Can I walk with you, Jack?

Summary

Podcast Summary: Can I Walk With You? Episode: Can I Walk with You, Jack?
Host: Thoraya
Release Date: June 2, 2025

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Introduction

In the inaugural episode of Can I Walk With You?, host Thoraya embarks on a journey through the bustling streets of New York City, inviting strangers to join her for a walk and an authentic conversation. This episode, titled Can I Walk with You, Jack?, features a heartfelt dialogue between Thoraya (referred to as Lariah in the transcript) and Jack, a young man from Brooklyn who recently completed his first marathon. Their walk serves as a backdrop for exploring personal stories, connections, and the profound impact of shared experiences.

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Meeting Jack

The episode begins with Thoraya approaching Jack in a vibrant area of Brooklyn. She respectfully asks if she can accompany him on his walk, ensuring that she won't delay him. Jack agrees, setting the stage for an engaging interaction.

Notable Quote:

Thoraya (00:00): "Can I just walk with you there? I would just walk with you and have a conversation. Is that okay if I walk with you?"

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Getting to Know Each Other

As they stroll towards Jack's destination—a bench where he plans to enjoy his taco—Thoraya initiates a conversation to understand Jack's background and motivations.

Jack shares that he's a 23-year-old Brooklyn resident who recently ran his first marathon two weeks prior. This achievement has been a defining moment in his life, prompting him to reassess his identity and future goals.

Notable Quote:

Jack (01:07): "I'm 23. I live here in Brooklyn. I just ran the marathon two weeks ago in New York, which was a first for me. That was cool. That's a very defining part of, I think, my life for a long time."

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The Significance of Walking and Conversation

Thoraya and Jack delve into the importance of walking as a means of connecting with others. They discuss how walking alongside someone can lead to deeper understanding and more meaningful conversations compared to static interactions.

Notable Quote:

Thoraya (02:28): "I feel like you could get to know a lot about someone if you just, like, go on a walk with them."

Jack concurs, highlighting that movement combined with conversation fosters genuine connections.

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Jack's Marathon Journey

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on Jack's marathon experience. Running was not just a physical challenge for him but also a tribute to his late niece, who passed away in February.

Jack explains that training for the marathon, especially running in memory of his niece, was both consuming and uplifting. The event became a day filled with love and support from friends, family, and the city, making it the best day of his life.

Notable Quote:

Jack (03:35): "I was running for Miles for Miracles program with Boston Children's Hospital and running in memory of my niece who passed away in February. Yeah, it was really meaningful."

Jack describes how, during the marathon, he felt his niece's presence beside him, providing emotional support during tough miles.

Notable Quote:

Jack (05:07): "There was some time when it felt like she was running next to me, which was pretty special."

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Personal Connections and Relationships

Shifting gears, the conversation turns to personal relationships. Jack shares a touching story about how he met his now-girlfriend, highlighting the parallels between seeking meaningful connections for interviews and personal life.

He recounts approaching her by discussing a book she was reading, using shared interests as a bridge to initiate their relationship. Their connection blossomed from mutual respect, good humor, and shared tastes.

Notable Quote:

Jack (11:15): "We should talk about it sometime. You want to get lunch?"

Notable Quote:

Thoraya (14:01): "I love that so much. Yeah, I think that's, like, a good place. A high note to end this."

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Reflections on Authenticity and Openness

Throughout the walk, both Thoraya and Jack emphasize the value of authenticity and being open with strangers. They discuss how genuine interactions, without preconceived judgments or expectations, can lead to surprising and meaningful exchanges.

Notable Quote:

Jack (09:16): "You're in front of the camera. I'm not like falling back on what I'm comfortable with."

Notable Quote:

Thoraya (09:37): "It's like the chase. It's really exciting."

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Conclusion

The episode concludes on a positive note, celebrating the connections formed during the walk. Thoraya reflects on the day's meaningful interactions, highlighting Jack's story as a testament to the power of walking and conversation in building authentic relationships.

Notable Quote:

Thoraya (14:26): "Have a good one."

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Key Takeaways

• Walking as a Connection Tool: Walking side by side fosters a unique environment for deep and meaningful conversations.
• Personal Growth Through Challenges: Jack's marathon journey illustrates how overcoming challenges can redefine personal identity and purpose.
• Authentic Relationships: Building genuine connections requires openness, shared interests, and the courage to engage with strangers.
• Impact of Shared Experiences: Shared experiences, such as Jack running for a cause, can lead to profound personal insights and connections with others.

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This episode of Can I Walk With You? offers listeners an intimate glimpse into the lives of New York City's residents, showcasing how simple acts like walking together can lead to profound conversations and meaningful connections.

Transcript

[A]

Where are you walking to? Can I just walk with you there? I would just walk with you and have a conversation. Is that okay if I walk with you? Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you, too. Thanks for doing this. Is it cool if I walk with you guys? I'm not gonna make you late for work, am I? No. How far are we going as wherever your destination is.

[B]

What about you?

[A]

Who am I?

[B]

Who are you?

[A]

What were you thinking about right before I came up to you? Once you get your taco, would you be down to walk with me for a bit?

[B]

Sure.

[A]

Okay, Cool. Sweet. Are you okay with it being recorded as well?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Saraya. Okay. Nice to meet you too. And do you mind if I clip this on for you real quick? Where are you walking?

[B]

To a nice bench where I can eat my taco.

[A]

All right, you ready to walk? Let's do it. It's gonna get pretty loud.

[B]

I know. This place is going crazy.

[A]

Do telling me a little bit about you. If someone were to ask you, like, who are you? How would you respond to that?

[B]

That's a good question. Well, I'm 23. I live here in Brooklyn. I just ran the marathon two weeks ago in New York, which was a first for me. That was cool. That's a very defining part of, I think, my life for a long time. So now I'm, like, redefining what I am post marathon. But, yeah, I don't know. I think of myself as extroverted and hopefully a little bit creative. I don't know. Yeah, I guess that's how I describe myself, but that's always so hard to answer.

[A]

I know, I know. I love what you said.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Obviously, I love having a long conversation with someone and figure out who they were. But, like, I wish I could just get to know people super quick with one question.

[B]

I know, but there's really no question.

[A]

You could answer that. Could you know?

[B]

What about you?

[A]

Who am I? Well, my name is Lariah. I mean, I feel like everyone starts like that, but that's my name.

[B]

Why are you doing this?

[A]

I feel like you could get to know a lot about someone if you just, like, go on a walk with them.

[B]

That's true.

[A]

And talk to them. I think even, like, with people I know some of the most, like, intimate moments I've had with them. I always learn something new about them if I go on a walk with them.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Even with my mom. I've known her my whole life, obviously, but every time I go on a walk with her, like, I feel a little bit Closer to her. Me personally, it helps me like listen to people and understand them more when I'm not. When I'm just doing something else as I'm listening.

[B]

Yeah, it's kind of like when you're on the phone and you're just like walking around your whole apartment. Exactly. Actually, it's just like. I don't know, there's something about like moving maybe.

[A]

Moving and talking.

[B]

Yeah, moving and talking helps people connect, I guess.

[A]

Yeah. So yeah, I guess I'm just someone who's trying to figure things out right now.

[B]

I don't think anyone ever has anything figured out. You know, we're all just figuring it out together and walking while we do it, I guess.

[A]

So you said that running the marathon was kind of like defining for you. Do you mean like. Cause it was consuming your time or did you mean something else by that?

[B]

A little bit of both. I was running in memory of a family member and it just kind of became like an all consuming goal for me to run. I was partnered with a charity that was very tied to the cause. It was a very dense time, but also like the best day of my life.

[A]

The best day of your life?

[B]

I think it might have been. It was the best day. I loved. Yeah, I love the marathon. I've never run like that before, but I just felt so loved by my friends and my family and just kind of by like the whole city for a day. Where are you from?

[A]

San Diego.

[B]

Nice.

[A]

Have you been?

[B]

No, no, I've been to San Francisco when I was a kid, but not really much time. On the west coast.

[A]

Yeah, it's completely different. What is?

[B]

What's holding you back from moving here or do you not want to move here?

[A]

I don't know. I'm trying to figure it out. I kind of just looking for a purpose to move here. Honestly, like if this series does well, then that'll be a good reason because I can't really. People don't really walk in San Diego. They just drive places. Yeah, but do you mind sharing what cause you were running for in the marathon?

[B]

Yeah, I was running for Miles for Miracles program with Boston Children's Hospital and running in memory of my niece who passed away in February. Yeah, it was really meaningful. I never got to meet my niece.

[A]

Oh, you didn't?

[B]

And when I was running, it kind of felt like the realest that she's ever felt before was. Yeah, it was like. Yeah. Especially in like some really hard miles there. There was some time when it felt like she was running next to me, which Was pretty special, so.

[A]

Yeah, it was.

[B]

That's why I say it's like the best day ever. Yeah, it was a good day. Maybe there is something about moving with strangers that makes people want to talk. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Should we start looking for a bench for you?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Let's find a nice bench. The next seatable place.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Where I can have my. You know, this whole time I'm saying tacos, it's quesadilla. I need to. I need to come clean.

[A]

Maybe this way.

[B]

Yeah, let's go over here.

[A]

Anything you'd want to share with people who are listening?

[B]

Oh, well, I'm not walking with them, so I don't feel comfortable sharing with them right now.

[A]

That's a good point.

[B]

Do you think we can sit here?

[A]

Yeah. You want to sit here? Yeah.

[B]

Can I eat on this camera?

[A]

Yes. Yeah. Yeah, go for it.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

As long as I'm not bothering you.

[B]

No. I was going to do this whether I was going to be alone or with someone else, so. So here we are. I'm happy about it. Do you want a quesadilla?

[A]

I'm okay, thank you.

[B]

Ooh, that is a black hair.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

Shorter than yours. And I don't have black hair, so that's kind of off.

[A]

Putting you on napkin.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

Are you gonna keep eating that?

[B]

I'm going to. I'm really hungry. That's okay. Have you been out all day shooting this?

[A]

Yeah. It's been a good day. I'm excited to keep going though. I'm just imagining the strangers that I haven't met yet. It's so interesting to think about that. I'm gonna meet 10 people tomorrow. I have no idea who they are right now.

[B]

It's like the chase. It's really exciting. Do you get scared doing it?

[A]

With what I do usually? No. Cause I usually have a camera with me and I'm behind the camera, but this one. Yeah, because I don't.

[B]

You're in front of the camera.

[A]

I'm not like falling back on what I'm comfortable with. Are you enjoying the conversation? Tada.

[B]

Oh, I want to show you something. Remember how I said I ran for my niece? I ran in these shoes. And that's Zoe.

[A]

That's her name. Zoe.

[B]

I don't know if you can see on the camera.

[A]

That's such a cute name.

[B]

Would you ever run a marathon?

[A]

I don't think I've ever run more than four miles in my life.

[B]

I will say it seems like a huge hill to climb when I started training. Metaphorically. Not an actual hill. But it was like. I remember one of my first long runs of the season was 27 miles. Or sorry, sorry, sorry. Was seven miles. And I remember running seven miles and thinking, like, there's no freaking way that I can add 19 more miles to this. Like, I don't know how I could possibly run this marathon. And then later in the season, one of my last long runs was 19 miles, and I finished it. And I remember thinking, you know what? I might have seven more in the tank right now. Maybe. I don't know. But that was only eight or nine weeks later.

[A]

Wow. And you had never run any. Like, what was the longest you'd run?

[B]

I did a half marathon in college, but I didn't really train much for it. This was the first time I, like, ran and took it seriously. And, yeah, I don't know. It's pretty crazy what your body will do to adapt, get stronger. And the whole thing was kind of just like learning about my body also. But I don't know. I feel like I know myself much better now.

[A]

I mean, that makes sense.

[B]

Oh, my God. I've got this whole grease running down my whole hand.

[A]

You got a napkin?

[B]

Yeah. You give me a little pat dry here. Thank you.

[A]

You're welcome.

[B]

Thanks. These are good. I wish that. Do you guys want any? You want any? Do you. How do you seek people out when you. When you are, like, approaching a stranger and you think, I want to talk to this person. Why do you choose them?

[A]

First I notice the outfit, and then I'll make eye contact and see if they look like they're, like, an open and kind person who won't hurt my feelings too bad even if they say no.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. It's the same thing. For when I've worked on these kinds of stuff. It's like, who do I think will tell an interesting story?

[A]

You can't tell. I've learned that. Yeah. People will surprise you. I think actually, probably, like, the best stories I've heard are people just wearing really simple clothes, like, not really trying to.

[B]

Regular people?

[A]

Yeah, just regular people. Sometimes I, like, go through a period throughout the day where I'm like, I'm just gonna ask every single person that comes up because I don't want to try to judge, like, if I think they're gonna have a good story or not, but. Do you have any siblings?

[B]

Just a sister.

[A]

Just a sister. Okay.

[B]

Just the one.

[A]

Are you the younger one or the older one?

[B]

I am younger.

[A]

You're younger.

[B]

Are you in a relationship? No, I'm not Are you recently? Yes.

[A]

Okay. Do you mind sharing with us how you guys met?

[B]

Yeah. She works in my office. She started over the summer, and her boss sent, like, a welcome to the agency email where it was like, welcome. She's starting her job today as a blank, blank and blank. And here's some fun facts about her. She loves the Rangers, and she's currently reading Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. Whatever, blah, blah, like, all these fun facts. And I saw the picture of her that was in this email. My fingers are so greasy as I tell this nice story, and I'm holding quesadilla covered in grease. I'm going to save the rest of this for later. It's quite good, but it's quite greasy as well. Anyway, so I see the picture in the email that her boss has included of her, and I, wow, this girl is really cute. I've seen her around the office. She, like, seems radiate such, like, a pure kindness and, like, I just want to know her, but she's on, like, an entirely different part of the office than I am physically, but also, like, we will never, ever collaborate. I won't run into her. I don't know anyone that's on her team. We're just, like, entirely different streams. So I was, like, feeling really anxious about, like, well, how do I meet her if I'm never gonna, like, organically be able to meet her? And I also get really shy sometimes, so I didn't. I felt uncomfortable just being like, hey, I'm Jack. Nice to meet you. Whatever. So I went to the bookstore, and I bought the book that she was reading, and I read. I ended up reading all of it. It's a great book. Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain. I ended up reading all of it, but by the time it took, like, maybe a week or so to read, like, half of it. And at that point, I had, like, enough confidence in my ability to have a conversation about the book that I saw her getting coffee on the seventh floor in our office, and I went up and introduced myself, and I was like, you're. I saw you were reading that book. I'm also reading that book right now. Isn't that crazy? And then. And then she was like, yeah, it's such a good book. And I was like, we should talk about it sometime. You want to get lunch? And then.

[A]

Yeah, that is such a solid story. I love that. Did you eventually tell her that you just got the book?

[B]

I told her on her first actual date, which was much later than that, not much later. A couple months later than that.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So it's interesting that you thought she was radiant and whatever, and it turns out you were right. Right. You're in a relationship.

[B]

I was right?

[A]

Yeah. Right. You didn't even know her. You had this feeling, and now you're dating her, which is so bizarre. It is.

[B]

It's kind of like picking people to interview in a weird way. It's like, all right, who has a good story to tell? And you kind of just gotta. You can just feel it.

[A]

What was it once you, like, talked to her and stuff? What was it about her that kept you interested?

[B]

That's a good question. She has really good taste. She's classy, she's sophisticated and really smart, but not in, like, I'm smarter than you way, even though she probably is. And she never makes me feel like I like she is. And she's funny. She has a good sense of humor. And we like a lot of the same things, so I was, like, kind of immediately drawn and. Yeah, it's all been really good things so far.

[A]

I love that so much. Yeah, I think that's, like, good place. A high note to end this.

[B]

Yeah. This has been a really good day, and this was the highlight of it, so. Yeah. Do I need to, like, shake your hand or something? Yeah, look in the camera and shake hands. Nice. I need to follow you on your platform.

[A]

Let me give you. Have a good one.

[B]

Yep.