The Adventure Story Podcast: For lovers of Adventure, Archaeology, and Historical Mysteries. cover art

The Adventure Story Podcast: For lovers of Adventure, Archaeology, and Historical Mysteries.

The Adventure Story Podcast: For lovers of Adventure, Archaeology, and Historical Mysteries.

By: Luke Richardson
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Ever wonder really lies beneath the Great Sphinx? What secrets are hidden in Tesla’s lost notebooks? And seriously, where did they put the Ark of the Covenant? Hey, I’m Luke and spend my time writing adventure novels and daydreaming about ancient mysteries (Probably 30% writing, 70% daydreaming). The Adventure Story Podcast is my excuse to talk with the dreamers and the doers of adventure—those who craft epic quests from their laptops, and real-world explorers who laugh in the face of GPS. Plus, I'll share some of the misadventures that inspired my books and look back on some of the classic adventure stories we all know and love. Each episode is part Indiana Jones, part behind-the-scenes adventure novel, and part late-night conspiracy session—but with better jokes and less tin foil. *Disclaimer: This podcast is based on true events. Maybe. Possibly. Okay, probably not. But that's half the fun. For fictional international adventures, check out my books: https://www.lukerichardsonauthor.com/ I’m also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lukerichardsonauthor/ Or email: hello@lukerichardsonauthor.comCopyright 2026 Luke Richardson Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary World
Episodes
  • The Derinkuyu Mystery with Chris Fox

    The Derinkuyu Mystery with Chris Fox
    May 27 2026
    What if entire cities once existed beneath our feet… and we still don’t fully understand why?In this episode, I’m joined by bestselling author Chris Fox to explore one of the most fascinating real-world mysteries: the vast underground cities of Cappadocia, Turkey. Hidden for centuries and capable of housing thousands of people, these subterranean worlds raise some big questions about our past.We dive into how these cities actually worked, from sophisticated ventilation systems and food storage to hidden passageways linking entire underground networks. What was it really like to live there? And how were these spaces sustained for extended periods?Then we zoom out to the bigger mystery: why were they built at all? Were they simply defensive refuges, or evidence of something far more significant? Something larger… possibly even global?Chris brings his worldbuilding perspective into the conversation, connecting ancient myths, religious narratives, and modern science. We explore recurring patterns across civilizations, the idea of lost knowledge, and why these mysteries continue to resonate today.He also shares how these concepts shape his own writing, blending real history with “what if” scenarios to create stories that feel both grounded and expansive.If you’re fascinated by ancient mysteries, hidden worlds, and the possibility that history is more incomplete than we realize, this episode is for you!In This Episode, We Explore:Underground cities challenge what we think we know about ancient civilizations – their scale, complexity, and engineering suggest a level of planning far beyond simple survival.Myths and history often overlap – recurring stories across cultures may point to shared events or lost knowledge from the distant past.Worldbuilding starts with asking the right questions – exploring how people live, survive, and adapting brings both fiction and history to life.The unknown is what makes these stories compelling – unanswered questions and missing pieces are what keep us searching.Ancient ideas can still feel relevant today – from survival strategies to theories about human potential; the past often mirrors the present in unexpected ways.Start Chris' Mitch Dinkle series HEREEpisode Timestamps02:16 - What is Derinkuyu?04:06 - Myths Ice Age Theory06:03 - Astronomy and Cataclysm Warning08:10 - Life Inside the City10:19 - Underground Network of Cities12:56 - Global Myths Patterns14:50 - Ancient Connections Across Cultures16:16 - Fictional Treasure and Pharaoh Gene18:12 - Modern Science Ancient Powers20:04 - Origin Story Mazda and Ahura MazdaLinks Referenced in This Episode:Chris' WebsiteGot a Story Idea?If you have a mystery, legend, or adventure you’d like me to explore, drop a comment or email me at hello@lukerichardsonauthor.com. I’d love to hear from you!Join the Adventure Society!Need more adventure in your life? (And let’s be honest, who doesn’t?) Join The Adventure Society, my weekly newsletter, where I share real-world explorations, book updates, and exclusive podcast insights. Sign up at:LukeRichardsonAuthor.com/AdventureSocietyGet a Free Adventure Thriller!A missing Picasso... A master thief... A thrilling race against time!When a priceless Picasso disappears in Paris, legendary thief Bernard Moreau is the prime suspect. But as two unlikely allies—Eden Black and Adriana Villa—hunt him down, the chase turns deadly. It’s a race through the shadowed streets of Paris, where every twist is as unpredictable as the city itself.Grab your FREE COPY of The Paris Heist here:LukeRichardsonAuthor.com/ParisLove Adventure Stories?If you enjoyed today’s episode, you’ll love my books—fast-paced thrillers packed with action, history, and mystery.Check them out at LukeRichardsonAuthor.comThanks for tuning in! See you in the next episode of The Adventure Story Podcast. 🏆🎙
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    23 mins
  • Inside Riga: History, Culture and Hidden Gems with Lelde Benke-Lungevica

    Inside Riga: History, Culture and Hidden Gems with Lelde Benke-Lungevica
    May 20 2026
    Every place has a story. Sometimes it's hidden. Other times it's right there in the architecture, the statues, the streets — you can even feel it in the air.Riga was one of those places for me. I visited in 2020 during a brief break in the lockdowns, and the city stayed with me — shaped by empires, conflict, and culture, with history sitting just beneath the surface. It eventually became the setting for my novel Riga Rising.But today we're going beyond first impressions, and exploring the city through the eyes of someone who actually lives it."No matter the things that the city goes through — the wars, the fires — it manages to find a way to rebuild itself back stronger and better. That's the word I'd use: resilient."Lelde Benke-Lungevica is an Australian-born Latvian writer and tour guide based in Riga. She first moved to the city at seven, left at 18, spent years studying and working in Scotland, Belgium and Canada, then returned home in her mid-20s. Through her blog LifeinRiga.com, she explores the city's history, culture and hidden corners — not as a visitor, but as someone constantly navigating belonging and identity.My book, Riga Rising, which was inspired by my time in Riga is available now in ebook, paperback, and audiobook wherever books are sold.In this episodeWhat makes Riga feel different — its DIY spirit, resilience, and grassroots energyThe city's architectural layers, from 13th-century old town to Art Nouveau to Soviet-era buildingsThe hidden gems visitors miss — Pārdaugava, the National Library, and Agenskalns MarketDay trips beyond the city: Sigulda, the "Switzerland of Latvia", and forests that go on foreverTruly Latvian food — grey peas with bacon, and the surprising German and Slavic influences on local cuisineWhat it felt like to return home after years abroad — and the "reverse culture shock" that came with itWhy Riga's still-developing status is an opportunity, not a drawbackThe books that first sparked Lelde's imagination: Enid Blyton's Famous Five and Secret IslandLinks & resourcesLife in Riga — Lelde's blog: lifeinriga.comLuke Richardson — books & more: lukerichardsonauthor.comGot a Story Idea?If you have a mystery, legend, or adventure you’d like me to explore, drop a comment or email me at hello@lukerichardsonauthor.com. I’d love to hear from you!Join the Adventure Society!Need more adventure in your life? (And let’s be honest, who doesn’t?) Join The Adventure Society, my weekly newsletter, where I share real-world explorations, book updates, and exclusive podcast insights. Sign up at:LukeRichardsonAuthor.com/AdventureSocietyGet a Free Adventure Thriller!A missing Picasso... A master thief... A thrilling race against time!When a priceless Picasso disappears in Paris, legendary thief Bernard Moreau is the prime suspect. But as two unlikely allies—Eden Black and Adriana Villa—hunt him down, the chase turns deadly. It’s a race through the shadowed streets of Paris, where every twist is as unpredictable as the city itself.Grab your FREE COPY of The Paris Heist here:LukeRichardsonAuthor.com/ParisLove Adventure Stories?If you enjoyed today’s episode, you’ll love my books—fast-paced thrillers packed with action, history, and mystery.Check them out at LukeRichardsonAuthor.comThanks for tuning in! See you in the next episode of The Adventure Story Podcast. 🏆🎙
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    37 mins
  • Spies, Smugglers and Misfits: The Lawless History of Tangier with Sean McLachlan

    Spies, Smugglers and Misfits: The Lawless History of Tangier with Sean McLachlan
    May 13 2026
    What makes a city the perfect setting for an adventure story?Imagine a city where a spy could disappear into a medieval medina, where ancient ruins sit in the shadow of colonial mansions, and where two continents seem to tug at the air around you.That city is Tangier and in this episode, archaeologist and writer Sean McLachlan brings it to life.Sean has spent months at a time there researching his Moroccan Mysteries series, and he knows the city the way a detective knows a crime scene: layer by layer. We go from its days as a lawless international zone, governed simultaneously by France, Spain, Britain, Belgium, and Italy, to the modern port city it's become, unpacking what made it such a gift to writers of adventure fiction.The history alone reads like a novel. Drugs and homosexuality were legal when banned almost everywhere else. Anti-Franco republicans shared streets with former Nazis. Rival cafés in the Petit Socco were known to throw glasses at each other across the square. And in the antique shops today, you can still find 1950s police arrest records filled out in triplicate: English, French, and Spanish.If you're drawn to cities where history hasn't quite been cleaned up, this one's for you.Check out Sean's Moroccan Mystery series HEREIn This Episode, We Explore:Geography as character – Tangier sits between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, 14km from Spain. That proximity has shaped everything from its languages to its smuggling routes.The international zone experiment – from 1924 to 1956, multiple world powers co-governed Tangier under a legal framework so permissive it became one of the wildest cities in Africa.Espionage as backdrop – Cold War fears of Soviet influence south of the Strait of Gibraltar meant spies were everywhere, and the French and Spanish were quietly rooting for Moroccan independence to keep the Russians out.Layered architecture, layered identity – the Casbah, the Medina, colonial mansions on the Marshan ridge, and now Gulf Arab palaces where Europeans once lived.Real objects, real stories – from glass plate negatives found in a dusty box to 1950s police records pulled from antique shops, Tangier hands you material that fiction can't fully invent.Why authentic setting elevates fiction – when your readers can feel that you know where every street turns and why every cafe has a political leaning, the story earns its credibility.Episode Timestamps01:46 – A City Between Two Continents (and why 14km matters)03:52 – The International Zone: How Six Countries Co-Governed One City06:49 – Spies, Smugglers, and the Police Chief Who Learned to Look the Other Way12:36 – People, Politics, and the Question of Who Gets to Be Moroccan15:47 – Modern Tangier: Africa's Largest Port and a City Being Rediscovered17:26 – Antique Shops, Glass Plate Negatives, and What History Leaves Behind21:05 – Books That Capture the Real Tangier23:42 – The Moroccan Mysteries: A Communist Detective Who Stole a Bank CaseLinks Referenced in This Episode:Sean's WebsiteGot a Story Idea?If you have a mystery, legend, or adventure you’d like me to explore, drop a comment or email me at hello@lukerichardsonauthor.com. I’d love to hear from you!Join the Adventure Society!Need more adventure in your life? (And let’s be honest, who doesn’t?) Join The Adventure Society, my weekly newsletter, where I share real-world explorations, book updates, and exclusive podcast insights. Sign up at:LukeRichardsonAuthor.com/AdventureSocietyGet a Free Adventure Thriller!A missing Picasso... A master thief... A thrilling race against time!When a priceless Picasso disappears in Paris, legendary thief Bernard Moreau is the prime suspect. But as two unlikely allies—Eden Black and Adriana Villa—hunt him down, the chase turns deadly. It’s a race through the shadowed streets of Paris, where every twist is as unpredictable as the city itself.Grab your FREE COPY of The Paris Heist here:LukeRichardsonAuthor.com/ParisLove Adventure Stories?If you enjoyed today’s episode, you’ll love my books—fast-paced thrillers packed with action, history, and mystery.Check them out at LukeRichardsonAuthor.comThanks for tuning in! See you in the next episode of The Adventure Story Podcast. 🏆🎙
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
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