Zero To Travel Podcast

Are you interested in eco-diving? Do you want to pursue a dream or get involved in something greater than yourself but are unsure if you have the right experience?

Andi Cross is a 15-year growth strategist who went from the C-suite to scuba gear. Learning to swim at the age of 30, she later became a certified divemaster and founded the Edges of Earth expedition: a two-year, 50+ destination diving expedition traveling to some of the most remote locations around the planet aimed at driving visibility to conservation efforts and positive impact news from around the globe. 

Andi talks about the unconventional approach she took to pursue her passion for the ocean despite not being a trained scientist and having no prior experience. We talk about how she fused her experience in the corporate world to invent her own path, the importance of finding identity and belonging, breaking traditional rules, and why you need to put yourself out there no matter how awkward (+ some great advice on cold outreach!). 

She shares her top five destinations for eco-diving, her planning process for the Edges of Earth expedition, how to choose dive spots based on sustainability, and the role that everyone plays in ocean conservation.

What are your passions, and how can you carve your own path in that industry? If you don’t ask, you’ll never know. 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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How has your life changed direction from traveling? Poet, entrepreneur, and retired stockbroker James C. Hopkins shares how he transitioned from a hectic life on Wall Street to a simple Buddhist life in Kathmandu. 

We discuss why every experience has value, including the small moment that led to him creating a social enterprise to help fund education for kids. You’ll learn how to navigate new beginnings and improve your life, what compassion in action looks like, how to spend money wisely while traveling, why you should “shut up and do something” today, and so much more.

What moments in your life have caused you to make big changes? I'd love to hear about them, and I hope you will share them by sending me an audio message.

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

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Considering an overland travel adventure or have another dream you want to achieve, whether in work or travel? Eric Highland, his wife Brittany, and son Caspian are driving around the world in a Jeep. They have been traveling full-time since 2014, and their son, born in 2016, has lived his entire life on the road.

Eric shares his insights and recommendations for overlanding and vehicle-based adventure travel, including common myths, costs, and travel must-haves to make your life easier. We also have a broader conversation around the pros and cons of full-time travel, what is required to pursue your dreams, how to balance work with travel, his experience having a child on the road, and his top three destination recommendations.

You’ll gain insights into achieving sustainable and long-term success in your business, creating a healthy and fulfilling travel lifestyle, test-driving the overland travel experience, and more.

Have you figured out the costs of achieving your dreams? 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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Listen in to find out our theme for this month and what epic conversations you can expect to hear.

What topics and themes do you want to learn more about on the podcast? I'd love to get your thoughts, and I hope you'll share them by sending me an audio message.

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When Terry Repak and her husband moved to West Africa with two small children at the height of the AIDS epidemic in the 1990s, she seized the opportunity to connect with people of other cultures and bear witness to the ravages of the disease. 

Today, Terry shares what she learned from this experience and the countless ways that living abroad can be both rewarding and challenging, especially with the constant push-pull between the excitement of new experiences and the longing for home.

Terry is the author of Circling Home—What I Learned By Living Elsewhere, which chronicles the adventures and challenges of raising children to be global citizens and trying to find home in countries as diverse as the Ivory Coast, Tanzania, and Switzerland. Her memoir spotlights the complexity, struggles, and profound lessons at the heart of the expat journey.

You’ll gain insights into navigating the potential risks of moving to another country, why forming deeper connections is key to a fulfilling experience abroad, and why it requires a different kind of openness and a willingness to question preconceptions and judgments.

How has forming deeper connections changed your travel experiences? I'd love to hear your insights, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

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Ever wish you could just slow down? Long-time digital nomad and founder of Wandering Earl Tours, Derek "Earl" Baron, joins me to talk about the best countries to settle in and spend quality time.

Derek set off for his first trip in December 1999 and has traveled the world nonstop since. Having visited over 100 countries and spent nearly 8,000 days on the road (at the time of this interview), he has the unique perspective of someone who has spent over two decades living, working, and building relationships abroad. 

Derek shares how to find the right place to spend quality time, tips for finding good housing abroad, the best country to make friends, advice for building relationships on the road, and so much more.

Where was the last place you spent quality time? I'd love to hear about your experience, and I hope you will share by sending me an audio message.

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

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Do you want to create a life or business that allows for freedom and flexibility?

Matt Bowles is the host of The Maverick Show podcast, where he travels the world full-time to find the most fascinating people on the planet, draw out stories of their most epic adventures, and unpack the skills, tactics, and strategies they use to build their remote businesses and design their lifestyles.

As an entrepreneur and 10-year nomad, Matt shares his insight into decision-making and prioritizing as a digital nomad, his methodology for building a remote business from traditionally location-dependent models, and his process for creating a business from scratch. Matt is also an expert on turnkey real estate investing, and he shares how this could be a viable option for you as a traveler. This episode will give you plenty of insights into life on the road (even dating!) and building a business around your lifestyle.

What insights from Matt will you take into your business? 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’s better than getting out on the open road and blasting your favorite jams? I’m with my buddy Jason Law to break down our top 10 road trip albums to fuel your next adventure.

Jason and his wife Kelly run Festy GoNuts and GoNuts Marketing, the ultimate resource for enhancing your music festival experience. In addition to our list, you’ll hear about his experience building these businesses and creating a location-independent lifestyle.

Get ready for a lot of great music, great fun, and great insights!

What are your favorite road trip albums? I'd love to hear what they are, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

*We're sharing previous episodes highlighting the most EPIC lists this month! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, providing valuable insight whenever you listen.

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Want to kickstart your digital nomad adventure or work and travel on your own terms?

Janessa Klatt and Caitlin Sunderland are podcast managers and two of the core team members here at the Zero To Travel podcast. They’re with me today to share about the unique and nonlinear paths they took to achieve location independence and offer insights on how you can do the same.

Caitlin and Janessa share advice for pivoting into freelance work, whether you have the skillset or are starting from scratch. We talk about the mindset shifts necessary to be successful as a digital nomad and remote business owner and why having a community is essential. You’ll gain plenty of advice on freelancing best practices, setting boundaries with clients, confidently selling your services, and tons more.

What side hustle or business do you want to start? What piece of advice from this episode will you apply? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

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Do you want to get off the beaten path and visit obscure destinations?

Entrepreneur, podcaster, and travel junkie Dylan Thuras joins me to discuss some of his favorite lesser-known wonders and delicacies from all seven continents and why they’re worth the visit.

Dylan is the co-founder of Atlas Obscura, a global community of explorers who have together created a comprehensive database of the world’s most wondrous places and foods. 

With his wealth of knowledge about unique points of interest around the world, Dylan covers where to go, how to get there, and what unexpected hidden treasures await you off the beaten path. 

Which of these seven hidden wonders would you visit first? I'd love to hear what stood out, and I hope you will share by sending me an audio message.

*We're sharing previous episodes highlighting the most EPIC lists this month! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, providing valuable insight whenever you listen.

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