Sam Manicom in the podcast studio

Podcast #21: Motorcycles, Maps and Moments with Sam Manicom

Some conversations don’t need steering. They unfold on their own, carried by memory, curiosity, and a lifetime spent saying yes to the road.

In this episode, I sit down with Sam Manicom, traveller, writer, and quiet instigator of adventure, to talk about what really sits behind long journeys. Not routes or gear lists, but perspective. The slow accumulation of moments. The people met by chance. The mistakes that turn into stories worth keeping.

We talk about learning to travel without fear, why books still matter in a world of endless video, how little you actually need to go far, and why the best plans leave room for serendipity. Sam reflects on decades of overland travel by motorcycle, the bikes that became companions, and the idea that journeys don’t repeat themselves … because no traveller ever does.

It’s a thoughtful, generous conversation. Less about ticking destinations off a map, more about paying attention while you’re there.

SAM MANICOM

Facebook | Instagram

SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by Taking the Pea

Mike Brailey
Mike Brailey

Born in the UK, Mike went to school in England and France before hiking across most of Europe in his early twenties. With a background as a photographer and engineer in the automotive industry, he has worked in Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, Southeast Asia and the Americas. His heart beats for classic cars and motorcycles, favouring an expedition equipped 1963 Land Rover Series IIA for overlanding. He is an outdoor enthusiast and, in 2016, followed his vocation to become an adventure journalist.

Articles: 558