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    • home
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    • Episodes
      • Podcast Website
      • Current Episodes
      • Episode 111-120
      • Episode 101-110
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      • Episode 81-90
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The Travelers Blueprint

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Brandon Shaw The Roman Guy The Tour Guy The Travelers Blueprint Podcast Travel Rome Italy Colosseum

TTB 100: The Roman Guy

Show Notes

Brandon Shaw is the Co-Founder of one of Italy’s most popular tour companies, The Tour Guy/The Roman Guy. From how to navigate the city, where to grab a slice of pizza, to where to stock up on the best wine, Brandon was able to provide us with detailed information on the how, when, and where for all things Rome.  


Inside the Episode:   

 

  • Rome Tip of the Day: Once you arrive in Roma Termini, take the subway straight to the Colosseum. The view of the Colosseum as you come out from the subway will be a jaw dropping introduction to the ancient city. 
  • Did you know the Colosseum was equipped with elevators? They’d carry up exotic animals and gladiators up to fight for the entertainment of the city….Are you not ENTERTAINED!! 
  • Our idea going into this conversation with Brandon was to create a “one stop shop” conversation on everything and anything you can do in Rome. From the Colosseum, to his favorite slice of pizza, to the wine. 
  • As a longtime resident of Rome, Brandon recommended the neighbor of Monteverde to get off the beaten path. A 15-minute train ride outside you can grab a bite to eat, “as the Romans do”. 
  • The very informative Brandon Shaw, Co-Founder of The Tour Guy was able to provide us with an overwhelming amount of logistical information for those visiting Rome. Whether it’s your first time ever visiting Italy, or the 10th, check out our conversation with him and let us know what you learned! Grazie 
  • The Tour Guy has thoughtful interactive tours for young children, so you, the super cultured parent can enjoy the architecture, statues, and museums. Incorporating scavenger 

Contact Info:

Website:https://www.thetourguy.com/tours


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRomanGuy/


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetourguy/


YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCobaqk2JEYLiBJAhJZG0Oiw 

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Igor Scomparin Tour Leader Venice The Travelers Blueprint Podcast Italy Travel Podcast Ghetto

TTB 099: Behind the Scenes of Venice

Show Notes

On this podcast we spoke with Igor Scomparin of Tour Leader Venice, who specializes in off the beaten path tours in Venice. He shared a ton of ways YOU can stay away from the large crowds and get to experience Venice just like a local. From visiting the print shop where the first printed version of Pinocchio was made, to fine dining and drinking at restaurants few tourists visit, Igor will “bring you in the backdoor” of Venice for a unique experience of local life. 


Inside the Episode:   

  • In my conversation with Igor we covered everything you need to know before and during your trip to Venice. From the moment you land at the airport through your experience exploring the city, Igor was able to break down which streets to explore, which cafes to grab your espresso, and when best to visit the touristy landmarks. 
  • Getting to Venice is pretty simple. There is only one way onto the island if you’re coming by road or bus. However did you know that you can take a boat straight from the Marco Polo Airport? 
  • The word “Ghetto” originated in Venice, where the first Jewish ghetto was located. Ghetto comes from the word “geto”, meaning foundry, where the Jewish population was forced to live in close proximity to. Now a popular tourist destination within Venice, the old Jewish Ghetto is now the location of  a thriving Jewish Community and hotspot for cafes and off the beaten path experiences within the historical city. 
  • You heard it here! Ponte Chiodo Bridge, as Igor explains is one of the only remaining bridges in the city of Venice still in its original configuration without any guardrails making for the perfect picturesque location in Venice. 
  • A great piece of advice from Igor was to see the infamous Doge’s Palace later in the evening (between 5-7pm). This way you beat the crowds and have a more intimate experience. And, of course, by your tickets in advance!! 

Contact Info:

Website: www.tourleadervenice.com


Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/tourleadervenice/


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tourleadervenice/


Twitter: https://twitter.com/tourleadervenic 

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Andrew Tyree Coast to Costa The Travelers Blueprint Podcast Amazing Travel Content Oaxaca Mexico

TTB 098: Oaxaca, Mexico with Coast to Costa

Show Notes

While living in Spain for four years, Andrew developed fluency for the language and fell in love with the culture. His time there has given him the ability to create a local’s experience, highlighting some of the best- kept secrets that cannot be found in a guidebook. After moving back to San Francisco, he worked in the Spanish food and wine industry. In this role he was able to build relationships with the best restaurants, wineries, and Mezcal producers in Northern Spain and Mexico. It was shortly after this, in 2012, when he launched Coast to Costa to share his love and insider knowledge of all things Spanish. Since then his passion for travel has expanded Coast to Costa’s roster to include several destinations in Mexico and Cuba. With years of travel under his wing, he’s sure to make you feel like you’re traveling like a local, not a tourist! 


Inside the Episode:   

  • Have you heard of Oaxaca, Mexico? As Andrew explains, this often overlooked town is a cultural centerpiece to Mexico with great authentic food, beautifully colored architecture, and an experience that brings you away from the coast and deep into the center of the country for a unique experience. 
  • You have a week in Oaxaca. What do you do? We’ll let Andrew tell you directly in this short clip of what ended up being a very detailed explanation on what you can see and do in this beautiful Mexican city .
  • Who doesn’t want an authentic travel experience? We want to see, eat, do, and experience just as the locals do. Now, not to knock Cancun, but if you go to Mexico and only visit a resort destination, did you even go to the real Mexico? Let’s put it this way, if you visit the US and only go to Disney World, did you really experience the USA?
  • Ok people, we’re going to be loud and clear on this one: Just because dangerous things happen in Mexico it does not mean the entire country of Mexico is unsafe. Actually, use this logic for almost any country around the world. Think about it - if you were an outsider looking to the US for your next vacation, what would you think? We’ll leave it at that. 
  • Oaxaca is a small city with art, music, photography options, and tons of cafes and restaurants. It’s big enough to deserve its own trip but not overwhelming like a larger city may be. It’s sort of this perfect little destination to just explore and learn from locals who don't see tourists too often. 
  • Andrew, owner of Coast to Costa dedicates ALL of his time to creating incredible itineraries through Mexico, South America, and Spain. His tours have a strong emphasis on culture, including coffee, food, art, and music.

Contact Info:

Website 


Instagram @coasttocosta


Twitter @coasttocosta


Facebook

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The Travelers Blueprint Podcast Best Travel Podcast News Covid19 Elephants Botswana Air Travel

TTB 097: July Travel Bites w/ Bob and Elliot

Show Notes

In this episode we discuss some of the recent travel related news we found interesting or relevant over the month of July. We break down our favorite different news articles, including: 

  • Anyone else crossing their fingers for a season 2 of Zac Efron’s netflix show Down to Earth? Things we learned: Water Sommeliers exist, you can cook bread in volcanic sand using geothermal energy, and apparently Zac Efron has a dad bod - which means there is absolutely no hope for the rest of us. 
  • This was important to go over on the podcast this week. There are still so many unknown processes, not just for passengers, but for the airlines themselves as it relates to handling the potential spread of COVID-19. 
  • The research is still underway on the mysterious elephant deaths in Botswana. As stated in the article and discussed on our podcast, “Our main attention ... is now on investigating broader environmental factors such as naturally produced toxins from bacteria that are found in the environment, such as water bodies.” We will keep an eye on this story and hopefully bring you an answer next month. 
  • We break down the list of the countries US citizens can visit (As of 7.31.2020)

 

  1. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/zac-efron-netflix-travel-show/index.html
  2. https://thepointsguy.com/news/temperature-check-boarding-rights/ 
  3. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53495768 
  4. https://thepointsguy.com/guide/places-americans-can-travel-internationally/
  5. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/us-state-travel-restrictions-covid-19/index.html
  6. https://www.travelpulse.com/news/features/takeaways-from-tripadvisors-2020-travelers-choice-awards.html
  7. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-botswana-elephants/botswana-says-natural-toxin-could-be-behind-elephant-deaths-idUSKCN24V32X

Up This Month:

Andrew Tyree- from Coast to Costa on Oaxaca, Mexico

Igor Scampion - Behind the Scenes of Venice

Brandon Shaw - The Roman Guy

Michael Hilliard- A war time traveler

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Scott Lite The Travelers Blueprint Travel Podcast Mesoamerica Psychoactive Drugs Flora Mescaline

TTB 096: Mesoamerican Psychoactive Flora

Show Notes

Scott Lite is an ethnobotanist, herbalist, adventurer, seed-saver, plant hunter, explorer and apprentice to the shaman of the world. He was trained as an herbalist at the Appalachia School of Holistic Herbalism in September 2011. Scott is an associate of the Botanical Preservation Corps and was on the 2010 expedition to Peru collecting seeds and information on medicinal, edible, and sacred plants throughout the Andes. In 2010 Scott opened the Ethnobotanical Conservation Organization or EthnoCO which is a company based in Peru that leads expeditions and sells cultural wares. 


Inside the Episode:   

  • Once again Scott brings us detailed information on psychedelic South American flora and how those plants were used by the continents most iconic ancient civilizations. 
  • As Scott explains, disease played a major role in the Spanish’s conquest of the South American continent. It’s interesting to contemplate what the Americas would be like if disease didn’t have such a significant effect in wiping out the native populations.
  • Peyote is a small round low growing cactus which grows under rocks in the southern US and northern Mexico. It’s also an incredibly powerful psychedelic drug, utilized by Native American tribes for centuries. This drug is no joke. In a 5,000 year old cave in Mexico they found the plant still contained the psychedelic compound. 
  • Scott provided us with incredibly interesting and detailed information on psychoactive drugs used historically in South America, breaking down chemical properties and how these compounds alter the functionality of our brains. 

Contact Info:

Website -  www.ethnoco.com


Etsy - www.etsy.com/shop/EthnobotanicalCO 


FB - www.facebook.com/EthnoCO1/  

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Amanda Kendle The Thoughtful Travel Podcast The Travelers Blueprint Podcast Mindfulness Voluntourism

TTB 095: the thoughtful traveler

Show Notes

Amanda Kendle is a travel podcaster, blogger, and most importantly a Thoughtful Traveler. Amanda is the host of The Thoughtful Travel podcast where she discusses mindfulness, travel planning, slow travel, and voluntourism.  


Inside the Episode:   

  • What is a thoughtful traveler? Well, Amanda of The Thoughtful Travel podcast breaks it down for us providing unique insight on how we can be more thoughtful 
  • Unthoughtful travel - when you travel to have a good time at the detriment of the locals. You leave behind waste, you're inconsiderate of the local culture, and undermine the importance of significant landmarks. I don’t think we have many unthoughtful travelers following our podcast. You probably wouldn't enjoy our show if you traveled that way. So maybe keep an eye out for someone being unthoughtful on your journey and offer a few ways they can enhance their travel experience and in turn be more thoughtful to the destination. 
  • Take the time to research the culture and etiquette before you go. Something as simple as tipping can be quite confusing for a foreigner. Just ask any Australian or Brit what they think of the US tipping system and most will admit they’re quite confused by it. Taking a few minutes to understand what makes the country tick can be beneficial not only to your experience but to the people you'll be meeting along the way. 
  • There is something we can learn about kids on the road. There is a universal language they all seem to share - regardless of nationality, background, skin color - they all know what its like to have fun. Amanda nailed home how important it is to give your kids time to play while traveling. And when you do you’ll be amazing by how quickly they'll make new friends, often so caught up in the fun that they don't even realize they don't even speak the same language. 
  • Amanda hosts a beautiful travel podcast, The Thoughtful Traveler, where she discusses the intricacies of what it means to be a thoughtful traveler by sharing short stories from several guests in each episode. 

Contact Info:

Website: https://www.notaballerina.com/


Facebook:

https://facebook.com/notaballerina


Instagram: https://instagram.com/amandakendle


Twitter: https://twitter.com/amandakendle 

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Joshua Biggers World Elephants The Travelers Blueprint Podcast Travel Entrepreneur Thailand

TTB 094: The Travel Entrepreneur

Show Notes

Joshua Biggers is a travel blogger, travel author, and digital creator living the Digital Nomad Life. Joshua creates informative travel content that helps people around the world see the world as affordably and as efficiently as possible.  


Inside the Episode:   

 

  • Joshua figured out early on that you can get your accommodations paid for by restaurants and hostels by using your social media following as leverage. Now, as his following has grown so has his ability to negotiate accommodations and ultimately travel for super cheap and sometimes completely free. 
  • Joshua is a hustler. Ambitiously sending emails to hostels, hotels, and restaurants in order to exchange free accommodations for social media promotion. It works, and as a result Joshua has turned to helping others follow in his footsteps with several travel books and blogs. 
  • Let’s face it Americans - we got the short stick when it comes to time off. Our 2-3 weeks isn't cutting it. Don’t believe us? Talk to an Australian about their vacation time. Or someone from France or Denmark. They put us to shame, and as a result travel more and for longer periods of time. We’re jealous. 
  • This hedgehog saw a beautiful 41 states on the road with Joshua as they influenced the online travel community with their postcard-esque photographs and travel stories. No travel partner? Fear not. Your travel companion can be a furry (or spiny) pet. Your travel pictures will be way cooler that way. 
  • Joshua shared several horror stories when things went wrong while he was on the road. From broken bones to cancelled flights, he explains that travel insurance is a great way to protect yourself. As you’ll hear on the podcast - not having travel insurance set back one of Joshua’s friends $10,000. Yea, book the travel insurance. Thank us later. 
  • Have you put your travel plans on hold because you didn't want to travel alone? Well, you wouldn't be...alone...in that thought process. We were glad that Joshua cleared the air on this and made it clear that people (and women) from countries outside of the US travel alone on a very regular basis. So, when COVID clears up, GO. Just GO
  • Joshua is a hostel guru. He’s experienced hostels around the world and has written several articles and blogs that allow you to understand and navigate websites like hostelworld.com. If you’re curious to learn more, reach out. Josuha would be happy to help. 
  • Josh literally wrote the book on travel tips and tricks! “How to Travel Cheap on a Budget: 101 Travel Tips to Travel the World”. Even experienced travelers who think they know it all will learn something new. It's pretty affordable on Amazon too. 

Contact Info:

Website: http://biggersworld.com/


Website: https://tiredofworking.com/


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biggersworld/


Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/biggersworld/


YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-T6ZfnyRuTv24FWMcV3Npw


Twitter: https://twitter.com/biggersworlds?lang=en


Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.nz/biggersworld/


Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/biggersworld 

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TTB 093: June Travel Bites w/ Bob and Elliot

Show Notes

In this episode we discuss some of the recent travel related news we found interesting or relevant over the month of June. We break down our favorite different news articles, including:  

  • The European Union will not allow Americans in for what may end up being the remainder of the summer through the fall! 
    • https://www.nytimes.com/article/eu-travel-ban-explained-usa.html
  • Two women from the UK are the first two cases in New Zealand after the country essentially squashed the virus. 
    • https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-zealand-new-coronavirus-cases-24-days-uk-travelers-visit-dying-relative/
  • Elephants are dying by the hundreds in Botswana and no one knows why.
    • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53257512
  • We give our travel tips on how you can resume travel in the US. 

Up This Month:

  1. Joshua Biggers of Biggers World, The Travel Entrepreneur 
  2. Amanda Kendle of the The Thoughtful Travel Podcast
  3. Scott Lite of EthnoCo on MesoAmerican culture and psychoactive flora

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Ash Dykes Yangtze River China The Travelers Blueprint Hiking Endurance Grit Adventure Inspiring Cool

TTB 092: Walking The Yangtze River

Show Notes

Continued from our conversation in TTB 092: Ash Dykes is an explorer, extreme athlete, motivational speaker and 3x World First Record Holder. 


Ash recently head-lined global news by becoming the first person to hike the entire length of the Yangtze River in China. A 4,000-mile journey that took him 352 days to complete, he faced bears, altitude, wolves, landslides, blizzards and had to send 10 of the 16 team members (that joined him for short stints at different locations) home, due to altitude sickness, fear of wildlife and/or injury. 


Inside the Episode:   

  • Bandits, corrupt militia, and malaria. Ash describes his time avoiding the bandits by heading deep into the jungle. Then, malaria hits. Ash tells us about his experience with malaria, and honestly, I think we’d prefer the bandits
  • After completing his 155 day trip through Madagascar, Ash explains that the most challenging thing about this adventure was the terrain. Surprisingly, Madagascar was surprisingly mountainous. Add in the thick jungle and you'll find yourself in quite the challenging situation. 
  • “We’re all hacking through our own kind of jungle”, Ash explains. Something we really took away from this conversation was an understanding of Ashs’ ability to fixate on the job immediately in front of his face, and push all of thoughts to the back of his mind. It's this skill that has allowed him to climb to rankings as one of the top adventures in modern history.  
  • Who else is a visual learner?? Ash, utilizing photographs, videos, and by speaking on his first hand experience in countries directly impacted by climate change is bringing a new way to approach the ever warming planet. 
  • Ash’s access was granted with the help of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), for whom he has been appointed Ambassador. Ash’s ultimate goal is to spread awareness of biodiversity and ultimately slow down and reverse various forms of pollution and ecological stresses. 

Contact Info:

Website: https://www.ashdykes.com/


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshDykesOfficial/


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ash_dykes/


Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshDykes


YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ashdykes 

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Ash Dykes Mongolia Madagascar The Travelers Blueprint Adventure Hiking Extreme Endurance Welsh Cool

TTB 091: Walking Across Mongolia and Madagascar

Show Notes

Ash Dykes is an explorer, extreme athlete, motivational speaker and 3x World First Record Holder. On this podcast Ash discusses his mind boggling hikes across both Mongolia and Madagascar where he encountered and overcame everything from mythical jungle witches to bouts with dehydration and exhaustion. 


Inside the Episode:   

  • In 2014, Ash became the first ever recorded person to hike across Mongolia solo and unsupported, covering over 1,500 miles in 78 days. He trekked over the Altai Mountains, through the Gobi Desert and the Mongolian Steppe, all whilst pulling a wheeled trailer weighing 120kg, carrying everything needed to survive. Sir Ranulph Fiennes described it as being “an example of great determination, to achieve something that’s becoming harder all the time, an adventuring ‘first’, which would have proved both physically and mentally challenging”.
  • “Every day was possible” As Ash explains in this trip, by breaking down this momentous trip into smaller steps, taking it day by day. He literally put the saying “take it one step at a time” to use and in turn conquered the first unsupported walk across Mongolia.
  • In 2016, Ash achieved his second world record by becoming the first person to walk the entire length of Madagascar’s interior, whilst summitting its eight highest Mountains. An expedition of over 1,600 miles, taking 155 days to complete and faced many challenges, from being held up by the military, avoiding bandits, contracting the deadliest form of Malaria, crossing croc infested rivers, hacking through near impenetrable jungle during the cyclone season and much more.
  • Ash has a hell of a work ethic. Meticulous planning and exhaustive weight training has set him apart from the herd. He's walked, alone, for miles, has fought dehydration and malaria...and he's not done yet. Tune into next weeks podcast to hear the remainder of Ash's story has he walked the length of the 155 mile Yangtze River in China. 
  • Ash was invited back to Madagascar and named as the UK Ambassador for Madagascar Tourism; his promotion of the island reached over 350,000,000 people worldwide. Ash also became Special Ambassador of Malaria No More UK, an organisation working to eradicate malaria within our lifetime, an organisation also supported by David Beckham and Sir Andy Murray.
  • Oh Gertrude. Ash’s trusty chicken that kept him company throughout this trip across the country of Madagascar. The reason? To ward off demons and witches of course. At least that’s what the locals told him….

Contact Info:

Website: https://www.ashdykes.com/


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshDykesOfficial/


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ash_dykes/


Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshDykes


YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ashdykes 

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