Travel Guru Rick Steves

Rick Steves. Credit : Derek Davis/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty

Rick Opens Up About Life’s ‘Regrets’ After Cancer Diagnosis: ‘I’m Sad About It’

“I would love to be the person I was before I was a travel writer,” Steves said on the Dec. 14 episode of ‘The Interview’, Rick Steves got deeply personal on the December 14, 2024, episode of The Interview podcast from The New York Times, reflecting on his life, career, and recent prostate cancer diagnosis.

That quote you mentioned came during a moment of vulnerability, where he shared regrets about the toll his travel-focused career has taken on his personal life. He spoke about longing for a simpler existence—perhaps as a piano teacher with a steady home life—rather than the whirlwind of global exploration and public life he chose1.

Despite the challenges, Steves emphasized that his path has been a mission, helping people travel thoughtfully and meaningfully. He’s approaching his cancer journey with what he calls a “traveler’s mindset,” embracing the unknown with curiosity rather than fear.

If you’re interested, you can listen to the full episode on ‘The Interview’: Rick Steves Refuses To Get Cynical About the World – Search

‘The Interview’: Rick Steves Refuses To Get Cynical About the World Transcript – The Daily

It’s a powerful conversation about purpose, sacrifice, and staying open-hearted in the face of adversity.

Travel guru Rick Steves is getting candid about his experience with prostate cancer. Rick Steves was diagnosed with prostate cancer in August 2024. He shared the news publicly and spoke candidly about his experience, describing it as a journey he approached with a traveler’s mindset.

Steves, 69, reflected on the disease, sharing that it has imbued him with “an awareness of what you might regret when you’re wrapping up your life,” during the Dec. 14 episode of The New York Times’ podcast The Interview, hosted by David Marchese and Lulu Garcia-Navarro.

“There’s regrets,” admitted the Rick Steves’ Europe star, who was diagnosed with cancer in August.

“[A career in travel] has not been good for my family. I got divorced. It’s not been great for relationships with loved ones.”

“I would love to be the person I was before I was a travel writer,” he continued. “I would have had a very, very beautiful life being a piano teacher, coming home every night for dinner and mowing the lawn, and joining clubs, and, you know, being regular and reliable. But I’ve chosen a different path, and this is a path that is — it’s a mission for me.”

“I’ve calculated it,” he explained. “And I’ve got an opportunity to be what I consider extremely productive … helping people travel in a constructive way. And I choose that knowing it’s not gonna be without a cost. Yeah, I’m aware of that. And I’m in a way sad about it. But, again, you have to make a choice.”

1people.com

Travel guru and television personality Rick Steves visits Maine to lend support to the Yes on 1 campaign.

Rick Steves in October 2024. Derek Davis/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty

He’s since settled into his image as one of the“lovable nerds on public television,” he jokes. “Like Mr. Rogers, Bob Ross and the Muppets.” He’s also written 110 books and built a travel empire with 100 employees who work on the show, tours and his weekly radio program, which began in 2005 and airs on about 500 stations.

But in August, all of that was put on pause. On his doctor’s urging, Steves had taken a prostate-specific antigen blood test (PSA) for the first time ever. “That probably saved my life,” he says. “Now I’m a crusader for people to get tested.” He’d been showing symptoms, like frequent urination, but didn’t think much of it. His doctor told him his PSA number was “through the roof.”

I look at things with a traveler’s mindset—with curiosity, joy and positivity

— RICK STEVES

Learning he had cancer was a shock. “When you’ve found your niche and you love what you do, it’s like oxygen. You can’t imagine living without it,” says Steves, who spends more than 100 days traveling each year filming and researching. “But when you get that news, you realize work is not primary. I’ve got to be healthy. I’ve got loved ones I want to be with.”

Those include his children from his previous marriage, Andy, 37, also a travel writer, and Jackie, 34, a teacher, and his girlfriend of five years, Shelley Bryan Wee, a Lutheran bishop. Steves, who is active in the Lutheran Church himself, says Wee, a breast cancer survivor, has been by his side throughout. “She’s an inspiration and is wise and comforting.”

Rick Steves and Shelley on the Eiger Express, Swiss Alps

Rick Steves and girlfriend Shelley Bryan Wee in the Swiss Alps in 2022. Courtesy Rick Steves

Because of his high PSA numbers, Steves opted to have his prostate removed. The surgery was successful, he says, and doctors don’t think the cancer has spread, but he’s still coping with after-effects, including incontinence. “I didn’t know what the word was and now it’s a big part of my life,” he says with a laugh.

Al Roker Says Early Detection of Prostate Cancer Enabled Him to Meet His Grandchild: ‘That Little Girl Is Everything’

He is determined to be open about his journey, even the potentially embarrassing parts. “When I was a teenager, my mother had depression and it was a secret in the family,” he says. “That bothered me. I don’t like needless secrets. We need each other. We need to share. We need support. We need to learn from each other’s experiences.”

The outpouring of good wishes he’s received from fans and friends since his diagnosis has “filled my sails with a loving wind,” he says. “It’s good medicine.”

Later this month, Steves is expecting lab results to learn if he is cancer free. In the meantime, he’s back to work, and the people he loves.

“I’m on the road to recovery and it’s a beautiful feeling,” he says. “You can’t control where the road takes you in life. Sometimes there’s a bend and you gotta take it. You can be positive or negative about it. I’m very positive about my prognosis.”

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Travel writer Rick Steves says his career choice ‘has not been great’ for his personal relationships

A well-known travel writer takes an unexpected journey – UW Medicine | Newsroom

Everything To Know About Travel Host Rick Steves’ Cancer Diagnosis

Edmonds travel expert Rick Steves discloses that he has cancer

Steves also admitted that while his diagnosis is “scary” at times, he’s attempting to approach it with a “traveler’s mindset.”

“You know, a month ago, I said goodbye to my prostate, and I see it as a journey. I don’t speak the language. I don’t know exactly where it’s going. I’m not in control of the itinerary,” he said.

“And it’s interesting to me. It hasn’t gotten me down. I’m kind of having — not fun — but I’m having a learning experience,” he added. “I didn’t really wanna be an expert on incontinence, but I’m gonna get through it.”

The travel writer shared that he strives to stay open and honest about what he’s going through, revealing that his August social media post in which he revealed his diagnoses was the “most commented on and shared posts I’ve ever had on Facebook.”

“And it was a very, very positive thing,” he added.

“I’ve always thought it’s important not to keep these things secret, to be embarrassed about anything.” Steves also revealed that growing up with a mother who had depression motivated him to share personal health updates with fans.

“When I was … a teenager — that was a long time ago — my mom had some kind of depression, and [the doctors] were fiddling around trying to find the right kind of antidepressant medicine for her and so on. And I know that there’s a lot of depression in our society, and even as a teenager, I felt like I can’t keep this a secret. We’ve gotta share it with people so that when they have depression in their family, they will be more open about it … and not be alone and afraid, but be in community.”

He also noted that the outpouring of support he has received since announcing his diagnosis has “almost has a tangible value. It fills the sails that motor me through this journey, and I’m really thankful for it.” In terms of a prognosis, Steves said he’s optimistic and is “doing as well as you can be,” adding, “My my prognosis is very good. If you’re gonna get cancer, prostate is a good kind of cancer to get.”

It was supposed to be a routine doctor’s appointment.

Well-known travel writer and TV host Rick Steves, 69, was sitting across from his new primary care doctor at UW Medicine, who suggested a wellness checkup, a few dietary tweaks, maybe tai chi? And how about a blood test?

Steves agreed and didn’t think more about it. He went back to work planning a TV shoot about barge trips in Burgundy.

“A few days later, my doctor called me and asked if there is a quiet place to sit down,” Steves remembered. “He then told me my PSAs were off the charts.”

Cells in the prostate gland make a protein called prostate-specific antigen, or PSA. A blood test can measure the PSA circulating in the blood, with a high count sometimes indicating prostate cancer.

The normal PSA for someone Steves’ age is less than 4 nanograms per milliliter, according to his urologic oncologist and surgeon, Daniel W. Lin, MD, a Fred Hutch Cancer Center physician and chief of UW Medicine’s urologic oncology program and holder of the Pritt Family Endowed Chair in Prostate Cancer Research.

Steves’ PSA level was 55.

“It was like I’d been thrown into a new land fraught with mystery and uncertainty,” he wrote in an Oct. 8 post on Facebook. “Suddenly swept away from my general practitioner and into the world of oncology, I needed to make important decisions about things I knew nothing of, and I barely spoke the language.”What insights did Rick Steves share during his recovery
?

Rick Steves approached his recovery from prostate cancer with the same spirit he brings to travel—curious, candid, and deeply reflective. Here are some of the most meaningful insights he shared:

Framing Cancer as a Journey

He described cancer as “the latest adventure in a lifetime of travels,” likening his diagnosis to entering a foreign land without a map or language skills.
His mindset turned the experience into a kind of “trip report,” helping others see illness not just as a setback, but as a transformative passage.

Advocating for Open Conversations

Rick emphasized that cancer is “nothing to be ashamed of or to hide,” encouraging people to speak openly about their diagnoses and treatments.
He reflected on how cancer used to be whispered about, and how transparency can empower others to seek help and feel less alone.

Importance of Early Detection

His diagnosis came after a routine PSA test revealed a score of 55, far above the normal threshold of 4 for his age.
He urged older men to be proactive about screenings, especially if there’s a family history of prostate cancer.

Gratitude and Perspective

Rick expressed deep appreciation for access to quality healthcare, supportive loved ones, and the privilege of living in a peaceful part of the world4.
He made a point to celebrate “everything that works well in my body” and the communities that make healing possible.

Embracing Recovery with Intention

Post-surgery, he tackled recovery with gusto: physical therapy, Kegel exercises, walking, and even training for a hiking trip in Italy’s Dolomites.
He acknowledged challenges like incontinence and sexual dysfunction, but remained optimistic and proactive.

Looking Ahead

Rick declared himself “essentially cancer-free” in early 2025 and returned to travel planning, writing, and filming with renewed energy.
He’s now more committed than ever to living vibrantly and sharing meaningful experiences with others.

His reflections are a masterclass in turning adversity into wisdom. Want to hear how he’s weaving these insights into his travel work now?

1people.com 2www.survivornet.com 3www.fox13seattle.com 4www.koin.com 5fortynews.com

How is Rick incorporating these insights into his travel work?

Rick Steves has been weaving his cancer recovery insights into his travel work with remarkable depth and authenticity. Here’s how his recent projects reflect that transformation:

Embracing Nature and Wellness

His latest travel specials spotlight alpine adventures across Italy, Austria, Switzerland, and France—celebrating physical vitality and the healing power of nature.
He’s been promoting active travel: hiking, scenic train rides, and rustic cultural experiences that encourage movement and mindfulness.

Speaking with Purpose

Rick’s upcoming talk, Travel as a Political Act, emphasizes how thoughtful travel can foster empathy, global understanding, and personal growth.
He’s using his platform to encourage travelers to engage with the world intentionally, not just as tourists but as learners and bridge-builders.

Prioritizing Meaningful Experiences

His blog and interviews reflect a shift toward slower, more reflective travel, urging people to savor moments and connect deeply with local cultures
He’s championing travel that’s not just about sights, but about insight—especially into health, resilience, and gratitude.
He’s highlighting how travel can be a tool for social awareness, especially in places where rights and freedoms are still evolving.

Rick’s post-recovery work feels more personal, more intentional, and more urgent—in the best way. Want to hear about his upcoming book or how he’s mentoring the next generation of travel storytellers?

1Alaska Public Media 2alaskapublic.org 3blog.ricksteves.com 4Life’s Work: An Interview with Rick Steves

How does travel contribute to personal wellness and health?

Travel isn’t just about snapping photos and checking off bucket lists—it’s a full-body, mind-expanding wellness experience.

Here’s how it contributes to personal health:

Mental & Emotional Well-Being

Reduces stress by breaking routine and offering a mental reset.
Boosts happiness and mood—even the anticipation of a trip can lift spirits.
Encourages mindfulness and presence, especially in nature-rich or culturally immersive destinations.
Helps combat depression and anxiety, with studies showing lower rates among frequent travelers.

Physical Health Benefits

Promotes movement and exercise—walking tours, hiking, swimming, and exploring cities all get you moving.
Can lower risk of heart disease: people who vacation regularly have significantly reduced cardiac risks.
Supports better sleep and blood pressure, especially after wellness-focused trips like spa retreats or yoga getaways.

Immune & Cognitive Boosts

Exposure to new environments may strengthen immunity by introducing your body to diverse microbes.
Enhances brain health and creativity—navigating unfamiliar places stimulates cognitive flexibility.
Encourages lifelong learning, which supports mental sharpness and emotional resilience.

Nature & Wellness Tourism

Activities like forest bathing, hot springs, and guided hikes can reduce cortisol and improve mood.
Wellness travel often includes healthy eating, meditation, and digital detoxes that support holistic health.

Travel is like a multivitamin for your soul—with side effects that include joy, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose. Want help planning a wellness-focused getaway or exploring destinations that specialize in healing experiences?

1www.nbcnews.com 2www.roadscholar.org 3www.well-beingsecrets.com

Can you recommend some wellness retreats or programs?

Absolutely! Whether you’re looking to recharge your body, clear your mind, or just escape the daily grind, here are some standout wellness retreats across the U.S. that offer transformative experiences:

Castle Hot Springs – Arizona

Nestled in the Bradshaw Mountains, this historic resort features geothermal hot springs, farm-to-table dining, and sound bath sessions.
Activities include e-bike tours, yoga, and slot canyon hikes.
Ideal for couples or solo travelers seeking serenity and adventure.

Golden Door – California

A Japanese-inspired sanctuary with 80+ weekly classes, bamboo forests, and private hiking trails.
Includes daily massages, skin treatments, and personalized wellness plans.
Focuses on mindfulness, movement, and nutrition.

Carillon Miami Wellness Resort – Florida

Located on North Beach, this resort boasts one of the largest spas on the East Coast.
Offers cryotherapy, hydrotherapy, sensory deprivation tanks, and fitness classes.
Perfect for those who want luxury with a cutting-edge wellness twist.

YO1 Longevity & Health Resorts – New York

Set on 1,300 acres in the Catskills, this retreat blends Ayurveda, naturopathy, and yoga.
Programs address stress, insomnia, infertility, and more.
Features personalized health plans and expansive therapy areas.

The Ranch Malibu – California

A weeklong immersive retreat with plant-based meals, daily hikes, and low-impact fitness.
Limited to 25 guests for a more intimate experience.
Great for detoxing and jumpstarting a healthier lifestyle.

Sensei Lanai – Hawaii

A Four Seasons adults-only retreat offering Thai aqua therapy, infrared saunas, and guided hikes.
Includes structured programs with personalized fitness and nutrition assessments.
Tranquil, luxurious, and ideal for solo reflection or romantic escapes.

Would you like recommendations tailored to a specific goal—like stress relief, fitness, or spiritual growth? Or maybe something closer to Ohio? I can help narrow it down!

Update: On Feb. 22, 2025, Steves posted on Facebook that he is “cancer free” according to his surgeon

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