Rowing Across Limits: Risk, Resilience & Insurance at the Edge of the World

Show notes

What happens when there is no safety net

Eduardo D’Alma speaks with Julen Sánchez, who crossed the Atlantic Ocean alone and by human power only. 9,200 kilometres over 131 days at sea.

They talk about what it takes to prepare for uncertainty when outcomes cannot be predicted, how discipline and mental resilience are built long before things get difficult, and what extreme environments reveal about responsibility, endurance and focus on process rather than results.

The conversation goes beyond the expedition itself. It explores how decisions are made under pressure, how people cope when control is limited, and why preparation often becomes the only reliable anchor in uncertain conditions.

What you will hear in this episode • How Julen prepared for an expedition where failure had real consequences • What living without a safety net does to decision-making and focus • How preparation, discipline and repetition shape resilience over time • How to stay committed to the process when progress stalls • What extreme uncertainty reveals about responsibility and performance • Why mental resilience is built long before it is tested • What can be learned from environments where control is limited

Key theme When uncertainty becomes real, outcomes cannot be guaranteed. What remains is preparation, discipline and the ability to stay focused on what can still be influenced.

Guest Julen Sánchez Extreme Athlete Sports Psychologist Author & Speaker

Host Eduardo D’Alma Partner, Wavestone

Further links & references Julen Sánchez – Zero‑Emission Adventures (Website) https://zerow-emission.org

Podcast appearance: Helden der Meere https://open.spotify.com/episode/7n5njkOWvbA1mreXnfYKn2?si=_G1GmneOQJiUZiHSHG5rdw

RTL feature on Julen Sánchez (YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRVc7F7zMa0