Zero To Travel Podcast

What’s it like to trade the hustle of NYC for a slower life in Iceland? And how do you explore its volcanic landscapes without getting stuck in the tourist crowds?  Jewells Chambers is the creator and voice behind All Things Iceland, a podcast and YouTube channel that helps people experience Iceland beyond the tourist trail. Originally from New York City, Jewells moved to Iceland in 2016 after falling in love with an Icelander and has since carved out a meaningful life abroad, blending creativity, digital marketing, travel planning, and a deep respect for Icelandic culture.   In this episode, we talk about what it’s really like to move to Iceland, how Jewells found her way into content creation, and her top recommendations for discovering Iceland's lesser-known destinations and experiences.  If you’ve ever considered moving abroad, reinventing your career, or exploring Iceland beyond the usual tourist stops, Jewells’ story offers both inspiration and practical insights. We chat about embracing discomfort, building a new identity in a foreign land, and how creativity and authenticity have shaped her journey. She also shares a curated list of hidden gems in Iceland—from geothermal wonders to ghost towns—and offers practical advice on navigating Iceland's wild weather and unpredictable terrain. Whether you're planning your first trip or your fifth, you'll leave this episode with a fresh perspective and a bunch of new places to add to your Iceland itinerary.  If you could slow down and live like a local somewhere (even for a little while), where would you go? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.  Premium Passport:  Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now!  Tune In To Learn:  Why Jewells moved to Iceland and how love and logistics played equal roles  What it was like adjusting from NYC hustle culture to Iceland’s work-life mindset  How moving to Iceland changed how she views her home country  How she carved out a creative niche in a foreign country without a plan  What most travelers miss when visiting Iceland and why the highlands are so underrated  How the Icelandic mindset of “þetta reddast” (it will all work out) reshaped her life  How a rainy, rough hike turned her into an outdoor enthusiast  Advice for dealing with Iceland’s intense weather and road conditions  Where to find hidden hot springs, ghost towns, and fjords with almost no crowds  Pro tips for driving in Iceland’s highlands (and why your car insurance matters!)  And so much more  Resources:  Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Check out Jewell’s website and podcast, All Things Iceland  Jewell’s ultimate packing checklist  Schedule a trip-planning call  Iceland map and travel resources  Subscribe on YouTube  Follow on Instagram  Get Jewell’s Top 10 Iceland Hidden Gems list  Want More?  Top 10 Hidden Gems: East Africa (Beyond the Safari) and Transitioning to Travel With Sasha and Megnote Lezhnev  The Hidden Gems of Andalusia: Discover the Spain Most Travelers Miss with Lucas Peters  Hidden Norway: 7 Off The Beaten Path Gems You’ll Love, Popular Norwegian Concepts Worth Stealing, Trekking In Bhutan, & Living At The Crossroads of Magic & Science w/ Torunn Tronsvang from Up Norway  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Visit Baltimore - Start planning your visit to Charm City today!  Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com

10 Jun 1h 24min

What can we actually learn about climate change when we stop reading headlines and start listening to the people living it?  Gunnar Garfors is the first person to travel to every country in the world not once, but twice. He’s a Norwegian adventurer, journalist, and author whose latest project took him across the equator, the Arctic Circle, and the Antarctic region to explore the lived experiences of climate change. His new book, Mellom Linjene (Between the Lines), captures these human stories behind the headlines, showing us how the changing climate is affecting the lives of fishermen, farmers, city dwellers, and Indigenous peoples from the Amazon rainforest to the ice desert of Greenland.  Gunnar shares his experience researching and writing his book and recounts the very real ways climate change is reshaping the planet’s most climate-vulnerable zones. We talk through five of his favorite countries along the Arctic Circle and the equator, weaving together adventure, personal stories, and eye-opening conversations with locals on the ground.  Gunnar’s first-person encounters with reindeer herders, farmers, fishermen, and locals living at the edges of the world help paint a fuller, more human picture of what’s happening. You’ll hear how polar bears are wandering into villages in search of food, why Amazonian ferry rides matter, and what it’s like to get called out on the Congo River for representing the global north.   How is climate change affecting the places you care about or the way you think about travel? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.  Premium Passport:  Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now!  Tune In To Learn:  Why Gunnar retraced his steps across 21 countries and Antarctica despite already visiting every country twice  What ticks, shifting seasons, and reindeer behavior are revealing climate changes in Finland  What a screaming fox in Canada had to say about a massive landslide and how melting snow and rising rivers are reshaping northern communities  How the Amazon River’s disappearing waterways are affecting transportation, food access, and entire communities  Why fishermen in São Tomé and Príncipe are traveling farther for fewer fish, and what a disappearing rainy season means for daily life  What it’s like to spend five days on a cargo barge in the Congo (with very little food and a lot of humidity)  How climate change is forcing rural farmers in the DRC to question the cause and confront visitors with unexpected responsibility  Why telling personal stories might be the most powerful way to talk about climate change  Advice to travelers who want to get out of the Western bubble and witness these changes firsthand  And so much more  Resources:  Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Visit Gunnar’s website  Follow on Instagram  Want More?  Top 7 Up-And-Coming Destinations to Visit (Before They Get Crowded) With Gunnar Garfors  Visiting Every County In The World…TWICE! With Gunnar Garfors  World Tour for Climate Change: Hitchhiking, Biking, and Low-Carbon Travel With Megan Routbort  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com

3 Jun 1h 23min

Why do some conversations leave you feeling seen and understood, while others fall flat? Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author of The Power of Habit and his latest, Supercommunicators. He's spent years exploring the science of communication to find out what separates those rare, magical conversations from ones that leave us disconnected or misunderstood. In this episode, we explore how communication really works - what’s happening in our brains during conversations, the skills that make someone a “supercommunicator,” and how to have more meaningful, connected interactions no matter where you are in the world. If you’ve ever left a conversation wondering why it didn’t land the way you wanted or if you’re trying to get better at connecting with people across cultures, relationships, or work, this one’s for you. Charles shares practical frameworks and surprising science-backed insights that help you show up better in any conversation. Whether you're navigating conflict with your partner or chatting with a stranger abroad, this episode is full of takeaways that’ll make you rethink how you communicate. PLUS, stick around on the backend for a special segment on the best things to do, see, and eat in Baltimore, Maryland. What’s one small shift you could make to be more present and connected in your conversations this week? I'd love to hear what you took away from our talk, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now! Tune In To Learn: Why Charles and his wife spent six months surfing in El Salvador and living in Costa Rica How living abroad shaped his worldview as a journalist What led Charles to write Supercommunicators after the success of The Power of Habit How to identify the 3 types of conversations (and why mismatching them causes conflict) How to ask deep questions that invite real connection Why “looping for understanding” is a powerful listening tool How vulnerability really works in our brains, and why energy matching is a powerful way to build trust and connection Why we’re all supercommunicators already  And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Visit Charles’ website Subscribe to his Substack Follow on Instagram Want More? Strategies for Living an Unconventional Life with Ingrid Alm Rick Steves On the Hippie Trail (The Making of a Travel Writer) with Special Guest Host Eric Weiner How to Navigate Transitions and Design Your Life (Without the BS) with Lauren Handel Zander Thanks To Our Sponsors Visit Baltimore - Start planning your visit to Charm City today! Harvest Hosts - Use code TRAVEL20 for 20% off your Harvest Hosts membership Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com

27 Mai 56min

Is co-living the secret sauce to building community and staying inspired on the road?  Fabio and Juls are the co-founders of Casa Basilico, a pop-up foodie co-living experience designed for digital nomads who crave meaningful connection, delicious food, and a vibrant sense of community. As full-time travelers and friends-turned-business-partners, they’ve hosted over 200 nomads around the world, using shared meals and creative adventures to turn strangers into family.  We dive deep into the world of co-living: what it means, why it’s catching on, and how food, friendship, and shared experiences can lead to some of the most powerful travel experiences.  If you've ever wondered what it's like to stay in a co-living space or dreamed about building your own travel-inspired community, this episode will give you a behind-the-scenes look. Juls and Fabio share honest, hilarious, and heartwarming stories from the road, including why cooking together is their not-so-secret weapon for connection, what happens when your car breaks down on the way to a surprise helicopter ride, and how they create spaces that feel like home, even when you’re far from it. You'll walk away with a better understanding of how co-living can deepen your travel experience, along with practical tips if you're considering trying it yourself.  What do you think makes a place feel like home when you're traveling? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.  Premium Passport:  Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now!  Tune In To Learn:  Why co-living is more than just shared housing for digital nomads  How Juls and Fabio stumbled into the co-living scene and ended up launching Casa Basilico  What sets co-living apart from hostels and Airbnbs  How long-term stays create deeper connections (and why short-term may not cut it) Advice to find a co-living space that fits your vibe, goals, and lifestyle  Why Fabio’s pasta dinners became the foundation for building community  What it’s like to run a surprise weekend adventure (including a busted car and a helicopter)  Why choosing lesser-known destinations creates richer experiences (+ destination recs)  The future of co-living and why pop-ups and hybrid models might be the next big thing  And so much more  Resources:  Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Check out Casa Basilico  Follow on Instagram  Want More?  What Does “Home” Mean For Nomads w/ Diego Bejarano Gerke  Top 11 Digital Nomad and Remote Work Visas for Relocating (2025 Edition) + Where to Consider Relocating (And Why) with Tim Marting from Citizen Remote  How to Be a Digital Nomad With Kayla Ihrig  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Visit Baltimore - Start planning your visit to Charm City today!  Harvest Hosts - Use code TRAVEL20 for 20% off your Harvest Hosts membership.

22 Mai 1h 7min

What happens when you take a grand piano into the wild and let nature lead the performance?  Hunter Noack is a classically trained pianist and the founder of IN A LANDSCAPE, a one-of-a-kind outdoor concert series that brings a 9-foot Steinway grand piano into the great outdoors. Instead of setting up traditional speakers at every show, audience members are given wireless headphones, allowing them to wander freely through the landscape while listening.  Since its launch, the project has reached over 75,000 people through more than 300 concerts in some of the country’s most awe-inspiring settings. By combining music, nature, and community, Hunter is redefining what a classical concert can be - and who it’s for.  Hunter shares the origin story of IN A LANDSCAPE, how it’s evolved over a decade, and how art can shape the way we connect with nature, place, and each other.  If you’ve ever dreamed of merging your creative passions with travel or building something that feels meaningful, this episode will hit home. You’ll learn about the challenges (and magic) of taking a concert piano off the grid and how he balances artistic integrity with logistics, grants, and the realities of funding a big idea. You'll also hear how nature shapes his music, his relationships with local communities, and his broader view of what it means to be human today.  There’s insight here for anyone creating something unconventional, trying to reconnect with nature, or simply curious about how a piano ends up in the middle of the desert.  If you were to reimagine something in your life, whether that’s travel, work, or relationships, what would it be? What would that look like? I'd love to hear more about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.  Premium Passport:  Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now!  Tune In To Learn:  Why he left the traditional concert hall behind to perform in deserts, forests, and county parks  How a single grant launched an idea and insight on using grants to fund creative, unconventional work  How nature influences the way he plays, from wind gusts to bug cameos  What it takes to haul a 1,200-pound Steinway up a mountain (and why it’s worth it)  The story behind one surreal concert on tribal land that left everyone speechless  What performing across the American West has revealed about the country’s beauty, complexity, and common ground  Why artistic projects need real critique (not just applause) to evolve  Hunter’s favorite overlooked spots in the American West you should visit  And so much more  Resources:  Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Learn more about IN A LANDSCAPE  Watch Hunter’s TEDx  Follow Hunter on Instagram  Want More?  Following Inspiration Towards A Life Of Travel with Mark and Steffi (The World’s Only Chapman Stick Duo)  Passion Mashin´: Combining Travel With Your Other Interests, Embracing Limitations, Lessons From 13 Years of Travel With Adrian “Ady” Parzentny  How to Travel Using Artist Residencies (Even if You’re Not an “Artist”) + a Creative Approach to Life With Mi’Jan Celie Tho-Biaz  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Visit Baltimore - Start planning your visit to Charm City today!  Harvest Hosts - Use code TRAVEL20 for 20% off your Harvest Hosts membership.  No Fixed Address - Listen to No Fixed Address, a travel podcast that’s your backstage pass to the world's hidden gems.

20 Mai 1h 25min

Would you skateboard nearly 1,000 miles across the U.S. with no real plan, just to see what would happen?  Mike Kosciesza did just that with three friends and a dream to make a documentary out of it. Back in 2008, these four 20-year-olds set off from Chicago with their skateboards pointed toward New York City. A decade later, that wild ride became Shred America, a raw, DIY travel film packed with lessons they never saw coming.  We’re digging into Mike’s adventure, the long road to making Shred America, and what it takes to turn a crazy idea into something real, especially when you don’t feel fully prepared.   Mike’s story is a reminder that you don’t always need a perfect plan to start something meaningful. You’ll hear about what it takes to follow through on a wild vision, the lessons that come with looking back on your younger self, and why doing something imperfectly can lead to your most unforgettable adventures. We also get into the unexpected challenges of documenting a trip like this, what it’s like to finish a film a decade after shooting it, and why a little rebellion can take you a long way.  Would you ever go on a trip without much planning, just to see where it leads? Or have you done something similar before? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.  *This is a previously released episode from the archives! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, offering valuable insight whenever you listen.  Premium Passport: Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now!  Tune In To Learn:  Why Mike and his friends decided to skate from Chicago to NYC in the first place  How picking a departure date changed everything  What went wrong with their original film plan, and how they adapted  How the team pushed through injuries, burnout, and zero navigation skills  Why a random guy in a bathroom helped save their trip  What it’s like editing a film of your 20-year-old self, ten years later  Advice to anyone dreaming up a bold idea but unsure how to start  How filming organically added authenticity (and chaos) to the journey  Why they turned down film festivals and opted for DIY distribution  How rebellion and risk-taking shaped their travel and creative paths  And so much more  Resources:  Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Watch Shred America  Want More?  900 Miles Biking (With No Clothes, Money or Bike!)  Cross Country Canoeing: 7,500 Miles Into the Soul of America + an Unconventional Life of Travel With Neal Moore  Walking the World with Alexander Campbell and Tom Turcich  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Visit Baltimore - Start planning your visit to Charm City today!  Harvest Hosts - Use code TRAVEL20 for 20% off your Harvest Hosts membership.  No Fixed Address - Listen to No Fixed Address, a travel podcast that’s your backstage pass to the world's hidden gems.

15 Mai 50min

What makes Baltimore, Maryland, one of the best US cities to visit?  Brian Oliver is the founder of BMore See More, a nonprofit organization empowering minority male students in Baltimore City to become local and global leaders through education, mentorship, and travel. A seasoned traveler who’s visited over 60 countries, Brian always finds himself returning to Baltimore and has become a voice for reframing how people see his home city by highlighting the stories, neighborhoods, and experiences that show its full heart and charm.   In this episode, Brian shares his list of seven hidden gems in Baltimore and gives us a local’s perspective on what makes the city so magnetic.   If Baltimore isn’t already on your travel radar, this conversation may change that. Brian gives us a tour of the city’s most vibrant spots, from the best place to watch fireworks to where you can get lost in local food culture. He talks about how neighborhoods shape identity, why steamed crabs are more than a meal, and how seeing the world has deepened his love for home. You’ll leave this episode with a fresh sense of what makes a city truly worth exploring and how travel can spark both global and local change.  What’s one city that surprised you in the best possible way, and what made it so memorable? I’d love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.  Premium Passport:  Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now!  Tune In To Learn:  How a childhood of road trips sparked his lifelong love of travel  What makes Baltimore’s people so memorable to visitors  Why the neighborhoods are the heart of the city, and how to explore them  Advice to get the most out of your first crab feast (and why it’s more than just a meal)  Why Camden Yards changed the game for stadiums across the U.S.  The local museum that tells 400 years of African American history in Maryland  How to use the water taxi like a local and why everything is better from the water  Where to find authentic food, murals, music, and community in Charm City  How travel inspired Brian to launch BMore See More for youth empowerment  And so much more  Resources:  Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Plan your trip to Baltimore  Visit Brian’s website  Learn about BMore See More  Follow Brian on Instagram  Want More?  Only in Wisconsin  5 Reasons To Visit The Florida Keys  9 Best United States Museums and Advice for Fostering Your Creativity with Bob Eckstein  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Unbound Merino - Use code ‘TRAVEL10’ to get 10% off your Unbound Merino order.  Visit Baltimore - Start planning your visit to Charm City today!  Harvest Hosts - Use code TRAVEL20 for 20% off your Harvest Hosts membership.  No Fixed Address - Listen to No Fixed Address, a travel podcast that’s your backstage pass to the world's hidden gems.

13 Mai 1h 3min

What adventures have you been dreaming up but haven't done yet? Lynne Nieman is the founder of Wander Your Way, a podcast and website dedicated to helping you explore off-the-beaten-path destinations throughout Europe. As a professional travel planner, Lynne combines her passion for Europe and off-the-beaten-path exploration with her expertise in creating personalized travel experiences. In this episode, Lynne shares her experience hiking the West Highland Way in Scotland - what the trail is like, how to prepare for it, and why this iconic hike is well worth adding to your travel list. She walks us through the mental and physical challenges of solo hiking, the beauty of trail life, and how she handled the unexpected. We talk about the deeper lessons that emerged from letting go of perfection to embracing a slower, more personal pace. You'll also hear about Lynne's plans for making a living with travel, how a trip to Europe changed both of our lives, and more. What is in your travel box? What does the experience look like? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. *This is a previously released episode from the archives! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, offering valuable insight whenever you listen. Premium Passport: Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now! Tune In To Learn: Why giving yourself permission is half the battle to pursuing your passions and creating your future What made Lynne fall in love with Europe and what makes walking one of the best travel experiences Logistics for hiking the West Highland Way, including when to go, how to prepare, and costs Why it's important to tailor the hike to your needs How this experience reshaped her relationship with travel and self-trust Her favorite stories from the trail How creating a "box" for your trip can be a fun and rewarding way to design your travels And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Find Lynne on her website Listen to Wander Your Way Follow Lynne on Facebook, Instagram Walker Ways West Highland Way website Want More? You're Coming Hitchhiking Around Scotland With Me Hitchhiking Stories From Scotland Ireland: Travel, Music, and History w/ Garvan Rushe Thanks To Our Sponsors: Unbound Merino - Use code ‘TRAVEL10’ to get 10% off your Unbound Merino order. Visit Baltimore - Start planning your visit to Charm City today! Harvest Hosts - Use code TRAVEL20 for 20% off your Harvest Hosts membership. No Fixed Address - Listen to No Fixed Address, a travel podcast that’s your backstage pass to the world's hidden gems.

8 Mai 1h 2min