Discover how an unlikely instrument opened doors, crossed cultures and turned travel adventures into human connection. Ross OC Jennings shares how growing up in China shaped his identity, curiosity and relationship with travel. He reflects on his childhood in Shanghai, learning Mandarin, navigating reverse culture shock at boarding school in the UK, and eventually combining his passion for travel with his Scottish heritage to pursue an audacious global bagpiping quest. Ross tells stories of a tense police encounter in Tunisia that took an unexpected turn, playing on the Yamuna River in front of the Taj Mahal, performing for Bhutanese royalty, piping beside an erupting volcano in Guatemala, playing atop the Burj Khalifa, and even performing at 35,000 feet on a commercial flight. Along the way, he explains what he discovered about the surprising global history of the bagpipes, cultural identity, respectful travel, and the extraordinary ways music can break down barriers between people.
From Growing Up in China to Playing the Bagpipes in 117 Countries with Ross OC Jennings (Ep 406)
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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 growing up in China, learning Mandarin, and navigating multiple cultural identities shaped Ross’s approach to travel.
- How Ross turned an unlikely idea into a quest to play the bagpipes around the world.
- What traveling with the bagpipes taught Ross about their surprising global history, respectful travel, and connecting across cultures.
Links From the Episode
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LOCATIONS WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
- Ross: Metro Manila (Philippines)
- Matt: Asheville, North Carolina
BOOK MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
EVENTS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
LANGUAGES THAT ROSS SPEAKS
LUXURY BRAND MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN CHINA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN INDIA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN TUNISIA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
SOCCER TEAM MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Afghanistan
- Africa
- Antarctica
- Bahrain
- Bangkok (Thailand)
- China
- England
- Europe
- Freedom Square (Taiwan)
- Ireland
- Kyrgyzstan
- Pakistan
- United States
- Scotland
- Machu Picchu (Peru)
- La Paz (Bolivia)
- Edinburgh (Scotland)
- Mississippi River
- Middle East
- Egypt
- Mesopotamia (Iraq)
- India
- Bhutan
- Acatenango Mountain (Guatemala)
- Burj Khalifa (Dubai)
- United Arab Emirates
Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[1:00] Introducing Ross Jennings
[2:40] Ross’s Guinness World Record
[4:25] Ross’s Irish/Scottish Heritage and Connection with Asia
[7:07] Moving to China at age 6
[10:00] Ross’s First Chinese New Year in Shanghai as a Kid
[11:53] Attending an International School in Shanghai
[15:26] Navigating his Irish/Scottish identity Growing up in China
[17:44] Reflections on Growing up Across Cultures
[19:20] Reverse Culture Shock Returning to the UK for Boarding School
[21:21] Deciding to Play the Bagpipes
[23:44] Keeping up his Mandarin Language Skills in the UK
[26:07] Working as a Bagpiper in China
[29:05] Traveling Around China
[32:09] Traveling Through South America
[34:20] Deciding to Play the Bagpipes in Every Country
[38:10] Transitioning into a Life of Travel
[39:48] Traveling to Tunisia to Start the Journey
[41:31] Encountering Tunisian Police
[45:00] Learning About the Global History of the Bagpipes
[48:52] Playing the Bagpipes in India
[50:39] Playing the Bagpipes for Royalty in Bhutan
[53:12] Playing the Bagpipes on top of a Volcano in a Guatemala
[55:41] Playing the Bagpipes on top of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai
[56:54] Playing the Bagpipes on an airplane at cruising altitude
[58:21] Follow and Contact Ross
