Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel

What if food could be the quickest path to experiencing a place’s people, culture, and history?

For lifelong traveler, chef, and host of “Bizarre Foods” Andrew Zimmern, food has always been the first step to understanding the world. Returning to Vietnam for an immersive culinary adventure, Andrew immerses us in the sensory experience of a country bursting with energy, extraordinary flavors, and travel stories waiting to be discovered beyond the country’s common tourist routes.

From savoring street food on tiny plastic stools and reconnecting with an old friend over chicken and rice, to biking through the rice fields of Hoi An and sharing a homemade meal with a family in Hue, Andrew reveals how following one’s taste buds can connect travelers to a culture and its people in ways few other experiences can.

Along the way, he reflects on his friendship with Anthony Bourdain, the transformative power of staying curious, and why paying attention to the world around us becomes all the more meaningful when we consider how limited our time on earth really is.

Follow Andrew Zimmern on Instagram (@chefaz) and TikTok (@andrew.zimmern).

Travel Tips: Vietnam (from the episode)

• Eat where the locals eat: Chef Andrew Zimmern recommends seeking out small, family-run restaurants and street food stalls, often recognizable by their tiny plastic stools and open kitchens. Don't be afraid to venture down a side street, pull up a stool, and try something unfamiliar.
• Explore the countryside around Hoi An by bike: One of his group tour's favorite experiences was a 15-mile bike ride through rice fields, stopping for iced coffee and fresh coconuts, meeting local farmers, and finishing with a Vietnamese cooking lesson and an eight-course meal along the river.
• Spend time on Vietnam's rivers: Andrew believes travelers often miss an essential part of Vietnamese culture when they only explore by road. Take a boat along the country's rivers to see floating communities, fishing boats, and the everyday commerce that happens on the water. It's a chance to experience a side of Vietnam that you simply can't see from the streets.

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For professional surfer Lakey Peterson, a life spent chasing waves and adventure around the world has brought her back to Oceania and the South Pacific throughout nearly every chapter of her life. From learning to surf in Australia, to finding direction among surfing legends in Fiji, and slowing down among the rolling hills of New Zealand, each return has become a marker of who she was, who she’s becoming, and just how far she’s come…with her favorite airline, Fiji Airways, helping carry her, and her surfboards, along the way.

From surfing legendary waves like Cloudbreak, to exploring the rugged coastline and wine country of Western Australia, to road-tripping through New Zealand, Lakey shares the people, places, and waves behind some of her most memorable travel stories, and why returning to a familiar destination can reveal just how much we’ve changed.

Follow Lakey Peterson on Instagram and TikTok @lakeypeterson

To learn more about Fiji Airways, visit: FijiAirways.com

Travel Tips: Oceania (from the episode)

• Explore Western Australia by car: Head beyond the cities and road trip the coast around Margaret River, where Lakey recommends exploring the region’s beaches, surf spots, and wineries. Some of her favorite days involve following a local’s “dropped pin,” pulling over and grabbing a board, near a less-crowded stretch of coastline.
• Leave room to wander in New Zealand: Lakey recommends getting in the car without too much of an agenda. Around Raglan, some of her favorite days were spent driving slowly through the rolling hills, stopping at waterfalls, and checking out waves.
• Get out on the water in Fiji: Don’t limit a Fiji trip to the resort. Lakey recommends exploring the islands and ocean surrounding it. Take a boat to neighboring islands; go snorkeling, surfing, spearfishing; or head out for a hike in the luscious scenery.

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when one of our most experienced travelers finds herself seeing the world with brand new eyes?

Author, photographer, and world traveler Jessica Nabongo became the first Black woman to visit every country in the world, but there was still one final continent left to explore: Antarctica. Venturing across the Drake Passage and into a landscape unlike anywhere she’d experienced before, Jessica found herself overwhelmed by the scale, silence, and otherworldly beauty of a place that invited her to see the world with fresh eyes.

From drifting past towering icebergs and witnessing an avalanche from a canoe, to the joy of playful penguins and braving a polar plunge, Jessica reflects on the childlike joy she found at the bottom of the world, the power of staying curious no matter how much we’ve seen, and why the most transformative travel stories are the ones that teach us how to be surprised again.

Follow Jessica Nabongo on Instagram @jessicanabongo and on TikTok @thecatchmeifyoucan.

Visit https://www.jessicanabongo.com/cookbook to pre-order Jessica’s new cookbook “Catch Me In The Kitchen”

Travel Tips: Antarctica (from the episode)

• Put Antarctica higher on your bucket list: Jessica’s biggest tip is simply to go. She notes that many travelers don’t realize Antarctica is accessible to visitors, with different expedition options available.
• Spend time with some penguins: Antarctica’s penguin colonies were a highlight for Jessica. Give them plenty of space and stay out of their paths, then enjoy watching them waddle, slide, and play in their natural habitat.
• Embrace every excursion: Get off the ship whenever you can, whether you’re exploring the water, hiking, visiting wildlife, or learning from the expedition experts on board. Jessica’s advice is to take advantage of every activity offered.

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes the feeling of belonging arrives when… and where… you least expect it.

For legendary travel writer Paul Theroux, a road trip through Quebec became more than just another transformative travel journey in his half-century career. Following family roots stretching back more than 300 years, Paul hit the road through Canada’s vast province and made his way to the small town of Yamaska in Quebec, where generations of distant relatives and an unexpected welcome gave this lifelong outsider the rare feeling of homecoming.

From tracing church steeples through Quebec’s historic villages, sharing a traditional meal at a cabane à sucre, and exploring Montreal and Quebec City, Paul reflects on his time in Quebec, as well as the experiences that have shaped his life as a writer and traveler, the road to finding himself, and why listening may be the simplest path to genuine connection.

Follow Paul Theroux on Instagram and Tiktok @paul.theroux and find his latest book "True North" wherever books are sold.

Travel Tips: Quebec (from the episode)

• Explore Montreal and Quebec City: Paul Theroux recommends both for their culture, food, music, and welcoming atmosphere - a great way to start exploring Quebec.
• Road trip through Quebec: Rent a car and go beyond the major cities through the province’s smaller towns and villages to experience more of its distinct culture, history, and landscape.
• Visit a cabane à sucre: Experience a traditional Quebec sugar shack, where maple syrup and a hearty Québécois meal offer a delicious window into Quebec’s local cuisine and traditions.

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if one destination could offer endless ways to explore the wild, while giving us new reasons to care deeply about it?

For Brave Wilderness creator and adventurer Coyote Peterson, few places offer as many opportunities for adventure as Queensland, Australia, where setting out from the vibrant capital of Brisbane can lead to tropical coastlines, ancient rainforests, and some of the planet’s most remarkable wildlife.

From searching for monitor lizards, to diving off a speeding boat to catch a 220-pound sea turtle, to venturing to the remote edges of the Cape York peninsula, Coyote takes us through the life-changing travel experiences in Queensland that keep pulling him back for more. Along the way, he shares his favorite stops and food, reflects on the people and conservationists who have brought him closer to the natural world, and reveals why getting to know our world’s creatures more intimately can inspire us to care more deeply about protecting them.

Follow Coyote on Instagram @coyotepeterson and TikTok @coyotepetersonofficial

Follow Brave Wilderness on YouTube athttps://www.youtube.com/c/BraveWilderness

Travel Tips: Queensland (from the episode)

• Give Queensland at least two weeks: It’s a massive region, so give yourself enough time to explore without rushing from one stop to the next.
• Explore the Gold Coast beyond just the beaches: If you can, head into the rocky tide pools at low tide for a closer look at Queensland’s marine life, but keep your distance from wildlife and know the conditions before venturing in.
• Try to spot a kangaroo in the wild: Check out one of Queensland’s most iconic animals in its natural habitat, while keeping a respectful distance and letting the wildlife set the terms of the encounter.

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to Paris, your return isn't about recreating the past, but discovering just how far you've come.

For author, television host, and food expert Antoni Porowski, Paris has been a lifelong love affair, from childhood memories beneath the Eiffel Tower…to romantic getaways, whirlwind Fashion Weeks, and a recent extended stay while filming his new National Geographic series "Best of the World," which invited Antoni to experience Paris with fresh eyes.

Through a montage of sunset runs, gourmet restaurants, boutique hotels, delicious cheeses, historic landmarks, and corners of the city he’d long overlooked, Antoni shares his favorite immersive travel stories in Paris, how his perspective has evolved, and why so many of the life-changing travel experiences we treasure the most are the ones we never could have planned.

Follow Antoni on Instagram and TikTok @antoni

Travel Tips: Paris Vacation

• Go beyond the baguettes and steak frites! Explore how other cultures are fusing with French cuisine to create something totally new.
• Try a boutique hotel experience. You never know which spot could become your new home away from home!
• Talk to everyone, and listen. Engage with the locals to learn their favorite places to shop, dine, and explore.

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special crossover episode from Armchair Explorer, Daniel trades places with award-winning travel writer Aaron Millar and steps into the guest seat.

Together, they swap unforgettable stories from the road: from a near-fatal scorpion bite in Angola to a powerful voodoo ceremony in Benin that Daniel calls one of the most meaningful experiences of his life, to the sensory spectacle of Festival Fantasia in the foothills of Morocco's Atlas Mountains.

Along the way, they explore a bigger idea: how the best journeys happen when you follow curiosity and instinct instead of chasing checklists and five-star reviews.

Listen to Armchair Explorer wherever you get your podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/armchair-explorer/id1495103557

Follow Aaron on Instagram @ArmchairExplorerpodcast

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the full Pangina Heals interview, originally featured in Season One. A judge, host, and contestant across the RuPaul's Drag Race universe, Pangina is also the owner of the iconic House of Heals nightclub, a cornerstone of the Bangkok queer nightlife scene.

Together, she and Daniel dive into Thailand travel, Bangkok's legendary drag scene, queer culture in Southeast Asia, identity, and the experiences that have shaped her life.

In this extended interview, Pangina opens up about growing up gay in Thailand, becoming a master of shade, and building her Bangkok nightclub empire from the ground up. She also shares what it was really like competing in front of her idol, RuPaul, judging and hosting international Drag Race franchises, and the emotional weight of being a "first" in so many ways on the show.

It's more than an hour of unfiltered conversation between old friends: funny, moving, and full of hard-earned perspective, equal parts Bangkok travel guide, queer travel podcast, and heart-to-heart.

Follow Pangina Heals on TikTok & Instagram @panginaheals

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the destination isn't a singular place, but a collection of moments along the way?

For three-Michelin-star chef Dominique Crenn, every stop on her geographical journey has become an ingredient in the recipe for her life, from the farms of Brittany, France, to her longtime home of San Francisco, California.

From uncovering unexpected ancestral roots through DNA testing to discovering creative freedom in California's kitchens, Dominique shares how every chapter of her life eventually found its way onto the plate at Atelier Crenn. Drawing on their longtime friendship and offering up plenty of recommendations for San Francisco travelers along the way, Daniel and Dominique explore migration, vulnerability, love, and the belief that our most authentic work doesn't come from following someone else's recipe... It comes from embracing our own story.

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Naomi Grevemberg, what began as a one-year adventure eventually led her to Baja California, where a caravan of van lifers, endless desert coastlines, and a slower way of living challenged everything she originally thought she wanted.

From spearfishing and cooking Trinidadian curry on the beach, to swimming alongside whale sharks and building community with locals, Naomi shares the moments from this grounding getaway that transformed her relationship with time, belonging, and home itself.

As she reflects on campfires, mouthwatering meals, and signs from the sea, Naomi reveals how Baja California helped her reconnect with nature, embrace the rhythms of slow travel, and discover that the most meaningful journeys aren't always about where we're going, but how deeply we're willing to arrive.

Follow Naomi on Instagram and TikTok @naomigrevemberg

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when a birthday cruise unexpectedly reconnects you to parts of yourself you didn’t realize you’d been missing? In this episode, treasure shopper Maya Valentino tells us all about her first cruise aboard Virgin Voyages, a trip which offered her a surprising return to creativity, stillness, and reconnection with her mom.

Maya dives into Virgin Voyage’s immersive entertainment, unforgettable cuisine, and iconic onboard experiences, while she and Daniel explore how this experience created a much-needed tempo shift in her life, one that made way for self-reflection, connection, and inspiration.

Along the way: interactive performances at sea, late-night desserts, hilarious moments on the beach, and quiet conversations in a hammock by the sea… all gentle reminders that while we can plan our itinerary, we can’t always predict the ways travel will unlock the parts of ourselves we’ve kept hidden away.

To learn more, visit: virginvoyages.com

Follow Maya on Instagram @mayadannie & TikTok @maya.dannie

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our first official SAFARI episode, what begins as a search for “the Big Five” gives way to a profound shift in perspective.

Eco-tour organizer Jared Sternberg reflects on his first scouting trip to Tanzania, the transformative power of safari, and the unexpected lessons that emerge when we let go of our control and judgment during travel.

From witnessing his first hunt in the Serengeti to sharing time with Maasai communities protecting vital wildlife corridors, Jared and Daniel explore how safari strips away distraction and reconnects us to something primal; where long conversations in safari vehicles, shared meals in the bush, and encounters with Maasai communities become just as meaningful as the wildlife itself.

Follow Jared on Instagram @j_leeroy and check out Godwana Tours @gondwana_ecotours

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all carry stories about who we think we are. And for some of us, those stories can limit who we’re allowed to become.

Preethi Chandrasekhar set out to challenge those limits when she led a group of women on a journey through Morocco. With a do-it-all itinerary designed not just to explore the destination, she encouraged the group to step beyond their routines into an adventure that requires vulnerability, courage, and connection.

From navigating the sensory rush of the markets, to shedding insecurities in a traditional hammam, to rising above fear on a hot air balloon ride (and more), Preethi shares the moments that pushed both her and these women beyond the beliefs they’d long held about themselves, to discover the person they’ve been all along.

Follow Preethi on Instagram and TikTok @eagertravele

And on her website at https://theeagertraveler.com/preethi/

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We spend so much time thinking about where we’re going, but rarely about how we return.

That’s what writer Chris Singh discovered when he arranged an intentional multi-day stopover in the Mamanuca Islands of Fiji on his way home to Australia from the United States.

Surrounded by vivid blues, volcanic islands, and a culture rooted in care and community, Chris shares the key moments that defined his time in Fiji, from communal Lovo feasts and kava ceremonies, to an unexpected yet powerful boost of confidence while out on the water.

What could have been a simple layover became something more: a chance to reset, reflect, and fully absorb a transformation that had already begun.

Follow Chris Singh on Instagram & TikTok @chrisdsingh

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some places invite you to visit. Others ask you to stay. That’s what happened to journalist and historian Joanna Lillis when she first traveled to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in 2001 — a simple weekend trip that welcomed her so deeply into the region, she never left.

In the glow of Samarkand’s vibrant markets and iconic blue-domed architecture, Joanna shares the moments from her trip that revealed a deeper truth about travel: that the most meaningful experiences come not from what we see, but from how we connect. She even found herself welcomed into a local wedding, an unplanned moment of celebration that turned a weekend visit into something far more personal.

As she reflects on nearly 25 years living in Central Asia, Joanna weaves together historical tidbits, personal insights on the power of openness, and what it means to move through the world not just as an observer, but as an active participant.

Follow Joanna Lillis on Instagram @joanna_kazakhstan and learn more about her adventures in new latest book: “Silk Mirage: Through the Looking Glass in Uzbekistan”

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we expand our perspective, our personal lives can suddenly feel much smaller. That’s what happened to Gwyn Manser when she and her wife took an impromptu Alaskan cruise, a trip that transformed how she sees the world and her place within it.

From sailing along the Inside Passage to exploring the historic streets of Skagway, Gwyn recounts a landscape that feels vast and timeless, and shares her unforgettable experience of landing on a remote glacier by helicopter.

As she uncovers the advantages of cruise travel, the beauty of multi-generational trips, and the gift of witnessing Alaska’s natural grandeur up close, Gwyn returns home with a renewed sense of awe for the planet we call home.

Follow Gwyn Manser on Instagram & TikTok @gwynandami

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uncover the precious moments that shape how we see the world and ourselves. From remote natural landscapes of Alaska to culturally rich cities of Uzbekistan, this season features sixteen new stories across sixteen new destinations. Every other week, join Daniel as he follows the threads of curiosity, intuition, and wonder, unpacking what happens when we step away from our everyday lives and allow the world to change us.

Check out Daniel Scheffler's Substack: https://withoutmaps.substack.com/about

Follow iHeart's Ruby Studio: https://www.instagram.com/rubyiheart/?hl=en

Our Team:

Executive Producer: Ciara Kaiser

EP of Post Production: James Foster

Supervision Producer: Kelli Kyle

Story Producer: Ryan Amador

Post-Production: Siara Spreen

Theme Music: Max Hershenow

Show Art: Katty Huertas

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Communion with nature, unexpected healing, and hidden lessons within every stone. What if travel wasn't just about following an itinerary, but about learning to give and receive with everything we encounter along the way?

Today's season finale guest is Huda Alvi, entrepreneur and co-founder of The Girls Trip, who has traveled three times to Peru and the ancient city of Cusco. What begins as a scouting trip for her company soon becomes something far more transformative, as Huda steps into a landscape and culture shaped by living in relationship with the Earth, and with the people who call it home.

Through shared meals, sacred sites, and a slow reveal of the fabled Machu Picchu, Huda reflects on travel as a practice of curiosity, generosity, and care, uncovering a deeper understanding of her own quality of happiness.

Follow Huda Alvi on Instagram and TikTok @iamhudaalvi
Follow The Girls Trip on Instagram @the.girls.trip

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's something we love about a road trip. It's not just a way to explore the vastness of a place, it's a way to sink into time with someone you love.

That is why, in this episode of Wayfinder, Daniel follows entrepreneur and world traveler Carlo Schneider on a father-daughter road trip through the country of Georgia, beginning in the capital city of Tbilisi. From winding streets and wooden balconies to vineyards, cave cities, and the shores of the Black Sea, Carlo shares how Georgia’s dramatic shifts in architecture and landscape mirror the country's layered identity.

For Carlo and his daughter Lara, what begins as a simple adventure becomes something quietly transformative: a journey through history, culture, and the beauty of being present with one another. Sometimes the best destination is the connection you build along the way.

Follow Carlo Schneider on Instagram & TikTok: @travel.renaissance.man and listen to his new podcast "Ask Carlo - Private Equity simplified."

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In-person experiences are becoming a rare commodity, and making them happen requires smart planning, great companionship, and a bit of creative system-hacking.

Daniel chats with writer, performer, and musical theater artist Cheeyang Ng, who has made it a mission to travel the world luxuriously through travel hacking while learning more about themself as a global citizen. After years of solo travel, Cheeyang met their parents in Italy and spent a transformative few days together in the city of Florence.

As Cheeyang takes us through the city’s complex history, iconic art, creative meals, and a hands-on pasta-making class in the Tuscan hills, they reflect on travel as a tool for perspective, access, and deeper connection. Through this timeless experience with their parents, Cheeyang is reminded that, in the modern era, human connection may be the rarest luxury we have.

Follow Cheeyang Ng on Instagram & YouTube @cheeyangmusic

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.

See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.