#63: Feeling Trapped? How to Leave Your Old Life & Travel the World (2026) - Rolf Potts

Vagabonding isn’t “quitting life”, it’s a practical long-term travel mindset for anyone who wants more freedom, less fear, and more time-rich living.Rolf Potts is a travel writer and bestselling author of Vagabonding (the modern classic on extended travel).What’s the biggest thing keeping you from long-term travel right now: money, fear, responsibility, or simply not giving yourself permission?Subscribe for more long-form conversations on travel, purpose, and designing a life you actually want.Expect to learn:–How to give yourself “permission” to travel (even if no one in your life gets it).–Why “time is the truest form of wealth” and how travel makes that real.–How to travel longer on less money by stepping outside the tourist bubble and into local rhythms.–Why slow travel beats rushed itineraries (and how it unlocks better deals + better stories).–Smartphone independence: simple ways to protect presence, serendipity, and real-world connection on the road.–Why “know your options, not your destiny” is the best planning rule for long-term travel.–How routines (gym, journaling, quests) can make travel deeper not boring.–Travel as pilgrimage: how walking (in cities or nature) can reset attention and reduce anxiety.00:00 Introduction to Solo Traveling00:12 First Vagabonding Journey01:37 Motivations and Realizations02:28 Impact of Early Travels03:45 Long-Term Travel Lifestyle05:19 Writing Vagabonding06:19 Travel Philosophy and Advice11:42 Funding Early Travels13:22 Experiencing Local Economies17:33 Slow Travel and Serendipity23:42 Challenges of Modern Travel30:21 Off the Beaten Path36:30 Embracing the Unexpected in Travel37:24 Challenging Journeys and Personal Growth39:16 Adventures on the Mekong River42:26 The Joys of Youthful Exploration44:21 Balancing Routine and Adventure53:20 Spiritual Reflections and Nature's Wisdom01:02:42 Final Thoughts and Advice for Young Travelers01:05:37 Start Your Own PodcastRolf’s Work: Rolf Potts (official site): https://rolfpotts.com Vagabonding (book page): https://rolfpotts.com/books/vagabonding/ Paris Writing Workshops (Rolf’s Paris workshops info): https://rolfpotts.com/about/paris-writing-workshop/ Paris Writing Workshops (main site): https://pariswritingworkshops.com Vagabonding (official book site): https://vagabonding.netJacob’s WorkFREE Podcast Tips (2nd Channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUp5S7ZIZtjA8PMgXJMwppA Podcast blueprint (Skool): https://www.skool.com/remote-pro-podcast-blueprint-8385 Website: https://www.jacobjwatsonhowland.com