This week’s guest is the insanely talented Mari Andrew, a writer, artist, speaker, and our host Esme’s personal favorite social media follow. She is known on Instagram for her beautiful watercolor illustrations and profound musings on life's messiest experiences. The success of her beautiful books, Am I There Yet? and My Inner Sky, are a testament to the fact that the more personal the experience shared by an author, the more universal it ends up being. Mari has always been a big traveler; specifically, she’s always loved to travel alone, be the observer, soak up experiences, and channel them into her creativity. But a solo trip to the Greek island of Hydra changed that preference for aloneness. While exploring this idyllic island, so dazzlingly white she describes it as "diamond-like," Mari had the realization that beauty is made to be shared. In this episode, Mari and Esme discuss the shift from self-seeking to self-sharing, the hyper observational mindset travel creates and how it inspires art, and the ways that exploring new places helps us explore new sides of ourselves.   You can find Mari on Instagram @bymariandrew, and find her books and more information on her website bymariandrew.com.   Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting fulltimetravel.co and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure!  

The Trip That Changed Me

Greece with Mari Andrew: finding “special” places, exploring ourselves through travel, and the journey to a self-seeking mindset

Our guest today is one of America’s most beloved chefs, Marcus Samuelsson. Marcus is a man of many accolades; he’s the youngest person ever to receive a three-star review from the New York Times and the winner of multiple James Beard awards including one for his PBS show, No Passport Required. He’s been a judge on the Food Network’s Chopped and authored several books including a best-selling memoir, Yes, Chef, and 2020s The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food. When Marcus is not busy running multiple restaurants around the world, including his latest Baha Mar Fish + Chop House, he also hosts a podcast called This Moment with Swedish rapper Timbuktu. In this week’s episode, Marcus shares a truly unique and personal story surrounding a trip to Ethiopia to meet his birth father. Esme and Marcus discuss his early experiences of cooking with his adoptive family in Sweden, how the diversity of New York City opened up possibilities for him as a young Black chef, and the importance of establishing a connection with our roots – be it a person, a place, or an idea.    You can find Marcus on Instagram @marcuscooks, listen to his podcast This Moment wherever you find podcasts, and be sure to grab his books including his latest, The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting fulltimetravel.co and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure!   

Ethiopia with Marcus Samuelsson: cooking as a love language, cultural contrasts, and connecting to our roots

Sarah Dusek is the co-founder of Under Canvas, the massively popular safari-style glamping company with locations just minutes from America's most iconic national parks. After turning Under Canvas into an Inc. 5000 company, Sarah set her sights on backing women-led businesses in South Africa with her private investment fund Enygma Ventures. Both of Sarah's companies were influenced by a trip to Zimbabwe in 1999; Sarah had just graduated and was taking six months to volunteer with a local organization during the AIDS crisis. Zimbabwe brought out the activist in Sarah and shaped her belief that changing the world starts with uplifting women. In this episode, Esme and Sarah discuss Sarah's passion for championing the underdog, the beauty of living and working in a place that's nothing like home, and being a lifelong voyager.  Follow Under Canvas on Instagram @undercanvasofficial and learn more about Sarah's investment fund Enygma Ventures by visiting enygmaventures.com.  Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting fulltimetravel.co and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure!   

Zimbabwe with Sarah Dusek: exploring the unknown, recreating the safari experience, and championing female entrepreneurs

Ruben and Rachel, the couple behind the popular blog and Instagram Gamin Traveler, crossed paths for the first time when Ruben, who's from Spain, was exploring the Philippines. He was on a tight budget and used the site Couchsurfing.com to find free places to crash each night, which was how he wound up staying with Rachel. The two hit it off, fell in love, and in 2015, started backpacking together. The couple has now built a successful business monetizing their blog and social media and running an agency that helps solopreneurs follow in their footsteps. In this episode, Esme speaks to Ruben and Rachel about traveling on a budget, building a successful blog, finding time to just be a couple when you also run a business together, making long-distance relationships work, and taking an open-hearted approach to strangers.  Follow Rachel and Rubin on Instagram @gamintraveler and visit their blog at gamintraveler.com. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting fulltimetravel.co and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure!   

Southeast Asia with Ruben Arribas and Rachel Pregunta: Couchsurfing, finding love abroad, and turning travel into a career

If you like travel podcasts, then you may already be familiar with this week's guest. Jason Moore is the host and creator of the top-rated Zero To Travel podcast, on which he shares thoughtful interviews, unconventional perspectives, and actionable advice to help people travel the world on their own terms. He's also the co-founder of the Location Indie community and the Lifestyle Launch Academy, through which he's mentored hundreds of budding entrepreneurs, helping them build a side hustle and break free of their 9-5 so they can do more of what they love in life.  On this episode, Jason and Esme discuss the highs and lows of his first big solo trip backpacking through Europe on the Interrail. Ultimately, Jason says the experience made him determined to make travel part of his life in a more permanent way. If you've dreamed of becoming a digital nomad, this episode is a must-listen.  Follow Jason on Instagram @zerototravel and find out more about the Zero To Travel Podcast here. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting fulltimetravel.co and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure!  

Backpacking Through Europe with Jason Moore: catching the travel bug, building community, and location-independent lifestyles

Before Adrien Behn became a triple threat storyteller — writing, podcasting, and performing live — she worked with baked goods. Specifically, she made pies at a bakery in Portland, Oregon. Disillusioned by her job, her city, and her toxic relationship, Adrien decided to travel from Mexico all the way down to Peru. It was a trip that recalibrated her life entirely. Weeks into the journey, Adrien split from her boyfriend, discovered a passion and aptitude for storytelling, and began recording soundscapes and conversations from her travels — audio that would become her podcast, Strangers Abroad. She boasts that her tales have galvanized women to book one-way tickets and caused grown men to faint.  On this episode, Esme and Adrienne discuss using travel as an escape hatch when life is not going the way you want it to, the joy of traveling solo, and why she loves Utah more than any other state.   Follow Adrien on Instagram @strangersabroadpodcast to hear about her upcoming comedy shows and learn more about her podcast.   By the way, that Ira Glass quote Esme and Adrien were referencing will be sure to inspire you:  “Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years, you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know it's normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions.”  Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting https://www.fulltimetravel.co/ and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure!  

From Mexico to Peru with Adrien Behn: storytelling, awakening new passions, and the kindness of strangers

Avid traveler and distance runner Liz Warner was on honeymoon in Namibia when she came up with the idea for Run to Reach – a global journey that would involve running 30 marathons in 30 different countries before her 30th birthday – all in support of women-focused NGOs around the world. Run to Reach went on to raise over 50,000 dollars, and would take her from the dense jungles of Sierra Leone to the central highlands of Afghanistan. Liz would wear out six pairs of running sneakers, burn 156,000 calories, spend the night in 64 different places and encounter infinite acts of kindness along the way. In this episode, Liz and Esme discuss running and traveling as a way to process grief (Liz ran her first marathon in Tokyo shortly after her father passed away), her deep love for Afghanistan, why travel is and will always be the best form of education and her victorious pivot after the pandemic canceled her final two races. Liz is the host of From Her View Podcast and founder of Run To Reach. Follow her journey on Instagram @runtoreach. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting https://www.fulltimetravel.co/ and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure!

Namibia with Liz Warner: running with a sense of purpose, navigating a quarter life crisis, and finding a new direction

The spirit of wanderlust has always been present in modern-day explorer Jacki Hill-Murphy. After many unfulfilling years working as an English teacher, Jacki made the decision to recreate the journey of Isabel Godin, an intrepid woman she had previously studied during her master's program. In 1769, Godin became the first European to travel down the Amazon river and the sole survivor of her 42-person, 3000-mile expedition. Following in her footsteps, Jacki braved piranha-infested waters in a dugout canoe, meeting locals and having extraordinary experiences along the way. Today’s episode delves into the highs and lows of that adventure and the ones that followed, the intentions of female explorers and how they differed from their male counterparts, and what it is like to be a vegetarian in remote locations.   Jacki is the author of three books that reflect her empowering belief that adventures can be ageless. You can find her books and more info by visiting jackihill-murphy.co.uk   Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting www.fulltimetravel.co and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure!  

The Amazon with Jacki Hill-Murphy: being a modern explorer, ageless adventuring, and following in the footsteps of intrepid women

Eric Weiner, a travel correspondent for NPR, was experiencing a self-described midlife crisis when he came up with the idea for his first book: The Geography of Bliss. The project took him to the world’s most contented countries, including Bhutan, a place famous for its Gross National Happiness index. It was there he met Karma, a buddhist monk and academic who changed how Eric saw the world and how he defined happiness.  Find out more about Eric, his work and his latest projects at www.ericweinerbooks.com Join Eric for a writers workshop in Bhutan Buy Eric’s latest book  The Socrates Express

Bhutan with Eric Weiner: karma, wisdom quests and the truth about happiness

Back when John Hudson was a university student and aspiring pilot with the Royal Air Force, he naively volunteered for winter survival training in Germany. Armed with limited supplies, the goal was to travel stealthily through the freezing Bavarian wilderness while evading capture. It was an extreme challenge, but John had an unusual aptitude for it. Years later, he would go on to become the British Military's chief Survival, Evasion, Resistance & Extraction instructor, an author, and the star of Discovery's prime-time show 'Survive That' (AKA 'Dude You're Screwed' in the US). Learn more about John on his website: JohnHudsonSurvival.com Follow him on Instagram Buy John’s book from your local bookstore:  How to Survive: Self-Reliance in Extreme Circumstances

Bavaria with John Hudson: military survival training, honing environmental awareness, and hardship inoculation

Trigger warning: this episode includes descriptions of a violent attack. When Marta Tucci was living in London, pursuing a career in photography, a stranger forced his way into her home and attacked her. Left with PTSD and extreme anxiety, Marta was a shell of her former self. But, with the encouragement of those who know her best, she decided to face her fears head-on with a solo trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In the shadow of a city still rebuilding itself from past trauma, Marta worked on her own healing. A year later she would depart stronger, wiser, and with an established career as a documentary photographer.   See Marta's work at martatucci.com Find her on Instagram @martatucci Visit nayatraveler.com to learn more about traveling with Marta's team  Check out @nayatravler on Instagram

Cambodia with Marta Tucci: solo travel, healing from trauma, and building a creative career

Twenty years into a career as a jewelry designer and on the cusp of her 40th birthday, Amanda Keidan was feeling restless and ready for a new challenge when some friends invited her on a trip to the Mexican city of San Miguel de Allende to celebrate Day of the Dead. Five days later, she was smitten with the place and browsing real estate with the idea to open a boutique hotel. In 2019, Casa Delphine welcomed its first guests and a year later, despite the pandemic, the property has been celebrated as one of the hottest new hotels by Conde Nast Traveler. Find out more about Casa Delphine Follow the hotel in Instagram @casadelphine Check out Keidan Jewelry

Mexico with Amanda Keidan: Day of the Dead, travel as creative inspiration, and falling in love with a place at first sight

Legendary NHL defenseman, Chris Pronger, and his entrepreneur wife, Lauren, are the duo behind Well Inspired Travels – a boutique travel company that curates five-star trips with a health and wellness mindset. Before launching the company, both had brushes with injury and illness that served to highlight the ways travel and quality time with the people you love can aid healing.Learn more about Well Inspired Travels at wellinspiredtravels.com Follow Well Inspired Travels on Instagram @wellinspiredtravels  

Bucket List Trips with Lauren & Chris Pronger: wellness retreats, living your dreams, and the healing power of travel

After a New York psychic told Amy Chan – the heartbreak expert behind Renew Breakup Bootcamp – that a love curse was the cause of her romantic troubles, she promptly headed to Bali in search of spiritual guidance. After meeting with more than 20 balians (traditional Balinese healers), one particularly profound session appeared to lift the curse. Just four months later, Amy began dating her current partner.  Learn more about Renew Breakup Bootcamp at renewbreakupbootcamp.com Buy Amy's new book: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062914743 Follow Amy on Instagram @missamychan

Bali with Amy Chan: the psychic, the love curse, and the heart healer

Meghan O'Dea is a Lonely Planet editor who inherited a love of travel from her fearless and adventurous grandmother, Florence – a devoted train traveler who befriended strangers everywhere she went. One of Florence's bucket-list goals was to travel by train with each grandchild, so at age 10, Meghan was treated to a special one-on-one, long-distance journey across the US. On today's episode, Megan shares memories from that ten-day trip with Florence, during which they stopped in New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, and ultimately Buffalo for a family reunion – enjoying moments of "madcap whimsy" along the way. As a travel writer and editor, Meghan has since completed her grandmother’s goal to visit all 50 states. Later in the episode, she offers listeners recommendations for solo travel, and explains why she still prefers hostels to hotels.

Across the US with Meghan O’Dea: family travel, madcap whimsy, and seeing America by train

Captivating conversations featuring people whose lives have quite literally been changed by travel: businesses have been inspired, love stories have begun, perspectives have widened, life purposes have been found, and new beginnings have been discovered. The Trip That Changed Me, brought to you by Full-Time Travel, features a weekly interview with entrepreneurs, entertainers, activists, authors, influencers, and everyday adventurers, recounting the personal tales of life-changing travel — uplifting stories that will inspire listeners to take on the world.

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The Trip That Changed Me

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