Walking across America: Nate Damm at TEDxClaremontColleges

Nate Damm packed his bags in Delaware and started walking west. 7.5 months later, he stepped into the Pacific Ocean in San Francisco. Nate's talk centers on the idea that something as simple as walking a little bit more can bring long lasting change to our lives.
About TEDx:
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.
Credits:
Editors: Ian St. Lawrence and Jacqueline Legazcue
Camera crew: Jacqueline Legazcue, Sam Jones and Ted Neckar

[@claymateme2024]

I leave tomorrow, Detroit to Seattle... wish me luck!! 😰

[@Alexb72219]

how'd it go

[@jeevzthegod]

Wilhelm Frosch did you make it how’d it go it’s been 11 months !

[@Alexb72219]

Let the record show Wilhelm Frosch still has not responded

[@jeevzthegod]

Alex Barsamian he’s dead

[@fukotakahashi1841]

jeevz AHAAAHAHAHA

[@benramos7131]

ever since i was 9 I wanted to walk a cross the country because i love seeing the world and i notice that its definitely the best way to calm my anxiety an stress.

[@dralbertpakin8895]

Me too. I basically cured my anxiety by walking. and drinking tea etc. I don't feel well now if I don't walk each day.

[@willhart6110]

I got diabetes at 50 and decided to start walking every day from then on...that was 17 years ago and I am still doing it about 30 lbs lighter and feeling much better...good points that he makes...walk don't drive all the time.

[@lukjanowitsch1]

Were you able to stay away from insulin?

[@loueckert4970]

This video and Nate's book helped me decide to walk more. It is wonderful. Now I walk 5 miles in a couple of hours, and survive and even thrive. It's very helpful for me. Thanks Nate!

[@lukediamonds6908]

I'm planning on doing a cross country spiritual pilgrimage from NYC to Washington state...starting tonight. I'm very excited to see my country and document my progress. I'd love to walk back as well taking the Southern route into Florida and travel North back to New York city. I'm going to write about it.

[@123G-r4d]

Did you do it brother?

[@manilovecats]

How'd you do?

[@oldman9843]

If you want to walk across America or even your state, do it. Do it now! You are young and healthy, you might end up like me one day, old and broken body who would do good to walk around the block. I wish I had done it.

[@whenthewheelsturn]

I would love to do this across Australia, well done great leap of faith

[@isaacseiken9522]

that seems pretty dangerous

[@billporter8406]

I enjoyed this. I walked in a large town and took a bus, now a small town. Walking across the US looks like it would be awesome.

[@eagleone5456]

Read Thoreau's Walking.

[@NEDS-ADV]

thanks for the speech that answers a lot of questions and inspires me to answer them

[@KayKozza]

i was supposed to go to NY when i graduated and its the last day of school and i don't think I'm taking plane, i plan to skate from miami beach to new york city and hopefully get there in 4 months, I'm starting in a month

[@Brandon-rq3ys]

Wesley Otero Sounds like a lot more planning is in order for your "trip". Idk how much you've planned so far, but it doesn't sound like you did much. Believe me, I am not trying to rain on your parade. In fact, I encourage you to do it! As most people will talk about it, and even pllan it out for months, but never end up doing it. It will change your life for thw better. Trust me. Walking from Boston to Louisiana was the best choice I ever made in my life. Some of the best times of my life, too. Now, I'm planning a trip from the east coast to the west coast....or possibly vice-versa. Depending on the weather and time of year. As much as i want to go east to west, the cold will most likely make that not happen. And west to east, the elements and weather will be nearly perfect.

[@deeshh1250]

AlphaDeltaXray did u start walking yet?

[@ditw_music]

@@deeshh1250 he died

[@ColbyB-GB94]

@@Brandon-rq3ys did you ever walk from coast to coast?

[@readbooks6370]

I walked 130 kilometers with out stopping, 16-17 hours.

[@lauriejeanseaman5354]

I walk BECAUSE it's slow! It's one of the few things you can do where you really don't have the option - slow is the only way :)

[@gotaminute6333]

Great talk man! Such a calm articulate pace. Good on you.

[@mackereltacos2850]

I might do this several years from now!

[@SpectreCafe98]

Didja do it? Im training rn

[@DustinNuttall]

January, I will be starting my journey as well. :)

[@stoneheart8088]

Hello Nate , and everyone on here I'm next to Walk across America , I am having a few difficulties with my packing , but I just don't wanna leave nothing behind I feel like I'll need everything . I am from Charlotte Nc I started on Monday November 5th as I walked from uptown to South Carolina boarder in lake Wylie . I hadn't went much further than York at the moment but heading to Florida to travel the whole state trying to help raise money for hurricane victims and help prevent to end homelessness .how do you go about getting a sponsors to help with my journey and support with my causes .

[@Blooable]

Something I find interesting about driving is people saying it is better to save time & while I can see that being true & good for most days (some people have 40 min driving commutes!) What would people do with those extra free hours? Sit around. I walked 2.5 hours home from the DMV this past Friday, sure would have been a 10 min drive but if I had gotten a ride home I know I would have just spent that time sitting & eating at my computer. No one bats an eye when someone says they went on a hike for that long but me walking home from an errand becomes a sad sob story. Sure not everyone can take the time everyday to do a walk like that but I wish more people were open to it.

[@TheRednightx]

I planned to walk from North Carolina to California next june and take a year off from college and im starting to get prepared, my biggest challenge so far is money and funding for this and im not exactly sure what to do about that.

[@boardwipesandempanadas5022]

Same here, i wanted to start a walk, i even began training myself to all the physical challenges, the only problem for me, is Money, i mean he said not to make this an obstacle, but then again, I'm not ready to make a long journey like that with no money, i guess in back of our minds we're always thinking negative lol, anyways im planning my walk somewhere in march of next year, im from NYC, if you know anything about that subject, let me know.

[@joshuaperry4112]

NY Razgriz I plan on doing this too. Also, I am struggling with money because I don't own any gear. I think AFTER you get the gear, money should be a back-burner issue (I honestly think $1,000 could get you through - especially with some hospitality from people).

[@rickycarraway3658]

I want to start this summer,I'll also be leaving from NC to california.. I haven't gotten everything I need yet. but I will be traveling REALLY light.

[@DustinNuttall]

Take $100 and just have a sleeping bag and just go. Work odd jobs by volunteering for help in return. Be connected.

[@MoopDoop]

@@rickycarraway3658 Did you ever go? I'm starting when I get my bachelors degree and I'll be leaving from NC as well .

[@uhavemooface]

"I just felt like walllkeen".

[@Zombiepizza88]

really inspiring

[@lightman489]

For someone new starting out on a coast to coast walk what are the essentials to bring

[@benramos7131]

I am going to do this soon

[@Rose_budd]

Awesome! ❤️

[@islagrace5053]

No country is less walk friendly than U.S.A. Go anywhere in the world Africa, Asia, Europe… and it’s not a big deal. People walk everyday, everywhere. It’s part of life.

[@raamdev]

Awesome, man. :) We'll have to connect soon and go for a long walk. I love walking!

[@willswalkingwest7267]

I am currently on day 86 of my walk across America from Central Florida to California. You can follow me on Facebook by looking up Wills Walking West.

[@deeshh1250]

how's it going

[@rohankhatri3102]

Dee anne he died

[@peterebenau2128]

I wonder if he ever hitch-hiked. Awesome talk!

[@Brandon-rq3ys]

Did he say "snow"? Damn. I'm trying damn hard to base my schedule around the snow and cold weather. Avoiding the cold states like the plague.

[@JeffreyTrull]

Well done, Nate!

[@god5535]

This is great and inspiring. But I felt he downplayed this extraordinary achievement which in turn made it a bland talk. I wish he talked about the challenges, the logistics and touch more on the scenic journey instead of it promoting for self-help. Regardless, kudos and respect O Handsome Man.

[@man_on_wheelz]

I actually walk at least 520 miles a year due to my train home being 1 mile from my job.

[@k1m198]

You live in a train?

[@man_on_wheelz]

@@k1m198 train ride* home

[@k1m198]

@@man_on_wheelz was just a grammar joke lol no need to fix ha.

[@Gods_Realm]

how do you not starve or not run out of water?

[@Vagabond_Valentine]

I'm going from Florida to either NC or California wish me luck

[@k1m198]

Careful coming to CA you might get trapped here, crazy tyrannical measures each new day.

[@maggiedillon6612]

What a handsome guy!

[@kayakcobber524]

Soon wil walk Usa as well.see how it is at the other side of the big water FB kayak cobber Did do over 20000+ Ks overhere in Europe, so time for a new challenge. It's just pastime haha

[@SkeemieTV]

Look at my bro

[@danielfelos8957]

i'm not sure if random is as good as planning

[@scottcollege213]

I'd say random is better. I cycled Calais to Barcelona. Every now and then I'd unexpectedly come across a castle, fortified city, etc. Not knowing what was over the horizon made the whole trip very exciting. Plus, I appreciated my immediate surroundings more rather than looking forward to a certain location.

[@kreepykrawly8866]

99.9999 % of people 'would' and 'want' to achieve their dreams but most fail and live mundane lives before they die. Sad. Not me.

[@man_on_wheelz]

My biggest question is where did you get the money? Saved from working a job? Sure... what about when you got back? Did you not worry about getting a new job?

[@spiritualchuck]

Very Few Know

[@rileycoxon3762]

He looks just like messi with long hair

[@jaredp2533]

Reminds me of peace pilgrim 😄

[@auston6222]

Damm son

[@jonbiles5404]

How did you eat? Where did the money come from?

[@xoxo-teresa]

i walk because i dont own a car.

[@TEAMGETHELP]

Get a Job at UPS.

[@CoryAlphin]

Tell this guy to drink some water, I can't stand all the smacking.