The Wandering Mike

The Wandering Mike

Society EN ↓ 109 episodes

In this podcast Mike is having conversations with people from different countries and cultures. The goal of each episode is to paint a portrait of the person's life and to talk about topics that are important to their lives.

Author

The Wandering Mike

Category

Society

Podcast website

podcasters.spotify.com

Latest episode

Dec 19, 2025

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Episodes

#68 Arthur: From Brazil’s Beats to Australia’s ‘Easy Mode’ – A Journey of Music and Healing 19.12.2025

In this episode I sit down with Arthur from Brazil. Arthur shares why he views Australia as a healing place and how his lifelong passion for music—from a home studio in Brazil to the hostels of Bundaberg—helps him connect with the world. The episode was recorded in North Bundy Backpackers in Bundaberg North. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://northbundybackpackers.co...

#67 Charlie: Don't Put Your Life in Someone Else's Hand 12.12.2025

In this episode I sit down with Charlie from England. Charlie shares his experience in Australia, his unique perspective on social change, and a powerful message about having belief and faith in yourself and the world's potential to improve. The episode was recorded in North Bundy Backpackers in Bundaberg North. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://northbundybackpackers...

#66 Anton: Stockholm, Sydney, and the Search for Work-Life Balance 05.12.2025

In this episode I sit down with Anton from Sweden. Anton discusses his plan to eventually return to his village outside Stockholm and why he prefers the Southern European approach to life over the Northern grind. The episode was recorded in North Bundy Backpackers in Bundaberg North. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://northbundybackpackers.com.au⁠

#65 Harry: The Practicalities of Travel and the U.K.'s Political Hangover 28.11.2025

In this episode I sit down with Harry from England. Harry talks about using his working holiday to earn money, contrasted with his frustration and alarm over the economic and political choices made in the U.K. The episode was recorded in North Bundy Backpackers in Bundaberg North. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://northbundybackpackers.com.au⁠

#64 Massyl: The Corporate Escape Artist on How to Live with 'No Regrets' 21.11.2025

In this episode I sit down with Massyl from France. Massyl discusses quitting his 8-year corporate job at 29, the fear of regret that drove his decision, and his journey to embrace limited time abroad. The episode was recorded in North Bundy Backpackers in Bundaberg North. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://northbundybackpackers.com.au⁠

#63 Robin: From Tennessee to Tokyo – The Chef, The Musician, and the Escape Plan 14.11.2025

In this episode I sit down with Robin from Tennessee, USA. Robin shares why he actively sought to leave the U.S. "bubble," his financial avoidance of American college debt, and his multi-step plan from becoming a chef, to making music, and ultimately to teach English in Japan. You can check out his music here: https://linktr.ee/frickermints The episode was recorded in North Bundy Backpac...

#62 Mio: The Butterfly Effect & The Psychology of Travel 07.11.2025

In this episode I sit down with Mio from Sweden. Mio explores the unpredictability of life and the psychology behind coincidences, sharing why his Swedish culture encourages a life focused on meaningful impact. The episode was recorded in North Bundy Backpackers in Bundaberg North. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://northbundybackpackers.com.au

#61 Nick: From Creative Director to the Present Moment 31.10.2025

In this episode I sit down with Nick from Canada. Nick quit his 10-year career as a Creative Director in non-profit marketing to intentionally break his routines, find a change, and learn the value of living in the "present" in Australia. The episode was recorded in North Bundy Backpackers in Bundaberg North. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://northbundybackpackers.com.au

#60 Lénaïck: From Student Visa to Full-Time Global Citizen 24.10.2025

In this episode I sit down with Lénaïck from France. Lénaïck details her decade-long nomadic life, the "happy accident" that kicked off her unplanned travels, and the surprise pandemic visa extension. The episode was recorded in North Bundy Backpackers in Bundaberg North. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://northbundybackpackers.com.au

#59 Mati: The Nomadic Tattoo Artist & The Power of Botanical Art 17.10.2025

In this episode I sit down with Mati from Italy. Mati shares her journey of embracing a nomadic lifestyle, how drawing became her therapy, and her hard-won independence while traveling Australia. The episode was recorded in North Bundy Backpackers in Bundaberg North. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://northbundybackpackers.com.au

#58 Benja: The Journey to Self-Reliance in a World of Instant Answers 10.10.2025

In this episode I sit down with Benja from Chile. Benja shares his story of moving from Chile to Australia and offers a thought-provoking look at why he avoids digital dependence to stay grounded. The episode was recorded in North Bundy Backpackers in Bundaberg North. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://northbundybackpackers.com.au

#57 Nicole: From Italy to Australia - A Social Worker's Adventure 03.10.2025

In this episode I sit down with Alexis from France. Alexis shares his journey of leaving his comfort zone to find purpose and a more balanced life by traveling to Australia. The episode was recorded in North Bundy Backpackers in Bundaberg North. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://northbundybackpackers.com.au

#56 Alexis: Finding Purpose & Leaving the Comfort Zone 26.09.2025

In this episode I sit down with Alexis from France. Alexis shares his journey of leaving his comfort zone to find purpose and a more balanced life by traveling to Australia. The episode was recorded in North Bundy Backpackers in Bundaberg North. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://northbundybackpackers.com.au

#55 Artur: Finding Meaning Through Mad Science 19.09.2025

In this episode I sit down with Artur from Estonia. From a childhood of risky experiments and trash art to a philosophical look at life, Artur shares his fascinating journey from Estonia to Australia. The episode was recorded in North Bundy Backpackers in Bundaberg North. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://northbundybackpackers.com.au

#54 Simon: Running Towards Clarity & Embracing a Neurodivergent Journey 12.09.2025

In this episode I sit down with Simon from Sweden. Simon shares his journey of self-discovery through running, yoga, and a commitment to personal growth, navigating life with ADHD and finding peace. The episode was recorded in North Bundy Backpackers in Bundaberg North. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://northbundybackpackers.com.au

#53 Axel: From Shy Kid to Manu National Park Guide & Global Wanderer 05.09.2025

In this episode I sit down with Axel from Peru. Axel shares his journey of overcoming shyness and learning English, which led him to become a tour guide in Peru's Manu National Park. The episode was recorded in North Bundy Backpackers in Bundaberg North. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://northbundybackpackers.com.au

#52 Danny: From Irish Farms to Australian Freedom & Finding Contentment 29.08.2025

In this episode I sit down with Danny from Ireland. Danny shares his journey from rural Ireland to spontaneous Australian adventure, finding independence, freedom, and a new perspective on work and life. The episode was recorded in the Pirates Backpackers in Fremantle. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.piratesbackpackers.com.au

#51 Kay: From Brighton Rain to Australian Sun & Embracing the "Real Life Shit" 22.08.2025

In this episode I sit down with Kay from England. Kay shares her brave leap from England to Australia, navigating scams, finding sunshine, and discovering that fear and excitement are two sides of the same coin. The episode was recorded in the Pirates Backpackers in Fremantle. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.piratesbackpackers.com.au

#50 Matthias: Chasing the Sun from La Réunion to French Guiana & Beyond 15.08.2025

In this episode I sit down with Matthias from France. Matthias shares his journey from French territories to Australia, driven by a desire for sunshine and an openness to life's unexpected detours. The episode was recorded in the Pirates Backpackers in Fremantle. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.piratesbackpackers.com.au

#49 Concobhar: From Irish Coasts to Solo Atlantic Crossings & Life's True North 08.08.2025

In this episode I sit down with Concobhar from Ireland. Connor shares his incredible journey from Belfast to Fremantle, featuring a transformative solo Atlantic sail and the wisdom of trusting the winds of change. The episode was recorded in the Pirates Backpackers in Fremantle. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.piratesbackpackers.com.au

#48 Kayli Pt. 2: Unpacking Her Personal Philosophy 01.08.2025

In this episode I sit down with Kayli from the United States of America. Kayli returns for a deeper dive into life's big questions, sharing her personal philosophy and how she navigates the world. The episode was recorded in the Pirates Backpackers in Fremantle. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.piratesbackpackers.com.au

Special Episode 2 Mike again 25.07.2025

The tables turn as host Mike shares his own story with Jordan of growing up German, embracing new cultures, and navigating life's unscripted journey The episode was recorded in the Pirates Backpackers in Fremantle. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.piratesbackpackers.com.au

#47 Felix: From Comfort Zones to Alaskan Cold and Beyond 18.07.2025

In this episode I sit down with Felix from New Zealand. Felix left behind comfort for wild Alaska and a life defined by curiosity, car crashes, and courage. The episode was recorded in the Pirates Backpackers in Fremantle. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.piratesbackpackers.com.au

#46 Alfie: Brighton Beginnings, Stoicism & Fitness for Life 11.07.2025

In this episode I sit down with Alfie from England. Alfie shares his story of leaving England, chasing the sun, and how philosophy and the gym shaped who he is. The episode was recorded in the Pirates Backpackers in Fremantle. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.piratesbackpackers.com.au

#45 Matias: Chilean Roots, Hostel Nights & Dreams of Japan 04.07.2025

In this episode I sit down with Matias from Chile. Matias talks about leaving Santiago, learning English in four months, and why travel was always his destiny. The episode was recorded in the Pirates Backpackers in Fremantle. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.piratesbackpackers.com.au

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