Ep. 180 ~ 20,000 Miles by Bike, Exploring Wild w/ Alissa Bell

Alissa Bell is the creator and owner of ExploringWild.com and BikeSleepBike.com. Both projects are inspired by her 20,000+ miles traveling by foot and bike all over the world and her passion for helping others find their own adventure. In 2018 she quit her job to travel the world – a move that many of us dream about making, but that few of us ultimately find the bravery to take the plunge on.  When she left for Africa in 2018, she wasn’t just walking away from her career. She was also leaving behind a supportive husband, her home, her friends, and all of the comfort and familiarity that comes with a happy, whole, and rich home life.The urge to discover the world and herself in it is a primary motivator for Alissa, but it’s not one that comes easy or without cost. It requires constant juggling and negotiating between a home life she loves and an adventurous life that fills her soul. From ExploringWild.com, “I won’t pretend all this is easy. I’m introverted, nerdy, and more risk-averse than you might think. I have cranky knees and hate being cold. I used to think all this stuff was only for people braver and tougher than I am. If I can do it, you definitely can too.“ In other words, she’s a lot like me and you. Luckily for us, Alissa has dedicated her life – through her example, her writing, websites, and adventure kits – to helping others chase their own version of the life they want for themselves. On a personal note, I met Alissa digitally in 2019 when she extended an offer to help with BikesorDeath.com. Over the past 5 years she’s been an unsung hero for BoD behind the scenes. What started as a kind offer to help led to her building an entirely new website from scratch. She’s also been invaluable in her help every time the website crashes (which is more than you’d think haha). It’s through these interactions that I became aware of, and impressed by, her boldness and unfettering determination to pursue a life that is more meaningful and representative of the version of herself she identifies with the most. After years of coaxing, it was a pleasure to have her join me on the podcast.   A great way to keep up with Alissa and get notified about her projects is through her newsletter. EPISODE SPONSORS Old Man Mountain ~ Did you know that OMM makes panniers specifcally for bikepacking that pair perfectly with their legendary racks? Learn more on today's episode and use discount code “mountainsordeath” for 10% off site-wide and use this affiliate link so BoD gets a "Thank You" check in the mail :) Exploring Wild ~ Alissa is offering BoD listeners 15% of her Adventure Kits, just use coupon code "kitsordeath" at checkout! Patreon Geoffrey Meredith - increased pledge 🎉 Join them won’t you? Find out more at www.Patreon.com/BikesorDeath