S2:E5 - How One Song Carried Me 2,000 Miles - Unwritten by Natasha Beddingfield

What if one small step could change the entire direction of your life?

In this episode of One Song One Story, I’m joined by Deb Van Schaack, calling in from Bisbee, Arizona, for a conversation about courage, kindness, and trusting the path as it unfolds.

Deb shares the song that became a quiet companion during her 2,000 mile walk across the Appalachian Trail. A journey that began with a single intention and unfolded one step at a time.

We talk about setting goals later in life, listening for the moments when music finds you exactly when you need it, and the powerful realisation that nothing is fixed, your story is still being written.

At its heart, this is a conversation about possibility. About choosing movement over fear. And about the songs that remind us that the ending is never decided.

If you’ve ever wondered if it’s too late to begin again, this one might stay with you.

🎵 Song featured: Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield

00:00 Welcome to One Song One Story
00:55 Meeting Deb and setting the tone
02:00 Kindness, community, and everyday music
03:55 A song that connects us
05:30 How Deb fell in love with walking
08:10 Deciding to hike the Appalachian Trail
09:00 2,185 miles across 14 states
10:00 Age, goals, and proving what’s possible
11:15 From endurance hiking to “diva hiking”
12:45 Early memories of music
14:00 Broadway, bluegrass, and evolving taste
15:45 Music as a daily companion
18:20 Introducing the song choice
18:40 Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield
20:00 The moment the song found her on the trail
22:30 Why the lyrics hit so deeply
24:40 Music as motivation and medicine
26:20 When songs arrive exactly on time
27:20 How the song’s meaning has stayed simple
28:30 Freedom, change, and rewriting your story
30:15 Dream cover versions of the song
32:00 Looking back on the journey
33:35 What’s next for Deb
34:20 Closing reflections

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