Podcasts about laotian mekong

“Quietly use travel to deepen your life, and to build stronger relationships – not only with other cultures, but with your home. Figure out ways to give back.”  –Rolf Potts In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and David talk about how travel allows you to "waste your twenties" in a good way, and how Rolf has come to define "adventure" (2:00); how to plan travels in such a way as to leave room for spontaneity, and how to meet people on the road (8:00); how to communicate in a place where you don't speak the local language, and how to be daring in trying new foods as you travel (15:30); Rolf's travel experiences on the Laotian Mekong, on foot in the Libyan Desert, and by van in North America (25:00); how to balance the desire to see lots of places with the desire to get to know a few places well, and what it means to find "authentic" places (32:30); why slow journeys create richer experiences than hurried ones, and how to honor gestures of hospitality (42:30); how the experience of travel changes as you get older, and why making time is more important in life than making money (48:00). David Martinez is an Associate Professor of Spanish and the director of the Center for Study Abroad at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. Notable Links: The Vagabond's Way, by Rolf Potts (book) Marco Polo Didn't Go There, by Rolf Potts (book) Bosintang (Korean dog-meat soup) Fried spider (Cambodian snack food) Beondegi (Korean silkworm street food) Doritos (American snack food) Snails as food Merengue (Dominican music and dance) Asturian gaita (Spanish bagpipe) One Month on the Mekong, by Rolf Potts (essay) Van Life before #VanLife (Deviate episode) Elderhostel (educational travel for older adults) "The Loss of the Creature," by Walker Percy (essay) Heraclitus (ancient Greek philosopher) Wall Street (1987 movie) Gap year (student sabbatical period) Wanderjahr (journeyman year for tradespeople) China and Mongolia with my parents (Deviate episode) The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel's 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don't host a “comments” section, but we're happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

In this episode, I'm joined by Rolf Potts. Rolf has reported from more than sixty countries for the likes of National Geographic Traveler, Outside, the New York Times Magazine, NPR, and the Travel Channel. His adventures have taken him across six continents, and include adventures such as piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong, hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma, driving a Land Rover across South America and traveling around the world for six weeks with no luggage or bags of any kind.Potts is perhaps best known for promoting the ethic of independent travel, and his newest book, The Vagabond's Way: 366 Meditations on Wanderlust, Discovery, and the Art of Travel, was published this past October of 2022. His bestselling debut book, Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel has been through thirty-seven printings and translated into several languages worldwide.This was personally one of my favorite and most surreal episodes as a host because Rolf's first book Vagabonding was one that shifted my outlook and changed my life for the better.Inside The Episode:Lessons that can only be learned through international travelDebunking the many myths that keep most people from travelingHow travel and adventure brings you into the presentTactics for traveling more with limited time and moneyHow to travel long-term for less than your regular living expensesWhat living with little (or no) belongings teaches you about lifeRolf's favorite, least favorite, and most surprising countriesHow Rolf literally circled the globe without so much as a fanny packThe pros and cons of technology, social media, and smartphones in travelConnect with RolfThe Vagabond's WayVagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World TravelRolf's WebsiteInstagramFacebookTwitterConnect With BradleyBradley's InstagramSupport the show

Rolf Potts has reported from more than sixty countries for the likes of National Geographic Traveler, The New Yorker, Slate.com, Outside, the New York Times Magazine, The Believer, The Guardian (U.K.), Sports Illustrated, National Public Radio, and the Travel Channel. His adventures have taken him across six continents, and include piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong, hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma, driving a Land Rover across South America, and traveling around the world for six weeks with no luggage or bags of any kind.Potts is perhaps best known for promoting the ethic of independent travel, and his newest book, The Vagabond's Way: 366 Meditations on Wanderlust, Discovery, and the Art of Travel, was published by Ballantine Books in October of 2022. His bestselling debut book, Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel (Random House, 2003), has been through thirty-five printings and translated into several languages worldwide. He has also written a cultural history of travel souvenirs for Bloomsbury Academic's Object Lessons series, co-authored a travel-themed comic book, and written a volume about the psychogeography of gangsta rap for Bloomsbury's vaunted “33 1/3” series of music criticism. His collection of literary travel essays, Marco Polo Didn't Go There: Stories and Revelations From One Decade as a Postmodern Travel Writer (Travelers' Tales, 2008), won a Lowell Thomas Award from the Society of American Travel Writers, and became the first American-authored book to win Italy's Chatwin Prize for travel writing.⚡ Connect with Rolf Potts: https://rolfpotts.com/about/bio/ | https://twitter.com/rolfpotts | https://rolfpotts.com/bookssection/books/⚡ Connect with Greg Witz: witzeducation.com | LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | FacebookCheck out  our betterLEADER Program: https://www.witzeducation.coLearn More About Greg Witz and betterHUMAN:Greg's sole mission in life is to challenge all of us to be better. MAKING HUMANS BETTER HUMANS has been at the foundation of Witz Education for over 30 years. As an entrepreneur, thought leader, author, mentor, and father, Greg creatively blends psychology and communication skills with street smarts and a no-BS approach. From startups to the White House, bringing entrepreneurs and business leaders to the top of their game is Greg's passion. His rich understanding of organizational and human development coupled with his own corporate experience allows Greg to effectively and energetically design and deliver tailor-made programs that have transformed thousands of Witz clients' careers and personal lives.Learn more about what Witz Education can do for you at witzeducation.com

Rolf Potts has reported from more than sixty countries for the likes of National Geographic Traveler, The New Yorker, Slate.com, Outside, the New York Times Magazine, The Believer, The Guardian, Sports Illustrated, NPR, and the Travel Channel. His adventures have taken him across six continents, and include piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma, driving a Land Rover across South America, and traveling around the world for six weeks with no luggage or bags of any kind. Potts is perhaps best known for promoting the ethic of independent travel, and his book on the subject, Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel has been through thirty-two printings and translated into several foreign languages. His collection of literary travel essays, Marco Polo Didn't Go There: Stories and Revelations From One Decade as a Postmodern Travel Writer, won a 2009 Lowell Thomas Award from the Society of American Travel Writers, and became the first American-authored book to win Italy's prestigious Chatwin Prize for travel writing. His newest book, Souvenir, was published by Bloomsbury in March of 2018. Rolf's stories have appeared in numerous literary anthologies over the years, and more than twenty of his essays have been selected as “Notable Mention” in The Best American Essays, The Best American Non-Required Reading, and The Best American Travel Writing. His writing for National Geographic Traveler, Slate.com, Lonely Planet, Outside and Travelers' Tales garnered him five Lowell Thomas Awards. He has lectured at venues around the world, including New York University, the University of Lugano, the University of Melbourne, Authors@Google, and the World Affairs Council. He has taught semester-long nonfiction writing courses at Penn and Yale. Though he rarely stays in one place for long, Potts has, over the years, felt somewhat at home in places like Bangkok, Cairo, Pusan, New Orleans, New York, and Paris, where he runs a series of creative writing classes each summer. He is based in north-central Kansas, where he keeps a small farmhouse on 30 acres with his wife, Kansas-born actress Kristen Bush.

Rolf Potts has reported from more than sixty countries for the likes of National Geographic Traveler, The New Yorker, Slate.com, Outside, the New York Times Magazine, The Believer, The Guardian (U.K.), Sports Illustrated, National Public Radio, and the Travel Channel. His adventures have taken him across six continents, and include piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong, hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma, driving a Land Rover across South America, and traveling around the world for six weeks with no luggage or bags of any kind.Today Rolf and I talk about the pros and cons of new age travel. Rolf has very fascinating perspectives from watching how the travel scene has evolved over time. This episode will give you some great ideas on how to stay authentic to your travel experience. Here is where you can find more of Rolf:rolfpotts.comSupport the show!Get your 14 day free trial of Skillshare Premium by using my affiliate link: skillshare.com/IBFSay hello at inspiredbyfirepodcast@gmail.comGo to inspiredbyfire.org for recommended books

Rolf Potts is a legendary travel writer, who’s book Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel has been a classic piece of travel writing for many years.  Rolf’s writing has appeared in National Geographic, The Guardian, Outside, The New Yorker, and Sports Illustrated.  Potts has been part of creative writing workshops and/or taught classes at places like Paris American University, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University. In addition to travel writing and his Vagabonding success, Rolf Potts’ adventures have taken him across six continents, and include piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong, hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma, driving a Land Rover across South America, and traveling around the world for six weeks with no luggage or bags of any kind. Potts is also the author of Marco Polo Didn't Go There: Stories and Revelations From One Decade as a Postmodern Travel Writer and the new edition of Vagabonding includes a foreword from Tim Ferriss.  Most recently Rolf has launched his own podcast called “Deviate”. Rolf leaves the listeners with some final advice encouraging them to travel and reminding them that its not as difficult or as dangerous as they might think. In this episode of The Millennial Travel Podcast we discuss:  What does it mean to be “time rich” versus most people travel in such a hurry?  Rolf Potts explains how he taught English in Korea What does Rolf Potts think about the digital nomad movement? Why do people want to go back in time for nostalgic reasons when they travel?  A quick story of when Rolf Potts got lost getting off the beaten path. How people can cut the cord on their smartphone while traveling. How can people truly disconnect, so they don’t get burned out?  How to make your “vacation your vocation”. What can we learn from the “slow food movement” or “slow travel movement”?  How can people afford to travel more often and travel for longer? Travel to cheaper places He lives in Kansas because of the low cost of living, so he can afford to travel more often    What is Rolf Potts’ life like in Kansas and what does he appreciate about it?  Rolf is from Kansas and learned to appreciate what he has at home. How does an old school traveler like Rolf Potts feel about Instagram culture in travel? The Millennial Travel Podcast Rapid Fire Questions:  If Rolf Potts could go to one bar tomorrow what would it be?  McGlinchey’s in Philadelphia or a Korean soju tent If Rolf Potts could take six months to travel anywhere where would he go?  The United States because it’s such a large, diverse country What is Rolf Potts favorite US National Park?  Olympic National Park in Washington Rolf Potts favorite piece of travel gear?  You don’t need any luggage to have a good time, so he said good shoes or a smartphone.  Resources:  Rolf Potts’ best seller: Vagabonding Rolf Potts’ book Marco Polo Didn't Go There: Stories and Revelations from One Decade as a Postmodern Travel Writer (Travelers' Tales Guides) Rolf Potts’ book Souvenir (Object Lessons) Rolf Potts podcast Deviate @RolfPotts on Instagram @RolfPotts on Twitter His website rolfpotts.com  Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Soundcloud, or Spotify. You can find all the links and past show notes on millennialtravelpodcast.com Direct support for The Millennial Travel Podcast comes from The Millennial Travel Guidebook: Escape More, Spend Less, & Make Travel a Priority in Your Life... and from our new USA hiking and camping trips at Under30Experiences!

Rolf Potts is a legendary travel writer, who’s book Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel has been a classic piece of travel writing for many years.  Rolf’s writing has appeared in National Geographic, The Guardian, Outside, The New Yorker, and Sports Illustrated.  Potts has been part of creative writing workshops and/or taught classes at places like Paris American University, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University. In addition to travel writing and his Vagabonding success, Rolf Potts’ adventures have taken him across six continents, and include piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong, hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma, driving a Land Rover across South America, and traveling around the world for six weeks with no luggage or bags of any kind. Potts is also the author of Marco Polo Didn't Go There: Stories and Revelations From One Decade as a Postmodern Travel Writer and the new edition of Vagabonding includes a foreword from Tim Ferriss.  Most recently Rolf has launched his own podcast called “Deviate”. Rolf leaves the listeners with some final advice encouraging them to travel and reminding them that its not as difficult or as dangerous as they might think. In this episode of The Millennial Travel Podcast we discuss:  What does it mean to be “time rich” versus most people travel in such a hurry?  Rolf Potts explains how he taught English in Korea What does Rolf Potts think about the digital nomad movement? Why do people want to go back in time for nostalgic reasons when they travel?  A quick story of when Rolf Potts got lost getting off the beaten path. How people can cut the cord on their smartphone while traveling. How can people truly disconnect, so they don’t get burned out?  How to make your “vacation your vocation”. What can we learn from the “slow food movement” or “slow travel movement”?  How can people afford to travel more often and travel for longer? Travel to cheaper places He lives in Kansas because of the low cost of living, so he can afford to travel more often    What is Rolf Potts’ life like in Kansas and what does he appreciate about it?  Rolf is from Kansas and learned to appreciate what he has at home. How does an old school traveler like Rolf Potts feel about Instagram culture in travel? The Millennial Travel Podcast Rapid Fire Questions:  If Rolf Potts could go to one bar tomorrow what would it be?  McGlinchey’s in Philadelphia or a Korean soju tent If Rolf Potts could take six months to travel anywhere where would he go?  The United States because it’s such a large, diverse country What is Rolf Potts favorite US National Park?  Olympic National Park in Washington Rolf Potts favorite piece of travel gear?  You don’t need any luggage to have a good time, so he said good shoes or a smartphone.  Resources:  Rolf Potts’ best seller: Vagabonding Rolf Potts’ book Marco Polo Didn't Go There: Stories and Revelations from One Decade as a Postmodern Travel Writer (Travelers' Tales Guides) Rolf Potts’ book Souvenir (Object Lessons) Rolf Potts podcast Deviate @RolfPotts on Instagram @RolfPotts on Twitter His website rolfpotts.com  Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Soundcloud, or Spotify. You can find all the links and past show notes on millennialtravelpodcast.com Direct support for The Millennial Travel Podcast comes from The Millennial Travel Guidebook: Escape More, Spend Less, & Make Travel a Priority in Your Life... and from our new USA hiking and camping trips at Under30Experiences!

Rolf Potts’ adventures have taken him across six continents, and include piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong, hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma, driving a Land Rover across South America, and traveling around the world for six weeks with no luggage or bags of any kind. Rolf is perhaps best known for promoting the ethic of independent travel, and his book on the subject, Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel, which has been through thirty-two printings and translated into several foreign languages. Inside the Episode: (5:14): Elliot introduces Rolf and we jump right into his book, Vagabonding.  (8:41): Rolf describes his book, Vagabonding and how its popularity took hold as tech advancements allowed for better online working experiences. As a result, the term “Digital Nomad” became a philosophical ideology and a benchmark for success for travel enthusiasts around the world. Thanks Rolf. Who here is guilty of the “checklist mentality” while traveling? It is SO easy to want to run from one landmark to the next the second you step down in a brand new city. But as Rolf explains, sometimes, the things that you may feel are holding you up, or slowing you down can actually be more authentic to your experience than any landmark. The lesson here is: Be Present. Enjoy each moment. Take in the city through a cab window if you’re stuck in traffic. Enjoy the conversation if your waiter is taking longer than expected to bring the check. Or just throw out your plans and travel spontaneously all together - we won't judge.  (30:10): Are you a “Checklist Traveler”, a “Vagabond”, or somewhere in between? On the podcast with Rolf we discussed the variation in travel styles. From itinerary driven vacationers to spontaneous budget backpackers - there seems to be just as many travel preferences as there are people packed into the Vatican in July. So which travel preference reigns supreme?! Listen to find out :) (30:34): Rolf has spoken! We (Americans) can still be partial-Vagabonds with our depressingly few vacation days. It’s all about perspective and how you manage your experience. You may not be backpacking for 6 months through Europe, but you can still see the world through the eyes of a true Vagabond if you so choose. Vagabonding does not give you a moral high ground, so don’t be a hater. That person infatuated with the Great Wall of China, or the over touristy Champ De Mars could have spent years planning and saving for that experience. To them, it’s profound. Just as profound as your backroad Tanzanian trip, your multi-day trek through Peru, or the time you woke up in bed with a random Indian man in Thailand (no, just us?). Point is: “Don’t be a dick.” (34:55): “It just doesn’t cost that much to travel and have amazing experiences” - Rolf Potts, on The Travelers Blueprint Podcast. When he broke it down, it made so much sense. Say you buy 1 cup of coffee per day for a year from Dunkin for $2 a cup. The $730 you spent could get you about 2,284 meals in Thailand. Your money can go SOOO far in other countries. The experiences will be priceless. Moral of the story: Save your money and travel the world. (47:42): Rolf makes a great point that it’s ok to miss things. If you're traveling slow, you can always come back and experience what you didn’t the first time. “You’ve given yourself a gift for the future” (55:19): Material possessions just don’t provide us with the same satisfaction that experiences do. Don’t believe me? Think about what makes you happiest. What are your happiest memories? Chances are, your happiest moments involve a loved one. They involve a place in time with that loved one. They rarely involve the unboxing of a new flat screen TV or shaking hands with a car salesman. (1:06:00) The Rapid Fire Round!!  Learn More About Our Guest: (https://rolfpotts.com/) (https://rolfpotts.com/deviate/)... Support this podcast

About This Episode: Rolf Potts has reported from more than sixty countries for the likes of National Geographic Traveler, The New Yorker, Slate.com, Outside, the New York Times Magazine, The Believer, The Guardian (U.K.), Sports Illustrated, National Public Radio, and the Travel Channel. His adventures have taken him across six continents, and include piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong, hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma, driving a Land Rover across South America, and traveling around the world for six weeks with no luggage or bags of any kind. Potts is perhaps best known for promoting the ethic of independent travel, and his book on the subject, Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel (Random House, 2003), has been through twenty-six printings and translated into several foreign languages.   Find out more about Rolf at: Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel Rolf's Website   See the Show Notes: www.jeremyryanslate.com/637 Sponsors: Command Your Brand Media: Be featured as a guest on top-rated podcasts, just like this one, for massive attention for your brand. www.commandyourbrand.media/apply  Audible: Get a free 30 day free trial and 1 free audiobook from thousands of available books. Right now I'm reading "The Closer," about legendary NYY Closer Mariano Rivera, head over to www.jeremyryanslate.com/book 

About This Episode: Rolf Potts has reported from more than sixty countries for the likes of National Geographic Traveler, The New Yorker, Slate.com, Outside, the New York Times Magazine, The Believer, The Guardian (U.K.), Sports Illustrated, National Public Radio, and the Travel Channel. His adventures have taken him across six continents, and include piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong, hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma, driving a Land Rover across South America, and traveling around the world for six weeks with no luggage or bags of any kind. Potts is perhaps best known for promoting the ethic of independent travel, and his book on the subject, Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel (Random House, 2003), has been through twenty-six printings and translated into several foreign languages.   Find out more about Rolf at: Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel Rolf's Website   See the Show Notes: www.jeremyryanslate.com/637 Sponsors: Command Your Brand Media: Be featured as a guest on top-rated podcasts, just like this one, for massive attention for your brand. www.commandyourbrand.media/apply  Audible: Get a free 30 day free trial and 1 free audiobook from thousands of available books. Right now I'm reading "The Closer," about legendary NYY Closer Mariano Rivera, head over to www.jeremyryanslate.com/book 

Rolf Potts is the author of two books, Vagabonding and Marco Polo Didn’t Go There. He has reported from more than sixty countries for the likes of National Geographic Traveler, The New Yorker, Slate.com, the New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, The Believer, National Public Radio, and the Travel Channel. His adventures have taken him across six continents, and include piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong, hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma, driving a Land Rover across South America, and traveling around the world for six weeks with no luggage or bags of any kind. Favorite Success Quote “From this hour I ordain myself loos’d of limits and imaginary lines, Going where I list, my own master total and absolute, Listening to others, considering well what they say, Pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating, Gently,but with undeniable will, divesting myself of the holds that would hold me.” ~Walt Whitman The Song of the Open Road Key Points 1. Throw off Societal Constraints Today, especially in Western culture, we are indoctrinated from birth with a long and painful list of ‘shoulds’ and ‘musts’. We all “should” go to college, get good grades, get a job, and then work for forty years before we allow ourselves to travel and explore. We all “must” live life for the weekends and do a corporate job with a steady paycheck. Or else…. Or else what? If you want to live a rich, interesting, and fulfilling life, then you need to reexamine many of the constraints that society has put upon you and your dreams. If you want to travel do it. If you want to start a business, then do it. If you want to work a corporate job and get the white picket fence life, there is no shame in that. IF that is truly what you want. But if you are putting off your dreams and desires because you don’t think friends, family, or society would approve, then it’s time to wake up and realize that you only get one shot at this life. You need to live it to the fullest. 2. Pause, Search and Receive That said, do not throw away the wisdom of the generations that came before you. Just because they came from a different time with different technological capabilities and lifestyle opportunities does not mean that you should ignore advice from those more seasoned than you. Before you act, pause. Think about what you are doing and the ramifications from a realistic standpoint. Then search. Search for the best way that you can proceed and and develop a plan of action. And finally receive. Receive the advice, criticisms, and input from others and filter through and apply it accordingly. 3. Travel is Much Easier, Cheaper, and Safer than You  Think Many people believe that travel is too difficult, expensive, or dangerous. But the simple fact is, if you do it right, there has never been a time in human history where travel was easier, cheaper, or safer. You can fly across the world for less than $1,000. If you have savings or some form of location independent income, you can live like a king in many other countries for pennies on the dollar. And if you keep your head on you and use common sense, most of the dangers can be avoided by living like a local and staying far away from the touristy areas. 5. Time is Your Most Important Currency You can always earn more money, but your time is an ever draining and finite resource with an unknown limit. You could die today, tomorrow, or 20 years from now and you have no way of knowing. People treat time like it is a cheap commodity instead of a precious resource. You will never get a single second of your life back, it is time to start living accordingly. Go after the things you want, take the year long trip of self discovery, talk to the girl, forgive the person that hurt you. Stop acting like you will live forever, because the tragic truth is this. You won’t. No one will. 4. Minimalism Makes Life Easier   Getting rid of your crap opens up your schedule and your life to new and incredible opportunities that are otherwise unavailable when you are constantly caught up in and worried about all of your “stuff.” While this might be hard to understand, especially if you come from a hyper-materialistic society, minimalizing your life can be one of the best things you can do. Sell or donate the things you don’t use and see what sort of adventures you get into when you can keep all of your possessions in one suitcase. Or better yet, do what Rolf did and travel without a suitcase!

Rolf Potts is the author of two books, Vagabonding and Marco Polo Didn't Go There. He has reported from more than sixty countries for the likes of National Geographic Traveler, The New Yorker, Slate.com, the New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, The Believer, National Public Radio, and the Travel Channel. His adventures have taken him across six continents, and include piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong, hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma, driving a Land Rover across South America, and traveling around the world for six weeks with no luggage or bags of any kind. Favorite Success Quote “From this hour I ordain myself loos'd of limits and imaginary lines, Going where I list, my own master total and absolute, Listening to others, considering well what they say, Pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating, Gently,but with undeniable will, divesting myself of the holds that would hold me.” ~Walt Whitman The Song of the Open Road Key Points 1. Throw off Societal Constraints Today, especially in Western culture, we are indoctrinated from birth with a long and painful list of ‘shoulds' and ‘musts'. We all “should” go to college, get good grades, get a job, and then work for forty years before we allow ourselves to travel and explore. We all “must” live life for the weekends and do a corporate job with a steady paycheck. Or else…. Or else what? If you want to live a rich, interesting, and fulfilling life, then you need to reexamine many of the constraints that society has put upon you and your dreams. If you want to travel do it. If you want to start a business, then do it. If you want to work a corporate job and get the white picket fence life, there is no shame in that. IF that is truly what you want. But if you are putting off your dreams and desires because you don't think friends, family, or society would approve, then it's time to wake up and realize that you only get one shot at this life. You need to live it to the fullest. 2. Pause, Search and Receive That said, do not throw away the wisdom of the generations that came before you. Just because they came from a different time with different technological capabilities and lifestyle opportunities does not mean that you should ignore advice from those more seasoned than you. Before you act, pause. Think about what you are doing and the ramifications from a realistic standpoint. Then search. Search for the best way that you can proceed and and develop a plan of action. And finally receive. Receive the advice, criticisms, and input from others and filter through and apply it accordingly. 3. Travel is Much Easier, Cheaper, and Safer than You  Think Many people believe that travel is too difficult, expensive, or dangerous. But the simple fact is, if you do it right, there has never been a time in human history where travel was easier, cheaper, or safer. You can fly across the world for less than $1,000. If you have savings or some form of location independent income, you can live like a king in many other countries for pennies on the dollar. And if you keep your head on you and use common sense, most of the dangers can be avoided by living like a local and staying far away from the touristy areas. 4. Time is Your Most Important Currency You can always earn more money, but your time is an ever draining and finite resource with an unknown limit. You could die today, tomorrow, or 20 years from now and you have no way of knowing. People treat time like it is a cheap commodity instead of a precious resource. You will never get a single second of your life back, it is time to start living accordingly. Go after the things you want, take the year long trip of self discovery, talk to the girl, forgive the person that hurt you. Stop acting like you will live forever, because the tragic truth is this. You won't. No one will. 5. Minimalism Makes Life Easier   Getting rid of your stuff opens up your schedule and your life to new and incredible opportunities that are otherwise unavailable when you are constantly caught up in and worried about all of your “stuff.” While this might be hard to understand, especially if you come from a hyper-materialistic society, minimalizing your life can be one of the best things you can do. Sell or donate the things you don't use and see what sort of adventures you get into when you can keep all of your possessions in one suitcase. Or better yet, do what Rolf did and travel without a suitcase!

Rolf Potts is a travel writer, essayist, adventurer and teacher. I discovered Rolf Potts from listening to Tim Ferris. Rolf's book, Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to The Art of Long-Term World Travel is attributed by Ferris as the basis for his stick-it-to-the man 4-Hour Workweek. I sat down with Rolf Potts over Skype from our Joy Bus to learn from him about learning to live curiously. Potts calls rural Salina, KS home after having his pick of equitably frugal options abroad. His Mid-West roots pulled him back to be near family and friends. Key insights from Rolf Reframing your thinking enables you to power jettisons from real life to discover long-term world travel. If you wait until society tells you to go, you never will. We forget how easy it is to give to ourselves. Insulating yourself from discomfort limits our travel adventures. How to build a Time-Wealth philosophy to create enough time to experience the travels you dream about. GO. GO. GO. Stop waiting. About Rolf Potts Rolf Potts has reported from more than sixty countries for the likes of National Geographic Traveler, The New Yorker, Slate.com, Outside, the New York Times Magazine, The Believer, The Guardian (U.K.), Sports Illustrated, National Public Radio, and the Travel Channel. His adventures have taken him across six continents, and include piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong, hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma, driving a Land Rover across South America, and traveling around the world for six weeks with no luggage or bags of any kind.

Rolf Potts is a travel writer, essayist, adventurer and teacher. I discovered Rolf Potts from listening to Tim Ferris. Rolf's book, Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to The Art of Long-Term World Travel is attributed by Ferris as the basis for his stick-it-to-the man 4-Hour Workweek. I sat down with Rolf Potts over Skype from our Joy Bus to learn from him about learning to live curiously. Potts calls rural Salina, KS home after having his pick of equitably frugal options abroad. His Mid-West roots pulled him back to be near family and friends. Key insights from Rolf Reframing your thinking enables you to power jettisons from real life to discover long-term world travel. If you wait until society tells you to go, you never will. We forget how easy it is to give to ourselves. Insulating yourself from discomfort limits our travel adventures. How to build a Time-Wealth philosophy to create enough time to experience the travels you dream about. GO. GO. GO. Stop waiting. About Rolf Potts Rolf Potts has reported from more than sixty countries for the likes of National Geographic Traveler, The New Yorker, Slate.com, Outside, the New York Times Magazine, The Believer, The Guardian (U.K.), Sports Illustrated, National Public Radio, and the Travel Channel. His adventures have taken him across six continents, and include piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong, hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma, driving a Land Rover across South America, and traveling around the world for six weeks with no luggage or bags of any kind.

Rolf Potts has reported from more than sixty countries for the likes of National Geographic Traveler, The New Yorker, Slate.com, Outside, the New York Times Magazine, The Believer, The Guardian (U.K.), Sports Illustrated, National Public Radio, and the Travel Channel. His adventures have taken him across six continents, and include piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong, hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma, driving a Land Rover across South America, and traveling around the world for six weeks with no luggage or bags of any kind. Potts is perhaps best known for promoting the ethic of independent travel, and his book on the subject, Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel (Random House, 2003), has been through twenty-six printings and translated into several foreign languages.

Rolf Potts has reported from more than sixty countries for the likes of National Geographic Traveler, The New Yorker, Slate.com, Outside, the New York Times Magazine, The Believer, The Guardian (U.K.), Sports Illustrated, National Public Radio, and the Travel Channel. His adventures have taken him across six continents, and include piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong, hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma, driving a Land Rover across South America, and traveling around the world for six weeks with no luggage or bags of any kind. Potts is perhaps best known for promoting the ethic of independent travel, and his book on the subject, Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel (Random House, 2003), has been through twenty-six printings and translated into several foreign languages.

If you've ever wanted to travel the world, but thought to yourself, if only I had the money, the time or I'd love to do that someday when I retire, then do we have the show for you! Today we'll be talking with Rolf Potts, veteran travel writer, for the likes of Salon.com and world hum, and best-selling author of Vagabonding: and Marco Polo Didn't Go There. His adventures have taken him across six continents, and include piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong, hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma, driving a Land Rover across South America, and traveling around the world for six weeks with no luggage or bags of any kind. Today we're going to talk about working to live, instead of living to work, and about taking our own life adventure, or what I call Vagabonding 101. I want to know how we can all get into it, what's the simplest way to start, and if we really need to wait till we have that nest egg, or are retired to be able to afford to travel around the world! That, and perhaps find out about Tantric Sex and taking or not taking donkey's through the desert. Inspiration | Motivation | Travel | Self-Help | Spirituality | Mindfulness | Adventure | Vacation | Inspirational | Motivational | Uplifting | Business | Career | Sabbatical