"Time spent traveling on trains, just staring out the window: I don't think that's lost time. That's when we have our best ideas." –Kim Krizan In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Kiki introduce their interview with Kim Krizan by talking about their own personal love of the movie Before Sunrise, and how they first experienced it (0:30); Kim talks a…

"Time spent traveling on trains, just staring out the window: I don't think that's lost time. That's when we have our best ideas." –Kim Krizan In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Kiki introduce their interview with Kim Krizan by talking about their own personal love of the movie Before Sunrise, and how they first experienced it (0:30); Kim talks a…

“If you're someone who's always dreamed of going to Mars but you don't have the time to become an astronaut, you can just visit the Atacama Desert.” –Mark Johanson In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Mark talk about how Mark became interested in the Atacama Desert, and his experience in other world deserts (1:45); what Mark sought when he traveled…

“Travel does not require leaving your city or state or country, but it does require leaving your comfort zone. And that can happen a block or two away from where you live.”–Chloe Cooper Jones In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Chloe talk about why a section about “slum tourism” was cut out of Rolf’s newest book The Vagabond’s Way (2:30); how so m…

“The most difficult part about traveling the world isn’t actually the logistics of a trip—it’s finding the courage to go in the first place.” —Matt Kepnes In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Matt talk about how his travel style has changed over the years, and how fears affect people’s travels (1:00); strategies for saving money on the road (10:30)…

“We do a lot of writing alone, in our own space. But writing is not a solitary practice. The business of writing requires a community.” –Angelique Stevens In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Angelique talk about what her writing life is like in the decade since she first took Rolf’s Paris class, with the ambition of becoming a travel writer, and h…

“Anybody with curiosity and wanderlust can have their own Hippie Trail. They just need to get away from home, embrace the world, and have an adventure.” –Rick Steves In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Rick talk about Rick’s 1990s book Asia Through the Back Door, and how Rick recently rediscovered the old Asia travel journals he kept as a young ma…

“My life has often forced me to follow the Super Bowl in unusual circumstances. The first Super Bowl found me in boarding school in England, huddled under my bedclothes with an illegal transistor radio.” –Pico Iyer In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Pico talk about the novelty of two travel writers talking about the Super Bowl, and Pico’s NFL fan…

“In solitude, I often feel closer to the people I care for than when they’re in the same room.” –Pico Iyer In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Pico talk about how the best travels are often counterbalanced with a kind of stillness, in which one can find one’s “best self” (3:00); Pico’s decades-long experiences with monks in a California monastery,…

“Syria is a mix of everything. There are multiple Christian cultures, multiple Muslim cultures, and multiple languages. It’s the crossroads of the world. It made for some of my best travel memories from that time of my life.” —Rolf Potts In this episode of Deviate (which was remixed from an episode of Ari Shaffir’s You Be Trippin’ podcast), Rolf an…

“In El Salvador, I dropped $5 out of my pocket at the border, and some guy came running up to me. At the beginning of the trip I would have been surprised by that. But by that point I would have been surprised if it didn’t happen.” —Matt Savino In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Matt talk about how the first version of his travel book was way too…

“When we got into this, we didn’t know how to make videos. That’s a skill we’ve had to learn, because the industry has changed so much, from photos to videos. We are still learning all the time.” —Anne Howard In this episode of Deviate, Rolf, Mike, Anne and Kiki talk about they got started traveling as a couple, how they made it affordable, and how…

“Influencers are forever reinforcing the same images. They’re spending no time in the actual place, other than the requisite time to take the photo. From the local community’s point of view, these kinds of tourists bring very little value.” –Stuart McDonald In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Stuart talk about why Stuart chose to make his office i…

“We’re having less enjoyable travel experiences, even as our photos show us having this amazing time, because we’re performing a version of travel for people who aren’t even there.” In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and David talk about the time-honored practice of Americans pretending to be Canadian on the road, and why Americans at times have had …

“Traveling, for me, is all about destroying stereotypes and narratives about people and places.” – Matt Green In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Matt discuss Matt’s mission to walk every street in New York City (3:00); walking across the entire United States and breaking stereotypes (12:00); bucket lists as a catalyst for action (28:00); and Matt…

“We need positive visions of how all this technology gets deployed, because what we visualize is what we build.”–Jane Metcalfe In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Jane talk about the pioneering work she did with Wired during the dawn of the “digital revolution” (3:00); how and why Jane’s professional focus shifted away from digital issues and into…

“My parents passed away and it created this sense of recklessness in me, but in a positive way: I wanted to create a travel experience and push myself and learn about myself. Because you never know how long you’re gonna be around for.”–Daniel Troia In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Daniel talk about why Daniel chose to bicycle across America wit…

“The parent’s job as teacher on the road is to just create surface area between your kid and yourself and the world.” –Julie Frieder In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Julie talk about what a “Wonder Year” is, how she got involved with family travel, and why traveling with children is possible and enriching for everyone involved (1:30); how to ge…

“Look at any photo from a moment of supposed zeitgeist in American history, and it will be clear that not everyone in that moment represented the cutting-edge of culture.”–Rolf Potts In this essay episode of Deviate, Rolf talks about why he enjoys listening to Rob Harvilla’s podcast 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s at double-speed, but that he’s disa…

“Something about the motion of walking is conducive to generating both ideas and conversation. You can empty your mind and open your mind at the same time.”—Kevin Kelly In this episode of Deviate, Rolf reports from a “Walk and Talk” across northern Thailand. Interviewees and conversation topics are listed by time-code below. Participant write-ups a…

“We ‘massage’ the truth to make it fit the narrative we need it to fit in our lives.” –Andrew McCarthy In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Andrew talk about how Andrew got started in travel writing, and how writing himself on the page helped him see himself in the world (2:30); when he does and doesn’t conflate certain details in the interest of a…

“Unless we explore our neighborhood, we can’t imagine what might be right under our noses, nor be able to celebrate it, mourn its demise, or take action.” –Alastair Humphreys In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Alastair Humphreys discuss the concept of his new book Local: A Search for Nearby Nature and Wilderness (1:30); what Alastair found on his…

“I hate the Kansas City Chiefs with a passion reserved only for things that I love.” —Tod Goldberg In this episode of Deviate, Rolf shares his 2002 NPR “Savvy Traveler” dispatch about trying to watch the Super Bowl in Thailand (3:00); then he and Tod Goldberg discuss how they became NFL football fans as kids in the 1970s, and how this affected thei…

In this episode, I connect with Nimisha as we delve into the concept of mirror work, a technique involving visualizing and embodying the person one aspires to be. Nimisha talks about aligning with the powerful being one sees in the mirror and embodying one's traits and confidence. Overcoming the tendency to be a people pleaser, working on internal …

“Billionaires can’t take a week off? What’s the point of having a billion dollars if they have fewer options than I do?” –Tim Ferriss In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Tim discuss common travel fantasies, and the fears that keep people from traveling (5:00); how we can redefine what “wealth” is and live fuller lives (18:00); why keeping a health…

This episode connects us with Craig Sotovsky, a 9/11 responder and cancer survivor. Craig shares his journey of overcoming insurmountable odds, emphasizing the importance of seizing the present moment to pursue one's aspirations. Craig's narrative delves into themes of resilience, purpose, and the transformative power of storytelling. Through his a…

Don't miss this fantastic conversation with Zahara Williams! Zahara shares her expertise on navigating the betrayal journey, drawing on her own experience as well. Zahara discusses the challenge of confronting betrayal and the importance of open communication. We dive into how forgiveness differs for everyone and so much more! Zahara's Details Webs…

In this episode, Taneka and Ari discuss the value of starting from scratch, establishing your path, and not settling for a predefined role in someone else's plans. Taneka shares her journey, from pursuing higher education and facing an unexpected pregnancy to managing a military career as a mom and ultimately retiring after 25 years to focus on ent…

“Sometimes it’s good to sit still and let a place move through you instead of you moving through a place.” –Rolf Potts In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and The Vagabond’s Way book club participants discuss how one can be vulnerable to new experiences on the road instead of micromanaging an itinerary (2:00); how monuments to mortality help us think …

In this episode, Emily shares her experience with plant medicine, emphasizing its role in unveiling deep-seated emotional layers, processing grief, and helping her truly feel her emotions. She recounts her profound experiences with soul retrieval and reintegration. Through the therapeutic use of plant medicine, Emily speaks to the sensation of "com…

“When asked to give advice to young people looking to become travel writers, I invariably tell them to go – alone – and live in a country where they don’t speak the language.” –Thomas Swick In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Tom talk about the thematic limitations of memoir writing, and the early stages of Tom’s career as a journalist (2:00); his…

🎧 Join me as we welcome back the incredible Ambila Nath! 🎉 🔮 Discover the power of your intuition and how it can guide you towards a more fulfilling life. 🌌✨ Ambila will help you tap into your inner voice and trust its guidance, even when it seems a little crazy. 💫💡 Learn how to focus on the present moment and find comfort in the unknown. 🌼🌟 Let go…

“One way of making famous landmarks more comprehensible is to look for surprises, good and bad, that go beyond what you are expected to encounter there, details that open you up to the raw imperfections of the encounter itself.” –Rolf Potts In this episode of Deviate – which is a redo of episode 229, which didn’t air properly due to technical probl…

“Not everyone who’s lucky is talented and not everyone who’s talented is lucky.” –Tom Bissell In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Tom talk about Tom’s lack of travel experience when he joined the Peace Corps, and how he dealt with his early failures (2:30); the role that luck (as well as craft and obsessive reading) has played in his writing caree…

In this episode, we have the pleasure of welcoming the incredible Avril Brown back to the show. Avril's authenticity and vulnerability will leave you feeling motivated to embrace your own journey of self-discovery. 🌈💪 Avril shares powerful insights on peeling back the layers and reconnecting with your authentic self. It's a reminder that your true …

“One way of making famous landmarks more comprehensible is to look for surprises, good and bad, that go beyond what you are expected to encounter there, details that open you up to the raw imperfections of the encounter itself.” –Rolf Potts In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and The Vagabond’s Way book club participants discuss how to break out of st…

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Charity, a dynamic entrepreneur on a mission to make a difference. She's not just building a business; she's building a community of empowered women who know their worth. Charity shares her journey, highlighting the challenges and triumphs she's encountered. Her story is a testament to the power of resili…

“One ironic anxiety of travel is that suddenly you’re living in ‘organic time’ and you’re not used to it.” –Rolf Potts In this “vagabonding audio companion” episode of Deviate, remixed from Aaron Millar’s Armchair Explorer podcast, Rolf talks about his earliest travel dreams, and what compelled him to finally take a vagabonding dream trip around No…

In this episode, I have the privilege of chatting with the incredible Annya Stoddart, who shares her personal story of exploring a challenging relationship with her mother and navigating complex emotions dealing with family dynamics. 💪💖 Annya reveals the power of meditation in uncovering hidden thoughts, tracking realities, and taking action. 🌟🔥 Th…

“A wonderful aspect of traveling by train is the transactional relationship between passengers who feed off one another, picking up tips, offering advice, guarding each other’s belongings, and generating a trust that is unique to railway travel.” –Monisha Rajesh In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Monisha discuss how her interest in train-travel d…

In this episode, we'll explore the power of unleashing your inner strength, overcoming the fear of being seen, and unlocking the hidden potential within you. 🌟✨ We'll also delve into the world of spiritual coaching for business growth and personal transformation, and discover how incorporating a holistic approach can lead to extraordinary results. …

🎧 Join me as I sit down with Calley Hewes, where we unravel the complexities of people-pleasing and rediscover the power of setting boundaries. 🌈💪 🔍 We'll explore the struggle of finding personal identity while constantly trying to please others, and how it can hinder our own growth and happiness. 🌻 We'll also discuss how to maintain focus and visi…

“We live in an age where you can take a series short flights inside a country to speed things up. You end up going to more places, but you experience less, because you’re not really committed to that chicken bus full of really interesting people who want nothing more than to interact with you.” –Rolf Potts In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and The V…

Sarah Jane delves into the topics of women's empowerment and gratitude, reminding us of the incredible strength that lies within us when we support and uplift one another. 🙌 And she uncovers the profound power of situational awareness, teaching us how to embrace our feelings and cultivate a deeper connection with ourselves. 🌸 Oh, and did I mention …

Join me as I have an incredible conversation with the amazing K.R. Bala, a spiritual mindfulness life coach and meditation teacher. 🌸🧘‍♀️ Her wisdom and authenticity will leave you feeling inspired, motivated, and ready to bloom where you are planted! 🌺🌱 K.R. Bala shares her personal journey of breaking free from the corporate world to become a spi…

“Domestic travel to rural places can be as important as international travel that is more obviously cross-cultural.” –Rolf Potts In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Marci talk about how the best trips are guided by curiosity about eight key things, rather than checklists (2:00); what Marci has learned from several decades of writing guidebooks to …

💡 This week, discover how Rubi's personal growth and embracing her own story led her to create a podcast production company and a training agency that empowers women to connect with their audience and unleash their true potential. 🎙️✨ 🌟 From overcoming fear and reluctance to finding podcast success, to the importance of embracing your unique journe…

“A souvenir can be anything from a travel experience that honors a certain moment in your life, certifies the journey that took you there, and celebrates the confluence of people and places and actions that made it possible.” – Rolf Potts In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Suzanne talk about the ways souvenirs help narrate our travel experiences …

In this episode, Nadine takes us on a journey to financial freedom, while overcoming a scarcity mindset and embracing change. 💰💪 She shares her personal story of triumph over insurmountable odds, and trust us, it's a rollercoaster ride you won't want to miss! 🎢 From hidden abuse and the impact of emotional manipulation to bittersweet memories of a …

Join us as we explore the power of the subconscious mind and how to break free from limiting thought patterns. 🧠✨ Emily's journey will touch your heart and ignite a fire within you to overcome any adversity that life throws your way. 🔥 We'll also delve into the healing journey, self-awareness, and the incredible power of manifestation. 🌱✨ Emily's e…