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Zero To Travel Podcast

Zero To Travel Podcast

Written by: Jason Moore
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 ✈️ The Zero To Travel Podcast has been downloaded 12+ million times and named a "Best Travel Podcast" by The Washington Post, Travel + Leisure, The Telegraph, and Forbes. Packed with life-changing perspectives, inspiration, and practical advice for everyone from travel newbies to nomads, this podcast will give you everything you need to travel the world on your terms, regardless of your situation or experience. Welcome to our amazing global listening community! Since 2013, "Travel Ambassador" Jason Moore from zerototravel.com has been picking the brains of adventurous people living an unconventional life on the road so you can discover new ways to travel endlessly. Along the way, you'll get actionable advice and key resources that will improve your life AND help you travel more as we get down and dirty on topics like; starting and running an online business from anywhere, the best off-the-beaten-path destinations to visit, travel and work opportunities, gutsy budget travel strategies, surprising ways to earn free travel, the digital nomad life, unconventional travel based lifestyles, fun travel jobs, how to plan epic adventures, backpacking, remote work, how to take a gap year or a career break, 4-hour work week inspired topics, ex-pat life, slow travel, travel hacking, sustainable travel, human-powered adventures, trips worth planning, and everything in between. Host Bio: Jason wandered the planet as a nomad for over a decade and spent 15+ years on the road as a tour manager in events/music, a seasonal adventure travel tour guide, and a digital nomad. Originally from the USA, he is now a dual citizen (Norway/USA) based in Oslo. He is obsessed with helping YOU explore our planet on your terms. Follow the show (it's FREE!) and welcome to the global community. 🙏 PS - To sign up for our free newsletter to get travel tips, tricks, destination advice, and more visit zerototravel.com/newsletter PPS - If you'd like to access our paid premium feed with ad-free shows, bonus episodes, and more for just $3/month go to zerototravel.com/premium.Copyright 2013-2025 Zero To Travel International AS Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • How to Plan Your Dream “Bucket List” Trip in 2026 + the Power of Travel to Transform with Kelly Tolliday

    How to Plan Your Dream “Bucket List” Trip in 2026 + the Power of Travel to Transform with Kelly Tolliday
    Apr 21 2026
    What if the key to planning your dream trip isn't choosing the right destination, but first figuring out what you actually need right now in your life? Kelly Tolliday is the founder of Transform With Travel, a professional travel advisor and wellness travel expert with over a decade of industry experience, a retreat facilitator and 500-hour registered yoga teacher, and a podcast host. She has traveled to more than 45 countries and lived across four continents, including extended time in Australia, Thailand, and Costa Rica. In this episode, Kelly walks through the step-by-step system she uses to plan bucket list trips and how anyone can apply the same framework to start planning their own dream trip today. Kelly reframes the entire planning process in a way that most of us haven't considered, and it changes not just where you end up going, but how you show up when you get there. She also makes a strong case for why the best travel experiences often come from letting go, even when every instinct is telling you to hold on tighter. You'll not only get Kelly's framework, but destination recommendations and a call to action at the end that I hope you follow through on. What's one destination that's been sitting on your bucket list for way too long, and what's actually been stopping you from booking it? I'd love to hear what they are, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message. Tune In To Learn: Why asking "what do I need right now?" is the most important first question in trip planning How to use urgency as a real planning tool, and why some destinations carry a genuine now-or-never factor Why mapping out your full route, including transfer time and cost, is often the step that saves the most money How slow travel creates more space for the unscripted moments that people end up talking about for decades Why booking independent, locally-owned tour operators almost always leads to more memorable experiences than going with the bigger names How to approach accommodations with a "sense of place" mindset Advice on when hiring a professional travel advisor makes sense versus planning a bucket list trip on your own Why we both agree that physically demanding adventures should move to the top of your list sooner rather than later Hidden gem destinations worth visiting now, including a little-known Thai island that has somehow stayed off the radar How to reset your mindset when things go sideways on a trip And so much more Resources: Sign up for our FREE newsletter Transform with Travel Instagram Want More? Live Your Bucket List w/ Ryan Jacobson Curiosity As Your Travel Guide + Exploring Overlooked Destinations with John McKenzie 7 Must-Visit Destinations for 2026 (Get There Before the Crowds Arrive!) with Lyn Hughes Thanks To Our Sponsors Earn Cash Back and rewards on nearly every purchase with Rakuten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 26 mins
  • Overland Travel in West Africa Across 7 Countries (Part 2) with Gunnar Garfors & Jacqui Kunz

    Overland Travel in West Africa Across 7 Countries (Part 2) with Gunnar Garfors & Jacqui Kunz
    Apr 14 2026
    What would you do if your bus driver bought six Coca-Colas at the border, cost you your exit stamp, and forced you to sleep outside in malaria country between two countries? Co-hosts Gunnar Garfors and Jacqui Kunz are back to share part two of their overland travel adventure through West Africa, covering the final stretch of their seven-country journey through Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Ivory Coast. If you've ever been curious about what it actually takes to travel overland through West Africa, this episode gives you the unfiltered picture. You'll walk away with concrete tips on visa strategy, border navigation, shared transport logistics, and honest guidance on when to push through and when to bail and book a flight. Beyond the tactics, Gunnar and Jacqui model what it actually means to travel slowly and patiently through challenging terrain, staying flexible when things go sideways. If you're considering overland travel in West Africa or anywhere similarly complex, this episode cuts through the romance and gives you the real picture. Have you ever had a travel experience where everything went wrong and it somehow turned into the best story you came home with? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message. Gunnar Garfors is a Norwegian traveler, journalist, and author who became the first person to visit every country in the world twice. He is known for seeking out unusual routes and lesser-visited destinations, often traveling far beyond typical tourist paths. Jacqui Kunz is a full-time traveler who has explored more than 100 countries and was named “World’s Most Intrepid Traveler” in 2023, recognizing her commitment to exploring challenging destinations and traveling well off the beaten path. Tune In To Learn: Why Sierra Leone's land border crossing was a surprisingly smooth and welcoming experience What Freetown is really like to explore, from the historic Cotton Tree to its beaches and police checkpoints Why the city of Bo is worth a stop, and where to go nearby to see diamond mining How a fellow passenger buying Coca-Cola at the border kiosk resulted in an overnight stay between two countries in mosquito country Why Monrovia has a surprisingly American feel and where to stay, eat, and get cash When it makes sense to give up on overland travel and just book a flight How paying for an extra seat in a shared taxi can save your sanity, and why the "imaginary bag fee" is a negotiation you can usually win Why timing your trip just after the rainy season can make roads far worse than expected How Gunnar ended up in a Norwegian hospital with malaria, and why taking preventatives seriously is not optional And so much more Resources: Sign up for our FREE newsletter Gunnar’s website Gunnar on Instagram Jacqui on Instagram iOverlander Want More? Overland Travel in West Africa Across 7 Countries (Part 1) with Gunnar Garfors & Jacqui Kunz 5 Surprising Experiences in Africa, How to Transition to a New Career After Travel, and Exploring the African Diaspora With Jay Cameron Adventure and Conservation - A 6,000 km Tuk-Tuk Journey Through Africa Thanks To Our Sponsors Earn Cash Back and rewards on nearly every purchase with Rakuten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    53 mins
  • How to Connect with Cultures Around the World with Dr. Kristina Wachter

    How to Connect with Cultures Around the World with Dr. Kristina Wachter
    Apr 7 2026
    What if the secret to a truly meaningful travel experience starts not when you land, but long before you ever pack a bag? Dr. Kristina Wachter is an award-winning professor, bestselling author, and CEO of Cross-Culture Connections. With over 25 years of experience in cross-cultural communication and education, she developed the Culture SPIN Method, a four-step framework trusted in 54 countries to help individuals and organizations turn cultural differences into genuine human connection. In this episode, Dr. Wachter walks us through her Culture SPIN Method and how it applies directly to travelers who want richer, more meaningful experiences on the road. She uses real-world business stories, her own travel mishaps, and a live case study with Jason to bring the whole thing to life. If you've ever shown up somewhere and felt like you were missing something, like you were skimming the surface of a place rather than really getting into it, this conversation is for you. Dr. Wachter breaks down the cross-cultural communication tips every traveler can actually use, from how to research a culture before you go, to how to recover gracefully when you inevitably get something wrong. Whether you're planning a two-week trip or building a life abroad, there's a lot here to chew on. What's a cultural moment from your own travels that surprised you or changed the way you see things? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message. Tune In To Learn: Why the Culture SPIN Method starts with looking inward at yourself before you ever look outward at another culture How to build a personal "cultural Venn diagram" that maps your interests onto a new destination to create real connection opportunities Why one U.S. executive unknowingly drank $300,000 worth of tea in a single business meeting, and what he did next that actually saved the deal How a single joke in South Korea cost a businessman millions of dollars in 30 seconds, and what that means for travelers too Advice for doing genuine cultural research before a trip, including reading fiction, watching local media, and finding primary-source content Why "winging it" is one of the most common and costly mistakes people make when traveling or moving abroad How to handle cultural mistakes with humility and recover without losing the connection you're trying to build Why cultural agility, the ability to pivot and adapt without beating yourself up, is one of the most valuable skills any traveler can develop What "cultural courage" really means and how acting deliberately outside your comfort zone invites reciprocity and deeper human connection Why Rick Steves' idea of traveler responsibility hit home for Dr. Wachter And so much more Resources: Sign up for our FREE newsletter Cross-Culture Connections Culture SPIN: Your 4-Step Toolkit for Global Leadership and Cross-Culture Success Get Dr. Wachter's free Cultural Courage Guide: ⁠info@crosscultureconnections.com⁠ Want More? 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Moving Abroad (Or Traveling Long-Term) with Chrishan Wright Top 10 Challenges Of Living Abroad with BoTik Quest Building a Life Abroad, Culture Shock, and Big Leaps with Traveling Jackie Thanks To Our Sponsors Earn Cash Back and rewards on nearly every purchase with Rakuten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 5 mins
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