Learn what inspired Thor’s impossible journey and why he now believes a stranger is a friend you’ve never met before. Thor Pedersen shares the remarkable story behind his decision to try and become the first person to visit every country in the world without flying in a single unbroken journey. He explains how his experiences as a UN peacekeeper in Eritrea and Ethiopia, living in Libya, and working in global logistics shaped his outlook before embarking on what he thought would be a four-year adventure that ultimately lasted nearly a decade. Thor also recounts unforgettable experiences traveling on cargo ships, reflects on the profound impact of crossing borders and connecting with strangers around the world, and opens up about the heartbreaking moment in Libya that forever changed the way he thinks about global inequality, migration, and our shared humanity.
398: Visiting Every Country Without Flying: Thor Pedersen on Borders, Strangers & Human Connection
Episode Summary
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About the Guest

Thor Pedersen
Thor Pedersen is a Danish adventurer who in 2023 became the first person to visit every country in the world in one unbroken journey without flying. What became an epic 10 year journey began in October 2013 with these simple rules: reach every country on Earth without boarding an airplane or returning home, and spend no less than 24 hours in each country. Traveling by cargo ship, train, bus, and overland routes, Thor navigated closed borders, logistical challenges, and even a multi-year delay during the COVID-19 pandemic all to prove that extraordinary goals can be achieved through persistence, patience, and human connection. Throughout the expedition, Thor also served as a goodwill ambassador for the Red Cross, visiting the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in 190 countries while raising funds and awareness for humanitarian work around the world. His story is told in his international bestselling book “The Impossible Journey”, which was just published in 2025, and through a new documentary that is screening in October 2026 at the Extraordinary Travel Fest.
What You'll Learn
- Why Thor set out to visit every country without flying—and the philosophy that sustained his journey.
- How crossing borders and witnessing the hospitality of strangers reshaped his understanding of humanity.
- What Thor’s experiences reveal about global inequality, migration, and our shared human connection.
Links From the Episode
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LOCATIONS WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
- Matt: Asheville, North Carolina
- Thor: Copenhagen (Denmark)
BAND MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
COMMUNITY MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
LANGUAGE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Africa
- Asmara (Ethiopia)
- Arctic Sweden
- Bangladesh
- Bulgaria
- Cairo (Egypt)
- Caribbean Islands
- Denmark
- Eritrea (Ethiopia)
- Europe
- Finland
- Florida
- Greenland
- Kuala Lumpur
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Malta
- New Jersey
- New York
- North America
- Poland
- Reykjavik (Iceland)
- Sahara
- South America
- Sudan
- Suwałki (Lithuania)
- Tokyo
- Toronto (Canada)
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Vancouver (Canada)
- Venezuela
- Yemen
Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[0:47] Introducing Thor Pedersen
[3:00] Growing up and Developing His Passion for Travel and Adventure
[4:25] Being deployed to Eritrea and Ethiopia as a UN Peacekeeper
[9:15] Running a Marathon in Eritrea
[12:44] The Impact of the African Peacekeeping Mission on Thor
[14:08] Working in Shipping and Logistics Around the World
[16:13] Living in Libya for 2 Years
[20:49] The Psychology of Impossible Goals
[23:36] Planning the Impossible Journey
[29:03] Traveling from Iceland to Canada on a Container Ship
[35:12] Traveling from Venezuela to Trinidad & Tobago
[43:51] A Stranger is a Friend You’ve Never Met Before
[52:27] A Traumatic Day on the Beach in Libya
[1:02:07] Meeting a Syrian Refugee Family in Switzerland
[1:04:27] Reflections on Borders and Global Inequality
[1:05:52] Contact and Follow Thor