

Zero To Travel Podcast
Jason Moore
✈️ The Zero To Travel Podcast has been downloaded 12+ million times and named a "Best Travel Podcast" by The Washington Post, Travel + Leisure, The Telegraph, and Forbes.Packed with life-changing perspectives, inspiration, and practical advice for everyone from travel newbies to nomads, this podcast will give you everything you need to travel the world on your terms, regardless of your situation or experience. Welcome to our amazing global listening community!Since 2013, "Travel Ambassador" Jason Moore from zerototravel.com has been picking the brains of adventurous people living an unconventional life on the road so you can discover new ways to travel endlessly.Along the way, you'll get actionable advice and key resources that will improve your life AND help you travel more as we get down and dirty on topics like; starting and running an online business from anywhere, the best off-the-beaten-path destinations to visit, travel and work opportunities, gutsy budget travel strategies, surprising ways to earn free travel, the digital nomad life, unconventional travel based lifestyles, fun travel jobs, how to plan epic adventures, backpacking, remote work, how to take a gap year or a career break, 4-hour work week inspired topics, ex-pat life, slow travel, travel hacking, sustainable travel, human-powered adventures, trips worth planning, and everything in between.Host Bio: Jason wandered the planet as a nomad for over a decade and spent 15+ years on the road as a tour manager in events/music, a seasonal adventure travel tour guide, and a digital nomad. Originally from the USA, he is now a dual citizen (Norway/USA) based in Oslo. He is obsessed with helping YOU explore our planet on your terms.Follow the show (it's FREE!) and welcome to the global community. 🙏PS - To sign up for our free newsletter to get travel tips, tricks, destination advice, and more visit zerototravel.com/newsletterPPS - If you'd like to access our paid premium feed with ad-free shows, bonus episodes, and more for just $3/month go to zerototravel.com/premium.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 21, 2025 • 1h 34min
Top 15 USA National Park Hikes: From Iconic Must-Dos to Hidden Wilderness Gems with Jason Frye
In this engaging discussion, Jason Frye, a seasoned travel and outdoor writer, shares insights from his book on top U.S. national park hikes. He reveals hidden gems and lesser-known trails that provide solitude amidst stunning landscapes. Frye advises on trip planning, matching hikes to skill levels, and avoiding the crowds. He dives into unforgettable hiking experiences, emphasizes the importance of preparation and safety, and recommends incredible parks like New River Gorge and Denali for adventurous souls. Tune in for practical tips and inspiring stories!

Oct 14, 2025 • 1h 29min
How to Harness the Power of Your Intuition (Using the Icelandic Concept of Innsæi) with Hrund Gunnsteinsdottir
Join Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir, an Icelandic author and speaker, as she unravels the mystique of InnSæi, the art of intuition. Discover how this concept allows us to tap into our inner wisdom, balancing it with logic for life’s big choices. Hrund shares practical tools for calming the nervous system, differentiating between fear and genuine intuition, and the power of journaling to enhance self-trust. From her transformative journey from the UN to coaching, she encourages embracing intuition as a pathway to authentic living.

Oct 7, 2025 • 1h 17min
Peru’s Hidden Gems, Why NOT to Hike the Inca Trail + Amazing (Less Crowded) Alternatives with Heather Jasper
Is it possible to hike the Inca Trail ethically?
Heather Jasper is a travel writer and photographer who has been based in Cusco, Peru, since 2019. She has written for BBC Travel, Fodor’s, Frommer’s, and other major outlets, leading readers off the beaten path across Peru.
In this episode, we dig into why Heather believes it’s nearly impossible to hike the Inca Trail ethically, and she offers lesser-known, more respectful alternatives and hidden gems across Peru.
This episode may help you become a better traveler and make more informed decisions. Heather explains why the system behind the Inca Trail, from permit quotas to porter treatment, is deeply flawed. You’ll hear exactly what red flags to look for when choosing a trekking company in Peru and what questions to ask before booking. We also explore alternative routes that offer just as much beauty with less harm, plus other parts of Peru that travelers often skip entirely.
What’s one assumption you hold about a destination you’re planning, and how might you challenge it? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.
Tune In To Learn:
How Heather built a career in travel writing while living in Peru (and her thoughts on AI!)
Why she says the Inca Trail is almost impossible to hike ethically
What happened during the pandemic that sharpened her view on porter welfare
How to spot an “unethical” trekking company just by their marketing or photos
The surprising reason why smaller trekking agencies tend to be more ethical
Specific treks in Peru that bypass the worst of mass tourism
Hidden destinations in Peru beyond Machu Picchu - art, desert, rainforest, and religious tourism
And so much more
Resources:
Sign up for our FREE newsletter
Heather’s website
An Ethical Guide to Hiking the Inca Trail
Horizon Guides Alternatives to the Inca Trail
Instagram
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How to Plan a Hike on the Inca Trail, Winning $500,000 on a Game Show, Learning from the Past with Philip Gibbons
Nomadic Matt on “How to Travel the World on $75 a Day,” Budget Travel, and Finding Your Balance While Traveling
DIY Adventure: Around the World in a $100 Car, the Pan-American Highway in a School Bus, Community-Powered Travel with Global Convoy Founder Joel Chevaillier
Thanks To Our Sponsors
CREATOR: The Podcast - Join host Ross Borden as he uncovers how top creators built six-figure incomes from beach cafes, mountain peaks, and everything in between.
Atlas Obscura Podcast: Experience an audio guide to the world's strange, incredible, and wondrous places.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 2, 2025 • 1h 18min
Surviving On a Desert Island + Transformative Travel with Tom Williams from Desert Island Survival
Do you have the skills to survive on a deserted island?
Tom Williams is the founder of Desert Island Survival, an adventure travel company that maroons people on desert islands, and the winner of the TV survival show Alone UK 2023.
In this episode, Tom traces his path from wealth management to remote survival guiding, explains how he designs his desert island expeditions, and shares the deep transformations that he's witnessed in his participants.
Tom shares how he went from being at the bottom of his class and experiencing childhood bullying in England to walking to the North Pole, becoming a dive master, and launching a wilderness survival business. He breaks down how Desert Island Survival trips work, why they’re structured the way they are, and what makes the format accessible even to beginners. You’ll hear real stories of guests who made dramatic life changes afterward - quitting jobs, leaving relationships, transforming their health - not because they were promised transformation, but because of what happens when you slow down and reconnect with your primal self. Tom also shares business lessons from starting small, building around passion, and growing with intention.
*This is a previously released episode from the archives! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, offering valuable insight whenever you listen.
What travel experiences have changed your life? I'd love to hear what they are and hope you will share them by sending me an audio message.
Tune In To Learn:
Why a trip to Honduras at 20 shifted Tom’s identity and changed the course of his life
How walking to the North Pole helped him build the resilience to start a business
What inspired him to leave a finance job and build Desert Island Survival from scratch
What actually happens on the island and why it’s designed to feel like raw adventure, not hardship
The “non-negotiables” that make each trip feel special, accessible, and transformative
What it means to go back to “layer zero” of technology and why that’s so powerful
How Tom finds untouched islands in a mapped world, and what makes the perfect location
What he’s learned from growing slowly, staying picky, and building around passion
Why following your dream isn’t always about success
And so much more
Resources:
Sign up for our FREE newsletter
Tom's website
Tom on Instagram
Desert Island Survival
Tom’s book recommendations: Humankind, Sapiens, At Home, 438 Days
Want More?
3 years Alone On Foot: An Interview With Sarah Marquis
Finding Your Island Paradise: An Interview With Alex Sheshunoff
How To Hike The PCT (Pacific Crest Trail)
Thanks To Our Sponsors:
Smart Travel Podcast - Before you book, learn how to get the most out of your travel dollars. Follow Smart Travel on your favorite podcast app.
CREATOR: The Podcast - Join host Ross Borden as he uncovers how top creators built six-figure incomes from beach cafes, mountain peaks, and everything in between.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 30, 2025 • 1h 3min
Top 7 French Riviera Hidden Gems (A Local’s Guide) + A Lifestyle Redesign Built Around Travel with Cédric Pages
What if the French Riviera you’ve seen in photos is only half the story?
Cédric Pages is the founder of WhatToDoRiviera.com, a local tour entrepreneur driving discovery across the Côte d’Azur by partnering with small operators and curating authentic experiences.
In this episode, we dive into seven hidden gems of the French Riviera that most visitors miss, plus Cédric’s journey from IT to tour guide and how he’s building a travel business that’s rooted in human connection.
Cédric shares seven of his favorite French Riviera hidden gems, including secret coastal walks, ancient monasteries, and even a solar-powered sailing experience. You’ll hear what makes the region so unique, how to explore it without breaking the bank, and why most visitors miss its most memorable spots.
Which of these hidden gems are you most excited to explore, or which region have you discovered that surprised you? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.
Tune In To Learn:
How Cedric turned a single walking tour into a platform supporting local guides and curated experiences across the Riviera
A coastal walk that offers dramatic sea views, rare flora, and villa-lined cliffs
An under-visited nearby island that still houses monks and produces local wine and olive oil
The story of a tiny, family-run vineyard still using centuries-old winemaking methods
Why a scenic train ride turns a Riviera base into an unexpected mountain gateway
What it’s like to glide silently along the coast on a solar-powered boat
How one inland river canyon makes for an epic full-day adventure
Which town Cédric recommends as your base, and when it actually makes sense to move
The biggest assumption people make about French hospitality and how to break through
Advice for building a travel business that connects you with people, not just tours
And so much more
Resources:
Sign up for our FREE newsletter
Cédric’s list of French Riviera hidden gems
What To Do Riviera
Instagram
Want More?
How to Plan Your Camino + Going Beyond the Camino Frances (Secret Routes, Donkey Highways, and Spain’s Hidden Village Network) with Shawn and Lainey
5 Unexpected Things to Do in Paris and 3 Hidden Gems in France with Paige McClanahan
How To Explore Paris Like a Local, Working on Hospital Ships, and Becoming an Expat on a Mystery Visa With Jay Swanson
Thanks To Our Sponsors
Smart Travel Podcast - Before you book, learn how to get the most out of your travel dollars. Follow Smart Travel on your favorite podcast app.
CREATOR: The Podcast - Join host Ross Borden as he uncovers how top creators built six-figure incomes from beach cafes, mountain peaks, and everything in between.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 25, 2025 • 1h 1min
Remote Roundup: Intentional Travel, Nomadding Berlin, Work Setups, Co-Living Trends, Overhyped Destinations (September 2025)
Discover how intentional travel can transform your journey as a digital nomad. The hosts share their evolving views on Berlin, revealing its hidden charms. Learn about essential remote work tools that enhance comfort and productivity on the road. Explore the rise of pop-up co-living spaces and the importance of community. They dive into popular destinations that often fail to meet Instagram's standards. Plus, tune in for playful travel dilemmas and insightful takeaways on blending purpose with adventure.

11 snips
Sep 23, 2025 • 57min
Traveling with No Destination and No Goals: Lessons from a 3-Year, 38,000-Mile Solo Bike Ride Around the World with Jacob Lemanski
Join Jacob Lemanski, an engineer-turned-adventurer, who embarked on a three-year, 38,000-mile solo bike ride across six continents. He shares the experience of traveling without a destination, revealing how this open-ended journey reshaped his views on presence and identity. Jacob discusses the challenges and rewards of extreme solitude, transformative encounters, and the beauty in living without a schedule. Learn how this adventure not only inspired his art and podcast but also led him to challenge conventional notions of success.

32 snips
Sep 18, 2025 • 1h 32min
Safari Planning 101 + How to Build Your Life Around Travel with Scott Brills
Scott Brills, a seasoned digital nomad and co-founder of Pamoja Safaris, shares his journey from early travels to creating a thriving safari business in Tanzania. He offers insider tips on planning unforgettable African safaris, like choosing the right guides and destinations. Listeners can learn about the cultural richness of safaris and practical advice on safety, costs, and timing for the best wildlife experiences. Scott’s story is an inspiring testament to building a travel-centric life, showing that it’s possible to thrive without traditional roots.

Sep 16, 2025 • 1h 36min
10 Steps to License Your Product Ideas for Location Independent Passive Income (No Manufacturing Required) with Courtney Laschkewitsch
Courtney Laschkewitsch, a serial inventor and product licensing coach, shares her inspiring journey of licensing six products after numerous rejections. She presents a 10-step system to turn product ideas into passive income without manufacturing. Courtney discusses the importance of perseverance and soft skills, revealing the realities of contracts and royalties. She also emphasizes the significance of market research and prototyping, along with the emotional and practical challenges inventors face. Discover how to navigate the licensing landscape while embracing innovative ideas!

Sep 11, 2025 • 1h 35min
Adventures in Urban Exploration with Greg Abandoned
Greg Abandoned, an urban explorer and host of the Chasing Bandos podcast, shares his thrilling escapades through abandoned locations. He recounts incredible stories, including an arrest by Chinese secret police, and reflects on how gaming inspired his journey to explore Chernobyl. Greg emphasizes the unwritten rules of the URBEX community, balancing discovery with respect for these forgotten places. He discusses the importance of photography in capturing decay's beauty and offers tips for aspiring explorers eager to embark on their own adventures.