• Building a Life Abroad, Culture Shock, and Big Leaps with Traveling Jackie
    Jun 25 2025
    What does it really take to build a life abroad, and what happens when travel pushes you far outside your comfort zone? Jackie Nourse, aka Traveling Jackie, is an adventure travel pro, host of JUMP podcast, tour leader, and storyteller who’s built a life around helping people explore the world boldly and authentically. With over 20 years of travel under her belt, Jackie’s led countless group trips, launched two podcasts, and built a passionate community of travelers who seek adventure and growth. In this crossover episode, Jackie and I reflect on our first in-person meetup in Norway and dive into what it means to design a lifestyle you love, raise a family in a new culture, and face fear head-on. From raising kids in the forest outside Oslo to climbing Europe’s highest sea cliff with a serious fear of heights, this episode explores the intersection of travel, courage, and personal transformation. This episode offers a personal look into what it means to build a new life in a different country, from navigating culture shock to raising bilingual kids and finding your own rhythms far from home. Jackie also shares a powerful story about doing something she truly didn’t think she could do: climbing Europe’s highest sea cliff on a via ferrata, despite having a serious fear of heights. Her reflections on fear, courage, and support are deeply relatable, whether you're standing on a cliff face or facing something uncertain in your own life. What’s one moment in your life when curiosity helped you say yes to something scary? I'd love to hear what they are, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message. Tune In To Learn: Why Jackie decided to design an off-the-beaten-path adventure through Norway How I ended up living in Oslo (and what I love about it) Advice to anyone considering a move abroad, especially with a family How “friluftsliv” shapes Norwegian life and values What it’s like to raise kids in a forest-filled neighborhood outside Oslo Why self-designed lifestyle checklists help you reverse-engineer the life you want How public transport and local access shape rural Norwegian life What via ferrata is (and why climbing one on a cliff face isn’t as relaxing as it sounds) How Jackie faced a phobia head-on and climbed the highest sea cliff in Europe Why small choices (like buying gloves) can snowball into big courage And so much more Resources: Sign up for our FREE newsletter Jackie’s website JUMP Podcast Want More? Top 5 Hidden Highlights Around the World with Jackie Nourse from JUMP Adventures The Best Of Argentina w/ Jackie Nourse Thanks To Our Sponsors Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • Top 10 Copenhagen Hidden Gems: Hidden Trolls, Cemetery Hangouts, and the Secret to Danish Happiness with Rikke Bisgaard Svendsen
    Jun 24 2025
    What if the best way to explore Copenhagen isn’t in the guidebooks, but in a cemetery, on a bike hunt for trolls, or over a plate of smørrebrød with locals? Rikke Bisgaard-Svensen is the co-founder of Copenhagen Free Walking Tours and a self-described travel addict whose life has revolved around two things: taking off to faraway lands and sharing her love for her hometown. What started as a side hustle born out of winter-season job loss turned into a 13-year journey building one of the most beloved free walking tour companies in Denmark. In this episode, we’re exploring the evolving spirit of Copenhagen and sharing 10 Copenhagen hidden gems for travelers who want to see the city like a local, plus the surprising backstory behind Rikke’s tour company and how she fell into entrepreneurship. If you want to experience Copenhagen beyond the usual sights, Rikke brings the kind of insight only a longtime local can offer. You'll hear about troll hunts in the suburbs, the deeper meaning behind a now-vanished statue, and what it’s really like to build a business in a country where modesty is a cultural expectation. Along the way, we talk about the unique Danish relationship with happiness (hygge), and hanging out in cemeteries (yes, really). What’s your favorite hidden gem in your hometown that you wish more people knew about? I'd love to hear what it is, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. Tune In To Learn: How Couchsurfing led to launching a tour company Why she never imagined becoming an entrepreneur (and what changed) How “janteloven” impacts ambition and leadership How Copenhagen has transformed over the past decade Where to find Copenhagen’s hidden troll sculptures (and why they matter) The oldest amusement park in the world, and it's very unusual location How locals use cemeteries as parks (and what that says about death) An alternative to the famous Little Mermaid statue Where to get the best smørrebrød, cinnamon snails, and pastries in town Advice to anyone wanting to run a travel business And so much more Resources: Sign up for our FREE newsletter Copenhagen Free Walking Tours Forgotten Giants Donkey Republic bike-renting app I Am Queen Mary Københavner Cafeen Hart Bageri Want More? New Zealand: Top 10 Hidden Gems, Campervan Lifestyle (Tips and Tricks), and Doing Life Differently With Lisa Jansen Top 5 Hidden Gem Film Locations For Travelers w/ Rebecca Almost Ginger Hidden Norway: 7 Off The Beaten Path Gems You’ll Love, Popular Norwegian Concepts Worth Stealing, Trekking In Bhutan, & Living At The Crossroads of Magic & Science w/ Torunn Tronsvang from Up Norway Thanks To Our Sponsors Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • From Burnout and $70K in Debt to World Travel with Annette and Daniel Fortner
    Jun 19 2025
    Trigger Warning: This episode contains honest discussions about depression and suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know is struggling, call the Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255). Is debt stopping you from traveling? What if the life you’ve been told to want is actually the thing that’s breaking you? That was the reality for Annette and Daniel Fortner of Chase for Adventure, a couple who sold everything, paid off $70,000 in debt, and hit the road full-time - not because they had it all figured out, but because they knew they couldn’t keep living the way they were. Their journey into long-term travel started with depression and burnout, and turned into something entirely different. Annette and Daniel share the full story behind their decision to leave behind high-paying jobs and a “successful” lifestyle in favor of travel, healing, and freedom. This conversation goes way beyond the typical “how we quit our jobs to travel” story. You’ll hear what it’s like to hit emotional rock bottom and use travel as a lifeline, not just a lifestyle. Annette and Daniel open up about their mental health, the practical steps they took to make long-term travel financially doable, and what it’s really like to work, live, and grow alongside your partner 24/7. Their story is raw, funny, thoughtful, and full of honest reflections that anyone thinking about big life changes will relate to. What’s one belief about success you’ve outgrown? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. Tune In To Learn: Why depression and burnout led Annette to rethink everything How Daniel's emotional struggles surfaced after they hit the road How they paid off $70,000 in debt and saved $16.5K to start traveling Advice to couples traveling and working together (without losing their minds) Why setting “hammock time” saved their relationship The financial realities of long-term travel and how they tracked every dollar How to decide how much savings you need to leave and when it’s enough Remote work tips to fund a travel lifestyle Why Southeast Asia was key to stretching their budget Places that blew them away, and a surprise detour with 10 rescue dogs in Thailand And so much more Resources: Sign up for our FREE newsletter Find Annette & Daniel at ChaseForAdventure.com Follow on Instagram Facebook YouTube ActionForDogs.com Want More? An Unconventional Approach to Challenges, Maximizing Travel With a Full-Time Job, Advice on Publishing, Creating Solo Travel Magic With Jen Ruiz From Expat to Digital Nomad: Finding Your Travel Rhythm, Balancing Burnout, and the Digital Nomad Lifestyle with Kristin Wilson Lessons from Quitting a Job and Selling Everything to Motorcycle Around the World with Mike Barr Thanks To Our Sponsors Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Top 7 Cities for LGBTQ+ Travelers and Finding Your People Around the World with LGBTQ+ Travel Expert Alicia Valenski
    Jun 17 2025
    What does it really mean to feel seen, safe, and celebrated as an LGBTQ+ traveler? How can understanding other people’s travel experiences help us feel more connected, wherever we go? Alicia Valenski is an American writer, editor, speaker, and author of the groundbreaking new LGBTQ+ travel guide with Lonely Planet that explores 50 of the most queer-friendly destinations around the globe. Now living as an expat in the Netherlands, Alicia brings a unique and deeply personal lens to her work as an autistic, bisexual woman and passionate advocate for inclusive travel. In this episode, Alicia shares her top seven LGBTQ+ destinations. We talk about what it means to feel truly comfortable in a place and why inclusive travel benefits everyone. Alicia talks about growing up in a small town, navigating cultural expectations, and finding the courage to live differently. Her journey shows how traveling with intention can change not just your perspective but your life. The insights she shares about creating safe spaces for the most marginalized groups offer a powerful reminder: when a place works for those often overlooked, it works better for everyone, including solo travelers, women, and anyone who's ever felt out of place. Have you ever visited somewhere you immediately felt like you belonged? Where was it, and what made it feel that way? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. Tune In To Learn: Why Alicia and her partner chose the Netherlands as their home base, and what makes Dutch culture feel “just right” How growing up in a conservative area shaped Alicia’s perspective on travel, identity, and chosen family Why moving abroad was both a logistical challenge and an act of self-acceptance Why travel is different for LGBTQ+ folks, and how “feeling welcome” can’t always be assumed Advice for queer travelers who are new to travel and how to stay safe while still being yourself The story behind her LGBTQ+ travel book, and why it centers diverse voices within the community Her top 7 queer-friendly cities Tips for navigating sensory overload while traveling as a neurodivergent person And so much more Resources: Sign up for our FREE newsletter Visit Alicia’s website Grab the Lonely Planet LGBTQ+ Travel Guide Alicia’s article in Attitude Magazine Everywhere is Queer app transequality.org ILGA world maps Equaldex Moonlight experiences Quouch Want More? LGBTQ+ Travel and Making A Difference with Ravi Roth Travel on the Spectrum: Embracing Autism + Neurodivergence with Dan Bird Getting off the Beaten Path With Travel Writing Legend Joe Cummings Thanks To Our Sponsors Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Alcohol-Free Travel (10 Expert Tips) with Margaret Ward
    Jun 12 2025
    Have you ever thought about what your travels would look like without alcohol? After eliminating alcohol, Margaret rediscovered her joy for travel, so much so that she started Alcohol-Free Adventure Retreats (AFAR), where she helps women rediscover and challenge themselves by embracing travel without alcohol. In this episode, Margaret shares her 10 expert tips on alcohol-free travel, and we talk about why this may be something you’d want to consider trying yourself. Whether you’re sober-curious or just interested in a different travel experience, Margaret’s tips are valuable in many situations. In addition to Margaret’s advice, we have a deeper conversation about living in an alcohol-centric society. You’ll learn about some of the benefits of the sober-curious movement and sober travel, why committing is sometimes easier than moderating, how to avoid decision fatigue while traveling, and plenty more. Are you considering going alcohol-free on your next trip? If you already travel without alcohol, what do you enjoy the most? I'd love to hear your thoughts and hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message. *This is a previously released episode from the archives! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, offering valuable insight whenever you listen. Tune In To Learn: Why Margaret decided to change her lifestyle and how the sober-curious movement allows you to experiment with alcohol-free living How traveling with the intention of eliminating alcohol can add another layer of transformation and self-exploration to travel The problem with alcohol culture in Western society How to best prepare before your trip and why having the right mindset is so important The advantages of sober travel and five easy things you can do to help your trip run smoothly Why building identity-based habits can help you embrace a new lifestyle or culture My experience with alcohol-free living and why committing 99% is so much harder than 100% And so much more Resources: Subscribe to our FREE newsletter Learn more about Margaret and AFAR Connect with Margaret on Instagram and Facebook Join Margaret’s Facebook group, Teetotaling Travelers Check out the books, Quit Drinking Without Willpower, This Naked Mind, Quit Like a Woman Want More? From $12 In Savings To Living Your Travel Dreams w/ Matt Fetbrandt The Call Of Adventure with Brendan Leonard Staying Healthy and Stress-Free While Traveling w/ Kirsten Pontius Thanks to Our Sponsors Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Top 10 Iceland Hidden Gems (Highlands, Hot Springs, and Hidden Canyons) + Building a New Life Abroad with Jewells Chambers from All Things Iceland
    Jun 10 2025
    What’s it like to trade the hustle of NYC for a slower life in Iceland? And how do you explore its volcanic landscapes without getting stuck in the tourist crowds? Jewells Chambers is the creator and voice behind All Things Iceland, a podcast and YouTube channel that helps people experience Iceland beyond the tourist trail. Originally from New York City, Jewells moved to Iceland in 2016 after falling in love with an Icelander and has since carved out a meaningful life abroad, blending creativity, digital marketing, travel planning, and a deep respect for Icelandic culture. In this episode, we talk about what it’s really like to move to Iceland, how Jewells found her way into content creation, and her top recommendations for discovering Iceland's lesser-known destinations and experiences. If you’ve ever considered moving abroad, reinventing your career, or exploring Iceland beyond the usual tourist stops, Jewells’ story offers both inspiration and practical insights. We chat about embracing discomfort, building a new identity in a foreign land, and how creativity and authenticity have shaped her journey. She also shares a curated list of hidden gems in Iceland—from geothermal wonders to ghost towns—and offers practical advice on navigating Iceland's wild weather and unpredictable terrain. Whether you're planning your first trip or your fifth, you'll leave this episode with a fresh perspective and a bunch of new places to add to your Iceland itinerary. If you could slow down and live like a local somewhere (even for a little while), where would you go? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now! Tune In To Learn: Why Jewells moved to Iceland and how love and logistics played equal roles What it was like adjusting from NYC hustle culture to Iceland’s work-life mindset How moving to Iceland changed how she views her home country How she carved out a creative niche in a foreign country without a plan What most travelers miss when visiting Iceland and why the highlands are so underrated How the Icelandic mindset of “þetta reddast” (it will all work out) reshaped her life How a rainy, rough hike turned her into an outdoor enthusiast Advice for dealing with Iceland’s intense weather and road conditions Where to find hidden hot springs, ghost towns, and fjords with almost no crowds Pro tips for driving in Iceland’s highlands (and why your car insurance matters!) And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Check out Jewell’s website and podcast, All Things Iceland Jewell’s ultimate packing checklist Schedule a trip-planning call Iceland map and travel resources Subscribe on YouTube Follow on Instagram Get Jewell’s Top 10 Iceland Hidden Gems list Want More? Top 10 Hidden Gems: East Africa (Beyond the Safari) and Transitioning to Travel With Sasha and Megnote Lezhnev The Hidden Gems of Andalusia: Discover the Spain Most Travelers Miss with Lucas Peters Hidden Norway: 7 Off The Beaten Path Gems You’ll Love, Popular Norwegian Concepts Worth Stealing, Trekking In Bhutan, & Living At The Crossroads of Magic & Science w/ Torunn Tronsvang from Up Norway Thanks To Our Sponsors Visit Baltimore - Start planning your visit to Charm City today! Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 27 mins
  • Traveling the Equator and Polar Circle (Top 5 Countries to Visit) + How Climate Change Impacts Locals with Gunnar Garfors
    Jun 3 2025
    What can we actually learn about climate change when we stop reading headlines and start listening to the people living it? Gunnar Garfors is the first person to travel to every country in the world not once, but twice. He’s a Norwegian adventurer, journalist, and author whose latest project took him across the equator, the Arctic Circle, and the Antarctic region to explore the lived experiences of climate change. His new book, Mellom Linjene (Between the Lines), captures these human stories behind the headlines, showing us how the changing climate is affecting the lives of fishermen, farmers, city dwellers, and Indigenous peoples from the Amazon rainforest to the ice desert of Greenland. Gunnar shares his experience researching and writing his book and recounts the very real ways climate change is reshaping the planet’s most climate-vulnerable zones. We talk through five of his favorite countries along the Arctic Circle and the equator, weaving together adventure, personal stories, and eye-opening conversations with locals on the ground. Gunnar’s first-person encounters with reindeer herders, farmers, fishermen, and locals living at the edges of the world help paint a fuller, more human picture of what’s happening. You’ll hear how polar bears are wandering into villages in search of food, why Amazonian ferry rides matter, and what it’s like to get called out on the Congo River for representing the global north. How is climate change affecting the places you care about or the way you think about travel? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now! Tune In To Learn: Why Gunnar retraced his steps across 21 countries and Antarctica despite already visiting every country twice What ticks, shifting seasons, and reindeer behavior are revealing climate changes in Finland What a screaming fox in Canada had to say about a massive landslide and how melting snow and rising rivers are reshaping northern communities How the Amazon River’s disappearing waterways are affecting transportation, food access, and entire communities Why fishermen in São Tomé and Príncipe are traveling farther for fewer fish, and what a disappearing rainy season means for daily life What it’s like to spend five days on a cargo barge in the Congo (with very little food and a lot of humidity) How climate change is forcing rural farmers in the DRC to question the cause and confront visitors with unexpected responsibility Why telling personal stories might be the most powerful way to talk about climate change Advice to travelers who want to get out of the Western bubble and witness these changes firsthand And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Visit Gunnar’s website Follow on Instagram Want More? Top 7 Up-And-Coming Destinations to Visit (Before They Get Crowded) With Gunnar Garfors Visiting Every County In The World…TWICE! With Gunnar Garfors World Tour for Climate Change: Hitchhiking, Biking, and Low-Carbon Travel With Megan Routbort Thanks To Our Sponsors Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 26 mins
  • How to Be a “Supercommunicator” and Connect with Anyone (At Home or on the Road) with Charles Duhigg + The Best of Baltimore, MD
    May 27 2025
    Why do some conversations leave you feeling seen and understood, while others fall flat? Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author of The Power of Habit and his latest, Supercommunicators. He's spent years exploring the science of communication to find out what separates those rare, magical conversations from ones that leave us disconnected or misunderstood. In this episode, we explore how communication really works - what’s happening in our brains during conversations, the skills that make someone a “supercommunicator,” and how to have more meaningful, connected interactions no matter where you are in the world. If you’ve ever left a conversation wondering why it didn’t land the way you wanted or if you’re trying to get better at connecting with people across cultures, relationships, or work, this one’s for you. Charles shares practical frameworks and surprising science-backed insights that help you show up better in any conversation. Whether you're navigating conflict with your partner or chatting with a stranger abroad, this episode is full of takeaways that’ll make you rethink how you communicate. PLUS, stick around on the backend for a special segment on the best things to do, see, and eat in Baltimore, Maryland. What’s one small shift you could make to be more present and connected in your conversations this week? I'd love to hear what you took away from our talk, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now! Tune In To Learn: Why Charles and his wife spent six months surfing in El Salvador and living in Costa Rica How living abroad shaped his worldview as a journalist What led Charles to write Supercommunicators after the success of The Power of Habit How to identify the 3 types of conversations (and why mismatching them causes conflict) How to ask deep questions that invite real connection Why “looping for understanding” is a powerful listening tool How vulnerability really works in our brains, and why energy matching is a powerful way to build trust and connection Why we’re all supercommunicators already And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Visit Charles’ website Subscribe to his Substack Follow on Instagram Want More? Strategies for Living an Unconventional Life with Ingrid Alm Rick Steves On the Hippie Trail (The Making of a Travel Writer) with Special Guest Host Eric Weiner How to Navigate Transitions and Design Your Life (Without the BS) with Lauren Handel Zander Thanks To Our Sponsors Visit Baltimore - Start planning your visit to Charm City today! Harvest Hosts - Use code TRAVEL20 for 20% off your Harvest Hosts membership Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    58 mins