What can thinking about death teach us about living life?

Bronnie Ware is an author, songwriter, speaker, and free spirit devoted to helping others find the courage to embrace life on their own terms and live without regrets. Her international bestselling memoir, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, has been translated into 32 languages and has a movie in the pipeline. Bronnie spent much of her life traveling nomadically and now has a home base in rural Australia.

In this episode, we talk about what those final life lessons can teach us about living more freely, creatively, and intentionally, especially when it comes to crafting a life filled with meaningful travel.

This conversation is a reflection on what it really means to live life on your own terms. Bronnie shares how she embraced her creative self later in life, the lessons she’s learned from the dying, and the surprising relationship between death and joy. If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, felt stuck in the “wrong box,” or wondered how to start living more authentically, Bronnie offers wisdom that might just change the way you think. We also talk travel, belonging, and why courage is always rewarded, even when the outcome looks different than you expected.

What’s one truth you’ve learned through travel that continues to shape how you live today? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.

*This is a previously released episode from the archives! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, offering valuable insight whenever you listen.

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What road trip songs get you pumped for your travels?

Rob Harvilla has been a professional rock critic for 20+ years whose writing has appeared in Pitchfork, Spin, and Rolling Stone. He is also the host of the hugely popular podcast 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s and author of a book by the same name.

In this episode, Rob shares his ultimate 90s road trip playlist along with a fun conversation about the inevitable intersection of music and travel.

Rob shares his thoughts on how music embeds itself into our lives, the lost art of mixtapes, and how road trip playlists define our travels. Plus, we swap stories about the bands that made us fall in love with music in the first place.

What song would you add to this list? Is there an album that instantly transports you back to a specific time and place? I'd love to hear what it is, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.

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I’m bringing you a roundup of the most popular and community-loved highlights from the Zero To Travel newsletter this month, offering practical travel tips, lifestyle insights, and some good old-fashioned wanderlust inspiration.

You’ll hear science-backed strategies for boosting happiness, why now might be the time to take action on a second passport, a few under-the-radar travel destinations you’ll want to add to your list, why college towns can make great travel destinations, and more.

What’s your takeaway from this episode? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

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Have you traveled just to go to a music festival? What one realization can lead to a life of travel?

Jason Law and his wife Kelly are the duo behind Festy GoNuts and GoNuts Marketing, the ultimate resource for enhancing your music festival experience. They’ve been to countless festivals, created a tight-knit community of festival lovers, and know exactly what it takes to go from a good time to a legendary one.

In this episode, they're sharing their top 11 music festival tips to rock the experience - from campsite best practices to festival fashion to embracing your "fest self."

You’ll get practical advice for planning, packing, and participating in a way that turns a few days of live music into an unforgettable adventure. Jason and Kelly’s tips aren’t just about gear and logistics but connection, community, and letting your guard down in the best way possible.

 What music festival are you looking forward to? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.

*This is a previously released episode from the archives! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, offering valuable insight whenever you listen.

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What is it like to hike over 2,000 miles on the Appalachian Trail… with your teenage kid?

Jessica and Largo are part of the adventurous WorldTowning family, who’ve been living a full-time travel lifestyle for over a decade. From sailing across the Atlantic to road-tripping Europe in an RV, they’ve redefined “home” and “school” many times over.

Jessica and her son Largo share their experience tackling one of the USA’s most iconic long-distance hikes: the Appalachian Trail. We talk about what led them there, what they expected, and how it all unfolded over nearly 2,200 miles of trail from Georgia to Maine.

This conversation isn’t just about hiking but navigating challenges, family dynamics, and transitions. You’ll hear how Jessica and Largo balanced remote work and school on the trail, how it deepened their relationship, and why this adventure changed how they view their home country after a decade abroad. From logistical headaches and emotional breakthroughs to unexpected trail magic, this episode shows that you don’t need ideal conditions to pull off a bold adventure.

If you had six months to disconnect from your normal life and reconnect with nature, how would you spend it? Who would you take?  I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.

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Nate Menninger has chased experiences around the world, from running with the bulls in Spain to diving the Blue Hole in Belize. Most recently, he became one of the first foreigners to work as a Himalayan porter in Nepal, an experience he documented in his first-ever film, The Porter. 

In this episode, Nate shares the wild story of becoming a porter in Nepal, working side-by-side with local Nepalese porters on a 23-day trek. We talk about how he pulled it off, what it taught him, and the unexpected impact it had on his mental health, perspective, and purpose.

Nate's experience challenges a lot of what we assume about ethical travel, cultural immersion, and even our own motivations as travelers. We unpack what it means to be fully present in a different culture, the power of learning a local language, and how intention and humility can open doors to deeper connection. Whether you're planning a trek in Nepal or just thinking about how to be a more thoughtful traveler, this episode will give you a lot to chew on.

How have your travels challenged your assumptions about other cultures? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.

*This is a previously released episode from the archives! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, offering valuable insight whenever you listen.

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What hidden stories lie beneath the surface of the places you travel?

Clare Hammond is an award-winning investigative journalist currently working with Global Witness to expose the issues relating to natural resources, conflict, and corruption. In 2016 while working in Myanmar, she discovered an obscure map showing a web of railways that weren’t shown on any publicly available maps. This compelled her to spend three months traveling these mysterious railways to uncover their purpose and the stories surrounding them. Her investigation took five years to complete and form the basis for her book  "On the Shadow Tracks: A Journey Through Occupied Myanmar."

In this episode, Clare shares her journey from financial journalism in Hong Kong to uncovering the hidden infrastructure of Myanmar’s illicit economy. She takes us behind the scenes of her investigative work, the ethical dilemmas of reporting from conflict zones, and what she learned from traveling the forgotten railways of Myanmar.

This episode will challenge the way you think about travel, journalism, and the unseen forces that shape the world. Clare’s firsthand accounts of reporting on corruption, conflict, and human resilience reveal the power of storytelling to bring hidden truths to light. 

Have you ever traveled somewhere that changed the way you saw the world? What stories did you uncover? I'd love to hear about them, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.

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What is it about Sicily that makes travelers fall in love (and some never leave)?

Linda Sarris is a Sicilian travel expert, private chef, and the author of three Moon Travel Guides covering Sicily and Southern Italy. After building her career as a private chef in New York City, she followed her passion for food and culture to Palermo, Italy, where she’s been based for the past eight years. Today, she runs a food and wine-focused travel business, offering immersive experiences that help travelers taste and explore Sicily like a local.

In this episode, we explore what it’s like to visit Sicily through a local lens: where to eat, what to drink, and how to be in a place that runs on a different rhythm.

Linda shares her favorite street food, the wine regions worth a detour, and how Sicilian life has shifted her relationship with time, connection, and even ambition. You’ll get insider secrets to authentic Sicilian cuisine, practical advice for planning your visit, and more.

What makes you most interested in visiting Sicily? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

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What makes Andalusia one of the best hidden gems in all of Spain?

Lucas Peters is a tour operator and award-winning travel writer. His latest book with Moon Travel Guides explores the magic of southern Spain, sharing the must-see highlights, unique experiences, and the best local flavors of Seville, Granada, and Andalusia.

In this episode, Lucas unpacks the culture and history of Andalusia and shares the top experiences that make this region of Spain a must-visit.

Lucas shares fascinating insights into Andalusia’s history, explains why its cultural blend is so unique, and offers practical advice for travelers to experience Spain beyond its usual tourist spots. You’ll get a taste of Analusia’s food scene and local hotspots, and discover how to embrace the Andalusian way of life.

What makes you most excited about visiting Andalusia? I'd love to hear what they are, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.

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What if you could build a business that funds your dream lifestyle without sacrificing travel and freedom?

Dan Demsky is the co-founder and CEO of Unbound Merino, a premium Merino wool clothing brand that has redefined minimalist, high-performance fashion. Dan has built Unbound Merino into an eight-figure global business while working fully remotely as a digital nomad. Since launching via a highly successful crowdfunding campaign, Unbound Merino has grown to be a $40M global brand beloved by travelers, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to simplify their wardrobe with sustainable, multi-functional clothing.

In this episode, Dan shares how he built Unbound Merino, the mindset shifts and tactics that helped him succeed, and the lessons he learned from running a business while traveling the world. 

Dan breaks down the realities of entrepreneurship, from validating an idea to choosing a product, hiring, and staying motivated when things get tough. He also shares the challenges of managing a growing brand while staying true to a lifestyle of adventure and exploration. 

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a digital nomad, or just someone looking for inspiration to take the next step, Dan’s story offers insights and practical takeaways on business, lifestyle design, and the power of taking risks.

What’s one small step you could take today to move closer to your dream lifestyle? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.

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