Episode 151: Australian Camel Crossing with Sophie Matterson

“I really loved the idea of doing something where I didn’t have a support vehicle. It was just me and the camels. ”

— Sophie Matterson

This week, we bring you the extraordinary tale of Sophie Matterson, a woman who left behind the familiar to embark on a life-changing journey across Australia with five wild camels. Hailing from Flinders Ranges in South Australia, Sophie traded her career in TV and film for an adventure that would reshape her life. What started as a brief break from her job in 2016 turned into an incredible 13-month odyssey. After turning 30, she set out to walk from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, traversing the vast, arid heart of Australia.

Sophie shares the highs, lows, and life-altering lessons of her epic trek, as captured in her award-winning memoir, The Crossing: A Memoir of Love, Adventure, and Finding Your Own Path. Join us as we dive into her remarkable story of courage, self-discovery, and the pursuit of purpose.

Sophie also discusses:

2:00 - An overview of her journey
6:30 - How she sustained herself along the journey
10:30 - What she carried for her camp setup
14:00 - Common emotions she experienced daily
19:15 - Experiencing stress when coming back into civilization
23:50 - Beauty she experienced on her adventure
26:10 - Connections to nature she experienced
28:30 - What it was like being alone for weeks at a time
31:50 - Advice to slow down
33:30 - Her interaction with the camels along the route
38:30 - Her camel’s names and personalities
42:30 - Finding what she was looking for
48:10 - Reflections on finding purpose
52:10 - Advice for people who don’t think they could complete an adventure like this
54:40 - What she’s working on now
56:00 - How to get a copy of her book
58:00 - Who is going to play her in a Hollywood movie about her life