In the world of small boat cruising, few names carry the weight and admiration of John Welsford . Based in New Zealand, John is known for crafting small boat designs that are not only beautiful and practical, but also rooted in real-life adventure and safety. In this first of a two-part podcast interview, John joins us to share the story behind his career and the boats that have inspired so many to take to the water. John talks about how he first got into designing boats, long before the SCAMP ever hit the water. His background offers valuable insight into how his designs evolved—and why safety, stability, and seaworthiness are always top priorities in his work. Of course, we couldn’t talk to John without diving into the creation of the SCAMP (Small Craft Advisor Magazine Project) —a design that’s become a cult favorite among home builders and NanoCruisers alike. He shares the behind-the-scenes of how SCAMP came to life and why it continues to resonate with such a broad spectrum of s...
What happens when you step away from the pace of modern life and surrender to the rhythms of nature? In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with filmmaker, author, and adventurer Dianne Whelan , whose deeply moving and award-winning film 500 Days in the Wild chronicles her six-year journey along the entire 24,000 km Trans Canada Trail — from the Atlantic to the Pacific and up to the Arctic Ocean. But this isn’t your average endurance story. Yes, she paddled vast stretches of water by canoe, hiked thousands of kilometers, and endured some of the most remote and wild landscapes on Earth. But the real story is about listening . Listening to the land. To Indigenous elders. To her own shifting sense of purpose. It’s a story of reconnection — with the Earth, with others, and with herself. In our conversation, Dianne shares: How she discovered canoeing — and how it became central to her connection with nature Her shift from seeing the journey as an athletic expedition to a s...