Episode #101: Making Cocaine with Pablo Escobar’s Top Scientist, Job Interviews at the Full Moon Party, and Building Work-Travel Communities with Travis King

Episode Summary

Travis King talks about background growing up in the Wisconsin suburbs and shares how he developed his social and political consciousness, his desire to travel, and then, after getting his Master’s degree, why he embarked on a 4-year solo-travel adventure that would change his entire life. He takes us around the world on his travel journey, starting with a wild adventure in Colombia where he wound up making cocaine with one of Pablo Escobar’s top scientists. He then takes us through his experience in Australia where he ended up in immigration prison before being deported in what was simultaneously one of his scariest and emotionally moving travel experiences of his life. Travis then talks about the importance of music in his life and why he either organizes or participates in open mic nights around the world. He then plays a special acoustic hip hop mash-up live on The Maverick Show. Next, he talks about landing a job with Remote Year as a Program Leader and tells the story of having his in-person interview on the island of Koh Pha Ngan, Thailand, during the legendary full moon party. He then reflects on his Remote Year experience leading 70 adults around the world and building a meaningful work-travel community. He also talks about his subsequent role as the Director of Community Development and shares some of his tips and techniques for meaningful community building, group bonding and cohesion. He then talks about why and how he prioritizes physical fitness while traveling. And finally he talks about why he wrote the memoir now, what the title means, and what 4 organizations will receive part of the proceeds from the book. FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: www.TheMaverickShow.com

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What You'll Learn

Reflections on personal growth and perspective gained from 8 years of world travel
Techniques for meaningful community building, cohesion, bonding, and inclusion
Why and how to prioritize fitness while traveling the world

Links From the Episode

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GET A COPY OF TRAVIS’S BOOK AND CONTACT TRAVIS

WORK TRAVEL PROGRAM TRAVIS FACILITATED

Remote Year (Use this link to get a $100 Discount on Remote Year)

ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVING A PORTION OF TRAVIS’S BOOK PROCEEDS

2 BOOKS THAT TRAVIS RECOMMEND

#1 PERSON WITH WHOM TRAVIS WANTS TO HAVE DINNER

Anderson Paak

LOCATION WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE

TOP 3 FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

TOP 3 BUCKET LIST DESTINATIONS

OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIES EPISODE

TOP 5 HIP HOP MCs

Time Stamped Show Notes

[5:36] Travis’s Upbringing

Growing up in Wisconsin
Processing his mother’s death at age 10
Learning to live as hard and fast and free as you can
Playing soccer in College
Two years in Americorps
Rebuilding projects in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina
Getting his Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management at Marquette
Deciding to travel the world and telling everyone about it for accountability

[10:39] How Travis Developed His Social and Political Consciousness

Going to high school with diverse classmates
Doing Americorps
Working at a predominantly-Black neighborhood center

[14:26] Deciding to Travel the World for 4 Years on 4 Continents

[17:33] Reflecting on the Impact and Growth Over 4 Years of Solo Travel

Thinking back to the fear starting out
Learning the value of travel serendipity

[20:42] Drug-Laden Travel Adventures in Colombia

Connecting with a Travel Crew in the Party Hostel Scene
Doing his first Ayahuasca ritual
Making Cocaine with Pablo Escobar’s top scientist

[26:03] Travis’s Experience in Immigration Prison in Australia

[35:03] Playing Guitar For Audiences Around the World

Travis’s musical foundation growing up
Hosting open mic nights across the globe

[38:38] Travis Performs “No Diggity”/“Gangsters Paradise” on Acoustic Guitar

[42:48] Interviewing to be a Remote Year Program Leader at the Full Moon Party

Applying to work with Remote Year
Travis’s Job Interview at the Full Moon Party in Koh Pha Ngan, Thailand

[53:16] Leading a Community of 70 Adults Around the World for 12 Months.

The Role of a Remote Year “Program Leader”
Travis’s Experience Leading the 3^rd Remote Year Group Around the World

[56:51] Travis’s Role in Community Building with Matt’s Remote Year Group

[58:02] Travis’s Reflection on The Early Days of Remote Year

[58:54] Building Group Cohesion and Supportive, Inclusive Communities

[1:05:16] Group Bonding Through “Family Dinners” and “The Toast Game”

[1:09:02] Organizing “Kravis Ting” Group Travel Workouts

Working out Every Day
Why Travis makes fitness his top priority

[1:15:47] Writing “Not That Anyone Asked”

Why Travis wrote the memoir now
How he chose the title
Why writing the book was so important

[1:20:51] The 4 Organizations that Will Receive a Portion of the Book Proceeds

Boys Hope New Orleans
Our Next Generation
Be a Hero
The Movement for Black Lives

[1:25:02] Travis’s Top Takeaways from His World Travels

Learning different models for success and happiness
Breaking out of the traditional American blueprint
Removing perceived limitations on life

[1:28:41] The Lightning Round

Top 2 most influential books
#1 Travel hack for musicians
#1 Person with whom Travis would most like to have dinner
Top 3 Favorite Travel Destinations
Top 3 Bucket List Destinations
Top 5 Hip Hop MCs

[1:34:43] Follow Travis and Order the Book

About the Guest

Travis King

Travis King is a full time digital nomad who specializes in community-building within the remote work movement, cultivating global perspectives, improving location-independent company culture, as well as large and small group facilitation and team-building. After completing his Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management at Marquette University, Travis set out for a solo-travel adventure that turned into four years of working and volunteering across four continents. His solo-travels then turned into community-travel when he landed a role as a Program Leader for the international work-travel company, Remote Year, where he led a diverse group of 70 adults around the world for a year, helping them to bond as a community, become more culturally aware, and grow both professionally and personally. Travis was then promoted to the role of Director of Community Development for the entire company where he managed a community of over 2,500 digital nomads, developed new products to bring the community together, and created events to foster bonding, growth, and learning, both virtually and in-person. Travis is also a travel blogger, a singer-songwriter, and after spending time in over 50 countries and he is now about to release his travel memoir entitled “Not That Anyone Asked: A Travel Memoir About Sex, Drugs, Love and Finding Purpose.”