← The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast
The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast
1KHO 798: One Adventure Can Change Everything | Taryn Smith, World's Toughest Row
00:54:39
Loading summary
Transcript140 lines
- [00:01]
Jenny Ert
Summer gets busy fast. One minute you're easing into warmer weather, and the next you're juggling sports schedules, swim days, camping trips, road trips, late nights around the fire, and trying to keep the house from completely falling apart in the middle of all of it. And if you're a cat family, too, there's still the everyday stuff waiting for you at home, including the litter box. That's why Whiskers Litter Robot is such a game changer. During busy seasons, it automatically cycles after every use, so you're not constantly scooping or dealing with litter cleanup every single day. It just handles the dirty work for you. And the Whisker app notifies you about your unit. Like when a clean cycle is complete, when drawer levels are getting full, or if the unit needs attention. You can always track things like your cat's weight and bathroom usage over time, which makes it easy to stay aware of changes without having to constantly check in. Honestly, during a packed summer, having one last daily chore to think about makes a huge difference. Maintain your cat's litter while focusing on your growing family. Learn more about Whisker litter robot models and starter kits today to get set up before the summer craziness arrives. Take an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000 when you shop whisker.com 1000hours that's an additional $50 off bundles with Code 1000hours@whisker.com 1000hours. Welcome to the 1000hours outside podcast. My name is Jenny Ert. I'm the founder of 1000 Hours Outside and Back for a second time. But it's going to be a first time for you. Taryn Smith, welcome.
- [01:20]
Taryn Smith
Thank you. I am so happy to be here today.
- [01:22]
Jenny Ert
Okay, back for a second time because we lost the first interview and it was a glitch, a total glitch on our end, and I was devastated. And so I want to say thank you for your grace for coming back.
- [01:33]
Taryn Smith
Absolutely. I'm just thrilled we get to talk again.
- [01:36]
Jenny Ert
You are so sweet. You know what's so interesting, Taryn? I told a couple people because I think people understand. You know, you lose a conversation, it feels like gold. You know, you're like, oh. And I told a couple people, and I was like, she rode across the ocean. They're like, oh, we know who she is. Every person I told knew who you were. They were like, wait, who? Oh, yeah, I've been following her, you know. So could you give the listeners an idea of just the scope of what you've done? You rode across the ocean by yourself. And throughout that journey, amassed just a massive following. People are so interested.
- [02:12]
Taryn Smith
Yes. I competed in a race called the World's Toughest Row, which brings competitors 3,000 miles across the Atlantic from La Gomera, an island, and the Canaries, all the way to Antigua and the Caribbean. And it's. It's an incredible event. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have competed in it. And I. I learned a lot about myself along the way, I would imagine.
- [02:37]
Jenny Ert
So 3,000 miles can you give? And, like, how much time does that take? I know there's a range, obviously it is a race. So people are coming in at different. At different time periods. But, like, what's the sort of norm amount of time now? Some people are on teams, but you are completely alone.
- [02:53]
Taryn Smith
Yes, I was completely alone. Most people choose to do this as a team of four. However, I did it solo. So those teams of four take about a month. It took me 46 days. We had really good weather this year. I was expecting it to take around 60, but we just had amazing conditions, and I packed 85 days worth of food just in case something were to go wrong while I was out there.
- [03:17]
Jenny Ert
So you had talked about not really caring too much about social media. You know, you do a lot of other things, too. You've got yoga, you've got your yoga studio, and actually you're relaunching classes, and people can do those starting June 1st. So that's super exciting. And people can check out your website. I'll make sure. I'll put the link in the show notes. They're going to go to tarynsmithmovement.com that's where they can find all the information, right?
- [03:38]
Taryn Smith
Correct.
- [03:38]
Jenny Ert
Okay, so you're. You were kind of like, oh, you know, social media, man, not that big of a deal. But within this 46 days, I mean, your social media grew to hundreds and hundreds of thousands. 600, 700,000 people. You talked about that. Your mom was the one who was posting. Right. So you're sending her some information. She's making sure you're okay. I'm sure. What do you think it was that. I mean, because obviously there's a lot of rowers, so it must be something about you, your personality, the fact that you're by yourself, you know, and there were like, huge people like Pierce Brosnan, Sharon Stone, Katie Couric. What do you think?
- [04:15]
Taryn Smith
It was such a surprise. When I started the row, I had 2,000 followers on Instagram, and I made these videos every day, basically as proof of life for my friends and family that I'm on the boat. I'm doing okay. I'm actually having a lot of fun. And here's a fun fact about ocean rowing. But about halfway through, I posted a video. It was day 27, and it had been my hardest day at sea. It was scary. There was huge weather. I had hives all over my body from sun exposure. A marlin stalked me for three miles. It was brutal and it was terrifying. But it was also one of my most successful days at sea because the boat did exactly what it's what it was supposed to do. And I was safe the whole time. And I covered a lot of ground. I covered about 72 miles that day. And so I recorded a video talking about this. And I think it really resonated with people because it was just an honest account of my experience. And I think that we all can appreciate it. Life is this amazing, incredible adventure. But sometimes it is just scary and sometimes it is tough. And I think in this world of optimization and comfort and ease, we just need to acknowledge the fact that sometimes life hurts. And that's. That's part of it.
- [05:34]
Jenny Ert
Yeah. What a thing. Wow. And it just blew up. So you talk then about, you know, maybe you're going to have a book in the works. You go out and you speak. Now you're in your mid-20s. This just finished. Within the last six months, you do this huge row. I was so drawn in by the part of just doing something out of the box. And I had read a book last year by this man named William Deseret de Resarovitz called the Miseducation. What's it called? It's called Excellent Sheep. The Miseducation of the American Elite. It's kind of a long title. You don't. You're like, what even is this? But it's basically about, like, how we're robbing people of life by racing toward these finish lines that are kind of arbitrary. Like, he uses the phrase the treadmill to nowhere. And he says, what is all of this for? People are missing out on their youth entirely. Our glittering system of elite higher education. And he's here, he talks about what, about all the opportunities. It closes down, not for any practical reason, but just because of how it smothers you with expectations.
- [06:38]
Taryn Smith
And.
- [06:38]
Jenny Ert
And one of his recommendations, he worked with college students, was to take the summer off and not to do an internship and not to do a fellowship, but just. And not to do anything to advance your career, but just to do something and go live. And you did That I love this part of your story. So can you talk about that decision to go work at Redfish Lake Lodge?
- [07:04]
Taryn Smith
Absolutely. So when I was in college, I took a summer to go and work at this little lodge called Redfish. It's in the Sawtooth Mountains, one of the most gorgeous places in the world. And I went there, was going to work in the little gift shop on site, and I thought it was going to be a summer job. They're open from May through October. So I thought take a gap semester, go do this gig in the mountains, and then that will be that, and I'll go to law school.
- [07:29]
Jenny Ert
Okay, well, what. Where did that decision come from? Because that's a big deal. I do think that it's uncommon. Right. As soon as you hit the post high school years, everything is sort of laser focused toward. Toward law school, toward a job, toward a career. So I think it's an incredible thing that you did it to begin with.
- [07:48]
Taryn Smith
Yes. I went on a trip to the mountains over winter break that year with a friend from college. She was from Boise, and her and her family invited me to go yearning with them and the Sawtooths. And so we snowshoe into this little yurt. We had no cell service. We stayed in a hut that was heated with a wood stove. And I couldn't stop smiling the entire time. I just had a huge grin on my face. And I felt happy and alive in a way that I hadn't since I was a kid. And it was so playful and it was just fun. And so I felt really compelled to go back to these mountains. It felt like it was something I absolutely had to do. And that's what's happened throughout my adult life, is that I just get this gut instinct that I have to go do something, and then I bring the rational side of my brain into it. But for these big life choices, I think you've got to trust your gut. And so that's what brought me to the mountains, and that's what really kick started this life of adventure.
- [08:51]
Jenny Ert
Yeah. So one trip with a friend, you go on this adventure, and then you end up working at the Redfish Lake Lodge for many years.
- [08:58]
Taryn Smith
I did. It started as that little job at a gift shop, and then I started working for them in the off season too. So we would close in October, but I got to do HR for them. I would hire the staff for the next season and do a lot of the admin getting ready for the next year. My boss was a huge, huge believer in adventure as well. And so as Long as I had WI fi, I could work anywhere in the world that I wanted to. And he was really supportive of me going and traveling. And so one season, I went and lived in the French Alps and learned how to backcountry ski. Another year, I went to every continent in a calendar year. And then I started training for the Ocean Row.
- [09:41]
Jenny Ert
And this all comes out of taking a little bit of time out of this track toward law school and going and doing these exceptional things. I just think back and I'm like, I didn't think about doing any of that. I just became a teacher. You know, sounds like I went right back to the classroom. You know, I just was in the classroom and then more classroom and then right back into the classroom. But one adventure can really just change the trajectory of your life. Can you talk about how your grandpas both say it?
- [10:11]
Taryn Smith
Yes. I think a lot of my love of. Love of adventure and love of boats came from my grandfathers. They both lifelong Nebraska residents, but they sailed little boats here on lakes. And so growing up, I got to spend time with them on those boats. And they were very curious people. They were interested in everything, and they were enthusiastic about what everyone else was doing as well. They were very motivating, encouraging people. And those. Those moments really defined how I live my life. And in my toughest moments at sea, they were there with me. I could picture them so clearly sitting on the boat, giving me a hand when I needed it. And so I. I'm grateful for this adventure because I also got to connect with them, even though they've both passed away.
- [11:00]
Jenny Ert
Yeah. What an experience. And how interesting that your grandparents, your grandfathers had done it. Now, even though they were passionate about sailing, you signed up to do this race having never rode before.
- [11:15]
Taryn Smith
That's correct. I. I am from Nebraska, a notoriously landlocked state. And my introduction to ocean rowing was an article in Vogue. I read about a team of women that rode from San Francisco to Hawaii, and they broke a world record. And when I heard their story, I was immediately inspired. I thought, this sounds like the kind of old school, gritty adventure that requires a lot of resilience. And then I had this huge moment of envy, because in my mind, the only people that could row across an ocean would be Olympic athletes or ex college rowers. And then I saw an advertisement for the organizers of the Pacific row, and it said, do you have what it takes to row across the Pacific Ocean? Spoiler alert. Yes, you do. Or something like that.
- [12:01]
Jenny Ert
Yep.
- [12:02]
Taryn Smith
And so I started researching the sport a little Bit more. And I realized a lot of people do a crossing without a rowing background. And I signed up having never been on a rowboat before in my life.
- [12:14]
Jenny Ert
Oh, wow. So did you end up going to law school?
- [12:20]
Taryn Smith
I have not. I am planning to apply in the next couple of years, so I'm. I'm taking another year to write the book, and then hopefully next or the fall after, I will apply for law school.
- [12:31]
Jenny Ert
Okay. So do you feel in general like, you know, this is a little bit of an offshoot path, but, you know, you could go back to law school school, but you also have found an alternative route to a fulfilling life. You've got both choices now.
- [12:47]
Taryn Smith
Yes, I do. And I think life is long and there's time to do a lot of things, and I want to do a lot of things. I don't think that I will have a career that I stick with for 30 years. I think that I'll probably do a lot of different things in this lifetime. And that does require being a beginner, which is an adult can be kind of scary. But I really like being new to something and then pursuing that to a high level.
- [13:21]
Jenny Ert
It's like adventure opened up so many doors because now you're going to have the skill set of being an author and. And you can always go back to law school. But had you stuck with that the entire time, it doesn't seem like all of these extra offshoot options possibly would be an option. So it's such an interesting way to live, and I hope that people who are listening are really inspired. You know, we've got kids that are close to graduation year, and it really gets my mind spinning, Taryn, about, you know, how many other things are out there, how many incredible experiences you can have. I mean, because you kind of just gloss over it. You're like, I was in the French Alps one year. I went to every continent. You know, trekked through Patagonia. I did the New York City Marathon. So, I mean, these are huge things. These are huge seasons of life that enhance your life so much. School does too, but it's different.
- [14:13]
Taryn Smith
I think there's so much to be learned by going on an adventure. You learn things about yourself and the world and other people that you could never learn in a classroom. And I think it also teaches you, you humility, and it shows you that pretty small in this world, but you're part of something much bigger than yourself. And so I think it is an essential part of anyone's education. We live in a world where we have these devices at any point, you can look up and know anything you want. And I think what's lost in that is a sense of curiosity and wonder. And that's the, that's what I really use adventures for, is to explore the world and embrace a sense of curiosity.
- [14:53]
Jenny Ert
Yeah. I mean, what does it look like to step foot on every continent in one year? That's something that most people don't do in an entire lifetime. That's a whole different adventure. It's just one. It's just one sentence, like, oh, yeah, well, in 2023, what was the impetus for that?
- [15:13]
Taryn Smith
That was another one of those crazy ideas I had. And I felt like I just had to go do this thing. And so I sent it, I went for it, I booked some plane tickets, booked the Airbnbs, got on a couple boats and made it happen.
- [15:28]
Jenny Ert
Does your mom get nervous?
- [15:32]
Taryn Smith
Yes and no. I think she's gotten used to me taking on pretty big adventures. And she certainly did a good job hiding her anxiety about the row from me, because as a mom, I think it would be such a nerve wracking thing to watch your child go to sea by themselves. But she was my biggest supporter. My. Both of my parents were. I couldn't have done the row without them. And she was there. When I needed strength and support, I would call her and I. I really could not have made it across without her help.
- [16:01]
Jenny Ert
Oh, what a mom. Can I just say, there was a time when I felt like the family calendar was living in six different places. Some things were in my phone, some things were in Josh's head, some things were written down somewhere, and a lot of it was just missed. And that constant feeling of, what am I forgetting? Is exhausting. That is why I love the Skylight Calendar. It brings everything together in one place. Appointments, activities, even grocery lists. And it syncs seamlessly with Google, Apple, Outlook, all of it. So wherever something gets added, it shows up. But the feature that really surprised me is a tasks section for kids. It turns everyday responsibilities like chores or getting ready for the day into something visual and trackable. It helps build independence without me having to constantly remind everyone. And because each person has their own color, there is no confusion. No more. I didn't know. It's all right there. Skylight Calendar is designed to help families work together, which means less stress and more margin for what actually matters. And if you're not completely thrilled, Skylight offers a full refund within three months, no questions asked. Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch calendar when you go to myskylight.com 1000hours that's m y s k dash y l I g h t dot com 1000hours for $30 off. This episode is sponsored by Better Help. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and it's a good reminder that life is a journey with highs and lows. Some days feel light and steady and other days feel overwhelming, like there are too many things to carry and not enough space to sort through them. I think one of the little lies we believe is that we're supposed to figure it all out on our own. But the truth is no one has all the answers and no journey is meant to be walked alone. Therapy can be a place where you don't have to have it all together. A place to talk through what's keeping you up at night, to gain an outside perspective, and to feel supported instead of stuck. If you've been feeling overwhelmed or unsure, that's more common than we think, and it's okay to get help sorting through it. That's why I appreciate better help. Their therapists are fully licensed in the US and follow a strict code of conduct. They match you with a therapist to a short questionnaire so you can focus on your goals. And if it's not the right fit, you can switch anytime. With over 30,000 therapists and more than 6 million people served globally and an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 across 1.7 million reviews. It's a platform people trust. You don't have to be on this journey alone. Find support and have someone with you in therapy. Sign up and get 10 off at betterhelp.com 1000 hours. That's B-E-T-T-E-R-H-E-L-P.com 1000 hours. Your outdoor space should feel like you. And for the longest time, ours just didn't. We had those random plastic chairs that somehow followed us from house to house, a patio that felt more like a pass through than a place to gather, and a grill that we kept saying we'd replace someday. It just wasn't a space we were excited to use. And then, then I found Wayfair and everything kind of clicked. We added simple, comfortable seating, an outdoor rug that grounded the space, and a few pieces that actually matched the look I had in my head. Now it feels like an extension of our home. We eat outside more, the kids linger longer, and it's just easier to be out there. What I love is how simple Wayfair makes the process. You can filter by size, style, Budget. Read real reviews from real homes. And with Wayfair Verified, you know you're choosing from items that have already been vetted for quality. And having everything in one place, from seating to lighting to decor, made it feel manageable instead of overwhelming. Get prepped for patio season. For way less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. That's W A Y-F A I R.com Wayfair Every style, every home. Is there any parenting advice you have? Like, how do you raise an adventurous kid?
- [19:28]
Taryn Smith
I feel so lucky that I had a lot of women in my life and a lot of men that encouraged me to go on adventures. There were times when I thought, oh, I wish that I had, you know, apartment and a regular job, and I wish I had a boyfriend, and I wish I had this safer life. And they'd say, no, Taryn, this is the time to go explore. This is the time to put yourself out there and go and see the world. And those things are always going to be there for you. But this is a really valuable way to spend your time right now because there were moments when I felt like I was falling behind. My friends were getting married and having babies and taking these other big life steps, which are adventures themselves, but mine just looked a little bit different. And so I think it was crucial having having other adults in my life that said, nope, you're. You're doing something worthwhile right now.
- [20:25]
Jenny Ert
Yeah. And if you feel compelled to do it, go do it. Okay. So of these large adventures that we've talked about, Sawtooth mountains, sticking around for five years when you just sort of were exposed from this year trip, and then you end up staying the solo trip in the French Alps and rowing across the Pacific Ocean. No. You rode across the Atlantic.
- [20:47]
Taryn Smith
Yes.
- [20:48]
Jenny Ert
Okay. You. You were inspired by people who wrote. You wrote, you wrote across the Atlantic and then the 2023. When you touch foot on every continent, if you could pick one of those four things to do again for the first time, which would it be?
- [21:02]
Taryn Smith
Oh, no one's asked me this question yet. If I could do something for the first time again, I would say the ocean row. It was incredible to have fresh eyes in that experience, particularly my first month at sea. I was so happy and so grateful because everything was working as it should. I was safe, I was healthy, the boat was doing great, and it was a really joyful time in my life. It was also tough, but that first month in, in particular, was a lot of fun.
- [21:33]
Jenny Ert
Okay, so let's talk about this whole Subculture, I didn't know anything about it until I started to research your life. And so it was really interesting to learn that about the preparation, about the fact that there are all of these coaches out there, that there are all of these companies that make these certain types of rowboats that will not flip over or will self, self right themselves, you know, in case of bad weather and that type of thing. So what was the training like?
- [22:01]
Taryn Smith
I spent about two years training for this endeavor. So what I did first was take a lot of classes on sea safety and navigation. And then I spent about six weeks learning how to row on one of the little ocean, like a little coastal rowing boat. And so it was a lot smaller than my ocean rowing boat, but this one helped me develop a good technique and good form. And then in 2025 I went and lived on my ocean rowing boat in England for collective seven weeks. And so I would row it up and down a river, I would drop anchor overnight and then eventually I rode out into the North Sea and, and got into some bigger conditions. And it was the best way to prepare because I felt really at home on my boat by the end of it. By the time I got out to sea, I was comfortable living on my boat. And I think that sometimes when teams train they might go do a three to five day row, do a little training camp, but that's the longest time they've ever spent living on their boat. Whereas living on it was, was great preparation for the two months that I spent out there.
- [23:07]
Jenny Ert
Yeah, if you were on it for seven weeks, then your entire row, I know you thought it was possibly going to be longer, but was only 11 days longer now? I mean, only 11 days on a rowboat in an ocean is not really an only thing. That's a really long time. But you had had that practice. Do you feel like there was a lot of people that. It's what it seems like when I started to look into the paperwork and like all the different websites and the different rows that you can take and this is such a huge subculture. Were there people that had really good advice? I mean it is, it is wild that you had never done it.
- [23:40]
Taryn Smith
I benefited from amazing coaches and trainers. So I worked with the entire team at Rannock, they're the ones that build the boats. And Lizzie at Ranick helped train me and so she gave me a lot of amazing pointers on how to be safe on the boat, how to actually use it. And then she helped me navigate while I was training in England and gave me a lot of great areas to go in and train in. And then I also worked with a coach, Gus Barton. He did all of my strength and conditioning, and so I had workouts that I did, and he was phenomenal. I had never really lifted before I started training, and now it's my favorite thing to do at the gym. It's. It feels so great to be strong. And so there. There are some aspects of the Ocean Road that I brought with me after the. After the journey.
- [24:30]
Jenny Ert
I remember reading about Gus Barton because I was reading through different. You know, there's all these articles about you, obviously. And so Gus Barton came up and I went to his website, and it was all about building capability. That. That. I mean, and what a thing to build. To build capability. You can't measure that, but you can see in your life that you have built capability because you're like, well, whatever comes up, like, oh, I'm interested. And even on their website, when you go and look at the world's toughest row, there was like a dropdown or something that you could click that was like. Like, interested, basically what you did, you know, Yeah, I guess I'm interested. I. I'll try that thing that I've never done before. So I thought that was a really cool thing to read about. What an incredibly vibrant subculture there is there. Can you talk about. Obviously, I'm sure that this gets brought up a lot, but you got to learn all of the. How to row, how to navigate, how to anchor, how to deal with storms, how to pack your food, all of those logistics. But can you learn how to be by yourself?
- [25:31]
Taryn Smith
That was the hardest part. And looking back at training, that's what I really learned how to do. I was still based on land while I was training. I was at a marina for a lot of those nights. But it was a very isolating experience. And what got me through those periods, a lot of books and podcasts from Plung Village, which is a Zen Buddhist monastery in France, A lot of books from Thich Nhat, Hanh Pemachodran. And it's all about accepting impermanence, accepting that all weather passes and learning that I always have the conditions for happiness that's always there. And so how can I find that in each and every moment, no matter what's going on around me, I can't control the weather, I can't control my conditions, but I can control my response to that. And so I teach yoga. I, from the beginning, wanted the medic wanted the road to be a meditation on impermanence and joy. And finding happiness even in those. Those dark, scary moments.
- [26:36]
Jenny Ert
And people can go to your online yoga studio, which is reopened June 1st. So I'll make sure that link is in the show notes. You offer a lot of different things and people should be following along because sometimes there can be retreats. You've had all sorts of different things over the years. People can bring you in to speak as well. Doing this alone is more uncommon, correct?
- [26:55]
Taryn Smith
It is. Most people do it as a team.
- [26:57]
Jenny Ert
Okay, so you could do a team. And if you go on the website, you can see all the winners from years past. And then there's all of these, I mean, statistics and. And also just information like, well, you use a bucket in order to go to the bathroom. How much weight does the average rower lose during a crossing? You know, all of these different things. And I loved, too, it would talk about different people that had won and all of the little idiosyncrasies. It was like the first, you know, pair of sisters, the first twins, the first mother, daughter team. All of these different things. So when people do it as a team, they're swapping spots for rowing, Is that correct? The boat must obviously be slightly bigger.
- [27:41]
Taryn Smith
That's correct. When people do it as a team, they typically have a shift pattern of 2 hours on, 2 hours off, or 3 hours on, 3 hours off. Whereas with a solo row while I was out there, I rode during the day and then I tried to rest about six to eight hours at night. And so in my mind, the solo shift pattern is a little bit easier.
- [28:03]
Jenny Ert
Yeah, that would be tricky. Right? You're only getting. You're only sleeping two to three hour shifts for a. For an extended period of time. Did you ever consider rowing with anyone else?
- [28:14]
Taryn Smith
When I first discovered ocean rowing, I actually did reach out to several teams and I said, hey, are you. They were looking for a fourth on their team and I did lots of interviews and no one picked me to be on their team because. And I don't blame them for it. I'm from Nebraska. I don't have any rowing experience. I don't have any nautical experience. I don't fault anyone for that. But I'd already made it up in my mind that I wanted to row across an ocean. And so I decided to do it myself, which is the best thing that could have happened for me. If I had done it on a team, I would have been miserable. They're small boat.
- [28:52]
Jenny Ert
Well. And you wouldn't be so famous. Okay, but. Sorry I interrupted. All right. You would have. Yeah, yeah.
- [29:00]
Taryn Smith
Ended up Ended up being a really good thing because those boats are small and the joy of the row was the solitude and being with these animals and being with the ocean and being with nature by myself. And it's. There's always two people rowing. So if you have to do something like go to the bathroom, no one's going to stop rowing. You're going to have an audience for that. And I would not want that for 30 days.
- [29:25]
Jenny Ert
Oh. Oh, is that interesting? Yeah.
- [29:29]
Taryn Smith
Really have to get good at sharing space.
- [29:31]
Jenny Ert
What a story, Taryn, that you apply, you applied and you interview
- [29:37]
Taryn Smith
now.
- [29:37]
Jenny Ert
Do you think anyone would take you? Probably because you're famous for it?
- [29:42]
Taryn Smith
I think. Yeah, I think if I wanted to do it on a team, I would be able to find one because I made it across the ocean without any incident. I was completely safe at the end. I kept a really good course and the boat did phenomenally. And so I did. I did get to a pretty high level with ocean rowing while I was out there.
- [30:01]
Jenny Ert
Yeah, yeah. I know you don't have any planes to do another one, but now I feel like you would be top, top picked. There are. And speaking of finishing it, you finished in 46 days. There are people who don't finish. So on the website it will say DNF did not finish is what I'm assuming that stands for. And they. Sometimes they have to be rescued. So what might happen in a situation like that?
- [30:23]
Taryn Smith
Yes. So, for example, this year there was a boat that capsized and for some reason the boat didn't self Right like it was supposed to. And so this rower got in the life raft and they had the epirb, which is this device you have on board that if it's activated, it sends a signal to a satellite and then the satellite notifies the Coast Guard and they organize a search and rescue with whatever freighter or sailboat might be nearby. And then you do get rescued. And he got rescued. He was safe. And so we bring all of this safety equipment with us for that reason. And it worked like it was supposed to. And he got back to land. But. But it is still a risky endeavor. We make it safe with the right equipment and with the right training. But there, there's a lot of risk involved.
- [31:10]
Jenny Ert
There were people that had to be restocked with supplies. All sorts of things I imagine could happen. But they had all of these specifics, like the first father and two sons to row the Atlantic. The youngest pair to row any ocean. The first physically disabled team of four to row. I love when they have all of these different characters, the first person with Als, the first brother and sister team, the first deaf person, the oldest woman, she came in in 2019, took her 10 days longer than everybody else. But, you know, what a cool thing. But sometimes you'll need a new rudder.
- [31:40]
Taryn Smith
Yes. While you're out there, things will break. And so sometimes teams have a rudder break and that's what you use to steer the boat. And so that's a pretty important piece. But a lot of times you'll actually get to land faster if you have someone bring you a spare part and then just keep rowing as opposed to getting picked up by a freight ship. Because if you get picked up by a cargo ship, you're going to go wherever that ship is going, which means you might end up in the Philippines or something. And so in a life or death situation, you'll obviously get on that boat. But if you have the option of getting some spare parts and then just keep keeping going, then you might as well do that.
- [32:15]
Jenny Ert
Have you met an incredible amount of people?
- [32:19]
Taryn Smith
Ocean rowing is the coolest community you couldn't find. One other thing similar between us. Everyone has very different life stories and different reasons for taking on this challenge, but it is such a huge endeavor that's very motivated, driven people. And that was one of my favorite parts, was getting to connect with all of these other ocean rowers.
- [32:41]
Jenny Ert
Yeah. And I would imagine then you stay in touch.
- [32:44]
Taryn Smith
There are a lot of group chats.
- [32:45]
Jenny Ert
Yes, yes. And some people will do it again and some people won't, but. But still, then you just gain this incredible community. I read a book very recently, actually, like in between our last conversation and Conversation two called Wave Walker, and it's a memoir of this woman named Suzanne Haywood who spent her childhood on a boat, a larger boat. Her dad wanted to sail around the ocean. Now it's like a. It is a page turner, shocking book because he told the family, we're just gonna go for two years and come back. She was like seven years old. And then it's like. Like six years later, eight years later, ten. Ten years later, and she ends up. I mean, this is her whole childhood. So it is. And it's not great. Like, it's a. It's a page turner of a story. Kind of shocking. But she talks about the experience of being in a boat in these swells. And she was too young to be up on top, so she's kind of like below deck. And just. She said it felt like a roller coaster. Right. Where you're like, lifting, lifting, lifting, lifting. Then crashing down it was. Is kind of terrifying to read about, honestly. Can you talk about what does it feel like to be on a boat like that in an ocean? You talked about the marlin. Is that what you said?
- [34:03]
Taryn Smith
Yes, by a marlin.
- [34:05]
Jenny Ert
Stalked by a marlin. You got hives. And then just the weather in general. I know you said it was pretty good weather for a good portion of it, but what is it like to be in those huge waves? How do you see steer in, you know, in just an ocean with current and things like that?
- [34:20]
Taryn Smith
Yeah, we had a variety of conditions, so the first week to ten days or so was pretty lovely, honestly. It was gorgeous skies, bluebird days and following sea. Then around Christmas time, it got really choppy, so it felt like you're in kind of washing machines conditions and just really thrown around quite a bit. Then the wind died off completely, which was gorgeous for a couple hours. And then it was just a slog pulling the boat because normally you have a little assist from the wind and get some drift that way. But it was. It was miserable when the wind died off and then the conditions really picked up and there were huge waves. Again, pretty confused seas. So there were waves just coming from every direction and sometimes a wave would crash over the side of the boat with so much force that I was knocked out of my shoes and out of my seat. And those moments were scary. It was scary to have a wave crash over the boat because then of course, the deck floods with water and there are two little cutouts on the side of the boat where the water can stream out. But it's intimidating, it is scary. And that was part of the reason I wanted to do this, was that I wanted to put myself in conditions that pushed me outside of my comfort zone. But that didn't make it less scary.
- [35:46]
Jenny Ert
Oh, sure. Was that the first time you had experienced that? Because you'd been on your boat for these longer periods of time in training, but was that your first time experiencing something like that?
- [35:57]
Taryn Smith
Completely. I experienced nothing like that during training.
- [36:00]
Jenny Ert
Did you feel panicked
- [36:04]
Taryn Smith
in the moment? I just kept going. And there's. You have a lot of adrenaline and there's really no other option. You just have to keep rowing, have to keep going. And I felt very alert during those moments. Those are my sharpest memories from the crossing are the ones where I was scared and panicked. I was very locked in. And that was an interesting part of the journey, is your brain adapts to those conditions. And so when I arrived in Antigua, I was used to having huge amounts of adrenaline and endorphins every single day. And then when I got back on land and I didn't have that, I actually went through a pretty big crash. And I struggled those first couple months because I'd lost my. My sense of purpose and my direction and my goal. I had accomplished it and it took me a while to find my footing again.
- [36:55]
Jenny Ert
Oh, that's a part you wouldn't even think of, is it? You know, what is it like? Afterward it was. I mean, it's triumphant and you have tons of people who are following. Like Pierce Brosnan. Yeah. But then you do. You have this single focus mission. And then all of a sudden I. You would feel rudderless to a degree, I would imagine. Right. Like, what's my direction that's so interesting. Lately I've been trying to simplify my closet, just choosing pieces that are comfortable, easy to wear and still look put together without a lot of effort. That's really why I keep coming back to Quince. The quality is there, the fit is right, and everything just makes sense. Quince makes it easy to refresh your everyday this spring with pieces that feel as good as they look. They use premium materials like 100% European linen, organic cotton and ultra soft denim, so you're getting that elevated feel without overpaying. Their lightweight linen pants, dresses and tops start at $30, and they're the kind of pieces you can wear again and again because they're breathable, versatile and just work. One thing I've been wearing a ton lately is the everyday fleece joggers. They're perfect for those cool spring mornings. Really soft, super comfortable, but still structured enough that I don't feel like I'm just in loungewear all day. And that's the thing with quints. Everything is priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands because they go straight to ethical factories and skip the middlemen. So you're getting great quality without paying for the label. Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.com outside for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns now available in Canada too. That's Q U I-N-E.com outside for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com outside. This time of year in homeschooling is really special. You're wrapping up projects, looking at how far your kids have come and helping them finish strong. It's also a great moment to reinforce key skills and build confidence. Confidence as you head into summer and as routines start to shift with Travel camps and more time outside. It helps to have something that keeps learning steady without over complicating your days. That's where IXL can be such a helpful tool. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that fits seamlessly into homeschooling. It offers interactive practice across math, language arts, science and social studies from Pre K through 12th grade. It personalizes learning for each child, keeps them engaged and gives parents clear insight into progress. What stands out is the real time feedback and progress tracking. Kids get immediate explanations as they go and you can clearly see growth over time, what's clicking and where. A little reinforcement can go a long way. It's a simple way to finish the year strong and keep skills fresh heading into the summer. Make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and 1000 Hours. Outside listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com 1000hours. Visit ixl.com 1000hours to get get the most effective learning program out there at the best price. Okay, I know you're not planning on doing it again, but often when you do something for the first time, you learn. Are there, are there any specific things that come to mind? I would do this different. I would bring different clothes. I would. I don't know.
- [39:49]
Taryn Smith
Yes, I. If I were to do the whole thing again, I wouldn't have spent those first six weeks actually learning how to row on that small boat because it's a very different technique and form to ocean rowing. And so I could have just spent that time either living on the boat, the ocean rowing boat, or lifting at the gym or I could have used that time better. But I had no idea I was new to this. And I think that's part of it is just accepting you're going to take some missteps when you do something big like big like this, and it's not going to be perfectly efficient. But if I were to do it again, that's something I would change. And I think I would have. I would have. If I were to do it again, I'd trust the process more and trust that I am going to get to land safely because there were some moments when I didn't feel like I was going to make it and I think I caused myself some unnecessary stress during those times and I think I'd have greater faith in myself.
- [40:54]
Jenny Ert
Yeah. What a life lesson that is, isn't it? How often our worries don't actually come to fruition. What a lesson. Yeah. Yeah. For someone who's like myself, who is considering sitting on a boat on the, you know, sitting up on top because you could go in. There's a small part where you could go in.
- [41:13]
Taryn Smith
Right, exactly. I had two cabins and I was able to get in those cabins and shut the cabin door, and that's how I slept at night.
- [41:21]
Jenny Ert
Is that where supplies. I'm assuming that's where things are.
- [41:24]
Taryn Smith
A lot of supplies. Yeah, exactly.
- [41:26]
Jenny Ert
So you can go in, but if you're sitting up on top, you. You think of yourself being in the middle of the ocean. You know, we live in Michigan, so Michigan has got the Great Lakes. And when you go over to the Great, you know, any of the coastal. Any of them, it just, you know, like goes on forever. Right. Just all you see is blue. So when you're out there and you're sitting on this boat, how common is it to see other life, whether that's other boats or wildlife or are there huge swaths of time where it's literally just you?
- [42:00]
Taryn Smith
I had a lot of company throughout my crossing. So there was a little bird. She came up to me my very first morning at sea, and she flew laps around the boat. She would dive into the waves, fly back up in the sky. She had so much, much energy and life and spirit that the first name that came to mind was Jo March, the character from Little Women. And so I named her Jo March. And she stuck with me until my last morning at sea.
- [42:27]
Jenny Ert
What?
- [42:28]
Taryn Smith
No, wait.
- [42:29]
Jenny Ert
Yeah.
- [42:30]
Taryn Smith
She would fly laps around the boat in the mornings and evenings. I lost her for a couple days in the middle, but then she came back and she became such a good friend to me. I really miss her. Now that I'm back on land, I miss seeing her every day. And so she was. She was a great company. I had a shark my first morning. Dolphins always came to me. On my lowest days when I really, really needed a pick me up, dolphins would come and swim around the boat. I had whales come and say hi. And then I saw quite a few cargo ships as well, so. So it was a. It was an eventful crossing in that regard.
- [43:09]
Jenny Ert
I really can't even believe that about that little bird. It's like, what was that bird thinking? I know.
- [43:15]
Taryn Smith
Isn't that amazing?
- [43:16]
Jenny Ert
That is phenomenal. And it went across the ocean with you?
- [43:19]
Taryn Smith
Yeah.
- [43:21]
Jenny Ert
Were you so sad the couple days that it was gone?
- [43:24]
Taryn Smith
I was devastated. I was. I was so sad. I'm glad she found her way back.
- [43:30]
Jenny Ert
Jo March, I love that. Talk about then. Here's a brand new experience. Another new experience is Writing a book. You know, we'll be, you know, on pins and needles waiting for this one. But I know when you go and speak, you speak a lot about a lot of different topics. You say, we're meant to go out into the world and do big things. So you talk about community and adventure and resilience and purpose. When you sit down to write a book like this about your experience, do you have thoughts on what direction are you getting advice? I mean, that's a pretty blank slate.
- [44:05]
Taryn Smith
It is. I. I think I'm going to write just about not only the row, but also my life leading up to it and what brought me to this moment. And so it's been wonderful to get to reflect on what happened in my childhood that made me want to do something like this. I remembered when I was in third grade, I actually did write an essay that if I could go anywhere in the world, I'd want to go to the middle of the ocean. And I hadn't really thought about that. But I have always had this strong sense of adventure and thinking about my time out in Idaho and how that really influenced where my life went, and also a lot of the failures and the rejection along the way. I think that that has defined my life just as much as these successes have. And so now's an opportunity to celebrate what didn't work out, because it's gotten me to this moment.
- [44:58]
Jenny Ert
Oh, and you're gonna get to come up with a title and do all these marketing things and go on book tours. One adventure leads to another one, a completely different adventure, and that's a whole new skill set that you're learning.
- [45:11]
Taryn Smith
It is, yes.
- [45:14]
Jenny Ert
And you never know what that's going to lead to, because this would be, like, prime for a children's book, too.
- [45:22]
Taryn Smith
I thought about that while I was out there so much because a lot of what I saw just couldn't be captured by a camera. But I think that watercolor would be an amazing way to. To illustrate my experience out there. So maybe that's a new skill I'll try to pick up as well.
- [45:37]
Jenny Ert
Yeah. I mean, couldn't you imagine, you know, being a little girl or a little boy and reading about this adventure in a children's book, too? I mean, I think it could spawn off into all sorts of different things. So. So, I mean, this is just an incredible, incredible thing you've done, and it's so inspiring to other people. So you talked about community. This is one of your speaking topics. You talk about adventure, resilience, purpose. What did you do or how did you figure out how to regain your sense of purpose once this big adventure was over?
- [46:10]
Taryn Smith
When I got back, it was really helpful just to spend time with family and friends. I gave up my social life to bring the road alive, as that should be. That's one of the prices you pay to do something like this. So that was never a complaint, but it was really nice to get to start spending time with friends. And I just started signing up for stuff that I was new to. So I took spin classes and signed up for tennis lessons and watched different movies and read different books and tried to stir the pot a little bit and see what. See what was going to be fun. And I think having some. Some time to just let things settle and let things integrate also helped. My first month back on land, I couldn't picture myself being on the boat. It was impossible to imagine it. And so when I did interviews, it felt like I was talking about someone else's life. After that first month, though, I started to regain my. My memories of it. And I feel. It feels a little bit easier to think about now.
- [47:17]
Jenny Ert
Why do you think that is?
- [47:20]
Taryn Smith
I think part of it is that the last couple weeks were really scary. And I think I spent quite a bit of time in Fight or Flight. And part of my response to that was just shutting that off for a while once I actually got to land and was safe. And now I can look back and think, you actually really. You were safe the whole time. Everything worked as it should, but it was relentlessly gray. It rained a lot, and it was. It was scary.
- [47:54]
Jenny Ert
I'm sure. I'm sure. Who was there when you landed?
- [47:59]
Taryn Smith
There was an amazing crowd there in Antigua. My mom was there. My dad, one of my best friends from Idaho, she came found to see me in. And some of our family friends from here in Nebraska.
- [48:12]
Jenny Ert
Wow.
- [48:13]
Taryn Smith
It was a very special welcome. Yeah. Welcome brigade.
- [48:18]
Jenny Ert
And they. They had an idea because obviously it took like almost two weeks less than you originally thought. Or around there even more. Possibly it took less time than you thought. So they were just kind of tracking because you were checking in every day. So they knew about when to come.
- [48:34]
Taryn Smith
They did. I had a tracker on my boat and it gave an estimated arrival time. And so as I got closer and closer, that got more accurate.
- [48:43]
Jenny Ert
Were they just like screaming their heads off?
- [48:45]
Taryn Smith
Yeah, there was a lot of noise.
- [48:49]
Jenny Ert
Was there news there?
- [48:51]
Taryn Smith
Not there on the island. Okay. So I rode in. There's all of these super yachts in Nelson's dockyard, so they all blow their horns. I rode in Made it to the dock, got off the boat, and I went, did a little interview just with the race director on land. And then within an hour, I went and did a remote TV interview.
- [49:13]
Jenny Ert
Oh, my goodness. Just immediately right into it, right into the spotlight. What was the name of your. You call it a team even though it's just you, Is that right?
- [49:23]
Taryn Smith
Yeah, it was. So the. The team name was Alonzi, which is also the name of the boat. And that name had two meanings. The first is that let's go in French, which felt like it really captured the spirit of the endeavor. But the reason we chose that is because my grandma and grandpa were a part of a dance club called Alonsi, and I know they would have been huge supporters of this endeavor. They were definitely with me throughout the crossing in spirit, and it was a nice way to get to connect them to the trip.
- [49:54]
Jenny Ert
What a beautiful tribute. Was that that immediately you kind of knew, or was it hard to figure out?
- [50:00]
Taryn Smith
It was hard to figure out. I. I talked with my mom a lot about that, and she helped me come up with the name.
- [50:05]
Jenny Ert
Yeah. Okay, so we talked a little bit about that. You speak, so people are interested in that. They can go to your website. You do all types of speaking. And I wanted to highlight that one of the things that you've done is you've spoken for virtual science classes. So this could be for elementary or middle school students. It could be for homeschoolers. So they would say, like, you know, they give their feedback and say, the kids were so captivated by these stories of ocean rowing, and then they're learning about geography, meteorology, marine biology, rowing equipment. So, you know, when you think of someone speaking, you think of them on a big stage. And of course, those are things that would happen to talk about resilience and adventure and community and purpose. But can you talk about. Were you surprised to get those other types of speaking opportunities too? And was it cool to see how the kids responded?
- [50:57]
Taryn Smith
I love getting to talk about this with kids. I actually just did one last night. From the beginning, I've connected with elementary schoolers. So before the crossing, I went to a fifth grade class here in Omaha and shared the journey with them. And then we sent each other some messages while I was out at sea. And they actually sent me with cards as well. One of my really tough moments. I could look at the notes that they gave me. And afterwards I went and told them all about the journey. And I've gotten to go to lots of other elementary schools and Scouts programs and just Talk to kids who are enthusiastic about being outside. And they always ask the best questions. They're curious. They want to be out on boats or out in nature, too. And so that's one of my favorite parts of this. This next adventure.
- [51:43]
Jenny Ert
That was an incredible idea to connect with the class before you went, because in their learning geography, they're foul. They're never going to forget that. That's going to be the coolest part of their schooling. Their. The whole thing is following you, and then, you know, you're blowing up. You sending in all these messages. Where did that idea come from to connect with the classroom of students before you left?
- [52:07]
Taryn Smith
My mom was a teacher here in Omaha, and I was actually working as a substitute teacher at the time. And so I think it fel natural to go and talk to some elementary schoolers before I went on the row. And there was. It made me feel a lot stronger and resilient at sea because I knew that there were kids watching me and I didn't want to traumatize them. I needed to make it safely to land. But I also. I found a lot of joy. And their support.
- [52:35]
Jenny Ert
Yeah, I mean, they're still in the same class because this just happened earlier this school year.
- [52:40]
Taryn Smith
Exactly.
- [52:41]
Jenny Ert
So they were able to follow along. I thought that was a really cool thing. And it wasn't something I was expecting. You know, you're expecting. You go into some corporate environment, you know, you're going to talk about adventure and resilience and purpose, you know, but then you're like, oh, no. And I speak to all these kids, too. Another thing that really benefited kids. So first of all, there's a lot of sponsors here, so you can look at everybody's different teams and see who's sponsoring. I thought it was really special that the Redfish Lake Lodge was one of your sponsors.
- [53:09]
Taryn Smith
Yes, they were my first sponsor for the row and that it really meant the world. My former boss actually came to the start line with his wife to see me off. And the. The friend from Idaho that came to the finish lunch, it was their daughter. And so we're very, very close now. And that's a part of the. It feels like home.
- [53:34]
Jenny Ert
What a cool full circle moment. I love that part of the story. So you have all these sponsors, but then you also partnered. And I think this is. Seemed like it was kind of common where you partner with an organization to raise support. And so you were able to raise over $40,000 to support girls on the run. That's a whole other part of it.
- [53:56]
Taryn Smith
Yes. I Got to partner with girls on the run. I think the world is a better place when girls do sports. And it was amazing to get to highlight the work that they do while I was out at sea. And people were so, so generous while I was, while I was rowing. It's amazing that, that people believe in women's athletics like that.
- [54:20]
Jenny Ert
Yeah. A nonprofit that inspires girls to be joyful, healthy. This is basically like what you were talking about too, that this is what you wanted the row to be. You wanted it to be joyful. You want to talk about impermanence and community. And. And they've got an organization that inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident, using fun, experience based curriculum that integrates running, creatively, integrates running. And so they're learning teamwork skills. Did you know that that was a part of it. You know, some adventures you just do, it's just an adventure.
- [54:51]
Taryn Smith
Right.
- [54:51]
Jenny Ert
But then the sponsorship parts, the sponsorship part and the support of a nonprofit, it seemed like it was a common thread in this type of adventure.
- [55:01]
Taryn Smith
Yes, most people do choose a nonprofit to represent while they're out there. And I think that's another unique part of ocean rowing that brings, it just brings another layer of. I don't know what the right word is. You know, people bring amazing stories to why they choose these different nonprofits. And so sometimes they know someone personally who, who dealt with a certain type of cancer or there was this organization that really helped them as a parent was going through something tough. So it's, it's. You just connect with people on a really deep level right away because people are representing causes that are so important to them.
- [55:39]
Jenny Ert
Yeah. That's so personal and it's so impactful. $40,000 to that organization. More than what an impactful thing for girls across the country. And then, and, and then also it connects them to your story, you know, so someone who's, you know, maybe a decade older or, you know, 12 years older or something like that, like, oh, what is that person doing? And it's so inspiring. So it's not only the money, but it's also that connection to your story. I'm so thrilled that, that we got to talk twice.
- [56:09]
Taryn Smith
Me too. I'm so glad that we got to chat.
- [56:11]
Jenny Ert
Me too. And hopefully when the book comes out, we'll be able to do it again. I'm very excited about this book and I love the backstory part of it because it just shows that you can do a lot of things with your life. And we're sort of heading into this graduation season, whether people are graduating from high school or from college. And it reminds you, you know, to. To do these. It started small. It started with a winter yurt trip, which I think a lot of people wouldn't do. They don't want to snowshoe in and, you know, and have to have the, you know, the fire that's gonna heat it and. But. But adventure spurs on adventure, and you just don't know where it's gonna take you. So. Taryn, this has been an absolute delight. I love your story. It, in some ways, the second time through, it was cool because like I said, when I had told people about it, everybody knew who you were. I've been following her, you know, so it's just a cool connection even with the people that I know. So we always end our show with the same question. The question is, what's a favorite memory from your childhood that was outside?
- [57:11]
Taryn Smith
One of my favorite memories from my childhood was out at Johnson Lake where my grandparents lived. My cousins and I took. It was the winter. We took ice chunks that had frozen over the rocks, broke them off, and we meant we made an igloo. And we just spent hours and hours, days, probably a whole week out there. And this little igloo and my grandma and grandpa were there. We'd bring out thermoses of hot chocolate. And it's one of my favorite memories from growing up because that's when I learned how much I loved being outside.
- [57:43]
Jenny Ert
Yeah. What an experience. You would learn so much just trying to, like, fit all the pieces of ice together. And that's so cool that your grandparents were so supportive of that bringing out your hot chocolate. It is an honor to know you and I'm so impressed and inspired and. And enthusiastic about all these cool things that you're doing. Your. Your online yoga studio has been closed for a bit because you did the row. So this is a very exciting that this is coming back online on June 1st. You do live classes, you do yoga challenges. You have a library of videos for On Demand joy. Just a lot that you offer there. And then I know that at certain times you've done retreats and in person events so people can keep an eye out for all of those things. Taryn, thanks for being here.
- [58:24]
Taryn Smith
Thank you so much for having me again.