Zero To Travel Podcast

What if the part of Brazil most worth exploring is the one almost nobody talks about? 

Eddie Lott is a Dallas-born expedition leader who has spent nearly two decades studying Brazilian history, geography, and culture. He rediscovered the Serra do Espinhaco in 2018 and has been documenting its trails and communities ever since. Elisa Oliveira is a Brazilian architect turned expedition coordinator who left behind her career and her previous life after a single weekend in the Espinhaco in 2019.  

Together, they co-founded Gift of Go, a company that builds and leads founder-guided expeditions through one of Brazil's most layered and least-visited mountain ranges, and they are also husband and wife. 

In this episode, co-host Paige McClanahan talks with Eddie and Elisa about how Gift of Go came to be, what their expeditions actually look like, and what travelers need to know before heading to this part of Brazil. 

This is a rewarding listen for anyone drawn to real adventure travel in Brazil off the beaten path. Eddie and Elisa spent three-plus years walking the terrain, building relationships with local communities, and living in the region before guiding their first traveler. You'll hear why going deep into one place beats skimming across a whole country, how arriving somewhere by foot after 17 days on the trail completely changes how you experience it, and what it means to share a destination that still has almost zero international tourism presence. 

Have you ever experienced a place that felt completely untouched by tourism? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message. 

Co-host Paige McClanahan is a writer, editor, and former journalist based in Paris, France. As the author of The New Tourist: Waking up to the Power and Perils of Travel, Paige is passionate about making sure our travels have a positive impact on the world. Learn more about her work here. 

Tune In To Learn: 


What makes the Espinhaco a microcosm of Brazil's most important ecological, cultural, and historical themes 


How Elisa left an engagement and a five-year architecture career after one weekend in a remote mountain village 


Why Gift of Go spent three years in the field before guiding their first traveler 


What the Veranico is, and why January might be the most spectacular and unpredictable time to visit 


How the expedition formats work, from 12-day group treks to fully bespoke solo journeys 


Why Brazil receives fewer international visitors per year than the city of Miami, and what that means for the right kind of traveler 


Practical tips for Minas Gerais: think in regions, know your biomes, expect limited English, and prepare for the warmth of the people 


What to eat and drink, from cachaça and UNESCO-recognized cheese to fig compotes with dulce de leche 


And so much more 

Resources: 


Sign up for our FREE newsletter 


Gift of Go Website 


Instagram 

Want More? 


7 Chile Hidden Gems: Off-the-Beaten Path in Patagonia, Mapuche Culture, and More with Steph Dyson 


How To Be a “New Tourist,” the Powers and Perils of Tourism, Embracing Tourist Traps, and the Impact of Travel With Paige McClanahan 


How To Get Off The Beaten Track with Gunnar Garfors 

Thanks To Our Sponsors 


Become a Fora Advisor today at foratravel.com/zerototravel 


Get 20% of at Cozy Earth with code ‘TRAVEL’ 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if one small act of kindness could completely change someone’s life trajectory? 

Bryan Driscoll is an entrepreneur, real estate investor, and the author of The Goodness Game. He built a multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio while running a marketing company, and he’s now focused on helping people create positive ripple effects through simple acts of kindness. 

In this episode, Bryan shares the story that inspired his kindness philosophy and breaks down his five-rule framework for making the world better in a practical, sustainable way. 

This episode offers a simple, practical way to approach kindness without overthinking it, something you can use at home or take with you on the road. Bryan breaks down how small, intentional actions can create meaningful impact, and why connection is often more valuable than money. It’s a grounded guide to taking action in a way that feels honest, natural, and aligned with your strengths, while also having a little fun. 

What’s one small act of kindness you could commit to this week, even if it feels slightly uncomfortable? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message. 

Tune In To Learn: 


Why a random act of kindness at age 18 changed Bryan’s life forever 


How the “Goodness Game” turns kindness into a simple daily practice 


Why giving without recognition creates a deeper impact 


How to identify your personal helping style and use your strengths 


Why not everyone is your “assignment” and how to stay in your lane 


How to avoid burnout when helping others by creating boundaries 


How Bryan used Craigslist to test the ripple effect of kindness 


Practical random acts of kindness ideas you can try this week 


Why overthinking stops people from helping and how to just start 


And so much more 

Resources: 


Sign up for our FREE newsletter 


Goodness Game website 

Want More? 


Walking the World with Alexander Campbell and Tom Turcich 


Bicycling Across the USA Without Money in Search of Human Connection With Daniel Troia 


Connecting with Strangers in 21 Countries as an Introvert, Battling the Loneliness Epidemic, Building Community at Home with Adam Schluter 

Thanks To Our Sponsors 


Become a Fora Advisor today at foratravel.com/zerototravel 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it actually take to travel well with a partner, and what are the hidden layers of that experience when you're also navigating the world as a queer couple? 

Gabi and Shanna Meit-Sciara are a Brooklyn-based couple and the creators of 27 Travels, a platform launched in 2016 to document their adventures while building more visibility and resources for LGBTQIA+ travelers. Gabi is a photographer and graphic designer; Shanna is a videographer and video editor. Together, they've visited 40+ countries and built a full-time creative business rooted in their relationship and their shared love of the world. 

In this episode, co-host Dianni Hall sits down with Gabi and Shanna to talk about what it really looks like to build a relationship through travel, how their partnership has been tested and strengthened on the road over ten years, and what the experience of traveling as a queer couple actually involves beyond what most people see. 

This conversation is for anyone who's ever taken a trip with someone they care about and had to figure each other out in real time. Gabi and Shanna get specific about the roles they've each naturally fallen into, how they handle conflict during work trips without letting it ruin the experience, and the invisible, exhausting decisions queer couples make constantly on the road that most people never think about. If you've been wondering what traveling as a couple actually looks like when applied to a real, long-term relationship, this one goes deep. 

What's a trip that revealed something unexpected about someone you were traveling with? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message. 

Co-host Dianni Hall is a queer, second-generation Latina, solo budget backpacker, freelancer, and host of the While She’s Away podcast, where she interviews women on their travel experience and expertise to help women live their best lives exploring the world. Learn more about her work here. 

Tune In To Learn: 


Why matching travel styles is one of the most meaningful early tests of a relationship, and how Gabi and Shanna discovered theirs on their first big trip to Arizona 


How the roles partners naturally fall into on the road tend to emerge without anyone actually choosing them 


Why adding content creation to a relationship and a trip is its own challenge, and what Gabi and Shanna have learned about navigating creative disagreements  


What to actually pay attention to on a first trip with a partner, including the green flags most people overlook 


How queer couples are constantly making decisions that straight couples rarely have to think about, from safety research to coming out to a stranger in a taxi 


What the invisible labor of queer travel looks like in everyday moments: hotel check-ins, ride-shares, tour sign-ups 


Why a loose itinerary almost always beats a rigid one, and why missing something can actually be the best thing that happens 


New York City hidden gems from two lifelong locals: the case for Brooklyn, vegan food in Chinatown, and more 


And so much more 

Resources: 


Sign up for our FREE newsletter 


27 Travels 


Instagram 


YouTube 


TikTok 

Want More? 


LGBTQ+ Travel and Making A Difference with Ravi Roth 


Top 7 Cities for LGBTQ+ Travelers and Finding Your People Around the World with LGBTQ+ Travel Expert Alicia Valenski 


Choose Travel NOW! Lessons from the World’s Longest Honeymoon with National Geographic Authors Mike and Anne Howard of HoneyTrek 

Thanks To Our Sponsors 


Earn Cash Back and rewards on nearly every purchase with Rakuten. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the key to planning your dream trip isn't choosing the right destination, but first figuring out what you actually need right now in your life? 

Kelly Tolliday is the founder of Transform With Travel, a professional travel advisor and wellness travel expert with over a decade of industry experience, a retreat facilitator and 500-hour registered yoga teacher, and a podcast host. She has traveled to more than 45 countries and lived across four continents, including extended time in Australia, Thailand, and Costa Rica. 

In this episode, Kelly walks through the step-by-step system she uses to plan bucket list trips and how anyone can apply the same framework to start planning their own dream trip today. 

Kelly reframes the entire planning process in a way that most of us haven't considered, and it changes not just where you end up going, but how you show up when you get there. She also makes a strong case for why the best travel experiences often come from letting go, even when every instinct is telling you to hold on tighter. You'll not only get Kelly's framework, but destination recommendations and a call to action at the end that I hope you follow through on. 

What's one destination that's been sitting on your bucket list for way too long, and what's actually been stopping you from booking it? I'd love to hear what they are, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message. 

Tune In To Learn: 


Why asking "what do I need right now?" is the most important first question in trip planning 


How to use urgency as a real planning tool, and why some destinations carry a genuine now-or-never factor 


Why mapping out your full route, including transfer time and cost, is often the step that saves the most money 


How slow travel creates more space for the unscripted moments that people end up talking about for decades 


Why booking independent, locally-owned tour operators almost always leads to more memorable experiences than going with the bigger names 


How to approach accommodations with a "sense of place" mindset 


Advice on when hiring a professional travel advisor makes sense versus planning a bucket list trip on your own 


Why we both agree that physically demanding adventures should move to the top of your list sooner rather than later 


Hidden gem destinations worth visiting now, including a little-known Thai island that has somehow stayed off the radar 


How to reset your mindset when things go sideways on a trip 


And so much more 

Resources: 


Sign up for our FREE newsletter 


Transform with Travel 


Instagram 

Want More? 


Live Your Bucket List w/ Ryan Jacobson 


Curiosity As Your Travel Guide + Exploring Overlooked Destinations with John McKenzie 


7 Must-Visit Destinations for 2026 (Get There Before the Crowds Arrive!) with Lyn Hughes 

Thanks To Our Sponsors 

Earn Cash Back and rewards on nearly every purchase with Rakuten.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would you do if your bus driver bought six Coca-Colas at the border, cost you your exit stamp, and forced you to sleep outside in malaria country between two countries? 

Co-hosts Gunnar Garfors and Jacqui Kunz are back to share part two of their overland travel adventure through West Africa, covering the final stretch of their seven-country journey through Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Ivory Coast. 

If you've ever been curious about what it actually takes to travel overland through West Africa, this episode gives you the unfiltered picture. You'll walk away with concrete tips on visa strategy, border navigation, shared transport logistics, and honest guidance on when to push through and when to bail and book a flight. Beyond the tactics, Gunnar and Jacqui model what it actually means to travel slowly and patiently through challenging terrain, staying flexible when things go sideways. If you're considering overland travel in West Africa or anywhere similarly complex, this episode cuts through the romance and gives you the real picture. 

Have you ever had a travel experience where everything went wrong and it somehow turned into the best story you came home with? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message. 

Gunnar Garfors is a Norwegian traveler, journalist, and author who became the first person to visit every country in the world twice. He is known for seeking out unusual routes and lesser-visited destinations, often traveling far beyond typical tourist paths. Jacqui Kunz is a full-time traveler who has explored more than 100 countries and was named “World’s Most Intrepid Traveler” in 2023, recognizing her commitment to exploring challenging destinations and traveling well off the beaten path. 

Tune In To Learn: 


Why Sierra Leone's land border crossing was a surprisingly smooth and welcoming experience 


What Freetown is really like to explore, from the historic Cotton Tree to its beaches and police checkpoints 


Why the city of Bo is worth a stop, and where to go nearby to see diamond mining 


How a fellow passenger buying Coca-Cola at the border kiosk resulted in an overnight stay between two countries in mosquito country 


Why Monrovia has a surprisingly American feel and where to stay, eat, and get cash 


When it makes sense to give up on overland travel and just book a flight 


How paying for an extra seat in a shared taxi can save your sanity, and why the "imaginary bag fee" is a negotiation you can usually win 


Why timing your trip just after the rainy season can make roads far worse than expected 


How Gunnar ended up in a Norwegian hospital with malaria, and why taking preventatives seriously is not optional 


And so much more 

Resources: 


Sign up for our FREE newsletter 


Gunnar’s website 


Gunnar on Instagram 


Jacqui on Instagram 


iOverlander 

Want More? 


Overland Travel in West Africa Across 7 Countries (Part 1) with Gunnar Garfors & Jacqui Kunz 


5 Surprising Experiences in Africa, How to Transition to a New Career After Travel, and Exploring the African Diaspora With Jay Cameron 


Adventure and Conservation - A 6,000 km Tuk-Tuk Journey Through Africa 

Thanks To Our Sponsors 


Earn Cash Back and rewards on nearly every purchase with Rakuten. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices