What would make you walk and run 2,300 miles across America?

For Robb Pollard, creator of Walk With Me Brother, it wasn't really about the miles. It was about rewriting his story, creating awareness around men's mental health and suicide, and reaching just one person who might need to hear his message.

In this conversation with Wisdom for Wannabes host Jackie Morreale, Robb shares the experiences that led him to recognize he needed help, the role of sobriety, being outdoors and staying active, and how one simple decision to ask for help changed the direction of his life.

He also opens up about the people he met along his 56-day journey — including a powerful encounter with a stranger in a laundry room who shared a story he'd never told anyone before.

From the hardest mile in Texas to the final mile with his family in Jacksonville Beach, Robb's journey is ultimately a story about connection, perseverance, family and compassion.

Key Takeaways:

• Asking for help isn't weakness — Robb believes it is one of the bravest things you can do.

• Sometimes the first step toward feeling less alone is simply talking to someone.

• Getting outside and staying active became important tools in Robb's own journey.

• The goal of Walk With Me Brother wasn't to change millions of lives, but to reach just one person.

• You never know what someone else may be carrying beneath the surface.

• Perseverance can mean simply putting one foot in front of the other.

• Robb's biggest lesson from the journey: everyone is going through something, so give people more grace.

• Being present with family and not taking everyday moments for granted became an important part of what came next.

Quotes from Robb:

• “It's more now… Daddy ran across America because he wanted to raise more suicide awareness for men.”

• “It was never, ever, ever, ever about a running exercise.”
• “My goal for the whole journey wasn't to change millions of lives; it was just to help one person. Just one.”
• “Don't be scared to ask for help. It's not a weakness.”
• “Asking for help is the bravest thing you can do.”
• “Never give up. Just keep going, one foot forward.”
• “Everyone's going through something. Be a little bit kinder and nicer to everyone.”

Chapters:

00:00 Rewrite My Own Story

00:17 Welcome to Wisdom for Wannabes

01:08 Robb's Story: From England to America

02:48 The Person Nobody Saw

03:38 Meeting His Wife & Recognizing He Needed Help

04:15 Sobriety, Endurance Sports & A Turning Point

05:26 Creating Walk With Me Brother

06:11 Why Run Across America?

06:19 It Was Never About the Miles

07:13 Reaching Just One Person

08:30 2,300 Miles in 56 Days

08:42 The Laundry Room Story

09:43 Quick-Fire Questions

10:01 Road or Trail?

10:23 A Marathon Every Day

10:32 Favorite Race & Running Shoe

11:00 Music or Silence?

11:10 Gas Station Food & Fried Chicken

11:55 The Hardest Mile

12:28 The Most Beautiful Mile

12:48 Mile One or Mile Forty?

13:01 What Running Taught Him About Life

13:27 The Bravest Thing You Can Do

14:12 What's Next for Robb?

15:13 Everyone's Going Through Something

If you or someone you know is struggling, reaching out for support can be an important first step.

#WisdomForWannabes#RobbPollard#WalkWithMeBrother#MentalHealth#AskingForHelp#MensMentalHealth#Running