Bicycling Across the USA Without Money in Search of Human Connection With Daniel Troia

Apr 23, 2024

Daniel Troia embarked on a bike journey across the USA relying on strangers' kindness. He shares insights on discomfort, unexpected life-changing encounters, and lessons on adversity, grief, and humanity. The episode discusses his travel documentary 'We Are All In This Together' and offers advice on long-distance biking and dealing with confrontations.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Exploring Human Connections Through Travel Documentaries

01:45 • 3min

Journey of Filming Acts of Kindness on a Bike

04:53 • 16min

Celebrating Adventures With Nissan Pathfinder and AeroPress

21:12 • 2min

Exploring Human Connection and Empathy Through Journey Experiences

23:23 • 2min

Embracing the Journey: Reflections on Biking Across the USA

25:05 • 16min

Bridging Divides Through Face-to-Face Interaction

41:28 • 5min

The Transformative Journey of Filming Personal Experiences

46:05 • 16min

Bike Touring and Hitchhiking Adventures

01:01:56 • 9min

Film Streaming Availability and Listener's Solo Trip Excitement

01:11:19 • 4min

This is a human-powered adventure story not just because Daniel Troia traveled by bike…but because it was powered by the kindness of strangers.

Equipped with hidden camera glasses and a cardboard sign that said, "Ran out of food. Anything helps," Daniel spent seven months bicycling across the United States, listening to stories from the people who offered help. His travel documentary, “We Are All In This Together,” has garnered 15 awards at various film festivals and is being used to raise money for homeless shelters.

What did he learn from the experience? Find out today as Daniel recounts his adventure and the making of the film.

You’ll hear why he felt uncomfortable nearly the entire trip, the unexpected people he met who changed his life, and the biggest lessons he learned about adversity, grief, togetherness, and humanity as a whole. You’ll get advice on long-distance biking, dealing with confrontations, and more.

What have your travels taught you about humanity? I'd love to hear your thoughts and hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

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Tune In To Learn:

The intention behind his trip and how he balanced being present with documenting the experience
Why the experience made him so uncomfortable, and the surprising themes he noticed about people
What this taught him about avoiding things that make you uncomfortable
Advice for doing a long-distance trip (with or without money!)
The powerful, serendipitous moments that made the trip so incredible
The effects of living this kind of lifestyle for an extended period
How the experience changed his behaviors, decision-making, and the way he interacts with others
Why he felt that he needed to do this and what it taught him about the political division in the country
What it was like putting together the documentary while still trying to process the experience
Tips for stealthy camping spots, dumpster diving, handling confrontation, and hitchhiking
And so much more

Resources:

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Follow Daniel on Instagram

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