PLEASE HELP ME WIN TOP HOST 2026!

Raw Minds is competing for Top Host 2026, and I need your support.

If you believe in real conversations, men's mental health, and giving people a voice, please take a moment to vote.

VOTE FOR ERICK:
https://tophost.org/2026/erick-mcmanus

Every vote matters. Thank you for helping Raw Minds reach more people.

59 DAYS ALONE AT SEA. THEN HE STARTED HEARING VOICES.

What happens to your mind when you're alone in the Atlantic Ocean for 59 days?

In Raw Minds Podcast Season 2, EP. 108, Erick sits down with Alan Fortuin, a former British Army captain who spent 59 days rowing solo across the Atlantic Ocean in the World's Toughest Row.

After 35 years in the British Army, Alan took on an extraordinary challenge at 67 years old.

He spent six years preparing for a 3,000-mile ocean crossing, despite having no previous ocean rowing experience.

But nothing prepared him for what happened at sea.

Violent storms. A capsized boat. Three terrifying knockdowns. Failing steering equipment. Broken satellite communications. Complete isolation.

Then he started hearing voices.

Alan began talking to his equipment and giving personalities to everyday objects to cope with the loneliness. His automatic steering system became a companion. A tennis ball became his Wilson.

Through fear, exhaustion, uncertainty, and isolation, he continued rowing.

This conversation explores men's mental health, psychological survival, resilience, discipline, aging, finding purpose, and overcoming adversity.

Sometimes survival comes down to one decision.

One stroke at a time.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction to Alan's incredible journey
06:35 The Old See Dogs and Guide Dogs charity
07:27 Alan's military background
15:19 The desire to keep challenging himself
21:38 Planning an Atlantic rowing adventure
22:36 Six years of preparation
25:01 Training for complete isolation
27:29 Entering the World's Toughest Row
32:14 Staying motivated through setbacks
34:44 Preparing for ocean survival
45:00 The dangerous Atlantic crossing begins
49:15 Fighting to reach open water
51:45 The reality of rowing alone
53:30 Hearing voices in the Atlantic
58:00 Losing satellite communications
1:00:00 Talking to equipment to survive isolation
1:05:00 Finding encouragement from another rower
1:07:00 Surviving a capsize and violent waves
1:10:00 Dangerous encounters with massive ships

CONNECT WITH ALAN FORTUIN

The Old See Dogs

Instagram: The Old See Dogs
Facebook: The Old See Dogs

Alan's Guide Dogs fundraising campaign:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-support-of-the-guide-dogs-for-the-blind

World's Toughest Row:
https://www.worldstoughestrow.com/

CONNECT WITH RAW MINDS

Website: https://rawminds.ca
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rawminds
Instagram: @rawmindspodcast
TikTok: @rawmindspodcast
Email: rawmindspodcast@gmail.com

Subscribe for real conversations about men's mental health, resilience, personal growth, and the stories that deserve to be heard.

For the ones we never meet.

#MensMentalHealth #OceanRowing #MentalToughness