What does it look like to live with a wholehearted yes?

In this energizing conversation, Michelle Savage sits down with Debra Blue, a cultural anthropologist, tech industry veteran, endurance athlete, world traveler, and bestselling author of multiple books, to explore what it truly means to dream big and follow through. Debra's life reads like a bucket list in motion: a half Ironman, hiking the Himalayas, visiting Antarctica, and a marathon on that same frozen continent still to come. But beyond the headline adventures, this episode is really about the mindset that makes all of it possible.

Whether you're stuck in a comfort zone, navigating midlife, or just wondering if it's too late to say yes to something bold, this one's for you.

In This Episode We Cover

• How Debra has maintained a personal goal list since ninth grade and why it still drives her today

• The surprising emotional resilience that comes from endurance sports like the half Ironman

• Why immersing yourself in unfamiliar cultures is one of the most powerful tools for self-growth

• Lessons from unexpected travel mishaps in Southeast Asia and what they taught her about adaptability

• How to break audacious goals into manageable steps, even within a packed schedule

• Recognizing early signs of mental health struggles and responding with empathy

• The legacy she's building around kindness, authentic relationships, and showing up for others

• Her upcoming adventures and what keeps her saying 'yes'

Resources & Links Mentioned

• 📖 Empathy Impact by Debra Blue, Sulit Press (recent bestseller)

• 📖 Going Places by Debra Blue, Sulit Press

Connect with Debra Blue

• 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woman.spread

• 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debrablue/

About Debra Blue

Born into a military family, Debra was on the move from day one and learned how thrilling it can be to go to new places and learn about different people. This was the catalyst in her pursuing a Cultural Anthropology degree. The experience also meant she was frequently the "new kid" and learned the importance of kindness and empathy, early in life.

After a short stint in NYC, Debra began a career in the tech industry that has spanned 24+ years and has allowed her to delve into her travel addiction. She constantly pushes herself to learn and try new things. Her favorites among them include: completing a half Ironman in 2013, hiking in the Himalayas in 2016, obtaining an MBA in 2018, visiting Antarctica in 2020 (before the world shut down), and becoming a Best Selling Author in 2023.

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