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How far could you travel without using any motor?


“I asked myself, what would I do if I found out that I was gonna die in two weeks? What could I be doing, where I would have no regrets? […] That's where the Routes of Change project came from.”


Episode teaser - what do we talk about?

• Ways to prepare… for a no-motors circumnavigation of the globe
• Ways to propel… yourself when motors aren’t an option
• Ways to protect… the planet are available to everyone

In more words:

In this episode (part 1 of 2), Markus Pukonen shares with us the story of his incredible eight-year, strictly-no-motors circumnavigation of the globe.

From Canada (2015) to Canada (2023), using muscle and wind power only, how is that even possible? Through his inspiring project, Routes of Change, Markus shows us ways we can explore the world while simultaneously respecting our planet. Ways like canoeing, hand-cycling, pogo-sticking, biking, sailing, walking… in Markus’ case, a total of 73,000 kilometres.

It wasn’t just distance Markus had to overcome. From flesh-eating bacteria and raging storms while sailing solo to having his bicycle swallowed by Mekong river rapids… the physical and mental challenges during his 2864 days on the “road” will blow your mind.

Listen to this episode to accompany Markus from Canada to India, where, after 5 years of travelling, his journey came to an abrupt halt.

To be continued in episode 50.


Helpful resources / mentioned in the episode:

• Markus’ route on findpenguins.com
• Rescue after ocean row boat capsized - here is a news article
• If you, too, don't know what a pogo stick is – a Wikipedia article
• Wwoofing (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms)

Do you want to connect with Markus?

• Website - www.routesofchange.org
• Donate here - www.routesofchange.org/donate
• Patreon - www.patreon.com/Routesofchange
• YouTube - @Routesofchange
• Instagram - @Routesofchange
• Facebook - @Routesofchange

Do you enjoy WHYLD? Then get in touch!

• Quick one-stop-shop: www.linktr.ee/whyld.podcast
• Follow us on Instagram: @whyld.thepodcast
• Find us on Facebook: @whyld.one
• Or visit our website: www.whyld.one

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Lift heavy sh**!

“It was tough playing sports, having a period and from a young age of 15, I was having a lot of problems, like endometriosis. For those of you that don't know, you get all sorts of symptoms - heavy, bleeding, painful cramps.”

Episode summary:

• Tech, travel, triathlon – why a full-time job is no excuse not to go IRONMAN!
• “Women aren’t small men” - how can you work with rather than against your cycle?
• Trust your body – what if it does not agree with your doctors?
• Endometriosis, perimenopause, hysterectomy? Don’t worry, we’ll enlighten you what all that means!

In more words:

Some would say that juggling a full-time job - one which entails a crazy amount of business travel - and serious athletic ambitions is admirable enough. Swim-bike-running Ironmans while battered by nausea and severe cramps is yet another level of willingness to suffer.

Triathlete April Yoho (formerly Edwards) has been suffering from endometriosis since a young age. But all hell broke loose when she stopped taking “the pill” to regain her natural cycle and train according to it. What followed was a long medical journey full of dead-ends and doctors who were big on “I-know-better-than-you” and less generous with empathy.

Listen to this power woman chat about her work in tech, relocating to the UK for a better quality of life, body type myths when it comes to who can be a triathlete, and battling endometriosis all the while "lifting heavy sh**" (a reference to Stacy Sims' book "ROAR").

You can contact April here.

Mentioned in this episode:

• April’s blog post we discussed in the episode
• Dave Scott (triathlete)
• Ironman Triathlon – a series of long-distance triathlon races, the most famous one being held in Kona, Hawaii
• Stacy Sims, author of the mentioned book “Roar” & many more

A few medical terms that we discussed:

• Endometriosis - medical condition
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) - a form of hormone therapy used to treat symptoms associated with female menopause
• Hysterectomy - surgical removal of the uterus and cervix
• Intrauterine device (IUD) - a birth control device that is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy
• Perimenopause - transition phase leading up to menopause
• Tubal Ligation (commonly known as having one's "tubes tied") - surgical procedure for female sterilization
• Vasectomy - surgical procedure fo

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How could she have survived?


“I didn't have a playbook at all. Nobody told me on February 15th to go on CNN and yell at the president to do something and to take action. I just did it.”


Summary of what we talk about in the episode:

• Who was Alyssa Alhadeff?
• What happened in Parkland on February 14th 2018?
• How does a stay-at-home mom change the law?
• What could help prevent school shootings (or help stop them earlier)?

In more words:


It should have been a peaceful day. Valentine’s Day. School was nearly over. And then the unthinkable happened…

The day Alyssa Alhadeff and sixteen other souls died at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, everything turned upside down. It shook a nation – once more. It left a scar in Parkland’s oh-so-peaceful community. And it altered Lori Alhadeff’s forever.

On February 13th 2018, she had been a stay-at-home mum of three. On February 15th, darkest grief had remade her into a fierce fighter on a national stage. Turning her grief into action, Lori became a relentless change-maker. Today, she needs two secretaries to organize her busy, public life.

“Now I'm Alyssa's voice and I know that the tragedy happened, but we have to make a change moving forward.”

Through their non-profit organisation “Make Our Schools Safe”, Lori and Ilan Alhadeff seek to prevent other parents from having to endure the pain of losing a child to a school shooting.

Helpful resources if you want to understand what exactly happened at Marjory Stoneman High School on Feb 14th 2018:

• Wikipedia article about the tragedy
• Documentary (available on YouTube): ”Parkland: Inside Building 12”

Information on Lori Alhadeff’s work:

• Make Our Schools Safe
• Alyssa’s Law
• Instagram: @makeourschoolssafe
• Facebook: @MakeOurSchoolsSafe17
• TikTok: @makeourschoolssafe_

Do you enjoy WHYLD? Then get in touch!

• Quick one-stop-shop: www.linktr.ee/whyld.podcast
• Follow us on Instagram: @whyld.thepodcast
• Find us on Facebook: @whyld.one
• Or visit our website: www.whyld.one