Hear how a trip to Nigeria became a lifelong commitment to a country, a culture, and a completely different way of life. How does an American traveler go from teaching English in Thailand to building a life in Nigeria? In this episode, Chris Joondeph shares the remarkable journey that led him from growing up in the United States to living abroad, studying international affairs, maximizing airline travel to explore the world, and ultimately falling in love with Nigeria. Chris reflects on meeting his wife, embracing Yoruba traditions through their traditional wedding and marriage ceremonies, relocating to Lagos, and co-founding Authentic Traveling Tours to help visitors experience Nigeria through local relationships and genuine cultural immersion. Along the way, he shares why Lagos is best explored with locals, the places in Nigeria that have captured his heart, and how meaningful travel can grow into a life, a community, and a true sense of home.
Finding Home in Nigeria: Chris Joondeph on Cultural Immersion, Love & Authentic Travel (Ep 404)
Episode Summary
Get The Maverick Show's
Monday Minute Newsletter
Get 3 recs from Matt for travel, culture & living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds a week.
About the Guest
Chris Joondeph
Chris Joondeph is a travel content creator behind the brand “authentic traveling” where he has over 3 million followers on social media. With a focus on food, culture, and unique storytelling, Chris is all about getting the local experience in order to understand a place through the perspective of those living there. He is known for his fun, engaging videos that make it feel like you’re traveling along with him. Originally from the United States, he has now traveled to over 170 countries. Together with his Nigerian wife, he runs a tour company in Nigeria that focuses on small-group tours designed to show the best of Nigerian culture, food, and genuine local experiences.
What You'll Learn
- How deep cultural immersion transformed Chris from a visitor to someone who built a life, family, and business in Nigeria.
- What Chris learned by embracing Yoruba traditions, marrying into a Nigerian family, and experiencing the country through local relationships.
- Why Chris believes authentic travel begins with genuine human connection—and how that philosophy inspired Authentic Traveling Tours.
Links From the Episode
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. If you click through any links and make a purchase, you should assume that Maverick will receive financial compensation (at no additional cost to you). We greatly appreciate you using our affiliate links because it helps to support the show and cover production costs of the podcast.
_____________________________
GET THE MONDAY MINUTE – Matt’s weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders that you can read in 60 seconds.
FOLLOW THE MAVERICK SHOW AND DM MATT on Instagram
_____________________________
JOIN MATT AND CHRIS AT THE EXTRAORDINARY TRAVEL FESTIVAL IN BANGKOK IN OCTOBER 22ND TO 25TH 2026 (Use code Maverick to get $100 discount)
SIGN UP FOR CHRIS’S AUTHENTIC TRAVELING NIGERIA GROUP TRIP (Get a $200 discount with code “Maverick”)
CONTACT AND FOLLOW CHRIS
- Authentic Traveling Facebook
- Authentic Traveling Instagram
- Authentic Traveling TikTok
- Authentic Traveling X
- Authentic Traveling Website
LOCATIONS WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
- Matt: Asheville, North Carolina
- Chris: Lagos (Nigeria)
APP MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
MUSICAL ARTIST MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE
PLACES IN NIGERIA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Abeokuta
- Badagry
- Ekiti
- Enugu
- Fela Shrine
- Ibadan
- Jos
- Kano
- Lagos
- Maiduguri
- Obudu
- Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library
- Osun
- Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove
AIRLINES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Syria
- Iran
- Yemen
- Cairo (Egypt)
- Ukraine
- Belarus
- Germany
- Poland
- New Zealand
- Argentina
- Bangkok (Thailand)
- Prague
- Florence (Italy)
- Buenos Aires
- Quito (Ecuador)
- Orange County (California)
- Bali (Indonesia)
- Kyrgyzstan
- Kazakhstan
- Turkey
- Santiago (Chile)
- Equatorial Guinea
- Benin Republic
- Nigeria
Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[1:12] Introducing Chris Joondeph
[2:33] Authentic Traveling and Understanding Countries
[7:48] Growing up in the U.S and Living Abroad in New Zealand as a Kid
[11:58] Traveling in South America during College
[13:31] Moving to Thailand, Teaching English and starting the Authentic Traveling Brand
[17:54] Working on Capitol Hill and Becoming Disillusioned with the U.S. Political System
[20:54] Doing an MBA, a Masters in Foreign Affairs, and Studying Abroad in Bologna, Italy
[22:24] Working For Delta, Maximizing Flight Benefits, and Visiting Equatorial Guinea
[26:46] Meeting and Falling in Love with his Nigerian Wife
[31:37] What Chris Learned from Traveling with His Wife
[33:19] Proposing, Fulfilling the Dowry and Getting Married in Nigeria
[42:26] Why Chris and his Nigerian wife cannot live in the U.S. after 2 Years of Marriage
[46:04] Why Lagos is Best Experienced Through a Local
[48:07] Why Nigeria is so Uniquely Special
[50:45] Chris’s Favorite Places in Nigeria outside of Lagos
[54:31] Co-Founding “Authentic Traveling Tours” to Help People Visit Nigeria
[59:03] Building a Nigerian Tour Company that Benefits Local People
[1:01:30] How Visiting Nigeria Changes Peoples Perceptions
[1:04:24] The Types of People Who Attend the Nigeria Tours
[1:07:32] The New Nigerian eVisa process
[1:09:56] Itinerary of Chris’s Upcoming Nigeria Tour
[1:14:09] Follow and Contact Chris
