The Maverick Show: Global Travel Stories & Life Beyond Borders

Learn the real nuances of travel safety, develop a personal risk profile, leave your comfort zone, and travel better.

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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

Beth Santos returns to The Maverick Show and starts off talking about the latest developments in the Wanderful community and what it offers to female travelers today.  She then talks about the upcoming WITS Travel Creator Summit and Bessie Awards that Matt will also be attending.  Next, Beth discusses her new book:  Wanderwoman: How to Reclaim Your Space, Find Your Voice, and Travel the World Solo.  She reflects on her choice of the title and her decision to platform the voices and perspectives of a very diverse array of travelers.  Beth then explains the importance of challenging and reframing the women’s travel safety narrative, creating a personal risk profile, and intentionally leaving your comfort zone. She also talks about how to make more thoughtful economic, environmental, and cultural choices while traveling. Beth reflects on a major travel lesson she learned in an Istanbul barbershop, and offers some tips on navigating relationships with loved ones who haven’t had the same transformative travel experiences that you have.  She also explains why travel doesn’t automatically make you a more enlightened person.  Finally, Beth gives tips on finding travel experiences wherever you are and how we can be at home wherever we find ourselves.

→ 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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ENJOYING THE SHOW?

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Learn how to travel ethically, immerse in local cultures, and discover unusual destinations beyond your bucket list.

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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

In Part 2 of my interview with Harry Mitsidis, we start off talking about travel ethics, including how to avoid voyeurism and objectification of local communities, particularly low-income and vulnerable groups.  Harry shares tips on how to travel in ways that are more socially responsible and environmentally sustainable, and how to design culturally immersive experiences.  He then talks about his platform, NomadMania, and explains how it has divided the world into 1301 culturally distinct regions to visit.  Harry describes the free tools and resources available on the NomadMania site for travelers to plan, track, measure, and visualize their travels.  He also explains the gamification, awards, verifications, and how travelers can improve their ranking for both the slowness of their travel and the recency of their travel.  Harry then talks about NomadMania’s “Series” lists of travel ideas by category, including the DARE (Distinctive Alternative Remote Extremes) list, as well as their in-person events and trips.  Finally, he reflects on how travel has impacted him, how his conception of travel has changed over time, and why he continues to travel today.

→ 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)

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

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

Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear travel stories and lessons from 1 of only 3 people on the planet who has visited every country in the world twice.

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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

Harry Mitsidis joins Matt for a wide-ranging discussion of his extensive travels.  He starts off talking about his cultural background, and how his interest in sociology overlapped with his passion for travel.  He then shares about his experience learning 10 languages, including Serbian, and gives detailed recommendations for places to visit in Serbia.  Next, he talks about his experiences in Ukraine and Palestine, and why both places are special to him.  Harry then shares stories from his 4 visits to Yemen, including his experience getting arrested and spending a night in jail.  Matt and Harry then reflect on the bribery economy in certain places around the world.  Next, Harry talks about his road trip around Nigeria, his visits to Somalia, and his travels across the Democratic Republic of Congo, including his experience going gorilla trekking there.

→ 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)

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

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

Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how world schooling, family-focused nomad communities, and multiple income streams can make long-term travel work.

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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

Cara Celeste West joins Matt to talk about her decision to travel the world full-time with her husband and toddler.  She explains the concept of “world schooling” and describes how it has worked in practice for her two-year-old daughter. Cara talks about the company “Boundless Life” which provides turnkey solutions to help families slow travel the world by providing accommodations, education and social interaction for kids, workspace access for the parents, and local cultural immersion events.  She describes what she and her family loved about living in Portugal, living on the Greek Island of Syros, and she gives tips for eating vegan while traveling the world.  Cara also reflects on travel safety as a Black woman and gives tips on nomading full time with a toddler.  She then talks about her journey becoming a professional content creator and gives tips for growing a social media audience, monetizing your content, and building multiple streams of income.  Cara then talks about her choice to use her platform to raise awareness about injustice, and talks about her personal journey learning about the Palestinian struggle and taking a stand against the genocide.  Finally, she reflects on the impact travel has had on her as a person, on her marriage, and on her daughter.

→ 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)

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

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

Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn tips for Queer travelers, Queer dating in the digital nomad lifestyle, and being in solidarity with Palestine.

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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

This is Part 2 of Matt and Dianni’s afternoon wine sesh.  Dianni shares travel tips and resources for Queer digital nomads.  She also talks about Queer dating in the digital nomad lifestyle.  Next, Dianni talks about hosting the “While She’s Away” podcast, and discusses one of her interviews with a Palestinian guest.  She describes her own journey learning about the Palestinian struggle, and why she is now committed to both using her online platform and protesting in the streets in solidarity with the Palestinians. Finally, Dianni reflects on the impact all of this travel has had on her as a person.

→ 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)

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

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

Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear Dianni’s stories and reflections as a Queer Latina slow-traveling through India, Spain, Vietnam, Greece and Brazil.

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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.

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

ON THIS EPISODE

Hear Dianni’s stories and reflections as a Queer Latina slow-traveling through India, Spain, Vietnam, Greece and Brazil. Dianni joins Matt for an afternoon wine sesh.  They start talking about the immigrant experience of Dianni’s parents, and Dianni then reflects on her journey embracing her Guatemalan and Puerto Rican heritage, as well as her Queer identity.  She also talks about her interest in world travel, and how her journey as a full-time solo world traveler began in India.  Dianni opens up about the transformative experience she had while staying at an Ashram with other women and shaving her head.  She then talks about her journey traveling across Vietnam by motorcycle, living in Spain, and sailing the Greek Islands.  Finally, Dianni talks about the magical experience of attending the largest LGBTQIA+ Pride Celebration in the world in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

→ 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)

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

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

Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how Vanessa Fondeur is diversifying the face of travel and empowering the Latino community to travel the world.

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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.

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

ON THIS EPISODE

Vanessa Fondeur joins Matt for a wine night and they start off reminiscing about the time they went out in Louisville, Kentucky and Vanessa borrowed a cowboy hat to ride a mechanical bull.  She then talks about her experience growing up in the Dominican Republic, moving to New York City at age 17, and going to college and grad school in upstate New York.  Vanessa explains how her interest in travel developed, shares stories from her study abroad experience in Spain, and the path that led her to become a teacher.  She talks about her travels to Egypt and the UAE and then explains how she started taking her students all over the world, from Spain to China, and what impact that had on them.  Next, Vanessa talks about diving the Great Barrier Reef in Australia without being able to swim and then explains how she met her husband through a travel mishap and planned a destination wedding in Thailand.  She opens up about why her first trips to China and Mexico were so emotional for her and then describes her journey to Antarctica.  Vanessa then talks about founding the “Latino World Travelers” community, and how you can attend the next “Latino Travel Fest” and get a special Maverick Discount.

→ 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)

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

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

Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Hear how returning to the Philippines and reconnecting with her roots reshaped what meaningful travel means to her.

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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

In Part 2 of this interview, Geleen talks about moving to Chicago and what she loves about the city.  She then explains how she transitioned into a full-time digital nomad lifestyle, and the impact all of this travel has had on her.  Geleen also talks about her podcast “Travel not to Escape” and how she helps women create exciting lives of travel.  And, finally, she reflects on the impact of returning to her homeland of the Philippines as an adult and reconnecting with her family, roots, and culture.

→ 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)

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

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

Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn how to create impactful travel experiences rooted in personal transformation, authentic connection, and play.

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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.

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

ON THIS EPISODE

Geleen Antonio joins Matt from the Philippines.  She starts off reflecting on her experience coming up in California and navigating her Filipina-American identity.  Geleen talks about growing up in an immigrant home, the impact of a study abroad experience, her path to self-empowerment, and how she started to travel the world.  She then explains how she used to travel to escape, but how she is now intentional about designing transformative travel experiences and teaching other women how to do the same.  Geleen shares some of her most epic adventures from skydiving to paragliding to white-water rafting around the world.  She explains how they have impacted her, and why she uses skydiving as a metaphor for coaching other women on how to chart a path to self-empowerment and create a life of travel that they truly love.

→ 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)

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

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

Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!

Learn about burlesque, Afro-diasporic dance, telling Black stories, and whether BIPOC travelers can be colonizers too.

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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.

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

ON THIS EPISODE

Janna Zinzi joins Matt from New Orleans and they talk about meeting at Nomadness Fest.  Janna then talks about growing up in New York during the golden era of hip hop in the 90s.  She reflects on the role of dance in her life as a young person, and the history and significance of BIPOC women in burlesque.  Janna then talks about how she started traveling the world and telling Black stories.  She shares some of her top travel experiences from Haiti to Napoli to Costa Rica, and reflects on the type of travel stories she chooses to write about. Janna then shares some key takeaways from her talk to Nomadness Fest about whether BIPOC travelers can be colonizers too.  She also offers tips for people from dominant groups on how we can be better allies as we move through the world and create content about our travels.  Janna then reflects on teaching burlesque, connecting with cultures through dance, and the impact that travel has had on her.  Finally, she talks about co-founding WanderWomxn for BIPOC women and gender expansive travelers.

→ 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)

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

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

Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!