The Maverick Show: Global Travel Stories & Life Beyond Borders

Learn how world schooling and stability anchors can make long-term family travel sustainable, enriching, and affordable.

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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

Chantal Patton talks about growing up in Canada, starting to travel internationally, generating location-independent income, meeting her digital nomad husband, and choosing to travel the world together with their 3 daughters. She explains about how she structures her family’s lifestyle, travel cadence, and why she chooses to maintain a home base. Chantal then shares her home-schooling curriculum and gives tips and resources on how she world-schools her 3 kids at all different grade levels. She talks about the value of learning through travel, and how the kids have now developed a series of classes for other kids called “Geography Made Fun”. Chantal then reflects on some of her family’s travel highlights, including the time they spent in Cambodia, Nicaragua, Romania, and a memorable trip through 8 African countries. She then gives tips on designing travel itineraries with kids, creating stability anchors, and designing a healthy work-life-education-travel balance. Chantal also explains how she handles healthcare for her family while traveling and shares her #1 affordability hack that enables her family to have inexpensive accommodations all around the world. She then reflects on the impact long- term world travel has had on her family and her kids, both in terms of their social lives and in terms of the way they see the world. And, finally, Chantel explains how her family collaborates to document their travel journey, create their online content, and how you can follow their adventure on their YouTube channel.

→ 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 14 years abroad changed the way he learns, chooses destinations, and approaches cultures with greater respect.

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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

Award-winning travel blogger and photographer Gary Arndt shares his experience growing up in Wisconsin, becoming a competitive debater, building and selling a 7 figure business, and then deciding to travel the world. After visiting 130 countries during 14 years of world travel, he reflects on his experiences and gives his top travel recommendations. He shares his best international wine experiences and what he thinks is the best culinary city in the world. He gives his tips on traveling through the Pacific Islands, seeing places most travelers don’t go, and tells the story of swimming the Jellyfish Lake in Palau. Gary then shares his top scuba diving experiences around the world. Next, he shares his experience dogsledding in the Arctic and recommends the best place in the world to see polar bears in the wild. He then reflects on his visit to over 400 UNESCO world heritage sites across 130 countries and recommends the most spectacular, less visited sites. Gary shares his approach to learning through travel, the unique types of tours he is organizing, and gives tips on how to be a more respectful traveler when visiting other cultures. He then reflects on the impact 14 years of world travel has had on him and how he now sees the world differently. Finally, Gary shares his thoughts personal brand building, the advantages of podcasting over travel blogging today, and breaks down how he grew his podcast audience to over 100,000 monthly downloads in less than a year.

→ 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

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

Hear how returning to Palestine reshaped her relationship with land, creativity, and what solidarity means in practice.

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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 with Vivien Sansour she reflects on her travels in Guatemala and why she feels such a profound connection to the country and the indigenous Mayan people. Vivien explains some of the primary causes of emigration, including the US and Israeli foreign policy violence in Guatemala, and how many of the same techniques were used in Palestine. She then reflects on her love of Mexico and the powerful inspiration she received from her time in Chiapas. Vivien then opens up about her decision to move back to Palestine, re-connect with Palestinian agriculture, and ultimately to found the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library. From there she explains how she eventually merged agriculture with art and began presenting exhibits around the world, including at the Chicago Architecture Biennale. Vivien then reflects on the time she spent with Anthony Bourdain in Palestine, the impact he had on her and other Palestinians while he was there, and the global significance of that episode and of his work overall. She then offers suggestions for how people can be better allies to the Palestinians, and shares educational resources where people can go to learn more.

→ 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!

In Part 2 of this interview with Vivien Sansour she reflects on her travels in Guatemala and why she feels such a profound connection to the country and the indigenous Mayan people. Vivien explains some of the primary causes of emigration, including the US and Israeli foreign policy violence in Guatemala, and how many of the same techniques were used in Palestine. She then reflects on her love of Mexico and the powerful inspiration she received from her time in Chiapas. Vivien then opens up about her decision to move back to Palestine, re-connect with Palestinian agriculture, and ultimately to found the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library. From there she explains how she eventually merged agriculture with art and began presenting exhibits around the world, including at the Chicago Architecture Biennale. Vivien then reflects on the time she spent with Anthony Bourdain in Palestine, the impact he had on her and other Palestinians while he was there, and the global significance of that episode and of his work overall. She then offers suggestions for how people can be better allies to the Palestinians, and shares educational resources where people can go to learn more. FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: www.TheMaverickShow.com

Hear how immigration, racism, and connection to the land shaped her resilience, self-love, and commitment to resistance.

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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

Vivien Sansour reflects on growing up in Bethlehem, Palestine, under Israeli military occupation, and connecting with the Palestinian land and the nature as a child. She then opens up about her experience immigrating to the U.S. at age 10 and navigating anti-Arab racism in North Carolina. Vivien reflects on the humiliation deeply ingrained in the immigrant experience and shares her personal journey in developing resilience and self-love. She then talks about her connection with agriculture, plants and seeds, and founding the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library in 2014. Vivien provides context on how Israeli colonialism severs Palestinians from their food source and then goes on to talk about Palestinian agro-resistance and how seeds provide an opportunity not only to resist but to create. She explains how Israeli Apartheid confines Palestinians to an open air prison and severely restricts their movement. Vivien then talks about her early desires to travel the world and shares her experiences in Argentina and Uruguay. She then reflects on the transnational solidarity with the Palestinian struggle, including the closeness she feels with the African-American community.

→ 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 can shape a child’s worldview—and how families can travel with greater social consciousness.

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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

Karisma Shackelford takes us on her journey growing up in Los Angeles, developing her desire to travel internationally, and creating her entrepreneurial path. She talks about the importance of mindset in overcoming obstacles, changing life around, and achieving goals. Karisma shares her experience “world schooling” her son across 15 countries, and reflects on the impact it has had on him. She tells stories from their month in India together and reflects on many of the lessons learned. Karisma then talks about organizing a series of events called: “Moving Forward: An Anti-Racist Town Hall for the Travel Industry” and reflects on the powerful conversations and outcomes of those events. She then talks about founding the “Color Me World” Community for Black and Brown travelers, and how it includes virtual content, expert trainings, social networking, and group travel opportunities. Karisma reflects on what travel means to her and then offers tips on how we can be more socially conscious travelers as well as more eco-friendly travelers. She then gives tips for Black and Brown world travelers, as well as her tips on how white travelers can be better allies.

→ 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 house-sitting and other creative strategies can dramatically reduce the cost of a long-term travel lifestyle.

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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

Nora Dunn (a.k.a: The Professional Hobo) takes us on her journey growing up in Canada, becoming an entrepreneur, and then selling her financial planning practice to travel the world full time as a Professional Hobo. She talks about her lifestyle design, travel cadence, destination selection, and adventures over her 12 years of full time world travel. Nora shares her experience working as a Shaman’s Assistant in Peru and Ecuador. She also talks about her experience taking the train from Portugal to Vietnam as well as her bucket list ride on the world’s most luxurious train India, the Deccan Odyssey. She then breaks down the 5 ways to get free accommodations around the world and how she has saved over $100,000 on accommodations. Nora also talks about her reflections on dating, relationships and finding love in the nomadic lifestyle. She then talks about her coaching practice and shares the three pillars for building a financially sustainable life of world 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!

Hear how studying abroad transformed his path and why cultural immersion can expand opportunity for students of color.

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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

Lamar Shambley takes us on his journey growing up in the housing projects of Bed-Stuy Brooklyn and reflects on the impact hip hop music had on him growing up. He shares the origins of his interest in languages and cultures, and how he was able to overcome financial barriers to take his first international trip to the Dominican Republic. Lamar reflects on the many layers of impact that trip had, and then talks about his experience studying abroad in Spain and being fully immersed in foreign culture for 6 months. He then takes us on some of his world travels through Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia, and how all of that inspired him to teach young people and empower them to learn languages through travel and immersion. Lamar explains how underrepresented Black students are in study abroad programs today and how his former students inspired him to found “Teens of Color Abroad” (TOCA). He then shares how his pivot during the pandemic to virtual language learning with native speakers enabled his students to learn languages directly from refugees and to develop cultural empathy for their lived experiences at the same time. Matt and Lamar reflect on the global impact of hip hop music and how Lamar arranges international DJ sets and cooking classes as part of the (virtual) global cultural immersion in the TOCA program. Lamar reflects on the impact TOCA has had on his students thus far, and shares how listeners can support TOCA.

→ 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 itinerant travel shaped her approach to relationships, community, and creating a life rich in novelty.

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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

Victoria Puzach takes us on her journey growing up in Russia, moving to Malaysia and then becoming a full time itinerant nomad and traveling to over 55 countries. She talks about her experiences kite surfing in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Brazil, and how that journey learning to kite surf turned out to be a metaphor for life. Victoria also tells the story of hiking an active volcano in Guatemala. She then reflects on her 3 year relationship and gives tips on nurturing a healthy, loving relationship in an itinerant nomadic lifestyle. Victoria then talks about her lifestyle design philosophy of “riding the hedonic wave” by creating more adventures, seeing new places, and creating new connections on the ongoing basis. She also gives tips on building meaningful communities in an itinerant nomadic lifestyle. Victoria talks about her “CoLife Home” project--a co-living experience that brings together an intentional community for one-month stays in epic locations around the world.  And finally, she talks about founding the Work Travel Summit, gives an overview of the content people can expect from the event, and how to register for free.

→ 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 smart planning and safety strategies can make solo world travel more accessible, affordable, and empowering.

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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

Shakeemah Smith shares her experience growing up in East Orange, New Jersey during the  Golden Era of hip hop in the 1990s. She explains how she overcame perceived financial obstacles and was able to travel to her first 20 countries for under $100 per flight. Shakeemah then explains how she was able to travel to a different country every month while working at an office job. She shares the reasons that she chose solo-travel, explains how she develops her trip itineraries and shares the safety precautions she takes before each trip. Shakeemah then takes us on some of her most epic travel adventures, ranging skydiving in Australia to getting chased by a wild elephant in Zambia. She explains the biggest  misconceptions about ‘safety’ and why the U.S. is the most dangerous country she has ever been to. Shakeemah then talks about getting residency and second passports in Antigua for her family, including her 13 year old nephew, and explains her primary motive is protecting him from racialized violence in the U.S. After taking her nephew to visit 7 countries by age 13, she reflects on the profound impact it has had on him. Shakeemah then shares her entrepreneurial journey—how she was able to monetize her travel expertise by coaching other women on how to solo-travel the world safely, confidently and without draining their bank account. She explains how she was able to build her personal brand, develop key partnership, and eventually scale it into a successful business that allowed her to leave her job and become a fully location- independent entrepreneur. And finally, after traveling to 55 countries, Shakeemah 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!