WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life

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...

In this episode, Glen Van Peski shares the story of an American worker who visited India to see where his outsourced job went. The lesson was surprising. Do you think you're not in the top 1%? Think again. Watch Video on YouTube 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 Gear . In 2024, he re...

Glen Van Peski reveals one of his favorite annual backpacking trips, how to stop a snorer, and lessons about generosity.  Watch the video on YouTube 00:00 Arizona's Buckskin Gulch 03:33 How to stop someone snoring 4:30 Lessons from a disabled son 6:45 Chopsticks as tent stakes - Chopstakes 9:30 Accepting generosity 14:30 Subtract Toward Happiness  16:40 The Generous Debit Card   Bonus video! https...

It's April 19, 2024: Bitcoin's 4th Halving is happening today! The block reward, doled out every 10 minutes, will drop from 6.25 to 3.125 BTC. That translates into an inflation rate of only 0.85%, far less than gold or any other currency. From now until 2140, the inflation rate will slowly decrease to zero. This explains why Bitcoin has appreciated against inflating currencies over several years —...

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 Gear . Today, Glen releases his new book, Take Less, Do More: Surprising Life Lessons in Generosity, Gratitude, and Curiosity from an Ultralight Backpacker . Sign up for his Virtual Launch Party on April 16, 2024 . In this interview series, Glen shar...

Michael Zervos shares the countries he worries he may be unable to visit.  He also says what he will do if he runs out of time. As of April 12, he's 20% done with his quest. He wrote to me, "I am going to be in Zambia the next two nights and then in Malawi with the night bus the next day after from Harare (in theory)." You can watch this 3-min interview on YouTube . Glen Van Peski has a new book!...

Michael Zervos's attempt to set a speed record to travel to every country began with a stumble in Russia. Watch the interview on YouTube ! Check out all my interviews with Michael . On 4/4/24, he wrote to me: "Maputo has a lot of bribing but I never felt in danger. It was just pathetic at a point. The cops not even bothering to make infractions up sometimes. They just walked away with our document...

Michael Zervos is trying to visit every country faster than anyone else while recounting the happiest moments in people's lives. In this interview series, we talk about his Project Kosmos . Periodically throughout 2024 and 2025, I will interview Michael Zervos about his 1.5-year quest to travel to all the nations in the world faster than anyone else! #1 Who is Michael Zervos & what is Project...

Xavier Garneau shares why he walked 10% of the journey. He also explains why he drank the local water and didn't take malaria pills. He also has advice for those who want to follow in his footsteps. Watch the 4th and final episode on YouTube ! 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, and sign up for...

Garneau tells us that when he lost his temper, a DRC immigration official was put in a headlock! Watch the video of this episode ! This is part 3 of a 4-part series. See photos and read his epic report on this insane trip . 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, and sign up for my newsletter at  ht...

Garneau explains the most innovative thing he did, which got him through countless hassles in the DRC. This is part 2 of a 4-part series. Watch this episode on YouTube ! In this episode, learn why Garneau did his trek and how he accidentally traversed through an area while a genocide was in progress. Read his epic report on this insane trip . More info To leave an anonymous voicemail that I could...

Many travelers brag that they are "adventurous" because they bag a famous peak, visit Vietnam, or eat escargot. Although I celebrate anyone who pushes their travel limits, let's calibrate our definition of adventurous.  My definition of an adventurous traveler is Francois Xavier Paradis-Garneau. He's a 23-year-old intrepid Canadian who got the BBC's attention when he became the first Western touri...

Brad Graff & Sam Sliman share advice on the Drakensberg Traverse in South Africa. We discuss some worthy backpacking trips for 2024 and beyond. 00:00 Drakensberg Traverse Advice 06:40 Candidates for the next trek The Most Extreme Backpacking , the Julian Alps in Slovenia   More info To leave an anonymous voicemail that I could use on the podcast, go to SpeakPipe.com/FTapon You can post comment...

Brad Graff & Sam Sliman return to the WanderLearn Show to report how their 5-day adventure on South Africa's Drakensberg Traverse went. The short answer: it was a wet, sloppy, cold mess! Watch the Video to get the long answer! 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, and sign up for my newsletter...