Episode #282: Growing up in the Soviet Union, Traveling Through Africa, and Falling in Love with Jordan with Yulia Denisyuk

Episode Summary

Learn how to transition into travel journalism, and seek out people-centric stories and experiences around the world. Yulia Denisyuk joins Matt for a virtual wine night and starts off talking about her parents’ cultural background, and her experience being born in Kazakhstan and growing up mostly in Estonia. She then talks about moving to the U.S. at age 16, the culture shock of landing in Miami, and coming of age in the U.S.. Yulia then explains her decision to join the U.S. Navy, and talks about how serving in Iraq and Afghanistan impacted her politics and her understanding of U.S. imperialism. She then talks about getting her MBA and pursuing a traditional corporate career path until a trip to Morocco changed everything. Yulia discusses her life pivot into becoming a travel journalist and tells stories about spending time in Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Botswana, and Jordan. She explains why Jordan is so close to her heart, why she spends so much time there, what her favorite places are, and concludes by talking about a powerful and emotional podcast interview she hosted with artists in Amman shortly after the genocide in Palestine began.

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What You'll Learn

Reflections on Traveling to Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Botswana and Morocco
The Challenges of Transitioning from a Corporate Job to Becoming a Travel Journalist
Recommendations for Visiting to Jordan, Why it’s so Special, and Where to Go.

Links From the Episode

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WATCH MATT’S VIDEO TRAINING ON MINIMALIST PACKING

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SIGN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY FOR PALESTINE PETITION

LISTEN TO YULIA’S PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH AMMANI ARTISTS ABOUT GAZA

JOIN YULIA’S 11-DAY ADVENTURE IN KAZAKHSTAN IN MAY 2024
(Use code ‘MAVERICK’ to get a $150 OFF)

CHECK OUT MORE OF YULIA’S UPCOMING TRIPS
(Use code ‘MAVERICK’ to get a $150 OFF)

LEARN MORE ABOUT TRAVEL MEDIA LAB

LISTEN TO YULIA’S “GOING PLACES” PODCASTS

LOCATIONS WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE

WINES CONSUMED DURING THIS INTERVIEW

PLACES IN JORDAN MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

AMMANI ARTISTS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

CONTACT AND FOLLOW YULIA

Time Stamped Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

[2:55] Introducing Yulia Denisyuk

[6:38] Yulia’s Parent’s Cultural Background

[8:57] Growing Up in Kazakhstan and Estonia

[11:16] Matt’s Experience on the Trans- Siberian railway

[13:15] Yulia’s Experience Moving to the U.S. as age 16

[16:00] Coming of Age in the U.S.

[17:14] Yulia’s Experience in the U.S. Navy in Iraq and Afghanistan

[21:30] Getting an MBA and Pursuing a Corporate Career in the U.S.

[23:20] A Life-Changing Trip to Morocco

[28:48] Transitioning into Becoming a Travel Journalist

[33:05] Rwanda

[38:10] Sierra Leone

[40:42] Botswana

[42:36] Jordan

[47:53] Yulia’s Podcast Interview with Artists in Amman About the Genocide in Palestine

About the Guest

Yulia Denisyuk

Yulia Denisyuk is an award-winning travel journalist, photographer, writer, and budding filmmaker whose work has appeared in The New York Times, National Geographic, TIME, Conde Nast Traveler, BBC Travel, and Lonely Planet. She specializes in people-centric storytelling and has spoken around the world and led masterclasses on travel storytelling for various brands and organizations, including National Geographic. She is also the host of the podcast “Going Places”, and the founder of NOMAD + JULES—a boutique travel company that organizes small group tours to places misunderstood in the world. Yulia is also the founder of Travel Media Lab, a storytelling and educational platform for individuals interested in getting started in travel journalism and brands looking to advance their storytelling. Most recently, Yulia authored the “Travel Industry for Palestine” petition and has been organizing people, communities, businesses and content creators across the travel industry to stand together against the genocide in Palestine and call for a permanent ceasefire. Born in Kazakhstan and raised in Estonia, she got her MBA in the United States, and has now traveled to over 100 countries.