Dr. Susannah O’Sullivan: Teacher, Writer, Activist & Adventurer – From Solo Cycling Across Continents to Empowering Women in Palestine and Beyond

Teacher, writer, activist and adventurer. Susannah quit her job as a university lecturer in 2017 to cycle solo and unsupported from the UK to the Middle East. She camped all along the way, in olive groves, in peoples’ garages, next to motorways, by rivers and lakes, and in caves. She faced many of her own fears on this trip and wants to share her experiences to encourage other women to wild camp safely. In the Middle East she spent 6 months in the West Bank, Palestine, teaching yoga to women in a refugee camp, working as a climbing guide and becoming a solidarity activist with victims of violence. For the next two years she kept returning to Palestine to continue this work. She has just completed writing a book about what she experienced there, including her own battle with depression and PTSD. Her most recent adventures include thru-hiking a section of the Lebanon Mountain Trail, hitchhiking around the South Island of New Zealand, and driving a scooter 5,000km around the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia. *** Catch the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, every Tuesday at 7 am UK time! Don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women.  Want to play a part in uplifting female representation in the media? Support the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon! Your generosity helps shine a spotlight on female role models in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Join us in making a positive impact by visiting www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you for your amazing support! *** Show notes Who is Susannah Being based in Bali  Going on multiple adventures over the years 2017 cycling from Bristol to the Middle East 2022 hiking a section of the Lebanon Mountain Trail  2023 Riding a scouter around the islands of Indonesia  Growing up in Bristol and her early years spent cycling outdoors  Finding calm in nature Getting into politics as a teenager and studying politics and history  Getting a scholarship to do a Masters & PHD Finishing her PHD in 2014 and working as a university lecturer The decline in her mental health and developing anxiety around her job and workload Taking a break in 2016 and moving back home  Spending time in Nepal in the Katmandu Valley  Cycling and wild camping solo in the South of France  Wanting to see more of the world Reading Dervla Murphy - Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle  Planning a bigger cycle trip  Leaving in September 2017 and cycling to Istanbul  Spending the winter in the West Bank, Palestine  Taking the first step and what the planning and logistics looked like   Dealing with fears and concerns Breaking down the fears in a rational manor  Listening to other women who had done similar trips (from podcasts and live talks) If they can do it, why can’t I do it.  Digging into the fear to understand where it is coming from  Distinguishing what is a real risk and what is a story we are being told about women’s vulnerability  Getting into her rhythm and starting to relax into the journey  Meeting local people Not wild camping as much at the start, while travelling through Europe Wild camping and getting into the mental zone to do it Volunteering with an NGO in Palestine and how it changed her Having a PHD in International relations Her work in Palestine  Writing a book about her cycle trip to Palestine and her experiences in the country  The magical moments from the cycle ride The countries she would like to go back and visit and spend more time Meeting other cyclists  Heading over to New Zealand to hitch hike around the South Island Hitchhiking…. Funding and paying for adventures and living a life of travel The Queen Charlotte Track, New Zealand  Hiking in Lebanon on the mountain trail  Foreign Travel Advice - UK Government  Learning how to ride a scooter in Indonesia  Slower travel and wanting more flexibility and freedom Managing mental health while travelling  Feeling traveled out and changing the way she travels Feeling setting in Indonesia  Digital nomad tourist visa Plans for 2025 and wanting to ride a motorbike around Papa New Guinea How to connect with Susannah Final words of advice to encourage you to follow your passions Pursuing your passions and ignoring what the negative people have to say about it   Social Media Website www.susannahosullivan.org