WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life

Who you vote for in the 2024 US Presidential election matters little if you don't live in Maine, Nebraska, or a battleground state.  If you want to be highly pedantic and annoying, you could argue that your vote matters even in non-swing states like California. That's because if most Californian Democrats conspired not to vote, a Republican would win even though the polls heavily favor the Democra...

Niamh McAnally's memoir, Following Sunshine: A Voyage Around the Mind, Around the World, Around the Heart , offers readers a rich tapestry of travel, personal growth, and introspection. This book transcends the typical travelogue by intertwining McAnally's adventures with profound reflections on her life experiences, including themes of loss, self-discovery, and resilience. Watch the Video Intervi...

On the 100th anniversary of George Mallory and Sandy Irvine's death on Mount Everest, I interviewed Dr. Robert Edwards, author of Mallory, Irvine, and Everest: The Last Step But One , which reexamined their mysterious story in extreme detail. Watch my original interview with Dr. Edwards , my most popular interview in 2024. It provides an excellent background for today's interview. Today, Dr. Edwar...

Eric Gilbertson is back! Eric Gilbertson and Branden Joy dragged 400 pounds (180 kg) of gear on 4 sleds across Greenland. They covered 1,539 miles (1,420 snow kiting, 119 man hauling) in 40 days. On his biggest day, he covered 218 miles kiting. His fastest kiting speed was 33mph. They did 4 first ascents. Read Eric Gilbertson's Greenland traverse trip report . Krisli Melesk co-hosted this show wit...

Everyone loves coincidences. During my month in Estonia, I bumbled into Krisli Melesk, who bumbled into Eric Gilbertson on K2. Eric & I were scheduled to record a podcast a few days after I met Krisli, so I invited her to join the show as a surprise guest!  Eric Gilbertson is in the process of climbing to the highest point in every country. He's done 143 out of 193! This is first of a two-part...

Palle Bo is from Denmark, which controls Greenland. He's been to Greenland twice, and I was blessed to visit it in 2024. We share our thoughts. Palle hosts the Radio Vagabond podcast! Subscribe to it! Enjoy other Palle Bo episodes !  Feedback Leave an anonymous voicemail on  SpeakPipe.com/FTapon Or go to  Wanderlearn.com , click on this episode, and write a comment. More info You can post comments...

What kind of traveler are you? Palle Bo and I discuss the variety of travel styles and the myth of how people who have been to many countries travel. Palle hosts the Radio Vagabond podcast! Subscribe to it! Enjoy our other episodes together ! Feedback Leave an anonymous voicemail on  SpeakPipe.com/FTapon Or go to  Wanderlearn.com , click on this episode, and write a comment. More info You can post...

I share reflections on last night's Harris-Trump Debate in the first two minutes of this podcast. In the rest of the podcast, I review Yuval Noah Harari's newest book. Harari is one of my top three favorite authors. I also love Bill Bryson and Walter Isaacson. Therefore, I was thrilled that a few months ago, I got an advanced copy of Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Ag...

Radio Vagabond Host Palle Bo shares the meaning of his name in various languages.  We share what we've been doing since we last met in Thailand. Lastly, Palle shares why it's worth revisiting countries that gave you a negative impression the first time. Palle hosts the Radio Vagabond podcast! Subscribe to it! Enjoy other Palle Bo episodes !  Feedback Leave an anonymous voicemail on  SpeakPipe.com/...

In 2022, I delivered this speech at the inaugural Extraordinary Travel Festival in Yerevan, Armenia. Watch the Video to See the Slides ! I was the only in-person speaker invited to speak again at the 2nd conference. Why? Because the audience rated this speech highly. Judge for yourself. Come to hear me deliver a new speech at the 2nd Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok, Thailand, in mid-Novem...

Watch the 3-minute video of what it's like to feed and kiss elephants in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  In mid-November 2024, hear me speak at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok, Thailand ! TIMELINE 00:00 Intro 00:23 Feeding bananas 01:15 Kissing 02:10 Hung   More info To leave an anonymous voicemail that I could use on the podcast, go to SpeakPipe.com/FTapon You can post comments, ask questions...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHW-9M4Vrc4 Ric and I talked in Thailand about Thai hospitality, international marriages, and the November 2024 Extraordinary Travel Festival! In mid-November 2024, hear me speak at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok, Thailand! TIMELINE 00:00 Why Ric lives in Thailand 01:17 Sincerity of Thai hospitality 04:00 International marriages 07:00 ETF 2 #thailand #...

Palle Bo and I met in Toronto this week to discuss the global hot spots and the US election. We chat about Harris vs. Trump, Ukraine, Taiwan, and Gaza. Palle has been to Taiwan and recently went to Ukraine, near the front lines. As an outsider, he's bewildered by the US election. We recorded this a day before Harris picked her VP, Walz. Please subscribe to Palle's Radio Vagabond podcast! Enjoy oth...

Every country has been colonized or occupied, including Thailand. However, Thailand is one of the handful of countries that did not get formally colonized for an extended period.  Why? How? I answer that question in this 2-minute video . In mid-November 2024, hear me speak at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok, Thailand !   More info To leave an anonymous voicemail that I could use on th...

In mid-November 2024, hear me speak at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok, Thailand ! Watch the video of this episode ! For good reason, Thailand is called the Land of the Smiles: the Thais smile easily and often! It reminds me of Africans or Latin Americans. However, how sincere is that smile? As I wrapped up my Thailand tour, I reflected on that question. What do you think? More info T...

ERROR: At the start and end of this video , I say that the Carnival Magic amusement park is in BANGKOK. That's WRONG! It's in PHUKET, Thailand. I'm sorry for the error. There is no Carnival Magic in Bangkok. I should have known better since I filmed all the footage in this video! Phuket is a 12-hour drive or 75-minute flight from Bangkok.  In mid-November 2024, hear me speak at the Extraordinary T...

  If there was ever a podcast where you're better off seeing the video , this is it! It features lots of footage that I shot the first time I visited. In mid-November 2024, hear me speak at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok, Thailand ! Timeline 00:00 Intro 00:50 History 03:05 Temples 04:10  Islands 05:38 Snorkeling, SCUBA diving, & fish 07:15 Lodging 08:15 People 09:00 Dance & n...

To celebrate my 300th WanderLearn podcast episode, I'm sharing my most popular episode. If you like the nuanced way I tackle the controversial subject of hunting, be sure to go to the bottom of this page and follow the links to hear the other episodes I've done related to hunting. In 2018, Brittany Hosmer Longoria  was swept up in a social media firestorm with these trending hashtags: #disgusting...

I interviewed Michael Zervos in Cote d'Ivoire a few months ago. He was 10% done with his every-country-speed tour.  I interviewed him today, June 27, when he's halfway done! Watch the Video In the second half of the show, Michael Zervos reflects on Africa. 00:00 Intro 03:30 Sudan 07:00 Africa   More info To leave an anonymous voicemail that I could use on the podcast, go to SpeakPipe.com/FTapon Yo...

Here are two episodes featuring Margaret Bensfield Sullivan , author of Following the Sun: Tales (and Fails) From a Year Around the World With Our Kids .  Margaret spent a year traveling to 29 countries on six continents with her husband and their two young kids. How did she do it? What did she learn? What advice does she have for traveling parents with young children? Watch the Video 00:00 Africa...

Here are two episodes featuring Margaret Bensfield Sullivan , author of Following the Sun: Tales (and Fails) From a Year Around the World With Our Kids .  Margaret spent a year traveling to 29 countries on six continents with her husband and their two young kids. How did she do it? What did she learn? What advice does she have for traveling parents with young children? Watch the Video Timeline 00:...

It's hard to describe Kommu in an elevator. It's a clever mix of Airbnb, TrustedHousesitters , and Couchsurfing. I spoke with Bo Abrams, the founder and CEO of Kommu. Why should you pay $300 annually to access this new, exciting app that helps you find lodging and accommodation in a new way? Timeline 00:00 Pain point 03:00 Kommu vs. Airbnb 06:30 Practical example of Kommu 11:00 Logistics 15:00 Soc...

Wow. If you want the most comprehensive study of George Mallory's 3rd and final climb up Mt. Everest, read this book! The book Mallory, Irvine, and Everest: The Last Step But One by Dr. Robert Edwards examines the mystery surrounding George Mallory and Andrew Irvine's 1924 attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest. The book provides a fresh and original perspective on this historical event, as...

Glen Van Peski sat in the co-pilot seat of a tiny plane that crashed, killing the pilot next to him. What happened? How did Glen and all the other passengers survive with minor or moderate injuries? We talk a lot about death in this episode, including how Glen's mom and son died. We end on a positive note! Watch the Video About Glen Glen Van Peski is a civil engineer who used his skills to enginee...

In the first 10 seconds of this episode, you'll hear Glen Van Peski's top five tips on lightening your backpacking load. He shares several other brilliant tips on improving your backpacking skills and gear in less than five minutes. Watch the Video Glen Van Peski is a civil engineer who used his skills to engineer the lightest backpacking gear in the Solar System. Glen is the founder of Gossamer G...