Gap Year Radio

This episode we are super excited to welcome two more guests for our Mindful Volunteering Part 2 episode, Emily and Andrei. These two are former students of Claire Bennet from our Mindful Volunteering Part 1 episode and are currently in the midst of their gap year through the Princeton Novogratz Bridge Year Program in Udaipur, India. They spend some time telling us about the Novogratz Program and how their long-term service/work sites have been set up. Additionally, they reflect upon their perspectives on service, both before their gap year as well as how their time in India has changed their perspectives, and they also give some great advice for things that you can do to make a shorter-term service placement effective if you only have a bit of time.

If you want to learn more about Princeton Novogratz Bridge Year program you can find them only at oip.princeton.edu/our-programs/novogratz-bridge-year or on Instagram @novogratzbridgeyear.

On this episode of Gap Year Radio we are so excited to welcome Claire Bennet, co-author of the book Learning Service: The Essential Guide to Volunteering Abroad. On this episode, she discusses with us the many nuances of international service, aid and development, voluntourism, and other topics related to volunteering abroad. She reframes for us what is often referred to as "Service Learning", to describe this restructuring of the ideology into "Learning Service", where learning really is prioritized before everything else.

You can follow along on the principles from Learning Service on Instagram @learning.service and on their website https://learningservice.info .

On today's pod we are excited to welcome Nora Livingstone, the cofounder and volunteer coordinator of Animal Experience International, which is an organization that offers ethical and life-changing trips for students, professionals, and animal lovers to volunteer around the world with organizations that are working ethically and sustainability for animal conservation. Nora is a Nature Canada Woman for Nature and is on the advisory board of the Orangutan Project and the Women’s Advisory Council of JourneyWoman. Nora holds FEMA certifications for volunteering, leadership, and deployment during natural disasters, and has volunteered with animals all over the world. This episode discusses some of the ethics around volunteering with animals and pitfalls to look out for as you are looking at your own potential volunteering experience, as well as the five freedoms of animal welfare and how those fit into the Fair Trade Learning Standards for the Gap Year Association.

You can learn more about Animal Experience International online at https://www.animalexperienceinternational.com/.

Happy Gap Year Exploration Month! In this special before-and-after episode of Gap Year Radio, we embark on an awe-inspiring conversation with Journey Fleishman, a remarkable gap year student who undertook the incredible feat of hiking the entire Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in the Western US.

Julia and Journey take a deep dive into the challenges, triumphs, and transformative experiences that Journey encountered during her epic adventure. Part I was recorded before she hit the trail and Part II was recorded after she finished the hike. The resulting conversation takes us through her decision to embark on this ambitious journey, discussing her motivations, preparations, and the support network that helped her along the way.

We delve into the physical and mental challenges of hiking over 2,650 miles, from the southern border of California to the northern border of Washington, experiencing the diverse landscapes and climates that the PCT offers.

The episode explores the personal growth and self-discovery that Journey experienced during her time on the trail, shedding light on how this epic adventure transformed her perspective on life, nature, and her own capabilities. Journey shares anecdotes of encounters with fellow hikers, illustrating the strong sense of community that exists within the PCT hiking culture.

Listeners will gain insights into the practical aspects of long-distance hiking, including gear choices and the daily rhythm of a thru-hiker's life. By the way, her top gear choices are the REI Magma 15 sleeping bag, her ULA Circuit pack, and her trusty ground pad!

Whether you're an experienced hiker, aspiring adventurer, or simply someone looking for inspiration, this episode of Gap Year Radio is a captivating and motivational exploration of an extraordinary gap year experience. Journey Fleishman's Pacific Crest Trail adventure reminds us all that the path less traveled can lead to remarkable personal growth and unforgettable adventures.

Happy October, and welcome to Gap Year Exploration Month! Julia and Margo are excited to chat with the listeners this episode about the many opportunities coming up this month to #explorethegapyear, as well as trending gap year destinations for 2024, helpful apps and hot travel tips, working holiday visas, sustainability, slow travel, and much more. Visit www.gapyearradiopodcast.com for more information on Gap Year Exploration Month and other helpful resources from the episode!

Join us as traveler and disability advocate Johileny Meran shares invaluable insights on how to empower students with disabilities to explore the world. We discuss her study abroad experience in London, receive tips for creating more inclusive gap year experiences and feel reaffirmed in the transformative impact of international experiences for all. Johileny is a graduate of NYU's College of Arts and Science, having received a bachelor's of Arts in Global Public Health/Sociology with a minor in Disabilities Studies.

Johileny Travel tips:

Take photos of any equipment that gets loaded on the plane in case it is damaged out of your sight.

Go on short trips to get used to navigating travel with your equipment and luggage.

Get to know your equipment inside and out in order to make your own repairs and make sure your travel/medical insurance covers your equipment.

Enjoy your travels! It is so worth it.

Resources for Gap Year and College Aged Travelers with Disabilities:

Mobility USA library of resources for people traveling with a disability.

NYU Accessibility in Study Abroad is a resource for NYU students traveling abroad and features

AccessibleGO is a full-service travel platform dedicated to helping people with disabilities make the most out of their travels.

We are thrilled to have Sarah Bryden of the Elemental Self on this episode to discuss sexual education, emerging sexuality and healthy relationships to self and others with emerging adults and gap year students in mind.

For gap year students themselves, we will discuss how to frame your sexual health in the context of you gap year experience; Sarah will share some wisdom about how to frame sexuality in your gap experiences. For parents, caregivers and educators, Sarah highlights some important reminders about having open and honest conversations about these topics to ensure that young adults are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate their relationships safely and with confidence. Join us for this enlightening discussion!

Sarah's Bio: Sarah Byrden is a somatic practitioner, educator and wilderness guide and has been facilitating in these mediums for over 20 years. She has dedicated over 2 decades to deep study and apprenticeship in western and non-western modalities, and teaches from her own life-long journey in the realms that she offers. Her 2nd TEDx talk, based on the perspective and approach shared in this podcast, has garnered nearly 3 million views. Along with her company The Elemental Self, Sarah is the founder of The Body of Sex, a sex-education and empowerment mission for college-aged students and adults of all ages. She lives in the unceded Tewa territory of Santa Fe, NM.

Today on the pod we have Dave Dennis joining us from Cornerstone Safety Group. Dave is co-founder and Executive Director of Cornerstone Safety Group, a risk management services company supporting travel and experiential education organizations. With a master’s degree in risk management and 27 years of experience in domestic and international operations, Dave has been the Vice President of Risk Management at some of the industry’s largest companies, responded to thousands of incidents, and consulted for more than 60 organizations developing customized risk management systems. 

This episode provides an overview of how to look at personal safety when it comes to a gap year experience. Whether you are considering going with a structured program provider for your gap time or venturing out on a more independent or self-designed experience, this episode will provide you with resources and food for thought as you go about assessing these potential experiences. Additionally, we discuss mental, physical, and emotional health when it comes to a gap year and how to plan ahead to ensure that you are taking care of yourself to the best of your ability during this time.

Dave brings with him to the pod nearly three decades of experience working in the travel/experiential education realm and provides some invaluable resources and insights to the listeners!

You can find Dave and the folks at Cornerstone Safety Group online at cornerstonesafetygroup.org and on LinkedIn as well as by email at [email protected].

Today on the pod we have Dave Dennis joining us from Cornerstone Safety Group. Dave is co-founder and Executive Director of Cornerstone Safety Group, a risk management services company supporting travel and experiential education organizations. With a master’s degree in risk management and 27 years of experience in domestic and international operations, Dave has been the Vice President of Risk Management at some of the industry’s largest companies, responded to thousands of incidents, and consulted for more than 60 organizations developing customized risk management systems. 

This episode provides an overview of how to look at personal safety when it comes to a gap year experience. Whether you are considering going with a structured program provider for your gap time or venturing out on a more independent or self-designed experience, this episode will provide you with resources and food for thought as you go about assessing these potential experiences. Additionally, we discuss mental, physical, and emotional health when it comes to a gap year and how to plan ahead to ensure that you are taking care of yourself to the best of your ability during this time.

Dave brings with him to the pod nearly three decades of experience working in the travel/experiential education realm and provides some invaluable resources and insights to the listeners!

You can find Dave and the folks at Cornerstone Safety Group online at cornerstonesafetygroup.org and on LinkedIn as well as by email at [email protected].

Happy Earth Month and Welcome to Season Eight of Gap Year Radio!

As we navigate the era of climate change, it's become increasingly crucial for us to consider the impact of our travel on the environment. With this in mind, let's delve into the world of sustainable travel and explore why it matters now more than ever before. Our guests Daniel Ponce-Taylor and Arantxa López Martínez are both world travelers, program directors and sustainability experts. This is a great episode to jump start your sustainable gap year thinking!

Find our full show notes will sustainable gap year tips at gapyearradiopodcast.com

You can find Arantxa and Spanish gap year online at SpanishGapYear.com

You can find Daniel online at ioi.ngo

You can find Gap Year Radio on instagram and facebook @gapyearradio or online at www.gapyearradiopodcast.com. You can email us your gap year questions or comments at [email protected]

You can download our show wherever you find your favorite podcasts, and if you have a moment, we’d love for you to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts so more people can discover Gap Year Radio!