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Featured Guest:
Robb Pollard Founder, Walk With Me, Brother Published Date: September 30, 2026 In this Wisdom for Wannabes interview, Jackie Morreale talks with Robb Pollard, founder of Walk With Me, Brother, about his remarkable 2,300-mile journey across America in 56 days, and the deeper reason behind it. Robb shares his personal journey with mental health, sobriety, asking for help, endurance running, and the importance of connection. What began as a physical challenge became a mission to reach one person and remind others that they don't have to carry everything alone. From the hardest mile in Texas to meaningful encounters with strangers along the road, Robb's story offers powerful lessons about resilience, movement, kindness, perseverance, and the courage to ask for help. Listen to/watch the full podcast recording, or read the transcript below: |
Full Interview with Robb Pollard:
"Don't be scared to ask for help. It's not a weakness. Asking for help is the bravest thing you can do."
- Robb Pollard (Wisdom for Wannabes episode 76, 13:31)
Great quotes from the interview:
(More great quotes throughout the transcript in blue below.)
- "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.”
(More great quotes throughout the transcript in blue below.)
May 13, 2026 - Robb Pollard running roadside through the desert.
June 12, 2026 - Robb Pollard after completing a 2,300-mile journey across America for men's mental health
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Key Takeaways:
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April 27, 2026 - Robb's pre-journey kick-off party with friends and family in California
Interview Transcript:
Robb Pollard (00:00)
I had to do something. I had to rewrite my own story.
It's more now... Daddy ran across America to produce more suicide awareness for men.
Just keep going, one foot forward.
Don't be scared to ask for help. Asking for help is the bravest thing you can do.
Everyone's going through something. Give people a little bit more grace. I've learned from that. I wasn't like that before I left.
Jackie Morreale (00:17)
Welcome to Wisdom for Wannabes, the podcast that seeks wise words in business, beauty, and betterment. I am the host, Jackie Morreale. My guest today is Robb Pollard, creator of Walk With Me Brother, who documented an extraordinary 56 day journey across America. But beneath the miles, the scenery, and the physical challenge is a much more personal story, one about emotional struggle, connection, and learning that you don't have to carry everything alone. We'll talk about the reality behind the journey, the role of movement and being outdoors, and how a simple conversation can sometimes be the first meaningful step towards feeling less alone.
Robb Pollard, welcome to Wisdom for Wannabes! It is so great to have you here with me today.
Robb Pollard (01:05)
Thanks, Jackie. I'm very excited. Thank you so much for having me on.
Jackie Morreale (01:08)
Before we get to the 56 days of this incredible journey that you went through, tell me about yourself, where you're from, and what inspired you to run and create Walk With Me Brother?
Robb Pollard (01:18)
Okay. My name is Robb. I moved to America in 2015. Brought up just between Manchester and Liverpool in the northwest of England. I was born in a place called Warrington. Very working class. The same place Harry Stiles is from.
I've lived all over. France, three or four years there. Spain for four years. Dotted around Asia, landed in Shanghai, China.
My past life, I say, was in nightlife, nightclubs, and restaurants. I'd always been very entrepreneurial. Always wanted to see the world.
Before that, I'd worked in clubs and bars all in the northeast of England.
During that time, from the age of fifteen, sixteen, I went through a lot of mental health issues. Back then, there was no such thing as mental health.
I left home at 17, lost touch with a lot of people.
For about twenty years, I felt sick, which I didn't know, was actually anxiety. I didn't even know that word existed. I knew I just wasn't like everybody else.
In the nightlife world, as I'm sure anyone can imagine, there's a lot of alcohol, and there are toxic people. You're going to bed at four, five AM, and you're getting up at twelve PM.
Every day, I would get up feeling like I didn't want to get out of bed.
There was no such word as depression or mental health. I just poured myself a big, heavy pour, and I went to work. Fortunately, at that time, I was never behind the wheel of a car, I didn't have a girlfriend, and I didn't have kids.
I built a pretty successful career out of it, but it was very toxic. We had multiple venues, we were consulting, we were doing music festivals. We were having after parties for some big, big events. We'd host a Maroon 5 after party.
I had this name and aura, and I always had to be on show. It was almost like going out to put on this mask.
Jackie Morreale (02:48)
It sounds like you were having the time of your life, to anyone on the outside looking in, hosting all these parties, you have this following, and out every night.
Robb Pollard (02:57)
On the outside, nobody would have ever known how I felt on the inside.
I didn't really have anybody to talk to.
The awakening was: 'I've got to get out of here.'
America was the opposite of what I'd had. I always loved coming here to America. It's a place that I'd always wanted to live since I was a kid. I came on here initially for six months. That was the original goal of my visa. I brought my two dogs.
I wasn't in nightlife anymore. In 2013, I'd gotten into the world of digital marketing. I'd really loved the marketing side. I was always on Myspace, Facebook, and Instagram.
That's what really brought me to America.
Jackie Morreale (03:26)
It's so funny to hear you say the word ‘MySpace’. I was on it back in the day with all the musicians. It's so cool to relive the early stages of social media as marketers.
Robb Pollard (03:36)
I know, it's crazy.
Jackie Morreale (03:38)
We're still 10 years between your story and the present. Now we're in the US, into marketing.
Robb Pollard (03:43)
I met my wife. It was the best thing I ever did in my whole life. I just knew. It was weird, I'm like, 'I'm going to marry you.'
We would spend a lot of time together. There was one night when she said, 'Has anyone ever told you you have mental health issues?'
I'd always bashed it up, but because it came from her and her delivery, I was like, 'What do you mean?'
She was able to witness all my up and down moods. She told me from day one, 'If you're in nightlife, we're not going to work.'
That was the first step. Went to a therapist. I got a second opinion.
Then COVID hit. Being closed up, for somebody who would love to be outside, was a very frustrating few years.
Then it was New Year's Eve 2025. Pour myself a big glass of whiskey. We had a six-month-old daughter; we didn't go out.
It just hit me: 'Robb, what are you doing?'
I decided I'm not going to drink anymore.
I had really got into endurance sports in about 2021, after my son was born.
I wanted to do one triathlon just to prove I could. I couldn't even swim. But to prove to my son, who was a couple of months old, when he grew up, 'Daddy would have done a triathlon.' It was a local, small triathlon. I learned to swim. I enjoyed it.
2025 was a better year. But by May, I was still struggling mentally.
I prayed and prayed and prayed. I promised God that if you help me, I'll help somebody else.
I've been given a second chance.
I decided that I needed to do something. Here's mental health day, then it goes quiet. You start to look at the numbers, how many men die from suicide a year. It's the biggest killer of men under 50 (first in the UK; second in the USA and Canada).
(Continued below)
I had to do something. I had to rewrite my own story.
It's more now... Daddy ran across America to produce more suicide awareness for men.
Just keep going, one foot forward.
Don't be scared to ask for help. Asking for help is the bravest thing you can do.
Everyone's going through something. Give people a little bit more grace. I've learned from that. I wasn't like that before I left.
Jackie Morreale (00:17)
Welcome to Wisdom for Wannabes, the podcast that seeks wise words in business, beauty, and betterment. I am the host, Jackie Morreale. My guest today is Robb Pollard, creator of Walk With Me Brother, who documented an extraordinary 56 day journey across America. But beneath the miles, the scenery, and the physical challenge is a much more personal story, one about emotional struggle, connection, and learning that you don't have to carry everything alone. We'll talk about the reality behind the journey, the role of movement and being outdoors, and how a simple conversation can sometimes be the first meaningful step towards feeling less alone.
Robb Pollard, welcome to Wisdom for Wannabes! It is so great to have you here with me today.
Robb Pollard (01:05)
Thanks, Jackie. I'm very excited. Thank you so much for having me on.
Jackie Morreale (01:08)
Before we get to the 56 days of this incredible journey that you went through, tell me about yourself, where you're from, and what inspired you to run and create Walk With Me Brother?
Robb Pollard (01:18)
Okay. My name is Robb. I moved to America in 2015. Brought up just between Manchester and Liverpool in the northwest of England. I was born in a place called Warrington. Very working class. The same place Harry Stiles is from.
I've lived all over. France, three or four years there. Spain for four years. Dotted around Asia, landed in Shanghai, China.
My past life, I say, was in nightlife, nightclubs, and restaurants. I'd always been very entrepreneurial. Always wanted to see the world.
Before that, I'd worked in clubs and bars all in the northeast of England.
During that time, from the age of fifteen, sixteen, I went through a lot of mental health issues. Back then, there was no such thing as mental health.
I left home at 17, lost touch with a lot of people.
For about twenty years, I felt sick, which I didn't know, was actually anxiety. I didn't even know that word existed. I knew I just wasn't like everybody else.
In the nightlife world, as I'm sure anyone can imagine, there's a lot of alcohol, and there are toxic people. You're going to bed at four, five AM, and you're getting up at twelve PM.
Every day, I would get up feeling like I didn't want to get out of bed.
There was no such word as depression or mental health. I just poured myself a big, heavy pour, and I went to work. Fortunately, at that time, I was never behind the wheel of a car, I didn't have a girlfriend, and I didn't have kids.
I built a pretty successful career out of it, but it was very toxic. We had multiple venues, we were consulting, we were doing music festivals. We were having after parties for some big, big events. We'd host a Maroon 5 after party.
I had this name and aura, and I always had to be on show. It was almost like going out to put on this mask.
Jackie Morreale (02:48)
It sounds like you were having the time of your life, to anyone on the outside looking in, hosting all these parties, you have this following, and out every night.
Robb Pollard (02:57)
On the outside, nobody would have ever known how I felt on the inside.
I didn't really have anybody to talk to.
The awakening was: 'I've got to get out of here.'
America was the opposite of what I'd had. I always loved coming here to America. It's a place that I'd always wanted to live since I was a kid. I came on here initially for six months. That was the original goal of my visa. I brought my two dogs.
I wasn't in nightlife anymore. In 2013, I'd gotten into the world of digital marketing. I'd really loved the marketing side. I was always on Myspace, Facebook, and Instagram.
That's what really brought me to America.
Jackie Morreale (03:26)
It's so funny to hear you say the word ‘MySpace’. I was on it back in the day with all the musicians. It's so cool to relive the early stages of social media as marketers.
Robb Pollard (03:36)
I know, it's crazy.
Jackie Morreale (03:38)
We're still 10 years between your story and the present. Now we're in the US, into marketing.
Robb Pollard (03:43)
I met my wife. It was the best thing I ever did in my whole life. I just knew. It was weird, I'm like, 'I'm going to marry you.'
We would spend a lot of time together. There was one night when she said, 'Has anyone ever told you you have mental health issues?'
I'd always bashed it up, but because it came from her and her delivery, I was like, 'What do you mean?'
She was able to witness all my up and down moods. She told me from day one, 'If you're in nightlife, we're not going to work.'
That was the first step. Went to a therapist. I got a second opinion.
Then COVID hit. Being closed up, for somebody who would love to be outside, was a very frustrating few years.
Then it was New Year's Eve 2025. Pour myself a big glass of whiskey. We had a six-month-old daughter; we didn't go out.
It just hit me: 'Robb, what are you doing?'
I decided I'm not going to drink anymore.
I had really got into endurance sports in about 2021, after my son was born.
I wanted to do one triathlon just to prove I could. I couldn't even swim. But to prove to my son, who was a couple of months old, when he grew up, 'Daddy would have done a triathlon.' It was a local, small triathlon. I learned to swim. I enjoyed it.
2025 was a better year. But by May, I was still struggling mentally.
I prayed and prayed and prayed. I promised God that if you help me, I'll help somebody else.
I've been given a second chance.
I decided that I needed to do something. Here's mental health day, then it goes quiet. You start to look at the numbers, how many men die from suicide a year. It's the biggest killer of men under 50 (first in the UK; second in the USA and Canada).
(Continued below)
April 27, 2026 - Robb pre-journey, with his Walk With Mm Brother tshirt, in California
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May 4, 2026 - Robb Pollard with his RV on the journey through the desert
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May 6, 2026 - Rob Pollard running roadside
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May 13, 2026 - Robb Pollard with friends on bikes along the way
|
(Continued)
I didn't really have plan, but I wanted to run across America, to do something so big that I could raise some money for mental health.
I set up my own non-profit. It was called Walk With Me, Brother. The tools that had helped me were sobriety, being outside, being active. The most important thing was asking for help.
My wife's been obviously amazing, an angel. I just said, 'I need help.' She said, 'I'm going to research this.' And she did.
Family members were so supportive. Everyone knew I had mental health issues, but no one came forward and told me, other than my wife.
Jackie Morreale (05:26)
You putting yourself out there like this has encouraged a lot of other people. You're not the only one who's feeling this way. You're not isolated. There's a community.
Robb Pollard (05:35)
There is.
Jackie Morreale (05:35)
You've built one yourself.
Robb Pollard (05:37)
Yeah, I started hosting podcasts. There's the social side of awareness, which is big, but it was more about getting out there and meeting people for me. You don't really know what's going on behind a screen.
I'd always had this desire to see America in full. What better way to see it than walking or running?
On record, there were only 400-500 people who have ever done this.
For my kids, I had to do something. I had to rewrite my own story.
It's more now... Daddy ran across America because he wanted to raise more suicide awareness for men.
When people say, 'You're doing this for mental health,' I'm like, 'No, it was direct.'
Nobody really wants to talk about men's suicide. Nobody's affected until it's someone you know.
Jackie Morreale (06:11)
A leading cause of death for men under fifty is by suicide (first in the UK, second in Canada and the USA)… That's terrible. That needs to change. Thank you for what you're doing to change that.
Robb Pollard (06:19)
A lot of people like look at the miles. It was never, ever, ever, ever about a running exercise. There were days when I walked the majority of it.
I went through it and why I wanted to do it.
My goal for the whole journey wasn't to change millions of lives; it was just to help one person. Just one.
If I could reach just one person, maybe I could meet them, maybe they would see my story.
I've got to reach one person. I don't know if I'll ever know if it worked. No one's ever going to say, 'Hey, you saved my life.' But I hope it's a resource.
A lot of people have reached out to me during it that I'd not heard from for years. There was an overwhelming response, which I loved, but there was also some negativity. Every hundred nice comments you get, you get someone to say, 'Men shouldn't talk about this, you're making men look weak.'
But that would drive me on. Maybe they're the people who need help. Maybe they're the ones I should reach out to. I just knew that it was never, ever, ever about me and my miles. It was more about the journey. That was the whole point of Walk With Me, Brother.
There were guys on the side of a freeway, and girls, ladies, kids, they just stopped the car. They're like, 'Why are you out here?' We'd go through a very small town, and I'd have these fluorescent things on, and I'm six foot three, so thankfully, people did stop.
I'd tell them, and it was crazy the response you'd get.
You'd get one or two reactions. The reaction where it'd just go, 'You what?' And it would just go over the head.
The other reaction would be, 'Like Forest Gump? We're running across the country?' I'm like, 'Yeah.' Then they'd say, 'Why would you want to do that?' I'd tell them why.
Then they would have a story. They would have somebody - their brother, their friend, their dad, their son, their daughter.
Everyone from the camera crew in Tucson, to a guy in a laundry room in New Mexico.
Guys were finding me online and finding where I was. They'd stopped the car and they'd come and walk a mile with me. They'd tell me, 'I'm an alcoholic and I'm trying get sober.'
Two amazing kids that I met in Sugarland, Texas, we partnered with at a mental health non-profit. I was able to give back. It was just phenomenal.
We went through some pretty tough terrain. It was eight states.
My brother came out in the last week, which was amazing, and we got to spend some time.
Fifty-six days with Joe in the RV. He'd meet me a couple of miles down the road. He'd always have food or drink. He was the unsung hero of the whole thing.
And it finishes and, well, 'What next?' Fifty-six days. What do I do now?
We came back home. Walk With Me Brother is here; it does continue. I know the real work starts.
Jackie Morreale (08:30)
The journey is continuing. Your story is so powerful. I want to reiterate the numbers. You walked and ran more than 2,200 miles across America in 56 consecutive days.
Robb Pollard (08:40)
2,300 miles. Yep.
Jackie Morreale (08:42)
Eight states. I want to talk about those particular moments. In Texas, you had this amazing experience with these two young men who opened up to you. Were there any other experiences that you want to mention?
Robb Pollard (08:54)
The one was just in the laundry room, which was a bit of a surreal moment. I would love to be a fly on the wall. There were only two washing machines working. Another guy was waiting to use one.
I'd seen him. A big dude. Big, burly, kind of scary-looking guy.
He's like, 'Where you from?'
I told him, and we got talking. He asked what we're doing. I told him, 'This is my rig here.' He looked at it, and we had a little walk.
He started to tell me about his brother. He'd never told anybody about his brother. It was just surreal. There are two grown-up men hugging each other in a laundry room, in the middle of nowhere. It was pretty mad.
We had a few incidents where it was a bit sketchy, but every time I was completely wrong.
The car would pull over, and a big guy got out.
Same thing: He offered me water. He was telling me his story.
I was like, 'How powerful is that?'
(Continued below)
I didn't really have plan, but I wanted to run across America, to do something so big that I could raise some money for mental health.
I set up my own non-profit. It was called Walk With Me, Brother. The tools that had helped me were sobriety, being outside, being active. The most important thing was asking for help.
My wife's been obviously amazing, an angel. I just said, 'I need help.' She said, 'I'm going to research this.' And she did.
Family members were so supportive. Everyone knew I had mental health issues, but no one came forward and told me, other than my wife.
Jackie Morreale (05:26)
You putting yourself out there like this has encouraged a lot of other people. You're not the only one who's feeling this way. You're not isolated. There's a community.
Robb Pollard (05:35)
There is.
Jackie Morreale (05:35)
You've built one yourself.
Robb Pollard (05:37)
Yeah, I started hosting podcasts. There's the social side of awareness, which is big, but it was more about getting out there and meeting people for me. You don't really know what's going on behind a screen.
I'd always had this desire to see America in full. What better way to see it than walking or running?
On record, there were only 400-500 people who have ever done this.
For my kids, I had to do something. I had to rewrite my own story.
It's more now... Daddy ran across America because he wanted to raise more suicide awareness for men.
When people say, 'You're doing this for mental health,' I'm like, 'No, it was direct.'
Nobody really wants to talk about men's suicide. Nobody's affected until it's someone you know.
Jackie Morreale (06:11)
A leading cause of death for men under fifty is by suicide (first in the UK, second in Canada and the USA)… That's terrible. That needs to change. Thank you for what you're doing to change that.
Robb Pollard (06:19)
A lot of people like look at the miles. It was never, ever, ever, ever about a running exercise. There were days when I walked the majority of it.
I went through it and why I wanted to do it.
My goal for the whole journey wasn't to change millions of lives; it was just to help one person. Just one.
If I could reach just one person, maybe I could meet them, maybe they would see my story.
I've got to reach one person. I don't know if I'll ever know if it worked. No one's ever going to say, 'Hey, you saved my life.' But I hope it's a resource.
A lot of people have reached out to me during it that I'd not heard from for years. There was an overwhelming response, which I loved, but there was also some negativity. Every hundred nice comments you get, you get someone to say, 'Men shouldn't talk about this, you're making men look weak.'
But that would drive me on. Maybe they're the people who need help. Maybe they're the ones I should reach out to. I just knew that it was never, ever, ever about me and my miles. It was more about the journey. That was the whole point of Walk With Me, Brother.
There were guys on the side of a freeway, and girls, ladies, kids, they just stopped the car. They're like, 'Why are you out here?' We'd go through a very small town, and I'd have these fluorescent things on, and I'm six foot three, so thankfully, people did stop.
I'd tell them, and it was crazy the response you'd get.
You'd get one or two reactions. The reaction where it'd just go, 'You what?' And it would just go over the head.
The other reaction would be, 'Like Forest Gump? We're running across the country?' I'm like, 'Yeah.' Then they'd say, 'Why would you want to do that?' I'd tell them why.
Then they would have a story. They would have somebody - their brother, their friend, their dad, their son, their daughter.
Everyone from the camera crew in Tucson, to a guy in a laundry room in New Mexico.
Guys were finding me online and finding where I was. They'd stopped the car and they'd come and walk a mile with me. They'd tell me, 'I'm an alcoholic and I'm trying get sober.'
Two amazing kids that I met in Sugarland, Texas, we partnered with at a mental health non-profit. I was able to give back. It was just phenomenal.
We went through some pretty tough terrain. It was eight states.
My brother came out in the last week, which was amazing, and we got to spend some time.
Fifty-six days with Joe in the RV. He'd meet me a couple of miles down the road. He'd always have food or drink. He was the unsung hero of the whole thing.
And it finishes and, well, 'What next?' Fifty-six days. What do I do now?
We came back home. Walk With Me Brother is here; it does continue. I know the real work starts.
Jackie Morreale (08:30)
The journey is continuing. Your story is so powerful. I want to reiterate the numbers. You walked and ran more than 2,200 miles across America in 56 consecutive days.
Robb Pollard (08:40)
2,300 miles. Yep.
Jackie Morreale (08:42)
Eight states. I want to talk about those particular moments. In Texas, you had this amazing experience with these two young men who opened up to you. Were there any other experiences that you want to mention?
Robb Pollard (08:54)
The one was just in the laundry room, which was a bit of a surreal moment. I would love to be a fly on the wall. There were only two washing machines working. Another guy was waiting to use one.
I'd seen him. A big dude. Big, burly, kind of scary-looking guy.
He's like, 'Where you from?'
I told him, and we got talking. He asked what we're doing. I told him, 'This is my rig here.' He looked at it, and we had a little walk.
He started to tell me about his brother. He'd never told anybody about his brother. It was just surreal. There are two grown-up men hugging each other in a laundry room, in the middle of nowhere. It was pretty mad.
We had a few incidents where it was a bit sketchy, but every time I was completely wrong.
The car would pull over, and a big guy got out.
Same thing: He offered me water. He was telling me his story.
I was like, 'How powerful is that?'
(Continued below)
May 14, 2026 - Robb Pollard continues his journey, running through the desert
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May 22, 2026 - Robb Pollard with police officers, to share men's mental health awareness
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May 30, 2026 - Robb Pollard with fire fighters, to share men's mental health awareness
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June 5, 2026 - Rob Pollard with Joe in New Orleans, Louisiana
|
(Continued)
We went our separate ways and probably never hear from each other again. There were so many incidents like that. Didn't happen every day. There were some days I didn't see anybody, but there were some days where you'd get maybe two people.
Just wow.
Jackie Morreale (09:43)
So many little moments like that. If your goal was to reach at least one person who needs to hear your message, it sounds like it happened every day along your journey and will continue to happen, I'm sure, in ways that you will know about and maybe won't.
Quick-fire questions?
Robb Pollard (10:00)
Go ahead.
Jackie Morreale (10:01)
Whatever is on the top of your head, you tell me. Road or trail?
Robb Pollard (10:01)
Road, I hate trails. Horrible. I hate snakes.
Jackie Morreale (10:03)
Run or walk?
Robb Pollard (10:04)
Waddle.
Jackie Morreale (10:07)
Morning or evening running?
Robb Pollard (10:08)
Morning. Early morning. Yeah.
Jackie Morreale (10:10)
Favorite distance?
Robb Pollard (10:12)
When I hit 26.2 miles every day, I'd always think to myself, ‘I've still got another half-marathon to go.’
So, 26.2 miles is probably my maximum now. It was a marathon and a half every day.
Jackie Morreale (10:23)
I have a marathon that I'm dreading in December, and I needed to hear you say that. Thank you for being that one person for me today, Robb. Every day a marathon.
Robb Pollard (10:28)
You'll be fine. You can do it.
Jackie Morreale (10:32)
Favorite race? In addition to this journey you took.
Robb Pollard (10:35)
They don't do it anymore. The Iron Man Tempe, which is near Phoenix. I love that race because my brother-in-law lives in Scottsdale, so my family would go in. That was my favorite race.
Jackie Morreale (10:43)
Favorite running shoe? I'm sure you went through some.
Robb Pollard (10:45)
I did, and I tell you, I've changed. I'm a Brooks guy now. I've been everything else, but now, I'm Brooks.
Jackie Morreale (10:50)
2,300 miles later, Brooks, very good.
Robb Pollard (10:53)
I tried everything. I'm heavier as I run, very probably weirdly footed. I'm not a very sophisticated runner. They [Brooks] just held up really well for me.
Jackie Morreale (11:00)
Music or silence?
Robb Pollard (11:01)
It would honestly depend on how I was feeling. There was a lot of silence. A lot of battling my thoughts. Music would irritate me after a while, if I’m honest. I'd probably say silence.
Jackie Morreale (11:10)
Best post-run food or even mid-run food? You probably had to order a pizza along the way in some places.
Robb Pollard (11:15)
I was drinking a lot of liquid calories; I was on a lot of protein things. Some days, all we saw was gas stations, so take your pick from there. I had a lot of fried chicken. I don't know why.
Jackie Morreale (11:24)
Hold on, you made it 2,300 miles across the country on gas station food and fried chicken?
Robb Pollard (11:29)
I actually put on weight, which is crazy. I was drinking twenty Gatorades... Depending on where we were, it would be a bit mixed. Texas was great. Louisiana was actually the best food. I love the food in Louisiana.
Jackie Morreale (11:38)
Yeah, I can imagine. Run alone or with someone? Sounds like Joe was there...
Robb Pollard (11:43)
I like to be on my own. Even when my brother was coming, I felt like he was always having to be on my schedule. If you want to stop and walk, he would have to. Some days he would go a bit faster, and he'd have to slow down because I'd probably stay alone. I'm not a very fast runner, so I don't like slowing people down.
Jackie Morreale (11:55)
You do your own thing. Hardest mile?
Robb Pollard (11:57)
We were in a place called Siguin, Texas, forty miles outside of San Antonio. And I wanted to quit. It was the roughest day. It was Memorial Day. I was over it. I was looking at flights to go home. That was rough.
Jackie Morreale (12:09)
How did you turn that around?
Robb Pollard (12:10)
My wife says, 'You'd better not stop now. You keep going.'
Jackie Morreale (12:13)
Tough, patient lady.
Robb Pollard (12:14)
My father-in-law had been taken to the ICU. I just heard some really bad news from my brother's side, my sister-in-law. It was a bad day, Memorial Day. I like, 'I'm over it.'
Jackie Morreale (12:24)
But your family supported you and said, 'Keep going.'
Robb Pollard (12:26)
They did. Yeah.
Jackie Morreale (12:27)
And you just did.
(Continued below)
We went our separate ways and probably never hear from each other again. There were so many incidents like that. Didn't happen every day. There were some days I didn't see anybody, but there were some days where you'd get maybe two people.
Just wow.
Jackie Morreale (09:43)
So many little moments like that. If your goal was to reach at least one person who needs to hear your message, it sounds like it happened every day along your journey and will continue to happen, I'm sure, in ways that you will know about and maybe won't.
Quick-fire questions?
Robb Pollard (10:00)
Go ahead.
Jackie Morreale (10:01)
Whatever is on the top of your head, you tell me. Road or trail?
Robb Pollard (10:01)
Road, I hate trails. Horrible. I hate snakes.
Jackie Morreale (10:03)
Run or walk?
Robb Pollard (10:04)
Waddle.
Jackie Morreale (10:07)
Morning or evening running?
Robb Pollard (10:08)
Morning. Early morning. Yeah.
Jackie Morreale (10:10)
Favorite distance?
Robb Pollard (10:12)
When I hit 26.2 miles every day, I'd always think to myself, ‘I've still got another half-marathon to go.’
So, 26.2 miles is probably my maximum now. It was a marathon and a half every day.
Jackie Morreale (10:23)
I have a marathon that I'm dreading in December, and I needed to hear you say that. Thank you for being that one person for me today, Robb. Every day a marathon.
Robb Pollard (10:28)
You'll be fine. You can do it.
Jackie Morreale (10:32)
Favorite race? In addition to this journey you took.
Robb Pollard (10:35)
They don't do it anymore. The Iron Man Tempe, which is near Phoenix. I love that race because my brother-in-law lives in Scottsdale, so my family would go in. That was my favorite race.
Jackie Morreale (10:43)
Favorite running shoe? I'm sure you went through some.
Robb Pollard (10:45)
I did, and I tell you, I've changed. I'm a Brooks guy now. I've been everything else, but now, I'm Brooks.
Jackie Morreale (10:50)
2,300 miles later, Brooks, very good.
Robb Pollard (10:53)
I tried everything. I'm heavier as I run, very probably weirdly footed. I'm not a very sophisticated runner. They [Brooks] just held up really well for me.
Jackie Morreale (11:00)
Music or silence?
Robb Pollard (11:01)
It would honestly depend on how I was feeling. There was a lot of silence. A lot of battling my thoughts. Music would irritate me after a while, if I’m honest. I'd probably say silence.
Jackie Morreale (11:10)
Best post-run food or even mid-run food? You probably had to order a pizza along the way in some places.
Robb Pollard (11:15)
I was drinking a lot of liquid calories; I was on a lot of protein things. Some days, all we saw was gas stations, so take your pick from there. I had a lot of fried chicken. I don't know why.
Jackie Morreale (11:24)
Hold on, you made it 2,300 miles across the country on gas station food and fried chicken?
Robb Pollard (11:29)
I actually put on weight, which is crazy. I was drinking twenty Gatorades... Depending on where we were, it would be a bit mixed. Texas was great. Louisiana was actually the best food. I love the food in Louisiana.
Jackie Morreale (11:38)
Yeah, I can imagine. Run alone or with someone? Sounds like Joe was there...
Robb Pollard (11:43)
I like to be on my own. Even when my brother was coming, I felt like he was always having to be on my schedule. If you want to stop and walk, he would have to. Some days he would go a bit faster, and he'd have to slow down because I'd probably stay alone. I'm not a very fast runner, so I don't like slowing people down.
Jackie Morreale (11:55)
You do your own thing. Hardest mile?
Robb Pollard (11:57)
We were in a place called Siguin, Texas, forty miles outside of San Antonio. And I wanted to quit. It was the roughest day. It was Memorial Day. I was over it. I was looking at flights to go home. That was rough.
Jackie Morreale (12:09)
How did you turn that around?
Robb Pollard (12:10)
My wife says, 'You'd better not stop now. You keep going.'
Jackie Morreale (12:13)
Tough, patient lady.
Robb Pollard (12:14)
My father-in-law had been taken to the ICU. I just heard some really bad news from my brother's side, my sister-in-law. It was a bad day, Memorial Day. I like, 'I'm over it.'
Jackie Morreale (12:24)
But your family supported you and said, 'Keep going.'
Robb Pollard (12:26)
They did. Yeah.
Jackie Morreale (12:27)
And you just did.
(Continued below)
June 20, 2026 - Robb Pollard running with his brother in Florida
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June 21, 2026 - Robb Pollard completes his journey across America with the last mile through Jacksonville Beach, Florida, with family and friends
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June 21, 2026 - Robb Pollard, journey across America, mission completed! Celebrations in Jacksonville Beach, Florida with family and friends
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June 21, 2026 - Robb Pollard, mission completed, with his family in Jacksonville Beach, Florida
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(Continued)
Robb Pollard (12:28)
Kept going.
Jackie Morreale (12:28)
Most beautiful mile?
Robb Pollard (12:30)
Last mile with my friends and family, Jacksonville Beach. We had a few people walking with us. I was carrying my daughter, my son was with us, my wife was with my brother, my best friend. We had about eight to twelve stragglers. It was just phenomenal. Beautiful. Without a doubt, the best mile.
Jackie Morreale (12:45)
What's harder, mile one or mile forty?
Robb Pollard (12:48)
Mile forty, at the end, I was done. I'd always walk the last two miles.
Jackie Morreale (12:51)
Yeah. I'm so happy to hear you say that. I thought you were immortal or something, for those of us who struggle through twenty-six miles.
One thing running has taught you about life?
Robb Pollard (13:01)
Never give up.
Just keep going, one foot forward.
Even if you're in pain. My Achilles tore... There are days when I feel pain, agony.
Keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Jackie Morreale (13:09)
Favorite book?
Robb Pollard (13:10)
I'm a big fan of autobiography. I listen to a lot of books. I'll probably say the Anthony Bourdain. I think he was the guy, in a sense. I realized I had to go and get help when I heard the news.
David Goggins, Can't Hurt Me. Any guy's got to listen or watch that. That's a very inspirational book as well. I read that, and I did my first triathlon.
Jackie Morreale (13:27)
If listeners get one takeaway from our conversation today, what would it be?
Robb Pollard (13:31)
Don't be scared to ask for help.
It's not a weakness. The strongest thing you can do is ask for help.
There's no shame in it.
Don't ever be scared to ask for help.
Don't ever think what other people think.
Asking for help is the bravest thing you can do. Do it.
Jackie Morreale (13:42)
Agree. If you had a broken leg, you would fix it. Why are we hesitant when it comes to mental health? This starts with asking for help.
Shout-outs to anyone special?
Robb Pollard (13:50)
I thank God. I thank my wife. Everybody who supported this journey, who donated, shared my story, or sent me a message.
Joe was phenomenal, Joe was my guy; chillest dude you'll ever meet in your life. Joe the investor, entrepreneur. He's like my little brother now. He's off somewhere, on his next trip.
My brother for coming out and spending that time with me.
Everyone who got involved in this, my team around me. There are too many people.
Jackie Morreale (14:12)
What is next for you, Robb Pollard?
Robb Pollard (14:15)
Rebuilding, honestly. I had to rebuild my business when I was away. I lost a lot of clients. They saw what I was doing and didn't like paying this guy and he's off on a jolly. The world of social media is changing. I listened to a lot of AI when I was on the road. Learning that. Trying to keep my social media stuff going with my company. Delivering solutions to problems.
Being present with my family, my kids, because I missed 56 days.
I never take one day for granted.
Bath times, picking him up from school, taking him to school, it's the first thing on my calendar every week.
Walk With Me Brother... the goal this year was one person, the goal next year is ten people. We're trying to build it from the ground up. I would like to have charters in all the cities, starting with Los Angeles.
Just be more present, being in the moment a bit more. Not taking everything for granted, like maybe I did before I left.
Jackie Morreale (14:58)
You're such an inspiration, Robb. Thank you for doing what you do. I love that you called it 'a jolly.' Your journey was an incredible thing. If you did get some joy out of it, that's great. What you're doing is serving other people; a big, important purpose, and thank you for doing that.
Robb Pollard (15:13)
Thank you. It's infectious. One thing I learned is that people are really kind.
We give everyone bad press, but when you need help, people are really kind.
When you start helping people, you want to help more people.
Everyone's going through something.
Be a little bit kinder and nicer to everyone.
That's it. That's the only thing.
Jackie Morreale (15:28)
Thank you so much for your time. Grateful to you for sharing your story. Your kids are super lucky; they have an awesome dad. I can't wait to see what you do next! Have a wonderful day.
To learn more about Robb Pollard and Walk With Me, Brother, visit: walkwithmebrother.com
Robb Pollard (12:28)
Kept going.
Jackie Morreale (12:28)
Most beautiful mile?
Robb Pollard (12:30)
Last mile with my friends and family, Jacksonville Beach. We had a few people walking with us. I was carrying my daughter, my son was with us, my wife was with my brother, my best friend. We had about eight to twelve stragglers. It was just phenomenal. Beautiful. Without a doubt, the best mile.
Jackie Morreale (12:45)
What's harder, mile one or mile forty?
Robb Pollard (12:48)
Mile forty, at the end, I was done. I'd always walk the last two miles.
Jackie Morreale (12:51)
Yeah. I'm so happy to hear you say that. I thought you were immortal or something, for those of us who struggle through twenty-six miles.
One thing running has taught you about life?
Robb Pollard (13:01)
Never give up.
Just keep going, one foot forward.
Even if you're in pain. My Achilles tore... There are days when I feel pain, agony.
Keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Jackie Morreale (13:09)
Favorite book?
Robb Pollard (13:10)
I'm a big fan of autobiography. I listen to a lot of books. I'll probably say the Anthony Bourdain. I think he was the guy, in a sense. I realized I had to go and get help when I heard the news.
David Goggins, Can't Hurt Me. Any guy's got to listen or watch that. That's a very inspirational book as well. I read that, and I did my first triathlon.
Jackie Morreale (13:27)
If listeners get one takeaway from our conversation today, what would it be?
Robb Pollard (13:31)
Don't be scared to ask for help.
It's not a weakness. The strongest thing you can do is ask for help.
There's no shame in it.
Don't ever be scared to ask for help.
Don't ever think what other people think.
Asking for help is the bravest thing you can do. Do it.
Jackie Morreale (13:42)
Agree. If you had a broken leg, you would fix it. Why are we hesitant when it comes to mental health? This starts with asking for help.
Shout-outs to anyone special?
Robb Pollard (13:50)
I thank God. I thank my wife. Everybody who supported this journey, who donated, shared my story, or sent me a message.
Joe was phenomenal, Joe was my guy; chillest dude you'll ever meet in your life. Joe the investor, entrepreneur. He's like my little brother now. He's off somewhere, on his next trip.
My brother for coming out and spending that time with me.
Everyone who got involved in this, my team around me. There are too many people.
Jackie Morreale (14:12)
What is next for you, Robb Pollard?
Robb Pollard (14:15)
Rebuilding, honestly. I had to rebuild my business when I was away. I lost a lot of clients. They saw what I was doing and didn't like paying this guy and he's off on a jolly. The world of social media is changing. I listened to a lot of AI when I was on the road. Learning that. Trying to keep my social media stuff going with my company. Delivering solutions to problems.
Being present with my family, my kids, because I missed 56 days.
I never take one day for granted.
Bath times, picking him up from school, taking him to school, it's the first thing on my calendar every week.
Walk With Me Brother... the goal this year was one person, the goal next year is ten people. We're trying to build it from the ground up. I would like to have charters in all the cities, starting with Los Angeles.
Just be more present, being in the moment a bit more. Not taking everything for granted, like maybe I did before I left.
Jackie Morreale (14:58)
You're such an inspiration, Robb. Thank you for doing what you do. I love that you called it 'a jolly.' Your journey was an incredible thing. If you did get some joy out of it, that's great. What you're doing is serving other people; a big, important purpose, and thank you for doing that.
Robb Pollard (15:13)
Thank you. It's infectious. One thing I learned is that people are really kind.
We give everyone bad press, but when you need help, people are really kind.
When you start helping people, you want to help more people.
Everyone's going through something.
Be a little bit kinder and nicer to everyone.
That's it. That's the only thing.
Jackie Morreale (15:28)
Thank you so much for your time. Grateful to you for sharing your story. Your kids are super lucky; they have an awesome dad. I can't wait to see what you do next! Have a wonderful day.
To learn more about Robb Pollard and Walk With Me, Brother, visit: walkwithmebrother.com
June 21, 2026 - View of the final mile before completing the journey to the Atlantic Ocean, in Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Continued reading, recommended by Robb Pollard:
Kitchen Confidential
Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly. Written and Narrated By Anthony Bourdain.
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Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds. By David Goggins (Author). Published December 2018.
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