Look Near First

Alastair Humphreys has written books about his epic, worldwide adventures, which included cycling around the world, walking across India and rowing across the Atlantic Ocean. But more recently, he has turned his attention much, much closer to home and, not being someone to do things by halves, he has taken 'local' to an extreme.In this episode, we explore some of the reasons behind the switch, and more importantly, how those local adventures compare to the global-scale ones. What has he discovered about what it means, and what it takes, to have a great adventure?Alastair's books, blog and more can be found at alastairhumphreys.com

Inspired by John Ruskin's example (see part 1 in the previous episode), I was keen to get out on a nature walk with my sketch pad. But at this time, I met Silvie Hibdon, a co-fellow in Cohort 8 of the Climatebase course, has set up the non-profit organisation 'Arts Humanitas', and is leading the organisation of the San Francisco biennale in art, nature and ecology. She is knowledgable and passionate about how art can connect us to the natural world, and foster a desire to protect it.This episode features my conversation with Silvie, in which she gives me advice in not only the practicalities, but also in getting over my inhibitions over trying to draw anything in a public place!Find Silvie's project at arthumanitas.org

John Ruskin is a fascinating figure from the 19th century. He wished for a fairer society, and advocated strongly for social reform. He was also concerned by what he recognised as harmful effects of the industrial revolution - not only seeing how the emissions might harm the environment, but how the ever-increasing pace of life could inhibit us from really seeing and appreciating the wonder and beauty in nature and art.In this episode, I talk with Howard Hull, the director and curator of Brantwood, the beautiful house which was home to John Ruskin throughout the second half of his life. I ask what Ruskin might have taught me, if I had attended one of his drawing classes at the Working Men's College in the 1850s, as well as more of Ruskin's views on society and how we live our lives, which are possibly even more relevant now than they were when he was alive.https://www.brantwood.org.uk/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/aug/30/john-ruskin-artists-victorian-social-critic

Olivia Stamp is a writer and project builder committed to unleashing our collective intelligence and imagination to create a future we actually want to live in. A couple of years ago she left her comfortable life in London to embark on a more adventurous life - adventures of the kind that arise from breaking away from societal expectations and trappings, and finding communities and ways of living which treat our planet more as home to cherish than as a commodity to consume. Part of this is her project, 'Learning to Love Where We Live', which is all about finding adventure, meaning and love exactly where we are.Find Olivia's project at learningtolovewherewelive.com...and Look Near First at looknearfirst.com