brining in $79/month in donations.


    #travelpodcast #adventurepodcast #conservationpodcast #podcast #conservation #storytelling #adventure #travel #traillesstraveled #adventuretravel #zambia #lowerzambezi #lowerzambezinationalpark #zambeziriver #guidelife #safari #safariguide #lowerzambeziriver #zambeziriver

    Get bonus content on Patreon

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show more Show less
    48 mins
  • Anti Poaching Dog Training with Resolve Wildlife Cofounder, Michael Hensman.
    Mar 13 2025

    As a child growing up on a farm in Zimbabwe, Mikey Hensman was surrounded by rescued exotic animals like elephants, impalas, and warthogs. This unique upbringing sparked his deep passion for wildlife that eventually led him to a career in anti-poaching and conservation. Hensman is the co-founder of Resolve Wildlife, an African-led strategic advisory and training group dedicated to conserving Africa's wild landscapes. Resolve Wildlife's team includes experts in protected area management, ecology, law enforcement, and community-based resource management. One of their key conservation partners, Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ), is a non-profit organization working to protect Zambia’s Lower Zambezi region. CLZ collaborates with Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) to conduct foot and aerial patrols, as well as operate specialized enforcement units, including the highly effective Dog Unit.


    Introduced in 2016 with support from USAID, the Dog Unit plays a vital role in combating poaching and wildlife trafficking. Trained to detect scents of ammunition, bushmeat, ivory, pangolin, and firearms, these skilled sniffer dogs and their local handlers conduct vehicle searches at checkpoints and assist with tracking operations. Their efforts have resulted in numerous arrests and significant recoveries of illegal wildlife products, including over 175 kilograms of bushmeat and multiple firearms. Looking ahead, the program aims to expand the dogs' detection capabilities to include rhino horn and Zambia’s rare Mukula wood, further strengthening anti-poaching efforts in the region.


    Show Notes:

    00:03:46 - From Polo to Elephant Training: A Family's Journey

    00:07:09 - Elephant Conservation and Canine Anti-Poaching Programs

    00:10:16 - Detection and Tracking: Canine Anti-Poaching Capabilities

    00:12:23 - Challenges of Conservation Dog Training in Africa

    00:18:42 - Patrolling the Periphery: Combating Poaching in Africa

    00:21:14 - Encounters with Poachers in the Miombo Woodland

    00:24:23 - Tracking Poachers Through Rugged Terrain

    00:27:28 - Tracking Animals for Conservation

    00:30:51 - Protecting Wildlife and Communities in Lower Zambezi

    00:34:41 - Protecting the Zambezi River and Wildlife

    00:36:18 - Promoting Environmental Education and Community Empowerment


    • Follow the adventures and interviews in real time at TrailLessTraveled.net and be sure to check out our visual series on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
    • The radio version of the show premieres Sunday nights at 6 MST, streaming live online at Trail1033.com & locally (Missoula) on the Trail 103.3 FM
    • Why listen to the radio version instead of the podcast? Well, because the radio version includes music selected by the folks we interview!
    • Please help us keep the podcast ad free by donating $3/month via PATREON. We really need your help, as of right now we are only brining in $79/month in donations.


    #travelpodcast #adventurepodcast #conservationpodcast #podcast #conservation #storytelling #adventure #travel #traillesstraveled #adventuretravel #zambia #resolvewildlife #lowerzambezi #conservationlowerzambezi #elephantconservation #dogtraining #antipoaching #k9training

    Get bonus content on Patreon

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show more Show less
    42 mins
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