Photography by Dan Grec and Michael Fuchs Mad scientists, the Bermuda Triangle, and quicksand. According to Disney movies and cartoons, a person exploring the globe will inevitably have to deal with these from time to time, like it or not. In my personal experience, that has not been the case. Until recently, that is. Thanks…
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Category Archives: Overland Journal
Jen Young on Outdoorsy and the Entrepreneur’s Journey
Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady interviews Outdoorsy co-founder, Jennifer Young, about how her burnout from advertising led her to launch the peer-to-peer vehicle rental marketplace (an “Airbnb of overlanding”) in 2014, growing to 200+ employees. Outdoorsy has expanded into the Outdoorsy Destination Network (campgrounds) and the Roamly insurance business. The platform highlights overlanding’s growth…
Overland Conservation: Tundra
Photography by Coen Wubbels We are called by the wild, the spaces where we can turn 360 degrees without seeing another human, paved road, electric wire, or crop field. At times, though, we misunderstand history while we crave for calm. We begrudge other humans intruding onto land that used to be “undiscovered.” But this is…
BMW 1150 GS Adventure :: Publisher’s Project
It was sometime around 2000 when I walked into the REI store in Phoenix, Arizona, to buy a kayak. What was parked under the entry awning stopped me in my tracks: a bright yellow BMW GS resting on its sidestand, a chunky, knobby tire sticking out onto the sidewalk. I had never seen a big…
The Milestones Expedition: A Three-continent Adventure
Photography by Richard Giordano and Scott Brady The XOverland team has always dreamed big. Their ambitious expeditions and world-class cinematography have resulted in 75 inspiring episodes spanning six continents, telling stories that have changed the lives of countless overlanders. Along the way, they have also changed the lives of their expedition team members by doing…
Cultural Geography, Exploration, and Sustainable Travel with James Fountain
On this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, host Scott Brady welcomes James Fountain, a cultural geographer and fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Explorers Club, to discuss how exploration can support communities and science. Fountain shares how Overland Journal first inspired him, his formative work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo…
Speak Fluent Machine: Preventing and Dealing With a Breakdown
Our friends Chris and Erin Ratay have been traveling for decades. They hold a Guinness World Record for the longest motorcycle journey as a team and, a few years ago, bought a Defender in South Africa and drove it to Europe. Chris has a no-nonsense approach to dealing with vehicle maintenance and breakdowns, and he…
Lessons Learned from Global Expeditions with Clay Croft
In this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, host Scott Brady and his travel partner Clay Croft record from the field in the Central Republic of Congo. They discuss some of their most memorable adventures, including travels through South America and Alaska, and the unique lessons learned from their worldwide expeditions. Clay shares insights on vehicle…
Zenith Irfan on Being the First Pakistani Female Motorcyclist to Ride Across Pakistan
Join Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano as she sits down with Zenith Irfan to discuss the importance of being the first female Pakistani motorcyclist to ride across Pakistan, and how her father’s dream led her to embark on the journey on a 70cc Honda. Zenith also dives into her top tips for visiting the country, including…
Photography 101: Turn Your Landscapes Into Dreamscapes
My headlamp cut the pre-dawn gloom, illuminating the lowland marsh as I hopscotched from grass tuft to grass tuft, avoiding an ankle-soaking plunge along the shoulder of the Río Serrano. It was 4:00 a.m., and the March autumn sun still slumbered behind the Andes. I found the opening to the riverbank I’d scouted the night…
Katie Harris of the Road Chose Me on Blending Human and Vehicle- Powered Adventures
Join Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano as she sits down with Katie Harris of the Road Chose Me to discuss the overlap between human- and vehicle-powered adventure, and her experiences overlanding Australia, Iceland, and Tunisia with her partner, Dan, and daughter, Aurora. Katie dives into the details of hiking the Camino de Santiago with a…
The Golden Age of Overland SUVs Has Arrived
As vehicle-based travelers, we have entered a renaissance for overland vehicles, with capability, capacity (towing in particular), and comfort reaching new heights. The best overland vehicles are constantly morphing with consumer interests and regulatory pressures, but there has never been a better time to choose your next adventure machine. With the growing popularity of overlanding,…
Technology and Innovation in Overlanding
On this episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, hosts Matt Scott and Scott Brady explore the future of overlanding, focusing on new technologies and trends. They highlight portable fridges with hot-swappable batteries (like EcoFlow/Bluetti) that offer extended runtime, device charging, and solar input, potentially eliminating complex dual-battery setups. They also discuss the rise of simpler…
Overland Conservation: Grasslands
Photography by Akela World The Silk Road holds mythical status among historical overland routes. When today’s travelers stalk the shadow of Marco Polo, the respect they earn is not only for their accomplishment but partially because of our awe surrounding the Silk Routes’ history dating back to 130 BCE during China’s Han Dynasty. Yet this…
Adventure Motorcyclist Heather Lea on the Unfiltered Realities of Long-Term Travel
Join Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano as she sits down with adventure motorcyclist, author, and traveler Heather Lea to discuss the realities of long-term travel. Topics include navigating new relationships, complex logistics, the joys and challenges of riding as a woman, and encountering the kindness of strangers along the way. Overland Journal Podcast Episode 281…
The OutFit’s 1975 6×6 Volvo C304 :: Feature Vehicle
Photography by Chris Beight and Ange Feton There’s nothing subtle about the Volvo C304 6×6. Boxy, with clearance for days, and big, square front windows, the vehicle champions Volvo’s design philosophy of clean lines and minimalist aesthetics. Produced between 1974 and 1984, the ex-military truck sports a classic ladder frame, portal axles with leaf springs,…
Saharan Sands to a Global CEO: A leadership Discussion with Rachelle Croft
Rachelle Croft joined Scott Brady on the Overland Journal Podcast to discuss how women’s off-road rallies and international travel have helped shape her leadership and mindset. A veteran of the Rebelle Rally (including a 2019 win, 2020 second-place finish, and returning in 2025 as part of Toyota’s official 4Runner Trailhunter team), she detailed how the…
Easy on the Eyes: The Best Lighting for Every Campsite
The human eye has over 120 million specialized cells dedicated to processing light waves. Called photoreceptors, these cells are commonly known as “rods and cones,” and the shapes determine both how we process color and how we see in dim or bright light. Translating the physical phenomena of light into electrical and chemical signals in…
Roam Overlanding’s Adrian Abrahams on the Importance of Doing Your Overland Homework
Join Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano as she sits down with South African overlander Adrian Abrahams to discuss his love of traveling in Namibia, and how nearly a decade of overlanding has shaped a new 4×4 shop endeavor in Cape Town, South Africa. Adrian also provides practical advice about visiting the country, including destination…
MareBlu Costa Rica :: Overland Conservation
As overlanders, protecting and preserving the open spaces we visit is our obligation. Our rigs carry us to pristine mountains, deserts, and beaches, and we aspire to leave them in better condition than we found them. By nearly all measures, Costa Rica, home to over five million residents, is a tropical paradise. Over the past…