The Overland Journal Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered

Jim Oostdyk on the Adventure of Business, Family, and History

Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady interviews Jim Oostdyk, founder and president of OK4WD, discussing his nearly 47 years in the four-wheel-drive industry. Jim shares the origins of OK4WD, which began in 1979 after he rebuilt his rolled Jeep, growing from a small garage to one of the country's most respected off-road shops. The episode covers the company's evolution, including demonstrating capability to customers, importing overseas products, and moving into product design and manufacturing with his son Rin and long-tenured staff. Jim also discusses mission and adventure travel with his children in Ghana, Haiti, and South Africa, his interest in the Edison "Vagabonds," partnerships with Mountain State Overland, and support for accessible off-roading. He concludes with valuable advice on perseverance, humility, and surrounding yourself with great people.Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | TikTokARB Launches Their New Experiences SeriesNew to Overland Journal and want to grab a subscription! Visit Overland Journal and enter code: overlandpodcast at checkout for 20% off. We thank you for being a subscriber.Tune in Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Eva zu Beck on Overlanding Mauritania

Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano welcomes adventurer, storyteller, author, and National Geographic Host and Director Eva zu Beck to discuss Eva’s recent overland trip to Morocco and Mauritania in her Land Rover Defender 110. In this episode, Eva shares more about the inspiration behind her Nat Geo SuperSkilled series, and how, in life and in travel, it truly is about the journey rather than the destination.New to Overland Journal and want to grab a subscription! Visit Overland Journal and enter code: overlandpodcast at checkout for 20% off. We thank you for being a subscriber.Tune in Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Crossing West Africa with XOVERLAND: Final Miles, Fuel Range, Teamwork, and Truck Lessons

The Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady and Clay Croft discuss XOVERLAND’s 40,000-kilometer Africa crossing, recorded with just 300 kilometers remaining to Cape Agulhas. They navigate West Africa’s uncertainties—coups, elections, and border hurdles—while managing sickness and tight schedules. Key practical lessons include maintaining a 1,000-kilometer fuel range due to local shortages. They credit their multi-skilled team and local support for overcoming challenges like Guinea’s extreme roads and infrastructure gaps. Reviewing vehicle performance, they highlight the reliability of Toyota hybrid drivetrains on varied fuel quality, Mobil 1 fluids, and Starlink connectivity. Despite minimal mechanical issues, they suggest future modifications like enhanced front protection for the Tacomas. This expedition underscores the resilience required for transcontinental travel through one of the world’s most demanding environments.

Lilli Mixich Reflects on Nearly Five Decades of Overland Travel

This weeks episode of the Overland Journal Podcast, host Ashley Giordano welcomes German overlander Lilli Mixich to discuss Lilli’s lifelong love affair with the African continent. Currently overlanding solo in a 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 named Toyo, Mixich shares what she’s learned from various vehicle platforms, including the Land Rover 109, Magirus Deutz expedition truck, and a Toyota HJ47 ex-bush ambulance. Lilli dives into how, at age 55, she built the confidence to travel on her own, care for her Land Cruiser, and overland Africa on her own terms. @lillitogo

Paula and Jeremy Dear on Overlanding West Africa in an ex-Belgian Military Police Truck

Host Ashley Giordano welcomes Paula and Jeremy Dear, two Brits en route from Belgium to Southern Africa in a 32-year-old ex-Belgian Iveco military police truck. In this episode, Paula and Jeremy dive into why they chose this vehicle for travel in Africa, how a slow pace has allowed them to experience places more deeply, and how prioritizing cultural immersion has brought joy along the way.

Graeme Esarey on Expedition Sailing

Principles of Overlanding 12V Fridges: Choosing the Right Size and Power for Real-World Travel

This episode of The Overland Journal Podcast, hosts Scott and Matt discuss choosing overland 12V fridges over coolers, advocating for the smallest necessary size (25–35L for one/two, 45–55L for small families) to avoid heavy slides and oversized units (like 80L for just drinks). They compare chest/drawer fridges to less efficient door-opening models, emphasize that cooldown speed matters mainly for warm groceries, and outline testing metrics: power draw, temperature accuracy, and warm-up time. They review brands, noting Engel's reliability issues, Dometic's value, National Luna's build quality/higher power use, and the heavy but high-performing ARB Elements 60L, plus Iceco and EcoFlow's battery/app features, promoting upcoming Overland Journal test results.

2Up and Overloaded on What You Need to Know about Motorcycle Travel in Southeast Asia

This week on The Overland Journal Podcast, host Ashley Giordano welcomes returning podcast guests Tim and Marisa Notier of 2Up and Overloaded to discuss the adventure motorcycle couple’s travels through Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. In this episode, Tim and Marisa share lessons learned from the past two-and-a-half years, including practical tips on choosing a bike, navigating challenging border crossings, and enjoying the journey along the way. Tim and Marisa also speak to the challenges and rewards of traveling as a couple.Sponsored in part by: Overland Journal Magazine