Olly Hicks: Rowing Towards Regeneration

“To enjoy rather than endure”

In today's episode I sit down with Olly Hicks, an old friend, a record-breaking adventurer, and these days, the founder of a fascinating startup.

Olly's life has been deeply intertwined with the ocean. Like me, his first big expedition was at the tender age of 23, when he made history by becoming the first person to row solo across the Atlantic from America to England, and he has since used a pair of oars or a kayak paddle to propel himself more than 7,000 miles at sea.

He has witnessed some incredible sights, including what he calls the 'nightclub under the sea’ – an awe-inspiring display of bioluminescent phytoplankton lighting up the ocean as he rowed.

Transitioning from the extreme solitude of the high seas to the collaborative venture of aquaculture, Olly’s latest adventure is as the co-founder of Algapelago. This initiative is pioneering the creation of large-scale offshore kelp farms, setting a benchmark as the UK's largest licensed kelp cultivator and offering a future model on ocean sustainability.

From learning to develop grit by understanding the importance of keeping your kit dry, to the effect that solo expeditions have on your view of the world – Olly offers a fascinating insight into both individual agency and courage, and the importance of marine restoration today.

Chapters

(00:00) Intro & love for the sea

(00:45) Wonder rather than fear

(02:59) The challenges of solo expeditions

(04:27) The Overview Effect from rowing

(07:15) A new expedition at Algapelago

(11:27) Keeping your kit dry to develop grit

(14:56) Enjoy rather than endure

(16:12) The role of exploration in the 21st Century

(19:13) The future of kelp farming

(21:00) Final thoughts

Links:

Visit Algapelago

https://www.algapelago.com/

Visit Ben’s Website:

https://bensaunders.com/

Subscribe to the New Frontiers Newsletter:

https://bensaunders.substack.com/podcast

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