Emma Shipley is an experienced outdoor leader and thefounder of Yorkie Talkies Outdoors. Holding Mountain Leader, Lowland Leader and Paddle Sport Leader qualifications, Emma is passionate about leading people in the outdoors and helping them build confidence, achieve personal goals, andexperience the life-changing benefits of adventure. Her business offers a wide range of accessible outdoor activities, including guided group walks, bespoke hikes, paddleboarding days, navigation courses, challenge events such as the Yorkshire Three Peaks, and corporate and charity events, catering to everyone from beginners to experienced walkers. Yorkie Talkies Outdoors also runs year-round events, including regular walking, trail running and paddleboardingsessions. Alongside this, Emma is the creator and host of The Yorkie Talkies Talk podcast, where she shares conversations about outdoor adventures, wellbeing, walking challenges and community stories.

We find out all about how she’ bubbles with enthusiasm and her passion for the work she does. I think you’ll find her quite inspiring.

Monty is a former geography teacher and mountaineeringinstructor. He taught at several well-known schools, including Gordonstoun. He was a student on Tim Jepson’s first Outdoor Education PGCE course at Bangor University, when the course was still run by Barbara Roscoe.

Monty has volunteered for the Association of MountaineeringInstructors and Mountaineering Scotland. After finishing his work as a teacher, he spent a few years on the freelance team at Glenmore Lodge. He is now settled near the Lake District and has taken on the role of trustee and secretary forthe BMC’s Mountain Heritage Trust.

I wanted to find out more about the MHT…

Mark Reeves is an old friend of mine - a climber, climbingcoach, and author whose passion and enthusiasm always shine through. In this episode, we talk about his time working in Antarctica for the British Antarctic Survey. Mark took the job during a personally difficult period, and while not everyone would choose Antarctica for a more social lifestyle, that’s xactly what he did - and it worked.

He’s perhaps best known as the author of the Rockfax guides to North Wales, covering walking, scrambling, and rock climbing. After chatting about his books, we dive into his current and future projects. I think his enthusiasm and honesty will really resonate with you.