“The urbex stories that you captured in your podcast are just phenomenal. When you listen to the podcast, the stories are so inspirational, so amazing and you can learn so much from them and be inspired, not even to do urbex but to do your own creativity.” – John Law (member of the Cacophony Society and Suicide Club and co-funder of Burning Man)

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Latest 3 episodes:

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History of Soviet ghost-town of Pyramiden and details on how to get there with Dmitrii Negrutsa who lives in the Arctic mining settlement Barentsburg on Svalbard archipelago

The host of Chasing Bandos Podcast met today’s guest Dmitrii Negrutsa in the canteen building of the former Soviet mining settlement known as Pyramiden. Pyramiden is situated on the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and stands as one of the few remaining authentic Soviet ghost towns in the world.

The host was immediately struck by Dmitrii’s eloquence and welcoming nature when they met during a visit to Pyramiden with a group of fellow explorers.

During the episode, Dmitrii provides a wealth of information about Pyramiden, offering a vivid picture of life in this abandoned mining settlement. He delves into the realities of Russian presence on Norwegian soil, he clarifies if polar bear threat is real, how the region has transformed since the Ukrainian-Russian war, and what it was like living in Pyramiden from a miner’s perspective during the Soviet era.

Additionally, Dmitrii shares his impressions of the group of urban explorers who ventured to Pyramiden. This episode presents a fascinating and unique perspective on the historic and enigmatic ghost town of Pyramiden, as well as the experiences of those who explore it today.

Download the episode

SOCIAL MEDIA / LINKS:

Instagram: dmitrii_negrutsa and goarctica
Website:: goarctica.com
Wikipedia: Pyramiden

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UrbEx DEBATE 3 - Aussie Rules - Abandoned shark, Stealing or rehoming?, Talking to the Press, Homeless people, Wearing protection, Blowing up Spots, Does UrbEx need rules or code of ethics?

In this episode of the Chasing Bandos Urbex Podcast, a panel of four Australian urban explorers—Jims, Trespvss, Steak, and Mariachi — engage in a lively discussion on various urban exploration-related topics.

They start by sharing their experiences dealing with homeless people and scrappers commonly encountered in abandoned buildings. The explorers consider strategies for managing these encounters and the challenges they pose.

The panel then delves into the topic of protection for urban explorers, debating the necessity of carrying personal safety equipment while exploring abandoned places. Safety concerns and preparedness are key points of discussion.

Another topic explored is the potential need for rules, guidelines, or a code of ethics within the urban exploration community. The panel debates the advantages and challenges of creating and enforcing such standards.

The ethical dilemma of taking items from abandoned locations is also addressed, with the explorers sharing their perspectives on whether this practice is akin to rehoming or simply stealing.

Adapting behavior when traveling to different regions, countries, or cultures is discussed, highlighting the impact of local customs and laws on the explorers’ approach.

The panel debates whether it is acceptable for urban explorers to engage with the press or media about their experiences, considering the potential consequences and benefits of such interactions.

The episode wraps up with a fascinating story about an abandoned wildlife park in Australia, featuring an abandoned shark left inside a tank. 

This discussion provides a comprehensive exploration of urban exploration topics, offering insights and perspectives from experienced explorers within the Australian urbex community, but in all honesty… it’s a train wreck. 

SOCIAL MEDIA / LINKS:

Instagram: Jims (jims_urbex), Steak (steak_and_titties), Mariachi (mariachi.abandoned.melbourne), Trespvss (trespvss)

Website: Jim’s Urbex: jimsurbex.com

Belly Cave Podcast: listen here

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PYRAMIDEN - Exploring a Soviet Ghost Town at the End of the Arctic World

Welcome to today’s episode, which is all about Pyramiden. So, what is Pyramiden? It’s a former Soviet mining settlement located in the Arctic Circle on the Svalbard archipelago. This place is a ghost town, frozen in time. The Russians used to mine coal from Pyramiden, a settlement they bought from Sweden. Due to various circumstances, including an airplane disaster in 1996, the decision was made to close all operations.

Fast forward to 2007, the owners decided to embark on new operations, this time linked with tourism. This summer, I invited nine of my former podcast guests on a trip to the Arctic to experience this remarkable place — an experience that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time to the era of the Cold War. You’ll have the opportunity to see what living in Soviet Russia was like, with all the relics of the past left behind.

In this podcast, we’ll highlight the events of this trip and share the best moments of this adventure.

SOCIAL MEDIA / LINKS:

Instagram of our guests: Katharina mio_terriyaki, Giannis absenceoftime80, Max Boncina max.bon
Wikipedia: Pyramiden

Download the episode

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MINI-SERIES & SPECIALS

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Abandoned China

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