Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Maverick Show: Global Travel Stories & Life Beyond Borders

Go behind the scenes in Hollywood, discover the art of meaningful travel storytelling, and hear epic adventures abroad. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Nabil Kazi shares his journey from growing up between Pakistani and American cultures to becoming a Hollywood executive at Disney, Pixar, Fox, and Illumination. He reflects on the art of travel storytelling, the importance of connecting with local communities, and the ethical responsibilities travelers have when documenting other cultures. Nabil then takes us behind the scenes of his entertainment career, from bringing Disney to India and Vietnam to working with Steve Jobs at Pixar, befriending Kobe Bryant, and helping Michael Jackson’s children after their father’s death. He also shares stories from his athletic adventures, including completing two Ironman triathlons in Brazil, summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, and trekking to Everest Base Camp through relentless rain. Finally, he explains what inspired him to leave Hollywood behind and embark on a new chapter of full-time world travel. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn what 50+ countries taught Alexa about human connection, traveling solo as a Black woman and telling great stories. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Alexa Moore shares memorable travel experiences across Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, from walking the historic slave route in Ouidah to visiting Victoria Falls and going on safari in Botswana. She reflects on the preservation of Yoruba and West African culture in Salvador, Brazil, as well as her travels through The Gambia, Cabo Verde, Jamaica, and St. Croix. Alexa also explains how street food tours, cooking classes, and local cuisine have helped her discover fascinating connections between cultures around the world. She then shares how she left her career in the environmental sector after her content creation income surpassed her salary and became a full-time travel creator supported primarily by brand partnerships. Alexa explains why great storytelling and a distinctive perspective can matter more than follower count for aspiring creators. She also reflects on traveling solo as a Black woman, navigating anti-Blackness, and why visiting more than 50 countries has strengthened her belief in the kindness of strangers and the power of human connection. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how slow immersive travel can deepen cultural understanding and transform how you see the world and yourself. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Alexa Moore shares how studying abroad in India transformed her confidence as a traveler and opened her mind to a life of exploring the world. She talks about her Jamaican-American upbringing in the Washington, D.C. area, living and working in Namibia after college, taking a 24-hour bus journey from Windhoek to Cape Town, and developing a deep connection with the African continent. Alexa reflects on exploring Johannesburg and Soweto, engaging critically with the legacy of apartheid, and learning about contemporary xenophobia and the experiences of African immigrants in South Africa. She also shares stories of hospitality and human connection in Senegal before taking us to Ghana, where she experienced the historic Year of Return, explored Accra during the high-energy Detty December season, and discovered a different side of the country through the Volta Region, Mole National Park, local food, surfing, and conversations with people along the way. Throughout the episode, Alexa reflects on how cultural immersion, historical awareness, curiosity, and meaningful connections with local people can challenge our assumptions and deepen our understanding of the places we visit. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how traveling with greater depth and intention can transform our relationship with people, place, and the planet. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Ocean Malandra shares how he built a career in socially conscious travel writing and why introducing readers to a destination comes with a responsibility to understand the impact tourism can have on local communities and environments. He reflects on reporting about conservation, Indigenous land rights and sustainable development in Colombia, explores the country’s evolving specialty coffee culture, and explains how travel writers can help direct attention and resources toward people and projects creating positive change. Ocean also discusses tourism as a form of activism, the importance of slow travel and cultural immersion, and how traveling with greater depth and intention can foster meaningful relationships—and ultimately a sense of responsibility for protecting the places we come to love.
 → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how Colombia is shaped by beautiful human connection. cultural resilience, community power, & ancestral knowledge. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Ocean Malandra takes us deep into Colombia as he shares how an intended journey through South America turned into a life-changing relationship with the country that has lasted for more than 17 years. He reflects on growing up around Oakland hip-hop, discovering the cultural roots connecting Colombia to the African diaspora, and learning from communities using art, music, collective land ownership, and community-led tourism to preserve their heritage and shape their future. Ocean also discusses Colombia’s extraordinary biodiversity, environmental conservation, the legacy of political violence, responsible travel, overtourism and gentrification—and offers insights for experiencing the country in ways that more directly benefit the people who call it home. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Discover the roots of the racial diversity gap in outdoor recreation and how travel creators can help reshape the narrative. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Lauren Gay shares stories of paragliding in Cape Town, gliding in Japan, visiting a nudist resort, and swimming between tectonic plates in Iceland. She then unpacks the historical roots of the racial diversity gap in outdoor recreation, the importance of authentic Black visibility in outdoor culture, and why nature has become both therapy and a spiritual space for her. Lauren also talks about co-founding the Black Travel Alliance, how the story of a destination changes depending on who is telling it, and the responsibility travel creators have to the communities and places they feature. She reflects on becoming an environmental and conservation activist, balancing tourism promotion with the dangers of overtourism, and why travel can foster greater empathy, human connection, and care for the natural world. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear how a life-changing journey sparked a new chapter filled with whale sharks, northern lights and wild landscapes. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Lauren Gay joins Matt for a wide-ranging conversation about the experiences that shaped her into the Outdoorsy Diva. She shares how chasing waterfalls with her son helped ignite her passion for outdoor recreation, how a pivotal trip to the Azores gave her a new vision for her life, and how she went on to pursue extraordinary experiences around the world. Lauren tells stories of swimming with whale sharks in Mexico, encountering incredible wildlife in the Galápagos, exploring the landscapes of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, dog mushing through Arctic Norway, witnessing the northern lights after a decade of trying, watching a whale breach in Alaska, and experiencing a profound sense of connection while visiting Zimbabwe. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn about backdoor diplomacy, pink imperialism, colonial history & why slower travel can create deeper connections. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Ross OC Jennings tells the story of meeting his husband Travis and building a relationship centered around a life of travel. He reflects on living in Guatemala and the Philippines, navigating countries where homosexuality is criminalized, and the complex dynamics of queer travel across different cultural contexts. Ross also shares why Mozambique holds a special place in his heart, what playing the bagpipes around the world taught him about colonial history and cultural exchange, and how returning to Shanghai nearly 30 years after moving there as a child affected his understanding of identity and home. He then talks about his show So Where’s It From? And, finally, he reflects the responsibility travel content creators have when telling other people’s stories, the limitations of country counting and achievement-oriented travel, and why slowing down has ultimately led to deeper connections and more meaningful experiences around the world. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Discover how an unlikely instrument opened doors, crossed cultures and turned travel adventures into human connection. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Ross OC Jennings shares how growing up in China shaped his identity, curiosity and relationship with travel. He reflects on his childhood in Shanghai, learning Mandarin, navigating reverse culture shock at boarding school in the UK, and eventually combining his passion for travel with his Scottish heritage to pursue an audacious global bagpiping quest. Ross tells stories of a tense police encounter in Tunisia that took an unexpected turn, playing on the Yamuna River in front of the Taj Mahal, performing for Bhutanese royalty, piping beside an erupting volcano in Guatemala, playing atop the Burj Khalifa, and even performing at 35,000 feet on a commercial flight. Along the way, he explains what he discovered about the surprising global history of the bagpipes, cultural identity, respectful travel, and the extraordinary ways music can break down barriers between people. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Discover why Chris believes the most meaningful and important travel stories begin where headlines and stereotypes end. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE How do you tell compelling stories about places that are often misunderstood? In this episode, Chris Joondeph reflects on the lessons he's learned from traveling to more than 170 countries and creating one of the world's largest travel communities on social media. Through conversations about Syria, Iran, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Turkmenistan, Algeria, Malawi, and beyond, Chris explores the responsibilities of travel creators, the importance of context over sensationalism, and why genuine human connection is essential to understanding the world. He also shares how traveling with his father after the loss of his mother transformed both of their perspectives, and why curiosity, humility, and firsthand experience continue to shape the stories he chooses to tell. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear how a trip to Nigeria became a lifelong commitment to a country, a culture, and a completely different way of life. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE How does an American traveler go from teaching English in Thailand to building a life in Nigeria? In this episode, Chris Joondeph shares the remarkable journey that led him from growing up in the United States to living abroad, studying international affairs, maximizing airline travel to explore the world, and ultimately falling in love with Nigeria. Chris reflects on meeting his wife, embracing Yoruba traditions through their traditional wedding and marriage ceremonies, relocating to Lagos, and co-founding Authentic Traveling Tours to help visitors experience Nigeria through local relationships and genuine cultural immersion. Along the way, he shares why Lagos is best explored with locals, the places in Nigeria that have captured his heart, and how meaningful travel can grow into a life, a community, and a true sense of home. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear how facing fear, embracing discomfort and sharing the journey with Grace reshaped Jason's perspective on life. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Jason Wang takes you behind the scenes of his journey to complete the Seven Summits, from the moment a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro inspired an impossible dream to the years of preparation that culminated on the summit of Mount Everest. He shares what it was really like to spend more than 45 days on the mountain, explains the dangers of the Khumbu Icefall and the Death Zone, recounts the scariest moments of his summit push, and reveals why descending from Everest can be even more dangerous than reaching the top. Jason also reflects on his expeditions to Antarctica, visiting the South Pole, climbing alongside his relationship partner Grace, and the profound lessons these extraordinary experiences taught him about fear, resilience, relationships, and what truly matters in life. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear how selling his startup, falling in love with travel, and reconnecting with China transformed Jason's life. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Jason Wang shares his experience growing up in a Chinese immigrant family in the San Francisco Bay Area, building and selling a Silicon Valley startup, and tells the story of how one trip to Europe completely changed the trajectory of his life. He explains how he fell in love with travel, visited 185 countries, and why he believes now is the perfect time to explore China. He reflects on returning to his birthplace of Nanjing nearly 40 years later, and takes listeners from the futuristic skyline of Chongqing to the Ice & Snow Festival in Harbin. He also tells stories from his travels in West Africa, from music festivals in the legendary city of Timbuktu in Mali to meeting the sacred crocodiles of Burkina Faso. He then reflects on the impact of connecting with Chinese diaspora communities across Africa and around the world. Jason also shares how years of designing entire trips around food have shaped the way he experiences cultures and reveals some of the most memorable culinary experiences from his travels around the world. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn why visitors leave Nigeria with transformed perceptions, lifelong friendships, and a changed view of the country. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE What makes Nigeria one of the world's most misunderstood travel destinations? In this episode, Adenike Joondeph (Dara) shares why she is passionate about helping visitors experience the country's warmth, hospitality, and rich cultural traditions beyond the headlines. She reflects on meeting her husband Chris, building Authentic Traveling Tours, and creating immersive journeys that introduce travelers to Lagos, Yoruba culture, local communities, and everyday life in Nigeria. Along the way, Dara discusses how international visitors' perceptions transform through genuine human connection, why more people should consider traveling to Nigeria, and how authentic cultural experiences can foster greater understanding across borders. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear how visa barriers, border crossings, and global travel reshaped Dara's perspective about the world—and herself. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE What does it take to visit over 100 countries on one of the world's most restrictive passports? In this episode, Adenike Daramola Joondeph (Dara) shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Lagos and boarding her first airplane in 2017 to becoming one of Nigeria's most widely traveled people. She reflects on the visa rejections, border crossings, and bureaucratic hurdles she overcame to explore more than 100 countries, while revealing how those experiences transformed her perspective on the world, Africa, and her own identity. Along the way, Dara shares unforgettable stories from destinations across Africa, Europe, Central America, the Middle East, and Brazil, offering a powerful conversation about resilience, global travel, cultural exchange, and what it means to see the world through a Nigerian passport. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear how an act of kindness in Cameroon, an enduring love story & relentless determination got Thor to the finish line. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE In Part 2 of this interview, Thor Pedersen recounts the most harrowing chapters of his nearly decade-long quest to become the first person to visit every country in the world in one unbroken journey without flying. He shares the life-threatening experiences that nearly ended his journey in Central Africa, the emotional breaking point in Cameroon that left him ready to quit, and the extraordinary act of kindness by a local moto-taxi driver that restored his determination to continue. Thor also tells the unforgettable story of proposing to his future wife atop Mount Kenya, reflects on spending two unexpected years stranded in Hong Kong during the pandemic, and reveals what it truly felt like to complete one of the greatest travel expeditions in history—and finally come home after nearly ten years on the road. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn what inspired Thor's impossible journey and why he now believes a stranger is a friend you’ve never met before. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Thor Pedersen shares the remarkable story behind his decision to try and become the first person to visit every country in the world without flying in a single unbroken journey. He explains how his experiences as a UN peacekeeper in Eritrea and Ethiopia, living in Libya, and working in global logistics shaped his outlook before embarking on what he thought would be a four-year adventure that ultimately lasted nearly a decade. Thor also recounts unforgettable experiences traveling on cargo ships, reflects on the profound impact of crossing borders and connecting with strangers around the world, and opens up about the heartbreaking moment in Libya that forever changed the way he thinks about global inequality, migration, and our shared humanity. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear how completing his journey to 195 countries inspired Cameron's humanitarian work & shaped his vision for the future. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Cameron Mofid completed his quest to visit every country in the world by age 25 and shares stories from some of his most extraordinary experiences across Africa, including practicing extreme exposure therapy with the Mundari tribe in South Sudan, spending time in jail in Djibouti, and navigating security threats in Somalia.  We also discuss how his travels inspired the creation of Humanity Effect, the nonprofit he founded to support schools, an orphanage, and healthcare initiatives in Nigeria.  He then tells the story of completing his final country by running the Pyongyang Marathon in North Korea. Cameron also opens up about why achieving his lifelong goal left him searching for a new sense of purpose, and how travel continues to shape his life, humanitarian work, and his mission to inspire others through public speaking and storytelling. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how Cameron's quest to travel to every country served as exposure therapy and also ended up transforming his worldview. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Cameron Mofid became the youngest person to visit every country in the world, but his extraordinary journey began as an effort to overcome debilitating OCD through real-world exposure therapy. In this episode, Cameron shares how growing up with Egyptian and Iranian heritage shaped his curiosity about the world, how tennis first opened the door to international travel, and how solo travel ultimately transformed both his mental health and his worldview. We discuss his experiences traveling through Egypt, Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Venezuela, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Suriname, the hospitality he found in places often portrayed negatively in the media, and why some of the world's most misunderstood countries became the places that changed him the most. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how photography, resilience & travel to Africa helped Zaakirah navigate disability and find connection worldwide. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Zaakirah Muhammad shares the remarkable story of how a photograph taken when she was an infant helped detect a rare eye cancer and ultimately save her life. She reflects on how photography became her creative outlet, how her first international trip to Costa Rica sparked a lifelong passion for travel, and why extended stays in countries like Ghana and Kenya transformed her understanding of identity, community and belonging. Zaakirah discusses traveling through Africa as a disabled person, spending a year living in Kenya with her mother, reconnecting with the continent through DNA ancestry research, and navigating the world as a Black Muslim woman. She also shares insights on accessibility, cultural immersion, Afrobeats, entrepreneurship, and how travel can help us better understand both ourselves and the places we visit. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear stories about life in the Arctic, from polar bears and midnight sun to dog sledding, ice hotels and Aurora magic. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE What happens when a life-changing trip to see the Northern Lights inspires you to leave England, move to Swedish Lapland, and raise your family in the Arctic? In this episode, Jonny Cooper shares his journey from UK DJ and IT professional to founder of Off the Map Travel and resident of Arctic Sweden. We explore the realities of life under the midnight sun, raising bilingual children in a culture deeply connected to nature, and what he has learned from the Indigenous Sámi people. Jonny also shares unforgettable stories from across the Nordic Arctic, including dog sledding with Inuit communities in Greenland, encountering the unique realities of Svalbard's polar bear country, staying in world-famous ice hotels, and witnessing the awe-inspiring magic of the Aurora Borealis. Whether you're fascinated by Arctic travel, Nordic culture, family life abroad, Indigenous wisdom, or the transformative power of immersive travel, this episode offers a rare window into one of the world's most extraordinary regions. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how Joanne uses travel, language, cultural immersion & place-based learning to help her kids feel at home anywhere.  ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Joanne Paul shares her journey growing up between Haiti and the United States, raising multilingual and multicultural children, and creating a life centered around travel, community, and place-based learning. Joanne discusses how her family's humanitarian work in Haiti shaped her worldview, why she chose Curaçao as a second home for her family, and how worldschooling can help children develop a deeper sense of belonging through language, cultural immersion, and real-world experiences. She also shares the inspiration behind founding Ileo, a place-based learning ecosystem in Curaçao designed for homeschooling and worldschooling families seeking meaningful connections with local communities and cultures. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear how Nadine solo-travels the world as an Egyptian woman while showcasing a side of Egypt most visitors never see. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Egyptian travel writer and Curls en Route founder Nadine Arab shares her journey from growing up in Alexandria to becoming a full-time travel blogger and solo traveler exploring the world on her own terms. Nadine reflects on what she learned from solo travel in Egypt and abroad, and discusses how travel shaped her understanding of identity, culture, and belonging.  She also explains why she is passionate about showcasing a side of Egypt that extends far beyond the pyramids and typical tourist attractions. Nadine then shares insights on traveling as an Egyptian woman, navigating the world on an Egyptian passport, building a travel business,  and connecting with the Arab diaspora around the world.  Finally, she explains why she believes travel and politics are deeply intertwined, including her advocacy for Palestinian liberation and global solidarity. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear how Nicole saved over $100,000 on accommodation and uses her location independence to support political campaigns. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Nicole Green shares how she built a full-time travel lifestyle through cat sitting, saving more than $100,000 on accommodation while staying everywhere from penthouse apartments in Montreal to ski chalets in the Swiss and French Alps. She explains how pet sitting became her gateway to location independence, the strategies she uses to secure sits around the world, and how her travels inspired her to create Traveling Catsitter, a community for cat-loving travelers. Nicole also discusses how she uses her freedom of movement as a “Nomadic Activist,” traveling to political battlegrounds to volunteer on grassroots campaigns, support progressive candidates, and explore the intersection of travel, civic engagement, and social impact. Along the way, she reflects on solo travel, digital nomadism, sustainability, community building, and the lessons she has learned from years of living without a permanent home. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear how Marissa built a full-time travel career while advocating for inclusion, ethical tourism and local stories. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Travel creator Marissa Strang shares stories from Japan, Switzerland and Egypt while reflecting on the emotional realities of building a life through travel. She discusses leaving corporate America to become a full-time content creator, balancing documentation with being present in the moment, and using travel storytelling to spotlight underrepresented voices, local histories and community-led tourism initiatives. Marissa also explores the experiences of Black travelers abroad, the difference between diversity and inclusion in travel marketing, and why supporting local communities through intentional travel can foster deeper cultural understanding around the world. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear how immersive travel experiences challenged stereotypes and deepened Marissa’s commitment to community-led tourism. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Travel creator Marissa Strang shares how immersive travel experiences across Cuba, Egypt, Jordan, Iceland and India shaped her approach to culture-first travel and community-led tourism. She reflects on studying Afro-Latin dance in Cuba, taking her first solo trip through Iceland, honeymooning in Egypt, and experiencing Jordanian hospitality while challenging common Western stereotypes about the Middle East. Marissa also discusses visiting women-led businesses in India, learning about tourism as a tool for economic empowerment, and using travel storytelling to highlight local communities and underrepresented perspectives. This episode explores cross-cultural travel, women-led tourism, identity, hospitality, and the impact of intentional travel experiences on the way we understand the world. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear how 20 years of travel to Jordan reshaped Janine’s view on the Middle East, media narratives, and human connection. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Born and raised in Jamaica, Janine Jervis spent nearly two decades helping lead tourism marketing for Jordan while returning to the country dozens of times and building deep relationships there. In this episode, Janine shares stories from Jordanian Bedouin communities and reflects on how travel transformed her understanding of the Middle East, Palestine, identity, belonging, and cross-cultural connection. She also talks about growing up between Jamaica, Trinidad, and Washington D.C., witnessing the rise of anti-Arab sentiment in the United States after 9/11, speaking out about Palestine within the travel industry, and ultimately returning to live in Jamaica after 25 years abroad. Along the way, Janine reflects on Black travel, media perception, community, and the power of authentic storytelling to bridge cultures across borders. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how immersive storytelling, local connection, long-term travel & nomad life after 60 reshapes belonging abroad. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Palle Bo shares what a decade of full-time world travel has taught him about identity, connection, and building a life beyond borders. After leaving Denmark at age 50, Palle has now visited 127 countries and evolved from fast-paced travel to a more intentional, slow travel lifestyle—recently establishing a base in Chiang Mai while continuing to explore the world. He reflects on how immersive travel and local relationships challenge assumptions, reshape perspectives, and reveal the deep similarities between people across cultures. Palle also takes us behind the scenes of his podcast, The Radio Vagabond, explaining how field recordings and spontaneous conversations with locals create powerful human stories—and how travel podcasting opens doors to experiences most travelers never access. Along the way, he shares insights on staying connected while living abroad, navigating aging as a digital nomad, and why some of the most meaningful moments on the road begin with simply saying yes. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how solo travel, living abroad, Spanish fluency & cultural immersion unlock deeper connections around the world. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Kylah Williams shares how she transformed Spanish fluency into a global career and a deeper way of experiencing the world. From traveling through Cuba without data to forming meaningful human connections in Guatemala and pushing her limits on Peru’s Rainbow Mountain, she reflects on how solo travel and cultural immersion reshape the way we see people, identity, and belonging. Kylah shares stories from living in Mexico City and lessons from navigating cross-cultural marketing and the nuances of Spanish dialects around the world. She explains the evolution of her platform “That Bilingual Chick,” and shares her experiences connecting with Black traveler communities globally.  She also reflects on how stepping outside her comfort zone—from everyday interactions to adrenaline-filled moments like paragliding in Colombia—can unlock deeper, more meaningful travel experiences. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear how studying, living and working abroad helped Kylah reinvent herself across cultures and continents. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Kylah Williams shares how Spanish immersion shaped her global journey—from growing up in a bilingual program in Sacramento to studying, living, and working abroad in Chile and Spain. She reflects on how language opened doors to deeper cross-cultural connection, from comparing Tagalog and Spanish during her travels in the Philippines to navigating the cultural, business, and marketing nuances across Latin America and Europe. Kylah also discusses her experience living in Chile during the 2019 uprising, building community through sports, and ultimately reinventing herself abroad. Along the way, she breaks down how culture shapes communication, trust, and consumer behavior—and how speaking multiple languages can transform not just how you travel, but how you see the world. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how real travel experiences can transform the way you see impact, responsibility and your role in the world. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE In Part 3 of this conversation, Priyanka Surio shares how her travels across Antarctica, South India, and Costa Rica reshaped her understanding of what it means to travel responsibly. She reflects on how the fragile ecosystems of Antarctica shaped her blueprint for “sustainable travel,”  and how participating in a community-led travel caravan in South India demonstrated what regenerative travel looks like in practice. Priyanka also recounts her experience engaging with Indigenous communities in Costa Rica and how those encounters challenged her to rethink tourism, reciprocity, and the role of travelers in local ecosystems. Along the way, she explores how music can create meaningful cross-cultural connection and explains how she builds community in an itinerant nomadic lifestyle. This episode offers a grounded look at how real-world travel experiences can transform the way we think about impact, responsibility, and connection across cultures. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how to make travel choices that support local communities, avoid harm, and meaningfully give back around the world. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE In Part 2 of this conversation, Priyanka Surio shares her framework for thinking about travel as a form of activism and breaks down the difference between sustainable and regenerative travel. She outlines an 8-part model built around four sustainable mindsets and four world-changing forces that can help travelers make more intentional decisions about where they go, how they spend time, and who benefits from their presence. Drawing on examples from places like Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and Comuna 13 in Medellín, Priyanka examines how tourism can either extract from or support local communities, and offers a more conscious approach to cross-cultural travel and global exploration. She also reflects on her own activism journey—including being arrested at Black Lives Matter protests in Washington, DC—and how these experiences shaped her belief that travel can be a tool for solidarity and collective impact. This episode explores how to align your travel lifestyle with your values and contribute meaningfully to the places you visit. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how global diaspora connections & nomadic traditions can unlock new ways of building community across cultures. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Priyanka Surio reflects on growing up in Florida navigating a mixed Indian and Hungarian identity, and how early experiences of not fully belonging shaped her relationship to culture, travel, and self-expression. She shares stories from reconnecting with her heritage, including time spent in Hungary, studying abroad in India, and how these experiences informed her evolving sense of identity.  Priyanka reflects on studying the Year of Return in Ghana as a model for reconnecting diasporas and considers how similar frameworks could strengthen ties within Indian communities around the world.  She also discusses her travels in Ethiopia and her encounters with historically nomadic cultures in Mongolia and Morocco, examining how these experiences reshaped her thinking about movement, cross-cultural travel, and building community. She closes by reflecting on minimalism, intentional living, and how a life of travel can transform the way we understand identity, belonging, and connection across cultures. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear travel stories from Equatorial Guinea to Brazil & how Dash works to dismantle anti-Blackness in Latinx communities. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE In Part 2 of this conversation, Peabody Award–winning producer and historian Dash Harris unpacks the ideology of mestizaje and explains how narratives of racial mixing have obscured anti-Blackness across Latin America and its diaspora. She discusses why she rejects the umbrella identity of “Latina,” drawing on Black feminist scholarship, her workshops on dismantling anti-Blackness in Latinx communities, and her own experiences traveling and researching Afro-descendant cultures around the world. Dash tells stories from visiting Equatorial Guinea—the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa—and compares Afro-diasporic histories across continents. She also shares observations from Salvador, Brazil about tourism, memory, and the politics of Black cultural spaces. Finally, she recommends some of her favorite music—from Afro-Cuban traditions to Afro-Colombian and Brazilian sounds. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how growing up between Brooklyn and Panama shaped Dash’s journey into documentary storytelling and global travel. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Peabody Award–winning producer and historian Dash Harris tells stories about coming of age between 1990s Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn and Panama.  She reflects on navigating Black and Afro-Panamanian identity across cultures and how those experiences shaped her understanding of race, identity, and the global Black diaspora. Dash tells the backstory of filming Negro, her groundbreaking docu-series exploring race and anti-Blackness across Latin America. She also explains how filming the docu-series ultimately led her to co-found AfroLatinx Travel, a company that organizes trips centering the African roots of Latin America and connecting travelers with Black communities, histories, and cultural traditions. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how Cara came out as queer while living abroad and built community, belonging, and solidarity with Palestine. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE In Part 2 of this conversation, Cara Laban reflects on the intersections of queer identity, Jewish history, and political solidarity while living and traveling around the world. She shares how coming out as queer while living abroad helped her find community and belonging across cultures, while a deeper engagement with Jewish history and contemporary politics shaped her journey toward anti-Zionism and solidarity with Palestinians. Cara also recounts navigating male-dominated digital nomad spaces, attending feminist protests, and encountering police violence. She then tells travel stories from Italy, the Dominican Republic, the Galapagos Islands, attending Carnival in Rio and seeing pink dolphins in the Amazon.  Cara reflects on how living between cultures can expand the way we think about identity, community, and collective liberation. And finally she shares lessons from Jewish history about our collective responsibility to confront the rise of fascism in the U.S. and around the world. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how Cara stopped escaping and designed a sustainable world travel lifestyle that works for her brain. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Cara Laban left New York chasing a childhood dream of Australia, but what began as an escape from burnout turned into a two-year immersion in life overseas, from bar shifts in Melbourne to bakery work in the outback. In this candid conversation, she shares the mental health lows that followed her across continents, the road-trip mishap that left her stranded without gas in remote Australia, and the moment in Thailand when she realized travel alone wouldn’t fix what she was carrying internally.  We trace her evolution from working local hospitality jobs to building a sustainable travel lifestyle online after discovering Hannah Dixon’s Virtual Excellence Academy. That reinvention eventually led her to found Travel Reddi, an AI-powered travel logistics platform designed to simplify global mobility.  Cara opens up about depression on the road, the difference between analog and digital nomad life, and how systems thinking became the foundation of both her business and her forthcoming book: “How to Do Anything Even if You’re Lazy”.  This is a story about reinvention, self-honesty, and designing a life overseas that actually works for your brain. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear stories of balloon jumps, zoo dives, flipping out of planes & the personal growth and life lessons behind it all. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE In the final part of the conversation, Taylor Wallace shares how a spontaneous first jump in Brazil led to a passion for skydiving that has taken her across the world, from beach jumps outside Rio to balloon jumps over Cappadocia and massive skydiving festivals in the United States. She explains the discipline, humility, and constant learning required to stay safe in a high-risk sport, and reflects on how skydiving mirrors entrepreneurship and travel—requiring courage, adaptability, and trust in yourself when things don’t go as planned. The episode closes with Taylor reflecting on how global travel and adventure have shaped her resilience, perspective, and desire to keep pushing beyond her comfort zone. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear how Japan, startup life, and global travel shaped Taylor’s approach to entrepreneurship and intentional living. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE In Part 2 of the conversation, Taylor Wallace reflects on how her deep connection with Japan shaped her worldview and confidence as a global traveler, sharing stories from Kyoto, Mount Fuji, and the cultural experiences that made the country feel like a second home. She then traces her path into entrepreneurship, the sale of her startup while living abroad, and how community and global mobility helped launch her location-independent life. Taylor also breaks down her concept of the Fit Founder Lifestyle, offering practical insights on balancing business ambition with health, travel, and intentional living while building a career on the road. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear how early travel across continents shaped Taylor’s worldview and helped her navigate her multi-cultural identity. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Taylor Wallace reflects on how growing up between cultures and traveling internationally from a young age shaped her identity and global perspective. She shares formative experiences in South Africa, Singapore, and Brazil, explores her multicultural heritage and connection to place, and discusses how studying history and witnessing different narratives around the world reshaped her understanding of power, belonging, and U.S. foreign policy. This episode traces the experiences that helped Taylor find her place in the world—and set the foundation for the global life she would go on to build. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how NOMA supports nomadic families, navigates travel ethics in the Global South and builds lasting communities. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE In part two of this conversation, Daniel Thompson dives deep into what comes after the digital nomad phase—unpacking NOMA Collective’s evolution from pop-up nomad trips to a long-term vision centered on multi-local communities, ethical travel, and genuine local impact. Daniel explains how NOMA designs community-first experiences around the world, how they think about inclusion, safety, and values, and why slowing down, listening, and building relationships matters—especially in the Global South. He also shares his framework for the future of location-independent living, including family-first models, offering a thoughtful look at how travel, community, and belonging might evolve in the years ahead. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how childhood travel and music culture shaped a path to building global communities and founding NOMA Collective. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Matt sits down with Daniel Thompson, co-founder and CEO of NOMA Collective, to trace the unlikely path from growing up on tour with a famous rock band to building global communities for remote workers and families. Daniel reflects on childhood travel, and shares incredible stories from underground music scenes in London and Buenos Aires, the role of fear in holding people back from life-changing journeys, and how travel, when done intentionally, can expand empathy, creativity, and freedom. Along the way, he shares deeply personal stories about identity, parenthood, cross-cultural relationships, and why creating “safe spaces” for people to come together has been the through-line of his entire life and work. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn the meaning of Carnival traditions like jab jab & stilt walking & get recs for visiting Guyana. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE In Part 2 of this conversation, award-winning journalist Melissa Noel joins Matt to explore how diaspora stories are told—and why depth, context, and care matter. Melissa unpacks the cultural and political meaning behind Caribbean Carnival traditions, shares her personal recommendations for experiencing her home country of Guyana beyond the surface, and reflects on the impact of her Pulitzer-supported reporting on Jamaica’s barrel children and the long-term impact of migration on families. From ethical considerations when interviewing vulnerable communities to the extractive dynamics of tourism and the responsibility of storytellers, this episode examines how culture, migration, and power intersect—and how travel and journalism can be practiced with intention, accountability, and respect. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn about African diasporic identity, migration, cultural memory, and building a global Black storytelling project. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Award-winning journalist and media entrepreneur Melissa Noel starts by sharing her first impressions of Brazil and attending the Black Travel Summit in Rio, where she won the BET+ Passport to Storytelling pitch competition for her Destination Diaspora docuseries. She reflects on growing up in a Guyanese immigrant household in New Jersey, her parents’ migration experience, and how attending Howard University deepened her understanding of global Black identity and Pan-Africanism, including the lasting influence of Guyanese scholar Walter Rodney. The episode also explores her life-changing visit to Ghana during the Year of Return and her years living and reporting across the Caribbean. Melissa shares stories from hiking Caribbean volcanoes, explains why St. Vincent and the Grenadines holds such a special place in her heart, describes what it’s like to walk through Montserrat’s buried city of Plymouth, and unpacks the intertwined African and Irish history commemorated during Montserrat’s St. Patrick’s Festival. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how to schedule a free video call with Matt and lock in special discounts on 2026 trips and travel conferences. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE In this solo New Year’s episode, Matt Bowles reflects on a year of global travel, community, and cultural connection while sharing what’s ahead in 2026. Recording from Vermont after five weeks in Rio de Janeiro, Matt recaps the Black Travel Summit in Brazil, highlights standout Maverick Show guests and award winners, and shares updates on upcoming events, immersive trips, and travel festivals around the world that you can attend—from Grenada and Jordan to Cape Town and Bangkok. He also speaks candidly about the importance of international solidarity with Palestine, and how you can take action.  Matt also explains why building deeper, more reciprocal relationships with Maverick Show listeners is a top priority for him this year—and offers free one-on-one video calls for listeners. The episode closes with reflections on gratitude, community, and how listeners can support and help grow the show in the year ahead. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear stories from riding a motorcycle in Egypt, Thailand, India, Nepal, Vietnam and becoming an Emmy-winning filmmaker.  ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE In Part 2 of this interview, Emmy-winning filmmaker and motorcycle adventurer Alex Chacon reflects on what years of extreme overland travel have taught him about life, creativity, and meaning. From riding across Egypt at sunrise to navigating the chaos of Vietnam, India, and Kathmandu, to experiencing radical hospitality in Pakistan and Argentina, to pushing physical limits in brutal heat across Thailand, Alex shares powerful stories from the road and the metaphors they reveal about resilience, risk, and growth. He also dives deep into his evolution as a storyteller—how his viral 3 Year Epic Selfie video changed his life, why he shifted from cinematic travel montages to vulnerable narrative filmmaking, and how travel continues to shape his artistic and entrepreneurial journey. This episode is a meditation on adventure, purpose, and why travel, at its best, is not just about destinations—but about becoming the next version of yourself. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear stories of surviving 4 days with no food in Patagonia, landing in a Honduran jail, and driving Bolivia’s “Death Road”. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Emmy-winning filmmaker and motorcycle adventurer Alex Chacon traces the roots of his life on the road, beginning with his upbringing on the U.S.–Mexico border in El Paso and the identity questions that shaped his early years. Alex shares how soccer, motorcycles, and a deep sense of not fully belonging pushed him toward long-distance travel at a young age, including a solo cross-country motorcycle journey at just 17. He recounts leaving medical school to ride from Alaska to Argentina with paper maps and no cellphone, and reflects on formative experiences across Latin America—from corruption at border crossings and getting lost in Bolivia’s salt flats, to life-or-death moments in Patagonia and the Darien Gap. Throughout the episode, Alex explores how travel became a vehicle for self-discovery, cultural reconnection, and a deeper understanding of inequality, education, and human resilience. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn about parenting with political awareness & building diaspora connections and political solidarity across borders. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE In Part 2 of Matt’s conversation with Courtney Orgias—recorded in Rio, where her family is currently based—they dive deeper into the political, ethical, and emotional dimensions of digital nomad motherhood. Courtney explains how she talks to her young children about power, oppression, genocide, and policing in age-appropriate but honest ways, and why cultivating empathy is central to her parenting philosophy. She reflects on experiencing anti-Blackness around the world, connecting with the African diaspora, and why understanding local struggles is essential for ethical travel. Courtney also shares her evolving sense of identity, how travel has transformed her marriage and personal growth, and the origins of The Village Abroad, her new community-building initiative for digital nomad families that is launching its first retreat in Grenada. They close with reflections on home, belonging, raising kids globally, and the radical possibilities that travel opens for Black families. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn about leaving the U.S. to become a digital nomad family—how to raise kids and build community all over the world. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Courtney Orgias sits down with Matt in Rio, where she and her family are currently based, and they talk about attending the Black Travel Summit and why Courtney feels Rio is a great place for raising her kids.  She then talks about growing up in Duval and Atlanta, studying abroad in Copenhagen, falling in love with her husband Justin, and choosing to leave the U.S. to raise their kids in the digital nomad lifestyle. Courtney explains the concept of worldschooling, how she structures her family’s digital nomad life, and how she builds community around the world for herself and her kids. She shares her experience participating in work-travel programs for families like Boundless Life, reflects on building connections with locals vs. other travelers, and talks about living in Mexico and how she responded to the ongoing transnational gentrification problems there.  Courtney then reflects on how she developed her social and political consciousness growing up that now shapes her ethical travel decisions, and how she is able to course-correct in real time upon learning new information such as the UAE government’s role in supporting the genocide in Sudan. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear award-winning travel creator Nicole Phillip share stories of immersing in Afro-Brazilian history, music and culture. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Nicole Phillip returns to The Maverick Show and records this episode in person with Matt in Rio after spending two weeks together in Brazil.  Nicole is fresh off winning her award for the 2025 Social Media Video of the Year at the Black Travel Film Festival for her video on Reggaeton’s Panamanian roots.  She reflects on the entire Black Travel Summit, the Afrofuture-themed Awards Gala, and why winning this award was such an emotional moment for her.  Nicole also pulls back the curtain and breaks down the biggest leverage points for how she was able to build 350,000 social media followers in just 2 years. She then talks about her trip to Panama where she created the video, as well as her trip to the Dominican Republic, and what some of her biggest lessons were from both places.  Next, Nicole shares her first impressions of Brazil and describes the day she spent touring a favela.  She also talks about spending time in the Madureira neighborhood—the beating heart of Black Carioca culture—both on a daytime tour and partying in the streets at 2am.  Finally, Nicole shares her experience in Sao Paulo visiting a Quilombo and diving into Black history there. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!