Jim Chapman on a life of adventure, from wildlife encounters in Borneo to travelling the world through YouTube in Routes from LNER.

During the podcast from LNER, Jim shares more about the travel adventures that have shaped his outlook on life, from backpacking across Thailand and Australia with his twin brother to coming face-to-face with orangutans in Borneo,and driving cars across ice in the Arctic Circle.

Having travelled the world through his career as a content creator, Jim explains why he prefers holidays packed with adventure over simply relaxing on a beach and how his experiences have inspired him to give his own children opportunities he never had growing up.

Speaking to Jenni, Jim reflects on his determination to make the most of every opportunity and experience as much of the world as possible:

I want to see everything, touch everything, eat everything. Experience it all.

Jim also looks back on his early days on YouTube, when making videos began as a creative outlet while he was studying and job hunting, before growing into a career that would take him around the world. Nearly 20 years on, he reflects on how content creation opened doors to extraordinary experiences and why he believes travel can help people become more open-minded and empathetic.

Episode highlights include:

From Thailand to Australia on a shoestring: Jim recalls his first big trip abroad after university, travelling with his twin brother and friends. The adventure included running out of money, staying with family in Sydney and enduring a long-haul flight without in-flight entertainment.

Coming face-to-face with orangutans in Borneo: Jim describes travelling with the WWF to raise awareness of its conservation work, where he was lucky enough to see orangutans in the wild. He reflects on how humbling the experience was and why seeing wildlife in its natural habitat made him think differently about the planet and the impact humans are having on it.

Why a beach holiday isn’t for him: Jim explains why he struggles to sit still on holiday and would rather be out exploring. Even in the Maldives, while his wife Sarah enjoyed relaxing, Jim entertained himself by watching fruit bats. From wildlife encounters to adventures in the Arctic Circle, he reveals why the most memorable experiences are often the ones you cannot simply buy.

How YouTube opened up the world: Jim reflects on how making videos nearly 20 years ago transformed his life, taking him from working full-time while studying for a master’s degree to travelling internationally for opportunities he could never have imagined. He also discusses how the early YouTube community helped shape his career and why he still values the connections he made with audiences along the way.

Passing the travel bug on to his children: Now a dad to two young children, Jim explains why he wants them to see and experience as much of the world as possible. Having barely travelled outside the UK until his twenties, he hopes that giving his children the chance to explore different places and cultures will help them grow into well-rounded, empathetic people. He also shares why he finds travelling by train a more manageable adventure with young children than flying.

The perfect train journey: When it comes to travelling by rail, Jim reveals that his ideal seat would be at a table with enough room to get his iPad out and draw. He discusses how train journeys offer a chance to switch off creatively, away from the demands of work and family life.

Routes with Jenni Falconer sees the broadcaster travel across the LNER network with well-known guests, uncovering the journeys, destinations and memories that have shaped their lives.

The episode featuring Jim Chapman is available on Tuesday 13th October on all major podcast platforms.