Ryan Pyle: Tough Rides, Extreme Treks, and the Quest for Uncomfort Podcasts #29 & 30
I’m excited about sharing my latest interview on the WorldRider Podcast with Ryan Pyle.
This guy is the real thing.
Ryan is an adventure traveler and motorcycle rider, television host and producer, author, professional keynote speaker, Guinness world record holder, mountain climber, award-winning photographer, and I’d like to add—humanitarian and philosopher. Okay, those last two titles I’ve given him—deservedly as you will learn while listening to these two podcasts. Truly, this interview was so engaging and the topics incredibly intriguing that I couldn’t edit it down to one hour-long episode. So I’ve decided to share nearly the entire conversation in two parts—a first on the WorldRider Podcast.
I’ve been following Ryan Pyle since my journey to China in the summer of 2015. In China, he earned a Guinness world record for the longest continuous motorcycle ride in a single county. The journey became the subject of two books and launched “Tough Rides” a successful television series that aired on the Travel Channel. He has been an inspiration to me and an invaluable sounding board for ideas on travel to China, India and elsewhere.
Ryan Pyle is principal of Ryan Pyle Productions. He was born in Toronto and after a collegiate basketball career and graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in International Politics, Ryan decided to try his hand at international diplomacy by relocating to China. It didn’t take long until Ryan was a sought after photojournalist whose work appeared in Wall Street Journal, TIME, Newsweek, Fortune, Outside Magazine, and ultimately becoming a regular contributor to The New York Times. In 2009, Ryan was named as one 30 emerging photographers in the world.
He then produced documentary films, several television series, and started writing books about his experiences in China and his travels around the world.
You can find his Tough Rides series on Vimeo and iTunes. And here is the trailer for Season One of Ryan’s Extreme Treks.
Here is more information on his books and television series:
Listen to Ryan & Our Two-Part Interview Here:
TELEVISION SERIES
2018 – Extreme Treks: Season #3 – In Production
2017 – Extreme Treks: Season #2 – Distributed by TCB Media
2016 – Tough Rides: Brazil – Travel Channel
2014 – Extreme Treks: Season #1 – Distributed by TCB Media
2014 – China’s Great Gateway: Shaanxi – Discovery Channel
2014 – Tough Rides: India – Travel Channel
2013 – Touch Rides: China – Travel Channel
PUBLICATIONS
2017 – Sacred Mountains – Photography Book
2016 – Tough Rides: Brazil – Written Book
2015 – Sacred Mountains of China – Written Book
2014 – Chinese Turkestan – Photography Book
2014 – The India Ride – Written Book
2013 – The Middle Kingdom Ride – Written Book
Series – Tough Rides on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ryanpyle/vod_pages
Books — Ryan Pyle on Amazon
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryanpyle
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RyanPyle
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ryanjpyle
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ryanpyle
SLIDE SHOW
Here is a brief slide show featuring photos from Ryan’s Books as well as posters and behind the scenes from his television series
Damn those interviews were great. Ryan has such great stories.
Thanks Chris. I appreciate you following the adventures.
Yes he does, Chris! And he’s got many more so stay tuned for another segment in the near future with Ryan on the podcast!
I’m Fatima Alloghani, an Emirati solo adventure motorcyclist, executive coach, and cultural explorer — and I believe stories like ours don’t just belong on the road. They belong on platforms like yours.
Earlier this year, I became the first Emirati woman to ride solo from Dubai to Erbil, Iraq, crossing over 2,200 km through Saudi Arabia and Kuwait — without an escort or backup. From there, I pushed onward through Turkey and the Balkans, eventually reaching Zagreb, Croatia. Next, I plan to continue across Spain into Morocco — completing a bold east-to-west journey across cultures and continents.
But what makes this story different is who I am off the bike:
A middle-aged Arab woman navigating a world that rarely expects women like me to be on motorcycles — let alone solo, across borders.
Someone from a well-off, conservative Gulf society where freedom is abundant, but social expectations still weigh heavily.
A rider who trained in 2022, earned her license in 2023, and within a year tackled the Alps, Ladakh’s Khardung La pass, and the deserts of Arabia — not to rebel, but to reclaim space for women with dreams that don’t always fit the norm.
Through my journey under @Born2RideUAE, I document not just terrain — but transformation. Hospitality, hardship, beauty, and the quiet power of choosing your own path, even when no one expects you to.
I admire WorldRider’s commitment to telling raw, real stories from the road — and I’d be honored to explore a feature, rider spotlight, or even contribute a piece on the emotional and cultural weight of being a rider from the Arab world.
Thank you for building a home for voices like ours — and I hope to hear from you soon.
So nice to hear from you Fatima! I love that you’re doing it — living the dream, sharing the story, and believing in yourself and the people of the world! Good luck, keep riding, stay curious, and next stop exploring! – Allan