Near and Far

Zackery Ellis
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  • PLACES & TRAVEL

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

Episodes

  1. 08/27/2025

    Backcountry TV Towers and Ham Radio with Greg Clifford

    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. ----- Transcript: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/episodes-and-transcripts/ ----- Travel book recommendations: http://nearandfar.travel/books/ ----- 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 ----- About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/ ----- Chapters 0:00 Introducing: Greg Clifford

    39 min

  2. 07/30/2025

    Nepal, New Zealand, and the Aral Sea with Marina Steiner

    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. ----- Transcript: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/episodes-and-transcripts/ ----- 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 ----- About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/ ----- 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

    45 min

  3. 07/09/2025

    Your Guide to Japan with Michael Zislis of JPN Guides

    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. ----- JPN Guides: https://www.jpnguides.com/ ----- Transcript: https://nearandfar.travel/your-guide-to-japan-with-michael-zislis-of-jpn-guides/ ----- 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 ----- About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/ ----- 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

    54 min

  4. 07/02/2025

    Running with the Bulls in Pamplona with Javier Ochoa-Reparaz

    Javier ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Navarra... and the he ran again and again and about twenty more times! Javier Ochoa-Reparaz grew up in the Basque culture in northern Spain and enjoyed Basque traditions, food, and language until he moved to Boise. In addition to his encounters with bulls during the Festival de San Fermin, Javier speaks about growing up in the Basque culture, experiencing separatist terrorism as a child, watching the Osasuna fútbol club, overtourism in Spain, tips for being a responsible tourist, and opportunities to run alongside sheep and reindeer! This episode mentions extreme political violence and other sensitive themes. ----- Transcript: https://nearandfar.travel/running-with-the-bulls-in-pamplona-interview-with-javier-ochoa-reparaz/ ----- 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 ----- About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/ ----- Chapters 0:00 Welcome 0:57 Running with the Bulls in Pamplona 17:15 Leave a Review! 17:42 Basque culture, food, and language 28:49 Basque separatism and political violence 40:10 Subscribe to the Near and Far Newsletter 40:37 How to be a good tourist in Spain 51:05 Running with the Sheep and Reindeer

    56 min

  5. 06/25/2025

    Banshee Cars, North Dakota, and "Embracing the Fluidity" with Becca and Phil Stich

    Becca and Phil Stich just can't catch a break on road trips. They routinely drive 1,200 miles on road trips to visit family, and their cars routinely get broken, pummeled, or buried in the cold remote stretches of North Dakota, all while their kids are screaming in the back seat! Becca and Phil have become experts at adapting to change, and their mantra "Embrace the Fluidity" offers us a model for navigating unexpected travel situations. ----- 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 ----- About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/ ----- Chapters 0:00 Welcome 1:03 Embracing the Fluidity 3:18 North Dakota Winters 11:39 Leave a Review! 12:07 The Banshee Car Story 20:07 Windshield Woes and the Deer Incident 28:47 Near and Far Newsletter 30:06 Italy and Lucky Breaks

    41 min

  6. 06/18/2025

    Beyond Cleveland on a Budget with William Meany

    William Meany knows how to get there on a budget! We discuss a shocking theatrical experience during a class trip to the UN, William's tips for traveling affordably (including a $1 trip to Manhattan), and why the rest of us should consider visiting his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio! ----- 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 ----- About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/ ----- Chapters 0:00 Introducing: William Meany 02:16 Manhattan Trips 12:45 Getting there affordably 20:17 Lodging at Hostels 24:50 Why we must visit Cleveland

    29 min

  7. 06/11/2025

    Refugees, Mercury, and Peru's Colonial Mining Legacy with Bryn Thoms

    Bryn Thoms has been shaped by people with very different backgrounds than his own. In his youth, Bryn's parents hosted Eritrean refugees and he speaks about Portland's Eritrean community. We then discuss his role remediating mining contamination in Oregon, and how he brought those skills to Huancavelica, Peru to help heal the toxic legacy of the largest Spanish colonial Mercury mine in the Americas. ——- Environmental Health Council: https://mercurycleanup.org ——- 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 ----- About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/ ----- Chapters 0:00 Introducing: Bryn Thoms

    47 min

  8. 06/11/2025

    Drumlines, Playoffs, Passions, and Fish! with Ben Martin

    Ben has followed his passions around the world. From leading Boise State's drumline at the Fiesta Bowl during the NCAA college football playoffs to performing around Europe to finding fish in Idaho's remote streams, Ben Martin has followed his passions around the world. ----- 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 ----- About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/ ----- Chapters 0:00 Introducing: Ben Martin 0:56 How Ben Found Boise State 4:26 Traveling with the band in high school: Europe and “Bands of America” 9:55 Being Spontaneous 13:30 Near and Far Newsletter 13:58 Drumline at the Fiesta Bowl with Boise State 27:50 Leave a review 28:10 The joy of fishing: sharing spots and enjoying company

    39 min

  9. 06/11/2025

    "Why Do We Travel?" with Sophia Theodossiou

    Travel can be challenging, unpredictable, treacherous... and wonderful! Why do we do this to ourselves?!? Sophia Theodossiou embodies all of the best traits of a world traveler. She discusses growing up in Greece with a dad who is a pilot, how her mom got kids to behave on flights before screens were commonplace, a saga of getting stranded at Christmas with three heavy duffel bags full of cheese, her experience nearly getting kidnapped in Cairo, an anthropological perspective about ancient Greeks hauling marble from the island of Naxos to the top of the Acropolis, and reflections on why we put ourselves through this to experience the world beyond our comfort zones. ----- 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 ----- About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/ ----- Chapters 0:00 Introduction: Sophia Theodossiou 1:21 Growing up in Greece with a pilot parent 4:38 How Mom got us to behave on flights before screens 9:04 Visiting Greek family in Chicago 10:40 Travel books! 10:56 Stranded with Cheese 22:51 Kidnapped in Cairo? 26:04 Salvaging rough situations 28:21 Leave a review! 28:38 Why we travel

    38 min

  10. 05/26/2025

    Introducing: The Near and Far Podcast

    Welcome to the Near and Far Podcast! This show is about embracing curiosity, leaping beyond your comfort zone, and learning from adventurers like yourself who have traveled near and far. Follow Near & Far 📰 Monthly Newsletter: https://nearandfar.travel/newsletter/ 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/near_far_travel/ 🧵 Threads: https://www.threads.net/@near_far_travel 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nearandfar.bsky.social 🏢 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/near-far-travel ♪ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@near_far_travel

    2 min

Trailer

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Zackery Ellis
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Zackery Ellis 2025
  • Show Website
    Near and Far