Ep14: Courage2Thrive — On today’s show, Rev. Dr. Robert Flanagan interviews Taryn Smith, a woman who sailed across the Atlantic … by herself!
December 2026: Welcome to Ep10 of Father Bob’s Courage to Thrive show!
Father Bob talks with yogi, retreat host, and public speaker Taryn Smith about: The courage to go on a solo Atlantic rowing adventure
About our guest: Taryn was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. Growing up, her favorite moments were spent at the ice rink, where she competitively figure-skated, and at Johnson Lake, where she spent lots of time on the water. Taryn will always love the Cornhusker State, but she fell for Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains during a college winter-break yurt trip. She quickly applied to work at nearby Redfish Lake Lodge, a gorgeous summer resort nestled in the Sawtooths. What was supposed to be a summer turned into a five-year career: Taryn lived at Redfish Lake for half of the year and spent the winters traveling the world, gradually “upping the stakes” of her adventures.
Taryn’s first solo trip began with a season in the French Alps. That spring, she took a break from skiing to become a certified yoga teacher under the instruction of Mariza Smith in Chamonix, France. Later that year, she read an article in Vogue about four women rowing across the Pacific Ocean. Captivated by a sport that combines physical endurance and boats (a passion inherited from her grandfathers who both sailed), Taryn signed up to race in the World’s Toughest Row, having never rowed before. Now, Taryn speaks around the country about her row, resilience, and how we can embrace impermanence to accomplish big dreams.
Click here to watch Taryn in action.
About our host: An esteemed Episcopal priest and author, Father Bob has dedicated his life to spiritual transformation and caring for others.
With a profound connection to his faith and an unwavering commitment to helping those in need, he has touched countless lives through his ministry, writings, and teachings. Bob’s book, “Letters of an Unexpected Mystic,” was a 2023 Selah Book Award finalist in the Bible study category.
Learn more: robertdflanagan.com • Courage2Thrive.com • Courage2Thrive.tv
In his first-person spiritual journal, 
He knows that we do that by relating well to ourselves and others, the world and its various creatures and places—and God. “We thrive when we relate to who and what is around us in a healthy manner. We can discover ourselves—who we are—in beautiful, elegant, hope-filled, positive ways,” says 
