I asked myself: How did all of this happen?
This is the story of how curiosity, science, and a life-changing decision led to the ONE PLANET Expedition.
From a young age, I felt a strong urge to explore, inspired by the books of explorers like Jules Verne and endless daydreams of distant places. Staying in one place for too long never felt natural to me.
Shortly after finishing school, inspired by Into the Wild, a close friend and I set off on a road trip across the United States. We drove from Miami to San Francisco via Route 66 and Slab City, following in the footsteps of Christopher McCandless. With very little money, we spent weeks sleeping in a small rental car, discovering that some of life’s greatest adventures are born from travelling on a shoestring, embracing the unknown, and making the most of whatever comes your way. Along the way, chance encounters, vast landscapes, and the kindness of strangers planted the seed for a life of exploration.
Years later, after completing my PhD in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and working in environmental science, life took an unexpected turn. A serious cycling accident left me bedridden for months. Looking back, it gave me the rare gift of pausing life for a moment. It allowed me to take a step back, see the bigger picture, re-evaluate my priorities, and discover what truly matters to me. Rather than waiting for the “right time,” I decided to turn my life upside down. In January 2024, I left my “classical career” behind and began the ONE PLANET Expedition—a once-around-the-world journey overland and by sea exploring how slow, sustainable travel can become a platform for scientific research, documentary storytelling, conservation, and positive impact.
Very soon, the ONE PLANET expedition became a different kind of journey, allowing me to discover who I was beyond the routines, expectations, and labels that so easily shape the lives we think we’re meant to live. Along the way, I discovered passions I never expected, from filmmaking and visual storytelling to wildlife conservation, volunteering, and working alongside people on the front lines of causes that truly matter to me.
Looking back, it’s still hard to believe that all of this began as an idea that once felt far too big, almost impossible. Today, I’m grateful to have learned that the greatest exploration doesn’t lie in the distance travelled or the number of countries visited, but in discovering how much of ourselves remains unexplored when we do allow ourselves to start over and live differently. If my story encourages even one person to take the first step toward a dream they’ve been putting off, then this journey has already been worth it……if that’s you, send me a message. I’d love to hear about it 🙂









