Ginny Yurich sits down with Barry Hoffner, author of Belonging to the World: A Journey from Grief to Connection in Every Country on Earth, to explore how profound loss led him on an extraordinary journey across 192 of the world’s 193 countries. After the sudden death of his wife, Jackie, Barry stepped away from his old life and eventually discovered that travel, movement, and connection could help him find his way forward.
Barry shares how a chance conversation inspired his quest to visit every country on Earth, the surprising community he found among fellow travelers, and why the journey ultimately became far more important than completing the list. Along the way, he discovered awe in unfamiliar places, generosity among people with very little, and a universal desire for dignity, belonging, and connection.
Ginny and Barry also discuss embracing unexpected opportunities, moving through grief rather than hiding from it, and the perspective that comes from experiencing the world firsthand. Barry shares how Jackie’s legacy now lives on through scholarships for young women in West Africa—and why some of life’s most meaningful chapters are the ones we never planned.
Grab Barry's book here!
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