Citizens of the World: A Stoic Podcast for Curious Travelers

I’m bringing back my Brexit buddy and former colleague, Mark Robson, to explain in easy-to understand terms how Brexit is affecting life today, and how we might be able to get out of this 2.5 year quagmire. In this episode, you’ll also get another lesson in British history, and who doesn’t love that? You’ll find show notes, including a funny and useful Brexit explainer video, on postcardacademy.co   Even though I live in England, have a lot at stake regarding Brexit, and listen to news about it all the time, I’ve found the situation to be quite confusing until Mark and I had this chat. I have such a better understanding of Brexit and its historical context. Hopefully you’ll feel the same way after listening and come away with all sorts of facts you can impress your friends with.    I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to travel? Sign up for my newsletter and 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.

On March 29, 2019, the U.K. is scheduled to exit the European Union (Brexit). But no one has any idea what is actually going to happen.    My fellow expats and immigrants are worried about our future legal status in the U.K., which we have made our home. Business owners, especially farmers, are losing business contracts due to economic uncertainty. Mental health issues are on the rise. People are stockpiling food. In recent days, people have been comparing the U.K. to Venezuela!   A lot of the news stories about Brexit are wonky and confusing, so I invited my British friend, Mark Robson, to come on the Postcard Academy podcast to explain what Brexit means in language everyone can understand. (head to postcardacademy.co for show notes).    In part one, Mark and I dive into some European history to explain how Brexit came to be. In part 2, we talk about how it feels to be living in England during this crazy time, which has been described as serious as WWII, and we share our predictions and dreams for the U.K.    I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to travel? Sign up for my newsletter and 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.

Happy International Women’s Day! I never even heard of International Women’s Day until I move to Italy in 2010, and La Festa delle Donne is a pretty big deal over there. So it got me thinking about the cultural differences between Americans. and Italians, and I thought it would be fun to share some of these today. I picked 12, but there are many more.   This episode is not about one country being better than the other — they both have pluses and minuses. I’m just sharing what I’ve experienced as a person who’s lived in both Italy and the United States.    Interested in Italy? I’ve done several Italy episodes, including ones on Rome and Florence.    I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to travel? Sign up for my newsletter and 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.

Little Estonia, with less than 1.5 million people, has been running itself like a tech company for about two decades now, giving everyone a digital ID and letting them access almost all government services online. Now they’re letting foreigners become e-Residents of their digital nation, and this week, I'll teach you how you can become one (find links to what we talk about on postcardacademy.co)   Last week, you heard some great travel advice from Julia Barrett, an American who moved to Tallinn to help develop e-Residency 2.0. This week, we’re doing a deep dive on how you can become an e-Resident of Estonia, or even a resident in real life.    Even if you’re not interested in becoming an e-Resident, you might be fascinated to learn how Estonia, a former communist state until the Soviet Union collapsed in the 1990s, became the most digital country in the world. I’ll be talking to Julia again, and to her colleague, Alex Wellman, an American, born and raised in Michigan, and who now heads up marketing for e-Residency.    I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to travel? Sign up for my newsletter and 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.

Wired magazine has called Estonia “the most advanced digital society in the world.” The President of Estonia (a woman — yay!)  just published an article about how “Estonia is running its country like a tech company” and that “governments must learn to provide public services as efficiently as Amazon sells books: no physical presence, no cost of application, no opening hours.”   Sounds pretty great to me. And to Julia Barrett, an American who was so excited by what’s going on in Estonia that she moved there to help develop e-Residency 2.0. E-Residency is a government program that bestows e-Residency to non-Estonians around the world. Julia also represents e-Residency in its partnership with the United Nations.   In this episode, Julia talks about what’s like to live in the world’s most digital society. And how despite all the tech, Estonians still cherish nature and traditions like jam making and baking black bread. Find links to the places we discuss on postcardacademy.co   I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to travel? Sign up for my newsletter and 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/postcardDo 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.

Matthew Dicks, a five-time Moth GrandSLAM storytelling winner, shares advice on telling travel stories that actually interest people. He discusses the power of relatable stories, the structure of storytelling, and the founding of Speak Up, a storytelling organization in Hartford. Additionally, he explores the power of storytelling and vulnerability in dating and shares a spontaneous road trip story to see a two-headed cow. Check out his book and podcast for more storytelling advice!

Anna Mazurek recently published the book Good with Money, in which she shares how she “maximizes her savings to travel the world with no debt, all on an average income of $30,000.”   Not only do we talk about actions we can take to make better financial decisions, Anna also shares the best credit card for travelers; her favorite bank, which refunds any ATM fee you incur on your travels; the vagabond’s guide to hacking the U.S. Healthcare system, and more. (find links at postcardacademy.co)   Anna is also a professional photographer who’s been globetrotting for all sorts of magazines, including Travel + Leisure and Rolling Stone and she runs photo trips for National Geographic’s Student Expeditions.    Special shout out to listener Mickiezada, who left the following iTunes review recently:    “Sarah has an inviting and calming voice as she discusses facts and personal considerations and interviews people from around the world. I’m a new listener, and a podcaster myself. I have subscribed to this one! Love, love, love the interviews and information. “ Mickiezada, you little peach!    Here’s how to leave a review on iTunes, if you’re in a generous spirit :)   I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to travel? Sign up for my newsletter and 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 (I made you a Spotify playlist) https://open.spotify.com/user/r5nnb86agxqox07vhx8bcz4gy/playlist/67KtZnALpBwUZmB0Gi6o6l?si=OAxgDI8iS4mNMIIbhJlWFg   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.

Ever dream of being a travel writer? Who hasn’t?! My guest Nardia Plumridge actually made it happen. In addition to writing for global publications, including Lonely Planet, Nardia also penned a book — Lost in Florence — that is due out this spring. In this episode, Nardia shares how she broke into the travel writing biz and offers tips on how to get your own work published.    I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to travel? Sign up for my newsletter and 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.

Bangkok can feel frenetic and overwhelming to newcomers who imagined Thailand to be all gorgeous temples and beaches. In Bangkok, you’re more likely to see luxury buildings going up next to shacks and people sitting in traffic for hours. But don’t give up on it just yet — once you get off the main streets, chances are you’ll love this vibrant city. Today’s guest, travel writer Nardia Plumridge, is here to share her best insider travel recommendations for Thailand’s capital city. (find links to everything we discuss on postcard academy.co)   An Australian expat, Nardia has lived around the world and writes for different travel publications, including Lonely Planet. Before moving to Bangkok, where she currently lives, she spent years living in Florence, where she and I met, and later this year she has a gorgeous book coming out called Lost in Florence, which celebrates the city’s unique and independent places.   Nardia loves uncovering the true essence of what a city has to offer, and today we will be sharing Bangkok’s best with you. We talk about everything from Buddhism and meditation to the best street food and rooftop bars. I also share the story of when my sister and I were trucked off to a Thai jail, and why we’d go back to the country despite that very surreal and scary experience.    I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to travel? Sign up for my newsletter and 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.

Last week’s episode was all about setting goals and designing more freedom into your life. I’m happy to say, that I have actually taken action and filled out the business plan template that Natalie shared with us — you can find that at postcardacadey.co/freedomplan Even if you have no plans to start a business this year, it’s still a handy tool for putting any kind of goals on paper and and mapping out your steps to get there.    In the spirit of tidying up and getting organized, I’m thinking through where I want to travel in 2019. As a history lover, I’ve spent my fair share of time in cities like Paris, Rome, Berlin, and London. But I’m in the phase of my life where I like visiting the not-so-popular but still incredible destinations. If you’ve ever flipped through the magazine, Eat This, Not That!,  my travel recommendations for 2019 are a little like that. ‘Visit this charming village, not that over-crowded metropolis!’    Spoiler alert: Here’s where I’m headed: Folkestone, England; Sarajevo, Bosnia; Izmir, Turkey; Tirana, Albania; Warsaw, Poland; Matera, Italy; and Providence and Newport, Rhode, Island. I also want to travel around Japan, but that’s hardly off-the-beaten path these days.    I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to travel? Sign up for my newsletter and 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.