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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Tune In To Learn:

• The positives and negatives of Nordic and US society
• The value of blending different societal aspects and cultures
• The idea of socialism and her observations on family structure and the American Dream
• Why big government isn’t the best way to solve problems 
• The misconceptions with Nordic tax structures (and its real value)
• How adopting a Nordic healthcare and education system can alleviate stress and build a stronger society
• What makes the US a great place to live and why these changes wouldn’t take these things away
• How we can redefine success
• And so much more

Resources:

• Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport
• Sign up for our FREE newsletter
• Visit Anu’s website
• Grab her book, The Nordic Theory of Everything
• Read American Amnesia
• Listen to the episode on Trekking in Patagonia
• Listen to Trekking Nepal: Your Adventure Guide – A Zero To Travel Podcast Series

Want More?

• Cracking the Cultural Code, Ethical Travel To Indigenous Areas, & Life in Norway With Lorelou Desjardins
• Hitting Refresh on Your Life with Travel + How to Move to Europe
• Connecting Across Cultures w/ Tayo Rockson

Thanks To Our Sponsors

• Nissan – There’s no better vehicle for adventure than the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder. Learn more at www.nissanusa.com.
• Babbel – Learn a new language with Babbel! Visit babbel.com/zerototravel to get up to 60% off your subscription.

The post Greatest Hits: The Nordic Theory Of Everything With Anu Partanen appeared first on Zero to Travel.

We’re pulling past episodes from the archives to highlight Women’s History Month! This episode was originally published in January 2016.

What is your most outlandish travel dream?

Ellen Miller has a list of incredible athletic achievements. She’s the first American woman to summit Everest from both sides (north and south), the first American woman to climb the Himalayan Triple Crown, has summited every 14,000+ foot mountain peak in Colorado (there are 53 of them!), and was named Colorado Woman of the Year in 2002. On top of that, Ellen is an accomplished endurance athlete coach, adventure racer, Nordic skier, mountain runner, and the founder of Climb for Literacy.

Ellen and I talk about her experience climbing Mt. Everest and what it really takes to conquer the biggest mountain in the world. Ellen shares insight into how to balance risk in extreme situations, advice on travel and athletics, and answers the question: Are endurance athletes born, or can they be made?

What would you do if you could go anywhere and do anything? I’d love to hear your thoughts and hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

Premium Passport:

• Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now!

Tune In To Learn:

• The most important thing about a travel dream
• Why being told “go outside and play” can help with adventure
• How to leverage your accomplishments to provide amazing experiences for others
• How she kept climbing after a hip replacement
• What it really takes to make climbing Everest an enjoyable experience
• How to mentally prepare for the reality of climbing Everest
• Advice to get started on your quest
• Why you should thank your mother for her genetic gifts (if you perform well at high altitudes)
• How to change the neural pathways of your brain
• Top recommendations for staying fit while traveling
• And so much more

Resources:

• Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport
• Sign up for our FREE newsletter
• Want to travel with me to Morocco? Sign up for more info!
• Read Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
• Learn about The Literacy Project

Want More?

• Riding 16,000 Miles Blind
• The First Woman To Walk Around The World with Polly Letofsky
• Walking Across America

Thanks To Our Sponsors

• US Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card – Get 4 X the points on eating out and 2 X the points on groceries, entertainment services, and gas or EV charge stations. Apply today at usbank.com/altitudego to get 20,000 points by spending $1,000 in your first 90 days. 
• Nissan – There’s no better vehicle for adventure than the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder. Learn more at www.nissanusa.com.
• Wise – Wise can help you send, spend, and receive internationally without the hidden fees or exchange rate markups. Learn how Wise can work for you by downloading the app or visiting www.wise.com/travel.
• AeroPress – Say yes to better mornings fueled by better coffee. Visit aeropress.com/zerototravel to save 20% off your order.

The post Greatest Hits: Everest Excellence With Ellen Miller appeared first on Zero to Travel.

We’re pulling past episodes from the archives to highlight Women’s History Month! This episode was originally published in February 2016.

Sarah Marquis traveled 10,000 miles on foot from Siberia to Australia—alone. It was an epic walk that lasted three years, during which she survived the mafia, drug dealers, thieves on horseback, temperatures from subzero to scorching, dangerous wildlife, and many other life-threatening occurrences. 

Her tales of survival, nature connections, perseverance, various encounters, and overall incredible spirit are documented in her book Wild by Nature.

Sarah and I discuss the deep meaning behind her extreme walking adventures and the lessons she’s learned from these experiences. Get ready to be inspired as we explore themes of following your curiosity, trusting your intuition, and creating deeper connections with yourself and the world around you.

Would you go on a walking adventure? What lesson from Sarah stood out to you the most? I’d love to hear your thoughts and hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

Premium Passport:

• Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now!

Tune In To Learn:

• How to have a more authentic travel experience
• How to push your boundaries (and use the resources you have within)
• What it’s like to follow your heart and discover your mission
• How to assess any situation to figure out what is actually going on
• How to differentiate real fear from fear you create
• Your ultimate ally in dealing with new experiences
• Her trick for creating positive thinking
• Practical tips for those looking to do extreme adventures
• And so much more

Resources:

• Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport
• Sign up for our FREE newsletter
• Want to travel with me to Morocco? Sign up for more info!
• Read her book Wild by Nature

Want More?

• Walking 300 Miles In Medieval Armor + Being The Change w/ Lewis Kirkbride
• Walking Across America
• The World Walk (Trilogy): Lessons From A 7 Year Walk Around The World w/ Tom Turcich

Thanks To Our Sponsors

• US Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card – Get 4 X the points on eating out and 2 X the points on groceries, entertainment services, and gas or EV charge stations. Apply today at usbank.com/altitudego to get 20,000 points by spending $1,000 in your first 90 days. 
• Nissan – There’s no better vehicle for adventure than the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder. Learn more at www.nissanusa.com.
• Wise – Wise can help you send, spend, and receive internationally without the hidden fees or exchange rate markups. Learn how Wise can work for you by downloading the app or visiting www.wise.com/travel.
• AeroPress – Say yes to better mornings fueled by better coffee. Visit aeropress.com/zerototravel to save 20% off your order.

The post Greatest Hits: 3 Years Alone on Foot With Sarah Marquis appeared first on Zero to Travel.

We’re pulling past episodes from the archives to highlight Women’s History Month! This episode was originally published in April 2016.

Renata Chlumska is a Swedish and Czech adventurer with a long and impressive list of expeditions, including:

• Bicycling from Nepal to Sweden
• Summiting a mountain over 8,000 meters without supplemental oxygen
• A motorcycle trip from India to Sweden
• Climbing Mt. Everest and finishing the Seven Summits
• Completing her “Around America Adventure” (439 days, 11,300 miles by kayak and bicycle solo)

In this episode, Renata and I discuss solo travel, planning big adventures, and how she turned her adventure into a career (and how you can, too!). She also shares how travel can be a way to process tragedy and why your exotic place as a traveler is just around somebody else’s corner.

In this episode, Renata and I talk about solo travel, how to plan big adventures, and how she turned her adventure into a career (and how you can, too!). She also shares how travel can be a way to process tragedy and why your exotic place as a traveler is just around somebody else’s corner.

Plus! At the end of the episode, I share my five tips to help you meet more people when traveling.

What would be your ultimate adventure? I’d love to hear your thoughts and hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

Premium Passport:

• Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now!

Tune In To Learn:

• Why your travel experience is all relative to your mindset
• The best ways to prepare and plan for a big trip
• Why it’s important to maximize life and make the most of it
• What she took away from her expedition across America
• How she became a professional adventurer and advice for designing your life
• Her plans to adventure into the final frontier (and how you can do it, too!)
• Insight into opening yourself to new possibilities and perspectives
• The best advice for a budding adventurer
• And much more!

Resources:

• Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport
• Sign up for our FREE newsletter
• Want to travel with me to Morocco? Sign up for more info!
• Listen to Renata’s TEDx Talk
• Virgin Galactic

Want More?

• The Only Woman To Walk Around The World: Inspiring Female Adventurers Series with Polly Letofsky
• Solo Adventure Cycling Around The World: Epic Bike Rides With Shirine Taylor
• Only $50 and a Dream: Biking Across the USA Solo with Zero Experience with Jasmine Reese

Thanks To Our Sponsors

• US Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card – Get 4 X the points on eating out and 2 X the points on groceries, entertainment services, and gas or EV charge stations. Apply today at usbank.com/altitudego to get 20,000 points by spending $1,000 in your first 90 days. 
• Nissan – There’s no better vehicle for adventure than the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder. Learn more at www.nissanusa.com.
• Wise – Wise can help you send, spend, and receive internationally without the hidden fees or exchange rate markups. Learn how Wise can work for you by downloading the app or visiting www.wise.com/travel.
• AeroPress – Say yes to better mornings fueled by better coffee. Visit aeropress.com/zerototravel to save 20% off your order.

The post Greatest Hits: Around America and Beyond With Renata Chlumska (+ How to Meet More People While Traveling) appeared first on Zero to Travel.

In light of our current restrictions, we are doing some armchair travel today. I am so grateful to my great friend Jackie Nourse from The Budget-Minded Traveler & Traveling Jackie who has come on to talk about one of my favorite countries in the world, Argentina. Listen as we both geek out on the time we’ve each spent there, the places we love as we share our notes on this gorgeous place. We get into some of the places you might want to consider visiting (or living), costs of living there, what you can expect and so much more. Join us we take a deep look into the world’s 8th largest country in terms of size, Argentina.

Tune In To Learn:

• 08:50 How To Fall In Love With Argentina
• 13:05 The Essence of the Argentinian People & Language
• 21:45 The Must Do’s Of The Northern Region + Wine
• 26:40 The Gateway To Patagonia + Craft Beer + Outdoor Adventures
• 34:30 What Are Refugio’s & Those Epic Hiking Trails
• 39:30 Logistics & Costs For The Budget-Minded Independent Traveler
• 45:55 The Spots That Are Jackie’s Favorites in the Patagonia Area
• 50:15 The Southernmost Point In The World (Or Is It?) & Indiana Jones Type Adventures
• 52:30 Let’s Talk Digital Nomad Life in Argentina & The Costs of Living
• 58:30 Jackie’s Top Travel Tips & Tricks For Argentina
• And so much more

Resources:

• Find Jackie at Traveling Jackie & The Budget Minded Traveler
• Follow Jackie on Facebook | Instagram | Youtube
• Follow Budget-Minded Traveler on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
• Listen to Jackie on Jump Podcast
• Book a Trip with Jackie
• Chile Nativo

Want More?

• Pop Up Travel Questions with Jackie From Jump Travel Podcast
• Long Term Travel Lifestyle with Jackie From The Budget Minded Traveler
• Trekking In Patagonia

Please head over to the archives for more Zero To Travel podcasts!

The post The Best Of Argentina w/ Jackie Nourse appeared first on Zero to Travel.

We are heading to the emerald isle Ireland in this good ole’ fashioned destination episode. My guest today is Garvan Rushe who is from Ireland and will help us answer how history affects modern Ireland, how to take part in a music experience that will NEVER happen again, & how to make your time in Ireland the best you have ever had.

What are you most looking forward to on your next visit to Ireland? If you have been before, what was your favorite experience? Let me know in the comments below!

Tune In To Learn:

• 07:10 The Feeling Of Home
• 12:10 History Affecting Today & The Love Of Craic
• 20:50 Talking Politics & What Is Celtic
• 28:45 Studying Irish History
• 40:50 Culture Is In The Music
• 51:30 Finding Good Music In Ireland
• 53:55 For The Love Of Dublin
• 1:04:40 Must-Sees Outside Of Dublin
• 1:09:50 The Food Of Ireland
• 1:14:00 Biggest Misconceptions About Ireland
• 1:16:50 Favorite Historical Tale
• 1:22:00 Running A Tour Company
• And so much more!

Resources:

• Connect with Garvan on Dublin Tour Guide
• Fleadh Cheoil Na Heireann Music Festival
• Trinity College Library
• Kilmainham Gaol Museum
• National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology
• EPIC Museum
• Wicklow County
• County Meath
• The English Market in Cork
• Location Indie
• Camp Indie

Want More?

• Hitchhiking Stories From Scotland
• Why Shoulder Season Is The Best Time To Travel
• How To Use Free Stopovers To Kick Your Bucket List’s Ass

Please head over to the archives for more Zero To Travel podcasts!

The post Ireland: Travel, Music, and History w/ Garvan Rushe appeared first on Zero to Travel.

Are you ready for the 6th Annual Norwegian Christmas Spectacular?

Well, it’s here!

Today you’ll hear all about celebrating Christmas in Norway:

• When Is It Too Early To Start Decorating
• Favorite Christmas Decorations
• Traditional Movies To Watch During Christmas
• Picking The Tree Traditions: Norway vs the USA
• Food Traditions (& Prizes) in Denmark & Norway
• When Does Christmas Truly Begin?
• And so much more!

What is your favorite Christmas album? What are your Christmas debates regarding decorations? When does Christmas begin for you? Are there any traditions you heard that you want to try yourself? Let us know in the comments below!

Appreciate your traditions as if you are a traveler seeing and experiencing them for the first time. Even if you are home, take a fresh look at your traditions and truly appreciate and enjoy them.

Have a wonderful Holiday wherever you are!

So delighted to continue this awesome tradition with you. Check out the last 5 Norwegian Christmas Spectacular episodes here:

• 1st Norwegian Christmas Spectacular

You’ll hear about the traditional Norwegian Christmas and a one-horse open sleigh in rural Norway. Listen now.

• 2nd Norwegian Christmas Spectacular

Listen to hear the 12 things we love about the Norwegian Christmas. Check out the 12 days of Christmas here.

• 3rd Norwegian Christmas Spectacular

Check out 9 delightful Norwegian holiday traditions that “Jul” be sure to love. You can listen here.

• 4th Norwegian Christmas Spectacular

My wife Anne-Dorthe and I talk Norwegian Christmas snacks, Juleøl (Christmas beer), markets, food, music, traditions, and all the other joys of the crazy (in the best way possible) Norwegian Christmas. Check it out here.

• 5th Norwegian Christmas Spectacular

My wife Anne-Dorthe and I talk about Christmas traditions in the United States and in Norway. Check it out here.

Want more Zero To Travel Podcasts? Check out the archives now!

The post 6th Annual Norwegian Christmas Spectacular: Celebrating Christmas In Norway appeared first on Zero to Travel.

This is the best time of year to start booking your next year’s travels so which of the locations discussed are making it to your list for 2020?

Tune In To Learn:

• Tip of the week: National Parks & Which To Go To
• How the exchange rates play a huge part in the cheapest game
• Why the cheapest destinations are not always digital nomad hotspots
• How you can afford to travel longer
• Words of wisdom regarding health care on the road
• Finding the best food, wine, & cultural experiences
• The average costs for each location
• How to find accommodations: plan ahead vs wing it
• Why you should get out of the cities and into the wild
• And so much more!

Resources:

• Tortuga Backpacks
• Cheapest Destinations Blog
• Latest World’s Cheapest Destinations Book
• Follow Tim on Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
• Good Albania
• Camp Indie

Want More?

• Top 5 World’s Cheapest Destinations: Part 2 with Tim Leffel
• A Norwegian Christmas Spectacular
• 2nd Annual Norwegian Christmas Spectacular
• 3rd Annual Norwegian Christmas Spectacular
• 4th Annual Norwegian Christmas Spectacular
• 5th Annual Norwegian Christmas Spectacular

Please head over to the archives for more Zero To Travel podcasts!

*This post contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

The post World’s Cheapest Destinations Updated w/ Tim Leffel appeared first on Zero to Travel.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Christopher Mitchell who went “all in” on his passion project of starting a professional travel blog (check out his adventures at Traveling Mitch).

You’ll gain some new perspectives and travel tips from his story about how he got into travel and how his overseas experiences have shaped his life.

Tune In To Learn:

• The secret weapon for being able to slow things down
• How you can play with time
• Ways to become a better version of yourself
• How you can turn your passion project into a business
• Where you get the most valuable lessons
• Ways to create a full-time income from your passion project
• How to breathe energy into your existence
• And so much more!

Resources:

• Tortuga Backpacks
• European Travel Skills: Part II – Rick Steves Over Brunch
• Climate Smart Commitment
• The War of Art
• Off the Clock
• Camp Indie

Please head over to the archives for more Zero To Travel podcasts!

The post When Should You Go “All In” On Something? appeared first on Zero to Travel.

Have you seen Dan Richards on the wild ends of the Earth?

Are there still wild places out there on this crowded planet?

Tune in today to learn about physical spaces and how they impact your travel experience.  Whether it’s a space you choose to make a pilgrimage to (and that defines your journey), the energy of spaces; how a physical space can impact your creativity, and how physical objects can inspire travel.

Dan Richards stops by to talk about his adventures, writing a book, how you can create missions around your travels, and so much more.  He discovered a unique physical object in his home that inspired him to take off on his own adventures.

Resources:

• Location Indie
• Tortuga Backpacks
• Outpost
• @Dan_Zep

Please head over to the archives for more Zero To Travel podcasts!

* Tortuga and Amazon references contain affiliate links – if you decide to purchase anything through those links I’ll receive a small commission at no extra charge and you’ll be supporting my work. Thanks!

The post A Journey To The Wild Ends Of The Earth With Dan Richards appeared first on Zero to Travel.