Key Takeaways

• Marta DeWolf and her husband have been sailing the globe for eight years on a 43-foot catamaran, having covered approximately 22,000 miles and visited seven countries.
• The couple’s sailing journey began after their children became empty nesters, seeking to challenge themselves and get out of their comfort zone.
• Despite facing treacherous conditions like mini-tsunamis and hurricanes (medicaines), Marta describes the experience as mostly filled with ‘dolphins and mermaids,’ though they have had about six or seven scary moments in eight years.
• The podcast provided Marta with companionship and laughter during a difficult period when she and her husband were not speaking due to COVID-19 restrictions in Turkey.
• Marta shared her expertise on identifying good pizza, emphasizing the importance of ‘getting eyes on the pizza’ and noting that the best she’s had was in Naples.

Segments

The Perils and Joys of Sailing (~00:03:00)

• Key Takeaway: While sailing can be treacherous, with experiences like mini-tsunamis and hurricanes, Marta emphasizes that the majority of their journey has been filled with positive experiences.
• Summary: Marta discusses the dangers of sailing, referencing the movie ‘Dead Calm’ as a source of her own fear of the open water. She recounts facing a ‘medicaine’ (hurricane in the Mediterranean) with waterspouts, which was a particularly frightening experience, but contrasts this with the more frequent joys of seeing dolphins and mermaids.

Relationship Dynamics at Sea (~00:07:00)

• Key Takeaway: Living in close quarters on a boat for eight years has significantly improved Marta and her husband’s communication, forcing them to let go of small issues.
• Summary: Conan inquires about the challenges of living with his wife in a confined space, which leads Marta to discuss how she and her husband have navigated their relationship while sailing. She admits they have had difficult times, including a period of not speaking during COVID in Turkey, but ultimately, the experience has strengthened their bond.

Podcast as a Comfort (~00:11:00)

• Key Takeaway: During a difficult period in her marriage, Marta found solace and laughter through listening to Conan’s podcast, considering the hosts her ‘only friends’ at one point.
• Summary: Marta shares how listening to Conan’s podcast helped her through a rough patch in her marriage while they were in Turkey. She recounts how she would kayak to ruins and listen, finding joy and connection through the show, even introducing it to others who were also seeking laughter.

Sailing Logistics and Life Before (~00:17:00)

• Key Takeaway: Marta and her husband are self-sufficient in maintaining their boat, performing tasks like sanding, painting, and servicing engines themselves.
• Summary: Marta describes their current location in Sicily and the process of lifting their catamaran out of the water for maintenance, which they do themselves. She also briefly touches on their life before sailing, mentioning they sold their house in Bellevue, Washington, to fund their adventure.

Finding Treasure and Pirate Life (~00:25:00)

• Key Takeaway: Marta has found historical artifacts, specifically pieces of amphoras, while diving, which she considers a form of treasure.
• Summary: The conversation shifts to Marta’s discovery of ’treasure’ while diving, which turns out to be pieces of amphoras, ancient vessels used for transporting liquids. Conan playfully compares this to ‘The Goonies,’ a movie he loves, and Marta clarifies that while not gold, these finds are historically significant.

Sailing Advice and Navigation (~00:30:00)

• Key Takeaway: Marta offers Conan practical advice on sailing tasks like ‘reefing the main’ and ‘furling the jib,’ and shares a mnemonic for remembering port and starboard.
• Summary: Marta offers Conan some sailing jobs should he ever visit their boat, such as reefing the main and furling the jib. She also shares a helpful tip for remembering which side is port and which is starboard using the number of letters in the words and the color of port wine.

Armenian Heritage and Family (~00:35:00)

• Key Takeaway: Marta’s father’s Armenian heritage and his village in Turkey, Vakifli, are discussed, highlighting the unique circumstances of his birth documentation.
• Summary: The conversation takes a turn as Conan mentions visiting an Armenian village in Turkey and thinking of Sona. This leads to a discussion about Sona’s father’s village and the unusual way his birth certificate was issued, with officials visiting only twice a year.

Pizza Perfection (~00:42:00)

• Key Takeaway: Marta’s key criterion for a good pizzeria is visual appeal; if the pizza looks good, it likely is, with Naples being her benchmark for excellent pizza.
• Summary: Marta, a self-proclaimed pizza aficionado, shares her disappointment with a highly recommended pizza place in Sicily. She explains her method for judging pizza quality, which involves seeing it first, and states that the best pizza she’s ever had was in Naples.