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Zero To Travel Podcast

✈️ The Zero To Travel Podcast has been downloaded 12+ million times and named a “Best Travel Podcast” by The Washington Post, Travel + Leisure, The Telegraph, and Forbes.
Packed with life-changing perspectives, inspiration, and practical advice for everyone from travel newbies to nomads, this podcast will give you everything you need to travel the world on your terms, regardless of your situation or experience. Welcome to our amazing global listening community!
Since 2013, “Travel Ambassador” Jason Moore from zerototravel.com has been picking the brains of adventurous people living an unconventional life on the road so you can discover new ways to travel endlessly.
Along the way, you’ll get actionable advice and key resources that will improve your life AND help you travel more as we get down and dirty on topics like; starting and running an online business from anywhere, the best off-the-beaten-path destinations to visit, travel and work opportunities, gutsy budget travel strategies, surprising ways to earn free travel, the digital nomad life, unconventional travel based lifestyles, fun travel jobs, how to plan epic adventures, backpacking, remote work, how to take a gap year or a career break, 4-hour work week inspired topics, ex-pat life, slow travel, travel hacking, sustainable travel, human-powered adventures, trips worth planning, and everything in between.
Host Bio: Jason wandered the planet as a nomad for over a decade and spent 15+ years on the road as a tour manager in events/music, a seasonal adventure travel tour guide, and a digital nomad. Originally from the USA, he is now a dual citizen (Norway/USA) based in Oslo. He is obsessed with helping YOU explore our planet on your terms.
Follow the show (it’s FREE!) and welcome to the global community. ?
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Copyright: © Copyright 2020 Zero To Travel LLC

Latest Episodes:

Uruguay: Top 7 Hidden Gems (That Most People Miss) + Testing the Remote Work Lifestyle with Lucia Krygier Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

Ever considered traveling to or working from Uruguay?

Lucia Krygier is a Uruguayan entrepreneur and innovation consultant based in Montevideo. In early 2025, she spent two months working remotely from Cape Town, South Africa, an experience she describes as a turning point in her life. That trip led her to found Work From Uruguay, a community-driven workation program bringing together remote workers, digital nomads, and entrepreneurs to co-live and co-work in Uruguay.

In this episode, Lucia shares her journey from first-time remote worker to budding business owner, and makes a strong case for why Uruguay deserves a spot on your radar.

There is something worth sitting with in this conversation about what happens when you stop waiting for the right moment and just go. Lucia's path touches on trusting yourself through uncertainty, building a life around how you actually want to live, and what travel to Uruguay's hidden gems can unlock when you give a place more than a few days.

If you had the chance to spend a few months working and traveling somewhere completely new, would you take it? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

Why Lucia's first remote work trip to Cape Town changed the direction of her life

How she decided between constantly moving and staying in one place for an extended time

The hidden costs and benefits of spending more time in one place instead of country hopping

The mindset shift that helped her leave a stable job and launch a business from abroad

How she handled the uncertainty of starting a consulting career while traveling across Europe

Why she built her business around her home country instead of continuing to travel indefinitely

What Uruguay's digital nomad permit is and how it works for long-term visitors

The off-grid beach village that gets a "wow effect" from every single visitor who goes there

Seven specific places in Uruguay worth visiting, from a colonial port town to a bohemian surf village

What to eat in Uruguay, from the national sandwich to a dish tracing back to Italian immigrants

Advice for testing the work-travel lifestyle before committing to a full nomadic year

And so much more

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Building a Travel Lifestyle: Digital Nomadism, Slow Travel, Exploring Latin America with Kyle Cohenour

From Expat to Digital Nomad: Finding Your Travel Rhythm, Balancing Burnout, and the Digital Nomad Lifestyle with Kristin Wilson

Creating A Life Abroad + Expert Remote Work Advice with Chase Warrington

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How to Transition to a “Normal Life” After Travel with Tom Turcich (10th Person to Walk Around the World) Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

What do you do when the adventure ends?

Tom Turcich is a motivational speaker, author, and the tenth person in history to walk around the world. Over seven years, he and his dog, Savannah, covered 28,000 miles across 38 countries and six continents, completing the journey in 2022. He is the author of the memoir The World Walk and the children's book Savannah's World of Adventure.

In this episode, Tom shares what returning home after long-term travel actually looks like, from the mental and emotional toll of losing the road, to the financial catch-up game, to the harder question of who you are once the adventure is over.

If you've ever come back from a trip and felt a strange kind of grief you couldn't quite name, this one is for you. Tom is remarkably open about the difficulty of that first year back, and the conversation gets into territory that doesn't often get talked about after a big journey ends. There's real honesty here about what it takes to find your footing again, how to rebuild adventure into a life that isn't handing it to you every day, and how to make peace with the constraints that come with settling down.

What's one thing you've held onto from a big trip that's hard to explain to people who weren't there? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

Why Tom describes his first year back as the only depression he's ever experienced

How the world "stops coming at you" when you settle down, and what it takes to rebuild that muscle

The unexpected mental and emotional challenge of no longer having a North Star

Why consistency beats passion when it comes to making progress, in travel and in life

What two years of walking in the Atacama Desert taught Tom about happiness

Why your traveler identity matters less than the values underneath it

How walking became a years-long meditation practice Tom didn't see coming

The one mindset Tom would give anyone coming off the road for the first time

Why building community after a big adventure takes longer than most people expect

What it means to choose your constraints rather than just accept them

And so much more

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The World Walk book

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Walking the World with Alexander Campbell and Tom Turcich

The World Walk (Trilogy): Lessons From A 7 Year Walk Around The World w/ Tom Turcich

Exploring A Single Map: A Travel Adventure For Everyone With Alastair Humphreys

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Give Yourself Permission to Choose Differently: Jason Moore on the My Most Authentic Life Podcast May 26, 2026

Show notes

What does it actually take to give yourself permission to live unconventionally, and what's really standing in the way?

I had the opportunity to be a guest on the My Most Authentic Life podcast with Fede Vargas, a conversation we recorded live on the rooftop at Podcast Movement Evolutions during South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. Fede interviewed me about the themes that run through this show, including unconventional paths, pivots, lifestyle design, and what it means to choose differently.

This conversation pulls out some of my most honest thinking on what it means to give yourself permission to live unconventionally. We talk openly about my decade as a nomad with no fixed home, the internal and external forces that push back against unconventional choices, and how imposter syndrome never goes away but can be trained around. There's a lot here that I think will resonate if you've ever felt the pull of a different path but weren't sure you were allowed to take it.

Tune In To Learn:

Why giving yourself permission is often the first and hardest obstacle on any unconventional path

How imposter syndrome works as a muscle you can train, not a problem you solve

What it means to "pivot" before you've actually made any outward moves

Why the journey before the journey has more value than most people realize

How lifestyle design is less about optimization and more about filtering decisions through your ideal daily life

Why the "perfect average day" exercise is a practical starting point for anyone designing their life

How I spent a decade as a nomadic tour manager, including driving the Meow Mix Catmobile across the U.S.

What unexpected things can happen when you follow your gut, even last-minute

Why my definition of authenticity comes down to one word

And so much more

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My Most Authentic Life

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The Perfect Average Day

Laundry House

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How to Pivot to a Life With More Freedom (And Travel), Get More Free Time, and Unlock Your Intuition With Jenny Blake

How to Navigate Transitions and Design Your Life (Without the BS) with Lauren Handel Zander

Two Paths to Location Independence and Travel (No Skills Required) With Caitlin Sunderland and Janessa Klatt

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Turn Travel Into A Lifestyle With Goats On The Road May 21, 2026

Show notes

What would it take for you to actually turn travel into a lifestyle, not just a vacation?

Nick Wharton and Dariece Swift are the Canadian couple behind Goats On The Road, one of the longest-running travel and lifestyle blogs online. Since leaving Canada in 2008, they have lived and traveled full-time across Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Caribbean, funding their adventures through teaching English abroad, house sitting, freelance writing, and eventually building a successful travel blog and suite of online courses.

In this episode, Nick and Dariece share the real, unfiltered story of how two regular people from a small town in Canada traded their office jobs and oil rig shifts for a decade of long-term travel, and how they've figured out how to keep it going.

This episode covers what it really takes to make travel a long-term lifestyle, from the mindset shifts that keep you going to the practical ways people actually fund life on the road. Nick and Dariece have been doing this for over a decade and speak honestly about the challenges of traveling as a couple, building an online business from scratch, and knowing when to step back from work and just travel. I also share my own perspective on staying connected to your highest values as your life and travel style evolve.

What has been your biggest mental or practical barrier to making travel a more permanent part of your life, and has anything ever helped you push past it? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll 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 after their first 13-month backpacking trip through Southeast Asia that set everything in motion

The beach meltdown in Thailand that led to one of the boldest and most pivotal moves of their travels

What it really takes to travel as a couple 24/7, and the specific things Nick and Dariece do to keep it working

How Goats On The Road started and the shift in approach that became their biggest turning point

Why they almost let video ruin the travel experience, and what they did about it

How they've managed to avoid full burnout after more than a decade of living and working on the road

The mix of jobs and strategies they've used at different stages to keep the travels funded and going

How their travel style has evolved over a decade and what the lifestyle actually looks like for them now

My three principles for keeping travel a lifelong priority, no matter where you are in life

And so much more

Resources:

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Hash House Harriers

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Transition to Travel: From Burnout to a Year Around the World with Sofia and Teague

Building a Travel Lifestyle: Digital Nomadism, Slow Travel, Exploring Latin America with Kyle Cohenour

The Reality of Digital Nomad Life (Warts and All) With Steph and Dalt

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Top 7 Hidden Gems in Oslo, Norway with Curtis Rojak of Viking Biking May 19, 2026

Show notes

Oslo doesn't hit you the way other European capitals do. There's no single monument everyone leaves talking about, and yet people consistently walk away from this city with a feeling they can't quite explain.

Curtis Rojak is an American expat who has lived in Europe for over 25 years and holds dual Norwegian-American citizenship. He is the founder of Viking Biking, Oslo's premier guided bike and hiking tour company, and has led more than 3,000 tours through Oslo on foot and by bike.

This episode is a local's guide to Oslo, recorded in my living room with Curtis. We cover seven hidden gems in the city, from a haunting mausoleum most tourists never find to a private island cabin you can rent for a night on the Oslo Fjord.

This episode covers what makes a place feel like home versus just a place you've visited, what it takes to genuinely know a city at a local level, and how to discover the experiences that don't make it into guidebooks. You'll also hear honest conversation about building a life abroad long-term, what draws people to certain places, and why the best travel experiences often come from knowing someone who actually lives there. Curtis brings real depth on Oslo specifically, but the broader themes about place, belonging, and authentic discovery apply to anywhere you're considering visiting or moving to.

Have you ever discovered a hidden gem in a city that completely changed how you thought about that place? I'd love to hear your story, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

Why one of Norway's most extraordinary pieces of art is hidden in a mausoleum most tourists never find, and how to actually visit it

How to spend a Norwegian summer day at a lakeside farm where animals roam free through landscape gardens

Where to find secret sea cliffs near the city, and where locals actually jump from

Why a restaurant on its own private island captures the Norwegian good life better than almost anywhere else in the city

What makes one of Europe's best cocktail bars worth the New York-level prices you'll pay

How to rent a private island cabin on the Oslo Fjord through a local organization almost no tourists know about

Why Curtis believes Oslo's greatest strength is also what most tourists only notice on their last day

What 25 years as an expat taught Curtis about choosing where to live and why gut feeling matters more than logic

How the "Lego Country" exercise surfaces the best things about multiple continents and destinations

And so much more

Resources:

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Viking Biking

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https://zerototravel.com/viking-biking/

Hidden Norway: 7 Off the Beaten Path Gems You'll Love with Torunn Tronsvang from Up Norway

Top 10 Reasons to Love Living Abroad with Botik Quest

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Remote Roundup: Egypt Solo Travel, Building Intentional Seasons, Managing Daily Travel Stress, Creative Remote Work Workarounds (May 2026) May 14, 2026

Show notes

From destinations that challenge your assumptions to the routines and mindsets that make this lifestyle actually sustainable, join Caitlin and Janessa as they unpack what's been on their minds this month.

Remote Roundup is a 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, Janessa reports back from a solo trip to a destination most travelers hesitate to visit alone, Caitlin shares a surprisingly simple tool for building calm and consistency into nomadic life, and both take a hard look at a habit nearly every long-term traveler has that might be doing more harm than good. There are also a few remote work stories from the community that prove people will go to remarkable lengths to keep living life on their own terms.

Have you ever talked yourself out of a destination based on what you'd heard, or found a way to build more balance into a life that never really stops moving? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

Why Janessa says this distinction is one of the most important things solo travelers can internalize when traveling somewhere new

How a single offhand comment on the podcast led Janessa to an unexpected scuba trip

What solo travel in Egypt costs, why Cairo might not be your best nomad base, and what to consider instead

A breathing technique that's worth adding to your daily routine while traveling

Why you may want to create intentional seasons in your year even when the weather never changes

The most committed remote work workarounds, and why it actually made sense

And much more

Resources:

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Caitlin on Instagram

Janessa on Instagram

Diving Nomads

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Remote Roundup: Solo Travel Hot Takes, Nomad Budgeting, Rookie Mistakes, Cape Town & Mexico City (March 2026)

7 Epic Travel Fitness Adventures (For All Levels) and Solo Travel for Transformation with Heidi Nicklaus (+ Jason’s Ultimate Travel Blunder)

7 Pro Tips For Traveling In Dangerous Countries w/ Bjorn Palsson

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Authentic Brazil: Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventure Travel with Gift of Go May 12, 2026

Show notes

What if the part of Brazil most worth exploring is the one almost nobody talks about?

Eddie Lott is a Dallas-born expedition leader who has spent nearly two decades studying Brazilian history, geography, and culture. He rediscovered the Serra do Espinhaco in 2018 and has been documenting its trails and communities ever since. Elisa Oliveira is a Brazilian architect turned expedition coordinator who left behind her career and her previous life after a single weekend in the Espinhaco in 2019.

Together, they co-founded Gift of Go, a company that builds and leads founder-guided expeditions through one of Brazil's most layered and least-visited mountain ranges, and they are also husband and wife.

In this episode, co-host Paige McClanahan talks with Eddie and Elisa about how Gift of Go came to be, what their expeditions actually look like, and what travelers need to know before heading to this part of Brazil.

This is a rewarding listen for anyone drawn to real adventure travel in Brazil off the beaten path. Eddie and Elisa spent three-plus years walking the terrain, building relationships with local communities, and living in the region before guiding their first traveler. You'll hear why going deep into one place beats skimming across a whole country, how arriving somewhere by foot after 17 days on the trail completely changes how you experience it, and what it means to share a destination that still has almost zero international tourism presence.

Have you ever experienced a place that felt completely untouched by tourism? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message.

Co-host Paige McClanahan is a writer, editor, and former journalist based in Paris, France. As the author of The New Tourist: Waking up to the Power and Perils of Travel, Paige is passionate about making sure our travels have a positive impact on the world. Learn more about her work here.

Tune In To Learn:

What makes the Espinhaco a microcosm of Brazil's most important ecological, cultural, and historical themes

How Elisa left an engagement and a five-year architecture career after one weekend in a remote mountain village

Why Gift of Go spent three years in the field before guiding their first traveler

What the Veranico is, and why January might be the most spectacular and unpredictable time to visit

How the expedition formats work, from 12-day group treks to fully bespoke solo journeys

Why Brazil receives fewer international visitors per year than the city of Miami, and what that means for the right kind of traveler

Practical tips for Minas Gerais: think in regions, know your biomes, expect limited English, and prepare for the warmth of the people

What to eat and drink, from cachaça and UNESCO-recognized cheese to fig compotes with dulce de leche

And so much more

Resources:

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7 Chile Hidden Gems: Off-the-Beaten Path in Patagonia, Mapuche Culture, and More with Steph Dyson

How To Be a “New Tourist,” the Powers and Perils of Tourism, Embracing Tourist Traps, and the Impact of Travel With Paige McClanahan

How To Get Off The Beaten Track with Gunnar Garfors

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The Goodness Game: 5 Rules to Pay It Forward with Small Acts of Kindness with Bryan Driscoll May 05, 2026

Show notes

What if one small act of kindness could completely change someone’s life trajectory?

Bryan Driscoll is an entrepreneur, real estate investor, and the author of The Goodness Game. He built a multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio while running a marketing company, and he’s now focused on helping people create positive ripple effects through simple acts of kindness.

In this episode, Bryan shares the story that inspired his kindness philosophy and breaks down his five-rule framework for making the world better in a practical, sustainable way.

This episode offers a simple, practical way to approach kindness without overthinking it, something you can use at home or take with you on the road. Bryan breaks down how small, intentional actions can create meaningful impact, and why connection is often more valuable than money. It’s a grounded guide to taking action in a way that feels honest, natural, and aligned with your strengths, while also having a little fun.

What’s one small act of kindness you could commit to this week, even if it feels slightly uncomfortable? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

Why a random act of kindness at age 18 changed Bryan’s life forever

How the “Goodness Game” turns kindness into a simple daily practice

Why giving without recognition creates a deeper impact

How to identify your personal helping style and use your strengths

Why not everyone is your “assignment” and how to stay in your lane

How to avoid burnout when helping others by creating boundaries

How Bryan used Craigslist to test the ripple effect of kindness

Practical random acts of kindness ideas you can try this week

Why overthinking stops people from helping and how to just start

And so much more

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Goodness Game website

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Walking the World with Alexander Campbell and Tom Turcich

Bicycling Across the USA Without Money in Search of Human Connection With Daniel Troia

Connecting with Strangers in 21 Countries as an Introvert, Battling the Loneliness Epidemic, Building Community at Home with Adam Schluter

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10 Years & 40+ Countries: How to Travel Well as a Couple with Gabi and Shanna of 27 Travels Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

What does it actually take to travel well with a partner, and what are the hidden layers of that experience when you're also navigating the world as a queer couple?

Gabi and Shanna Meit-Sciara are a Brooklyn-based couple and the creators of 27 Travels, a platform launched in 2016 to document their adventures while building more visibility and resources for LGBTQIA+ travelers. Gabi is a photographer and graphic designer; Shanna is a videographer and video editor. Together, they've visited 40+ countries and built a full-time creative business rooted in their relationship and their shared love of the world.

In this episode, co-host Dianni Hall sits down with Gabi and Shanna to talk about what it really looks like to build a relationship through travel, how their partnership has been tested and strengthened on the road over ten years, and what the experience of traveling as a queer couple actually involves beyond what most people see.

This conversation is for anyone who's ever taken a trip with someone they care about and had to figure each other out in real time. Gabi and Shanna get specific about the roles they've each naturally fallen into, how they handle conflict during work trips without letting it ruin the experience, and the invisible, exhausting decisions queer couples make constantly on the road that most people never think about. If you've been wondering what traveling as a couple actually looks like when applied to a real, long-term relationship, this one goes deep.

What's a trip that revealed something unexpected about someone you were traveling with? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message.

Co-host Dianni Hall is a queer, second-generation Latina, solo budget backpacker, freelancer, and host of the While She’s Away podcast, where she interviews women on their travel experience and expertise to help women live their best lives exploring the world. Learn more about her work here.

Tune In To Learn:

Why matching travel styles is one of the most meaningful early tests of a relationship, and how Gabi and Shanna discovered theirs on their first big trip to Arizona

How the roles partners naturally fall into on the road tend to emerge without anyone actually choosing them

Why adding content creation to a relationship and a trip is its own challenge, and what Gabi and Shanna have learned about navigating creative disagreements

What to actually pay attention to on a first trip with a partner, including the green flags most people overlook

How queer couples are constantly making decisions that straight couples rarely have to think about, from safety research to coming out to a stranger in a taxi

What the invisible labor of queer travel looks like in everyday moments: hotel check-ins, ride-shares, tour sign-ups

Why a loose itinerary almost always beats a rigid one, and why missing something can actually be the best thing that happens

New York City hidden gems from two lifelong locals: the case for Brooklyn, vegan food in Chinatown, and more

And so much more

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27 Travels

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YouTube

TikTok

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LGBTQ+ Travel and Making A Difference with Ravi Roth

Top 7 Cities for LGBTQ+ Travelers and Finding Your People Around the World with LGBTQ+ Travel Expert Alicia Valenski

Choose Travel NOW! Lessons from the World’s Longest Honeymoon with National Geographic Authors Mike and Anne Howard of HoneyTrek

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How to Plan Your Dream “Bucket List” Trip in 2026 + the Power of Travel to Transform with Kelly Tolliday Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

What if the key to planning your dream trip isn't choosing the right destination, but first figuring out what you actually need right now in your life?

Kelly Tolliday is the founder of Transform With Travel, a professional travel advisor and wellness travel expert with over a decade of industry experience, a retreat facilitator and 500-hour registered yoga teacher, and a podcast host. She has traveled to more than 45 countries and lived across four continents, including extended time in Australia, Thailand, and Costa Rica.

In this episode, Kelly walks through the step-by-step system she uses to plan bucket list trips and how anyone can apply the same framework to start planning their own dream trip today.

Kelly reframes the entire planning process in a way that most of us haven't considered, and it changes not just where you end up going, but how you show up when you get there. She also makes a strong case for why the best travel experiences often come from letting go, even when every instinct is telling you to hold on tighter. You'll not only get Kelly's framework, but destination recommendations and a call to action at the end that I hope you follow through on.

What's one destination that's been sitting on your bucket list for way too long, and what's actually been stopping you from booking it? I'd love to hear what they are, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

Why asking "what do I need right now?" is the most important first question in trip planning

How to use urgency as a real planning tool, and why some destinations carry a genuine now-or-never factor

Why mapping out your full route, including transfer time and cost, is often the step that saves the most money

How slow travel creates more space for the unscripted moments that people end up talking about for decades

Why booking independent, locally-owned tour operators almost always leads to more memorable experiences than going with the bigger names

How to approach accommodations with a "sense of place" mindset

Advice on when hiring a professional travel advisor makes sense versus planning a bucket list trip on your own

Why we both agree that physically demanding adventures should move to the top of your list sooner rather than later

Hidden gem destinations worth visiting now, including a little-known Thai island that has somehow stayed off the radar

How to reset your mindset when things go sideways on a trip

And so much more

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Transform with Travel

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Live Your Bucket List w/ Ryan Jacobson

Curiosity As Your Travel Guide + Exploring Overlooked Destinations with John McKenzie

7 Must-Visit Destinations for 2026 (Get There Before the Crowds Arrive!) with Lyn Hughes

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