Global Travel Stories & Life Beyond Borders

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Ethical Travel, Power & Social Change

Explore podcast episodes about ethical travel, global power dynamics, and how travel intersects with social change and activism. Hear conversations on responsible travel, human rights, and the impact of travel across cultures and communities.

Travel does not exist outside politics, history, and global power dynamics. In these conversations from The Maverick Show, guests explore ethical travel, social change, and the political realities that shape global mobility. These episodes examine how travel intersects with human rights, activism, colonial history, and movements for justice across borders. Guests discuss responsible travel, solidarity, and how travelers can engage thoughtfully with the communities and cultures they encounter. Together these conversations explore the deeper political and ethical dimensions of travel in an interconnected world.

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383: Travel as Activism: Priyanka Surio’s Framework for Sustainable and Regenerative Travel

Learn how to make travel choices that support local communities, avoid harm, and meaningfully give back around the world. In Part 2 of this conversation, Priyanka Surio shares her framework for thinking about travel as a form of activism and breaks down the difference between sustainable and regenerative travel. She outlines an 8-part model built

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358: Lessons from Malcolm X’s Travels, Black-American Expatriation, Living in Cairo, and Building Global Solidarity with Imani Bashir

Learn about being a Black Muslim activist in the U.S., meeting Malcolm X’s daughter, moving abroad and living in Cairo. Imani Bashir joins Matt in Washington, DC and they reflect on their Keynote panel at Nomadness Fest and their experience meeting Malcolm X’s daughter there. Imani breaks down the neocolonial dynamics that often pervade the

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355: Mindful Travel In an Unequal World: How to Move Beyond Guilt, Build Solidarity, Challenge Power, Notice Joy, and Find Belonging with Dr. Anu Taranath

Hear from the author of my most recommended book for travelers: Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World. In part 2 of this interview, Dr. Anu Taranath talks about her motives for writing her book “Beyond Guilt Trips”, the value and importance of stories, and how we can understand guilt and shame in…

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351: Investigating War Crimes and Fighting for Human Rights in Chiapas, Guatemala, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Iraq, Cambodia and Palestine with Etelle Higonnet

Hear stories about standing up for human rights around the world and struggling for truth, accountability and justice. Etelle Higonnet joins Matt for a wine night from Copenhagen, and begins by talking about her role as a founding member of the Sustainable Wine Roundtable. She then describes her family background, her experience moving around growing…

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318: Navigating the Neo-Colonial Dynamics of the Travel Industry and Co-Founding the Hybrid Tours with Hira Aftab

Learn about the neo-colonial dynamics in the travel industry but how tourism can include both recreation & human rights. In part 2 of this interview, Hira Aftab starts off talking about the neo-colonial dynamics of the travel industry. She explains what prompted her to co-found the Hybrid Tours and how she integrates human rights and…

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297: Overtourism, Transnational Gentrification, and Envisioning a More Equitable Future of Travel with Dr. Kaisu Koskela

Learn how some local communities are being harmed by the rise of digital nomadism and what some potential solutions are. In part of this interview, Dr. Kaisu Koskela talks about the academic sampling bias when attempting to define who digital nomads are. She then explains the dynamics of both overtourism and transnational gentrification, and the…

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256: Visiting Nigeria, Being an Ally Not a Savior, and Dismantling Oppressive Power Structures with Tayo Rockson

In part 2 of my interview with Tayo Rockson, he shares his personal journey and how he pivoted after a life threatening car accident. Tayo then shares his professional journey and explains his work as a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Consultant. I go deep with him on the relationship between DEI vs. dismantling systems…

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247: Empowering Adventure Travelers to Collaborate with Global Communities on Meaningful Service Projects with Candice Young

Candice Young talks about growing up in LA in a Chinese immigrant home, majoring in Marine Biology, studying abroad in Costa Rica, and discovering fire spinning. She then talks about returning to China for the first time before going to live in Thailand to pursue both fire spinning and scuba diving. Candice tells her story…

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210: Irish Decolonial Solidarity, British Imperialism in Kenya, and Navigating White Privilege in Africa with Conor Walsh

In Part 2 of this interview, Conor Walsh talks about how his nomad journey helped him learn about the extent of Irish solidarity with other decolonial movements and struggles against oppression around the world. He gives an overview of the history of British imperialism in Kenya and it’s legacy in present day Kenya. Conor emphasizes…

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202: De-Exotifying The Arab World, Teaching The Most Dangerous Book, and Founding Left Turn Magazine with Zein El-Amine

Zein El-Amine starts off talking about the study abroad program he designed to take his students to Egypt for a range of immersive experiences, including meeting Egyptian author Nawal el Saadawi at her home. He then talks about his deep personal connection with James Joyce’s book “Ulysses”. Matt and Zein discuss “Bloomsday” celebrations around the…

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156: Anarchism, Zapatismo, and the Transformative Impact of Palestine Solidarity Work with Joshua Stephens

Joshua Stephens shares the story of a non-violent direct action he was involved with as part of the “Free Burma” coalition in Washington, DC, that got him arrested at the Myanmar embassy and subsequently labeled a “terrorist in the pay of the CIA and the Vatican” in the official paper of the Myanmar military junta.