EP 99 What the Open Road Taught Me About Life After 60
What can riding a motorcycle thousands of miles across North and South America teach us about thriving after 60?
Quite a lot, according to Michael Yang.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Michael immigrated to California as a teenager and embraced the opportunities of the American Dream. He went on to earn degrees from UC Berkeley and Columbia University, build a successful Silicon Valley startup, and eventually sell his company during the dot-com era.
But Michael's most surprising chapter began in his sixties.
Rather than slowing down, he climbed onto a motorcycle and embarked on epic journeys across North and South America—from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, on the Arctic Ocean to Newfoundland, Canada, and through the breathtaking landscapes of Patagonia.
In this fascinating conversation, Michael shares what those miles taught him about resilience, perseverance, humility, gratitude, curiosity, and living with purpose at every age.
Tap here to purchase Michael's book Coming Alive on the Ride: A Memoir of Motorcycle Travel, Self-Discovery, and Korean Heritage.
Michael's Message: "Purpose and passion do not have expiration dates."
If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to pursue a dream, start a new chapter, or embark on an adventure, Michael's story is a powerful reminder that some of life's most meaningful journeys begin later than expected.
If you found inspiration from this conversation, please rate, review and share this episode.
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Adventurer, Entrepreneur, Investor, Author, Motorcycle Traveler
Michael Yang is a Korean American author, entrepreneur, investor, and adventure motorcycle traveler. He was born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1961, and immigrated to San Jose, California, at 14.
He founded a Silicon Valley tech startup, which was successfully acquired by a large corporation.
In his sixties, Michael began embarking on epic motorcycle journeys across North and South America. He’s ridden from Los Angeles to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, on the Arctic Ocean; across North America to Newfoundland, Canada; and in South America’s Patagonia region from Osorno, Chile, to Ushuaia, Argentina. Riding through vast landscapes, Michael rediscovered values that shaped his life: perseverance, humility, gratitude, and an abiding sense of wonder.
Michael graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science and a master’s degree in business administration from UC Berkeley, and a master’s degree in computer science from Columbia University. Michael holds a fourth-degree black belt in Taekwondo.
Michael lives in La Canada, California, with his wife and family. Together they share a love of travel, adventure, and purposeful-living.
