Episode 37 – 8 decades of Adventuring with Purpose. Of fear and courage with John Blashford-Snell

In this episode, we explore the extraordinary life and adventures of John Blashford Snell, a true adventurer with over 90 years of experience, who has pioneered projects from expeditions on the Blue Nile to environmental innovations in plastic waste. Gain insight into the core principles of adventure and leadership, including team selection, choosing remote and meaningful areas, safety considerations, and maintaining affordability. John shares stories from his encounters with wild animals, interactions with global leaders like Haile Selassie, and lessons learned about courage and fear. Discover how his military experience evolved into inspiring young generations through Operation Drake, Rally International, and ongoing expeditions for environmental and social impact. Learn about practical tools like splash maps that aid exploration, and how to develop a mindset focused on adventure with purpose. Find inspiration in John’s five adventure habits: thoughtful team selection, choosing interesting areas, engaging meaningful tasks, prioritizing safety, and managing costs. Upcoming events: the 50th anniversary celebration of Operation Drake and Rally, and opportunities to meet John at the Armchair Adventure Festival 2026. Final takeaway: adventure is about exploration with a purpose—shaping resilient, compassionate individuals and contributing positively to the planet. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introducing John Blashford Snell and his adventuring legacy 00:36 - Early influences: family and scouting in New Zealand 01:21 - How adventuring became a career: military service and expeditions 02:22 - The transition from military expeditions to inspiring youth initiatives 03:14 - Stories of adventurous school runs by horseback in New Zealand 04:05 - John's military career and adventures in active service 05:26 - Leading overseas expeditions and inspiring future leaders 06:49 - From military expeditions to global environmental projects 07:29 - Operation Drake and Rally: empowering young explorers around the world 08:14 - The scale and impact of Operation Rally and its continuation 09:44 - Developing leadership and environmental awareness through expeditions 11:29 - Reflecting on John's legacy and his books—'Upmost East to Upmost West' 12:27 - Upcoming appearances and the Armchair Adventure Festival 14:21 - Recent projects in Costa Rica involving recycled plastic for environmental conservation 15:39 - Continuing adventures and upcoming expeditions 16:01 - Opportunities to join and support explorations through the Scientific Exploration Society 17:07 - Funding and grants for expeditions and the importance of exploration with purpose 18:16 - The Ecological focus of John’s expeditions and community involvement 19:16 - The importance of team selection, area choice, and adventure safety 20:22 - Handling the costs of expeditions and sponsorship considerations 21:00 - Recruitment: testing and selecting team members with adventurous qualities 23:00 - Developing courage through controlled exposure to fear and wild animals 24:51 - Fascinating animal encounters: snakes, gorillas, and lions 27:32 - The role of fear and courage in adventure – working with challenging situations 29:23 - Memorable stories from Ethiopia and interactions with royalty and wild animals 30:56 - Coming to the Armchair Adventure Festival and encouraging participation 31:39 - Summary of John’s five core adventure habits 32:00 - Using splash maps for exploration and environmental surveys 33:14 - John’s ongoing conservation work and how products like maps assist exploration 33:32 - Final farewell and encouragement for adventurers with purpose​