The Maverick Show: Global Travel Stories & Life Beyond Borders

Hear how living abroad fits into her financial plan and shapes her views on identity, dating, motherhood, and wellness.

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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

On this episode, Matt passes the mic and, instead of interviewing the guest himself, he publishes an episode of the “Flourish in the Foreign” podcast, where Christine Job interviews Jackie Omotalde.  Jackie begins by reflecting on her first study abroad experience in Germany at age 16, and then talks about attending Spellman College and explains the impact of HBCUs. Next, she discusses her professional trajectory that led her to live and work in Ethiopia.  Jackie then shares her experience living in Indonesia on a Fulbright scholarship, as well as lessons from her time working in Silicon Valley.  She also reflects on nomading as a Black woman, dating abroad, and traveling the world with her daughter.  Jackie then discusses Black American vs. African identity dynamics, especially when living on the continent of Africa.  She also talks about learning and speaking foreign languages, and how living abroad fits into her overall financial plan.  Jackie then shares advice specifically for Black women that aspire to live abroad or who are already traveling the world.  And, finally, she reflects on how her “slow-mad” travel style contributes to her wellness.

→ 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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Learn how repeated burnout changed the way a 15-year nomad balances stability, new experiences, work, and world travel.

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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

Digital nomad influencer Kristin Wilson returns to the Maverick Show for the fourth time.  Kristin starts off by sharing her reflections on the digital nomad life after 15 years of world travel.  She then talks about her newest passion and professional endeavor of becoming a DJ, and explains how she has integrated it into her nomad life by booking gigs around the world and playing at nomad conferences and parties.  Kristin then reflects on her years of hosting the “Bad Ass Digital Nomads” podcast and growing the “Traveling with Kristin” YouTube channel to over 150,000 subscribers, with many viral videos getting well over a million views.  She discusses strategies for growing your audience and shares different ways to monetize your content.  Kristin then talks about her experience writing and publishing the “Digital Nomads for Dummies” book, and Matt reflects on how unique and valuable the book is for any nomad. Next, Kristin talks about her “Ready to Relocate” business and shares the various pivots and iterations of her relocation business over the years.  She then reflects on “burnout”.  Kristin shares stories of the multiple times she has burned out over the years, as well as the lessons and awareness she now uses to structure her lifestyle and create a healthy balance between stability and new experiences.  And, finally, after 15 years of traveling, she reflects on what travel means to her 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!

Learn practical ways to prioritize wellness while traveling, from minimalist packing to mental health and self-care.

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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

Youmie Jean Francois joins Matt in-person for this conversation in Dakar, Senegal.  They start talking about their time together in Dakar and what they love about Senegal.  Then, they discuss the “Stylish Minimalist Packing” workshop that they co-facilitated for other world travelers on the Remote Year program and give tips on how to travel the world with carry-on luggage only.  Next, Youmie talks about her experience growing up in Haiti and moving to New York City at age 6.  She reflects on coming up in the Bronx during the golden era of hip hop, becoming a professional dancer, and then eventually leaving the industry, becoming a location-independent entrepreneur, and starting to travel the world.  Youmie tells the story of her first solo trip to Montreal, reflects on how she fell in love with world travel, and explains why she now loves Colombia so much.  She then opens up about her own journey with mental health and wellness, and explains why it is such a central part of her life, her business, and her personal values.  She shares advice on travel wellness for nomads, gives specific tips for entrepreneurs, and talks about the overall importance of prioritizing Black mental health and wellness.  Youmie then shares her entrepreneurial journey founding Flex-n-Fly to bridge the gap between travel and wellness, talks about her products, The Flex|Bag and The Flex|Mat, and also shares resources on how to patronize more Black-owned businesses.  Finally, she reflects on what travel means to her. 

→ 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 years of nomad life inspired a new way to build community, stay connected, and find belonging around 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.

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ON THIS EPISODE

In Part 2 of this interview, Sharon and Matt talk about their love for Chile.  They discuss the Chilean poet and activist Pablo Neruda, the film Il Postino, the incredible street art in Valparaiso, and the unbelievable stargazing in the Atacoma Desert.  Sharon then shares 3 separate experiences attending the “Day of the Dead” festivities in Mexico.  Next, she discusses wine appreciation and traveling the world for world class wine tasting experiences.  Sharon tells a story about a wine tasting experience that got interrupted during the 2019 uprising in Chile while she was there.  She then reflects on the different work-travel programs she has patronized as well as the co-living spaces and hostel networks she has tried over the years, and gives recommendations and tips on which ones might be right for you.  Next, Sharon tells the story of founding the “Overlap” App for digital nomads, explains its functionality and utility, and offers her future vision for the app. And, finally, she reflects on what travel means to her.

→ 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 career setbacks and negotiating remote work opened the door to the global life behind her wild travel stories.

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

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

Sharon Rosenberg joins Matt over a bottle of wine in Dakar, Senegal as they reflect on their four months together in Africa. Sharon then talks about growing up in northern California, studying abroad in Cape Town, and eventually becoming a full time digital nomad.  She reflects on the cultural lessons learned from attending her first wedding in India and her first wedding in Vietnam.  Sharon also shares a story about doing a stopover in China and nearly winding up in immigration prison. She then talks about her career setbacks, pivots, and experience negotiating remote work arrangements with her employers.  Next, Sharon talks about her first Remote Year trip that ended in Sofia, Bulgaria, and explains why Bulgaria is now her favorite European country.  And, finally, Matt and Sharon talk about Italy and why they both love the gritty, authentic beauty of Palermo and Napoli. 

→ 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 why finding her true passion later in life taught her to embrace bold pivots and pursue what makes her feel alive.

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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

Jessea Lu describes her experiences free diving with Killer Whales in Norway, Humpback Whales in Tonga, and Blue Whales in Sri Lanka.  She also talks about her experience traveling to Antarctica through the Drake Passage and then free diving and interacting with animals there.  Jessea explains the differences between scuba diving and free diving and why she prefers free diving.  She also talks about why she continues to travel the world and what travel means to her today.  And, finally, she opens up about finding her true passion later in life and shares life advice about not being afraid to pivot towards your true passion at any age.

→ 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 the mental techniques behind elite freediving and why modeling underwater with sharks proved even more terrifying.

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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

Jessea Lu and Matt chat in person over a bottle of wine in Nairobi Kenya.  Jessea begins by sharing her recent experience on Lamu Island, then reflects on her first trip to Africa, and also talks about her travel priorities around connecting with nature and wild animals.  She then shares the upcoming horseback safari through Maasai Mara that she has booked in Kenya for next summer. Next, Jessea talks about her experience growing up in a mid-size city in China, and then attending college in Beijing and getting into hip-hop music.  She then reflects on coming to the U.S. to do her PhD, why she started traveling the world, how she discovered scuba diving, and highlights from her first liveaboard trip.  Jessea then talks about her move to Hawaii, how she discovered free diving and shares her path to becoming a competitive international free diver.  She explains the mental techniques and benefits of becoming a great free diver, and then reflects on peak performance and shares how she becomes the #1 all-around female free diver in the world.  And, finally, she talks about her experience as an underwater model and how modeling dresses at the bottom of the ocean surrounded by sharks was significantly more scary and difficult than international freediving competitions.

→ 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 racism, passport privilege, and unequal freedom of movement shaped her perspective on travel and opportunity.

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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

Eva Adongo joins Matt for this in-person interview in her home country of Kenya.  She starts off by talking about her favorite travel experiences and recommendations inside of Kenya.  Matt and Eva then talk about their respective experiences hiking Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.  Next, Eva talks about growing up in Kenya, starting to travel, and reflects on her experiences in different countries on the continent—from Mozambique to Botswana to Zimbabwe, and how she used to bungee jump for free over Victoria Falls during her college days.  She also reflects on the British colonial influence on the Kenyan education system, and the importance of independent intellectual inquiry.  Eva then talks about her decision to move to Afghanistan, and reflects on the lessons and impact of living there for over two years.  She also talks about her experiences living in Haiti and Myanmar and how that shaped her.  Eva shares her favorite Caribbean islands, her encounters with racism in Southeast Asia, her reflections on “passport privilege”, and the dynamics of traveling to 100 countries on a Kenyan passport.  She then talks about the founding of her YouTube Channel “Traveling with Eva Mtali”, how she uses it as a platform to educate and empower people to re-locate or travel the world, and why she especially focuses on supporting people from Kenya and other countries without a strong passport.  Finally, Eva describes her experience attending Carnival in Rio de Janeiro and then reflects on why she continues to travel and what travel means to her 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!

Learn how looking beyond mainstream U.S. media can deepen political awareness and change how you experience 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.

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ON THIS EPISODE

Tammer Abiyu shares his recent experience visiting the Rwanda Genocide Memorial in Kigali and summarizes the history of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.  He opens up about the impact of visiting a mass grave of 250,000 victims and reflects on how little he learned about the Rwandan Genocide while growing up in the U.S..  Tammer then explains the historical and political context for the recent campaign of ethnic cleansing that has been going on in the Tigray region of Ethiopia since 2020.  He reflects on the lack of American media coverage of Tigray and compares that to the extensive media coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.   Tammer also shares his thoughts on the recent Tigray peace agreement that was signed in Nairobi in November 2022.  He then takes us on the journey of how and why he developed his political consciousness. Tammer shares tips on finding information outside the mainstream U.S. media, and reflects on the importance of being a politically conscious world traveler. Finally, he explains why he continues to travel and shares what travel means to him 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 how his first trip to Ethiopia transformed his identity and deepened his connection to family, heritage, and home.

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

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

Tammer Abiyu starts by telling his parents story of participating in the resistance against the Derg regime in 1970s Ethiopia and then coming to the U.S. as refugees, meeting in Washington DC, and settling in New Jersey.  He then talks about his experience growing up in an Ethiopian immigrant home in New Jersey, and navigating his Ethiopian-American identity.  Tammer shares how his interest in travel developed, how he fell in love with Japan, and why Tokyo is his favorite city.  Matt and Tammer also reflect on their respective trips to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and why it is so important to travel there. Tammer then opens up about his first trip to Ethiopia at age 20 and how significantly it impacted him.  Next, he talks about his path to becoming a full time digital nomad and shares his experience on his first Remote Year trip.  Matt and Tammer then reflect on their experience summiting Mount Kilimanjaro together.  They talk about the physical preparation, mental preparation, getting the right gear, and describe the final push to the summit at midnight in sub-zero conditions.  They also talk about the power of hiking it with a close knit group, and share their lessons and tips for others interested in summiting Mount Kilimanjaro.

→ 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!