Episodios

  • Surviving On a Desert Island + Transformative Travel with Tom Williams from Desert Island Survival

    Surviving On a Desert Island + Transformative Travel with Tom Williams from Desert Island Survival
    Oct 2 2025
    Do you have the skills to survive on a deserted island? Tom Williams is the founder of Desert Island Survival, an adventure travel company that maroons people on desert islands, and the winner of the TV survival show Alone UK 2023. In this episode, Tom traces his path from wealth management to remote survival guiding, explains how he designs his desert island expeditions, and shares the deep transformations that he's witnessed in his participants. Tom shares how he went from being at the bottom of his class and experiencing childhood bullying in England to walking to the North Pole, becoming a dive master, and launching a wilderness survival business. He breaks down how Desert Island Survival trips work, why they’re structured the way they are, and what makes the format accessible even to beginners. You’ll hear real stories of guests who made dramatic life changes afterward - quitting jobs, leaving relationships, transforming their health - not because they were promised transformation, but because of what happens when you slow down and reconnect with your primal self. Tom also shares business lessons from starting small, building around passion, and growing with intention. *This is a previously released episode from the archives! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, offering valuable insight whenever you listen. What travel experiences have changed your life? I'd love to hear what they are and hope you will share them by sending me an audio message. Tune In To Learn: Why a trip to Honduras at 20 shifted Tom’s identity and changed the course of his life How walking to the North Pole helped him build the resilience to start a business What inspired him to leave a finance job and build Desert Island Survival from scratch What actually happens on the island and why it’s designed to feel like raw adventure, not hardship The “non-negotiables” that make each trip feel special, accessible, and transformative What it means to go back to “layer zero” of technology and why that’s so powerful How Tom finds untouched islands in a mapped world, and what makes the perfect location What he’s learned from growing slowly, staying picky, and building around passion Why following your dream isn’t always about success And so much more Resources: Sign up for our FREE newsletter Tom's website Tom on Instagram Desert Island Survival Tom’s book recommendations: Humankind, Sapiens, At Home, 438 Days Want More? 3 years Alone On Foot: An Interview With Sarah Marquis Finding Your Island Paradise: An Interview With Alex Sheshunoff How To Hike The PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) Thanks To Our Sponsors: Smart Travel Podcast - Before you book, learn how to get the most out of your travel dollars. Follow Smart Travel on your favorite podcast app. CREATOR: The Podcast - Join host Ross Borden as he uncovers how top creators built six-figure incomes from beach cafes, mountain peaks, and everything in between.
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    1 h y 18 m
  • Top 7 French Riviera Hidden Gems (A Local’s Guide) + A Lifestyle Redesign Built Around Travel with Cédric Pages

    Top 7 French Riviera Hidden Gems (A Local’s Guide) + A Lifestyle Redesign Built Around Travel with Cédric Pages
    Sep 30 2025
    What if the French Riviera you’ve seen in photos is only half the story? Cédric Pages is the founder of WhatToDoRiviera.com, a local tour entrepreneur driving discovery across the Côte d’Azur by partnering with small operators and curating authentic experiences. In this episode, we dive into seven hidden gems of the French Riviera that most visitors miss, plus Cédric’s journey from IT to tour guide and how he’s building a travel business that’s rooted in human connection. Cédric shares seven of his favorite French Riviera hidden gems, including secret coastal walks, ancient monasteries, and even a solar-powered sailing experience. You’ll hear what makes the region so unique, how to explore it without breaking the bank, and why most visitors miss its most memorable spots. Which of these hidden gems are you most excited to explore, or which region have you discovered that surprised you? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. Tune In To Learn: How Cedric turned a single walking tour into a platform supporting local guides and curated experiences across the Riviera A coastal walk that offers dramatic sea views, rare flora, and villa-lined cliffs An under-visited nearby island that still houses monks and produces local wine and olive oil The story of a tiny, family-run vineyard still using centuries-old winemaking methods Why a scenic train ride turns a Riviera base into an unexpected mountain gateway What it’s like to glide silently along the coast on a solar-powered boat How one inland river canyon makes for an epic full-day adventure Which town Cédric recommends as your base, and when it actually makes sense to move The biggest assumption people make about French hospitality and how to break through Advice for building a travel business that connects you with people, not just tours And so much more Resources: Sign up for our FREE newsletter Cédric’s list of French Riviera hidden gems What To Do Riviera Instagram Want More? How to Plan Your Camino + Going Beyond the Camino Frances (Secret Routes, Donkey Highways, and Spain’s Hidden Village Network) with Shawn and Lainey 5 Unexpected Things to Do in Paris and 3 Hidden Gems in France with Paige McClanahan How To Explore Paris Like a Local, Working on Hospital Ships, and Becoming an Expat on a Mystery Visa With Jay Swanson Thanks To Our Sponsors Smart Travel Podcast - Before you book, learn how to get the most out of your travel dollars. Follow Smart Travel on your favorite podcast app. CREATOR: The Podcast - Join host Ross Borden as he uncovers how top creators built six-figure incomes from beach cafes, mountain peaks, and everything in between.
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    1 h y 3 m
  • Remote Roundup: Intentional Travel, Nomadding Berlin, Work Setups, Co-Living Trends, Overhyped Destinations (September 2025)

    Remote Roundup: Intentional Travel, Nomadding Berlin, Work Setups, Co-Living Trends, Overhyped Destinations (September 2025)
    Sep 25 2025
    What if every choice as a digital nomad, from where you live, to how you work, to the people you surround yourself with, was made with more intention? Remote Roundup is a new monthly series hosted by Zero To Travel’s associate producer, Caitlin Sunderland, and partnerships manager, Janessa Klatt. Explore what's new in remote work and travel, including helpful tools and resources, need‑to‑know trends, destinations, and insight into what it really means to live and work around the world. In this episode, we talk about how adding intentionality to your travels can completely reshape your experience as a digital nomad, and how the right tools, communities, and mindsets can turn a place from “just okay” to somewhere you thrive. We reflect on how our experiences of a popular European city have shifted over time, share the realities of finding remote work setups that actually support this lifestyle, and unpack the growing trend of pop-up co-livings. You’ll get our honest take on destinations that look perfect on Instagram but don’t always hold up in real life, and how to think differently about where (and why) you go next. What’s one experience, community, or personal goal that could guide your next destination? We’d love to hear about it, and hope you’ll share by sending an audio message. Tune In To Learn: How Berlin won Caitlin over on her second visit, and what makes it a compelling nomad base The gear and simple upgrades that can make remote work more comfortable and sustainable on the road Why pop-up and self-organized co-livings are on the rise and how they’re creating more organic, affordable, and aligned ways to live and work together How choosing a purpose or focus for your travels can lead to deeper connections, routines, and a more memorable time Which popular destinations are overhyped, and how expectations shape our experience A fun round of Would You Rather” that can help you reflect on your own travel values and priorities And so much more Resources: Sign up for our FREE newsletter Caitlin on Instagram Janessa on Instagram Instagram vs Real Life article Want More? Remote Roundup: Future Hotspots, Productivity Experiments, Digital Nomadding 2.0 (August 2025) Digital Detox: Downsizing Your Digital Life to Create Freedom + Reboot Your Lifestyle Business with Corbett Barr Co-living 101: How to Build Community While Traveling + the Future of Remote Work with Fabio and Juls Thanks To Our Sponsors Apple Card - Earn 3% back on the Apple products and services you love with Apple Card. Smart Travel Podcast - Before you book, learn how to get the most out of your travel dollars. Follow Smart Travel on your favorite podcast app.
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    1 h y 1 m
  • Traveling with No Destination and No Goals: Lessons from a 3-Year, 38,000-Mile Solo Bike Ride Around the World with Jacob Lemanski

    Traveling with No Destination and No Goals: Lessons from a 3-Year, 38,000-Mile Solo Bike Ride Around the World with Jacob Lemanski
    Sep 23 2025
    What would happen if you left home with no destination, no goal or deadline, and simply just went until you couldn’t go any further? Jacob Lemanski is an engineer-turned-world traveler who bicycled 38,000 miles over 999 days, crossing six continents and circling the earth twice. After returning home, he turned his travel journal into a video podcast, How To Move The Stars. He also founded an art and clothing company inspired by the experience and now runs a bike touring business in Colorado. Jacob shares what it was like to travel without a finish line and how it reshaped his entire approach to life and adventure. He reveals how three years of solo, open-ended travel deepened his understanding of presence, identity, and emotional endurance. You’ll hear what it took to stay on the road for 999 days, the personal cost and reward of extreme solitude, and how returning home led him to reshape his life through creativity, entrepreneurship, and reflection. This episode challenges conventional ideas of success and shows what’s possible when the journey itself becomes the destination. What’s one journey you’ve been holding back from because you felt you needed a clear goal or endpoint? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. Tune In To Learn: What inspired Jacob to leave home without a destination and why he expected to quit much earlier What it’s like to live without a schedule for three years and how that changes your sense of time What the trip taught him about limits, identity, and emotional endurance The emotional impact of returning home after years of open-ended movement How Jacob turned thousands of journal pages into a long-term podcast art project Why he built a giant ant farm, and how psychedelics helped him process the trip His best advice for aspiring long-distance cyclists and building a trip around your personal limits And so much more Resources: Sign up for our FREE newsletter Jacob’s podcast, How To Move The Stars Ant Life psychedelic art and clothing Mountain High Bicycle Tours Want More? Lessons From Caring for the Dying and Bike Packing 18 Countries With Jerry Kopack 7 Bike Rides of a Lifetime With National Geographic’s Roff Smith Bike-Packing Scotland and Breaking Free of Cultural Expectations with C.D. Seventeen Thanks To Our Sponsors Apple Card - Earn 3% back on the Apple products and services you love with Apple Card. Smart Travel Podcast - Before you book, learn how to get the most out of your travel dollars. Follow Smart Travel on your favorite podcast app.
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    57 m
  • Safari Planning 101 + How to Build Your Life Around Travel with Scott Brills

    Safari Planning 101 + How to Build Your Life Around Travel with Scott Brills
    Sep 18 2025
    What does it take to plan an unforgettable African safari? How can one trip lead to building a life and business around travel? Scott Brills is a long-time digital nomad, international entrepreneur, and co-founder of Pamoja Safaris, a locally run company offering custom wildlife safaris in Tanzania. Over the past 20 years, he’s lived at the intersection of travel, business, and service — running trips, participating in charities, and creating a location-independent lifestyle before “digital nomad” was a common phrase. This episode is both a guide to planning a world-class African safari and a behind-the-scenes look at how Scott built a thriving travel-based business from scratch. Whether you're dreaming of lions in the Serengeti or wondering how to design your own unconventional lifestyle, this conversation delivers both practical insights and personal inspiration. If a safari is on your bucket list, you’ll learn how to plan smart: when to go, where to go, what it should cost, and what red flags to avoid. And if you’ve ever dreamed of building your life around travel, Scott’s story is proof that it’s possible, even without outside funding, marketing spend, or a fixed address. What would building your life around travel look like, and what’s one step you could take today? What element of a Safari is the most important to you? I'd love to hear what you think and hope you will share by sending me an audio message. *This is a previously released episode from the archives! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, offering valuable insight whenever you listen. Tune In To Learn: What makes Tanzania a world-class safari destination How Scott co-founded a safari business through a single serendipitous encounter Key factors that affect safari pricing and how to keep costs down without sacrificing quality When and where to go for the best wildlife, weather, and experience Why guide quality is the single most important factor in a great safari What to look for in ethical safari operators (and how to avoid greenwashing) How Scott ran his business for over a decade on referrals alone The origin of his travel obsession and how it shaped everything What “building a life around travel” actually looks like, practically and emotionally Advice for travelers considering a leap into remote work or entrepreneurship And so much more Resources: Sign up for our FREE newsletter Learn about Pamoja Safaris Scott’s website Pamoja on Instagram Scott on Instagram Want More? 9 Ways Travel Will Change You + Lessons from Cycling Africa and Visiting 95 Countries with Alex Hennock Adventure and Conservation: A 6000 km Tuk Tuk Journey Through Africa 5 Surprising Experiences in Africa, How to Transition to a New Career After Travel, and Exploring the African Diaspora With Jay Cameron Thanks To Our Sponsors: Apple Card - Earn 3% back on the Apple products and services you love with Apple Card. Smart Travel Podcast - Before you book, learn how to get the most out of your travel dollars. Follow Smart Travel on your favorite podcast app.
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    1 h y 32 m
  • 10 Steps to License Your Product Ideas for Location Independent Passive Income (No Manufacturing Required) with Courtney Laschkewitsch

    10 Steps to License Your Product Ideas for Location Independent Passive Income (No Manufacturing Required) with Courtney Laschkewitsch
    Sep 16 2025
    Could you turn a product idea into passive income, without starting a business or having to do it all yourself? Courtney Laschkewitsch is a serial inventor who, with no prior experience, licensed six products after facing 51 rejections. Now, Courtney helps everyday inventors bring their ideas to life and earn passive income through the free resources on her website, Serial Inventing, and the company she works for, inventRight. Courtney lays out the inventRight 10-step product licensing business model and shows how she went from zero experience to multiple licensable products. We dig into what realistic timelines, costs, and mindsets look like when you want to bring your product idea to market by licensing instead of manufacturing. Courtney explains how licensing can let someone else build your idea while you collect royalties from anywhere in the world. You’ll learn not just the mechanical steps, but why so much of your success depends on persistence, handling rejection, and building skills many people overlook. She’s honest about the financial realities - what small checks look like, what good deals look like - and what terms in contracts you should always negotiate. If you want a clear, actionable path toward turning ideas into income without a massive risk, this episode gives you that roadmap. Do you have a product idea that could help you earn passive income while you travel? I’d love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share them sending me an audio message. Tune In To Learn: Why product licensing can let you earn passive income location‑independently without owning inventory or manufacturing The first three foundational steps: doing market research, checking for prior art/patents, and defining what makes your idea unique How to build prototypes or virtual models to show your concept How to write a one‑line benefit statement and develop an effective sell‑sheet Common myths around patenting and protection: what it does, the costs, limitations, and when it’s essential How to build a hit list of companies, reach out sensitively to avoid unsolicited idea policies, and follow up well Key negotiation levers beyond royalty rates: territory, exclusivity, distribution, wholesale vs net sales How to decide when an idea is worth continuing vs when to shelve it, and how to improve your process as you iterate And so much more Resources: Sign up for our FREE newsletter Courtney’s website The Serial Inventing Podcast Want More? How to Grow Your Location Independent Solopreneur Business in 2025 + Advice from 8 Years of Slow, Nomadic Travel with Jeremy Enns 10 Key Principles That Built a $40M Business While Traveling with Dan Demsky How To Run A Profitable Local Business From Anywhere In The World w/ Neel Parekh Thanks To Our Sponsors Apple Card - Earn 3% back on the Apple products and services you love with Apple Card. Smart Travel Podcast - Before you book, learn how to get the most out of your travel dollars. Follow Smart Travel on your favorite podcast app.
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    1 h y 36 m
  • Adventures in Urban Exploration with Greg Abandoned

    Adventures in Urban Exploration with Greg Abandoned
    Sep 11 2025
    Have you ever had the urge to explore the world beyond the boundaries of society? Greg Abandoned shares his passion for urban exploration, including stories of some of his most challenging journeys, most cherished experiences, and all about the URBEX movement. If you have ever wondered what it would be like to visit lost parts of society and want to know more about finding beauty in decay, then you don't want to miss this episode. We discuss how Greg discovered a new perspective on life through urban exploration, what inspired him to adopt this lifestyle, the unwritten rules of URBEX, and how to begin your own journey. Have you ever participated in urban exploration? I'd love to hear about your experience and hope you will share by sending me an audio message. *This is a previously released episode from the archives! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, offering valuable insight whenever you listen. Tune In To Learn: What happened when Greg was arrested by the Chinese secret police How to follow proper etiquette when doing urban exploration When and why Greg fell in love with urban exploration The video game that inspired Greg to visit Chernobyl and start his journey How to start out on your own urban exploration adventure Why it's important to find a balance between sharing locations and keeping undiscovered places off the map What makes photography an important part of the process for Greg The most challenging urban exploration experiences Greg has ever encountered Why Greg feels that URBEX has given him a new life purpose The hidden meaning behind Chasing Bandos And so much more Resources: Sign up for our FREE newsletter Check out Greg’s Website Listen to the Chasing Bandos Podcast Instagram Want More? How To Get Off The Beaten Track with Gunnar Garfors Getting Off The Beaten Path with Travel Writing Legend Joe Cummings Hidden Paths and Sacred Rides with Mike Brcic Thanks To Our Sponsors Apple Card - Earn 3% back on the Apple products and services you love with Apple Card.
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    1 h y 35 m
  • Counterintuitive Advice on Selling Online, Starting Before You’re Ready, & Building a Fiction Career with Nat Eliason

    Counterintuitive Advice on Selling Online, Starting Before You’re Ready, & Building a Fiction Career with Nat Eliason
    Sep 9 2025
    What if the best time to start your business or creative pursuit was before you felt fully ready? And what if you didn’t need to follow all of the current “best practices” to market yourself? Nat Eliason is an entrepreneur and author based in Austin, Texas. Over the past decade, he’s built a career that gives him location freedom through writing, course creation, and now fiction. His debut sci-fi novel Husk: Book 1 of the Meru Initiative, was released in May 2025. In this episode, Nat returns to share his experience transitioning from nonfiction writer to sci‑fi novelist, revealing the counterintuitive strategies he used to launch Husk and build momentum in the noisy creator economy. Whether you're building a location-independent business or launching a creative project from anywhere in the world, Nat shares how to take control of your output, challenge “start later” thinking, and embrace the long game. He also opens up about what it takes to be patient in a fast-moving digital world, how he used an experimental marketing mindset to sell his products and books, and the often unseen emotional work of building something sustainably. What’s one creative project you want to launch? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. Tune In To Learn: Nate’s journey as an entrepreneur and author, and how he constructed the fictional world of Husk Insight into balancing the joy of the journey with your bigger goals Why starting creative work before feeling "ready" may be your strongest move How to think like a business even while focusing on fiction or creative work Why Nat says newsletters and funnels are out and where you should focus instead The creative way that Nat sold his preorders instead of launching through Amazon Advice for staying motivated before your work gains traction How the "prep trap" holds creators and entrepreneurs back, and how Nat learned to bypass it Nat’s favorite fiction book recommendations And so much more Resources: Sign up for our FREE newsletter Visit Nat’s website Get the book, Husk Instagram Want More? Lessons From Winning and Losing Millions in Crypto, How To Find Fulfilling Work, Advice for Transitioning to a Creative Career, and Creating Unlimited Upside With Nat Eliason How to Grow Your Location Independent Solopreneur Business in 2025 + Advice from 8 Years of Slow, Nomadic Travel with Jeremy Enns An Interview With John Craigie: Notes From The Road Thanks To Our Sponsors Apple Card - Earn 3% back on the Apple products and services you love with Apple Card. Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com
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    1 h y 25 m