Best Rolf Potts Podcasts (2025)

1
Why We Travel: Happiness, curiosity, wonder, sex, healing, and other motivations for hitting the road 54:47

2h ago54:47

54:47

"No one motivation is ‘better’ than any other. We travel with different motivations at different times, and they sometimes overlap." –Ash Bhardwaj In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Ash talk about curiosity as a motivation for travel (1:30); the ancient Greek concepts of happiness that underpin human motivations like travel, and how mentors influ…

1
Unlocking the Secrets of the Valhalla Key: A Journey Through Myth and History 29:51

4d ago29:51

29:51

From the icy edges of the Arctic to the roaring spectacle of the 1939 World’s Fair, James Richardson’s The Valhalla Key takes readers on a whirlwind ride through hidden history, Norse myth, and golden-age thrills. But how much of this epic is rooted in truth—and what inspired Richardson to set his story on the edge of war? In this episode, we sit d…

1
The Ultimate Wilderness with Nadine Slavinski 28:50

11d ago28:50

28:50

What happens when an archaeologist sets sail across three oceans with her family in search of story and discovery? In this episode of The Adventure Fiction Podcast, I'm Joined by Nadine Slavinski, a woman who’s excavated ancient temples by land and sailed vast, unpredictable waters by sea. Her four-year sailing odyssey from the Mediterranean to Aus…

1
Honor, Underworld & Koi Fish: Crafting Tokyo Black with Andrew Warren 24:40

18d ago24:40

24:40

In this episode of The Adventure Story Podcast, I sit down with thriller author Andrew Warren to dive into one of the world’s most enthralling cities—Tokyo. We explore what makes Tokyo such a captivating backdrop for storytelling and how Andrew strikes the balance between cultural authenticity and fast-paced fiction. Andrew shares vivid memories fr…

1
The Search for Eternal Life: From the Philosopher's Stone to Silicone Valley 12:11

25d ago12:11

12:11

What would you give to live forever? A lock of hair? A drop of blood? Your soul? In this spine-tingling episode, I plunge deep into one of history’s darkest and most enduring obsessions: the quest for immortality. Blending gripping fiction with chilling real-life accounts, I'll unraveling the strange, unsettling truths behind mankind’s age-old desi…

1
Lessons from a Vagabond: Travel, Culture, and Story with Rolf Potts 29:52

1M ago29:52

29:52

In this episode of The Adventure Story Podcast, I'm joined by travel writing legend, Rolf Potts. We have an insightful conversation about the unpredictable magic of travel and storytelling—from jumping trains and sleeping in vans to drinking kava in Vanuatu and chasing the trans-Siberian express, Rolf shares the real stories behind his adventures, …

1
Europe's Last Adventure Playground: Exploring the Balkans 26:42

1M ago26:42

26:42

In a world obsessed with bucket lists and Instagram hotspots, there are still places that feel like the pages of an untold story. The Balkans—rugged, raw, and brimming with legend—are one of them. In this episode, I sit down with adventurer and independent travel expert Annie Sisson to uncover why this overlooked corner of Europe deserves a place i…

1
Before Sunrise (redo): Screenwriter Kim Krizan on what led up to the classic travel-romance movie 57:33

1M ago57:33

57:33

"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…

1
Unveiling the Mysteries of the Emerald Tablet with Andrew Clawson 17:14

2M ago17:14

17:14

In this episode of The Adventure Story Podcast, I'm joined by Andrew Clawson, bestselling author of thrillers and adventure novels, for a captivating deep dive into the enigmatic Emerald Tablet. We explore the tablet's myth, tracing the mysterious artifact’s journey through time—from its rumored roots in ancient Egyptian and Greek mythology to its …

1
Before Sunrise: Screenwriter Kim Krizan on what led up to the classic 1995 travel-romance movie 57:21

2M ago57:21

57:21

"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…

1
The Real Paris Heist: The Man Who Stole Picasso 11:38

2M ago11:38

11:38

In the early hours of May 20, 2010, a lone figure scaled the walls of the Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris and vanished into the galleries. Moments later, five irreplaceable masterpieces — including works by Picasso, Matisse, and Modigliani — were gone. No alarms. No trace. No recovery. But this wasn’t fiction. This was the real-life work of Vjéran Tom…

1
Mars on Earth: The world’s driest desert, and what travelers might find when they go there 49:22

2M ago49:22

49:22

“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…

1
The Galapagos Postman and His Global Adventure with Jon Beardmore 26:08

2M ago26:08

26:08

In this episode of the Adventure Story Podcast, I'm joined by filmmaker and global adventurer Jon Beardmore as we explore one of the Galapagos Islands’ most fascinating traditions, Post Office Bay. Dating back centuries, this unique spot once served as an unofficial mail system where sailors would leave handwritten letters in a wooden barrel, hopin…

1
The Templar Curse: Story or legend? 17:18

2M ago17:18

17:18

On this episode of The Adventure Story Podcast, we're heading back to medieval Paris for one of the most dramatic exits in history. Picture this: a cold March morning in 1314, a massive crowd gathered on the Île de la Cité, and Jacques de Molay—the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar—chained to a pyre in the shadow of Notre Dame. As the flames…

1
1919 Cairo: A City of Revolt, Relics & Ruthless Treasure Hunters with Sean McLachlan 23:30

3M ago23:30

23:30

In this episode of the Adventure Story Podcast, I'm joined by archaeologist and author Sean McLachlan. We delve into 1919 Cairo, Egypt, discussing the city's post-Great War atmosphere, filled with revolution, treasure hunting, and clandestine activities. Sean shares his experiences and the inspiration behind his historical adventure novels (The Mas…

1
Exploring Death Valley with J.F. Penn 33:21

3M ago33:21

33:21

Today we journey into Death Valley, one of the most extreme and enigmatic places on Earth. With scorching heat, ghost towns lost to time, and ancient landscapes shaped by wind and fire, this desert is more than just a national park—it’s a thriller novel in its own right. Joining me is bestselling thriller author J.F. Penn, whose latest novel uses D…

1
Why a chapter about “slum tourism” was edited out of The Vagabond’s Way (with Chloe Cooper Jones) 56:25

3M ago56:25

56:25

“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…

1
The Quest for Lost Roman Treasure Beneath Iceland's Volcanoes with Dave Bartell 27:31

3M ago27:31

27:31

Could Roman treasure be buried beneath Iceland’s volcanic crust? In this episode of The Adventure Fiction Podcast, I’m joined by author and explorer-at-heart Dave Bartel as we dive headfirst into one of history’s most intriguing “what ifs.” Did Roman explorers really reach the icy edge of the world—and leave behind a trail of forgotten riches? We b…

1
Long-term travel 101: Matt Kepnes on how to slow down and save money on an extended global journey 28:29

3M ago28:29

28:29

“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)…

1
The Titanic Conspiracy: Secrets Beneath the Surface 12:16

3M ago12:16

12:16

Was the sinking of the Titanic truly an accident—or the result of something far more sinister? This episode plunges into the deep waters of history’s most famous maritime disaster, examining theories that challenge the official story. Could the doomed ship have actually been the Titanic’s sister vessel, the Olympic, swapped in an elaborate insuranc…

1
The Lost Civilization of Tartaria with Guy Anderson 29:45

4M ago29:45

29:45

What if everything you know about history is a lie? What if entire civilizations have been erased, their achievements buried under layers of deception? Welcome to one of the most controversial and mind-bending mysteries in alternative history: The Legend of Tartaria—a lost empire that some believe stretched across continents, wielded advanced techn…

1
Did dinosaurs walk the earth in the twelfth century? 12:59

4M ago12:59

12:59

What if history got it wrong? Deep in the ruins of Cambodia’s Ta Prohm temple—where Tomb Raider was filmed—there’s a carving that defies explanation. It looks exactly like a stegosaurus… but it was carved centuries before modern paleontology even existed. Coincidence? Misinterpretation? Or could this be proof that dinosaurs and humans once coexiste…

1
Travel memoir lab: On blending travel narrative with a broader memoiristic life-narrative 37:07

4M ago37:07

37:07

“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…

1
Exploring the Enigma of the Feathered Serpent: History Meets Legend 21:59

4M ago21:59

21:59

Quetzalcoatl. Kolkan. The Feathered Serpent. No matter what name you use, this legendary figure has been at the heart of Mesoamerican mythology for centuries. But was it just a myth—or something more? In this episode, we’re diving deep into the history, mystery, and symbolism of the Feathered Serpent. This isn’t just some ancient god that people us…

1
The Truth Behind the Crystal Skulls 12:05

4M ago12:05

12:05

The Mitchell-Hedges Crystal Skull is one of the most mysterious, controversial and down right weird artifacts of all time. The inspiration behind the Indiana Jones movie, it was discovered in 1924 by a young woman called Anna Mitchell-Hedges. She claims to have discovered this bizarre, almost impossibly well-crafted crystal skull in the ruins of an…

1
The Enigma of Cambodia's Abandoned Pyramids with Caleb Andrew 39:33

4M ago39:33

39:33

A forgotten kingdom, an abandoned pyramid, and a stolen priceless artifact, it sounds like the setting for an electrifying adventure – and it is – but what we’re talking about today is the true story of Cambodia’s modern history. Caleb Andrew joins me. He’s an author, lawyer, and world traveler whose archaeological thrillers bring hidden histories …

1
The Egyptian Ghost on the London Underground 12:43

4M ago12:43

12:43

Come with us as we explore the haunting legend of an ancient Egyptian princess who is said to wander the tunnels of the London Underground. We delve into the historical context surrounding this phenomenon, tracing its origins back to the 1920s, coinciding with the public's fascination with Egyptian artifacts following the discovery of Tutankhamun's…

1
How a journey on the Hippie Trail changed Rick Steves’ life (and influenced Rolf’s travels too) 44:26

5M ago44:26

44:26

“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…

1
A travel writers’ Super Bowl special: Pico Iyer and Rolf discuss NFL football from the global perspective 38:55

5M ago38:55

38:55

“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…

1
Season 1 Trailer 3:43

5M ago3:43

3:43

The Adventure Story Podcast - Season 1 Trailer Welcome to The Adventure Story Podcast, where ancient mysteries, untold stories, and real-world exploration collide. Join host Luke, an adventure novelist and travel enthusiast, as he delves into the unexplained, the extraordinary, and the downright mysterious. Episode Overview In this trailer, Luke in…

1
Pico Iyer on how solitude, stillness, and silence play an essential counterbalance to the traveling life 55:24

6M ago55:24

55:24

“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,…

1
Life changing travel experiences: Memories of traveling to Syria, 25 years on (with Ari Shaffir) 1:23:01

6M ago1:23:01

1:23:01

“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…

1
Travel memoir lab: How to fast-track your travel book by working with a hybrid publisher 1:01:36

7M ago1:01:36

1:01:36

“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…

1
HoneyTrek: A case study in making a full-time living as travel influencers and content creators 43:18

7M ago43:18

43:18

“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…

1
Live from Bali: How tourists, influencers, and nomads transform destinations (for good and for bad) 38:59

8M ago38:59

38:59

“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…

1
Vagabonding audio companion: Obnoxious travelers (and how to avoid being one) 45:40

8M ago45:40

45:40

“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 …

1
What you discover when you walk down every single street in New York City (encore) 1:30:57

10M ago1:30:57

1:30:57

“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…

1
A history and future of digital and biological technology, with Jane Metcalfe 59:27

11M ago59:27

59:27

“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…

1
Bicycling across the USA (with no money or food) looking for human connection 50:01

12M ago50:01

50:01

“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…

1
Wonder Year: The Art of Long-Term Family Travel and Worldschooling 53:42

1y ago53:42

53:42

“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…

1
How Rolf Ruined the 1990s: A personal history of my grunge-bandwagon band 1:19:36

1y ago1:19:36

1:19:36

“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…

1
Walk and Talk: Notes from a peripatetic salon across northern Thailand 1:09:30

1y ago1:09:30

1:09:30

“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…

1
Essential tips and strategies for telling travel stories, with Andrew McCarthy 58:23

1+ y ago58:23

58:23

“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…

1
What it’s like to spend a full year traveling within a day’s radius of your home 57:12

1+ y ago57:12

57:12

“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…

1
Sports, superstitions, and sacraments: A Deviate Super Bowl Special (2024 remix) 1:24:47

1+ y ago1:24:47

1:24:47

“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…

1
Tim Ferriss and Rolf discuss travel, time wealth, and “success management” 2:08:27

1+ y ago2:08:27

2:08:27

“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…

1
The best journeys explore mindscapes as well as landscapes (book club remix) 41:56

1+ y ago41:56

41:56

“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 …

1
Going abroad for love, and travel writing that says something new about a place 35:40

1+ y ago35:40

35:40

“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…

1
Seek places where your very presence makes you interesting (book club redo) 27:56

1+ y ago27:56

27:56

“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…

1
Travel memoir lab: Truth, luck, & multi-genre storytelling (with Tom Bissell) 58:13

1+ y ago58:13

58:13

“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…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Rolf Potts Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide