Zero To Travel Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Has a big epiphany ever caused you to instantly alter the trajectory of something in your life? When listener and international piano entertainer Matt Fetbrandt reached out to tell me about the epiphany that changed his life, I knew right away his story had to be shared. Over the past year (at the time of recording), Matt has traveled over 16,000 miles through 34 U.S. states and 18 national parks with no plans of stopping. In this episode, you're going to find out how, in just 7 months, Matt went from staying in a sober living home with only $12 to his name to saving $20,000 and living out his travel dreams. Matt shares about what it took for him to change a lifetime of habits and his journey to recovery from addiction. We talk about how travel can be a bridge to create connections, why he felt he needed travel to grow, and being analytical vs. spontaneous. You'll hear about his life as a piano man and stories from the road. Matt also shares some counterintuitive advice that may not make sense to most. Will it make sense to you? When was the last time you acted on a spontaneous urge to travel? I'd love to hear all about your adventure, and I hope you will share by sending me an audio message. *This month, we're sharing previous episodes highlighting travel turnarounds! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, providing valuable insight whenever you listen. Premium Passport: Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now! Tune In To Learn: The root & growth of Matt's passion for music What it's like to be a performer as an introvert Creating community through music & setting the right vibe as a piano man How his journey to recovery led to a passion for travel  The moment Matt's life changed forever What shifted for him to go from never being able to save to saving $20,000 Why choose a lifestyle centered around growth How Matt's road trip got started Finding the balance between spontaneity Counterintuitive advice that could majorly pay off And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Check out Matt's website Follow Matt on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn Want More? How to Travel with Less Money, Start Working on the Road, and Never Settle Down w/ Nora Dunn What It Takes To Go Location Independent Only $50 And A Dream: Biking Across The USA Solo With Zero Experience with Jasmine Reese Thanks To Our Sponsors Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com/host.

Do you want to live your best travel life? Mike Savas shares his practical strategies and mindset shifts to help you make big changes and start living your most epic life today. Mike is an adventure seeker, entrepreneur, and positivity influencer who focuses on leading and inspiring others by example. After quitting his corporate job, Mike joined Bon Jovi's team and founded SUPER, a VIP experience company that elevates the fan experience. His clients have included The Rolling Stones, President Obama, Oprah, Eminem, Katy Perry, and more.  Mike Savas shares his journey from leaving corporate to living his best life, traveling to places like Nepal to help after an earthquake, and working with global artists and personalities through his business. You'll gain insight into how to make decisions and get off the fence if you're struggling, how to tune in with your instincts and allow them to guide you, why every work or life experience has value, and why you should never underestimate your ability to make an impact.  What decisions have you been struggling with? How did this episode help? I'd love to hear your answers, and I hope you'll share them by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now! Tune In To Learn: The 2 methods to living your best life and the easiest way to make decisions How he used his seemingly unrelated skills to land a job with Bon Jovi What he's learned from interacting with successful artists and personalities What led to his calling towards disaster response and how to shift out of the "I can't" mindset  How he's pushing his limits through physical challenges and personal growth (and how you can, too) How his challenge to spend 12 months in 12 countries learning 12 skills came to be The lessons he's learned from the experience and how that's changed his attachment to the outcome and his identity Mike's venture into real estate and how to have a big-thinking mindset  The shift to transformational experiences in the travel industry His top 3 destinations for an ultimate adventure trip And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Check out Mike's website Subscribe to him on YouTube Follow Mike on Instagram Want More? How a Quest Can Improve Your Life (And Travels), Metaphysics, Letting Go of Beliefs That No Longer Serve With Derek Loudermilk How To Live a Long and Useful Life (The Wisdom of Ben Franklin) With Eric Weiner Transition to Travel: Radical Life Change for World Travel With Jordan & Tyler Thanks To Our Sponsors Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com/host. Nissan - Go find your path and enjoy the ride along the way with the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition. Learn more at nissanusa.com.

Ever wish you could just slow down? Long-time digital nomad and founder of Wandering Earl Tours, Derek "Earl" Baron, joins me to talk about the best countries to settle in and spend quality time. Derek set off for his first trip in December 1999 and has traveled the world nonstop since. Having visited over 100 countries and spent nearly 8,000 days on the road (at the time of this interview), he has the unique perspective of someone who has spent over two decades living, working, and building relationships abroad.  Derek shares how to find the right place to spend quality time, tips for finding good housing abroad, the best country to make friends, advice for building relationships on the road, and so much more. Where was the last place you spent quality time? I'd love to hear about your experience, and I hope you will share by sending me an audio message. *This month, we're sharing previous episodes highlighting the most EPIC lists! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, providing valuable insight whenever you listen. Premium Passport: Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now! Tune In To Learn: How to balance and honor shifting values when traveling long-term What being stuck in Bali for seven months taught Derek about burnout What it was like to be a digital nomad in the 90s and his takeaways from watching the lifestyle grow in popularity Key differences between being part of a local community vs. a travel community What it means to spend “quality time” in a new place Tips and tricks for finding housing abroad Advice for building meaningful relationships while traveling and making friends with locals How Derek “turns on” as an introvert when leading a travel adventure What it was like to be an American traveling through Iraq The experience of returning to the U.S. as an ex-pat And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Check out Wandering Earl Travel with Wandering Earl Tours Want More? An Interview With Wandering Earl Travel Tactics 3: How to Extend Any Trip, Learn Languages & Use Tech to Get Cheap Flights Rob Greenfield On How To Travel Moneyless, Wandering With Purpose and Simple Living Thanks To Our Sponsors Nissan - Go find your path and enjoy the ride along the way with the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition. Learn more at nissanusa.com. Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com/host. Babbel - Learn a new language with Babbel! Visit babbel.com/zerototravel to get up to 60% off your subscription.

Do you want to quit your job, embark on an epic adventure, and build an online business? After leaving his successful career as the trainer for the New Zealand Olympic swimming team, Antonio Cala went on to cycle 25,000 kilometers from California to Patagonia, live on a sailboat for three years, and ride a motorcycle 30,000 kilometers from Spain to Cape Town. Along the way, he founded Adventure Fix, the ultimate online adventure magazine packed with the top travel expeditions, wildlife encounters, and remote places from around the world.  In this episode, Antonio and I unpack the lessons he’s learned from training Olympians, traveling to over 150 countries, and building a seven-figure business while on the road. You’ll hear about the moment when he had to decide between his dream job and a life of travel, how his values influence his choices, why cycling may be the best way to experience a country’s culture and people, and how hitching a ride on a sailboat led them to a new life path. You’ll also learn how he took $500 and scaled his online business to seven figures without any business experience, why it may not be a good idea to tie your business to your personal life, how we underestimate the power of our minds, and a critical mindset shift you need to be successful. There’s a common theme and key piece of advice to take away from this episode – how will you apply it to your own life and travels? I'd love to hear your thoughts and hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Want access to the private Zero To Travel podcast feed, a monthly bonus episode (decided on by YOU), exclusive content, direct access to me to answer your questions, and more? Click here to try Premium Passport for only $1. Tune In To Learn: How Antonio became an Olympic swimming trainer before the age of 30 and what he learned from working with world-class Olympians Antonio’s transition to travel and how a one-year plan transformed into a three-year cycling adventure How they financially supported their travels and maintained a budget of $10 a day Their daily life on the road and why cycling is one of the best ways to slow travel How starting a business while traveling affected their experience and why they decided to quit blogging  How a spontaneous idea led to living on a sailboat The daily expenses of life on a sailboat and why talking about money is important Their experience motorcycling through West Africa and why they chose that mode of transportation And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Subscribe to our FREE newsletter Today's Sponsors - LifeStraw, Loop Earplugs Sign up for Adventure Fix’s weekly email Check out Adventure Fix on Instagram Book recs: Rich Dad Poor Dad, The Psychology of Money Want More? Solo Adventure Cycling Around The World: Epic Bike Rides With Shirine Taylor How To Go Sailing Around The World Lessons from Quitting a Job and Selling Everything to Motorcycle Around the World with Mike Barr Thanks To Our Sponsors This episode is sponsored by LifeStraw Go water bottles. Use the promo code TRAVEL to get 20% off your LifeStraw Go purchase when you visit www.lifestraw.com. Upgrade your sleep at home and on the road! Get 10% off your pair of Loop Earplugs by visiting www.loopearplugs.com/zerototravel.

How would your travels be different if you set aside expectations and surrendered to the journey? After realizing that much of Roberta’s pain came from unmet expectations, she decided to experiment with a new life approach that involved planning nothing and letting go of any attachment to how things turned out. In this episode, author and coach Roberta Mussato and I unpack the lessons she learned when she decided to trust the universe during her three-month adventure through Sri Lanka, South India, and Nepal. You’ll learn why she adapted this new life philosophy, how the mindset of a traveler lays the entire foundation for a trip, why you need to live in trust, and how we can find the balance between our philosophies and the necessities of the real world. You’ll also gain insight into solo travel in Asia, the process she took to write her book, and much more! What new life philosophy or mentality can you experiment with on your travels? I'd love to hear your thoughts and hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Want access to the private Zero To Travel podcast feed, a monthly bonus episode (decided on by YOU), exclusive content, direct access to me to answer your questions, and more? Click here to try Premium Passport for only $1. Tune In To Learn: Why the Italian lifestyle wasn’t for Roberta and what brought her to London How a silent meditation retreat led her to a new life path and advice for finding your next “thing”  The importance of inner work and why we can’t make choices based on fear How to marry a new life philosophy with the practicalities of the real world  Why she decided to write her book and the process behind it Roberta’s insights on safety, boredom, loneliness, and costs while traveling solo in Asia  Her favorite places to travel and the top things you need to do in London Why vulnerability is a superpower And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Subscribe to our FREE newsletter Today's Sponsors - LifeStraw, Loop Earplugs Visit Roberta’s website  Grab a copy of her book Universe, I Trust You Want More? Using Intuition to Make Tough Decisions, Learning to Surrender, Discovering Purpose, and Living Your Best Life with Amrit Sandhu from Inspired Evolution Living in Alignment, Capturing Magic, and Being a Citizen of the World with Ernest White II The Spiritual Journey + Travel and Creativity with Karan Bajaj Thanks To Our Sponsors This episode is sponsored by LifeStraw Go water bottles. Use the promo code TRAVEL to get 20% off your LifeStraw Go purchase when you visit www.lifestraw.com. Upgrade your sleep at home and on the road! Get 10% off your pair of Loop Earplugs by visiting www.loopearplugs.com/zerototravel.

Does travel really make you happier?  Today, I’m joined by Dr. Andrew Stevenson to unravel the mysteries of travel from an academic and psychological perspective. Dr. Stevenson is a cultural psychologist and senior lecturer in psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University in Manchester, England. In his recent book, The Psychology of Travel, Dr. Stevenson offers key insights into the psychological factors behind different kinds of travel and introduces the reader to new ways of thinking about global mobility and movement. In this episode, Dr. Stevenson shares insight into the reciprocal relationship between people and their environments, advice on managing travel fears and anxieties, and how to use travel as a tool for self-development. We explore the dilemmas of cultural integration, how travel changes our perception of time, the psychological factors behind different travel styles, and much more. How has travel improved your life? I'd love to hear about your experience and hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Want access to the private Zero To Travel podcast feed, a monthly bonus episode (decided on by YOU), exclusive content, direct access to me to answer your questions, and more? Click here to try Premium Passport for only $1. Tune In To Learn: The link between how we live and the environment around us and why we need to step outside of the travel bubble Why every traveler should have an understanding of the psychology of travel  The fine line between planning and researching and allowing that research to influence your expectations and judgments How we can manage our travel fears and anxieties and why worry can be a good thing  Why travel makes us happier and how to approach travel as a transformative tool The push and pull of maintaining your cultural identity vs. integrating into a culture Flow state and the relationship between time perception and travel The connection between travel and memory How eco-anxiety can help us become better travelers And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Subscribe to our FREE newsletter Today's Sponsors - LifeStraw, Loop Earplugs Grab your copy of The Psychology of Travel Check out the book The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles Want More? Finding Meaning Through Travel w/ Dr. Christopher Daniels Luck Is No Accident: Making The Most Of Happenstance with Dr. John Krumboltz How To Crush Your Pre-Trip Anxiety Thanks To Our Sponsors This episode is sponsored by LifeStraw Go water bottles. Use the promo code TRAVEL to get 20% off your LifeStraw Go purchase when you visit www.lifestraw.com. Upgrade your sleep at home and on the road! Get 10% off your pair of Loop Earplugs by visiting www.loopearplugs.com/zerototravel.

Saddle up and get ready for a wild ride because today, you're headed to the Buffalo Roundup in South Dakota! This episode is from The Travel South Dakota Stories, an immersive first-person podcast that takes you on a journey through the Land of Infinite Variety. In this episode, award-winning travel writer and host Brian Thacker takes you to one of my favorite hidden gem destinations in America, where you'll get to experience one of the most unique events in the state. Feel the ground rumble and the dust fly as sixty cowboys and cowgirls saddle up to bring in a thundering herd of 1,300 buffalo at the 57th Annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup. Through this compelling audio experience, you'll be right there with Molly, one of the cowgirls, as she cracks her whip and corals the galloping buffalo. You'll discover the buffalo's role in American and Native American History, hear from a Lakota rider who explains what the buffalo means to them, and so much more. Resources: Listen to The Travel South Dakota Stories podcast

How can volunteering abroad enhance your travels? Today, I’m joined by Ricardo Lima, founder of Worldpackers, to talk about how you can get the most out of your work exchange experience. Worldpackers is an online platform that connects travelers looking to exchange their skills for accommodations with incredible hosts from around the world and has facilitated more than 140,000 exchanges in 140+ countries.  In this episode, Riq shares why he left his successful career as an investment banker to travel the world and eventually found one of the largest work exchange platforms for travelers. You’ll gain insight into how these types of programs work on both the volunteer and hosting side, common concerns and misconceptions, and why volunteering abroad is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in a culture and experience deep transformations. We also talk about the state of the hostel industry, why he moved his company from a hostel to a van, and his best business advice for someone who wants to create something bigger than themselves. Have you volunteered abroad, or are you considering a work exchange program? I'd love to hear about your experience and hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Want access to the private Zero To Travel podcast feed, a monthly bonus episode (decided on by YOU), exclusive content, direct access to me to answer your questions, and more? Click here to try Premium Passport for only $1. Tune In To Learn: How the hostel industry has shifted since Covid and the pros/cons of hostel life Why Riq left his successful career as an investment banker to travel the world and the lessons he learned from 3.5 years of travel How you can travel for a purpose with Worldpackers and general advice for work exchange How to address the #1 concern for travelers looking for work exchange programs Why your mindset can make or break your experience Why volunteering abroad isn’t only for budget travelers How these programs create opportunities for cultural immersion and connection The biggest lessons he’s learned from building his company and scaling to have a bigger impact (for both solopreneurs and partnerships) Riq’s advice for investing, facing conflict head-on, and managing remote teams And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Subscribe to our FREE newsletter Today's Sponsors - LifeStraw, Loop Earplugs Plan your next experience with Worldpackers (PLUS get $10 off with code ZEROTOTRAVEL) Check out Riq’s podcast, Abrindo Caminhos Want More? Travel Legends Series: The Story of WWOOF – An Interview With Founder Sue Coppard A Beginner’s Guide To Volunteering, A Free Global Volunteer Network And More DIY Volunteering Thanks To Our Sponsors This episode is sponsored by LifeStraw Go water bottles. Use the promo code TRAVEL to get 20% off your LifeStraw Go purchase when you visit www.lifestraw.com. Upgrade your sleep at home and on the road! Get 10% off your pair of Loop Earplugs by visiting www.loopearplugs.com/zerototravel.

How can travel serve as a path to healing and self-discovery? Today, I’m joined by C.D. Seventeen, a techno music artist, DJ, painter, and poet, to talk about what it was like growing up in the Yunnan Province of China and how a bike-packing trip through the Scottish Highlands and the Orkney Islands helped her reclaim her power. In this episode, Seventeen opens up about her challenges coming out of that environment to pursue an unconventional path and what she had to overcome to follow her dreams. We also explore her book The Weight We Carry, which contains poems from her solo bike-packing journey. She shares how this transformative trip contributed to her healing, what the adventure was like, and how it continues to impact her to this day. This story just might inspire you to, as Seventeen wrote on the back of her book, “jump on a bike, go on a journey, dive deep into the self, and let the weight of your human identity dissolve into the wind.”  Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. How has travel brought about a transformation in you? I'd love to hear your story and hope you’ll share it by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Want access to the private Zero To Travel podcast feed, a monthly bonus episode (decided on by YOU), exclusive content, direct access to me to answer your questions, and more? Click here to try Premium Passport for only $1. Tune In To Learn: How DJing helped Seventeen overcome her social anxiety Why she chose to move to the UK and study psychology instead of following her passions Why speaking out about the Chinese education system and cultural expectations is important to her The beauty of Seventeen’s culture and village life in the Yunnan Province How writing in a foreign language taught her to embrace flaws and new possibilities The pivotal moment that led her to take a solo bike-packing trip around Scotland Seventeen’s quest for individuation and how her book reflects her transformation during the journey What she’s learned from breaking free of the rules Her advice for bike-packing Scotland and meeting others on the road And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Subscribe to our FREE newsletter Today's Sponsor - US Bank Check out Seventeen’s website Stay at the Orkney Island BNB and Rua Reidh Lighthouse Milk & Honey by Rupi Kaur Want More? Hiking The West Highland Way In Scotland w/ Lynne Nieman Lessons From Caring for the Dying and Bike Packing 18 Countries With Jerry Kopack How to Design Your Bike Trip & The Future of Adventure Cycle Touring: Epic Bike Rides w/ Casey Greene Thanks To Our Sponsors This episode is sponsored by US Bank's Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card, with the ability to earn up to 5x the points on travel-related expenses like hotels, and rental cars, this card will get you the most return on your next trip. 

Want to visit some of the less popular but equally epic destinations in Europe? Joseph Reaney is a freelance travel writer based in the UK and Czech Republic who’s written for Lonely Planet, DK Eyewitness, Fodor's Travel, National Geographic, and Rough Guides. In addition to his freelance writing, Joe is the founder and editor-in-chief of the travel content writing agency World Words, as well as a jobbing comedy writer/producer/director. In this episode, Joe and I talk about his life as a travel writer and his favorite alternatives to the more commonly visited places around Europe. He shares about his lifestyle living between cities, his experience taking a gap year to teach English in Nepal, tips for being a hospitable host and guest when couchsurfing, how he unexpectedly became a travel writer without any journalism training, and (of course!) his list of the top five alternative European destinations. Where would you want to visit first? Do you have your own alternative spot to add to the list? I'd love to hear what they are and hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Want access to the private Zero To Travel podcast feed, a monthly bonus episode (decided on by YOU), exclusive content, direct access to me to answer your questions, and more? Click here to try Premium Passport for only $1. Tune In To Learn: Joe’s experience with budget traveling as a teen and what life is like splitting his time between Prague and Edinburgh with his family What he learned from taking a gap year and teaching English in Nepal at a Buddhist monastery Hospitality exchange and Joe’s tips for being a good couchsurfer and host How a trip to North Korea led to a career in travel writing How he makes a living as a writer and insight on scaling a business organically Where to enjoy a river cruise other than on the Danube and underrated mountain ranges in Eastern Europe The best city to visit if you love Prague and want cool alternative vibes Where you can scuba dive amongst WWI wreckage and explore neolithic stone circles The secluded coastal location that’s perfect for a getaway And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Subscribe to our FREE newsletter Today's Sponsors - US Bank, Roark, Loop Earplugs Visit Joe’s website and learn about his writing agency Grab a copy of Go Here Instead Want More? 5 Must See Destinations In 2023 with National Geographic Travel Senior Editor Amy Alipio (Plus Learn How To Successfully Pitch Nat Geo) Travel as a Force for Good, the Role of Travel Media, and Uncrowded Destinations to Visit with AFAR Co-Founder Greg Sullivan Best Remote Work + Digital Nomad Destinations 2023 (And Beyond) w/ Tim Leffel Thanks To Our Sponsors This episode is sponsored by US Bank's Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card, with the ability to earn up to 5x the points on travel-related expenses like hotels, and rental cars, this card will get you the most return on your next trip.  The best travel gear isn’t born in a factory but inspired by journeys taken by real people exploring the world. Get 15% off your first order at www.roark.com when you use the promo code TRAVEL15 at checkout! Upgrade your sleep at home and on the road! Get 10% off your pair of Loop Earplugs by visiting www.loopearplugs.com/zerototravel.