What is a Good Life? #6 - Building an expedition mindset with Paul Gleeson

On the sixth episode of the “What is a Good Life?” podcast, I am joined by Paul Gleeson.

In his lifetime, Paul has rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, cycled across Australia, rowed the Northwest passage in Canada, participated in an expedition to the Artic, amongst many more adventures.

Paul runs his own coaching and consulting practice, Turas Consulting, he has authored a book about his experience of rowing across the Atlantic, Crossing the Swell, and is currently writing a book about building an expedition mindset. 
 
What’s more, Paul is a great mate of mine who I find to be one of the most effortlessly inspiring people I know, with no airs, graces, or pretences about him.

In this podcast we discuss his experiences of fearing for his safety and handling uncertainty while crossing the Atlantic Ocean, finishing his ride across Australia despite being knocked down twice, and what lessons he has learned about himself, his mind, performance, and life, through these adventures.

Running Order:

00:00 Introduction

01:35 Podcast begins

03:37 First inspiration for adventure

05:37 Are we getting too comfortable?

10:13 Satisfaction in discomfort

13:00 Motivation for cycling across Australia

15:57 Getting knocked down 

20:47 What you running from?

23:12 3 lessons from cycling across Australia

26:17 Getting knocked down a second time

30:17 The importance of nature
33:27 Deciding to row across the Atlantic Ocean with little rowing experience

36:02 Two lessons from preparing to row across an ocean
40:02 Handling fear

42:32 The motivation for rowing across the Atlantic Ocean

45:32 Handling uncertainty and risk

48:47 Fearing for his life crossing the ocean 

51:42 Seeing land for the first time in 85 days

56:17 embracing Family after crossing the ocean

59:47 Reconnecting with something primal

1:02:17 Tips for finding your own expedition

1:05:37 What is a good life for Paul?

For further content and information check out the following: 

- For the podcast's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife/videos

- My newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/

- My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/

- Paul's Website: https://www.turasconsulting.com/

- Paul's Twitter: https://twitter.com/paultgleeson

Subscribe for weekly episodes, every Tuesday, and check out my YouTube channel for daily clips and weekly reflections.