128: BlackTrekking: Connecting with Black Cultural Heritage from Colombia to Ghana with Stephanie Claytor

Stephanie Claytor takes us on her journey growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, traveling around the U.S. as a kid, and eventually kicking off her world travel journey by studying abroad in the Dominican Republic. ____________________________________ Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.). Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________ Stephanie reflects on her experience living in the DR at age 19, the impact that had on her life, lessons learned, and how it inspired her future travel journey. She then talks about her experience living in Colombia as part of the Fulbright program, connecting with Afro-Colombian heritage, interviewing internally displaced Colombians, and having a blast salsa dancing and going to Carnival. Stephanie also reflects on the racial profiling and other problematic racial dynamics she observed while traveling in Latin American. She then shares the inspiration for writing her memoir “BlackTrekking: My Journey Living in Latin America” and explains what people can expect from the book. Stephanie then shares her reflections on her trip to Ghana, including her visit to the Slave Castles and her participation in a traditional “Naming Ceremony”. She then talks about her blog, Blacktrekking.com, which focuses on Black cultural heritage around the world. She also shares some examples of important Black heritage destinations in the U.S. that she has visited and written about. Stephanie explains why her goal is to inspire more Black Americans to travel the world and live abroad. She reflects on her minimalism, why she prioritizes experiences over material items, and how and why she intends to integrate world travel into her son’s life. She concludes by sharing why she continues to travel, what travel means to her at this point in her life, and her top tips for Black world travelers. FULL SHOW NOTES AND DIRECT LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED IS AVAILABLE HERE. ____________________________________ See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn  See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ____________________________________ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally.  You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)