Episode #17: Running the World’s Highest Marathon, Racing a Rickshaw Across India, and Finding Your Purpose with Tarek Kholoussy

Episode Summary

Tarek Kholoussy tells his story of growing up in Philadelphia, going to top academic institutions, and working in world leading financial institutions in New York and London until one day he decided to completely change his life course. He explains what inspired him to quit his job and travel the world, having now been to 100 countries before the age of 40. He shares stories about his epic adventures including racing a rickshaw across India and taking a matatu across Kenya and illegally crossing the border into Uganda by accident. He also shares stories about the humanity, thoughtfulness and authentic warmth he encountered from local people in country after country. He then explains how he began setting physical fitness goals and started pushing his body to the next level by running 25 marathons around the world. Those included the world’s highest marathon at Mount Everest Basecamp, two ultra (double) marathons, and running 16 marathons in 16 months across 13 countries. He then talks about his true passion of supporting socially sustainable initiatives that empower marginalized and impoverished communities around the world. He explains how and why he decided to found Nomads Giving Back, a social enterprise which creates awareness and opportunities for nomads and travelers to give back in a manner that supports and empowers local communities. And finally he concludes by sharing his tips on how everyone can begin finding and pursuing their own purpose in life.

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What You'll Learn

How to push yourself beyond your perceived limits
The real value of world travel
How to find your life’s purpose

Links From the Episode

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LOCATION WHERE THE EPISODE WAS RECORDED:

Porto de Galinhas, Brazil

BOOK TAREK RECOMMENDS:

The Untethered Soul

APP TAREK RECOMMENDS:

TAREK’S TOP 3 TRAVEL DESTINATIONS:

TAREK’S TOP 3 BUCKET LIST TRAVEL DESTINATIONS:

OTHER PLACES MENTIONED

Check Flight Prices to Any of These Destinations

PUBLIC FIGURES WITH WHOM TAREK WOULD MOST LIKE TO HAVE DINNER

EVENT MENTIONED:

Nomad Cruise

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE TAREK FOUNDED:

FOLLOW TAREK ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

Instagram

Time Stamped Show Notes

[03:09] TAREK’S PATH FROM THE CORPRORATE WORLD TO DIGITAL NOMAD

Losing his job and feeling vulnerable
Living through the financial collapse of 2007
How his social consciousness was raised through travel
Wanting to leave the corporate world to make a difference in in the real world
The serendipitous moment that made him decide to change his life.

[12:50] TAREK’S PATH TO START RUNNING MARATHONS AND DOUBLE MARATHONS

From running a 5K to a half-marathon
From running a marathon to a double marathon
Running 25 marathons around the world
Running the world’s highest marathon at Mount Everest Base Camp
Tips on Fitness Conditioning and Training For Increasing Your Running Distance
The social impact and motivation for running the Bali Ultra-Marathon
Personal growth through marathon running

[24:50] TAREK’S TRAVEL ADVENTURES

Racing a rickshaw 4,000 kilometers across India
Lessons from Tarek’s rickshaw breaking down 20 times during the race
Creating meaningful social media connections with locals around the world
Discussing the cultural diversity in India
Describing the Golden Temple in Punjab, India
Matt’s experience celebrating Diwali in Amritsar, Pubjab
Tarek’s experience spending Easter in Sicily
Matt’s experience when his sister came to visit him in Cairo, Egypt
Dispelling myths about some travel destinations that are perceived as ‘dangerous’.
Matt’s experience in Kenya and Uganda

[41:29] TAREK’S SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA EXPERIENCES

Volunteering with Kiva micro-finance initiatives in Kenya
Taking the matatu across Kenya
Crossing the Ugandan land border illegally
Taking the matatu to the source of the Nile river in Jinja, Uganda
Mahatma Gandhi’s connection to Uganda

[41:21] FOUNDING “NOMADS GIVING BACK”

How giving back makes Tarek feel more alive
How giving back helps people lead more meaningful lives
The mission and vision of “Nomads Giving Back”

[52:50] THE LIGHTNING ROUND

The #1 book Tarek recommends
The #1 app Tarek recommends
The top two people with whom Tarek would most like to have dinner
The top piece of advice Tarek would give to his 20-year old self
Tarek’s top 3 recommended travel destinations
Tarek’s top 3 bucket list destinations
Tarek’s top 2 tips for finding your purpose in life

[1:03:08] CONTACTING TAREK

Website
Social Media Handles

About the Guest

Tarek Kholoussy

Tarek Kholoussy identifies as a “recovering corporate guy”. He left his high level corporate finance job at age 35 to start traveling the world and finding his purpose. With an undergraduate degree from Georgetown, a Master’s from NYU, and years of work experience at world-leading financial-services organizations in both New York and London, Tarek had reached financial independence from work but was unfulfilled. Having saved and invested enough money to cover his basic living expenses with passive income, Tarek left the corporate world and has since travelled to 100 countries, run 25 marathons, had epic adventures, and has turned his focus towards his true passion of supporting socially sustainable initiatives that empower marginalized and impoverished communities around the world. He is the founder of Nomads Giving Back, a social enterprise which is to create awareness and opportunities for nomads and travelers to give back to the communities we call home away from home in a manner that supports and empowers local communities.