Living Boldly On and Off the Water
What if the life you want is waiting on the other side of one brave decision? On What Could Go Right? you’ll discover how to face fear, take meaningful risks, and step into deeper connection, adventure, and a more intentional life.
Hosted by lifelong explorers and the founders of The Awesome Factory, we don’t just talk about adventure — we practice it, inviting you into playful, guided sailing experiences around the world, where growth happens through laughter, learning, and shared moments of awe.
Each week, we’ll help you trade 'what could go wrong?' for a far more energizing question: What could go right?
Ep 173 What Your Vacation Says About You (and Why Rest Matters)
What does your vacation say about you? More than you might think. In this episode of What Could Go Right?, Erik and Emily Orton explore Arthur Brooks's observation that where you choose to vacation can reveal what you truly value—and why Americans can be so much better at working than resting.
From a demanding job that crowds out a long-awaited sailing trip to the surprising value of silence, solitude, and play, this conversation explores how to make time for the life you're working so hard to build. You'll discover why rest doesn't have to wait until your to-do list is empty, how to protect time off, and why having fun can be worthwhile even when it doesn't accomplish anything.
Maybe you need a nap. Maybe you need a week away. What could go right if you made room for both?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rate. Review. Subscribe.
Try Living on a Sailboat for a Week: (https://www.theawesomefactory.nyc/sailing)
No experience required—and yes, you’ll take the helm.
Not a party charter. Not a certification course.
A small-group, hands-on sailing experience that’s been called the “unicorn of sailing trips.”
See if it’s your kind of adventure: Sail with us. (https://www.theawesomefactory.nyc/sailing)
Erik + Emily Memoirs:
Seven at Sea: Why a New York City Family Cast Off Convention For A Life-Changing Year On A Sailboat (https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Sea-Convention-Life-changing-Sailboat/dp/162972551X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=NMDTAIRT27EI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.v7HogixbgBEUHGmNaChMuKBreyn50l6xfzoTM7m6elL-sIIjqrcjg2grmDu2_lCngkHQIz80x38wR2BqW7QWsnncD11tbH28QsNBGjW8MgfzxKa5YqXZQVfV2UhQtxck2fndxTRewYMGew-tuYgPsKIKVBctqTR7sQU93dQpuBQDqeOTH9IxLJRFjK9djsuSSdM2YGpPMqgxBu641tZCYQBt2YeziBrB2hwuTVelmy4.2fbn1gDHigI5r-uTffGgPuXUb2Itzqq51IEKqKqTHgQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=seven+at+sea&qid=1764806607&sprefix=seven+at+sea%2Caps%2C381&sr=8-1)
Knock: The Spiritual Journey of a Door-to-Door Salesman (https://www.amazon.com/KNOCK-Spiritual-Journey-Door-Salesman/dp/0988473925/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1O09SQINLPB8O&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._Z7oMtSTY1yhnHhsaaLpUQ.fPTcTJ0K2fqmHzmbAunlGfI9xCehSOcRGm-wPd1Rm0A&dib_tag=se&keywords=Knock%3A+The+spiritual+journey+of+a+door+to+door+salesman&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1764806570&sprefix=knock+the+spiritual+journey+of+a+door+to+door+salesman%2Caps%2C266&sr=8-1)
Connect with Erik + Emily:
Email (https://www.theawesomefactory.nyc/#section-1611959807198) Subscribe to Encouragement
Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmgTKQUiqjQ8lV2lz1Ptgag) Like, Comment, Subscribe
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/theawesomefactorynyc/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/theawesomefactorynyc)
8 Oct 2026
Ep 172 Beginner Sailing & the Surprising Benefits of Being New at Something
What if being a beginner again could make you more confident—not less?
Trying something unfamiliar can be uncomfortable. You don't know the rules, you don't know what you're doing, and suddenly even simple things require your full attention.
But that's exactly what makes new experiences so valuable.
In this episode, explore what travel, adventure, and beginner sailing can teach you about adaptability, confidence, curiosity, and connection.
You don't have to be a kid to be a beginner. And you don't have to feel ready before you start.
What could go right if you tried something new?
1 Oct 2026
Ep 171 The Cold Water Principle: The Hardest Part is Getting In
What if the thing you’re avoiding isn’t actually as hard as you think? Sometimes the hardest part of trying something new is the few seconds before you begin. In Finland, Emily discovered this while swimming in a cold lake—something she was convinced she would hate. But once she got past the initial discomfort, she found something surprisingly joyful. That experience became a reminder that the same thing can happen with bigger thresholds: learning to sail, getting in deep water, trying something you’ve never done before, or simply becoming someone who does things you once thought weren’t for you. In this episode, we explore the cold water principle: how anticipation can make an obstacle feel bigger than it really is, and how a simple routine can help you cross the threshold and get to the good part. You don't have to love the leap. You just have to take the next step.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rate. Review. Subscribe.
Try Living on a Sailboat for a Week: (https://www.theawesomefactory.nyc/sailing)
No experience required—and yes, you’ll take the helm.
Not a party charter. Not a certification course.
A small-group, hands-on sailing experience that’s been called the “unicorn of sailing trips.”
See if it’s your kind of adventure: Sail with us. (https://www.theawesomefactory.nyc/sailing)
Erik + Emily Memoirs:
Seven at Sea: Why a New York City Family Cast Off Convention For A Life-Changing Year On A Sailboat (https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Sea-Convention-Life-changing-Sailboat/dp/162972551X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=NMDTAIRT27EI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.v7HogixbgBEUHGmNaChMuKBreyn50l6xfzoTM7m6elL-sIIjqrcjg2grmDu2_lCngkHQIz80x38wR2BqW7QWsnncD11tbH28QsNBGjW8MgfzxKa5YqXZQVfV2UhQtxck2fndxTRewYMGew-tuYgPsKIKVBctqTR7sQU93dQpuBQDqeOTH9IxLJRFjK9djsuSSdM2YGpPMqgxBu641tZCYQBt2YeziBrB2hwuTVelmy4.2fbn1gDHigI5r-uTffGgPuXUb2Itzqq51IEKqKqTHgQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=seven+at+sea&qid=1764806607&sprefix=seven+at+sea%2Caps%2C381&sr=8-1)
Knock: The Spiritual Journey of a Door-to-Door Salesman (https://www.amazon.com/KNOCK-Spiritual-Journey-Door-Salesman/dp/0988473925/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1O09SQINLPB8O&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._Z7oMtSTY1yhnHhsaaLpUQ.fPTcTJ0K2fqmHzmbAunlGfI9xCehSOcRGm-wPd1Rm0A&dib_tag=se&keywords=Knock%3A+The+spiritual+journey+of+a+door+to+door+salesman&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1764806570&sprefix=knock+the+spiritual+journey+of+a+door+to+door+salesman%2Caps%2C266&sr=8-1)
Connect with Erik + Emily:
Email (https://www.theawesomefactory.nyc/#section-1611959807198) Subscribe to Encouragement
Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmgTKQUiqjQ8lV2lz1Ptgag) Like, Comment, Subscribe
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/theawesomefactorynyc/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/theawesomefactorynyc)
Who has been a guest on What Could Go Right?
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Nicki Preece
Erik
Emily
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
7,230
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
14 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 67 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
71
Social presence
0
YouTube
74
Engagement
82
Host of What Could Go Right??
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