From Sahara Trains to Ocean Rows: One Woman's Extraordinary Journey with Brooke King

#166 - What happens when your adventurous spirit collides with a life-changing diagnosis? Meet Brooke King, a fearless 29-year-old who refuses to let thyroid cancer dim her extraordinary approach to life.Brooke's story begins in Chicago, where she lived a successful but predictable life as a young homeowner. When COVID hit, something shifted - that innate desire for adventure could no longer be contained. She sold her house and embraced alternative living - from boats to school buses - launching herself into experiences most would never dare attempt. Hitchhiking on the "Desert Snake" (the world's deadliest train) through the Sahara Desert? Check. Tracking down a floating grocery store yacht in Turkey? Absolutely. Dog attack training? Why not?Then came the unexpected plot twist - a thyroid cancer diagnosis that might have derailed someone with less resilience. But for Brooke, this became another adventure to navigate with the same determination that helped her travel solo through remote parts of Africa. "I didn't want to just heal from cancer and get through it," she explains. "I wanted to rise above it."Now, Brooke is channeling her energy into training for a 72-hour rowing expedition across the Mediterranean from Barcelona to Ibiza. What was already on her bucket list has transformed into "Row to Remission" - a powerful statement of hope and a fundraiser for cancer research. She'll row alongside three other women, including a former Olympian, taking two-hour shifts around the clock with minimal sleep.Brooke's philosophy about adventure is refreshingly accessible: "Adventure is intentionally trying something new." It doesn't require traveling to exotic locations or extreme sports - it simply means choosing growth and new experiences for their own sake. Through her story, she reminds us that our greatest adventures often arrive disguised as our greatest challenges.Follow Brooke's journey on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok @brookesjoyrides or visit brookesjoyrides.com to support her cancer fundraising efforts. As she says with infectious enthusiasm: "There's no time to waste."Want to be a guest on Journey with Jake? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/journeywithjake 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.