EPoP 028: From Alaska to Argentina with a Family of Four

family-in-andes-podcast

Imagine deciding to take your twin 10-year-old boys on a trip from the very top of Alaska to the southernmost town in the world, Ushuaia in Argentina.

That’s a lot of fighting in the backseat, bathroom breaks, and “are we there yet’s?”.

Now imagine doing that same trip…on bikes!

Nancy Sathre-Vogel never believed in the oft-repeated statement “once you have kids, your travel life is over” and so she and her family set off on an epic bike trip to shatter that fallacy.

3 years and 17,285 miles later, they did just that.

Nancy recounts their amazing trek in great detail and also gives some incredibly practical advice on the intricacies of traveling with a family, including how to know what’s right for your specific children.

If you’re someone who isn’t interested in family travel, don’t worry, because Nancy also shares some amazing tips on how to stick to a budget when traveling and also prepare your life back home for a long term expedition.

Whether you’re a solo traveler, a couple, or a family, you’re going to want to tune in and hear this amazing story and insanely useful advice.

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 logistics of putting your life on hold and how to push through it.
  • The two hardest parts of the 3-year journey (the answer will stun you!).
  • The normalcy of day to day life on the road.
  • How the wise words of a 12-year-old changed the course of the trip.
  • The #1 thing you can do for successful family travel.
  • Tips for building your trip around your budget, not the other way around.
  • Vulnerability and the only time safety was a concern.
  • “Jumping back in the box”

And much more!

Links Discussed in This Episode:

I Need Your Help

Nancy and her family’s story is truly amazing, and I’m so glad she came on to debunk the myths of family travel.  Show them some love by clicking “Tweet This” below:

@familyonbikes Thanks for shattering #familytravel myths and sharing your #budgettravel tips on the EPoP #Podcast w/@packofpeanuts

Tweet This!

EPoP 027: The How, When, Where, and Why of Train Travel with The Man in Seat 61

Mark-Smith-Seat-61

A nice book, a good bottle of wine, and a comfortable reclining chair.

It sounds like a fantastic night!

But instead of sitting in your living room, you’re speeding past some of the world’s best countryside, a moving mural of lush fields, incredible mountains, and amazing seascapes…all while getting to your next destination!

Mark Smith, better known as the Man in Seat 61, paints the picture of putting the romance and relaxation back in to travel by taking trains, an often overlooked form of traveling by most people, especially Americans.

Mark has created the ultimate train travel resource on the internet, and in this episode, he not only discusses why people should consider train travel but gives incredible tips and real-life examples of how it can be more cost-effective and convenient than taking a flight.

As someone who has used Mark’s website innumerable times over the last few years, and because of this, gotten to experience the joys of train travel, I couldn’t be happier to have him on the show.  He is absolutely full of incredibly practical and useful information, tons of which he shares today.

Want to know Mark’s secrets for a more relaxing trip, including some of these favorite trips by train?

Have a listen to this awesome interview.

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:

  • Why the experience of train travel dwarfs that of a plane.
  • How train travel can be cheaper AND as quick as traveling by plane.
  • How to book train tickets early to save up to 70%.
  • Which countries are the cheapest for booking your tickets?
  • The ins and outs of inclusive rail passes and determining whether they are worth it.
  • Picking the right sleeper train.
  • The right websites to book train tickets with.
  • Combining train and ferry tickets for an even better value and more memorable experience.
  • Mark’s favorite train trips, including the one you probably never thought of.

And much more!

Links Discussed in This Episode:

I Need Your Help

Mark is one of the most knowledgeable guys I’ve ever met and also one of the nicest.  Show him some love by click “Tweet This” below:

@seatsixtyone has me dreaming of boarding my next #train! Thanks so much for all the info you shared on the EPoP #Podcast w/ @PackofPeanuts.

Tweet This!

I’m giving away $100 once we hit 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 026: Mid-Career Travel Breaks and Marriage Proposals with Jessica Lawrence

Jessica-Lawrence-Road-to-Rhode

Like most of us, 15-year-old Jessica Lawrence had a dream.  She knew what she wanted to do, and she was going to do it.

Except, like most of us, she put it off…and put it off…and put it off.

Until, 22 years later, she finally stopped putting it off…and just DID IT.

She cycled across the entire country, 4200+ miles, alone.  Not as a college student.  Not as a retiree.  And not as a foreigner.

But as a 37-year-old single woman who has a job, has a career, and has a life.

And now, she’s on a mission to motivate others to take a hold of their dreams and find a way to do them, no matter how long they’ve put them off and no matter how many excuses they’ve made.

But the great part of this interview is that not only is Jessica incredibly motivating, but also hilarious.

From being asked if she’s carrying a gun with her (4 times!) to being proposed to by a 79-year-old man, Jessica recounts some of the best stories from her amazing journey and also gives insanely useful tips for anyone wishing to do the same.

Inspirational + Humurous + Actionable = a podcast you won’t want to miss!

Right-click to download this episode directly

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 true cost of biking across the country.
  • Why it’s never too late to make a dream a reality.
  • Small things you can do to balance work and play.
  • Why you don’t need real training to bike across the country.
  • The 3 types of people who bike across the US (and why Jessica was none of them).
  • The toughest obstacles in achieving any goal (they’re not what you think).
  • Why the fears of travelers are much different than the fears of those who stay at home.
  • Taking big life lessons learned from travel and incorporating them into normal life.
  • The best website for making friends and getting meals while biking.

And much more!

Links Discussed in This Episode:

I Need Your Help

Jessica is an incredible inspiration to people of all ages (and hilarious to boot)!  Show her some love by click “Tweet This” below:

@Roadtorhode Congrats on the journey & thanks for inspiring me to go after my #travel dreams on the EPoP Podcast with @PackofPeanuts.

Tweet This!

EPoP 025: Hacking Productivity, Sleeping in Narita Airport, and Achieving Freedom with Thomas Frank

epop-thomas

When was the last time you heard of someone:

  • starting their own successful website
  • crushing their courses
  • and paying off their student debt

…all while they were still in college?

Mark Zuckerberg, you say?

Pssshhh…He never even graduated!

How about someone who did all that AND got his degree?

Like a unicorn, Thomas Frank of CollegeInfoGeek is a rare specimen.

He’s built an incredible website that, despite the name, helps people of ALL ages figure out how to become more productive, get a job they actually want, and pay off debt.

And in his spare time, he’s also taken multiple trips to Japan, which has to lead to a few funny stories.

One of the main reasons I wanted to have Thomas on the podcast was because, unlike many past guests, he hasn’t galivanted all over the globe…yet!

But, at the young age of 22, he has found a way to give himself freedom. 

Freedom from a job and freedom from debt, so that now he’ll be able to do something he’s always wanted to do, and that’s to travel more.

And FREEDOM is what many people, especially those who yearn to travel, are after.

So if you’re one of those people looking to achieve some more freedom in your life, soak in these wise-beyond-his-years words from Thomas Frank.

Right-click to download this episode directly

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:

  • How to make yourself indispensable for a company.
  • The most important quality you need to set yourself up for the long term success.
  • Why prepared people get lucky.
  • How failure to land a “dream position” lead to an even better opportunity.
  • How Thomas paid off $14,000 in debt while still in school without a full-time job.
  • Sleeping in a Japanese airport for 13 hours.
  • Why freedom is the most important goal to work towards.

And much more!

Links Discussed in This Episode:

I Need Your Help

Thomas is doing something many of us wish we had done; taking control of his life at a young age, and helping others do the same.  Show him some love by click “Tweet This” below:

@TomFrankly is wise beyond his years! Thanks for awesome tips on productivity, freedom, and Japan on the EPoP Podcast with @PackofPeanuts

Tweet This!

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

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

EPoP 024: Why 7 Million People Open Their Homes to Travelers for Free With Martina Steinmann

Martina-Couchsurfing

Would you open your home to someone you’ve only met on the internet who was traveling through your area and looking for a place to stay?

Martina Steinmann would, and so would 7 million other people (including myself) who are part of the global phenomenon that is Couchsurfing.

Wait…couch WHAT?

CouchSurfing, which is the term used for opening up your couch for travelers who are passing through and giving them a place to stay…for free.

After reading that sentence, you’ve already whether CouchSurfing is either the craziest idea you’ve ever heard or the most awesome.

Think it’s the most ludicrous?

Good.  Apprehension and nervousness are natural.  Let us convince you otherwise by discussing why CouchSurfing is much safer than you think (I’ve surfed and hosted, and I’m still alive) and why over 7 million people have joined.

Think it’s the most awesome?

Martina will tell you how to get started, what to include in your profile, and how to make the most of the amazing opportunities Couchsurfing provides travelers and hosts.

Martina will also tell you the 3 most interesting Couchsurfing stories she’s ever heard (and there are a lot) and why being lost in 3 languages is the best travel experience she’s ever had.

No matter what side you fall on, you’ve got to have a listen to this incredible interview.

Right click to download this episode directly

In This Episode:

  • The benefits of Couchsurfing vs. a hotel or hostel.
  • How Couchsurfing has grown, completely through word of mouth, to 7 million people in every country in the world.
  • The multiple ways Couchsurfing ensures the safety of its guests and hosts.
  • How new members can build appealing profiles and get accepted by hosts.
  • Why taking 45 minutes for lunch can change your world, even if you can’t travel.
  • The best and cheapest way to explore a city.
  • Being lost in 3 languages…and loving it!

And much more!

Links Discussed in This Episode:

I Need Your Help

Martina and the whole team at Couchsurfing is doing an amazing job making the world better for travelers.  Show them some love by clicking “tweet this” below:

@martlsteinmann Thanks for sharing the awesome story of @couchsurfing on the EPoP Podcast with @PackofPeanuts. #Timetosurf

Tweet This!

I’m giving away $100 once we hit 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 023: The Secret to Being Treated Like a Rockstar When Flying with Johnny Jet

Johnny-Jet

Johnny Jet is a travel rockstar.

He’s constantly being interviewed by national media outlets like CNN, USA Today, and MSNBC.

He’s been the host of a TV show on the Travel Channel.

He’s been writing his own travel website since 1995.

And yet, all those things aren’t why he is treated like a rockstar when flying.

Instead, it’s one simple thing that he’s done over the years that has earned him the good graces of airline staff and crews around the world.

In addition to sharing his secret, he’ll also uncover some of his best tips and tricks for traveling cheap but still traveling well, and we’ll geek out about frequent flyer miles.

And believe it or not, Johnny himself used to have severe anxiety when flying, so much so that he gave up a “once in a lifetime trip.”

Learn how he was able to deal with it and how he is now able to travel over 100 days a year with no issues.

Right-click to download this episode directly

In This Episode:

  • How to cure yourself of anxiety over flying.
  • A few simple tricks to make traveling as easy as possible.
  • How to be treated like a rockstar on a flight with one simple gesture.
  • The #1 tip for saving money when booking travel.
  • Why social media is the key to scoring the best travel deals.

And much more!

Links Discussed in This Episode:

I Need Your Help

It was a pleasure to finally get to interview Johnny, one of the first people I started reading back in the day.  Show him some love by clicking “tweet this” below:

@JohnnyJet Thanks for sharing the secret to being treated like a rockstar when flying on the EPoP Podcast w/ @PackofPeanuts. #goodguyswin

Tweet This!

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

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

 

Pin It on Pinterest