Episode Description
What is Overlanding? In Episode 1 of the X Overland Podcast, Expedition Overland founders, Clay and Rachelle Croft along with co-host, XO Content Director Jimmy Lewis, do their best to provide an answer to this fundamental question a lot of people are now asking. Join us, as we work to identify what Overlanding is and what it is not in our attempt to provide clarity and inspiration to all who are interested in becoming overlanders!
Featuring:
Rachelle Croft
Rachelle Croft stands out in the Overlanding space as an accomplished driver, co-founder of the hit television series, Expedition Overland, and celebrated advocate and influencer for women’s empowerment and healing from sexual abuse. A Montana native, Rachelle is married to celebrated filmmaker and overlander, Clay Croft, and a mother of three along with fur-child “Piper.” She is the [...]
Jimmy Lewis
Jimmy joined the X Overland team in 2022. With a background in outfitting, education, and writing, Jimmy works on applying his eclectic insight to our content creation and direction at XO. His predilection for carrying on meaningful conversations, along with his love of Overlanding and outdoor sports and adventure, make him the perfect fit to host our X [...]
Clay Croft
Clay Croft has been an innovator and thought-leader in the Overlanding space for over a decade. He is co-founder of the hit television series, Expedition Overland. In addition to his vast Overlanding experience, which includes the completion of the Pan-American Highway, a crossing of the Simpson Desert in Australia, and driving the “Road of Bones” in Russia, Clay [...]
Show Recap
Part 1: Intro to EP 1 of the X Overland Podcast!
- Host introduction, Jimmy Lewis
- Topic Introduction: “What is Overlanding?”
- How we all got introduced to Overlanding: Jimmy, Clay, Rachelle
- Tribute to Overland Journal as a source of inspiration
Part 2: What is Overlanding? We explain our answer to this question.
- The intrinsic value of all activities
- Evolution of Clay and Rachelle as Overlanders
- How do we define “Expedition” and the meaning behind “Expedition Overland”
- The “purpose” of film production: “An expedition to film something that is about the journey.” Clay Croft
Part 3: What is Overlanding? We continue with our answer.
- Why the definition matters: hiker vs. mountaineer
- The value of international travel
- Overland Journal’s codified definition of “overlanding”
- The idea of travel as intrinsic to overlanding
- The different approaches to overlanding: bicycles to Earth Roamers
- Breaking out of your comfort zone and overlanding as a means of personal growth
Part 4: What overlanding is not
- Is four-wheeling/off-roading overlanding?
- If I own an overlanding vehicle, am I overlanding?
- The value of preparation for overlanding
- Regional four-wheel touring vs. overlanding
- Is international travel in a car or R.V. overlanding?
- What about vanlife? Is that overlanding? Mentioning of Graeme Bell
- Clay and the E7 (Expeditons 7) overlanding trip to Russia
- Overlanding tourism
- Long Way Round, Ewan and Charley McGregor as overlanders
Part 5: The evolution of overlanding and the flexibility within the definition
- Legal “Wilderness” vs. “wilderness” the popular use of the term
- Liking the idea of overlanding
- The difference between “touring” and “overlanding”
Part 6: In Conclusion
- Our definition of “overlanding” as a guidepost
- Where do you aspire to overland? What’s your overlanding dream? Clay? Rachelle?
- The desire for world travel and the authentic overlanding experience
- Clay and Rachelle’s personal vision of their own overlanding dream (non-business oriented)
- Lead to episode 2: “What is the best overlanding vehicle?”
Additional Helpful Resources
Overland Journal – The publication for environmentally responsible, worldwide vehicle-supported expedition and adventure travel.
Expedition Portal – The global resource for overland and adventure travel.
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Listen to Our Other Podcasts
EP27 | Why Did I Go To Morocco: Rachelle Croft
In this special one-hour + episode, Rachelle shares the details of this life-changing experience, discussing everything from the source of inspiration to participate to being lost in the desert after the start of the rally.
EP68 | Can I Handle That Trail? 4-Wheeling with TrailRecon’s Brad Kowitz
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.
EP22 | Overlanding Safety and Security with Mike Glover of Fieldcraft Survival
When it comes to vehicle-based adventure travel and overlanding, we want to have fun while keeping ourselves and our fellow travelers safe. Whether we are traveling solo, with a partner, as a family, or as a highly capable team, best practices for staying safe and secure are presented here by former Special Forces soldier and C.I.A. operative, Mike Glover.
This episode is brought to you by OnX Offroad!
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