The Maverick Show: Global Travel Stories & Life Beyond Borders

Learn how five profit centers, market selection, and risk reduction can strengthen a turnkey rental property strategy.

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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 Ben Lakoff interviews Matt Bowles on the Alternative Asset Allocation podcast.  Ben draws out Matt’s expertise on how to understand the unique dynamics of residential investment property as an asset class. Matt explains the multi-dimensional nature of the asset class and how rental properties have 5 profit centers, compared to most other asset classes that have only one.  They talk about the biggest risks associated with rental property investing and how Matt’s company, Maverick Investor Group, helps their clients leapfrog over many of the up-front risks by buying turnkey rental properties that come new or fully-renovated with tenants and local property management already in place.  Matt talks about how residential investment property is the most debt favored asset class, the most tax-advantaged asset class, and one of the only investments that enables you to profit from inflation.   He also explains the importance of owning hard assets, with intrinsic value, that you control.  Matt also gives tips about how to choose investor-advantaged markets, make your money when you buy so you don’t have to speculate, and choose recession resilient areas for owning your rental properties.  He also goes into the COVID-19 era trends and shares strategies for real estate investing during the pandemic.

→ 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?

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 activism, friendship, and shared values shaped a business partnership designed to create lasting social impact.

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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

Val Schrock talks about growing up Mennonite in Kalamazoo Michigan, wanting to be a professional athlete, navigating gender fluidity, seeking adrenaline and competition, and eventually meeting Matt in a Master’s Degree program for International Peace and Conflict Resolution.  Val and Matt share stories from their friendship that began in the 90s, including the time when Matt gave Val a Samurai sword for her birthday and she used it to confront a home intruder!  They also talk about their long history of activist work together, global adventures, real estate investing and eventually co-founding Maverick Investor Group as business partners.  They share stories about taking international observer groups to monitor human rights abuses in the north of Ireland, doing Palestinian solidarity work in the U.S. and organizing elaborate street theater actions, working in the non-profit space in Washington DC., and eventually deciding to start investing in real estate.  Val and Matt then talk about the founding of Maverick Investor Group and reflect on conceptions of “risk", the keys to successful business partner selection, and their personal synergies.  They talk about the 4 Pillars of Purpose on which Maverick was founded, and discuss how and why Maverick commits a fixed % of net revenue to donate to causes that affect positive change in the world.  Val also talks about her travel experiences, how international travel impacted her as a kid, and how, as an adult, she was able to form a deeper connection with her mother through annual mother-daughter trips.  She shares stories about riding the world’s fastest roller coaster in Abu Dhabi and going dune-boarding in Swakopmund, Namibia.  Finally, she shares her most profound life and business lessons she learned from MacGyver.

→ 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 immigration prison, music, and leading 70 adults abroad shaped his approach to community, bonding and 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

Travis King talks about background growing up in the Wisconsin suburbs and shares how he developed his social and political consciousness, his desire to travel, and then, after getting his Master’s degree, why he embarked on a 4-year solo-travel adventure that would change his entire life.  He takes us around the world on his travel journey, starting with a wild adventure in Colombia where he wound up making cocaine with one of Pablo Escobar’s top scientists.  He then takes us through his experience in Australia where he ended up in immigration prison before being deported in what was simultaneously one of his scariest and emotionally moving travel experiences of his life.  Travis then talks about the importance of music in his life and why he either organizes or participates in open mic nights around the world.  He then plays a special acoustic hip hop mash-up live on The Maverick Show.  Next, he talks about landing a job with Remote Year as a Program Leader and tells the story of having his in-person interview on the island of Koh Pha Ngan, Thailand, during the legendary full moon party.  He then reflects on his Remote Year experience leading 70 adults around the world and building a meaningful work-travel community.  He also talks about his subsequent role as the Director of Community Development and shares some of his tips and techniques for meaningful community building, group bonding and cohesion. He then talks about why and how he prioritizes physical fitness while traveling.  And finally he talks about why he wrote the memoir now, what the title means, and what 4 organizations will receive part of the proceeds from the book. 

→ 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 solo travel, funded opportunities and allyship can help Gen Z travelers explore the world more intentionally.

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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

Gen Z travel and lifestyle entrepreneur Gabby Beckford shares how a solo-trip to Iceland at 17-years old inspired her ongoing travel adventures ever since.  She takes us through her study abroad experience in Dubai, her trips to Sri Lanka, Turkey, Kenya and how it all led to her to leaving her 9-5 job and founding “Packs Light” and “Young Travelers Network” as resources for Gen Z travelers. She shares her entrepreneurial transition, how she built up a side-hustle while working at her full time job, and then made the leap.  Gabby then talks about solo-female travel and offers her #1 tip for women travelers.  She then discusses minimalist packing, specifically for women, and shares tips on how to travel the world with carry-on luggage only while still looking stylish.  Gabby also talks about being a founding member of the Black Travel Alliance, and discusses the importance of amplifying Black travel narratives.  She also talks about how to bring “Black Lives Matter” into your travels by seeking out Black history and culture on your travels, patronizing Black-owned businesses, and she gives tips on how white people can be better allies to Black travelers around the world.  She then talks about her company, how she selected the name “Packs Light”, and the value that her website content, young travel community, and funded travel opportunities offer to Gen Z travelers in particular.  She also talks about her marketing services and how she works with brands and businesses.  Finally, Gabby talks about her COVID-19 pivots and adjustments she has made for her business to thrive during the pandemic.

→ 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 financial runway, lifestyle arbitrage and great service can turn a side hustle into a thriving travel brand.

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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

Claire Soares shares her journey growing up in Virginia, working at a Fortune 500 Company, learning about food and wine on her business trips, and then identifying the underserved market for Black luxury travel.  She shares her process of founding her company as a side hustle and then leaving her corporate job to build “Up In the Air Life” to a 7- figure business serving the Black Luxury Travel niche.  She explains the importance for new entrepreneurs of creating a substantial financial runway and the power of using lifestyle arbitrage by living in less expensive countries. She then takes us behind the scenes and explains how she grew “Up in the Air Life” into a multi-million-dollar business by building a field sales team, hosting unique cultural events as lead magnets, and putting meticulous effort into customer service as a means of developing a cult-like brand following.  Claire then shares some of her trip offerings, itineraries, and highlights ranging from super-yacht parties to black-tie events in wine vineyards.  She explains how she creates 5-star luxury trips to Africa, Asia and Europe without sacrificing cultural and historical substance or immersion in the local communities.  She then gives details about her upcoming 5-star luxury trip offering to Antarctica in 2021.  Claire also shares her most memorable fine dining experience, and her top wine tasting experience.  She then opens up about the importance of mental health for entrepreneurs and shares some of her personal mindset, productivity and high-performance techniques.  She also talks about her coaching program for entrepreneurs looking to build a 7-figure business.  And she concludes by naming her Top 5 Hip Hop MCs…for the first time ever!

→ 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!

Claire Soares shares her journey growing up in Virginia, working at a Fortune 500 Company, learning about food and wine on her business trips, and then identifying the underserved market for Black luxury travel. She shares her process of founding her company as a side hustle and then leaving her corporate job to build “Up In the Air Life” to a 7- figure business serving the Black Luxury Travel niche. She explains the importance for new entrepreneurs of creating a substantial financial runway and the power of using lifestyle arbitrage by living in less expensive countries. She then takes us behind the scenes and explains how she grew “Up in the Air Life” into a multi-million-dollar business by building a field sales team, hosting unique cultural events as lead magnets, and putting meticulous effort into customer service as a means of developing a cult-like brand following. Claire then shares some of her trip offerings, itineraries, and highlights ranging from super-yacht parties to black-tie events in wine vineyards. She explains how she creates 5-star luxury trips to Africa, Asia and Europe without sacrificing cultural and historical substance or immersion in the local communities. She then gives details about her upcoming 5-star luxury trip offering to Antarctica in 2021. Clare also shares her most memorable fine dining experience, and her top wine tasting experience. She then opens up about the importance of mental health for entrepreneurs and shares some of her personal mindset, productivity and high-performance techniques. She also talks about her coaching program for entrepreneurs looking to build a 7-figure business. And she concludes by naming her Top 5 Hip Hop MCs…for the first time ever! FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: www.TheMaverickShow.com

Learn how mentorship, virtual infrastructure, and global experience can help entrepreneurs adapt and grow during crisis.

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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

Shark Tank’s Kevin Harrington shares the story of attending a Halloween party on Richard Branson’s private island and winding up in a wrestling tournament on the beach at 1am. He then talks about how traveling the world helped him grow one of his businesses from $50 Million to $500 Million, and he shares some of his experiences doing business in over 100 countries. He then gives his opinion on the future of remote work, why he believes a location independent infrastructure is so valuable, and why he has transitioned so much of his business towards a virtual model. Kevin then talks about his business mindset and approach the COVID-19 crisis, and he shares tips for how entrepreneurs can not only survive but thrive and grow during this time. Kevin then talks about his new book “Mentor to Millions” and shares his personal experience being mentored by Richard Branson and Zig Ziglar, as well as his experience mentoring others. He then explains his personal productivity practices as well as how he maintains a healthy work-life balance, and how he has decided to permanently change his lifestyle since COVID. Kevin then shares the #1 person with whom he would most like to have dinner, his top 3 favorite travel destinations, and his top 3 bucket-list destinations.

→ 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 decentralized leadership, upskilling and role versatility can make remote teams more resilient and adaptable.

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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

Lavinia Yosub takes us on her journey growing up in Romania, becoming a pathfinder, a painter, and starting to travel the world on International exchange programs.  She shares how she worked at a bank for 3 years after college before moving to Azerbaijan, being based there for 4 years, having a run-in with the KGB and getting stiffed by the Trump organization.  She also shares what she loves about traveling through Georgia, Turkey and especially Iran.  She then talks about her move to Bali, teaming up with a business partner, and running Livit International.  She explains about how Livit is both a physical co-working and event space as well as a digital hub with an entire virtual eco-system designed to support entrepreneurs and start-up teams.  She explains the suite of services offered by Livit and their track record in helping location-independent companies build productive, remote-capable teams and scale.  She also shares Livit’s program for training local Indonesians in remote work skills.  She then talks about her Project Getaway initiative which arranges in-person retreats for entrepreneurs and teams.  She then talks about how she runs Livit, including her business adjustments since COVID-19, and she emphasizes the importance of anti-fragility, intrapreneurship, role-versatility, upskilling, decentralized management and holacracy.

→ 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 loss, reverse culture shock, and life abroad inspired a community that transformed representation in 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

Evita Turquoise Robinson shares her story of how a transformative trip to France for a film workshop would change her life trajectory and set her on a path to live in Japan, Thailand and beyond.  She opens up about her experience being the only Black person in a small Japanese town teaching English but how some of the cultural exchanges with her students had a lasting impact on the rest of her life.  Evita then shares the tragedy of losing one of her best friends in a motorcycle accident, but how she gained a guardian angel and permission to pursue her dreams.  She explains the intensity of “reverse culture shock” when she returned to The Bronx, and how she founded NOMADNESS Travel Tribe to create the community that she needed of like-minded travelers of color.  Evita shares her entrepreneurial journey of growing NOMADNESS into a business with multiple streams of income, all while creating a supportive community for Black and Brown travelers and challenging under-representation in the travel industry.  She explains the importance of Black travel spaces, as well as the importance of acknowledging “intersectionality” around age, disability, gender and sexual orientation, and providing a platform for discussing diverse experiences within the Black travel community. Evita then talks about launching “Audacity Fest” as an in-person gathering for travelers of color before successfully pivoting to a virtual format as “Audacity Digi” after COVID-19.  She also shares her experience in the TED Residency and what it was like giving the first TED Talk on the Black Travel Movement.  And finally, Evita offers suggestions on how white people 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!

Hear how leaving a restrictive community shaped her mission to create inclusive spaces where nomadic women can thrive.

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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

Brittnee Bond shares her experiences growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness and opens up about her decision to eventually divorce her husband, leave the Church, travel the world and create her ideal community that is welcoming, inclusive and accepting. She shares her path to becoming a digital nomad, first by helping her law firm become paperless and negotiating a remote work location, and then becoming an entrepreneur and starting location independent business.   She shares her journey from developing work-travel programs for nomads to organizing events at co-working spaces across Asia.  Brittnee also opens up about her experience navigating patriarchal and masculinity dynamics in the travel and nomad spaces, and explains her passion for creating female-centering communities where women can thrive.  She details the evolution of her “Women’s Circle Mastermind”, how she structured it, and how it has rapidly expanded.  She also shares the origins of her business “Remote Collective” where she consults for people and businesses that are transitioning to remote work, and explains how demand has significantly increased since COVID-19.  Brittnee then talks about travel ethics for digital nomads, ways to meaningfully connect with the local communities, and how to give back on terms that are empowering to the local community. She also shares her tips for getting into the nomad lifestyle and overcoming the biggest obstacles.  She also offers tips for female solo-travelers in particular in terms of overcoming fear and safety concerns as well as how to plug into female-centering nomad communities around the world. And, finally, Brittnee gives her personal tips on managing stress and maintaining emotional health as a nomadic entrepreneur.

→ 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!