The XOVERLAND Podcast

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Cyrus (18 years old), Ryder (15 years old), and Eli (13 years old) had the experience of a lifetime overlanding through southern Africa with the XOVERLAND Team. What was it like to see this part of the world through the eyes of a teenager? The boys chat all about their highest and lowest moments of the trip. Watch this podcast here!

Richard and Ashley Giordano (Desk to Glory) have been around the block with the XOVERLAND Team. In our most recent series, Season 6: Africa, the Giordanos joined the Croft family on a 60-plus-day journey around southern Africa. This expedition took the team through South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia. Ashley was our navigator for the 10,000km trip, while Richard chased the team around as a camera operator. Without the two of them, we wouldn’t have been able to tell the story of this expedition. At the release of this podcast, Richard and Ashley live on the road in their 2008 Toyota Tundra and are filming their upcoming series for XOVERLAND Network. Watch this episode here!

Is traveling to Africa a bucket list item on your overlanding to-do list? If so, Dr. Jon is the go-to guy to get you, your partner/s, family, or team medically prepared for this adventure of a lifetime. Serving as Team Doctor of the XOVERLAND crew for the Season 4: Return to Alaska Series, Dr. Jon was cherry-picked by XOVERLAND’S Clay Croft, to reprise his role on their first-ever adventure to Africa during the summer of 2024. To prepare for their tour through South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia, Dr. Jon did extensive research to ensure that he and the team were as prepared as possible for whatever medical emergencies might befall the XOVERLAND crew while traveling through the southern region of “The Dark Continent.” Learn about needed vaccinations, malaria prevention, and recommended medical gear and approaches to wilderness medicine to prepare you for overland travel in Africa. PLEASE NOTE: The XOVERLAND Team explored Southern Africa for two months last summer (2024) while filming Season 6: Africa. Dr. Jon supported the team during the first phase of the expedition. This conversation was recorded immediately upon his return to the U.S. to capture his experience and insight while still fresh and front of mind. See Full Show Notes for this Episode HERE. See Video Version of this Episode HERE.

Until recently, vehicle manufacturers didn’t supply off-the-lot options for overlanders, so we’ve adapted by modifying vehicles to suit our needs. Little did we know that Toyota secretly developed the solution we’ve all been waiting for—the Tacoma Trailhunter, a rugged new platform designed for overlanders to “go far.” The latest XOVERLAND series puts Clay’s big ideas together for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the Trailhunter right here in Montana. Join us for six weekly episodes on XOVERLAND Network and YouTube starting February 19, 2024, at 1 pm MST. Want to get started with onX Offroad? Click this link to get 20% off with "xoverland20"! Get a 3 day free trial and watch the Trailhunter Special on the XOVERLAND NETWORK by clicking here! This podcast episode is driven by Mobil 1. To see the VIDEO version of this episode, click HERE. To see the FULL SHOW NOTES for this episode, click HERE.

Since 2010, XOVERLAND founders, Clay & Rachelle Croft, have been traveling the world with a team of adventurers and filmmakers to locations as varied as Central America to Scandinavia. For their most recent overlanding experience, the trailblazing couple took their three boys–Cyrus (18), Ryder (15), and Eli (12)–to Africa with the Expedition Overland team to begin traveling a new continent together as a family–a Croft first. With this groundbreaking series set to release this year (2024), we sit down with Clay and Rachelle to talk Africa. Where did they go? What did they see? (Without giving too much away!) What were some of their biggest challenges and most memorable moments? Join the conversation as we discuss what it looks like to travel through some of the most rugged terrain in the world as a family and experience the surreal moments that can only occur when overlanding in Africa. See Video Version of this Episode HERE! See Full Show Notes for this Episode HERE!

When trying to figure out a plan for your next vacation, are you interested in booking a “tour” or experiencing a real “adventure”? To begin with, maybe you’re wondering exactly what the difference is between the two. Joe Fleming, owner/founder of Bonafide Moto Co. based in Southern Africa is on the show to explain how the ADV motorcycle experiences his clients share with him are more than just a trip or a tour; they are a “bonafide” moto adventure. Hosting riders from around the world in places as extreme as Namibia and India, Joe and his team create unique travel experiences in which challenges and exploring the unknown are the norm. While some have the ability and desire to embark on a years-long, round-the-world overlanding journey by truck or motorcycle, many of us only have a one to two-week window of vacation each year in which we can have a shot of experiencing the adventure of a lifetime. So it’s no surprise that overland tourism is on the rise. “Fly and Drive/Ride” experiences are now available in many parts of the world, and we’re interested in sharing what these look like with our listeners. Clay and Rachelle met Joe Fleming on the XOVERLAND team’s recent trip to Southern Africa. They were impressed by Joe’s enthusiasm for the region, passion for his work, and extensive knowledge of the area, so we decided to feature Joe on our first podcast episode featuring the subject of overland tourism. An American by birth, Joe Fleming moved to South Africa full-time 10 years ago to pursue the love of a special woman. Since then, Joe has fallen deeply in love with Africa, making a whole new life for himself as the owner/operator of an adventure motorcycle touring company. Joe is eager to candidly share what his clients experience on their journeys with him along with his thoughts on how to best prepare for an adventure of a lifetime–wherever you’re headed. See Full Show Notes HERE! See Video Version of this Podcast HERE!

Considered by many in motorsport to be the world’s toughest race, the Dakar Rally is renowned for the extreme off-road challenges it poses for both motorcyclists and drivers alike. Described as not just the biggest Rally Raid in the world, but as “an incomparable human adventure,” this year’s Dakar Rally will last 14 days and take place in Saudi Arabia. So what do the Dakar and overlanding have in common? Why are we talking about the Dakar on the XOVERLAND Podcast? Find out by joining our conversation with moto legend and off-road coach, Jimmy Lewis. Nearly winning the Dakar Rally during his racing career, Jimmy now coaches the top racers in the U.S. to compete in the Dakar. Jimmy’s current student, moto competitor, Ricky Brabec, is the first American ever to win the Dakar. Thankfully for all of us who are not racers, Jimmy is eager to share his expertise in all areas related to riding, driving, and navigating in off-road environments. Course designer of the Rebelle Rally and owner/operator of Jimmy Lewis Off-Road Training, Jimmy has improved the off-road skills of top pro riders and thousands of his amateur students. Get ready to be entertained by Jimmy’s colorful stories of Dakar and beyond while settling into in-depth conversations that will improve your off-road knowledge and skillsets no matter what vehicle you choose to adventure with. See Full Show Notes HERE! See the Video of this Episode HERE!

Many of us in the traveling and outdoor adventure community currently parenting or considering becoming parents wonder about this pivotal question: Can I take my kids out of school to join me on an epic adventure? To help find the answers, the team at XOVERLAND has brought together three guests to serve as a panel of experts who can share their experiences and know-how when it comes to taking your kid out of a conventional school setting so they can hit the road with you and head out on a great adventure. After all, isn’t an overlanding journey a great opportunity to learn? New places, perspectives, cultures, experiences, skills, and knowledge await the traveling adventurer, so why not share that with our children? Our first guest is global overland traveler, XOVERLAND Co-Founder and COO, Rachelle Croft. A mother of three boys, Rachelle has experienced the evolution of seeing her and husband, Clay Croft’s, children go from toddlers to world travelers themselves. The Croft boys have accompanied their parents to Alaska, Scandinavia, and now Africa–all while remaining enrolled in their local public school system. We talk to Rachelle to learn more about how to work with your child’s school to take them on massive adventures that may last weeks or even months. Our second guest, Christine Dehaven of Family.Overland.Adventure, along with her husband Evan DeHaven, has taken her two boys on a three-year full-time overlanding adventure. Taking place at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the DeHavens opted for remote learning to keep their kids enrolled in classes and on the path toward a diploma. Christine explains what this option looks like for travelers and how she has refined the approach to suit the personalities and learning styles of her boys. Finally, we feature Brittany Highland of Hourless Life. Brittany and husband, Eric, have been full-time overlanding since 2014. In 2016, their son, Caspian, was “born to the road” as Brittany describes it. Giving birth in an L.A. hospital, hours later Brittany was back in the family Jeep with Eric and heading toward Mexico to continue on their epic overlanding adventure. Brittany has been teaching Caspian on the road ever since using a unique method of learning known as “Unschooling.” She and Eric plan on continuing along their journey while Caspian grows up and completes the work necessary for his high school diploma. If this is a topic you’ve been curious about, please join us for this unprecedented conversation. We hope that by the time you wrap up listening to this episode, you will have both the knowledge and confidence to go after your most ambitious traveling and adventure dreams without being hamstrung by “school”! See Full Show Notes for this Episode HERE. See Video Version of this Episode HERE.

“Outdoor Recreation Planner” for the BLM (Bureau of Land Management), Erik Lundin, joins us on this episode to discuss all things associated with recreating and adventuring on BLM lands. Whether overlanding, fishing or hunting, bicycling, heading out on horseback, riding motorcycles, river running, or studying songbirds, Erik will help us answer fundamental questions like these: Where can I camp? Is this trail open or closed? What do I do with my poop? Can I have a campfire here? Erik takes joy in providing clear, actionable answers to these questions and more so that all of us recreating and adventuring BLM lands can do so confidently. In this episode, Erik further shares how to discover the best recreational opportunities on BLM lands to suit your particular outdoor interests, taking a close look at the BLM’s “Multiple-Use” philosophy and at S.R.M.A.s (Special Recreation Management Areas). Finally, learn how you can volunteer to make a difference in keeping your favorite BLM recreational areas clean, healthy, and open to further public use. See Full Show Notes HERE See Video of this Podcast Episode HERE

What do you get when two guys who grew up knee-deep in the RVing industry decide to build a compact, well-constructed truck camper perfect for vehicle-based adventuring and overlanding? The “Skinny Guy Camper” of course! For this episode, we sit down with Skinny Guy Campers co-founders, Jason Bontrager and Donavon Fredrickson along with Chief Operating Officer and co-owner, Austin Bontrager to discuss what it looks like to take your dream for an innovative product from an idea to a manufactured reality. The grandson of Jayco RV founder, Lloyd Bontrager, Jason knows a thing or two about RVs but his passion has always been for remote, overland-style camping far away from parking lots and established campgrounds. The son of the owner of one of Jayco’s most successful dealerships, Donavon Fredrickson (aka “Skinny Guy”) has always shared the same passion. That’s why these two teamed up to build an all-new truck camper concept manifested in the “Skinny Guy Camper.” Along with telling the story of the business they built, these two and Austin share details about the SGC that make it unique to the degree of having its own patent. An R.V.I.A. (Recreational Vehicle Industry Association) certification, a patented jack system, the ability to fit on nearly any pickup platform–and even a flushable toilet? Somehow, this team has found a way to make it happen. It’s been far from easy though, and Donavon, Jason, and Austin still face new challenges every day as they press on to bridge the gap between the amenities of an RV and the rugged reliability of a compact overlanding platform. See Full Show Notes HERE! Watch the Video HERE!

For this episode, Jimmy & Leah sit down for an expansive conversation with MAK (Mary Ashley Krogh) and Owen of Bound for Nowhere. MAK & Owen share the details of how they became close friends with other traveling creatives like Karissa & Linhbergh of gondirtin and Chase & Aimee Bartee of Tight Loops Fly, and we discuss the unique qualities of the overland travel community. Then jump in with us for a very deep dive into MAK & Owen’s particular traveling philosophy and how it manifests itself within their work featured in the content of Bound for Nowhere. Finally, enjoy catching a glimpse of what’s next for this adventure-artist couple, learn how they have fun and stay safe on the road, and find time for activities like journaling, photography, hiking, and other activities while full-time traveling. See Full Shownotes HERE! Watch the Video of this Podcast Episode HERE!

What is it like to go from being successful L.A. professionals living in the suburbs with two kids to being full-time family overlanders traveling out of a beautifully restored 1972 Ford Bronco on the adventure of a lifetime? Find out in this epic episode featuring Christine & Evan DeHaven of Family Overland Adventure. After pushing hard to become successful in the highly competitive media environment of Los Angeles, California, the DeHavens realized that what they had worked so hard to achieve left them lacking connection as a couple and a family. They decided that the answer was a new family challenge: a life of full-time family overlanding. So working together with their two sons, they made a family decision to sell their house and hit the road. Throughout this episode, we hear of their adventures as they traveled from the southern-most tip of Baja to the shores of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, learn about their decision to pivot from the Bronco to their 2016 Toyota Tundra, and discover why after three years of full-time overlanding they decided to settle down in Bozeman, Montana. See what there is to discover from the triumphs and challenges of thousands of miles and more than three years of family overland adventure in this unique story told by the DeHavens! This podcast is brought to you by onX Offroad! See Full Show Notes HERE! See Video Version of this Podcast HERE!

XOVERLAND CEO, Clay Croft, jumps in as host for this special episode with photographer/social media influencer, Chris Burkard. Chris and Clay share a common bond through a life of making media around the adventures they pursue. We connect with Chris from his home in Iceland, where he and his family enjoy a life of fresh experiences both cultural and physical as Chris pursues next-level photographic journeys into the island nation’s most remote and extreme environments. Throughout their conversation, Clay and Chris discuss their experiences in Iceland, their origin stories as adventure-photographer/filmmakers, and the role overlanding vehicles play in their lives. The two further discuss fatherhood and parenting, the hard and challenging road to success, mentorship, and the wisdom they have learned along the way. Join in for a conversation in which you are sure to find inspiration and a few pro tips to success no matter what you have your sights set upon. See Full Show Notes HERE Watch the Video Version of this Podcast Episode HERE

We sit down with Brad Kowitz of TrailRecon to discuss how to get started driving more technical, 4WD-themed “trails.” What we’re thinking here is that there may be people who have traveled the entire length of the Pan-American Highway but have never considered attempting a challenging 4WD trail in the U.S. like the Rubicon, Magruder, or Colorado’s famous Black Bear or Imogene Passes. We decided to reach out to Brad to help all who can relate get started down the trail! Brad jumps right in to share what he has learned about taking a variety of 4WD vehicles into America’s backcountry, from fully-built Jeeps to Sprinter Vans, offering tips on how to have fun getting started safely and responsibly. To dig further into this topic, we explore the oft-underrated capabilities of O.E.M. vehicles and why it’s important to get to know your vehicle as it is before jumping into extensive modifications and accessorizing. Listen in as Brad defines what a “trail” is, exactly, and what you can learn from how the U.S.F.S. identifies the roads it manages throughout our national forests. You will learn how to find trails in your area to get started on, off-road communities to learn from, and classes and courses you can take to improve your off-road driving skills. We also chat a bit about the popular “BDRs” (Backcountry Discovery Routes) now found in the U.S., and how these can be a great opportunity for those interested in getting started in vehicle-based, off-road adventure. Finally, Brad has some fun sharing some harrowing stories of his own adventures and misadventures along his path toward becoming an experienced off-roader and why he has come to push back against peer pressure when it comes to choosing his trails. Whether you’re an experienced off-roader looking to get more into overland-style wheeling or an experienced overlander excited about hitting up more technical 4WD trails, you will find something of value in this episode with Brad Kowitz, who has found a happy middle ground within these two pursuits. See Full Show Notes HERE! Watch the Video Version of this Podcast Episode HERE!

This is one of our most extended and complex episodes to date–and for good reason. We have Rebelle Rally founder, Emily Miller, on the podcast for the first time and she has volumes of information to share about navigation, the Rebelle Rally, and driving skills, along with crazy stories about her experiences designing the Rebelle course with the likes of off-road motorcycling legend, Jimmy Lewis. An expert in navigation, Emily provides our listeners with insight and knowledge gained through study and hard-earned experience in various forms of navigation, from traditional paper-and-compass methods to state-of-the-art GPS. Join the conversation, as Emily explains her holistic philosophy when it comes to navigation and teaches proven, race-winning strategies for reading terrain and using primitive and modern navigation tools to find one’s way across remote landscapes efficiently and effectively. In this special episode, we also learn all about the Rebelle Rally: Where is it held? Who can participate? What vehicles are allowed to enter the rally? Emily answers these questions and more about the first and only navigation-based rally to be held within the U.S. Emily also explains the top-secret, “classified” nature of planning the Rebelle Rally and how this has put her and her colleagues into some extreme behind-the-scenes situations. Listen in as she shares some of her best stories, including camping at the epicenter of an earthquake that registered a 7.2 on the Richter scale!😬 And if you’re interested in improving your off-road driving skills, Emily has some pro tips and suggestions. A protege of one of the most famous figures in off-road racing, Rod Hall, Emily has insight and knowledge gained through both study and experience. This is an episode with one of the world’s greatest trailblazers creating pathways not only to empower women interested in discovering the joys of off-road driving but also anyone who is interested in challenging themselves in this increasingly popular outdoor pursuit. See Full Show Notes HERE! Watch the Video Version of this Podcast Episode HERE!

Join us for our best episode yet on auxiliary power with our incredibly knowledgeable yet highly entertaining guest from Down Under, Mark Bruce, manager of International Training and Development at REDARC Electronics. Do you have lots of questions about auxiliary power systems for your vehicle, be it an overland vehicle, hunting rig, van, or even a small R.V.? Have you wondered about the pros and cons of lithium batteries, how solar power functions, and whether a mobile or “house” auxiliary power system is right for you? To get answers to these questions and much more, we reached overseas to record this episode with Mark Bruce of REDARC Electronics in Australia. REDARC is a leading manufacturer of extremely rugged and reliable mobile power systems for everything from overland vehicles to sailboats and their equipment represents the state-of-the-art in this industry. What are “Amp-hours” (Ah), watts, volts, and charge controllers, and how do they function in an auxiliary power system? Mark defines these terms and provides us with the math we need to figure out our own unique power needs and how to effectively meet these needs in a variety of climates and conditions by optimizing our vehicle’s auxiliary power system. Will solar panels work when it’s cloudy? Do I need to worry about my starting battery dying if I am running a powered refrigerator? Will lithium batteries function effectively in cold climates? Can gas or diesel generators be useful? The questions just keep coming and Mark keeps up, providing us with the information and insight we need to build the most efficient auxiliary power systems for our vehicles, whether we’re overlanding or weekend camping. See Full Show Notes HERE! Watch the Video Version of this Episode on the XOVERLAND Network HERE!

Chase and Aimee Bartee are extremely hard-working filmmakers with a passion for fly fishing, overlanding, and conserving the beautiful and wild country they love. The story of the Bartees is the story of two artists pursuing an uncompromising path toward their artistic vision. Finding success with their first film Journey On, the couple has developed a devoted YouTube following on their channel, Tight Loops, and received critical acclaim for their wilderness expeditionary film, Big Land. Their most recent project, For Wild’s Sake: The Rare Trout Chronicles, showcases their unique, cinematic blend of entertainment, education, and inspiration. We sit down with Chase and Aimee at the XOVERLAND hangar to discuss their philosophy as artists, current projects, adventures in their 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia Weekender Van, and transition to a 2023 Toyota Tundra featuring a Four Wheel Camper Hawk. Our discussion features everything from harrowing tales of Baja adventure to approaches to minimizing our impact on the outdoor environments and resources we cherish. We hope you enjoy our conversation with the very talented couple, Chase and Aimee Bartee of Tight Loops! This podcast is brought to you by onX Offroad! Read the show notes here! Watch this podcast here!

It’s one thing to head out camping and traveling for a few days, a few weeks, or even a few months, but what about heading out on a 15-year full-time overland adventure around the world while raising your newborn child? Enter the world of Eric and Brittany Highland of Hourless Life. Eager to spend more time together after inhabiting the world of professional marketing, Eric and Brittany purchased a Jeep Gladiator they dubbed “Dauntless,” outfitted it with a solid kit of overlanding gear, and began their multiyear journey throughout the globe. Their son, Caspian, was literally “born to the road” as Brittany puts it, as she left the maternity ward in the U.S. and immediately jumped into the Jeep with Eric to begin their adventure into Mexico. Talking with Eric and Brittany is a revelation into the gritty and sometimes very challenging realities of overland travel. In this episode, the couple shares what life looks like on the daily as they travel throughout Latin America en route to Ushuaia. This unforgettable conversation explores everything from misconceptions about Mexico, to potty training along the Pan-American Highway, along with a close look into the cultural differences between Latin America and the U.S. Whether you enjoy domestic overland travel within the U.S. or have your sights set on a R.T.W. (Round-the-World) journey, there is over a decade’s worth of full-time travel to learn from packed into this lively and candid conversation. This podcast is brought to you by onX Offroad! Read the full show notes here! Watch this podcast here!

What happens when two podcast hosts who spend most of their time talking about overland adventure head out on their own separate journeys? Find out in this authentic and insightful episode that is not without its share of humorous stories shared by our hosts. Jimmy and Leah have been hosting overlanding experts, insiders, and influencers for over a year now. Grateful and inspired by what they have learned, they are eager to set out on their own journeys to see what they can accomplish. Just having returned from their biggest and most adventurous overland experiences to date, the two confess their shortcomings while offering tips and insights gained from their travels. Self-evaluating in the areas of navigation, packing, gear prep, and vehicle builds, Leah and Jimmy have fun recounting their wins and losses. With Jimmy aboard his adventure motorcycle and Leah traveling in her Toyota Tundra-Four Wheel Camper outfit, the two have extremely different yet surprisingly similar experiences and offer a smorgasbord of information to listeners joining in on this unique conversation. Read the full show notes here! Watch this podcast here!