Race for the Future: An Interview with James Levelle

In an exclusive interview, True Travel founder Henry Morley spoke to filmmaker and adventurer, James Levelle, about the transformative power of travel and the importance of environmental activism.

In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by an endless dome of stars, filmmaker and adventurer James Levelle stands at the helm of the Bark Europa on nightwatch. “It was completely magical,” he recounts to Henry Morley, True Travel Founder, “the stars were brighter than I’d ever seen, even from the highest mountain tops, or remotest of regions. But with a perfect 360-degree horizon, they surrounded us – and the stars at sea level were just as bright as the stars in the middle of the sky.” He’s instantly transported to the memory. “From the helm, I looked back to see the treacle black waters of the dark night sparkling luminescently – a trail of phosphorescent green algae, disturbed by the rudder momentarily, slowly slinking off into the darkness”. A surreal sight that felt “like something from a movie.” 

For Henry, it’s clear that moments like these are the heartbeat of adventure for James. His draw to these remote, untamed spaces began in childhood, on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon, where early memories of wild, open spaces shaped his path. “When I think back to early memories of childhood, I remember the freedom,” James says. “Exploring woods, building treehouses, romping on the moors—it gave me a real, tangible connection with nature. And I suppose that’s something that’s never left me.” This connection defines James’s life as a filmmaker and environmental advocate, leading him on journeys to some of the world’s wildest places. His deep appreciation for nature, paired with an insatiable curiosity, underpins everything he does—from his early work documenting remote landscapes to his more recent focus on climate change and sustainable travel.

James’s dedication to exploring the world took an unexpected turn years ago when he was sent to South America for a project with the Discovery Channel called ‘Free Ride’. The assignment originally was to film American adventurer Rob Greenfield, who had committed to travelling over 6,000 miles with no money, relying solely on human kindness. “After being filmed meeting Rob for a chemistry test, Discovery came back to me and said, ‘We love the idea, but we want you to be in the film with him,’” James recalls. “I hadn’t planned on being in front of the camera, but like most things in my life, I thought, let’s just go for it.”

So he did, joining Rob on a journey that stripped away comforts and placed them at the mercy of strangers. “We were vulnerable—almost completely reliant on people we’d never met,” he says. “Every day, we had to trust in the goodwill of others. That willingness to help, from almost every person we met, was extraordinary. It’s given me the most unshakable faith in humanity.” Each day of this journey revealed new facets of human connection, reshaping his understanding of travel as a shared human experience rather than just a personal adventure. The experience taught him to see travel as a series of human connections, rather than as a transactional or predictable journey, and it reinforced his belief that people, across cultures, have a profound capacity for kindness.

“I’m a firm believer in the transformative power of travel. It makes for better humans. And Lord knows we all need to be the best that we can be to tackle these problems.”

Henry reflects on how this connects to True Travel’s own approach to travel. For True Travel, the focus has always been on creating opportunities for meaningful connections—whether that’s through encounters with local communities, learning traditions first-hand, or stepping beyond the surface to engage with the heart of a place. It’s an ethos rooted in the idea that travel is most rewarding when it’s immersive and transformative, allowing the unexpected to unfold naturally.

Henry expands on this, noting, “I certainly believe that people are becoming safer when it comes to travel. The result is over-tourism in these really busy places because often people don’t want to take the risk and not follow the crowd. But the real magic happens when you take those risks, step off the beaten path, and embrace the unknown.”

James agrees wholeheartedly. “I think if you give life a chance, it will serve up more exciting things than you could ever imagine,” he says. “It’s really important to leave that space for life to work its magic. If you’re not aware and you’re closed off, you’ll miss it, but life is serving up opportunities all the time.” His journey with Rob solidified this idea, teaching him to let go of control and trust in the unknown—a philosophy he’s carried into his other adventures, including the fossil-free expedition that landed him on the Bark Europa in the first place for ‘Race for the Future’.

While his career was initially about capturing the natural world on film, James’s focus shifted sharply after experiencing firsthand the destructive power of climate change. Chasing hurricanes, he found himself on the frontlines of extreme weather events. “I got caught in one of the biggest hurricanes to hit the US, racing through town to find shelter,” he recounts. “I made it to a fire station just in time, only to have the roof tear off. It was terrifying.” In the aftermath, as he watched paramedics and volunteers risk their lives to help others, he began to question his own motivations. “I realised that I was doing this work for my own sense of adventure and achievement, but there was something missing. I wanted to be of service, to tell stories that mattered not just to me but to the people impacted by these crises.”

This realisation ultimately led to ‘Race for the Future’, a 9,000-mile fossil-free expedition from the UK to Chile, created by James to amplify the voices of young climate activists and share their stories at the United Nations Climate Conference. Through this journey, James sought to turn his personal exploration into a mission with purpose, using what he knew of storytelling to inspire action on one of the most urgent issues of our time. Along the way, James encountered young activists whose lives were deeply intertwined with the realities of climate change. “When I got to South America, the biggest change was the visceral connection young people had with extreme climate change and its effects,” he reflects. “They weren’t just talking about it—they were living it every day.” Each destination unveiled another facet of the crisis: drought-stricken regions where agriculture suffered, flood-prone communities rebuilding after devastating storms, and areas where rising temperatures threatened traditional ways of life.

These encounters left a lasting impression on James, shifting his perspective and broadening his purpose. “I saw how deeply they cared, and it made me feel a responsibility to amplify their voices, to share their stories with the world,” he says. For James, it was a powerful reminder of the urgency of the climate crisis and the role of collective action in driving change.

Henry reflects on the challenge of sustainability in travel, particularly the pressing issue of transport. “It’s one of the biggest offenders in terms of environmental impact,” he says. “But we’re always looking to learn from people like you—those who’ve embraced innovative, low-impact ways of moving through the world. What do you think the future of sustainable travel looks like?”

James agrees but doesn’t believe that stopping travel is the answer. “I’m a firm believer in the transformative power of travel,” he says. “Travel makes better humans. It brings us closer to new perspectives, which we need more than ever if we’re going to tackle the climate crisis together. So, first and foremost, I would always encourage anyone with even an inkling to get out there, explore, meet new people. We all need to be the best we can be to tackle these problems.”

He continues, shifting to the idea of rethinking how we travel. “What we’ve all become so used to is jumping on a plane, arriving somewhere, and then hopping on another to get back,” he explains. “But if you can take the time to travel over land or sea, the experience becomes so much more fulfilling. It’s richer, more interesting, and if you’re not pressured by a tight schedule, you invite life to serve up unexpected adventures.”

For James, slow travel is not only a more sustainable choice but also an opportunity to deepen the connection between the traveller and the journey. “Sailing has always been extraordinary, and cycling is one of my absolute favourites,” he says. “Horseback travel is still on my bucket list – I’d love to ride through somewhere like the Mongolian steppes that way.” He paints a vivid picture of what travel could look like when approached with creativity and care. “The way we move matters, and slow travel lets us enjoy the adventure along the way, not just at the destination.” Henry agrees. “Amen to that.”

Henry’s curiosity turns to the places James has visited. “You’ve filmed all over the world,” he asks. “Is there one place that changed the way you see the world?”
“Every place I go to changes the way I see things,” James replies. “But my time in the Peruvian Amazon stands out.” Previously, James had only experienced rainforests through fleeting film projects, but this time, he spent weeks at a reforestation project founded by a friend, immersing himself in the environment. “I walked the forest with scientists who revealed its incredible interconnectedness—things I’d never have noticed in the vast green chaos,” he recalls. “And then, I walked with indigenous guides, who shared myths and legends that captured the same magic from an entirely different perspective.” For James, the two approaches—scientific and cultural—created a profound understanding. “That time in the Amazon really changed how I see the interconnectedness of life.”

As their conversation draws to a close, Henry asks the natural final question, “If you could design your next adventure, what would it look like?”

“Honestly?” James considers. “It would be here at home. I think one of the most meaningful journeys we can take is within our own communities, making a positive impact in our own environment. That’s life’s greatest adventure—right under your nose.”

In a world that often rushes to the next destination, James’s journey is a reminder that sometimes, the truest adventures come from slowing down, embracing the unknown, and discovering connection and meaning in unexpected places.

Watch the full interview

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