Backpack, Jacket, Surfboard: Hitchhiking Across America with Graham Broyd

In 1980, a 20-year-old Graham Broyd turned a prestigious six-week scholarship to Washington, D.C. into the adventure of a lifetime. He traded his ticket for a flight to Los Angeles with a dream of surfing in Malibu and a wild plan to hitchhike across the country. In this episode, Graham shares the incredible story of his journey, a tale he revisited in 2024 to see how the country and he had changed. This is the ultimate story of hitchhiking across America then and now. What happens when you have just $600 to survive for six weeks, relying on your wits and the kindness—or danger—of strangers?

This sprawling conversation, a must-listen for fans of incredible travel stories, is like a living "Backpack, Jacket, Surfboard" book review. Author Graham Broyd sits down with Blaine DeSantis to recount his unbelievable journey. We hear tales of extreme budget survival, like his method for turning a single Big Mac into a three-course meal, a story that comically landed his book in the "cooking humor" category on Amazon. Graham shares the unwritten rules and etiquette of the road, offering a fascinating look into the lost art of hitchhiking. This Graham Broyd travel memoir comes to life as he discusses his disastrous first attempt at surfing in Malibu, how he acquired an eight-foot surfboard as a travel companion, and the frightening night he spent alone in the desolate expanse of Death Valley.

The episode explores the stark difference between America in 1980 vs 2024, contrasting the past with the present through Graham’s retraced journey. He shares thrilling and sometimes chilling stories from hitchhiking America, from navigating an unwelcome advance near the Grand Canyon to the bizarre experience of ending up in Tijuana, Mexico on a trip to Malibu—a mystery he still hasn't solved. We learn how a single smart jacket gave him access to the high-rolling casinos of 1980s Las Vegas and how a chance encounter in a youth hostel led to a stunning interview with Senator Howard Baker about the Panama Canal Treaty. This detailed look at hitchhiking across America then and now culminates in a tale of unexpected benevolence on the gritty subways of New York City, proving that adventure and humanity can be found where you least expect them.

About Our Guest:
Graham Broyd is the author of the travel memoir "Backpack, Jacket, Surfboard." In 1980, at the age of 20, he embarked on an impromptu hitchhiking trip across the United States, a journey that profoundly shaped his life. Over 40 years later, he retraced his steps to recapture 24 photos from his original trip, discovering not only how much America had changed, but how much he had as well.

Timestamps:
(00:00) A Scholarship Becomes an Epic Adventure
(02:12) From D.C. Scholarship to a Cross-Country Hitchhiking Adventure
(05:20) Surviving on $15 a Day: The Three-Course Big Mac Meal
(07:45) The Mystery of Tijuana: Retracing Steps 40 Years Later
(14:29) The Reality of Surfing Malibu & Acquiring a Surfboard
(17:22) The Unwritten Rules and Etiquette of 1980s Hitchhiking
(19:49) A Terrifying Night Alone in Death Valley
(22:56) How a Smart Jacket Got Me Into Vegas Casinos
(28:09) The Dangers of the Road: An Unwelcome Encounter
(35:18) How a Hitchhiker Interviewed Senator Howard Baker
(39:48) Unexpected Kindness in 1980s New York City
(41:52) America Then and Now: A Love Letter to a Changing Nation

Learn More From Our Guest & Episode Resources:

• Get your copy of "Backpack, Jacket, Surfboard"
• Learn more about Graham Broyd