Francis Tapon is Hiking his own Hike Around the World

In this episode we discuss:

How Francis manages to hike through snow without a warm jacket (or underwear)

Practicing discomfort and gratitude

The two traits Francis learned from spending five and a half years in Africa and traveling to all 54 African countries

Falling in love and getting married in Africa

The benefits of growing up with exposure to multiple cultures

Collecting "cultural souvenirs" as we travel

Why the idea of "cultural appropriation" makes no sense

How the weather changes culture from Africa to Europe to SE Asia

What Eastern Europeans Can Teach Us

The role of history in American, European, and African cultures

How the Moors shaped modern Spain

Slowing down in Spain and reevaluating what's important in life

Francis provocative writing style and why it's so hard to write a book about Africa

Reverse culture shock on returning to America after a long time away

The East Coast mentality and "default question"

What the rest of the world thinks about Americans that we don't realize

The three areas where America is hands down the greatest country in the world

Where Francis plans to go next and making the most of life before we move on

What it means to "Hike your own hike"

Links:

Francis' Website (https://francistapon.com/)

Francis' First Book Hike Your Own Hike: 7 Life Lessons from Backpacking Across America (https://francistapon.com/Books/Hike-Your-Own-Hike/)

Francis' Second Book The Hidden Europe: What Eastern Europeans Can Teach Us (https://francistapon.com/Books/The-Hidden-Europe/)

Francis' Patreon Account (https://www.patreon.com/ftapon) - Get access to "The Unseen Africa" book as Francis writes it 

Francis' TEDx Talk "How and why travel transforms you" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2Bd8pNYH8A)

Francis' TEDx Talk "Bring Out Your Inner Black Sheep" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVfADBIsgB8)

Francis' TEDx Talk "7 surprising lessons from picking up 3,000 African Hitchhikers" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WxfRLByD60)

The Jacks R Better sleeping bag that Francis uses and recommends:  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CfBrJX5zoU)

Francis' gear list from hiking the Continental Divide Trail (https://francistapon.com/Travels/Continental-Divide-Trail/CDT-Gear-List)

The Time Paradox book by Philip Zimbardo and John Boyd (https://www.amazon.com/Time-Paradox-Psychology-That-Change/dp/1416541993)