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“Sometimes it's good to sit still and let a place move through you instead of you moving through a place.” –Rolf Potts In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and The Vagabond's Way book club participants discuss how one can be vulnerable to new experiences on the road instead of micromanaging an itinerary (2:00); how monuments to mortality help us think of travel moments in an existential way (11:30); how we can take the mindset of travel back home with us when the journey is over, and how the experience of travel changes as you age (20:00); the role of ritual and ceremony in slow travel, and the simple things we have in common with our host cultures (30:00). Discussion moderator Luke Richardson is a traveler, author, and DJ based in England. Notable Links: Rolf's online book club signup The Vagabond's Way, by Rolf Potts (book) The Cotswolds (region in central-southwest England) Lake Maninjau (caldera lake in West Sumatra, Indonesia) Rendille people (Cushitic-speaking ethnic group in northern Kenya) Locals often perform a distilled version of their culture (Kenya dispatch) Père Lachaise Cemetery (largest cemetery in Paris) Frédéric Chopin (19th century Polish composer and pianist) The Catacombs (underground ossuaries in Paris) Mount Kenya (second-highest peak in Africa) What we hope to see in places can be at odds with reality (Mentawai dispatch) Long-distance hiking at home (Deviate episode) Isiah Pacheco (Kansas City Chiefs running back from Rutgers) Patrick Leigh Fermor (English traveler and writer) Richard Rohr (American Franciscan priest and writer) Marco Polo Didn't Go There, by Rolf Potts (travel book) Paris Writing Workshops (Rolf's creative writing classes) China and Mongolia with my parents (Deviate episode) Lets Drift (Kenyan hiking club based out of Nairobi) 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.
“One way of making famous landmarks more comprehensible is to look for surprises, good and bad, that go beyond what you are expected to encounter there, details that open you up to the raw imperfections of the encounter itself.” –Rolf Potts In this episode of Deviate – which is a redo of episode 229, which didn't air properly due to technical problems – Rolf and The Vagabond's Way book club participants discuss how to break out of standard tourist routines and see places in unexpected way (1:30); how to get beyond the transactional, "taxi drivers and bartenders" layer of travel (10:00); how to become more independent of technology and smartphones as a traveler and find the "wisdom of place" (16:00); and the travel photos Rolf wishes he had taken when vagabonding 20 years ago (23:00). Discussion moderator Luke Richardson is a traveler, author, and DJ based in England. Notable Links: Rolf's online book club signup The Vagabond's Way, by Rolf Potts (book) Kalash people (tribe in Pakistan) Up Cambodia without a phrasebook, by Rolf Potts (essay) Henry Rollins Travel Slideshow (spoken-word tour) White Zombie's J. Yuenger on long-term travel (Deviate episode) Before Sunrise (1995 film directed by Richard Linklater) Paris Writing Workshops (Rolf's creative writing classes) 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.
“One way of making famous landmarks more comprehensible is to look for surprises, good and bad, that go beyond what you are expected to encounter there, details that open you up to the raw imperfections of the encounter itself.” –Rolf Potts In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and The Vagabond's Way book club participants discuss how to break out of standard tourist routines and see places in unexpected way (1:30); how to get beyond the transactional, "taxi drivers and bartenders" layer of travel (10:00); how to become more independent of technology and smartphones as a traveler and find the "wisdom of place" (16:00); and the travel photos Rolf wishes he had taken when vagabonding 20 years ago (23:00). Discussion moderator Luke Richardson is a traveler, author, and DJ based in England. Notable Links: Rolf's online book club signup The Vagabond's Way, by Rolf Potts (book) Kalash people (tribe in Pakistan) Up Cambodia without a phrasebook, by Rolf Potts (essay) Henry Rollins Travel Slideshow (spoken-word tour) White Zombie's J. Yuenger on long-term travel (Deviate episode) Before Sunrise (1995 film directed by Richard Linklater) Paris Writing Workshops (Rolf's creative writing classes) 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.
“One ironic anxiety of travel is that suddenly you're living in 'organic time' and you're not used to it.” –Rolf Potts In this "vagabonding audio companion" episode of Deviate, remixed from Aaron Millar's Armchair Explorer podcast, Rolf talks about his earliest travel dreams, and what compelled him to finally take a vagabonding dream trip around North America by van in his early twenties (2:00); how travel expectations and planning are often at odds with the joy of what happens spontaneously on the road (8:30); the delightful surprises Rolf found on a recent trip to Sumatra and the Mentawai Islands (11:30); Rolf's experiences in Myanmar, and the importance of seeing time, rather than possessions, as our most important form of wealth in life (22:00); Rolf's early experiences in Southeast Asia, and his monthlong boat journey down the Mekong River (31:00); and how, at its best, travel teaches us to pay attention to life itself (35:00). The Armchair Explorer podcast features adventure storytelling set to music and cinematic effects. Notable Links: Vagabonding, by Rolf Potts (book) The Vagabond's Way, by Rolf Potts (book) Souvenir, by Rolf Potts (book) Van Life before #VanLife (Deviate episode) Uinta Mountains (mountain range in Utah) Mardi Gras (annual celebration in New Orleans) Sumatra (island in Indonesia) "Travel in Sumatra is cheap and amazing" (dispatch) "Seeking crowds is better than crowd-sourcing" (dispatch) Mentawai Islands (archipelago in Indonesia) "Boredom is one of the greatest gifts of travel" (dispatch) Hornbill (tropical bird) Bessie Stringfield (20 century American motorcycle traveler) Bagan (UNESCO World Heritage Site in Myanmar) Mekong (river in Southeast Asia) "One Month on the Mekong," by Rolf Potts (travel essay) Henry David Thoreau (American essayist and philosopher) 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.
“We live in an age where you can take a series short flights inside a country to speed things up. You end up going to more places, but you experience less, because you're not really committed to that chicken bus full of really interesting people who want nothing more than to interact with you.” –Rolf Potts In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and The Vagabond's Way book club participants discuss the idiosyncrasies of crossing land borders and traveling overland (1:30); travelers' tendency to take dishonest photos of places, and how tourist destinations bend to tourists' expectations (8:00); the small inconveniences that keep travel interesting, even as we try to avoid them, and the idiosyncrasies of haggling overseas (14:00); how food can be a window into cultures and places for travelers (19:00); common scams that travelers encounter on the road (26:00); and the process of how Rolf assembled the meditations in The Vagabond's Way, and the concept of "walking until your day becomes interesting" (30:00). Discussion moderator Luke Richardson is a traveler, author, and DJ based in England. Notable Links: Rolf's Vagabond's Way online book club signup The Vagabond's Way, by Rolf Potts (book) YouCam Perfect (AI person-remover app) Kenny G (American smooth jazz saxophonist) Applebee's (American restaurant chain) Mentawai Islands (archipelago in Indonesia) Brent Nelson sandwich (bar food in Lindsborg, Kansas) Turkish Knockout, by Rolf Potts (travel essay) Camille Dungy (poet and writer) 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 alien parts, we speak more simply, unencumbered by the histories that we carry around at home, and look more excitedly, with eyes of wonder.” —Pico Iyer In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and The Vagabond's Way book club participants discuss how he prepares for the book-club sessions (1:30); how the first days of one's journeys have an optimistic energy and excitement, and how "culture shock" is a real thing (4:00); how travel can put us into a childlike mental state, and how travel expectations can lead to unfair disappointments (13:00); how food, even anomalous food, tells specific stories about places, and Rolf's strategy for keeping a travel journal (21:30); how the "beaten path" is beaten for good reasons, but straying from it yields serendipitous rewards (31:00); and simple strategies for staying safe and dealing with burnout on the road (42:00). Discussion moderator Luke Richardson is a traveler, author, and DJ based in England. Notable Links: Rolf's online book club signup The Vagabond's Way, by Rolf Potts (book) Vagabonding, by Rolf Potts (book) Egeria (ancient Galician nun and pilgrim) Faroe Islands (North Atlantic archipelago) Culture shock (cross-cultural anxiety) Expatriate life in Korea (Deviate episode) Rick Steves (travel writer and TV host) Mary Oliver (American poet) Beginner's Mind (spiritual attitude of openness) Whittier (city in southern California) Nottingham (city in England) Hippie trail (overland Asia route in 1960s and '70s) Pulp Fiction (1994 Quentin Tarantino) H Mart (Korean supermarket chain) Lavinia Spalding on travel journaling (Deviate episode) Patrick Leigh Fermor (English travel writer and scholar) Commonplace book (compendium of learning) The Daily Stoic, by Ryan Holiday (book) On Trails, by Robert Moor (book) China and Mongolia with my parents (Deviate episode) České Budějovice (city in the Czech Republic) Ranong (town in Thailand) 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.
"We do not just keep and collect things. We trouble ourselves to repurpose, create, and invent things just to carry, a little easier, those stories we cannot live without." —Kendra Greene In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks to the directors of two very different museums -- Dawn Hammat of the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home in Abilene, Kansas, and Greg Long of Long's Collectible Showplace & Gift Shop in Salina, Kansas (0:00); what people are drawn to in a given museum, and how a kind of nostalgia drives what people look for there (5:30); the ways all museums change and adapt over time, and how museums can surprise their visitors (12:00). Notable Links: Dwight Eisenhower (34th president of the United States) Mamie Eisenhower (first lady of the US from 1953-61) Barbie (fashion doll) Hot Wheels (brand of toy car) The Vagabond's Way, by Rolf Potts (book) Ozzy Osbourne (rock singer) Wonder cabinets (early versions of museums) British Museum (national museum in London) Beanie babies (line of stuffed toys) Pez (brand of candy dispenser) Paint by numbers (popular painting kits) Nelson Rockefeller (businessman and politician) Ethel Merman (20th century actress and singer) World's Largest Belt Buckle (attraction in Kansas) Greyhound Hall of Fame (museum in Kansas) Chisholm trail (19th century cattle-driving trail) 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.
“Nothing against bucket lists, but sometimes that interest that makes you weird and nerdy at home is going to make you vulnerable to all the weird nerdy people in some distant new place who are also interested in that thing.” —Rolf Potts In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and The Vagabond's Way book club participants discuss what compels us to be interested in certain places, and how Rolf's latest book is designed to be read over the course of a year (2:00); how nomads can create consistency and community in new places, and how to find good cities for families in Italy and the Balkans (4:45); how to find places to stay in places where last-minute reservations are hard to come by (8:30); how to choose where to go on a given vagabonding journey (13:00); how having a mission can give focus to your travels (17:45); and how guidebooks can still be a useful travel tool (21:10). Discussion moderator Luke Richardson is a traveler, author, and DJ based in England. Notable Links: The Vagabond's Way, by Rolf Potts (book) Paris Writing Workshops (Rolf's class in France) Nottingham (city in England) Fudge Tunnel (sludge-rock band from Nottingham) Amalfi Coast (destination in Italy) CouchSurfing (homestay service) Hitching for pastries (Deviate episode) Kevin Kelly on Deviate Storming 'The Beach,' by Rolf Potts (essay) Marco Polo Didn't Go There, by Rolf Potts (book) Faroe Islands (Bradt Travel Guide) The Land of Maybe, by Tim Ecott (travel memoir) 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.
Rolf Potts is the author of one of the all time great travel books, Vagabonding, as well as his latest creation, The Vagabond's Way, alongside a variety of other travel books and articles, as well as his podcast, Deviate. As one of the world's best known nomads, Rolf stops by today to share his perspectives on the past, present, and future of global mobility, and long the way we touch on subjects ranging from digital nomad visas, to the best walking cities in the world, and visa hopping through Asia. Follow Rolf's work at http://rolfpotts.com/ and https://pariswritingworkshops.com/. On Twitter https://twitter.com/rolfpotts, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rolfpotts/ and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rolf.potts. Listen to the The Maverick Show here www.TheMaverickShow.com This episode is brought to you by Greenback Tax, the #1 company in the world for US expat taxes, and the team I've trusted with my taxes since 2015. If you're an American living abroad or planning to spend significant time outside the US, you need to talk to Greenback! Easy, affordable, and experienced in the specific niche of US expat taxes. Learn more here https://bit.ly/3CKUYkz This episode is brought to you by MakeMyMove.com, the #1 place in the world to find more information about the communities vying for remote workers to make the move to their town! If you're enjoying the podcast, please consider taking 2 minutes to leave a short review at: RateThisPodcast.com/aboutabroad Sign up for our monthly newsletter at: aboutabroad.com/newsletter
"Success is often about finding just enough material wealth to fund the life that makes you happy." —Rolf Potts In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and The Nomadic Network book club participants discuss how travel can intensify the attention you pay to life at home (2:30); how the best discoveries of travel can't be planned, and how you can give yourself permission to travel at all ages in life (10:30); how travel can give you perspective on the notion of "success" (22:00); what various book club participants have learned from (and discovered on) their travels (34:00); and the details of Rolf's annual Travel Memoir writing class in Paris (41:00). Notable Links: The Nomadic Network book club (online events with Rolf) Marco Polo Didn't Go There book club (Deviate episode) The Vagabond's Way, by Rolf Potts (book) Rolf's 2022 appearance on the Tim Ferriss Show (podcast) On Kawara (Japanese conceptual artist) Mallory Square (waterfront plaza in Key West) Oia (village on the Greek island of Santorini) Tony Perrottet on Deviate (podcast episode) Real on the Road (David Hunter Bishop travel blog) Rolf traveling with Sudanese in Syria (blog dispatch) Sei Shōnagon (10th century Japanese author) John Muir (American naturalist and author) Gobi Desert (arid region in East Asia) Van life before #VanLife (Deviate episode) Søren Kierkegaard (Danish philosopher) Bennifer (high-profile celebrity relationship) Paris Writing Workshop (Rolf's summer writing classes) 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.
“Travel has become a way to remind myself how it feels to get lost, and then get unlost. It is a way to remember the discomfort of uncertainty and the unfamiliar. It's an exercise in receiving the unexpected.” –Kristin Van Tassel In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Kristin discuss being in DC, living in Kansas, and Kristin's family trip to Mexico using migrant-economy buses (1:30); how seeking international restaurants and grocery stores at home can be a window into distant cultures (8:00); Kristin's motivation to learn Spanish in middle age, and how it connects to her perspective as a teacher (16:00); Kristin's harrowing experience of getting lost on a run in Nairobi in 1990, and how getting lost in a place is a way of experiencing it in a deeper way (20:30); how Kristin experienced the country and culture of Moldova through soups and salads while being hosted there by a former student (34:30); and how to stay open to being lost without compromising yourself, and embrace unfamiliar languages as a traveler and learner (41:00). Kristin Van Tassel teaches writing and American literature at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. She writes essays and poetry about place, teaching, motherhood, and travel. Notable Links: National Portrait Gallery (art museum in Washington, DC) Lindsborg (Swedish-American town in Kansas) Long-distance hiking at home (Deviate episode) Guanajuato (city in Mexico) Zacatecas (state in Mexico) Meeting Sudanese refugees in Syria (dispatch by Rolf Potts) Hmong people (ethnic group in Southeast Asia) Salina (small city in Kansas) Kimchi (Korean side-dish) "Swamp Creatures," by Kristin Van Tassel (essay) "Swallowing Fear in San Miguel de Allende" (essay) Hangul (Korean writing system) Punta del Diablo (beach village in Uruguay) Nairobi (capital city of Kenya) Rolf's 2010 no-baggage round-the-world journey The Vagabond's Way, by Rolf Potts (book) Chișinău (capital city of Moldova) Anna Gabur's baking-themed Instagram Borscht (Eastern European soup) 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
“A willingness to fail is an important part of difficult beauty. Because difficult beauty will arrive first not as beauty at all.” –Chloe Cooper Jones In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Chloe discuss the philosophical concept of "easy beauty" and "difficult beauty" in the context of travel (2:30); how our relationship to places changes over time with repeated exposure (15:00); how art and travel, home and adventure, became important aspects of Chloe's life (23:00); how the archetype of the "Hero's Journey" evokes aspects of home as well as travel (35:30); Chloe's investigation and experience of "dark tourism" in Cambodia, and how it gave her perspective on how other people view her disability (45:15) and how there's no easy way to navigate the polarities of the self, but trying to do so can result in a hard-won experience of beauty (1:08:00). Chloe Cooper Jones (@CCooperJones) is the author of Easy Beauty: A Memoir. She has been a Pulitzer Prize finalist in Feature Writing, and was the recipient of a Whiting Creative Nonfiction Grant, as well as a Howard Foundation Grant from Brown University. Notable Links: Bernard Bosanquet (English philosopher) Sublime (philosophical concept) Paris Writing Workshops (Rolf's summer writing classes) The Vagabond's Way, by Rolf Potts (book) Lake Como (lake region in Italy) "The Loss of the Creature," essay by Walker Percy Teotihuacan (pyramid site in Mexico) Pico Iyer (travel writer) Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (book) Quality (philosophical concept) "Such Perfection," (Believer essay by Chloe Cooper Jones) The High Line (elevated greenway park in New York City) Roland Barthes (French literary theorist) Souvenir, by Rolf Potts (book) The Sheltering Sky, by Paul Bowles (novel) Heroes of the Fourth Turning (2019 play by Will Arbery) "The Grateful Acre," monologue from Arbery's play Hero's journey (narrative template) Minangkabau people (ethnic group in Sumatra) Wanderjahre (journeyman tradition in Germany) Gyoza (Chinese dumplings) Thich Nhat Hanh (Vietnamese Buddhist monk) Killing Fields (genocide sites in Cambodia) Poetics, by Aristotle (philosophical treatise) Catharsis (purging or purification of emotions) The Philosophy of Horror, by Noël Carroll (book) Dark tourism (phenomenon of travel to tragic places) Tuol Sleng (Cambodian genocide museum) Francis Galton (English explorer and geographer) Tuk-tuk (auto-rickshaw common in SE Asia) Sørumsand (provincial town in Norway) 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.
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
“Travel is one of the few activities we engage in not knowing the outcome and reveling in that uncertainty. Nothing is more forgettable than the trip that goes exactly as planned.” –Eric Weiner In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Eric discuss the tendency of travelers to idealize the very recent bygone past in places, and Rolf's experience of traveling by freighter ship (2:00); Eric's satisfaction in returning to places he's visited before, such as India, and how to remain open to uncertainty and surprise on the road (9:30); how conversations about travel differ from generation to generation, culture to culture, person to person (20:00); what it was like for Eric to have his book The Geography of Bliss adapted into a TV show, and the nuances behind the concept of "happiness" (28:30); how the experience of travel is inevitably intertwined with the experience of home (38:00); how luxury hotels can insulate you from the experience of a place, and how "adventure travel" is modern concept (43:30); and how Eric's relationship to home, and to time, has changed over the years (58:30). Eric Weiner (@Eric_Weiner) is an award-winning journalist, bestselling author, and speaker. His books include The Socrates Express, and The Geography of Bliss, which is being made into a six-part docu-series, featuring actor Rainn Wilson, and due to air on NBC's Peacock streaming service. For more about Eric, check out https://ericweinerbooks.com/ Notable Links: Philosophy compels us to live better (Deviate episode) Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss (TV series) The Vagabond's Way, by Rolf Potts (book) Boatswain (deck boss on a freighter ship) Seven Pillars of Wisdom (book by T.E. Lawrence) Eric Weiner's Atlas of Ideas (email newsletter) Keitai denwa (Japanese mobile phone culture) Grunge (1990s alternative music culture) K-Pop (Korean popular music) Hangul (Korean alphabet) World Happiness Report Rainn Wilson (TV actor and producer) Quilts for Kids Nepal (nonprofit organization) Ibn Battuta (medieval Moroccan traveler) Beryl Markham (aviator and author) Kamba (ethnic group in Kenya) Thar Desert (arid region in India) The Geography of Genius, by Eric Weiner (book) Yi-Fu Tuan (Chinese-American geographer) "Little Gidding" (poem by T.S. Eliot) Uffizi Gallery (museum in Florence) Teaism (DC-based teahouse) 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.
Rolf Potts is a Travel Writer, Essayist, Adventurer and Teacher best known for promoting the ethic of independent travel. This American author has been through adventures on all six continents. Things like traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma and driving a Land Rover across South America are on his list, but there's so much more to it. He's gathered teachings from all over the place and written amazing books about it. His bestselling debut book, Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel, has been through thirty-five printings and translated into several languages worldwide. 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.
“There's no getting lost when you travel, because you're already there. You're already where you're supposed to be, which is somewhere in this new place.” –Ari Shaffir In this episode of Deviate, which took place at New York City's KGB Bar, Rolf and Ari talk about the premise of Rolf's new book The Vagabond's Way (2:20); why it's important not to postpone one's dream travels to a seemingly more appropriate time of life, and how it's hard for your friends to appreciate and understand your travels when you get home (7:30); how to not let your smartphones and photographs get in the way of your best journey (15:00); how to best decide where to start on a journey, and why allowing yourself to get lost is sometimes the best way to find experiences a place (23:00); why the philosophical concept of "time wealth" is important to Rolf, and how travel allows you to express a unique feeling freedom (31:30); how the The Vagabond's Way is the "spiritual successor" to Vagabonding, and how Rolf keeps travel in conversation with his home life in Kansas (36:00); and how to savor a new place in the moment, even as that place is changing (44:00). Ari Shaffir (@AriShaffir) is a comedian, writer, podcaster, and actor. He is the host of the Skeptic Tank podcast. His new comedy special, JEW, is available on YouTube. Notable Links: Paris Writing Workshops (Rolf's summer creative writing classes) The Vagabond's Way, by Rolf Potts (travel book) Henry Rollins on Ari's podcast Skeptic Tank Commonplace book (method of compiling knowledge) Jasmin Shah (photographer) Wenamun (ancient Egyptian traveler) Matsuo Bashō, (Japanese poet and traveler) On Photography, by Susan Sontag (book) Mentawai people (inhabitants of islands near Sumatra) Cypress Hill (American hip-hop group) Pico Iyer (travel writer) Pagan Holiday, by Tony Perrottet (book) Icelandic Sagas (Nordic historic narratives) Koshary (Egyptian national dish) Chefchaouen (city in Morocco) Tétouan (city in Morocco) Inle Lake (lake in Myanmar) Eddy L. Harris (travel writer) Aosta Valley (region in the Italian Alps) Instagram shot of Rolf's first vagabonding trip Mary Oliver (American poet) Lindsborg, Kansas ("Little Sweden") Lower East Side (neighborhood in Manhattan) Umbria (region in Italy) 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.
“The best way to travel? Dare to be lonely, lost, and bored.”Today we're joined by travel-writing legend Rolf Potts, best-selling author and pioneer of indie travel. Long before the era of contemporary van life and digital nomadism, Rolf's first book, Vagabonding, inspired countless travelers to forgo expensive, overly planned travel in favor of affordable, spontaneous exploration. And with his new book, The Vagabond's Way, he's sharing some of his best stories and pearls of wisdom from a lifetime spent traveling the world - including why you should never trust reviews, how inconvenience can lead to extraordinary discoveries, and why boredom while traveling is a gift. Whether or not you've already familiar with Rolf, this episode will surprise, delight, and teach you about why we travel - and how we can bring our travels home with us. FIND ROLF Follow Rolf on Instagram @rolfpotts, or visit his website at rolfpotts.com to find his books, articles, blog, videos, writing courses, and more. You can also find his newest book, The Vagabond's Way: 366 Meditations on Wanderlust, Discover, and the Art of Travel at your local bookstore or online. There are several stories and reflections in there that we didn't have time to cover, so we highly recommend you pick up a copy for yourself! SPONSORS THANK YOU to our amazing sponsor, The North Face, for supporting this episode! When you wear The North Face, it's more than a jacket…it's the calling to get out there and explore. Find your next fleece, parka, or winter jacket at thenorthface.com. And thank you to our other sponsor, Juggernaut Wines! Get four bottles of their delicious wines delivered to your home for only 1 cent in shipping costs. Just head over to juggernautwines.com and use code ARMCHAIR21. SOCIAL Share the show with your friends! Follow @armchairexplorerpodcast across Instagram and Facebook, and check out Armchair Explorer (www.armchair-explorer.com) for background videos, photos and more on each episode. And please hit that follow button to support the show!
Rolf Potts is the author of five books, including Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel (Random House, 2003), and The Vagabond's Way: 366 Meditations on Wanderlust, Discovery, and the Art of Travel (Ballantine, 2022). You can Rolf on Instagram and Twitter @rolfpotts. Website: https://rolfpotts.com/ For show notes and transcript visit: https://kk.org/cooltools/rolf-potts-travel-author/ If you're enjoying the Cool Tools podcast, check out our paperback book Four Favorite Tools: Fantastic tools by 150 notable creators, available in both Color or B&W on Amazon: https://geni.us/fourfavoritetools
If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go and why? Rolf Potts (@rolfpotts) is a travel writer, podcaster, and author of the bestseller Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel. His latest book is The Vagabond's Way: 366 Meditations on Wanderlust, Discovery, and the Art of Travel. I have always said travel is the most mind-expanding thing a person can do. Rolf, a serial traveler, reinforces this in our conversation this week. I've known of Rolf for a long time but we never met until this very moment. Learn more about Rolf Potts - rolfpotts.com/
#84: Travel writer and author, Rolf Potts joins Chris to discuss time wealth, why that's such a vital topic in life and what anyone can take from the concept to travel more richly. They also talk about how to adapt to the changes in travel technology and still have amazing adventures, why Rolf once traveled for six weeks without luggage and what you can learn from that experiment, how leaving your phone behind or getting lost might create richer experiences, and why he thinks that as you get older, you can still have richer and fulfilling travels.Rolf Potts (@rolfpotts) is an esteemed travel writer, teacher, and author. He's reported from more than 60 countries across six continents for publications like National Geographic Traveler, the New York Times Magazine, Sports Illustrated, National Public Radio, and the Travel Channel. His most recent book is The Vagabond's Way: 366 Meditations on Wanderlust, Discovery, and the Art of TravelFull show notes at: https://allthehacks.com/travel-rolf-potts Partner Deals Masterworks: See my art portfolio and get VIP access to skip the waitlistInside Tracker: 20% off personalized wellness & nutrition plans backed by scienceTrade Coffee: $30 off the best coffees that you can brew at homeLinkedIn: Post your job for free and find the candidates your want faster Selected Links From The EpisodeConnect with Rolf Potts: Website | Instagram | TwitterBooksVagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World TravelThe Vagabond's Way: 366 Meditations on Wanderlust, Discovery, and the Art of TravelParis Writing WorkshopsNo Baggage ChallengeBlundstoneAirTreksPodcast: Deviate 131: Kevin Kelly on travelResources Mentioned The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New RichDie With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your LifeUse this TikToker's viral travel tip to find the best places to stay Full Show NotesThe book that played a role in an eight-month backpacking trip around the world (00:27)Common misconceptions about travel (02:14)Embracing the world and living your travel dreams (05:04)Travel Safety: shifting your mindset and not giving in to “clickbait” (06:03)Hacking hotel expenses and being open to setting the itinerary aside and making decisions along the way (07:40)Rolf shares how he learned to slow down and experience the pleasures of his travel destination (11:03)Time wealth: spending your money in a way that makes your life more fulfilling and improves your travel (12:45)Dangers of having arbitrary goals for net worth (16:27)Making your money, income, and interests a more active part of your life (19:43)How to figure out what you want (20:51) Basic building block themes that affect the way Rolf lives his life (26:26)Strategies to employ when immersing yourself in a new place (29:19)Attitudes and rituals born of travel (34:08)Taking part in immersive cultural experiences close to home (35:44)How traveling with children can lead to new and unique experiences (37:37)Tips for families traveling with children (39:18)Slow travel: experience more by doing less (41:20)Participating in a home swap to be more authentically immersed while slow traveling (42:24)Creating memorable moments (47:24)Creating and checking items off a bucket list (48:02)Encountering unique experiences without having to travel halfway around the world (50:26)Lessons learned from traveling without baggage (54:01)Rolf Potts' go-to travel items (57:09)Traveling without the distraction of technology (58:13)Cost-saving travel hacks (1:02:57)“Flâneuring” your way through a city (1:06:00)Where to find Rolf Potts online (1:08:22) PartnersInsideTrackerInsideTracker provides a personalized plan to improve your metabolism, reduce stress, improve sleep, and optimize your health for the long haul. It's created by leading scientists in aging, genetics, and biometrics. They analyze your blood, DNA, and fitness tracking data to identify where you're optimized—and where you're not. With InsideTracker you'll get a daily Action Plan with personalized guidance on the right exercise, nutrition, and supplementation for your body.For a limited time, you can get 20% off at allthehacks.com/insidetracker MasterworksMasterworks is an alternative investing platform that gives you access to one of the most exclusive and overlooked investments in history: blue-chip art. Masterworks lets regular people invest in paintings by legends like Banksy, Basquiat and Warhol without spending millions. I've now used masterworks to invest in 14 different paintings, including a 15 million dollar Picasso.Here's how it works: Masterworks will buy a painting they think will appreciate well over time, then they securitize that painting with the SEC, so you can invest in it instead of buying the whole thing. Once they sell the painting, later on, you get your share of the proceeds. It's that simple. They've offered over 100 paintings so far and the three that have sold realized a net annualized gain over 30% per work. They have over 280,000 users and demand is as high as ever. All the Hacks has partnered with them to give you all priority access by going to allthehacks.com/masterworks(see important disclosures at masterworks.io/cd) Trade CoffeeTrade is a coffee subscription service that partners with top independent roasters and sends the best coffees in the country direct to your home, on your schedule. Their coffee is so good because they have a team of experts taste testing hundreds of coffees from across the U.S. every month – to curate over 450 exceptional coffees that make the cut.So if you want to support small businesses and brew the best cup of coffee you've ever made, try Trade Coffee and get $30 off your first order plus free shipping at allthehacks.com/trade LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. You can ceate a free job post in minutes to reach the world's largest professional network of over 810 million people. Simple tools, like screening questions, make it easy to focus on candidates with just the right skills and experience so you can quickly prioritize who you'd like to interview and hire. It's why small businesses rate LinkedIn jobs, number one in delivering quality hires versus leading competitors.Every week, nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn, so post your job for free at allthehacks.com/linkedinTerms and conditions apply Connect with All the HacksAll the Hacks: Newsletter | Website | Facebook | EmailChris Hutchins: Twitter | Instagram | Website | LinkedIn
A vagabond is a person who wanders from place to place without a fixed home. Our guest today is the bestselling author of the widely celebrated Vagabonding. Now, Rolf Potts has written a new book called ”The Vagabond's Way” This book is a bit different, containing 366 Meditations on Wanderlust, Discovery, and the Art of Travel. We're super excited to have him on the show today. This episode of Travel Matters is hosted by TBEX CEO Rick Calvert and The Radio Vagabond, Palle Bo.
"This is your one life. Think about it: If you dream of travel, it's not as hard as you might think. You can find ways to make it happen.” –Rolf Potts In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Ernest talk about how "vagabonding" is defined, how Rolf has come to define home, and what the premise of The Vagabond's Way is (2:00); how Rolf researched and organized the quotes and anecdotes and philosophies that went into the book (10:00); how mistakes and misadventures are an inevitable part of the travel process, and how time is one's truest form of wealth (14:30); how the quiet experience of travel counts for more in life than travel that is performed for status (20:00); how no amount of planning can prepare you for the discoveries of each new day on the road, and how curiosity is more important than expertise on the road (27:30); how over-dependence on technology can compromise the novel experience of travel (33:30); advice for people leaving their country for the first time, advice for people traveling inside the US, and advice for keeping travel fresh over the long-term (38:00). Ernest White II (@ernestwhiteii) is a storyteller, explorer, producer, and host of the television travel series Fly Brother, now in its second season on PBS and Create TV. Check out his subscription-based membership community, Fly Brother & Friends, which promotes travel and personal transformation. Notable Links: Vagabonding, by Rolf Potts (book) The Vagabond's Way, by Rolf Potts (book) Mary Oliver (American poet) Ross Gay (American poet and essayist) Thích Nhất Hạnh (Buddhist monk and author) The Daily Stoic, by Ryan Holiday (book) Commonplace book (compilation of knowledge) "Song of the Open Road," by Walt Whitman (poem) Memento mori (philosophy) Souvenir, by Rolf Potts (book) Damara (mountain-dwelling people in Namibia) Duvall Street (tourist district on Key West) Bukittinggi (city in Sumatra) Randang (Minangkabau meat dish) Culture shock (cross-cultural anxiety) Isan (rural northeastern region of Thailand) Sørumsand (town in Norway) Fly Brother Season Two (TV show season) Junction City (town in Kansas) 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.
What is it that motivates you to travel? Today I am joined by esteemed travel writer and teacher Rolf Potts to talk about his new book The Vagabond's Way and dive into how anybody can enrich their lives through maintaining a traveler's mindset, even at home. Rolf Potts has reported from over 60 countries for publications like National Geographic, NPR, and Travel Channel. He has lectured all over the world and hosts a yearly writer's workshop. His travels have brought him through 6 continents, including boating 900 miles down the Mekong in Laos, hitchhiking in Eastern Europe, bicycling in Burma, and traveling for 6 weeks across the world with no luggage or bags, and much more. His first book Vagabonding was published in 2003 and was of paramount importance in my own travel journey. If you love to travel as much as me, then this episode will be extra special. We dive into exactly how travel changes our inner and outer perspective, allows us to embrace unseen parts of self, and try on new identities. We also discuss how to have micro adventures at home, what it means to feel comfortable in a culture and so much more. What are your biggest spiritual or philosophical takeaways from your recent travels? I'd love to hear what they are and hope you will share them by sending me an audio message. Don't forget that if you want access to the private Zero To Travel podcast feed, a bonus episode every month (decided on by YOU), exclusive content, direct access to me to answer your questions, and more. Click Here To Try Premium Passport For Only $1 and get: Access To The Zero To Travel Podcast Archives (300+ amazing episodes and growing) One Bonus Episode Per Month (Decided By YOU) + Exclusive Content You Can't Hear Anywhere Else Ask Me (Jason) Your Burning Questions, and Get A Personal Answer! All Episodes Ad-Free (From April 2021 Onward) Today's episode is brought to you by The North Face - providing athlete-tested Jackets that are proven to be highly insulated, warm, breathable & durable so you can focus on what matters. It's more than a jacket, it's a calling to get out and explore. Get yours today in stores or at www.thenorthface.com. This episode is also brought to you by US Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card, get 4 X the points on eating out and 2 X the points on groceries, entertainment services, and gas or EV charge stations. Apply today at usbank.com/altitudego to get 20,000 points by spending $1000 in your first 90 days. Tune In To Learn: Thoughts and takeaways from visiting Norway What is forest bathing and why it's a great travel virtue Artists and thinkers who have made an impact on Rolf's travel mindset What the pandemic has taught Rolf about travel Why what's on your bucket list matters less than what you do when you get there What it means to take the travel attitude home with you and how to do it Practical ways you can explore new locations based on your interest What it was like to live in a van long before the van life movement How to overcome imposter syndrome and give yourself permission to live your travel dreams Why it's important to travel for your own growth rather than other's How to pay attention to life, practice gratitude, and make the most of the moments we have What motivated Rolf to write his most recent book and a secret look inside Why having a mission while traveling can drastically change the experience How to occupy time instead of managing it Why it's important to travel first and become a digital nomad later Insights on navigating the complicated relationship between travel and technology What it means to feel a part of a culture Tips for travelers who want to write about their experience And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport The North Face & US Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card - Today's sponsors Learn more about Rolf Potts Get your copy of The Vagabond's Way Listen to the Deviate podcast Sign up for the Paris Writing Workshop Follow Rolf on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter Want More? How Travel Can Improve Your Mental Health w/ Gilad Gamliel Enjoy The Process Of Everything With Dylan Magaster How To Take A Leap of Faith and Change Your Life w/ Jana Schuberth
Traveling the world, especially for an extended period, may be a luxury you only dream about or can only do every few years. But, what if there was a way to make it happen? And, way sooner, and for less money than you ever imagined? Or, what if there's a way to evoke that sense of wonder and curiosity that travel brings out of us without leaving our immediate neighborhood? What would it look like to keep the spirit of the journey or travel alive at home, using it to engage with and learn from the community that's right in front of us in a new and meaningful way? My guest today, Rolf Potts, is a firm believer in the life-altering benefits of travel - even if that means driving heading just a few blocks outside your normal routine - and how we can use adventure as a metaphor for life itself, and I'm excited to dive deeper into his philosophies and stories about life, travel, and wonder. Rolf has shared much of his wisdom and travel stories in his books Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel and his newest release, The Vagabond's Way: 366 Meditations on Wanderlust, Discovery, and the Art of Travel. In our conversation today, we explore Rolf's strategies for doing immersive travel in a meaningful way, uncover the ways anyone, even those who can't travel, can use the vagabond mindset to disrupt their routines at home, and we touch on a few moments of adventure and curiosity that have shaped and inspired us. You can find Rolf at: Website | Instagram | Deviate with Rolf Potts PodcastIf you LOVED this episode you'll also love the conversations we had with Tim Ferriss about centering humanity and love in work and life.Check out our offerings & partners: My New Book SparkedMy New Podcast SPARKEDVisit Our Sponsor Page For a Complete List of Vanity URLs & Discount Codes.Indeed: Connect with your talent audience so you can make more quality hires faster. Start hiring NOW with a $100 sponsored job credit to sponsor your job post at Indeed.com/GLP. Offer good for a limited time. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? You need Indeed.Cozey: The comfortable sofa made for modern living. Cozey is a Canadian company that makes modular sofas-in-a-box that are shipped fast and for free across Canada. Design the perfect sofa for your space and have it shipped to your door for free. Assembly is tool-free and super easy. Visit Cozey.ca to start your 30-day risk-free trial.Shopify: Try Shopify FREE and start a business or grow an existing one. Get more than e-commerce software with tools to manage every part of your business. Sign up for a FREE trial at Shopify.com/GOODLIFE to start selling online today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Travel can often be approached as just another consumer good; travelers quickly dive in and out of a place, check off the things they want to see, harvest the requisite pictures to prove they were there, and wear their trip as a status symbol.My guest, Rolf Potts, thinks there's a better way to approach travel. After exploring the world for years, he wrote a book called Vagabonding, which laid out the practicalities of how to execute long-term travel.Twenty years later, he's back with a new book — The Vagabond's Way — with reflections on the more philosophical side of that kind of travel which you can take on any type of trip. Today on the show, Rolf explains the vagabonding ethos, which involves slowing down, being open to surprises, and really paying attention to your experiences. He first discusses how taking an overly romantic view of travel can actually diminish your enjoyment of traveling. We then turn to the idea that seeking to take a more authentic approach to travel shouldn't mean trying too hard to differentiate yourself from "typical" tourists, and how to approach stereotypical tourist stuff with a nuanced view. We discuss how to use the idea of pilgrimage beyond its religious connotations as a pretext for choosing which places to visit. We also delve into how to deal with the culture shock that can come both from visiting a new place, and returning home from a long trip. We end our conversation with how the attentive, adventurous attitude which underlies the vagabond's way can also be applied to exploring your own backyard.Resources Related to the EpisodeRolf's previous book: Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World TravelAoM Podcast #653: The Dirtbag's Guide to LifeSunday Firesides: This One's for MeAoM podcast and article on microadventuresConnect With Rolf PottsRolf's Website
Rolf Potts and I got together in Paris, France when I took his travel writing course over the summer. He gave me an advance copy of his new book The Vagabond's Way and we talked about his reasons behind the book while we Flanuered around Paris. This is probably better to watch but do what you want. For more Ari: https://www.arishaffir.com/tour Subscribe to Yout Be Trippin' For More Rolf: Don't miss Rolf's new book, THE VAGABOND'S WAY, available now! Order here: https://rolfpotts.com/books/the-vagabonds-way/ Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rolfpotts/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/rolfpotts Check out Rolf's podcast, Deviate: https://rolfpotts.com/deviate/ For events, classes, and more visit https://rolfpotts.com/ The Music: Roam - The B52s Joni Mitchell - Free Man in Paris Ertha Kitt - Under the Bridges of Paris Dexys Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen NOFX - Champs Elyses Iggy - Fancy Thanks to our sponsors! use code "Ari" at 3Chi.com for 5% off your order and head over to YoKratom.com home of the $60 Kilo!
Rolf Potts — The Vagabond's Way, Tactics for Immersive Travel, Pilgrimages and Psychogeography, Empathy Machines, Full-Throated Love, The Slow Sense of Smell, Lessons from Thích Nhất Hạnh, Falling Upward, and More | Brought to you by Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement, Vuori comfortable and durable performance apparel, and Eight Sleep's Pod Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating. More on all three below. Rolf Potts (@rolfpotts) is the author of the international bestseller Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel. His newest book is The Vagabond's Way: 366 Meditations on Wanderlust, Discovery, and the Art of Travel. He has reported from more than 60 countries for National Geographic Traveler, The New Yorker, Outside, The New York Times Magazine, and Travel Channel. Many of his essays have been selected as “Notable Mentions” in The Best American Essays, The Best American Nonrequired Reading, and The Best American Travel Writing.He is based in north-central Kansas, where he keeps a small farmhouse on thirty acres with his wife, Kansas-born actress Kristen Bush. My 2014 interview with Rolf can be found at tim.blog/rolf.Please enjoy! *This episode is brought to you by Eight Sleep! Eight Sleep's Pod Cover is the easiest and fastest way to sleep at the perfect temperature. It pairs dynamic cooling and heating with biometric tracking to offer the most advanced (and user-friendly) solution on the market. Simply add the Pod Cover to your current mattress and start sleeping as cool as 55°F or as hot as 110°F. It also splits your bed in half, so your partner can choose a totally different temperature.And now, my dear listeners—that's you—can get $250 off the Pod Cover. Simply go to EightSleep.com/Tim or use code TIM at checkout. *This episode is also brought to you by Vuori clothing! Vuori is a new and fresh perspective on performance apparel, perfect if you are sick and tired of traditional, old workout gear. Everything is designed for maximum comfort and versatility so that you look and feel as good in everyday life as you do working out.Get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the planet at VuoriClothing.com/Tim. Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but you'll also enjoy free shipping on any US orders over $75 and free returns.*This episode is also brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could use only one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1 by Athletic Greens, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system. Right now, Athletic Greens is offering you their Vitamin D Liquid Formula free with your first subscription purchase—a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones. Visit AthleticGreens.com/Tim to claim this special offer today and receive the free Vitamin D Liquid Formula (and five free travel packs) with your first subscription purchase! That's up to a one-year supply of Vitamin D as added value when you try their delicious and comprehensive all-in-one daily greens product.*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim's email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim's books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
"Naysayers can be the biggest obstacle for people who want to travel. Even if they know nothing about a place, they'll think of reasons why you shouldn't go there." --Ari Shaffir In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Ari discuss how the experience of travel changes as you get older, what it's like to record an interview in public in Paris, and how loneliness compels you to be a better traveler (2:00); what it was like to workshop travel stories in class, and how writing for the page compares to writing for the comedy stage (12:00); Rolf quotes Ari from The Vagabond's Way about why it's OK to get lost when you travel, and what it's like when you wander out of tourist zones in another country (22:30); and how naysayers can preempt your travel ambitions if you listen to them (46:30). Ari Shaffir (@AriShaffir) is a comedian, writer, podcaster, and actor. He is the host of the Skeptic Tank podcast. For more information on Ari, visit his website. Notable Links: Paris Writing Workshops (travel writing class) Luxembourg Garden (park in Paris) The Vagabond's Way (Rolf's newest book) Souvenir, by Rolf Potts (book) Deviate Live in NYC (podcast episode) Thích Nhat Hanh (Buddhist monk) Callback (comedy) Xylia Buros: Nomad (podcast episode) The Book of Delights, by Ross Gay (book) High Times (magazine) Chefchaouen (town in Morocco) Tétouan (city in Morocco) Tataouine (city in Tunisia) Farang (Asian slang for white European) Kathoey (trans identity in Thailand) Boney M (Caribbean pop group) Marco Polo Didn't Go There, by Rolf Potts (book) Felucca (Egyptian boat) Temple of Hatshepsut (Egyptian temple) Dili (city in East Timor) 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.
“I think sometimes as travel writers our most important job is to be a listener -- to listen to the stories that people are telling each other in a place.” –Rolf Potts In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Ernest talk about why home is such an important place in one's life, even when one travels to more far-flung places (3:00); why the vagabonding ethos begins with the willingness to give oneself permission to travel in life, and how Rolf's new book, The Vagabond's Way, furthers the vagabonding ethos in a daily-reading format (15:00); the difficulty of figuring out which place in the world is your "favorite," and how food becomes a part of one's iconic travel memories (32:00); and why it helps to be confident and "ride tall in the saddle" if you sometimes feel out of place as a traveler (41:00). Ernest White II (@ernestwhiteii) is a storyteller, explorer, producer, and host of the television travel series Fly Brother, now in its second season on PBS and Create TV. Check out his subscription-based membership community, Fly Brother & Friends, which promotes travel and personal transformation. Ernest will moderate Rolf's virtual launch event for The Vagabond's Way at 5pm PT on October 4th, 2022. Notable Links: TV host Ernest White II (Deviate episode two) "Pandemic love" Deviate episode Deviate episode with filmmaker Rod Pocowatchit Deviate episode with baseball historian Phil S. Dixon Kansas City Monarchs (Negro Leagues baseball team) Gordon Parks (Kansas-born photographer and filmmaker) Nicodemus, Kansas (town settled by African Americans) Lindsborg, Kansas (Swedish-American town in Kansas) Zacatecas (state in Mexico) Van life before #VanLife (Deviate episode) Expat life in Korea (Deviate episode) Commonplace book (method of compiling knowledge) The Daily Stoic, by Ryan Holiday (book) Matsuo Bashō (medieval Japanese poet and traveler) Wenamun (ancient Egyptian traveler) Muhammad Ali (boxer) Code-switching (situational linguistic alternation) 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.