Allie Geddes. On cancer and the power of healing through movement in nature. Identifying as non-binary and gender in the outdoors. Reflections on global multiday hiking and bikepacking missions.

Episode 28, which also marks a year of us podcasting!

This is such a sensational conversation with the wonderful Allie Geddes. The three of us put on our best podcast voices for a fun, thought provoking chat with Allie. 

Trigger warning - this conversation does include discussion of Allie’s experience of cancer. If this is triggering for you - take care of yourself. Jump in and out where you need to.  

Allie talks to us about their journey from living in a “toxic productivity” culture of working long hours as a teacher in London (albeit absolutely still a passionate teacher), to their experience of Brexit and the desire to travel and explore further afield - initially through backpacking around South East Asia. 

Allie also brings us a stark reminder that life can change for us at any time, and very openly shares their experience from discovering a lump in their right breast, through to being diagnosed with breast cancer at the young age of 27. Following treatment, including a bilateral mastectomy, Allie was drawn back into nature, and undertook a solo hike of the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route through northern Spain.

Realising the beauty and the powerful healing nature of this type of movement and adventure, Allie set their sights on “walking the world”, until, reaching Melbourne and (in a nutshell!) on realising that riding a bicycle can significantly increase the efficiency of your grocery shops, and take you further on long adventures, re-considered their adventure aspirations! Inspired by a vanlife and bikepacking post on socials, Allie took on their first bikepacking trip and was instantly hooked on this self-sufficient mode of travel and exploration. Since then, around COVID lockdowns, Allie has been on various huge bikepacking missions around Australia, including a ten day solo crossing of the Nullarbor. 

Assigned female at birth, now identifying as non-binary, Allie talks us through what gender means to them and how this plays out in daily life, as well as their views on gender in the outdoors and solo travel. 

Now aiming to live a zero waste life with their partner, Jimmy Ashby (Allie references Jimmy’s Hidden Athlete podcast episode which is also a fantastic listen), in South Australia, we wish Allie all the very best for the future. xx

We’ve included some references below, from the podcast, and from sources Allie shared with us for anyone keen to understand more around gender and identity. Allie is also supported by Curve Cycling and Ground Effect Clothing. 

You can find Allie on Instagram at @themisadventuresofalice 

References and resources include:

@theyaresam on Instagram

Alok Vmenon on Instagram 

Book: “Women Don’t Owe you Pretty”, Florence Given 

Nemo Hornet tent, Vargo Bot and Sea to Summit gear. Solo Stove. Treadlite bike bags. Kula cloth.

Bike Tow Leash If you are keen to help keep the lights on for this podcast, you can support us on Patreon, or you can leave a review on whatever platform you listen to podcasts on like Apple or Spotify.Thank you for the continued support from all of our listeners and patrons - we love and appreciate you all! Thanks so much for a year of conversation - Happy Podcast Birthday to Us!! 

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