About this episode

The episode discusses the courage required for first-time pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, featuring a conversation with guest Carie about her experiences and challenges.

THE COURAGE TO TAKE THE FIRST OF *MANY* BIG STEPS If there’s one thing we don’t talk about enough when we talk about walking the Camino de Santiago, it’s the courage it takes to take on something like this pilgrimage. For many people, walking the Camino is unlike anything else they’ve ever done before. It’s the first time they’ve traveled alone. The first time they’ve traveled internationally. The first time they’ve been away from home for so long. The first time they’ve carried everything they needed for the trip in one small backpack on their back. It was no different for my guest today, Carie, who is walking the Camino Portuguese this spring. The fear and the anxiety are, I think, why we need to hear these stories from other first time pilgrims, from people who are in the exact same head and heart space – feeling all that uncertainty, feeling fear and anxiety, yet bravely doing it anyway. My conversation with Carie takes us through all that plus some practical considerations. We also touch on the modern-day pilgrimage planning phenomenon called AI. Be careful with that, by the way, as AI doesn’t always understand the needs of walkers on the Camino de Santiago, and you may get…

People in this episode

Host: Nancy

Guest: Carie

Topics covered

• pilgrimage
• courage
• travel
• anxiety
• solo walking
• Camino de Santiago

Keywords

• Camino de Santiago
• first time pilgrim
• travel alone
• anxiety
• AI in pilgrimage
• backpacking

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Camino Experience

Books & works: Pilgrimage: Lessons Learned from Solo Walking 3 Ancient Ways

Places: Camino de Santiago, Camino Portuguese

More episodes of YOU on the Camino de Santiago

• Ep 146: Pilgrim Chad does a "connector Camino" · March 31, 2026 · 53 min
• Ep 145: Pilgrim Dara navigates faith . . . and feet · March 17, 2026 · 43 min
• Ep 144: From fear to intution with Bill Bennett and Jennifer Cluff · March 3, 2026 · 1h 6m
• Ep 143: Pilgrim Chris: all about the Kumano Koda pilgrimage in Japan (vs. the Camino) · February 17, 2026 · 51 min
• Ep 142: Pilgrim Phil tests his limits and blows them away · February 3, 2026 · 47 min
• Ep 141: Pilgrim Chris chooses a winter pilgrimage for very personal reasons · January 20, 2026 · 39 min

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