who in their right mind would travel alone to 196 countries when someone
alone to 196 countries when someone
alone to 196 countries when someone finds out I’ve done something that no
finds out I’ve done something that no
finds out I’ve done something that no other woman on this planet has done and
other woman on this planet has done and
other woman on this planet has done and broken two Guinness World Records
broken two Guinness World Records
broken two Guinness World Records they usually have a few questions for me
they usually have a few questions for me
they usually have a few questions for me they want to know how I pulled it off
they want to know how I pulled it off
they want to know how I pulled it off what my experience was like and why I
what my experience was like and why I
what my experience was like and why I even did it in the first place today I’m
even did it in the first place today I’m
even did it in the first place today I’m excited to share with you how it took me
excited to share with you how it took me
excited to share with you how it took me three years to plan and raise money for
three years to plan and raise money for
three years to plan and raise money for the 18-month trip what my experience was
the 18-month trip what my experience was
the 18-month trip what my experience was like traveling alone as a woman and I’m
like traveling alone as a woman and I’m
like traveling alone as a woman and I’m gonna talk about something I’ve never
gonna talk about something I’ve never
gonna talk about something I’ve never talked about publicly before the real
talked about publicly before the real
talked about publicly before the real reason why I did this expedition so how
reason why I did this expedition so how
reason why I did this expedition so how did I do it 196 countries sounds easy
did I do it 196 countries sounds easy
did I do it 196 countries sounds easy enough right
enough right
enough right I knew this expedition was going to be a
I knew this expedition was going to be a
I knew this expedition was going to be a huge endeavor and the first step was
huge endeavor and the first step was
huge endeavor and the first step was figuring out all the rules for breaking
figuring out all the rules for breaking
figuring out all the rules for breaking a Guinness World Record there are so
a Guinness World Record there are so
a Guinness World Record there are so many rules both big and small like how I
many rules both big and small like how I
many rules both big and small like how I was only allowed to take scheduled
was only allowed to take scheduled
was only allowed to take scheduled public transportation to and from each
public transportation to and from each
public transportation to and from each country I wasn’t allowed to drive a car
country I wasn’t allowed to drive a car
country I wasn’t allowed to drive a car while in the Guinness clock and there
while in the Guinness clock and there
while in the Guinness clock and there were limitations as to how far I could
were limitations as to how far I could
were limitations as to how far I could travel in a taxi I also had to prove
travel in a taxi I also had to prove
travel in a taxi I also had to prove that I’d been in each country which is
that I’d been in each country which is
that I’d been in each country which is harder than you think many countries
harder than you think many countries
harder than you think many countries throughout Europe and Central America
throughout Europe and Central America
throughout Europe and Central America don’t stamp passport so I had to find
don’t stamp passport so I had to find
don’t stamp passport so I had to find different ways to document everything
different ways to document everything
different ways to document everything I collected photos videos countless
I collected photos videos countless
I collected photos videos countless tickets GPS coordinates signed witness
tickets GPS coordinates signed witness
tickets GPS coordinates signed witness statements credit card bills and even
statements credit card bills and even
statements credit card bills and even phone logs next time you go to North
phone logs next time you go to North
phone logs next time you go to North Korea you can forget about bringing your
Korea you can forget about bringing your
Korea you can forget about bringing your phone they don’t stamp passports you
phone they don’t stamp passports you
phone they don’t stamp passports you can’t use your credit card and kidding
can’t use your credit card and kidding
can’t use your credit card and kidding that jung-hoon is not going to give you
that jung-hoon is not going to give you
that jung-hoon is not going to give you an autograph you you can however send a
an autograph you you can however send a
an autograph you you can however send a pre-approved propaganda postcard showing
pre-approved propaganda postcard showing
pre-approved propaganda postcard showing a fist crushing the Pentagon
and then there was the most challenging
and then there was the most challenging rule of all I wasn’t allowed to spend
rule of all I wasn’t allowed to spend
rule of all I wasn’t allowed to spend more than 14 days in a country this
more than 14 days in a country this
more than 14 days in a country this didn’t seem like a big deal at first but
didn’t seem like a big deal at first but
didn’t seem like a big deal at first but I wasn’t always able to predict when I’d
I wasn’t always able to predict when I’d
I wasn’t always able to predict when I’d received my visas this rule almost ended
received my visas this rule almost ended
received my visas this rule almost ended my expedition in country number 196
my expedition in country number 196
my expedition in country number 196 Yemen first the u.s. embassy wouldn’t
Yemen first the u.s. embassy wouldn’t
Yemen first the u.s. embassy wouldn’t let me in
let me in
let me in due to high terrorist activity in Yemen
due to high terrorist activity in Yemen
due to high terrorist activity in Yemen and then the Oman authorities wouldn’t
and then the Oman authorities wouldn’t
and then the Oman authorities wouldn’t let me out due to the situation Yemen I
let me out due to the situation Yemen I
let me out due to the situation Yemen I faced a major risk of being stuck on the
faced a major risk of being stuck on the
faced a major risk of being stuck on the mainland of Yemen but after two attempts
mainland of Yemen but after two attempts
mainland of Yemen but after two attempts of trying to cross the border I watched
of trying to cross the border I watched
of trying to cross the border I watched in the night as the rusted steel gates
in the night as the rusted steel gates
in the night as the rusted steel gates pushed back and I was finally let back
pushed back and I was finally let back
pushed back and I was finally let back into Oman but then the challenge came
into Oman but then the challenge came
into Oman but then the challenge came how do I pay for this expedition most
how do I pay for this expedition most
how do I pay for this expedition most people think that I must be rich or that
people think that I must be rich or that
people think that I must be rich or that I’m just this young blond American girl
I’m just this young blond American girl
I’m just this young blond American girl leisurely travelling the world not
leisurely travelling the world not
leisurely travelling the world not having to do a single day of work but
having to do a single day of work but
having to do a single day of work but they couldn’t be more wrong I didn’t
they couldn’t be more wrong I didn’t
they couldn’t be more wrong I didn’t grow up in a family with a lot of money
grow up in a family with a lot of money
grow up in a family with a lot of money in fact I had to put myself through
in fact I had to put myself through
in fact I had to put myself through college and I wasn’t able to finish my
college and I wasn’t able to finish my
college and I wasn’t able to finish my degree because I couldn’t afford it so
degree because I couldn’t afford it so
degree because I couldn’t afford it so with I knew that with this expedition
with I knew that with this expedition
with I knew that with this expedition I’d have to find creative ways with
I’d have to find creative ways with
I’d have to find creative ways with having to figure out how to fund it I
having to figure out how to fund it I
having to figure out how to fund it I spent countless hours developing
spent countless hours developing
spent countless hours developing business plans finding financial backers
business plans finding financial backers
business plans finding financial backers vlogging filming an educational
vlogging filming an educational
vlogging filming an educational documentary so that I could pay for it
documentary so that I could pay for it
documentary so that I could pay for it all on my own
all on my own
all on my own remember the time and effort it took you
remember the time and effort it took you
remember the time and effort it took you to plan your last vacation now imagine
to plan your last vacation now imagine
to plan your last vacation now imagine doing it 196 times and all on your own
doing it 196 times and all on your own
doing it 196 times and all on your own what I thought would take me six months
what I thought would take me six months
what I thought would take me six months to plan actually took me three years so
to plan actually took me three years so
to plan actually took me three years so what was it like in four words it was
what was it like in four words it was
what was it like in four words it was exhilarating it was exhausting it was
exhilarating it was exhausting it was
exhilarating it was exhausting it was scary and it was eye-opening whether
scary and it was eye-opening whether
scary and it was eye-opening whether you’ve been to five countries or a
you’ve been to five countries or a
you’ve been to five countries or a hundred and fifty you probably have your
hundred and fifty you probably have your
hundred and fifty you probably have your own personal unique
own personal unique
own personal unique related to each place we all have our
related to each place we all have our
related to each place we all have our own way of traveling and discovering a
own way of traveling and discovering a
own way of traveling and discovering a culture and it doesn’t matter what you
culture and it doesn’t matter what you
culture and it doesn’t matter what you see or where you go what matters is your
see or where you go what matters is your
see or where you go what matters is your own experience while you’re there some
own experience while you’re there some
own experience while you’re there some people think that only spending a week
people think that only spending a week
people think that only spending a week or an hour in a country doesn’t allow
or an hour in a country doesn’t allow
or an hour in a country doesn’t allow you enough time to see it but if there’s
you enough time to see it but if there’s
you enough time to see it but if there’s one thing I know to be true it’s that
one thing I know to be true it’s that
one thing I know to be true it’s that just one brief experience can shape your
just one brief experience can shape your
just one brief experience can shape your whole life it was 11 p.m. on a Saturday
whole life it was 11 p.m. on a Saturday
whole life it was 11 p.m. on a Saturday night when I arrived in Cuba after
night when I arrived in Cuba after
night when I arrived in Cuba after traveling 12 miles in the taxi I
traveling 12 miles in the taxi I
traveling 12 miles in the taxi I realized I only had $20 cash on me
realized I only had $20 cash on me
realized I only had $20 cash on me Cuba didn’t accept US debit or credit
Cuba didn’t accept US debit or credit
Cuba didn’t accept US debit or credit cards so when I got to the hotel I was
cards so when I got to the hotel I was
cards so when I got to the hotel I was unable to pay the hotel or the taxi
unable to pay the hotel or the taxi
unable to pay the hotel or the taxi driver I was so ashamed of the mistake
driver I was so ashamed of the mistake
driver I was so ashamed of the mistake that I’d made I rarely cry but that
that I’d made I rarely cry but that
that I’d made I rarely cry but that night I just sat on the side of the road
night I just sat on the side of the road
night I just sat on the side of the road and completely broke down the taxi
and completely broke down the taxi
and completely broke down the taxi driver came over to me and said
driver came over to me and said
driver came over to me and said something like yo tengo tres aha see on
something like yo tengo tres aha see on
something like yo tengo tres aha see on tienda VNL and with my broken Spanish I
tienda VNL and with my broken Spanish I
tienda VNL and with my broken Spanish I understood that to be something like I
understood that to be something like I
understood that to be something like I have three daughters I’d hate for them
have three daughters I’d hate for them
have three daughters I’d hate for them to be in your position you can come stay
to be in your position you can come stay
to be in your position you can come stay with my family for the night
with my family for the night
with my family for the night at first I refused but then sheepishly
at first I refused but then sheepishly
at first I refused but then sheepishly agreed I didn’t know what his wife would
agreed I didn’t know what his wife would
agreed I didn’t know what his wife would think of him bringing home a young blond
think of him bringing home a young blond
think of him bringing home a young blond American girl at midnight but when we
American girl at midnight but when we
American girl at midnight but when we arrived to their little concrete home
arrived to their little concrete home
arrived to their little concrete home she greeted me with a kiss on the cheek
she greeted me with a kiss on the cheek
she greeted me with a kiss on the cheek and made the bed for me it wasn’t until
and made the bed for me it wasn’t until
and made the bed for me it wasn’t until the next morning when I saw her sleeping
the next morning when I saw her sleeping
the next morning when I saw her sleeping on a one-inch thick foam pad on the
on a one-inch thick foam pad on the
on a one-inch thick foam pad on the kitchen floor with a floral sheet draped
kitchen floor with a floral sheet draped
kitchen floor with a floral sheet draped over her she had given me her own bed to
over her she had given me her own bed to
over her she had given me her own bed to sleep in I had experiences like this
sleep in I had experiences like this
sleep in I had experiences like this over a hundred and ninety-six times I
over a hundred and ninety-six times I
over a hundred and ninety-six times I have just a taste of what every country
have just a taste of what every country
have just a taste of what every country in the world is like which for most
in the world is like which for most
in the world is like which for most people is unimaginable I know that
people is unimaginable I know that
people is unimaginable I know that non-muslim women can enter Saudi Arabia
non-muslim women can enter Saudi Arabia
non-muslim women can enter Saudi Arabia alone and without covering their heads I
alone and without covering their heads I
alone and without covering their heads I know that you can swim with whales in
know that you can swim with whales in
know that you can swim with whales in Tonga
Tonga
Tonga and that you can cross the Drake Passage
and that you can cross the Drake Passage
and that you can cross the Drake Passage to Antarctica and 60 mile-per-hour winds
to Antarctica and 60 mile-per-hour winds
to Antarctica and 60 mile-per-hour winds and 30-foot waves only to find
and 30-foot waves only to find
and 30-foot waves only to find tranquility and penguins on the other
tranquility and penguins on the other
tranquility and penguins on the other side these experiences will forever
side these experiences will forever
side these experiences will forever shape my view of the world
shape my view of the world
shape my view of the world but while this expedition was
but while this expedition was
but while this expedition was exhilarating it was also quite
exhilarating it was also quite
exhilarating it was also quite exhausting
exhausting
exhausting I spoke to over 16,000 students on
I spoke to over 16,000 students on
I spoke to over 16,000 students on countless issues
countless issues
countless issues I collected water samples and planted
I collected water samples and planted
I collected water samples and planted trees to offset my carbon footprint
trees to offset my carbon footprint
trees to offset my carbon footprint I met with mayors and ministers and
I met with mayors and ministers and
I met with mayors and ministers and filmed an educational documentary and I
filmed an educational documentary and I
filmed an educational documentary and I used social media as a means to showcase
used social media as a means to showcase
used social media as a means to showcase the beauty of countries around the world
the beauty of countries around the world
the beauty of countries around the world and encourage others to travel in ways
and encourage others to travel in ways
and encourage others to travel in ways that they never have before but what you
that they never have before but what you
that they never have before but what you don’t see on Instagram it’s the constant
don’t see on Instagram it’s the constant
don’t see on Instagram it’s the constant exhaustion of working 15 hour days or
exhaustion of working 15 hour days or
exhaustion of working 15 hour days or the raw fear that I felt I was a woman
the raw fear that I felt I was a woman
the raw fear that I felt I was a woman traveling alone and many countries that
traveling alone and many countries that
traveling alone and many countries that I travel to were either
I travel to were either
I travel to were either inaccessible or dangerous or both
inaccessible or dangerous or both
inaccessible or dangerous or both imagine arriving to border control at
imagine arriving to border control at
imagine arriving to border control at 2:00 in the morning in Mogadishu Somalia
2:00 in the morning in Mogadishu Somalia
2:00 in the morning in Mogadishu Somalia and then getting into an armed vehicle
and then getting into an armed vehicle
and then getting into an armed vehicle surrounded by pickup trucks filled with
surrounded by pickup trucks filled with
surrounded by pickup trucks filled with men with machine guns then imagine
men with machine guns then imagine
men with machine guns then imagine passing through four security gates just
passing through four security gates just
passing through four security gates just to get to the comp compound and then
to get to the comp compound and then
to get to the comp compound and then them showing you to your room and then
them showing you to your room and then
them showing you to your room and then nonchalantly pointing out the safe room
nonchalantly pointing out the safe room
nonchalantly pointing out the safe room where you go in case you hear an
where you go in case you hear an
where you go in case you hear an explosion I wasn’t sure if I’d be able
explosion I wasn’t sure if I’d be able
explosion I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to tell my family if I’d be coming home
to tell my family if I’d be coming home
to tell my family if I’d be coming home or when and we all knew that it was a
or when and we all knew that it was a
or when and we all knew that it was a possibility that I wouldn’t make it back
possibility that I wouldn’t make it back
possibility that I wouldn’t make it back safely but I wouldn’t trade these
safely but I wouldn’t trade these
safely but I wouldn’t trade these experiences for the world they were hard
experiences for the world they were hard
experiences for the world they were hard and scary yes but I discovered the
and scary yes but I discovered the
and scary yes but I discovered the goodness and people all around the world
goodness and people all around the world
goodness and people all around the world because of my expedition I’ve been
because of my expedition I’ve been
because of my expedition I’ve been featured in tons of new channels around
featured in tons of new channels around
featured in tons of new channels around the world and hundreds of thousands of
the world and hundreds of thousands of
the world and hundreds of thousands of newspapers magazines and articles and
newspapers magazines and articles and
newspapers magazines and articles and when I only have 30 seconds to answer
when I only have 30 seconds to answer
when I only have 30 seconds to answer the why question this is what I tell
the why question this is what I tell
the why question this is what I tell them I saw the opportunity to make
them I saw the opportunity to make
them I saw the opportunity to make history by breaking a speed record I
history by breaking a speed record I
history by breaking a speed record I wanted to break down misconceptions
wanted to break down misconceptions
wanted to break down misconceptions about women and
about women and
about women and as a triathlete I wanted to test my
as a triathlete I wanted to test my
as a triathlete I wanted to test my physical and mental endurance while also
physical and mental endurance while also
physical and mental endurance while also experiencing as much of the world as
experiencing as much of the world as
experiencing as much of the world as possible I wanted to inspire others and
possible I wanted to inspire others and
possible I wanted to inspire others and enhance the world we live in and leave a
enhance the world we live in and leave a
enhance the world we live in and leave a positive legacy behind and while all of
positive legacy behind and while all of
positive legacy behind and while all of that is true
that is true
that is true this expedition actually started from a
this expedition actually started from a
this expedition actually started from a much darker place at the age of 13 I
much darker place at the age of 13 I
much darker place at the age of 13 I started feeling like something was off
started feeling like something was off
started feeling like something was off but I was never able to pinpoint it I
but I was never able to pinpoint it I
but I was never able to pinpoint it I didn’t know why I was having these
didn’t know why I was having these
didn’t know why I was having these negative thoughts or these feelings of
negative thoughts or these feelings of
negative thoughts or these feelings of unexplained sadness so I just ignored
unexplained sadness so I just ignored
unexplained sadness so I just ignored them as though they didn’t exist and at
them as though they didn’t exist and at
them as though they didn’t exist and at the age of 21 I traveled with my brother
the age of 21 I traveled with my brother
the age of 21 I traveled with my brother for a month and he began to notice this
for a month and he began to notice this
for a month and he began to notice this unusual pattern of melancholy he
unusual pattern of melancholy he
unusual pattern of melancholy he blatantly asked me Cassie are you
blatantly asked me Cassie are you
blatantly asked me Cassie are you depressed I became so defensive
depressed I became so defensive
depressed I became so defensive I completely diverted from him and again
I completely diverted from him and again
I completely diverted from him and again just shoved these feelings aside I spent
just shoved these feelings aside I spent
just shoved these feelings aside I spent the next two years running away from my
the next two years running away from my
the next two years running away from my own truth but those thoughts never seem
own truth but those thoughts never seem
own truth but those thoughts never seem to go away and in 2014 I was casted for
to go away and in 2014 I was casted for
to go away and in 2014 I was casted for a reality TV show called naked and
a reality TV show called naked and
a reality TV show called naked and afraid
the show appears two strangers together
the show appears two strangers together to survive naked in the wilderness for
to survive naked in the wilderness for
to survive naked in the wilderness for 21 days I’ve never been on TV before and
21 days I’ve never been on TV before and
21 days I’ve never been on TV before and I saw this as an exciting opportunity to
I saw this as an exciting opportunity to
I saw this as an exciting opportunity to pull myself up but I was not prepared
pull myself up but I was not prepared
pull myself up but I was not prepared for what came next the editing made me
for what came next the editing made me
for what came next the editing made me look like a useless villain and worse
look like a useless villain and worse
look like a useless villain and worse viewers agreed I received hundreds of
viewers agreed I received hundreds of
viewers agreed I received hundreds of thousands of hate messages and death
thousands of hate messages and death
thousands of hate messages and death threats and still do to this very day I
threats and still do to this very day I
threats and still do to this very day I didn’t know why so many people hated me
didn’t know why so many people hated me
didn’t know why so many people hated me or what I’d done wrong when I just tried
or what I’d done wrong when I just tried
or what I’d done wrong when I just tried to do my very best I didn’t know what to
to do my very best I didn’t know what to
to do my very best I didn’t know what to do next so I moved out to Los Angeles
do next so I moved out to Los Angeles
do next so I moved out to Los Angeles and picked up two babysitting jobs
and picked up two babysitting jobs
and picked up two babysitting jobs working 85 hours a week just to make
working 85 hours a week just to make
working 85 hours a week just to make ends meet
ends meet
ends meet eventually I hit rock bottom
eventually I hit rock bottom
eventually I hit rock bottom and I felt like I had nothing else in me
and I felt like I had nothing else in me
and I felt like I had nothing else in me i sat on the cliffside in Malibu and
i sat on the cliffside in Malibu and
i sat on the cliffside in Malibu and wondered if me being alive had any
wondered if me being alive had any
wondered if me being alive had any positive impact on society but then I
positive impact on society but then I
positive impact on society but then I asked myself the question if I could do
asked myself the question if I could do
asked myself the question if I could do anything what would it be
anything what would it be
anything what would it be travel I still had feelings of
travel I still had feelings of
travel I still had feelings of melancholy and unexplained sadness
melancholy and unexplained sadness
melancholy and unexplained sadness throughout the expedition but at least I
throughout the expedition but at least I
throughout the expedition but at least I had a reason to learn how to manage it
had a reason to learn how to manage it
had a reason to learn how to manage it or attempt to overcome it but about a
or attempt to overcome it but about a
or attempt to overcome it but about a quarter of the way through the
quarter of the way through the
quarter of the way through the expedition I ran out of money and I
expedition I ran out of money and I
expedition I ran out of money and I consider quitting and I realized I could
consider quitting and I realized I could
consider quitting and I realized I could not leave my commitments behind my
not leave my commitments behind my
not leave my commitments behind my commitments to my sponsors to my family
commitments to my sponsors to my family
commitments to my sponsors to my family to my supporters to everyone and I had
to my supporters to everyone and I had
to my supporters to everyone and I had to finish what I started when you’re at
to finish what I started when you’re at
to finish what I started when you’re at that very last moment and everything
that very last moment and everything
that very last moment and everything around you is caving in what’s that one
around you is caving in what’s that one
around you is caving in what’s that one thing
thing
thing that’ll pull you out for me that thing
that’ll pull you out for me that thing
that’ll pull you out for me that thing was was travel and it ended up being a
was was travel and it ended up being a
was was travel and it ended up being a beautiful and life-changing experience
beautiful and life-changing experience
beautiful and life-changing experience we are given these magnificent minds and
we are given these magnificent minds and
we are given these magnificent minds and these powerful bodies and it doesn’t
these powerful bodies and it doesn’t
these powerful bodies and it doesn’t matter where you come from your monetary
matter where you come from your monetary
matter where you come from your monetary status your religion your age how others
status your religion your age how others
status your religion your age how others judge you what your friends or family
judge you what your friends or family
judge you what your friends or family say you can or can’t do it doesn’t even
say you can or can’t do it doesn’t even
say you can or can’t do it doesn’t even matter what your dreams are none of that
matter what your dreams are none of that
matter what your dreams are none of that matters what matters is your truth
matters what matters is your truth
matters what matters is your truth you’re either here on this earth for one
you’re either here on this earth for one
you’re either here on this earth for one more hour or you’re here for 100 more
more hour or you’re here for 100 more
more hour or you’re here for 100 more years but the beauty is you’ll never
years but the beauty is you’ll never
years but the beauty is you’ll never know
know
know so like female record-breaker Amelia
so like female record-breaker Amelia
so like female record-breaker Amelia Earhart said the most effective way to
Earhart said the most effective way to
Earhart said the most effective way to do it is to do it nothing else matters
do it is to do it nothing else matters
do it is to do it nothing else matters but the next step you take and the
but the next step you take and the
but the next step you take and the respect and growth that you owe to
respect and growth that you owe to
respect and growth that you owe to yourself so find that one thing that
yourself so find that one thing that
yourself so find that one thing that brings you just a little bit of
brings you just a little bit of
brings you just a little bit of excitement and devote yourself to it a
excitement and devote yourself to it a
excitement and devote yourself to it a hundred and fifty percent in my
hundred and fifty percent in my
hundred and fifty percent in my experience you won’t regret it
experience you won’t regret it
experience you won’t regret it thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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