Walking as Medicine: How Executives Are Finding Themselves

Walking as Medicine: How Executives Are Finding Themselves

From Midlife Remix by Midlife Remix

March 10, 2026 · 39 min · Episode 31

About this episode

Joao Viana discusses his journey from corporate life to walking-based mentorship for executives, exploring themes of self-discovery and loneliness.

What if the most transformative coaching session of your life happened on a 7-day walk through Spain?In this episode of the Midlife Remix, Steven Miyao sits down with Joao Viana, founder of Walking Mentorship, who left a 20+ year corporate career to build something most people would call crazy — a walking-based mentorship where he accompanies executives on multi-day journeys through places like the Camino de Santiago and Via Virginia to Rome.Joao shares how a pilgrimage in 1993 planted a seed that took decades to act on, what it felt like to let go of his corporate identity, and why walking side by side is one of the most powerful conditions for self-discovery. He opens up about loneliness as the hidden epidemic among high achievers, what happens when someone finally feels truly seen, and why silence on the road has a way of being brutally honest.A conversation about courage, faith, purpose, and showing up as your fullest self.If you're a successful professional feeling like something is quietly missing — this episode is for you.CHAPTERS & TIMESTAMPS0:00 – The slow transformation1:25 – Introducing Joao Viana1:52 – From corporate to the open road5:15 – Letting go of your…

People in this episode

Host: Steven Miyao

Guest: Joao Viana

Topics covered

  • walking as therapy
  • executive coaching
  • self-discovery
  • loneliness
  • corporate identity
  • faith and purpose

Keywords

  • walking mentorship
  • executives
  • self-improvement
  • corporate career
  • Camino de Santiago
  • loneliness
  • self-discovery
  • faith
  • purpose

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Walking Mentorship

Places: Camino de Santiago, Via Virginia, Rome

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