Deviate

Travelers experience more when they slow down and ask lots of questions


Listen Later

“We live in an age where you can take a series short flights inside a country to speed things up. You end up going to more places, but you experience less, because you’re not really committed to that chicken bus full of really interesting people who want nothing more than to interact with you.”  –Rolf Potts

In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and The Vagabond’s Way book club participants discuss the idiosyncrasies of crossing land borders and traveling overland (1:30); travelers’ tendency to take dishonest photos of places, and how tourist destinations bend to tourists’ expectations (8:00); the small inconveniences that keep travel interesting, even as we try to avoid them, and the idiosyncrasies of haggling overseas (14:00); how food can be a window into cultures and places for travelers (19:00); common scams that travelers encounter on the road (26:00); and the process of how Rolf assembled the meditations in The Vagabond’s Way, and the concept of “walking until your day becomes interesting” (30:00).

Discussion moderator Luke Richardson is a traveler, author, and DJ based in England.

Notable Links:

  • Rolf’s Vagabond’s Way online book club signup
  • The Vagabond’s Way, by Rolf Potts (book)
  • YouCam Perfect (AI person-remover app)
  • Kenny G (American smooth jazz saxophonist)
  • Applebee’s (American restaurant chain)
  • Mentawai Islands (archipelago in Indonesia)
  • Brent Nelson sandwich (bar food in Lindsborg, Kansas)
  • Turkish Knockout, by Rolf Potts (travel essay)
  • Camille Dungy (poet and writer)
  • The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.

    Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at [email protected].

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    DeviateBy Rolf Potts

    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8

    4.8

    161 ratings


    More shows like Deviate

    View all
    Travel with Rick Steves by Rick Steves

    Travel with Rick Steves

    198 Listeners

    Fresh Air by NPR

    Fresh Air

    37,904 Listeners

    Tangentially Speaking with Christopher Ryan by Chris Ryan

    Tangentially Speaking with Christopher Ryan

    2,063 Listeners

    Making Sense with Sam Harris by Sam Harris

    Making Sense with Sam Harris

    26,286 Listeners

    Zero To Travel Podcast by Jason Moore

    Zero To Travel Podcast

    828 Listeners

    The James Altucher Show by PodcastOne

    The James Altucher Show

    2,493 Listeners

    Slate Money by Slate Podcasts

    Slate Money

    1,003 Listeners

    The Frommer's Travel Show by Pauline Frommer

    The Frommer's Travel Show

    124 Listeners

    The Gray Area with Sean Illing by Vox

    The Gray Area with Sean Illing

    10,651 Listeners

    Team Human by Douglas Rushkoff

    Team Human

    349 Listeners

    How to Be Fine by Kristen and Jolenta

    How to Be Fine

    5,400 Listeners

    Women Who Travel | Condé Nast Traveler by Condé Nast Traveler

    Women Who Travel | Condé Nast Traveler

    607 Listeners

    Emergence Magazine Podcast by Emergence Magazine

    Emergence Magazine Podcast

    468 Listeners

    The Daily Stoic by Daily Stoic | Wondery

    The Daily Stoic

    4,736 Listeners

    How to Age Up by The Atlantic

    How to Age Up

    1,381 Listeners