Transcript

A (0:03)

Hey, guys. It's the way I heard it. Mike Rowe here with my new favorite crazy French guy. You had an old favorite crazy French guy? Well, Pepe Le Pew occupied a fair amount of real estate in my brain for many, many, many years, but he has been eclipsed by the one and only Cyril Daremo. Yes. Who I get to know and who you will get to know momentarily. I sort of know who this guy is, and as you'll hear me say shortly, he's the kind of guy that I really wanted this podcast to be for and about. He's the kind of guest, you know.

B (0:44)

Someone who you find interesting that you.

A (0:47)

Meet along the way accidentally. Right. But, I mean, I would describe him as a guy who talked his way onto the podcast.

B (0:55)

He.

A (0:55)

He did that. And. And you know what? Lots of people try, and sometimes it works. But, you know, between production and logistics and timing and everything else, it's not realistic to Forrest Gump your way through a podcast based on people you meet out in the real world. True. But this guy came pedaling past me four years ago. Yeah. I was out for a ruck, and he was training, and he swung his bike around and he introduced himself. He speaks, what, six or seven languages, this guy? But he was using my mother tongue, thankfully, and told me that he planned on paddling a kayak from California to Hawaii.

B (1:38)

Yep.

A (1:39)

And he said, it's going to be a great adventure, and I would love to come on your podcast and talk about it. And you said? I said, well, I tell you what, crazy French guy, if you actually do that and live, maybe I'll run into you again, you know, and maybe we'll have a chat.

B (1:57)

And then what happened?

A (1:58)

Well, I ran into him again. It's probably like a year and a half later, and there he is on his bike, and I'm huffing and puffing along on the bike trail with my ruck, and he pulls a U turn and says, you know, my Michel, it is serial. I have done it. Like, wait, done what? But I paddled across the Pacific in 91 days in a kayak alone. Alone. So, holy crap, now I'm paying attention. And of course, it takes time. And another year goes by.

B (2:30)

I was gonna say, did you have him on the podcast, Mike?

A (2:32)

Well, I called you. I was like, hey, man, I met this guy. He paddled kind of, like, all over the Pacific. I think he's interesting, but we were busy and, you know, whatever. And then I see him again. He's like, michel, I have done it again. Like, what the hell are you talking about this time? He'd paddled across the Atlantic.

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe

Episode 463: Cyril Derreumaux—In the Flow
Date: December 16, 2025
Guest: Cyril Derreumaux

Overview

In this deeply engaging episode, Mike Rowe sits down with Cyril Derreumaux, an adventurer and “crazy French guy” who solo kayaked across both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Over a conversation filled with humor, philosophy, and raw honesty, Cyril unpacks what drives a person to paddle alone for months, how he prepared mentally and physically, what he experienced on the open sea, and the personal revelations he brought back to dry land. The episode delves into themes of risk, resilience, the search for meaning, and the universal desire to step outside one's comfort zone and into a fuller life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origin Story: Meeting Cyril

Mike describes running into Cyril by chance multiple times over several years, first as a dreamer training for the Pacific crossing, then as a survivor who’d completed it, and finally after his Atlantic feat.
- “He’s like the kind of guy that I really wanted this podcast to be for and about.” (00:23)
- “If you actually do that and live, maybe I’ll run into you again…” (01:38)

2. Record-Setting Ocean Crossings

Cyril’s achievements:
- Kayaked solo from California to Hawaii in 91 days (2021).
- Later crossed from the Canary Islands to Martinique in 71 days.
- Holds records for fastest and first to cross two major oceans solo in kayak.
- “I paddled across the Pacific in 91 days in a kayak alone. Alone.” – Cyril (01:58)
- “He did it the fastest. And he did it in two different oceans.” – Mike (03:27)
Challenges and logistics of each trip, and how the currents, winds, and Cyril's experience influenced the journey's duration and outcome.
First attempt was cut short due to a storm; led to later success.

3. Pushing Limits: Motivation and Mindset

Cyril immerses in the solitude, finding not loneliness but “aloneness.”
- “It’s not loneliness. It’s being aloneness, because I never felt lonely. That makes you connected to the oneness.” – Cyril (07:34)
Tattoos as personal reminders and symbols of the journey, resilience, and readiness for risk, not loss.
- “Am I willing to lose my life for my passion of living life to the fullest? And the answer was then no.” – Cyril (11:07)
The difference between risking, losing, and giving your life for something (12:16).

4. Daily Life on the Ocean

Physical routine: Five hours paddling in the morning, midday break (water production with solar desalination), five hours paddling in the afternoon.
Food: 4,000 calories a day; mostly freeze-dried, cold meals.
Physical effects: Loss of 15 pounds, need to manage hygiene to avoid salt sores, atrophy from not standing for months.
- “What if I tell you for 90 days, you cannot get up?” – Mike (17:07)
- “I had to find a way… I just toss [my waste] in the ocean.” – Cyril, on bathroom logistics (17:26)

5. Managing Danger and Self-Awareness

Risks: Storms, container ships, mechanical failures, sea creatures (sharks, swordfish), capsizing.
Vigilance at night: Waking every hour to check for obstacles (23:07).
Always tethered to the boat for safety.
- “I’m attached. Even if it’s flat, day, night, I’m attached.” – Cyril (34:43)
“Self-awareness is the most important.” (22:08)
- Self-monitoring, brutal honesty, mindset reframing vital for survival and mental health on a months-long solo trip.

6. The “Flow” and Mental Transformation

Entering “flow state,” and redefining time and attention during repetitive days:
- “Every day is the same…but every day is different.” – Cyril (26:18)
- “The concept of the future doesn’t exist because it’s not here yet. The past doesn’t matter because it’s gone.” (28:17)
Overcoming emotional hardship: Missing human contact, handling emotions via positive reframing and celebrating small milestones.
- “I cried every day. I cried every day because the people that are back on land, the human touch, you miss it. So much.” – Cyril (29:20)

7. Connection with Nature and Oneness

Profound moments of spiritual connection—feeling “one with the ocean.”
- “My body was essentially seawater.” – Cyril (61:19)
- Combines tears and ocean spray as a metaphor for oneness (62:29)
Birds, whales, and weather as companions, omens, and reminders of interconnectedness.
- “I started to talk to every bird. They talk back? No, they don’t. Someday they don’t care. Rude.” – Cyril (31:35)

8. Lessons on Discomfort, Comfort & Modern Life

Importance of embracing purposeful difficulty:
- “Life is tough. Reality is the best things are out of your comfort zone.” – Cyril (56:21)
Society’s coddling and the need for masagi—deliberate, challenging experiences (59:32).
- “There should be a very high chance of failure if you try it.” – Mike (58:34)
Hardships enhance the value and joy of simple pleasures upon return.

9. Preparation: Physical, Mental and Spiritual

Physical: Training, adding muscle mass, diet, building sea legs.
Mental: Work with coaches, Wim Hof method, hypnosis, cold plunge, meditation/yoga in India.
- “I tried everything, you name it. I don’t know what, I don’t know. I’ll try it.” – Cyril (77:25)
Accepting discomfort as a teacher and embracing whatever comes.

10. Role Models and Meaning

Influences: Mike Horn, Ed Gillette, Alex Honnold, Shackleton—heroes of adventure.
- “There’s a certain category of people…that don’t really need a reason to follow what your passion is.” – Cyril (47:59)
The universality of following a "calling," and its power to inspire others to their own adventures.

11. Giving Back: Purpose Beyond Adventure

Cyril’s ultimate goal: “I want to leave the people I meet better than I found them.” (70:21)
Shares lessons through motivational speaking, writing, and public exhibits (his kayak is on display in Sausalito).
Inspiring others—especially youth—to find their own version of the “hard thing” worth doing in life.

Memorable Quotes

On Motivation:
“Why not? Don’t tell me why. Everybody asks me why. Why do you want to do this?…Why not? I want to do it. Let me do it.” – Cyril (09:32)
On Flow and Time:
“The concept of the future doesn’t exist because it’s not here yet. The past doesn’t matter because it’s gone. Just becomes real. You could read all the books of Buddhism… but it’s only a theory until you live it.” – Cyril (28:17)
Spiritual Oneness:
“I was the ocean telling me, look, drop of salt water. You’re me, I’m you. We’re the same.” – Cyril (62:29)
On Comfort & Challenge:
“There are no coincidences.” – Cyril (65:14)
“You actually have to figure out a way to love [the discomfort].” – Mike (60:44)
On Sharing the Journey:
“Dare, live, learn…share and inspire.” – Cyril, on his personal ethos (71:12)
On the American Dream:
“I think more in the American dreams than a lot of Americans, because they’ve been told that, but they take it for granted that how lucky they are. They don’t even know how lucky they are.” – Cyril (73:15)
On Influence:
“I want to tell people that you could be a regular guy…if you’re passionate enough, with discipline, risk, what it takes…you can do anything you want.” – Cyril (54:03)

Notable Moments and Timestamps

Early meetings and first challenge to appear on the podcast (00:03–03:19)
Ocean crossings recap and record details (06:09–09:04)
First failed attempt and the lessons learned (10:15–14:27)
Boat description and tattoos’ meaning (12:52–15:26)
A day in the life on the water (18:02–19:11)
On hygiene, injuries, and self-care (21:46–22:08)
Mental strategies for isolation and endurance (22:44–23:02)
Handling danger from ships and sea creatures (23:07–34:09)
Epiphanies and oneness with ocean and earth (61:19–63:29)
Finding purpose in hardship and inspiring others (70:21–71:42)
Discussion of American Dream and immigrant experience (73:15–74:59)
Methods of preparation: yoga, Wim Hof, hypnosis (76:27–77:25)
Moments of realization and puzzle metaphor for big projects (78:38–80:06)
Parting philosophy: blend of certainty and uncertainty (84:13–84:20)

Where to Learn More

Kayak exhibits at Sausalito’s Bay Model museum.
Cyril’s website: SoloKayakTheAtlantic.com
Or, as he jokes: “crazyfrenchguycrossingocean.com” (86:32)
For updates on Cyril’s future adventures, documentaries, and public speaking.

Conclusion

This episode captures the spirit of the everyday adventurer: a man who “files away the why” and leans fully into the “why not.” Cyril Derreumaux’s story isn’t just about breaking records; it's about accepting discomfort, chasing flow, and coming back from the edge with stories that light the path for others. Both Mike and Cyril root the conversation in humor, humility, and a deep sense of shared humanity, leaving listeners with the charge to find their own adventure—however big or small—and to, above all, live fully and dare greatly.

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463: Cyril Derreumaux—In the Flow