the story pilgrim
Discover the power of storytelling and the journey of self-discovery on life's pilgrimage. Join Darren as he walks ancient and modern pilgrim paths, unearthing the sacred stories that connect us all. From bustling cities to tranquil countryside, each episode weaves together personal reflections, ramblings, heartfelt conversations, and the rich histories of the places he explores. Whether you’re a traveller at heart, a seeker of wisdom, or someone who finds solace in nature’s embrace, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and a deeper connection to the world around us. Tune in and walk, take a hike, alongside Darren as he navigates the paths that shape our lives and communities.
Episodes
Actor and funeral director Abi Pattenden joins me for a walk to Old Hamsey Church, where her grandparents are buried, and where memory refuses to stay still.
We walk just north of Lewes, tracing the path her grandparents took when they moved from Wales after her grandfather found work nearby as a signalman. We pass the house Abi remembers from childhood, before arriving at the churchyard that still holds her family story ...
James Harkin, co-host of the hit podcast No Such Thing As A Fish and Head Researcher on BBC’s QI, joins me for a walking, and golfing, conversation about curiosity, childhood, and how a life quietly takes shape.
We met at Deane Golf Club, the course where James learned the game as a boy, and played a round while talking through his early years in Bolton, school days, falling sideways into research, and ending up at the...
Lagos: Between Things is a quiet walking reflection recorded on the edges of a hotel, between flights, between seasons, between certainty and whatever comes next.
There’s nothing performative about this walk. No attempt to decode Lagos or turn the city into a backdrop for insight. Instead, this episode sits in the in-between: raising the bar for the story pilgrim, wondering why connection is harder to cultivate than id...
There are moments in life when something you’ve quietly hoped for arrives, and then disappears before you can even hold it. In this intimate spoken reflection, I sit still for once, without footsteps or ambient sound, to explore what happens in that fragile space between joy and loss.
This filler episode isn't about walking, but about being. I am here. It's about the strange in-between, when you think you wan...
Broadcaster, columnist and podcast pioneer Olly Mann joins me for a heartfelt walk through Letchworth Garden City — the town that shaped his voice, his worldview, and, eventually, his marriage.
As we stroll through tree-lined streets and past Edwardian ideals, Olly reflects on growing up in Letchworth, attending St Christopher School, and his early rise as “the voice of the voice” on the school newspaper. We talk about...
“There are two kinds of people in this world… those who remember, and those who forget.”
At Sad Hill Cemetery in northern Spain—a once-forgotten film set brought back to life—memory takes centre stage. In this episode, I walk through Santo Domingo de Silos and into the story-soaked silence of Sad Hill, where fiction, history, and grief blur at the edges.
I meet Nick and Noah, a father and son from Belgium making a quiet...
Amsterdam, solo travel, creative freelance work, podcasting, and a one-day pilgrimage through planes, trains, and introspection. In this milestone 50th episode, I take you with me on a whirlwind trip to Amsterdam — a city full of bridges, bikes, and bewildering signage. But I wasn’t there for sightseeing. I was there for one small, video job... that turned into something oddly reflective.
From check-in to coffee, rain to ...
Standby duty, airport chaos, a medical emergency mid-flight, cancelled trips to Dubai, JFK and Japan, and still somehow... total silence. In this episode of the story pilgrim, Darren takes you on a journey through three days of standby with a major airline — from being called up two minutes into shift for a flight to Istanbul (complete with an in-air seizure) to sitting in the office surrounded by cancelled flights an...
Cabin crew layover in Houston, a late-night Astros game, and no time for NASA - this episode explores the tension between long-haul travel and short-lived moments.
In episode 48 of the story pilgrim, I travel 5,000 miles to Houston… and never make it to Mission Control. With just 24 hours on the ground, I trade moon landings for breakfast, baseball, and a quiet walk to the Galleria. Along the way, I reflect on the odd ...
In this episode of the story pilgrim, I take a short walk with a long echo. Just one afternoon in Hamburg — and yet it felt like I crossed more than just bridges.
Hamburg: the city of canals, contradictions, and carefully run public transport. A place I’ve flown to several times as cabin crew, but never really explored with my feet — or my mic — until now.
In Hamburg: Crossing Bridges, I wander from the calm waters of t...
In this solo episode of the story pilgrim, I leave the front door of my new home in Mile Oak, East Sussex, and walk up onto the South Downs, carrying only my thoughts and a few well-worn quotes from voices that have shaped my path: Plato, A.A. Milne, Freddie Mercury, Glenn Berger, and Slavoj Žižek.
This isn’t a grand adventure episode. No faraway landscapes, no guest interviews. This one’s local. Grounded. Real. It’s a...
If you've ever wondered what it truly feels like to walk 500 miles on the Camino de Santiago — sick, lost, exhilarated, broken open — this raw, real journey captures the private battles, quiet triumphs, and emotional unravelling that only a long road can teach.
In 2017, I set out across Spain, camera phone in hand, recording the rough edges of a pilgrimage that changed me before I even realised it had.
This episode...
Driverless cars, the howls of sea lions, a cable car ride, Coit Tower views, and a walk through Chinatown all feature in this light-hearted San Francisco episode of the story pilgrim.
In Episode 44, Darren explores the quirky contrasts of a city where machines glide silently through the streets and the past hums loudly from every corner. This is a step away from the usual philosophical deep dives — a more playful, curi...
Paris. A city I always said I’d only visit with someone special. But here I am — alone, for work, not romance.
In this episode of the story pilgrim, I walk through the heart of Paris for the first time — past the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysees, and the Eiffel Tower — while carrying something heavy: the sting of a recent audition that didn’t go the way I’d hoped.
What unfolds is part travel journal, part personal re...
What happens when you revisit the journals and videos you swore you’d never forget - only to realize you barely remember them? In this episode, I take a step back into my 2019 return to the Camino de Santiago, digging through old notes, unearthing long-buried thoughts, and questioning why we record memories only to leave them behind.
I walked the Camino twice, each time with a different purpose. The first, a challenge:...
Vancouver, time passing, the illusion of change, and the strange feeling of being the same person despite decades of life unfolding - this episode explores what happens when we return to places that once felt like turning points.
Twenty-five years ago, I stepped off a cruise ship in Vancouver, convinced I was at the beginning of something big. Now, after years of acting, walking, storytelling, and unexpected detours, I...
How do we balance persistence with patience? In this episode, I take you to the vibrant streets of São Paulo, reflecting on the tension between pushing forward and trusting the process.
This city, with its blend of chaos and calm, became the perfect backdrop to explore the quiet, unseen work that persistence demands and the growth that patience allows. Along the way, I dive into:
- Why persistence is about steady, int...
Explore the powerful connection between nature, beauty, and the motivation to act. In this episode, I take you on a journey through the stunning Sheffield Park and Garden, reflecting on what it takes to turn dreams into action and how the spaces we inhabit can inspire us to move forward. From philosophical musings to humorous observations, this episode invites you to think deeply about your own sources of inspiration....
Walking through the winter streets of Gothenburg, Sweden, on Boxing Day, I reflect on the quiet magic of the season, my month as Father Christmas, and the deeper purpose behind sharing stories. In this episode, I explore how generosity shapes who we are, how walking helps me find clarity, and how the spirit of giving connects us all. Join me as I weave humour, philosophy, and heartfelt moments into a story that might ...
Discover how stepping into the vibrant streets of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a place I never imagined visiting, challenged my comfort zone, shattered preconceived notions, and reshaped my understanding of expectations and adaptation. In this episode, I take you on a walking tour through Riyadh’s historic and cultural landmarks, weaving reflections on how life often unfolds differently than planned. From Masmak Fort’s deep ...
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