This is one of the most powerful conversations I’ve had on the podcast. James ran 230km across the Amazon rainforest, carrying everything he needed to survive on his back – all to raise money and awareness for multiple sclerosis, a condition his mum has lived with since he was a baby.
In this episode, James opens up about the Jungle Ultra, the extreme mental and physical toll it took, and the emotional drive behind it: his mum’s strength, love, and resilience. He shares what it’s like growing up with a parent who is bed-bound, how he coped at university, and why he now uses social media to open up about something he once felt ashamed to talk about.
We dive into:
Why he chose this challenge and what it entailed
The darkest moments of the race (and how he kept going)
The emotional impact of placing his medal around his mum’s neck
Raising over £20,000 for MS and spinal cord research
The power of vulnerability and sharing your story as a man