Explore every episode of the podcast AdventureSmith

Authors Anya Bergman and Ruthvika Rao join Georgina in the final of three episodes dedicated the adventuresmiths shortlisted for the coveted 2026 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. Together they discuss the sense of place needed to transport readers in their armchair on an adventure, and what they've drawn from respective times in their lives living in Ireland and India.

Anya Bergman is the author of The Tarot Reader of Versailles.

Ruthvika Rao is the author of The Fertile Earth.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Authors Elodie Harper and Adam Oyebanji join Georgina in the studio for the second of three episodes dedicated to the much coveted 2026 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. Adam and Elodie share their experiences writing fictional adventures inspired by historical fact, and whether you need to be an adventurous person to write an adventure novel.

Elodie Harper is the author of Boudicca's Daughter.

Adam Oyebanji is the author of Esperance.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adventuresmiths are the makers and creators of adventure in all its forms, in real life or fiction. This is the first of three special episodes in which Georgina talks to the authors shortlisted for the coveted 2026 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. She is joined is the studio by Harry Whitehead, author of White Road and Clare Whitfield, author of Poor Girls. They discuss the strong women at the heart of their novels, and share their own adventurous experiences, including a moment that could have marked the end for Harry Whitehead, but will instead be worked into a novel.

Clare Whitfield is the author of Poor Girls.

Harry Whitehead is the author of White Road.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are adventuresmiths born or made? In this very special episode Georgina travels to the headquarters of Scouts Adventures at Gilwell Park in North London to talk to some of the young winners of 2026's Unsung Heroes Awards and Chief Scout Dwayne Fields.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leon McCarron, author and broadcaster, joins Georgina to talk about his adventures exploring the Middle East on foot and his expedition along the length of the River Tigris.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sophy Roberts, journalist and author joins Georgina to talk about her extraordinary books of unexplored places The Lost Pianos of Siberia and the award-winning A Training School for Elephants.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Terrill is an anthropologist, author, award-winning filmmaker, animal activist, athlete, honorary Royal Marines commando and adventurer. He talks to Georgina about the many hats he wears and what living a life of adventure means.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explorer and Scientist Dr. Rosa Vásquez Espinoza share tales with Georgina about her adventures in the Amazon rainforest and her mission to protect the Stingless Bee.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keme Nzerem is a journalist, broadcaster and filmmaker. He speaks to Georgina about his entry into the world of adventure, the non-profit he co-founded, Opening Up The Outdoors, and his very personal film The Long Juju.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lise Wortley, better known as 'Woman with Altitude' talks to Georgina about her adventures in re-creating the expedition of Henriette D’Angeville, first woman to climb Mont Blanc, and how it's become the soon-to-be-released documentary, The Bride of Mont Blanc.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AdventureSmith features conversations with the craftspeople of adventure, the explorers and scientists, writers and filmmakers who live and breathe adventure every day in every way. Hosted by Georgina Brown, these conversations ask what adventure means, find out what makes someone tick, and how we can bring that spark of adventure into our own lives.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final of three special episodes Georgina talks to two more of the authors short-listed for the much coveted 2025 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, Nydia Hetherington for Sycorax and Samantha Sotto Yambao for Water Moon (Samantha Sotto Yambao image (c) Charm Cataag)

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode Georgina talks to two more authors short-listed for the 2025 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, Diana McCaulay for A House for Miss Pauline and Jack Jordan for Redemption. (Jack Jordan Image (c) Phil Sharp, Diana McCaulay Image (c) Jeremy Francis)

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first of three special episodes Georgina talks to two of the authors short-listed for the much coveted 2025 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, Nussaibah Younis for Fundamentally and Costanza Casati for Babylonia.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this final episode of our adventure mini series Georgina talks to two extraordinary women, Laura Bingham who made the first ever descent of the Essequibo river in Guyana from source to sea, and explorer Lucy Shepherd who has led expeditions to some of the harshest and most challenging places in the world, from high mountains to tropical rainforests and Arctic tundra.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this third and final episode Georgina talks to Nathan about the challenges of being a test pilot, the importance of reading both. for information and for leisure, what it's like to fly the amazing F-35, how to know when to stop and the future of aviation

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his episode Nathan Gray talks to Georgina about he overcame a devastating accident early in his career, what it's like to fly at twice the speed of sound, how to land a jet on an aircraft carrier and his time as a combat pilot in Afghanistan.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first episode of three with decorated test pilot Nathan Gray, Georgina chats to Nathan about why he decided to become a pilot, why he chose the Navy rather than the Air Force and what he had to go through to achieve his dream.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this second episode with explorer Ed Stafford and filmmaker Alex Bescoby Georgina talk to them about their love of story telling, how they set about doing research, getting out of sticky situations, the kindness of strangers, tips for young explorers and much, much more

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first episode of our new adventure mini- series, explorer Ed Stafford and award winning film maker Alex Bescoby talk to Georgina about why they chose a life of adventure

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trailer for new adventure mini-series

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this final episode of Series 2 Tom and Georgina talk to ultra endurance athlete, mental health advocate, record breaking rower and founder of Beyond Endurance, Angus Collins as he prepares to face his toughest challenge yet, attempting to become the first person ever to circumnavigate Great Britain by row boat solo and unsupported, raising funds for James’ Place, a charity offering free, life-saving treatment to suicidal men in centres in Liverpool and London.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the third and final episode of our three part series celebrating the Wilbur Smith Adventure Prize 2024, Georgina and Tom meet two more of the shortlisted authors, Leo Vardiashvili and Chukwuebuka Ibeh to discuss their riveting new adventure novels, Hard by a Great Forest and Blessings. (Leo Vardiashvili: Image © Kiera Fyles, Palmer Photography - Chukwuebuka Ibeh: Image © Erin Lewis)

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second of our three part series celebrating the Wilbur Smith Adventure Prize 2024, Georgina and Tom meet two more of the shortlisted authors, Louis de Bernieres and Derek.B Miller to discuss their exciting new novels Light over Liskeard and The Curse of Pietro Houdini, why they decided to write historical fiction and how they define adventure. (Derek B. Miller: Image © Erlend Sæverud - Louis de Bernières: Image © Ivon Bartholomew)

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first of three special episodes Tom and Georgina talk to two of the authors short-listed for the much coveted 2024 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, Charlie McGill (Our Hideous Progeny) and Francesca de Tores (Saltblood). (C. E. McGill: Image ©Rebecca Holmes Photography Ltd - Francesca de Tores: Image ©Andrew North)

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A number of Wilbur's stories feature or are set against World War One and in this episode Tom and Georgina discuss these books and Wilbur's descriptions and approach to the Great War, particularly as played out in an African context, with podcaster and World War One aficionado Matt Barr

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Tom and Georgina discuss Wilbur's first female protagonist, Centaine Courtney, with actor and voice over artist Melanie Crawley. New to Wilbur’s books, Melanie explores the skill and depth with which Wilbur creates a character that she as an actor can believe in and become invested in.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Tom and new co-host Georgina Brown talk to adventurers Dwayne Fields, the first black Briton to reach the North Pole and Phoebe Smith, founders of the WeTwo Foundation which empowers underprivileged young people through life-changing adventures, a cause which very much appealed to Wilbur

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Tom and Chris talk to Australian author Peter Watt about his incredibly adventurous life, his life-changing encounters with Wilbur and how Wilbur inspired him to become a best selling author - the Australian Wilbur Smith

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode Tom and author Conn Iggulden discuss the power of historical fiction and the influence Wilbur Smith has had on Conn himself and generations of adventure and historical fiction writers

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Tom and Christopher are joined by Professor David Howarth, author of ‘Adventurers The Improbable Rise of the East India Company’ ; to discuss the surprisingly humble and chaotic Tudor origins of the most celebrated and powerful global entity in history. 

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 3 of That Wilbur Smith Show Tom and Christopher are joined by Professor Bernard Freamon, the world’s leading authority on the Indian Ocean Slave Trade, to explore this elusive, yet fascinating subject of which little is known and which is rarely discussed.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom and Christopher look back on memorable moments from the first series, recalling some of the illuminating facts and insights they elicited from their special guests, including Egyptologist Joanne Fletcher, historian Saul David, writer of both fiction and nonfiction about the Zulu wars, Zambezi expert Marlyn Newitt, who sounds the alarm about the Victoria Falls drying up, Joost Fonteyn on the mysteries of the Great Zimbabwe, Civil Rights campaigner Adam Hochschild on the Abolition of Slavery and our remarkable adventurer, polar explorer Felicity Aston

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the first episode of a new series of That Wilbur Smith Show, and in honour of International Women’s Day, Tom and Christopher talk to a real life hero who might have stepped out of the pages of a Wilbur Smith book, Felicity Aston, polar explorer and the first woman to ski across Antarctica alone!

Felicity's website : http://www.felicityaston.co.uk/

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Historian Tom Harper and author Christopher Winn explore the exhilarating world of legendary adventure writer Wilbur Smith with special guest and real life hero Felicity Aston, polar explorer and the first woman to ski across Antarctica alone.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In That Wilbur Smith Show Wilbur co-writer historian Tom Harper and author and Wilbur fan Christopher Winn explore the exhilarating world of adventure writer Wilbur Smith, one of the greatest story tellers of all time, by talking to a star-studded array of special guests, adventurers, historians, authors, academics and fans about the exotic places and thrilling historical events that feature in Wilbur’s books.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this action packed second episode on Birds of Prey Tom and Diana describe how Hal Courtney and his companions escape from their Dutch prison in the Castle of Good Hope and travel across the wilds of Southern Africa to confront once more their mortal enemy the Buzzard at Elephant Lagoon.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first of a series of episodes chronicling the Courtneys through the 17th century Tom and Diana celebrate the opening part of one of Wilbur’s most epic novels, Birds of Prey, a tale of treasure, treachery, pirates, love and betrayal set against the Anglo Dutch War and the founding of the world’s most beautiful city, Cape Town

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The great rivers of Africa were a constant feature in Wilbur Smith’s adventures and in this episode Tom and Diana explore the Zambezi and the majestic Victoria Falls with the expert help of Professor Malyn Newitt author of 'The Zambezi - a History’, learning about the peoples who have lived alongside, traded on and depended upon the river and how the nature and shape of the river is changing due to modern development.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode Tom and Diana look back over the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize Award ceremony at the Royal Geographical Society in London with prize winner Emma Styles and Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation director Georgina Brown

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom and Diana discuss the struggle for the Abolition of Slavery with lecturer, historian and journalist Adam Hochschild, examining the circumstances that led to the emergence of the movement to ban slavery in the late 18th, early 19th centuries.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom and Diana discuss the mysterious and misunderstood Great Zimbabwe stone settlement with Professor Joost Fontein of Johannesburg University

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second part of The Sunbird we see how the curse of the lost city of Opet plays out and discover the fate of those involved in ancient times and in modern times

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Sunbird introduces one of Wilbur Smith's most intriguing heroes, charting his search for the mysterious lost city of Ophir in deepest Africa and the extraordinary and unexpected consequences that flow from its discovery.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 16 Tom and Diana take a look at Testament, coming up with plenty of tantalising teasers and good reasons why this, the latest Wilbur Smith book, is an exhilarating must read!

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode Tom and Diana discuss the making of the documentary Wilbur Smith Inspiring Adventures with the film's director Aidan Woodward.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 14 of That Wilbur Smith Show Tom and Diana take a look at the second part of A Falcon Flies, in which Robyn and Zuga venture into the unknown Eden they have seen from the mountain top and go their separate ways, each finding ancient civilisations and treasures while meeting with adventure and adversity.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Tom and Diana take a look at A Falcon Flies, in which we are introduced to the Ballantynes, Robyn and Zuga as, against the background of the slave trade, they travel up the Zambezi into the uncharted interior of Africa in search of their father.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom and Diana take a look at Birds of Prey and the End of the Dutch Golden Age. This is the earliest book chronologically in the Courtney saga, and tells the story of Sir Francis and Hal Courtney, the first of the Courtney’s to land in Africa, as they take on the might of the Dutch East India Company

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom and Diana discuss Wilbur’s book Courtney’s War with its vivid depiction of the horrors of the Battle of Stalingrad, a conflict with disturbing similarities to today’s war in Ukraine.

AdventureSmith is brought to you by The Wilbur Smith Estate.

Producer Christopher Winn. Music Dewey Delay. Executive Producer Niso Smith.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.