Abrotha Abroad

Send us Fan Mail What happens when life takes you from rural New York to the U.S. Air Force, Italy, Belgium, and beyond? In this episode of Abrotha Abroad , Al B sits down with Ashley Tolbert , an Air Force veteran, wife, mother of two, and traveler whose experiences have shaped her understanding of culture, identity, family, and belonging. Growing up as one of the few Black students in her commun...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when growing up overseas becomes the foundation for a lifetime of adventure? In this episode of Abrotha Abroad , host Al B sits down with Yolanda Smalls, a mother of two, Army brat, and 24-year U.S. Air Force veteran whose life has taken her across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. From growing up in Germany during the 1970s to raising her own children while serving...

Send us Fan Mail From South Memphis to a life abroad, Rod Millbrooks has collected more than a few stories along the way. In this episode of Abrotha Abroad , Al B sits down with Rod a retired Air Force firefighter, husband, father, and longtime Belgium resident to talk about the decisions, assignments, relationships, and unexpected moments that shaped his life overseas. Rod opens up about growing...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when travel becomes more than a vacation and starts becoming a way of rebuilding your life? In this episode of Abrotha Abroad , Al B sits down with Derrik Dyka , a Minnesota native, father of twin boys, author of Good Grief , and traveler who has visited more than 60 countries. Derrik shares how growing up as the son of a farmer and Ukrainian immigrant helped shape hi...

Send us Fan Mail Sabrina McCrae grew up on a dirt road in rural Georgia in a multigenerational family where everybody contributed and hard work was simply part of life. Years later, that foundation would help carry her from South Georgia into the U.S. Army and eventually around the world. In this episode, Sabrina joins Al B to talk about becoming the first woman in her family to join the military,...

Send us Fan Mail Chris Jackson has been traveling for most of his life—and he's got the stories to prove it. In this episode, Al sits down with the Air Force veteran, father, avid hiker, and scuba enthusiast to talk about a life shaped by movement, culture, family, and adventure. Chris shares what it was like growing up as a military kid, experiencing England at a young age, joining the Air F...

Send us Fan Mail Howard Traylor has been traveling since childhood, served in the U.S. Navy, raised a family overseas, and spent nearly a decade building a life in Belgium. In this episode, Howard joins Al B for a hilarious and unfiltered conversation about growing up in Houston and Las Vegas, traveling to South Africa as a kid, accidentally finding his way into the Navy, life at sea, raising well...

Send us Fan Mail Belinda Coker has built a life around travel, hiking, and refusing to wait for “one day.” A native New Zealander and Al B’s first international guest, Belinda shares how she began backpacking through Southeast Asia in the 1980s—before smartphones, Google Maps, online reservations, or social media. Armed with the original Southeast Asia on a Shoestring guidebook, travelers relied o...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a kid from New York joins the Army, gets sent overseas, and discovers a life he never imagined? In this episode, Al B sits down with Paul, a retired 20-year Army field artillery and public affairs officer who now calls Paris home. Paul shares how assignments in Korea and Germany sparked his love of travel, the cultural encounters that changed how he viewed the wo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Abrotha Abroad , Al B. sits down with retired Army Ranger Ranger Russell a man whose journey spans from growing up in segregated-era America to building a new life and legacy across Europe. With humor, candor, and hard earned perspective, Russell traces his path from military child to Ranger instructor to NATO officer, and how each chapter shaped the person he b...

Send us Fan Mail From Virginia and Connecticut roots to Army orders that sent him overseas, Daniel Diaz learned discipline on the move and turned it into momentum. In this conversation, he traces the path from service life to starting a craft brewery abroad, sharing the early stumbles, the small wins that kept him going, and how a hip-hop producer’s ear shaped his approach to recipe design, brandi...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of Abrotha Abroad , Heather Courtney lays out the real blueprint for turning “I should travel more” into a life lived elsewhere.  Heather gets specific about rebuilding community from zero, redefining career and purpose, and the moments that almost sent her packing and why she stayed. If you’ve been flirting with a move or craving a second act that actually fits, h...

Send us Fan Mail From the heart of Georgia to coastlines across the world, Jude Johnson’s path is anything but typical. A Navy veteran, educator, and yoga enthusiast, Jude has woven a life across continents guided by curiosity, purpose, and a love for movement, both physical and personal. In this episode of Abrotha Abroad , Jude shares how military service opened the first door, how teaching gave...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Antoine Clinton—a man whose journey stretches far beyond the borders of his hometown. From growing up in the American South to navigating life abroad, Antoine shares the pivotal moments that shaped his mindset, career, and cultural lens. We talk about first passports, culture shock, and the quiet power of resilience. Along the way, Antoine opens u...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we sit down with James Anderson. Join me as we explore his experiences in Asian culture, and his other adventures abroad. 

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Bernard Slayton. Join me as we explore Bernard's early influences and how they shaped his travels abroad.  Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoy the episode

Send us Fan Mail Join me on an unforgettable adventure as I dive into the vibrant and colorful world of the Binche Carnival in Belgium!  In this episode of Abrotha Abroad, we explore one of Europe’s most iconic and UNESCO-listed festivals that has been celebrated for centuries. 

Send us Fan Mail Hear the story of my first time Abroad!

Send us Fan Mail  A day in the life of Abrotha Abroad Welcome to the inaugural episode of "Abrotha Abroad," where we embark on a thrilling journey. In this introductory episode, we dive into the essence of how this journey began. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or just curious about the world, this podcast promises to awaken your wanderlust and ignite your passion for understandi...