Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained is about discovering what happens when we dare to do something new. Hosted by Rebecca Rees, an executive coach passionate about how our amazing brains work, and Caroline Bridge, winner of BBC’s Race Across the World, this podcast brings together simple science, honest conversation, and inspiring stories from real people. Every conversation shines a light on the courage, humour, and discoveries that come from venturing beyond the familiar.
For the final episode of series two, we wanted to end with something light-hearted, funny and full of personality — and Brian and Melvyn were the perfect people to do that. Otherwise known as “Hat and Suitcase”, these two brothers brought humour, heart and complete chaos to the race in equal measure. From Glastonbury flags and Elvis impressions to golf clubs from charity shops, smelly shoes in hotel fridges and arguments about whether Melvyn’s suitcase was really a suitcase, this episode is f...
3 Apr 2026
Episode 17 : Elizabeth & Letitia
Rebecca and Caroline explore what happens when stepping outside your comfort zone means not only travelling across countries with a backpack — but also facing difficult conversations, old wounds and the parts of family life that are hardest to talk about? In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained, we meet sisters Elizabeth and Letitia from Race Across the World. Their time on the series gave viewers plenty of laughter, warmth and memorable moments, but behind the scenes there was al...
27 Mar 2026
Episode 16 : Sarah
In this episode, we’re joined by Sarah Outen MBE — adventurer, author and now psychotherapist — whose story is as extraordinary as it is deeply human. At just 23, Sarah became the first woman and youngest person to row solo across the Indian Ocean. She then went on to complete her London to London expedition — travelling over 40,000km under her own human power by rowing oceans, cycling continents and kayaking coastlines. Today, her life looks very different. She now works as a psychothe...
20 Mar 2026
Episode 15 : Gaz & Yin
What if the bravest adventures aren’t about crossing continents… but about coming face to face with a life you thought you’d left behind? Rebecca and Caroline speak to Gaz and Yin joined Race Across the World as ex-partners — married for over 30 years, now separated — and still close friends. But this episode goes far beyond the race. Because for Yin, stepping onto that start line meant returning not just to a country, but to a past she had spent years trying to move on from. What follow...
13 Mar 2026
Episode 14 : Nick
What does a life of risk, adventure and reinvention really teach you? In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained, Rebecca and Caroline sit down with entrepreneur and adventurer Nick Bullman — a man whose life sounds almost like fiction. From closing multi-million pound deals and flying solo across the Atlantic to surviving business failure, heart surgery and even being shot in an accident, Nick has lived life at full velocity. But what’s most striking is where all that experience has...
6 Mar 2026
Episode 13 : Tables Turned
In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained, the tables are turned as Rebecca Rees and Caroline Bridge find themselves in the hot seat, interviewed by their social media expert Jess. What follows is a funny, honest and surprisingly personal conversation about how the podcast began and what they’ve discovered along the way. Rebecca shares how a message sent after watching Caroline win BBC's Race Across the World led to the idea of inviting her to be her co-host. Caroline reflects on th...
27 Feb 2026
Episode 12 : Hayat
Changing the world often begins with refusing to accept the limits placed on you. In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained, we’re talking to someone who has done exactly that. Dr Hayat Sindi is a world-leading biotechnologist and a Fellow of Newnham College, Cambridge. Alongside her scientific work, she is deeply committed to widening access to science, particularly for girls and young women. As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Science Education, and through her wider mentoring and...
20 Feb 2026
Episode 11 : Kaihan
Yes, Kaihan Krippendorff is the CEO of Outthinker. Yes, he’s recognised by Thinkers50 and Global Gurus as one of the world’s top thinkers in strategy and innovation. He is also a 7 x best-selling author and hosts his own podcast, with close to 200 episodes recorded. Behind those achievements is someone who keeps stepping beyond what feels comfortable, keeps asking questions and keeps taking risks. And that spirit is at the heart of NVNG. In this episode we talk about Kaihan’s life, from consu...
11 Feb 2026
Series 2 : Sheila
From “I’ll Die Single” to Building a Global Community of Ethical Adventure What happens when a woman in her 60s decides she’s not done yet? In this powerful, funny and deeply human conversation, we’re joined by Sheila Fitzgerald, founder of EVA Volunteer Travel — a woman who went from Googling “what should I do before I die?” to creating ethical adventures around the world. Sheila’s story moves from heartbreak and self-doubt to machetes in Thailand, elephants in India, gorillas in Rwanda and ...
14 Nov 2025
Episode 9 : It's a Wrap
Series Finale: Hosted by Tom Bridge — BBC Race Across the World 2025 Winner In this special end-of-series episode, the microphones are turned around. Tom Bridge - joint winner of BBC’s Race Across the World 2025 with his mum Caroline - steps into the host’s seat and takes us on a brilliant, funny and reflective journey through our first series of Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained. It’s light-hearted, honest, surprising, and packed with moments that reveal just how much we’ve learned (and unlea...
7 Nov 2025
Episode 8 : Bethan
This week, Rebecca and Caroline talk to Bethan Higson — the inspiring founder of Mother Root, the award-winning non-alcoholic aperitif, that’s taking the world (and our glasses) by storm. Fresh from her triumphant appearance on Dragon’s Den with her COO Alice Galsworthy, Bethan opens up about the courage it takes to start something new and what she has learnt along the way. We explore: ✨How a spark of an idea in motherhood became a brand that's well on its way to becoming a mega brand. ...
31 Oct 2025
Episode 7 : Tinks
In this uplifting episode, Rebecca and Caroline meet Arabella Lloyd aka Tinks — a woman who accepted defeat on the slopes of Kilimanjaro and decided to move from great heights to sea level, rowing across the Atlantic Ocean with 11 strangers. Her story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the moments that don’t go to plan become the ones that define us — and that every great adventure starts with saying yes. We talk about what drives an ordinary person to take on extraordinary adventures and ...
24 Oct 2025
Episode 6 : Ed
“I’m Ed — 29, from London. Founder of two companies, full-time wheelchair user, and a big advocate for accessibility and inclusion.” That’s how Ed Boyd introduces himself. Simple, passionate, and straight to the point — much like the way he approaches life and business. In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained, Caroline and Rebecca talk with Ed about what it really means to succeed — and how his view of success has changed from chasing status and money to finding purpose, fulfilmen...
17 Oct 2025
Episode 5 : Jen
Our guest for this episode is Jennifer Upton — former British diplomat, now executive coach and founder of How to Diplomat In this warm and deeply human conversation, Rebecca Rees and Caroline Bridge talk with Jen Upton — a former British diplomat who has been posted to some of the world’s toughest countries and now helps leaders and teams communicate, influence, and stay grounded when the pressure’s on. As Jen says, she was “posted to places I wouldn’t get to see on holiday” — and some of th...
10 Oct 2025
Episode 4 : Tom
We’re joined by Tom Bridge, winner of BBC’s Race Across the World alongside his mum and NVNG co-host, Caroline Bridge. We’re celebrating a big milestone — our first guest and our first partnership, YMCA Trinity Group, introduced by their Chief Operating Officer, Amanda Butterworth. Tom, takes us behind the scenes of an extraordinary journey that pushed him far beyond what felt safe or familiar. Tom shares the moments that challenged him, surprised him, and changed how he sees the...
3 Oct 2025
Episode 3: More than Words
How the way we communicate can build trust, deepen relationships, and change the course of our lives. We often think of communication as what we say. But so much of what really connects — or disconnects — us happens in the spaces between the words. In this episode, Rebecca and Caroline explore how slowing down, listening deeply, and tuning into non-verbal signals can transform the way we relate to others — and to ourselves. Rebecca brings coaching insights from years of working with leaders a...
26 Sept 2025
Episode 2 : The First Step
What if feeling out of your depth isn’t a sign to stop — but the very first step into something new? In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained, Caroline Bridge relives raw moments from Race Across the World — panic, setbacks, and unexpected breakthroughs — while Rebecca Rees reveals what the brain is really doing when we step into the unknown. Rebecca also shares her own experience of being out of her depth: learning how to create and make a podcast for the very first time. Fr...
19 Sept 2025
Episode 1 : Daring to Try
Welcome to the very first episode of Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained. Rebecca Rees and Caroline Bridge share why this podcast was created, what it means to them, and how their own adventures — from executive coaching to Race Across the World — taught them the power of daring to try. In this first conversation, Rebecca and Caroline talk about the fears and interference they had to overcome just to start, why our brains resist change, and how both small steps and big adventures can shift how w...
10 Sept 2025
Hello From Us
Welcome to Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained. In this short trailer, hosts Rebecca Rees — an executive coach passionate about how our amazing brains work — and Caroline Bridge — winner of BBC’s Race Across the World — introduce the podcast. We share why stepping out of your comfort zone matters, what mental fitness really means, and how simple science, good conversation, and a sprinkle of humour (sometimes accidental!) can help us all discover what’s possible when we dare to try. W...
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