Runner Russ Cook Details Hostage Ordeal and Reaches 1 Million Pounds

跑者Russ Cook详述人质历险，筹款突破100万英镑 超耐力运动员Russ Cook克服了长达七小时的丛林绑架和严重的后勤瘫痪，完成了历时352天的横穿非洲长跑，最终为慈善机构筹集了超过100万英镑。 Russ Cook回顾了自己从一名深陷严重抑郁、赌瘾和家庭关系疏离的叛逆少年，成长为打破世界纪录的超长距离跑者的心路历程。他详述了历时352天横穿非洲的艰难奔跑，披露了包括遭遇持枪抢劫、在刚果（金）被绑架长达七小时、严重健康危机以及内部团队崩溃等惊险遭遇。Cook还分享了战胜这些近乎致命的逆境如何修复了他与父亲的关系、重塑了他的心理韧性，并点燃了他投身支持青少年慈善事业的热情。 Russ Cook 克服叛逆迷茫的青少年时期，在通过播客领悟个人责任感并转向耐力跑后彻底扭转人生，最终成为首位徒步跑完非洲全境的人。 (2:03) 在挑战非洲之前，22岁的 Russ 曾在无后援车的情况下，历时66天跑完71场马拉松，完成了从伊斯坦布尔到伦敦的跨洲长跑。 (37:53) 在仅剩1万英镑（仅占所需预算4%）的资金窘境下，Russ 毅然启动非洲计划，随后在 Steven Bartlett 的牵线协助下成功获得 Huel 和 PerfectTed 的关键赞助。 (57:27) 横穿非洲期间危机频发，Russ 不仅在第30天出现尿血，还在安哥拉遭遇持枪抢劫被抢走护照与财物，并在刚果（金）丛林中经历了一场长达7小时的绑架险境。 (63:15)

Before becoming the first person to run the entire length of Africa, Russ Cook pulled himself out of severe depression, debt, and alienation by embracing radical self-accountability through extreme endurance. His 352-day continental crossing proved to be an exercise in surviving acute physical breakdowns, armed conflict, and operational collapse. From Personal Rock Bottom to Self-Accountability (21:06) Cook's endurance career grew out of a turbulent youth marked by poor emotional communication, family estrangement, and self-destructive habits. After his parents changed the locks on the family home when he was 17, Cook moved into a cheap rental in Worthing, juggling low-wage jobs while drinking heavily and developing a severe gambling habit. His descent culminated between ages 17 and 20 in debilitating depressive episodes, where he routinely woke up crying, and a single-night online roulette loss of over £2,000 that wiped out his savings and overdraft. A drunken moment in a Brighton nightclub mirror prompted an impulsive 11-to-12-mile run home, sparking an interest in distance running. Training for a half marathon and then a full marathon demonstrated to Cook that deliberate, positive effort produced tangible returns. Influenced by online thinkers like Jordan Peterson, he abandoned external blame, concluding that rescue was impossible unless he assumed full responsibility for his life. Escalating Challenges and Precarious Expedition Foundations (37:53) Cook transitioned into extreme endurance by testing minimal-support projects. At age 22, he ran from Asia to London, completing 71 marathons in 66 days across 11 countries completely solo with just a hammock and a mobile phone. Subsequent stunts—pulling a car for a 26.2-mile marathon and spending seven days buried alive in an underground chamber—served to establish a media profile capable of attracting commercial sponsorship. Project Africa, however, faced immediate disaster. Intended as a 240-day expedition requiring an estimated £250,000, it launched from South Africa with just £10,000 remaining after an initial £50,000 cryptocurrency investment was drained by delays and ineffective management. Cook began the run with missing visas and unpaid team wages until Steven Bartlett brokered early sponsorship deals with Huel and PerfectTed, narrowly keeping the project solvent. Security Crises, Abduction, and Team Fracture (69:02) The physical and security demands of the African route tested Cook's team beyond its limits. Cook began urinating blood by Day 30 and warded off early muggers in South Africa through erratic confrontations. In Angola on Day 50, three armed men held the crew at gunpoint inside their support van, stealing passports, cash, cameras, and drones, which caused two to three weeks of bureaucratic delays. The expedition reached its darkest point on Day 102 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Separated from his van on a jungle route, Cook escaped machete-wielding villagers only to be taken on a harrowing seven-hour motorbike kidnapping deep into the jungle. His support team spent 36 to 48 hours navigating extortion before paying off local chiefs to secure his release. The resulting psychological trauma, combined with back nerve injuries on Day 205 and friction within an inexperienced crew, pushed the team to the verge of collapse. Cook reorganized operations by hiring an ex-military paratrooper for logistics and adding extra video editors. Bureaucratic Gambles, Resolution, and Charitable Success (99:46) The final months alternated between logistical gambles and emotional reconciliation. Blocked at the Algerian border due to entry regulations, Cook bypassed diplomatic deadlocks by launching a viral public appeal on X (formerly Twitter) that earned an endorsement from Elon Musk and direct visa authorization from the Algerian government. In the Sahara, vehicle breakdowns were treated as routine inconveniences by a crew hardened by earlier crises. Cook completed the 352-day trek at Africa's northernmost point in Tunisia. His girlfriend, Emily, who had facilitated reconciliation with his estranged family, and his father, who joined him to run the final kilometers, met him at the finish line. The expedition raised over £1 million for The Running Charity, capped by an on-air donation from Huel's founder to bridge the final £30,000 gap. Following the expedition, Cook faces the disorientation of sudden fame, lack of permanent housing, and career uncertainty. Having completed an endeavor that required his team to focus entirely on him for 14 months, he expresses a desire to step out of the spotlight and direct his energy toward supporting other people's endurance challenges.

英国极限耐力跑者 Russ Cook（绰号“最硬汉”/Hardest Geezer）在节目中讲述了他如何通过极限挑战走出酗酒、赌博与抑郁的人生低谷，并披露了完成横跨非洲大陆壮举背后未曾公开的绑架、团队破裂危机与个人救赎历程。 从叛逆绝境到极限长跑的心态转变 (33:35) Russ Cook 回忆自己少年时期性格叛逆且缺乏正面引导，17岁时因与父母激烈冲突被换锁逐出家门。为了独立生活，他曾同时打四五份零工，包括清晨骑车去超市洗厕所。在随后的几年里，他深陷重度抑郁，生活充斥着酗酒、赌博和对工作的厌恶，甚至曾在一夜之间因在线轮盘赌输掉逾2000英镑积蓄并刷爆信用卡透支额度。他描述自己当时常在工作日清晨痛哭醒来，充满无助感。转折点发生于20岁出头在布莱顿一家夜店的深夜，醉酒的他在镜子前意识到必须彻底改变，随即在一时冲动下徒步与慢跑11至12英里回家。随后，他在朋友带动下报名半程马拉松，长跑带来的即时正向反馈促使他戒除赌博、大幅减少饮酒，并确立了“必须为自己人生负全责”的信念。 横跨非洲的生死劫难与未公开的第102天 (69:02) 在历时352天贯穿非洲大陆的挑战中，Russ 面临着巨大的身体伤病与致命的地缘安全威胁。出发仅30天，他便出现尿血症状；第50天在安哥拉境内遭遇持枪抢劫，团队护照、现金、相机与无人机被洗劫一空，导致行程延误数周。第100天进入刚果民主共和国（DRC）后，局势急转直下。第101天他遭遇当地人用带尖刺的石头威胁勒索；而在第102天，他在丛林迷路且断水断粮，为摆脱持砍刀村民的围堵盲目逃跑，最终被迫登上一辆摩托车，经历了长达7小时、深入原始丛林的绑架劫持。Russ 回忆那是他一生中最恐惧的时刻，他在极端绝望中甚至做好了死亡的心理准备。由于该事件涉及极度创伤以及因赎金交涉引发的团队内部剧烈冲突，第102天的视频成为他整个纪录片项目中唯一未公开发布的内容。 草根探险背后的运营危机与团队重构 (57:27) 这项横跨大陆的庞大项目在启动之初面临严重的资金与管理短缺。探险全过程预计需耗资25万英镑，但团队在南非起跑时仅剩1万英镑可用资金，早期由一名年轻加密货币投资者提供的5万英镑种子轮资金因管理顾问与延误消耗殆尽。直到播客主持人 Steven Bartlett 协助联络其投资的品牌 Huel 与 PerfectTed 注入赞助，后勤资金才得以稳固。此外，团队初期因预算有限仅雇佣了负责拍摄和剪辑的内容创作者，导致他们在高压且危险的非洲野外物流环境中严重失职，团队内部甚至爆发扔椅子的激烈争吵。经历绑架事件后，Russ 彻底重组了运营架构：安排濒临崩溃的成员轮休，购置专业四驱车，并聘请曾单人骑行穿越非洲的前荷兰伞兵专门统筹安全与物流，才使后半程的运营转入正轨。 亲情羁绊的修复与人生的终极和解 (104:07) 长跑挑战不仅是身体的苦修，也是 Russ 修复深层人际关系的契机。由于成长于缺乏言语关怀的传统工人阶级家庭，加之青春期的叛逆破裂，Russ 与父母曾长达近两年互不联系，形成了回避型的相处模式。他的女友 Emily 成为关键的桥梁，主动走访其父母家庭打破坚冰。在刚果遭遇绑架面临死亡威胁时，Russ 最大的悔恨便是因固执和骄傲而搁置了与父母的关爱沟通。在历时14个月的奔跑终点——突尼斯海滩，他的父亲专程飞往现场陪跑了最后两三公里，父子相拥而泣。冲线时，Russ 面向大海庄重敬礼，象征着彻底跨越昔日的迷茫与自毁，向自己证实了内在的坚韧与可能。 在完成贯穿非洲大陆并为帮助困境青年的慈善机构 The Running Charity 筹集超过100万英镑善款后，Russ Cook 面临着身份骤变带来的新课题。失去常人生活的匿名性、处理过度的公众关注以及暂无固定居所，构成了他眼下新的心理挑战；他表示未来希望将精力转向记录和支持他人的转变历程，而非继续执着于完全以个人为中心的极限冒险。

## Background 本期内容由 YouTube 频道 The Diary Of A CEO（主持人 Steven Bartlett）于 2024 年 5 月 2 日发布。节目聚焦超长耐力运动员、被称为“最硬核的家伙（Hardest Geezer）”的 Russ Cook，他不仅是首位跑步纵贯整个非洲大陆并为慈善募资超百万英镑的传奇人物，此前还曾完成从亚洲一路跑回伦敦的壮举；视频简介重点揭秘了他在征服非洲大陆背后鲜为人知的惊险内幕与真实心路。 ## TL;DR 访谈深度复盘了 Russ Cook 历时 352 天纵贯非洲大陆的史诗级征程，首次公开了第 102 天在刚果（金）遭遇 7 小时雨林绑架、持枪洗劫、严重血尿以及团队内讧等极端险情。Russ 剖析了自己从早年沉迷赌博、酗酒、重度抑郁且与家庭决裂的废柴青年，通过跑步重塑人生掌控感并实现自我救赎的心路历程。节目不仅深入探讨了他与父亲从疏离到和解的复杂情感、女友 Emily 对其“回避型人格”的疗愈，更见证了由 Steven Bartlett 牵线让慈善筹款正式突破 100 万英镑大关的感人瞬间。 ## Atmosphere & style 整场对谈兼具扣人心弦的惊险悬疑与极具穿透力的情感坦白。Russ 操着市井而真诚的英式口吻，以冷静克制甚至略带黑色幽默的姿态，将生死边缘的惊涛骇浪娓娓道来；而 Steven 凭借周密的背景调查与敏锐的心理洞察步步剖析，层层剥离掉“硬汉”的防卫外壳，露出其深埋心底的脆弱、自责与对亲情的渴望。从回忆丛林绑架时的窒息沉重，到终点与父亲相拥而泣的释然，再到录音室内突破百万善款时的惊喜感动，整场访谈充盈着粗粝又炽热的生命张力，给听众带来强烈的情感震颤与精神启迪。 ## Bulletin - [49:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=2985s) 被称为“Hardest Geezer”的 Russ Cook 历时 352 天纵贯整个非洲大陆，成为历史首位徒步跑完非洲全境的人，累计里程相当于 360 余场马拉松。 - [01:08:23](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=4103s) 挑战过程中 Cook 遭遇了重重生死考验，包括在刚果民主共和国（DRC）遭持械人员绑架深入热带雨林 7 小时、在安哥拉遭持枪洗劫护照与器材，以及多次因严重背伤濒临退赛边缘。 - [01:39:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=5986s) 团队在面临阿尔及利亚签证死局时，通过社交媒体发起孤注一掷的求助并引发 Elon Musk 互动声援，最终促成阿尔及利亚官方破格直接发放签证入关。 - [01:57:48](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=7068s) 长跑挑战为致力于青年成长的慈善机构 The Running Charity 募集了超过 100 万英镑善款，节目中由代餐品牌 Huel 出资补齐了冲刺阶段的最后资金缺口。 ## Key takeaways - [31:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=1901s) 从酗酒、赌博与重度抑郁中完成自我救赎：Russ 年轻时曾深陷赌博破产与心理危机，直到领悟“没有人会来拯救你，唯有极限自我负责”后，通过跑步重新建立生活掌控感。 - [05:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=300s) 原生家庭的沉默与情感工具匮乏：成长于工薪家庭，父亲的高强度劳作与极少言辞铸就了坚韧的行动力，但长期的情感表达缺失也让 Russ 构筑起冷酷防御并形成回避型依恋。 - [51:06](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=3066s) 伴侣 Emily 在情感与家庭破冰中扮演关键角色：14 个月的越洋长跑长谈重塑了 Russ 的沟通模式，Emily 的陪伴与柔性引导帮他化解了长达数年与父母的疏离僵局。 - [57:16](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=3436s) 极度冒险的仓促启程与天使投资：起跑时团队账户仅余 10,000 英镑（仅占预算的 4%）且阿尔及利亚签证未卜，凭借背水一战的心态毅然飞赴南非起跑。 - [59:55](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=3595s) 社交媒体种下的商业转机：早在一年前向 Steven Bartlett 发送的长信在南非奔跑走红后得到回应，迅速促成了 PerfectTed 与 Huel 的关键早期赞助，逆转了团队断粮危机。 - [01:07:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=4029s) 安哥拉持枪抢劫与刚果第 102 天绑架危机：在安哥拉被手枪顶头搜刮所有护照与器材，随后在刚果雨林落单被迫登上摩托车遭遇长达 7 小时的惊魂绑架，团队历经近两天交涉赎人。 - [01:30:34](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=5434s) 早期团队架构失衡的深刻教训：初期团队过度配置于内容摄影与视频制作，严重缺乏非洲本土后勤与越野生存经验，导致团队成员在极端压力下爆发剧烈内讧与心理崩溃。 - [01:32:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=5562s) 管理重组引入退役特种兵：通过招募前荷兰军方伞兵 Gus 承担硬核物流保障，并补充新剪辑师分担内容制作压力，让后勤团队蜕变为运转高效的抗压机器。 - [01:42:16](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=6136s) 累积型韧性（Cumulative Resilience）：在经历过持枪抢劫与绑架等生死考验后，团队对于挫折的心理阈值被大幅拔高，面对撒哈拉深处卡车抛锚等重大意外也能泰然处之。 - [01:44:07](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=6247s) 终点线的父子和解与人生证明：抵达突尼斯终点时父亲赶赴现场并肩奔跑拥抱，这句“为你感到骄傲”让 Russ 翻过了过往叛逆自卑的篇章，证明了自己的坚韧与价值。 - [01:50:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=6609s) 骤然爆红带来的感官过载与未来转向：回国后面对铺天盖地的名气和消耗极快的“社交电量”，Russ 渴望从聚光灯中心退居幕后，帮助更多普通人去开启属于他们的极限远征。 - [02:01:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=7265s) 穿透不适感才能找到生命的意义：Russ 的故事向成千上万身处低谷的年轻人证明，目标、意义、爱与精神蜕变，永远都隐藏在勇敢跨越不适感（Discomfort）的另一端。 ## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=0s) 生死考验与至暗时刻：非洲征途与自救之旅 播客开篇迅速切入 Russ Cook 极限挑战中最惊心动魄的经历。当主持人 Steven Bartlett 提起“第 102 天”时，Russ 坦言那是他唯一一段没有公开发布的 YouTube 视频。在试图成为有史以来第一个徒步跑完整个非洲大陆的人的过程中，那一天堪称他整个人生中最艰难的时刻。当时他正沿着一条泥土小路奔跑，两名骑摩托车的男子从他身边经过，随后他被强行带上摩托车，在密林中行驶了整整 7 个小时——他遭遇了绑架。他深知被带进丛林越深、时间越长，生还希望就越渺茫；当时他在远方的伴侣甚至以为他已经遇难，而 Russ 自己也一度做好了死亡的准备。 回顾踏上非洲之前的人生，Russ 早在 22 岁时就成为了首位从亚洲跑步穿越回伦敦的人，甚至还完成过把自己活埋、徒步拉汽车等在外人看来不可思议的疯狂挑战。面对主持人关于“你究竟在寻找什么”的追问，Russ 揭开了自己深埋在硬汉形象之下的阴暗过往。在开启这些挑战前，他的生活曾陷入彻底的泥潭：与家人断绝联系、沉溺于酗酒和赌博，常常在一周里多次在半夜惊醒后痛哭流涕，脑海中不断闪过极度灰暗的念头。他最终意识到，没有任何人会从天而降拯救自己，“能救我的只有我自己”，而跑遍非洲在他眼中成了彻底脱胎换骨的终极冒险。然而现实远比想象凶险：在非洲大陆奔跑的第 30 天他就开始尿血，随后遭遇持枪抢劫，护照与资金被洗劫一空；团队内部也爆发了激烈的信任危机，矛盾激化到 Russ 情绪失控、当众掀桌砸椅的地步。 - **第 102 天绑架事件**：被持械人员用摩托车押入丛林长达 7 小时，成为全程唯一未发布的记录视频。 - **早期极限成就**：22 岁完成亚欧大陆跑回伦敦的壮举；完成过把自己活埋挑战以及拉动汽车长跑。 - **至暗生活状态**：深陷酗酒、赌博成瘾，同家人彻底失联，精神濒临崩溃并伴有抑郁哭泣。 - **非洲之行重重危机**：行程第 30 天严重血尿、遭持枪抢劫丢失护照资金、团队爆发严重内讧。 --- ### [02:03](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=123s) 极其普通的起点：父亲的汗水与母亲的规矩 面对 Russ 所达成的一系列凡人（"Muggles"）难以想象、近乎疯狂的非凡壮举，Steven Bartlett 试图探寻究竟是怎样的人生命运多米诺骨牌，造就了今天这位令全世界震惊与敬佩的“硬汉（Hardest Geezer）”。出人意料的是，Russ 认为自己其实成长在一个极度普通的家庭，而这种“普通”，恰恰成了他后来渴望打破常规、追求极致的起点与基石。 在他的童年记忆中，父亲是一个极度吃苦耐劳但极度沉默的典型工人。父亲靠切割金属谋生，每天在外拼命工作长达 13 到 14 个小时，Russ 小时候很少能见到他的身影。每次父亲推门回家，浑身上下都裹满了厚厚的金属粉尘，疲惫地陷在沙发里。而他的母亲则独自承担起照料 Russ 和几个兄弟的重任。母亲深受其父亲的影响——Russ 的外公是一名受人尊重的军人，从 18 岁到 65 岁毕生服役于英国皇家空军（RAF）。母亲将那套严苛的军旅教养转化为对礼貌的极致要求：无论何时都要说“请”和“谢谢”，去别人家做客必须守规矩、行为举止无可挑剔。母亲将全部心血倾注在孩子们身上，而父亲那种满身尘土、用沉默和汗水扛起家庭的硬汉姿态，也在潜移默化中将“刻苦打拼”的基因深深烙印在了 Russ 的骨子里。 - **家庭成长背景**：出生于极其平凡的工薪家庭，童年缺乏大富大贵或传奇色彩。 - **父亲的职业与习惯**：金属切割工人，日均高强度工作 13–14 小时，下班后常常满身金属粉屑。 - **母亲的家庭渊源**：母亲之父曾长期服役于英国皇家空军（18–65岁），受此影响母亲极度看重礼仪规范与教养。 --- ### [05:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=300s) 沉默的父爱与情感表达的缺失 Steven 指出，在录制本期节目之前，团队曾私下深度走访了 Russ 身边最亲密的人，包括他的女友、父亲以及团队成员。所有人的反馈都指向同一个核心：父亲早期的长期缺席，对 Russ 个性的塑造产生了决定性的影响。随着年龄的增长，Russ 开始站在成年人的角度审视父亲，他深刻意识到父亲当年所做的一切都是为了养家糊口，父亲将这份经济责任看得重于泰山。尽管父子之间极少有深度的言语交流，但父亲却以纯粹的行动为他树立了标杆：父亲曾在 31 岁和 40 岁时跑过两次全程马拉松，常把“意志力（willpower）”挂在嘴边，偶尔也会带年幼的 Russ 出去跑步。父亲从不多说一句废话，只是用跑完全程的坚毅背影告诉他什么是坚持。 这种以行动代替言语的相处模式，也折射出整个家庭在情感表达上的贫瘠与僵化。在 Russ 的记忆中，父母从来不是习惯流露爱意的人，他甚至记不清是否见过父母接吻（或许仅有一两次），而诸如“我爱你”之类温馨的话语，在他们的家庭里更是一句都听不到。Russ 解释道，这并不代表父母心中没有爱，而是整个家庭在情感沟通上极为生硬迟钝。正如许多老一辈人一样，父母的冷漠与内敛往往源于他们自身从上一代人那里所继承的匮乏——他们从未在自己的成长中习得表达爱意与脆弱的工具，自然也无法将其传递给下一代。在缺少答案与沟通的环境下长大，年少的 Russ 脑海中积攒了无数对生活本质的困惑，只能独自在黑暗中摸索打捞。 ```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: 家庭影响与性格形成逻辑图 accDescr: 展示父亲的行动榜样与情感缺失如何共同影响 Russ 的成长心理 subgraph Family["家庭行为模式"] A["父亲极度勤劳 / 极少言辞"] --> B["行动示范<br/>(跑马拉松、强调意志力)"] C["情感沟通工具匮乏"] --> D["缺乏温情表达<br/>(从不说'我爱你')"] end subgraph Impact["对 Russ 的心理投射"] B --> E["刻苦耐劳与坚韧基因"] D --> F["困惑无处解答 / 情感压抑"] E & F --> G["向外追寻答案<br/>通过极端身体挑战证明自我"] end ``` --- ### [07:29](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=449s) 青春期的迷茫、对权威的叛逆与父母的不快乐 到了十三四岁的青春期，Russ 愈发感到自己与周围世界的格格不入。他心中充斥着关于人生的重大问号：如何在世界上找到自己的立足之地？如何开创事业、赚取财富？如何处理错综复杂的友情与亲情？生命的意义究竟在何处？这些宏大而复杂的困惑，在那个缺乏深层沟通的家庭里根本找不到答案。 与迷茫相伴而生的是对既有体制与权威的本能叛逆。当学校里的老师或其他成年人试图指导他“该做什么、该如何表现”时，Russ 会敏锐地观察他们的生活状态。如果他察觉到那些权威人物本身过得并不幸福、神情消沉且对生活充满抱怨，他就会在心里立刻把对方所有的教条全盘推翻。Russ 当时内心的独白是：“如果我按照你们说的去做，最终就会变成和你们一样悲惨的样子。我绝不要那样的生活，我要走属于我自己的路。” 当 Steven 直截了当地问起“你的父母当时快乐吗”时，Russ 沉默片刻后坦白承认：“不，他们并不快乐。”虽然现在 Russ 对父母充满了理解与敬重，明白他们当时也在竭尽全力应对各自的生活苦难，但他不得不承认，父母长期的消沉与不快乐，给他的童年蒙上了挥之不去的阴影。Steven 也深有感触地指出，无论是面对喜剧演员还是各行各业的成功者，父母当年的不快乐往往就是烙印在孩子心灵深处最深刻的印记，推动着他们走向截然不同又极具对抗性的人生轨迹。 ### [09:47](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=587s) 青春期的叛逆与家庭环境的裂痕 Steven Bartlett 提到，他在与 Russ Cook 的家人和身边朋友沟通时发现，Russ 当年的原生家庭环境并不算温馨融洽，远非那种充满爱意、亲密拥抱、笑脸相迎的田园诗式氛围。对此，Russ 坦然承认确实如此。他认为父母并非不爱他或没有努力，而是他们缺乏应对和沟通的“工具”。这种压抑的家庭氛围最终成了推手，迫使他在十几岁时就必须走出去，寻找属于自己的生活。 大约在 16、17 岁时，Russ 选择了离家独立。回顾当时的自己，Russ 毫不留情地评价当年的自己“简直就是个混球”（a piece of shit）。那时的他极度叛逆、目中无人，对父母的任何话都充耳不闻，一心只顾按自己的方式行事。他的行为给全家人带来了沉重的精神负担，让每个人都处于极度焦虑和压力之中。 ```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: Russ 早期家庭疏离与叛逆的心理闭环 accDescr: 展示 Russ 因家庭缺乏引导、渴望追求更大世界，到产生过度叛逆行为，再到被扫地出门的连锁过程 subgraph Origin["内心驱动与缺失"] A["原生家庭缺乏情绪与沟通工具"] --> B["不愿复制长辈平庸的生活模式"] B --> C["精力过剩、极具野心但缺乏导师引导"] end subgraph Action["行为表达与冲突"] C --> D["用激进与叛逆宣泄能量"] D --> E["彻底无视家庭规则与权威"] end subgraph Consequence["走向破裂"] E --> F["父母换锁并彻底扫地出门"] F --> G["17岁独自在外租房谋生"] end ``` ### [11:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=679s) 迷茫的野心：寻找指引与离家边缘 当 Steven 询问他当年究竟在追寻什么时，Russ 坦言，自己内心深处是在渴望更宏大的生命体验。他看着身边成年人所过的按部就班的日子，心里只想着“我绝不要过那样的生活，我想去见识更广阔的世界，我想真正活着”。他身上充满能量与极度强烈的野心，却完全不知道该如何把这股力量转化为实际成果。由于在身边的生活环境中找不到能够作为榜样、能传授人生经验的引路人，他开始粗暴地摒弃一切他认为无价值的人和意见。 双方的冲突逐渐走向白热化。15 岁那年夏天，父母曾把他送到苏格兰的祖父那里生活；甚至有一晚，父母直接把他的所有行李打包送到了另一位祖父家，换掉了家里的门锁，明确告诉他“你别想再回来”。而年少气盛的 Russ 甚至一脚把门踢开强行闯了进去。直到大约 17 岁时，母亲正式要求他搬走，Russ 没有流露出丝毫受挫或夹着尾巴逃走的落魄，而是摆出一副“老子本来就不需要你们，再见”的态度摔门而去。 - **早年打拼状态**：搬到沃辛（Worthing）租下最便宜的公寓，一边读大学（College），一边兼职打四五份工维持生计。 - **早起清晨工作**：清晨骑自行车前往英国连锁超市 Waitrose 打扫厕所，随后再去上课，之后还曾尝试从事销售工作。 ### [14:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=881s) 渴望被倾听，以及硬汉伪装下的脆弱 站在父母当年的角度，他们换锁将 Russ 赶出家门，是认为这个傲慢、无礼、对世界一无所知的儿子“需要被狠狠上一课（humbling）”。成熟后的 Russ 坦言完全理解父母当年的无助，但也对当年的自己抱有一份同理心。他指出，那个年龄的少年之所以表现得极具攻击性，本质上是因为渴望被真正倾听与理解，渴望找到一个能让自己心服口服、活出自己向往模样的榜样。Steven 也引述了英国演员 Ashley Walters 在《Top Boy》访谈中的经历，指出年轻男孩若在 14 到 17 岁缺乏人生榜样的正确指引，体内充沛的精力往往会迅速滑向不同形式的混乱。 离家之后，Russ 与父母的关系降至冰点，有很长一段时间完全断绝了沟通，这种紧张而复杂的疏离状态一直断断续续维持了近十年。Russ 坦承，自己当年表现出的那种“Hardest Geezer（最硬核的家伙）”般的强硬冷酷外壳——口口声声说着“去他的，我无所谓”——纯粹是一种自我防卫和应对痛苦的手段。 这种强硬的伪装在重逢时彻底碎裂。在离家数月乃至一年后第一次再见到父亲时，Russ 当场忍不住痛哭流涕。他解释道，自己内心深处一直清楚，世界上绝不会有任何人像父母那样深爱着自己；无论经历过多少矛盾与自以为受到的委屈，他们始终是最在乎自己的人。正因如此，当与本该最亲近的人关系恶化到如此地步时，内心的痛楚是无法掩盖的；而要在隔阂已深的双方之间重新架起沟通的桥梁，必须由两方共同努力才能做到。 ### [19:40](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=1180s) 女友成为修复家庭关系的桥梁 在与家庭长期处于隔阂甚至对立的状态下，Russ Cook 承认自己完全不知道该如何迈出破冰的第一步。他和父亲虽然彼此深爱，却像在“打一场战争”，谁也不懂得如何搭建沟通的桥梁。在他启程前往非洲之前，真正打破僵局并促成和解的其实是他的现任女友。在 Russ 出发前，他已经有一年半到两年完全没有见过父母；而女友不仅频频前往他父母家中陪伴长谈，还不断鼓励并促成了他和家人的见面。Russ 感慨自己在处理家庭关系上完全是茫然无措的，不知道该说什么、做什么，而女友在这一年多的时间里默默化解了坚冰，在他眼里简直就像拥有魔力的“巫师”。 主持人 Steven Bartlett 对此深有共鸣，直言虽然可能会被认为有刻板印象，但女性在情感沟通上确实拥有更多成熟的工具。Steven 分享道，自己也曾与母亲长达数月不联系，正是女友硬是坚持并把他拉到普利茅斯（Plymouth）去探望母亲。Russ 极为赞同这种看法，坦承如果单凭自己，那座连接家庭的心灵之桥或许永远也无法修葺完好。 ### [21:06](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=1266s) 17岁独立生活与迷失的《华尔街之狼》梦 年仅 17 岁时，Russ 决定搬离家庭独自生活。他在房产网站 Rightmove 上挑中了西萨塞克斯郡沃辛（Worthing）最便宜的一个单间公寓，月租为 450 英镑。尽管这个价格已经超出了他当时的实际承受能力，他还是咬牙租了下来。为了维持生计并勉强完成大学预科（college）学业，他一边打着各种零工一边苦苦支撑。 当时年轻稚嫩的 Russ 在看了电影《华尔街之狼》（The Wolf of Wall Street）之后，瞬间被那种暴富的神话所吸引，天真地认定“这就是属于我的路”。他渴望通过做销售成为百万富翁，并随即找了几份销售工作。虽然这份工作带给他的收入以他的年龄来说还算可观，但他内心极度厌恶这种生活。由于缺乏人生的指导与方向，在年少无知的驱使下，他把能带来短暂快乐与刺激的事物当成了唯一的生活意义——与狐朋狗友鬼混、疯狂酗酒以及沾染赌博。 - **租房成本**：在 Worthing 租下 Rightmove 上最便宜的公寓，每月 450 英镑。 - **职业尝试**：受到《华尔街之狼》影响从事销售工作，虽然收入尚可但内心极度痛苦。 ### [22:29](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=1349s) 沉迷网络赌博与一无所有的窘迫 赌博很快演变成了一场失控的噩梦。Russ 回忆起那段荒唐岁月时依然觉得难堪至极：在一个深夜，他坐在手机前漫不经心地不停点击屏幕玩在线轮盘赌，仅在那一个晚上，他就输掉了 2000 多英镑。这不仅掏空了他当时所有的积蓄，更彻底透支了银行账户的透支额度（overdraft）。因为囊空如洗且极度羞愧，他不敢对女友坦白真相，只能编造借口向女友借钱来支付当月的房租。 那一刻的当头棒喝让他猛然意识到：“这一切必须彻底结束了。”随后，他登录了所能找到的每一个网络赌博平台，全部提交了自我封禁（self-ban）申请。从那以后，他再也没有碰过任何赌博。然而，酗酒与周末的放纵依然像毒瘾一样裹挟着他。那种深植于英国年轻人群体中的暴饮文化（binge drinking culture）成了他度过漫长苦闷周间的唯一盼头——整周都对工作充满痛恨，唯一的精神支柱就是“周六能和兄弟们喝得烂醉”。 ```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: Russ陷入深渊的恶性循环 accDescr: 展示Russ从枯燥工作、赌博破产到酗酒逃避并最终自我封禁的心理与生活循环路径 subgraph Trap["恶性循环"] A["厌恶的销售工作与缺乏人生指引"] --> B["深夜沉迷网络轮盘赌"] B --> C["输光全部积蓄并透支银行额度"] C --> D["靠谎言向女友借钱付房租"] D --> E["周末靠酗酒麻痹痛苦情绪"] E --> A end subgraph TurningPoint["危机觉醒"] C --> F["痛定思痛：全面申请网站自我封禁"] F --> G["彻底断绝一切赌博行为"] end ``` ### [24:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=1449s) 跌入深渊：暗无天日的“马桶期”与至暗时刻 伴随着体重的上升、财务的崩溃以及生活的无序，Russ 的内心世界彻底坍塌。在 17 到 20 岁出头的这段岁月里，他形容自己的心理健康状态简直如同“马桶”（toilet）一般恶心污浊。他常常在周间清晨醒来时无缘无故地抱头痛哭，整个人被深重的痛苦击垮，甚至在某天给老板打电话请假时在电话那头泣不成声。 更可怕的是他当时完全不具备反思与解决困境的心理认知能力。如今回望，他很清楚过度赌博、酗酒、缺乏家庭连接以及毫无意义的工作必然会导致人生的彻底毁灭；但在当时，那种铺天盖地的无力感（helplessness）像巨石一样压得他喘不过气。他完全找不到走出泥潭的出口，脑海中不断涌现出最可怕、最阴暗的念头。与家庭断绝往来的孤立状态，更加剧了这种深陷绝境的窒息感。 - **心理健康状态**：用 "Toilet"（极度糟糕）形容当时的心理状况。 - **身心危机表现**：体重超标，清晨醒来毫无征兆地痛哭，甚至在与上级通电话时情绪失控大哭。 - **深层诱因**：过度赌博导致财务破产、依赖暴饮逃避现实、严重缺乏深度的家庭与人际联结、缺乏认知工具来理解自身的痛苦。 ### [28:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=1685s) 人生谷底的转机：播客与思想启蒙 面对 Russ 曾经触底的人生至暗时刻，Steven 深入探讨了一个普遍性命题：当一个人身处绝望的最低谷、甚至放弃了自救的希望时，究竟是什么契机能促使他们迈出向上攀爬的第一步？Russ 直言，这并非单一因素的作用，而是一个包含多重催化剂的“熔炉”。 在这场救赎中，网络播客起到了决定性的指引作用。Russ 开始大量收听诸如《The Joe Rogan Experience》等长篇播客节目，尤其是心理学家乔丹·彼得森（Jordan Peterson）参与的那期经典对谈，犹如一记重锤砸开了他闭塞的心智。彼得森关于责任、意义与重塑个人生活的论述，为当时缺乏任何长辈指引的 Russ 提供了最急需的精神罗盘。Russ 深感庆幸自己生活在互联网时代，因为如果在二三十年前，一个迷失在社会底层的年轻人可能数十年都无法接触到这些认知资源，最终终生困在绝望的循环中。正是这些线上声音的启发，为他点燃了从绝境中逆风翻盘的最初火种。 ### [30:06](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=1806s) 压抑情绪的代价与隐秘的至暗时刻 史蒂芬·巴特利特（Steven Bartlett）询问拉斯·库克（Russ Cook），在他十九岁四处寻找人生方向、处于崩溃边缘时，他的父母是否清楚他所经历的一切。拉斯给出了否定的回答，坦言父母无论在当时还是在今天，大概都不真正知晓全部实情。虽然母亲偶尔可能有所察觉，但生活里那些具体的支离破碎与日复一日的挣扎，他们完全不知情。拉斯解释说，自己向来习惯把所有痛苦深埋心底，不向任何人展露软弱，而这种习惯也让他与周围人隔绝开来。 史蒂芬随即指出，这种“独自扛下一颗雷”的沉默往往伴随着巨大的代价。压抑的情感绝不会凭空蒸发，而是会像高压锅一样不断积聚压力，最终以具有破坏性的方式泄洪——比如无缘无故对他人暴怒发火，或是沉溺于色情、赌博等成瘾行为，以此来转移和缓解内心那份无法承受之重。拉斯深表认同，承认自己当时就是在这种无处宣泄的封闭状态下，独自在暗处越陷越深。 ### [31:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=1901s) 对19岁的自己说：没有人会来拯救你，必须自己承担责任 当被问及如果能穿越时空，给当年那个清晨在绝望与阴暗念头中痛哭、抗拒去上班的十九岁少年打一通电话，他会对那个自己说些什么时，拉斯陷入了沉思。他表示自己对当年的那个年轻人充满同情，但如果要改变一切，那时的他最需要听到的不是廉价的安慰，而是一记当头棒喝。在十八九岁时，他总是将自己的不幸归咎于外界环境——怨父母的不是、怪老板的苛刻，整日沉湎于受害者心态中。 拉斯直言，当年软弱的自己并不需要别人跑过来说“这不是你的错”。他真正需要听到的狠话是：“世界就是他妈的这个操蛋样子，老兄，习惯它吧；要么立刻行动去改变，要么就烂在泥潭里，全由你自己决定。”虽然现在的他或许会用更温和、富有同理心的方式去传达这个理念，但核心事实从未改变：“归根结底，没有人会跑过来拯救你，能够拯救你的只有你自己。” ```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: 从受害者心态到极限责任的转变 accDescr: 展示拉斯·库克在绝望中领悟自我负责并付诸行动的心理转化路径 subgraph VictimMindset ["受害者心态（18-19岁）"] A["外部归因<br/>（怨恨父母、埋怨老板）"] B["情绪封闭与被动沉沦<br/>（痛苦加剧、高压积聚）"] A --> B end subgraph EpiphanyBreakthrough ["顿悟与认知重塑"] C["当头棒喝：认清现实<br/>'世界就是如此，接受它'"] D["极限责任（Extreme Ownership）<br/>'没有人会来拯救你'"] B -.-> C C --> D end subgraph ActionProgress ["采取行动与正向循环"] E["强制行动<br/>（跑步挑战、戒除恶习）"] F["生活取得切实现实进展"] D --> E E --> F end ``` ### [33:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=1991s) 夜店镜前的顿悟：醉酒夜跑12英里与初尝马拉松 拉斯回忆起生活陷入死水时的关键转折点。在此之前，他长久处于挣扎之中，疯狂尝试各种事物，渴望找到一个能让自己投入精力并换回积极反馈的出口。转折发生在一间名为 The Arch 的布赖顿（Brighton）夜店内。凌晨两三点左右，醉意朦胧的他站在洗手间镜子前，凝视着镜中狼狈的自己，脑海中猛然炸开一个念头：“我他妈到底在干什么？我必须把自己的烂摊子收拾好。” 带着这种被逼入绝境的冲动，拉斯做出了一个类似“阿甘（Forrest Gump）”式的荒诞决定：他没有打车，而是在凌晨三点直接从夜店一路跑回肖勒姆（Shoreham）的家，距离长达十一、二英里。当时他身体素质极差，途中醉意上涌，甚至直接倒在肖勒姆的人行道边打了个盹，才踉踉跄跄跑完全程。这次看似荒谬的夜跑不久后，他的一位好友正好刚开始接触正规跑步并报名了半程马拉松，便极力邀请拉斯一起训练。走投无路的拉斯抱着“死马当活马医”的心态果断答应。跑完半马后仅隔几周，两人又报名挑战了全程马拉松。 - **因果相报的确定性**：跑步让拉斯第一次感受到了清晰的正向反馈——只要去跑、去受罪，身体就会按周呈现进步；付出好的行动，就会获得好的结果。 - **掌控感的建立**：从一个连自家街区都跑不下来的颓废青年，迅速蜕变为跑完全马的跑者，这一跨越彻底打破了他的心理防线，让他笃信“这就是人生取得进展（Progress）的唯一途径”。 ### [36:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=2169s) 跑出新人生：肯尼亚伊滕朝圣与伊斯坦布尔长跑构想 史蒂芬感慨道，跑步带来的“进展感”其实是整个人生的微缩隐喻——设立目标、承受痛苦、取得进步并最终完成挑战。拉斯对此深表赞同，这一领悟迅速渗透到了他的现实生活。他借着跑马拉松的劲头大幅减少饮酒，彻底戒掉了赌博，并靠着平日里的清洁工零工，破天荒地攒下了一笔积蓄。怀揣着这几千英镑，他毅然辞掉所有工作，决定踏上环球旅行。 拉斯先在欧洲游历，随后前往非洲的肯尼亚。当时的他已彻底将跑步视为生命，每天进行严苛的极限制训练。他专门慕名奔赴被称为“长跑圣地”的伊滕（Iten）长跑训练营——那里是世界顶级马拉松传奇埃鲁德·基普乔格（Eliud Kipchoge）等众多顶尖跑者的摇篮。在与当地顶尖高手的同场训练中，拉斯吃尽了苦头，被狠狠“虐惨”，但也极大拓宽了对人类耐力极限的认知。在那里，他偶遇了一位已经连续环球骑行六年的意大利男子，深受其生活方式与冒险精神的震撼。自此，拉斯脑海中酝酿出了一个更为狂野的宏图：他要用双脚从亚洲一路跑回伦敦。 ### [37:53](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=2273s) 孤身一人横跨欧亚大陆：从伊斯坦布尔跑回伦敦 大众普遍熟知拉斯贯穿非洲大陆的壮举，却极少有人知道在征服非洲之前，年仅二十二岁的拉斯就已完成了一项前无古人的极限奇迹：成为历史上第一位跑步从亚洲跨越到伦敦的人。他从土耳其伊斯坦布尔出发，历时66天，穿越11个国家，完成了相当于71场马拉松的距离。更惊人的是，整场长征没有任何后勤车队或保障团队，纯粹由他单枪匹马完成。 当二十二岁的拉斯将这个看似自杀式的计划告诉周围人时，几乎所有人都认定他“死定了”或者“绝不可能做到”，能数出相信他的人一只手都绰绰有余。当时他与父母几乎没有联系，唯有他的亲弟弟坚信他一定能完成。拉斯回忆起那段日子，称其为一场真正纯粹的硬核冒险： - **极简的求生装备**：拉斯随身只背着一个小背包，里面除了一张吊床、牙刷、牙膏以及一部经常没电的手机外别无长物。 - **每日的循环流程**：每天完成一场全马强度的奔跑后，在路旁随便找两棵树把吊床绑好睡上一觉，次日清晨醒来解下吊床继续上路。 - **直面质疑的思维**：面对外界“你需要这、需要那”的善意劝阻与繁琐规矩，拉斯只用最质朴的逻辑反问：“为什么不行？为什么人就不能只睡在一张吊床上跑回伦敦？” ### [40:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=2402s) 重塑对“正常”的定义：极简旅人与被程序化的人生 斯蒂芬向罗斯·库克（Russ Cook）指出，每天保持高强度作息、动辄去跑一场马拉松，站在客观角度来看绝对属于“不正常”的行为。他好奇罗斯究竟是哪里与众不同，才会做出如此反常却又极具感染力的举动。罗斯坦承自己也是直到现在才真正思考这个问题。他回忆起自己在旅途中遇到的一名意大利骑行者，对方已经独自环球骑行了六年，随身行李近乎一无所有，唯一的执念竟然只是一把用来煮咖啡的壶。 正是这群在路上的奇人彻底打破了罗斯对生活方式的既有认知。他意识到所谓的“正常”不过是社会强加的概念，根本没有人规定人生必须按部就班。就像在肯尼亚某些原始村落一样，物质的极简反而让人直面纯粹的生存状态。这种顿悟也直接影响了他后来的处事态度：当他结束旅途回到伦敦，身边的人都在急切地催促他“该租房子、找个固定地方安顿下来”时，罗斯反而警觉起来，认为大多数人都像是被系统预先设定好程序的机器，而他选择遵循内心的冲动——“直接去做，最坏的结果又能怎样呢？” ### [42:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=2538s) 亚洲跑回伦敦的终点：父亲罕见的赞赏与现实的重击 从亚洲（伊斯坦布尔）跑回伦敦的壮举是罗斯人生中的一个重要分水岭。在跑向伦敦的最后阶段，当初拉他进入跑步圈子的好友陪他跑了最后几天，而他的父亲也在终点前赶来，陪他跑完了最后五公里。跑完后，父亲看着他，认真地说了一句：“儿子，我为你感到骄傲。”（"Proud of you, son."）罗斯回忆至此情绪依然翻涌，因为父亲平时极少表达这种情感，但只要说出口，就字字千钧。罗斯甚至眼眶湿润地感慨，这是作为儿子能从父亲口中听到的最有分量的一句话。 然而，彼时的罗斯没有任何粉丝关注，没有 YouTube 点击量，更没有 BBC 等主流媒体的铺天盖地报道，除了他自己和身边少数人，几乎无人知晓这个奇迹。壮举落幕后，罗斯拖着完全废掉的身体回到了父母家。因为在旅途中耗尽了所有积蓄，他处于彻底破产（skint）的状态，浑身剧痛到连走路都极其艰难。几天后，现实的残酷再次狠狠给了他一记耳光——父亲走进房间，冷冰冰地冲他说：“你整天在这躺着干嘛？你太懒了，赶紧出去找份工作。” 刚刚还沉浸在“达成了父亲一辈子都没做到过的成就”并赢得了尊重的罗斯，瞬间被激怒了。他感到极其委屈和愤怒，因为自己无论在肉体还是精神上都已经彻底被掏空，原本以为家庭关系终于迎来了破冰与认可，转头却又跌回了过去那个在父亲眼中“赌博、鬼混、一事无成的失望loser”的阴影里。 ### [45:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=2718s) 商业构想的萌芽：拉汽车马拉松与被活埋七天 从 22 岁完成亚欧长跑到后来实施那些更不可思议的极限挑战之间，有大约两到三年的空白期。罗斯在这段时期干过各种零工，重归世俗的常轨，但想要把“耐力冒险”变成终身事业的念头始终挥之不去。他花了数年时间逐步摸清其中的商业逻辑：单靠埋头苦跑无法生存，必须学会制作优质内容，借助自媒体吸引品牌赞助，再用赞助资金支撑下一次更宏大的探险。 ```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: 罗斯·库克极限挑战与职业化路径 accDescr: 展示罗斯从单打独斗到建立内容商业闭环的关键挑战历程 subgraph Phase1["早期尝试 (零曝光)"] A["2019年：亚洲至伦敦长跑<br/>(仅在 Instagram 随手分享)"] end subgraph Phase2["商业模式成型 (极限吸睛)"] B["2020年：拉汽车跑完马拉松<br/>(创下纪录)"] C["2021年：活埋地下7天<br/>(仅靠饮水存活并全程直播)"] end subgraph Phase3["终极探险 (品牌赞助与团队成型)"] D["2022-2024年：非洲全境跑<br/>(自媒体内容全面商业化)"] end A --> B B --> C C --> D ``` 在摸索内容传播的过程中，罗斯开始策划一系列极具冲击力的特技式极限挑战。最初他曾异想天开地问父母能不能在自家庭院里挖个坑把自己埋进去，结果被父母毫不留情地痛骂拒绝。最终，他自行挖坑钻进铁桶埋入地下，在仅靠喝水维持生命的状态下硬生生被活埋了整整七天，并通过网络全程直播；此外，他还在 2020 年以破纪录的成绩拉着一辆汽车跑完了全程马拉松。这些疯狂的行动不仅测试了他的耐力极限，也让他逐步理清了自媒体传播的底层密码。 ### [47:24](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=2844s) 跨越一年的私信：为何选择奔跑穿越整个非洲 斯蒂芬透露了一段鲜为人知的插曲：在罗斯正式开跑非洲大约一周后，斯蒂芬在社交媒体上刷到了他的动态。出于好奇，斯蒂芬点开罗斯的个人主页并查看了私信收件箱，震惊地发现早在 2022 年 5 月 5 日，罗斯就已经给他发过一封推销意味浓厚的求助长文。巧合的是，斯蒂芬在完全没留意日期的情况下，恰好在整整一年后的同一天（2023 年 5 月 5 日）才回复了那封信息。 在当年的私信中，拥有销售背景的罗斯展现了极其成熟的推销话术。他列举了自己的硬核履历——2019 年成为首位从亚洲跑回伦敦的人、2020 年拉汽车完成马拉松、2021 年被活埋一周进行全球直播，并郑重宣告自己将在 2022 年挑战成为历史上首位徒步跑完全部非洲大陆的人。罗斯在信中诚恳地剖析，过去这些举动虽然惊世骇俗但缺乏关注，而这一次非洲之行他已经组建了专业团队、摸透了内容创作机制，誓要让这项壮举名扬天下。 - **为何是非洲？** 罗斯明确表示，跑完全部非洲是一项此前从未有人达成过的壮举，属于现代地球上屈指可数的终极挑战之一。 - **原始与未知感：** 非洲深处缺乏常规游客的涉足，充满了未知的险境与生猛的生命力，在他看来，这才是世界上最极致、最令人心驰神往的探险。 ### [49:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=2985s) 贯穿非洲的宏大计划与现实差距 主持人 Steven Bartlett 询问 Russ Cook 关于横跨非洲大陆挑战的最初设想：从非洲最南端一路跑到最北端到底预计需要多久？Russ 回忆称，他最初的设想是计划用 240 天完成相当于 360 场马拉松的距离。然而现实远比想象严酷，整个征程最终耗费了整整 352 天。这一过程中不仅充斥着难以预料的身体极限与后勤险阻，还在出发前迎来了一段至关重要的情感篇章。 - **初始目标**：计划在 240 天内跑完相当于 360 场马拉松的里程。 - **最终实际耗时**：历时 352 天。 --- ### [50:06](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=3006s) 结识 Emily Bell：戏剧性的追求与秘密圣诞老人 在正式启程前往非洲前大约四到六个月，Russ 遇到了名叫 Emily Bell 的年轻女孩。Russ 感叹 Emily 的出现简直不可思议，戏称“可怜的姑娘，真是个了不起的女性”。两人最初是在一位共同好友的生日聚会上相识的。当时 Russ 看到她便惊为天人，质问朋友：“你为什么以前从没把她介绍给我？她太美了！” 为了打动 Emily，Russ 经历了漫长的三个月苦追过程。转机发生在朋友们组织的“秘密圣诞老人”（Secret Santa）互换礼物活动中。一位好友私底下暗中“做局”，特意把 Emily 分配成了 Russ 的送礼对象。抓住机会的 Russ 买了两张位于布莱顿（Brighton）著名喜剧俱乐部 Komedia 的门票作为礼物，并顺水推舟地对她说：“你看，你可以带我去。”这次约会成功让两人走到了一起。然而当时挑战非洲的计划已经在推进当中，横亘在两人面前的是极为复杂的时间节点。 --- ### [51:17](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=3077s) 跨越 14 个月的异地通话与情感重塑 尽管启程在即，两人还是决定勇敢开始这段恋爱。在 Russ 奔跑于非洲大陆的 14 个月漫长分离中，两人几乎每天都会通过电话长谈数个小时（只要 Russ 途经的地方有手机信号）。Russ 坦言，如果两年前有人问他 14 个月不相见的长距离恋爱能不能成，他一定会断然否定。但正是这些在奔跑途中的漫长通话，促使两人进行了毫无保留的深度沟通——这种深谈在普通情侣繁琐沉闷的日常琐事中往往会被忽略。Russ 对这段时光充满感激，更为两人共同跨越这种不可思议的考验感到自豪。 Steven 随即指出，Russ 早期目睹的父母关系相对冷淡且缺乏情感流露，这种童年印记往往会导致人在潜意识里形成“回避型依恋”（Avoidant Attachment），正如 Steven 自己在 27、28 岁初恋前也是典型的回避型一样。Russ 坦率承认自己“完全是回避型，现在也多少有一点”。但他将两人关系的破局归功于 Emily：她用独特的方式打开了他紧闭的心门。Russ 形容两人的契合是互补的：“我擅长的她不擅长，她擅长的我不会，我们在一起非常合拍。” ```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: Russ Cook 与 Emily Bell 的关系发展历程 accDescr: 展示 Russ Cook 与女友 Emily 从相识、追求到应对非洲长跑异地恋的情感深化过程 subgraph Phase1 ["结识与追求"] A["朋友生日聚会相遇"] --> B["好友做局'秘密圣诞老人'"] B --> C["送出布莱顿 Komedia 喜剧演出门票并成功约会"] end subgraph Phase2 ["考验与磨合"] C --> D["非洲长途挑战在即：决定正式确立关系"] D --> E["长达 14 个月的远距离跨国分离"] end subgraph Phase3 ["情感蜕变"] E --> F["跑步途中只要有信号便每日长谈数小时"] F --> G["回避型心理被打破：学会妥协并接纳情感依靠"] end ``` --- ### [53:24](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=3204s) 录音曝光：两种截然不同的“爱的语言” 在节目录制前，制作组私下采访了 Emily。Steven 在现场播放了 Emily 谈论 Russ 的录音片段。Emily 在音频中说道： > “他并不是一个容易去支持和照顾的人，自我认识他以来一直如此，因为他不怎么习惯接受别人的支持——虽然他现在已经进步很多了。我是一个非常喜欢照顾人、有滋养欲的性格，总是想着‘我想帮忙，我想让他生活更轻松，我能为你做点什么？我该怎么支持你？’然而对他来说，所谓的‘支持’其实就是……给他空间。” 听到这里，Russ 和 Steven 都忍不住大笑，Russ 直呼：“这完全是在一字不差地形容我！对我来说，‘支持我’就等于‘离我远点’。我的爱的语言就是‘实际行动（Acts of Service）加上请离我远点’。” Emily 在录音中还提到，刚认识时完全没想过会认真跟他交往，因为 Russ 习惯了高度独立，但后来他整个人发生了脱胎换骨的改变。Russ 回应道，因为自己真心在乎 Emily，极其渴望把这段感情经营好，所以强烈的意愿驱使他去改变。过去他的信条向来是“我行我素，你要么配合我要么各走各路”，但在 Emily 面前，他意识到对方翻过了自己筑起的心墙，自己必须学会妥协与接纳，这种深层联结为他的生命带来了前所未有的滋养。 --- ### [57:16](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=3436s) 毫无准备的开端：1 万英镑与未决的阿尔及利亚签证 谈到两人的感情在苦难中变得更坚固时，话题自然切回了非洲长跑极其草率的筹备阶段。Steven 惊讶地指出，Russ 几乎是在“毫无充分准备”的情况下仓促上路的： - **资金严重匮乏**：抵达南非起跑线时，团队账上仅剩 **10,000 英镑**，仅占全程预估所需资金的 **4%**。 - **签证死局未解**：阿尔及利亚（Algeria）规定不向不在其本国的申请人发放签证，而 Russ 离开英国时根本没有拿到该国签证，意味着他明知前方可能在边境被彻底卡死，却抱着“去到那儿再说”的心态硬着头皮出发。 当被问及为何如此莽撞时，Russ 直言自己根本没有“等到万事俱备”的奢侈资本。起初，同在沃辛（Worthing）长大、靠加密货币发家的一位同龄朋友以天使投资的形式资助了他们 **50,000 英镑**，以此置换未来项目收益的分成。然而，在筹划期间团队卷入了一些空谈商业合作和品牌赞助的人员，导致计划一再推迟。在此期间，团队在各种无用的尝试中耗尽了大笔资金，而许诺的品牌赞助全部落空。眼看资金见底、不能再拖，Russ 果断清退了这批人，带着仅剩的 1 万英镑直接飞往南非。在面临“如果不立刻出发就再也无法启动”的绝境下，他选择了背水一战。 ### [59:55](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=3595s) 资金链危机与来自《龙穴》投资人的意外救场 在横穿非洲挑战的最开始，团队很快就撞上了资金枯竭的死胡同。Russ Cook 直白地表示，如果在第一个月内找不到任何赞助商，整场挑战就将彻底玩完（game over）。为了维持生计，他不得不硬着头皮对保障团队说：“可能得暂缓发放你们的工资了。”整个团队的财务状况被压缩到了极致。 然而在出发后的大约十天到两周左右，当 Russ 正在南非奔跑时，他的手机上突然跳出了一条私信。发信人正是坐在对面的主持人 Steven Bartlett（英国商业投资真人秀《龙穴/Dragon's Den》中最年轻的投资人）。Russ 回忆说，当时激动的程度简直无法言表，他甚至立刻给女朋友 Emily 打去电话大喊：“你绝对不敢相信是谁刚刚给我发了信息！”正是这条私信，瞬间促成了两个极其关键的顶级赞助——英国代餐品牌 Huel 与抹茶能量饮品品牌 PerfectTed，这彻底逆转了整场挑战的生死走向。 ```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: 赞助资金绝境逆转过程 accDescr: 展现了从面临资金耗尽到获得关键赞助的推进流程 subgraph Crisis ["财务危机"] A["挑战初期第1个月面临断粮"] --> B["通知团队延迟发放工资"] end subgraph Connection ["关键转机"] C["1年前 Russ 主动发出的长信种子"] -.-> D["两周后挑战在社交媒体走红"] D --> E["Steven Bartlett 主动私信支援"] end subgraph Solution ["敲定赞助"] E --> F["牵线 PerfectTed（能量饮料）"] E --> G["牵线 Huel（营养补给）"] F --> H["团队危机解除，挑战得以延续"] G --> H end B --> D ``` 面对 Russ 的感激涕零，Steven 则解释了背后的逻辑。他指出，很多人习惯把人生转折点归咎于“运气”，但事实上是 Russ 自己促成了这一切：早在一年前，Russ 就曾给他发过足足三页纸的私信，只是当时被信息淹没掉了；但那一粒“种子”早已埋下。当 Russ 真正踏上征途、在南非奔跑两周并在社交媒体引起反响后，算法把这段令人震撼的壮举推到了 Steven 的主页。Steven 看完后深深被他的气魄折服，立刻用 WhatsApp 分别联系了自己投资并担任重要角色的两个品牌——PerfectTed（创始人的年轻冲劲与正能量和 Russ 如出一辙）以及 Huel（完美契合长途奔跑所需的代餐营养）。两个品牌的创始人几乎在几分钟内就秒回：“我们加入（We're in）。” - 社交媒体起步数据：挑战开始时，Russ 的账号基础并不大，Instagram 约 2 万粉丝，Twitter 约 6,000 粉丝，YouTube 约 1 万粉丝。 - “敲门”与“开门”：Russ 用形象的隐喻总结道，自己当时在漫无目的地敲打着很多扇紧闭的门，但最关键的是 Steven 愿意替他把门真正拉开。 --- ### [01:03:16](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=3796s) 第 30 天尿血与南非的“疯癫退贼” 资金危机刚过，极端身体极限与安全威胁便接踵而至。到了挑战的第 30 天左右，Russ 的身体开始出现严重的生理衰竭，甚至尿液中带血（pissing blood）。Steven 难以置信地问他，在面临断粮、又在非洲荒原上开始尿血的情况下，脑海里难道没有一刻闪过“买张机票回家算了”的念头？Russ 淡然回答道，自己心里很清楚当下的状况极度糟糕，但也明白“坏情况总会熬过去的”，只要咬牙撑住，身体会恢复，脚步就不能停下。 紧接着发生的便是一场充满荒诞色彩的轻度抢劫未遂事件。当时 Russ 正在南非独自夜跑，前后突然冒出两名男子将他夹在中间。Russ 凭借本能敏锐地察觉到了对方企图打劫的意图，但也看出这两人心存犹豫、正在试探。为了打破僵局，Russ 决定采取极端的“攻心计”——他一边继续大跨步狂奔，一边像发了疯一样疯狂捶打自己的胸膛，嘴里歇斯底里地大喊大叫：“我们正在跑步！再见！”（"JUST LIKE WE'RE RUNNING, BYE!"） 这种犹如疯子的举动彻底震慑了劫匪。劫匪大概觉得这人精神错乱、招惹他毫无胜算，跑在后面的同伙很快就掉队溜走了。剩下的那名前面带路的男子体型偏小，两人跑着跑着反而聊了起来。对方尴尬地承认：“呃，其实我朋友本来打算抢你的，但他跑了，所以我们不抢了。”Russ 继续与他深聊，得知对方住在路旁破败简陋的贫民区（township），犯罪只是为了糊口喂饱家人。令人啼笑皆非的是，最终 Russ 不仅没有挨抢，还对他说：“等会儿我兄弟开车来接我，我们给你拿点吃的。”不久后保障车赶到，Russ 不仅给这名试图抢劫他的男子分了食物，甚至还开着保障车顺路送他回了家。 --- ### [01:07:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=4029s) 安哥拉第 50 天：枪口下的生死掠夺 南非的戏剧性插曲只是热身，真正的生死危机在第 50 天的安哥拉骤然降临。这一天，抢劫不再是虚张声势的试探，而是一场冷酷高效的持枪洗劫。 当天上午 Russ 刚跑完 30 公里，正坐在保障车内和团队成员 Jared 以及 Harry 一起吃午饭、扯闲篇。突然，一辆摩托车载着三个人呼啸而至停在车旁。其中两名男子迅速跳下摩托车，猛地拉开车门，直接掏出手枪顶在了车内所有人的脸上。劫匪嘴里大声吼着葡萄牙语，黑洞洞的枪口让整辆车瞬间陷入死寂。在绝对的致命威胁下，Russ 没有也不可能再去“捶胸装疯”，大家只能举手任由搜刮。 在这次洗劫中，劫匪几乎搜刮了车内所有赖以生存和记录的贵重资产： - 全队所有人的护照与跨国签证文件 - 现金与应急备用金 - 专业摄像器材与无人机（Drone） - 所有随身手机与通讯设备 当 Steven 问 Russ 是否在心理上消化（processed）了这种被人拿枪指着脑袋的巨大心理创伤时，Russ 显得十分平静而麻木。他坦言自己根本没有时间去梳理或寻求心理疏导，因为在那种残酷的境遇下，天亮之后你依然身处荒野，第二天唯一能做的事情就是硬着头皮继续上路跑下去。 ### [01:08:23](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=4103s) 抢劫的余波与第102天的恐怖阴影 关于此前遭遇抢劫的经历，主持人 Steven Bartlett 指出，当触及这个话题时，Russ Cook 的神态明显发生了变化，整个人不再像表面上看起来那么漫不经心。Russ 坦言，事情过去后他并没有过度深究心理创伤，毕竟最终大家保住了性命；但财物、设备以及最重要的护照被洗劫一空，导致他们为了补办签证直接延误了两到三周的时间。 当话题转向挑战的第102天时，Russ 的神情变得格外沉重。他直言刚抵达刚果民主共和国（DRC）的这段经历，不仅是整个横穿非洲大陆之行中最艰难的阶段，甚至可以说是他“整个人生中最痛苦的经历”。这段经历在此前极少被公开详谈，他们拍摄的记录全过程的 YouTube 纪录片系列中，唯独没有发布这唯一一期的视频。Russ 解释道，那段时期是整个后勤保障团队内部矛盾爆发到顶点的黑暗时刻，团队成员之间争吵不断、关系破裂，而且当时剪辑出来的成片也根本无法以他认可的方式还原真实的故事。 ### [01:10:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=4202s) 初入刚果民主共和国（DRC）的敌意与恐慌 在第100天踏入刚果民主共和国的领土后，团队立即感受到了扑面而来的敌意。DRC 是世界上最贫困的国家之一，腐败问题严重，而在入境之前，Russ 和团队就收到了大量当地极其血腥暴力的警示视频——包括枪击、持刀伤人甚至人体肢解的极端画面。尽管 Russ 客观指出 DRC 幅员辽阔、许多人民十分友善，但他个人短暂停留的那几天确实极其凶险。 车队刚穿过混乱的边境小镇，周围的民众和公职人员就开始频繁发难，有人在路边对着正在奔跑的 Russ 愤怒叫喊，官员和各路人等想方设法进行盘剥敲诈。在第101天（即第102天前一天），一名男子甚至手持一块嵌有锋利铁钉的大石头逼近 Russ，当面用法语叫嚣威胁要“砸烂你的脑袋”，索要相当于3英镑的现金。同行的队友 Harry 听懂了法语并进行交涉，Russ 最终给了对方1英镑脱身。他不想因为几英镑丢掉性命，但同时也不愿随意撒钱，以免在沿途传开“这伙人给钱就能敲诈”的风声。 ```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: 初入刚果民主共和国事件链 accDescr: 展示从入境刚果民主共和国到第102天陷入危机的事件发展脉络 subgraph S1["心理与环境铺垫"] A["入境前收到暴力残杀警示视频"] B["边境小镇遭遇官员勒索与民众敌意"] C["第101天遭持钉石男子敲诈买路财"] end subgraph S2["危机爆发（第102天）"] D["计划单日奔跑 100 公里"] E["后勤车因路况受阻失联"] F["丛林迷途并误入原住民村落"] end A --> B --> C --> D --> E --> F ``` ### [01:12:27](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=4347s) 第102天：迷失热带雨林与持砍刀男子的押解 第102天清晨醒来时，Russ 必须完成单日100公里的奔跑目标，但强烈的焦虑感已经笼罩全身。在完成前两个20公里（共40公里）后，他拐入了一条由后勤团队提前规划的泥泞土路。然而，后勤支援面包车受困于路况根本无法驶入。后勤团队雇佣了一名当地摩托车骑手前去通知 Russ。在泥泞小道上奔跑的 Russ 当时精神高度紧张，前一天频繁被摩托车拦截骚扰的阴影让他起初拒绝停步，最终停下后，他收到了队友留下的便条：车辆受阻，需穿过丛林前往另一处预定地点汇合。 接下来的路线是穿越约20公里几乎没有路径的热带雨林，Russ 只能靠双手拨开密林灌木硬生生开路。此时他已经耗尽饮用水，手机完全失去信号。在身心俱疲的状态下，他一头撞进了一座原始村落。因为之前遭遇的敌对态度，Russ 本能地只想埋头快步穿过村子以避免事端，但这反常且匆忙的举动彻底激怒了村民。 - 全村男女老少迅速围拢上来，愤怒质问他的来历和目的，并开始围着他索要钱财。 - Russ 身上空无一物，语言完全不通，局面瞬间陷入失控。 - 村长驱散了部分围观村民，随即指派了两名手持大砍刀（machetes）的当地男子将 Russ 押入深山灌木丛。 ### [01:14:58](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=4498s) 丛林夺命狂奔与极度孤立 被两名手持砍刀的男子押进密林深处时，Russ 陷入了近乎窒息的极度恐慌中（"absolutely bricking it"）。脑海中不断闪过此前看过的惨烈视频，无法判断对方是要打劫还是撕票谋杀。在被押到丛林深处后，Russ 战战兢兢地倒空了随身所有的背包口袋，掏出了里面仅剩的几块饼干递给对方。趁着对方分神的瞬间，他用尽全身力气拔腿就跑，疯狂冲入原始森林深处。 在极度肾上腺素飙升的状态下，Russ 一路狂奔，身后充斥着村落和密林中的嘈杂骚动，路旁传来的每一声摩托车轰鸣都让他草木皆兵，甚至不得不三番五次跳进灌木丛隐藏身形。经过一番死里逃生的穿行，他终于赶到了便条所写的汇合点，眼前却空无一人——支援车根本没有到达。 此时奔跑距离已超过50公里，Russ 陷入了前所未有的生死绝境：脱水、断水、毫无通信信号、身处未知雨林中心，身后还跟着一大群因他逃跑而被激怒的村民。冷静推断后，他意识到距离最近的柏油马路主干道大概在15到20公里之外（约2小时路程），那是后勤车辆唯一可能开到的地方。Russ 咬紧牙关，决定强撑着崩溃的肉体，向着可能有一线生机的柏油路方向全力进发。 ### [01:18:07](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=4687s) 绝境抉择：登上陌生人的摩托车 Russ Cook 在刚果民主共和国（DRC）的一条泥泞小路上独自前行，此时精神状态已经完全崩溃。两名男子骑着摩托车停在他身旁，试图拦住他。对方比划着试图沟通，大概意思是“我们要带你去见你的朋友”，但 Russ 心中充满怀疑与警惕。他不清楚这些人是哪个村子派来的，是否村落之间有某种类似“丛林电报”的联络网络，通知大家“有个白人在这儿跑丢了、情绪失控，快去逮住他”。按照之前与后勤团队的约定，如果是团队派车来接应，车手必然会携带一张手写字条作为凭证。然而这两个人手里空空如也，什么证明都没有。 随着天色越来越暗，Russ 面临着极端残酷的现实困境：身上没有一滴水，手机完全没有信号，根本无法获知团队成员的确切方位。他估算团队最多在前方 10 到 20 公里之外，心里暗自权衡：“如果坐上这辆车超过半小时或一个小时还没见到队友，那肯定就是坏事了。”在没有退路的情况下，他决定赌一把，心想“管他呢，上车（Fuck it. Get on the bike）”。这两个陌生人其实已经骑着车跟着他游说了大约 20 分钟，Russ 最终跨上了摩托车后座。 ```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: 丛林绝境中的决策与绑架过程 accDescr: 展示 Russ Cook 在刚果丛林中如何从落单、妥协上车，最终经历7小时山路被带往偏远村庄遭绑架的逻辑过程。 subgraph SG1["孤立无援"] A["迷失泥泞小路<br/>无水、无信号、精神崩溃"] --> B{"陌生摩托车跟随20分钟<br/>声称带他见朋友，无凭证字条"} end subgraph SG2["致命赌注"] B --> C["心理预设：<br/>团队在10-20km内<br/>超过1小时即意味着出事"] C --> D["被迫妥协：坐上后座"] end subgraph SG3["绑架与解救"] D --> E["7小时雨林跋涉<br/>翻山越河，语言不通"] E --> F["深山无电村庄：<br/>与副酋长交涉，电话联络团队"] F --> G["团队历经36-48小时多次被骗<br/>支付赎金后获释"] end ``` --- ### [01:19:35](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=4775s) 深入雨林的七小时绑架与丛林村庄交涉 半小时过去，团队没有出现；一个小时过去，依旧不见人影。Russ 开始意识到情况不对并试图反抗，他跳下摩托车冲对方大发雷霆，但严重的语言不通让双方根本无法理解彼此的一言一语。最终，这场噩梦演变成长达 7 个小时的雨林深处颠簸之旅。Steven Bartlett 对此距离感到震惊并指出，在英国从伦敦开车到苏格兰爱丁堡也不过 7 个小时，这相当于坐在陌生人的摩托车后座上穿过半个国家。Russ 回忆，那根本不是平整公路，而是狭窄陡峭的小径，不断在暴雨冲刷的山地中穿行，蹚过河流，越过群山。为了不摔下去，他只能死死抓着摩托车，整整 7 个小时下来身心彻底虚脱。 大约在一个半小时的时候，Russ 就已经清醒地断定：“好吧，我确实被绑架了。”关于刚果民主共和国的治安传闻在他脑海中盘旋——那里有人甚至会为了 5 英镑、为了几块钱或者一块手表就被刺死甚至丧命。他一方面极力保持理性，揣测对方可能只是为了勒索钱财；另一方面也做好了最坏打算，担心自己随时会被灭口。当无力感吞噬一切时，他只能将命运交给信仰：“上帝为我安排了什么，那就是什么吧，这已经非我所能掌控。” 深夜时分，摩托车将他带进了一个深藏在雨林中、没有通电的偏远村落。四周是一座座盖着波纹铁皮屋顶的简陋小木屋。Russ 被带进其中一间昏暗的棚屋，村里的一大群男人随即涌入，屋里充斥着关于金钱的激烈争吵。不久后，村里的副酋长（Second Chief）走了进来，用非常缓慢但能听懂少许词汇的英语与 Russ 对话。Russ 立刻抓紧机会冷静沟通：“这是个巨大的误会。打给我朋友，他会讲法语。我们有钱，我们可以把这事解决。” 副酋长通过电话与 Russ 的后勤团队取得了联系，双方达成共识：团队带着钱赶来赎人。然而，由于绑架地点极其闭塞隔绝，团队花了 36 至 48 小时才最终赶到现场。在这期间，后勤团队经历了重重坎坷：尝试租摩托车被当地人诈骗，随后又试图借用当地警察局长的一辆四驱车（4x4），结果再次被敲诈。直到最后，团队终于带着现金抵达村庄，在付清各方索要的款项后，Russ 才重获自由。 - **行车时长与路况**：长达 7 小时的长途跋涉，穿越无路可循的热带雨林、崇山峻岭与多处湍急河流。 - **营救周折**：后勤人员耗费近两天（36–48 小时）才摸索到村落，中途遭遇租车中介和当地警察局长的连续敲诈诈骗。 - **当地态度反转**：在电话沟通确认能拿到钱后，村民们的敌意有所缓和；Russ 事后回想，觉得当时村民们内心其实同样对他的突然出现充满了恐惧与戒备。 --- ### [01:23:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=5021s) 濒死边缘的顿悟：反思父母关系与未竟人生 获释后的 Russ 陷入了极度崩溃与警惕的状态，整个人神经紧绷、浑身发颤。虽然他平时并不觉得自己患有焦虑症，但在那段生死未卜的绝境中，他体会到了彻头彻尾的惊恐。在英国的伴侣 Emily 在他失联期间极度恐慌，甚至在后来的调研电话中透露，她当时坚信 Russ 已经遇害了。Russ 坦言，在那些漫长无望的小时里，他也百分之百确定自己命不久矣。 面对死亡，Russ 产生了一种前所未有的“回溯性清醒”（Retrospective Clarity）。他感到无比懊悔与自责，觉得自己是因为犯下了一些本可以轻易避免的低级失误，才落入这般田地，而这一切责任全在自己：“为了跑步横穿非洲这种事，最后死在刚果，这给活着的人留下的是什么？” 在自以为生命仅剩最后几个小时的黑暗时刻，Russ 脑海中浮现出所有本希望有机会弥补、却一直未能修补的遗憾——尤其是与父母的关系。他意识到自己在过去的岁月里浪费了太多时间，为了微不足道的可笑理由（"stupid reasons"），固执地抱守着傲慢、怨恨与防备，一味逃避，拒绝去与深爱自己的人建立真正的连结。生命何其短暂，那些虚荣与偏执在死亡面前显得一文不值。与此同时，他也想到了伴侣 Emily，想到了她如何教会自己去爱、去亲密、去信任，想到了两人曾憧憬过的未来、想要共同建立的生活，以及曾计划要孕育的孩子。所有未竟的爱与承诺，在那几小时的绝望中化为了刻骨铭心的痛楚。 ### [01:28:57](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=5337s) 对女友的愧疚与背后的无形压力 在经历绑架等一系列生死考验时，拉斯·库克（Russ Cook）内心最沉重的负担之一是对女友艾米莉（Emily）的愧疚。出发前，他曾信誓旦旦地向她保证一切都会顺利，甚至用轻描淡写的语气安慰她：“别担心那些危险，一切都会没事的，宝贝（No, it's going to be fine, babe）。”然而，当真正置身险境、失联数天时，这种未能兑现承诺的自责感将他吞噬。他深知自己身处危机旋涡之中疲于应付，而留在英国国内的女友却要无休止地承受焦虑与恐惧。在非洲很多偏远地区，手机信号经常完全中断，那种漫长的失联对等待消息的伴侣而言无疑是巨大的心理折磨。 --- ### [01:30:34](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=5434s) 刚果危机后的团队内讧与管理失误反思 在后勤团队最终设法筹款、向刚果（金）偏远村庄的看守者付清赎金并救出拉斯后，危机不仅没有平息，反而触发了整个团队在心理层面的彻底崩溃。拉斯直言，绑架事件的善后处理是整个横跨非洲行动中团队经历的最艰难时刻。当时团队中的每一个人都被推向了体力和精神的绝对极限，所有人耗尽了最后一丝精力，根本没有多余的心力去体恤或照顾旁人的感受，内部充斥着“我自己都快撑不下去了，哪还管得了别人”的消极防御情绪，争吵接踵而至。 主持人和社交媒体受众通常只能看到经过剪辑的 YouTube 视频，误以为这支团队始终团结默契、充满欢声笑语，甚至把“尿血”当作探险途中的黑色幽默。但私下的背景调查揭示了残酷的真相：团队内部爆发了严重的分裂。拉斯坦承，这绝非某个团队成员的过错，而是自己在最初的人员架构搭建上犯了致命错误。当时因为启动资金匮乏，他极度依赖通过社交媒体内容吸引品牌赞助，因此招募的三名核心成员几乎全是内容创作者（负责拍摄 YouTube 视频、拍照和制作纪录片）。他完全忽视了最核心的后勤保障以及对非洲复杂地缘环境的了解，将其误判为当时“承担不起的奢侈品”，结果迫使一帮毫无野外生存和跨国后勤经验的文摄人员去处理极其险恶的非洲腹地物流与应急事务，直接将团队置于危险境地。 ```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: 团队架构问题与危机传导 accDescr: 展示初期团队架构缺陷如何导致成员超负荷并引发内部危机 subgraph Problem ["初期团队架构缺陷"] A["预算极其匮乏"] --> B["全员偏向内容生产<br/>(招募3名视频/摄影人员)"] B --> C["完全缺失非洲本土后勤专家"] end subgraph Crisis ["危机传导与失衡"] C --> D["被迫要求内容人员处理复杂极端后勤"] D --> E["遭遇绑架、诈骗与恶劣路况"] E --> F["全员精神与体能濒临极限"] end subgraph Result ["团队内爆"] F --> G["缺乏共情能力<br/>内部严重争吵与对立"] end ``` --- ### [01:32:42](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=5562s) 矛盾爆发、人事重组与后勤升级 从刚果（金）脱险回程途中，积压的摩擦彻底激化。队员哈里（Harry）在经历被当地摩托车手诈骗、与警察局长周旋之后同样心力交瘁。当车队穿越一些极端贫困的小村庄时，哈里开始频繁在当地小摊购买香烟和酒精消遣。这引发了拉斯的极度不满：周围村落里许多儿童甚至营养不良、腹部鼓胀，生活极度困顿；如果几个欧洲白人在这样的地方招摇地饮酒抽烟，会向当地人释放出“这群人极其富有、挥金如土”的信号，从而招致更多的敲诈勒索与安全隐患。由于两人神经都已紧绷到断裂边缘，沟通方式失去了理智，随即演变成一场激烈的正面争吵。 回到大本营与其他完全不知情的队友会合后，团队积怨在一次内部会议中彻底爆炸。情绪失控的拉斯在会议上怒吼咆哮、乱砸椅子，彻底丧失了冷静。这次发火让随后几天的气氛降到了冰点，大家彼此战战兢兢、如履薄冰。直到车队抵达安哥拉的飞地卡宾达（Cabinda），拉斯意识到必须迅速进行管理重组：他自己每天要长跑几十公里，身心面临极限负荷，绝不能再让身边的支持团队同样处于崩溃边缘，否则整个项目必死无疑。他做出了一系列关键决断： - **安排休整轮换**：强制让哈里以及其他筋疲力尽的队员分批休假回国调整，避免全员同时崩盘。 - **引入专业后勤人员**：买下一辆能够应付泥泞烂路的 4x4 四驱越野车，并火速招募了格斯（Gus）。格斯曾是荷兰军方的前伞兵，曾独自一人骑自行车往返穿越整个非洲大陆，其强悍的体魄与严谨的军事化后勤能力成为了团队后续生存的核心支柱。 - **分担制作重压**：招募新剪辑师杰米（Jamie），分担主力剪辑斯坦（Stan）每天工作近 18 个小时、一边跟拍制作一边还要每周赶出两期高质量 YouTube 视频的超负荷压力。 --- ### [01:35:49](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=5749s) 赞助商 PerfectTed 抹茶能量饮料 在访谈间歇，主持人史蒂文·巴特利特（Steven Bartlett）向观众透露了他桌上经常出现的《CEO日记》定制水杯里装的饮品——PerfectTed 抹茶能量饮料。史蒂文曾在商业投资节目《龙穴》（Dragon's Den）中投资了这家初创公司，如今它已迅速成长为英国增速最快的能量饮料品牌。史蒂文解释称，自己有时一天需要连续录制三场长达数小时的高强度深度访谈，传统能量饮料往往会导致饮用者心悸或随后出现断崖式的能量崩溃（crash），而 PerfectTed 的天然抹茶成分能够提供平稳且持久一整天的专注力。观众可以在英国各大 Tesco 或 Waitrose 超市购买，或在官网结算时使用折扣码 `DIARY10` 获取九折优惠。 --- ### [01:36:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=5810s) 身体极限：第205天的背伤折磨与退赛边缘 随着旅程继续推进，拉斯的身体开始全面亮起红灯。在穿越漫长里程的第 205 天至 206 天前后，他遭遇了整个挑战期间最严重、也是至今尚未完全康复的重伤——背部肌肉与脊椎严重痉挛，并伴有剧烈的神经性放射痛（坐骨神经痛），剧痛直接从后背如电流般贯穿至整条腿部。在疼痛最严重的时刻，他的身体完全僵死锁死，根本无法动弹。 即便在完成非洲之行、回到英国参加周日马拉松时，这处顽固的背部旧伤依然在隐隐作痛，极有可能已造成了不可逆的永久性身体损伤。女友艾米莉曾提到，在大约跑满 200 天的节点上，拉斯整个人在精神和生理上其实已经“快撑不下去了（pretty done）”。每天早晨醒来都要面对钻心的剧痛，在距离终点还有足足五个月的漫长旅途前，他内心深处唯一的渴望就是让这一切痛苦赶紧结束。当史蒂文追问在整个 352 天的漫长征程中，究竟哪一天是他距离彻底放弃退赛最近的时刻时，拉斯开始回忆那段最为绝望的至暗时刻。 ### [01:38:22](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=5902s) 唯一退缩的念头与科特迪瓦的“间谍”误会 在整场跨越非洲大陆的壮举中，绝大多数艰难险阻都没能动摇 Russ Cook 的决心，但唯独在刚果骑在摩托车上的那一刻，他脑海中真真切切闪过了一丝退缩：“我到底在干什么？这太愚蠢了，我非得把命送在这里不可。”不过这只是转瞬即逝的想法，现实很快压倒了恐惧——既然已经置身于此，他根本别无选择，只能硬着头皮走下去。 到了 12 月的第 241 天，队伍行进至科特迪瓦（Ivory Coast）。当地警方对深更半夜在路边奔跑的 Russ 极其困惑，甚至怀疑他是间谍，于是将他带回了警局。Russ 笑着解释说，对方并没有直白地说“我们怀疑你是间谍”，而是他从警方的盘问和排查中逐渐拼凑出来的结论。经过一系列严格的身份与背景核查，警方确认他没有任何可疑动机后，才予以放行。随后的圣诞节与元旦，队伍在非常原始简陋的条件下度过：围着篝火烤鸡、喝得微醺。虽然远离家人难免有些异样，但对 Russ 来说，当时的唯一核心就是专注眼前的目标，喝上两杯就算是完成了庆祝。 ### [01:39:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=5986s) 阿尔及利亚签证危机：推特破局与 Elon Musk 的声援 行程进入阿尔及利亚边境时遭遇了极其严峻的政治与官僚阻碍。阿尔及利亚原则上规定外国公民必须在自己的本国申请签证，且多方机构（包括英国外交部 FCO）都曾建议不要前往该地区，阿尔及利亚当局起初也是断然拒绝发放签证。整个团队的后背彻底被逼到了墙角。团队成员 Gus 和 Stan 曾花费数周策划各种备选方案，例如尝试先取得毛里塔尼亚的居留权，再迂回申请签证。眼看所有常规外交途径都要走入死胡同，Russ 拍板做出了一个极其大胆的决定：“兄弟们，我们来一记孤注一掷的长传（Hail Mary）吧！直接在社交媒体上全面开火，因为这种事只有最高层的人发话才可能解决，我们要放手一搏。” 这项以 X（原 Twitter）为主战场的线上声援行动迅速引发病毒式传播。整个英国甚至全球网民都在转发声援，热度甚至吸引到了 Elon Musk 本人的互动。Elon Musk 转发生帖，赞叹这正是该平台存在的意义与他热爱 X 的原因。在滔天的舆论与国际关注下，奇迹发生了——阿尔及利亚官方通过官方推特账号直接回复 Russ，公开承诺为其破格特批签证并放行入关。一个普通青年凭借社交媒体的推波助澜，竟然促成了一国出入境特例与法规豁免，这让 Russ 与主持人 Steven 都感叹“简直疯狂至极”。 ```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: 阿尔及利亚签证公关破局流程 accDescr: 展示 Russ Cook 团队面对签证拒绝时，通过社交媒体发起舆论攻势最终获得破格特批的整个过程。 subgraph Problem ["陷入僵局"] A["常规签证被拒<br/>必须回母国申请"] --> B["多方警告不得前往<br/>迂回方案耗时费力"] end subgraph Action ["社交媒体攻势"] B --> C["Russ 决定 Hail Mary：<br/>在 X / Twitter 发起全网求助"] C --> D["全英舆论爆发式传播<br/>多方政客与公众发声"] D --> E["Elon Musk 转发点赞：<br/>盛赞平台沟通价值"] end subgraph Result ["特批通关"] E --> F["阿尔及利亚官方推特回复<br/>承诺当场破格发放签证"] F --> G["成功入境并跨越撒哈拉"] end ``` ### [01:42:16](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=6136s) 撒哈拉腹地抛锚与“累积型韧性” 进入阿尔及利亚后，队伍在第 313 天深入到了广袤残酷的撒哈拉沙漠。后勤卡车在距离最近的铺装道路整整 250 公里处的沙漠腹地彻底抛锚，且维修团队根本无法当场修复。然而，当节目组向团队成员 Stan 了解当时的情景时，Stan 透露所有人几乎连眉头都没皱一下，大家只是耸耸肩觉得“没事，我们肯定能解决”。Stan 将这种心态定义为**累积型韧性**（cumulative resilience）——因为他们此前经历过绑架、持枪抢劫等数倍于此的生死考验，对于挫折的阈值被不断拔高，遇事反而越来越波澜不惊。 Steven 感慨这种精神在现实生活中具有极其深刻的启发意义：普通人在日常工作中往往会因为极其微小的挫折（比如同事坐了自己的工位）而陷入情绪低谷，而 Russ 和他的小团队在撒哈拉沙漠深处卡车抛锚却能泰然处之。Russ 坦言，到了旅程后期，仅有四人的团队已经运转得如同精密仪器般默契高效，没有任何人需要被指令推动，每个人都知道该做什么并默默承担海量的工作。在困难中幸存下来不仅是经验，更成为了他们心中无可摧毁的铁证。 ### [01:44:07](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=6247s) 冲刺终点：狂热的人潮与父亲的拥抱 距离终点最后两周时，Russ 整个人的精神状态与神情发生了显著变化，所有人都察觉到他前所未有的开朗与兴奋。伴随着终点近在咫尺，媒体与公众的关注度彻底引爆。在英国本土，各大主流媒体铺天盖地报道他的长跑壮举，几乎成了全民唯一热议的话题，慈善筹款也呈爆发式增长。 到了终点线所在的突尼斯（Tunisia），场面演变成了数以百计支持者跨国奔赴的狂欢。大量英国粉丝特意飞抵突尼斯陪他跑最后一程。虽然突尼斯当时的气温并不算极端酷热，但习惯了英国温带气候的跑步爱好者们完全不适应北非的干热气候，许多人沿途直接中暑瘫倒在路边。 在最后一天最动人的时刻，Russ 的父亲也专程赶到了现场。尽管父亲如今年事已高、只能勉强跑上两三公里，但他依然迈开脚步陪 Russ 跑了一段，并紧紧搂住了儿子的肩膀。父子两人在奔跑中留下了泪水。Russ 回忆道，那阵眼泪既是意识到这一切漫长折磨终于画上句号的释然信号，也承载着父子几代人所经历过的无数坎坷与不易。Steven 动情地补充道，在早前的访谈调研中与 Russ 的父亲通电话时，老人家言语间对儿子的那份无以复加的骄傲，是他整个采访筹备过程中听到最令人潸然泪下的内容。 ### [01:47:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=6431s) 跨过终点线与父亲的骄傲 在历经千难万险之后，跨过终点线的那一刻让 Russ Cook 感到极不真实。他坦言，这种圆满结束的真实感花了很长一段时间才真正沉淀下来，直到此刻受访时，他才真正开始消化这一切。主持人提到了 Russ 父亲的话——“我为我的儿子感到无比自豪”（"I couldn't be more proud of my son"）。Russ 动容地表示，能听到父亲说出这样的话非常有力且意义非凡。 对于长跑途中的漫长折磨而言，终点线在极长的一段时间里就像是一个“虚无缥缈的神话”，仿佛永远都不会真正到来。当双脚真正踩过终点线的那一刹那，Russ 心中涌起强烈的释然与感激：“天啊，终于结束了，我们真的做到了。”所有的艰辛磨难与付出，在这一刻都得到了回报。 - **行军跨度**：全程耗时 352 天，历时约 14 个月纵贯非洲大陆。 - **父亲的评价**：亲口表达了对儿子的无尽骄傲与认可。 --- ### [01:48:27](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=6507s) 非洲最北端的水边敬礼与证明自我 Russ 的女友 Emily 曾透露过一个动人的细节：当 Russ 终于抵达非洲大陆最北端的海水边时，他缓缓走向水边，面向大海行了一个庄重的军礼。在 Emily 看来，这个敬礼绝非随意的应景动作，而是一个深具仪式感的告别——标志着他人生的某一个灰暗篇章正式翻过，他向所有人、也向自己证明了某些东西。 当被问及到底证明了什么时，Russ 坦诚地回答：“证明了我有能力做到（I'm capable）。我能行。”在终点现场，他的母亲、整个后勤团队以及所有亲朋好友都聚集在一起。然而，现场的场面也极其疯狂且压倒性：天空新闻台（Sky News）的记者在一旁扛着摄像机狂奔，围观人群声嘶力竭地尖叫欢呼。对于平时极其享受独处、习惯离群索居的 Russ 来说，那种过度感官冲击的场面让他产生了一种“灵魂出窍”（out-of-body experience）的恍惚感。 --- ### [01:50:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=6609s) 骤然爆红与被榨干的“社交电量” 回到英国后，Russ 迎来了翻天覆地的转变。从非洲酷暑归来，不仅气候与社会环境迥异，他在本土更是瞬间家喻户晓，走在街上随处都会被人认出并索要合影。许多人甚至上前告诉他，正是因为看了他的奔跑故事，自己才决定去参加刚结束的伦敦马拉松（London Marathon），并说：“你就是我站在这里的原因。”这些反馈让 Russ 感到既不可思议又深受触动。 然而，这种无处不在的狂热关注也带来了巨大的心理负荷。Russ 坦承自己此刻感到极其“不知所措”（overwhelmed），甚至在下意识地试图远离所有人与事。因为他的“社交电量消耗得极快”，一旦电量耗尽，他整个人就会瞬间宕机，无法开口说话，只想立刻找个角落独自待着。加之成名后蜂拥而至的商务合作与邮件，在既没有经纪公司也没有团队帮他打理的情况下，如何应对突如其来的名气成了一个棘手的新挑战。 ```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: 爆红带来的心理与生活失衡 accDescr: 展示从极端长跑与独处生活骤然切换到公众焦点带来的三重不适 subgraph RunningState["非洲奔跑阶段"] A["14个月极端极限长跑"] B["沉浸于孤独与简单生活"] end subgraph PostReturn["返回英国现实"] C["公众狂热追捧与合影"] D["海量邮件与商务联络"] E["伦敦马拉松现场拥堵"] end subgraph PsychologicalImpact["心理与生理冲击"] F["社交电量瞬间耗尽"] G["渴望孤立避世"] H["固定运动日程骤停的不适"] end RunningState --> PostReturn PostReturn --> PsychologicalImpact ``` - **伦敦马拉松插曲**：Russ 在回国几天后现身伦敦马拉松，现场的人群拥挤和拉扯让他感到明显的不适与感官过载。 - **缺乏幕僚支持**：身边没有公关代表或经理人，面对铺天盖地的机会需要时间思考自己真正想要什么。 --- ### [01:52:40](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=6760s) 肾上腺素归零后的生活真空与下一步计划 从每天奔跑 60 至 70 公里、充满肾上腺素和内啡肽的极致极限运动，骤然切换到彻底归零的停滞状态，Russ 的身体虽然迫切需要休息，但精神上却难以适从。在过去一年多里，他拥有极其死板却纯粹的日常作息：起床、跑步、吃饭、再跑步；而现在的每一天都被各种随机的采访与会议填满。失去了规律运动的节奏，让他迫切希望尽快恢复适量的日常训练。 除了作息的断层，现实生活中的诸多不确定性也带来了沉重的心理挑战：他目前在英国甚至还没有固定的住所，未来的职业规划也充满变数。面对外界不断追问的“下一步挑战是什么”，Russ 表达了一种逆向的思考：在过去这一年里，整个团队的所有运作都在完全服务于“让他一个人往前跑”，他已经受够了这种“全宇宙都围着自己转”的感觉。 Russ 希望未来能转向幕后，去记录并帮助其他普通人开启属于他们的宏大远征，为他人提供助力，而不是继续成为聚光灯的中心。即便标志性的红胡子让他在伦敦街头极易被认出、过去的隐匿生活一去不复返，Russ 依然乐观地认为狂热终会褪去，这不过是人生阶段中需要学会处理的一套“全新的问题”。 ### [01:56:48](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=7008s) 为 The Running Charity 奔跑：百万英镑筹款目标 在这场跨越整个非洲大陆的极限壮举背后，慈善始终是 Russ Cook 最核心的动力源泉。主持人 Steven Bartlett 提到，Russ 所支持的机构 The Running Charity 正在做着非凡的工作，专门为那些像年轻时的 Russ 一样处于迷茫期、急需人生指引与意义感的人群提供帮助。当被问及本次长征的筹款目标时，Russ 坦言自己的目标一直是筹集 100 万英镑。截至前一天他查看数据时，筹款总额已经达到了约 97 万英镑，距离终点仅有一步之遥。 对于 Russ 而言，这绝非一次临时的公关噱头。他与 The Running Charity 的渊源已深植了四五年之久。在启程前往非洲之前，他曾长期担任该机构的户外探险向导，带领受助年轻人走进大自然、攀登高山，通过身体力行的挑战重拾对生活的掌控感。不仅如此，他此前完成的“从亚洲跑步回伦敦”壮举也是为了该机构募捐。这项长跑不仅是他个人的极限探索，更承载着他为底层迷茫青年打通上升通道的执着心愿。 - **筹款目标**：100 万英镑（录制前一天统计已达约 97 万英镑）。 - **公益履历**：Russ 参与 The Running Charity 已有四五年时间，曾任户外探险向导，并曾通过“亚洲至伦敦”的长跑为其募捐。 --- ### [01:57:48](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=7068s) 破局的蓝图与录音室惊喜：突破百万英镑大关 Steven Bartlett 动情地表达了 Russ 对全球数百万人以及他个人的巨大激励。Steven 坦白，每当自己在健身房精疲力竭、脑海中冒出放弃的念头时，一想到远在非洲的 Russ，心中就会立刻警醒：“他妈的 Russ 今天又要跑三个马拉松（60 到 100 公里），我在这里居然还想着放弃？”这种坚韧成为了 Steven 在生活与训练中的精神支柱。更重要的是，对于成千上万像 19 岁时的 Russ 那样深陷无助、不知路在何方的年轻人来说，Russ 的成功不仅仅是一个故事，更是一套“如何彻底逆转人生”的行动蓝图，用无可辩驳的事实向他们证明：无论过去多么黑暗，绝地翻盘是完全可能的。 就在此时，Steven 在录音室现场揭晓了一个精心准备的巨大惊喜。在节目录制前，身为投资人的 Steven 给自己投资并担任董事的代餐品牌 Huel 创始人 Julian Hearn 打了电话，提议由 Huel 出资补齐剩余的所有筹款缺口。Julian 当即拍板支持，直接捐出了达成目标所需的全部差额，让 Russ 的慈善筹款正式跨过 100 万英镑的历史性大关。伴随着 Russ 的女友 Emily 走进录音间见证这一时刻，Russ 难掩内心的震撼与感动，连连向 Steven 和团队表达谢意。 ```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: 百万英镑筹款达成流程 accDescr: 展现 Russ 筹款的冲刺阶段，包括已筹资金与 Huel 最终注资补齐缺口。 subgraph Fundraising ["百万英镑筹款冲刺"] A["公众筹款阶段<br>已募集约 97 万英镑"] B["Steven Bartlett 联络投资企业<br>致电 Huel 创始人 Julian Hearn"] C["Huel 官方大额注资<br>补齐剩余筹款缺口"] D["正式突破 100 万英镑大关"] end A --> B B --> C C --> D ``` - **精神共鸣**：Steven 将 Russ 视作健身时的精神图腾，认为他为处于绝望与停滞期的青年提供了重构人生的切实证据。 - **重磅捐款**：由 Steven Bartlett 牵线，健康营养品牌 Huel 及其创始人 Julian Hearn 捐赠了剩余款项，使筹款总额成功破百万英镑。 --- ### [02:00:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=7215s) 草莓代基里能量饮品与标志性终点口号 现场的庆祝并未止步于支票。Steven 拿出了另一款联名产品——由他投资的抹茶能量饮品品牌 PerfectTed 推出的限量版“Hardest Energy”草莓代基里（Strawberry Daiquiri）风味饮品。该产品在市面发售后的收益将继续注入 Russ 的慈善项目。当被问及为何会选择如此独特的“草莓代基里”风味时，Russ 笑着道出了这个口号背后的由头。 在非洲漫长而残酷的长跑过程中，极度的身心折磨常常需要某种具体的精神犒劳作为支撑。Russ 在奔跑途中开始不断向团队和自己念叨一句话：“快带我去突尼斯的海滩喝杯草莓代基里吧！”这句口号逐渐成为了他咬牙穿行烈日与荒漠时的精神寄托。如今不仅在突尼斯海滩的终点线上真正喝到了那杯酒，这一执念也转化为了能够持续为慈善造血的实体产品，供所有支持他的拥趸一同庆祝。 - **公益联名**：PerfectTed 推出限量版“Hardest Energy”草莓代基里风味饮品，收益将捐赠给慈善项目。 - **口号由来**：源于 Russ 在穿越非洲途中鼓励自己的口头禅——"Get me to Tunisian beach for a strawberry daiquiri"（快带我去突尼斯海滩喝杯草莓代基里）。 --- ### [02:01:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=7265s) 传统收尾问题：罗恩·韦斯莱、乐购门口与跨越不适的意义 按照《CEO日记》节目的固定传统，上一位嘉宾会在不知下一位受访者身份的情况下留下一道问题。由于这次信封里留下了两道同样切合的问题，Steven 决定全部抛给 Russ。第一道问题是：“如果有一部关于你人生的电影，你希望谁来扮演你？”顶着一头标志性蓬乱红发与络腮胡的 Russ 毫不犹豫地幽默回应：“罗恩·韦斯莱（Ron Weasley）。” 第二道问题则关于内心栖息之所：“你在什么地方会感到最自在、最舒服？为什么？”Russ 给出了一个极具市井烟火气且令人捧腹的回答：他人生中最享受的惬意时刻，莫过于在长跑途中随便扎进一家乐购（Tesco）超市，买上一堆零食，然后不顾形象地一屁股坐在超市门前的人行道马路牙子上大快朵颐。这种接地气、毫不做作的真实感，正是人们深爱他的原因。 在访谈的最后，Steven 对 Russ 表达了由衷的敬意。他指出，在当今社会，无数人正饱受心理健康与意义感丧失的折磨，而 Russ 用脚步证明了一个最朴素的真理：生命中所有美好的事物——目标、意义、联结与蜕变，都藏在某种形式的“不适感”背后。Russ 就像一座北极星灯塔，指引着那些身处低谷的人勇敢迈出改变的第一步。伴随着两人的真挚致谢，这段横跨整个非洲大陆、震撼全球的硬核传奇在录音室画上了圆满的句号。 - **自选传记片演员**：罗恩·韦斯莱（Ron Weasley，调侃自己的红发形象）。 - **最舒适自在的场所**：长跑中途坐在 Tesco（乐购超市）门外的人行道马路牙子上吃零食。 - **终极领悟**：生命的意义与心理健康的修复，永远存在于勇敢跨越不适感（Discomfort）的另一端。 ## Notable quotes > [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=0s) 能救我的只有我自己 — Russ Cook > [07:29](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=449s) 如果我按照你们说的去做，最终就会变成和你们一样悲惨的样子。我绝不要那样的生活，我要走属于我自己的路。 — Russ Cook > [31:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=1901s) 世界就是他妈的这个操蛋样子，老兄，习惯它吧；要么立刻行动去改变，要么就烂在泥潭里，全由你自己决定。 — Russ Cook > [33:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=1991s) 我他妈到底在干什么？我必须把自己的烂摊子收拾好。 — Russ Cook > [42:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=2538s) Proud of you, son. — Russ Cook 的父亲 > [53:24](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=3204s) 对他来说，所谓的‘支持’其实就是……给他空间。 — Emily Bell > [01:03:16](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=3796s) JUST LIKE WE'RE RUNNING, BYE! — Russ Cook > [01:18:07](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=4687s) Fuck it. Get on the bike — Russ Cook > [01:19:35](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=4775s) 上帝为我安排了什么，那就是什么吧，这已经非我所能掌控。 — Russ Cook > [01:39:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=5986s) 兄弟们，我们来一记孤注一掷的长传（Hail Mary）吧！直接在社交媒体上全面开火，因为这种事只有最高层的人发话才可能解决，我们要放手一搏。 — Russ Cook > [01:48:27](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=6507s) 证明了我有能力做到（I'm capable）。我能行。 — Russ Cook > [02:00:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg&t=7215s) Get me to Tunisian beach for a strawberry daiquiri — Russ Cook ## Mentioned Russ Cook, Steven Bartlett, The Diary Of A CEO, YouTube, Emily Bell, Jared, Harry, Stan, Gus, Jamie, Julian Hearn, Elon Musk, Jordan Peterson, Eliud Kipchoge, Ashley Walters, Huel, PerfectTed, Waitrose, Tesco, Rightmove, Komedia, Sky News, The Running Charity, The Wolf of Wall Street, Top Boy, The Joe Rogan Experience, Dragon's Den, X (Twitter), Instagram, Ron Weasley ## Video description Russ Cook, also known as the ‘Hardest Geezer’, is an ultra-endurance athlete and the first person to run the entire length of Africa, raising over £1 million for charity. He is also the first person to run from Asia to London. 00:00 Intro 02:03 Russ' Childhood & Being Rebellious 05:50 Relationship With My Parents 12:00 Trying To Get People’s Attention 17:04 Distancing Himself from Family 19:29 The Impact of Russ' Girlfriend 21:06 Moving Out as a Teenager 22:29 Going Down the Wrong Path 26:08 Russ' Mental Health 30:54 What Would Russ Say to His Younger Self 33:11 Russ' Epiphany 36:09 The Feeling of Progressing in Life 36:57 Travelling the World Running 37:53 First Challenges 40:05 Doing Things That Aren’t Considered Normal 43:28 Returning from the First Trip 45:11 What Did Your Dad Think Of You 45:11 Burying Himself Alive 47:16 Russ DM’d Steven Before Going To Africa 49:15 Why Africa? 50:05 Meeting His Girlfriend Before Leaving to Africa 55:40 How Have You Changed 57:27 Preparations to Run the Entire Length of Africa 01:04:15 Getting Robbed 01:08:46 Being Kidnapped 01:25:05 Facing Death 01:30:34 Team Struggles 01:36:50 Was Quitting an Option? 01:39:46 Visa Issues 01:41:27 Nearing the End 01:48:31 Crossing the Line 01:49:03 What’s Next? 01:53:59 What Was the Goal? 01:58:54 Russ Inspiring Others 02:03:38 The Last Guest Question You can donate to Russ’s charity fundraiser here: https://bit.ly/3Wr2WJR Follow Russ: Instagram - https://bit.ly/4djAL5I Twitter - https://bit.ly/3UFqZmV YouTube - https://bit.ly/3Up8YYH PerfectTed x Hardest Geezer - Strawberry Daiquiri Flavour: https://www.bit.ly/PerfectTed-HardestGeezer-Daiquiri-DOAC (all profits to charity) Follow me: https://beacons.ai/diaryofaceo Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGq-a57w-aPwyi3pW7XLiHw/join Sponsors: PerfectTed: https://www.bit.ly/PerfectTed-DOAC with an exclusive code DIARY10 for 10% off [Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbdQPmjPHhg)

[0:00] Russ Cook: 能救我的只有我自己 [7:29] Russ Cook: 如果我按照你们说的去做，最终就会变成和你们一样悲惨的样子。我绝不要那样的生活，我要走属于我自己的路。 [31:41] Russ Cook: 世界就是他妈的这个操蛋样子，老兄，习惯它吧；要么立刻行动去改变，要么就烂在泥潭里，全由你自己决定。 [33:11] Russ Cook: 我他妈到底在干什么？我必须把自己的烂摊子收拾好。 [42:18] Russ Cook 的父亲: Proud of you, son. [53:24] Emily Bell: 对他来说，所谓的‘支持’其实就是……给他空间。 [63:16] Russ Cook: JUST LIKE WE'RE RUNNING, BYE! [78:07] Russ Cook: Fuck it. Get on the bike [79:35] Russ Cook: 上帝为我安排了什么，那就是什么吧，这已经非我所能掌控。 [99:46] Russ Cook: 兄弟们，我们来一记孤注一掷的长传（Hail Mary）吧！直接在社交媒体上全面开火，因为这种事只有最高层的人发话才可能解决，我们要放手一搏。 [108:27] Russ Cook: 证明了我有能力做到（I'm capable）。我能行。 [120:15] Russ Cook: Get me to Tunisian beach for a strawberry daiquiri

[0:00] Russ Cook: probably the hardest part of my whole life. [5:50] Russ Cook: If I do what you say, then I'm going to end up like you. And I don't want that. [10:47] Russ Cook: I was a piece of [ __ ] honestly... very rebellious, very disrespectful, didn't listen to anything. [26:08] Russ Cook: That kind of sense of helplessness was a really big weight on me. And it just felt like I was never going to be able to shift it... I was like, 'I don't know how I'm going to get out of this.' [30:54] Russ Cook: That version of me at 18, 19 was very much one that looked at my outside world and blamed everyone else for my problems... I needed someone to go, 'That's the fucking world, mate. Get used to—like, do something about it or don't. It's up to you.'...No one was going to come and save me. It had to be me. [33:35] Russ Cook: I remember being in The Arch in Brighton and just being like, 'I need to sort my life out here. What am I doing?' Proper one of them mirror, bit pissed, looking in the mirror moments, going, 'Fuck hell.' [37:53] Russ Cook: Most of them were like, 'Yeah, you're going to die'... I could probably count on one hand the amount of people that actually thought I was going to do that. [42:18] Russ Cook: My dad came up to London and saw me. He said that he was proud of me, and I remember that hitting... That's like one of the most powerful things a dad can say to his son. [47:16] Russ Cook: In 2019, I was the first person to run from Asia to London. In 2020, I pulled a car for a marathon in record time. In 2021, I got buried alive... And in 2022, I'm starting a mission to become the first person to ever run the full length of Africa. [52:12] Russ Cook: Support is leave me alone. My love language is acts of service and leave me alone. [84:29] Russ Cook: I was thinking about all the things that I wish I had the chance to repair that I haven't, like my relationship with my parents... Life's too short for that. [98:24] Russ Cook: Why am I doing this? This is stupid. You know, like I'm going to get myself killed over this. [99:46] Russ Cook: Boys, let's just Hail Mary it. Just let's just blast it on socials 'cause it's going to take someone right at the top to say yes. You know, let's swing for the fences. [102:16] Russ Cook: Ah, that's a minor. We'll figure that out. [107:40] Russ Cook: I'm capable... I can do it.

[0:00] When I say day 102, does it bring back [0:02] any memories? Yeah, it's the only [0:03] YouTube video that I didn't release. My [0:05] name is Russ Cook and I'm attempting to [0:07] become the first person ever to run the [0:09] entire length of Africa. It was probably [0:12] the hardest part of my whole life. [0:14] What happened? [0:16] So, going down this dirt path and two [0:18] blokes on a motorbike pass. I knew that [0:20] if I'm on the bike for longer than half [0:22] an hour, it's bad news. Ended up [0:24] spending 7 hours on a motorbike going [0:26] into the jungle. I was getting [0:27] kidnapped. Your partner told us that she [0:30] thought you had died. [0:32] I mean, I thought I was going to die as [0:33] well. [0:34] Were you thinking about people back [0:35] home? [0:42] Russ, I don't think many people know [0:44] that you did all this stuff before [0:45] Africa. 22 years old, you become the [0:47] first person to run from Asia to London. [0:49] You fed yourself for like 7 days. You [0:51] pulled the car as well, which is pretty [0:53] crazy. What were you looking for? Class, [0:55] one hell of a question, man. [0:57] Things had got pretty bad. I wasn't [0:58] speaking to my family. I was drinking [1:00] and gambling. I'd wake up throughout the [1:02] week and just burst into tears crying. [1:04] You had dark thoughts? Yeah. [1:06] But, ultimately, you know, no one was [1:08] going to come and save you. It just had [1:10] to be me. And I thought Africa would be [1:12] best adventure ever. [1:14] Russ, day 30, you start pissing blood. [1:17] I knew it was bad, but probably end. You [1:18] get robbed at gunpoint. [1:19] They got passports, money. And then, a [1:21] falling out amongst the team. You've not [1:23] talked about this in detail either. I [1:25] just blew up, shouted at everyone, [1:26] throwing chairs. What happened? [1:28] Well, [1:30] Congratulations, Diary of a CEO gang. [1:31] We've made some progress. 63% of you [1:34] that listen to this podcast regularly [1:36] don't subscribe, which is down from 69%. [1:40] Our goal is 50%. So, if you've ever [1:44] liked any of the videos we've posted, if [1:45] you like this channel, can you do me a [1:47] quick favor and hit the subscribe [1:48] button? It helps this channel more than [1:50] you know, and the bigger the channel [1:51] gets, as you've seen, the bigger the [1:53] guests get. Thank you and enjoy this [1:54] episode. [1:57] [Music] [2:03] Russ, [2:04] you know, you're someone that has [2:05] achieved and has pursued really [2:07] anomalous [2:09] feats in their life. Feats that most of [2:11] us as Muggles would never [2:14] have the [2:16] insanity [2:18] to take on. So, I was I was so [2:21] curious to understand from your [2:23] perspective, what are the dominoes that [2:25] fell in your life that led you to be [2:28] the guy that sits here that everyone [2:29] around the country and around the world [2:31] is [2:32] perplexed and astonished and inspired [2:34] by. Where does it start? [2:36] Class, one hell of a question, man. [2:38] Uh I think [2:40] really, [2:42] I had quite a normal upbringing. [2:44] And maybe that's like the basis for [2:48] why [2:49] I ended up doing all this kind of stuff. [2:51] Um [2:54] yeah, like [2:55] dad My early memories of like my dad [2:58] were he was very hard working man. [3:01] He cut metal for a living and [3:04] didn't really see that much of him when [3:06] I was young. He would [3:07] be out working 13, 14 hours a day. [3:10] Coming home, metal dust all over him. [3:12] Mom would look after me and my brothers. [3:15] And um [3:16] I think he kind of instilled the [3:20] like that hard working mentality in me. [3:23] And [3:25] you know, a lot of the [3:27] a lot of the dominoes fell from that, [3:28] really. [3:29] And what was your mom like when you were [3:31] growing up? [3:32] My mom was very what I always remember [3:34] about my mom is she really enforced it [3:36] in us to be like polite. [3:38] She that was like a big thing for So, [3:41] always like yes, yes, please, thank [3:43] yous. [3:44] Uh whenever we'd go around to people's [3:45] houses, she was like make sure that we [3:48] behaved well and all of this kind of [3:49] stuff. And uh [3:51] like her her dad is like military man. [3:54] So, 18 to 65 always in RAF, like very [3:57] well respected. Um so, I think she got [4:00] that from him and that's what she passed [4:02] down to us. But, she was like very [4:03] caring. She [4:05] her her whole life was her kids, really. [4:08] So, [4:10] yeah, like a lot of respect for my mom. [4:12] The absence of your father. Mhm. You [4:13] said a second ago that because he was [4:16] quite absent, your mother kind of [4:18] carried the responsibility of raising [4:19] the kids herself. [4:22] Do you reflect on that and as you look [4:23] back in your life, [4:26] understand how his absence had an impact [4:28] on you? Because before before this [4:30] conversation today, I got to speak to [4:32] my team and I got to speak to lots of [4:34] people around you. As you know, cuz I'm [4:35] sure they're all Yeah. They're all [4:36] snitching. So, we spoke to your [4:37] girlfriend, we spoke to your dad. Yeah. [4:39] Um spoke to your team. Spoke to everyone [4:42] around you privately. Um and got all of [4:45] their take sort of perspectives and [4:46] stuff. And it appeared from those [4:48] conversations that the early sort of [4:49] absence of your father had a pretty big [4:52] impact on shaping you as an individual. [4:57] Yeah, I mean, I guess [5:00] I think my [5:01] I I Now I'm Now I'm older, I just look [5:03] at it like my dad was doing everything [5:05] that he could to [5:07] provide for his family. [5:09] You know, like I think he took that [5:10] responsibility really seriously. [5:13] Um [5:15] and [5:17] yeah, I mean, it's hard to hard to [5:19] really contemplate how that affects me. [5:21] But, the the this the few things I did [5:24] see of my daddy was just always like he [5:25] ran a marathon when I was a kid and I [5:27] remember that being like a big [5:29] you know, he'd always talk about [5:30] willpower. And he didn't say much, but [5:32] like he was more of a man of he did [5:34] things rather than spoke about them. So, [5:36] he'd go out and work really hard and [5:37] he'd go and run a marathon. And I'd see [5:38] these things happening. [5:40] You know, he'd come home from work and [5:41] he'd be knackered and he'd be on the [5:42] sofa and [5:44] like he kind of just that was the way he [5:46] led, you know? It's a generational thing [5:48] in many respects, isn't it? Cuz my my [5:50] dad's I feel like is very much the same. [5:52] I don't think we had many [5:53] deep conversations at all. [5:54] Nah. But, he they he led by example in [5:57] the sense that he worked hard, loved his [5:58] family. Yeah. Um that marathon your dad [6:01] ran. [6:01] Mhm. Did he do things like that a lot? [6:04] Um [6:05] not really. He was so He was working [6:07] pretty much all the time. So, he'd do He [6:09] He ran two marathons, one when he was [6:11] 31, one when he was 40. [6:13] But, he used to take me out on runs when [6:15] I was quite young. [6:16] And [6:17] you know, [6:19] he'd [6:20] wouldn't really say anything, but it was [6:21] more just me seeing it that I think was [6:23] important for me. [6:24] Like that's how he operated, you know? [6:28] What about affection? [6:31] Uh Yeah, no, my dad's [6:33] My dad and my mom are very affectionate [6:35] people. Mhm. I don't think I've [6:39] I don't think I've ever seen them like [6:40] even kiss, maybe maybe once or twice [6:43] when I was young. Mhm. But, like [6:45] you know, [6:47] the I love yous and I love yous and [6:48] stuff like this wasn't words that got [6:49] thrown around in our family. [6:53] Not that they didn't mean Don't know [6:54] that they didn't mean it. I just think [6:56] that like we we our family is a bit [6:58] stiff like that. Mhm. [7:00] Not all families have the tools. Yeah. [7:02] know what I mean? [7:03] Yeah. They just Maybe they didn't get [7:04] them from their parents. [7:06] I think that's exactly it, you know? And [7:07] I think when [7:08] as I've got older and I've understood [7:10] like [7:11] where they've come from and their [7:12] parents and their upbringings, then it's [7:14] like [7:15] makes sense. But, it didn't make sense. [7:17] Didn't make sense at the time. It's hard [7:19] like when you're young, it's really I [7:20] find it really hard to make sense of a [7:21] lot of things. I was one of them like I [7:23] had a lot of questions. Mhm. [7:26] Hard to find the answers, but I kept [7:28] digging. What kind of questions did you [7:29] have? [7:31] I guess it was more [7:32] stuff like I [7:34] I was finding it hard to find my way in [7:35] the world and especially when I got to [7:37] like teenage years and I'd be like [7:40] how do I do this? Or how do I you know, [7:41] how do I build a career? How do I make [7:43] money? How do I do all of these things? [7:45] How do I navigate friendships and [7:47] relationships and all these kind of [7:48] complex how do I find meaning in my [7:49] life? [7:51] Not that I was directly asking those [7:52] questions, but they're the kind of [7:53] things you I'm pondering at that age. [7:55] And [7:56] I think [7:59] you know, from my parents, it was it was [8:01] quite hard to find those answers just [8:03] because I think they we all struggled [8:04] with communicating like that, you know? [8:07] Uh when you were 13, 14 years old, [8:11] do you think you were different from [8:12] your peers? Do you feel like you were [8:14] different in any way or isolated in any [8:16] way from other people? I looked at [8:18] people [8:19] and I was like [8:21] like teachers, for example, or any kind [8:23] of authority figures in my life. [8:25] And [8:26] if if I sensed that they weren't very [8:28] happy in their lives or they were a bit [8:29] miserable, I would [8:32] kind of discard a lot of what they were [8:34] trying to tell me. They I found a lot at [8:36] that age had a lot of people trying to [8:38] tell me what to do or you know, do this, [8:40] do that, behave like this. [8:42] And I was like if I do what you say, [8:44] then I'm going to end up like you. And I [8:46] don't want I don't want that. So, I'm [8:48] doing my own thing. [8:49] And [8:50] I think that kind of started a journey [8:51] of trying to find my own answers and [8:53] stumbling [8:54] across a lot of different things to try [8:56] and find that. [8:57] Do you think your [8:59] mom and dad were happy? [9:01] No. [9:04] I kind of feel bad for say I want to do [9:06] them a a service when I'm talking about [9:08] them cuz I do respect them a lot now. [9:10] Especially I'm old Now I'm older and I [9:11] understand things [9:13] more, but I don't think at the time [9:15] I think they've had their struggles like [9:16] a lot of us have our struggles, you [9:17] know? Mhm. [9:20] Yeah. I asked the question because I [9:23] even look at my own life and I think [9:24] whatever the source of my parents' [9:26] unhappiness was, [9:28] I think as kids we sometimes um our [9:30] relationship with whatever with [9:32] whatever's making our parents unhappy [9:34] often has a big impact on us. And I you [9:37] know, I sit here a lot with comedians [9:38] and stuff. And I remember Jimmy Carr. [9:39] So, I think it was Jimmy Carr said to [9:40] me, he goes, "Listen, when you sit down [9:42] with a comedian, Steve, you don't need [9:44] to ask the comedian if they're [9:46] depressed. You need to ask them which [9:47] one of their parents were depressed [9:48] because the reason for their behavior [9:49] will be at some level a desire to please [9:53] or make one of their parents smile for a [9:54] change." You know what I mean? And and I [9:56] wondered that with with your early [9:57] upbringing cuz cuz you know, I got to [9:59] speak to your family and I got to speak [10:01] to people around you and the picture [10:02] that was emerging was that [10:05] home wasn't the happiest place and it [10:07] wasn't the most loving, connected, [10:09] cuddly, [10:11] perfect, rosy, smiley, [10:12] Yeah. [10:14] you know, idyllic environment to say the [10:16] least. No, yeah, I'd agree. I'd agree [10:19] with that. [10:20] And [10:23] Yeah. [10:25] Yeah, I mean, I think it wasn't for the [10:27] lack of trying. Yeah. But if it's like [10:29] you said, they didn't have the tools and [10:32] you know, [10:33] ultimately that is what kind of pushed [10:35] pushed me to go and try and find my own [10:36] things, which is worked out for the [10:38] best. [10:39] And when you say [10:41] pushed you to go find your own things, [10:42] um 16, 17 years old you move out. [10:44] Mhm. [10:46] Why? [10:47] Well, things [10:49] things had got quite bad [10:51] with with family stuff. I was [10:56] I was a piece of [ __ ] honestly, yeah. [10:59] Um very rebellious, very disrespectful, [11:01] didn't listen to anything [11:03] that [11:04] they were saying. [11:06] And very intent on doing my own thing. [11:09] And I think that kind of took a big toll [11:11] on everyone in the family [11:13] because I was [11:15] you know, I was stressing everyone out. [11:16] Why? [11:17] What were you looking for? [11:19] I think like deep down I was just like [11:21] looking for something more in my life. I [11:23] was looking at what [11:25] you know, the life that the adults [11:27] around me were living and I was like, I [11:28] don't I don't want that. [11:31] I I I want I want more than that. I want [11:34] to go and see [11:35] I want to go and live, you know? [11:37] And [11:41] you know, that's kind of when [11:44] you know, you've got a kid that's 16, [11:46] hasn't done anything with his life and [11:48] he's just kind of disrespecting you, [11:50] ignoring everything you're saying and [11:51] doing his own thing, coming home [11:52] whenever. Kids don't Kids aren't born [11:54] like that, are they? [11:55] Yeah. Do you know what I mean? [11:59] They're not born [12:00] acting out and disrespecting people. So, [12:02] that's why I'm asking about the cause of [12:03] it cuz [12:04] you know, sometimes when you hear kids [12:06] doing that kind of thing, you kind of [12:07] think they're trying to they're acting [12:08] out to try and get some attention and [12:10] then they're they're kind of like [12:11] rebelling from [12:13] you know, authority because they feel, I [12:14] don't know, disconnected in some way or [12:16] whatever. I think that's maybe it, you [12:18] know, like [12:19] it's probably part of it. I'm not I'm [12:21] not exactly sure why. [12:22] Um [12:24] but that's [12:25] that's kind of what happened and [12:27] I think I was I had a lot of energy, a [12:31] lot of motivation, viciously ambitious, [12:34] but didn't really know how to apply it, [12:37] where to apply it to get what I wanted. [12:40] And I was looking around me for [12:43] I think I was looking around searching [12:44] for the guidance that that would help [12:46] me, but I wasn't really finding it. So, [12:48] I was just trying to make I was just [12:50] basically [12:51] discarding things that I thought weren't [12:54] important, people or opinions that [12:56] weren't important or weren't going to [12:57] get me where I wanted. And I was just [12:59] looking for [13:01] looking for it. And yeah, that's kind of [13:04] how things started unraveling and then [13:06] ended up moving out. [13:08] And [13:10] that that induced a quite a tasty few [13:12] years in itself. [13:15] When you say moved out, [13:16] Mhm. [13:17] do you mean like organized the removal [13:20] van and had an apartment you were moving [13:22] into or what was the day like when you [13:24] moved out? [13:26] Uh it was quite a messy it was quite [13:28] messy for a couple of years in there. [13:30] Like I remember my parents sent me up to [13:32] my granddad in Scotland [13:34] one summer when I was like 15 and this [13:36] was kind of the start of when things [13:38] were going quite bad. [13:39] Um [13:41] Your parents were doing okay? [13:42] My parents were doing okay. Yeah. Yeah. [13:45] But then so then and then I remember one [13:47] night they moved all my stuff to my [13:49] other granddad's house [13:51] and changed the lock on the door. [13:53] And they were like, you're not coming [13:54] back. Kicked the door in. [13:57] And I'm bold in. [13:58] So, [14:00] it was kind of happening for a while and [14:01] then it got to the point where [14:03] I remember my mom being like, yeah, you [14:05] need to go. And I was like, cool. It [14:07] wasn't like a [14:08] out the door with tail between my legs [14:10] or anything. It was like, I don't need [14:11] you anyway. See you out. [14:13] Like At what age? [14:15] 15, 16? [14:15] about 17. Okay. [14:16] Yeah. [14:17] And then [14:19] um I organized a flat. It was the [14:21] cheapest flat I could rent in Worthing [14:23] and I was still [14:25] I was at college. [14:26] So, I was working about four or five [14:28] part-time jobs, just like cleaning. I [14:30] was up on my bike going to Waitrose [14:32] cleaning toilets in the morning before [14:34] college and then [14:36] finished that and still I went into [14:38] sales at first. [14:41] You know when they change the locks on [14:42] the door and tell you that you can't [14:43] come back home. [14:44] Yeah. [14:45] If I asked them at the time why they'd [14:47] done that, what do you think they would [14:47] have said? [14:48] They would have said like, this guy [14:50] needs humbling. [14:51] He's he's he doesn't know anything about [14:54] the world. He's very arrogant, very [14:56] disrespectful. And then in hindsight, as [14:59] you [14:59] right. Yeah. Totally right. But you you [15:01] must have empathy for that kid. [15:04] Yeah. [15:04] Because you now you look back as an [15:05] adult, you can understand the complex [15:06] range of emotions. [15:07] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. [15:08] Cuz there's no kids aren't like [15:10] they're not [15:12] it born to be like terrors like that. [15:14] Yeah. [15:16] Uh well, I get it from I think now I'm [15:17] older I just get it from both sides. [15:19] Like it it's really difficult it was [15:21] really difficult for them to manage that [15:23] like complex kind of personality. [15:26] And it was also really hard for me to [15:29] express or communicate my in a way that [15:32] was I was going to get myself listened [15:34] to. I wasn't doing that. I was just like [15:36] totally [15:38] totally trying to run everyone over, you [15:40] know? [15:41] You wanted to be [15:42] heard. Yeah. [15:44] Think so. [15:46] And what does that mean? [15:49] I I guess I just wanted [15:51] someone to like [15:53] understand and [15:58] I just I think I just wanted the [15:59] guidance like of someone I wanted [16:01] guidance but from someone [16:04] that [16:05] I [16:07] someone that I looked at and was like, I [16:08] want what they've got, you know? Or like [16:11] they've done life in a way that I [16:13] want to do life. [16:15] And they could teach me the lessons, but [16:16] I didn't I was struggling to kind of [16:18] find that at age. [16:20] It reminds me of my conversation with [16:21] Ashley Walters and from Top Boy. Yeah. [16:24] Said pretty much the exact same thing. [16:25] His father wasn't around. [16:27] And so he was looking for a role model [16:29] or guidance, answers. And he couldn't [16:31] find it, so he ends up joining these [16:32] gangs and [16:34] that spirals somewhere else and it's so [16:35] interesting that, you know, a young a [16:37] young man at your age, that age, sort [16:39] of, you know, 14, 15, 16, 17, if they [16:42] don't have someone there to model [16:43] themselves on, [16:45] they can descend into different forms of [16:47] chaos. Yeah. Like so much energy, [16:50] um which is in a lot of ways [16:52] I think [16:54] a positive thing. [16:55] But just without those [16:57] guidelines to [16:59] to actually get you somewhere, it just [17:01] kind of becomes chaos. When you moved [17:03] out then, so you moved out sort of 16, [17:04] 17 years old, [17:06] how was your relationship with your [17:07] parents from there? Terrible. Really? [17:09] Yeah, didn't speak to them for a long [17:10] time. [17:12] Uh even up until [17:14] I would say up until probably the last [17:16] year, [17:18] it is it's couple of years, it's been [17:20] pretty [17:21] Yeah. [17:22] But um You're 27 now. Yeah. We're [17:25] talking about when you were 17. [17:26] Yeah. Yeah. Well, it's there was there's [17:28] moments in there where it's got better [17:29] and then got worse and got better. [17:32] But for [17:34] for a while it's yeah, it was [17:37] tough. [17:41] When you you know, 17 years old they [17:43] change the locks, you move out. [17:44] Mhm. [17:46] I'm sure your response was hardest [17:48] geezer. [17:49] Cuz it always is, right? Yeah. Yeah. [17:50] Like you said, it's just [ __ ] it, I [17:51] don't care. Yeah. I'll figure it out. [17:53] Yeah. But at some deeper level [17:56] you're I think we're all bullshitting [17:58] ourselves to if we say that it doesn't [18:00] have an impact cuz I can relate. I [18:01] remember the call to my mom at 18 and [18:03] telling her I was leaving university. [18:04] And I remember what she said to me. I [18:06] can't repeat what she said cuz it's so [18:07] vicious. [18:08] Yeah, it's like you it's so it's so [18:09] vicious, one of the things she said to [18:11] me. But [18:12] it was hardest geezer exterior. Yeah. [18:14] Yeah. Yeah. And then at some deeper [18:15] level [18:17] on certain days Oh, yeah. You know, [18:19] certainly catch me on the off day. [18:20] 100% man, like and I think the [18:23] hardest geezer kind of approach like [18:25] that aggressive approach to it is just [18:27] like a way of coping with it. And every [18:29] now and again, you know, like the [18:31] emotions would roll out and yeah, I'm [18:33] not denying that for a second. I [18:34] remember seeing I moved out and then I [18:37] think I saw my dad maybe [18:39] I can't remember how long after it was, [18:41] a few good few months, maybe a year or [18:43] so, and he just made me cry just seeing [18:45] him. So, like the the emotions were [18:47] always there. [18:49] But to kind of get through it, it was [18:51] like, right, you know, [18:53] [ __ ] everyone. [18:54] Why did you cry when you saw him? [18:57] Just cuz I think like [18:59] there's always a part of me that [19:00] understands that my parent there is no [19:02] there's no one else in the world that [19:03] loves me like my parents do. And like no [19:04] matter what they do or [19:06] like how bad badly I felt I'd been [19:08] wronged [19:09] which I wasn't really, they were just [19:11] trying their best. I always knew that, [19:13] you know, [19:14] whatever happens, these these are two [19:16] people that actually care about me the [19:17] most. And I think that just makes like [19:19] when things aren't going well, that [19:21] makes you emotional cuz it's like [19:23] these are the people I'm supposed to be [19:24] closest with. Things real bad. Right [19:26] now. [19:27] So, you're so right. I think so many [19:29] people are probably in that situation [19:30] right now where they they love that [19:32] person, but they don't know how to build [19:35] the bridge. Both people. [19:36] Yeah. And it takes two to build the [19:38] bridge. It really does. They can't build [19:40] it, I can't build it. So, we love each [19:42] other, but we're [ __ ] at war. Yeah. [19:44] Or I think like a big part of that for [19:47] me in building that bridge was actually [19:49] my girlfriend when I was away. [19:51] Oh. Cuz she [19:53] she went over and she went around the [19:56] house and spoke to him loads and she's [19:58] cuz even before I left like [20:00] I went around to see both my parents [20:02] before I left it was the first time I [20:03] see them in like [20:06] maybe like a year and a half, 2 years. [20:08] Really? You hadn't seen your parents [20:09] Yeah, yeah, yes. Before I left for [20:11] Africa. [20:12] We'd spoken, me and my girlfriend spoken [20:13] a lot about these kind of things and [20:15] how like important we want families to [20:17] be [20:18] and she [20:20] I felt like I was lost making that [20:23] that step. I just didn't really know how [20:25] to do it, what to say, blah, blah, blah. [20:27] But she kind of over this year is really [20:30] like done a lot of in that sense. [20:33] People might think this is sexist, but I [20:35] do think women have more tools. [20:37] 100%. 100%. [20:40] My girlfriend's the same. If my [20:41] girlfriend me and my mom sometimes don't [20:43] speak for prolonged periods of time and [20:44] my girlfriend like insists upon it. [20:46] Yeah, yeah. [20:46] And then dragged me down to Plymouth and [20:48] was like, "We're going to see her." [20:49] Yeah. [20:50] Oh, mate, I couldn't agree more. [20:52] I especially with me and my girlfriend's [20:54] dynamic anyway like that's really [20:57] she's [20:58] I look at her like a like a wizard in [20:59] that sense. I'm like, "I don't know what [21:01] I'm doing but she [21:03] she's got that under control, which is [21:05] amazing. So, you're 17 years old, you've [21:07] moved out, you're on your own. [21:09] What's the plan? [21:11] Yeah. Wow. [21:12] Um [21:13] yeah, so I remember I had this flat in [21:16] Worthing. It was the cheapest flat [21:17] available on Rightmove. [21:19] 450 quid a month. [21:21] Which is more than I could afford but I [21:22] was like, "Right, let's do it." [21:25] Um was working a bunch of different [21:27] jobs, trying to finish college. [21:30] Kind of scraped through. [21:32] And then I um [21:34] I actually [21:36] was watching [21:38] This this is so cringe but it's funny. I [21:40] was like one of them lads that watched [21:42] Wolf of Wall Street and was like, "This [21:44] is it for me." Do you know what I mean? [21:46] Um the I this is the game. I'm going to [21:48] I'm going to become a millionaire [21:50] millionaire doing sales stuff. [21:52] So, I went and got a few sales jobs. [21:54] Um [21:57] made some actually not bad money for for [21:59] my age but really didn't enjoy it and [22:05] you know, ended up with that kind of [22:07] lack of guidance I ended up just doing [22:09] the things that felt to me like the most [22:12] fun or the most like they would bring in [22:15] my naivety they would bring me the most [22:17] meaningful experiences at time, which [22:20] ended up being going out a lot with the [22:21] boys and drinking and [22:23] uh gambling and that's kind of what my [22:26] life was for the next kind of 2, 3 years [22:29] after that. Were you were you addicted [22:31] to gambling? [22:33] Um [22:34] Cuz I was reading through your story and [22:35] speaking to some of your friends and [22:36] they told me that there was [22:38] some instances where you you basically [22:40] lost everything you had and had to [22:41] borrow money off you your misses at the [22:42] time. [22:43] Yeah, oh mate, it was it's embarrassing [22:45] to even talk about like [22:47] I remember [22:48] yeah, I didn't have much money [22:51] but I'd done one night on roulette I'd [22:52] done about two I think it was over two [22:54] grand on online roulette just sitting [22:57] there on my phone late at night just [22:58] tapping away. [23:00] And that was kind of everything I had at [23:01] the time and plus the overdraft plus [23:03] every all the rest of it. [23:05] And I had to [23:07] I was too embarrassed to say anything so [23:09] I told my misses like [23:11] I think I just made up some [ __ ] [23:13] lies about what this XYZ said like, "Oh, [23:15] I need to borrow money for rent and [23:17] stuff this month." [23:18] There was a moment there where I was [23:19] like, "Okay, this really needs to stop." [23:21] And I just went on every single gambling [23:23] website I could find and did the [23:24] self-ban thing. [23:27] Never gamble since. [23:29] And you [23:30] alcohol? [23:31] Yeah, I mean I think the alcohol stuff [23:33] was just like binge drinking culture. I [23:35] wouldn't say like I was an alcoholic or [23:37] anything like this. [23:39] That was just [23:40] the only way I could really the only [23:43] thing I look forward to. I'd hate I'd [23:44] hate my jobs I'd hate work all the [23:45] throughout the week but I'd be like, [23:46] "All right, Saturday with the boys or [23:49] Saturday drinking this whatever out here [23:52] was like the thing that I look forward [23:53] to. That was the only thing I was really [23:54] living for. [23:56] Was there part of you throughout that [23:57] period of your life when you're working [23:59] in sales, you're gambling too much, [24:00] you're drinking too much? I heard you [24:01] were overweight at the time as well. [24:03] Was there a part of you that [24:05] sort of a voice inside your head that [24:06] was saying like [24:07] "Come on, Russ. Like this isn't it." [24:09] Definitely. Um [24:12] I was so miserable, man. [24:14] So, so miserable at that time. [24:16] I really struggled. I remember I would [24:18] like [24:20] wake up throughout the week just like [24:22] crying. [24:24] Just so miserable. [24:26] Um [24:28] yeah. [24:30] You'd wake up through the week crying. [24:32] Just like I'd wake up like supposed to [24:34] go to work. I'd just be I'd just be like [24:36] so upset. Just be like [24:38] the worst, so miserable. I I what [24:41] Couldn't just fathom [24:43] I was like, "Why is [24:44] why is [24:46] life this [24:47] why does it suck this much?" You know, [24:48] like I really had no [24:53] Felt like I was kind of trapped. [24:55] Lack of connection I think was a big [24:56] part of that. [24:59] You had people around you there but you [25:01] just weren't connected. [25:02] not I didn't I mean I had like a few a [25:04] few of my boys but I I wasn't speaking [25:06] to my family at all at this time. [25:08] Um [25:12] Well, I guess I was just doing a lot of [25:14] things that would make you [25:16] miserable you like I was I had no [25:18] control over my finances cuz I was [25:20] pissing away everything I earned on [25:22] roulette. I was the only things I look [25:24] forward to was going out and getting [25:26] pissed which I could which would make me [25:28] me feel like [ __ ] as well. [25:30] And then I'd go to work and hate it. [25:32] Working every day. [25:33] So, like it doesn't take a genius to [25:35] work out that's going to be a pretty [25:36] miserable existence, you know? [25:38] And you didn't have family around you. [25:40] Didn't have yeah, didn't have like many [25:42] deep [25:43] connections. [25:45] So. How old were you at that [25:47] point in your life? So, that would be [25:49] like 18, 19, 17, 18, 20 maybe just [25:52] about. [25:54] So, if you had to give me a a word to [25:56] summarize your sort of mental health [25:57] throughout that period, what would you [25:59] how would you describe your mental [26:00] health? Toilet. [26:02] Yeah, bad. [26:04] Pretty bad. [26:05] Was there a worst day [26:07] that you can recall? [26:16] Um [26:22] Yeah, I mean I remember like I do [26:24] remember [26:26] just [26:37] You don't want to talk about it. [26:38] Yeah. You you you go at your own pace. [26:41] Tell me what you're comfortable talking [26:42] about. [26:46] I I mean I I remember [26:48] days [26:50] like I said [26:51] I'd wake up crying. [26:53] Speak to my boss. I remember even one [26:54] day with my boss [26:56] it speaking to him on the phone just [26:57] bursting into tears crying. [27:00] And [27:02] I think what was hard is that I didn't [27:03] understand anything. I didn't understand [27:05] why. [27:06] You know what I mean? I didn't have the [27:07] tools to really make any sense of what [27:08] of the situation. [27:10] Cuz [27:11] you know, now I'm 7, 8, 9 years older I [27:14] can look back and go, "Yeah, well, it's [27:17] what happens when you gamble loads and [27:18] you piss all your money away and you [27:19] drink loads and you don't have anything [27:21] in your life that's going to bring you [27:22] any meaning or fulfillment." It's [27:24] obvious. But at time I didn't know that. [27:27] So, that kind of sense of helplessness [27:30] was a really big weight [27:32] on me. [27:34] And it just felt like I was never going [27:35] to be able to shift it. I think that was [27:37] the the most difficult thing. I was [27:38] like, "I don't know how I'm going to get [27:40] out of this." [27:41] You had dark thoughts. [27:43] Yeah. [27:44] The most dark thoughts. [27:48] Pretty yeah, pretty much. [27:57] That [27:58] season of your life [28:00] I've heard you kind of describe it as a [28:01] rock bottom Mhm. moment. [28:05] And it's interesting because there's so [28:06] many people that are [28:08] somewhere along that journey where [28:10] they're struggling. They've they've got [28:12] that sense of helplessness that you've [28:13] described. [28:14] Mhm. [28:15] And they're [28:16] searching for answers and I think in [28:18] some respects thinking about some people [28:19] I've spoken to recently [28:21] they [28:22] they've kind of given up believing that [28:25] they can solve this [28:27] because [28:29] it's gone on for too long. [28:30] Yeah. And [28:33] as you said, they don't even know what's [28:34] causing it. They just feel it. They feel [28:36] it intensely. I've got a couple of [28:38] friends that are really going through [28:38] that at the moment. [28:40] And I wonder I always wonder to myself [28:42] like [28:44] how does someone get from that moment [28:46] their like personal rock bottom? What [28:48] does it take to get them [28:51] start in the climb? Mhm. [28:53] Cuz that's why I that's why I'm asking [28:54] these questions. I see it in your story. [28:55] I see you going further and further and [28:57] further and further and further and [28:58] further down. [28:59] Yeah. Reaching this rock bottom moment [29:01] and then in that rock bottom moment you [29:03] have some of the the I think the darkest [29:04] thoughts anyone can have and then [29:06] something causes you to [29:09] make a decision. [29:10] Yeah. [29:11] I think [29:12] there's a few different things that went [29:14] into that melting pot. [29:16] Um [29:17] I think actually a massive thing was [29:20] like things I listened to podcasts. [29:22] Like I started I remember listening to [29:23] like Joe Rogan a lot back in the day. [29:25] And um [29:27] you like I remember the Jordan Peterson [29:29] there was a Jordan Peterson episode ages [29:31] ago. I know it's it's like a classic [29:32] thing. [29:33] But [29:34] that really kind of hit me. And that's [29:36] what I like I love listening to him now [29:37] and I know he's a bit controversial [29:38] these days and people have XYZ to say [29:40] about him. But for me like [29:43] just [29:44] having that was like my [29:47] uh guidance in a lot of ways and I think [29:49] so blessed to have [29:50] been born in this generation where [29:53] the guidance can come through [29:55] all of these online resources whereas [29:57] before you know like 20 30 years ago [29:59] maybe that would never have come for me [30:01] and maybe it 20 years later I'd still be [30:02] in the same spot. So like incredibly [30:05] grateful for that. [30:06] But then [30:08] Can I ask a question about that? [30:09] In that moment when you were 19 years [30:10] old and you were searching for guidance [30:12] do your parents know what you're going [30:14] through? No, I don't think so. [30:16] Do you think today they know what you [30:17] you were going through in that Probably [30:18] not. [30:21] No, probably not. [30:24] I I I I reckon like I don't know I [30:26] reckon my mom's probably thought about [30:27] it to be fair. [30:28] But I don't know. They don't know the [30:29] ins and outs. [30:32] What are the ins and outs that they [30:33] don't know? Well, just like the [30:34] day-to-day, you know. [30:36] And I and [30:41] I get [30:43] I'm quite like [30:45] keep a lot of things to myself a lot of [30:47] the time anyway. [30:50] So like no one really knows. [30:53] There's a real cost to that, isn't [30:54] there? There is, yeah, I guess. [30:56] There is this you know these things I [30:59] always think with these things keeping [31:00] them to yourself doesn't mean that they [31:01] stay inside it means they express [31:02] themselves in other ways. [31:03] Mhm. [31:04] Yeah, smart. Yeah, smart. [31:06] people so I [31:07] I sit with a lot of people so I I come [31:08] to learn about myself but I I've come to [31:10] one of the things I've definitely come [31:11] to learn is that keeping it in doesn't [31:13] actually keep it in it just comes out in [31:15] other ways. It makes it like a pressure [31:17] chamber and then you get your little [31:18] escapes, yeah. [31:19] Someone will say something you CAN [ __ ] [31:20] OFF. [31:22] YEAH. OR SOME PEOPLE EXPRESSES [31:24] themselves in pornography addictions or [31:26] gambling addictions. They're trying to [31:27] find other ways to ease Yeah. [31:28] the burden of having to hold on to that [31:30] all that stuff. [31:33] [Laughter] [31:35] Um so they they had no idea. [31:38] No. [31:41] If you could go back and have a word [31:42] with him when he's woke woke up on that [31:43] morning Mhm. when you were you you're [31:45] rock bottom and he's crying and he [31:47] doesn't want to go to work and he's [31:48] thinking [31:49] about dark you know dark thoughts. [31:52] If you could go back and just have a [31:53] telephone conversation with him now what [31:55] would you what would you say to him? [31:57] Oh. [32:02] I guess I do I do have empathy [32:06] for that guy. I think the thing [32:10] the thing that that I needed to hear [32:11] that which was the most which actually [32:14] got me to [32:15] forced me into action was like [32:18] I need to take responsibility for my [32:19] situation here. [32:21] So like [32:22] that version of me at 19 18 19 [32:25] was very much one that looked at my [32:28] outside world and blamed everyone else [32:31] for my problems like oh it's cuz my [32:33] parents did this or my boss did this and [32:36] all of these other things [32:38] and [32:40] I didn't [32:41] need anyone else to come in and say [32:44] oh it's not your fault blah blah blah [32:45] blah I needed someone to go [32:48] that's the [ __ ] world, mate. Get used [32:50] to like do something about it or don't. [32:52] It's up to you. [32:54] So [32:56] that's probably the message that I would [32:58] give. Maybe I'd deliver it in a nice [33:00] little empathetic way [33:02] but ultimately [33:05] you know no one was going to come and [33:07] save me. It's had to be me. [33:10] And you talk about this um I was reading [33:12] different sort of [33:13] seasons of your life and there's one [33:15] moment where you're in a nightclub and [33:17] it seems like you have a bit of I don't [33:18] know whether you were on something or [33:19] you were drinking [33:21] seems like you had a little bit of a [33:23] dance floor epiphany moment [33:25] 2 3 a.m. in the morning. [33:27] Yeah, so I think [33:30] it it'd been leading up to this cuz I [33:32] would I'd been [33:34] I'd been finding life really difficult [33:35] for a while and [33:38] I was [33:39] doing all these different things trying [33:40] to find something [33:42] that I could put my energy into that [33:43] would give me something positive in [33:45] return. [33:46] And [33:48] I'm yeah I remember being in the arch in [33:50] Brighton [33:51] and just being like I need I I need to [33:54] sort my life out here. Like what am I [33:55] doing? [33:56] Like proper one of them like mirror bit [33:57] pissed looking in the mirror moments [33:59] going [34:00] [ __ ] hell. [34:01] And then ran home [34:03] like 11 12 miles took me ages I was so [34:05] unfit. [34:07] Sorry, you ran home from the nightclub? [34:08] Ran home from the nightclub. Why? [34:11] I I don't know really. It was a bit [34:13] Forrest Gumpy in the way of just like I [34:15] just running kind of vibes. [34:18] At what time, sorry? Like 3 a.m. 2 3 [34:20] a.m. something like this. You ran 12 [34:22] miles at 3 a.m. Yeah, it took me ages. [34:24] Drunk? Yeah, yeah, I was totally off it, [34:26] yeah. [34:28] Um sleeping on the side of the road? [34:29] Yeah. [34:30] Took a little power nap in Shoreham [34:32] pavement. [34:35] But yeah, I mean so I ran that mar well [34:37] I ran that little bit and then a mate of [34:40] mine I'd been mates with for a long time [34:42] had had just started getting into [34:43] running properly and he'd signed up for [34:44] half marathon and he said to me [34:46] like come and run it. Like let's do it. [34:48] I'll train with you blah blah blah and I [34:50] think that was the moment where I was [34:51] like oh this [34:53] might be something that I can do like [34:55] I've I'm out of ideas here. You know, I [34:57] need something. [34:58] So I I literally just on a whim was like [35:01] fine. [35:02] Let's do it. Signed up. [35:04] And then he took me out training. [35:07] Um [35:08] we did the half marathon then a few [35:10] weeks later we signed up did the full [35:11] marathon. [35:13] And that process [35:16] was like a huge relief for me. It would [35:18] just [35:19] make it for the [35:21] it made me really like [35:23] it hammered in the sense that if I do [35:26] something positive [35:28] it will pay itself back to me. You know, [35:30] like that accountability of like [35:33] go and do something good. Here we go and [35:35] you can see the improvements coming week [35:37] by week by week. [35:38] And it in I think that's why I love [35:41] running so much like cuz that's it in [35:42] its simplest form. It's like you go out [35:45] run. [35:46] It's really [ __ ] And but then you keep [35:48] going you keep going and now [35:50] a month later you can run a half [35:51] marathon or two months later you can now [35:53] run a marathon. [35:54] And it was that process of going from [35:56] someone that I like I couldn't even run [35:59] around the block [36:00] and then I could run a marathon and I [36:01] was like [ __ ] This is [36:04] this I've got something here that this [36:06] is how [36:07] we progress. [36:09] That's really the word, isn't it? [36:10] Progress. That feeling of progress like [36:12] you you learn cuz that becomes a [36:13] metaphor for life like I set out to do [36:15] something and I got better at it. I [36:17] progressed. Yeah. [36:18] And I accomplished something. Yeah. [36:19] That's a that's a pretty strong [36:22] transferable idea [36:24] for the rest of your like for everyone's [36:26] life to learn that lesson. [36:27] Exactly. That's kind of what happened [36:28] for me. I [36:30] I managed to like save up some money [36:33] off the back of [36:34] run run these marathons and then [36:37] it's like stopped drinking as much [36:40] stopped I wasn't gambling anymore [36:42] and saved up a bit of money for the [36:44] first time. [36:45] And then [36:47] few months later I decided right, I've [36:49] been off the all these cleaning jobs. [36:51] I'm going to go and travel the world [36:53] with my [36:54] few grand that I'd managed to save up. [36:56] And where did you go around the world [36:57] traveling? Did a bit in Europe then went [36:59] over to Africa got to Kenya. Mhm. Did [37:04] did some I was really into my running at [37:06] this point so I was training really hard [37:07] every day. It was like my living and [37:09] breathing it. [37:10] Went to the training camp called this [37:13] village called Iten which is like home [37:15] to some of the best long distance [37:18] runners ever. [37:20] Uh Kipchoge is from there all this kind [37:22] of stuff. [37:23] Just trained with them got my ass [37:25] whipped up pretty good. [37:27] And [37:28] that just I met an Italian guy who'd [37:31] been cycling around the world for six [37:32] years. Super inspired by his story how [37:35] he was living what he was doing [37:37] and decided I wanted I want to do I want [37:39] to try and do something like that. [37:41] And I was I was pretty good at running [37:43] by now. [37:44] So then I first kind of conceived the [37:45] idea of running from Istanbul to London. [37:48] And then that that was the next I was [37:50] like all right that's what we're going [37:51] for. [37:52] I don't think many people know [37:55] that you did all this stuff [37:57] before Africa. No, I don't think so, [37:59] yeah. I don't think they do. I don't [38:00] think people I was speaking to my mates [38:02] I was like brother do you know he he [38:03] like ran he was the first person to run [38:05] from Asia to London? Mhm. And people [38:07] like no. [38:08] Yeah. [38:09] know that you ran Africa. And then all [38:10] these other things you did beforehand [38:11] but 22 years old you become the first [38:13] person to run from Asia to London Mhm. [38:15] because you ran from Istanbul to London. [38:18] Um you completed 71 marathons in 66 days [38:20] through 11 countries. [38:22] And you had no team with you. Yeah. You [38:24] basically just did it on your by [38:26] yourself and your your phone was dying [38:27] and all that stuff. Yeah. [38:29] When you told your family and other [38:32] people that you were going to run from [38:34] Asia to London Mhm. [38:36] at 22 years old what was their response? [38:39] Cuz that would be the first big [38:41] Most of them were like yeah, you're like [38:43] you're going to you're going to die. [38:45] Or like that's not going to happen. [38:48] I remember pretty much everyone being [38:49] like that. I could probably count on one [38:50] hand the amount of people that actually [38:51] thought I I was going to do that. What [38:52] did your parents think? [38:55] Can't actually remember. I don't know if [38:56] I was speaking to them very much at this [38:58] time. Oh, really? Yeah. [39:00] My I remember my little brother was the [39:02] only one that was like yeah. He's the [39:04] only one I remember being like yeah, [39:05] he's def he's going to do it. [39:07] What was that like? You know, cuz you're [39:09] on your own. Mhm. It's different to the [39:11] Africa run. Mhm. But this time you're on [39:12] your own for [39:14] that whole that whole journey across [39:17] Asia to Europe. Yeah. What's what's that [39:20] like? [39:21] It was an amazing adventure, man. It [39:23] really was. It was [39:25] it was tough though like really tough [39:27] being by myself the whole time. [39:30] I would literally run a marathon. I'd [39:32] have [39:33] a little bag with a hammock and [39:35] toothbrush toothpaste phone [39:37] I'd just [39:38] find a couple of trees at the end of the [39:40] day swing the hammock up and go again [39:42] the next day, so [39:44] yeah. Did you not need like [39:46] friends or something? [39:49] Like why? Why do you I think it's the [39:54] that a lot of people said this to me at [39:55] the start. They're like, "Well, well, [39:56] you're going to need this. You're going [39:57] to need that." I'm like, "Yeah, but why? [39:59] Actually, why? [40:00] Why can't you just sleep in a hammock [40:02] every day and then go and run a [40:03] marathon?" [40:05] Did you speak to Were you speaking to [40:06] anybody anybody back home around that [40:08] time? Not really. [40:10] You must look at that [40:12] objectively and go that is not normal [40:15] behavior. [40:19] Um And then and then from that I ask I [40:21] go, "So, what is it that's abnormal [40:22] about you? [40:23] Because you're performing abnormal [40:25] behavior. It's super inspiring, but it's [40:27] not normal. It's not typical." [40:30] That's a good question, man. I'm not [40:31] really sure. [40:33] Yeah, it wasn't normal. [40:37] Yeah, I guess it definitely wasn't [40:38] normal. [40:40] I think [40:41] I love that you're just figuring that [40:42] out now. Yeah. [40:44] Um [40:46] I think, you know, I met this I met this [40:48] Italian guy and he'd been cycling around [40:50] the world for 6 years and he showed me [40:51] his setup. He had nothing on him, [40:53] really. He had like He had basically [40:55] nothing, but he just had a coffee [40:56] kettle. That was the only thing he [40:57] really cared about. [40:59] So, [41:00] meeting these kind of people just made [41:01] me realize like [41:03] what is normal? Who even cares about [41:04] normal? I don't care. I just like [41:07] this this is normal. This guy's cycling [41:09] around. [41:10] 6 years. [41:12] Why not? [41:13] Like [41:14] he seems like he's had a pretty good [41:15] adventure. I want to be like that. [41:18] In Africa, specifically Kenya, I've been [41:20] there. Certain parts of Kenya can really [41:21] teach you that you don't need much. [41:23] That's the primal. [41:25] Exactly. I think [41:27] it was just a different way of looking. [41:30] That's what the I mean I mean it's the [41:32] classic traveling like, "Oh, go [41:33] traveling, find yourself." Blah, blah, [41:35] blah. But that you know, sometimes [41:37] meeting these people from [41:39] doing the crazy stuff and from different [41:41] cultures will just make you look at [41:42] things in a different way. [41:44] You know, even I found that coming back [41:46] to London now and it's like [41:47] all of [41:48] you could I'm I'm back into the mode of [41:50] like, "Oh, you need to go and get a flat [41:52] and you need to go and live somewhere [41:53] and blah, blah, blah." And I'm like, [41:54] "Hold on a minute. Like I don't need Why [41:56] do I need to do any of this, you know?" [41:59] You must [42:01] realize upon returning to the UK how [42:03] much people are kind of programmed. [42:05] Yeah. [42:06] Yeah, and I just [42:08] I guess [42:09] the uh [42:12] the Asia to London run was the first [42:13] time I was just like [42:15] just give it a go. [42:16] What's the worst that can happen? [42:18] And at the end of that run, your father [42:19] joins you. [42:20] Um [42:23] Yeah, so my I remember [42:26] my dad [42:28] my dad came up to London and saw me. It [42:30] was He said that he was proud of me and [42:32] I remember that hitting [42:34] cuz like [42:35] he didn't say it often, but when he says [42:37] it, you know, it's probably I can [42:38] imagine your dad being similar like kind [42:39] of thing where [42:41] you know he means it when he says it and [42:44] I think that's like one of the most [42:45] powerful things a dad can say to his son [42:48] like, "Proud of you, son." [42:50] Even that makes me emotional just saying [42:51] it like thinking about it. I'm like, [42:52] "Wow." [42:54] Um [42:57] So, yeah, that was nice. [42:58] And he he ran the last day with you? He [43:00] ran like the last 5K, I think. I don't [43:02] know. Well, yeah. The last 5K. And I was [43:05] actually joined for the last couple of [43:07] days by the mate that got me into [43:10] running in the first place, which is [43:11] really cool as well. [43:14] Interestingly, [43:16] there was no followers. [43:18] No. There was no YouTube views. There [43:19] was no headlines. There was no BBC [43:21] articles. [43:22] There was nothing. Yeah. [43:23] Most people don't even know it happened. [43:25] Yeah. [43:26] Frankly, cuz you went on your own and [43:27] you didn't do all the social media [43:28] stuff. You didn't get back to the UK [43:30] to much different fanfare than you got [43:32] back to this time. [43:34] You go back to your parents' house? Mhm. [43:36] Couple of days in, everyone's looking [43:38] around going [43:39] Yeah. [43:41] What's that like couple of days in? [43:45] Yeah, I mean I remember my body being [43:46] pretty in a pretty bad way after that. I [43:48] couldn't even walk like I was really [43:49] struggling. [43:51] My body was really hurting and uh [43:55] uh [43:56] got back [43:57] into the country. I was skint cuz I'd [44:00] done all my dough on this Asia to London [44:02] run. [44:03] And then my dad was like I remember I [44:05] remember he came in and dad was like, [44:06] "What are you doing? You're lazy. Like [44:07] get a job or something." [44:09] So, I was like, "Oh, [ __ ] All right." [44:11] And then went and got How did you feel [44:12] when you heard that? [44:16] It I It was hard at time cuz I just I I [44:18] was I was [44:20] I was really struggling cuz I'd just [44:22] been away for a whole, you know, for [44:23] about a year or something. Done this big [44:25] thing. Finally finished. [44:29] And [44:30] then I was like, "Oh, that's reality [44:31] slapping me in the face again." [44:34] But yeah. You were pissed off? Yeah, I [44:35] was. Yeah. When he told you to get a [44:37] job? Yeah, I fumed. Yeah. Why? Because [44:41] I was I was just mentally just [44:43] absolutely done in and physically done [44:45] in. [44:46] And then [44:47] he'd like just been like, "Oh, I'm so [44:49] proud of you." I remember him being [44:50] like, "Oh, I'm so proud of you. You've [44:51] achieved more in your life already than [44:53] I ever have." Blah, blah, blah. Like and [44:55] it really felt like, "Oh, made a bit of [44:57] a breakthrough there." [44:58] What do you mean breakthrough? Just like [45:01] I felt like he respected me more. [45:03] Like he'd actually seen that I [45:05] I was capable of doing something [45:08] um that he thought was good. Yeah, [45:11] hadn't felt that before. [45:13] Not in that way. Not in that way. [45:18] What did you think that he thought of [45:19] you growing up? [45:21] When you were sort of 19 years old and [45:22] you're gambling and doing Uh like [45:25] probably just disappointed. [45:29] Um [45:30] Yeah, disappointed. Bit of a loser. [45:34] You eventually end up burying yourself [45:35] alive, which [45:37] Oh, [ __ ] bizarre. Yeah. That's a turn [45:38] of events I didn't I didn't see coming [45:40] in your story. So, you you do this run [45:42] at 22 years old. There's sort of a [45:44] 2-year gap between then and when you [45:46] bury yourself alive. What are you doing [45:47] for those 2 years? [45:50] So, [45:53] I was just working bits and pieces here [45:55] and there, really. Um Back to normality? [45:57] Pretty much. Like I I I finished the [45:59] Asia to London run [46:02] and [46:03] in in my head from then I was like, "I [46:06] would really love to make [46:08] this kind of thing a career somehow. [46:10] Don't know how I'm going to do it, but I [46:11] would love to be able to do that." [46:13] And then [46:15] that kind of started like a 3-year or [46:17] 4-year process of working out [46:20] okay, you know, if we make content then [46:24] maybe brands will sponsor that and then [46:26] I can go and do adventures [46:28] with that money. [46:30] But that it took a long time to kind of [46:31] put those pieces of the puzzle together. [46:33] Like that was never the [46:35] really what I was thinking of when I did [46:37] Istanbul to London. I [46:38] chucked a few photos up on Instagram [46:40] just really for my boys to see be like, [46:43] "I'm out here in Serbia camping or [46:45] whatever." [46:46] Um [46:48] But yeah, th- then you know, I did the [46:50] Asia to London run, figured out if we [46:52] make some content, then that's how we're [46:54] going to do it. Buried myself alive. [46:56] Pulled a car for a marathon. [46:58] Then the Africa plan is starting [47:00] happening. [47:01] You buried yourself alive. You asked [47:02] your parents if you could bury yourself [47:03] in the garden and they told you to [ __ ] [47:05] off. [47:08] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I remember that now. [47:10] Yeah. You buried yourself alive for 7 [47:12] days Mhm. in underground. You basically [47:14] just dug a hole Mhm. in a tin can and [47:16] jumped in the tin can and then they they [47:17] buried you there. [47:19] Um and then eventually the plans, as you [47:21] say, you you pulled the car as well. [47:23] Which is crazy. Do you know when I I [47:25] actually found out all this stuff, which [47:27] is shocked me, [47:28] was [47:29] I don't know, a week or so into your run [47:31] in Africa. [47:33] I saw you pop up on my feed. [47:35] And then, as you know, I clicked on your [47:38] profile. [47:39] And then I clicked on the the inbox. [47:40] Yeah. [47:41] And you sent me a DM. [47:42] Yeah. [47:43] And the DM you sent me was in May the [47:45] 5th. I think it was 2022. So, it was a [47:48] long time ago. It was more than 2 years [47:49] ago now. [47:51] And [47:52] paraphrasing cuz I know you Speculative [47:53] one. [47:54] No, but I bet you get these kind of DMs [47:56] all the time now. [47:57] Yeah, I I missed it. I didn't see it. [47:58] So, I didn't I didn't I didn't see it at [48:00] all, but um it's funny it's funny cuz I [48:02] actually replied to you exactly 1 year [48:04] to the day when you sent me a message. I [48:06] replied to you on May the 5th as well, [48:08] but you emailed me on May the 5th, 2022. [48:10] And in that message you said [48:12] some nice things and then you said, [48:13] "You'll probably get a lot of these DMs, [48:15] but let me explain why this one is [48:17] special and exciting." [48:19] Oh, you're killing yourself out there, [48:20] aren't you? This is your sales [48:21] background actually coming through. I'm [48:23] Now, I've removed some parts cuz I [48:24] Oh, yeah, cuz it's bad ads. No, no, no, [48:26] no, no. Just, you know, "I'm an [48:27] endurance athlete. In 2019, I was I was [48:31] the first person to run from Asia to [48:32] London. In 2020, I pulled a car for a [48:34] marathon in record time. [48:36] In 2021, I got buried alive with nothing [48:38] but water. My life streamed it for an [48:40] entire week. And in 2022, [48:43] I'm starting a mission to become the [48:45] first person to ever run the full length [48:47] of Africa." You sent me that DM 2 years [48:49] ago [48:50] um hoping that I could assist you in [48:52] some way with the the Africa leg of [48:54] that. And when I saw that, the most [48:56] shocking part was that you'd done all of [48:58] these other things Yeah, I'd never ever [49:00] heard about any of them. Yeah, yeah. And [49:02] then in that message you explained to me [49:03] cuz it was a very like long message and [49:05] you really It was a really thorough [49:06] message. You explained that this time [49:07] would be different. People would [49:08] actually know because you'd figured out [49:10] content. [49:11] Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you'd got some [49:12] good people around you. [49:14] And you'd spent almost 2 to 3 years [49:15] thinking about this Africa run before [49:17] you even [49:18] you set off going. Yeah. [49:20] Why Africa? Why was that the plan? [49:23] Well, I knew that Africa hadn't been [49:24] done before and it's one of the few [49:26] things left that hadn't been done. [49:29] So, [49:31] that was probably one of the big [49:32] reasons. Also like [49:34] Africa's not very trav- like not very [49:36] well traveled. [49:37] Not many people tourists not many [49:39] tourists go there [49:40] and I thought it would be [49:42] like the best adventure ever. [49:45] So that's why I decided to [49:47] So you were going to run from the bottom [49:48] of Africa to the top? Yeah. How long did [49:51] you think it was going to take? [49:52] Two I thought it would take 240 days. [49:54] That was my goal. I was going to do 360 [49:56] marathons in 240 days. [49:58] Didn't quite work out. [49:59] How long did it take in total in the [50:00] end? [50:00] It took 352 days. [50:04] Long time. [50:06] But there's lots of hurdles along the [50:07] way. Before you set off, I think it was [50:09] 4 to 5 months before you set off maybe 6 [50:10] months. Mhm. You meet a young lady [50:12] called Emily Bell. Ah, yeah. [50:14] Yeah. [50:15] Um [50:17] Wow. [50:18] Poor girl. [50:19] What a woman. [50:20] Was it 6 months before or something? No, [50:22] I actually I I met her [50:24] we first met at [50:27] one of our mutual friends birthday [50:29] party. Yeah. And I said to my friend [50:32] like why have you never introduced me to [50:34] her? She's beautiful. [50:37] And then um [50:39] then that started like a 3-month process [50:41] of me trying to convince her to go on a [50:42] date. [50:43] Good luck. It took a while but we got [50:45] there eventually. We got there [50:47] eventually. [50:48] Um actually [50:50] we had a secret Santa going and I think [50:52] one of my friends did me a solid and [50:54] kind of like rigged the secret Santa so [50:56] I got her. Oh, nice. And then I got her [50:58] uh [50:59] tickets to go to Komedia comedy club in [51:02] Brighton. [51:03] Got her two tickets so I was like well [51:04] you could like you could take me okay. [51:08] And then yes and then [51:10] that's that's when we first started [51:12] dating but [51:13] uh this Africa thing was already in the [51:14] works so it was quite complicated. [51:17] But then before I left we were like [51:19] right let's do it [51:21] and we kind of like we spoke on the [51:23] phone every day [51:25] and [51:27] mate I I was one of these people if [51:29] you'd asked me 2 years ago could that [51:30] have ever worked like 14 months away we [51:32] spent from each other [51:34] I'd be like nah. Nah, that's never going [51:35] to work. Never going to work but I think [51:39] we we spoke pretty much every day for [51:42] hours whilst I was running if I had [51:44] signal and the the the kind of stuff [51:46] that we got to speak about and really go [51:49] through in depth on [51:52] is the kind of stuff that I think in a [51:54] lot of relationships would just get [51:57] swept away in the rigmarole of the [51:59] day-to-day life. [52:00] So I'm actually super grateful for that [52:01] time. [52:03] And [52:04] like really proud of her and us for like [52:07] navigating that kind of [52:10] weird situation. Knowing that your [52:12] childhood and knowing the early model of [52:14] relationships that you experienced with [52:15] this mother and this this father didn't [52:17] seem like they always had the best time. [52:20] Little bit distant. The affection wasn't [52:22] there. [52:22] Mhm. When you go into a relationship [52:25] there must be a part of your [52:26] subconscious that still has that model [52:28] of relationships front of mind. So you [52:29] must be in some respects like I am to be [52:32] fair. [52:33] Or at least like I was until I was about [52:35] 27 28 when I had my first relationship. [52:37] I had my first relationship at your age. [52:38] Um an avoidant. Ah, yeah. Yeah. [52:40] Cuz you hadn't learned you didn't have [52:41] the tools to be affectionate and to be [52:43] open. Totally avoidant. Still am. [52:46] A bit. [52:47] But [52:48] but when you met her Yeah. [52:52] you hadn't done had those deep [52:54] conversations. [52:56] Nah, I I think uh it's her credit to her [52:59] more than me. [53:00] She she kind of bring that out. [53:03] I I I didn't have the tools to go [53:06] to do any of that stuff to be honest. [53:09] You know. [53:11] She's just [53:12] I think sometimes like [53:15] I don't know. I think I just think we [53:16] fit really well like [53:18] together. [53:19] What I can do well she can't what she [53:21] can do well I can't like it works. [53:24] It's so interesting because [53:27] we got to have a conversation with [53:28] Emily. Yeah. [53:30] And the way she described you [53:33] sounded very very much like me. [53:35] [Laughter] [53:37] It's not it's funny because [53:39] I've actually listened I remember [53:41] messaging you actually about it I think. [53:42] I listened to you had a podcast with [53:44] some relationship person. [53:46] Esther Perel I remember. [53:47] and yeah like the way you were talking [53:50] about it I was like god this is like [53:53] this is hitting home here. [53:55] And we both we do that a lot sometimes [53:57] we listen to podcasts and talk about it [53:58] and like oh do this I'll do this. [54:01] I'm going to play this. [54:03] Oh god. [54:04] This is going to be awkward for you but [54:05] listen. [54:08] It's [54:09] it's word for word me. [54:12] He's not the easiest to support and [54:14] hasn't been the whole time I've known [54:16] him cuz he doesn't accept support very [54:18] like he's he's got so much better at it. [54:20] But [54:21] I'm a very like nurturing like [54:25] I want to help. [54:26] Um I want to make his life easier. What [54:28] can I do? How can I support you? But for [54:30] him support looks like um [54:35] space. [54:38] That's that's textbook me. Yeah. Support [54:41] is leave me alone. It's my love language [54:43] is [54:44] acts of service and leave me alone. [54:47] Uh that's really what it's about here. [54:48] We're talking about you have different [54:50] love languages and she goes on to [54:52] explain that um [54:55] this is much because of the way that [54:56] like your early early years you were [54:58] used to independence. [54:59] Yeah. [55:00] Um God she's smart. Let me just He's [55:03] changed so much since I first met him. [55:05] Like when I first met him I [55:07] was not thinking oh I could actually [55:09] seriously date you. [55:11] [Laughter] [55:12] Yeah, no I remember those days. [55:15] You've um you've changed. Mhm. [55:17] You've changed. [55:19] How have you changed? [55:21] I think I've definitely become more [55:23] willing to accept some I do still [55:26] struggle with that. [55:27] But I've definitely tried to [55:30] do that more. It's all I think for me [55:32] it was [55:35] like I really cared about Emily so I [55:37] really wanted to be the best that I [55:39] could for her as well [55:41] and [55:43] I just think like [55:45] the level of desire to to make that [55:47] happen was like really high so I've just [55:51] I think before [55:53] I wasn't very willing to compromise on a [55:55] lot of stuff. I was like I'm doing my [55:56] thing you either fit in or you don't see [55:58] you later whatever. Whereas with [56:01] Reminds me of me. With Emily I was like [56:03] oh like [56:05] she's special. [56:07] I really want to make this work and I'm [56:10] I'm going to have to [56:12] there's it's actually a benefit to me if [56:13] I can compromise because [56:15] she that kind of having that connection [56:18] will also bring a lot to my life and I [56:20] need and I need to I need it. [56:23] She kind of got over the fence. She got [56:25] over the wall of the castle and managed [56:27] to invade and change you from inside. [56:28] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But you didn't want to [56:30] let anyone over the [ __ ] [56:30] Nah. Nah. [56:33] Is that how it's been for you as well? [56:35] 100%. Yeah. I met I met a person who [56:39] I cared about so much. Yeah. [56:40] It's what exactly what you said that I [56:42] was finally willing [56:44] to compromise on things. Before that it [56:46] was like as you say my way or the [56:47] highway like don't get in the way of my [56:48] dreams. Yeah. [56:49] on the bus or you're off it but not like [56:51] I'm willing to go in a different [56:52] direction in some areas of my life here. [56:54] And it's I think that's good news for a [56:55] lot of people that are avoidants because [56:58] it offers us all hope that [57:00] you know we'll we'll meet someone and [57:01] they'll be worth it um [57:02] and they'll help to rewire some of the [57:04] evidence we have from our earliest years [57:05] about what relationships are and aren't [57:07] and the freedom they make us compromise [57:09] and all of those things. She sounds like [57:11] a really wonderful person. [57:12] She is man she's great. She's the best. [57:14] I love her to bits. [57:16] They always say you strengthen a [57:17] relationship by going through something [57:18] difficult together. Mhm. And that's [57:20] exactly what happened as you ran the [57:22] length of Africa. The the really [57:24] remarkable thing was I was reading about [57:27] your preparation for this trip and to [57:29] say the least Russ you were [57:30] ill-prepared. [57:32] Yeah. You you landed in South Africa [57:36] with 10K [57:38] which is 4% of the money that you would [57:40] need to make it the whole way. I mean [57:42] there's so many other things here. You [57:43] you knew that you couldn't get through I [57:45] think it was Angola. Algeria. Algeria. [57:48] You knew you couldn't get through [57:48] Algeria because [57:50] they don't issue visas if you're not in [57:52] the country. [57:53] our visa already yeah and they don't [57:54] issue visas when you're not in the [57:55] country we'd already left so. [57:57] So you just thought [ __ ] it I'll figure [57:58] it out when we get there. Pretty much. [58:01] What is that mentality? [58:03] Because there's so many people that need [58:05] everything figured out and all the [58:06] answers and to feel that psychological [58:09] feeling of I'm ready. Mhm. You don't [58:10] seem to give a [ __ ] Frankly. I don't [58:13] think I was afforded the luxury of being [58:15] able to [58:16] you know wait really. We were running [58:18] out of money. [58:19] It was [58:21] it was now or never I [58:23] you know make it work with what you've [58:25] got or don't do it basically and I was [58:26] like I think we could do it. [58:28] Where did this 10K come from? [58:30] Well [58:32] we actually got 50K to start with from [58:34] an investor. Mhm. That it was a mate of [58:36] a mate I've managed to persuade to give [58:37] us some money to get things going. What [58:39] was in it for him? He got he's got a [58:41] percentage of like everything we make [58:43] off the back end. So he's he's done all [58:44] right. It was a risky risky risky one. [58:47] That's one hell of a Yeah. Risky one for [58:49] sure. I think he it was more like a he [58:52] just wanted to see it happen you know. [58:54] He was fellow Worthing boy. [58:56] Year younger than me. Made a bunch of [58:58] money in crypto and [59:00] yeah so he fronted the first bit of [59:02] money to get us going and 50K [59:05] was more than enough to get us going. [59:07] But what ended up happening is the the [59:09] mission got delayed more and more. We [59:11] had some people involved at the start [59:12] that kind of [59:16] long story they kind of said that these [59:18] things were going to happen blah blah [59:19] blah. Brands were going to happen all of [59:22] this stuff they were trying to make [59:23] happen none of it ended up coming to [59:24] fruition. Did they take money? [59:26] They didn't take any money no. They um [59:29] but we ended up burning through a lot of [59:31] the money [59:32] before we were supposed to be on start [59:34] line with like 50k and we ended up [59:36] months rolled by, we wasted money on XYZ [59:39] ideas, didn't come. [59:41] So we basically got to a point where I [59:43] kind of [59:45] got rid of all these people. [59:47] Start line [59:48] 10 grand. [59:50] I was like, if we don't get funding [59:52] within [59:54] you know, if we don't get any kind of [59:55] sponsorship within the first month we [59:58] this is game over because we've run out [59:59] of money. Said to all my team [60:02] going to have to delay your wages [60:04] etc. [60:05] Just really tightened up. [60:07] And then I got a message from some some [60:09] bloke from Dragon's Den like two weeks [60:11] in. [60:12] Jones. Yeah. No, so mate I mean I don't [60:15] know but this is another thing that [60:17] people probably don't know that you're [60:17] like such a massive part of the story [60:19] like [60:20] you know, when when you messaged I I [60:23] remember being in South Africa. [60:25] I think it was about 10 days two weeks [60:27] in or something like this. [60:28] Got a message from you. [60:30] There was like oh like [60:32] just seen what you're doing something [60:33] like this, love it. Like if you need any [60:35] help let me know and I was like [60:38] Mate, you should have seen I rang Emily [60:39] up. I was like you'll never going to [60:40] believe who's just messaged me. Like it [60:43] was crazy. You know, obviously [60:45] Huel got sorted out, Perfect Ted got [60:47] sorted out. Two unbelievable sponsors. [60:49] Mhm. And [60:51] it's just kind of changed the whole [60:53] mission man like I can't even put into [60:55] words how grateful I am that you [60:56] messaged me that like [60:58] it was [61:00] That was like you know sometimes when [61:01] you have like a moment where you're like [61:04] wow, like [61:05] that's [61:06] like that you were that moment for me. [61:08] Really? [61:09] Yeah. [61:10] Yeah. [61:12] But you did that. [61:13] I No, You did it. No, but like No, you [61:16] did. I'll tell you why you did that. [61:17] Because two things. The first thing is [61:19] you had messaged me a year earlier and I [61:21] just had totally missed it. But the [61:23] second thing is you went and did some So [61:25] you planted a seed there, then you went [61:26] and did something so awesome [61:28] that the world brought it to my [61:30] attention. [61:31] And when the world brought it to my [61:32] attention, I looked at what you were [61:33] doing. [61:35] Um I think you were two weeks roughly [61:36] two weeks in and I just thought it was [61:38] awesome. I thought you were a cool guy [61:40] and I could play out how this mission [61:41] goes in my head and I thought this is [61:43] really [ __ ] cool. I I I'm an investor [61:45] in I'm a part owner in various companies [61:47] um [61:48] and there was two companies that I am [61:50] very close to, Perfect Ted and Huel who [61:52] I felt were just perfect because [61:55] no pun intended, because Perfect Ted are [61:56] like an energy drink company [61:58] that I met on Dragon's Den. [62:00] You need energy and they're all about [62:02] positive energy and um the founders are [62:05] very much like you. And then obviously [62:06] Huel on the nutrition side of things, I [62:08] thought they were perfect for you as [62:09] well. And I messaged both of them and [62:11] they were both down instantly. I just [62:13] WhatsApp. I said there's this guy, he's [62:15] running the length of Africa. He's so [62:17] cool. He's really he's like going to do [62:18] it and then both brands were like down [62:20] in one message. I messaged the both the [62:23] founders on WhatsApp and they they were [62:24] like, we're in. [62:26] So and you had done that. [62:28] You had because you had messaged me. [62:30] Most people I say this because [62:32] sometimes people can see things like [62:34] pivotal moments in their journey as [62:35] luck, but I think it's important to [62:37] highlight that you planted a seed a year [62:39] earlier when you literally sent me like [62:41] three pages [62:42] Yeah. I mean I guess I'll describe it [62:43] like I was knocking on the door but I [62:46] needed someone to open it and you opened [62:47] it. So like it's a kind of a dual thing [62:49] there. [62:50] I think you planted a lot of seeds. [62:51] Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was knocking on a [62:52] few doors, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, [62:54] yeah. And I'm sure there's lots of [62:55] messages you sent that were never [62:56] replied to. Yeah. So I'm really glad [62:58] that I saw it. I'm really glad but I saw [63:00] it because you were doing something [63:01] awesome and it just popped up in my feed [63:02] one day. And I went down a rabbit hole [63:04] and I was like this is [ __ ] cool. [63:05] This guy is cool. It'd be dope to be you [63:07] know, to do anything we can to see him [63:09] see this through. So [63:10] that that gives you a little nudge [63:11] forward, those two incredible brands. Um [63:14] you get going on the mission. [63:16] You run into a bunch of health issues. I [63:18] mean it went around the internet for a [63:19] while. I think at this time you've got I [63:20] don't know you didn't have many [63:21] followers at the time. You had 20, 30, [63:22] 40,000 followers. Yeah. It kind of grew [63:25] it grew a lot quite quickly um early [63:28] doors but I we started started the [63:30] mission with I think 20k on Insta, 6k on [63:33] Twitter, 10k on YouTube. [63:35] And you start pissing blood by like day [63:37] 30. Is there a part of you at day 30 [63:39] when you're you're running through [63:40] Africa and you're pissing blood and you [63:41] go [63:42] I ain't going to be able to do this. [63:45] Nah. [63:46] I knew it was bad. You're you're running [63:48] out of money Yeah. a couple weeks [63:50] before, then you start pissing blood. [63:51] Mhm. [63:52] For most people either one of those [63:54] things would be okay. [63:57] Let's get Let's get a flight. [63:58] Well, I just I knew that [64:01] you know, it was a bad situation but it [64:03] would [64:04] it probably end [64:06] eventually. [64:08] And then carry on going. [64:10] You get robbed in South Africa, which is [64:12] the first sort of minor robbery [64:13] incident. Thieves approach you, they try [64:15] and take your stuff. Think you give them [64:17] a lift home. [64:19] Yeah. That was two two guys came up to [64:22] me whilst I was running at night. One [64:25] one came in front of me, one came behind [64:27] me. [64:28] And I kind of instantly knew this was a [64:31] bit shaky. [64:33] And I um I just went a bit mad. Just [64:36] like [64:37] weighed up situation, just started [64:39] acting a bit crazy, started like beating [64:40] my chest and shouting and stuff to try [64:42] and like put them off cuz I could I got [64:44] the feeling like okay, they're going to [64:46] this is an attempt but they haven't gone [64:47] straight in with the robbery. They're [64:48] kind of feeling it out. So I was like [64:50] trying to give them enough of reason to [64:51] think that I'm crazy enough that it's [64:53] just not worth it. Kind of worked. [64:55] Sorry. [64:56] You started beating your chest. [64:58] Yeah, yeah, yeah. I started beating my [64:59] chest. I started shouting. I was they [65:01] cuz they just joined they I was mid run [65:03] and they joined me running. [65:05] So like one in front, one behind. They [65:07] were running it like they Uh I think [65:09] they it was a situation where they were [65:10] trying to feel me out, you know, like [65:13] should we rob this guy? This kind of [65:15] thing. [65:16] And [65:18] I just thought if I can put them off [65:19] enough [65:20] So can you describe to me what you were [65:22] I literally beat in my chest. Yeah. I [65:25] was JUST LIKE WE'RE RUNNING, BYE [65:28] LIKE JUST GOING TOTALLY a bit [65:32] just to make them think like oh this [65:34] guy's a bit you know, [65:36] he's a bit off it. Maybe we just get the [65:38] next one. [65:40] Did you learn that somewhere or was that [65:41] like a plan you had or was that just [65:42] was just purely like [65:44] I think [65:45] you react differently to different [65:46] situations. Like we've been robbed at [65:47] gunpoint where there's a gun in my face [65:48] and I'm not going to start beating my [65:49] chest cuz [65:51] I don't want a bullet in my head. But [65:52] then there's other times where you think [65:54] like you're kind of looking at them [65:56] going he's actually a bit nervous to rob [65:58] me. So if I can put him off enough [66:01] then he's just not going to bother. [66:02] Which was that that situation. So what [66:05] happens then? You start beating your [66:05] chest acting like a lunatic. [66:06] Start beating my chest acting like a [66:08] lunatic. The one got the run the guy [66:09] running behind me ended up dropping off. [66:11] So then it was just the guy in front of [66:12] me. He was he was quite a small guy [66:14] anyway and I was like I don't reckon [66:15] he's about it. [66:17] And then um [66:18] Did you tell him you're the hardest [66:19] geezer? [66:21] And then we ended up speaking a little [66:23] bit and he was like oh like my friend [66:26] was going to rob you but we're not hit [66:28] but he's gone we're not going to rob you [66:29] and I was like oh your friend was going [66:31] to rob you. Was he? Yeah, like nice. [66:33] Um and then you know, I actually ended [66:36] up speaking to him [66:37] and he was saying like he's just he [66:40] needs some money to like feed his family [66:41] and stuff. He was living in a township [66:43] next next to the road which was like [66:45] pretty bad conditions. [66:46] And [66:48] I was like look mate, my boy's going to [66:49] come pick me up in a couple minutes. [66:51] Like we'll give you some food. [66:53] And he was like all right, sweet. You [66:54] fed the robber. Yeah, so then the boys [66:56] came and then we ended up giving them a [66:57] lift back. [66:59] Yeah. [67:01] What nice story. [67:02] Yeah. [67:04] It's going to be a movie one day that. [67:05] Yeah. This whole thing's going to be a [67:06] movie. You get to um [67:09] Angola and then you get robbed at [67:10] gunpoint. Ah yeah, robbed at gunpoint in [67:12] Angola. That was um Day 50. Yeah. I mean [67:15] they were a bit more successful that [67:16] time. They got a lot of our stuff. [67:18] What happened? [67:20] So [67:21] ran 30k, was on a lunch break. [67:24] We sat in the van. [67:26] Me, Jared, Harry, my support team and we [67:29] were just chatting [ __ ] like usual. Two [67:31] three guys pull up on a motorbike, two [67:33] of them get off [67:34] come up the side of the van [67:36] crack door open [67:38] gun [67:39] in all our faces. [67:40] Start speaking Portuguese. [67:42] Um [67:43] then [67:45] they took a bunch of stuff. [67:48] Yeah, and that was a nightmare to be [67:49] honest. They got passports, money, [67:52] cameras, drone, phones. [67:55] Was long. [67:57] Have you processed this stuff? I don't [67:59] know. I don't think so man. Like the the [68:01] the thing is is that these things happen [68:04] but [68:05] you you're on the road again the next [68:06] day. [68:07] So [68:10] just [68:12] you know. [68:13] Cuz you say it such a casual sort of [68:15] blasé way but if someone had a gun [68:17] pointed at them Mhm. [68:20] most people would would be in therapy [68:21] trying to resolve [68:23] this sort of complex of psychological [68:25] implications that causes. And when I [68:27] asked you the question I could see your [68:29] demeanor changes a little bit [68:30] because it it's not as blasé as you you [68:33] sometimes make out, is it? I don't know [68:35] man. I guess it just is what it is. [68:38] I haven't really [68:39] I don't know if I've deeped it that much [68:42] at this point. You know, we're over it. [68:44] Nothing bad happened in the end. I mean [68:45] we got robbed but no one died. You lost [68:48] the cash, you had the equipment and and [68:50] your passports which is probably the [68:51] most annoying thing of all those things. [68:52] Yeah, that that cost us like at least [68:54] two or three weeks in terms of going to [68:56] re-get visas and things. Day 50, you get [68:59] to day 100 and you're day 102. Mhm. When [69:02] I say day 102, does it bring back any [69:04] memories? Mhm, a couple. Yeah. [69:07] Couple. [69:08] Um Congo. Congo. DRC. Yeah, that was one [69:12] hell of an experience that. [69:14] You described this as probably the [69:15] hardest part of the whole trip. Mhm. [69:17] Probably the hardest part of my whole [69:18] life. [69:19] Really? Mhm. [69:20] You've not talked about this much in [69:21] detail either [69:23] for some reason. We so we made a YouTube [69:25] series online which kind of followed the [69:26] whole thing. It's the only YouTube video [69:28] that I didn't release [69:30] because it was quite [69:33] I mean, it was quite [69:35] it's a difficult one at the time as well [69:38] because it was the hardest time for us [69:41] as a team. [69:43] And we we there was a lot of arguments. [69:46] Lot of [69:47] fallouts around that and [69:49] I didn't think that [69:51] the video that we made was really what [69:55] told the story how [69:57] I wanted it to be told. [69:59] What happened? [70:02] So [70:04] yeah. You're emotional about this? Yeah, [70:06] I mean, it [70:11] yeah, that whole thing was was mad. The [70:14] So we got to DRC [70:16] I think day 100 we got to DRC. It was [70:19] hostile from the start. [70:21] Um we'd we'd been warned loads about it [70:24] about the country. It's one of the [70:26] poorest countries in the world. [70:28] It's quite known for corruption. [70:31] And we we'd been sent the videos of [70:34] the craziest things happening there. [70:37] And I think we were all a bit [70:38] apprehensive. [70:40] You've been sent what kind of videos? [70:42] The craziest like people getting shot [70:45] chopped up all kinds of stuff. [70:47] Um [70:50] yeah. [70:51] It was [70:52] it it definitely like it [70:54] I mean, I don't know how much I can [70:55] really I will [70:57] What I would say about DRC is that we [70:58] spent a few days there. My experience [71:00] was very subjective. It's It's a massive [71:01] country, loads of people, loads of great [71:03] people, but my personal experience of [71:06] the small amount of time I spent there [71:07] was was a bit rough. [71:09] But yeah, we I mean, we landed in the [71:11] country, crossed the border. It was a [71:12] very chaotic border town. We had [71:15] people from the get-go [71:17] very not not very happy to see us at all [71:19] shouting at me whilst I was running [71:22] trying to like exploit us for money [71:25] officials all this kind of stuff get [71:27] trying to get money out of us. And we'd [71:29] heard about all of this from people [71:30] traveling. So we kind of half knew what [71:31] we were rolling into, but it was [71:34] it really created a [71:37] kind of [71:38] atmosphere that was [71:41] difficult, challenging. [71:43] Um [71:45] yeah, I mean, the day before day 102, we [71:48] had a guy come up to [71:50] guy came up to me with a rock, spikes in [71:53] the rock, and he was like, "I'm going to [71:55] like smash your head in with this." And [71:57] he was speaking French, so I don't [71:58] really get it, but Harry spoke French. [72:00] So he's basically threatening us with [72:01] this big spiky rock that he had in his [72:03] hand [72:04] saying like [72:05] "Give me three quid the equivalent of [72:07] three quid or I'm going to like start [72:09] smashing you all up." [72:12] And uh like so we [72:14] I gave I think gave him a quid in the [72:16] end cuz [72:17] I'm not getting my head smashed in over [72:18] three quid balls. I didn't want to like [72:20] get word around that there was a bunch [72:22] of people just throwing money around to [72:23] anyone that would threaten them. [72:26] So [72:27] yeah, I mean [72:29] woke up day 102. I was running 100k that [72:32] day. [72:34] And I felt very anxious from the get-go. [72:37] Really [72:39] like [72:40] really finding it difficult already. [72:44] Ran [72:46] left my left the boys in the morning [72:47] like I normally do, ran 20k, then ran [72:49] another 20k. [72:51] Start we took a turn off onto a dirt [72:54] road to the boys planned this route. [72:56] Took took went down this dirt road. [72:59] Then the van basically this support van [73:01] couldn't get to me. [73:03] So [73:05] the boys sent a guy on a motorbike. [73:09] And so I'm running along this dirt path [73:10] and this guy on a motorbike keeps trying [73:12] to stop me. [73:13] And I was so like [73:16] scatty already that I was I didn't want [73:18] to stop for he was trying to get me to [73:20] stop and I was like, "Nah." I'd had it [73:21] the day before people trying to stop me [73:22] on motorbikes and it was all a bit [73:25] didn't didn't feel great like [73:28] I was I was quite anxious about the [73:30] whole thing. [73:31] Anyway, eventually I did stop. He gave [73:34] me a note that basically said like the [73:35] boys can't get round to where we were [73:37] going to meet, but they're going to go [73:38] to this other place and meet there. [73:40] And [73:42] um it's about 20k through the jungle. [73:45] No roads like barely even a path. I was [73:48] just kind of like whacking away through [73:49] bushes to get to this [73:51] meeting point where I was going to try [73:52] and find the boys. Run out of water. [73:56] Phone's got no signal. [73:58] And I'm going through these [74:00] these bushes [74:02] stumble into this village. [74:04] And cuz I think cuz of the experience [74:06] that I'd already had in the first couple [74:08] days of DRC, I was very much like [74:10] I just want to get my head down and get [74:11] through these places as quickly as [74:13] possible with less fuss as possible. So [74:15] I'm running through this village. [74:18] And like people shouting at me and stuff [74:19] and I'm like, "Okay, this is happening [74:20] all the time now. Like just carry on [74:21] going. Carry on going." But I think I [74:23] upset quite a lot of the village by [74:25] doing that. [74:27] And then the chief of the village comes [74:28] over. [74:29] And then you know, before you know I'm [74:31] like surrounded by half the village. [74:33] They're all like very upset. They don't [74:34] get what I'm They don't get who I am, [74:36] what I'm doing, why I'm there. [74:38] And they start trying to like say that I [74:40] needs to give them money. [74:42] I didn't have anything on me. [74:45] So then [74:46] like the chief of the village kind of [74:49] got some people away and he got two [74:50] blokes, took me out into the bush with [74:53] machetes, and I was bricking it. [74:58] Yeah, I was absolutely bricking it. Um [75:01] thinking like every all every my mind's [75:04] totally racing at this point. I'm like, [75:05] "What like what is going on here? Why [75:07] why am I going out to the bush?" Like [75:09] this doesn't make any sense. [75:11] I like is this a shakedown? Like what is [75:13] the worst happening? Don't know. [75:16] And then got out into the bush. I [75:18] basically emptied all my bags, had some [75:20] biscuits, gave them the biscuits, and [75:21] then just darted. [75:22] And then I was just like, "Right, bee [75:24] line for this meeting spot." And [75:28] mind's totally frazzled at this point. [75:30] I've got I'm hearing motorbikes coming. [75:31] I'm hearing people. I'm tr- jumping in [75:34] bushes like totally just at kind of off [75:37] it here. [75:38] Um [75:42] Kind of get through this jungle bit. [75:44] Get to this meeting spot. The boys [75:45] aren't there. [75:47] Now I'm really like, uh this is bad cuz [75:50] I'm about 50-something k in. [75:53] I'm dehydrated. I've got no water. I've [75:57] got no signal. [76:00] And I don't know where the boys are. I [76:01] don't know how where how to get to them. [76:04] And I'm in the middle of the jungle. [76:06] And I know that there's like I've I've [76:08] set a lot of people in the local area [76:09] and I've just run away from them all. [76:11] I'm like, uh [76:13] like this is [76:15] This is bad news. Anyway, I I figured [76:17] out that the tarmac the last non bit of [76:20] tarmac [76:21] was [76:23] I think about 15 or 20k away. [76:25] And I was like, "I I reckon I can just [76:27] about make it there. And if I make it [76:28] there, then that that makes sense to the [76:30] the boys that that's the last bit they [76:32] could get to." [76:33] So had you just sprinted away from the [76:35] guys with the machetes? [76:36] Pretty much, yeah. [76:38] Yeah. [76:39] Like it was [76:40] I [76:41] They They walked me out into the bush [76:43] and I didn't really I didn't know what [76:44] was happening, but I was just so like [76:47] like this is bad. Gave them biscuits and [76:49] just darted. And then [76:51] like [76:52] I've I've run off and I can just hear [76:54] loads of like commotion going on. [76:56] And I'm just running through this [76:57] jungle. [76:59] It's It's all quite [77:02] It's yeah, I mean, it's all quite mad. I [77:03] was like adrenaline going through the [77:05] roof. [77:07] Um I was like, "Oh, yeah." [77:11] Were you scared? Yeah, I was petrified, [77:12] man. I was absolutely petrified. I I [77:14] think what didn't help is that [77:18] I didn't understand any of the language [77:20] like local like Lingala the local [77:21] language. I didn't know any French [77:23] either, which would have helped. [77:25] Um [77:27] and I didn't understand I didn't have a [77:29] very good understanding of the culture [77:30] or anything. [77:31] So I think if I went for it again, [77:36] a lot of these things would have been [77:37] rationalized in my mind easier, but [77:39] because I was so unaware of the [77:40] situation and I had had all of these [77:42] horror stories built up in my head and [77:44] the first couple of days in DRC was [77:46] quite rough and I was just like in this [77:48] spot where it didn't take much for me to [77:50] kind of just assume the worst of [77:52] everything. So it really just got me [77:53] into a place where I was like [77:55] um [77:58] But yeah, I mean, I find [78:00] I I find this I go see the bit of tarmac [78:02] and I'm like, "Right, let's head there. [78:03] It's about, you know, 2 hours away. I [78:05] could probably make it there." And as [78:07] I'm going there, I'm going down this [78:08] dirt path, another two blokes on a [78:10] motorbike pull up. [78:13] And [78:14] yeah, I'm [78:15] I I was like, "This I just don't want [78:17] any bit part of this." They're trying to [78:19] stop me. [78:20] You know [78:22] I'm mind's totally gone. [78:25] And [78:27] they [78:28] They were trying to I think they were [78:29] trying to communicate to me like, "Oh, [78:30] we're going to take you to your friends, [78:32] blah blah blah." And I'm I'm thinking [78:34] about I'm like, "Are these guys [78:36] who are these guys sent from? Are they [78:37] sent from this village or that village? [78:39] Is there like a bush telegraph of [78:41] there's a white guy running around here. [78:42] He's upset. Like go and get him." kind [78:44] of thing. So I'm like, "Nah. [78:46] Not doing it, blah blah blah." [78:48] Thinking [78:50] you know, the boys they send note with [78:52] the driver if it's from if if it's from [78:54] them. [78:55] And this guy These guys had no note. [78:58] And I was like [78:59] uh [79:00] But it was, you know, getting later and [79:02] later. I was like, "I've got no water. [79:04] I've got no signal. [79:06] I've got nowhere of knowing where the [79:07] boys are. [79:09] They're probably no further than 10 or [79:10] 20k away. So if I'm if I get on this [79:12] bike and I'm on the bike for longer than [79:14] half an hour or an hour, then I'll know [79:16] this bad news." [79:18] So I just thought, "Fuck it. Get on the [79:20] bike." [79:22] How long were those two men on the bike [79:23] following you and asking you to get on [79:24] the bike? A while. Like [79:28] probably we probably about 20 minutes. [79:31] Okay. Um [79:35] So, yeah, got on the bike. Half an hour [79:37] went by. [79:38] Then an hour went by. I start like [79:40] kicking off. [79:42] I'm getting off the bike. I'm having a [79:43] go at them, but like the language [79:45] barrier is just [79:46] we don't understand a word anyone's [79:48] saying. [79:49] And then [79:51] yeah, ended up spending 7 hours on that [79:53] motorbike going into the jungle, which [79:55] was like terrible. [79:57] 7 hours? [79:58] 7 hours, yeah. What goes through your [80:00] mind in those 7 hours? [80:02] I thought, well, [80:03] I assumed after about an hour and a half [80:05] that I was like, "Okay, well, I am [80:06] getting kidnapped then. Like, we're this [80:08] is it." You know, and then I was [80:09] thinking rationally, [80:12] I was like, [80:14] I had such limited knowledge about DRC [80:16] or any of this kind of stuff. I was [80:18] like, "They're probably [80:20] just going to they'd probably just want [80:22] money." [80:23] But then you also start thinking, "Well, [80:25] maybe they're just going to kill you." [80:26] And [80:30] I the stories that I'd heard about DRC [80:32] and [80:33] that wasn't the craziest thing. You [80:34] know, you like people get stabbed for [80:36] fiber. [80:38] Literally like a couple of quid people [80:40] get stabbed. [80:41] Um people get killed for the you know, a [80:44] watch. [80:46] So, I was really trying to what like I [80:48] was really trying to be rational [80:50] about the situation. [80:53] But just like very [80:56] quite quite emotional as well. [80:58] And then [81:00] I mean, I for the last few hours I was [81:02] just like, [81:04] you know, what God has for me has he has [81:06] for me, you know, whatever it is it is [81:08] and that's fine. And I was just trying [81:09] to be like, you know, it's out of my [81:11] hands. It's [81:13] Um [81:14] but it was [81:16] very scary. I was like so [81:19] nervous like just shaking. They took me [81:21] to this village in the jungle. [81:25] Late at night, no electricity. It's like [81:27] wooden little shacks with tin corrugated [81:31] roofs and stuff and [81:33] got me off the bike, took me into this [81:34] little hut. [81:36] Then loads of the men of the village [81:38] came into the hut. They were arguing [81:39] about money and [81:42] this kind of stuff. [81:43] And then the second chief of the village [81:45] walks in and says to me like, "You speak [81:48] to me in English." very slowly. And he [81:50] he understood a few words. [81:52] And I said to him like, "This is big [81:54] mistake." [81:55] You know, like [81:56] "Call my friend. [81:57] Uh he speaks French and like [82:00] and and then he can come and like we've [82:02] got money and we can sort it out." [82:05] And then they spoke on the phone. [82:08] And then [82:10] basically we agreed that the boys would [82:11] come. We've got the money. [82:14] And then it took the boys like [82:17] I think about 36 48 hours to get there [82:19] because it was so rural. There was no [82:21] roads going there. It was all dirt [82:23] paths. They tried to rent some [82:24] motorbikes, got scammed. Then they [82:27] Then they ended up trying to borrow the [82:29] police a police chief's four-by-four [82:33] who also scammed us. [82:36] So, yeah, so then I mean the boys got [82:38] there eventually. [82:41] We gave everyone [82:42] some money and then I was free to go. [82:47] I was just looking as you were talking [82:49] about [82:52] how far 7 hours is. Mhm. And for people [82:54] in the UK, [82:55] 7 hours is London to Edinburgh. Yeah. [82:58] It's London to DRC. [83:00] So, if if I go from London to Edinburgh [83:01] in a car, Yeah. that's 7 hours. Just to [83:03] give people an idea of like how long [83:05] that is on the back of a motorbike with [83:07] strange men going through the middle of [83:09] the [83:09] going through the jungle, so it's like [83:10] little tiny paths that are going up and [83:13] down through rivers, through over [83:15] mountains. [83:16] For 7 hours? [83:16] 7 hours, yeah. I was like gripping on [83:18] the I was absolutely done in by the end [83:20] of it. [83:22] And you got to that village, they wanted [83:23] they wanted money. Mhm. Did they explain [83:25] anything? Did they say anything to you [83:27] about who they were and I think I think [83:29] they were [83:32] I think they were actually just they [83:33] were more scared about who I was [83:35] and why I was there [83:37] and all the rest of it and [83:39] the [83:41] I mean, after the the after the phone [83:43] call with the team, things seemed quite [83:45] settled like the they they were pretty [83:47] all right with me and they I think they [83:49] you know, [83:52] It was I was [83:53] I was just in a state of like totally [83:59] totally whacked. What do you mean? [84:01] Just [84:02] exhausted, but like petrified and [84:06] I was just very nervous around [84:08] everything, twitchy, [84:11] you know. [84:12] Yeah. Have you suffered with anxiety? [84:16] I don't know. [84:18] I think I I don't think so, but like I [84:20] do obviously I'm a human. I do know what [84:22] anxiety feels like and I do get it [84:24] sometimes, but [84:25] I was I was anxious then for sure. [84:29] You you're speaking to Emily back home, [84:31] your partner, throughout um the journey [84:33] on most days, but for this period of [84:35] time, sounds like you were out of [84:38] communication with her. [84:38] Yeah. [84:39] She seems like she was very very worried [84:42] about you. [84:43] She was, yeah. [84:44] In fact, she told she told us on a [84:45] research call that she thought you had [84:47] died. Yeah. [84:51] I mean, I thought I was going to die as [84:52] well. [84:53] Did you actually? Yeah. [84:55] Genuinely thought you were going to die? [84:56] Yeah. [84:58] And how did you how do you sort of [84:59] rationalize that thought? How do you [85:00] deal with that thought when you're [85:03] What comes to mind? Like what what are [85:05] you thinking when if you if you really [85:06] believe, you know, I think I'm going to [85:07] die here? For like I mean, it's I guess [85:09] it's different. For me I was just like, [85:12] you know, [85:13] if this is the way that God wants it, [85:16] then I guess it is. That's it. You know, [85:18] and it's more for me I was like, [85:21] That's how I was what that's how I was [85:23] trying to make sense of it in my brain. [85:26] Were you thinking about people back [85:27] home? [85:50] Yeah. I was I mean, I was thinking about [85:56] I was thinking about like uh [85:59] all the things that [86:02] I wish I had the chance to [86:04] repair that I haven't like my [86:05] relationship with my parents. [86:07] Um [86:09] I was thinking about all the things that [86:12] you know, I wanted to do with my life [86:14] that I wouldn't be able to do. [86:16] I was thinking about what it would do to [86:19] you know, everyone that [86:23] that comes after you killed in the Congo [86:24] for [86:25] just trying to run the length of Africa. [86:30] I [86:31] I felt stupid cuz I was like, [86:34] you know, [86:35] this was [86:37] these were like [86:38] mistakes that have been made that were [86:40] like quite [86:41] should have been quite easily [86:43] preventable that we didn't do and you [86:45] know, that's all on me, my [86:46] responsibility as well. [86:48] So, [86:52] it was yeah, it was a hard few hours. [86:56] You're thinking about things that you [86:57] should have repaired with your [86:59] parents. It's interesting in moments [87:00] like that people always talk about how [87:02] they have a [87:03] a retrospective like clarity on [87:06] their life Mhm. [87:08] and their priorities [87:11] that most of us will never understand [87:13] because we've never been in a situation [87:14] where we've genuinely believed there was [87:15] a chance that we weren't going to make [87:17] it out. [87:19] When you say you were thinking about [87:21] how you should have repaired [87:23] relationships with your parents, what do [87:24] you mean? [87:26] I don't know. I guess it it's like you [87:28] said, it was a moment of clarity where I [87:29] was like, [87:31] I've [87:34] probably wasted a lot of years there [87:37] holding on to things that weren't [87:39] necessary, [87:40] you know, [87:41] for [87:43] [ __ ] reasons. [87:45] And [87:47] like life's too short for that. [87:52] What have you been holding on to? [87:54] Like resentment and pride and [88:00] you know, I'm not [88:02] not trying to understand or like [88:04] avoiding things and not trying to [88:06] connect with people that [88:09] that [88:09] love me and these kind of things. [88:14] You think these are your last hours. [88:16] You've obviously got a person there in [88:17] your life who has loved you and has [88:19] shown you a different way to connect and [88:21] to be and to [88:23] intimacy and all the all of those [88:25] things, which is Emily. Are you thinking [88:27] about Emily in those moments as well? [88:31] Yeah, I was [88:40] Yeah, I mean, [88:42] I was thinking of [88:46] like all the all the things that we [88:48] talked about like our future together [88:50] and everything that we wanted to build [88:53] and [88:55] like the like having kids together and [88:57] all these things that just [88:59] felt like they were just [89:04] And how like just felt like I was [89:06] letting her down. [89:09] And you know, I wasn't [89:13] like delivering the things that I [89:15] I was going to run the length of Africa. [89:16] We're going to [89:18] It's going to everything's going to be [89:18] all right. Like don't worry [89:20] about, you know, all of these dangers. [89:22] No, it's going to be fine, babe. [89:25] And uh [89:27] yeah. I knew [89:30] how much [89:32] how hard that was [89:35] that time was for her as well. [89:41] Cuz guess I mean, especially I'm in the [89:42] thick of it, you know. [89:44] I'm in the thick of it. She's like at [89:45] home just thinking about it all the [89:47] time. [89:49] And there was a few moments like that [89:51] when we didn't have signal and [89:53] things. [89:57] Your boys eventually find you. Mhm. They [89:59] pay off the uh [90:01] the guys in that village and they let [90:02] you go. Mhm. [90:04] Doesn't really stop there though, does [90:05] it? Because [90:07] there's so much now to process and to [90:09] figure out and to kind of [90:10] That was [90:12] I think [90:13] the hardest point for us as a team of [90:15] the mission was like the aftermath of [90:17] that. It's very difficult [90:20] because I think we were all struggling. [90:23] Everyone was right at their limit and [90:28] probably because that no one had any [90:29] spare energy to think of it anyone else [90:32] in that situation. It was all like, "Oh, [90:34] I'm struggling, so [90:35] that's it, you know?" [90:37] And [90:39] yeah, I mean, there was a good few [90:42] arguments. [90:43] People don't really know about this [90:44] moment. No. Because people like me that [90:47] just watch from YouTube and from social [90:48] media, we just think, "Oh, they're [90:50] They're all getting on. It's all fine. [90:51] Oh, they've got [90:51] They're pissing blood again. Haha, [90:52] funny." But when I when I did those [90:55] research calls and spoke to members of [90:56] your team and [90:58] spoke to, you know, people around you [91:00] and even members of the team that were [91:01] out there with you. This was really a [91:04] a falling out [91:06] amongst amongst the team that no one in [91:08] the public ever got to see. [91:10] It's difficult one to talk about cuz I [91:11] don't want to throw anyone under the bus [91:12] or paint anyone in a bad light bad [91:14] light. We were all [91:15] I mean, just trying our best. I think [91:18] for me [91:21] what I recognized [91:22] that I did wrong in that situation was I [91:26] set us up in a bad way. Like I hired [91:29] so heavily on content side because I [91:31] knew that you know, we started with no [91:33] money. We had to get content out there [91:35] to get brands to sponsor us that I [91:37] basically recruited three people that [91:38] were almost entirely there for content [91:40] reasons. [91:41] You know, to make YouTube videos, take [91:43] photos, record documentaries, this kind [91:45] of thing. [91:46] I completely blindsided [91:48] the logistics and element and like [91:51] having knowledge of Africa and all of [91:54] this kind of stuff. I just thought, [91:56] "That's a luxury we can't afford right [91:57] now." [91:59] Because of that, I'd ended up asking a [92:02] support team that were mostly there for [92:03] content to basically be [92:06] like logistics and African logistics [92:08] experts. [92:10] And that's put them in a position that's [92:11] obviously [92:12] going to be really difficult. [92:15] So [92:18] yeah, I mean [92:19] that the whole situation [92:22] could have could have been avoided with [92:24] different different plan. I recognize [92:25] that and I thought [92:27] off the back of that, I was like, [92:28] "Right, I'm going to get a 4x4 because [92:30] the van can't travel up any of these [92:31] dirt roads and I'm going to hire two new [92:33] people, [92:34] one of which is going to be like a [92:36] proper logistics [92:38] guy that's going to get us through all [92:39] of these [92:40] tough situations." [92:42] A team member actually departed around [92:43] this time as well. [92:44] Yeah. [92:45] That that was a difficult one. Um [92:49] We actually we had a big argument. It me [92:51] and Harry had a big argument on just [92:54] after this Congo thing. [92:56] We were traveling back through these [92:57] villages. He'd obviously had a rough [92:58] time as well trying He'd been scammed [93:00] for motorbikes, had this these dealings [93:02] with the police chief. [93:04] And as we were coming back [93:06] he was buying like [ __ ] and and alcohol [93:09] and stuff in all these little tiny [93:10] remote villages. And I I had an issue [93:12] with it because we're going through some [93:13] of the poorest places in the world. [93:15] There's kids running around with like [93:16] malnourished bellies can't even feed [93:18] themselves and [93:19] you know, as Europeans if we bolt [93:21] through these villages [93:22] drinking and smoking blah blah blah, [93:24] then it's giving off the sign we've got [93:26] a lot of money to spare and that's why [93:28] we're getting scammed so much for [93:30] extortionate amounts of money. [93:32] So I had an issue with it and I told [93:33] him. And I probably didn't say it in a [93:34] way that was [93:37] how good leadership would say it, you [93:38] know? [93:39] So we had a big argument about that. [93:40] I've obviously just been in this rural [93:43] village for a couple days. I'm already [93:44] I'm I'm tightly strung already. So is [93:46] he. [93:48] We get back to [93:50] the other the other boys. [93:52] These guys had no idea what had just [93:53] happened. [93:55] And they were all struggling themselves. [93:56] So they were very much everyone was just [93:58] concentrating on themselves and they [93:59] were all kind of like everyone was a bit [94:01] pissed off with each other. [94:03] And then we had a meeting [94:06] and I just blew up. [94:07] Just blew up, started shouting at [94:09] everyone, throwing chairs about, [94:11] completely lost my cool. Just not not [94:14] obviously not the right way to act. Um [94:17] and [94:19] yeah, I mean, it was it was awkward. [94:22] It's awkward few days after that. I was [94:25] I just went straight back to running. [94:26] Wanted to get out of DRC as quickly as [94:28] possible. [94:31] It was everyone was on eggshells. We got [94:33] to [94:34] Cabinda, which is in the Angolan [94:35] exclave. [94:37] And then I said [94:39] to I was like to Harry, "You're going on [94:40] holiday." [94:42] And [94:43] I said to the other boys, "You'll all be [94:45] going on holiday at some point." [94:47] I think at that point I'd realized [94:50] that [94:50] for me [94:52] I'm running every day. My body's [94:55] very stressed. I'm very stressed in [94:57] general. I'm managing a lot of things [94:59] and I can't have [95:01] the people around me also being at the [95:03] edge of what they can do cuz then it [95:06] just leaves me in a totally [ __ ] spot. [95:10] So I tried to kind of [95:11] put some [95:12] reorganize, reshuffle things so that [95:14] wouldn't happen but sending everyone [95:16] holiday. Hired Gus. Hired Jamie, another [95:19] editor to take some workload off Stan [95:20] cuz I've got the geezer was working like [95:23] 18 hours a day trying to get two YouTube [95:25] videos out a week whilst recording and [95:26] producing. I was like, "Right, we need [95:27] to change something there." [95:29] Gus, ex-para from Dutch military. He'd [95:32] cycled up and down Africa by himself. [95:34] Absolute beast of a bloke. So I was [95:36] like, "He's coming in. He's going to do [95:39] our logistics and [95:41] one of the best recruits I've ever made. [95:43] So um [95:45] that's kind of how the aftermath [95:47] happened. [95:49] I'm going to let you in on a little [95:50] secret. What is in the Diary of a CEO [95:53] cup? This cup that sits in front of me [95:55] when I interview these people, sometimes [95:56] for 3 hours and sometimes three people a [95:59] day. And the answer is this, Perfect [96:01] Ted. I invested in the company on [96:03] Dragon's Den and since then they've gone [96:05] from an idea to the fastest growing [96:07] energy drink in the UK. It is a matcha [96:11] energy drink and it is absolutely [96:13] delicious. But that's not why I choose [96:15] to drink on this podcast. The reason I [96:16] choose to drink it is because it gives [96:18] me what I call all day energy. I don't [96:20] get the same crashes that I used to get [96:22] with other energy drinks. If you're in [96:23] the middle of a conversation or you're [96:25] in the middle of a talk on stage or in [96:26] the boardroom, the last thing you want [96:27] to do is have a crash. You don't want [96:30] jitters and you need focus. And that is [96:33] why they now sponsor this podcast. Not [96:35] only is it delicious, but it gives me a [96:37] significant competitive advantage. If [96:39] you haven't tried it, go down to a [96:40] Tesco, go to a Waitrose or go online and [96:43] use the code DIARY10 at checkout and [96:46] you'll get 10% off. And when you do try [96:47] it, let me know how you get on. [96:49] As you continue on, you have all of [96:51] these issues. You have [96:52] a bunch more health issues. Your your [96:54] back starts to give out. I think around [96:56] uh [96:57] around two day 205 and 206, you [97:00] completely stopped because you had back [97:02] issues. [97:03] That the back was probably the worst [97:04] injury. I I don't It's not even healed [97:06] still. [97:07] But basically my back started seizing up [97:10] and I would get like shooting nerve [97:12] pains coming down my leg. [97:15] And it would just totally like totally [97:17] jar. I wouldn't be able to move or [97:20] yeah, it I mean [97:22] God knows what happened there. [97:24] Does that mean there's a chance that [97:24] you've done permanent damage to your [97:26] back? Probably, yeah. I mean, I ran the [97:28] marathon on Sunday and it was still [97:29] going a bit, so. [97:30] Did you have to stop? No, but [97:33] it's basically been on and off [97:36] on and off very painful for the last [97:39] kind of six well, whenever that was, day [97:41] day 205. So since then. Emily said [97:44] around that time that's sort of 200 day [97:46] mark, you were like you were pretty [97:48] done. [97:51] What does she mean by that? [97:52] When she says you're pretty done. [97:54] I was in a lot of pain. [97:56] Like every day. [97:57] So [98:00] I really just wanted it to be over at [98:02] that point. [98:03] And I had still got like five months to [98:05] go. You still have five months to go. [98:06] Yeah. [98:08] Yeah. Was there I I've heard you answer [98:11] this question before, but what what what [98:13] day was the closest to quitting? [98:16] The closest where you thought, "You know [98:17] what? Maybe the the thought The the only [98:20] the only time I ever really had the [98:22] thought was in the Congo. Really? On the [98:24] on the motorbike. Yeah, like that was [98:25] the only time I actually ever [98:27] actually thought like, "Why am I doing [98:29] this? This is stupid." You know, like [98:31] I'm going to get myself killed over [98:32] this. [98:34] And it kept It was a fleeting thought. [98:35] It came in and then I thought, "Well, I [98:37] ain't got a [ __ ] choice. I've got to [98:37] do it now anyway." [98:39] December time, which is day 241, you're [98:41] you're in um I think the Ivory Coast. [98:43] Mhm. And uh the Ivory Coast think you're [98:45] a spy. Yeah. [98:47] So they they took you to the local [98:48] police station because they thought you [98:49] were a spy. [98:50] Yeah. They were very confused. [98:53] Did they tell you that they thought you [98:54] were a spy or did you just kind of piece [98:55] that together? [98:56] it was more piecing that together. [98:59] I think they were very confused about [99:00] how I was, [99:01] why I was there, why I was running in in [99:03] the middle of the night. [99:05] Um [99:06] and [99:07] yeah, they they [99:08] made sure they did all their checks on [99:10] me that so that wasn't [99:13] any suspect individual. January comes [99:16] around, the new year. How did you [99:17] celebrate Christmas out there and that [99:18] all that stuff? [99:20] We uh it was back to basics kind of [99:21] Christmas we had. Um [99:23] chickens on the fire. [99:26] I got a bit pissed. [99:28] Missed the family? [99:30] Yeah, Christmas would have been a bit of [99:31] a weird one for my family anyway, but [99:33] yeah, like um [99:36] I mean, it was business as usual. I was [99:38] I think it was pretty much [99:41] focused on the job and had a couple [99:43] drinks and that was that. [99:45] One uh a day shortly after that, um that [99:48] really I think things took a bit of a [99:50] turn in terms of publicity was when you [99:52] reached Algeria and you had the issues [99:54] with your visa because [99:55] Algeria [99:57] um [99:59] as we said is a country that doesn't [100:00] grant visas unless you're in your home [100:02] country currently. And so you were [100:03] advised [100:05] by the FCO not to travel there? [100:08] Um I believe. I can't remember. A lot of [100:11] people advised us not to travel. Travel [100:13] there. And the Algerian authorities were [100:15] saying absolutely no to you to get to [100:17] you getting a visa. [100:18] Um so you decided to start an online [100:20] campaign [100:22] to try and like it's such a it's such an [100:24] interesting thing because [100:26] very few people would have a country [100:28] say, "We're not going to give you a [100:30] visa. You cannot come into our country." [100:32] And you decide that the way to overcome [100:34] that is with some tweets. [100:36] Yeah, it was bold strategy. [100:38] It was we were we were strategizing for [100:40] a couple weeks before that of like [100:43] right, this you know, we have our backs [100:45] against the wall here. What are we going [100:46] to do? And we kind of [100:49] you know, Gus and Stan had [100:51] were putting together these kind of [100:52] plans to get residency in Mauritania and [100:56] then [100:57] potentially, you know, do all of these [100:59] little things to try and somehow get a [101:01] visa. [101:02] And um [101:05] just got to a point where I said like, [101:06] "Boys, [101:08] let's just hail Mary it. Just get the [101:10] just let's just blast it on socials [101:13] cuz [101:14] it's going to take someone right at the [101:15] top to to say yes. [101:19] You know, let's [101:20] swing for the fences." [101:22] And that's what happened. [101:24] Um you launched this kind of online [101:25] campaign led predominantly by Twitter to [101:27] get someone in Algeria, someone higher [101:30] up or a politician in the UK to speak to [101:32] Algeria. [101:32] Yeah. The campaign goes pretty viral. [101:35] Everyone's posting it in the UK. So much [101:37] so that even Elon Musk tweeted at one [101:39] point which is mad. Yeah. [101:40] Basically saying that this is what this [101:41] platform's for, what he loves about the [101:43] platform. That was sick. And then [101:45] Algeria tweet you basically saying, [101:47] "We'll give you a visa on the spot." [101:48] Yeah. [101:49] Which is mad. Isn't that mad? Actually [101:51] mad. [101:52] Yeah. you think about where you came [101:53] from. [101:53] Yeah. You've got Elon Musk tweeting and [101:55] and they're like [101:57] Algeria's Twitter account tweet at you [101:59] going, "Come on in. [102:01] We're going to we're going to change our [102:02] laws Yeah. [102:03] so that you can come through here." And [102:04] Elon Musk's [102:05] tweet and that is just mad. It was mad. [102:08] It was [102:09] absolutely crazy. [102:11] And then you get through. You get your [102:13] visa, you're able to enter Algeria. [102:16] The um [102:17] Sahara Desert was another big challenge [102:18] for you. You get to day 3 engine 13, the [102:20] truck breaks down in the Sahara Desert [102:22] 250 km away from the nearest road. What [102:24] I found so interesting about this little [102:26] chapter in the story was that when we [102:28] spoke to Stan, who's part of your team [102:30] on the research call [102:33] he says that you weren't really [102:34] concerned because everyone just assumed [102:35] everything would be fine. We'd been [102:36] through much worse. Um Stan said that [102:39] the resilience they had built up was [102:41] accumulative and gradually they became [102:43] less and less concerned about set [102:45] setbacks. And I read that and it was [102:47] really inspiring to me because it says [102:48] something about life. [102:50] We all have these like subjective [102:52] setbacks that we can like fall into a [102:54] dark hole thinking it like the end. And [102:56] it could just be like Jenny at work sat [102:57] in our seat. [102:58] Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whereas you're in the [103:00] Sahara Desert and your truck has broken [103:03] down 250 km from the nearest road. The [103:06] repair team can't fix it and you guys [103:08] just shrug, "It'll be fine." [103:09] Barely thought about it, mate. Come on. [103:11] Really? [103:12] Yeah, I remember [103:14] just thinking, "Ah, [103:17] that's a minor. We'll figure that out." [103:19] Because you had so much evidence that [103:20] you guys had been able to figure out so [103:22] many other things. [103:23] Yeah, and I think like [103:25] by the end as well like the team was so [103:29] it was slick like the way everyone was [103:31] operating. We everyone knew what they [103:33] had to do. No one needed [103:36] you know, no one needed telling. We all [103:38] just got on with our jobs. And the [103:40] amount of output for four people [103:44] was crazy. [103:46] That really is what resilience is. [103:48] People always ask like, "How do you [103:49] become more resilient?" But it seems to [103:51] your story taught me that it's like go [103:53] through some difficult [ __ ] together and [103:55] come out the other end [103:56] Yeah. and you'll have evidence. Yeah. [103:58] And even if you you know, go through [104:00] some difficult [ __ ] and it doesn't work [104:01] out then you've got a few lessons in [104:03] there, right? So At least you survived, [104:05] right? That's a lesson. [104:07] Um and then you get to the final leg of [104:08] the trip. And all of the people around [104:11] you tell me that there was a noticeable [104:13] increase in your [104:14] sort of [104:15] happiness and demeanor when you could [104:17] start to see [104:19] the finish line. [104:19] Definitely. In your mind. You get to [104:21] what 2 weeks out and the social media [104:23] interest goes pretty [ __ ] crazy. [104:24] Yeah, it did. Yeah. [104:26] Yeah, even like mainstream media kind of [104:27] picked up I think the last few days. [104:30] Last few days. Yeah. The whole of the UK [104:33] only had one thing to talk about. [104:34] Really? Yeah. [104:34] I'm sure it was, you know, very much the [104:36] case in other parts of the world. I saw [104:37] news reports in America and other parts [104:39] of the world, but it felt like back here [104:41] in the UK the the UK was just talking [104:43] about one thing. Really? It was [104:44] following you. You know this surely you [104:46] might your girlfriend and stuff must [104:47] have told you. It was [ __ ] [104:48] pandemonium. It's every social you know, [104:50] I'd go on social media and anyone that I [104:53] I knew was was posting about you um [104:55] running that last leg driving money to [104:57] those charities that mean a a whole lot [104:58] to you. Um [105:01] as you come into that last leg, that [105:03] last day [105:04] crowds of people like hundreds of people [105:06] flew out there. It's nuts. [105:09] Absolutely nuts. And they're running [105:11] with you. A lot of them I I was heard [105:12] from some of your team. I think it was [105:13] Stan that was saying to me a lot of [105:14] people flew out there, but they were [105:17] keeling over and like collapsing on the [105:18] side of the road cuz I don't think they [105:20] anticipated that this isn't London, [105:21] mate. [105:21] Yeah. [105:22] It was so funny. Like um [105:24] Tunisia at that time wasn't even that [105:26] hot, but [105:28] coming from the UK everyone's just [105:29] absolutely cooked and [105:32] And you um you come into that that last [105:35] day [105:37] and your dad is there as well. Yeah. [105:40] Yeah, it was an emotional day, man. [105:42] I met my dad came and ran like he he [105:45] could only run like 2 or 3 K out these [105:46] days, but he came and ran and um [105:49] like put his arm around me and that and [105:51] you know, it was it was special. [105:53] Your relationship with him started to [105:56] pick up. Mhm. Um as you got closer to [105:59] the finish line it seems. [106:00] Yeah. I've heard that from a few people. [106:02] Yeah. [106:03] Uh throughout throughout the whole [106:05] mission really I think, but [106:07] uh [106:08] Emily's definitely a big part of helping [106:10] that. [106:11] What was it like to see him? And where [106:13] did you see him? Was it on the last day? [106:14] On the last day. [106:16] Um [106:18] yeah, we ran a little bit, couple tears. [106:22] Just like [106:24] What were the tears for? [106:27] I don't know. Like I guess it was like a [106:29] signal that it was like this is actually [106:30] over now, you know, like my dad's here. [106:33] Um [106:35] and like you know, everything [106:37] everything that I've been through, but [106:38] also like everything he'd been through, [106:39] everything his dad's been through. [106:42] Felt like it just felt like a moment, [106:43] you know. [106:45] He was proud of you. [106:47] Very, very proud of you. [106:49] Very, very proud of you. We got to speak [106:51] to him on the phone. [106:53] And hearing how proud of you he was [106:57] was one of the most moving things I [106:58] actually of this whole experience of [107:00] speaking to your friends and family, [107:01] hearing just how proud your father is of [107:03] you is it moved me when I heard it. I [107:05] actually um [107:09] I I couldn't believe it with my son, you [107:11] know, [107:11] crossing the line and and [107:14] um [107:15] it was it was sort of like not real sort [107:17] of thing. [107:18] You know, it's like you know, but [107:21] it's took a while to sink in feel [107:23] sinking in now, really. [107:26] And he went on to say, "I couldn't be [107:27] more proud of my son." [107:31] Yeah, it's nice. It's powerful when your [107:33] dad says that, isn't it? [107:35] Always. [107:38] Always. [107:40] You cross the line. [107:42] How does that feel? [107:46] Ah, yeah. [107:48] I mean, that finish line honestly felt [107:51] like a [ __ ] mystical [107:53] thing that was never coming for the [107:54] longest time of time. [107:56] So [107:58] it's [107:59] the fact that it finally came was just [108:00] like [108:01] wow, it's finally over, you know, like [108:03] we actually did it. [108:06] So [108:08] yeah, very grateful. [108:10] It's quite complex emotions. I can see [108:11] it in your face. [108:12] Yeah. What were those emotions? [108:14] I guess it's just like grateful that it [108:17] all worked out, you know. [108:19] And like all the hard work [108:22] paid off. [108:24] And all the hard times paid off. [108:27] Your girlfriend said that you um you [108:29] walked over to the edge of the water and [108:31] you reached the [108:32] northernmost point of Africa and you [108:33] saluted. [108:37] And to her that salute meant more than [108:40] just a sort of [108:41] random token gesture. It was a a salute [108:44] in many respects to say [108:46] you know [108:48] there's certain chapters closed in my [108:50] life now and there's certain things that [108:51] I've [108:52] I've proven. [108:54] I think maybe the right word there is [108:55] proven. [109:00] Yeah, I think so. [109:01] Hopefully. What have you proven? [109:04] Ah, I guess I've um [109:07] I'm capable. [109:09] You know? [109:09] I can do it. [109:12] Your mom was there as well? [109:14] The whole gang? The whole team. [109:17] Was that the best feeling of the whole [109:20] journey? [109:21] That that end moment with your family [109:23] was cuz I heard you describe that the [109:24] start was amazing, the first day. Mhm. [109:27] And in that moment, I imagine it's [109:29] overwhelming for so many reasons. [109:30] There's so much the process and [109:31] So overwhelming, man. People are there [109:33] and screaming and with cameras in the [109:34] sky news are running alongside you. It's [109:36] like [109:37] It looked absolutely crazy. I was [109:37] watching it on TV. [109:39] It was totally mad. [109:41] I think the finish line was one of them [109:42] things that was just so over like I [109:44] don't know if you had it like [109:46] when there's so much going on and it's [109:48] so overwhelming, you kind of like [109:51] you it's almost feels like an [109:52] out-of-body experience. Mhm. [109:55] And you're someone that's like lived [109:56] most of their life in relative [109:58] isolation. [109:58] Yeah. You like being alone. Yeah. Emily [110:01] told me that she goes, "I think he's [110:02] happiest when he's when no one's there." [110:03] [Laughter] [110:05] Yeah, I do like being alone. [110:07] I do like it. [110:09] Interesting still is like you get back [110:10] to the UK [110:12] and you've been running this crazy [110:14] you've done this crazy thing for [110:16] more than a year, right? It was 300 352 [110:19] days. I was out there for 14 months, I [110:21] 14 months. You get back to the UK. [110:24] You land. [110:25] The weather's different. [110:27] Obviously, society's completely [110:28] different. [110:29] Yeah. Now everybody knows who you are [110:30] here. Mhm. So wherever you go, someone's [110:33] going, "Oh, how did he do that? Can I [110:35] have a [ __ ] picture?" And I'd like [110:38] How how is that? Um [110:41] still think I'm kind of working that out [110:43] at the moment. Don't really know. [110:45] It's It's definitely different. [110:49] But everyone's so nice and I think like [110:51] the [110:54] like the stories of people that like [110:55] they come up to me and they're like, [110:56] "You know, I I was running the marathon [110:57] on Sunday." And people are like, "You're [110:59] the reason I'm here." and stuff. And I'm [111:00] like, [111:01] that's kind of mad, but that's sick as [111:04] well, you know? [111:05] So [111:08] Are you feeling overwhelmed? Yeah. [111:10] Definitely. How do you know? [111:14] Because I'm I'm trying to distance [111:16] myself from everyone and everything at [111:17] the moment. Really? [111:19] Yeah. [111:21] Like I [111:22] yeah. [111:23] Just [111:24] I think um [111:27] my social battery run out quite quick [111:29] and once that happens, I'm just like, [111:30] "Whoa, I need to be alone." immediately. [111:32] Done. Can't speak. Done. [111:34] And you're getting all these emails now. [111:36] Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it's just like [111:38] Well, I think there's a lot of things [111:39] happening as well that I'm not that I [111:41] don't know how to handle properly like [111:43] emails and all these other things. [111:45] You don't have management. You don't [111:46] have anyone agent, nothing. I kind of [111:48] need a moment to work out what I [111:50] actually want to do. [111:52] I think [111:53] but it's fine. Like I'm not running [111:55] ultra marathons in the Sahara Desert [111:57] anymore. I can't like it's it's all [111:58] right. [111:59] You know when you were running that [112:00] marathon you ran the London Marathon [112:01] like a couple like two days ago or [112:02] something. [112:03] Yeah. [112:04] That's [112:06] a very public place to be. Yeah, I [112:08] didn't quite anticipate [112:10] anticipate that. I don't know why. [112:13] I had some people that saw you down [112:14] there. Mhm. And they were a little bit [112:17] concerned. Really? Yeah, cuz you looked [112:19] a little bit overwhelmed. Yeah, I was a [112:21] little bit. There was just a lot of [112:22] people. [112:22] People grabbing at you and stuff. [112:23] Yeah, yeah. [112:24] I mean [112:26] people are nice, so like [112:28] they would they only had nice things to [112:29] say to me. [112:30] It was just like [112:32] so much like stimulation, you know what [112:34] I mean? Mhm. Like it's just [112:36] it was I was like [112:38] I'm not used to this. It's I find it [112:40] fascinating so you you're at the very [112:41] top of this mountain in terms of like [112:42] publicity and attention and everyone's [112:44] screaming and grabbing at you and wants [112:45] you for stuff. You've just done this [112:47] incredible adrenaline inducing feat [112:49] running the length of Africa. There's [112:51] all of these chemicals in your body, the [112:53] adrenaline, the endorphins, all that [112:55] stuff that comes from endurance sports. [112:57] Yeah. And then [112:58] Done. Done. [113:01] Zero. Like stop. Yeah. [113:05] How's that? [113:07] Um my body needed it. Yeah. It's [113:10] absolutely, you know, bashed in. [113:13] But it is also [113:15] it was it's it's been quite difficult to [113:18] I had the like such a solid routine [113:20] every day for a year. It was like get [113:21] up, run, break, eat, run, do the same, [113:24] you know, every single day. [113:26] And now the schedule's like wildly [113:28] different. It's like [113:30] Okay, wake up, interview here or go and [113:32] do this and then this and, you know, [113:35] meet this person, person. [113:38] And I'm kind of missing that [113:41] that routine of exercise and all the [113:43] time. Kind of want to start that back up [113:45] again pretty soon. Maybe Maybe not 60 or [113:48] 70k a day, but like I need I actually [113:50] need that, you know? [113:52] So [113:53] How's your mental health? [113:58] I think [114:00] I think it it's fine. I just need to get [114:02] like I just need to get a few things [114:03] sorted. Like I haven't got a place to [114:05] live yet or [114:07] I don't really [114:09] I don't know the immediate next steps [114:11] like career wise what I'm going to do. [114:14] And a lot of things have changed [114:15] obviously, so it's just working out a [114:16] lot of all of this stuff. [114:19] But [114:20] I think when there's that many [114:22] uncertainties in your life, it will it's [114:23] always going to create a certain level [114:25] of like [114:27] mental challenges. So I just need to [114:28] figure them out and then I'll be all [114:29] right. [114:31] You know, you must get bored of people [114:32] asking you what's next cuz it's this is [114:34] what everyone asks when everyone doesn't [114:35] when anyone does anything interesting. [114:37] Like, "What's next?" They want to know [114:38] Yeah, yeah. the next challenge I have [114:41] got a lot of ideas. I think like one of [114:43] the big things that I would be really [114:45] what I really love to do is [114:50] in some way be part of like documenting [114:52] other people's journeys when they go on [114:55] you know, they're starting from [114:56] somewhere and they they've got this big [114:58] thing that they want to do and just like [115:00] either helping them or being like in [115:01] some way do it. Mhm. Uh [115:05] so I'd really love to try and do more of [115:07] that. [115:09] The last year as well like one of the [115:11] things that I struggled with [115:12] is it [115:14] like [115:15] it was so much everything it was geared [115:18] towards basically helping me run. [115:20] And [115:22] I've had enough of that. You know, all [115:24] of my support team were there basically [115:25] to [115:27] facilitate me running as far as I can [115:28] every day. [115:30] And [115:31] it would be nice to do things for [115:33] other people more than just everyone [115:35] doing things for me. [115:38] That's an interesting thought. You've [115:39] had enough of that. [115:40] Enough of it being about you. Yeah. It's [115:43] interesting, Russ, cuz you're someone [115:44] that quite clearly through your story [115:45] once likes being alone [115:47] and like low-key under the radar, do [115:49] their own thing, spend time in my own [115:51] head. Mhm. And then [115:53] exactly that, doing exactly that in in [115:56] you running the length of Africa, being [115:57] alone out there in the Sahara Desert [115:59] alone has built this massive [ __ ] [116:02] audience. Yeah. And all these people [116:04] watching you. [116:05] That are now like very much compromising [116:07] in some respects. Obviously, there's so [116:08] much privilege and stuff that comes with [116:10] it, but [116:11] they're compromising the very thing that [116:12] you loved the most, which is you running [116:14] from London to Asia alone, Asia to [116:17] London alone um on your own with the [116:20] hammock. [116:22] It's never quite going to be the same, [116:23] if you know what I'm saying? [116:24] You can't even walk down the street in [116:25] London. You're like a really distinctive [116:28] recognizable guy as well cuz the ginger [116:29] beard and stuff [116:33] Uh I I well, I think it will like [116:36] it will die down like eventually. So [116:40] I think it's going to be all right. [116:42] It's just different. [116:43] Yeah, it is just diff Yeah, it's just [116:44] different. It's a different new set of [116:47] problems, I guess. Yeah. To manage and [116:48] stuff. [116:50] Yeah. [116:52] You did all of this, you know, to have [116:53] the experience. You inspired all these [116:55] people along the way and obviously [116:56] central to this was the running charity. [116:59] They do incredible work for people kind [117:01] of like yourself that are in that [117:02] situation where [117:03] you're looking for guidance. Yeah. [117:05] You're looking for a sense of purpose [117:06] and meaning, etc., etc. Um [117:09] How much how much [117:10] What was the goal? [117:12] Fundraising goal? Yeah, what's your [117:13] fundraising goal? A million. A million? [117:15] Yeah. And what are you on at the moment? [117:17] When I checked yesterday, I think it was [117:18] 970. I'm not exactly sure what it is [117:21] now. [117:22] And you've been down to see the work [117:23] that this charity do, haven't you? [117:24] I've worked with the charity for like [117:27] years. You know, I used to [117:29] before I left, I was the adventure [117:31] guide. So I'd take people take groups of [117:33] people up climb mountains or out into [117:36] nature and we'd do stuff. [117:38] I did stuff with fundraisers who were [117:39] raising money for the charity. [117:42] I mean I I I did the Asia to London run [117:44] for the running charity as well. So I've [117:45] been involved for for four or five [117:46] years. [117:48] Well, I have to say, Russ you um you [117:51] inspired [117:53] millions of people. [117:54] You don't know this, but like when I'm [117:56] in the gym Yeah. [117:57] and I start thinking about quitting, the [117:59] whole time you're in Africa, I was like, [118:00] "Fucking Russ is running three marathons [118:01] today." So I was like, "What [118:02] What the hell am I doing thinking about [118:03] quitting?" And I it kept It was this [118:05] thought in the back of my head that [118:06] helped me over and over again when I was [118:08] in difficult moments, when I'm in the [118:09] gym, when I'm thinking about quitting, [118:10] when I'm thinking about not even doing [118:11] the workout. I'm like, "That guy's going [118:13] to be up today running another 20 well, [118:14] 60k or 100k." Yeah. So it was a it was [118:17] even like a this motivational force for [118:18] me in my life and I'm really, really [118:20] appreciative of that. But I also know [118:22] cuz I've seen the messages and I've seen [118:23] the DMs [118:25] that for many people out there that are [118:27] Russ at 19 [118:28] that [118:30] don't know the path forward, that don't [118:31] have guidance, that don't have something [118:32] to aim at, you've given them a blueprint [118:37] for how to turn your life around. [118:39] And there's you've given 19-year-old [118:41] Russ, all the 19-year-old Russes out [118:43] there a blueprint for how to turn your [118:44] life around. And you've given them [118:46] evidence [118:47] that it's possible. And people in that [118:49] situation as you were [118:51] they don't always believe it's possible. [118:52] You described the hopelessness and [118:54] helplessness of that situation. That's [118:56] exactly what you've done. And also [118:59] you've raised a [ __ ] ton of money. [119:01] Now your goal [119:02] was to raise a million pounds, which is [119:04] a ridiculous amount of money. [119:06] Um [119:09] So before we sat down, I made a few [119:10] phone calls. [119:12] You know I'm an investor in a few [119:13] companies and [119:14] I'm on the board of a few companies. So [119:15] I called Julian Hearn at Huel and I [119:17] said, "Listen, [119:18] wouldn't it be great [119:21] if uh [119:22] Huel could get behind this and [119:24] and make sure he hit that target? [119:26] Now, [119:28] there you go. [119:29] Wow. [119:31] They've donated the remainder of the [119:32] cash to for your fundraising. So you've [119:34] hit the million pounds and we wanted to [119:35] say [119:36] a huge [119:38] well done and congratulations on behalf [119:39] of all of us here at Divine Studios. [119:41] MAN. [120:00] IS EM- EMILY HERE? THERE SHE IS, COMING [120:02] IN. YEAH. [120:10] OH, SWEET. [120:11] SO MUCH, MAN. NAH, MAN. THANK YOU. [120:14] Absolutely incredible. [120:15] And I know the the team at Perfect Ted [120:17] here, they've Could you chuck me the um [120:19] daiquiri thing on here? [120:22] This one here. Again, I'm an uh an [120:24] investor in this company and uh we we [120:26] have a partnership together. [120:28] Hardest energy. produced the hardest [120:30] energy, which is a limited edition [120:32] strawberry daiquiri flavored Perfect [120:34] Ted, which will be on sale and I think [120:36] the proceeds much of the proceeds of [120:37] this will be donated towards this [120:39] campaign as well. [120:40] Um [120:41] it begs the question why strawberry [120:43] daiquiri. [120:44] If uh some people that don't know, why [120:45] strawberry daiquiri? Uh I don't even [120:47] know. Like it just ended up becoming a [120:48] thing that I was saying towards to [120:50] throughout the mission. I'd be like, [120:51] "Get me to Tunisian beach for a [120:53] strawberry daiquiri." And it was in my [120:55] head and then we finally got it done, [120:57] eh? [120:58] And they're here as well. So we'll we'll [120:59] include up the link to buy this in the [121:00] description below. So anyone that wants [121:01] to celebrate your incredible achievement [121:03] with us will be able to do so. We do [121:05] have a a last tradition on this podcast. [121:06] We I mean it's not not usually how they [121:08] end, but [121:09] um where the last guest leaves a [121:10] question for the next guest not knowing [121:11] who they're going to be leaving it for. [121:13] So I hope it's a good one. [121:15] Huh, there's two questions. [121:17] Interestingly, I'm going to ask you both [121:18] questions cuz they're both applicable. [121:20] Okay. So first question is, if there was [121:22] a movie about your life, which I'm sure [121:23] there will be, [121:24] who would you want to play you? Ron [121:26] Weasley. [121:30] Okay, and question number two. [121:32] What place do you feel the most [121:34] comfortable in and why? [121:36] One of the things that I just love doing [121:38] the most is [121:40] mid-run, going to Tesco, getting some [121:43] snacks, and just sitting outside Tesco [121:45] on the pavement eating my snacks. [121:48] It's my favorite place ever. Love doing [121:50] that. [121:51] Very relatable as always, Russ. [121:53] Thank you so much, honestly. If [121:54] everything I said then about the [121:55] inspiration you've given me is [121:57] completely true and I I I know that [121:59] there's so many people out there that [122:00] feel the same way and you've made me [122:02] want to aim higher in in some of the [122:03] things that I do in my life and pursue [122:05] bigger challenges and really push myself [122:06] to the limits because as you've proven [122:08] in your life, [122:09] all of the good things are on the other [122:10] side of some form of discomfort. [122:12] The purpose, the meaning, the connection [122:14] as you've proven. And like so many [122:16] people at the moment in society are [122:17] suffering [122:18] with their mental health, with a lack of [122:20] sort of a sense of meaninglessness. And [122:23] you're this like [122:24] the shining example for all of us, this [122:26] North Star [122:27] of this first step we have to take to go [122:29] on that incredible journey. [122:31] So thank you so much, Russ. [122:32] Mate, thanks for everything you've done, [122:33] man. I can't honestly, I can't thank you [122:35] enough. So you made it happen as well, [122:36] so [122:38] amazing. [122:38] [Music]