Aug. 19, 2025

Walking the World: Karl Bushby’s 27-Year Expedition | Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges

Show Notes

What does it take to walk around the world — literally? In this remarkable episode of Just Wondering, Norm Hitzges sits down with explorer Karl Bushby, who has spent the last 27 years on a 36,000-mile mission to be the first person to circumnavigate the globe entirely on foot.

From surviving in Patagonia with little more than road scraps and berries, to crossing the icy, unforgiving Bering Strait, Karl’s journey has been defined by grit, danger, and an unshakable belief in the impossible. Along the way, he’s faced guerrillas in the Darien Gap, been detained by Russian authorities, and endured financial setbacks — yet through it all, he’s pushed forward, mile after mile.

Speaking from Istanbul as he nears the end of his epic journey, Karl shares his motivations, brushes with death, encounters with kindness, and the strict rules that have shaped his quest. This isn’t just a story about walking — it’s a testament to endurance, resilience, and the audacity of the human spirit.

If you’ve ever doubted what one person can achieve, Karl Bushby’s story will change your mind.

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Chapters:

0:01 – Introducing Karl Bushby: A lifetime adventurer joins from Istanbul

2:23 – Why walk the world? How a young paratrooper’s idea became a mission

8:00 – Surviving Patagonia with $500 and the kindness of strangers

12:34 – The two rules that define Karl’s journey

15:19 – Crossing the Bering Strait and being detained in Russia

18:45 – Facing guerrillas in the Darien Gap and 18 days in Panamanian jails

20:57 – Norm shifts gears: football picks, sponsors, and what’s ahead

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