In 2019, Sam Goodwin was just 13 countries shy of his goal to visit every country in the world when the unthinkable happened. Within hours of landing in Syria and despite taking all proper precautions, he found himself incarcerated in Syria’s brutal prison system, wrongfully accused of espionage with the Syrian regime threatening to hand him over to ISIS for beheading if he did not confess to being a CIA spy.

Both the US government and intelligence officials doubted whether Sam would ever be seen alive again, and Sam himself doubted whether he would ever return home. But his family never gave up hope. They built up a network of journalists, hostage negotiators, Middle East experts, Russian diplomats, Vatican envoys, and mercenaries, until eventually — by nothing short of a miracle — they found a secret backdoor into the heart of the Syrian intelligence service itself and brought Sam home.

Sam shares his incredible, true story in his new book, Saving Sam. It is a gripping testament of resilience, family, and faith, where — in a genuine, straightforward, and sometimes humorous style — Sam draws on his experience as a hostage to demonstrate how to turn adversity into asset, whether it be in our personal or professional lives. Messages he also shares in his keynote presentation, “Embracing Uncertainty.”

Sam was recently interviewed on NPR’s St. Louis Public Radio where he spoke about his experience in Syria and his family’s quest to bring him home, and why he wanted to share it with the world in his much-anticipated new book.

Answers have been edited for length and clarity.

A Whirlwind Journey: Traveling to Every Country in the World

St. Louis Public Radio: You knew conditions in Syria were dangerous for Syrians let alone tourists. Why did you decide to visit Syria?

Sam Goodwin: One of the most significant things I learned through travel is that places that are negatively perceived or that media tells us we’re not supposed to like, these were the places where I had some of my best experiences. And I really believe in promoting the beauty and positivity of places that are lesser known or negatively perceived.

I was on a journey to travel to every country in the world and travel for me was never about ticking boxes or checking places off a list, it was about learning. Travel is the best education I’ve ever had. I was on a journey, a methodical pilgrimage, and the journey was to travel to every country in the world and that’s why I went to Syria.

From Solitary Confinement to Adra Prison

STPL: You were taken first to a detention site called Branch 215 where you were held in solitary confinement for many days. What went through your mind in those early days of detention?

SG: I was stunned and in disbelief about what had happened in just a few short hours. My life had spiralled out of control in the most terrifying of ways. I felt exactly the way they wanted me to feel, hopeless and utterly cut off from any control of my life.

During that time, I leaned on a handful of things for strength. I leaned on perspectives that I developed from traveling to different corners of the world, which provoke gratitude for just the basic food and water I was being given. I leaned on skills and traits I developed from being a competitive athlete, the mental toughness, critical thinking, and resilience. I leaned on the belief that I had a purpose in life and a desire to see family and friends again. Most importantly, I leaned on my faith. I’m a devout catholic and I believed that this was not the end.

STPL: After a few weeks, you were moved to Adra prison. An upgrade because you were no longer alone. What was it like to be amongst men so different from you yet who so quickly became your friends and under those circumstances?

SG: Adra was an upgrade and I think there are many lessons I learned at Adra that I think are relevant to all of us wherever we are in the world. Some of the most significant things I learned through travel and that were reinforced in my time at Adra, is that the overwhelming majority of people in the world are well intentioned, proud of their country, and happy to help others. That was my experience everywhere in the world, having gone to every country, and it was also my experience at Adra.

Coming Home: Escaping Syria

STPL: After you were released, what did you learn about your family’s network of people and their attempt to help?

SG: One of the most overwhelming things for me in the wake of this has been learning everything that happened on the outside, while I was trapped on the inside. It’s been four and a half years and I’m still saying thank you to people. I’m still learning about someone who talked to a friend or made a phone call or said a prayer, whatever it might be, and I believe I will continue doing that.

It’s been overwhelming to learn about these people who acted on my behalf from people who love me to people who had no idea who I was and everywhere in between. It speaks to a number of different things from faith, family, resilience, survival, geopolitics, etc., and it puts so much into perspective, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

STPL: Why write your book?

SG: There are several reasons that I wanted to write a book. First, I simply believe in the power of storytelling. Secondly, I’ve known for a while that I wanted to write a book. As an American living and working overseas for seven years in Asia and the Middle East and traveling to every country in the world, I believed I had a perspective and experience that others would find useful and helpful.

Thirdly, and potentially most significantly, a friend of mine who is actually a big part of the book, talks a lot about what he characterizes as the “sine curve of life”. If you remember trigonometry, it’s this up and down, never-ending radio wave, and he says we all ride this journey throughout our lives. When we’re at the top and things are going well, it’s important to have humility, gratitude, and awareness, but nothing deeply good emerges from the top. It’s at the bottom of the curve, when things are challenging, where all of the growth happens.

When I reflect on this situation, it was a challenging time, but I’ve grown so much through this. People ask me quite a bit, “Sam if you could go back, would you still travel the way you did or still go on this trip?” On one hand, I would never want to relive captivity and wouldn’t wish that on anybody. But on the other hand, I would never want to give up anything that has come from it — the opportunity to meet some remarkable people and to grow in character and faith.

So simply put, why did I want to write this book? I believe my story can help others unleash their story.

A thought leader on uncertainty, Sam Goodwin’s incredible journey of survival has inspired audiences around the world. It illustrates the extraordinary power of the human spirit while demonstrating how we can all turn adversity into asset, no matter the circumstances.

Sam tailors his keynote presentations to his audiences and can touch on key themes such as leadership, consistency, peak performance, and more. Contact us to learn more about Sam and to book him as a keynote speaker at your next event.