What does it take to plan an unforgettable African safari? How can one trip lead to building a life and business around travel? 

Scott Brills is a long-time digital nomad, international entrepreneur, and co-founder of Pamoja Safaris, a locally run company offering custom wildlife safaris in Tanzania. Over the past 20 years, he’s lived at the intersection of travel, business, and service — running trips, participating in charities, and creating a location-independent lifestyle before “digital nomad” was a common phrase. 

This episode is both a guide to planning a world-class African safari and a behind-the-scenes look at how Scott built a thriving travel-based business from scratch. 

Whether you're dreaming of lions in the Serengeti or wondering how to design your own unconventional lifestyle, this conversation delivers both practical insights and personal inspiration. If a safari is on your bucket list, you’ll learn how to plan smart: when to go, where to go, what it should cost, and what red flags to avoid. And if you’ve ever dreamed of building your life around travel, Scott’s story is proof that it’s possible, even without outside funding, marketing spend, or a fixed address. 

What would building your life around travel look like, and what’s one step you could take today? What element of a Safari is the most important to you? I'd love to hear what you think and hope you will 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. 

Tune In To Learn: 

What makes Tanzania a world-class safari destination 

How Scott co-founded a safari business through a single serendipitous encounter 

Key factors that affect safari pricing and how to keep costs down without sacrificing quality 

When and where to go for the best wildlife, weather, and experience 

Why guide quality is the single most important factor in a great safari 

What to look for in ethical safari operators (and how to avoid greenwashing) 

How Scott ran his business for over a decade on referrals alone 

The origin of his travel obsession and how it shaped everything 

What “building a life around travel” actually looks like, practically and emotionally 

Advice for travelers considering a leap into remote work or entrepreneurship  

And so much more 

Resources: 

Sign up for our FREE newsletter 

Learn about Pamoja Safaris 

Scott’s website 

Pamoja on Instagram 

Scott on Instagram 

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Could you turn a product idea into passive income, without starting a business or having to do it all yourself? 

Courtney Laschkewitsch is a serial inventor who, with no prior experience, licensed six products after facing 51 rejections. Now, Courtney helps everyday inventors bring their ideas to life and earn passive income through the free resources on her website, Serial Inventing, and the company she works for, inventRight.

Courtney lays out the inventRight 10-step product licensing business model and shows how she went from zero experience to multiple licensable products. We dig into what realistic timelines, costs, and mindsets look like when you want to bring your product idea to market by licensing instead of manufacturing.

Courtney explains how licensing can let someone else build your idea while you collect royalties from anywhere in the world. You’ll learn not just the mechanical steps, but why so much of your success depends on persistence, handling rejection, and building skills many people overlook. She’s honest about the financial realities - what small checks look like, what good deals look like - and what terms in contracts you should always negotiate. If you want a clear, actionable path toward turning ideas into income without a massive risk, this episode gives you that roadmap. 

Do you have a product idea that could help you earn passive income while you travel? I’d love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share them sending me an audio message. 

Tune In To Learn: 

Why product licensing can let you earn passive income location‑independently without owning inventory or manufacturing 

The first three foundational steps: doing market research, checking for prior art/patents, and defining what makes your idea unique 

How to build prototypes or virtual models to show your concept 

How to write a one‑line benefit statement and develop an effective sell‑sheet  

Common myths around patenting and protection: what it does, the costs, limitations, and when it’s essential 

How to build a hit list of companies, reach out sensitively to avoid unsolicited idea policies, and follow up well 

Key negotiation levers beyond royalty rates: territory, exclusivity, distribution, wholesale vs net sales 

How to decide when an idea is worth continuing vs when to shelve it, and how to improve your process as you iterate 

And so much more 

Resources: 

Sign up for our FREE newsletter 

Courtney’s website 

The Serial Inventing Podcast 

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How to Grow Your Location Independent Solopreneur Business in 2025 + Advice from 8 Years of Slow, Nomadic Travel with Jeremy Enns 

10 Key Principles That Built a $40M Business While Traveling with Dan Demsky 

How To Run A Profitable Local Business From Anywhere In The World w/ Neel Parekh 

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Have you ever had the urge to explore the world beyond the boundaries of society?

Greg Abandoned shares his passion for urban exploration, including stories of some of his most challenging journeys, most cherished experiences, and all about the URBEX movement. 

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to visit lost parts of society and want to know more about finding beauty in decay, then you don't want to miss this episode. We discuss how Greg discovered a new perspective on life through urban exploration, what inspired him to adopt this lifestyle, the unwritten rules of URBEX, and how to begin your own journey.

Have you ever participated in urban exploration? I'd love to hear about your experience and hope you will 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.

Tune In To Learn:

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What if the best time to start your business or creative pursuit was before you felt fully ready? And what if you didn’t need to follow all of the current “best practices” to market yourself? 

Nat Eliason is an entrepreneur and author based in Austin, Texas. Over the past decade, he’s built a career that gives him location freedom through writing, course creation, and now fiction. His debut sci-fi novel Husk: Book 1 of the Meru Initiative, was released in May 2025. 

In this episode, Nat returns to share his experience transitioning from nonfiction writer to sci‑fi novelist, revealing the counterintuitive strategies he used to launch Husk and build momentum in the noisy creator economy. 

Whether you're building a location-independent business or launching a creative project from anywhere in the world, Nat shares how to take control of your output, challenge “start later” thinking, and embrace the long game. He also opens up about what it takes to be patient in a fast-moving digital world, how he used an experimental marketing mindset to sell his products and books, and the often unseen emotional work of building something sustainably. 

What’s one creative project you want to launch? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. 

Tune In To Learn: 

Nate’s journey as an entrepreneur and author, and how he constructed the fictional world of Husk 

Insight into balancing the joy of the journey with your bigger goals 

Why starting creative work before feeling "ready" may be your strongest move 

How to think like a business even while focusing on fiction or creative work 

Why Nat says newsletters and funnels are out and where you should focus instead 

The creative way that Nat sold his preorders instead of launching through Amazon 

Advice for staying motivated before your work gains traction  

How the "prep trap" holds creators and entrepreneurs back, and how Nat learned to bypass it 

Nat’s favorite fiction book recommendations 

And so much more 

Resources: 

Sign up for our FREE newsletter 

Visit Nat’s website 

Get the book, Husk 

Instagram 

Want More? 

Lessons From Winning and Losing Millions in Crypto, How To Find Fulfilling Work, Advice for Transitioning to a Creative Career, and Creating Unlimited Upside With Nat Eliason 

How to Grow Your Location Independent Solopreneur Business in 2025 + Advice from 8 Years of Slow, Nomadic Travel with Jeremy Enns 

An Interview With John Craigie: Notes From The Road 

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Today, I’ve got a special episode from The Elements of AlUla, a travel docuseries produced by Armchair Productions. The company was founded by Aaron Millar, who you may know as the host of The Armchair Explorer podcast. 

In this series, Aaron is going to take you on a journey into the heart of one of the most ancient kingdoms on Earth. Located in the northwestern corner of Saudi Arabia, Alula is an oasis in the desert, layered in 200,000 years of human history. 

Until recently, it was closed to outsiders, and to this day, only a handful of visitors have ever been. In this immersive documentary recorded on location, we’ll take you to the heart of one of the great wonders of Arabia and give you a glimpse of what it feels like to be there for real. 

Highlights Include: 

Exploring the ancient city of Hegra. Built by the same people who built Petra in Jordan, Hegra is every bit as spectacular, but only visited by a handful of intrepid travelers. 

Visiting Jebel Ikmah, a library of ancient inscriptions carved into stone that reveal life in the desert more than 2,000 years ago. 

Riding Arabian horses to petroglyphs in the desert (and nearly falling off). 

Meeting a herd of overly friendly camels, with a taste for microphones. 

Learning from rawis, local storytellers, about the history of the incense road, a vast trading route that passed through Alula and changed the face of Arabia forever. 

Resources: 

Sign up for our FREE newsletter 

Listen on Apple, Spotify 

ExperienceAlula.com 

Instagram, Facebook, X 

Armchair Productions 

Armchair Explorer Podcast 

Want More? 

Top 3 Life Lessons from the World’s Greatest Adventurers with Aaron Millar (Host of the Armchair Explorer Podcast) 

Travel To Utah: Fireside Dances, Ancient Ruins, and the Beauty of Hózhó (Balance) 

Exploring San Francisco by Cable Car 

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What happens when someone gives up security to build a tropical dream on a tiny island, with no job, no plan, and only one light bulb for power?

Martin Vrana is the founder of Lost Paradise, a boutique resort he spent nearly 15 years building from scratch on a small island off Bali’s coast. Born and raised in Scandinavia, Martin left a safe life behind to follow an adventurous dream, one that taught him resilience, determination, and the art of creating a life on his own terms.

In this episode, Martin tells the story of how he turned a blank plot of land into Lost Paradise resort, through three jobs, relentless determination, and years of overcoming logistical, emotional, and cultural challenges.

Martin shares the raw truth behind building Lost Paradise from the ground up: the emotional cost, the logistical nightmares, and the relentless mindset that carried him through. You’ll hear how he navigated burnout, sacrificed relationships, and lived off-grid with no electricity, all while staying anchored to his vision. This story isn’t about overnight success; it’s about what’s possible when you refuse to quit.

What wild dream or goal of your are you ready to make happen? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

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What does thriving as a long‑term digital nomad look like in 2025?

Welcome to our debut episode of Remote Roundup - a new monthly series exploring what's new in remote work and travel, including helpful tools and resources, need‑to‑know trends, destinations, and insight into what it really means to live and work around the world.

Caitlin Sunderland is the associate producer, and Janessa is the partnerships manager of the Zero To Travel podcast. Both are digital nomads who’ve embraced the ups and downs of remote work life from all over the world.

Caitlin and Janessa open up about navigating burnout, experimenting with work routines, their thoughts on where nomads will be heading next, and what it means to be a “digital nomad 2.0.” You'll hear real stories and reflections on money, mindset, productivity, identity, and the emotional shifts that come with long-term travel. 

What did you think of this episode? We’d love to hear your thoughts, and hope you’ll share by sending an audio message.

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What can happen when a filmmaker decides to spotlight invisible geniuses and hidden stories that change how we see the world?

Robin Danehav is a Swedish documentary filmmaker known for embarking on a bold quest to create 100 short films revealing the everyday impact-makers whose stories remain untold. Based in Stockholm and often traveling worldwide, Robin explores humanity, creativity, and empathy through compelling, intimate films.

In this episode, Robin shares how the “100 Documentary Project” began, what fuels the journey, and why storytelling rooted in purpose can reshape our lives.

Robin shares how a one-year TV course and leap from IT sparked his filmmaking path and why his “100 Documentary Project” became both a purpose and a personal challenge. You’ll hear what it means to reframe your side hustle as your main work, and how traveling to places like Uganda and Bali shaped his storytelling. Robin opens up about the emotional depth he seeks in his subjects, why integrity matters more than clicks, and the biggest creative lesson travel continues to teach him. Whether you’re a storyteller, creator, or traveler, you’ll walk away with new insight into the value of empathy and everyday impact.

What hidden stories in your life or community deserve to be shared?  I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

Why a dinner with a pasta maker in Lisbon led Robin to start his filmmaking quest

How counting down from 100 shaped the structure and mindset of the project

Advice for identifying emotional moments even when subjects are camera‑shy

Why reframing the side hustle as your main purpose can change everything

How storytelling connects emotion and deeper impact

How travel constraints sparked creative solutions on location

How collaborating with a mission‑driven coffee company enabled an unforgettable shoot in Uganda

Tips for filming long‑form with limited gear and adapting when tech breaks

Insight into the editing grind, the “80/20 rule,” and the tweaks that take the longest

And so much more

Resources:

Sign up for our FREE newsletter

Robin’s website

YouTube

Instagram

Want More:

Making IMAX Films Around the World, Mindful Travel, and Working with Jane Goodall with Mike Day

Beyond the Summit: Climbing Mt. Everest, Filming at 29,000 Feet, a Cultural Journey through Nepal, and Taking Your Childhood Dreams to Heart with Alex Harz

Immersion Travel: Becoming a Porter in Nepal with Nate Menninger

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Do you ever feel limited by society’s expectations and stereotypes surrounding travel? 

When Beth Santos started a travel blog, her goal was to challenge norms by exploring the diverse and shared experiences of women traveling the world. It has since morphed into Wanderful, an international community and social network with over 40,000 active members composed of women and non-binary people of all ages and backgrounds. Aside from this booming online community, Beth has also created WITS Travel Creator + Brand Summit, the Bessie Awards, and the first-ever outdoor women’s festival.

This episode is all about rethinking what it means to travel and how the narratives we tell (and believe) can exclude so many people. Beth and I get into how she reconnected with her Portuguese heritage and how that led to a life of travel and leadership. She shares her story of moving to São Tomé and Príncipe in her early 20s, the emotions around not speaking the language of her own family, and how she eventually turned those early experiences into a powerful global community.

We talk a lot about what it means to lead with vulnerability, how to build safe and inclusive spaces, and why the dominant solo female travel narrative is way too narrow. Beth also opens up about entrepreneurship, failure, and parenting as a founder. 

What are some ways you can create a safe space for others? I'd love to hear some of your ideas and hope you will share by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

Resources:

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What if the secret to unlocking a better life and travel experience lies not in more, but in smarter choices?

Chris Hutchins is the host of the “All the Hacks” podcast, where he distills practical strategies across life, money, and travel. An optimizer by nature, Chris has saved millions by breaking down every aspect of life to maximize happiness at the lowest cost.

Chris joins me to share the top hacks from his podcast - life-changing mindset shifts that shape how we experience travel, time, and value.

You’ll hear how he uses travel as a lens for smarter life decisions, from taking second trips to embracing intentional spending. We talk about the emotional side of optimization, how to avoid over-optimizing, and why some of the best “hacks” are actually mindset shifts. If you've ever questioned whether squeezing in that extra flight or saving those extra points was worth it, this conversation might change how you travel and live.

What’s one tiny hack you’ve adopted that’s unexpectedly amplified your joy or efficiency? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

Why returning to the same destination can unlock a more meaningful travel experience

How buying back your time (groceries, errands) can pay more than saving money

When it's smarter to spend money instead of optimizing every detail, especially in different seasons of life

Surprising things you didn’t know you could negotiate and how a simple ask can save thousands

Why buying airline or hotel points during promotions can open up luxury travel for a fraction of the cost

How to spot deals that aren’t just discounts, but potential income streams with a little creativity

The mindset shift from deal-hunting for its own sake to building long-term value in how you spend and live

A simple way to search for unclaimed money that might literally have your name on it

Chris’ favorite tools and tech to save time, money, and mental energy with almost no effort

Why the best hacks are the ones aligned with your time, energy, and priorities - not just your wallet

Resources:

Sign up for our FREE newsletter

Listen to All the Hacks podcast

Coyote game

Die with Zero by Bill Perkins

The Five Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom

Want More:

How to Win at Travel with “The Points Guy” Brian Kelly

Top 8 Food Hacks in Europe: How to Find Authentic Culinary Experiences on the Old Continent with Kenny Dunn

10 Key Principles That Built a $40M Business While Traveling with Dan Demsky

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