What are the things that help you flourish on a deep level? Nina Butler joins me to explore this question as she outlines her criteria for the top ten health and wellness destinations and why these may also be the top places in the world to live. 

Nina Butler is the founder of InRetreat, which crafts transformative journeys to exceptional eco-destinations around the world. She joins Jason in person this week to talk about wellness holistically, defining it for yourself, and asking yourself about your own priorities when deciding to visit or live somewhere.

We discuss her top ten wellness destinations across multiple continents, why urban centers can never be wellness destinations, the importance of trees and protected nature spaces, which regions are not yet over-touristed, and so much more.

Which wellness destinations would you add to this list? I'd love to hear what they are, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

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We have another epic theme this month on the podcast! Tune in for a sneak peak.

What topics and themes do you want to hear about on the podcast? I'd love to hear what they are, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

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What is a country?

American journalist and author Eric Czuleger set out to answer that very question with his recent book, You Are Not Here: Travels Through Countries That Don't Exist, which shares about his year living in only unrecognized nations, such as Iraqi Kurdistan and Kosovo. The goal of this book is to invite readers to ask big questions about what it means to be a citizen of their own nation.

Eric and I talk about his experience and touch on various topics, such as storytelling and the media, culture and identity, geopolitics, his brief stint as an intelligence analyst, and why he had to learn to like the world again. You’ll learn about the future of nation-states, his near-death experience in South Africa, reverse culture shock, expat life in Albania, and so much more.

This episode will give you plenty of insights into the importance of storytelling, perception, and following your “peculiar” interests.

Why do you travel? I'd love to hear your reasons, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

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What is the #1 fear of most travelers, and how can you reign that fear in? Today’s Greatest Hits episode is about changing your perspective, worldview, and life through factfulness.

Anna Rosling Rønnlund is the co-founder of Gapminder.org, whose mission is to fight ignorance by providing a fact-based worldview (for FREE). She is also the co-author of the NY Times Best-Selling book Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About The World—And Why Things Are Better Than You Think. This book will change your life for the better, so be sure to check it out.

We discuss why the world may not be getting worse (as some think), the role of the media in distorting our worldview, insights into how we can shift our perspectives based on facts, and so much more.

How did this episode change your outlook? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

*We're sharing previous episodes that highlight authors this month! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, providing valuable insight whenever you listen.

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How is tourism impacting communities, and what can we do about it? Paige McClanahan joins me to talk about the dualities of the tourism industry and how we can have deeper travel experiences while benefiting the world.

Paige McClanahan is the author of The New Tourist: Waking up to the Power and Perils of Travel. She is an American journalist based in France and a regular contributor to The New York Times, where she reports on the impacts of tourism. She is also the host of The Better Travel Podcast, which aims to make sure that our travels have a positive impact on the world. 

We talk about the evolution of tourism as context to how it got to where it is today, the consequences of travel on local communities (good and bad) and what we can do about it, and insights into how we can become what Paige calls a “new tourist.” She also shares a behind-the-scenes look at how she wrote this book and used her professional journalism skills to her advantage.

How will you become a “new tourist?” I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

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How would you describe your current level of happiness, and what would need to change to improve that? 

Award-winning journalist and bestselling author Eric Weiner joins me to explore the many themes of his book The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World and get into the nitty-gritty of what it means to be happy.

If you want to transform your outlook and increase your happiness, you don’t want to miss this episode. Eric shares stories from his time as a foreign war correspondent during the rise of the Taliban, his decision to leave behind a successful career at NPR, lessons from traveling the world to write his first book, and so much more. 

How does traveling make you a better version of yourself? I'd love to hear your thoughts and hope you will share them by sending me an audio message.

*We're sharing previous episodes that highlight authors this month! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, providing valuable insight whenever you listen.

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Did you know Ben Franklin was an extensive traveler for his time? 

Today, I'm joined by New York Times bestselling author Eric Weiner to talk about his new, incredibly unconventional biography, Ben & Me: In Search of a Founder's Formula for a Long and Useful Life, a guide for living and thinking well.

We talk about Eric's unique way of weaving travel into his writing, explore the life and wisdom of Ben Franklin, and share concrete takeaways you can use to enhance your own life and travels. You'll hear about Eric's three keys to living, thinking, and aging well, what it means to live a useful life, the importance of curiosity, and the benefits of being what he calls a "genuine fake." We also touch on Ben's flaws and the lessons we can learn from them.

What insights stood out to you the most? I'd love to hear them, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message.

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What do you love about your home country? What do you think could be better?

After moving to America in 2008, Anu began to notice how much more complicated and stressful things seemed to be in the States compared to her home country of Finland.

Anu Partanen is a Finnish journalist and author of The Nordic Theory of Everything—In Search of a Better Life. The book shows how the Nordic way of doing things can give you more freedom to fulfill your desires, enjoy more travel, have better health, better education, and more opportunities.

In this Greatest Hits episode, you'll hear some of her interesting perspectives and ideas surrounding these topics and gain insight into how your view of your home country shifts (for better and for worse) when you move to a new country.

How have your views changed about your home country since traveling? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

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How can one simple concept or decision radically change your life? In 2017, Jen Ruiz set out to take 12 trips in 12 months before her 30th birthday while employed full-time as an attorney. By the end of the 12 months, she had taken 20 trips and discovered a new career path, empowering others to change their lives through travel.

Jen is a five-time Amazon bestselling author, three-time TEDx speaker, and solo travel maven. Her new memoir, 12 Trips in 12 Months: Make Your Own Solo Travel Magic, documents this journey of what happened when she decided to stop waiting for others and start living for herself. 

Jen and I talk all about solo travel and advice on traveling with a full-time job. She shares advice on self-publishing versus traditional publishing, how and when to make the transition to travel from a full-time job, how your perceived drawbacks can actually be your biggest benefits, and a ton more.

What challenge can you set for yourself to make the most of your travels? I'd love to hear your thoughts and hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

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What epic episodes are we dropping this month on the podcast? Listen in to this quick announcement and find out.

What topics and themes do you want to hear about on the podcast? I'd love to hear what they are, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

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