EPoP 034: 31 Island Expert Stuart McDonald on the Magic of Southeast Asia

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Southeast Asia is an absolutely magical place full of gorgeous beaches, amazing food, and incredible culture.

Couple all that with the fact that it’s insanely cheap, and you’ve got one of the best places in the world to visit.

And no one knows that better than Stuart McDonald, founder of the amazing online guidebook Travelfish, who has been living, working, and hanging out in the region for over 20 years.

There’s no better way to find the best places in SE Asia, and to really understand it’s magic than taking a tour with a man who’s been to 31 different Thai islands!

Whether you’re dreaming of going there for the first time or dreaming of going back, after this podcast, you’ll be an expert!

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In This Episode:

  • How many guesthouses Stuart has personally reviewed (hint: it’s higher than the number you’re thinking right now).
  • How the Travelfish team is able to cover such a quickly changing region.
  • Traveling through vs. living in an area
  • The traditional guidebook vs. Travelfish
  • How and why to take a digital detox
  • A recap of each SE Asian country in a few sentences
  • What country is the hidden gem of SE Asia
  • How much it costs to live in Bali for a year
  • What island has the best beaches in Thailand, hands down

And much more!

 Links Discussed in This Episode:

I Need Your Help

Stuart just set us up for the world’s most amazing SE Asian vacation, so show him some love by clicking “Tweet This” below:

I just found out the best hidden gems in all of #SEAsia from @Travelfish on the EPoP Podcast w/@PackofPeanuts. Time to plan a trip! #travel

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EPoP 033: Landing a Dream Travel Job + Study Abroad Wisdom with Ryan Warner

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Ryan Warner has done what many people dream of:

Landed a job in the travel industry that is not only fun and allows him to travel, but also provides stability and a “regular” lifestyle.

The best part?

The field he is in is actively looking for people because it’s a newer and lesser-known industry.

Honestly, if I wasn’t running Extra Pack of Peanuts, this would be a dream job for me.

In today’s interview, Ryan not only talks about how he got his job but gives tons of tips on how you can do the same and provides a plethora of resources to check out.

If you are someone who is looking wants to travel and help others do the same but with a dash of stability, this could be your new career!

In the second half of the interview, Ryan discusses studying abroad.

He breaks down the biggest myths around studying abroad and provides information on how students who want to study abroad can get up to $20,000 to do so.

Yep, that’s four zeroes.

If you’re a student interested in studying abroad, or you know someone who is interested in it (son, daughter, brother, friend, etc.), this podcast is filled with amazing resources and advice.

So there you have it…in less than 50 minutes Ryan will tell you how to land a dream travel job and get tons of money for studying abroad!

Right-click to download this episode directly

Check out the entire library of EPoP Travel Podcasts on iTunes

Help Us Hit 100 Reviews on iTunes

We’re currently at 82 and almost there.  Would you be so kind as to take a minute and leave us a review?  Here’s the link:

Leave an iTunes Review.

In This Episode:

  • How Ryan found a dream travel job that no one really knows about.
  • Why Ryan’s field is actually easy to get in to.
  • How to crush an interview for a position in this field.
  • The salary and benefits someone should expect.
  • Qualifications vs. Experiences
  • Why Ryan’s job is like solving a puzzle.
  • The 4 main reasons to study abroad.
  • How you can study abroad in almost any country in the world.
  • The biggest myths about studying abroad.
  • How to get paid up to $20,000 for studying abroad.
  • The ISIC card and how it will save you tons of money.

And much more!

 Links Discussed in This Episode:

I Need Your Help

Andy not only told us all the ins and outs of housesitting, but he also gave us a discount! Show him some love by clicking “Tweet This” below:

@MUStudyAbroad Thanks for opening my eyes to a dream #travel job and the great #studyabroad tips on the EPoP #podcast w/ @PackofPeanuts.

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EPoP 032: Housesitting 101- Scoring Amazing Accommodations Around the World with Andy Peck

Housesitting

Villas in Tuscany.

Chateaus in the Alps.

Penthouses in New York.

What if when you traveled, you could stay in these types of places?

And better yet, what if they were free?

With housesitting, they can be!  

All over the world, people are opening up their homes for others to come and stay in while they are gone.  And in return for looking after their home and sometimes their pet, you get to stay in their place, for free!

It really is a win-win for both parties involved, and explains why housesitting is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing ways to travel.

Today, Andy Peck, the Godfather of Housesitting and founder of the biggest housesitting site in the world, Trusted Housesitters, sits down with us to talk about the ins and outs of housesitting.

From how to give yourself the best chance to score your first housesit to some of the best places he’s ever seen, Andy breaks down housesitting from A-Z.

Oh, and he also gives Extra Pack of Peanuts listeners a special discount on a Trusted Housesitter membership (see instructions below)!

So if you’re someone who is interested in trying your hand at housesitting, this is the podcast for you.  Andy’s tips will have you scoring your dream housesit in no time!

Right-click to download this episode directly

Check out the entire library of EPoP Travel Podcasts on iTunes

Help Us Hit 100 Reviews on iTunes

We’re currently at 82 and almost there.  Would you be so kind as to take a minute and leave us a review?  Here’s the link:

Leave an iTunes Review.

In This Episode:

  • The step by step process of housesitting.
  • The #1 thing you need to do to score your first housesit.
  • How housesitting “throws the guidebook in the trash.”
  • The amount of money Trusted Housesitters has saved people over the last 3 years (hint: it’s A LOT!)
  • The 3 key things you can do to get your dream housesit.
  • Who to ask for references if you haven’t housesat before.
  • How to rank higher on the list of potential housesitters.
  • Housesits vs. Hiltons
  • Andy’s most memorable housesits.
  • The country that is the fastest-growing housesitting market

And much more!

How To Get The EPoP Discount For Trusted Housesitters

Andy has made a generous offer of giving EPoP listeners the following discount:

  • Sign up for a 3-month membership, get 1 month free.
  • Sign up for a 6-month membership get 2 months free.
  • Sign up for a 12-month membership get 3 months free.

To get the discount, follow these steps:

  1. Click this link to be taken to the Trusted Housesitters website.
  2. Hit “Join Now” in the top right-hand corner.
  3. Click on “Housesitter Membership and Pricing Plans” on the right-hand side.
  4. Scroll to the bottom and enter EPOP where it says “Have a Promotional Code?”.
  5. Hit Apply Code.  Scroll back down to bottom and you should see a message that says “Promo code applied” as well as a check mark.
  6. Now, pick your plan.
  7. Enter your info and create your account.
  8. When you get to the confirmation page, you will see that the length of your membership has been extended.  Yeah!

 Links Discussed in This Episode:

I Need Your Help

Andy not only told us all the ins and outs of housesitting, but he also gave us a discount! Show him some love by clicking “Tweet This” below:

@housesitting Thanks for the expert advice on how to score #housesits around the world + discount on the EPoP Podcast w/@PackofPeanuts.

Tweet This!

I’m giving away $100 once we hit a 100 ratings on iTunes, so why not take 1 minute, leave a rating, and enter to win!

Leave a Rating for the Podcast, Win $100! (now fixed so it works).

EPoP 031: 17 Years an Expat with John Bardos

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Many of you dream of being location independent or living abroad for an extended period of time.

Of engaging in a place and culture, rather than just traveling through it.

And no one is a bigger expert in this field than John Bardos of JetSetCitizen, who has started, run, and sold his own business in another country, has launched a successful location independent lifestyle, and has lived abroad for the last 17 years.

Today, John discusses the actual costs of living abroad, tells us some of his favorite home bases, and helps dispel some of the rumors surrounding a location independent lifestyle.

He also gives his best tips and advice for how someone who wishes to pursue living abroad can get started and what they can do to set themselves up while still at home.

There are 17 years of wisdom packed into this podcast, and you won’t want to miss it!

Right-click to download this episode directly

Check out the entire library of EPoP Travel Podcasts on iTunes (and leave a rating)!

In This Episode:

  • The “Golden Handcuff” dilemma and how to break free.
  • The magical effect of making a goal public.
  • An easy springboard to location independence.
  • The truth of most digital nomads.
  • Advantages and disadvantages of location independence.
  • Why living abroad is easier than traveling.
  • Best cities in the world to use as a home base.
  • A breakdown of day to day life and costs in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
  • What does $1,200 a month look like in other countries?
  • If the whole world lived like a Canadian or American…

And much more!

 Links Discussed in This Episode:

I Need Your Help

John rocked it by packing 17 years of wisdom into 45 minutes.  Show him some love by clicking “Tweet This” below:

@JetSetCitizen Thanks for packing 17 years of #locationindependent wisdom and #expat advice in to the EPoP #podcast with @PackofPeanuts.

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EPoP 030: Full-Time Travel in a Financially Sustainable Way with Nora Dunn

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You’ve once again been regaled by a travel story.  One in which the person telling the story talks about the amazing places they’ve been, things they’ve seen, and the foods they’ve eaten.

It seems like they are always traveling, and you aren’t.  You want to do that too, but…how can they afford it?

Enter Nora Dunn, the mastermind behind the fantastic website The Professional Hobo, and someone who has been able to travel full-time for the last 7 years.

Today, she reveals all her secrets for how to live a full-time life of travel in a financially sustainable way.

From how she saved over $63,000 in the last few years on accommodations to how she is able to earn an income from the road, she gives incredible advice that hits on all facets of a full-time traveler’s life.

So if you’re someone who has always wanted to travel more, whether it is full-time or not, Nora is THE person you want to follow, and this interview is a great starting point!

Right-click to download this episode directly

Check out the entire library of EPoP Travel Podcasts on iTunes (and leave a rating)!

In This Episode:

  • The two components to financially sustainable travel.
  • The three keys to spending less money while traveling.
  • How Nora saved over $63,000 on housing in the first 5 years of her travels.
  • Living and working on a boat with no sailing skills.
  • When to start your business to give it the best chance to succeed.
  •  How to land your first freelancing gig.
  • The power of reaching out with compliments.
  • How the Acropolis becomes just “meh”.
  • The combustibility of couples travel vs. the loneliness of solo travel

And much more!

 Links Discussed in This Episode:

I Need Your Help

Nora just gave us some absolutely incredible tips for how to live and work around the world for free, so show her some love by clicking “Tweet This” below:

@hobonora Thanks for the awesome tips on financially sustainable #travel on the EPoP Podcast w/ @PackofPeanuts. You rock!

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EPoP 029: Around the World in 80 Jobs With Turner Barr

turner-barr-around-the-world-in-80-jobs

Ever wonder what it’d be like to dress up in a 30 pound half yeti/half Chewbacca-like suit and run around in a blizzard with the sole goal of scaring little children?

Or lean out of a tuk-tuk, GoPro in hand, trying not to get decapitated in Bangkok’s crazy streets while getting the perfect shot for a reality tv show?

Now, you don’t have to wonder, because Turner Barr, the man behind Around the World in 80 Jobs, has done it.

And his website is all about showing you what it’s like to have some of the world’s craziest jobs and also helping you figure out how to find interesting jobs (or even just normal ones) all around the world.

Turner will go into detail about how he is able to score these wild positions, discuss the key things that people can do to get jobs abroad and talk about some of his favorite tricks for saving money while traveling.

And of course, he’ll also regale us with a story or two of some of his favorite experiences (more Gluhwein, anyone?).

This is a podcast you won’t want to miss!

Right-click to download this episode directly

Check out the entire library of EPoP Travel Podcasts on iTunes (and leave a rating)!

Win $100!

I’m giving away $100 once we hit 100 ratings on iTunes.  Come on people, let’s do this…the money is burning a hole in my pocket!

Leave a Rating for the Podcast, Win $100! (now fixed so it works).

In This Episode:

  • The one job Turner has been the only foreigner to ever do.
  • The 3 things to figure out before looking for a job.
  • The quickest, best way for someone to get a job abroad.
  • What being an “expert” really means.
  • How to add value, and how that leads to jobs.
  • The unglamorous side to living abroad, and how to solve it.
  • 3 great locations for setting up a home base.

And much more!

Links Discussed in This Episode:

I Need Your Help

Turner is doing some awesome stuff and it’s great he is so open and honest about what it takes to get jobs abroad.  Show him some love by clicking “Tweet This” below:

@80worldjobs Thanks for the epic stories and awesome tips on getting cool jobs around the world on the EPoP #podcast w/@PackofPeanuts.

Tweet This!

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