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Near and Far

Near and Far

Written by: Zackery Ellis
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About this listen

Guests from around the world share stories and insights about travel, culture, and venturing beyond their comfort zones.

Zackery Ellis 2025
Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • Backcountry TV Towers and Ham Radio with Greg Clifford
    Aug 27 2025

    Greg Clifford is a retired broadcast engineer and avid ham radio operator. Discover Greg's adventurous career journey, from maintaining mountaintop transmitters for a public television station in Idaho to his passion for ham radio. Explore the challenges and joys of field engineering, and learn how Greg's experiences have shaped his unique perspective on technology and nature. Tune in for an engaging episode filled with stories of exploration and curiosity.

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    Transcript: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/episodes-and-transcripts/

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    Travel book recommendations: http://nearandfar.travel/books/

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    Follow Near and Far

    Monthly Near and Far newsletter: https://nearandfar.travel/newsletter/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/near_far_travel/

    BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/nearandfar.bsky.social

    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@near_far_travel

    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/near-far-travel

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    About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast

    Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/

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    Chapters

    0:00 Introducing: Greg Clifford

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    39 mins
  • Nepal, New Zealand, and the Aral Sea with Marina Steiner
    Jul 30 2025

    Marina Steiner didn't expect to build a life of travel, but an undergraduate certificate in global health set her on a journey to Nepal, New Zealand, central Asia, and beyond! From moving abroad without housing to trying fermented horse milk in Uzbekistan, Marina shows us the benefits of being comfortable with being uncomfortable, She shares how any of us can make an impact on a global scale through her work addressing health disparities affecting Himalayan home cooking, rural access to healthcare, and remediating the toxic byproducts from the destruction of the Aral Sea.

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    Transcript: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/episodes-and-transcripts/

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    Travel book recommendations: http://nearandfar.travel/books/ https://bookshop.org/shop/near_far_travel

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    Follow Near and Far

    Monthly Near and Far newsletter: https://nearandfar.travel/newsletter/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/near_far_travel/

    BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/nearandfar.bsky.social

    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@near_far_travel

    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/near-far-travel

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    About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast

    Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/

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    Chapters

    0:00 Introducing: Marina Steiner

    0:55 Nepal, accessing rural healthcare, and cooking for the household

    15:12 Leave a Review!

    15:40 New Zealand's cultural insights

    27:17 Subscribe to the Near and Far Newsletter

    27:44 Karakalpakstan and the destruction of the Aral Sea

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    45 mins
  • Your Guide to Japan with Michael Zislis of JPN Guides
    Jul 9 2025

    Michael Zislis lived in Japan for several years before starting a company (JPN Guides) that helps other westerners learn how to navigate the "land of the rising sun." In this episode, Michael tells how he happened upon his favorite ramen, shares why he visits his favorite sushi place at 5:00 a.m., why he recommends venturing into the Japanese countryside, life in Niigata, recommendations in Sapporo, Shinto temple etiquette, why hot milk and hot springs follow affordable skiing, cherry blossom maps, and language tips.

    He then goes through the process of creating a custom personalized guidebook for Zackery, just as he would for JPN Guides.

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    JPN Guides: https://www.jpnguides.com/

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    Transcript: https://nearandfar.travel/your-guide-to-japan-with-michael-zislis-of-jpn-guides/

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    Other travel book recommendations: http://nearandfar.travel/books/ https://bookshop.org/shop/near_far_travel

    -----

    Follow Near and Far

    Monthly Near and Far newsletter: https://nearandfar.travel/newsletter/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/near_far_travel/

    BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/nearandfar.bsky.social

    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@near_far_travel

    LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/near-far-travel

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    About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast

    Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/

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    Chapters

    0:00 Welcome

    0:57 Michael's First Trip to Japan

    4:47 Sushi and Ramen in Tokyo

    11:56 Be a Podcast Guest!

    12:23 Sapporo

    17:48 Shinto Temple Etiquette

    21:42 Cultural Differences When Living in Niigata

    27:35 Subscribe to the Near and Far Newsletter!

    28:02 Hot Springs and Skiing

    31:29 Cherry Blossoms, Kyoto, and Going Beyond the Golden Route

    34:23 Language Tips and "Sumimasen!"

    39:11 Your Guide to Japan

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    54 mins
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