Podcasts that Inspire: The First Mile by Pip Stewart and Ash Bhardwaj
Words: Tom Warburton
The First Mile is an immersive travel podcast, bringing you untold stories of adventure.
Pip Stewart is a record-breaking explorer. Alongside cycling halfway around the world, she has undergone expeditions to document the devastating effect deforestation has on indigenous communities. Notably, including the world-first journey down the worlds third-largest river “The Essequibo”.
Pip joins Ash Bhardwaj, a travel writer for the Telegraph. Ash has braved the KGB, walked thousands of miles through unforgiving landscapes and retraced the footsteps of daring WW2 missions and SAS operations.
The First Mile is available via Apple and Google podcast sites. This podcast series gives the listener an immersive experience, allowing the audience to feel part of the story.
Starting off the series is a captivating episode with acclaimed travel writer Monisha Rajesh. Monisha went from redundancy to railways. After leaving her job she explored the beauty of Indian railways, eventually leading to her bestselling book “Around India in 80 Trains.”
Monisha who also touches on the importance of diversity in travel. A subject so often ignored in the travel industry. Monisha demonstrates a very poignant point, there were no travel writers from diverse backgrounds when she was growing up. The narratives being solely from male middle-aged white men. This adds to dilemmas that subsequently fail to get raised. Namely Monisha’s experiences on Russian trains.
Monisha also covers the angle of travelling with kids. Bringing up this discussion opens up the sphere to a wider audience. So often podcasts are exclusive, drawing in figures from narrow and restricted fields of adventure only a select few could ever undertake.
The second episode of the series sees us unravel famed explorer Levison’s Wood fascinating story to stardom. Having been University friends the narrative between Ash and Levison flows naturally, almost in a giddy manner, less like an interview but two friends catching up after lockdown.
The bond between Ash and Lev allows the audience to understand the inner workings of perhaps Britain’s biggest name, the podcast is recorded in Ash’s living room, which invites you into a deeper understanding of Lev's desire for travel and the funny quirky stories that make him loved by so many.
It’s hard to stop the pair getting carried away, almost as if they are in the pub, not a podcast. The interesting core to this podcast series is the “The First Mile” what many people would call the hardest, this theme allows us to get a greater understanding of how and why the biggest names in UK travel and adventure do what they do.
The First Mile plays a key part in Levison Woods’s story, after a precarious event on a ranch in Mexico caused an unexpected end to his military career. It was his sheer determination and belief of constantly learning new skills, even through some costly mistakes that led Lev to the success he is now.
Episode 3 takes us to the hills of Nepal, Ash’s beautiful descriptions make you feel as if you are there, he expertly paints the picture of trekking through the mountains. If you have travel lust whilst in lockdown, then listening to this episode will give you serious travel envy.
Ash perfectly describes the situation surrounding tourism, the careful balance of the right of the Nepalese to build up and utilise their resources and the over-tourism. The question of how each country deals with the infrastructure surrounding tourism is a difficult one. Tourism is one of the main sources of incomes in Nepal, particularly in the more remote areas. It’s very easy for outsiders to criticise Nepal for catering for tourists through over-development, yet as Ash puts it, The Nepalese have a right to utilise their resources, with tourism being essential for many rural economies in the nation.
Episodes 4 takes us through a captivating journey in the history of the Gurkhas and their long prestigious history fighting as part of the British Army. Ash is joined by Johnny Fenn and Mark Brightwell. The two - ex Gurkha officers provide a fascinating insight into the finer details and nuances of the Brigade of Gurkhas, their rigorous recruitment processes and the brigades place in Nepalese culture.
Episode 5 features explorer Reza Pakravan, many podcasts would follow the typical format, namely interviewing Reza about his latest TV series. Pip and Ash expertly follow a narrative that educates the audience, navigating the often missed territory of how adventurers became so. In Reza’s case, how he was able to completely change career paths from the corporate world to life in adventure. If lockdown has allowed you to reconsider your priorities in life than Reza’s story will interest you.
My only gripe with the podcast is its intro tune, annoyingly catchy, I found myself humming it in the shower, the car and at work to the irk of my colleagues.