Zero To Travel Podcast

Jason Moore
  • 4.6 (797)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

✈️ 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.

  1. 2H AGO

    Planning a Mini-Retirement, Why 2+ Years of Travel Lead to an (Amicable) Divorce, Hidden Gem Destinations for Adventure Seekers with Helen Lin

    How would your life change if you decided to take a mini-retirement to travel the world, instead of waiting?  After saving for two years, Helen Lin and her former husband, Tim, put their life into storage, rented out their home, and quit their 9–5 jobs to take off on a mini-retirement traveling around the world. They documented their 25+ month adventure across 26 countries on their YouTube channel, Helen and Tim Travel. Along the way, their relationship was reshaped by the experience, and they ultimately returned home divorced, still grateful for the journey they shared.  In this episode, Helen shares what it actually looked like to plan and take an extended trip as a mini retirement, including the practical runway, the emotional realities, and the unexpected ways long-term travel can impact your relationships.  If you’ve ever dreamed of taking months off to travel, this conversation gives you a grounded look at what it takes to make it happen and what you might learn about yourself along the way. Helen talks about building a financial runway, using local guides to lower the friction of adventure travel, and why campervan trips can be their own logistical puzzle. We also get honest about the parts people rarely post, stress, mental health, and the way constant proximity can intensify relationship dynamics. Plus, Helen shares destination recommendations and the practical systems that helped them stay on the road, including earning 1.5 million credit card points over five years to offset major travel costs.  If you took a mini retirement, what would you want it to help you rethink about your life right now? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.  Tune In To Learn:  Why Helen thinks “mini retirement” beats waiting for traditional retirement  How increasing your savings rate can create a real travel runway  Advice for choosing destinations around seasonality and the adventures you want most  How guided trips can reduce risk and planning overwhelm for big hikes and outdoor goals  What Helen learned from campervanning in Norway and New Zealand, and what she’d plan differently  How long-term travel can amplify relationship patterns, for better or for worse  Why “wherever you go, there you are” applies to mental health on the road  How to think about boundaries and personal space when traveling with a partner  How Helen and Tim earned about 1.5M points and miles over time to support their travels  What it looks like to come home and build a new chapter after a life-shifting trip  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Instagram  Helen and Tim Travel  Waves of Color  Want More?  How to Win at Travel with “The Points Guy” Brian Kelly  Travel Is Your Birthright: Breaking Free from “Too Broke to Travel”, Travel Hacking (Without Credit Cards), and Solo Travel in 90+ Countries with Shakeemah Smith  How to Plan Your Camino + Going Beyond the Camino Frances (Secret Routes, Donkey Highways, and Spain’s Hidden Village Network) with Shawn and Lainey  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Listen to the Planet Visionaries podcast on Apple and Spotify  Go to https://surfshark.com/zerototravel or use code ZEROTOTRAVEL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!  Earn Cash Back and rewards on nearly every purchase with Rakuten.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 17m
  2. Introducing Planet Visionaries

    3H AGO

    Introducing Planet Visionaries

    Want to hear bold ideas and big solutions for our planet? We have been listening to Alex Honnold as he hosts Planet Visionaries, in partnership with the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each week, Alex spotlights innovators who are not just imagining a better future but actively creating it. Go check it out and hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

    2 min

  3. FEB 24

    Travel Is Your Birthright: Breaking Free from “Too Broke to Travel”, Travel Hacking (Without Credit Cards), and Solo Travel in 90+ Countries with Shakeemah Smith

    Shakeemah Smith, aka The Passport Abuser, is a solo traveler who has visited 92 countries and helped more than 12,000 people ace their first solo trip. A former social worker from East Orange, New Jersey, she built her platform, Travel Like a Bawse, to teach practical strategies for traveling more affordably and flipping everyday bills into airline miles. She later relocated to Antigua and Barbuda, where she now lives as an expat.  In this episode, we talk about the personal shift that makes solo travel possible, how to travel for free without credit cards, and what it’s really like to move abroad and build a life in the Caribbean.  Shakeemah opens up about calling off her wedding three months before the big day, boarding her first solo flight to Paris in the middle of heartbreak, and realizing she didn’t know how to be alone. What follows is a conversation about self-trust, identity, and deciding to meet the “2.0 version” of yourself instead of waiting for permission.  We also get tactical. Shakeemah shares the exact systems she used to earn airline miles through everyday expenses like gas, groceries, utilities, and dining. And we talk honestly about leaving the U.S., adjusting to island life, and what it means to create safety and belonging on your own terms.  If you’ve been waiting for the right time, the right money, or the right person to travel with, this one might challenge that story.  Who would you become if you stopped waiting and just went? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.  Tune In To Learn:  How growing up near New York City shaped her worldview and early curiosity about the world  Why ending her engagement forced her to confront her fear of being alone  The insights and exercises that helped Shakeemah move from emotional dependence to independence and from fear to self-trust  Why she believes solo travel is a fast track to trusting your instincts and enjoying your own company  The moment she decided to build a framework to help others take their first solo trip  How she turned 34 countries’ worth of lessons into a structured framework for new travelers  The overlooked airline shopping portals that generate miles without opening new credit cards  How to earn flights from gas, electricity, and everyday bills you’re already paying  The mindset behind “bills to boarding passes” and why it works long term  Why she moved to Antigua and Barbuda during 2020 and what that decision taught her about safety and lifestyle design  The cultural adjustments of living on island time and navigating life as an American expat  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Travel Like a Bawse  Bills to Boarding Passes FREE masterclass  Instagram  Want More?  How to Win at Travel with “The Points Guy” Brian Kelly  Seizing Your Opportunity to Travel, Saving Money as a Solo Traveler, Lessons from a Career Break, and How to Figure Out What You Want (In 60 Seconds) with Leslie McKellar  7 Mistakes to Avoid When Moving Abroad (Or Traveling Long-Term) with Chrishan Wright  Thanks To Our Sponsors   Listen to the Planet Visionaries podcast on Apple and Spotify  Experience an audio guide to the world's strange, incredible, and wondrous places with Atlas Obscura Podcast  Go to https://surfshark.com/zerototravel or use code ZEROTOTRAVEL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 21m

  4. FEB 17

    Beyond the Mona Lisa: Exploring the Louvre Museum + How to Visit Without the Overwhelm with Elaine Sciolino

    How do you experience the Louvre Museum in a way that actually feels enjoyable, not stressful? And what makes this museum so much more than the Mona Lisa?  Elaine Sciolino is a veteran journalist and author, former Paris bureau chief for The New York Times, and the writer of several books about France, including The Seine, The Only Street in Paris, and Adventures in the Louvre. She has lived in Paris for over two decades and brings history, culture, and personal insight into every story.  Elaine joins co-host Paige McClanahan to explore Adventures in the Louvre: How to Fall in Love with the World’s Greatest Museum, diving into the history, hidden artworks, and practical strategies for making the most of your visit.  You’ll hear why the Louvre is more than just a building with the Mona Lisa and how its role in French history makes it extraordinary. Elaine demystifies visiting the museum, from understanding crowds and lines to discovering lesser-known works like Titian’s Man With a Glove and what she calls the “undiscovered Mona Lisa.” She shares crowd-beating strategies, best days and times to visit, and surprising places within and around the Louvre where peace and beauty await. You’ll get insider stories on heists, hidden collections, and how even children can be captivated by Egyptology and Islamic art sections that most tourists miss out on.  When you visit a major museum like the Louvre, do you tend to focus on the most famous works, or do you prefer to explore what’s less obvious? I’d love to hear your thoughts, 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:  How the Mona Lisa came to dominate the Louvre’s identity, and why that fame is both a blessing and a burden  How the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa helped turn her into a worldwide obsession  The surprising historical roots of the Louvre as a royal palace and revolutionary museum  Lesser-known treasures, “undiscovered” masterpieces, and quieter sections of the Louvre worth seeking out  The unexpected history of France’s crown jewels, including how many were sold off and ended up in the United States  The story behind the recent crown jewels heist and what it reveals about museum security  How the right membership, 1:1 consultation rooms, and alternative museums can transform your experience of Parisian culture  Future plans for the Louvre’s expansion and what that could mean  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Elaine’s website and books  Louvre Museum  Want More?  5 Unexpected Things to Do in Paris and 3 Hidden Gems in France with Paige McClanahan  How To Explore Paris Like a Local, Working on Hospital Ships, and Becoming an Expat on a Mystery Visa With Jay Swanson  9 Best United States Museums and Advice for Fostering Your Creativity with Bob Eckstein  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Listen to the Planet Visionaries podcast on Apple and Spotify  Experience an audio guide to the world's strange, incredible, and wondrous places on the Atlas Obscura Podcast  Go to https://surfshark.com/zerototravel or use code ZEROTOTRAVEL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    59 min

  5. FEB 10

    Top 7 Hidden Gems of Ljubljana, Slovenia + Moving Abroad After a One-Week Trip with Sharon Kaufman

    What are the best hidden gems and local experiences in Ljubljana, Slovenia, that some travelers completely miss?  Sharon Kaufman is a licensed local guide in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and founder of MyLjubljanaTour.com. Originally from Israel, she moved to Slovenia with her family on what was meant to be a one-week vacation and ended up building a new life there. Today, she leads free and paid tours focused on helping travelers experience Ljubljana through local stories, food, and everyday culture.  In this episode, Sharon shares about her spontaneous family move to Ljubljana, how she built a life and business there, and her top hidden gems and local tips for experiencing the city like a resident, not a tourist.  If you’re planning a trip to Slovenia or curious about what makes Ljubljana special, this episode is packed with practical recommendations. Sharon walks us through lesser-known places to explore, affordable ways to get around, unique food experiences, art districts, scenic viewpoints, and easy nature escapes right from the city. You’ll also hear how her perspective as a local guide shapes the way she helps travelers connect more deeply with the city.  Which of these Ljubljana, Slovenia, experiences would you want to explore first? 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:  How a one-week family vacation unexpectedly turned into a move to Slovenia  What Sharon quickly learned about daily life, culture, and work-life balance in Ljubljana  How intuition and local conversations shaped her decision to stay  How she transitioned from online coaching to becoming a licensed local guide  One of the most affordable and fun ways to explore the city  Where to get sweeping views of Ljubljana without crowds or ticket lines  A hidden market area with local food and unique vending machines that most visitors walk right past  A hidden alley filled with public art, symbolism, and a secret pub  An alternative art district shaped by activism, creativity, and nightlife  A cafe locals love for great coffee, healthy food, and a relaxed vibe  An easy forest hike just minutes from the city center, plus what to eat at the top  The best times of year to visit Ljubljana and where to go beyond the city  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  MyLjubljanaTour.com  Want More?  Top 10 Iceland Hidden Gems (Highlands, Hot Springs, and Hidden Canyons) + Building a New Life Abroad with Jewells Chambers from All Things Iceland  7 Mistakes to Avoid When Moving Abroad (Or Traveling Long-Term) with Chrishan Wright  Top 10 Reasons to Love Living Abroad with Botik Quest  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Listen to the Planet Visionaries podcast on Apple and Spotify  Experience an audio guide to the world's strange, incredible, and wondrous places on the Atlas Obscura Podcast  Go to https://surfshark.com/zerototravel or use code ZEROTOTRAVEL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 5m

  6. FEB 3

    Unlikely Explorer: Overcoming Doubts and Divorce, Documenting the Human-Elephant Conflict In India, and Holding Two Truths with Kim Frank

    Kim Frank is an award‑winning writer, multimedia storyteller, and explorer whose work has appeared in The Explorers Journal, Sidetracked, and Earth Island Journal. She is a Fellow of The Explorers Club and the Royal Geographical Society. Kim’s latest book, Elephants in the Hourglass: A Journey of Reckoning and Hope Along the Himalaya, reflects her deep engagement with the human elephant conflict in northeastern India.   In this episode, Kim joins me to talk about her personal and professional evolution from mom and fiction writer to author and storyteller, tackling one of the world’s lesser‑known environmental crises: the human‑elephant conflict.  This conversation moves beyond travel storytelling to explore deep themes of identity, fear, and the bravery required to act. Kim shares how she navigated self‑doubt, embraced vulnerability, and found strength through community. Listeners will gain insight into the realities of conservation work, especially the nuanced human‑elephant relationship in the Eastern Himalaya. You’ll also learn how storytelling and openness can bridge cultural gaps and inspire action for coexistence. Specific personal stories, like balancing motherhood with fieldwork, and philosophical reflections on the space between are woven throughout.  What’s one fear you’re holding that might be the gateway to your next big chapter, and how might acknowledging two truths about it help you move forward? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.  Tune In To Learn:  How Kim’s childhood and family travels shaped her perspective on exploration and meaning  Why Elephants in the Hourglass became both a conservation story and personal memoir  What Kim learned about fear, confidence, and taking action in big life transitions  The role of mentorship and community in pursuing meaningful work  How cultural assumptions about motherhood impacted Kim’s work and identity  What the space between means and why it matters in our relationship to nature  The complexity of human‑elephant conflict and why simple narratives fall short  How language and framing influence conservation and public perception  Why holding opposing truths is essential to peaceful coexistence  Practical takeaways on curiosity, empathy, and openness in travel and life  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Kim’s website  Instagram  Elephants in the Hourglass  Wildlife Trust of India  Want More?  Living in Ecuador, Indigenous Communities, Rainforest Conservation, and Cultural Experiences With Photographer Mark Fox  100 Documentaries Project: Traveling the Globe to Find Extraordinary Humans + Changing the World One Story at a Time with Robin Danehav  Myanmar’s Secret Railways: Uncovering Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Oppression with Clare Hammond  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Planet Visionaries - Listen to the podcast on Apple and Spotify  Atlas Obscura Podcast - Experience an audio guide to the world's strange, incredible, and wondrous places.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 14m

  7. JAN 27

    Curiosity As Your Travel Guide + Exploring Overlooked Destinations with John McKenzie

    What happens when you let curiosity guide your travel experiences?  John McKenzie is a long-time traveler and curious explorer who shares stories and insights from off-the-beaten-track destinations around the world. Through his content and curated CuriosiTrips, he aims to expand others’ sense of what’s possible by encouraging a more curious, open approach to travel. He’s also a new contributor to National Geographic, writing the sections on Djibouti, Eritrea, and Somalia for The Traveler’s Atlas of the World.  In this episode, John and I sit down in person to explore the concept of curiosity as a travel compass, why some destinations gain reputations that don’t match reality, and how community and mindset shape meaningful journeys.  Travel is often framed around checklists and highlights, but John reframes it as a curiosity‑driven practice that enriches both travel and everyday life. You’ll hear how to exercise your curiosity muscle, embrace spontaneity, and responsibly explore destinations often overlooked or misunderstood. From challenging trips like Somalia, Ethiopia, and Syria to cultural discoveries and approachable recommendations like Malawi and Cuba, this conversation offers both a practical perspective and philosophical encouragement for travelers of all experience levels.  What is one place you’ve always been curious about but haven’t yet visited, and what’s holding you back? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.  Tune In To Learn:  How boredom and routine kick-started John’s curiosity and exploration  What approaching travel with openness rather than rigidity can uncover  Why connecting with others who’ve done what you want to do helps normalize the goal  How travel to “dangerous” or misunderstood places can be both safe and rewarding  The mindset shift from chasing destinations to pursuing meaningful experiences  How John defines “meaningful” in his own travel, and why that matters more than ticking boxes  Examples of destinations that surprised him and recommendations for your own curious travels  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  John’s website  Instagram  National Geographic Traveler’s Atlas of the World  Extraordinary Travel Festival  Want More?  7 Pro Tips For Traveling In Dangerous Countries w/ Bjorn Palsson  Independent Travel as a Female in Afghanistan, Hitchhiking Iraq, and Ex-Pat Life in Sudan with Jacquelyn Kunz  The World’s Most Traveled Person on the Ethics of Gamifying Travel, Best Regions in the World, and Why To Keep Traveling With Harry Mitsidis of NomadMania  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Planet Visionaries - Listen to the podcast on Apple and Spotify  Atlas Obscura Podcast - Experience an audio guide to the world's strange, incredible, and wondrous places  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 6m

  8. JAN 20

    Queer Travel in the United States: Unexpected Small Towns and the Importance of Inclusive Spaces with Chase Vondran

    What does queer travel in the US look like beyond the big cities? And what can all travelers learn from the LGBTQ+ travel experience?  Chase Vondran is a full-time travel creator and writer based in Chicago who helps transgender and gender-diverse travelers explore safely while advocating for greater inclusion in the travel industry. After an eight-year nomadic journey spanning 20+ countries, they now focus their work on queer travel, small queer towns, and inclusive travel guides.  In this episode, co-host Dianni Hall sits down with Chase to talk about queer travel in the U.S., exploring small queer towns and gayberhoods, and understanding the realities and joys of traveling as a trans person.  This episode offers a rare glimpse into queer communities thriving outside of major cities and highlights unexpected destinations where queer people not only exist but also flourish. Chase shares personal stories from their travels as a trans person, the differences in how the world treats them before and after transition, and what travelers should consider when seeking inclusive spaces. You’ll discover resources, tips for finding queer communities, and the emotional power of feeling seen. Whether you’re a queer traveler, an ally, or curious about inclusive travel, this conversation expands how we think about travel, identity, and belonging.  How has travel helped you better understand experiences different from your own? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.  Zero To Travel co-host Dianni Hall is a queer, second-generation Latina, solo budget backpacker, and host of the While She’s Away podcast. Learn more about her work here.  Tune In To Learn:  How travel gave Chase space to explore queerness and identity away from home  What it feels like to find queer community for the first time while traveling  Why places like Puerto Vallarta have become historic hubs for queer travelers  How the absence of visible queer community can change a travel experience  How queer history, artist communities, and other factors have helped shape small inclusive towns across the U.S.  Why destinations like Saugatuck, Michigan and Eureka Springs, Arkansas defy expectations  How Chase’s travel experiences shifted after coming out as trans and   What safety, visibility, and respect look like when traveling as a trans person and how it differs from traveling as a woman  Why small, community-driven queer spaces matter just as much as big cities  How to find queer community anywhere using apps, events, and local businesses  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Dianni on Instagram  Chase on Instagram  Everywhere Is Queer  Quouch  Want More?  Choosing a One-Way Ticket Over a Master’s Degree + Lessons From 6 Years of Evolving Travel with Dianni Hall  Top 7 Cities for LGBTQ+ Travelers and Finding Your People Around the World with LGBTQ+ Travel Expert Alicia Valenski  LGBTQ+ Travel and Making A Difference with Ravi Roth  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Planet Visionaries - Listen to the podcast on Apple and Spotify  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    59 min
See All (301)

Hosts & Guests

4.6
out of 5
797 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 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.

Information

  • Creator
    Jason Moore
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2026
  • Episodes
    301
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2013-2025 Zero To Travel International AS
  • Show Website
    Zero To Travel Podcast

You Might Also Like