Discover why Chris believes the most meaningful and important travel stories begin where headlines and stereotypes end. How do you tell compelling stories about places that are often misunderstood? In this episode, Chris Joondeph reflects on the lessons he’s learned from traveling to more than 170 countries and creating one of the world’s largest travel communities on social media. Through conversations about Syria, Iran, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Turkmenistan, Algeria, Malawi, and beyond, Chris explores the responsibilities of travel creators, the importance of context over sensationalism, and why genuine human connection is essential to understanding the world. He also shares how traveling with his father after the loss of his mother transformed both of their perspectives, and why curiosity, humility, and firsthand experience continue to shape the stories he chooses to tell.
Traveling Through Syria, Iran & Turkmenistan with His Dad, Telling Deeper Stories & Building 3 Million Followers with Chris Joondeph (Ep 405)
Episode Summary
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About the Guest
Chris Joondeph
Chris Joondeph is a travel content creator behind the brand “authentic traveling” where he has over 3 million followers on social media. With a focus on food, culture, and unique storytelling, Chris is all about getting the local experience in order to understand a place through the perspective of those living there. He is known for his fun, engaging videos that make it feel like you’re traveling along with him. Originally from the United States, he has now traveled to over 170 countries. Together with his Nigerian wife, he runs a tour company in Nigeria that focuses on small-group tours designed to show the best of Nigerian culture, food, and genuine local experiences.
What You'll Learn
- How curiosity, context, and firsthand experience can challenge assumptions about the world’s most misunderstood places.
- How responsible storytelling can reveal the human side of destinations that are often defined by conflict and headlines.
- How to create travel content that builds trust, changes perspectives, and resonates with millions of people.
Links From the Episode
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CONTACT AND FOLLOW CHRIS
- Authentic Traveling Facebook
- Authentic Traveling Instagramh
- Authentic Traveling TikTok
- Authentic Traveling X
- Authentic Traveling YouTube
- Authentic Traveling Website
#1 BOOK THAT CHRIS RECOMMENDS
#1 PERSON WITH WHOM CHRIS WANTS TO HAVE DINNER
TOP 3 UNDERRATED TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
TOP 5 AFROBEAT ARTISTS
LOCATIONS WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
- Chris: Lagos (Nigeria)
- Matt: Asheville, North Carolina
AIRLINE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
FLIGHT MAP SUGGESTED IN THIS EPISODE
PERSON MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
MUSICAL ARTISTS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE
WEST AFRICAN EVENT MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN DRC MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN NIGERIA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Algeria
- Argentina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Burundi
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Eswatini
- Ghana
- Guam
- Honolulu (Hawaii)
- Iran
- Iraq
- Istanbul
- Kenya
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Malawi
- Marshall Islands
- Mogadishu (Somalia)
- Paris
- Patagonia
- Pohnpei
- Rome
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Syria
- Tijuana (Mexico)
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Yemen
Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[2:25]: How Iran Challenged Chris’s Preconceptions
[4:05] Traveling to Iraq with His Dad after His Mother Passed Away
[6:35] The Impact of Traveling to “Misunderstood” Countries with His Dad
[8:21] Why Turkmenistan is one of Chris’s Favorite Countries
[10:20] Why Chris Keeps Going Back to Algeria
[13:12] Driving Around Malawi
[15:55] Visiting DR Congo
[19:07] Travel Content Creation in Conflict Regions
[21:49] Evaluating Safety Concerns
[23:20] Culinary Travel and Food Recommendations
[30:03] Realizing Videos Can Change Perceptions of Countries
[34:19] How Chris Built 3 Million Social Media Followers
[38:22] Documenting the Moment vs. Experiencing the Moment
[40:31] The Ethical Responsibility of Creators to the Places They Travel
[42:15] Unlearning Colonial Perspectives Through Travel
[44:11] Where Chris Recommends People Go to Authentically Travel the U.S.
[45:59] What Chris Learned from His Wife
[47:56] How Travel has Impacted Chris as a Person
[49:49] What Travel Means to Chris
[51:20] The Lightning Round
[57:48] Chris’s Top 5 Afrobeats Artists
[1:03:26] Meet Chris and Matt at The Extraordinary Travel Festival
[1:05:49] Follow and Connect with Chris
