Zero To Travel Podcast

Jason Moore

✈️ 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.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Top 7 Hidden Gems in Oslo, Norway with Curtis Rojak of Viking Biking

    Oslo doesn't hit you the way other European capitals do. There's no single monument everyone leaves talking about, and yet people consistently walk away from this city with a feeling they can't quite explain.  Curtis Rojak is an American expat who has lived in Europe for over 25 years and holds dual Norwegian-American citizenship. He is the founder of Viking Biking, Oslo's premier guided bike and hiking tour company, and has led more than 3,000 tours through Oslo on foot and by bike.   This episode is a local's guide to Oslo, recorded in my living room with Curtis. We cover seven hidden gems in the city, from a haunting mausoleum most tourists never find to a private island cabin you can rent for a night on the Oslo Fjord.  This episode covers what makes a place feel like home versus just a place you've visited, what it takes to genuinely know a city at a local level, and how to discover the experiences that don't make it into guidebooks. You'll also hear honest conversation about building a life abroad long-term, what draws people to certain places, and why the best travel experiences often come from knowing someone who actually lives there. Curtis brings real depth on Oslo specifically, but the broader themes about place, belonging, and authentic discovery apply to anywhere you're considering visiting or moving to.   Have you ever discovered a hidden gem in a city that completely changed how you thought about that place? I'd love to hear your story, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message.  Tune In To Learn:  Why one of Norway's most extraordinary pieces of art is hidden in a mausoleum most tourists never find, and how to actually visit it  How to spend a Norwegian summer day at a lakeside farm where animals roam free through landscape gardens  Where to find secret sea cliffs near the city, and where locals actually jump from  Why a restaurant on its own private island captures the Norwegian good life better than almost anywhere else in the city  What makes one of Europe's best cocktail bars worth the New York-level prices you'll pay  How to rent a private island cabin on the Oslo Fjord through a local organization almost no tourists know about  Why Curtis believes Oslo's greatest strength is also what most tourists only notice on their last day  What 25 years as an expat taught Curtis about choosing where to live and why gut feeling matters more than logic  How the "Lego Country" exercise surfaces the best things about multiple continents and destinations  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Viking Biking  Want More?  https://zerototravel.com/viking-biking/  Hidden Norway: 7 Off the Beaten Path Gems You'll Love with Torunn Tronsvang from Up Norway  Top 10 Reasons to Love Living Abroad with Botik Quest  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Become a Fora Advisor today at foratravel.com/zerototravel  Get 20% of at Cozy Earth with code ‘TRAVEL’  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 27min
  2. 6 DAYS AGO

    Remote Roundup: Egypt Solo Travel, Building Intentional Seasons, Managing Daily Travel Stress, Creative Remote Work Workarounds (May 2026)

    From destinations that challenge your assumptions to the routines and mindsets that make this lifestyle actually sustainable, join Caitlin and Janessa as they unpack what's been on their minds this month.  Remote Roundup is a monthly series hosted by Zero To Travel's associate producer, Caitlin Sunderland, and partnerships manager, Janessa Klatt. Explore 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.  In this episode, Janessa reports back from a solo trip to a destination most travelers hesitate to visit alone, Caitlin shares a surprisingly simple tool for building calm and consistency into nomadic life, and both take a hard look at a habit nearly every long-term traveler has that might be doing more harm than good. There are also a few remote work stories from the community that prove people will go to remarkable lengths to keep living life on their own terms.  Have you ever talked yourself out of a destination based on what you'd heard, or found a way to build more balance into a life that never really stops moving? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message.  Tune In To Learn:  Why Janessa says this distinction is one of the most important things solo travelers can internalize when traveling somewhere new  How a single offhand comment on the podcast led Janessa to an unexpected scuba trip  What solo travel in Egypt costs, why Cairo might not be your best nomad base, and what to consider instead  A breathing technique that's worth adding to your daily routine while traveling  Why you may want to create intentional seasons in your year even when the weather never changes  The most committed remote work workarounds, and why it actually made sense   And much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Caitlin on Instagram  Janessa on Instagram  Diving Nomads  Want More?  Remote Roundup: Solo Travel Hot Takes, Nomad Budgeting, Rookie Mistakes, Cape Town & Mexico City (March 2026)  7 Epic Travel Fitness Adventures (For All Levels) and Solo Travel for Transformation with Heidi Nicklaus (+ Jason’s Ultimate Travel Blunder)  7 Pro Tips For Traveling In Dangerous Countries w/ Bjorn Palsson  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Become a Fora Advisor today at foratravel.com/zerototravel  Get 20% of at Cozy Earth with code ‘TRAVEL’  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    46 min
  3. 12 MAY

    Authentic Brazil: Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventure Travel with Gift of Go

    What if the part of Brazil most worth exploring is the one almost nobody talks about?  Eddie Lott is a Dallas-born expedition leader who has spent nearly two decades studying Brazilian history, geography, and culture. He rediscovered the Serra do Espinhaco in 2018 and has been documenting its trails and communities ever since. Elisa Oliveira is a Brazilian architect turned expedition coordinator who left behind her career and her previous life after a single weekend in the Espinhaco in 2019.   Together, they co-founded Gift of Go, a company that builds and leads founder-guided expeditions through one of Brazil's most layered and least-visited mountain ranges, and they are also husband and wife.  In this episode, co-host Paige McClanahan talks with Eddie and Elisa about how Gift of Go came to be, what their expeditions actually look like, and what travelers need to know before heading to this part of Brazil.  This is a rewarding listen for anyone drawn to real adventure travel in Brazil off the beaten path. Eddie and Elisa spent three-plus years walking the terrain, building relationships with local communities, and living in the region before guiding their first traveler. You'll hear why going deep into one place beats skimming across a whole country, how arriving somewhere by foot after 17 days on the trail completely changes how you experience it, and what it means to share a destination that still has almost zero international tourism presence.  Have you ever experienced a place that felt completely untouched by tourism? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message.  Co-host Paige McClanahan is a writer, editor, and former journalist based in Paris, France. As the author of The New Tourist: Waking up to the Power and Perils of Travel, Paige is passionate about making sure our travels have a positive impact on the world. Learn more about her work here.  Tune In To Learn:  What makes the Espinhaco a microcosm of Brazil's most important ecological, cultural, and historical themes  How Elisa left an engagement and a five-year architecture career after one weekend in a remote mountain village  Why Gift of Go spent three years in the field before guiding their first traveler  What the Veranico is, and why January might be the most spectacular and unpredictable time to visit  How the expedition formats work, from 12-day group treks to fully bespoke solo journeys  Why Brazil receives fewer international visitors per year than the city of Miami, and what that means for the right kind of traveler  Practical tips for Minas Gerais: think in regions, know your biomes, expect limited English, and prepare for the warmth of the people  What to eat and drink, from cachaça and UNESCO-recognized cheese to fig compotes with dulce de leche  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Gift of Go Website  Instagram  Want More?  7 Chile Hidden Gems: Off-the-Beaten Path in Patagonia, Mapuche Culture, and More with Steph Dyson  How To Be a “New Tourist,” the Powers and Perils of Tourism, Embracing Tourist Traps, and the Impact of Travel With Paige McClanahan  How To Get Off The Beaten Track with Gunnar Garfors  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Become a Fora Advisor today at foratravel.com/zerototravel  Get 20% of at Cozy Earth with code ‘TRAVEL’  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 12min
  4. 5 MAY

    The Goodness Game: 5 Rules to Pay It Forward with Small Acts of Kindness with Bryan Driscoll

    What if one small act of kindness could completely change someone’s life trajectory?  Bryan Driscoll is an entrepreneur, real estate investor, and the author of The Goodness Game. He built a multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio while running a marketing company, and he’s now focused on helping people create positive ripple effects through simple acts of kindness.  In this episode, Bryan shares the story that inspired his kindness philosophy and breaks down his five-rule framework for making the world better in a practical, sustainable way.  This episode offers a simple, practical way to approach kindness without overthinking it, something you can use at home or take with you on the road. Bryan breaks down how small, intentional actions can create meaningful impact, and why connection is often more valuable than money. It’s a grounded guide to taking action in a way that feels honest, natural, and aligned with your strengths, while also having a little fun.  What’s one small act of kindness you could commit to this week, even if it feels slightly uncomfortable? 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 random act of kindness at age 18 changed Bryan’s life forever  How the “Goodness Game” turns kindness into a simple daily practice  Why giving without recognition creates a deeper impact  How to identify your personal helping style and use your strengths  Why not everyone is your “assignment” and how to stay in your lane  How to avoid burnout when helping others by creating boundaries  How Bryan used Craigslist to test the ripple effect of kindness  Practical random acts of kindness ideas you can try this week  Why overthinking stops people from helping and how to just start  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Goodness Game website  Want More?  Walking the World with Alexander Campbell and Tom Turcich  Bicycling Across the USA Without Money in Search of Human Connection With Daniel Troia  Connecting with Strangers in 21 Countries as an Introvert, Battling the Loneliness Epidemic, Building Community at Home with Adam Schluter  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Become a Fora Advisor today at foratravel.com/zerototravel  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 14min
  5. 28 APR

    10 Years & 40+ Countries: How to Travel Well as a Couple with Gabi and Shanna of 27 Travels

    What does it actually take to travel well with a partner, and what are the hidden layers of that experience when you're also navigating the world as a queer couple?  Gabi and Shanna Meit-Sciara are a Brooklyn-based couple and the creators of 27 Travels, a platform launched in 2016 to document their adventures while building more visibility and resources for LGBTQIA+ travelers. Gabi is a photographer and graphic designer; Shanna is a videographer and video editor. Together, they've visited 40+ countries and built a full-time creative business rooted in their relationship and their shared love of the world.  In this episode, co-host Dianni Hall sits down with Gabi and Shanna to talk about what it really looks like to build a relationship through travel, how their partnership has been tested and strengthened on the road over ten years, and what the experience of traveling as a queer couple actually involves beyond what most people see.  This conversation is for anyone who's ever taken a trip with someone they care about and had to figure each other out in real time. Gabi and Shanna get specific about the roles they've each naturally fallen into, how they handle conflict during work trips without letting it ruin the experience, and the invisible, exhausting decisions queer couples make constantly on the road that most people never think about. If you've been wondering what traveling as a couple actually looks like when applied to a real, long-term relationship, this one goes deep.  What's a trip that revealed something unexpected about someone you were traveling with? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message.  Co-host Dianni Hall is a queer, second-generation Latina, solo budget backpacker, freelancer, and host of the While She’s Away podcast, where she interviews women on their travel experience and expertise to help women live their best lives exploring the world. Learn more about her work here.  Tune In To Learn:  Why matching travel styles is one of the most meaningful early tests of a relationship, and how Gabi and Shanna discovered theirs on their first big trip to Arizona  How the roles partners naturally fall into on the road tend to emerge without anyone actually choosing them  Why adding content creation to a relationship and a trip is its own challenge, and what Gabi and Shanna have learned about navigating creative disagreements   What to actually pay attention to on a first trip with a partner, including the green flags most people overlook  How queer couples are constantly making decisions that straight couples rarely have to think about, from safety research to coming out to a stranger in a taxi  What the invisible labor of queer travel looks like in everyday moments: hotel check-ins, ride-shares, tour sign-ups  Why a loose itinerary almost always beats a rigid one, and why missing something can actually be the best thing that happens  New York City hidden gems from two lifelong locals: the case for Brooklyn, vegan food in Chinatown, and more  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  27 Travels  Instagram  YouTube  TikTok  Want More?  LGBTQ+ Travel and Making A Difference with Ravi Roth  Top 7 Cities for LGBTQ+ Travelers and Finding Your People Around the World with LGBTQ+ Travel Expert Alicia Valenski  Choose Travel NOW! Lessons from the World’s Longest Honeymoon with National Geographic Authors Mike and Anne Howard of HoneyTrek  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

    1hr 12min
  6. 21 APR

    How to Plan Your Dream “Bucket List” Trip in 2026 + the Power of Travel to Transform with Kelly Tolliday

    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

    1hr 26min
  7. 14 APR

    Overland Travel in West Africa Across 7 Countries (Part 2) with Gunnar Garfors & Jacqui Kunz

    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

    53 min
  8. 7 APR

    How to Connect with Cultures Around the World with Dr. Kristina Wachter

    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

    1hr 5min

Hosts & Guests

4.5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

✈️ 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.

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