EPoP 005: Chris Christensen, Travel Podcasting Legend, on How to Best Utilize 2 Weeks of Vacation a Year

Chris-Christensen-Amateur-Traveler-EPoP-Podcast

 

In this episode of the Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel Podcast, travel podcasting legend Chris Christensen joins me to discuss how the average American can best maximize their two weeks of vacation time a year.

He’ll also share the best travel tips he’s gotten over the course of recording over 500+ travel podcasts, discuss the state of the podcasting industry and why it is undergoing such a resurgence,  and tell you how you could possibly be a guest on his show, the Amateur Traveler.

Chris is the Godfather of the travel podcasting industry, and someone I’ve been following closely for a few years now.  Not only does he know his stuff, but his silky smooth voice is one that you could listen to all day long, so go have a listen!

If you’ve got a question, feel free to post it in the comments or say thank you to Chris by shooting him a tweet!

Right Click Here to Download the Episode Directly

Click Here to Download from iTunes

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

  • The topics covered in Chris’s two travel podcasts
  • How the mobile age is helping podcasting undergo a renaissance.
  • How Chris is able to find experts to talk about each destination.
  • How Amateur Travel gave it’s start to a few well-known travel bloggers.
  • What makes a good destination show, and what doesn’t.
  • Why Chris always checks out the postcard stands when traveling.
  • Why Chris DOESN’T try to talk people into traveling.
  • Three ways to save money when traveling.
  • When the best time to start looking for airline tickets is.
  • How to get a tour guide for the price of a beer.
  • What your tourist radar is, and how to sharpen it.

Links Discussed in This Episode:

  • The Amateur Traveler– Chris’s weekly podcast (and blog) highlighting travel destinations around the world.
  • Ottsworld– The travel website of Sherry Ott, a frequent Amateur Traveler guest
  • Nomadic Matt– An extremely popular travel website of Matt Kepnes, who got his big break on Amateur Traveler
  • Born To Run– Trav’s favorite book, which details the Tarahumara tribe in Mexico’s Copper Canyon.
  • Servas– A hospitality website that brings together locals and travelers to share experiences.
  • Couchsurfing– A community that shares their homes (and couches) to travelers and organizes meetups.
  • @Chris2x– Say hello to Chris on Twitter

I Need Your Help

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel podcast.

I couldn’t have done it without Chris, so if you liked it, show Chris some love by clicking “tweet this” below:

“Thanks podcasting legend @Chris2x for sharing your awesome travel tips on the EPOP Podcast with @PackofPeanuts”

Tweet This!

If you haven’t already done so, I would love if you took one minute (seriously, only one) to leave a quick rating and review of the podcast on iTunes by clicking on the link below!  It is extremely important to helping the show grow!

Leave a Rating for Trav’s Podcast

Thanks for all your support, and if you’ve got any comments or suggestions, let me know in the comments below!

Cheers,

Trav

 

 

Jason Lewis on His Amazing, Inspiring, Guinness Book of World Record Feat

Jason Lewis Expedition 360 podcast

In this episode of The Extra Pack of Podcast, Jason Lewis of Expedition360 joins me to talk about one of the most amazing feats in travel history, going around the entire world using just human power.

Jason began his trip “on a lark” in 1994, believing it would take him and a friend 3 or 4 years to complete the journey.  13 years later, Jason finally returned to his hometown of Greenwich, England with a Guinness World Record to his name and uncountable tales and memories.

He’ll recount some of his best moments, such as spending time with the natives in the remote Solomon Islands, and some of his worst, like getting hit by a car in Colorado and almost losing his legs.

And he’ll tell us just why he kept on going during this crazy journey, year after year, and how he believes travel has the power to change people.

Without knowing it, Jason became one of the main inspirations in my life after I first heard of Expedition 360, and I’m honored to have him on the show.  His story is one that will inspire you to do things you didn’t think were possible and one you won’t soon forget.

So have a listen, and if you like the story, don’t forget to check out his book, Dark Waters, that is full of all the details we didn’t have time to get to!

Click here to Download the Episode directly

Click Here to Download from iTunes

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

  • What it means to circumnavigate the globe using only human power.
  • How Jason met a movie star in the middle of the Sahara Desert.
  • Why no real training was a good thing before starting a 13-year journey.
  • How close Jason really came to quitting.
  • How the generosity of strangers was the main reason the journey continued.
  • The best parts of crossing the entire world (including some you’d NEVER guess)
  • How the concept of “home” changed after returning 13 years later.
  • Why Jason turned down a huge publishing deal.
  • How traveling leads you to be a better world citizen.
  • Why committing to travel is the most important step.
  • Jason’s rationale for rollerblading across America without knowing how.

Links Discussed in this Episode:

I Need Your Help!

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel podcast.

I couldn’t have done it without Jason, so if you liked it, show Colin some love and thank him for taking the time to be on by clicking the link below:

Show Jason Some Love by Clicking Here!

If you haven’t already done so, I would love it if you took one minute (seriously, only one) to leave a quick rating and review of the podcast on iTunes by clicking on the link below!  It is extremely important to help the show grow!

Leave a Rating for Trav’s Podcast

Thanks for all your support, and if you’ve got any comments or suggestions, let me know in the comments below!

Cheers,

Trav

 

Colin Wright on Changing Countries Every 4 Months, The Beauty of Being an Idiot, and Minimalism

Colin Wright Extra Pack of Peanuts Podcast

In this episode of the Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel Podcast, Colin Wright of Exile Lifestyle joins me to discuss a variety of travel topics, including why he allows strangers to pick which country he will move to every 4 months, how being an idiot abroad is a positive thing, and why he currently has only 70 items to his name.

He also regales us with stories like a 72-hour bus trip through South America with a drunken bus driver, making $100 Skype calls from New Zealand, and much, much more.

Colin is one of the most interesting and fascinating people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, and someone I’ve been personally following for a while now, so I’m super excited to have him on the show.

His passion for travel and life coupled with his unique perspective is something you don’t want to miss, so have yourself a listen!

If you’ve got a question for Colin, please feel free to post it in the comments below or ask him directly on Twitter @ColinIsMyName.

Click Here to Download the Episode

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

  • Why Colin moves to a different country every 4 months (and why he allows readers to pick it)
  • Why there is no perfect moment to start traveling.
  • How international travel helps you appreciate your own country more.
  • The difference between short vacations and traveling slow.
  • Why being the idiot in a foreign country is a good thing.
  • How to maintain relationships when on the road.
  • The benefits of minimalism (and why to bring a deck of cards with you to Thailand).
  • How Colin is able to make a healthy living money while traveling.
  • How the average 9-5’er with two weeks of vacation can make get a more authentic travel experience.
  • The horrors of a 72-hour bus ride in South America with a drunk bus driver.
  • Where to find a great community for aspiring writers.

Links Discussed in this Episode:

I Need Your Help!

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel podcast.

I couldn’t have done it without Colin, so if you liked it, show Colin some love and thank him for taking the time to be on by clicking the link below:

Show Colin Some Love by Clicking Here!

If you haven’t already done so, I would love it if you took one minute (seriously, only one) to leave a quick rating and review of the podcast on iTunes by clicking on the link below!  It is extremely important to help the show grow!

Leave a Rating for Trav’s Podcast

Thanks for all your support, and if you’ve got any comments or suggestions, let me know in the comments below!

Cheers,

Trav

 

The FUNdamentals of Frequent Flyer Miles

Welcome to the 2nd episode of the Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel Podcast!

In this episode, Trav answers some of the most frequently asked questions about frequent flyer miles so that you can start understanding them, earning them and traveling for free.

He also discusses why airline alliances are so important and the awesome power they hold, as well as the two types of award charts and how to maximize each.

If you’re someone who is somewhat or completely new to frequent flyer miles this podcast is tailor-made for you.

It will help cut through all the confusion that you may have and answer some of the more basic questions about frequent flyer miles (and many of the questions that I didn’t know when I first started out).

If you are a veteran, don’t worry, there are also some tips and tricks available for you as well, as I’ll then talk about airline alliances, why they are so great for the consumer, and then discuss which award charts work best when.

In this session you’ll discover:

  • The basic concept of frequent flyer miles.
  • A brief history of frequent flyer miles and how they’ve grown in the last 20 years.
  • Why airlines continue to offer frequent flyer miles.
  • What the term “mile” really means.
  • How an airline alliance works and the three major alliances.
  • The difference between a zone-based and distance-based award chart.
  • The best ways to maximize each type of award chart.

Click here to download EPoP Travel Podcast Episode 2

Items mentioned in this podcast:

I Need Your Help!

A big thanks to everyone who has checked out this episode of the podcast.

If you haven’t already done so, I would love it if you took a minute to leave a quick rating and review of the podcast on iTunes by clicking on the link below!  It is extremely important to help the show grow!

Rate the Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel Podcast

Thanks again for all the support, and if you have an idea for an episode or something you want to see discussed, please leave it in the comments below.

Cheers,

Trav

 

 

Introducing the Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel Podcast

After one year and three months, the time has come for me to expand the reach of Extra Pack of Peanuts and I’m super excited that this will come in the form of a podcast!

Does this mean that I’ll stop writing on the blog?

Of course not!

What it does mean is that now you will have yet another way to get the best travel tips, tricks, frequent flyer news, and travel inspiration that EPoP currently offers.

The podcast will be a supplement for the blog, not a replacement for it.  The material in the podcast will be distinct from what is on the blog, not a rehashing of it.

But I don’t want to talk too much about the structure of the podcast and the reasons behind it because, you guessed it, it is all discussed in the first episode!

For anyone who already knows about podcasts and wants to start listening to it right now, just click on the player at the top of this post or download Episode 1 below.

EPoP 001:  The Story Behind EPoP and Why I’m Starting a Podcast  <— right-click to download

It would also be a huge help if you would rate the podcast on iTunes, as this will really help the show’s growth.

Rate the Extra Pack of Peanuts Podcast on iTunes

If you’re unfamiliar to podcasts, or still have some questions about what they are, keep reading.  I’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions below.

What is a Podcast and Other Questions…Answered!

1.  What the heck is a podcast?

A podcast is just a fancy word for a pre-recorded audio segment that you can listen to at any time, in a variety of ways, such as your computer, iPod, or iPhone.

I record myself talking and discussing various topics, I post it to my blog and to iTunes, and then you listen to it whenever you want.

Another easy way to think of it is that a podcast is to a live concert as a movie is to live tv.  You can choose when to listen to it, you can start and stop it and you have complete control over it.

2.  How can I listen to a podcast?

You can listen to a podcast a variety of ways:

  • Play it through my website- In each post, there will be a media player at the top of the post.  You simply hit play and begin listening.
  • Download it through my website- In each post, there will be a link to download it.  If you click on the link, you can save the file to your computer.  Then, you can listen to it anytime on your computer, even if you aren’t on my site.
  • Download it through iTunes- You can also download it through iTunes, and it is completely free.  To download it directly to your iPod or iPhone, you first have to download the Podcast App.  Then search for the Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel Podcast and hit the “free” button all the way to the right.

It may take up to 2 days for this podcast to be available on iTunes.  I’ll post a link here as soon as it is available.

3.  Is it free?

Yes, it will always be free, no matter how you decide to listen to it.

4.  What does “subscribing to a podcast” mean?

Subscribing to a podcast is a really easy way to get all the new episodes, automatically when they are released.  If you have an iTunes account, you simply sign in, find my podcast, and hit subscribe.

Then, each time a new episode is realized, it will automatically download without you having to remember to do it.

I love the subscribe function because each time I hop in the car, I always have new episodes of my favorite podcasts to listen to, without ever having to give it any thought.

5.  Does rating the Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel Podcast help?

Yes, immensely.  The more good ratings my podcast has, the higher it will rank in iTunes.  The higher it ranks, the more people who will see it when they go to iTunes, which means more listeners.

If you like the podcast and want to help support it, I’d really appreciate it if you rated it on iTunes.  Simply search for the podcast in iTunes, go to “Reviews and Ratings” and either give it a star rating or, if you’re really nice, write a review!

6.  How often will you release a podcast?

I’m planning on releasing a podcast every week or two.  I’m going to let the opinions of the EPoP community help determine how often I do a podcast vs. a written post.

7.  Why does your voice sound so good?

Lots and lots of time spent in a room alone, recording myself speaking nonsense into a microphone.

8.  Why does your voice sound so bad?

Not enough time spent in a room alone, recording myself speaking nonsense into a microphone.

9.  Do you do any other podcasts?

Actually, yes.  I just started a fantasy sports podcast as well, so if you play fantasy baseball, you may enjoy it.  The EveryMan’s Fantasy Podcast can be found here.

10.  If I have any questions about the podcast, where can I find answers?

If I haven’t answered your question above, feel free to email me at Trav at extrapackofpeanuts dot com.  I’d be more than happy to answer them, and then use them in an FAQ at a later date.

Do you currently listen to podcasts?  If so, which ones do you like?  Are you excited to start listening to the EPoP Travel Podcast?

I’d absolutely love your feedback on how I can make the podcast better, so please, leave any comments or suggestions below.

*************

A Tremendously Huge Thank You

I just wanted to thank each and every person who I received emails, Facebook messages, and comments from yesterday’s Boston Marathon post.  I was completely blown away with the amount of support and love I felt from this community.

I had real reservations about posting it, seeing as it’s a little more personal than my normal posts and I didn’t even know if my thoughts made any sense.

I left them almost completely uncensored and unedited, which is hard for someone like me who is such a perfectionist, and so I’m so glad that it was able to help so many of you.

I really, really appreciate all the kind words and the outpouring of compassion and love from the EPoP community.  It is because of this response that I’m going to do something I’ve been thinking a lot about recently but scared to do, and that is to get more personal on my blog.

Of course, you can still expect the normal free travel advice and frequent flyer knowledge, but I want to really start connecting, to build bonds, to make it a community that talks about why we travel, why it’s important, and how it impacts our lives as opposed to just how.

So once again, thank you all so much for taking something I was scared to post and turning it into an incredibly positive experience.  I really, truly appreciate it.

Cheers,

Trav

 

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