Grasping the Nettles: Dan Smith’s Journey from Soldier to Adventurer

In this inspiring episode of the Team Forces Podcast, we hear from Dan Smith, a British Army veteran who served 13 years in the Royal Artillery and as a Physical Training Instructor. After tours in Afghanistan, Dan left the military to follow his true passion—the outdoors. Today, he runs his own adventure company in Northumberland, helping others step out of their comfort zones. Dan shares stories from his extraordinary expeditions, including his record-setting 998-mile “Paddle Britain” challenge and a solo canoe adventure through Canada’s remote Hess River. He reflects on resilience, facing fear, and why sometimes you simply have to “grasp the nettles.” Links: Dan's Email: [email protected] Dan's Website: https://www.dantheadventureman.co.uk/ Northern Outdoor's Website: https://northernoutdoor.co.uk/ Northern Outdoor's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northoutdoor/?locale=en_GB Find out more about the work that we do on the official Team Forces website: https://teamforces.org/