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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. ?
PS – To sign up for our free newsletter to get travel tips, tricks, destination advice, and more visit zerototravel.com/newsletter
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Copyright: © Copyright 2020 Zero To Travel LLC

Latest Episodes:

5th Annual Norwegian Christmas Spectacular Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

My wife, Anne-Dorthe, and I are together on the pod to share all about Christmas traditions in Norway and the United States. You'll hear what it's like to taste Julebrus for the first time, see who will win the theoretical battle between Santa Claus and Julenisse, discover the three main traditional dishes in different parts of Norway, get a special Norwegian treat from my wife, and so much more!

Can you appreciate your traditions as if you were a traveler seeing and experiencing them for the first time? Have a wonderful Holiday wherever you are, my friend!

*This is a previously released episode from the archives! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, offering valuable insight whenever you listen.

What are your Holiday traditions? I'd love to hear your thoughts and hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

Resources:

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Remote Roundup: New Year Reflection + Planning Alternatives, the “New Place, New Me” Trap, 2025 Travel Superlatives (December 2025) Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

Looking for more creative and fun ways to reflect on your year and plan for the next one?

Join Caitlin and Janessa in this year-end Remote Roundup to explore personal reflections, unexpected lessons, goal-setting alternatives, and favorite travel moments from 2025.

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.

Caitlin and Janessa talk about identity, growth, community, habits, and how their remote lives are evolving as they plan for the new year. You'll walk away with insights and practical ideas for reflecting on your own year and setting more intentional goals, whether you're traveling full-time, working remotely, or simply ready for a reset in 2026.

What’s a moment from your 2025 that made you feel most yourself? We’d love to hear about it, and hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

The top Zero To Travel episodes for 2025 and why they’re worth a re-listen
5 non-cliche reflection questions to look back on your year with more depth
Alternative intention-setting ideas for 2026 that go beyond resolutions and “word of the year” trends
What the “new place, new me” trap is and how it can quietly derail goals for travelers
Fun travel superlatives from their year, from best coffee culture and unexpected destinations to top meals and views
And much more

Resources:

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One Year in Norway: Teaching, Traveling, and Finding Perspective with Don Jenkins Dec 09, 2025

Show notes

What happens when you step out of your life for a year to live, work, and connect in a completely different culture?

Don Jenkins is a 27-year high-school teacher from Washington state who spent a full academic year in Norway through the Fulbright Roving Scholar Program. Based in Oslo but constantly on the move, he traveled the country visiting schools and giving workshops on American history and government, reaching thousands of students along the way.

This episode explores Don’s journey as a cultural ambassador, educator, and traveler. We talk about the surprising differences between Norwegian and American school systems, how living abroad shifts your view of home, and what it takes to build connection across cultures - whether you’re in a classroom, a sauna, or a sawed-off tuk tuk.

Whether or not you’re a teacher, Don’s experience is full of lessons on curiosity, communication, and how to embrace the unfamiliar. From practical travel tips to deeper reflections on history, education, and societal values, this episode is a reminder of how much growth comes from stepping outside your bubble.

What’s one lesson you’ve picked up while traveling that changed how you see your home? I'd love to hear about your experience, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

Why Don took a sabbatical to teach abroad in Norway for a year
How his “roving teacher” job works and the logistics of living in Oslo while visiting 30+ schools
Surprising insights about Norwegian classrooms, school culture, and community values
How to implement cultural lessons at home, even if you’re not a teacher
What it means to be a “mini ambassador” and have real conversations about your home country
Budget-friendly tips for traveling in Norway, including food hacks and local apps
The role of curiosity in building connections while traveling
Why honest history matters, and what happens when we don’t teach the full story
How being away from family for so long can be hard and insight on managing travel fears
And so much more

Resources:

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11 European Dishes You Must Try Before You Die (Plus Movie Pairings) with Kenny Dunn Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

Which European dish is so good you’d plan a trip around it?

Kenny Dunn is the founder of Eating Europe, a food tour company that has guided over 400,000 travelers to the best local eats in 17 of Europe’s greatest cities since 2011.

In this episode, Kenny shares 11 European dishes you must try before you die, including cultural context, restaurant tips, and personal stories from his years of travel.

Kenny explains how each dish connects to its place and people, how everyday locals enjoy them, and shares his go-to spots for trying them. To add a little flavor, we also pair each dish with a movie or TV show to turn your meal into an experience if you want to make these at home!

Which dish would you travel for or try to recreate at home? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

The famous British snack that was originally invented as a travel food
How a Spanish street food became a spicy, deep-fried bomb of flavor
The story behind a French sandwich that inspired a monster version in Portugal
How one Roman specialty turns a humble vegetable into something unforgettable
Where to find the prettiest open-faced sandwich in Scandinavia
The sandwich Anthony Bourdain called “a monument to excess”
How a single dish became the pride of Prague’s holiday tables
What to expect when you try Florence’s most local sandwich
Why a herring might be best enjoyed standing up in Amsterdam
Tips for cooking a few of these at home (and when not to bother)
And so much more

Resources:

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Holafly - Get 10% off your annual Holafly eSIM with code “ZEROTOTRAVEL”
Planet Visionaries - Listen to the podcast on Apple and Spotify

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Remote Roundup: Bangkok & Oaxaca, Remote Career Trends, Missing Out at Home, Practical Holiday Gift Guide (November 2025) Nov 27, 2025

Show notes

How do you choose where to live, what to do, and when to go home when your life is fully remote?

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, they’re reporting in from two wildly different corners of the world with stories, struggles, and insights about what it actually looks like to live and work abroad right now, plus a practical holiday wish list.

Caitlin and Janessa open up about the hard choices digital nomads face around holidays, family, and missing big life events. They talk about the growing trend of unexpected remote careers and explore how people are adapting traditional jobs to fit this lifestyle, a conversation about the myth of the laptop-on-the-beach image that won't die, and more.

What has been your biggest struggle being away from home when you travel? We’d love to hear about it, and hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

Why Bangkok’s scale, café culture, and mall scene work so well for remote living
How Oaxaca brings together community, creativity, and tradition, especially around Day of the Dead
How Caitlin pulled off a cheap(ish) last-minute flight to Asia with an airport transfer hack
What it’s really like to grieve major life moments from abroad, and insight into deciding when going home makes sense
Thoughts on how to take traditional skills and repurpose them into location-independent careers
An honest take on the “laptop on the beach” stereotype (and why it’s still everywhere)
A holiday gift guide with digital nomads in mind
Two travel fail stories that involve passports, bowel movements, and a nearly missed bus in the Italian countryside
And so much more

Resources:

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Holafly - Get 10% off your annual Holafly eSIM with code “ZEROTOTRAVEL”
Planet Visionaries - Listen to the podcast on Apple and Spotify

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Top 10 World’s Most Difficult Countries to Visit (How and Why to Go) with Gunnar Garfors and Jacqui Kunz Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

What are the most difficult countries to visit, and why do some require months of effort just to get in?

Gunnar Garfors is an author, journalist, and the first person to travel to every country in the world twice. Jacqui Kunz was named “World’s Most Intrepid Traveler” in 2023 and is also well on her way to visiting every country in the world.

In this Zero To Travel Host Collective episode, Gunnar and Jacqui go through ten of the world’s most difficult countries to visit from a visa and access standpoint.

Gunnar and Jacqui share their personal experiences and insights navigating the world’s hardest-to-enter countries, especially from the perspective of American and Norwegian passports. You’ll learn not just where the access is difficult, but why - whether it’s politics, reciprocity, red tape, or safety concerns - and what it says about global mobility. They also explore the ethical side of “ticking countries off the list” and how that mindset can warp the meaning of travel.

If you were to visit one country that you know is extremely hard to get into, which country would it be and why? We’d love to hear about it, and hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. Tune In To Learn:

Why your passport dramatically affects your ability to visit certain countries
How political tensions between nations influence visa rules and travel bans
Advice for Americans trying to enter countries that officially don’t allow them
Why some countries like Turkmenistan or Libya require government approval before you can even apply
What Gunnar did after being rejected six times for a visa to Turkmenistan
How Jackie’s educational work raised red flags with the Iranian authorities
How to travel ethically to countries with problematic governments or ongoing conflicts
Tips for minimizing risk and maximizing cultural exchange in restricted destinations
What it really means to have “been” somewhere (and who gets to decide that)
And so much more

Resources:

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Independent Travel as a Female in Afghanistan, Hitchhiking Iraq, and Ex-Pat Life in Sudan with Jacquelyn Kunz Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

IMPORTANT: This episode was recorded before the conflict in Sudan, and Jacqui has since left the country. For additional information and ways to support the Sudanese people, you can visit eyesonsudan.net and follow Jacqui on Instagram.

Why would someone choose to travel to the world’s most dangerous places?

Today I’m joined by Jacquelyn Kunz, the first female to travel independently through Afghanistan after the Taliban regained control. In this episode, Jacqui shares some of the toughest moments from her time in Afghanistan, what led her to move to Sudan, and her life as an expat. We also talk about what it was like to hitchhike in Iraq and how these experiences have shifted her outlook on life.

*This is a previously released episode from the archives! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, offering valuable insight whenever you listen.

Do you consider yourself a risk-taker? I'd love to hear your thoughts and hope you will share them by sending me an audio message.

Tune in to Learn:

What Jacqui considers the ultimate traveler fantasy
Her favorite places to visit and what attracts her to more extreme foreign destinations
Insight into the experience of being a woman in Sudan
How Government censorship and surveillance impact a society
Why Jacqui chose to move to Sudan (and her family's reaction)
Life in Sudan with political instability, and how she fits into society
Why a foreign woman is considered an "honorary man," and how this impacts her relationship with Sudanese women
How these experiences changed her perspective on life and relating to others
Insight into finding the courage to take a different path
Jacqui's best advice for safety and her thoughts on being a risk-taker
And so much more

Resources:

Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport
Subscribe to our FREE newsletter
Learn more about the conflict in Sudan
Connect with Jacqui on Instagram
Listen to Laundry House on Spotify and follow us on Instagram

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Holafly - Get 10% off your annual Holafly eSIM with code “ZEROTOTRAVEL”
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Beginner's Guide to Travel (No Matter Your Age) + How to Travel with Diabetes with Jason Robinson Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

What does it really take to build a travel lifestyle from scratch, especially if you’re starting later in life or managing a serious medical condition?

Jason Robinson is the founder of The Nomad Experiment and author of The Beginner Traveler’s Guide. After digging out of debt and selling his home, he now travels full-time while living with type 1 diabetes.

Jason joins me to explore his updated beginner travel guide, how the nomad lifestyle has become his way of life, and how we can all learn to travel more intentionally, even when the path to getting started looks different for everyone.

This episode is packed with real talk and actionable advice for anyone looking to start or deepen a travel-centered lifestyle. Jason shares the exact mindset shifts and tactical steps that helped him go from zero international travel to spending more than half the year abroad. You’ll learn why co-living can be a better fit than hostels, how to realistically assess your finances before you leap, and what it takes to travel while managing something as serious as type-1 diabetes.

We also get into the harder stuff - burnout, identity, letting go of expectations -and why treating travel like an experiment may be the most freeing approach of all.

What’s one small step you can take this month toward your travel‑oriented life? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

Why getting your passport is the easiest first move toward travel
How to start travelling from exactly where you are (not waiting for “perfect”)
Why choosing the right accommodation style (hostel vs co‑living) matters for long‑term travel
How to build a financial base that supports a travel lifestyle—not traps you
The conversation you need to have with friends or family about your priorities
How to recognise and navigate travel burnout or lifestyle shifts
Mindset tips for travelling with a medical condition, or any “extra” in your life
Where Jason wants to go back (and why slower travel matters)
How to frame your worst‑case/best‑case list so fear doesn’t hold you back
The one mindset change that turns travel planning into travel living
And so much more

Resources:

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Thanks To Our Sponsors

Holafly - Get 10% off your annual Holafly eSIM with code “ZEROTOTRAVEL”
Turkish Airlines Series - Listen to the podcast on Apple and Spotify
Moon Travel Guides - Use code ‘ZERO’ for 20% off your order.
Planet Visionaries - Listen to the podcast on Apple and Spotify

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Top 7 Destinations to Visit (Before They Get Crowded) with Gunnar Garfors Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

Need some inspiration for your upcoming travels? Gunnar Garfors is the first person to travel to every country in the world not once, but TWICE. As the ultimate travel expert, he’s with us to share his list of the best places to visit before they get too popular.

You’ll hear about seven out-of-the-ordinary destinations spanning all seven continents to help you plan for the coming year and beyond. Whether it’s beach life, mountain hikes, big cities, or relaxing getaways, there’s something on the list for everyone. We’ll also talk about his upcoming project, share plenty of stories, and he’ll let us in on a fun travel concept you’ll want to steal and use with your friends.

*This is a previously released episode from the archives! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, offering valuable insight whenever you listen.

Where are you headed first? I'd love to hear your thoughts and hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

The ROI of travel and why you should explore out-of-the-box destinations
What makes this overlooked part of this Caribbean island worth a visit
How to have an authentic South American river adventure
An African country ideal for extreme sports and coastal wildlife
The vastly underestimated European country that has something for everyone
A fun way to plan trips with your friends (You’ll want to steal this!)
An affordable, diverse, and mountainous country along the Old Silk Road
An underestimated Asian country rich in culture, innovation, and amazing food (It’s his favorite big city in the world!)
A small but incredible Pacific island kingdom for an alternative to Fiji
His bonus destination for an affordable Maldives experience
Gunnar’s new book and his thoughts on climate change
And so much more

Resources:

Subscribe to our FREE newsletter
Visit Gunnar’s website
Follow him on Instagram and TikTok
Listen to his podcast

Want More?

Thanks To Our Sponsors

Holafly - Get 10% off your annual Holafly eSIM with code “ZEROTOTRAVEL”
Moon Travel Guides - Use code ‘ZERO’ for 20% off your order.
Turkish Airlines Series - Listen to the podcast on Apple and Spotify
Planet Visionaries - Listen to the podcast on Apple and Spotify

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Revival of Night Train Travel and Launching a European Sleeper Train Startup with Thibault Constant Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

Is night train travel making a comeback? Trains have long been seen as a romantic or nostalgic way to explore a destination, but what if it could also be the most practical, comfortable, and climate-friendly way?

Thibault Constant is a French train enthusiast turned entrepreneur who built a following of 300k on his YouTube channel, Simply Railways. He’s the author of Trains de Nuit and co-founder of Nox, a new sleeper train company aiming to revolutionize overnight travel across Europe with affordable private rooms.

In this episode, host Paige McClanahan speaks with Thibault about the rising demand for night trains in Europe, the design and mission behind his upcoming sleeper train company, and why privacy, practicality, and sustainability are reshaping how we move through the world.

You’ll hear why a new wave of travelers are choosing overnight rail, how the travel experience shifts when you’re able to rest, reflect, and arrive ready to go, and what it takes to build a better sleeper train from the ground up. Thibault shares the key barriers that have kept night trains from breaking through in recent decades, and how his company, Nox, is working to overcome them with smart design and realistic pricing. Whether you’re curious about slow travel, concerned about flying’s climate impact, or just want to know what it’s like to wake up in Sicily after sleeping on a train ferry, this episode offers both practical insights and pure travel inspiration.

If you could take one of Thibault’s recommended overnight train journeys tomorrow, which would you choose and why? We’d love to hear your thoughts, and hope you’ll share by sending an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

How growing up in northern France inspired Thibault’s lifelong love of trains
Why he started his YouTube channel, and how it became a full-time job
What led him to co-found Nox, a new sleeper train company launching in 2027
Why most night trains today fail to deliver on sleep, and how privacy changes everything
The real reason night trains declined in Europe, and what brought them back
How the climate crisis is pushing more travelers to rethink short-haul flights
What makes overnight train travel a win–win for comfort, convenience, and carbon
Thibault’s top 3 night train routes in Europe, and his favorite long-haul ride in North America
And so much more

Resources:

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Thanks To Our Sponsors

Holafly⁠ - Get 10% off your annual Holafly eSIM with code “ZEROTOTRAVEL”
Moon Travel Guides - Use code ‘ZERO’ for 20% off your order.
Turkish Airlines Series - Listen to the podcast on Apple and Spotify
Planet Visionaries - Listen to the podcast on Apple and Spotify

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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