Learn about backdoor diplomacy, pink imperialism, colonial history & why slower travel can create deeper connections.

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ON THIS EPISODE

Ross OC Jennings tells the story of meeting his husband Travis and building a relationship centered around a life of travel. He reflects on living in Guatemala and the Philippines, navigating countries where homosexuality is criminalized, and the complex dynamics of queer travel across different cultural contexts. Ross also shares why Mozambique holds a special place in his heart, what playing the bagpipes around the world taught him about colonial history and cultural exchange, and how returning to Shanghai nearly 30 years after moving there as a child affected his understanding of identity and home. He then talks about his show So Where’s It From? And, finally, he reflects the responsibility travel content creators have when telling other people’s stories, the limitations of country counting and achievement-oriented travel, and why slowing down has ultimately led to deeper connections and more meaningful experiences around the world.

→ Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here.

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Discover how an unlikely instrument opened doors, crossed cultures and turned travel adventures into human connection.

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ON THIS EPISODE

Ross OC Jennings shares how growing up in China shaped his identity, curiosity and relationship with travel. He reflects on his childhood in Shanghai, learning Mandarin, navigating reverse culture shock at boarding school in the UK, and eventually combining his passion for travel with his Scottish heritage to pursue an audacious global bagpiping quest. Ross tells stories of a tense police encounter in Tunisia that took an unexpected turn, playing on the Yamuna River in front of the Taj Mahal, performing for Bhutanese royalty, piping beside an erupting volcano in Guatemala, playing atop the Burj Khalifa, and even performing at 35,000 feet on a commercial flight. Along the way, he explains what he discovered about the surprising global history of the bagpipes, cultural identity, respectful travel, and the extraordinary ways music can break down barriers between people.

→ Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here.

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FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE

Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests.

============================

FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU

See my Top 10 Travel Apps

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See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)

Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn

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Discover why Chris believes the most meaningful and important travel stories begin where headlines and stereotypes end.

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ON THIS EPISODE

How do you tell compelling stories about places that are often misunderstood? In this episode, Chris Joondeph reflects on the lessons he's learned from traveling to more than 170 countries and creating one of the world's largest travel communities on social media. Through conversations about Syria, Iran, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Turkmenistan, Algeria, Malawi, and beyond, Chris explores the responsibilities of travel creators, the importance of context over sensationalism, and why genuine human connection is essential to understanding the world. He also shares how traveling with his father after the loss of his mother transformed both of their perspectives, and why curiosity, humility, and firsthand experience continue to shape the stories he chooses to tell.

→ Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here.

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FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE

Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests.

============================

FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU

See my Top 10 Travel Apps

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See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)

Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn

See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend

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Hear how a trip to Nigeria became a lifelong commitment to a country, a culture, and a completely different way of life.

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ON THIS EPISODE

How does an American traveler go from teaching English in Thailand to building a life in Nigeria? In this episode, Chris Joondeph shares the remarkable journey that led him from growing up in the United States to living abroad, studying international affairs, maximizing airline travel to explore the world, and ultimately falling in love with Nigeria. Chris reflects on meeting his wife, embracing Yoruba traditions through their traditional wedding and marriage ceremonies, relocating to Lagos, and co-founding Authentic Traveling Tours to help visitors experience Nigeria through local relationships and genuine cultural immersion. Along the way, he shares why Lagos is best explored with locals, the places in Nigeria that have captured his heart, and how meaningful travel can grow into a life, a community, and a true sense of home.

→ Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here.

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FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE

Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests.

============================

FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU

See my Top 10 Travel Apps

See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel

See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)

Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn

See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend

See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use)

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Hear how facing fear, embracing discomfort and sharing the journey with Grace reshaped Jason's perspective on life.

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ON THIS EPISODE

Jason Wang takes you behind the scenes of his journey to complete the Seven Summits, from the moment a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro inspired an impossible dream to the years of preparation that culminated on the summit of Mount Everest. He shares what it was really like to spend more than 45 days on the mountain, explains the dangers of the Khumbu Icefall and the Death Zone, recounts the scariest moments of his summit push, and reveals why descending from Everest can be even more dangerous than reaching the top. Jason also reflects on his expeditions to Antarctica, visiting the South Pole, climbing alongside his relationship partner Grace, and the profound lessons these extraordinary experiences taught him about fear, resilience, relationships, and what truly matters in life.

→ Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here.

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FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE

Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests.

============================

FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU

See my Top 10 Travel Apps

See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel

See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)

Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn

See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend

See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use)

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Hear how selling his startup, falling in love with travel, and reconnecting with China transformed Jason's life.

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Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds.

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ON THIS EPISODE

Jason Wang shares his experience growing up in a Chinese immigrant family in the San Francisco Bay Area, building and selling a Silicon Valley startup, and tells the story of how one trip to Europe completely changed the trajectory of his life. He explains how he fell in love with travel, visited 185 countries, and why he believes now is the perfect time to explore China. He reflects on returning to his birthplace of Nanjing nearly 40 years later, and takes listeners from the futuristic skyline of Chongqing to the Ice & Snow Festival in Harbin. He also tells stories from his travels in West Africa, from music festivals in the legendary city of Timbuktu in Mali to meeting the sacred crocodiles of Burkina Faso. He then reflects on the impact of connecting with Chinese diaspora communities across Africa and around the world. Jason also shares how years of designing entire trips around food have shaped the way he experiences cultures and reveals some of the most memorable culinary experiences from his travels around the world.

→ Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here.

============================

FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE

Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests.

============================

FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU

See my Top 10 Travel Apps

See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel

See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)

Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn

See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend

See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use)

============================

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Learn why visitors leave Nigeria with transformed perceptions, lifelong friendships, and a changed view of the country.

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ON THIS EPISODE

What makes Nigeria one of the world's most misunderstood travel destinations? In this episode, Adenike Joondeph (Dara) shares why she is passionate about helping visitors experience the country's warmth, hospitality, and rich cultural traditions beyond the headlines. She reflects on meeting her husband Chris, building Authentic Traveling Tours, and creating immersive journeys that introduce travelers to Lagos, Yoruba culture, local communities, and everyday life in Nigeria. Along the way, Dara discusses how international visitors' perceptions transform through genuine human connection, why more people should consider traveling to Nigeria, and how authentic cultural experiences can foster greater understanding across borders.

→ Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here.

============================

FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE

Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests.

============================

FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU

See my Top 10 Travel Apps

See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel

See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)

Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn

See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend

See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use)

============================

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Hear how visa barriers, border crossings, and global travel reshaped Dara's perspective about the world—and herself.

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ON THIS EPISODE

What does it take to visit over 100 countries on one of the world's most restrictive passports? In this episode, Adenike Daramola Joondeph (Dara) shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Lagos and boarding her first airplane in 2017 to becoming one of Nigeria's most widely traveled people. She reflects on the visa rejections, border crossings, and bureaucratic hurdles she overcame to explore more than 100 countries, while revealing how those experiences transformed her perspective on the world, Africa, and her own identity. Along the way, Dara shares unforgettable stories from destinations across Africa, Europe, Central America, the Middle East, and Brazil, offering a powerful conversation about resilience, global travel, cultural exchange, and what it means to see the world through a Nigerian passport.

→ Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here.

============================

FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE

Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests.

============================

FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU

See my Top 10 Travel Apps

See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel

See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)

Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn

See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend

See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use)

============================

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Hear how an act of kindness in Cameroon, an enduring love story & relentless determination got Thor to the finish line.

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ON THIS EPISODE

In Part 2 of this interview, Thor Pedersen recounts the most harrowing chapters of his nearly decade-long quest to become the first person to visit every country in the world in one unbroken journey without flying. He shares the life-threatening experiences that nearly ended his journey in Central Africa, the emotional breaking point in Cameroon that left him ready to quit, and the extraordinary act of kindness by a local moto-taxi driver that restored his determination to continue. Thor also tells the unforgettable story of proposing to his future wife atop Mount Kenya, reflects on spending two unexpected years stranded in Hong Kong during the pandemic, and reveals what it truly felt like to complete one of the greatest travel expeditions in history—and finally come home after nearly ten years on the road.

→ Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here.

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FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE

Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests.

============================

FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU:

See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads

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See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)

Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn

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Learn what inspired Thor's impossible journey and why he now believes a stranger is a friend you’ve never met before.

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ON THIS EPISODE

Thor Pedersen shares the remarkable story behind his decision to try and become the first person to visit every country in the world without flying in a single unbroken journey. He explains how his experiences as a UN peacekeeper in Eritrea and Ethiopia, living in Libya, and working in global logistics shaped his outlook before embarking on what he thought would be a four-year adventure that ultimately lasted nearly a decade. Thor also recounts unforgettable experiences traveling on cargo ships, reflects on the profound impact of crossing borders and connecting with strangers around the world, and opens up about the heartbreaking moment in Libya that forever changed the way he thinks about global inequality, migration, and our shared humanity.

→ Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here.

============================

FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU:

See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads

See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads

See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)

Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn

See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend

See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use)

============================

ENJOYING THE SHOW?

Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation

Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally

You can buy me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!