Discovering Joy and Meaning Across Oceans and Cultures with Alison Gieschen

Welcome, Late Boomers! We're Cathy Worthington and Merry Elkins, and this week, we set sail on a truly transformational journey with Alison Gieschen—author, former horse farm owner, educator, and intrepid world sailor. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to leave everything behind and follow a lifelong dream? In this inspiring episode, Alison shares how she dared to reinvent her life, selling her horse farm and embarking on an adventure with her husband to sail around the world. From the lush hills of upstate New York to the remote islands of French Polynesia, Alison opens up about her life's boldest moves, the storms she’s weathered—physically and emotionally—and how it all fuels her work as a writer. We dive deep into Alison’s bestselling books, The Seven and A Mermaid’s Tale, the profound lessons she’s learned traveling to over 49 countries, and the universal themes of courage, culture, and resilience that weave through her stories. You'll also hear incredible anecdotes, like surviving life-threatening storms at sea, encounters with solo sailors, and how her lifelong love of horses continues to inspire her writing—even while anchored in paradise. Key Takeaways Reinvention Is Possible at Any Age: Alison’s journey from horse farmer to global sailor proves it's never too late to answer the call of adventure. Facing and Managing Fear: Learn how Alison turned fear into fuel, surviving tumultuous ocean storms and emerging with a deeper understanding of her own resilience. The Transformative Power of Travel: Discover how experiencing different cultures shaped Alison's worldview and the authentic characters in her novels. Writing from Life: Hear how personal stories, hardships (like her son’s bullying), and the solace of animals are woven into her fiction and children’s books. Simplicity Breeds Joy: Alison discusses the happiness she’s witnessed in communities with few material possessions, offering a powerful message for all of us in the West. Finding Community on the Water: Even in the vastness of the ocean, Alison found deep connection and camaraderie with fellow sailors from around the world. Actionable Inspiration for Listeners: Alison encourages everyone to carve out distraction-free time to pursue creativity—and to be brave enough to make the leap toward that “someday” dream. Ready to be inspired for your own third act—or maybe just to ignite your curiosity about life’s possibilities? We invite you to: Subscribe to Late Boomers wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify, etc.) so you never miss these empowering conversations. Check out Alison Gieschen’s books, especially The Seven, A Mermaid’s Tale, Sienna, Riding the Waves of Reality, Blue Ridge, and The Legend of Altor—perfect whether you’re a horse lover, adventurer, or in need of a dose of hope. Visit our website at lateboomers.us for more inspiring content and to get in touch. Share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement to take that leap into their own new chapter. Remember, it’s never too late to reinvent, to set your course in a new direction, and to live your adventure with style, power, and impact. Stay curious. Stay bold. And join us next week for another episode of Late Boomers! With love, Cathy & Merry Thank you for listening. Please check out @lateboomers on Instagram and our website https://lateboomers.us/ . If you enjoyed this podcast and would like to watch it or listen to more of our episodes, you will find Late Boomers on your favorite podcast platform and on our new YouTube Channel:    / @lateboomerspodcast