Blog - Rolf Potts

Paul Theroux on the merits of travel and the paradoxes of the global economy 18.10.2022 ↓

Paul Theroux on his novel "The Bad Angel Brothers," and the contradictions of the global economy.

Seeking real crowds beats crowdsourcing (from The Vagabond’s Way book launch) 11.10.2022 ↓

Rolf and Ernest White II talk about using what money you have to create the life you want.

Preconceptions can blur what you see firsthand on the road (with Eddy Harris) 04.10.2022 ↓

Legendary travel writer Eddy L. Harris on why an attitude of "let's go find out" is a great travel ethos.

Travel deviations can be as appealing as travel plans, with Ari Shaffir 20.09.2022 ↓

Ari Shaffir talks about why getting lost on the road can be a good thing, as presented in Rolf's new book, The Vagabond's Way.

The Vagabond’s Way: An audio introduction to Rolf’s new book 23.08.2022 ↓

An audio excerpt from the introduction of Rolf's new book, The Vagabond's Way

Vagabonding audio companion: Love, finding home, and telling TV travel stories 16.08.2022 ↓

Travel-TV host Ernest White II on the nuances of Kansas, and what home reveals about travel

“On the Ice”: What it’s like to live and work at Antarctica’s McMurdo Station 02.08.2022 ↓

The joys and challenges of living and working in Antarctica, with Karen Pszonka

A Critical Race Theorist’s guide to writing smut novels, with Dr. Kevin Harrison 26.07.2022 ↓

Kevin Harrison on storytelling from places and people we don't typically hear about.

Traveler ideals, hospitality, and the disappearance of an Italian priest in Syria 12.07.2022 ↓

The life and disappearance of Father Paolo Dall'Oglio and his travelers' sanctum in Syria

Refuse to be Done: The art of creative persistence for long-haul projects 28.06.2022 ↓

Creative persistence: The art of writing (and finishing) better long-form narratives

Marcia DeSanctis on revisiting places, souvenirs, and travel as self-reinvention 14.06.2022 ↓

Marcia deSanctis on revisiting places, souvenirs, and travel as self-reinvention

Chris Guillebeau on life goals, work, and travel as alt-university [encore] 31.05.2022 ↓

On confronting discontent, travel as education, and how to write a Big Idea book.

Hitchhiking for pastries: The art of structuring a journey with an obsession 17.05.2022 ↓

Sophia Bentaher on her experience of hitching Europe in search of pastry recipes.

How to embrace uncertainty and redefine success by taking a “pathless path” 03.05.2022 ↓

Embracing uncertainty and discomfort as the pathless path to true success.

What travel teaches you about the human body, with Dr. Jonathan Reisman 19.04.2022 ↓

How travel helps you better understand how your body works

The creative art of making a living as an adventurer, with Alastair Humphreys 05.04.2022 ↓

Alastair Humphreys on making a living as an adventurer

The strangers we meet on the road, and how they can deepen our journey 22.03.2022 ↓

How the people we meet by accident as we travel can deepen the journey

Vagabonding audio companion: What it’s like to come home after a long trip 08.03.2022 ↓

How to take the attitude of long-term travel back home with you.

Meghan Daum on career-reinvention, flyover country, nuance, and Gen X 22.02.2022 ↓

Author Meghan Daum on career-reinvention, flyover country, and voices of generations

Paul Theroux on reading, teaching, and slow travel in Mexico [encore] 08.02.2022 ↓

Paul Theroux on aging, slow travel, and the inherent complexity of Mexico

How inexpensive countries are the secret to prolonging the journey [encore] 25.01.2022 ↓

Planning long-term journeys around the world's cheapest destinations, with Tim Leffel

Lost in the Valley of Death: The life and disappearance of Justin Alexander 11.01.2022 ↓

Journalist Harley Rustad on the mysterious disappearance of Justin Alexander in India.

A mixtape (of sorts) about mixtapes: Music as intimate communication 28.12.2021 ↓

Rolf and his friends recall the bygone rite of making cassette mixtapes to share with friends

Holiday Special: Celebrating the Sears Christmas Wish Book [encore] 14.12.2021 ↓

The Sears Christmas Wish Book was (truly) great American literature (with Tod Goldberg)

Digital nomadism [bonus]: How technology has changed the way we travel 30.11.2021 ↓

In this bonus outtake from "The Nomads," Rolf talks about how technology affects travel.