Learn about backdoor diplomacy, pink imperialism, colonial history & why slower travel can create deeper connections. Ross OC Jennings tells the story of meeting his husband Travis and building a relationship centered around a life of travel. He reflects on living in Guatemala and the Philippines, navigating countries where homosexuality is criminalized, and the complex dynamics of queer travel across different cultural contexts. Ross also shares why Mozambique holds a special place in his heart, what playing the bagpipes around the world taught him about colonial history and cultural exchange, and how returning to Shanghai nearly 30 years after moving there as a child affected his understanding of identity and home. He then talks about his show So Where’s It From? And, finally, he reflects the responsibility travel content creators have when telling other people’s stories, the limitations of country counting and achievement-oriented travel, and why slowing down has ultimately led to deeper connections and more meaningful experiences around the world.
Traveling the World as a Gay Couple: Ross OC Jennings on Queer Life Across Cultures & Finding Home Abroad (Ep 407)
Episode Summary
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About the Guest
Ross OC Jennings
Ross OC Jennings is traveling bagpiper, world record holder and cultural storyteller who has played the bagpipes in more than 117 countries and is working towards performing in every country on Earth. He is also the host of “So Where’s It From”, a documentary-style YouTube series exploring the origins of everyday objects, foods and traditions. With both Irish and Scottish heritage, he was raised mostly in East Asia, educated in the UK, and speaks Mandarin, Spanish and English. He has built a global career as a musical performer, public speaker and content creator who has performed live to over half a million people, collaborated with governments and international brands, and used his bagpipes as an unlikely catalyst for cross-cultural connection as he travels the world.
What You'll Learn
- How Ross and his husband built a life of world travel together and navigate queer identity across very different cultural contexts.
- What “backdoor diplomacy” and “pink imperialism” reveal about LGBTQ+ travel, cultural differences, and connecting with local communities.
- How colonial history, responsible storytelling, and slow travel reshaped Ross’s understanding of what it means to travel meaningfully.
Links From the Episode
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WATCH ROSS YOUTUBE DOCUMENTARY SHOW SO WHERE IT FROM?
CONTACT AND FOLLOW ROSS
LOCATIONS WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
- Ross: Metro Manila (Philippines)
- Matt: Asheville, North Carolina
TOP 2 BOOKS THAT ROSS RECOMMENDS
- Prisoners of Geograph by Tim Marshall (Book 1)
- Prisoners of Geograph by Tim Marshall (Book 2)
#1 PERSON WITH WHOM ROSS WANTS TO HAVE DINNER
TOP 3 FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
TOP 3 BUCKET LIST DESTINATIONS
PLACES IN CHINA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES AND SPOTS IN GUATEMALA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Antigua
- Lake Atitlán
- Petén
- Xela (Quetzaltenango)
PLACES IN INDIA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN MALAYSIA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN MEXICO MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN TANZANIA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
LANGUAGES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
MAYAN GROUPS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
VIDEO CONFERENCING PLATFORMS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Africa
- Amsterdam
- Australia
- Bahrain
- Belize
- Bhutan
- Canada
- Cape Town
- Caribbean
- Chicago
- Edinburgh (Scotland)
- Europe
- Himalayas
- Ilha de Moçambique (Mozambique)
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Java (Indonesia)
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lithuania
- London
- Malaysia
- Manama (Bahrain)
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- Oman
- Panama
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Scotland
- Singapore
- South America
Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[2:54] Meeting and Falling in Love with His Husband Travis
[5:33] Building a Relationship Centered Around a Life of Travel
[7:59] Living in Guatemala for 3 Years
[10:33] The Best Way to Slow Travel Guatemala
[12:55] Living in The Philippines as a Gay Couple
[16:11] How Being Gay Has Impacted the Way Ross Experienced the World
[20:24] What Queer Western Travelers Sometimes Misunderstand About Queer Life Elsewhere
[22:08] Navigating Countries Where Homosexuality is Criminalized
[24:42] Why He Loves Mozambique
[27:00] How the Bagpipes Have Created Unique Cross-Cultural Connections
[30:00] Similarities between the Scottish Kilt and Other Cultural Garb Around the World
[31:30] When Playing the Bagpipes was Not Well Received
[34:04] What the Bagpipes Taught Him about British Colonial History
[36:47] “So, Where’s It From?”
[41:59] Reflections on Returning to Shanghai in 2026
[45:17] How China and Shanghai Shaped Ross as a Person
[47:53] How Ross thinks about the concept of “Home”
[49:34] The Responsibility of Travel Content Creators
[52:40] Reflections on Achievement-Oriented Travel Goals like Visiting Every Country
[55:34] What Travel Means to Ross Today
[57:14] The Lightning Round
[59:05]How to Contact, Follow and Meet Ross at the Extraordinary Travel Fest
