I interviewed Michael Zervos in Cote d'Ivoire a few months ago. He was 10% done with his every-country-speed tour. 

I interviewed him today, June 27, when he's halfway done!

Watch the Video

In the second half of the show, Michael Zervos reflects on Africa.

00:00 Intro

03:30 Sudan

07:00 Africa

 

More info

To leave an anonymous voicemail that I could use on the podcast, go to SpeakPipe.com/FTapon

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.

If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 

On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:

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My Patrons sponsored this show!

Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon

Rewards start at just $2/month!

Affiliate links

Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!

In the USA, I recommend trading crypto with Kraken. 

Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!

For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ftapon.substack.com

Here are two episodes featuring Margaret Bensfield Sullivan, author of Following the Sun: Tales (and Fails) From a Year Around the World With Our Kids. 

Margaret spent a year traveling to 29 countries on six continents with her husband and their two young kids.

How did she do it?

What did she learn?

What advice does she have for traveling parents with young children?

Watch the Video

00:00 Africa
02:50 Is a travel agent necessary?
04:10 Zimbabwe
05:20 Egypt

More info

To leave an anonymous voicemail that I could use on the podcast, go to SpeakPipe.com/FTapon

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.

If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 

On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:

• Facebook


• Twitter


• YouTube


• Instagram


• Tiktok


• LinkedIn


• Pinterest


• Tumblr

My Patrons sponsored this show!

Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon

Rewards start at just $2/month!

Affiliate links

Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!

In the USA, I recommend trading crypto with Kraken. 

Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!

For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ftapon.substack.com

Here are two episodes featuring Margaret Bensfield Sullivan, author of Following the Sun: Tales (and Fails) From a Year Around the World With Our Kids. 

Margaret spent a year traveling to 29 countries on six continents with her husband and their two young kids.

How did she do it?

What did she learn?

What advice does she have for traveling parents with young children?

Watch the Video
Timeline

00:00 World-proof your kids
05:55 Origin of the book title
09:20 Screwups
16:00 Career advice

More info

To leave an anonymous voicemail that I could use on the podcast, go to SpeakPipe.com/FTapon

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.

If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 

On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:

• Facebook


• Twitter


• YouTube


• Instagram


• Tiktok


• LinkedIn


• Pinterest


• Tumblr

My Patrons sponsored this show!

Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon

Rewards start at just $2/month!

Affiliate links

Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!

In the USA, I recommend trading crypto with Kraken. 

Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!

For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ftapon.substack.com

It's hard to describe Kommu in an elevator. It's a clever mix of Airbnb, TrustedHousesitters, and Couchsurfing.

I spoke with Bo Abrams, the founder and CEO of Kommu.

Why should you pay $300 annually to access this new, exciting app that helps you find lodging and accommodation in a new way?

Timeline

00:00 Pain point

03:00 Kommu vs. Airbnb

06:30 Practical example of Kommu

11:00 Logistics

15:00 Social capital

22:00 Profit

24:15 How does Kommu make money?

29:12 Recovering your rent

33:00 Verifying rent

More info

To leave an anonymous voicemail that I could use on the podcast, go to SpeakPipe.com/FTapon

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.

If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 

On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:

• Facebook


• Twitter


• YouTube


• Instagram


• Tiktok


• LinkedIn


• Pinterest


• Tumblr

My Patrons sponsored this show!

Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon

Rewards start at just $2/month!

Affiliate links

Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!

In the USA, I recommend trading crypto with Kraken. 

Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!

For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ftapon.substack.com

Wow. If you want the most comprehensive study of George Mallory's 3rd and final climb up Mt. Everest, read this book!

The book Mallory, Irvine, and Everest: The Last Step But One by Dr. Robert Edwards examines the mystery surrounding George Mallory and Andrew Irvine's 1924 attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

The book provides a fresh and original perspective on this historical event, as the

author is a mathematician who has applied modern analysis techniques to the available evidence. Dr. Edwards has thoroughly researched the contemporary accounts, letters, and artifacts related to the climb and has identified inconsistencies in previous narratives.

The book's release coincides with the 100th anniversary of Mallory and Irvine's fateful expedition and offers unique insights. Mountaineering experts Jochen Hemmleb and Thom Dharma Pollard have praised its potential to shed new light on whether Mallory and Irvine were the first to conquer Everest. This unique perspective is sure to enlighten the audience.

Mallory picked a strong, young, inexperienced climbing partner, Andrew Irvine, to push to the summit.

Video interview with the author, Robert Edwards

SPOILER #1: Nobody knows if either one of them made it. And this book doesn't offer a definitive answer either.

However, this book will enthrall you if you want to learn what the most meticulous researcher has discovered.

For example, Edwards spends pages examining everything about the mysterious ice ax found high on the mountain.

SPOILER #2: The ax is almost certainly Irvine's or Malory's, but we don't know which one. The author concludes that it was placed there and didn't tumble or drop there accidentally.

What I love about this book is that Edwards lets the evidence speak. 
Although he speculates, he admits when he's speculating to let the reader reach their conclusion.

After reading this excellent book and interviewing the author, here's my best guess as to what happened:

Mallory probably reached the summit late in the afternoon, forcing him to descend at night. When investigators found his corpse in 1999, Mallory's sunglasses were in his pocket, indicating he descended at night. He ran out of oxygen, which sapped his strength and heat just when he needed to stay warm at nightfall. He had few clothes compared to modern climbers. Without oxygen, he got disoriented and wobbly. His judgment worsened. One slip was all it took to break his leg and slide down to his resting spot, where he was found decades later.  

This hypothesis is my speculation, not the book's. 

Get the book, and judge for yourself.

WARNING: This book may bore people with only a passing interest in this topic. 

VERDICT: 5 out of 5 stars!

 

More info

To leave an anonymous voicemail that I could use on the podcast, go to SpeakPipe.com/FTapon

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.

If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 

On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:

• Facebook


• Twitter


• YouTube


• Instagram


• Tiktok


• LinkedIn


• Pinterest


• Tumblr

My Patrons sponsored this show!

Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon

Rewards start at just $2/month!

Affiliate links

Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!

In the USA, I recommend trading crypto with Kraken. 

Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!

For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ftapon.substack.com

Glen Van Peski sat in the co-pilot seat of a tiny plane that crashed, killing the pilot next to him. What happened?

How did Glen and all the other passengers survive with minor or moderate injuries?

We talk a lot about death in this episode, including how Glen's mom and son died.

We end on a positive note!

Watch the Video
About Glen

Glen Van Peski is a civil engineer who used his skills to engineer the lightest backpacking gear in the Solar System. Glen is the founder of Gossamer Gear.

In 2024, he released Take Less, Do More: Surprising Life Lessons in Generosity, Gratitude, and Curiosity from an Ultralight Backpacker.

In this interview series, Glen shares snippets of his book. The final episode is a flashback episode of Glen and Francis recording themselves chatting while hiking up San Francisco's historic Sweeney Ridge.

Bonus video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QivSPWiKfU 

Join the exclusive WanderLearn Patreon club.

More about Glen Van Peski


Glen Van Peski, founder of Gossamer Gear, is known for his legendary contributions to the backpacking community. A native Californian, Van Peski grew up in the western outdoors, and when his oldest son joined Scouts, he led the troop’s backpacking program. Through those experiences, he became intrigued by lightweight backpacking. He started sewing his gear and eventually started his own company, manufacturing ultralight backpacking equipment. Glen and his company have been featured in Backpacker, Outside, National Geographic Adventure magazines, and the New York Times.

Van Peski is an internationally sought-after speaker known for his inspiring, humorous, and information-packed presentations. He has hiked most of the Pacific Crest Trail, wandered the backcountry in Japan and Europe, and bike-packed on the Great Divide. He lives in Bend, Oregon, with Francie, his wife of over forty years, and is the father of two grown sons.

More info

To leave an anonymous voicemail that I could use on the podcast, go to SpeakPipe.com/FTapon

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.

If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 

On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:

• Facebook


• Twitter


• YouTube


• Instagram


• Tiktok


• LinkedIn


• Pinterest


• Tumblr

My Patrons sponsored this show!

Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon

Rewards start at just $2/month!

Affiliate links

Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!

In the USA, I recommend trading crypto with Kraken. 

Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!

For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ftapon.substack.com

In the first 10 seconds of this episode, you'll hear Glen Van Peski's top five tips on lightening your backpacking load. He shares several other brilliant tips on improving your backpacking skills and gear in less than five minutes.

Watch the Video

Glen Van Peski is a civil engineer who used his skills to engineer the lightest backpacking gear in the Solar System. Glen is the founder of Gossamer Gear.

In 2024, he released Take Less, Do More: Surprising Life Lessons in Generosity, Gratitude, and Curiosity from an Ultralight Backpacker.

In this interview series, Glen shares snippets of his book. The final episode is a flashback episode of Glen and Francis recording themselves chatting while hiking up San Francisco's historic Sweeney Ridge.

Bonus video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QivSPWiKfU 

Join the exclusive WanderLearn Patreon club.

More about Glen Van Peski


Glen Van Peski, founder of Gossamer Gear, is known for his legendary contributions to the backpacking community. A native Californian, Van Peski grew up in the western outdoors, and when his oldest son joined Scouts, he led the troop’s backpacking program. Through those experiences, he became intrigued by lightweight backpacking. He started sewing his gear and eventually started his own company, manufacturing ultralight backpacking equipment. Glen and his company have been featured in Backpacker, Outside, National Geographic Adventure magazines, and the New York Times.

Van Peski is an internationally sought-after speaker known for his inspiring, humorous, and information-packed presentations. He has hiked most of the Pacific Crest Trail, wandered the backcountry in Japan and Europe, and bike-packed on the Great Divide. He lives in Bend, Oregon, with Francie, his wife of over forty years, and is the father of two grown sons.

More info

To leave an anonymous voicemail that I could use on the podcast, go to SpeakPipe.com/FTapon

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.

If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 

On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:

• Facebook


• Twitter


• YouTube


• Instagram


• Tiktok


• LinkedIn


• Pinterest


• Tumblr

My Patrons sponsored this show!

Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon

Rewards start at just $2/month!

Affiliate links

Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!

In the USA, I recommend trading crypto with Kraken. 

Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!

For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ftapon.substack.com

In this episode, Glen Van Peski shares the story of an American worker who visited India to see where his outsourced job went. The lesson was surprising.

Do you think you're not in the top 1%? Think again.

Watch Video on YouTube

Glen Van Peski is a civil engineer who used his skills to engineer the lightest backpacking gear in the Solar System. Glen is the founder of Gossamer Gear.

In 2024, he released Take Less, Do More: Surprising Life Lessons in Generosity, Gratitude, and Curiosity from an Ultralight Backpacker.

In this interview series, Glen shares snippets of his book. 

More info

To leave an anonymous voicemail that I could use on the podcast, go to SpeakPipe.com/FTapon

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.

If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 

On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:

• Facebook


• Twitter


• YouTube


• Instagram


• Tiktok


• LinkedIn


• Pinterest


• Tumblr

My Patrons sponsored this show!

Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon

Rewards start at just $2/month!

Affiliate links

Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!

In the USA, I recommend trading crypto with Kraken. 

Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!

For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ftapon.substack.com

Glen Van Peski reveals one of his favorite annual backpacking trips, how to stop a snorer, and lessons about generosity. 

Watch the video on YouTube

00:00 Arizona's Buckskin Gulch

03:33 How to stop someone snoring

4:30 Lessons from a disabled son

6:45 Chopsticks as tent stakes - Chopstakes

9:30 Accepting generosity

14:30 Subtract Toward Happiness 

16:40 The Generous Debit Card

 

Bonus video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QivSPWiKfU 

Join the exclusive WanderLearn Patreon club.

More about Glen Van Peski


Glen Van Peski, founder of Gossamer Gear, is known for his legendary contributions to the backpacking community. A native Californian, Van Peski grew up in the western outdoors, and when his oldest son joined Scouts, he led the troop’s backpacking program. Through those experiences, he became intrigued by lightweight backpacking. He started sewing his gear and eventually started his own company, manufacturing ultralight backpacking equipment. Glen and his company have been featured in Backpacker, Outside, National Geographic Adventure magazines, and the New York Times.

Van Peski is an internationally sought-after speaker known for his inspiring, humorous, and information-packed presentations. He has hiked most of the Pacific Crest Trail, wandered the backcountry in Japan and Europe, and bike-packed on the Great Divide. He lives in Bend, Oregon, with Francie, his wife of over forty years, and is the father of two grown sons.

More info

To leave an anonymous voicemail that I could use on the podcast, go to SpeakPipe.com/FTapon

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.

If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 

On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:

• Facebook


• Twitter


• YouTube


• Instagram


• Tiktok


• LinkedIn


• Pinterest


• Tumblr

My Patrons sponsored this show!

Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon

 

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ftapon.substack.com

It's April 19, 2024: Bitcoin's 4th Halving is happening today! The block reward, doled out every 10 minutes, will drop from 6.25 to 3.125 BTC.

That translates into an inflation rate of only 0.85%, far less than gold or any other currency.

From now until 2140, the inflation rate will slowly decrease to zero.

This explains why Bitcoin has appreciated against inflating currencies over several years —and that it will continue since governments will always recklessly print money.

Watch the YouTube Video to See the Charts

It's easier to follow along.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGBgo6ImfpY

In this episode, we celebrate the BTC Halving by reviewing Plan B's stock-to-flow (S2F) model, which I first critiqued at the previous halving in 2020. Back then, I predicted that the model would break in 2024 and beyond.

Because the article and video were so viral, I've been reviewing the model's state annually. 

This update is extra special because it's the 2024 Halving.

Watch the 9-minute video below to see why I still believe what I said in 2020: that the stock-to-flow model will begin to crack this year.

As I explained in the video, the divergence between the two most recent models and reality is already happening.

Only the original and most conservative S2F model remains viable. But in 2025 and definitely by 2026, you'll see that model will become as useless as the last two S2F models.  

See my 2023 update.

 

More info

To leave an anonymous voicemail that I could use on the podcast, go to SpeakPipe.com/FTapon

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.

If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 

On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:

• Facebook


• Twitter


• YouTube


• Instagram


• Tiktok


• LinkedIn


• Pinterest


• Tumblr

My Patrons sponsored this show!

Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon

Rewards start at just $2/month!

Affiliate links

Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!

In the USA, I recommend trading crypto with Kraken. 

Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!

For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ftapon.substack.com