Proud and delighted to welcome BACK for a second row past - with the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean for his 'Clearing', Scottish Actor Cal MacAninch, here to describe his Epic Quest and the profound lessons-learned from having just rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean in a Crew of 5, as part of "Atlantic Body & Soul" for the Talisker Whisker Atlantic Challenge.
A story of Distinction & Genius indeed: Massive waves, sleep deprivation, pain, flying fish and hallucinations akimbo to name but some of what was experienced during an epic quest of 39 days and gargantuan proportions.
Cal MacaAninch is a wonderful & versatile Scottish Actor and now an Atlantic Rowing Superhero & Legend to boot (or to boat - see what I'm doing there?!)
More about Cal:
Whatever Cal MacAninch has achieved as an actor - and the body of his work is impressive - he now has a rare achievement indeed to add, as a rower. Cal has just rowed the Atlantic! And this is no mean achievement - for almost 40 days, Cal and the other 4 crew members set about this extraordinary journey in consecutive 2 hour shifts, 24/7. The effects of daily sleep deprivation and almost endless, constantly painful physical exercise are virtually unimaginable.
Fortunately for us, Cal MacAninch has an actor’s memory and a wonderful way with with words. This podcast focuses relentlessly on his one truly epic and almost certainly life-changing experience.
Cal tells us about the constant need for calories and hydration, up to 6000 every day and endless refreshment. Yet the impact still left everyone in a state that Cal describes as ‘breakdown’ and in his case, the witness of numerous totally lifelike hallucinations.
The whole journey was undertaken to raise money for two chosen charities whose primary purpose is to improve mental health care for young people - but the crew’s own mental health was severely tested in the process! Cal is now debriefing his personal experience to a leading neurological scientist in Scotland.
He acknowledges that it was was an ordeal but one that changed him - for the better! It left him he believes, with a better perspective: a more tolerant attitude, a kinder man, a better listener.
Hear it all here for yourself. It is a truly extraordinary story - and it’s all true! Harrowing though it is at times, Cal MacAninch tells it calmly and quietly but with a refreshing brand of candour and his own uniquely authentic Scottish sincerity.
Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website.
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Thanks for listening!