The Young Pioneer Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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YPT are pleased to announce that the Young Pioneer Podcast is back with its third season, bringing listeners perspectives from some of the world’s most fascinating and sometimes controversial travel destinations! On this episode, Visiting Papua New Guinea’s Mount Hagen Festival, host Justin Martell shares his experience diving into the breathtaking beauty of Papua New Guinea—a land rich in unique cultures and stunning scenery. 

At this year’s Mount Hagen Festival tour, Justin had the pleasure of interviewing our local tour leader, Pious, who shares insights into the festival’s rich history and its significance to the Western Highlands Province. You won’t want to miss this firsthand perspective as Pious reflects on the festival’s personal meaning to him, as well as the history of some of its most famous participants, such as the Mudmen of Goroka, Simbu’s Skeleton Men, and even comments koteka penis sheaths worn by some of the Highlands’ tribes. He also gives his perspective on the potentiality of Bougainville gaining its independence from Papua New Guinea. If our interview with Pious piques your interest, have a look at our itineraries for our 2025 Mount Hagen Festival and Goroka Festival tours!

But that’s not all! This episode also highlights our extraordinary upcoming journey through Central Africa. From December 2nd to 12th, we’ll explore the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Cabinda in Angola. Additionally, learn about our exciting tours in South Sudan, where you can experience the heart of Juba and the unique lives of the Mundari cattle herders. And don’t miss the opportunity to discover the birthplace of voodoo in Benin and Togo, where spiritual rituals and sacred sites await!

All this and more on this episode of The Young Pioneer Podcast!

For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

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The Young Pioneer Podcast Season 2 concludes with a double-header episode! S2, Ep 6 opens with a discussion between host Justin Martell and YPT founder/CEO Gareth Johnson discussing the big question "when will North Korea re-open for tourism?" Recorded YPT's recent research trip to China to meet with our North Korean partners and explore the Sino-Korean border for the first time in four years, which made news among the community of North Korea watchers, the discussion gives a projected timeline for the Hermit Kingdom's re-opening as well as some educated guesses about the future of tourism in North Korea. 

Following Gareth’s interview, Justin talks with YPT friend and travel partner Dr. Calvin Sun. Calvin is both an ER doctor in New York City and travel agent. Through his company Monsoon Diaries, he has partnered with YPT on many tours for well over a decade. In the interview, recorded in Mogadishu, Somalia, Justin and Calvin discuss Calvin's new book "The Monsoon Diaries: A Doctor’s Journey of Hope and Healing from the ER Frontlines to the Far Reaches of the World," available now from Harper Horizon. 

For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

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On Episode 6 of the Pioneer Podcast, Gareth Johnson and Justin Martell interview Jodie Hill. Jodie Hill is a well-traveled English lawyer who was instrumental in helping to setup the world's first crowdfunded tropical island. She is also the Prime Minister that same Island's micronation, the Principality of Islandia!

For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

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On Episode 5 of the Pioneer Podcast, Gareth Johnson and Justin Martell interview Jonny Blair. Blair is a famous travel blogger from Northern Ireland, football fanatic and author/owner of dontstopliving.net. He is the foremost expert on micronations, and on this episode the group share their thoughts on which micronations truly 'count' as a country.

For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

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Our guest on Episode 4 of the Pioneer Podcast is Dr. Joseph Terwilliger. Dr. Joe is a geneticist, professor of neurobiology at Columbia University Medical Center, and a classically trained tuba player! However, our listners might be more familiar with Dr. Joe from seeing him alongside NBA superstar Dennis Rodman on his multiple trips to North Korea for his basketball diplomacy projects and meetings with its leader Marshal Kim Jong Un. Fluent in the North Korean dialect, Chosunmal, Dr. Joe served as Dennis' Korean translator in North Korea and worked with him again during Dennis' appearance at the 2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit. How does a Columbia University Medical Professor and tuba player from New York end up meeting the leader of the Hermit Kingdom, alongside one of the most flamboyant NBA players of all time? Find out that and more in Episode 4 of the Pioneer Podcast.

For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

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Dave Kitson is an ex-Premier League footballer who made his name with Reading and Stoke. Following his career he has not been without controversy. He has stated that he would like to become PFA Chairman (trade union for footballers). On many occasions he has also been accused of being the “secret footballer” an as of now unknown ex-footballer who has written a number of tell all books about the professional game. As you can imagine quite an interesting character to have on a podcast! Believe it, or not footballers are just people too. Whilst they might have a reputation for playboy lifestyles and holidaying in places like Dubai, Dave Kitson is very much the exception to the rule. In fact it was his interest in “weird” countries that led him into contact with us, from where a friendship was formed. The first half, the free bit we shoot the breeze about travel in general, before the second half where we go into a bit more juice detail and ask some slightly more interesting questions. 

For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

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On Episode 2 of the Pioneer Podcast, Gareth Johnson and Justin Martell interview Dean Karalekas about his 2019 trip with Young Pioneer Tours to Bir Tawil, an uninhabited patch of land located between Egypt and Sudan.  Dean Karalekas is an academic whose research interests include international security, indigenous rights, and cultural studies. He is also a frequent YPT traveler and the author of "The Men in No Man's Land: A Journey Into Bir Tawil." Pick up your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Men-No-Mans-Land-Journey-ebook/dp/B08CZBT2W7

For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

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The first episode of the Pioneer podcast features two homegrown talents, with YPT founder Gareth Johnson and Pioneer Media founder Justin Martell taking the spotlight for the inaugural episode. Justin Martell in 2017 founded YPT’s partner, Pioneer Media, offering production services across a wide variety of unique locations from Asia to Eastern Europe. He has worked extensively in the horror movie genre (he once shot a horror film in Albania with Gareth serving as co-producer!) and has written the foremost authoritative book on 60s pop star Tiny Tim. He certainly has a tale to tell. 

For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

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On this inaugural 2024 episode of the Young Pioneer Podcast, we open with an interview with YPT CEO and Founder Gareth Johnson to discuss a number of exciting, new tours just recently announced for this year. After speaking with Gareth, host Justin Martell debuts his interview with YPT's local travel partner in the reclusive horn of Africa nation of Eritrea, referred to by some as the "North Korea of Africa." 

For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

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On this episode of the Young Pioneer Podcast, we kick things off by interviewing YPT's newest staff member Morgan Bourven, discussing his background and current focus on our cruise tours. After talking with Morgan, we continue our Horn of Africa series with a field recording of host Justin Martell's conversation with our local tour partner in the unrecognized sovereign state of Somaliland. As usual, Martell provides updates on YPT's upcoming tours to Mali, Burkina Faso and Angola. 

For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.