On this bonus episode, the 10th person to walk around the world, Tom Turcich, joins Stacy to tell us why and how he and his pup, Savannah, took on this 7-year adventure. Tom shares his reflections, lessons learned, and the kindness of humanity he discovered along the way.
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Key Takeaways
Introductions
- Tom’s catalyst for “seizing the day” came from the sudden passing of a good friend at the age of 17. As a self-described introvert, he wanted to be forced into adventure.
- His 28,000 mile adventure started in his hometown in New Jersey the day before his 26th birthday.
- He became the tenth person to walk around the world, and his dog, Savannah, became the first dog to do so. He has documented his adventures in his new book coming out October 8, The World Walk: 7 Years. 28,000 Miles. 6 Continents. A Grand Meditation, One Step at a Time.
The World Walk
- Tom describes the first four months of his walk being very reflective and working through some unresolved emotions.
- Additionally, there was a lot of sorting through all the practical things that come along with walking day in and day out. He was grateful he started his trek in the US, as there was a lot to learn before having to navigate additional cultural and language barriers.
- He notes that walking, in general, is very therapeutic and provides the space to think and reflect you don’t get in “normal” life that is full of distractions. It also makes you become better company with yourself. So he encourages the average person to just get out there and not to undervalue walking. Embrace the “inconvenience” of walking and not the instant gratification that driving can bring.
- While his total time away was about seven years, Tom notes that he spent closer to six year of walking. He was stuck in Azerbaijan in six months due to Covid and also got a bacterial infection in South American that knocked him out for about four months.
- Logistically, he did take airplanes or ferries to get from continent to continent. He did obtain permission to walk across the Bosphorus Bridge from Turkey into Asia.
- By time he reached the end, he said he was definitely done with it as it’s lonely, you’re always the stranger.
Lessons Learned
- You don’t have to trust everyone
- You don’t have to give weight to every thought, some are just not that useful
- It gets easier to ask for help
- Most people want to make a little money and spend time with their family
- People are nice, there is a lot of kindness in the world
Studies, References, and Products
- Inside Out 2 (movie)
- Karl Bushby
- Savannah’s World of Adventure: Crossing the Andes by Tom Turcich
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Note: Stacy and her guests are not medical professionals. This podcast is for general educational purposes only. It is NOT intended to diagnose, advise, or treat any physical or mental illness. We always recommend you consult a licensed service provider.
