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A big, hairy, audacious, what? Edwin van Rest (Studyportals) is larger than life, serious about fun and determined to change the world through international education. He joins Andy and Nick for a throwback TFTDL episode that feels like the good old days when we first started! 

We jump from Japan to Greece to the Netherlands as Edwin reflects on his travel adventures. From dressing up as 'RoboCap' at the AIEC conference, to witnessing a mafia hit in Athens, this is a cultural immersion experiment that you couldn't make up. 

Final boarding call: World tour, the world.

This episode is sponsored by Made Impact, the advocacy group aiming to tell one million stories that document the power of international education. For more information go to www.madeimpact.org 

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All eyes are on the university of Southampton as they prepare to open their Indian campus in August 2025. David Winstanley is the man making this dream a reality, so who is he? The TFTDL crew return to the airwaves on the day of the Air India crash, in a rare, new episode. 

We talk about cooking in India, the value of talking to each other, and the geological wonders of Japan - including how to turn your legs orange. Another love letter to the international education industry, tune in and feel inspired to take your next trip. 

Final boarding call: Kushima, Japan

This episode is sponsored by The PIE Live Asia Pacific event taking place on 29-30 July 2025. 

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Meet Jenny Wilkinson, the musical road warrior who became pro-vice chancellor (Liverpool Hope University). A proud Yorkshire lass, she never travels anywhere without a handbag full of Yorkshire tea and a tenor horn. She tells the TFTDL flight crew all about being bitten on the face by a spider, growing up in a family brass band and why she always leaves the light on. A living example of the transformative power of study abroad, she is on a mission to pay that forward. Essential listening for the international education community. 

Final boarding call: Venice, Italy

This episode is sponsored by the The PIE Live events happening around the world in 2025. For conference tickets and sponsorship details check out www.thepielive.com

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A working class hero, Damien Page (New Buckinghamshire University) is a Vice Chancellor who isn't interested in anything other than making a difference to real people, in the real world. He joins the TFTDL flight crew to tell us how a full moon party in Thailand started a voyage into education that transformed his life and many other along the way. 

Like three grumpy old mean, we reminisce over what was the golden age of travel and education. From food tours to food poisoning, we cover everything from the full English breakfast to seeing a cow for the first time. Proper podcasting, for proper folk. We continue. 

Final boarding call: Bangkok, Thailand

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Professor Eunice Simmons (University of Chester) is our first Vice Chancellor on the show! Proving we have listeners at the top of higher education food chain (one for the haters) this episode takes listeners on a trip to the tropical forests of Borneo, digging the Channel Tunnel and close encounters with a jaguar in Belize! 

The tallest trees in the forest often face the strongest winds - so what's it like to be a Vice Chancellor? What about a female Vice Chancellor? This is a fascinating insight into the vision, values and life-balance of someone leading by example and wanting to influence change. We are honoured to have Eunice as a guest, and she doesn't disappoint. 

Final boarding call: Sabah, Borneo

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Andy and Nick explain their extended absence from the podcast with a shocking revelation that a former guest had a job offer rescinded for appearing on the show because it was seen as 'unprofessional'! The podcast folklore grows but this can't be real, can it? 

Once we got over the sadness followed by incandescent rage - we decided to prove these haters wrong - by featuring Vice Chancellors and Pro Vice Chancellors in the next series of episodes. We literally couldn't get any more senior people to disprove this notion nonsense. 

We are also offering anonymity for those of you who want to share their stories but don't want to live in fear of not getting a really good job. How has it come to this? Upside is we might have enough content for a book! 

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Buy-a-donkey or more accurately "Baie Dankie" is the Afrikaans for thank you - a gratitude we owe the lovely Lesinda Leightly (PSI) for the sensory overload that is this episode. She takes the TFTDL flight crew on a road trip along the Garden Route to Cape Town. We stop to ride an ostrich, swim with sharks, ride a foofy slide and drink buckets of wine (sensibly). 

In the words of Shakira - Tsamina eh, eh / Waka waka, eh, eh / It's time for [South] Africa. So break out your baby wipes, wipe away your prejudices and live life like a millionaire on the Rand. 

Final boarding call: Cape Town, South Africa 

This episode is sponsored by The PIE Live leadership conferences taking place in Mumbai, Gold Coast, London and Boston in 2024. Find out more about tickets and sponsorship opportunities at www.thepielive.com 

Tales from the Departure Lounge is a Type Nine production for The PIE www.thepienews.com

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Recorded on Australia Day, Nik Higgin's (The Ambassador Platform) beams us in to Sydney, a harbour view and the smell of eucalyptus. Drink it in... and then blackout at a 7-Eleven. A loveable character with his own unique style, Nik's life view is to live and let live, including his desire to take off his shoes. He has some excellent travel hacks for frugal entrepreneurs doing business travel that are essential listening. 

It was always going to work. And with Nik championing TAP around the world, how could it not? Special thanks to the Melbourne family who looked after our man in his hour of need.

Final boarding call: Sydney, Australia 

This episode is sponsored by The PIE Live leadership conferences taking place in Mumbai, Gold Coast, London and Boston in 2024. Find out more about tickets and sponsorship opportunities at www.thepielive.com 

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At the age of 48, James Rice (IBT College) weighed 300 pounds (135kg/21.5 stone) was pre-diabetic, with high blood pressure and arthritis and could barely fit into XXXL shirts. Then one day a former student who he had supported to study in Canada, opened a gym, and James began a total life transformation. This episode is so surreal you couldn't make it up. From finding the Ark of the Covenant to becoming friends with Arnold Schwarzenegger, get ready to feel motivated for miracles.

'Put the cookie down' is reference to the line in Arnie film Jingle All The Way and James is the best-selling author of his body transformation memoirs in the The 100 Pound War. James encourages anyone to reach out for advice on health and weight loss inspired by this episode. www.100poundwar.com/

Final boarding call: Tigray, Ethiopia. 

This episode is sponsored by The PIE Live leadership conferences taking place in Mumbai, Gold Coast, London and Boston in 2024. Find out more about tickets and sponsorship opportunities at www.thepielive.com 

Tales from the Departure Lounge is a Type Nine production for The PIE www.thepienews.com

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In this short interlude episode we get to know Nat Cole, director of operations at The Ambassador Platform who have been sponsoring the podcast. We discuss the incredible student stories that have featured in recent episodes and Nat's own adventures learning to drive in India. 

Your stories, features the winners of our 'Road Warriors' photo competition on LinkedIn. Thank you all for your entries! We've loved your over-sharing and confessions. Until next time, safe travels everyone. 

Tales from the Departure Lounge is a Type Nine production for The PIE www.thepienews.com