Episode 176 - From Horses to High Seas: Alison Gieschen's Remarkable Journey

#176 - What does it take to sail around the world? For Alison Gieschen, it's required facing her worst fears while clinging to a dream she's had since childhood. From the moment she and her husband Dan met at a sailboat race and discovered their shared ambition to circumnavigate the globe, their path was set – though hardly smooth sailing.Alison's journey began far from any ocean, on a 100-acre farm in upstate New York where she developed her first great passion: horses. Rising to elite competitive levels and eventually building her own equestrian vaulting program that became the largest on the East Coast, she never imagined trading stable ground for the unpredictable waves. Yet when she met Dan, something clicked. After just one weekend together, they recognized in each other the perfect sailing partner, and soon after, life partner.Now seven years into their global circumnavigation, Alison shares harrowing tales that would make most people head straight for land – surviving "The Perfect Storm" with 20-foot waves that ripped equipment from their boat, enduring five catastrophic failures during a Pacific crossing, and facing a tsunami just days after reaching French Polynesia. Through it all, she's maintained her creative spirit, writing prolifically across genres from sailing memoirs to horse novels to children's books about mermaids.What makes Alison's story particularly compelling is her honesty about fear. Despite visiting nearly 50 countries by sea, she calls herself "the bravest chicken on the planet." This paradox captures something essential about courage – it's not fearlessness but perseverance despite terror. When their first ocean crossing went terribly wrong, a chance encounter with her sailing mentor provided the perspective she needed: surviving your worst fears is actually a gift that proves you can handle anything.Whether you're dreaming of distant horizons or simply looking for inspiration to face your own challenges, Alison's adventures remind us that, as she puts it, "Life is what you make of it, and if you have a dream, you need to go for it, because life's too short not to."To learn more about Alison and get her books check out www.alisongieschen.com.Want to be a guest on Journey with Jake? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake Discover the journeys that do more than take you somewhere new—they change the way you see yourself and the world. Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel explores unforgettable adventures, hidden places, and the transformative power of stepping beyond the familiar.Check out Wayfinder Life-Changing Travel and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Xploreum connects you with authentic wilderness expeditions led by trusted local experts. Browse real adventures, book directly with experienced guides, and get $200 off your first trip using code HumanAdventure2026 at xploreum.io/humanadventure.