One Step Beyond

Following on from Episode 15.5, and the short story "You Don't Believe In God?" I return to our round the world backpacking trip from 2016 and pick up where that last short story left off... In Morocco, disembarking an all-night bus in Merzouga, on the edge of the Sahara.If you enjoy this story, and especially if you’d care to hear more like it, please do let me know via e-mail at Onestepbeyond@ijamming.net, where you can also subscribe to the newsletter. Or, find One Step Beyond on social media at:Instagram is OneStepBeyondPodcastFacebook is One Step Beyond with Tony FletcherTwitter is OneStepBeyondP1And your host can be found here:tonyfletcher.net Incidental music for the short story "Saharan Sundown":"Amazigh" "Sidi Rabi" and "Live Improv" by Brahim Frigbane"Marhaba" by Lahcen Akil"Ismar Kkis" and "Tighoufiwin" by Imdukal'N' El Hussain SafirAll used under a Creative Commons License via the Free Music ArchiveNoel Fletcher's YouTube Vlog "Sahara Desert" from January 2016Noel Fletcher's Extended Placebo EP with artwork from Dar Tafouyte and the Sahara Desert of Erg ChebbiThe Dar Tafouyte guesthouse in Takoujte, Merzouga. Also mentioned in this Episode:Greetings from Somewhere podcastAleksander Doba obituary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three years ago, Julie McGuire, a High School English teacher in the South Bronx, came home from work eager to set off on another weekend in the Catskills, only to find her wife waiting to declare the end of their marriage. The sudden announcement threw Julie into a deep depression fueled by days full of self-loathing and nights full of NyQuil; she admits that she lost the will to live.Julie slowly regained her mojo by throwing herself into her love of backcountry skiing - hiking uphill, away from the resorts of the Catskill Mountains, and skiing her own routes back down. To better plan her winter Catskills descents off the beaten paths, she took to hiking the mountains out of ski season, and after completing the region's 35 peaks above 3500ft, plus the four mandated additional hikes in winter, she recently became – by pure coincidence – the 3500th member of the Catskill 3500 Club. She now routinely wears a ‘Queen of the Catskills’ t-shirt and posts colorful pictorial essays about her almost daily adventures hiking and skiing the back country, usually accompanied by a Double IPA (or two).In this interview, Julie and I talk openly about divorce, the outcome for 39% of American marriages, and the healing process that takes longer than expected. Julie walks me, an avid if amateur 'on-piste' skiier, through the attractions and technical aspects of backcountry skiing, explains why she endures the challenges of the mountains, and why she is hosting back country clinics limited to women and people of color. To try and match the giddy heights of Julie’s daily achievements, I recorded all my voice overs while hiking Blackhead Mountain in deep snow and ice as I close in on my own 3500 Club badge.Find Julie McGuire on Instagramand on FacebookThe full Zoom interview on YouTube.Excerpts from Julie McGuire's essay on hiking the 3500s as a way out of divorce.The Catskill 3500 Club web siteSki Touring for Beginners in Ski magazineHow to start Backcountry Skiing: A primer video from Mappy Hour.An introduction to splitboards.Catskill Outpost, for your very own Queen of the Catskills t-shirt. For questions or comments, or to subscribe to the newsletter, e-mail Onestepbeyond@ijamming.net Join One Step Beyond on social media at:Instagram is OneStepBeyondPodcastFacebook is One Step Beyond with Tony FletcherTwitter is OneStepBeyondP1And your host can be found here:tonyfletcher.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2009, in the first month of his first tour of Afghanistan with the British Army, James Rose had his legs blown off when he stepped on an IED. He barely survived with his life. Yet in 2019, he became the first double, above-the-knee amputee to climb Mount Kilimanjaro unaided. The decade in-between saw James struggle with PTSD, weight gain, alcohol and drug abuse… but also, the unending support of his now wife, who finally convinced him to try the sport of rowing. This inspired a turnaround in physical and mental health, which led in turn to winning medals for Team GB in the 2018 Sydney Invictus Games, in sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball, and then that unprecedented ascent of the tallest free-standing mountain in the world – a climb James completed in the same number of days as it took me, your host, only a month beforehand.In a frank and free-wheeling interview, James shares his life story, talks frankly of the problems he faced after losing his legs, and offers motivation for those encountering similar seemingly insurmountable hurdles. He also talks of his ultimate goal: becoming the first double, above-the-knee amputee to climb Mount Everest.Also in this episode: more about Episode 20’s subject matter, Black Travel, and Episode 21’s focus on winter hiking.  James Rose on InstagramJames in the media:James featured on ITV newsJames in the Daily MirrorJames in Republic WorldOn video:James Rose ascending Kilimanjaro by Zara ToursJames Rose: A double amputee and his love of the mountains James Rose: No excuses Invictus GamesHelp for Heroes, the charity James supported on his climb up Kili.Been Around The Globe: Rooben Fils websiteTraveling While Black by Rooben FilsAuthentic Travelers on FacebookThe Hike Intel app on AppleFor questions or comments, or to subscribe to the newsletter, e-mail Onestepbeyond@ijamming.net Join One Step Beyond on social media at:Instagram is OneStepBeyondPodcastFacebook is One Step Beyond with Tony FletcherTwitter is OneStepBeyondP1And your host can be found here:tonyfletcher.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I live at the gateway to New York’s Catskill Mountains, which I consider my playground. And I’m not the only one. In what seem to be record numbers right now, people run these mountains, they ski these mountains, they bike some of these mountains, they camp out in these mountains, they forage in these mountains, at times they are allowed to hunt in these mountains, but more than anything, they hike these mountains. And on a Sunday in late January, taking on Halcott Mountain for the first time as part of my very long-term plan to merit myself a badge, I did likewise.I didn’t achieve anything that nobody else has achieved, even that same day, I didn’t take anybody with me on the adventure for an interview, though I did meet a couple of nice Chris’s along the way. This is just a peaceful episode about a peaceful day out, a hopefully uplifting story to elevate your mood if you’re suffering from the northern hemisphere pandemic winter blues.Links from this episode:The route and elevation gain from my hike of Halcott Mountain, Jan 24 2021Catskills Trails Conditions on FacebookCatskill 3500 ClubWhen In Spain podcast: Seville and slow, sustainable travelFor questions or comments, or to subscribe to the newsletter, e-mail Onestepbeyond@ijamming.net Join One Step Beyond on social media at:Instagram is OneStepBeyondPodcastFacebook is One Step Beyond with Tony FletcherTwitter is OneStepBeyondP1And your host can be found here:tonyfletcher.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ashley Scott is a teacher in Atlanta, GA, who grew up believing that travel was not for people like himself. In his mid-30s, having still never been outside the USA, he established an educational travel program at his school, and began taking female students of color to countries where they could immerse themselves in local culture while having a safe and non-prejudiced experience. Some 40 countries and 5-600 students later, Ashley now also has his own travel company, Abiri Tours, "a Georgia-based travel company striving to make international travel more accessible and affordable for people of color."In the first half of this episode, Ashley talks about how and why he embarked on his travels, what his students gain from the experience, his favorite countries to take his female students of color, and why, in a country where barely 40% of the population own passports, black travel matters so much. In the second half, he is joined by three incredibly well-traveled former and current students - Nia, Deja, and Joi - who share their own anecdotes and opinions. They all agree that Guatemala should be top of anyone's destination list.This show was edited the day of the US Presidential Inauguration and is dedicated to Amanda Gorman, the 22-year old black female poet whose 'The Hill We Climb' spoke to the struggles and aspirations of an imperfect country that has nonetheless been pulled back from the brink. She serves as an emblem of the USA's potentially bright future, as do the young women on this episode. They also serve as proof of why travel is so important in creating well-rounded individuals - especially when that travel is conducted with a social conscience and an educational purpose. Links from this episode:Ashley Scott's travel company Abiri Tours. AbiriTours.comAshley Scott's occasional podcast, Traveling Incognegro. Abiri Tours on Instagram. Info about the Henley Passport Index is here: Only 42% of Americans own passports hereInfo on San Pedro, GuatemalaFor questions or comments, or to subscribe to the newsletter, e-mail Onestepbeyond@ijamming.net Join One Step Beyond on social media at:Instagram is OneStepBeyondPodcastFacebook is One Step Beyond with Tony FletcherTwitter is OneStepBeyondP1And your host can be found here:tonyfletcher.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this second of a two-parter about New Beginnings for the New Year, I talk to David Watts Barton, a writer, traveler, musician, Burner and all-round optimist who upped and left the USA for Berlin in the middle of the 2020 pandemic year. He talks about how and why he made the move, what makes Berlin so special, and about his ongoing writing projects: Music1967.com, and Japan From Anime to Zen.You can find David and his writings at his web site, DavidWattsBarton.comTony's writings about Burning Man are athttp://www.ijamming.net/category/burning-man/And the Crude Awakening can be seen athttp://www.ijamming.net/burning-man-welcome-home-part-2/For questions or comments, or to subscribe to the newsletter, e-mail Onestepbeyond@ijamming.net Join One Step Beyond on social media at:Instagram is OneStepBeyondPodcastFacebook is One Step Beyond with Tony FletcherTwitter is OneStepBeyondP1And your host can be found here:tonyfletcher.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One Step Beyond launches 2021 with a two parter about two people who refused to let the pandemic of 2020 prevent them making planned life changes. In part 1, Adam Fletcher - yes, he is a relation - talks about his volunteer work with asylum seekers on the Greek island of Samos, and why it has inspired him to hang up his career as a touring musician, including lucrative work in a touring Abba tribute band, and go back to college to become a doctor. In an interview conducted from the Island of Samos on New Year's Eve, Adam talks about the conditions faced by the refugees on the island, many of whom have been living in squalor for years now, the work of various charities and NGOs, and why he feels blessed and privileged to have the opportunity to spend time with them, and to embark on a fresh career.Some of the articles mentioned in this Episode:https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/07/world/europe/greece-samos-migrants.htmlhttps://www.rescue.org/video/finding-courage-continue-greeces-refugee-campshttps://www.rescue.org/country/greece#what-caused-the-crisis-in-greecehttps://www.instagram.com/p/CJHGmJwjj38/The short monthly Soundcloud podcast hosted by Medequaliteam. Also:https://observers.france24.com/en/20200918-blocked-camp-samos-refugees-demand-legal-justicehttps://theconversation.com/samos-grim-winter-leads-to-protests-by-refugees-living-in-limbo-on-greek-island-110116https://www.pressenza.com/2019/12/children-alone-amongst-6-000-refugees-on-samos/https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/on-a-greek-island-that-welcomed-migrants-residents-and-refugees-feel-abandoned A list of NGOs and charities typically operating on the island of Samos, as supplied by Adam Fletcher: Action for EducationAvocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France)The Flying Seagulls ProjectGlocal RootsHelp Refugees / Choose LoveIndigo VolunteersMed’Equaliteam (this is the NGO Adam currently volunteers for)Movement on the GroundPrecious Plastic Samos Project Armonia Project TEN Refugee4RefugeesRefugee Law Clinic BerlinSamos VolunteersStill I RiseVerein FAIRThe One Step Beyond Supporter page (i.e. the tip jar):https://supporter.acast.com/onestepbeyondFor questions or comments, or to subscribe to the newsletter, e-mail Onestepbeyond@ijamming.net Join One Step Beyond on social media at:Instagram is OneStepBeyondPodcastFacebook is One Step Beyond with Tony FletcherTwitter is OneStepBeyondP1And your host can be found here:tonyfletcher.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In May 2016, halfway through my 3-person family's year-long backpacking trip around the world, we met the Norths - Phil, Amanda, Sophie and Nate - in Chiang Mai, Thailand. They had left their former Alaska hometown of Kenai behind for good in the fall of 2013. and would not resettle in the States until 2017. On this episode of One Step Beyond, I catch up with the the Norths - in their new hometown of Bellingham, Washington - for the first time in four and a half years. Sophie is now 17, Nate 15, and along with their parents, they talk candidly about their experiences, what they learned about the world at large and about themselves as a family, why they believe in 'slow travel', how they kept costs down, and why they think everyone should have the opportunity to travel internationally. For any family thinking of embarking on a long-term travel project, this is an empowering and encouraging story. Unlike other interesting people featured on this show, the Norths have nothing to promote. There is no social media to link to! However, if you would like to read more about the work that Phil North does in his environmental role with the Tulalip tribe residents in Washington State:https://www.heraldnet.com/news/for-tribes-climate-change-fight-is-about-saving-culture/The other podcasts referenced on this episode are:All The Sh*t I've Learned Abroad, Episode 76: WorldTowningThe Runners World UK: When Joe Strummer Ran The London MarathonBaggage Claim: Travel Stories No One Tells. For questions or comments, or to subscribe to the newsletter, e-mail Onestepbeyond@ijamming.net Join One Step Beyond on social media at:Instagram is OneStepBeyondPodcastFacebook is One Step Beyond with Tony FletcherTwitter is OneStepBeyondP1And your host can be found here:tonyfletcher.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Long term international travel has proven nigh impossible in 2020, and will be well into 2021 as well. But what if you live on the road, what if you are already somewhere else on the planet when lockdown happens. Does it all stop? And if it does stop, where do you find yourself and can you survive there? And if it doesn’t stop, what does that mean, and how is it to travel in the age of covid? What are the challenges, the pitfalls, and hopefully the rewards? I talk with Trevor Warman, the Nomadic Backpacker, who has has spent the bulk of the last 20 years on the road, living from country to country, bus journey to bus journey, hostel to hostel. This would be an interesting story in normal times, but it’s even more interesting in 2020, because Trevor has had to stay just one step ahead of potential national pandemics. From several months locked down in Kenya, to forced quarantine in North Macedonia, to a surprise resurfacing on yet another continent, it has made for a year both extremely static and very very mobile, and difficult from start to finish. Over the course of two interviews, Trevor shared with me the perils and pitfalls of being a nomad during a global pandemic. And so, while One Step Beyond is here to tell and share positive stories, it’s also good to have a reality check. The world is not all unicorns and rainbows. You can find the Nomadic Backpacker's blog and other travel adventures at www.nomadicbacker.com and on social media, at Twitter and YouTube as Nomadic Backpacker. The New York Times story about Istanbul is at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/travel/istanbul-tourists-curfew.htm Plus: I talk about my recent road marathon. Yes, a proper road race - in 2020! The debut Upstate Classic was organized by the Albany Running Exchange and you can hear CEO & Founder Josh Merlis talk about how they put on a major event in a pandemic on the Runpacers podcast, Episode 255. For questions or comments, or to subscribe to the newsletter, e-mail Onestepbeyond@ijamming.net  Join One Step Beyond on social media at: Instagram is OneStepBeyondPodcast Facebook is One Step Beyond with Tony Fletcher Twitter is OneStepBeyondP1 And your host can be found here:tonyfletcher.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Regular listeners may know that in what  I sometimes call the ‘default world’ – the one outside this podcast – I am a writer by trade, and my books have included one published memoir with another to come. And those same regular listeners have probably heard me talking, on a few episodes now, about the trip I took in 2016 with my then wife and our younger, then 11-year old son, whereby we went backpacking round the globe for ten and a half months. Not surprisingly, I wrote about those travels, gradually compiling a series of short stories from our experiences on the road, none of which seem to have dated especially fast and all of which hopefully reveal or present some universal truths and commonalities.And so, rather than commit to a full episode of One Step Beyond this Thanksgiving, where it might well get lost in the dinner table shuffle, I decided to make this a half episode, and present one such short story. It’s Not True is set in Morocco early on in our journey, back in January of 2016, a whole Presidency ago.If you enjoy this story, and especially if you’d care to hear more like it, please do let me know via e-mail Onestepbeyond@ijamming.net, where you can also subscribe to the newsletter. Or, find One Step Beyond on social media at:Instagram is OneStepBeyondPodcastFacebook is One Step Beyond with Tony FletcherTwitter is OneStepBeyondP1And your host can be found here:tonyfletcher.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this Episode, I go for a "bush wack'" hike up Rusk Mountain in the Catskills to disengage from the American elections. Guiding me on the climb through the snow is Ken Posner, whose minimalist approach to outdoor activities takes inspiration from the Greek vagabond-philosopher Diogenes. Ken frequently sets off on marathons, hikes, climbs and other adventures without food, water, navigational tools of any kind, and often – as on his 24-hour ‘Diogenes Challenge’ through nine Catskills peaks this last summer – without shoes. On our climb, Ken has me lead us up the trail-less, heavily wooded mountain to find the canister at its true summit, using only the knowledge I came with and my instincts. Along the way we discuss the drawbacks of relying on technology, the dangers of the modern athletic diet, the various ‘stressers’ we can healthily put ourselves under to improve our overall well-being, and such people as Wim Hof, John Muir, Henry Thoreau. And Ken enlightens me as to why Diogenes was the founder of both Cynicism and Stoicism.  Ken has some major accomplishments to his own name. In 2013, he achieved what was then the Fastest Known Time (9 days) for Running The Long Path through New York, and wrote a book of that name about the experience. The following year, he set a still-standing FKT for the Badwater Double, a 146-mile, near 15,000-ft climb from the lowest point in the Continental US to the highest point, at the top of Mount Whitney – and back again, covering the 292 miles in under 4 days. This episode is intended to encourage all of us to leave not only our worries behind when we get outdoors, but to leave technology behind as far as possible, and return to our natural state - one that, as ever, is capable of much more than we typically credit. You can find Ken Posner at https://thelongbrownpath.com His blog post on Diogenes: https://thelongbrownpath.com/tag/diogenes-of-sinope/ His blog post on the Diogenes Challenge: https://thelongbrownpath.com/2020/06/21/the-diogenes-challenge/ His account of running the Badwater Double and lessons learned: https://marathonandbeyond.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/18.6_EditorsChoice.pdf One of his blog posts on barefoot running & hiking, with comments towards the end on "natural running" and the risks of overreliance on technology: https://thelongbrownpath.com/2020/01/25/5000-miles-barefoot/ His book Running The Long Path: https://www.amazon.com/Running-Long-Path-Discovery-Excelsior-ebook/dp/B01M01B96Y Ken also recommends: Best book for beginners on barefoot running - Barefoot Running Step by Step by Ken Bob Saxton: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00504TLYC/Waterlogged by Tim Noakes -- great research on the myths of dehydration and the risk of overhydration: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081U6WWG/ For questions or comments, or to subscribe to the newsletter, e-mail Onestepbeyond@ijamming.net  Join One Step Beyond on social media at:Instagram is OneStepBeyondPodcast Facebook is One Step Beyond with Tony Fletcher Twitter is OneStepBeyondP1 And your host can be found here: tonyfletcher.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"If you’re not interested in culture or community, then don’t walk through a country. And if you don’t want to fall in love with humanity, then don’t go to India." (Note: Spotify listeners will notice an out-of-sync narration during parts of this episode. Please listen on another platform if you care and apologies to all listeners for allowing an episode to go out with an editing error!)In 2017, the 70th Anniversary of India’s Independence from Great Britain, self-styled British expeditioner Olie Hunter Smart set off to walk, solo and unsupported, the entire length of India and to make a movie about his journey: The Road To Independence. During the course of his 2800 miles/4500km from the Himalaya Mountains of northern Ledakh to the southern sea tip of Kanyakamuri, Olie also re-traced the 240-mile journey of Mahatma Gandhi’s 1930 Salt March protest, and he ended his trip where Gandhi’s ashes were scattered in the ocean. Carrying his film equipment on his back, enduring physical and emotional hardships across the course of a seven and a half month expedition, Hunter Smart interviewed dozens of people along the way, from former Freedom Fighters who remember the battle for Independence, to Gandhi’s great grandson who reminds us that non-violence means to not violate.I talked with Olie about his amazing walk through incredible India, how he made a film without prior experience, and about how someone with a relatively normal background takes on expeditions like this – and his previous grand adventure, the Amazon River Run where he traced the Amazon 4500 miles from the Peruvian mountains to the Brazilian Atlantic Ocean.Includes clips from the movie, The Road To Independence.I also draw parallels between Olie’s journey south through India and Scott Jurek’s FKT running North on the Appalachian Trail.You can watch The Road To Independence on Vimeo, https://vimeo.com/r/2UWE/ejlhQXFwUV Enter promo code OSB50 at checkout for a 50% discount.Read more about Olie Hunter Smart’s expeditions at his web site, oliehuntersmart.comYou can follow Olie at Instagram, Facebook and Twitter also at oliehuntersmart.comPodcasts mentioned in this episode:The Pursuit Zone - Adventure Travel Ep 204Call To Adventure Episode 7Unraveling Traveling Episode 8Plant Strong Episode 12Without Compromise Oct 23Also,The Pain Cave Ep 70 with Tony Fletcher For questions or comments, or to subscribe to the newsletter, e-mail Onestepbeyond@ijamming.net Join One Step Beyond on social media at:Instagram is OneStepBeyondPodcastFacebook is One Step Beyond with Tony FletcherTwitter is OneStepBeyondP1And your host can be found here:tonyfletcher.net All links can be found athttps://shows.acast.com/onestepbeyond/episodes/ep-14-walking-india-top-to-bottom   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Episode 13 of One Step Beyond. This time around, we discuss ‘Still Running: The Art of Meditation in Motion,’ a new book by Vanessa Zuisei Goddard. I first met Zuisei in 2006, at the Zen Mountain Monastery in Mount Tremper, in the Catskills, where I was taught how to sit zazen - the form of meditation practiced there - by Zuisei herself. But Zuisei is also a runner, and for all that she has spent much of her life sitting zazen, she has never stopped moving. I would often see her running on the local roads and knew that that she held ‘running retreats’ at ZMM - and yet we never talked in detail about our shared love of this physical exercise.In 2019, after two decades at ZMM, Zuisei resumed lay life, moving to New York City to become a writer and teacher. And when ‘Still Running’ was published this summer by Shambhala – with a front cover endorsement by ultra-marathon legend Scott Jurek - I knew instinctively that I had to read it and bring her on this show.Zuisei’s wonderful little book is extra helpful because while it discusses Buddhism, each chapter ends with a physical practice that applies to anyone and everyone, of any domination and for almost any physical endeavor. For One Step Beyond, we spoke by phone, discussing life in a Buddhist monastery and beyond, and more specifically, the practices she describes in her book. You will hear me undertake and report back on some of these practices.We also discuss the tradition of extreme running within Buddhism, as evidenced in the isolated Gompa Monks of Tibet, and the Marathon Monks of Japan. This gives me a reason to dig out an LP of Tibetan Ritual Music that I had owned for 30 years and somehow never opened; perhaps it was just waiting for the perfect moment.You can find Still Running at all good book shops or through the publisher, Shambhala. If you order online, please consider supporting your local independent store in the process; you can do so in the US by using Bookshop.org Zuisei can be found at VanessaZuiseiGoddard.com, and on Instagram and Facebook as zuiseigoddardThe Zen Mountain Monastery, which has been offering online programs in 2020 during the pandemic, is at mro.org.The incidental music in this episode is:‘Offering to the Savior Gompo’ and ‘Invocation of Gompo from the LP Tibetan Ritual Music by Lamas and Monks, recorded in Sikkim in 1961 for the Lyrichord label.The 'Easy, Light, Smooth, Fast' mantra I cite is from Barefoot Ted as referenced in Born To Run. Barefoot Ted went on to make the Luna Sandals that we featured in Episode 11: Take a Step Outside Your... Shoes?For questions or comments, or to subscribe to the newsletter, e-mail Onestepbeyond@ijamming.net Join One Step Beyond on social media at:Instagram is OneStepBeyondPodcastFacebook is One Step Beyond with Tony FletcherTwitter is OneStepBeyondP1And your host can be found here:tonyfletcher.netAll links can be found athttps://shows.acast.com/onestepbeyond/ep-13-silent-running    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey you… Welcome to Episode 12 of One Step Beyond, a fortnightly show about positively engaging with the world outside our door, with host Tony Fletcher.In 2016, Jess Gumkowski and her husband BJ – the ‘YogiTriathletes’ – sold or gave away almost everything they owned, and packed what was left (primarily their triathlon gear and their dog) into a Honda Fit with no fixed destination. 2016 was also the year that I hit the road, with my then wife and then 11-year old younger son, embarking on 10 and a half months of backpacking around the world, freed from the constraints of possessions and expectations, and living very much in the moment.In a wide-ranging interview, Jess and I talk about selling everything off, and then giving away what’s left – from photographs to jewelry to treasured race medals. We acknowledge the very real hurdles that may prevent others from feeling they have the power to make similarly transformative decisions with their lives, to which end Jess discusses the importance of meditation and a positive mindset. We both marvel at the kindness of strangers you meet on the road, and how some of the most minimal and uncomfortable moments are also some of the most rewarding. Jess also explains how she and ‘Beej’ are able to survive living, working and traveling together as both a personal and professional couple, and offers three take-aways for anyone who might be considering a similar adventure.  You can find Jess and BJ at yogitriathlete.com, where you can follow links to their two podcasts, Awake Athlete and Yogitriathlete, their blog, their coaching activities, and Jess’s two vegan cookbooks: High Vibe Recipes for Athlete Appetite, and Pizza Night Done Right. The video in which Jess & BJ wave goodbye to their medals is here.Separately, I offer an update on the podcasts that keep me going through my mountain runs, and ponder at the news that my home area is currently the hottest real estate market in the country, the result of moneyed New Yorkers fleeing post-covid New York City.Other podcasts referenced in this episode:Barefoot Backpacker: Beer Around the WorldBig and White: How Covid Life Is Like Culture ShockAll The Shit I've Learned AbroadThe Traveler's Blueprint: Animals Using DrugsWashington Post article: Welcome to Woodstock 2020: Peace, love . . . and urban exiles fighting over real estateThe Cat's Tail Trail MarathonRadio KingstonA few corrections to my narration in this episode:Nepal did in fact open back up just as I was finishing this episode, with international flights resuming after six months. Also, the Cat's Tail Trail Marathon takes place on Saturday October 2, not Saturday October 3. And Still Running is published by Shambhala Books, not, as I pronounced it, Shabala. For questions or comments, or to subscribe to the newsletter, e-mail Onestepbeyond@ijamming.net Join One Step Beyond on social media:InstagramFacebookTwitterAnd your host can be found here:tonyfletcher.net    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Episode 11 of One Step Beyond, a show that encourages you to take a step outside your comfort zone and enrich your life.Ten years ago, Bill Hoffman was just another busy, middle aged, married 40-something father carrying an extra 40lbs of weight around his midriff. He hadn’t run since high school, and had barely engaged in any other athletic activity during those 25 years either. Then he read Born To Run, the best-selling book by Christopher McDougall, and took more than a step outside of his comfort zone. He took a step outside his shoes as well. Inspired by the notion of minimalist footwear as practiced by the Tarahumara Indians of the Copper Canyons, the featured 'Hidden Tribe' of Born To Run, Bill bought a pair of Vibram Five Fingers, and started running again, a mile or so at a time, alternating with his bare feet, and before he knew it, he had qualified for the Boston Marathon.Bill has now run over 40 marathons and ultra-marathons, including Boston five times, and the feared and revered Leadville 100 twice. Not once has he competed in "normal" shoes. He does all his running now in the open Luna Sandals, the Tarahumaras' huaraches as made by another star of Born To Run, Barefoot Ted. On the last Friday of August, I drove to meet Bill at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve and try the sandals myself. While we ran together, Bill explained why shoes are not good for you and how anyone can follow in his own footsteps to athletic success - unshod, that is. We also talked the importance and influence of Born To Run, the madness that is the Leadville 100... and Barefoot Ted himself.Resources for this episode:(All links can be found at https://shows.acast.com/onestepbeyond/episodes/ep-11-take-a-step-outside-your-shoes)Bill Hoffman's TED Talk, From Couch to Ultra Marathon Bill's article on the Luna Sandals blog. Running the Leadville 100 in Lunas,Bill's article on Running (and swimming) the Lake George 12str in Adirondack Sports (Page 10.)Mountain Dog Running on FacebookLuis Escobar Road Dog podcast Episode 105: Finding the Flow with Barefoot Ted McDonald.For questions or comments about One Step Beyond, or to subscribe to the newsletter, e-mail Onestepbeyond@ijamming.net Join One Step Beyond on social media:InstagramFacebookTwitterAnd your host can be found here:tonyfletcher.net  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.