Zero To Travel Podcast

Planning a trip to Paris? Jay Swanson is an American writer & vlogger who came to Paris on a visa no one had heard of and managed to stay. His down-to-earth vlogs documenting life in Paris have built a devoted following, leading him to become a trusted local travel expert.  Jay shares helpful and uncommon advice for tackling a city like Paris, like where to stay and how to meet locals. At the top...

Do you suffer from anxiety? How have the unknowns of the road hindered your travel plans? What role does stress play in your travel planning? We are diving into mental health and how it affects your life choices and future plans with Gilad Gamliel from The Overthinker's Passport. He is very open in sharing his struggles with mental health issues as we talk about how he's learned to control them, t...

A quick, important announcement on what’s coming up this month on the podcast! *Please be aware this episode does mention suicide as we talk about Mental Health Month. What topics and themes do you want to learn about on the podcast? I'd love to hear what they are and hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all...

Harry Mitsidis is one of only three people to have visited every country in the world…TWICE!  He is also the founder of NomadMania, an online community that inspires global explorers to venture beyond the ordinary and obvious to celebrate the world’s diversity. In this community, travelers track their progress across various lists and are ranked based on their travel accomplishments.  Today, we ta...

Have you ever encountered something while traveling that sparked a "crazy idea" or inspired you to make a change?  For the past six months, Robbie, Ivo, Jasper, and Josh have created adventure videos in Kenya for their YouTube channel, and it quickly became apparent that the loss of tourism due to Covid-19 is hurting parks and conservancies throughout Africa. After interviewing rangers and uncover...

This is a human-powered adventure story not just because Daniel Troia traveled by bike…but because it was powered by the kindness of strangers. Equipped with hidden camera glasses and a cardboard sign that said, "Ran out of food. Anything helps," Daniel spent seven months bicycling across the United States, listening to stories from the people who offered help. His travel documentary, “We Are All...

Have you ever wondered how you can lessen your environmental impact during your next adventure?  Richard Hammond has devoted his life to helping others understand their environmental impact and how to make changes to live more sustainably. As an expert on low-carbon travel, eco-holidays, and sustainable travel, he's here to share tips and strategies to become more environmentally friendly traveler...

Today, I’m joined by digital nomad and author Lisa Jansen to get her list of the top 10 New Zealand hidden gems and get a peak into the New Zealand campervanning lifestyle. Lisa is a long-term traveler based in New Zealand. She has been a nomad for over six years, five of which have been spent traveling across the country in her campervan. Her book Life Done Differently explores her decision to pr...

How does hearing someone else's story change your thoughts about the world? Today, I am joined by author and climate change activist Devi Lockwood to talk about her story-fueled cycling journey, which took her to 20 countries spanning 6 continents and eventually led her to write her first book, 1001 Voices on Climate Change. If you love story-telling or have ever wondered what it'd be like to do a...

Do you ever feel called to do something different? Do you want to make a BIG change in your life?  Ingrid Alm and her family (husband, son, and dog) embarked on a human-powered adventure right from their doorstep in Oslo, Norway, to Nordkapp, Europe's northernmost accessible point by car. Their 2,000+ KM journey included walking, skiing, cycling, rowing, and even paddle boarding! In this episode,...

Travel undoubtedly makes us better people and, in turn, the world a better place. But does that good outweigh the negative environmental impacts? How can we be more conscious travelers? Robin Greenfield is a truth seeker, activist, social reformer, and servant to earth, humanity, and our plant and animal relatives. He lives simply and sustainably as a means of active resistance to oppressive, expl...

We are back with another installment of Travel Trends, Tools, and Tips for April 2024! Kick back and get ready to hear about four trends I recently came across and some important food for thought about travel, life, and creating a growth mindset.  Which travel trend was most interesting to you? I'd love to hear your thoughts are and hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message. Premium Pa...

We're pulling past episodes from the archives to highlight Women's History Month! This episode was originally published in January 2016. What is your most outlandish travel dream?  Ellen Miller has a list of incredible athletic achievements. She's the first American woman to summit Everest from both sides (north and south), the first American woman to climb the Himalayan Triple Crown, has summited...

Samantha Brown has been inspiring people to get out and explore the world for over two decades as a travel television host - a career that has taken her to over 250 cities in 74 countries and 44 of the United States. She was the host of Travel Channel’s “Great Hotels” and currently hosts PBS’s two-time Emmy-winning series, “Samantha Brown’s Places to Love.” This episode is packed with insight to t...

We're pulling past episodes from the archives to highlight Women's History Month! This episode was originally published in February 2016. Sarah traveled 10,000 miles on foot from Siberia to Australia—alone. It was an epic walk that lasted three years, during which she survived the mafia, drug dealers, thieves on horseback, temperatures from subzero to scorching, dangerous wildlife, and many other...

What would you do if you knew you were going to go blind? At 13, Hayley developed alopecia and lost all of her hair. At 27, she was diagnosed with Stargadts disease, causing her to lose all of her central vision. On a mission to see as much of the world as possible before her sight completely deteriorates, Hayley recently became the first known disabled person to visit all 193 United Nations membe...

We're pulling past episodes from the archives to highlight Women's History Month! This episode was originally published in April 2016. Renata Chlumska is a Swedish and Czech adventurer with a long and impressive list of expeditions, including: Bicycling from Nepal to Sweden Summiting a mountain over 8,000 meters without supplemental oxygen A motorcycle trip from India to Sweden Climbing Mt. Everes...

What happens when one person’s dream adventure is forced onto their family? Today’s episode is, in many ways, a cautionary tale to remind us of the importance of considering your travel companions' needs, especially when they’re children. At seven years old, Suzanne Heywood’s father took their family on a dangerous sailing expedition, recreating Captain Cook's perilous third voyage around the worl...

We're pulling past episodes from the archives to highlight Women's History Month! This episode was originally published in October 2022. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel like a great historical adventurer? Today, I'm joined by Elise Wortley, a journalist on a mission to, quite literally, walk in the shoes of some of history's most fierce female explorers. After reading Alexan...

Author and adventurer Roff Smith joins me to share his top seven favorite bike routes from his National Geographic book 100 Bike Rides of a Lifetime: The World's Ultimate Cycling Experiences.  Roff has cycled all over the world and is most known for his 10,000-mile solo trek through the Australian outback, the story of which became a three-part series in National Geographic. He’s explored Zanzibar...

We're pulling past episodes from the archives to highlight travel jobs this month! This episode was originally published in April 2017. If you work onboard a cruise ship, you’re guaranteed to get paid to travel the world - but is it all it's cracked up to be? How can you find the best cruise ship jobs without experience, and how can you stand out from the stacks of resumes? Amanda Hathorn-Geary is...

Derek Loudermilk is a professional adventurer and quantum business coach who “helps people do things that have never been done before and makes their lives the most amazing adventure possible.” He recently completed an 8-year quest to learn 100+ metaphysical, spiritual, esoteric, and healing techniques while traveling all over the globe – from things like laughing yoga, reiki, and plant medicine t...

What happens when you realize you don’t want your career anymore or don't want to use your degree? My guests may have the answer! Matt Moore and Kelcey Fowler are the owners of CoolWorks, a website to help you find seasonal jobs in great places - everything from national parks to ski resorts, retreat centers, and whatever else you can think of!  Matt and Kelcey talk about what led them to pursue a...

Planning a trip to Europe? Lucas Peters is the author of the new Moon guidebook, Grand European Journeys: 40 Unforgettable Trips by Road, Rail, Sea & More. As an award-winning writer and travel expert, Lucas shares his top seven routes (plus a few bonus destinations!) to help you plan your ultimate European journey. Whether you're exploring Europe for the first time or returning for a new adventur...

Have you ever thought of being an au pair? Do you think you need the perfect travel job? Caroline Harkins has been living in Norway for nearly two years as an au pair (and is hoping to stay after her contract ends!). But what exactly does an au pair do, and how does it allow you to travel? Today, you'll learn why being an au pair is more than just taking care of kids. You'll hear about what led he...