Zero To Travel Podcast

How can you create a life of travel with an unconventional career like filmmaking, and what can it teach you about the world and yourself?

Mike Day shares how he transitioned from working in museums to becoming an award-winning IMAX documentary filmmaker and the lessons he learned from traveling the world.

Mike Day has served as the Executive Producer of over a dozen documentary films shot in IMAX. His work has taken him to magnificent worldwide locations, which he’s written about in his book, "The World Has a Big Backyard."

Mike’s stories offer a unique glimpse into the world of IMAX documentary filmmaking, showcasing the dedication, resourcefulness, and mindfulness needed to bring nature’s wonders to life on the big screen. 

You’ll hear tips on practicing mindfulness during travel, how to handle uncomfortable cultural experiences that you may disagree with (like bullfighting in Spain), the importance of self-care on the road, having authentic experiences, his top favorite museums in the world, and what it was really like working with the legendary Jane Goodall.

If you could capture any place in the world on film, where would it be and why? 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 do both comedy and travel help you embrace the unexpected?

Comedian Ari Shaffir is best known for his 2 Netflix specials, 2 Comedy Central specials, and for hosting Comedy Central’s weekly storytelling series, This Is Not Happening. He was also a regular panelist on @Midnight and Conan. Ari is the host of the podcast Skeptic Tank and has recently released a new podcast called You Be Trippin,’ where he interviews real folks about their messed up disasters and memorable travel experiences.   

Ari shares stories of his time on tour, and we talk about his philosophy of embracing the chaos of travel. You’ll hear about the unique cultural experiences that come with being a comedian on the road, gain insights into the art of comedy, and get a different view on the importance of dark humor. 

During this humorous and insightful conversation, he shares some great, no-nonsense travel advice, insights on reframing plateaus, how psychedelics can help you tap into new perspectives, and much more.

What’s the most unexpected adventure you’ve had while traveling? I'd love to hear your story, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.

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Have you thought about hitting pause on your career to travel the world but are unsure how to make it a reality? It's not as unattainable as you may think!

Cali O'Connor shares her experience of taking multiple career breaks and offers 5 practical steps to start planning your own career break today.

Cali is a former chemical engineer who traded her career in the oilfield for a life-changing adventure of quitting her job to travel around the world. Now, Cali helps working professionals find clarity in their lives by taking a career break that gives them the freedom to travel, explore, and realign with their life goals. 

Whether you dream of quitting your job or taking a temporary pause, this episode will give you the confidence and strategies to take that leap. You'll hear about her biggest mistakes during her first career break (and how to avoid them), insights on overcoming common fears such as financial insecurity and leaving a stable job, travel advice to save time and money, and lessons on concurring travel burnout.

If you could take a career break tomorrow, where would you go, and why? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share them by sending me an audio message.

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Traveling abroad had such an impact on Rick early on, that he chose to dedicate his life to helping others see the world.

In 1976, he launched Rick Steves’ Europe and, over time, built a travel empire along with a community of raving fans (including me!). His best-selling guidebook series, public television show, public radio show, syndicated travel column, small group tours, free resources, and other media all align with his core mission to help people get out and travel Europe.

Rick has had a huge influence on me, both personally and professionally. His recommendations helped shape some of my early trips to Europe, ultimately leading to my life of travel. Rick also showed me it was possible to craft a career around my passion for helping others travel the world.

Needless to say, he’s been a dream guest for me, and it was an absolute honor to chat with him and share this conversation with you today.

What was your biggest takeaway from this episode? I'd love to hear your thoughts and hope you will share them by sending me an audio message.

We're republishing this incredible interview with Rick Steves to send him some love after his recent diagnosis. 

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How can you create a more balanced, location-independent life?

Podcast host and author of Digital Nomads for Dummies Kristin Wilson talks about the evolution of her travel lifestyle from expat to digital nomad and the unique challenges and rewards of living a location-independent life. Our conversation covers a wide range of topics related to digital nomadism, lifestyle design, and personal growth.

Over the last 20 years, Kristin Wilson has lived and worked in over 63 countries. Her journey began with an unexpected move to Costa Rica, where she lived as an expat before transitioning to a nomadic lifestyle. Kristin's passion for travel and expertise in helping others relocate and work remotely has made her a leading voice in the digital nomad community. Her podcast, Traveling with Kristin, shares how to move abroad and design your life for more flexibility, travel, and free time. 

Kristin’s story provides practical advice on managing burnout, finding balance in a nomadic life no matter where you are on your journey, and embracing change. You’ll also hear about her favorite countries for various experiences, the role of music in life, and even some tips for making money on YouTube. Whether you're an aspiring traveler or an experienced nomad, you'll find valuable insights to help you as you build your travel lifestyle.

What’s the most surprising lesson you've learned from your travel experiences? I'd love to hear and hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.

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Has a big epiphany ever caused you to instantly alter the trajectory of something in your life? When listener and international piano entertainer Matt Fetbrandt reached out to tell me about the epiphany that changed his life, I knew right away his story had to be shared.

Over the past year (at the time of recording), Matt has traveled over 16,000 miles through 34 U.S. states and 18 national parks with no plans of stopping. In this episode, you're going to find out how, in just 7 months, Matt went from staying in a sober living home with only $12 to his name to saving $20,000 and living out his travel dreams.

Matt shares about what it took for him to change a lifetime of habits and his journey to recovery from addiction. We talk about how travel can be a bridge to create connections, why he felt he needed travel to grow, and being analytical vs. spontaneous. You'll hear about his life as a piano man and stories from the road. Matt also shares some counterintuitive advice that may not make sense to most. Will it make sense to you?

When was the last time you acted on a spontaneous urge to travel? I'd love to hear all about your adventure, and I hope you will share by sending me an audio message.

*This month, we're sharing previous episodes highlighting travel turnarounds! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, providing valuable insight whenever you listen.

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Do you want to live your best travel life? Mike Savas shares his practical strategies and mindset shifts to help you make big changes and start living your most epic life today.

Mike is an adventure seeker, entrepreneur, and positivity influencer who focuses on leading and inspiring others by example. After quitting his corporate job, Mike joined Bon Jovi's team and founded SUPER, a VIP experience company that elevates the fan experience. His clients have included The Rolling Stones, President Obama, Oprah, Eminem, Katy Perry, and more. 

Mike Savas shares his journey from leaving corporate to living his best life, traveling to places like Nepal to help after an earthquake, and working with global artists and personalities through his business.

You'll gain insight into how to make decisions and get off the fence if you're struggling, how to tune in with your instincts and allow them to guide you, why every work or life experience has value, and why you should never underestimate your ability to make an impact. 

What decisions have you been struggling with? How did this episode help? I'd love to hear your answers, and I hope you'll share them by sending me an audio message.

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If a new opportunity comes your way, are you ready to take it? When professional photographer Leslie McKellar was forced to move out of her apartment in 2020 because of toxic mold, she took it as an opportunity to reevaluate her trajectory. After realizing her calling to travel full-time, she set out a plan to make it happen and left for Europe in January 2022.

This interview is extra special because not only was it recorded in person but I also met Leslie 8 months into her travels so she has some fantastic insights to share from her experience.

You will not want to miss what she has to say about how she budgeted for the trip, advice on how to pick the right destinations, valuable lessons from curveballs along the way, why traveling can help you reset, and a 60-second challenge to help you find new adventures.

What are your takeaways from the 60-second challenge? I'd love to hear about them and hope you will share by sending me an audio message.

*This month, we're sharing previous episodes highlighting travel turnarounds! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, providing valuable insight whenever you listen.

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How can you transform your passions into a business that lets you work from anywhere? How can you take a traditionally location-dependent business on the road?

Adrian "Ady" Parzentny has been a traveling musician for 20+ years and a mixing engineer/music producer since 2017. He works with world-class artists through his mobile recording business, Hit The Road Music Studio. He has been living on the road for 13 years, spending time in Albania, Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, and Greece, among other countries.

Adrian shares his journey and best lessons on how he combined his passion for music with his love for travel to create a business around his lifestyle. You'll hear about the positives and negatives of passion mashin' and how he balances traveling the world, supporting local artists with free records, and paid client projects to make his lifestyle sustainable. You'll gain insights into carving your own unique path and deviating from the norm, embracing limitations and finding creative solutions, leveraging your business to connect with local cultures, and valuing your worth as a creative.

What passions do you want to build a business around? I'd love to hear about them, and I hope you'll share them by sending me an audio message.

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Have you ever felt like you don't quite fit the mold of society's expectations? Wanda Duncan is a slow-traveling digital nomad, community manager, podcaster, and event producer. As the mastermind behind Black Women Travl, Wanda has created a community and podcast that fosters conversations, provides resources, and inspires Black women to dream big and travel far. 

Wanda shares all about how and why she left her corporate job to pursue a life of travel, expert tips on community building, advice on transitioning to full-time travel, and so much more. 

What are some ways that you have embraced your inner misfit? I'd love to hear about them and hope you will share by sending me an audio message.

*This month, we're sharing previous episodes highlighting travel turnarounds! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, providing valuable insight whenever you listen.

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