Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel Podcast

Matt Bowles - From DJ to Digital Nomad (12 Years and Counting)

Learn Matt Bowles took that the "oh-so-common" career trajectory of Irish-American hip hop DJ turned human rights activist turned location independent entrepreneur turned minimalist world traveler and podcast host - and how he's been able to visit 80+ countries over the last 12 years all while running a remote real estate company.

 

Plus, he reveals some of his favorite under the radar digital nomad locations, including 2 that I've never heard anyone mention before.

 

00:00 Introduction to Matt Bowles and His Journey

05:18 The Transition to Location Independence

10:06 Discovering the Four Hour Workweek

14:41 Building a Location Independent Business

15:52 Living in LA vs. Traveling

20:21 The Itinerant Lifestyle Begins

24:02 Joining Remote Year and Finding Community

28:35 The Joy of Group Travel Experiences

30:49 Building Lasting Connections Through Travel

35:09 Evolving Travel Styles and Networks

39:36 Exploring New Travel Programs

43:16 Under-the-Radar Digital Nomad Destinations

48:11 The Importance of Immersive Travel

51:25 Finding Your Travel Base

56:38 Sustaining a Business in a Changing Landscape

01:00:18 Navigating the Real Estate Market Cycle

01:02:53 The Importance of Market Agnosticism

01:04:36 Balancing Focus and Curiosity in Business

01:07:04 The Value of Podcasting as a Creative Outlet

01:10:40 Building a Personal Brand Through Storytelling

01:15:00 The Intersection of Travel and Real Estate

01:20:47 Embracing Location Independence

01:25:05 Creating Meaningful Connections in the Digital Nomad Community

Gabe Wyner - How to be Fluent Forever, Sing Opera, and Learn French in 3 Months

Gabe Wyner has been called "a mashup of Steve Jobs and Aristotle" - and that's just one of the interesting tidbits about him (another includes the fact that he's an opera singer).

In this episode, Gabe shares his unique journey from a mechanical engineer to an opera singer and polyglot to an app founder and author.  He discusses the methodology behind his app, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the personal growth that comes from stepping back from leadership roles. 

 

00:00 Introduction and High Praise

04:39 Gabe's Fascinating Background

09:00 Language Learning and Middlebury Immersion

15:10 The Middlebury Language Immersion Program

22:17 Reaching C1 Fluency in French

25:08 Epiphany and the Potential of Language Learning

25:37 From Language Learner to Tech Entrepreneur

27:05 Becoming a Tech Entrepreneur

29:04 Writing a Book and Getting a Book Deal

32:00 The Process of Writing a Book

38:55 Fluent Forever and Language Learning Methodology

46:14 Language Learning at Middlebury

50:50 Language Maintenance and Recall

54:36 The Shark Tank Experience

55:26 The ROI of Learning a Language

56:33 The Fluent Forever App and Custom Content

58:00 Building the App Company

59:28 The Best Language Learning Method

01:00:23 The Main Business: Fluent Forever App

01:01:07 The Future of Fluent Forever

01:03:23 Life After Fluent Forever

01:06:13 The Journey of Letting Go

01:07:54 Exploring New Projects

01:11:56 The Thrill of Unlocking Potential

01:13:51 Personal Priorities: Language Learning and Travel

2024 Year in Review - Our 20 Best Experiences

2024 was a banger - tons of amazing experiences.  Now, we've narrowed the list down to 20 (well...with a few honorable mentions).  Everything from swimming at beaches with castles to walking (not swimming) with a whale is included in this year's best experiences.

2024 Year in Review - Our 15 Desserts

Scouring the globe for the best desserts can be a thankless task...haha, who am I kidding?  It's awesome.  And 2024 was a banger of a year for desserts in the Sherry household!

From Mexico City bakeries to small North Carolina markets, this list has it all - including two (yes, TWO) British "breakfast" items. 

Grab a bib - because you're about to drool! 

(and then let us know on instagram @extrapackofpeanuts what you're favorite dessert of 2024 was).

2024 Year in Review - Best Drinks

From cocktail bars behind deli shops in Barcelona to a Polish brewed beer using Philadelphia yeast drank in the northwest corner of Spain (yes, it's as confusing as it is delicious), we sampled some of the best coffees, cocktails, and beers we've ever had in our lives during 2024...

... and this episode reveals them all!

2024 Year in Review - Our 20 Best Meals of 2024

From calamari and patatas bravas on the Costa Brava to poolside chicken fingers in Surfside Beach and from pomme frites in Amsterdam to, wait, more chicken fingers (???), this episode is as varied and delicious as the Shady Maple breakfast smorgasbord*  (IYKYK).  

2024 Year in Review - Travel Superlatives

Episode 2 of our 6 part Year in Review answers all those burning questions like "did frugal Trav really drop $500+/night on a hotel?", "if so, did Trav pass out immediately after hitting book on said hotel?", "what's it like inside a Mexican sweat lodge?", and "how easy is it to find your wallet if it gets buried in the sand in a seaside town in the Netherlands?".  

 

Stories abound, so hit play and enjoy!

2024 Year in Review - Travel Stats

For the 9th year, we are back with our 6 part Year in Review, starting with 2024 travel stats.  How many places did we sleep last year?  Did we spend multiple nights on an airplane (unfortunately, yes).  What new places did we visit?  And how many total miles did we travel in 2024?  All these answers, and more, in this jam packed episode.

Francis Tapon - Crypto, It's Future, and Why Travelers Should Care

Today, I'm joined by one of the smartest people I know and a crypto early adopter, Francis Tapon.  He gives you a great "crypto for beginners" primer, discusses what he thinks the future holds (hint: it's a more rational viewpoint than most TikTok talking heads), and discusses why he thinks crypto is such a game changer for travelers and people who want to lead life on their own terms.

Jason Moore - Life as an Expat In Norway

After living there for the past 10 (!!!) years, Jason shares what life as an expat is like in Norway, why he moved there in the first place (hint: ❤️), the reserved nature of Norwegians and if it's a warranted stereotype and of course, his favorite Norwegian foods.

We also discuss the challenges and rewards of living in a different culture, the difficulty of understanding cultural references, the importance of shared background in creating a sense of belonging, and the impact of social media on cultural awareness.