Zero To Travel Podcast

Kim Frank is an award‑winning writer, multimedia storyteller, and explorer whose work has appeared in The Explorers Journal, Sidetracked, and Earth Island Journal. She is a Fellow of The Explorers Club and the Royal Geographical Society. Kim’s latest book, Elephants in the Hourglass: A Journey of Reckoning and Hope Along the Himalaya, reflects her deep engagement with the human elephant conflict in northeastern India.  

In this episode, Kim joins me to talk about her personal and professional evolution from mom and fiction writer to author and storyteller, tackling one of the world’s lesser‑known environmental crises: the human‑elephant conflict. 

This conversation moves beyond travel storytelling to explore deep themes of identity, fear, and the bravery required to act. Kim shares how she navigated self‑doubt, embraced vulnerability, and found strength through community. Listeners will gain insight into the realities of conservation work, especially the nuanced human‑elephant relationship in the Eastern Himalaya. You’ll also learn how storytelling and openness can bridge cultural gaps and inspire action for coexistence. Specific personal stories, like balancing motherhood with fieldwork, and philosophical reflections on the space between are woven throughout. 

What’s one fear you’re holding that might be the gateway to your next big chapter, and how might acknowledging two truths about it help you move forward? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. 

Tune In To Learn: 


How Kim’s childhood and family travels shaped her perspective on exploration and meaning 


Why Elephants in the Hourglass became both a conservation story and personal memoir 


What Kim learned about fear, confidence, and taking action in big life transitions 


The role of mentorship and community in pursuing meaningful work 


How cultural assumptions about motherhood impacted Kim’s work and identity 


What the space between means and why it matters in our relationship to nature 


The complexity of human‑elephant conflict and why simple narratives fall short 


How language and framing influence conservation and public perception 


Why holding opposing truths is essential to peaceful coexistence 


Practical takeaways on curiosity, empathy, and openness in travel and life 


And so much more 

Resources: 


Sign up for our FREE newsletter 


Kim’s website 


Instagram 


Elephants in the Hourglass 


Wildlife Trust of India 

Want More? 


Living in Ecuador, Indigenous Communities, Rainforest Conservation, and Cultural Experiences With Photographer Mark Fox 


100 Documentaries Project: Traveling the Globe to Find Extraordinary Humans + Changing the World One Story at a Time with Robin Danehav 


Myanmar’s Secret Railways: Uncovering Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Oppression with Clare Hammond 

Thanks To Our Sponsors 


Planet Visionaries - Listen to the podcast on Apple and Spotify 


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

Want to hear bold ideas and big solutions for our planet? We have been listening to Alex Honnold as he hosts Planet Visionaries, in partnership with the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each week, Alex spotlights innovators who are not just imagining a better future but actively creating it. Go check it out and hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Want to hear bold ideas and big solutions for our planet? We have been listening to Alex Honnold as he hosts Planet Visionaries, in partnership with the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each week, Alex spotlights innovators who are not just imagining a better future but actively creating it. Go check it out and hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

What happens when you let curiosity guide your travel experiences? 

John McKenzie is a long-time traveler and curious explorer who shares stories and insights from off-the-beaten-track destinations around the world. Through his content and curated CuriosiTrips, he aims to expand others’ sense of what’s possible by encouraging a more curious, open approach to travel. He’s also a new contributor to National Geographic, writing the sections on Djibouti, Eritrea, and Somalia for The Traveler’s Atlas of the World. 

In this episode, John and I sit down in person to explore the concept of curiosity as a travel compass, why some destinations gain reputations that don’t match reality, and how community and mindset shape meaningful journeys. 

Travel is often framed around checklists and highlights, but John reframes it as a curiosity‑driven practice that enriches both travel and everyday life. You’ll hear how to exercise your curiosity muscle, embrace spontaneity, and responsibly explore destinations often overlooked or misunderstood. From challenging trips like Somalia, Ethiopia, and Syria to cultural discoveries and approachable recommendations like Malawi and Cuba, this conversation offers both a practical perspective and philosophical encouragement for travelers of all experience levels. 

What is one place you’ve always been curious about but haven’t yet visited, and what’s holding you back? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. 

Tune In To Learn: 


How boredom and routine kick-started John’s curiosity and exploration 


What approaching travel with openness rather than rigidity can uncover 


Why connecting with others who’ve done what you want to do helps normalize the goal 


How travel to “dangerous” or misunderstood places can be both safe and rewarding 


The mindset shift from chasing destinations to pursuing meaningful experiences 


How John defines “meaningful” in his own travel, and why that matters more than ticking boxes 


Examples of destinations that surprised him and recommendations for your own curious travels 


And so much more 

Resources: 


Sign up for our FREE newsletter 


John’s website 


Instagram 


National Geographic Traveler’s Atlas of the World 


Extraordinary Travel Festival 

Want More? 


7 Pro Tips For Traveling In Dangerous Countries w/ Bjorn Palsson 


Independent Travel as a Female in Afghanistan, Hitchhiking Iraq, and Ex-Pat Life in Sudan with Jacquelyn Kunz 


The World’s Most Traveled Person on the Ethics of Gamifying Travel, Best Regions in the World, and Why To Keep Traveling With Harry Mitsidis of NomadMania 

Thanks To Our Sponsors 


Planet Visionaries - Listen to the podcast on Apple and Spotify 


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

Want to hear bold ideas and big solutions for our planet? We have been listening to Alex Honnold as he hosts Planet Visionaries, in partnership with the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative. Each week, Alex spotlights innovators who are not just imagining a better future but actively creating it. Go check it out and hope you enjoy it as much as we do!