Mike Safo with Thor Pedersen, Only Person to Visit Every Country in the World Without Flying/ Author / Traveler
Joined today by Thor Pedersen, the only person in history to visit every country in the world without flying. He's also the author of the awesome new book, The Impossible Journey: An Incredible Voyage Through Every Country in the World Without Flying.
Thor opens up about what it really took to complete this one-of-a-kind odyssey, a journey he thought would take four years but ended up lasting a decade. We dive into the emotional and logistical challenges of traveling overland to all 203 countries, the complicated personal relationships he had to navigate along the way, and the deep reflections that shaped his book.
Thor shares why this isn't your typical travel book, no party stories or Instagram chatter, but a raw, honest look at the highs, lows, and everything in between. We talk about:
- What inspired him to start this journey (including a life-changing trip to Southeast Asia)
- His time working for the United Nations
- Struggles with visas, malaria, loneliness, and even being stuck in Hong Kong for two years during the COVID pandemic
- How he kept going, even when it got unbelievably tough
- Balancing a public journey with private life, including becoming a father
- The unreleased (but hopefully soon-to-come) documentary about his journey
- His thoughts on the “193’ers” — people aiming to visit every country
- And whether he has any regrets
Thor also talks about the process of writing the book, what surprised him most, and why it isn’t available in Danish — yet.
This is a deep dive into the mind and heart of a man who pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in travel, and came back with stories that go way beyond geography.
Follow Thor here: https://www.instagram.com/onceuponasaga