The Maverick Show: Global Travel Stories & Life Beyond Borders

40 Episodes
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By: Matt Bowles: Full-Time World Traveler Since 2013

The Maverick Show is a global travel podcast about what really happens when people cross borders and build lives across cultures. Hosted by full-time world traveler Matt Bowles, each episode features intimate, unfiltered conversations (often over a bottle of wine) exploring the human stories behind global travel and what the journey teaches us about the world and ourselves. Guests include expats, digital nomads, women and diaspora storytellers, worldschooling families, and human rights advocates, all sharing travel stories that are funny, moving, and deeply human. In addition to hearing about extraordinary places and the people who live there, you’ll learn wh...

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Summiting Mount Everest: Jason Wang on the Death Zone, Finding Clarity & Completing the Seven Summits
Summiting Mount Everest: Jason Wang on the Death Zone, Finding Clarity & Completing the Seven Summits episode artwork
#403
Today at 4:15 AM

Hear how facing fear, embracing discomfort and sharing the journey with Grace reshaped Jason's perspective on life.

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Jason Wang takes you behind the scenes of his journey to complete the Seven Summits, from the moment a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro inspired an impossible dream to the years of preparation that culminated on the summit of Mount Everest. He shares what it was really like to...


Cyberpunk Cities in China, Music Festivals in Timbuktu & Chasing the World’s Best Food with Jason Wang
Cyberpunk Cities in China, Music Festivals in Timbuktu & Chasing the World’s Best Food with Jason Wang episode artwork
#402
08/17/2026

Hear how selling his startup, falling in love with travel, and reconnecting with China transformed Jason's life.

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Jason Wang shares his experience growing up in a Chinese immigrant family in the San Francisco Bay Area, building and selling a Silicon Valley startup, and tells the story of how one trip to Europe completely changed the trajectory of his life. He explains how he fell in...


Showing the World the Real Nigeria: Adenike Joondeph on Hospitality, Culture & Changing the Narrative
Showing the World the Real Nigeria: Adenike Joondeph on Hospitality, Culture & Changing the Narrative episode artwork
#401
08/10/2026

Learn why visitors leave Nigeria with transformed perceptions, lifelong friendships, and a changed view of the country.

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What makes Nigeria one of the world's most misunderstood travel destinations? In this episode, Adenike Joondeph (Dara) shares why she is passionate about helping visitors experience the country's warmth, hospitality, and rich cultural traditions beyond the headlines. She reflects on meeting her husband Chris, building Authentic Traveling To...


Traveling to Over 100 Countries on a Nigerian Passport: Adenike Joondeph on Breaking Barriers & Changing Perspectives
Traveling to Over 100 Countries on a Nigerian Passport: Adenike Joondeph on Breaking Barriers & Changing Perspectives episode artwork
#400
08/03/2026

Hear how visa barriers, border crossings, and global travel reshaped Dara's perspective about the world—and herself.

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What does it take to visit over 100 countries on one of the world's most restrictive passports? In this episode, Adenike Daramola Joondeph (Dara) shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Lagos and boarding her first airplane in 2017 to becoming one of Nigeria's most widely traveled people. She...


Completing the Impossible Journey: Surviving the Darkest Days, Proposing on Mount Kenya & Coming Home with Thor Pedersen
Completing the Impossible Journey: Surviving the Darkest Days, Proposing on Mount Kenya & Coming Home with Thor Pedersen episode artwork
#399
07/27/2026

Hear how an act of kindness in Cameroon, an enduring love story & relentless determination got Thor to the finish line.

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In Part 2 of this interview, Thor Pedersen recounts the most harrowing chapters of his nearly decade-long quest to become the first person to visit every country in the world in one unbroken journey without flying. He shares the life-threatening experiences that nearly ended his jo...


Visiting Every Country Without Flying: Thor Pedersen on Borders, Strangers & Human Connection
Visiting Every Country Without Flying: Thor Pedersen on Borders, Strangers & Human Connection episode artwork
#398
07/20/2026

Learn what inspired Thor's impossible journey and why he now believes a stranger is a friend you’ve never met before.

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Thor Pedersen shares the remarkable story behind his decision to try and become the first person to visit every country in the world without flying in a single unbroken journey. He explains how his experiences as a UN peacekeeper in Eritrea and Ethiopia, livi...


Visiting Every Country by 25: Cameron Mofid on North Korean Marathons, Jail in Djibouti, and Finding Purpose
Visiting Every Country by 25: Cameron Mofid on North Korean Marathons, Jail in Djibouti, and Finding Purpose episode artwork
#397
07/13/2026

Hear how completing his journey to 195 countries inspired Cameron's humanitarian work & shaped his vision for the future.

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Cameron Mofid completed his quest to visit every country in the world by age 25 and shares stories from some of his most extraordinary experiences across Africa, including practicing extreme exposure therapy with the Mundari tribe in South Sudan, spending time in jail in Djibouti, and navigating security th...


From Debilitating OCD to Exploring the World’s Most Misunderstood Countries with Cameron Mofid
From Debilitating OCD to Exploring the World’s Most Misunderstood Countries with Cameron Mofid episode artwork
#396
07/06/2026

Learn how Cameron's quest to travel to every country served as exposure therapy and also ended up transforming his worldview.

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Cameron Mofid became the youngest person to visit every country in the world, but his extraordinary journey began as an effort to overcome debilitating OCD through real-world exposure therapy. In this episode, Cameron shares how growing up with Egyptian and Iranian heritage shaped his cu...


Seeing Life Through a Different Lens: Zaakirah Muhammad on Disability, Belonging & Travel in Africa
Seeing Life Through a Different Lens: Zaakirah Muhammad on Disability, Belonging & Travel in Africa episode artwork
#395
06/29/2026

Learn how photography, resilience & travel to Africa helped Zaakirah navigate disability and find connection worldwide.

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Zaakirah Muhammad shares the remarkable story of how a photograph taken when she was an infant helped detect a rare eye cancer and ultimately save her life. She reflects on how photography became her creative outlet, how her first international trip to Costa Rica sparked a lifelong passion for tr...


Northern Lights, Sámi Culture and Raising a Family in Arctic Sweden with Jonny Cooper
Northern Lights, Sámi Culture and Raising a Family in Arctic Sweden with Jonny Cooper episode artwork
#394
06/22/2026

Hear stories about life in the Arctic, from polar bears and midnight sun to dog sledding, ice hotels and Aurora magic.

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What happens when a life-changing trip to see the Northern Lights inspires you to leave England, move to Swedish Lapland, and raise your family in the Arctic? In this episode, Jonny Cooper shares his journey from UK DJ and IT professional to founder of...


From Haiti to Curaçao: Joanne Paul on Worldschooling and Raising Multicultural Kids
From Haiti to Curaçao: Joanne Paul on Worldschooling and Raising Multicultural Kids episode artwork
#393
06/15/2026

Learn how Joanne uses travel, language, cultural immersion & place-based learning to help her kids feel at home anywhere.

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Joanne Paul shares her journey growing up between Haiti and the United States, raising multilingual and multicultural children, and creating a life centered around travel, community, and place-based learning. Joanne discusses how her family's humanitarian work in Haiti shaped her worldview, why she chose Curaçao as...


Beyond the Pyramids: Nadine Arab on Egyptian Identity, Challenging Stereotypes & Travel as a Political Act
Beyond the Pyramids: Nadine Arab on Egyptian Identity, Challenging Stereotypes & Travel as a Political Act episode artwork
#392
06/08/2026

Hear how Nadine solo-travels the world as an Egyptian woman while showcasing a side of Egypt most visitors never see.

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Egyptian travel writer and Curls en Route founder Nadine Arab shares her journey from growing up in Alexandria to becoming a full-time travel blogger and solo traveler exploring the world on her own terms. Nadine reflects on what she learned from solo travel in Eg...


How to Travel the World Rent-Free as a Cat Sitter and Drive Political Change as a Nomadic Activist with Nicole Green
How to Travel the World Rent-Free as a Cat Sitter and Drive Political Change as a Nomadic Activist with Nicole Green episode artwork
#391
06/01/2026

Hear how Nicole saved over $100,000 on accommodation and uses her location independence to support political campaigns.

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Nicole Green shares how she built a full-time travel lifestyle through cat sitting, saving more than $100,000 on accommodation while staying everywhere from penthouse apartments in Montreal to ski chalets in the Swiss and French Alps. She explains how pet sitting became her gateway to location independence, the strategies sh...


Travel as Rebellion: Marissa Strang on Representation, Storytelling and Supporting Local Communities
Travel as Rebellion: Marissa Strang on Representation, Storytelling and Supporting Local Communities episode artwork
#390
05/25/2026

Hear how Marissa built a full-time travel career while advocating for inclusion, ethical tourism and local stories.

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Travel creator Marissa Strang shares stories from Japan, Switzerland and Egypt while reflecting on the emotional realities of building a life through travel. She discusses leaving corporate America to become a full-time content creator, balancing documentation with being present in the moment, and using travel storytelling to sp...


Culture-First Travel: Marissa Strang on Egypt, Cuba and Centering Women’s Stories in India
Culture-First Travel: Marissa Strang on Egypt, Cuba and Centering Women’s Stories in India episode artwork
#389
05/18/2026

Hear how immersive travel experiences challenged stereotypes and deepened Marissa’s commitment to community-led tourism.

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Travel creator Marissa Strang shares how immersive travel experiences across Cuba, Egypt, Jordan, Iceland and India shaped her approach to culture-first travel and community-led tourism. She reflects on studying Afro-Latin dance in Cuba, taking her first solo trip through Iceland, honeymooning in Egypt, and experiencing Jordanian hospitality while challenging comm...


From Jamaica to Jordan: Finding Belonging and Challenging Western Narratives Through Travel with Janine Jervis
From Jamaica to Jordan: Finding Belonging and Challenging Western Narratives Through Travel with Janine Jervis episode artwork
#388
05/11/2026

Hear how 20 years of travel to Jordan reshaped Janine’s view on the Middle East, media narratives, and human connection.

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Born and raised in Jamaica, Janine Jervis spent nearly two decades helping lead tourism marketing for Jordan while returning to the country dozens of times and building deep relationships there. In this episode, Janine shares stories from Jordanian Bedouin communities and reflects on how trav...


Nomading in Your 60s: Palle Bo on 127 Countries, Travel Podcasting & Life as The Radio Vagabond
Nomading in Your 60s: Palle Bo on 127 Countries, Travel Podcasting & Life as The Radio Vagabond episode artwork
#387
05/04/2026

Learn how immersive storytelling, local connection, long-term travel & nomad life after 60 reshapes belonging abroad.

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Palle Bo shares what a decade of full-time world travel has taught him about identity, connection, and building a life beyond borders. After leaving Denmark at age 50, Palle has now visited 127 countries and evolved from fast-paced travel to a more intentional, slow travel lifestyle—recently establishing a base in Chiang Mai...


Traveling Cuba Offline, Hiking Rainbow Mountain & Human Connection in Guatemala with Kylah Williams
Traveling Cuba Offline, Hiking Rainbow Mountain & Human Connection in Guatemala with Kylah Williams episode artwork
#386
04/27/2026

Learn how solo travel, living abroad, Spanish fluency & cultural immersion unlock deeper connections around the world.

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Kylah Williams shares how she transformed Spanish fluency into a global career and a deeper way of experiencing the world. From traveling through Cuba without data to forming meaningful human connections in Guatemala and pushing her limits on Peru’s Rainbow Mountain, she reflects on how solo travel and...


How Spanish Immersion Changed Her Life: Kylah Williams on Language, Culture & Living Abroad from Chile to Spain
How Spanish Immersion Changed Her Life: Kylah Williams on Language, Culture & Living Abroad from Chile to Spain episode artwork
#385
04/20/2026

Hear how studying, living and working abroad helped Kylah reinvent herself across cultures and continents.

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Kylah Williams shares how Spanish immersion shaped her global journey—from growing up in a bilingual program in Sacramento to studying, living, and working abroad in Chile and Spain. She reflects on how language opened doors to deeper cross-cultural connection, from comparing Tagalog and Spanish during her travels in the...


From Antarctica to South India to Indigenous Communities in Costa Rica: Priyanka Surio on Regenerative Travel in Practice
From Antarctica to South India to Indigenous Communities in Costa Rica: Priyanka Surio on Regenerative Travel in Practice episode artwork
#384
04/13/2026

Learn how real travel experiences can transform the way you see impact, responsibility and your role in the world.

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In Part 3 of this conversation, Priyanka Surio shares how her travels across Antarctica, South India, and Costa Rica reshaped her understanding of what it means to travel responsibly. She reflects on how the fragile ecosystems of Antarctica shaped her blueprint for “sustainable travel,” and how partic...


Travel as Activism: Priyanka Surio's Framework for Sustainable and Regenerative Travel
Travel as Activism: Priyanka Surio's Framework for Sustainable and Regenerative Travel episode artwork
#383
04/06/2026

Learn how to make travel choices that support local communities, avoid harm, and meaningfully give back around the world.

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In Part 2 of this conversation, Priyanka Surio shares her framework for thinking about travel as a form of activism and breaks down the difference between sustainable and regenerative travel. She outlines an 8-part model built around four sustainable mindsets and four world-changing forces that can he...


Indian Diaspora Stories & Lessons from Ghana, Ethiopia and Nomadic Cultures with Priyanka Surio
Indian Diaspora Stories & Lessons from Ghana, Ethiopia and Nomadic Cultures with Priyanka Surio episode artwork
#382
03/30/2026

Learn how global diaspora connections & nomadic traditions can unlock new ways of building community across cultures.

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Priyanka Surio reflects on growing up in Florida navigating a mixed Indian and Hungarian identity, and how early experiences of not fully belonging shaped her relationship to culture, travel, and self-expression. She shares stories from reconnecting with her heritage, including time spent in Hungary, studying abroad in India, an...


Anti-Blackness in Latin America, the Mestizaje Myth & Visiting Equatorial Guinea with Dash Harris
Anti-Blackness in Latin America, the Mestizaje Myth & Visiting Equatorial Guinea with Dash Harris episode artwork
#381
03/23/2026

Hear travel stories from Equatorial Guinea to Brazil & how Dash works to dismantle anti-Blackness in Latinx communities.

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In Part 2 of this conversation, Peabody Award–winning producer and historian Dash Harris unpacks the ideology of mestizaje and explains how narratives of racial mixing have obscured anti-Blackness across Latin America and its diaspora. She discusses why she rejects the umbrella identity of “Latina,” drawing on Black feminist...


Black Latinx Identity and Culture: Dash Harris on Diaspora Storytelling & Co-Founding AfroLatinx Travel
Black Latinx Identity and Culture: Dash Harris on Diaspora Storytelling & Co-Founding AfroLatinx Travel episode artwork
#380
03/16/2026

Learn how growing up between Brooklyn and Panama shaped Dash’s journey into documentary storytelling and global travel.

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Peabody Award–winning producer and historian Dash Harris tells stories about coming of age between 1990s Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn and Panama. She reflects on navigating Black and Afro-Panamanian identity across cultures and how those experiences shaped her understanding of race, identity, and the global Black diaspora. Dash tells...


Queer Travel & Jewish Anti-Zionism: Cara Laban on Identity, Community & Collective Liberation
Queer Travel & Jewish Anti-Zionism: Cara Laban on Identity, Community & Collective Liberation episode artwork
#379
03/09/2026

Learn how Cara came out as queer while living abroad and built community, belonging, and solidarity with Palestine.

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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 de...


From Almost Jumping to Building a Life Across Continents: Cara Laban on Depression, Travel & Reinvention
From Almost Jumping to Building a Life Across Continents: Cara Laban on Depression, Travel & Reinvention episode artwork
#378
03/02/2026

Learn how Cara stopped escaping and designed a sustainable world travel lifestyle that works for her brain.

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Cara Laban left New York chasing a childhood dream of Australia, but what began as an escape from burnout turned into a two-year immersion in life overseas, from bar shifts in Melbourne to bakery work in the outback. In this candid conversation, she shares the mental health lo...


Skydiving Around the World: Taylor Wallace on Risk, Fear & Finding Freedom in the Sky
Skydiving Around the World: Taylor Wallace on Risk, Fear & Finding Freedom in the Sky episode artwork
#377
02/23/2026

Hear stories of balloon jumps, zoo dives, flipping out of planes & the personal growth and life lessons behind it all.

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In the final part of the conversation, Taylor Wallace shares how a spontaneous first jump in Brazil led to a passion for skydiving that has taken her across the world, from beach jumps outside Rio to balloon jumps over Cappadocia and massive skydiving festivals in...


Japan, Remote Entrepreneurship & The Fit Founder Lifestyle with Taylor Wallace
Japan, Remote Entrepreneurship & The Fit Founder Lifestyle with Taylor Wallace episode artwork
#376
02/16/2026

Hear how Japan, startup life, and global travel shaped Taylor’s approach to entrepreneurship and intentional living.

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In Part 2 of the conversation, Taylor Wallace reflects on how her deep connection with Japan shaped her worldview and confidence as a global traveler, sharing stories from Kyoto, Mount Fuji, and the cultural experiences that made the country feel like a second home. She then traces her path...


Growing Up Global: Taylor Wallace on Brazil, South Africa, Singapore & Finding Her Place in the World
Growing Up Global: Taylor Wallace on Brazil, South Africa, Singapore & Finding Her Place in the World episode artwork
#375
02/09/2026

Hear how early travel across continents shaped Taylor’s worldview and helped her navigate her multi-cultural identity.

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Taylor Wallace reflects on how growing up between cultures and traveling internationally from a young age shaped her identity and global perspective. She shares formative experiences in South Africa, Singapore, and Brazil, explores her multicultural heritage and connection to place, and discusses how studying history and witnessing diff...


Beyond Digital Nomadism: Daniel Thompson on Multi-Local Communities, Positive Impact, and the Future of NOMA Collective
Beyond Digital Nomadism: Daniel Thompson on Multi-Local Communities, Positive Impact, and the Future of NOMA Collective episode artwork
#374
02/02/2026

Learn how NOMA supports nomadic families, navigates travel ethics in the Global South and builds lasting communities.

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In part two of this conversation, Daniel Thompson dives deep into what comes after the digital nomad phase—unpacking NOMA Collective’s evolution from pop-up nomad trips to a long-term vision centered on multi-local communities, ethical travel, and genuine local impact. Daniel explains how NOMA designs community-first experi...


From Underground Music Scenes to Building Global Communities: Daniel Thompson’s Path to Co-Founding Noma Collective
From Underground Music Scenes to Building Global Communities: Daniel Thompson’s Path to Co-Founding Noma Collective episode artwork
#373
01/26/2026

Learn how childhood travel and music culture shaped a path to building global communities and founding NOMA Collective.

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Matt sits down with Daniel Thompson, co-founder and CEO of NOMA Collective, to trace the unlikely path from growing up on tour with a famous rock band to building global communities for remote workers and families. Daniel reflects on childhood travel, and shares incredible stories from un...


Guyana, Carnival Traditions & Jamaica’s Barrel Children: Melissa Noel on Telling Diaspora Stories with Depth
Guyana, Carnival Traditions & Jamaica’s Barrel Children: Melissa Noel on Telling Diaspora Stories with Depth episode artwork
#372
01/19/2026

Learn the meaning of Carnival traditions like jab jab & stilt walking & get recs for visiting Guyana.

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In Part 2 of this conversation, award-winning journalist Melissa Noel joins Matt to explore how diaspora stories are told—and why depth, context, and care matter. Melissa unpacks the cultural and political meaning behind Caribbean Carnival traditions, shares her personal recommendations for experiencing her home country of Guyana beyond the...


Destination Diaspora: Connecting African Cultural Roots Across the Caribbean, Brazil, Ghana and Beyond with Melissa Noel
Destination Diaspora: Connecting African Cultural Roots Across the Caribbean, Brazil, Ghana and Beyond with Melissa Noel episode artwork
#371
01/12/2026

Learn about African diasporic identity, migration, cultural memory, and building a global Black storytelling project.

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Award-winning journalist and media entrepreneur Melissa Noel starts by sharing her first impressions of Brazil and attending the Black Travel Summit in Rio, where she won the BET+ Passport to Storytelling pitch competition for her Destination Diaspora docuseries. She reflects on growing up in a Guyanese immigrant household in Ne...


A New Year’s Message from Matt Bowles
A New Year’s Message from Matt Bowles episode artwork
#370
01/05/2026

Learn how to schedule a free video call with Matt and lock in special discounts on 2026 trips and travel conferences.

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In this solo New Year’s episode, Matt Bowles reflects on a year of global travel, community, and cultural connection while sharing what’s ahead in 2026. Recording from Vermont after five weeks in Rio de Janeiro, Matt recaps the Black Travel Summit in Brazil, highli...


Life Is a Sea of Motorcyclists: Alex Chacon on Seeking Adventure, Winning Emmys & Finding Meaning
Life Is a Sea of Motorcyclists: Alex Chacon on Seeking Adventure, Winning Emmys & Finding Meaning episode artwork
#369
12/29/2025

Hear stories from riding a motorcycle in Egypt, Thailand, India, Nepal, Vietnam and becoming an Emmy-winning filmmaker.

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In Part 2 of this interview, Emmy-winning filmmaker and motorcycle adventurer Alex Chacon reflects on what years of extreme overland travel have taught him about life, creativity, and meaning. From riding across Egypt at sunrise to navigating the chaos of Vietnam, India, and Kathmandu, to experiencing radical hospitality in...


Riding a Motorcycle from Alaska to Argentina: The Journey That Changed Alex Chacon’s Life
Riding a Motorcycle from Alaska to Argentina: The Journey That Changed Alex Chacon’s Life episode artwork
#368
12/22/2025

Hear stories surviving 4 days with no food in Patagonia, landing in a Honduran jail, and driving Bolivia’s “Death Road”.

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Emmy-winning filmmaker and motorcycle adventurer Alex Chacon traces the roots of his life on the road, beginning with his upbringing on the U.S.–Mexico border in El Paso and the identity questions that shaped his early years. Alex shares how soccer, motorcycles, and a deep sen...


Digital Nomad Motherhood: Raising Conscious Kids, Cultivating Empathy & Building The Village Abroad with Courtney Orgias
Digital Nomad Motherhood: Raising Conscious Kids, Cultivating Empathy & Building The Village Abroad with Courtney Orgias episode artwork
#367
12/15/2025

Learn about parenting with political awareness & building diaspora connections and political solidarity across borders.

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In Part 2 of Matt’s conversation with Courtney Orgias—recorded in Rio, where her family is currently based—they dive deeper into the political, ethical, and emotional dimensions of digital nomad motherhood. Courtney explains how she talks to her young children about power, oppression, genocide, and policing in age-appropriate but honest w...


Raising Global Citizens: Worldschooling, Ethical Travel & Family Life Across Continents with Courtney Orgias
Raising Global Citizens: Worldschooling, Ethical Travel & Family Life Across Continents with Courtney Orgias episode artwork
#366
12/08/2025

Learn about leaving the U.S. to become a digital nomad family—how to raise kids and build community all over the world.

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Courtney Orgias sits down with Matt in Rio, where her and her family are currently based, and they talk about attending the Black Travel Summit and why Courtney feels Rio is a great place for raising her kids.  She then talks about...


Inside Black Rio, Brazilian Favelas & Quilombos — and How Nicole Phillip Built 350K Followers in 2 Years
Inside Black Rio, Brazilian Favelas & Quilombos — and How Nicole Phillip Built 350K Followers in 2 Years episode artwork
#365
12/01/2025

Hear award-winning travel creator Nicole Phillip share stories of immersing in Afro-Brazilian history, music and culture.

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Nicole Phillip returns to The Maverick Show and records this episode in person with Matt in Rio after spending two weeks together in Brazil.  Nicole is fresh off winning her award for the 2025 Social Media Video of the Year at the Black Travel Film Festival for her video on...


Cycling Around the World in 5 Years on 3 Euros a Day with Pablo Mandado
Cycling Around the World in 5 Years on 3 Euros a Day with Pablo Mandado episode artwork
#364
11/24/2025

Hear stories and life-lessons from circumnavigating the planet on a bicycle while living on 3 Euros a day for 5 years.

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ON THIS EPISODE

Pablo Mandado talks about his experience growing up in the Aragon region of Spain, how a trip to Greece changed everything and led to a life of long-term travel, and how he quickly transitioned into a spontaneous, hyper-minimalist and hyper-budget travel style.  He reflects on neg...