Learn how Cara came out as queer while living abroad and built community, belonging, and solidarity with Palestine. In Part 2 of this conversation, Cara Laban reflects on the intersections of queer identity, Jewish history, and political solidarity while living and traveling around the world. She shares how coming out as queer while living abroad helped her find community and belonging across cultures, while a deeper engagement with Jewish history and contemporary politics shaped her journey toward anti-Zionism and solidarity with Palestinians. Cara also recounts navigating male-dominated digital nomad spaces, attending feminist protests, and encountering police violence. She then tells travel stories from Italy, the Dominican Republic, the Galapagos Islands, attending Carnival in Rio and seeing pink dolphins in the Amazon. Cara reflects on how living between cultures can expand the way we think about identity, community, and collective liberation. And finally she shares lessons from Jewish history about our collective responsibility to confront the rise of fascism in the U.S. and around the world.
Episode #379: Queer Travel & Jewish Anti-Zionism: Cara Laban on Identity, Community & Collective Liberation
Episode Summary
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About the Guest

Cara Laban
Cara Laban is a digital nomad who has spent the last decade living and working across Asia, Europe, South America and Australia. She is a systems thinker and professional problem solver who helps ambitious people design lives and businesses that actually work for their brains. She is also the founder of Travel Reddi, an AI-powered travel guide platform simplifying global travel logistics. And she is the author of the forthcoming book How to Do Anything (Even If You’re Lazy) — a practical framework for building momentum without relying on motivation or hustle. Born and raised in Long Island, New York, her worldview is informed by her experience as a queer Jewish woman who questions power structures and believes you can honor your roots without inheriting everything that comes with them.
What You'll Learn
- How coming out as queer while living abroad shaped Cara’s sense of identity, belonging, and community across cultures
- How Jewish history and political reflection informed her journey toward anti-Zionism and solidarity with Palestinians
- What lessons Jewish history offers for confronting rising fascism today
Links From the Episode
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LOCATIONS WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
- Cara: Guanajuato, Mexico
- Matt: Asheville, North Carolina
#1 BOOK THAT CARA RECOMMENDS
#1 PERSON WITH WHOM CARA WANTS TO HAVE DINNER
TOP 3 TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
TOP 3 BUCKET LIST DESTINATIONS
SPOTS IN ECUADOR MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN ITALY MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN THE US MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[1:36] Taking a Cross-Country U.S. Road Trip in an SUV Sleeper Van
[3:21] Attending a Reproductive Freedom Protest in LA
[7:14] Traveling Europe and Living on the Italian island of Ischia
[9:25] Living in the Dominican Republic for 4 Months
[12:55] The Galapagos Islands
[17:18] Traveling Through the Amazon
[18:30] Carnival in Rio
[22:40] Coming out as Queer While Traveling the World
[24:42] Resources for Queer Travelers and Finding Queer Joy Around the World
[28:23] Developing anti-Zionist politics while honoring Her Jewish roots
[38:49] Lessons from Jewish History About Rising Fascism in the U.S.
[42:42] How Travel Has Impacted Cara
[43:43] Finding Value-Aligned Communities in the Digital Nomad Lifestyle
[46:02] How Cara Currently Designs Her Lifestyle
[48:12] Travel Hacks
[50:03] What Travel Means to Cara
[50:44] The Lightning Round
[53:32] Follow and Connect with Cara