BONUS EPISODE: The 12-Hour Walk

Could you walk for 12 hours straight with no phone, no music, and no distractions? That's exactly what I'm planning to do this Sunday, October 5th, 2025 to celebrate my 57th birthday, and I'm inviting you along for the journey – metaphorically speaking.

After listening to an interview with Colin O'Brady on The Next Big Idea Podcast, I was captivated by his 12-hour walk concept. The premise is beautifully simple: walk out your door and just keep walking for 12 hours, leaving behind all digital distractions. It's not about the distance covered or the calories burned – it's about creating space for uninterrupted thought and presence. As someone deep in what I've been calling my "midlife reset," this challenge resonates perfectly with my quest for clarity and mindful living.

What I love most about this challenge is how adaptable it is. While I'm planning to do it without technology, you might prefer to bring your dog, stop for meals, or even incorporate short breaks. The essence isn't in following strict rules but in giving yourself the gift of extended presence. For me, this walk represents the culmination of themes I've been exploring on the Mango Times – adventure, reimagining possibilities at midlife, and the power of being fully present.

Have I piqued your curiosity? I'd love for you to try your own version of this challenge – whether for 12 hours or whatever duration pushes your boundaries – and share your experience with me. Your story might even feature in a future episode where I discuss my experience! Text me using the contact information in the show notes, and let's explore how something as simple as walking can transform our perspective. 

And remember, when you get out there, don't forget to quietly make some noise.

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Guest Information
No Guest - All Fletch

Resources and Links
The Next Big Idea Podcast - The 12-Hour Walk with Colin O'Brady
Season 4, Episode 25: Why A Walk Might Be The Most Spiritual Thing You Do

Music used in this episode:
- Take Your Time by Dan Lebowitz

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introducing the 12-Hour Walk Challenge
• 1:07 Origins and Concept Explanation
• 2:14 My Personal Approach to the Walk
• 3:10 Invitation to Join and Share Stories
• 4:21 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

Free audio post production by Alphoniccom. Hey, it's Fletch and I'm popping on here for a bonus episode of the Mango Times podcast. This isn't a full episode. I just wanted to share a little bit about what I'm up to this next weekend and see if you want to join me. On Sunday, october 5th, I'm setting out for a 12-hour walk. Now, 12-hour walk. What are you doing, fletch? Hey, this started earlier this summer.

Speaker 1: 0:34

In my prep for my trip to Montana, I was listening to the Next Big Idea podcast and I heard an interview with Colin O'Brady. Now, this guy's story is amazing. I'm not going to tell you about it here on this episode. I'm just going to point you to that podcast so you can hear the story. But part of it is he has been encouraging people to do a 12-hour walk.

Speaker 1: 1:00

Now what is that? It's so simple. You walk out your door and you walk for 12 hours. The concept is easy no phone, no music, no distractions, no podcasts, no books on audio, just walking and thinking. So you can guess why this appealed to me. This was essentially the idea of my trip to Montana. I just wanted time to think. But this is concentrated 12 hours of time walking.

Speaker 1: 1:33

Now do you need to go hiking? Do you need to go off in the woods? You know I have people. Every time I tell someone I'm doing this, they tell me how to do it better. It's just a walk. It's just a 12-hour walk. Get out, be by yourself and think through it Now. Do you want to be a purist and do it that way? Do you want to take music? Do you want to walk with your dog? Do whatever you want. That's the best part of life is you don't have to do the exact same thing Fletch is doing or that Colin did. Do what you want. I'm purposely leaving my house and choosing a direction left to right and I'm just going to start walking and 12 hours later I'll be done. My motivation is the same as it has been. I'm trying to be more present in my life. I'm trying to do this midlife reset. I'm trying to do this midlife reset. I'm trying to find clarity. I mean, this really connects with a lot of what I've been talking about in the Mango Times over the last couple months. It's about adventure, it's about midlife reimagining, and so that's what I'm doing.

Speaker 1: 2:41

October 5th I decided to do it for my 57th birthday, which is coming up that week just to get out and reset for 12 hours. It's not about the miles I accomplish, it's not about exercise. It's about 12 hours walking. I mean, I'm planning on taking breaks. I'm planning, on wherever I am, stopping and grabbing a meal and then continuing my walk. I'm not even sure I'm going to loop back home. I might need to call my wife and say, come pick me up. This is where I am.

Speaker 1: 3:13

So I'm not asking you to join me on my route. I'm not even asking you to do the same thing I'm doing. I'm just asking you, and I'd love for you to try your own version of this. It doesn't even have to be Sunday the 5th, but pick a day, unplug and walk, whether it's 12 hours or just a stretch. That would challenge you.

Speaker 1: 3:37

Go do it and then do me a favor and send your story to me. I would love to talk to you about it on this podcast. It would be great to do follow-up, bonus episodes about what you did for your 12-hour walk or your whatever. So you know how to reach me. Just slide down in your show notes, send, fletch a text and tell me what you might want to do Now. I'm planning on sharing my reflections in a future episode, and I would love to include yours as well. So send me a text, let me know what you're doing. Or just send me a text and say, fletch, you're crazy, and maybe this will end up in a future episode that we can all tie together. All right, in the meantime, when you get out there, don't forget to quietly make some noise.