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, formative work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with the United Nations remapping roads, and how cultural geography examines how landscapes shape cultures. They compare happiness and development through examples like Malawi and Bhutan, including Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness and conservation policies, and discuss reducing travel gear and impact. Fountain recounts an ambitious Wakhan Corridor motorcycle journey relying on local generosity, then offers practical guidance on respectful, sustainable travel and citizen science.

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 geography, what to wear, eat, and drink, and what to expect in various regions of Pakistan.