Episode Details

Naomi Arnold is a journalist, author, and the kind of person who decided to walk the entire length of New Zealand on the Te Araroa Trail. Because why not, right?

Naomi's sharing with Dawn and Ruth the whole messy, beautiful story: the trail conditions (spoiler: not always great), the personal fears she had to face, the environmental challenges that nearly broke her, and what it actually takes to put one foot in front of the other for months on end. All of this became her book Northbound, which is basically a masterclass in resilience and determination.

But here's what makes this conversation so good: They're not just talking about hiking. They're talking about the writing process, the life lessons that only show up when you're alone in the wilderness with your thoughts, and what happens when you commit to something audacious and then actually do it.

This episode is packed with practical advice for future hikers (Ruth's actually in New Zealand hiking right now) and aspiring writers who need to hear that finishing the thing—whether it's a trail or a book—requires the same kind of stubborn persistence.

So if you've ever wondered what it takes to walk across an entire country or write about it afterward, Naomi's got answers. And honestly? Her story might just inspire you to do that audacious thing you've been putting off.

LINKS: Are you dreaming about starting something new? Check out Dawn's coaching groups: https://bigpicturebigpurpose.lpages.co/discern-by-doing-for-business/

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00:19 Planning the New Zealand Trail Adventure

02:07 Interview with Naomi Arnold

02:47 Naomi's Trail Experience and Challenges

06:24 Navigating the Trail and Unexpected Obstacles

14:03 Final Thoughts and Advice for Future Hikers

19:10 Struggles on 90 Mile Beach

19:58 A Painful Journey to the End

21:22 Unexpected Kindness and Recovery

22:29 Post-Trail Reflections and Social Anxiety

22:59 The Impact of COVID-19

24:46 Book Success and Reader Reactions

25:39 The Journey of Writing and Publishing

28:03 Future Projects and Ideas

29:18 Creative Challenges and Accountability