Citizens of the World: A Stoic Podcast for Curious Travelers

My mother and I are sitting at a red light then BAM! A truck hits us from behind. The driver claims he sneezed and lost control of his vehicle 🙄 Aside from some soreness, we are OK, but what if the accident had been a lot more serious?    The thought of hospital bills bankrupting me makes me panic more than broken bones. I’m American, but I don’t live in the U.S. and so I’m not part of the healthcare system. When I’m visiting my family in the States, World Nomads is my go-to company for insurance. With them, hopefully I won’t end up financially devastated if something bad happens to me in my home country.   Today on the podcast I am talking to Phil Sylvester, Head of PR and Media Communications at World Nomads. A former broadcast journalist, today Phil creates great content for World Nomads, including their podcast of the same name, which he co-hosts with Kim Napier (I make a guest appearance on the World Nomad’s Bangladesh episode).   I love what they’re doing over there at World Nomads because not only do they protect me while I’m traveling, but they also share my values, which can be summed up by Phil’s favorite travel quote, which is by Mark Twain: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness…” I love Mark Twain and think we can all agree with him there.    I had a great time speaking with Phil. We get a little graphic in this episode with some of the stories. Hopefully you can handle it.    Did you know you can support this podcast by purchasing your travel insurance from World Nomads through the Postcard Academy?    How does that work? Well, I’m such a fan of World Nomads that I joined their partner program. If go to postcardacademy.co/insurance and click on one of the World Nomads’ links to buy your insurance, they’ll give a little monetary bonus to the show. You’ll also find a handy little travel insurance cost estimate calculator at postcardacademy.co. *** I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Did you know I host another show called Podcasting Step by Step? Check it out if you’ve been wanting to start a podcast. Every week, I break down ‘how to podcast’ with a little loving motivation to give you the skills and confidence you need to finally launch that show of your dreams.   Ready to travel? Get your free guide to cheap airfare.   Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

I hope you are enjoying these final days of summer, if it is summer in your part of the world.    I’m currently visiting my family in the United States and so the Postcard Academy will be on a brief two-week break. I will be back in September with new episodes of adventurous people who packed up everything to start a new adventure in another part of the world.    You’ll continue to get their insider food and culture tips, and I’m going to share more ways on how you can make living abroad happen for you if that is something you’re interested in. I’ve got some other fun plans in the works, so stay tuned.    If you’ve already taken the time to give the Postcard Academy a positive rating or review on Apple Podcasts -- thank you! This means the world to me. Here’s a recent one:   “I love this podcast and have used it numerous times to help plan trip itineraries or be inspired to go new places. The tips, recommendations, and backstory feel like it’s coming from a good friend. I especially love the interviews with locals. My one request: do the Sarajevo episode(s) already, please!!! I’m going in September and know I’ll have a better trip with Sarah’s advice!”    Thank you for that review and feedback, dear listener, and thanks for the gentle nudge. I’ve talked about my love of Sarajevo for long enough on this show. It’s time for some action.    I will make a Sarajevo episode happen for September. Meanwhile, I’ve already written a very in-depth ‘Ultimate Sarajevo Guide.’ You can find that at postcardacademy.co/sarajevo     If you’re in a generous spirit, why not take a moment to rate and/or review the Postcard Academy in Apple Podcasts. This helps other potential listeners know if the show is worth listening to :)   I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Did you know I host another show called Podcasting Step by Step? Check it out if you’ve been wanting to start a podcast. Every week, I break down ‘how to podcast’ with a little loving motivation to give you the skills and confidence you need to finally launch that show of your dreams.   Ready to travel? Get your free guide to cheap airfare.   Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. YoDo you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Author Katie Parla not only knows her Italian food, she knows her Italian history. Her deep culinary knowledge takes cookbook writing to the next level, with stories beautifully woven between recipes and lush photos. (show notes at postcardacademy.co )   In a previous episode of the Postcard Academy podcast, I interviewed  Katie, an American expat living in Rome, about the rich history of Roman cuisine. She recently came back on the podcast to discuss her new cookbook, Food of the Italian South.   If you’re a regular listener of the Postcard Academy, it would mean the world to me if you could take a moment to rate and/or review the show in Apple Podcasts. This helps other potential listeners know if the show is worth listening to :)   I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Did you know I host another show called Podcasting Step by Step? Check it out if you’ve been wanting to start a podcast. Every week, I break down ‘how to podcast’ with a little loving motivation to give you the skills and confidence you need to finally launch that show of your dreams.   Ready to travel? Get your free guide to cheap airfare.   Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up via audibletrial.com/postcard   This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insurance Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Like many expats I know, most of the travel I’ve done has been outside of my home country, the U.S. In fact, my European friends have seen more of the States than I have, and their wistful descriptions of the U.S. national parks have inspired me to plan a trip. (show notes at postcardacademy.co)   Danielle Jacobs-Erwin, host of the podcast Everybody’s National Parks, joined me on the Postcard Academy to discuss the history of the National Park System; what we need to do to prepare for a trip the national parks; where to stay; what to eat; and more.  I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Did you know I host another show called Podcasting Step by Step? Check it out if you’ve been wanting to start a podcast. Every week, I break down ‘how to podcast’ with a little loving motivation to give you the skills and confidence you need to finally launch that show of your dreams.   Ready to travel? Get your free guide to cheap airfare.   Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up via audibletrial.com/postcard This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insuranceDo you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Willie Gevertz is a visual storyteller from the U.S. who fell in love with Budapest while visiting a friend. The city captivated him so much that he moved to Hungary, which is fortunate for us because he’s the best tour guide we could ask for.    Willie is the type of guy who lives every day to its fullest, and I asked him to join me on the Postcard Academy to share how we can make the most of our time traveling in Budapest and beyond.    We will get into the best food in Budapest, the best nightlife, the bathhouses. Willie’s also a history buff and talks us through Hungary’s past, from the Romans to post-Communist times.   I love his positive energy and curiosity, and, while I don’t spend a ton of time on social media, I do follow him — he’s at willie.tv — on Instagram because he’s always smiling, dancing, and exploring. He puts a tremendous amount of work into his videos, most of which feature his adventures in Budapest so definitely check him out.Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Summer’s in the air…at least in my part of the world, and so I’m sharing a mini-episode on my deep summer thoughts.    Summer has always been my favorite season. It meant no school. Swimming. No cold weather. My birthday. Vacations. Barbecues. Now as an adult, I also appreciate the joy that I see in other people at this time of year. People are happier. They’re out and about doing communal activities like open air cinema or hanging out at an outdoor bar or cafe. They are going places. They are living life. I wish that we could maintain this vibrancy all year.    As I’m recording this, we’re heading into August, which is kind of like the ‘Sunday Night Blues’ month of the calendar year. September is right around the corner. Back to the real world. For a lot of people, this means heading to work and heading home.   But what if it wasn’t like that? What if we keep living our best lives all year long? This doesn’t have to mean  globetrotting nonstop or packing our days full of activities.    What if we prioritized simple pleasures and stopped wasting time stewing in anger, regretting things we can’t change, canceling plans with people we care about, and — this big one — not going after what we really want in life, because we’ll get to it someday, right?    What if we remembered to have fun and actually prioritized and planned for this.   What would your days look like if you woke up feeling in your bones that you will never have this day again?    If you’re a regular listener of the Postcard Academy, it would mean the world to me if you could take a moment to rate and/or review the show in Apple Podcasts. This helps other potential listeners know if the show is worth listening to :)   I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Did you know I host another show called Podcasting Step by Step? Check it out if you’ve been wanting to start a podcast. Every week, I break down ‘how to podcast’ with a little loving motivation to give you the skills and confidence you need to finally launch that show of your dreams.   Ready to travel? Get your free guide to cheap airfare.   Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up via audibletrial.com/postcard   This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculaDo you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

“How do I apply for Italian citizenship?” That’s the no. 1 question I get from listeners of the Postcard Academy. On the show, I’ve spoken about how I became an Italian citizen through my heritage, and how I applied in Italy. But this was almost 10 years ago and I wanted to refresh my memory on the process so I could share it with you.    On this episode, Italian citizenship expert Audra De Falco breaks down how we can apply for dual citizenship with Italy via jus sanguinis, the ‘right of blood.’ I’ve broken down all the steps at postcardacademy.co    If you’re a regular listener of the Postcard Academy, it would mean the world to me if you could take a moment to rate and/or review the show in Apple Podcasts. This helps other potential listeners know if the show is worth listening to :)   I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Did you know I host another show called Podcasting Step by Step? Check it out if you’ve been wanting to start a podcast. Every week, I break down ‘how to podcast’ with a little loving motivation to give you the skills and confidence you need to finally launch that show of your dreams.   Ready to travel? Get your free guide to cheap airfare.   Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up via audibletrial.com/postcard   This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insurance  Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Happy World Emoji Day! Why today of all days? Because the calendar emoji (📅) features the date July 17. Some hotheads get really worked up about emojis having their own day, but it’s all in good fun, like Pizza Day (February 9 in the U.S.). To celebrate, I’m re-sharing my podcast interview with Jeremy Burge, founder of Emojipedia, and an Australian expat living in London.    Jeremy is the ‘smiling face with smiling eyes’ personified and a delight to talk to 😊 On this episode of the Postcard Academy podcast, Jeremy and I talk about his job as Chief Emoji Officer, which he invented for himself after moving to the U.K. He explains the history of emojis and how new ones are decided on. He also shares his favorite food and culture recommendations for London, his adopted home.   This is one of my first episodes 😊 Please forgive the microphone rustling 🙏🙏🙏 I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Did you know I host another show called Podcasting Step by Step? Check it out if you’ve been wanting to start a podcast. Every week, I break down ‘how to podcast’ with a little loving motivation to give you the skills and confidence you need to finally launch that show of your dreams.   Ready to travel? Get your free guide to cheap airfare.   Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up via audibletrial.com/postcard   This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insurance Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Rachel Berryman owns Tirana Yoga, one of the most successful yoga studios in Albania. But she didn’t move here to become a business owner; Rachel, who is American, first came to this former Communist country with the Peace Corps.    On this episode, Rachel and I talk about the kind of volunteer work Rachel was doing and why she fell in love with Albania and its people. We also talk about the legacy of Albania’s Communist past, and, of course, about her favorite places to eat and the experiences you must have in Tirana, Albania. Plus, you’ll learn about day trips to the best nearby beaches and more.    If you’re a regular listener of the Postcard Academy, it would mean the world to me if you could take a moment to rate and/or review the show in Apple Podcasts. This helps other potential listeners know if the show is worth listening to :)   I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Did you know I host another show called Podcasting Step by Step? Check it out if you’ve been wanting to start a podcast. Every week, I break down ‘how to podcast’ with a little loving motivation to give you the skills and confidence you need to finally launch that show of your dreams.   Ready to travel? Get your free guide to cheap airfare.   Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up via audibletrial.com/postcard   This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insurance  Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

My friend Cristal and I traveled down Croatia’s coastline then made our way to Albania. While getting here wasn’t easy and involved a bus detour in Montenegro, exploring Albania is definitely worth it if you enjoy good food, cheap prices, and fewer tourists than Europe’s more popular destinations. Sounds pretty good, right?   Cristal and I visited many UNESCO sites, you know I love a good UNESCO site, and on the Postcard Academy podcast, we share what we saw in Tirana, Durres, Berat, Gjirokastra, and Sarande. You’ll hear all the highlights from the trip — and some things that we thought were overrated — and hopefully you can use this info to plan your own trip to Albania.    If you’re a regular listener of the Postcard Academy, it would mean the world to me if you could take a moment to rate and/or review the show in Apple Podcasts. This helps other potential listeners know if the show is worth listening to :)   I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Did you know I host another show called Podcasting Step by Step? Check it out if you’ve been wanting to start a podcast. Every week, I break down ‘how to podcast’ with a little loving motivation to give you the skills and confidence you need to finally launch that show of your dreams.   Ready to travel? Get your free guide to cheap airfare.   Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up via audibletrial.com/postcard   This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insurance Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.