Ari Shaffir on Life as a Professional Comedian, Unfiltered Travel, and Embracing the Unexpected

If a new opportunity comes your way, are you ready to take it? When professional photographer Leslie McKellar was forced to move out of her apartment in 2020 because of toxic mold, she took it as an opportunity to reevaluate her trajectory. After realizing her calling to travel full-time, she set out a plan to make it happen and left for Europe in January 2022. This interview is extra special because not only was it recorded in person but I also met Leslie 8 months into her travels so she has some fantastic insights to share from her experience. You will not want to miss what she has to say about how she budgeted for the trip, advice on how to pick the right destinations, valuable lessons from curveballs along the way, why traveling can help you reset, and a 60-second challenge to help you find new adventures. What are your takeaways from the 60-second challenge? I'd love to hear about them and hope you will share by sending me an audio message. *This month, we're sharing previous episodes highlighting travel turnarounds! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, providing 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 toxic mold was the unexpected launching point for Leslie’s travel dreams The strategy Leslie used to budget and plan accommodations How Leslie has navigated visa renewals during her year abroad The unexpected challenges that have come up during her time abroad Why she considers climate and weather when seeking destinations What her experience has been being a solo female traveler  The biggest differences between slow travel and a quick trip How this journey impacted Leslie’s perspective on her career Why Leslie decided to leave her photography equipment at home Her takeaways from nearly a year of traveling and why it's a bigger risk not to seize the opportunity And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Check out Leslie’s Photography Follow Leslie on Instagram  Want More? Only $50 And A Dream: Biking Across The USA Solo With Zero Experience with Jasmine Reese Transition To Travel: Melinda’s Story Shamans, Solo Travel, and a Healing Path Thanks To Our Sponsors Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com/host. Nissan - Go find your path and enjoy the ride along the way with the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition. Learn more at nissanusa.com.

22 Aug 20241h 10min

How can you transform your passions into a business that lets you work from anywhere? How can you take a traditionally location-dependent business on the road? Adrian "Ady" Parzentny has been a traveling musician for 20+ years and a mixing engineer/music producer since 2017. He works with world-class artists through his mobile recording business, Hit The Road Music Studio. He has been living on the road for 13 years, spending time in Albania, Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, and Greece, among other countries. Adrian shares his journey and best lessons on how he combined his passion for music with his love for travel to create a business around his lifestyle. You'll hear about the positives and negatives of passion mashin' and how he balances traveling the world, supporting local artists with free records, and paid client projects to make his lifestyle sustainable. You'll gain insights into carving your own unique path and deviating from the norm, embracing limitations and finding creative solutions, leveraging your business to connect with local cultures, and valuing your worth as a creative. What passions do you want to build a business around? I'd love to hear about them, and I hope you'll share them 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: What he learned from years of busking on the streets How his mobile recording studio was born The mindset shifts he needed to gain confidence and charge for his work The importance of leaning into your strengths and understanding your customers to find success (and stand out from competitors) How he approaches running his business and traveling with limitations How his art allows him to connect with locals and how he's giving back in Morocco The music Adrian is most proud of producing Why creating the right space is crucial for deeper connections (in business and life) Insights on putting yourself out there, valuing your worth, and balancing that with doing things from the heart How the exposure to different music from around the world impacts his songwriting And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Visit Adrian's website Follow him on Instagram, Facebook Adrian's YouTube playlist Watch his documentaries on Morocco, Armenia, Albania Check out his courses on production Adrian's business coach for artists Want More? Following Inspiration Towards A Life Of Travel with Mark and Steffi (The World's Only Chapman Stick Duo) Being A Creative Vessel, Faking It Until You Are It, & Tour Life (Andy Frasco Interview) Life-Changing Trips, Interviewing Music Legends, Backpacking the World, and Fostering Transformative Connections with Tony Fletcher Thanks To Our Sponsors Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com/host. Nissan - Go find your path and enjoy the ride along the way with the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition. Learn more at nissanusa.com.

20 Aug 20241h 28min

Have you ever felt like you don't quite fit the mold of society's expectations? Wanda Duncan is a slow-traveling digital nomad, community manager, podcaster, and event producer. As the mastermind behind Black Women Travl, Wanda has created a community and podcast that fosters conversations, provides resources, and inspires Black women to dream big and travel far.  Wanda shares all about how and why she left her corporate job to pursue a life of travel, expert tips on community building, advice on transitioning to full-time travel, and so much more.  What are some ways that you have embraced your inner misfit? I'd love to hear about them and hope you will share by sending me an audio message. *This month, we're sharing previous episodes highlighting travel turnarounds! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, providing 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: How travel can help a misfit shed expectations and feel at ease Why school is the worst place to learn to be yourself What made Wanda say goodbye to her toxic job and travel to El Salvador The importance of reframing failure and accepting life's turbulence  Why cultivating curiosity and embracing uniqueness will help you find your community anywhere How to be a lighthouse when building your own community Why it's important to find inspiration from outside of your circle Advice for busy digital nomads from a busy digital nomad Why Wanda got kicked out of Malaysia What it's like living in Albania as a digital nomad The advantages of slow travel and the best places to do it And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Check out Black Women Travl Listen to the Black Women Travel Podcast Find opportunities at Idealist  Want More? Traveling While Black w/ Nanjala Nyabola Solo Travel, Coffee and Blackpacking w/ Jarika Johnson The Slow Travel Philosophy + Traveling As A Black Woman with Oneika Raymond Thanks To Our Sponsors Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com/host. Nissan - Go find your path and enjoy the ride along the way with the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition. Learn more at nissanusa.com. No Fixed Address Podcast - Travel around the globe with Michael and Vanessa as they visit a new country every month in search of the planet's most extraordinary people.

15 Aug 20241h 11min

Are you interested in eco-diving? Do you want to pursue a dream or get involved in something greater than yourself but are unsure if you have the right experience? Andi Cross is a 15-year growth strategist who went from the C-suite to scuba gear. Learning to swim at the age of 30, she later became a certified divemaster and founded the Edges of Earth expedition: a two-year, 50+ destination diving expedition traveling to some of the most remote locations around the planet aimed at driving visibility to conservation efforts and positive impact news from around the globe.  Andi talks about the unconventional approach she took to pursue her passion for the ocean despite not being a trained scientist and having no prior experience. We talk about how she fused her experience in the corporate world to invent her own path, the importance of finding identity and belonging, breaking traditional rules, and why you need to put yourself out there no matter how awkward (+ some great advice on cold outreach!).  She shares her top five destinations for eco-diving, her planning process for the Edges of Earth expedition, how to choose dive spots based on sustainability, and the role that everyone plays in ocean conservation. What are your passions, and how can you carve your own path in that industry? If you don’t ask, you’ll never know. I'd love to hear what they are, and I hope you’ll share them 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 she discovered her passion for the ocean The questions that led to leaving her career and advice when contemplating a pivot Why you need to embrace the beginner mindset What makes an expedition different from other forms of travel How she found her place within the expedition framework Her unique approach to funding and how she defines success for the expedition What to consider when choosing dive destinations Andi’s top five dive spots everyone should visit Why ocean conservation takes effort from both consumers and businesses Andi’s method for cold outreach And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Learn about Edges of Earth Follow Edges of Earth on Instagram Subscribe to the newsletter on LinkedIn Want More? Ethical Travel, Life In Mozambique and Ocean Love w/ Francesca Trotman Around America and Beyond With Renata Chlumska (+ How to Meet More People While Traveling) How to Pivot to a Life With More Freedom (And Travel), Get More Free Time, and Unlock Your Intuition With Jenny Blake Thanks To Our Sponsors Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com/host. Nissan - Go find your path and enjoy the ride along the way with the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition. Learn more at nissanusa.com. No Fixed Address Podcast - Travel around the globe with Michael and Vanessa as they visit a new country every month in search of the planet’s most extraordinary people.

13 Aug 20241h 33min

How has your life changed direction from traveling? Poet, entrepreneur, and retired stockbroker James C. Hopkins shares how he transitioned from a hectic life on Wall Street to a simple Buddhist life in Kathmandu.  We discuss why every experience has value, including the small moment that led to him creating a social enterprise to help fund education for kids. You’ll learn how to navigate new beginnings and improve your life, what compassion in action looks like, how to spend money wisely while traveling, why you should “shut up and do something” today, and so much more. What moments in your life have caused you to make big changes? I'd love to hear about them, and I hope you will share them by sending me an audio message. *This month, we're sharing previous episodes highlighting the most EPIC lists! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, providing 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: How James managed life as a stockbroker by day and poet by night Why traveling to India inspired James to reconsider his conception of happiness The decision of “enough” that caused James to retire at 45 The lessons James learned as a stockbroker that carried into his new life How travel can change your relationship with money and possessions over time The power of saying “yes” to help others How to transform cynicism into action Why James was drawn to Buddhism and what it has taught him How understanding the difference between detachment and non-attachment can improve your life How fear has transformed over the years How to make the most out of your money when traveling  And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Support Quilts for Kids Check out the Himalayan Writers Workshop Learn More about James’ Collection of Poetry Want More? Getting Free Through Travel with Mike Clarity Immersion Travel: Becoming A Porter In Nepal w/ Nate Menninger The Spiritual Journey + Travel and Creativity with Karan Bajaj Thanks To Our Sponsors Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com/host. Nissan - Go find your path and enjoy the ride along the way with the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition. Learn more at nissanusa.com. No Fixed Address Podcast - Travel around the globe with Michael and Vanessa as they visit a new country every month in search of the planet’s most extraordinary people.

8 Aug 20241h 32min

Considering an overland travel adventure or have another dream you want to achieve, whether in work or travel? Eric Highland, his wife Brittany, and son Caspian are driving around the world in a Jeep. They have been traveling full-time since 2014, and their son, born in 2016, has lived his entire life on the road. Eric shares his insights and recommendations for overlanding and vehicle-based adventure travel, including common myths, costs, and travel must-haves to make your life easier. We also have a broader conversation around the pros and cons of full-time travel, what is required to pursue your dreams, how to balance work with travel, his experience having a child on the road, and his top three destination recommendations. You’ll gain insights into achieving sustainable and long-term success in your business, creating a healthy and fulfilling travel lifestyle, test-driving the overland travel experience, and more. Have you figured out the costs of achieving your dreams? I'd love to hear what they are, and I hope you’ll share them 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: Their journey to freedom with remote work and what lead them to overland travel The rewards of a nomadic lifestyle and the #1 thing that takes people off the road Why understanding the true costs of your dream is essential to achieving your goals  What makes overland travel different than a road trip The myths and perceptions of overland travel Eric’s litmus test for determining your must-have equipment Why you shouldn’t believe the media hype when considering travel (and what to do instead) His top destinations and where to go for your first vehicle-based travel experiences Advice on socialization for traveling families and dealing with criticism And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Visit their website Follow Hourless Life on Instagram, Facebook Subscribe on YouTube Want More? How To Travel Overland Through Central America + Travelosophy 4 8,000 Miles Across India in a Vintage Rolls Royce With Rupert Grey (Romantic Road) America’s Greatest Road Trip! Key West to Deadhorse: 9,000 Miles Across Backroad USA With Tom Cotter Thanks To Our Sponsors Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com/host. Nissan - Go find your path and enjoy the ride along the way with the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition. Learn more at nissanusa.com.

6 Aug 20241h 47min

Listen in to find out our theme for this month and what epic conversations you can expect to hear. What topics and themes do you want to learn more about on the podcast? I'd love to get your thoughts, and I hope you'll share them 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! Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Thanks To Our Sponsors Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com/host. Nissan - Go find your path and enjoy the ride along the way with the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition. Learn more at nissanusa.com. No Fixed Address Podcast - Travel around the globe with Michael and Vanessa as they visit a new country every month in search of the planet's most extraordinary people.

1 Aug 20242min

When Terry Repak and her husband moved to West Africa with two small children at the height of the AIDS epidemic in the 1990s, she seized the opportunity to connect with people of other cultures and bear witness to the ravages of the disease.  Today, Terry shares what she learned from this experience and the countless ways that living abroad can be both rewarding and challenging, especially with the constant push-pull between the excitement of new experiences and the longing for home. Terry is the author of Circling Home—What I Learned By Living Elsewhere, which chronicles the adventures and challenges of raising children to be global citizens and trying to find home in countries as diverse as the Ivory Coast, Tanzania, and Switzerland. Her memoir spotlights the complexity, struggles, and profound lessons at the heart of the expat journey. You’ll gain insights into navigating the potential risks of moving to another country, why forming deeper connections is key to a fulfilling experience abroad, and why it requires a different kind of openness and a willingness to question preconceptions and judgments. How has forming deeper connections changed your travel experiences? I'd love to hear your insights, and I hope you’ll share them 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 they decided to bring their family to Africa despite the risks  How she was able to quickly integrate into society and have a feeling of home and safety Her heartbreaking experience on the ground during the AIDS epidemic Terry’s perspective on foreign aid for health issues How living in an African country shaped her children’s worldview The importance of resilience and openness to different cultures  Her experience returning home and how to continue making cultural connections Considerations for anyone wanting to move abroad long-term Her motivation for writing a memoir And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Visit Terry’s website Follow Terry on Instagram Want More? Trapped at Sea: Surviving a Shipwreck and Spending 10 Years Sailing the World (Against Her Will) With Suzanne Heywood Connecting Across Cultures w/ Tayo Rockson Moving To Guatemala To Learn About Giving (With 5 Kids and Minimal Savings), Living Outside Of Your Comfort Zone, and Finding Community w/ Owen and Christina Dargatz from The Giving Experiment Thanks To Our Sponsors Nissan - Go find your path and enjoy the ride along the way with the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition. Learn more at nissanusa.com. Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com/host. Babbel - Learn a new language with Babbel! Visit babbel.com/zerototravel to get up to 60% off your subscription.

30 Juli 20241h 4min