This week, we're honored to welcome Austin Whitehead from Salt Lake City, Utah, who made a pivotal decision 15 years ago that would shape the entire trajectory of his life. Growing up in suburban Charlotte, North Carolina, Austin felt the pull of something beyond the traditional path: a calling to step away, explore, and discover who he truly was before diving into college.
Austin takes us on a journey through his transformative gap year, from that first step onto the Appalachian Trail as an 18-year-old, to working on organic farms in the Italian Dolomites, to returning as a caretaker at a legendary trail hostel. He describes those pivotal moments: breathing in the mountain air, finding simplicity in the rhythm of walking, and meeting people from all walks of life. These experiences gave him the context and confidence to pursue a life aligned with his deepest values.
In this episode, we explore the profound power of the intentional pause, the difference between falling behind and gaining clarity, and how Austin's deliberate choice to take a gap year became an accelerator rather than a detour. Join us for a deep and moving conversation about listening to your inner compass, the medicine of moving your body in nature with others, and what it truly means to figure it out as you go, one adventure at a time.
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This week, we're honored to welcome Austin Whitehead from Salt Lake City, Utah, who made a pivotal decision 15 years ago that would shape the entire trajectory of his life. Growing up in suburban Charlotte, North Carolina, Austin felt the pull of something beyond the traditional path: a calling to step away, explore, and discover who he truly was before diving into college.
Austin takes us on a journey through his transformative gap year, from that first step onto the Appalachian Trail as an 18-year-old, to working on organic farms in the Italian Dolomites, to returning as a caretaker at a legendary trail hostel. He describes those pivotal moments: breathing in the mountain air, finding simplicity in the rhythm of walking, and meeting people from all walks of life. These experiences gave him the context and confidence to pursue a life aligned with his deepest values.
In this episode, we explore the profound power of the intentional pause, the difference between falling behind and gaining clarity, and how Austin's deliberate choice to take a gap year became an accelerator rather than a detour. Join us for a deep and moving conversation about listening to your inner compass, the medicine of moving your body in nature with others, and what it truly means to figure it out as you go, one adventure at a time.
Episode 181: Living Fearlessly with Two Traveling Nanas with Dr. Sandy Hazelip & Elenor Hamby
Inspire Campfire
51 minutes 11 seconds
2 months ago
Episode 181: Living Fearlessly with Two Traveling Nanas with Dr. Sandy Hazelip & Elenor Hamby
This week, we are honored to welcome back Dr. Sandy Hazelip and Eleanor Hamby—the Two Traveling Nanas—on Inspire Campfire. At ages 80 and 81, these lifelong friends captured the world’s imagination when they circled the globe in 80 days, proving once and for all that adventure has no age limit.
Sandy and Ellie first met more than 25 years ago after both becoming empty nesters and then widows. Best friends from the start, their bond was strengthened through shared service work in Zambia and a deep commitment to living fully. What began as a playful late-night idea—“Wouldn’t it be fun to go around the world in 80 days at age 80?”—turned into a viral sensation that inspired people of all ages and cultures.
Their new book, Here We Go: Lessons for Living Fearlessly from Two Traveling Nanas, expands on the message that made them famous. From Antarctica’s icy shores to the starry Syrian desert to the majesty of the Grand Canyon, their adventures have brought wisdom, joy, and a fearless approach to aging. Packed with encouragement to “make some plans and live,” the book is both a memoir and a guide to embracing life’s next chapter with courage and connection.
In this episode, Sandy and Ellie share stories from nights in remote villages, a hotel fire in Australia, and even a stint in a Russian jailhouse. Along the way, they reveal what friendship, resilience, faith, and saying “yes” can teach us about living a truly adventurous life—no matter your age.
Join us for a heartfelt conversation with Sandy and Ellie about friendship, fearless living, and the reminder that the real adventure isn’t just in where you go, but how you choose to live.
Inspire Campfire
This week, we're honored to welcome Austin Whitehead from Salt Lake City, Utah, who made a pivotal decision 15 years ago that would shape the entire trajectory of his life. Growing up in suburban Charlotte, North Carolina, Austin felt the pull of something beyond the traditional path: a calling to step away, explore, and discover who he truly was before diving into college.
Austin takes us on a journey through his transformative gap year, from that first step onto the Appalachian Trail as an 18-year-old, to working on organic farms in the Italian Dolomites, to returning as a caretaker at a legendary trail hostel. He describes those pivotal moments: breathing in the mountain air, finding simplicity in the rhythm of walking, and meeting people from all walks of life. These experiences gave him the context and confidence to pursue a life aligned with his deepest values.
In this episode, we explore the profound power of the intentional pause, the difference between falling behind and gaining clarity, and how Austin's deliberate choice to take a gap year became an accelerator rather than a detour. Join us for a deep and moving conversation about listening to your inner compass, the medicine of moving your body in nature with others, and what it truly means to figure it out as you go, one adventure at a time.
