The Maverick Show: Global Travel Stories & Life Beyond Borders

Eileen asks if these are really the most dangerous countries in South America or if they just have a lot of Black people. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE In Part 2 of this interview, Eileen talks about the award she won at the Black Travel Film Festival for her travel series “Black Latin History”.  She then breaks down the historical, social, political and cultural significance of Afro-Colombian music from El Pacifico, including the legacy of Petronio Alvarez and the festival named after him.  Eileen also explains why you should definitely visit Cali, Colombia.  Next, she talks about Black history and culture in Medellin, Colombia, and why her first trip to the city surprised and delighted her.  Eileen also talks about her upcoming Afro-Medellin group trip and how you can join.  Next, she reflects on her trips to Rio and Salvador in Brazil, including how she designed them to center the rich Black history and culture in Brazil.  Matt and Eileen also tell you how to get a discounted ticket to meet them at the upcoming WITS Travel Creator Summit where Eileen is presenting a workshop.  And, finally, Eileen reflects on “diaspora wars” and shares the #1 lesson she has learned from her travels.  ⁠ → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU: See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally You can buy me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

Learn about Afro-Colombian history, diaspora identity, and the impact of 3 special trips to different regions of Africa. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Eileen Ivette joins Matt and starts off talking about her viral video on “How Braids Became a Secret Map for Escaping Slavery”. She then talks about her Afro-Colombian heritage, diaspora identity, and experience navigating Blackness in the Latinx community in Houston. Eileen then talks about her decision to go to Howard University and the impact of attending an HBCU. She reflects on her decision to go to China during her freshman year and describes the experience that she and 15 other Black students had there. Eileen then talks about her long term boyfriend from Sierra Leone and her experience traveling back to Sierra Leone with him to meet his extended family and document some oral history. Eileen then talks about traveling to South Africa and Morocco and how different they are from West Africa. She also talks about her career in journalism, working for AJ+, and producing hidden history projects, including one on how “Latin America Tried to Erase Black People…and Failed”.  ⁠ ⁠ → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU: See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally You can buy me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

Learn how to use the skills you already have to become a fully-remote freelancer in 5 days so you can travel the world. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Hannah Dixon joins Matt from Guanajuato, Mexico and starts off talking about her recent trip to Rio, her first impression of Brazil, and some of the discussion topics at The Nomad World conference. She then talks about her special connection with Thailand and attending Matt’s talk about the Extraordinary Travel Fest in Bangkok. Hannah and Matt then tell stories about meeting up in Portugal, in Kentucky at Nomadness Fest, and in Salt Lake City at the WITS Travel Creator Summit. Hannah then talks about her special relationship with Cambodia, her work with the Manabu Movement in Eastern Europe, and founding the Rainbow Remote community for queer digital nomads. She talks about the importance of community building and shares some tips on that before taking us on her journey to founding the Virtual Excellence Academy and helping over 37,000 people become remote freelancers with the skills they already have. Hannah concludes by inviting you to join her upcoming 5 Day VA Challenge for free, where she teaches you how to build your freelance business with your existing skills and land your first paying client in 5 days. ⁠ ⁠ → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU: See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally You can buy me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

Learn how volunteering, internships, and cultural exchanges abroad can transform your life & positively impact the world. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Yazan Badarny joins Matt from Haifa and starts off by talking about his experience growing up in the Palestinian city of Arraba. He describes the racism and second class citizenship experienced by Palestinians with Israeli citizenship, and explains how travel and living abroad empowered him to confidently embrace his Palestinian identity and speak up about the Palestinian struggle around the world.  Yazan takes us on his transformative journey doing an internship in South Africa, taking one of the world’s highest bungee jumps, and developing the idea for his company Home Awe. Yazan explains his passion for empowering other Palestinians to travel the world, both so that they can have personal growth experiences by connecting with the world and so that they can educate the world about Palestine. He talks about his travels from Tanzania to Switzerland, shares life lessons from learning to ski in the Alps, and explains the importance of ‘starting with why’. Yazan talks about the volunteer and internship opportunities that Home Awe offers around the world today, from Brazil to Sri Lanka, and how he grew his Instagram following to over 400,000. Finally, he reflects on the impact Home Awe has had on its participants, and on what travel means to him today. ⁠ ⁠ → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU: See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally You can buy me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

Learn how to build your personal brand, be unique and authentic, grow your followers, and monetize your travel content. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE In Part 2 of this interview Nicole Phillip takes us on her professional journey through the world of journalism, including her experiences working at the New York Times on the 1619 Project and as the Social Media Manager for the Daily Beast. She then talks about her transition out of legacy media into becoming an independent travel content creator. Nicole describes her process of finding her voice, stepping into her authentic self, building her personal brand, getting her first 250K followers on social media, and landing brand deals. She then opens up about how she separates ‘having’ vs.‘documenting’ her travel experiences, and how all of this travel has impacted her as a person. Nicole also shares her tips for Black travelers, teases her upcoming talk at the WITS travel creator summit, and reflects on what travel means to her today. And finally, Nicole names her Top 5 Hip Hop MCs of all time! ⁠ ⁠ → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU: See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally You can buy me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

Hear stories about Guatemala, Morocco, Arctic Snow Hotels in Lapland, Finland and music festivals in Cali, Colombia. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Nicole Phillip joins Matt from Orlando, Florida and talks about growing up in a Caribbean immigrant home, moving to New York City for college, and encountering racism on a study abroad trip to Italy. Matt and Nicole reflect on the various ways anti-Blackness and white privilege manifest around the world. Nicole then talks about her other travel experiences starting with her European travels outside of Italy during her study abroad program. She then explains why Colombia is one of her favorite countries and shares her experiences in Cartagena, Medellin, and Cali, including attending the Petronio Alvarez Festival. Nicole also talks about her travels through Morocco, Guatemala, and her recent birthday trip to the Arctic Circle in Lapland, Finland. She shares the magical experience of visiting the Arctic Snow Hotel, drinking at the ice bar, sleeping in a glass igloo, going dog-sledding, enjoying a Finnish sauna, and seeing the Northern Lights. ⁠ ⁠ → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU: See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally You can buy me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

Learn how to experience the best of Tanzanian nightlife, food, music, beaches, mountains, safaris, history and culture. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Justa Lujwangana joins Matt from Mt. Vernon, New York and talks about her experience growing up in Tanzania and Uganda before immigrating to New York at age 12. She reflects on the cultural acclimation process, navigating the contours of Blackness in the U.S., and coming of age as an African immigrant in New York. Justa talks about maintaining Tanzanian culture in the diaspora, the role of music in her life, and eventually re-connecting with her homeland as an adult. Matt and Justa then talk about the amazing nightlife in Dar es Salaam, summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro, Safaris in the Serengeti, and the beautiful beaches and distinct culture of Zanzibar. Justa talks about founding her company “Curious on Tanzania” to help you experience the best of the country, focused on the themes that are most appealing to you. She reflects on facilitating experiences for African-Americans to reconnect with the Continent and shares her thoughts about the ethical and sustainability dynamics of tourism in Tanzania. Finally share reflects on the impact travel has had on her and offers you a special discount for a “Curious on Tanzania” trip.  ⁠ ⁠ → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU: See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally You can buy me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

Learn the tactics to start a remote business from scratch and scale it to $40 million/year while traveling the world. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE In Part 2 of my interview with Dan Demsky, we pull back the curtain and do a deep dive into exactly how he built Unbound Merino from a Kickstarer to an 8-figure global brand. He breaks down the most effective digital advertising strategies and channels that are working today, as well as how to create digital ads that convert today. Dan then describes the evolution of the Unbound Merino clothing line, the launch of the women’s line, and the tactics he used to scale the company to $40 million/year in revenue. He reflects on his CEO leadership style, gives tips on building company culture with a fully distributed team, and explains how he attracts and hires top talent. Dan then gives tips on managing cash flow during periods of rapid growth, approaching business problem solving during periods of high stress, and becoming business partners with personal friends. Next, He talks about how he balances his health, relationships, and digital nomad lifestyle with being productive in a high growth business environment. Finally, Dan shares his vision for the future of Unbound Merino, reflects on what travel means to him today, and offers you a 10% discount on Unbound Merino apparel. ⁠ ⁠ → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU: See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally You can buy me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

Lean why stillness and connection to nature are so important for a high-performance 8-figure remote business owner. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Dan Demsky joins Matt from Buenos Aires for a virtual wine night. He starts off talking about growing up in Toronto, reflects on his early entrepreneurial tendencies, and then tells stories from a life changing trip to Japan. Dan then talks about his passion for travel, his motives for traveling to places like Prague and Buenos Aires, and tells stories from a transformative hike up Cotapaxi in Ecuador. He reflects on the importance of stillness and connecting with nature for high performance entrepreneurs. Dan then takes us on his journey of finding business opportunities, learning about sales, and eventually co-founding the travel fashion brand Unbound Merino. He explains the price to value of Merino wool clothing, breaks down the unique travel-conducive properties of Merino Wool, and the distinct positioning of the Unbound Merino brand. And finally, Dan offers you 10% off Unbound Merino apparel. ⁠ ⁠ → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU: See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally You can buy me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

Learn about the “Women. Life. Freedom” protests against the Iranian regime and discovering solidarity in remote places. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE In Part 3 of this interview, Yooshita talks about traveling back to Iran after leaving as a refugee. She explains why she creates her travel content in Farsi and reflects on her last trip back to Iran (including why she can no longer return). Yooshita then explains the context for the “Women. Life. Freedom” movement against the Iranian regime, and describes her participation in the protest at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. She talks about the extent of the global media coverage that she received, and the impact of the protest. Yooshita then shares stories about finding Palestine solidarity in Greenland, celebrating her birthday on the Iron Ore train in Mauritania, and gives tips on how to integrate more travel into your life if you have a full time job that is not remote. Finally, she shares her perspective on counting countries and reflects on how travel has impacted her as a person and how her view of travel has evolved over the years. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU: See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally You can buy me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)