Zero To Travel Podcast

What does it actually take to travel well with a partner, and what are the hidden layers of that experience when you're also navigating the world as a queer couple? 

Gabi and Shanna Meit-Sciara are a Brooklyn-based couple and the creators of 27 Travels, a platform launched in 2016 to document their adventures while building more visibility and resources for LGBTQIA+ travelers. Gabi is a photographer and graphic designer; Shanna is a videographer and video editor. Together, they've visited 40+ countries and built a full-time creative business rooted in their relationship and their shared love of the world. 

In this episode, co-host Dianni Hall sits down with Gabi and Shanna to talk about what it really looks like to build a relationship through travel, how their partnership has been tested and strengthened on the road over ten years, and what the experience of traveling as a queer couple actually involves beyond what most people see. 

This conversation is for anyone who's ever taken a trip with someone they care about and had to figure each other out in real time. Gabi and Shanna get specific about the roles they've each naturally fallen into, how they handle conflict during work trips without letting it ruin the experience, and the invisible, exhausting decisions queer couples make constantly on the road that most people never think about. If you've been wondering what traveling as a couple actually looks like when applied to a real, long-term relationship, this one goes deep. 

What's a trip that revealed something unexpected about someone you were traveling with? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message. 

Co-host Dianni Hall is a queer, second-generation Latina, solo budget backpacker, freelancer, and host of the While She’s Away podcast, where she interviews women on their travel experience and expertise to help women live their best lives exploring the world. Learn more about her work here. 

Tune In To Learn: 


Why matching travel styles is one of the most meaningful early tests of a relationship, and how Gabi and Shanna discovered theirs on their first big trip to Arizona 


How the roles partners naturally fall into on the road tend to emerge without anyone actually choosing them 


Why adding content creation to a relationship and a trip is its own challenge, and what Gabi and Shanna have learned about navigating creative disagreements  


What to actually pay attention to on a first trip with a partner, including the green flags most people overlook 


How queer couples are constantly making decisions that straight couples rarely have to think about, from safety research to coming out to a stranger in a taxi 


What the invisible labor of queer travel looks like in everyday moments: hotel check-ins, ride-shares, tour sign-ups 


Why a loose itinerary almost always beats a rigid one, and why missing something can actually be the best thing that happens 


New York City hidden gems from two lifelong locals: the case for Brooklyn, vegan food in Chinatown, and more 


And so much more 

Resources: 


Sign up for our FREE newsletter 


27 Travels 


Instagram 


YouTube 


TikTok 

Want More? 


LGBTQ+ Travel and Making A Difference with Ravi Roth 


Top 7 Cities for LGBTQ+ Travelers and Finding Your People Around the World with LGBTQ+ Travel Expert Alicia Valenski 


Choose Travel NOW! Lessons from the World’s Longest Honeymoon with National Geographic Authors Mike and Anne Howard of HoneyTrek 

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What if the key to planning your dream trip isn't choosing the right destination, but first figuring out what you actually need right now in your life? 

Kelly Tolliday is the founder of Transform With Travel, a professional travel advisor and wellness travel expert with over a decade of industry experience, a retreat facilitator and 500-hour registered yoga teacher, and a podcast host. She has traveled to more than 45 countries and lived across four continents, including extended time in Australia, Thailand, and Costa Rica. 

In this episode, Kelly walks through the step-by-step system she uses to plan bucket list trips and how anyone can apply the same framework to start planning their own dream trip today. 

Kelly reframes the entire planning process in a way that most of us haven't considered, and it changes not just where you end up going, but how you show up when you get there. She also makes a strong case for why the best travel experiences often come from letting go, even when every instinct is telling you to hold on tighter. You'll not only get Kelly's framework, but destination recommendations and a call to action at the end that I hope you follow through on. 

What's one destination that's been sitting on your bucket list for way too long, and what's actually been stopping you from booking it? I'd love to hear what they are, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message. 

Tune In To Learn: 


Why asking "what do I need right now?" is the most important first question in trip planning 


How to use urgency as a real planning tool, and why some destinations carry a genuine now-or-never factor 


Why mapping out your full route, including transfer time and cost, is often the step that saves the most money 


How slow travel creates more space for the unscripted moments that people end up talking about for decades 


Why booking independent, locally-owned tour operators almost always leads to more memorable experiences than going with the bigger names 


How to approach accommodations with a "sense of place" mindset 


Advice on when hiring a professional travel advisor makes sense versus planning a bucket list trip on your own 


Why we both agree that physically demanding adventures should move to the top of your list sooner rather than later 


Hidden gem destinations worth visiting now, including a little-known Thai island that has somehow stayed off the radar 


How to reset your mindset when things go sideways on a trip 


And so much more 

Resources: 


Sign up for our FREE newsletter 


Transform with Travel 


Instagram 

Want More? 


Live Your Bucket List w/ Ryan Jacobson 


Curiosity As Your Travel Guide + Exploring Overlooked Destinations with John McKenzie 


7 Must-Visit Destinations for 2026 (Get There Before the Crowds Arrive!) with Lyn Hughes 

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What would you do if your bus driver bought six Coca-Colas at the border, cost you your exit stamp, and forced you to sleep outside in malaria country between two countries? 

Co-hosts Gunnar Garfors and Jacqui Kunz are back to share part two of their overland travel adventure through West Africa, covering the final stretch of their seven-country journey through Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Ivory Coast. 

If you've ever been curious about what it actually takes to travel overland through West Africa, this episode gives you the unfiltered picture. You'll walk away with concrete tips on visa strategy, border navigation, shared transport logistics, and honest guidance on when to push through and when to bail and book a flight. Beyond the tactics, Gunnar and Jacqui model what it actually means to travel slowly and patiently through challenging terrain, staying flexible when things go sideways. If you're considering overland travel in West Africa or anywhere similarly complex, this episode cuts through the romance and gives you the real picture. 

Have you ever had a travel experience where everything went wrong and it somehow turned into the best story you came home with? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message. 

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. 

Tune In To Learn: 


Why Sierra Leone's land border crossing was a surprisingly smooth and welcoming experience 


What Freetown is really like to explore, from the historic Cotton Tree to its beaches and police checkpoints 


Why the city of Bo is worth a stop, and where to go nearby to see diamond mining 


How a fellow passenger buying Coca-Cola at the border kiosk resulted in an overnight stay between two countries in mosquito country 


Why Monrovia has a surprisingly American feel and where to stay, eat, and get cash 


When it makes sense to give up on overland travel and just book a flight 


How paying for an extra seat in a shared taxi can save your sanity, and why the "imaginary bag fee" is a negotiation you can usually win 


Why timing your trip just after the rainy season can make roads far worse than expected 


How Gunnar ended up in a Norwegian hospital with malaria, and why taking preventatives seriously is not optional 


And so much more 

Resources: 


Sign up for our FREE newsletter 


Gunnar’s website 


Gunnar on Instagram 


Jacqui on Instagram 


iOverlander 

Want More? 


Overland Travel in West Africa Across 7 Countries (Part 1) with Gunnar Garfors & Jacqui Kunz 


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 

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What if the secret to a truly meaningful travel experience starts not when you land, but long before you ever pack a bag? 

Dr. Kristina Wachter is an award-winning professor, bestselling author, and CEO of Cross-Culture Connections. With over 25 years of experience in cross-cultural communication and education, she developed the Culture SPIN Method, a four-step framework trusted in 54 countries to help individuals and organizations turn cultural differences into genuine human connection.  

In this episode, Dr. Wachter walks us through her Culture SPIN Method and how it applies directly to travelers who want richer, more meaningful experiences on the road. She uses real-world business stories, her own travel mishaps, and a live case study with Jason to bring the whole thing to life. 

If you've ever shown up somewhere and felt like you were missing something, like you were skimming the surface of a place rather than really getting into it, this conversation is for you.  

Dr. Wachter breaks down the cross-cultural communication tips every traveler can actually use, from how to research a culture before you go, to how to recover gracefully when you inevitably get something wrong. Whether you're planning a two-week trip or building a life abroad, there's a lot here to chew on. 

What's a cultural moment from your own travels that surprised you or changed the way you see things? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message. 

Tune In To Learn: 


Why the Culture SPIN Method starts with looking inward at yourself before you ever look outward at another culture 


How to build a personal "cultural Venn diagram" that maps your interests onto a new destination to create real connection opportunities 


Why one U.S. executive unknowingly drank $300,000 worth of tea in a single business meeting, and what he did next that actually saved the deal 


How a single joke in South Korea cost a businessman millions of dollars in 30 seconds, and what that means for travelers too 


Advice for doing genuine cultural research before a trip, including reading fiction, watching local media, and finding primary-source content 


Why "winging it" is one of the most common and costly mistakes people make when traveling or moving abroad 


How to handle cultural mistakes with humility and recover without losing the connection you're trying to build 


Why cultural agility, the ability to pivot and adapt without beating yourself up, is one of the most valuable skills any traveler can develop 


What "cultural courage" really means and how acting deliberately outside your comfort zone invites reciprocity and deeper human connection 


Why Rick Steves' idea of traveler responsibility hit home for Dr. Wachter 


And so much more 

Resources: 


Sign up for our FREE newsletter 


Cross-Culture Connections 


Culture SPIN: Your 4-Step Toolkit for Global Leadership and Cross-Culture Success 


Get Dr. Wachter's free Cultural Courage Guide: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 

Want More? 


7 Mistakes to Avoid When Moving Abroad (Or Traveling Long-Term) with Chrishan Wright 


Top 10 Challenges Of Living Abroad with BoTik Quest 


Building a Life Abroad, Culture Shock, and Big Leaps with Traveling Jackie 

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What are you really looking for when you travel? 

Sarika Bansal is a travel writer, editor, and former editorial director of Afar magazine. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, and Vice, and she focuses on ethical storytelling, global perspectives, and the deeper impact of travel. She currently lives in Nairobi, Kenya, with her family. 

In this episode, Co-host Paige McClanahan talks with Sarika Bansal about how travel shapes us, from living in Kenya to trekking in the Everest region, and how those experiences influence the way we think about travel itself. 

This conversation explores what happens when we shift from collecting places to truly engaging with them, and how that shift can completely change the way we experience travel. Sarika shares stories from her own journey, from trekking in the Everest region to building a life in Kenya, and reflects on how stepping outside your comfort zone can reshape your worldview in unexpected ways. We also get into the idea of country counting, the value of returning to places, and how different stages of life influence not just where we go, but how we show up when we get there. 

What do you think matters more in travel, the number of places you visit or the depth of your experiences? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message. 

Co-host Paige McClanahan is a writer, editor, and former journalist based in Paris, France. As the author of The New Tourist: Waking up to the Power and Perils of Travel, Paige is passionate about making sure our travels have a positive impact on the world. Get in touch and follow her on Substack. 

Tune In To Learn: 


Why Sarika’s move to Nairobi reshaped her daily life, pace, and perspective 


What drove her to travel writing and how growing up between the U.S. and India influenced her approach to storytelling and travel 


What a “questionable” volunteer trip taught her about ethics in travel early on 


How trekking in the Everest region while pregnant forced her to slow down 


What it’s like exploring quieter trails, monasteries, and local life beyond the Everest “highway” 


How climate change is visibly impacting fragile destinations like Everest Base Camp 


Why the idea of “country counting” breaks down when you question what it means to visit a place 


Sarika’s analogy between travel metrics and personal health, and why both can become misleading 


How different life stages, like traveling with kids, change how and where you explore 


Unexpected ways to experience Kenya, from DIY safaris to birdwatching and coastal towns 


And so much more 

Resources: 


Sign up for our FREE newsletter 


Castle Forest Lodge 

Want More? 


Ethical Wildlife Tourism With Kristen Diederich 


The World’s Most Traveled Person on the Ethics of Gamifying Travel, Best Regions in the World, and Why To Keep Traveling With Harry Mitsidis of NomadMania 


How To Be a “New Tourist,” the Powers and Perils of Tourism, Embracing Tourist Traps, and the Impact of Travel With Paige McClanahan 

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