Zero To Travel Podcast

Dreaming of quitting your job and becoming a digital nomad? Planning a career break to travel the world? If you need some inspiration to make those travel dreams a reality, look no further! We're resharing some of our Transition to Travel episodes this month to help kickstart your plans in 2026. In this series, we interview a guest both before and after their travels (or during if it's long-term), so we can see how it all panned out and how travel has changed them. 

Lance Wright is a longtime higher education professional and the creator of The Midlife Crisis Traveler, where he shares the story behind taking a major travel leap in midlife. At the time of this episode, he stepped away from his role at Colorado State University to take a seven-month trip, and that experience led him to rethink work, identity, and how he wanted to live. 

This conversation gets into the real stuff behind long-term travel. Lance shares what it was like to ask for time away from a job he actually loved, how he and his wife navigated his decision to travel solo, and what helped him through the lonely stretches on the road. We also talk about minimalism, masculinity, identity, and the surprising clarity he had when he got home. 

What chapter in your life might be ready to close so a new one can begin? I'd love to hear your thoughts and hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. 

Tune In To Learn: 


Why Lance finally stopped waiting and committed to a seven-month trip 


How he negotiated a leave of absence from a job he genuinely enjoyed 


Advice for talking with your spouse about a solo long-term trip 


What Albania taught him early on about connection and loneliness 


How local tours, cooking classes, and Workaway helped him meet people 


Why travel pushed him toward minimalism and a simpler lifestyle 


How the trip reshaped his thinking about work, masculinity, and identity 


What happened when he came home and realized he needed a new chapter 


Why trusting your own travel style matters more than following someone else’s plan 


And so much more 

Resources: 


Sign up for our FREE newsletter 


The Midlife Crisis Traveler 


Tours By Locals 

Want More? 


Transition To Travel: Radical Life Change For World Travel w/ Jordan & Tyler 


Transition To Travel: Single Mom + 3 Kids Move To Mexico (Jenita's Story) 


Transition To Travel: From 9-5 To Biking The USA with Joe Ferrara 

Thanks To Our Sponsors 


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What happens when you try overland travel in West Africa across seven countries using only local transport? 

Gunnar Garfors is a Norwegian traveler, journalist, and author who became the first person to visit every country in the world twice. He is known for seeking out unusual routes and lesser-visited destinations, often traveling far beyond typical tourist paths. Jacqui Kunz is a full-time traveler who has explored more than 100 countries and was named “World’s Most Intrepid Traveler” in 2023, recognizing her commitment to exploring challenging destinations and traveling well off the beaten path. 

In this episode, co-hosts Jacqui and Gunnar share stories from the first leg of their West Africa adventure across seven countries, covering Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea. 

They talk about what it’s really like to travel overland in West Africa, from chaotic border crossings and broken buses to incredible landscapes, unexpected friendships, and the patience required to move through the region. 

If you’ve ever wondered what travel in this part of the world actually feels like on the ground, this conversation gives you a candid look at the challenges, surprises, and rewards of exploring West Africa slowly. 

What kind of travel experiences become possible when you stop rushing and embrace the unpredictability of the journey? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message. 

Tune In To Learn: 


Why traveling overland in West Africa requires a completely different mindset about time and planning 


How local minibuses work, and why you may be waiting a while to get going 


What it’s like traveling upriver in The Gambia to visit River Gambia National Park and see chimpanzees 


Why going inland in The Gambia offers a very different experience from the coastal resort areas 


How to navigate crossings, visas, and illegal stamp fees that travelers are sometimes asked to pay 


What happened when their bus broke down and the driver abandoned it on a remote road 


How unexpected delays led to shared rides, new friendships, and memorable moments with local travelers 


Why Guinea-Bissau ended up being the biggest surprise and favorite country of the trip 


What it’s like traveling through Guinea’s highlands on roads compared to a motocross track 


Why slow, overland travel creates deeper connections with people and places along the way 


And so much more 

Resources: 


Sign up for our FREE newsletter 


Gunnar’s website 


Gunnar on Instagram 


Jacqui on Instagram 

Want More? 


9 Ways Travel Will Change You + Lessons from Cycling Africa and Visiting 95 Countries with Alex Hennock 


5 Surprising Experiences in Africa, How to Transition to a New Career After Travel, and Exploring the African Diaspora With Jay Cameron 


Adventure and Conservation - A 6,000 km Tuk-Tuk Journey Through Africa 

Thanks To Our Sponsors 


Earn Cash Back and rewards on nearly every purchase with Rakuten. 


Go to https://surfshark.com/zerototravel or use code ZEROTOTRAVEL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! 

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Join Caitlin and Janessa in this Remote Roundup as they catch you up on where they’ve been lately, the travel mistakes they’re learning the hard way, and the systems that keep long-term travel from turning into financial and emotional whiplash. 

Remote Roundup is a monthly series hosted by Zero To Travel’s associate producer, Caitlin Sunderland, and partnerships manager, Janessa Klatt. Explore what's new in remote work and travel, including helpful tools and resources, need‑to‑know trends, destinations, and insight into what it really means to live and work around the world. 

In this episode, Caitlin and Janessa share what it’s like spending a season in a southern hemisphere coastal hub and time in a vibrant Latin American capital known for culture, markets, and museums. You’ll get Caitlin’s solo travel hot take and the #1 travel mistake she keeps repeating so you don’t have to, and hear from Janessa on her perfected expense tracking system with tips for self-employed travelers. 

What’s one “comfort” you’re keeping in your travel life right now, even if it costs a little more or takes up a little more space? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. 

Tune In To Learn: 


Considerations for making Cape Town a long-stay base, what to expect in the cultural capital of Mexico City, and a magic town you may want to add to your Mexico itinerary 


Why it’s so easy to keep falling for the budget airline trap and more hidden fees you need to be aware of  


Why you should always check your entry stamp and never assume you’ve been granted the maximum tourist stay 


Janessa’s system for remote work and travel budgeting, including expense tracking apps, annual reviews, tax set-asides, and building a DIY PTO fund 


Why Caitlin says she hates solo travel (yet still thinks everyone should do it), and why we need to redefine what “solo” means 


A common travel mistake and what it can reveal about the expectations we carry into travel 


And so much more 

Resources: 


Sign up for our FREE newsletter 


Caitlin on Instagram 


Janessa on Instagram 


TravelSpend 


Trabee Pocket  

Want More? 


Going Nomad with Jason Robinson 


Joys of Solo Travel with Manjinder Kang 


Remote Roundup: True Costs of Long-Term Travel, Taxes & Borderless Living, an Underrated Productivity Habit, + More (October 2025) 

Thanks To Our Sponsors 


Earn Cash Back and rewards on nearly every purchase with Rakuten. 


Go to https://surfshark.com/zerototravel or use code ZEROTOTRAVEL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! 


Listen to the Planet Visionaries podcast on Apple and Spotify. 

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How would your life change if you decided to take a mini-retirement to travel the world, instead of waiting? 

After saving for two years, Helen Lin and her former husband, Tim, put their life into storage, rented out their home, and quit their 9–5 jobs to take off on a mini-retirement traveling around the world. They documented their 25+ month adventure across 26 countries on their YouTube channel, Helen and Tim Travel. Along the way, their relationship was reshaped by the experience, and they ultimately returned home divorced, still grateful for the journey they shared. 

In this episode, Helen shares what it actually looked like to plan and take an extended trip as a mini retirement, including the practical runway, the emotional realities, and the unexpected ways long-term travel can impact your relationships. 

If you’ve ever dreamed of taking months off to travel, this conversation gives you a grounded look at what it takes to make it happen and what you might learn about yourself along the way. Helen talks about building a financial runway, using local guides to lower the friction of adventure travel, and why campervan trips can be their own logistical puzzle. We also get honest about the parts people rarely post, stress, mental health, and the way constant proximity can intensify relationship dynamics. Plus, Helen shares destination recommendations and the practical systems that helped them stay on the road, including earning 1.5 million credit card points over five years to offset major travel costs. 

If you took a mini retirement, what would you want it to help you rethink about your life right now? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. 

Tune In To Learn: 


Why Helen thinks “mini retirement” beats waiting for traditional retirement 


How increasing your savings rate can create a real travel runway 


Advice for choosing destinations around seasonality and the adventures you want most 


How guided trips can reduce risk and planning overwhelm for big hikes and outdoor goals 


What Helen learned from campervanning in Norway and New Zealand, and what she’d plan differently 


How long-term travel can amplify relationship patterns, for better or for worse 


Why “wherever you go, there you are” applies to mental health on the road 


How to think about boundaries and personal space when traveling with a partner 


How Helen and Tim earned about 1.5M points and miles over time to support their travels 


What it looks like to come home and build a new chapter after a life-shifting trip 


And so much more 

Resources: 


Sign up for our FREE newsletter 


Instagram 


Helen and Tim Travel 


Waves of Color 

Want More? 


How to Win at Travel with “The Points Guy” Brian Kelly 


Travel Is Your Birthright: Breaking Free from “Too Broke to Travel”, Travel Hacking (Without Credit Cards), and Solo Travel in 90+ Countries with Shakeemah Smith 


How to Plan Your Camino + Going Beyond the Camino Frances (Secret Routes, Donkey Highways, and Spain’s Hidden Village Network) with Shawn and Lainey 

Thanks To Our Sponsors 


Listen to the Planet Visionaries podcast on Apple and Spotify 


Go to https://surfshark.com/zerototravel or use code ZEROTOTRAVEL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! 


Earn Cash Back and rewards on nearly every purchase with Rakuten. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to hear bold ideas and big solutions for our planet? We have been listening to Alex Honnold as he hosts Planet Visionaries, in partnership with the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each week, Alex spotlights innovators who are not just imagining a better future but actively creating it. Go check it out and hope you enjoy it as much as we do.