Lee Thompson, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Flash Pack, is renowned for his adventurous spirit, gaining global fame after scaling the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro to capture iconic images. His passion for exploration, storytelling, and connecting people through travel is at the heart of his work. Alongside his wife Radha, Co-Founder and CEO, they built Flash Pack, an award-winning travel company dedicated to combating loneliness by curating group adventures for solo travelers in their 30s and 40s. Lee shares the rise, fall, and remarkable revival of Flash Pack, a multi-million dollar company known for offering high-end, immersive experiences that bring together like-minded travelers in unforgettable destinations.

Claudia, an ex-Googler, model, coach, 1st Gen American, and co-host of the It's Giving Rich Podcast, opens up about her experience with corporate burnout. Explore her story of navigating career hurdles, including walking away from the mountain top to take a sabbatical in order to rejuvenate her outlook on life, career, and personal development. Learn about the importance of taking breaks, mastering networking, finding job opportunities, dealing with rejection, work culture, and managing stress.

If Portugal wasn't on your list of places to visit, maybe it should be! We spoke with flight attendant turned tour guide and business owner of MAT Portugal, Jess Oliveira. After traveling to 43 countries, she decided to settle in Madeira, the "Hawaii of Europe." Jess has helped more than 10,000 travelers explore Portugal in a slow paced and authentic way. Jess shares some of the hidden gems Portugal offers that might not make it in your average travel guide.

Award-winning filmmaker Daniel Troia embarked on a cross-country bicycle journey to uncover the essence of our shared humanity. Amidst the backdrop of societal tension, Troia's lens captures the raw authenticity of his quest for genuine connections. In Part 2, we focus on the filmmaking process behind "We Are All In This Together". Go back to Part 1 to learn more about the experience behind his seven month adventure.

Amidst the palpable tension gripping our nation, Daniel Troia, an award winning filmmaker embarked on a cross-country bicycle journey to explore the truth of our human bond. With no food or money, Troia sought genuine interactions, captured through hidden camera glasses. Armed with a drone and GoPro, Daniel invites viewers to pedal alongside him, to witness the beauty and diversity of the US and its people. He spent seven months on the road, met countless souls, and one resounding truth emerged: despite our differences, the threads of connection bind us tighter than we realize. (Part 1)

From heartache to triumph, Chels' story embodies the spirit of starting over and chasing dreams, including launching her own travel company. Chelsea Pelsone keeps it real and opens up about her life-changing experience and healing through the boundless beauty of nature.

The FIFA World Cup takes place every 4 years and guest Javier Labourt has attended 3 tournaments including the South Africa, Brazil, and Qatar editions. As a devout Argentina football fan, he has seen his national team lose and win a World Cup Final. Tune in to relive a few World Cups through the Argentine perspective. Javi witnessed the 2014 final in which his team lost to Germany and the 2022 final against France in which Argentina and Messi finally won the biggest prize in world football.

Alexa McDonald has been to more than 50 countries and has developed useful and interesting tactics to travel the world for free or on a budget. Alexa is a content creator and open book, she loves to help people navigate the world and this episode is filled with helpful tips for travelers of all ages and experience. Tune in and maybe you'll want to visit some of the hidden gems she recommends.

When you first think of LA, the glitz and glamor of Hollywood and sun kissed beaches might be what brings you to this iconic city. But, the diverse terrain and great weather makes the LA area a hikers paradise. Justin Rimon, Founder of JUST TREK, an LA based hiking group talks about the organization's humble beginnings, the importance and need for community, and what you can expect to enjoy from exploring the incredible trails in Los Angeles, California.

Angela Santos is a solo traveler and photographer known as the “Blonde Around the World”. Angela reflects on one of her most memorable adventures, a trip to Syria amidst the ongoing conflict. Angela aims to demystify stigmas and paradigms associated with tourism and lesser traveled destinations like the Middle East. While on her trip in Syria, she met locals that shared stories of courage, strength, and kindness she'll never forget.

Nora Dunn, also known as the "Professional Hobo" sold her busy financial planning practice in 2006 to travel the world. She is considered one of the original Digital Nomads and Lifestyle Travel Bloggers that specializes in slow travel. She combines her expertise as a former Certified Financial Planner with her lifestyle travel experience to teach people how to travel long-term in a financially sustainable way. Nora has traveled to more than 75 countries while working remotely and has been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Lonely Planet, and even Oprah.

This week, we dive deep into the fascinating intersection of ethnocentrism, expat life, and the exhilarating world of unconventional travel. Colby Mayes, a seasoned expat and trailblazer in the realm of Colombian exploration, shares his captivating experiences of breaking cultural barriers while leading adventurous souls through lesser-known landscapes. Tune in as he unravels the complexities of ethnocentrism, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs of navigating a foreign culture.

Sam Goodchild is a professional sailor, a member of Thomas Ruyant’s (TR Racing) team and skipper of the sailing vessel “FOR THE PLANET''. For the past 20 years, he has had one thing on his mind - the Vendée Globe. Known as "the Everest of the Seas' “, this solo-non-stop race around the world is one of the most difficult challenges across all sports. A bit more than 100 sailors have completed the journey, and Sam looks to be one of the few to achieve this feat. Tune in and find out more about the world of competitive sailing, near death experiences, and the global initiatives behind the team to benefit people and the planet.

The Marathon Des Sables is commonly referred to as the "toughest footrace on earth". It is a grueling 6 day, 250 km ultramarathon race that is held every year in southern Morocco, in the Sahara Desert. Beth Rainbow, a remarkable ultra marathon runner and coach, recounts the incredible journey in which she secured an astonishing 6th place among the women and the title of the first British woman in 2022. The MDS tests the physical and mental limitations of each competitor, through grit and determination Beth was able to conquer the harsh terrain and extreme temperatures. Tune in as we explore the Marathon des Sables and Beth's extraordinary endurance racing journey.

Explore the stunning landscapes and natural wonders of the American Southwest with Max, our resident travel guide as he led European adventurers on an unforgettable journey through iconic national parks and scenic locations. Discover the beauty, culture, and hidden gems of the Southwest United States. Max offers insider tips, captivating stories, and expert insights to inspire your next travel adventure.

Ally Case has an entrepreneurial spirit and wears two hats: a flight attendant and a business innovator. She details the incredible perks that come with her unique job, the daily challenges she faces balancing her entrepreneurial endeavors and the demands of the skies, all while expressing an unwavering love for the adventure and discovery that traveling offers. Sit tight and gain insights into a life where the boundless joy of exploration meets the disciplined reality of running a business, making for an inspiring and enlightening journey through the skies and the world of entrepreneurship.

Cali O’Connor wanted to experience her cross-country road trip in a unique way. She knew she had to start in Boston and end up in Napa, but the rest was up to her imagination. She saw a killer deal on the Amtrak website and chose to road trip across the United States on a train. With a few stops in cities most tourists overlook, Cali details what she enjoyed about this form of slow travel and how she kept busy while spending the better part of 7 days inside of a train.

Can you name all 7 Wonders of the World without looking up the answer? Did you know a new list was published in 2007 to replace the former sites and monuments? Tune in to another edition of The Layover to learn why, when, and which sites still exist from the original list that dates back more than 2,000 years.

Ana Ruiz is the content creator behind the family travel account: Monos Viajeros. As an Ecuadorian mother of two (soon to be three), she was not ready to give up travel. Despite hearing horror stories about how difficult and terrible it would be to travel with young children, she decided to go against the advice of others and continue traveling with her husband and two kids, including a 10 month intercontinental trip back in 2021-22. Since then, Ana has launched her own business as a certified family travel coach to help guide other parents through the anxieties and struggles of traveling with children.

Travel can be expensive, but what if we told you that there was a way to fund your travels through your credit card rewards? Or at the very least, significantly reducing your cost on transportation, accommodations, food, and more! PointsByJ helps people learn the ropes of personal finance by teaching them how to earn and use credit points to reduce their travel spending. This episode is filled with helpful tips and travel hacks that inform our listeners about the best travel credit cards, how to earn points, and the best way to redeem them to maximize your spending.