Zero To Travel Podcast

Today, I’m joined by Too Fly Foundation Co-Founder and Director of Brand Strategy Brandon Miller to learn how his transformative travel experiences led to his work in travel inclusion and creating a world where every student has the opportunity to travel. The Too Fly Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide passports, travel grants, and educational experiences for student...

Mi’jan Celie Tho-Biaz is with me today to share how she’s traveled the world for the last 15 years by utilizing artist residencies. You may be surprised to discover that these opportunities aren’t just for artists in the usual sense but creatives like writers, scientists, and even psychoanalysts! Mi’Jan is a Kennedy Center Citizen Artist, an expert speaker with the U.S. Department of State, and a...

Today, I’m joined by Neal Moore to hear about his epic 7,500-mile canoeing adventure across America, spanning 22 months, 22 states, and 22 rivers. Neal has been dubbed the “modern-day Huckleberry Finn,” and it’s no surprise why! In this episode, you’ll discover how a family tragedy turned his world upside down and eventually led him to a life of travel. You’ll learn about the surprising way he fin...

Today, I’m joined by Bernie Harberts to learn how spilling a cup of coffee led him to a life of simplicity, slow travel, and being one of the only people in America to spend over 1,000 days and nights traveling by horse and mule. Bernie is an author, filmmaker, adventurer, and speaker. He prides himself on tackling big trips in small bites, which means using no-frills equipment, asking for help al...

When is the best time to book a flight? It’s the million-dollar question, and Christie Hudson from Expedia is with us today to answer just that!  In this episode, Christie shares the secrets to getting the best flight deals based on the 2024 Air Hacks Report. You’ll learn what day of the week you should purchase your tickets, how far in advance to book international and domestic flights, and plent...

Megan Routbort is one half of a French-American duo on a mission to tell stories of optimism about the people working to find solutions against climate change. At the time of this recording, they’re six months into their three-year voyage, visiting "climate hotspots" and exploring the world through low-carbon travel.  In this episode, Megan shares why she and her partner started their climate stor...

Today, I’m joined by my friend Travis Sherry to learn how to use real estate and short-term rentals to support your travel lifestyle. Whether you’re new to the game or a real estate pro, this episode has value for everyone! Travis and his wife Heather combined their love for travel and real estate to build a thriving short-term rental business. One of their properties has even been featured in Con...

Today, I'm joined by author Tom Cotter to learn about his experience taking the most epic American road trip from Key West, Florida, to Deadhorse, Alaska! Tom is no stranger to road trips, having traced Route 66 in a 1939 Ford Woody wagon and following the Lincoln Highway coast to coast behind the wheel of a 1926 Model T. Popularly known as "The Barn Find Hunter," Tom travels around the country in...

Need some inspiration for your upcoming travels? Today, I’m sitting down with Gunnar Garfors, the first person to travel to every country in the world not once… but TWICE! As the ultimate travel expert, he’s with us to share his list of the best places to visit before they get too popular. You’ll hear about seven out-of-the-ordinary destinations spanning all seven continents to help you plan for t...

Have you started planning your 2024 travels? Today, I’m joined by National Geographic Senior Editor Allyson Johnson to explore some of the must-visit places from National Geographic’s new book Best of the World: 1,000 Destinations of a Lifetime. After a decade of releasing Best of the World lists, National Geographic has now crafted the ultimate illustrated guidebook to help you find your next exh...

Today, I’m joined by photographer Mark Fox to talk about his experience working in Amazon Rainforest conservation and how he built a life around travel and his passions. Mark is a British photographer based in Quito, Ecuador. In 2017, he quit his stable job as a cameraman in the UK to travel the world. He now works with an Amazon conservation organization, collaborating with Indigenous leaders and...

Media lawyer and world adventurer Rupert Grey and his wife spent six months driving across India in their beat-up 1930s Rolls Royce. Their epic journey was turned into a documentary film called “Romantic Road” and was produced by Sharon Stone! In this episode, Rupert shares about this adventure, and we discuss their bold choice to travel through India in a vehicle that's seen as a symbol of wealth...

There is no denying that places like Alcatraz and Auschwitz are rooted in dark history, but Disney World? A dark destination?! Today, I’m joined by Dr. James Treadwell to unravel the intricacies of dark tourism.  Dr. Treadwell is a Professor of Criminology at Staffordshire University. He is also the co-author of 50 Dark Destinations: Crime and Contemporary Tourism, which highlights travel destinat...

In 2013, Jasmine Reese took her puppy and a violin on a bicycle tour across the United States with less than $50 in her pocket. She was, in her words, a “chubby city girl, trying to regain self-confidence and recapture the person she thought she’d lost.” In this episode, you'll hear about the profound acts of kindness that renewed Jasmine's faith in humanity, how she reshaped both her body and min...

Today, I’m joined by Aaron Millar, host of the Armchair Explorer podcast, to share the top lessons he’s gathered through his conversations with some of the world’s greatest adventurers.  In this episode, Aaron shares his favorite stories from travelers who have trekked through Africa in search of their next “thing,” traveled along the Oregon Trail to escape predictability, ran towards their fears...

We're pulling one of my top picks from the archive for a second episode this week! What an incredible show today as I sit down (in person) and chat with legendary explorer and adventurer Erling Kagge. Erling is a man of many firsts. In 1990, Erling was the first to reach the North Pole without support as part of a two-person team, and in 1992-93, he was the first to do a solo unsupported expeditio...

Do you want to quit your job, embark on an epic adventure, and build an online business? After leaving his successful career as the trainer for the New Zealand Olympic swimming team, Antonio Cala went on to cycle 25,000 kilometers from California to Patagonia, live on a sailboat for three years, and ride a motorcycle 30,000 kilometers from Spain to Cape Town. Along the way, he founded Adventure Fi...

How would your travels be different if you set aside expectations and surrendered to the journey? After realizing that much of Roberta’s pain came from unmet expectations, she decided to experiment with a new life approach that involved planning nothing and letting go of any attachment to how things turned out. In this episode, author and coach Roberta Mussato and I unpack the lessons she learned...

Does travel really make you happier?  Today, I’m joined by Dr. Andrew Stevenson to unravel the mysteries of travel from an academic and psychological perspective. Dr. Stevenson is a cultural psychologist and senior lecturer in psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University in Manchester, England. In his recent book, The Psychology of Travel, Dr. Stevenson offers key insights into the psychologic...

Saddle up and get ready for a wild ride because today, you're headed to the Buffalo Roundup in South Dakota! This episode is from The Travel South Dakota Stories, an immersive first-person podcast that takes you on a journey through the Land of Infinite Variety. In this episode, award-winning travel writer and host Brian Thacker takes you to one of my favorite hidden gem destinations in America, w...

How can volunteering abroad enhance your travels? Today, I’m joined by Ricardo Lima, founder of Worldpackers, to talk about how you can get the most out of your work exchange experience. Worldpackers is an online platform that connects travelers looking to exchange their skills for accommodations with incredible hosts from around the world and has facilitated more than 140,000 exchanges in 140+ co...

How can travel serve as a path to healing and self-discovery? Today, I’m joined by C.D. Seventeen, a techno music artist, DJ, painter, and poet, to talk about what it was like growing up in the Yunnan Province of China and how a bike-packing trip through the Scottish Highlands and the Orkney Islands helped her reclaim her power. In this episode, Seventeen opens up about her challenges coming out o...

Want to visit some of the less popular but equally epic destinations in Europe? Joseph Reaney is a freelance travel writer based in the UK and Czech Republic who’s written for Lonely Planet, DK Eyewitness, Fodor's Travel, National Geographic, and Rough Guides. In addition to his freelance writing, Joe is the founder and editor-in-chief of the travel content writing agency World Words, as well as a...

Need help landing your dream remote job? Considering becoming a digital nomad but not sure where to start? Look no further than Jordan Carroll, AKA The Remote Job Coach! After landing his dream job working for Remote Year, Jordan now helps job seekers level up their game by teaching them an effective strategy to land legitimate remote job opportunities without the traditional application process....

Integrating ourselves into a new culture allows us to meet more locals and enhance our travel experience. But how can we do this in the most authentic and ethical way? Lorelou Desjardins is a French lawyer who’s lived in seven countries, speaks four languages, and has dedicated over a decade to addressing environmental issues and fighting injustice on behalf of Indigenous people worldwide. She is...