How would you describe your current level of happiness, and what would need to change to improve that? Award-winning journalist and bestselling author Eric Weiner joins me to explore the many themes of his book The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World and get into the nitty-gritty of what it means to be happy. If you want to transform your outlook and increase your happiness, you don’t want to miss this episode. Eric shares stories from his time as a foreig...
Jun 13, 2024•1 hr 27 min
Did you know Ben Franklin was an extensive traveler for his time? Today, I'm joined by New York Times bestselling author Eric Weiner to talk about his new, incredibly unconventional biography, Ben & Me: In Search of a Founder's Formula for a Long and Useful Life , a guide for living and thinking well. We talk about Eric's unique way of weaving travel into his writing, explore the life and wisdom of Ben Franklin, and share concrete takeaways you can use to enhance your own life and travels. Y...
Jun 11, 2024•1 hr 17 min
What do you love about your home country? What do you think could be better? After moving to America in 2008, Anu began to notice how much more complicated and stressful things seemed to be in the States compared to her home country of Finland. Anu Partanen is a Finnish journalist and author of The Nordic Theory of Everything—In Search of a Better Life. The book shows how the Nordic way of doing things can give you more freedom to fulfill your desires, enjoy more travel, have better health, bett...
Jun 06, 2024•1 hr 11 min
How can one simple concept or decision radically change your life? In 2017, Jen Ruiz set out to take 12 trips in 12 months before her 30th birthday while employed full-time as an attorney. By the end of the 12 months, she had taken 20 trips and discovered a new career path, empowering others to change their lives through travel. Jen is a five-time Amazon bestselling author, three-time TEDx speaker, and solo travel maven. Her new memoir, 12 Trips in 12 Months: Make Your Own Solo Travel Magic, doc...
Jun 04, 2024•1 hr 29 min
What epic episodes are we dropping this month on the podcast? Listen in to this quick announcement and find out. What topics and themes do you want to hear about on the podcast? I'd love to hear what they are, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now! Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Thanks To Our Sponsors Nissan...
May 31, 2024•4 min
Do you have a fear of flying or get stressed and anxious while you're traveling? In today’s Greatest Hits episode, you'll learn how to run your brain instead of letting your brain run you with Lawrence Leyton and Mark Wein, experts in overcoming the fear of flying. Through their work with the Fear of Flying TV show in the UK and easyJet's Fearless Flyer course, phobia expert Lawrence and ex-phobic Mark have helped thousands conquer their aviation anxieties. Lawrence and Mark talk about their exp...
May 30, 2024•54 min
How does full-time travel impact your mental health? What happens when the novelty of full-time travel begins to wear off? Today, I’m joined by Will and Jessica Sueiro to talk about the rewards and challenges of living this lifestyle. Will and Jessica Sueiro have been traveling full-time with their two kids for the last 10 years. They are the duo behind WorldTowning, which was started by their family and has since become a movement to empower others to explore and change the world through travel...
May 28, 2024•1 hr 45 min
Today, we have a special episode from Utah: Life Elevated. This documentary podcast takes you on an unforgettable road trip through the Beehive State with travel writer and host Aaron Millar. You can't really know a place without hearing from the people who have always been there. Utah is the sacred and ancestral home of eight different tribal nations, including the Paiute, Navajo (Diné), Shoshone, Goshute, and more. Today, we're learning as much about their histories and cultures as we can. Joi...
May 23, 2024•1 hr 2 min
How can one trip entirely change your life? Jay Cameron joins me to share about the life-altering trip he took to Ghana when he was 40 years old. After having this experience, Jay left his career running summer camps for kids and founded Maximum Impact Travel, a tour company connecting people to the magnificent continent of Africa and the African diaspora in the Americas, Caribbean, and Europe. Jay and I talk about the misconceptions and negative narratives about Africa and the importance of cha...
May 21, 2024•1 hr 14 min
This is part two of my interview with Peter Panagore, who is sharing the incredible stories of his not one but two near-death experiences. In this episode, you’ll hear about what happened the second time he died and how it’s changed how he goes through life. We talk about the difficulties of living as your new authentic self after having a transformational experience and go even deeper into questions around death, mysticism, enlightenment, and what Peter describes as “the union experience.” I en...
May 16, 2024•1 hr 33 min
Is there any bigger journey we take than the journey to the other side? Today’s guest is Peter Panagore, who is sharing the incredible story of his first (yes, first) near-death experience. In part one of this two-part series, you’ll hear the harrowing tale of how Peter froze to death and came back to life while ice climbing and why it’s important for him to continue to tell his story years later. We talk about mystical experiences and how to interpret them, why he no longer asks “why,” and shar...
May 14, 2024•1 hr 7 min
Do you ever find yourself overcome by stressors in your daily life? Today, I am joined by Integrative Health Coach, Wellness Consultant, and expat Kirsten Pontius to talk about how you can reduce stress and increase happiness in your life no matter where you are or what you're doing. If you've ever wondered how you can better manage and overcome difficulties at home and on the road, then you do not want to miss this episode. Kirsten shares simple ways to bring joy and balance to your life, find ...
May 09, 2024•1 hr 18 min
Planning a trip to Paris? Jay Swanson is an American writer & vlogger who came to Paris on a visa no one had heard of and managed to stay. His down-to-earth vlogs documenting life in Paris have built a devoted following, leading him to become a trusted local travel expert. Jay shares helpful and uncommon advice for tackling a city like Paris, like where to stay and how to meet locals. At the top of the episode, we also discuss his intense experience working on Mercy ships—hospital ships that...
May 07, 2024•1 hr 31 min
Do you suffer from anxiety? How have the unknowns of the road hindered your travel plans? What role does stress play in your travel planning? We are diving into mental health and how it affects your life choices and future plans with Gilad Gamliel from The Overthinker's Passport. He is very open in sharing his struggles with mental health issues as we talk about how he's learned to control them, the role travel plays in his journey, the balance between planning vs. spontaneity, and more. Has you...
May 02, 2024•57 min
A quick, important announcement on what’s coming up this month on the podcast! *Please be aware this episode does mention suicide as we talk about Mental Health Month. What topics and themes do you want to learn about on the podcast? I'd love to hear what they are and hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now! Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up ...
May 01, 2024•9 min
Harry Mitsidis is one of only three people to have visited every country in the world…TWICE! He is also the founder of NomadMania, an online community that inspires global explorers to venture beyond the ordinary and obvious to celebrate the world’s diversity. In this community, travelers track their progress across various lists and are ranked based on their travel accomplishments. Today, we talk about the potential moral and ethical issues surrounding this idea of systemized travel and ranking...
Apr 30, 2024•1 hr 29 min
Have you ever encountered something while traveling that sparked a "crazy idea" or inspired you to make a change? For the past six months, Robbie, Ivo, Jasper, and Josh have created adventure videos in Kenya for their YouTube channel, and it quickly became apparent that the loss of tourism due to Covid-19 is hurting parks and conservancies throughout Africa. After interviewing rangers and uncovering the truth about reduced salaries and increased workload, the creators knew they had to act. Learn...
Apr 25, 2024•56 min
This is a human-powered adventure story not just because Daniel Troia traveled by bike…but because it was powered by the kindness of strangers. Equipped with hidden camera glasses and a cardboard sign that said, "Ran out of food. Anything helps," Daniel spent seven months bicycling across the United States, listening to stories from the people who offered help. His travel documentary, “We Are All In This Together,” has garnered 15 awards at various film festivals and is being used to raise money...
Apr 23, 2024•1 hr 15 min
Have you ever wondered how you can lessen your environmental impact during your next adventure? Richard Hammond has devoted his life to helping others understand their environmental impact and how to make changes to live more sustainably. As an expert on low-carbon travel, eco-holidays, and sustainable travel, he's here to share tips and strategies to become more environmentally friendly travelers without being overwhelmed. We cover practical strategies for lessening your carbon footprint, why t...
Apr 18, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Today, I’m joined by digital nomad and author Lisa Jansen to get her list of the top 10 New Zealand hidden gems and get a peak into the New Zealand campervanning lifestyle. Lisa is a long-term traveler based in New Zealand. She has been a nomad for over six years, five of which have been spent traveling across the country in her campervan. Her book Life Done Differently explores her decision to prioritize a nomadic lifestyle, favoring travel and van living over conventional familial and career p...
Apr 16, 2024•1 hr 16 min
How does hearing someone else's story change your thoughts about the world? Today, I am joined by author and climate change activist Devi Lockwood to talk about her story-fueled cycling journey, which took her to 20 countries spanning 6 continents and eventually led her to write her first book, 1001 Voices on Climate Change . If you love story-telling or have ever wondered what it'd be like to do a 5-year bike tour, you do not want to miss this episode. Devi shares the roots of her inspiration, ...
Apr 11, 2024•1 hr 11 min
Do you ever feel called to do something different? Do you want to make a BIG change in your life? Ingrid Alm and her family (husband, son, and dog) embarked on a human-powered adventure right from their doorstep in Oslo, Norway, to Nordkapp, Europe's northernmost accessible point by car. Their 2,000+ KM journey included walking, skiing, cycling, rowing, and even paddle boarding! In this episode, Ingrid shares the lessons they learned on this epic trip and how a need to shake things up from “norm...
Apr 09, 2024•1 hr 12 min
Travel undoubtedly makes us better people and, in turn, the world a better place. But does that good outweigh the negative environmental impacts? How can we be more conscious travelers? Robin Greenfield is a truth seeker, activist, social reformer, and servant to earth, humanity, and our plant and animal relatives. He lives simply and sustainably as a means of active resistance to oppressive, exploitative systems. Robin’s life is an experiment with truth and integrity – dedicated to liberation a...
Apr 04, 2024•1 hr 5 min
We are back with another installment of Travel Trends, Tools, and Tips for April 2024! Kick back and get ready to hear about four trends I recently came across and some important food for thought about travel, life, and creating a growth mindset. Which travel trend was most interesting to you? I'd love to hear your thoughts are and hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscr...
Apr 02, 2024•35 min
We're pulling past episodes from the archives to highlight Women's History Month! This episode was originally published in January 2016. What is your most outlandish travel dream? Ellen Miller has a list of incredible athletic achievements. She's the first American woman to summit Everest from both sides (north and south), the first American woman to climb the Himalayan Triple Crown, has summited every 14,000+ foot mountain peak in Colorado (there are 53 of them!), and was named Colorado Woman o...
Mar 28, 2024•54 min
Samantha Brown has been inspiring people to get out and explore the world for over two decades as a travel television host - a career that has taken her to over 250 cities in 74 countries and 44 of the United States. She was the host of Travel Channel’s “Great Hotels” and currently hosts PBS’s two-time Emmy-winning series, “Samantha Brown’s Places to Love.” This episode is packed with insight to take with you on your travels and entrepreneurial pursuits as we talk about Samantha's journey to bec...
Mar 26, 2024•1 hr 12 min
We're pulling past episodes from the archives to highlight Women's History Month! This episode was originally published in February 2016. Sarah traveled 10,000 miles on foot from Siberia to Australia—alone. It was an epic walk that lasted three years, during which she survived the mafia, drug dealers, thieves on horseback, temperatures from subzero to scorching, dangerous wildlife, and many other life-threatening occurrences. Her tales of survival, nature connections, perseverance, various encou...
Mar 21, 2024•54 min
What would you do if you knew you were going to go blind? At 13, Hayley developed alopecia and lost all of her hair. At 27, she was diagnosed with Stargadts disease, causing her to lose all of her central vision. On a mission to see as much of the world as possible before her sight completely deteriorates, Hayley recently became the first known disabled person to visit all 193 United Nations member states (and more). Hayley and I have an open conversation about her story, the motivation at the h...
Mar 19, 2024•1 hr 3 min
We're pulling past episodes from the archives to highlight Women's History Month! This episode was originally published in April 2016. Renata Chlumska is a Swedish and Czech adventurer with a long and impressive list of expeditions, including: Bicycling from Nepal to Sweden Summiting a mountain over 8,000 meters without supplemental oxygen A motorcycle trip from India to Sweden Climbing Mt. Everest and finishing the Seven Summits Completing her "Around America Adventure" (439 days, 11,300 miles ...
Mar 14, 2024•1 hr 13 min
What happens when one person’s dream adventure is forced onto their family? Today’s episode is, in many ways, a cautionary tale to remind us of the importance of considering your travel companions' needs, especially when they’re children. At seven years old, Suzanne Heywood’s father took their family on a dangerous sailing expedition, recreating Captain Cook's perilous third voyage around the world. While it was supposed to last three years, it ended up taking 10. In her memoir Wavewalker: Break...
Mar 12, 2024•1 hr 27 min
