What Could Go Right?

Erik Orton + Emily Orton
  • 5.0 (14)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

With little experience and even less money, we moved aboard a sailboat in the Caribbean with our five kids. We spent the next year sailing it back to our home in Manhattan. That changed everything. We wrote all about it in our NYTimes Top 10 Travel Book "Seven at Sea." Here we talk about personal growth and sailing. We want to help you live your best life one adventure at a time.

  1. 2D AGO

    Ep 134 – From Stuck to Soaring with Curtis and Irene Hill

    Curtis had six kids, just lost his job, and wondered if he’d ever get ahead—or live his lifelong dream of flying. Alongside his wife Irene, he navigated big fears, bold risks, and life-changing decisions, from investing in a groundbreaking ed-tech startup to finally buying the small airplane he’d always dreamed of. In this episode, Curtis and Irene share their story of courage, partnership, and adventure, offering insights for anyone ready to take a leap, invest in a dream, and turn fear into freedom—one adventure at a time. Welcome to the What Could Go Right? Podcast. We’re your hosts: Erik Orton and Emily Orton. We talk about personal growth and sailing. In 2014, with little experience and less money, we bootstrapped a year on a sailboat with our five kids and it changed our lives forever. We tell the whole story in our book Seven at Sea. On this podcast, we want to help you go from fear to freedom one adventure at a time. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rate. Review. Subscribe.   Resources: Try Living on a Sailboat for a Week:  Perfect for rookies who want to test drive the live-aboard dream. Yes, we let you drive the boat. Relax, explore, and get as much/little sailing experience as you want with stunning 360-views. Sail with us. Erik + Emily Memoirs: Seven at Sea: Why a New York City Family Cast Off Convention For A Life-Changing Year On A Sailboat  Knock: The Spiritual Journey of a Door-to-Door Salesman Connect with Erik + Emily: Email Subscribe to Encouragement Youtube Like, Comment, Subscribe Instagram  Facebook

    56 min

  2. 12/18/2025

    Ep 133 – Behind the Scenes: Progress in Real Life

    Real growth isn’t a glow-up—it’s a beautiful mess. In this episode, we open up about the transitions, challenges, and quiet wins happening inside our family and business this year. If you’ve been feeling behind, this conversation will remind you you’re not alone—progress is progress, even when it’s slow. And asking What has gone right? might just shift everything. Welcome to the What Could Go Right? Podcast. We’re your hosts: Erik Orton and Emily Orton. We talk about personal growth and sailing. In 2014, with little experience and less money, we bootstrapped a year on a sailboat with our five kids and it changed our lives forever. We tell the whole story in our book Seven at Sea. On this podcast, we want to help you go from fear to freedom one adventure at a time. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rate. Review. Subscribe.   Resources: Try Living on a Sailboat for a Week:  Perfect for rookies who want to test drive the live-aboard dream. Yes, we let you drive the boat. Relax, explore, and get as much/little sailing experience as you want with stunning 360-views. Sail with us. Erik + Emily Memoirs: Seven at Sea: Why a New York City Family Cast Off Convention For A Life-Changing Year On A Sailboat  Knock: The Spiritual Journey of a Door-to-Door Salesman Connect with Erik + Emily: Email Subscribe to Encouragement Youtube Like, Comment, Subscribe Instagram  Facebook

    41 min

  3. 12/10/2025

    Ep 132 – Best of The Bahamas

    POV: What it’s like to sail the Exumas, part of the Bahamas’ stunning island chain. If you’re curious whether this style of travel fits you—and want a real sense of what a week sailing out of Nassau is like—this episode is your guide. Discover the rhythm of life onboard and the joy of exploring uninhabited islands you can only reach by boat. Experience shallow, calm waters, excellent snorkeling, quiet beaches and trails, and the simple pleasure of days spent between turquoise seas and brilliant constellations. Welcome to the What Could Go Right? Podcast. We’re your hosts: Erik Orton and Emily Orton. We talk about personal growth and sailing. In 2014, with little experience and less money, we bootstrapped a year on a sailboat with our five kids and it changed our lives forever. We tell the whole story in our book Seven at Sea. On this podcast, we want to help you go from fear to freedom one adventure at a time. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rate. Review. Subscribe.   Resources: Try Living on a Sailboat for a Week:  Perfect for rookies who want to test drive the live-aboard dream. Yes, we let you drive the boat. Relax, explore, and get as much/little sailing experience as you want with stunning 360-views. Sail with us. Erik + Emily Memoirs: Seven at Sea: Why a New York City Family Cast Off Convention For A Life-Changing Year On A Sailboat  Knock: The Spiritual Journey of a Door-to-Door Salesman Connect with Erik + Emily: Email Subscribe to Encouragement Youtube Like, Comment, Subscribe Instagram  Facebook

    42 min

  4. 12/04/2025

    Ep 131- When You Can't See Your Progress

    Progress isn’t always loud. Sometimes it shows up as tiny improvements you barely register: handling stress better, recovering faster, or responding with more patience than the old you. This episode explores how to track those gains and trust that forward motion is happening even when it doesn’t feel like it.   Welcome to the What Could Go Right? Podcast. We’re your hosts: Erik Orton and Emily Orton. We talk about personal growth and sailing. In 2014, with little experience and less money, we bootstrapped a year on a sailboat with our five kids and it changed our lives forever. We tell the whole story in our book Seven at Sea. On this podcast, we want to help you go from fear to freedom one adventure at a time. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rate. Review. Subscribe.   Resources: Try Living on a Sailboat for a Week:  Perfect for rookies who want to test drive the live-aboard dream. Yes, we let you drive the boat. Relax, explore, and get as much/little sailing experience as you want with stunning 360-views. Sail with us. Erik + Emily Memoirs: Seven at Sea: Why a New York City Family Cast Off Convention For A Life-Changing Year On A Sailboat  Knock: The Spiritual Journey of a Door-to-Door Salesman Connect with Erik + Emily: Email Subscribe to Encouragement Youtube Like, Comment, Subscribe Instagram  Facebook

    27 min

  5. 11/27/2025

    Ep 130 - Burnt Out From Giving?

    If you’ve spent years giving to everyone else—your kids, your partner, your parents, your job—and now feel emptied out, this episode is for you. You want to give from a place of love, but the burnout is real. In this conversation, we unpack how to recenter, rediscover what brings you joy, and rebuild a life of meaning that fuels rather than drains. Welcome to the What Could Go Right? Podcast. We’re your hosts: Erik Orton and Emily Orton. We talk about personal growth and sailing. In 2014, with little experience and less money, we bootstrapped a year on a sailboat with our five kids and it changed our lives forever. We tell the whole story in our book Seven at Sea. On this podcast, we want to help you go from fear to freedom one adventure at a time. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rate. Review. Subscribe.   Resources: Try Living on a Sailboat for a Week:  Perfect for rookies who want to test drive the live-aboard dream. Yes, we let you drive the boat. Relax, explore, and get as much/little sailing experience as you want with stunning 360-views. Sail with us. Erik + Emily Memoirs: Seven at Sea: Why a New York City Family Cast Off Convention For A Life-Changing Year On A Sailboat  Knock: The Spiritual Journey of a Door-to-Door Salesman Connect with Erik + Emily: Email Subscribe to Encouragement Youtube Like, Comment, Subscribe Instagram  Facebook

    31 min

  6. 11/20/2025

    Ep 129 - If You're NOT Having Fun...

    Think success has to be hard? What if having more fun could actually be the key to living a more intentional, fulfilled life? Too many of us chase purpose while forgetting joy. In this episode, we guide you—our hero—toward a life where fun fuels productivity, health, and connection. Through stories from sailing, play, and everyday adventures, you’ll discover how to make work, relationships, and goals more enjoyable without losing meaning. Welcome to the What Could Go Right? Podcast. We’re your hosts: Erik Orton and Emily Orton. We talk about personal growth and sailing. In 2014, with little experience and less money, we bootstrapped a year on a sailboat with our five kids and it changed our lives forever. We tell the whole story in our book Seven at Sea. On this podcast, we want to help you go from fear to freedom one adventure at a time. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rate. Review. Subscribe.   Resources: Try Living on a Sailboat for a Week:  Perfect for rookies who want to test drive the live-aboard dream. Yes, we let you drive the boat. Relax, explore, and get as much/little sailing experience as you want with stunning 360-views. Sail with us. Erik + Emily Memoirs: Seven at Sea: Why a New York City Family Cast Off Convention For A Life-Changing Year On A Sailboat  Knock: The Spiritual Journey of a Door-to-Door Salesman Connect with Erik + Emily: Email Subscribe to Encouragement Youtube Like, Comment, Subscribe Instagram  Facebook

    30 min

  7. 11/13/2025

    Ep 128 - We Talked to 1,000 People: Most Frequently Asked Questions about sailing with us

    We’ve spoken with over 1,000 people about our sailing trips, and we’ve gathered the questions you ask most. In this episode, we’re answering the updated FAQ based on what we’ve learned from more trips, more locations, and refining our best practices. From packing tips to life aboard the boat, we’ll help you feel prepared, confident, and excited for adventure. Got a question we haven’t covered yet? Send it our way—every great journey starts with curiosity. Welcome to the What Could Go Right? Podcast. We’re your hosts: Erik Orton and Emily Orton. We talk about personal growth and sailing. In 2014, with little experience and less money, we bootstrapped a year on a sailboat with our five kids and it changed our lives forever. We tell the whole story in our book Seven at Sea. On this podcast, we want to help you go from fear to freedom one adventure at a time. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rate. Review. Subscribe.   Resources: Try Living on a Sailboat for a Week:  Perfect for rookies who want to test drive the live-aboard dream. Yes, we let you drive the boat. Relax, explore, and get as much/little sailing experience as you want with stunning 360-views. Sail with us. Erik + Emily Memoirs: Seven at Sea: Why a New York City Family Cast Off Convention For A Life-Changing Year On A Sailboat  Knock: The Spiritual Journey of a Door-to-Door Salesman Connect with Erik + Emily: Email Subscribe to Encouragement Youtube Like, Comment, Subscribe Instagram  Facebook

    48 min

  8. 11/06/2025

    Ep 127 - Courage to Begin

    Trying something new always sounds simple… until it’s your turn. Those first steps—whether it’s pressing “send,” showing up, or saying yes—can feel monumental. Because they are. In this episode, we talk about the courage it takes to start when you don’t feel ready, the doubts that show up right on time, and why even a small step can be a big deal. Forward doesn’t have to be flawless—it just has to be forward. Welcome to the What Could Go Right? Podcast. We’re your hosts: Erik Orton and Emily Orton. We talk about personal growth and sailing. In 2014, with little experience and less money, we bootstrapped a year on a sailboat with our five kids and it changed our lives forever. We tell the whole story in our book Seven at Sea. On this podcast, we want to help you go from fear to freedom one adventure at a time. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rate. Review. Subscribe.   Resources: Try Living on a Sailboat for a Week:  Perfect for rookies who want to test drive the live-aboard dream. Yes, we let you drive the boat. Relax, explore, and get as much/little sailing experience as you want with stunning 360-views. Sail with us. Erik + Emily Memoirs: Seven at Sea: Why a New York City Family Cast Off Convention For A Life-Changing Year On A Sailboat  Knock: The Spiritual Journey of a Door-to-Door Salesman Connect with Erik + Emily: Email Subscribe to Encouragement Youtube Like, Comment, Subscribe Instagram  Facebook

    35 min
See All (134)

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

With little experience and even less money, we moved aboard a sailboat in the Caribbean with our five kids. We spent the next year sailing it back to our home in Manhattan. That changed everything. We wrote all about it in our NYTimes Top 10 Travel Book "Seven at Sea." Here we talk about personal growth and sailing. We want to help you live your best life one adventure at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Erik Orton + Emily Orton
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    134
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023-2024 The Awesome Factory
  • Show Website
    What Could Go Right?

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