When a Backpacker Becomes a Hostage with Sam Goodwin

What happens when a globe-trotting entrepreneur lands in the wrong place at the wrong time? In this jaw-dropping episode, Scott Groves sits down with Sam Goodwin—a man who set out to visit every country in the world and ended up locked in a Syrian military prison. What unfolds is part spy thriller, part spiritual reckoning. From coaching hockey in North Korea to surviving 62 days in solitary confinement, Sam shares the wildest travel story you’ve never heard. The conversation dives into the power of faith under pressure, navigating extreme uncertainty, and why gratitude may be your most rebellious act. If you're a high-achiever hungry for hard-won wisdom, this one hits differently.

Chapters:
00:00:00 – Welcome to the Edge: Meet Sam Goodwin
00:00:44 – 193 Countries, One Relentless Mission
00:01:08 – How a Trip to Syria Turned Into a Nightmare
00:02:00 – Wild Stories from the Edge of the Map
00:07:26 – How He Traveled the World on Spare Change
00:10:59 – The Risk Factor: When Travel Gets Real
00:17:23 – Black SUVs, Blindfolds, and Bashar al-Assad
00:23:08 – Locked in a Dungeon: How He Stayed Sane
00:31:47 – Faith in the Dark: Prayers Behind Bars
00:32:34 – (Sponsor Break – Mortgage + Coaching)
00:33:42 – 30 Days of Silence and Boiled Potatoes
00:35:27 – Out of the Cell, Into the Chaos
00:36:00 – Finding Brotherhood in a Syrian Prison
00:40:30 – The Phone Call That Set Him Free
00:42:21 – FBI, CIA, and a Family on the Brink
00:45:29 – Two Stephs, One Shot at Freedom
00:48:09 – What Captivity Taught Him About Life
00:55:42 – He Wasn’t Done Yet: The Final 12 Countries
00:58:10 – What’s Next for Sam Goodwin?

Links and Resources:
Website: https://www.samrgoodwin.com/
Sam on LinkedIn

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This podcast is paid for and brought to you by.... by me, Scott Groves :-)
Because I think these kind of long form conversations are valuable, I pay for 100% of the production of this show out of my pocket. This channel is FAR from monetization and because of the subject matter, may never be monetized.
I am a Mortgage Loan Officer & Loan Officer Coach in real life. It's the money that I earn, from helping home-buyers and home-owners obtain home-loans, that pays for this show. If you, your friends, or your family are looking for a home loan from an honest Loan Officer, please contact me at [email protected] or find all my links to connect HERE:⁠ ⁠www.LinkTr.ee/ScottLGroves⁠⁠
I can do the loan for you (our team is licensed in 8 states) - OR - I can refer you to an amazing loan officer in the state where you're searching. ON WITH THE SHOW!!!
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