

The Maverick Show: Global Travel Stories & Life Beyond Borders
Matt Bowles: Full-Time World Traveler Since 2013
The Maverick Show is a global travel podcast about what really happens when people cross borders and build lives across cultures. Hosted by full-time world traveler Matt Bowles, each episode features intimate, unfiltered conversations (often over a bottle of wine) exploring the human stories behind global travel and what the journey teaches us about the world and ourselves.
Guests include expats, digital nomads, women and diaspora storytellers, worldschooling families, and human rights advocates, all sharing travel stories that are funny, moving, and deeply human.
In addition to hearing about extraordinary places and the people who live there, you’ll learn what it’s really like to move abroad or travel long-term, as guests open up about their personal journeys navigating culture, race, power, identity, and belonging in an unequal world. If you’ve ever felt that travel changes you in ways no one talks about, you’re in the right place.
The Maverick Show hit the Top 100 on Apple Podcasts (including #1 in Places & Travel), was ranked in the Top 1% of podcasts globally by Listen Notes, and was named the #1 Digital Nomad Podcast and #1 Remote Work Podcast by Million Podcasts — with hundreds of five-star listener reviews.
Guests include expats, digital nomads, women and diaspora storytellers, worldschooling families, and human rights advocates, all sharing travel stories that are funny, moving, and deeply human.
In addition to hearing about extraordinary places and the people who live there, you’ll learn what it’s really like to move abroad or travel long-term, as guests open up about their personal journeys navigating culture, race, power, identity, and belonging in an unequal world. If you’ve ever felt that travel changes you in ways no one talks about, you’re in the right place.
The Maverick Show hit the Top 100 on Apple Podcasts (including #1 in Places & Travel), was ranked in the Top 1% of podcasts globally by Listen Notes, and was named the #1 Digital Nomad Podcast and #1 Remote Work Podcast by Million Podcasts — with hundreds of five-star listener reviews.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 22, 2024 • 60min
294: Traveling with Kids and Lessons from 12 Million Downloads of the Zero to Travel Podcast with Jason Moore
Learn Tips and Reflections on Traveling with Kids as well as Lessons from Hundreds of Interviews with World Travelers.
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Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds.
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ON THIS EPISODE
Jason Moore joins Matt from Norway and starts off talking about his recent trip to Rome with his wife and kids. He reflects on travel and parenting and explains why he takes one-on-one international trips with his young kids. Jason talks about the impact of travel on his kids and shares tips for taking your kids on international trips. Next, he pulls back the curtain on his podcast, Zero to Travel, which has over 12 Million downloads. Jason explains how he finds guests and what he thinks makes a great interview. He also shares tips on how to improve interview and conversation skills, and reflects on the biggest lessons he has learned from interviewing hundreds of world travelers. Jason shares some of his favorite travel destinations, tips on travel ethics, and reflects on what travel means to him today. And, finally, he names his Top 5 Hip Hop MCs and tells the story about the time he was in the same room as his musical hero Q-Tip!
→ Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here.
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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! :)

Jul 15, 2024 • 44min
293: Writing at the Intersection of Travel, Food and Black Liberation with Briona Lamback
Learn tips for decolonizing your travel writing and interweaving themes of Black liberation into food and travel content.
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Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds.
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ON THIS EPISODE
In part 2 of this interview, Matt and Briona continue their conversation over a bottle of wine and Briona begins by reflecting on her passion for writing. She then explains why she interweaves her culinary writing with themes of Black liberation and how she eventually got into travel journalism. Briona talks about the “Write Your Legacy” workshops she offers and then give tips on how to start decolonizing our travel writing. She talks about her upcoming group trip to Ghana for “Detty December” and then shares her experience navigating anti-Blackness around the world. Matt and Briona also talk about the upcoming Black Travel Summit and how you can meet them there and get a special Maverick Show discount. Finally, Briona reflects on how travel has impacted her over the years and closes it out by naming her Top 5 hip hop MCs of all time as well as her Top 5 Afrobeat artists.
→ 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! :)

Jul 8, 2024 • 50min
292: Travel as a Critical Component of Black Freedom with Briona Lamback
Learn about traveling for Black culture—From Afrobeats in London to “Detty December” in Ghana to Salvador in Brazil.
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Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds.
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ON THIS EPISODE
Briona joins Matt for a wine night from her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, and the episode kicks off with a discussion on why Baltimore is so amazing. Briona then talks about her study abroad experience in London, discovering Afrobeats, returning to London for her Masters and writing “The London Black Nightlife and Restaurant Guide”. She reflects on the impact of meeting other Black travelers and interviewing them for her short film “Free At Last”. Briona shares her experiences visiting Morocco on her first trip to Africa and going to Ghana in 2019 for “The Year of Return”. She also talks about founding her company Buoyant Travel and leading group trips to Ghana every year for “Detty December.” She explains why visiting the slave castles in Cape Coast is harrowing but necessary, and how travel is a critical part of Black freedom. Finally, Matt and Briona talk about their love for Brazil, caipirinhas, and the Black diaspora culture in Salvador de Bahia.
→ 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! :)

Jul 1, 2024 • 1h 3min
291: Traveling to Egypt, Honduras, Iceland, Kenya & Palestine as an Afro-Latino and Connecting with Cultures Through Food with Kevin Sandoval
Hear reflections on traveling to 57 countries as an Afro-Latino and how food can be a doorway to understanding culture.
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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
Kevin Sandoval joins Matt over wine and begins by giving tips for spending time in Boston. Matt and Kevin then reflect on their time together at the Latino Travel Fest in Elizabeth, NJ. Next, Kevin talks about his parents' journey from the Dominican Republic to the U.S., his experience growing up between Boston and the D.R., and how his interest in world travel developed. Kevin shares his recommendations for spending time in the Dominican Republic and then talks about his transformative trip to Egypt. He reflects on why he centers food in his travel content and how it can be a gateway into understanding history and culture as well as connection with people. Next, Kevin explains how speaking Spanish as his first language allows him to make deeper connections with people in Spanish-speaking countries, and shares his experiences in Honduras. He also shares travel stories from Iceland and Kenya and why his trip to Palestine was so impactful. Kevin offers tips for Black and Latino travelers, shares some budget travel hacks, gives tips for content creators, and then reflects on why after 57 countries he continues to travel.
→ 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! :)

Jun 25, 2024 • 1h 4min
290: Black Family Travel and Reflections on Being a Digital Nomad Dad with Justin Orgias
Learn tips for slow-traveling the world as a Black family with no permanent base, and raising kids around the world.
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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
Justin Orgias joins Matt from Mexico City and starts off talking about his parents’ heritage from Grenada and his experience growing up in a Caribbean immigrant community in Toronto. He then shares his experience of moving to Atlanta, meeting his wife, starting a family, and then deciding to travel the world full-time with no base. Justin talks about his family’s experiences living in Colombia, Brazil, and Spain, and taking a special family trip to Morocco for Christmas. He explains how his family meets other digital nomad families, how they handle schooling and childcare for their kids and gives tips for parents considering the digital nomad lifestyle. Justin then reflects on how travel has impacted him, his marriage, and his kids. He also reflects on his experience navigating anti-Blackness around the world, and shares tips for how we can be more ethical, sustainable, and thoughtful travelers. Finally, Matt and Justin discuss the upcoming Black Travel Summit and how you can meet them both there in person at a discounted rate.
→ 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! :)

Jun 17, 2024 • 1h 4min
289: Founding Black Travel Summit and Telling Afro-Indigenous & Global Black Diaspora Stories with Anita Moreau
Learn about the nuances, diversity, and intersecting identities of the global Black diaspora through travel stories.
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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
Anita Moreau joins Matt from Miami and starts off talking about her parents’ experiences being born in Haiti and the Seychelles respectively, and eventually moving to London where she was born. Anita describes the diversity of the Black diaspora communities in London and then reflects on navigating her East African and Caribbean identities while growing up in Britain. She also shares her observations on Blackness in the U.S. vs. the U.K. and opens up about her experiences with anti-Blackness in Europe. Anita then talks about her passion for Egypt, her travels there, and her decision to get married in Nubia. She also talks about her trips back to Haiti and the Seychelles, reflects on reconnecting with her heritage, and offers tips for visiting the Seychelles. Anita then talks about her passion for telling Afro-Indigenous and global Black diaspora stories and shares the backstory of founding the Black Travel Summit. She explains what you can expect at the upcoming Black Travel Summit, and then reflects on the impact travel has had on her as a person and shares tips for Black travelers just starting out. Finally, Anita names her Top 5 Afrobeat artists and 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! :)

Jun 10, 2024 • 1h 6min
288: The Brown Girl's Guide to Traveling the World Solo with Dr. Nabila Ismail
Learn how to navigate the cultural dynamics of traveling the world full-time as a Pakistani-American digital nomad.
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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
Dr. Nabila Ismail joins Matt from Houston and starts off talking about her parents experience immigrating from Pakistan to the U.S.. She then opens up about her experience growing up in a homogenous, white area of upstate New York, and being the only Desi Muslim girl in her school. Nabila talks about traveling back to Pakistan as a kid, then being an exchange student in Europe, and later going to college and Pharmacy school in the more diverse city of Buffalo, New York. She reflects on her clinical rotation in Zimbabwe, the reasons she eventually quit her job, and how she continues to integrate public health into her travels. Nabila then explains how she got 250,000 followers on social media, built a fully remote 6-figure business, and navigated the social, cultural and family pressure when traveling the world a full time digital nomad. She reflects on her travels to East Africa, discovering Desi culture there, and on her experience re-connecting with Pakistan as an independent adult. Nabila then talks about her book “The Brown Girl’s Guide to Traveling the World Solo”, her “Dose of Travel Club” for South Asian Travelers, and the small group trip she led to Iraq. Matt and Nabila then talk about using their platforms to advocate against the genocide in Palestine, and what you can do to help. Finally, Nabila reflects on the impact travel has had on her, and offers tips for BIPOC, Desi and Muslim women who want to travel the world.
→ 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! :)

Jun 3, 2024 • 1h 22min
287: From Middle School Teacher to 6-Figure Freelancer and Digital Nomad with Mashon Thomas
Learn how to work 20 hours a week as a freelancer, take 3 months off a year, and make 100K while traveling the world.
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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
Mashon Thomas joins Matt from the Philippines and describes her experience there. She then talks about growing up in Ohio, studying abroad in the Basque Country, traveling around Europe, and then coming back to the U.S. to pursue a traditional career path as a middle school teacher. Mashon opens up about her transitionary moment at age 30 when she decided to break up with her long-term relationship partner, change careers entirely, and pursue a fully remote digital nomad lifestyle. She talks about her travels through Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Antarctica, and Montenegro. Mashon also explains how she carved out her business niche, launched her podcast, and how she now teaches others how to transition out of a traditional career and build a 6-figure freelance business. After 6 years of slow traveling the world, she offers tips on thriving in the digital nomad lifestyle long term and reflects on what travel means to her 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! :)

May 27, 2024 • 1h 9min
286: How to Visit Ghana, Turn Up for "Detty December", and Engage the Tech Space in Africa with Akua Sencherey
Learn why and when to visit Ghana, including details about the music festivals and cultural events of “Detty December”.
============================
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
This is Part 2 of my interview with Akua Sencherey. She talks about reconnecting with her homeland of Ghana as an adult, after growing up in the U.S.. Matt and Akua then discuss their experiences in Accra during the legendary “Detty December”, and give tips for attending. Akua also reflects on her dual citizenship, exploring her identity abroad, and navigating anti-Blackness globally. She then explains how she structures her travel lifestyle and her upcoming plans to “slow-mad” around the Continent of Africa. Akua also discusses her passion and focus on the African tech space. Finally, she shares her top tips for visiting Ghana, reflects on the impact travel has had on her, and explains what travel means to her 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! :)

May 20, 2024 • 1h 1min
285: Traveling the World for Soccer and Listening to Marginalized Groups Abroad with Akua Sencherey
Learn the impact of cultural and language immersion while living abroad, and how soccer can open doors while traveling.
============================
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
Akua Sencherey starts off talking about her parents’ background growing up in Ghana and immigrating to the U.S.. She then talks about her experience growing up in Houston and navigating her Ghanaian-American identity and the milieu of Blackness in the U.S. as a first-generation African immigrant. Akua reflects on her first trip back to Ghana as a kid, the role of sports in her life, and how her interest in travel developed. She then opens up about the transitionary moment in her life when she quit her job to travel the world. Akua talks about her experience living in Cusco, Peru and eventually getting a job with Remote Year. She also reflects on the impact of cultural and language immersion while living abroad. Akua then talks about some of her travel experiences, from Morocco to South Africa, and how she loves to travel the world for women’s soccer. Matt and Akua reflect on the importance of paying attention to the narratives of marginalized groups, being aware of our own government’s foreign policy, and always separating people from their governments.
→ 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! :)


