Trapped at Sea: Surviving a Shipwreck and Spending 10 Years Sailing the World (Against Her Will) With Suzanne Heywood

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What happens when one person’s dream adventure is forced onto their family? Today’s episode is, in many ways, a cautionary tale to remind us of the importance of considering your travel companions’ needs, especially when they’re children.

At seven years old, Suzanne Heywood’s father took their family on a dangerous sailing expedition, recreating Captain Cook’s perilous third voyage around the world. While it was supposed to last three years, it ended up taking 10. 

In her memoir Wavewalker: Breaking Free, she shares her experience of growing up at sea, being unable to receive an education, surviving a shipwreck, and eventually making it back to the UK and to university.

In this episode, Suzanne shares a captivating story of resilience. We talk about some of the traumatic experiences she faced, including the shipwreck that led to severe head injuries just six months into their voyage (with no medical care on board). We talk about why she feels she was denied a childhood and the implications of this journey on her life and family. 

Have you been planning a family or group adventure? What did you take away from this conversation? I’d love to hear your thoughts and hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

Suzanne Heywood inside the WavewalkerSuzanne Heywood - Wavewalker

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Tune In To Learn:

  • The problem with over-romanticizing taking children on extreme journeys
  • Why her parents didn’t want her to share her experience and how the book has been liberating
  • How she survived a shipwreck and why she considers “the wave” a defining moment for the trip 
  • How her experience was significantly different than her brother’s
  • Why she was denied an education and how her family relationships deteriorated
  • What led to her finally being able to break free from her situation
  • How you can make a huge difference in someone’s life through small actions
  • How the experience has affected her parenting and career
  • What you need to consider when setting off on an adventure with others 
  • And so much more

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