Inside Iraq: A Backpacker’s Perspective

Ayyyy welcome back to your fave travel podcast. Thanks for tuning in and getting yourself ready to make some MOVES with me. Let's get it!In Season 4 Episode 24, I am joined by Craig hailing from Liverpool, England. Growing up, Craig didn’t have many opportunities to travel abroad with his family—just a single trip to Spain—but he was fortunate enough to join friends on a few international trips during high school, which sparked his early curiosity about the world.It wasn’t until university that Craig truly realized he wanted to travel. Inspired by YouTube creators like Yes Theory, he found himself increasingly drawn to the idea of exploring the world. During COVID, Craig and his friends even planned a month-long USA road trip, optimistically expecting travel to resume by summer. While that plan didn’t materialize as expected, the lockdowns gave Craig time to reflect. Between university, part-time work, and gaming, he consumed more travel content than ever—and that’s when he decided he wanted a different path.Rather than pursue a traditional 9–5 career in mechanical engineering, the field he studied, Craig set his sights on combining travel with content creation. Over the following year, he began taking smaller trips and producing videos whenever possible, building momentum between lockdowns and completing his master’s degree.After graduating in 2021, Craig focused on saving for his first major solo backpacking adventure. In 2022, he took the leap—leaving his job, selling his car, and booking a one-way flight to Colombia. He spent four and a half months in South America, including two weeks in Ecuador, before returning home to regroup and save for his next journey.Since then, Craig has visited 42 countries across five continents, with the goal of exploring every country in the world while turning his passion for travel storytelling into a full-time career.In this episode, Craig shares his experience solo backpacking through Iraq, offering a unique and eye-opening perspective on a destination often misunderstood. His journey takes him through Iraqi Kurdistan, the historic city of Mosul, the tranquil Mesopotamian Marshlands, the bustling capital of Baghdad, and the ancient ruins of Babylon—highlighting both the country’s rich history and the warmth of its people. Tune in today!To follow Craig's moves on social media:⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠YouTubeFollow the Makin Moves with Matt Podcast on Social Media:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with your Host on Social MediaMatt:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Makin Moves with Matt:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Makin Moves with Matt: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠