‘You change or you drown’: Lewis Pugh on surviving the world’s most brutal swims
Lewis Pugh has built a career by going where very few people would dare.
A record-holding endurance swimmer, UN Patron of the Oceans and founder of the Lewis Pugh Foundation, he is known for pushing the limits of human endurance in some of the world’s harshest waters.
In this exclusive interview with the High Performance Speakers Agency, Lewis Pugh reflects on where his passion for swimming began, the toughest journeys of his career, and the mindset that has helped him keep going through fear, fatigue and uncertainty.
Travel tips: Things to see and do in Mallorca
Mallorca, the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands, is known for its capital city, Palma, sandy coastlines, vibrant nightlife, festivals and the breathtaking Serra de Tramuntana mountains.
With over 13 million tourists each year, whether you choose to visit for a family getaway, a romantic couples break or a party with friends, the Island offers something for everyone.
Once you step into the city of Palma, your senses will receive a real treat with the combination of architecture and culture dating back centuries, writes Travel News Blitz’s Bianca Wright.
Travel news: Coming home a stranger
Returning home after your travels holds a certain weight.
For many, it’s a welcome feeling, going back to familiar places and the people they love. For others, it’s harder, marked by the quiet reluctance of leaving something behind.
But what’s often overlooked is the reality of coming home a stranger, writes Travel News Blitz’s Freya Leather.
Travel news: Australia beyond the East Coast - what not to miss (and what to skip)
Everyone travels Australia the same way… Are they doing it wrong?
From the overlooked corners of New South Wales, here is what you should avoid if you don't want to make the same mistakes as the average backpacker.
Travel News Blitz’s Maisie Sharp-Fehr writes about her thoughts…
Astronaut reveals the hidden danger of space travel most people never see coming
Michael Foale brings the kind of perspective few people can match.
A veteran of six space missions, he spent more than 374 days in orbit and built a career at the sharp end of human spaceflight, from shuttle missions and spacewalks to long-duration life aboard Mir and the International Space Station.
In this exclusive interview with the Inspirational Leadership Speakers Agency, Michael Foale reflects on what nearly a year in orbit taught him about resilience, teamwork and risk, and why the realities of space travel are often far more demanding than people on Earth realise.
Travel news: Bikepacking - The world on two wheels
A gust of wind rustles through the trees beside you. Fresh air hits your face as morning dew dampens your tyres, leaving faint tracks behind you.
The day is young, and there are miles still to cover before you reach your resting spot for the night. But instead of fear, you feel excitement, wondering what the journey ahead will bring.
Everything you need is with you. Nothing more, nothing less, writes Travel News Blitz’s Freya Leather.
Travel has always been about freedom: the freedom to explore, discover, and connect.
In recent years, a new style of adventure has captured the imagination of outdoor enthusiasts and wanderers alike: bikepacking.
Andy Pag on what sustainable travel gets wrong, and where real change starts
Few people have tested the limits of sustainable travel as relentlessly as Andy Pag. A former BBC journalist, TEDx speaker and hands-on eco-adventurer, he has spent years turning bold ideas into real-world experiments, from waste-fuelled vehicles to low-carbon journeys across continents.
In this exclusive interview with the Sustainability Speakers Agency, Andy Pag reflects on the journeys that shaped his thinking, the limits of technological fixes, and why genuine curiosity still matters when tackling global environmental challenges.
Travel news: Watching the world go by - The beauty of train travel
There's something unique about watching the world unfold from a train window, writes Travel News Blitz’s Freya Leather.
Unlike a plane, where tiny windows frame nothing but clouds for hours, or a car, where the road demands your full attention, a train invites you to sit back and observe, to watch landscapes transform, and to share part of your journey with strangers, each of them quietly heading somewhere of their own.
Travel news: Seven tips on how to make the most of staying in a hostel
Hostels have come a long way from what they used to be - paper-thin mattresses on a squeaky bunk bed, toes touching some strangers next to you, and one bathroom between 20.
Whether you are planning your first-ever trip using hostels or just want to ensure you choose correctly, these tips by Travel News Blitz’s Freya Leather will help you get the most out of your stay.
How extreme adventure shaped Isaac Kenyon’s view of resilience
In this exclusive interview with the London Keynote Speakers Agency, Isaac Kenyon shares what travel through extreme environments has taught him about resilience, why burnout cannot be separated from purpose, and how leaders can build stronger, calmer cultures without losing performance.
Memory vs Reality: The elegant twist of travel
There’s always that moment of reflection after a trip, reminiscing over the amazing time you’ve just had away and how reality feels so mundane in comparison.
Travel lives twice: once in reality and the other in our memories.
Here, Travel News Blitz’s Freya Leather chronicles the philosophical element travel brings.
‘I broke a world record and felt nothing’: Vicki Anstey on what success really costs
Vicki Anstey’s journey is rooted in pushing beyond limits, from rowing unsupported across the Pacific to competing in some of the world’s harshest environments.
In this exclusive interview with the Mental Health Speakers Agency, Vicki Anstey reflects on discomfort, resilience and what it truly means to perform under pressure, drawing on lessons shaped by some of the most demanding environments on earth.
Seven things to do and see in Madrid as Formula E races here for the first time
Madrid is the capital and most populous city of Spain, with a population of over 3.4 million in 2025, making it the second-largest city in the EU.
Formula E races in Madrid at the Circuito del Jarama for round six of the 2026 season with Pascal Wehrlein coming into the weekend currently in the lead of the Drivers’ Championship.
Here, Travel News Blitz’s Ayla Vaughan explores seven things to do and see in Madrid.
Suzie Imber on what climbing the world’s toughest mountains teaches about resilience
Dr Suzie Imber is a planetary scientist, explorer and mountaineer whose career bridges scientific research and extreme exploration.
In this exclusive interview with the High Performance Speakers Agency, Suzie Imber reflects on the physical demands of mountaineering, the environmental changes she has witnessed during expeditions, and the mindset required to pursue ambitious goals in both exploration and science.
Seven things to do and see in Arlington as IndyCar races at this new street track
Arlington is a city in Texas, Tarrant County located between Dallas and Fort Worth, with a population of roughly 400,000 and is known as a premier entertainment hub.
IndyCar races on the streets of Arlington for 70 laps at this brand new circuit from March 13-15, with the playing field being even since no one has driven here before.
Here, Travel News Blitz’s Ayla Vaughan explores seven things to do and see in Arlington.
You can’t outgrow ambition: Helen Glover on gold, grit and going again
Helen Glover OBE is one of Britain’s most decorated rowers and a sought-after female inspirational speaker whose career spans Olympic golds, world titles and historic firsts.
In this exclusive interview with the Female Motivational Speakers Agency, Glover reflects on mindset, motivation, boundaries and the personal drivers that have shaped her sporting and personal life.
Travel analysis: The price of peace - The rise of silent retreats
From the hustle and bustle of Manchester airport, frantic airport dads hurrying their families to the correct gate, blaring announcements that seem to compete with one another, and a sea of people positioned inconveniently in the way, to the tranquillity of a forest monastery deep in Northern Thailand, the contrast could not be more dramatic.
Here, the only noise is that of birds, wind rustling through the trees, and the crunching of leaves beneath your feet. No talking, no phones, no distractions, just quiet.
For travellers exhausted by modern-day connectivity, silent retreats are becoming a sought-after escape, writes Travel News Blitz’s Freya Leather.
78 days, 18,000 miles: Mark Beaumont on the reality of riding around the world
British endurance cyclist, adventurer and broadcaster Mark Beaumont holds the world record for cycling around the globe in 78 days, 14 hours, after covering more than 18,000 miles at an average of 240 miles per day.
In this exclusive interview with Inspirational Leadership Speakers Agency, he explains how travel, endurance and exploration inform his approach to adversity, high performance and applied strategy.
Travel news: From backpack to broadband - How digitalisation and globalisation have changed travel
The concept of travel has transformed in recent years. Once dismissed as an unrealistic ambition that was associated with nomadism and straying from society, travel has now become a mainstream ambition.
The romanticised image of the free-spirited backpacker has been replaced by ‘Insta baddies' and vloggers.
Travel News Blitz writer Freya Leather gives her thoughts…
Injured in Afghanistan, Jaco van Gass travelled to the North Pole and found a new purpose
From South Africa to the world’s most extreme environments, Jaco van Gass has turned adversity into extraordinary exploration.
In this exclusive interview with the High Performance Speakers Agency, van Gass reflects on how travel, adversity and ambition have shaped his remarkable life.