The Inquisitive Tourist

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Todays episode receives two guests, Dee & Alicja.

Both are practicing interior designers who also run their own podcast ‘Tea Over Interiors: Your Weekly Dose of Wellness’ 

Based in New York & New Jersey, the focus of todays conversation is how to bring that vacation vibe back home. 

Often, we go on vacation because we need a sensory change, a break from our familiar surroundings and a chance to hit reset. Listen as some suggestions are made to personalise our living space and help us bring that fresh feeling back home, to make it a comfortable space we truly love.

The work of Dee & Alicja can be found at:

Instagram: 
https://www.instagram.com/truesdale_morrison_design

Facebook:
https://m.facebook.com/TruesdaleMorrisonDesign/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCligkg1drZq9JonILG1maQg

e: [email protected]

w: www.teaoverinteriors.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An explorer who goes by the name 'Greg Abandoned', is a Polish man who moved to the U.K. and who is now living in Beijing China.
He simply loves what he does - Urbex exploration, and yet his day job is as a Math teacher. His stories will leave you shocked, speechless and asking 'is that even possible?' - and absolutely make sure you listen right to the end! It will be worth it...

Welcome, Greg Abandoned.

Episode highlights:

• [00:01] - [15:00] Dayjob, background, divorce, regular life, meeting his neighbour, certain events led him into his new passion of Urbex.
• [15:01] - [30:00] - Theme of abandonment, divorce and family situation, post apocalyptic world, his move to england felt like home. Visit to Chernobyl with his neighbour made him feel like home, he knew this was what he wanted to do. Comparison of feeling at home, Visiting Chernobyl vs. Moving to England.
• [30:01] - [45:00] Feels lucky that he found his passion. Compares old buildings to modern, and lack of character these days. Craftsmanship is lost. The Kid inside. Flying half way across the world to take a picture..explorer with a camera, not a photographer.
• [45:01] - [01:00:00] Speaks about legalities, trespassing, getting caught..and leaving a date to explore on a whim. 
• [01:00:01] - [01:15:00] Hotel in renovation, and being caught. His job as a teacher, and keeping his urban life separate. Explaining to his boss what he does. Risk/Reward analysis of a trip. Solo vs with someone.
• [01:15:01] - [01:30:00] Different styles of explorers pictures discussed. Speaks about dangerous situations he's faced. Guard dog story in Bulgaria.
• [01:30:01] - [01:45:00] If no instagram would he still do this? Absolutely! Also speaks about use of tripod among explorers, and his choice not to use one.
• [01:45:01] - [02:00:00] He dances when he reaches his destination. Holy grail experience to come..speaks about abandoned space shuttle. Remotely controlled spaceship.
• [02:00:01] - [02:15:00] Meeting a taxi driver who agreed to take him to middle of a highway in Afghanistan. Speaks about velvet skies in the Afghan desert. Speaks about size of the shuttles. Hanger is size of a football field. Started crying with senses of achievement, speaks about best day of his life.
• [02:15:01] - [02:30:00] also found rocket in China. Speaks about international driving license needed for Japan expo. Just 8 hours at the airport! Journey back from the Hangers... 8 hours vs 14 going...he came back alone..
• [02:30:01] - [03:05:20] goes into extreme detail of journey back from the hangers. Some great storytelling in this part...
• [03:05:21] - [03:12:44] Great sign off from Greg Abandoned, speaks about his current projects, book, and what's next for him..absolutely fascinating conversation!

Find and follow his work:

w: gregabandoned.com
w: linktr.ee/gregabandoned
IG: @gregabandoned

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How beautiful is your voice?
Through diet and exercise, we can beautify our bodies, but can the same be done with our voice?
In todays episode we meet Sam, a professional voiceover artist and public speaker, who is eager to share his expertise on how we can improve our own communication skills, especially where public speaking is involved! He has recently released a book about how to do so!
Sit back, and enjoy the listen.

Welcome, Sam Kusi

Episode highlights:

• [01:28] - Our friendship spans almost two decades
• [02:20] - Public speaking since 2017, voiceover since 2018
• [03:30] - Voiceover takes can be done in PJ's, the beauty of voiceover! Cf. Public Speaking where you have to look the part
• [04:07] - Received professional training for public speaking, including the business side
• [07:07] - Speaks about logistics of voiceover work and gaining work, even when starting out. Profitability also discussed
• [10:30] - Sam has Ghanaian background, speaks Twi, but not done voiceover in this before
• [11:40] - Biggest audience in professional speaking, 2000+
• [12:50] - Speaks to: Decision makers, HR teams, policy makers, many audiences. Importance of humour, adapting to each audience also discussed. 'Vocal Hyperbole' - what a line!
• [16:33] - Over 100 voiceover gigs and counting. Speaks about the 10,000 hour theory of mastery - fascinating!
• [19:27] - 10k hours, should motivate all! Sam's passion in his work very evident
• [20:30] - Most challenging / enjoyable gigs? Feeling of narrating his own book was beautiful and liberating
• [24:15] - 1h of finished audio takes 2h on average, Sam achieves 1.5x at times
• [26:00] - Sam gives us a line pretending to be doing voiceover. Hilarious and totally unexpected!!!
• [28:33] - Introducing Sam's new book 'Voiceover & Public Speaking Prowess', released early 2022
• [30:30] - 'We can hear what you're not saying' - chapter 3 discussed, importance of body language
• [33:30] - 'Eat and drink vocal clarity' - chapter 7 discussed, idea of diet helping your voice through diet
• [35:40] - 'Make fear your friend' - chapter 8, public speaking terrifies many, one of the biggest human fears. How to conquer this fear!
• [40:23] - 'The public speaking dark horse - well chosen questions', chapter 10 discussed. In essence, by constructing questions that speak to the subconscious mind. Rhetorical questions & their importance gives dignity to audience
• [43:51] - For people listening who doubt themselves, Sam gives his advice. Substance over flash!
• [45:31] - For people already established as a speaker, how can they raise their game and hone skillset to next level, how book will help? "Every great teacher is forever a student, leaders are readers!"
• [47:48] - Where can people find your book & you work? Amazon, paperback, ebook, audiobook via audible, apple books.

Find Sam's work below:

https://amzn.to/3zV3tq6 (Paperback)
https://amzn.to/33iuR5t (eBook)
https://adbl.co/3oVpaSX (Audible)

w: http://www.samkusi.com/ (Public Speaking)
w: http://www.samkusivoice.com/ (Voiceover)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-kusi-16b502137/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6iZfAKkGaPDqFE6ocJOMjB

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Ever thought about relocating to a caribbean island?
D.R. is high on the list of many.
Todays episode is the second in a series I am doing with resident Dominican Julio Diaz.
Todays focus will be all about the cultural background of the island.

Welcome, Julio Diaz

Episode highlights:

• [02:00] - Gives percentage breakdown of ancestry on the island 
• [05:40] - Hispaniola discussed, Haiti x D.R.
• [08:35] - Split after France x Spain fought
• [09:00] - Key differences between Haitians and Dominicans, food, people, music. Taíno/Indigenous background
• [14:00] - Dictators in both places, but more mistakes in Haiti led to more issues.
• [15:30] - Rafael Trujillo legacy discussed, assassination in 1961. Many presidents since.
• [18:40] - Parsley massacre mentioned, Trujillo was the worst, 
• [20:05] - Wealth of Trujillo ended up in Spain, via big ship. Won’t find this history in many books. His body is actually in Spain too.
• [23:40] - el monumento, in Santiago, what it signifies and when built(1953), angel of peace statue
• [29:13] - Zona colonial in Santo Domingo and Santiago briefly compared
• [30:11] - Things exported, coffee, honey, cocoa, sugar cane, beautiful stones(like larimar), USA big client
• [33:50] - Relationships between Dominicans and Haitians discussed
• [37:37] - Languages of Haitians
• [39:25] - Island divided or less tensions in the generation ahead? Standard of living also discussed. Tensions highest at the border, but in general things are good.

Contact Julio Diaz:

e: [email protected]
w: https://linktr.ee/Grupopaternina

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World renowned expert in Reproductive Immunology, Dr Hassan Shehata, has helped thousands of women and their partners around the world go full term with their pregnancy, including those who have suffered more than 30 miscarriages in a row! Despite the emotional pain this causes, as well as the inclination to just give up, no case is seen as a lost cause by Dr Hassan.
In the first half of the episode, we get taken on a wild journey, exploring Dr Hassan's formative years in Sudan, as well as his survival of a near death experience at the hands of political extremists. He went to Camboni college in Khartoum, and tells us of many amazing personal stories.
Welcome, Dr Hassan.

Episode highlights:

• [01:50] - Born in 1964, Madani. Spent 3 years of childhood in London
• [04:25] - Sudanese & Egyptian blood. Family full of professionals
• [05:42] - Mother was a lawyer, but chose to be housewife. His father was one of 13. Worked in Port, Sudan, by Red Sea & met his mother
• [08:24] - Low points in Sudan mentioned. Medical School of Khartoum, only 120 students out of entire country. 1988 graduated, 1989 Imprisoned.
• [13:10] - Imprisoned again. Taken to a 'Ghost House' by secret police. Some of his colleagues were killed
• [15:05]* - Corrupt Doctor at Ghost House came to U.K. & trained! Dr Hassan alerted others & stopped him from progressing
• [20:55] - Suffered severe sleep deprivation at the hands of his torturers. Russian Roulette was played
• [22:50] - PTSD & how it took him a long time to speak about it all. Felt he had less torture than others because because he was 'less political'
• [23:57] - Day of release, told he would be assassinated. Intense events that followed
• [28:00] - Fled Sudan, Egyptian Ambassador of Khartoum was friendly with his father. They had planned his flight out. Had to leave fiancé Salma in Sudan to flee, not knowing when he would see anyone again
• [32:00] - His family stayed hopeful throughout, and his family had incredible foresight
• [33:10] - Speaks about Camboni College, and is full of praise for it! Amazing for ethnic & racial tolerance
• [37:20] - When he first developed his love for medicine. Graduates of Camboni are leaders.
• [40:30] - Dr Hassan has 4 children of his own. His love of Liverpool FC.
• [43:30] - Being a family man helps him be sympathetic on an emotional level
• [45:10] - CEO of CRP Clinic. Started clinic 15 years ago. Also works for NHS. Only specialised clinic worldwide. Success rates over 80%
• [48:00] - 1,500 patients yearly. Enjoys managing them as a couple. Male partner just as important as female.
• [51:45] - Controversial question
• [55:00] - Most common issues discussed, reproductive immunology
• [59:15] - Question on foreign genetic material. What keeps the pregnancy? The immune system. Immune suppressive drugs are used to help.
• [01:02:10] - Someone listening and wants help after multiple miscarriages. Nobody is a lost cause
• [01:05:50] - Gives example of couple with 18 miscarriages
• [01:09:00] - Percentage chance of repeated failure/success with each try
• [01:13:30] - The amazing feeling of seeing the ones he's helped over the years
• [01:14:30] - Connecting the intensity of his trials to being able to help ones now
• [01:18:20] - Speaks us through his daily routine
• [01:21:30] - Takes joys and sadnesses of his patients along with him. Planning to retire at 60, but preparing the clinic to continue
• [01:24:30] - He married Salma the year after but never had a wedding
• [01:27:30] - A funny moment!
• [01:28:00] - Super emotional story about new purchase Villa Fabrizio, plans for Sardinia, Italy & other travel plans. Will keep the name as Fabrizio! Emotional embrace from all.

w: www.crpclinic.co.uk

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Ex revenue manager of international company Groupon (EMEA).
This man has visited in excess of 60 countries. A true travel connoisseur with amazing stories to boot! He also worked at Groupon Travel for over 8 years, and has gained considerable expertise in staycation / domestic travel advice for the U.K, building bespoke travel packages.
Let's get to know him!
Welcome, Brendan O'Neill.

Episode highlights:

• [01:10] - Based in North East Poland, Olsztyn, with polish wife Karina and son.
• [02:50] - Born & raised east coast South Africa, left at 21 to London U.K. after finishing degree
• [03:40] - Speaks about difficult history in South Africa, born during apartheid era. Cape Town one of the most beautiful cities in the world!
• [05:15] - Love of travel began after moving to London, taking small interrail trip
• [06:14] - Saved for a trip by doing a clinical trial phase 2. 1x weekly injection insulin. Collected £2,800.00 tax free! Risk-Reward ratio, Phase 1 more risky but higher paid
• [10:40] - Connecting to nature through travel
• [12:50] - Inherited wanderlust from hippie parents, van life couple in 70's
• [13:55] - India, Cambodia, Thailand in 2008
• [15:58] - Chased wild asses through the desert of India
• [17:30] - Discusses Torres Del Paine / Galapagos string of islands / Maldives, cruise ships in Galapagos
• [20:40] - Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe. Malawi stood out for acts of kindness
• [23:30] - Diving in Zanzibar caused ear infection, choice of expensive medication vs food
• [25:00] - Growth through adversity when travelling. Appreciation of fellowship & fellow humans
• [26:55] - Integrate and engage in local traditions & cultures
• [28:10] - Eastern Europe trip with wife, 15 countries in 45 days
• [33:30] - Wife works in tailor made holidays/tours outside of Europe. Bespoke packages.
• [34:44] - Reducing emissions from travel - passionate about achieving carbon neutral world. Discuss carbon emissions per passenger km.
• [38:08] - Worked for Groupon for 8 years, expert in staycation travel. Revenue management. Customer demand, where/when people are travelling. Generate demand through packaging & pricing
• [39:27] - Been to every national park in U.K. Favourites: Lake District is world beating. Pembrokeshire coast, exmoor. Wild ponies in Exmoor. AONB parks - Area of Natural Beauty.
• [42:00] - weekend vs weekday pricing. City trip/National Parks. Hotels in cities full all the time except sunday nights. Importance of seasons.
• [45:21] - Thinks U.K. most beautiful country in the world in Spring. Bluebells, birdsong.
• [46:40] - Building vacation packages at Groupon. Most popular & recommended, ones with spa breaks or dinner included
• [49:00] - Groupon great place to buy gifts
• [49:30] - Since Covid pandemic, exploded demand for domestic travel. Similar trend worldwide. Some prices went 3 or 4x.
• [50:50] - Spoke about 'overtourism' and impact on local infrastructure
• [52:07] - Travel culture within Poland discussed, 23 national parks here!
• [53:20] - COVID / COP26 / Carbon footprint & future of Long Distance Travel
• [55:40] - Be a tourist in your local area when possible
• [57:10] - Climate tax / frequent flyer tax. Average flyer won't be affected too much
• [58:55] - Encourages local nature connection
• [59:30] - Brendan wants to get into the Sustainable Energy industry, will continue in Poland with his wife (who does photography) & son

Follow their work:

IG: @karina_fotografuje

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