Sideways

50. Take the First Step


Listen Later

In 2014 Angela Maxwell was feeling stuck. She wanted something fresh, something exciting. After a chance encounter she landed upon her goal - she was going to set off on one of the largest adventures imaginable: a walk around the world. She didn't know exactly how the journey would play out, but that was part of the appeal - the whole planet was waiting for her to just take the first step.

In this episode, Matthew Syed hears from Angela about her 6 year walk around the world, from the misery of freezing cold nights, to finding beauty in solitary nights sleeping under the stars. And Angela explores her ideas about courage - after she was raped during her expedition, she chose to continue her journey around the world. Over the six years she walked, she would find deep connection to herself and to others, making lifelong friends and sinking into the places, slowly, just placing one foot in front of the other.

We hear from Susan Houge Mackenzie, a professor of psychology at the University of Otago, about the benefits of adventure to our mindset, even 'micro adventures' which take place much nearer to home, and from naturalist and conservationist Nadia Shaikh, who is a land justice activist working with the Right to Roam campaign, who makes a case that we need far greater access to nature to be able to undertake micro adventures in our local area.

Matthew considers how adventures big and small can clarify our goals for our lives, and asks us to consider whether we ought to all be heading out on adventures a little more often.

If you have been affected by sexual abuse or violence, details of help and support are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline

Presenter: Matthew Syed

Producer: Nadia Mehdi
Series Editor: Katherine Godfrey
Sound design and mix: Rob Speight
Theme tune by Ioana Selaru.
A Novel production for BBC Radio 4

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

SidewaysBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

68 ratings


More shows like Sideways

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,718 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

378 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

891 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,066 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,474 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,880 Listeners

In Our Time: Culture by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Culture

608 Listeners

In Our Time: Science by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Science

737 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,785 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,043 Listeners

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 by BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

2,119 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,078 Listeners

Desert Island Discs by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs

2,011 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

477 Listeners

Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast by Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

347 Listeners

Moral Maze by BBC Radio 4

Moral Maze

69 Listeners

Curious Cases by BBC Radio 4

Curious Cases

823 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

74 Listeners

Newscast by BBC News

Newscast

632 Listeners

Sliced Bread by BBC Radio 4

Sliced Bread

126 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,225 Listeners

Cyber Hack by BBC World Service

Cyber Hack

1,604 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,033 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics: Leading by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics: Leading

756 Listeners

Radical with Amol Rajan by BBC Radio 4

Radical with Amol Rajan

51 Listeners