Category: The Paul Kirtley Podcast

Man sitting on rock, holding lightweight travel 12 gauge shot gun in polar bear country
PK Podcast 59: Stephan Kesting on Life and Death in the Subarctic

PK Podcast 59: Stephan Kesting on Life and Death in the Subarctic

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Stephan Kesting, author of Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic, joins me to discuss a long-planned solo canoe journey through remote northern Canada, which took on extra significance following a life-threatening illness. In this episode, he shares the story behind the trip, the challenges he faced, and the motivations that led him to undertake such an ambitious expedition. We also discuss how his background in biology, firefighting, and martial arts all played a role in shaping both the journey and the lessons that came from it.

Les Stroud, Survivorman, sitting in the middle of a tree
PK Podcast 58: Les Stroud On The Question Of Bigfoot

PK Podcast 58: Les Stroud On The Question Of Bigfoot

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Known to millions around the world as Survivorman, Les is a pioneer of survival television and an icon in the outdoor and survival communities. With his groundbreaking series Survivorman, Les redefined the genre by filming and surviving entirely on his own in remote locations and harsh environments. In 2014 Les began recording a 10-part series on Bigfoot. He says it took him places he did not expect to go and gave him perspectives he did not expect to have. And now he’s coming back for more. It’s an area of backwoods lore and legend he can’t leave alone. He joins me on this podcast to talk about why this is such an area of fascination for him and what questions he hopes to answer in his latest film project…

Swedish man in the forest by a small fire
PK Podcast 57: Mattias Norberg On The Art Of Fire

PK Podcast 57: Mattias Norberg On The Art Of Fire

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Discover the fascinating journey of Mattias Norberg, a leading Swedish expert in fire-making and wilderness survival, as he shares insights from over 25 years of teaching experience. Author of Konsten att Elda (“The Art of Fire”), Mattias has taught survival and firecraft techniques throughout Sweden, from advanced courses in the far north to plant courses in the south. In this podcast episode, we discuss Sweden’s outdoor culture, traditional and modern fire skills, and unique techniques influenced by the Scandinavian environment. Don’t miss this deep dive into the art of fire!

Happy , bearded American man in the woods, leaning against a tree, wearing camouflage pattern jacket and red cap.
PK Podcast 56: Craig Caudill on Nature Reliance, Good Woodsmanship and Traditional Bushcraft

PK Podcast 56: Craig Caudill on Nature Reliance, Good Woodsmanship and Traditional Bushcraft

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Craig Caudill is Director and Lead Instructor of Nature Reliance School, based in Kentucky, USA. Craig has taught backcountry skills for many years. He’s also a seasoned writer, to date being the author of eight books on backcountry skills and knowledge. It was great to finally record an episode of my podcast with Craig as guest, to learn more about his background and teachings. Craig and I actually share some similar philosophies and it was great to riff on these a bit in this episode too…

John Rhyder
PK Podcast 55: John Rhyder – Woodsman, Naturalist, Educator and Senior Tracker

PK Podcast 55: John Rhyder – Woodsman, Naturalist, Educator and Senior Tracker

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This podcast is long overdue. My guest is John Rhyder, naturalist, writer and highly experienced bushcraft educator. Indeed he was the instructor on the first formal bushcraft course I took many, many years ago. John is an innovator in the field of bushcraft and nature education, and continues to push his own knowledge too. In particular, John is passionate about wildlife tracking; he is currently the only person in northern Europe certified as Senior Tracker under the Cybertracker system. There is much to savour in this conversation….

Man staring into distance while riding along on the back of a boat in the wilderness
PK Podcast 54: Dave Holder, Wilderness Living Skills Instructor and TV Survival Consultant

PK Podcast 54: Dave Holder, Wilderness Living Skills Instructor and TV Survival Consultant

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Dave Holder is a wilderness living skills instructor and wilderness guide based in Canada. He is also a TV survival consultant, being the lead survival and safety consultant on the Alone show on The History Channel. In this podcast episode we get into a wide-ranging conversation which should provide you with insights into long-term survival situations, psychological factors for success, skillsets required, equipment, nutrition and more.

Theresa Emmerich Kamper working on a skin
PK Podcast 53: Theresa Emmerich Kamper On Traditional Tanning

PK Podcast 53: Theresa Emmerich Kamper On Traditional Tanning

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Theresa Emmerich Kamper, PhD, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Exeter and author of Determining Prehistoric Skin Processing Technologies, has over 25 years of experience in prehistoric skin tanning and clothing construction. She joins me on this podcast to talk in detail about traditional tanning, prehistoric skin processing, making clothing from skins and furs, and much more. I could probably have called this episode “Everything you wanted to know about tanning but were afraid to ask”….

PK Podcast 52: John Boe On PTSD, Finding Solace In Nature And A New Career In Bushcraft Instruction

PK Podcast 52: John Boe On PTSD, Finding Solace In Nature And A New Career In Bushcraft Instruction

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John Boe is a British military veteran with PTSD. In this podcast episode we have a candid discussion about John’s condition, how it manifested itself and how he came to realise he found solace in time spent in nature, especially in the woods. This ultimately led to a second career as a bushcraft instructor, delivering courses through Wildway Bushcraft, based in the South West of the UK. Having John join me on this podcast was also a good opportunity to discuss aspects of John’s experience in establishing himself as a bushcraft instructor and starting his own bushcraft school, and to draw out some broader lessons for those looking for a pathway in bushcraft instruction.

Cliff Jacobson on expedition
PK Podcast 51: Cliff Jacobson – Skills Are More Important Than Things

PK Podcast 51: Cliff Jacobson – Skills Are More Important Than Things

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Cliff Jacobson is one of North America’s most respected outdoors writers and wilderness canoe guides. He is an outdoor skills instructor and a professional outfitter and guide, a canoeing and camping consultant, and the author of more than a dozen top-selling books on canoeing and camping. In 2003 the American Canoe Association presented Cliff with the Legends of Paddling Award and inducted him into the ACA Hall of Fame. In 2009 Cliff was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award by the Boy Scouts of America. Canoeing, camping and sharing his experience has been a lifelong passion for Cliff. He seems to have paddled every river in North America, certainly in Canada. His wilderness experience is massive and the relevance of the conversation this podcast goes far beyond the context of canoe tripping….

Archive photo of Les Hiddins the Bush Tucker Man
PK Podcast 50: Les Hiddins, The Bush Tucker Man

PK Podcast 50: Les Hiddins, The Bush Tucker Man

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Les Hiddins became well known through his ABC TV series “The Bush Tucker Man”. In 1980 Les had received a Defence Fellowship to research survival in northern Australia and looked heavily into traditional bush foods, with the help and cooperation of Indigenous communities. His work was compiled and used by the Australian military in various forms, including the clever idea of “snack maps”. He was also the principal author of the Australian Army’s military survival manual, published in 1987. Les retired from the Australian Regular Army in 1989 with the rank of Major. In addition to his TV work and writing, he continued to work with the Australian Army Reserve until 2001, working with Indigenous Australian communities in northern Australia. He is still actively researching and sharing his information and we get into this and a whole lot more in this podcast episode….