The Maverick Show: Global Travel Stories & Life Beyond Borders

Learn how history and power dynamics can help travelers move through Africa more thoughtfully and responsibly today.

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ON THIS EPISODE

In Part 2 of this interview, Conor Walsh talks about how his nomad journey helped him learn about the extent of Irish solidarity with other decolonial movements and struggles against oppression around the world.  He gives an overview of the history of British imperialism in Kenya and it’s legacy in present day Kenya.  Conor emphasizes the importance for travelers to understand the historical context of the places they are traveling.  He then reflects on the power dynamics of white privilege in Africa, including his experience dating local women, and he shares his tips for being a more thoughtful and conscious traveler and relationship partner.  Conor then talks about his “Digital Nomads in Africa” Facebook community, which aims to dispel problematic views about traveling in Africa.  He explains how it also aims to create a space where African digital nomads and other travelers from around the world can connect with local people in the countries where they are traveling.  Conor then shares his reflections on traveling to Palestine, partying in Ramallah, and getting teargassed by the Israeli military.  And, finally, he reflects on the impact that over a decade of nomading has had one him, and what travel means to him today.

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

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FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU

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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

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

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Hear how a decade of nomad life shaped his understanding of alternate realities, recovery, and what travel can teach us.

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ON THIS EPISODE

Conor Walsh takes us on his journey growing up in Ireland, developing his interest in travel, and leaving at age 21 to become a full-time nomad.  He reflects on over a decade of travel, starting with his experiences in Southeast Asia, what he loves about Thailand, and the social impact businesses he was involved with in Kuala Lumpur.   Conor also talks about his trip to North Korea, lessons from experiencing an alternate reality, and how it later informed his ability to understand the wide adoption of conspiracy theories like QAnon.  Next, he opens up about his struggles with mental health and substance abuse and how one night in Kampala, Uganda he was able to quit cold turkey and stay sober ever since.  Conor then talks about spending his birthday in Sudan, learning about Sufi Islamic traditions, and sleeping alone at the pyramids.  And, finally, he reflects on his experience in Ethiopia, why it was so different from other African countries, and tells the story of the night he ran into Michael K. Williams.

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

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Hear how music, martial arts, poker, and comedy reveal a philosophy about risk, freedom, and living life on your terms.

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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

Alondo Brewington starts off reflecting on his recent travels across the continent of Africa, going on safari in Tanzania, and experiencing Kigali, Rwanda—one of the cleanest and safest cities in the world.  He then takes us on his journey growing up in the American South and the role of music in his upbringing. He shares how hip hop’s evolution impacted him along the way—from discovering breakdancing to first hearing Rakim to the emergence of Outkast in Atlanta.  He also reflects on his college experience in Atlanta, including the emergence of Club 112, the rise and fall of Freaknik, and the night Tupac bumped into him just hours before getting into a shootout in 1993.  He then talks about his experiences studying abroad, developing his love for travel, and transitioning into the digital nomad lifestyle.  He shares his love for martial arts, the historical and cultural significance of Capoeira, and explains why you should never give a sword to a man that can’t dance.  He also talks about his love for playing poker, trading options, and performing stand up comedy as he travels the world.  He explains his approach to “risk” and reflects on common themes that tie his wide-ranging interests together.  He also talks about hosting the Cocoa Nomad Podcast, shares his tips and philosophy on pursuing financial freedom, and reflects on what travel means to him.

→ 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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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

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Learn how a traveling therapist builds connection, joy, and well-being while running a remote practice 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

Dr. Aprile Andelle shares her approach to therapy, how she works with her clients, and reflects on the mental health workshop she conducted for digital nomads in Cape Town on the Remote Year program.  Next, she analyzes Matt’s test results and explains his love languages, his attachment style, and his enneagram personality type.  Aprile then explains how she built a fully-remote psychotherapy practice and why she chose to travel the world and run her business as a nomad.  She also talks about the connection and joy she finds in dancing salsa all over the world.  Aprile then reflects on what travel means to her.  In the lightning round she drops her top 5 Jamaican musical artists, her top 5 Afrobeat artists, and her top 5 hip hop MCs of all time.  Aprile also talks about her podcast “Do I Need Therapy” and explains how to work with 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

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Hear how travel reshaped her understanding of race, identity, solidarity, and what it means to feel welcome when abroad.

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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

Aprile Andelle joins Matt in person for this interview in Arusha, Tanzania.  Matt and Aprile reflect on their time together in Tanzania, as well as their month together in Cape Town, South Africa.  They discuss a number of the inspiring initiatives going on in Langa Township and Kayeltisha township, and then reminisce about attending the Rugby World Cup Sevens together dressed in costume.  Aprile then talks about her background growing up in a Jamaican family, and living between Florida and Jamaica.  She talks about the impact of Jamaican music in her life, from Bob Marley to Dancehall, and shares her top recommendations for visiting Jamaica.  Aprile then reflects on the evolution of her Jamaican-American identity, and shares her experience navigating the very white, affluent, homogenous college that she attended.  Next, she talks about studying abroad in Spain, shares the diversity of the various regions of Spain, and opens up about the overt racism she experienced in one part of Spain.  Aprile then contrasts that with her experience stepping over the border into the Basque Country, and feeling warmly welcomed and an immediately solidarity with the Basque people who were in struggle for their rights as well.  She reflects on how all these experiences with racism and travel impacted her.  Then, Aprile shares her professional trajectory, how she eventually became a psychotherapist, and how she is particularly passionate about serving women of color and people in the nomadic and remote work lifestyle.

→ 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 what years of location-independent work taught him about remote teams, mental health, and sustaining nomadic 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

Koen Blanquart starts off talking about growing up in Belgium and giving some travel tips for people that want to spend time in Belgium.  He then talks about his entrepreneurial trajectory and his transition into the digital nomad lifestyle.  Koen then reflects on his world travels, including his love for New York City, the time he took the train from London to Singapore, and his most epic travel memory of all time: Sailing to Antarctica in a 54-foot sailboat.  He then talks about his travel photography journey, including multiple trips to Alaska to photograph Grizzly Bears and Bald Eagles in the wild.  Koen shares his tips on how to take better travel photos.  He also talks about his love for coffee and shares his most memorable travel experiences involving coffee.  Next, Koen discusses his new book “The Suitcase Office: What Digital Nomads Can Teach Us About Location Independent Work”.  He shares his vision for the future of work and then gives his tips on managing a fully distributed team, building company culture in a fully remote company, attending to the mental health challenges of a remote work environment, and sustaining the digital nomad lifestyle over the long term.  Koen then talks about his love for scuba diving, his journey to becoming a scuba instructor, and his most memorable dive of all time.  And finally, he shares what travel means to him and talks about his upcoming trip to sail 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)

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

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 a refugee family story shaped her identity, politics, and commitment to responsible, inclusive global 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

Remote Year’s CEO, Tue Le, joins Matt in Cape Town on the opening month of Remote Year’s first all-Africa itinerary.  She begins by talking about her parents background—leaving Vietnam, coming to U.S. as refugees, and settling in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Tue talks about growing up in a culturally diverse neighborhood, getting into hip hop, and developing her political consciousness as well as her interest in international travel, and explains how she made enough money to take her first international trip to Madrid at age 17.  Tue then talks about the evolution of her Vietnamese-American identity, her close connection with the Black community, and her love for HBCU homecoming parties.  She also talks about her college experience at Yale, the further development of her politics and identity, and shares some reflections on her studies of genocide.  Tue talks about spending over 5 years on the continent of Africa, reflects on her first trips to Rwanda and Sudan, and explains how Remote Year selected the countries for their first all-Africa itinerary.  She then tells the story of going back to Vietnam for the first time, going to her dad’s village for the first time, and why she prioritizes connecting with the Vietnamese diaspora around the world.  Tue then talks about her transition into the digital nomad lifestyle and discusses the importance of amplifying marginalized and underrepresented stories while traveling.  She then talks about joining the Remote Year staff and spearheading their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) journey over the last 6 years.  Tue then explains how Remote Year introduces participants to marginalized communities without participating in poverty tourism, how Remote Year selects positive-impact initiatives without falling into the pitfalls of “voluntourism”, and how Remote Year intends to scale its business without contributing to nomad-gentrification of local communities. She also talks about Remote Year’s partnership with Venture Noire to launch a global accelerator program for Black entrepreneurs.  And, finally, Tue shares her vision for the future of Remote Year and offers Maverick Show listeners a credit towards their first Remote Year program by using the link in the Show Notes. 

→ 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 travel and creative writing revealed the power of story to confront prejudice, politics & how we see 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 the third and final installment of this interview, Zein El-Amine discusses what makes a great piece of writing for him, as a reader.  He then talks about his process for writing great stories, explains the difference between poetry and prose, and shares how he chooses the medium through which to tell his stories.  Zein then gives advice on how to turn your travel and life experiences into great stories.  Next, he reflects on the impact of teaching Ulysses in Ireland on his students.  Zein also reflects on the impact of teaching about Orientalism, anti-Arab racism, and the Palestinian struggle.  Then, he talks about winning the Megaphone Prize and having his latest collection of short stories published by Radix Media. Zein describes the 7-story collection and then reads from the title story “Is this how you eat a Watermelon?”.  He explains how to pre-order a copy of the book and where to attend the book launch events.

→ 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 exile, immersive study abroad, and activism shaped his ideas about culture, solidarity, and belonging abroad.

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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

Zein El-Amine starts off talking about the study abroad program he designed to take his students to Egypt for a range of immersive experiences, including meeting Egyptian author Nawal el Saadawi at her home.  He then talks about his deep personal connection with James Joyce’s book “Ulysses”.  Matt and Zein discuss “Bloomsday” celebrations around the world, as well as the history of the U.S. government’s censorship of Ulysses.  Zein then talks about the study abroad program he designed to take his students to Ireland to study Ulysses and celebrate Bloomsday in Dublin.  He shares the impact that his first trip to Ireland had on him and why he now feels like Dublin is his second home.  Matt and Zein discuss Ireland-Palestine solidarity and Zein shares how he first toured Belfast as part of a Palestinian delegation.  He then talks about the study abroad program he designed to take his students to Morocco and explains the importance of understanding “Orientalism” as a framework for de-exotifying the Arab World.  Zein then reflects on his experience being exiled, talks about his poetry collection “A Travel Guide for the Exiled”, and reads his poem “On Embassy Row”.  He then reflects on his activist trajectory in the U.S., getting kicked out of the International Socialist Organization, and founding Left Turn Magazine.  Matt and Zein reflect on why Left Turn attracted extraordinary political activists, the importance to connecting the local with the global, and the impact of Palestine solidarity work over the last 25 years.  Zein also talks about hosting the Shay Wah Nana Show and discusses his recent episode highlighting the Tanzanian government’s violent evictions of the Maasai people from their ancestral lands.

→ 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 growing up amid war and political imprisonment transformed his consciousness and shaped his path as a writer.

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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

Zein El-Amine talks about growing up in Lebanon at the start of the Lebanese civil war and tells the story of being trapped between two warring factions in Beirut at 12 years old.   He then opens up about his time attending high school in Bahrain and college in Saudi Arabia. Zein shares the story of going off to play tennis one day in Bahrain and being arrested as a suspected member of Shīʿa terrorist cell planning a coup.  He describes his experience being put into the Shīʿa political wing of the prison, who he met there, how his parents feared he might be executed, and how this experience fundamentally changed his political consciousness.  Next, Zein tells a story about going down to Barbados on vacation from Saudi Arabia, running out of money, and teaming up with locals to teach windsurfing to British tourists as an anti-colonial gesture.  He then reads the poem he wrote about the Barbados experience.   Next, Zein talks about his path to becoming a writer and a literature professor. He explains the significance of poetry in Arab culture and also reflects on the value, impact and crucial importance of travel.

→ 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!