Part 2 of the TED Radio Hour episode The Hero’s Journey.

About Dame Ellen MacArthur’s TED Talk

Dame Ellen MacArthur‘s journey began when she discovered sailing. She describes how years later she undertook her greatest challenge: to sail solo around the world faster than anyone in history.

About Dame Ellen MacArthur

Setting off in 2004, Dame Ellen MacArthur sailed 26,000 miles in 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds — becoming the fastest person to single-handedly circumnavigate the globe. She was made a dame by the queen in 2005.

During her record-breaking solo sail, Dame Ellen came to a realization: our survival as a species depends on our reliance on a finite supply of resources.

In 2010, she launched the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which works with government and business to transition from a largely wasteful linear economy to a regenerative circular economy.

She also runs the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, which uses sailing to build confidence for kids following cancer treatment.

Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit NPR.