Global Adventures

Rudolph "Rudy" Dersch is the newly minted CEO of the world's largest, multi-trillion-dollar corporate conglomerate. But the job comes with an unexpected twist - an invitation to join the Consortium, a small, secretive group of global elites who effectively decide what's best for the rest of humanity. How does Rudy's struggle to reconcile business and family impact the world's future? And who, if anyone, can break the Consortium's iron grip on the status quo?

Former pararescue jumper Orion Starr is haunted by the memory of a rescue gone wrong. He may be living alone in Alaska now, but the pain of his failure - and his injuries - has followed him there from Afghanistan. He has no desire to join Hamilton Jones' elite rescue team, but he also can't shirk his duty when the call comes in to rescue three lost climbers on Denali. Former CIA profiler and psychiatrist Jenny Calhoun's yearly extreme challenge with her best friends is her only escape from the guilt that has sunk its claws into her.

From its creation as a mail-order record company to the literal launch of Virgin Galactic, today Virgin is one of the premier ‘way-of-life’ brands in the world, trusted and enjoyed by many millions of people. In Business Stripped Bare, Sir Richard Branson shares the inside track on his life in business and reveals the incredible truth about his most risky, brilliant and audacious deals.

Ever since she was a child, Kris Jaeckle has been into adventure—starting with being born on the way to her father’s next duty station! Growing up a military brat kept her on the move…and she has always wanted to inspire people and make a difference in their lives. The influence of her mother’s desire to help others and her father’s servant heart and strong leadership tendencies made her a natural fit in the executive education arena.

Coca-Cola and its logo are everywhere. In our homes, our workplaces, and even our schools. It is a company that sponsors the Olympics, backs US presidents and even re-brands Santa Claus. A truly universal product, it has even been served in space. From Istanbul to Mexico City, Mark Thomas travels the globe investigating the stories and people Coca-Cola's iconic advertising campaigns don't mention.

Join the adventure as 33-year-old Rene Cormier politely removes himself from the working world that surrounds him and cashes in what few possessions he has to finance a three-year-long motorcycle journey around the world. Never one to let excessive planning get in the way of a good ride, Rene runs out of money half way through the tour and ultimately takes five years to cover the 41-country, 154,000 kilometer (95,000 mile) route.

Explorer is the story of what first led Benedict Allen to head for the farthest reaches of our planet - at a time when there were still valleys and ranges known only to the remote communities who inhabited them. It is also the story of why, 30 years later, he is still exploring. It's the story of a journey back to a clouded mountain in New Guinea to find a man called Korsai who had once been a friend, and to fulfil a promise made as young men. It is also a story of what it is to be 'lost' and 'found'.

It has been over a year since the war began. A year since China launched its surprise attack on America. EMP and cyber weapons plunging much of the nation into a dark chaos. Thousands of anti-ship missiles gutting the US Pacific fleet. A Chinese-allied North Korea launching an all-out attack on South Korea. Chinese information warfare campaigns triggering America to launch a nuclear strike on China's own nuclear stockpile. And the international political consequences that followed.

More than 70 percent of Earth is covered in water. Yet only about 3 percent of it is freshwater that people can use. Every year, parts of the world suffer through severe droughts, and millions of people don’t have easy access to clean drinking water. Why is there a shortage of clean and healthy water? Max Axion and the Society of Super Scientists travel around the world to learn the reasons behind the global water crisis. Young listeners can tag along to discover what causes water scarcity and find out ways they can help preserve this precious resource.

Madeira, the island of flowers and "eternal spring" belonging to Portugal with steep coasts, imposing mountains and world famous wine is an idyllic paradise for those looking for relaxation. The capital Funchal is located in a picturesque bay. After visiting the Mudéjar-style cathedral and a harbor tour, you can reach the Monte cable car and the Jardim Monte Palace. The small fishing village of Camara De Lobos is located on the south coast and was made famous by Sir Winston Churchill, who painted the small harbor here.

In 2001, martial arts-trained biker Glen Heggstad began a journey from California to the tip of South America on his motorcycle and made it as far as Colombia, where he was kidnapped by local rebels and held captive. Undeterred by more than a month of traumatic incarceration, the 'Striking Viking' finished his trip after being released. Three years later he set out into the world on his bike again, this time searching for truth on his own terms in a world that had become strangled by a climate of fear.

In this Hmong folktale, two brothers venture into a remote jungle, hunting food for their hungry family. But the jungle is full of dangerous wild animals. The older brother vows to keep his younger brother safe . . . or die trying.

Gran Canaria, the third largest of the seven Canary Islands, lies at the gates of West Africa in the deep blue Atlantic. A "miniature continent" with different climates and many different landscapes in a very small space. Las Palmas is the capital of the island and metropolis of the Canary Archipelago. A contrast to the quiet and rural island. Christopher Columbus landed in Las Palmas on his first trip to the new world in 1492 and spent one night in the residence of the Spanish military governor, named after the famous explorer Casa De Colón.

Dan is back home to settle his affairs. Then, he is free. But when an innocent woman is abducted in broad daylight, Dan responds to her call for help. His actions leads him into the dangerous vortex of a global plot - a plot designed to cripple America, maybe for good. Deep under the blue waters of the Eastern Seaboard hides a deadly secret, and the enemy knows about it. They have arrived and will stop at nothing to unleash mayhem. Only Dan Roy, ex-Black Ops warrior, stands in their way.

Sometimes, only a kid can save the day.... Star athlete Josh and computer prodigy Madison begin the adventure of a lifetime when they discover the Small World Global Protection Agency. The GPA is a secret organization dedicated to helping other kids and saving the day when adults can’t. In New Kids on the Rock, their first mission takes them to Australia, where they go from the Outback to the top of the Sydney Opera House!

Andrew Zimmern, the host of The Travel Channel’s hit series Bizarre Foods, has an extraordinarily well-earned reputation for traveling far and wide to seek out and sample anything and everything that’s consumed as food globally. Having eaten his way around the world over the course of four seasons of Bizarre Foods, Zimmern has now launched Bizarre Worlds, a new series on the Travel Channel, and this, his first book, a chronicle of his journeys as he not only tastes the “taboo treats” of the world, but delves deep into the cultures and lifestyles of locales.

"Harvesting Hope: The Global Odyssey of Mr. Grant Money" takes listeners on a transformative journey through the world of grant acquisition. Unlike traditional learning methods, Mr. Grant Money's immersive storytelling doesn't just impart knowledge it sparks curiosity, ignites passion, and instills a profound understanding of the grant landscape. In this narrative, listeners don't just hear about grants they become part of Mr. Grant Money's adventures.

Fuerteventura is the second largest island of the Canary archipelago in the Atlantic. This unspoilt landscape is sparsely populated, lies about a hundred kilometers off the African coast and belongs politically and socially to Europe. We start exploring the island in the far north. Corralejo developed into a ferry port and within a few decades into a lively resort. A fairly large marina also shows that many residents of mainland Spain have set up their second home here. Puerto del Rosario, the island's capital, is spreading out on the eastern Atlantic coast, where shepherds used to graze herds of goats.

In the 2050s, Earth has begun to empty. Those with the means and the privilege have departed the great cities of the United States for the more comfortable confines of space colonies. Those left behind salvage what they can from the collapsing infrastructure. As they eke out an existence, their neighborhoods are being cannibalized. Brick by brick, their houses are sent to the colonies, what was once a home now a quaint reminder for the colonists of the world that they wrecked.

Venture Adventure captures startup fundraising advice, tips, and recommendations of more than 50 top global investors. Collectively, these venture capitalists represent the who's who of this domain worldwide, across a wide range of sectors, geographies, and company stages. They have seen it all and know exactly what it takes to effectively raise capital against the backdrop of very dynamic and competitive global markets.