How to Be Superhuman
Episodes
Live talk with Spencer Matthews: 30 Marathons in 30 Days
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From reality TV to the punishing sands of the Jordanian desert – this is the extraordinary endurance story of Spencer Matthews. Known to many as a T...
The whitewater kayaker who defied limits and dropped down a 100-foot waterfall: Nouria Newman S3:E12
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kayaking prodigy Nouria Newman has faced the extremes of both competitive pressure and raw, untamed adventure – but it was in the wild rivers of the...
The free solo climber who turned grief into climbing fuel to honour a promise: Brette Harrington S3:E11
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Climbing phenomenon Brette Harrington has spent her life chasing adventure on bold lines in remote places – but few climbs demanded more courage, re...
The swimmer who battled through piranha waters for 66 days to conquer the Amazon River: Martin Strel S3:E10
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At 52 years old, endurance swimming legend Martin Strel set out on one of the greatest adventure feats in human history – to swim the entire length ...
The ultrarunner who took on mountain kingdoms, fear and an entire nation: Ryan Sandes S3:E9
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ultrarunning athlete Ryan Sandes has pushed the limits of endurance, survival and adventure in some of the most extreme environments on the planet –...
The unstoppable ultracyclist who rode around the world in just over 100 days: Lael Wilcox S3:E8
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ultracycling phenomenon Lael Wilcox seems to have no limits when it comes to adventures on two wheels. Her record-breaking ride around the world in 10...
Feed Drop: Just Ride — Lael Wilcox before her ride around the world
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode, we're sharing a feed drop from Just Ride, a podcast that explores the world of cycling and life on two wheels. Recorded one ...
The adventure paraglider who soared to the edge of the impossible: Tom de Dorlodot S3:E7
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Paragliding pilot Tom de Dorlodot has spent his life chasing the wildest skies on Earth – but few adventures demand more endurance, survival instinc...
Feed Drop: Armchair Explorer — Chris Burkard’s Epic Iceland Adventure
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we’re doing something a little different. I am joined by Aaron Millar from the Armchair Explorer podcast for a quick chat—and then we’re ...
The woman who battled -50°C and whiteouts to break polar world records: Preet Chandi S3:E6
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 2022, Preet Chandi MBE became the first woman of colour to complete a solo, unsupported expedition to the South Pole, covering 700 miles in just 40...
The blind climber who conquered one of America’s toughest peaks: Jesse Dufton S3:E5
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse Dufton's ascent of Devil's Tower redefined what’s possible in the world of free climbing. Not because nobody had climbed it before him, but be...
The Everest record-holder who faced life-or-death decisions – twice: Cathy O'Dowd S3:E4
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cathy O’Dowd made history as the first woman to summit both the North and South sides of Everest, but her journey to the top was anything but smooth...
The surfer who shattered his back on a giant wave and returned stronger: Andrew Cotton S3:E3
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew Cotton has made a career out of chasing some of the biggest waves on the planet. But when a brutal wipeout at Nazaré left him with a broken ba...
The runner who blazed through 3,524 km in just 40 days: Tara Dower S3:E2
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tara Dower’s record-breaking run on the Appalachian Trail pushed the limits of endurance and mental strength. Covering 3,524 km in just 40 days, 18 ...
The cyclist who raced 2,750km across Africa on almost no sleep: Abdullah Zeinab S3:E1
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Abdullah Zeinab’s epic Rhino Run adventure crossing South Africa and Namibia redefines what’s possible in endurance cycling. Unsupported and unfor...
Trailer – Season 3
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ultra-runner Rob Pope returns with a new season of How to Be Superhuman, featuring the extraordinary stories of athletes who've achieved the seemingly...
The woman who trains superhumans: Veronika Mayerhofer, Series 2 Episode 12
28 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Cross-country skier Veronika Mayerhofer is a Mental Performance Specialist at the Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre in Austria. In this episode, she...
The man who raced over 90km in a wheelchair: Aron Anderson, Series 2 Episode 11
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When endurance athlete Aron Anderson won 2017’s Wings for Life World Run, he raced an incredible 90km. The Swede talks Rob through his amazing sport...
The man who ran 268 miles in record time, twice: John Kelly, Series 2 Episode 10
14 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 2020, American ultra-runner John Kelly ran England's 268-mile Pennine Way in record time, breaking a 30-year-old record in the process. A week late...
The woman who overcame death and landslides to reach the top of the world: Saray Khumalo, Series 2 Episode 9
07 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mountaineer and explorer Saray Khumalo became the first Black African woman to summit Everest - but it was far from a simple trip. Three previous atte...
The woman who free-climbed El Capitan in 24 hours: Emily Harrington, Series 2 Episode 8
31 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 2019, Emily Harrington fell 150ft while free-climbing Yosemite National Park’s famous El Capitan. In 2020, she returned and became the first pers...
The teacher who rowed the Atlantic at just 21: Jasmine Harrison, Series 2 Episode 7
24 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In early 2021, 21-year-old teacher Jasmine Harrison set a world record by rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean in just 70 days. She talks to R...
The woman who ran 270km in a single day: Camille Herron, Series 2 Episode 6
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Camille Herron is an icon of ultra running, and the first person to hold the 50k, 100k and 24-hour world records simultaneously. She tells Rob about h...
The man who rowed around the world: Erden Eruç, Series 2 Episode 5
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 2012, Erden Eruç successfully completed a unique circumnavigation of the globe – his journey had been entirely human-powered. The Turkish advent...
The woman who won America's toughest race: Lael Wilcox, Series 2 Episode 4
03 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When Lael Wilcox won the 2016 Trans Am Bike Race, she cemented her position as the world’s greatest long-distance cyclist. Even more amazingly, she ...
The lad from Wales who conquered the Yangtze River: Ash Dykes, Series 2 Episode 3
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Welshman Ash Dykes became the first person to walk the 4,000-mile length of China’s Yangtze River in 2019. He tells Rob how he overcame extreme terr...
The cancer survivor who swam the Channel four times: Sarah Thomas, Series 2 Episode 2
19 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Marathon swimmer Sarah Thomas tells Rob about her incredible journey, from beating breast cancer to becoming the first person ever to swim four consec...
The man who travelled up Everest twice without oxygen: Kílian Jornet, Series 2 Episode 1
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Spanish endurance athlete Kílian Jornet is a legendary mountain runner and ski mountaineer. Without a doubt, he's one of the greatest of his generati...
Trailer – Season 2
05 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ultrarunning legend Rob Pope returns with more stories from the limits of human endurance.
Bonus: The fastest woman to cycle around the world: Jenny Graham, Series 1 Episode 13
24 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this extra special episode, Scottish cyclist Jenny Graham chatted to Rob Pope about how she broke the female world record for cycling around the gl...
The woman who climbed El Capitan with a broken back: Karen Darke, Series 1 Episode 12
18 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Paralympic hand cyclist Karen Darke was just 21 when she set off on a climbing trip that would change her life forever. Leading a climb on a sea cliff...
The woman conquering the world's toughest mountains one by one: Sasha DiGiulian, Series 1 Episode 11
11 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Boundary-pushing big wall climber, Sasha DiGiulian, holds multiple first ascents and more than 30 female firsts for some of the world’s most revered...
The man who rolled across America: Gabriel Cordell, Series 1 Episode 10
04 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Gabriel Cordell became the first person to roll across the United States in a standard wheelchair - giving Rob Pope a lot to chat about with him as th...
The woman who ran barefoot across Britain: Anna McNuff, Series 1 Episode 9
27 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Rob Pope catches up with British adventurer Anna McNuff, who ran 2,352 miles completely barefoot across Great Britain. That's the equivalent of 90 mar...
The Ironman with a broken neck: Tim Don, Series 1 Episode 8
20 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Don was out for routine training ahead of the Kona IRONMAN World Championship when he had an accident with a truck - breaking his neck and leaving...
The man who wheelied for 37 miles around an entire island: Dougie Lampkin, Series 1 Episode 7
13 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Rob Pope speaks to trials bike legend and Red Bull athlete Dougie Lampkin about his record-breaking 37-mile wheelie around the Island of Man's TT cour...
The woman who ran for 83 hours: Jasmin Paris, Series 1 Episode 6
06 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Fell runner Jasmin Paris made headlines when she became the first woman to win the gruelling 268-mile Montane Spine Race outright. Dubbed ‘Britain’...
The refugee who swam 20 people to safety: Yusra Mardini, Series 1, Episode 5
30 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As a boat bound for Greece, filled with passengers attempting to flee war-torn Syria starting sinking - those on board feared the worst. But, over the...
The paralysed rugby pro who now climbs mountains: Ed Jackson, Series 1 Episode 4
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Professional rugby player Ed Jackson was enjoying a BBQ when he suffered a fate that would change the course of his life forever. He'd dived into his ...
The youngest woman to scale both sides of Everest: Mollie Hughes, Series 1 Episode 3
16 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine if your oxygen tank ran out while descending Mount Everest? Mollie Hughes chats to Rob Pope about her experiences of climbing the world's tall...
The woman who swam from Cuba to Florida at the age of 64: Diana Nyad, Series 1 Episode 2
09 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Rob chats to Diana Nyad, who at the age of 64 became the first person to ever complete the treacherous 110-mile swim from Cuba to Flo...
The man who cycled around the world in 78 days: Mark Beaumont, Series 1 Episode 1
09 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Beaumont chats to Rob Pope about how he broke the world record for cycling around the world – a record which he himself had already broken, but...
How to Be Superhuman - Preview
25 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Are superhumans born? Or are they made by the people around them? These are the questions and more Rob Pope will ask throughout this series as he talk...