The Atlas Obscura Podcast · Friday, September 4, 2026
Thor Pedersen found that the most impactful memories from his nearly decade-long journey visiting every country without flying were not the complex achievements, but the conversations he had with people. He emphasized the importance of listening to individuals to gain understanding, contrasting this with the often negative portrayal of the world in media.
“But I don't remember them. But I do remember the conversations I've had with people. And especially when I was listening to people, that sits really strongly with me.”
“The bigger picture is that people are just people and, you know, they eat food and they dance and they update social media and they fall in love and play football and all this stuff.”