The Radio Vagabond

What does it really take to build a life around travel?

In this episode of The Radio Vagabond, I sit down in Bangkok with two travel content creators who've each taken very different paths – Matt Bowles and Phil Marcus.

Matt is the host of The Maverick Show – a long-form podcast diving deep into identity, culture, and life as a digital nomad. Phil is the creator behind ...

In this final episode from Elk Horn, Iowa – the most Danish town in America – I visit the local cemetery, where history is literally carved in stone.

Warren Whatson, the caretaker and local historian, shares stories about the early Danish settlers and how names and traditions changed over time.

Then I meet Stan Jens, the big-bearded mayor of Elk Horn, who invites me for...

Welcome back to Elk Horn, Iowa – a small Midwestern town that became the heart of Danish America. In this episode, we hear a remarkable coincidence about the first Danes to arrive here, visit the historic Danish Windmill with manager Lisa Steen Riggs, and explore The Museum of Danish America. I also get a personal tour of "Bedstemor's Hus," built in 1908 by the colorful local legend known as Prince Otto. From d...

Welcome to Elk Horn, Iowa – a tiny farming town of about 650 people that calls itself Dane Country. I'm spending time with locals to find out how Danish it still is today. I stay in a Danish-style BnB, eat æbleskiver with medister sausage for breakfast, visit a real 1848 windmill brought here piece by piece from Denmark, and sit down with the people keeping the heritage alive.

I also dive i...

In this final episode from Saudi Arabia, I travel from the peaceful Red Sea town of Yanbu to vibrant Jeddah – and end the journey at the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival near Riyadh. 

Along the way, I meet generous locals at a night market, stay with a kind CouchSurfing host, and visit the world's tallest unfinished skyscraper, the Jeddah Tower, now standing eerily still in the desert.

In this episode, my travel partner Cynthia and I explore Al Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia – where ancient culture meets cutting-edge architecture.

We stroll through Old Town's 1,300 mudbrick houses, chat with a modern young Saudi woman named Dalal, and marvel at Maraya, the world's largest mirrored building shimmering in the desert.

We also test our luck (and our rental car) in the sand again – with a dram...

In this episode, we leave Riyadh behind and head for "The Edge of the World" – a jaw-dropping cliff where the desert drops into infinity.

With only vague directions from a CouchSurfing friend ("Go to the mosque… don't die"), my travel buddy Cynthia and I set out on a 4,000 km road trip across Saudi Arabia. We encounter rare desert rain, camel caravans, endless dunes, and the unexpected kindness of strangers.

...

Join me on an unforgettable journey across Saudi Arabia – from the futuristic capital Riyadh to the dramatic Red Sand Dunes where my travel partner Cynthia and I got repeatedly stuck.

Along the way, we discover a country transforming itself through Vision 2030, meet warm and curious locals, and experience the blend of old traditions and bold modernization that defines the new KSA.

We explo...

In this flashback episode, I'm in Rio de Janeiro – a city bursting with life, rhythm, and contradictions. From the stunning beaches of Copacabana to the chaotic streets where danger can lurk in the shadows, Rio is a place that never lets you relax completely.

Join me as I dive into the culture, meet the locals, and experience both the breathtaking beauty and the raw edges of this remarkable...

In this Flashback Friday episode of The Radio Vagabond, I return to New York City – a place I've visited many times before. But this time, something felt different.

From the moment I stepped back into the chaos, culture, and charisma of "The Big Apple," I was reminded of just how alive this city is. They say it's the greatest city in the world – and in this episode, I set out to rediscover ...

In this colorful Flashback Friday episode of The Radio Vagabond, I take you to the tropical paradise of the Philippines.

Join me as I island-hop through crystal-clear waters, meet fascinating locals, and dive below the surface – literally. While scuba diving, I find myself face-to-face with some familiar characters… yes, even Nemo and Dory make an appearance in this underwater adventure.

In this emotional Flashback Friday episode of The Radio Vagabond, I travel to Bessemer, Alabama to experience Gip's Place  –  a legendary juke joint founded in the backyard of Henry "Gip" Gipson.

At the time, Gip was an astonishing 97 years old, still hosting Saturday night blues sessions in his tin-roofed music shed alongside family, locals, and wandering musicians. His motto, "No black, n...

In this high-stress Flashback Friday episode of The Radio Vagabond, I find myself in the heart of Dakar, Senegal, with a bus leaving at 7 am – and a taxi driver who has no idea where the bus terminal is.

What follows is a chaotic ride through a waking city, a ticking clock, and rising panic. But this episode isn't just about the stress. Along the way, I also meet a talented local artist and...

In this offbeat episode of The Radio Vagabond, I find myself in beautiful Bali, sipping on what might be the strangest – and most expensive – cup of coffee I've ever had.

It's called Luwak coffee, made from beans that have been eaten, digested, and yes, pooped out by a civet cat. Then it's cleaned, roasted, and brewed into a surprisingly smooth cup of coffee. Whether it's a gimmick or a gou...

In this provocative Flashback Friday episode of The Radio Vagabond, I travel to Belarus – often called "Europe's last dictatorship" – to uncover the lived reality of life under Alexander Lukashenko. As I meet locals and explore Minsk, I ask a bold question: are there bright sides to this autocratic system?

Some people credit the regime with preserving economic stability post-USSR, keeping u...

In this Flashback Friday episode of The Radio Vagabond, we head to Pattaya, Thailand – a place with two drastically different faces.

First, I take you down one of the wildest party streets on the planet: Walking Street. It's loud, it's chaotic, and it's absolutely unforgettable. From neon lights and booming music to all kinds of nightlife, it's a full-on sensory overload.

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