WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life
by Francis Tapon
Take a profound and distant journey. Call it Deep Travel, Immersive Travel, Slow Travel, or Vagabonding. Francis Tapon guides you to the intersection of travel, technology, and transformation. The podcast will compel you to go beyond your comfort zone. ftapon.substack.com
Episodes
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‘The Formula of Desire’ with Anna Elton
Are you in a sexless relationship? Watch this video! Sometimes almost everything in a relationship is working, but the passion is gone. Anna Elton’s new book The Formula of Desire, explains how you can reignite that passion. The book’s website has a free assessment. Timeline 00:00 Four elements…
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Backpacking Light's TRIPS with Ryan Jordan
After the first 8 minutes, Ryan Jordan dives into the TRIPS demo, so you’ll want to see the video version of this podcast. Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 Three compliments 07:40 TRIPS Basic 18:00 TRIPS Pro 33:55 Price Background I’m a lifetime member of Backpacking Light (BPL), and I’m excited to use...
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Genital Mutilation in Gambia
There are spoilers in this podcast! Watch this show on YouTube! Around 1980, Linda Gambia was a Peace Corps volunteer in Gambia. In 2026, she had reflected enough about the life-changing experience to pen a memoir about it. It’s called The Geography of Desire. This is part two of a two-part...
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What's the Chance That Jost Will Die on Everest?
In last week’s episode, Jost Kobusch, a 32-year-old German mountaineer who summited Denali in winter, said he had a 20% chance of summiting Everest in winter, alone, without supplemental oxygen, and following a rarely climbed route, the dangerous West Ridge. In today’s episode, I begin by asking...
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Jost Kobusch Leaves For Everest Alone
In a few days, Jost Kobusch will arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal. He will begin his multi-month preparation for his radical goal: to climb Everest alone in winter without supplemental oxygen via the challenging West Ridge route. Watch on YouTube Timeline 00:00 Jost’s origins 05:00 What is the % chance...
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The Peace Corps in Gambia
There are spoilers in this podcast! Around 1980, Linda Gambia was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Gambia. In 2026, she had reflected enough about the life-changing experience to pen a memoir about it. It’s called The Geography of Desire. This is part one of a two-part podcast. Watch the video!...
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Would Jared Diamond Call Bin Laden A Great Man?
In this video, I review Jared Diamond’s latest book, Profits, Prophets, Coaches, and Kings: (When) Do Leaders Matter? I also reflect on the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001. Watch the video! In this WanderLearn Show, I mention the following books:1) Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of…
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73-Year-Old ALDHA-West Triple Crowner Shares Wisdom
Scott Williams and I cover the following topics in 9 minutes: 00:00 Why Go to ALDHA West? 02:00 Aging Advice 05:40 Sweden's Green Ribbon Trail Watch on YouTube! What do you think? Put your thoughts in the comments. Connect Send me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTapon You can post...
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How Artificial Intelligence Will Transform Travel
Watch on YouTube! Timeline 00:00 ETF3 06:00 How do ETF members travel? 11:00 Ric’s road to 193 13:00 Saving the best for last 16:45 Top ETF Speakers What do you think? Put your thoughts in the comments. Connect Send me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTapon You can post comments, ask...
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Extraordinary Travel Festival 3 with Ric Gazarian
Watch the interview on YouTube! The ETF is probably the best travel conference for adventurous travelers! I’ve spoken at two of the events, and you won’t want to miss the third! Timeline 00:00 ETF3 06:00 How do ETF members travel? 11:00 Ric’s road to 193 13:00 Saving the best for last 16:45 Top…
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URGENT! Coldcard MK3 Vulnerability! Move Your BTC Now!
3-Step EMERGENCY for Bitcoin Coldcard users! 1) Move your funds from your Coldcard, especially the MK3 model. 2) Update your Coldcard firmware. 3) Generate a new seed phrase Watch the video of this podcast Get the new Coldcard firmware Coldcard Status Update and Coldcard Firmware Downloads If you...
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The Best Long-Distance Trail: Triple Crowner Scott Williams Answers
What’s best: the AT, PCT, or CDT? I ask a 73-year-old hiker who has done all 3! Be sure to watch last week’s episode featuring Scott! Connect with Scott on FB! Watch this episode Timeline 00:00 Arizona Trail 1:50 Favorite Triple Crown Trail Connect with Scott Williams on Facebook! What do you...
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Does New Zealand's Te Araroa Trail suck? Scott Williams Answers
I talk with renowned long-distance hiker & Triple Crowner, Scott Williams, about his experience on New Zealand's Te Araroa Trail. This is part 1 of a 3-part interview series featuring Scott. Watch this interview! Scott's buddy, Sym Blanchard, explained why he disliked the Te Araroa Trail here…
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AMA with the Top Serb Nomad, Nenad Stojanovic
Most of the questions focus on the Balkans, which is ironic since Nenad spends little time there! Follow Nenad on FB & IG at whereisNenad. Watch this episode! Timeline 00:00 What's going on in the Balkans? 01:40 Book recommendations 02:35 Life in Serbia 3:34 Souvenirs 4:20 Best kept secret in the...
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Extreme Nomad Reveals Tips & Plans
Nenad Stojanovic is 42. He's been traveling the world nonstop for nearly 20 years. You can follow him on WhereisNenad on FB & IG. Watch this episode now! Watch previous episodes to learn more about this remarkable traveler! Timeline 00:00 Travel plans 02:30 Favorite spots What do you think? Put...
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Tales of a Couchsurfing & Hitchhiking Expert
Couchsurfing isn’t simply a way to save money when traveling, but it’s mostly a way to connect with locals, to understand local culture, and see what you’ll never see in a hotel. Nenad seldom stays in a hotel. Watch this video to hear about his unique lodging experiences. Timeline 00:00...
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Pro Hitchhiker Shares Tips & Experiences
Here are my 10 hitchhiking tips on Forbes. Nenad Stojanovic hitchhikes everywhere. He shares the joys of hitchhiking and why it's more fascinating than public transportation. At 9:00 he discusses money issues. Watch the video! What do you think? Put your thoughts in the comments. Connect Send me…
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The Most Well-Traveled Serbian Ever!
I met Nenad Stojanovic in 2008 when he hosted me on Couchsurfing.com. He’s been traveling ever since! This is a 5-part series featuring Nenad, one of the world’s most fascinating travelers. This is part 1! Watch the video! Timeline 00:00 Who is Nenad Stojanovic? 04:25 North American journey 05:25...
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400th Episode!
I explained 6 years ago why Plan B’s Stock-to-Flow Bitcoin model was doomed and would fail. Few believed me. Most insulted me. Today, I can confidently declare that I was right and Plan B was wrong. Watch the video of this episode! Also, watch my May 2020 video that started all the controversy…
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Stop saying, "If I Die..."
My mom often says, “If I die….” I sometimes accidentally say the same thing. The “if” is a cognitive security blanket I pull over my head so I can pretend that death — the only thing every single human being who has ever lived has accomplished — might somehow not apply to me. As though the…
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72-Year-Olds Admit Their Parenting Mistakes
Sym Blanchard & Joan Chan discuss the ups and downs of their parenting journey. They are both around 72 years old. Each had a boy and a girl with their exes. Watch the video of this podcast! They candidly share their mistakes and how things turned out decades later. Timeline 00:00 Two parents…
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2 Skeptics Try Earthing & Grounding! Results?
Is grounding & earthing BS? I interview two skeptical elders: Joan Chan & Sym Blanchard. Hear what happened. Watch the video! Timeline 00:00 Car accidents 04:55 Intro to Earthing 08:00 Placebo effect? 11:30 The Limits of Grounding 14:50 How to start What do you think? Put your thoughts in the...
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The Downsides of Dating a Nomad
Sym Blanchard has appeared on many WanderLearn episodes. In this 3-part series, Sym appears with his sweetheart, Joan Chan. Both are in their early 70s. I love elders because they usually don’t give a f**k what others think of them. They’re the opposite of teenagers. Elders are genuine,...
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1,000 Subscribers! Thank you!
Thank you, Sande, my 1,000th Substack subscriber! Naturally, the other 999 of you are equally valuable! Thank you to Adam Gasner for being my first Founding Member and Sym Blanchard for being my first paid member! When you create content, you often feel like you’re speaking to a wall. Even when…
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Black & White Holes + Galactic Power Plants
Dr. Sten Odenwald discusses The Essential Book of Black Holes. See my review of the new book below. But first, watch this video in which I interview Dr. Odenwald about his book! Timeline 00:00 Intro 2:15 Math & Black Holes 5:00 Holographic universe 5:50 Hypernova 9:05 White holes 14:45 Is our...
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The World Is Complex. ‘Global South’ Isn’t. Stop saying it.
The term “Global South” is doing a lot of heavy lifting for a geographically illiterate phrase. Australia is in the Global South. So is New Zealand. Both are fabulously wealthy, stable democracies with excellent dental care. Meanwhile, Afghanistan is in the Global North. The “Global South” term…
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The Truth About Rapido Trimarans
Rapido Trimarans Founder Paul Koch reveals the truth about their fast trimarans. There are many myths and misunderstandings that Paul seeks to shatter. Listen to this 30-minute interview with one of sailing’s greatest innovators, shot in Vietnam. Watch my interview with Paul Koch of Rapido...
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Debunking the "Finding Satoshi" Documentary
Warning: this show has spoilers! Watch the video of this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd-jGXonSzM TIMELINE 00:00 Spoiler 01:00 Three positive features 02:00 Fatal Flaw 1 03:30 Fatal Flaw 2 05:10 Sleep schedules 06:00 And then there were 2 08:00 Confirmation bias 10:20 Hal Finney is…
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NYT is WRONG! Adam Back Did Not Create Bitcoin!
See the video: https://youtu.be/3kGTgRjpcRw Last week, John Carreyrou and Dylan Freedman of The New York Times reported that Satoshi Nakamoto is Adam Back. Read the full New York Times article (and to bypass the NYT paywall legally). Or if you have a NYT subscription, read the original. Last…
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Sawyer CEO - Philanthropist Kurt Avery
Corporations are often seen as evil, selfish entities. We overlook that they allow billions of parents to feed, educate, and heal their kids. Jobs also generate taxes that allow governments to build roads, hospitals, and schools. Taxes fund welfare and protect national parks. None of this would…
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Taking the Stairs & Liking It with Lauren Speeth of Elfenworks
Sometimes a brief meeting with one human can change your life. Lauren Speeth, President of Elphenworks Productions, met US President Jimmy Carter decades ago. Watch! Lauren Speeth, PhD, combines a lifelong background in Silicon Valley technology with a commitment to educational, pro‑social...
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Vietnam's Sexism, Religion, Education, & Future
Watch this interview to enjoy the b-roll https://youtu.be/35UMP6SV-zw Hal makes informative videos about Vietnam.1st video of the series: Subscribe to Hal's outstanding YouTube channel B-Roll credit: @HalOnEarth Timeline 00:00 Do The Vietnamese Like China More Than The USA? 03:20 Learning the...
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What Do the Vietnamese Really Think About Americans?
Watch the video version of this podcast Hal makes informative videos about Vietnam. See my previous video with him: Subscribe to Hal's outstanding YouTube channel. Connect Send me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTapon You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my Substack...
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Hal On Earth, Especially Vietnam
Hal makes informative videos about Vietnam. Watch the video of this podcast https://youtu.be/RFcLm9fe4a0 Hal gets credit for the B-roll in the video! Subscribe to Hal's outstanding YouTube channel. Timeline 00:00 Who is Hal Medrano? 04:00 Pittsburgh, PA 06:30 Why Hal Returned to Vietnam 08:00 Hal...
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Everest Alone in Winter via West Ridge
Jost Kobusch, a 32-year-old German mountaineer who summited Denali in winter, is attempting what some experts give a 1% chance of success: he wants to summit Everest in winter, alone, without supplemental oxygen, and following a rarely climbed route, the dangerous West Ridge....
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How Erik is Escaping Normal Life
I bumped into Erik while visiting Big Basin National Park in Nevada, USA. He's been a nomad, living out of his Subaru on a modest budget, and vlogging about his experience. He shows us how he does it. youtu.be/BhUD0pjITsU https://youtu.be/BhUD0pjITsU Follow Erik's YouTube channel Why Erik Ditched...
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What Everyone Got Wrong About the Kiss Cam Scandal
Dr. Isabelle Morley is a couples therapist and author of "They're Not Gaslighting You." https://youtu.be/cPahcRnG_Fg The kiss cam moment exposes much more than a couple’s private drama—it reveals how we judge, label, and punish one another in the court of public opinion. In this episode, I sit…
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The Satlantis Event App
WanderLearn explores travel, tech, and transformation. This is a tech-related episode. Aleksandar Svetski is the CEO of Satlantis.io, which began as a travel app but has pivoted toward events, including travel-related events. Satlantis is a new kind of social network for “Sovereign Individuals.”…
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8 Hypotheses About Mallory & Irvine on Everest by Dr Robert Edwards
Dr. Robert Edwards, author of The Last Step but One, proposes 5 hypotheses about Mallory and Irvine’s final ascent of Everest. Two of the hypotheses have sub-hypotheses, bringing the total number of conjectures to 8. Robert Edwards's Mallory & Irvine book. Watch the YouTube video Timeline 00:00...
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What We Know & Don't Know About Mallory & Irvine's Everest Climb
It’s easier to watch the episode because of all the slides. The comments on YouTube will be interesting to read, too! TIMELINE 00:00 Exclusive announcement!05:00 What we know10:30 Odell sighting14:00 Ice ax17:00 Oxygen bottle19:25 Mallory's body23:45 Irvine's boot29:30 What we do NOT know Robert...
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Surprises on a 1,200-Mile Paddleboard Pilgrimage
Buy Dan’s book, Waterborne. Dan Rubinstein undertakes a 1,200‑mile solo stand‑up paddleboarding journey from Ottawa through Montreal, New York City, Toronto, and back, traveling rivers, lakes, and canals over ten weeks. Along the way, he explores the concept of “blue space”—how being in, on, or...
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1,200-Mile Paddleboard Pilgrimage SUP
In this two-part interview, Canadian Dan Rubinstein discusses the logistics and surprises of his stand-up paddleboard (SUP) journey! Buy Dan’s book, Water Borne. Dan Rubinstein undertakes a 1,200‑mile solo stand‑up paddleboarding journey from Ottawa through Montreal, New York City, Toronto, and...
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9 Predictions for 2026
I made several gloomy predictions for 2025 that did not occur. So, now, like a lousy gambler, I am doubling down on those gloomy predictions and reiterating some of them for 2026! A broken clock is correct twice a day! I will be a glorious Nostradamus in 2026! 1. Global recession strikes. I...
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Part 2 of the 2026 Recession & Crash
In Part 1, Forbes Contributor Clem Chambers predicted that Bitcoin & crypto will continue being a bear market throughout 2026. In Part 2, Chambers predicts the NASDAQ & AI will surge up like a balloon, and then will pop, with prices crashing in 2026-2028. Clem’s Bitcoin Predictions Chambers says...
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The 2026 Crash: Crypto & Stocks Will Tank
Clem Chambers has been a Forbes contributor for 20 years. His predictions have often been surprisingly accurate, so it’s worth listening to what his crystal ball has to say about 2026. Video Connect with Clem * Clem Chambers Alpha channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ClemChambersAlpha * X (Twitter):...
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Te Araroa, Korea, & Shakespeare
Sym Blanchard and I have a lively, informal discussion. Think of it as eavesdropping on a debate between long-time friends. Yes, I talk over and interrupt Sym, which is unprofessional for a typical interview, but meant to be a natural, fast-paced conversation. 00:00 Te Araroa09:40 Koreas...
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Estrangement & Free Will
Sym Blanchard and I talk about families and free will. Sym Blanchard has a 36-year-old daughter and a 38-year-old son. He is estranged from his daughter, but has a close, positive relationship with his son. I ask: * What is the hardest time to raise children? * Why does Sym struggle to get along...
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Why Investigate Your Genealogy
Sym Blanchard explains the benefits of tracing your genealogy. BONUS at the 5:00 mark: Why We Gravitate to Extraordinarily Accomplished People At the end of the episode, I mention my epic Cosmic Chain article. If you enjoyed this episode, listen to a dozen episodes featuring Sym Blanchard!…
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Wars, Recession, & Bitcoin
Listen to a dozen podcasts featuring the elder adventurer Sym Blanchard! In this episode, Sym Blanchard and I discuss geopolitics and Bitcoin: 00:00 Israel and Gaza10:00 Ukraine War16:00 Coming Recession19:40 Bitcoin Connect Send me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTapon You can post...
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Are Vegans Prone To Osteoporosis?
In 2025, I catch up with one of the most remarkable 72-year-olds you’ll ever meet, Sym Blanchard! Watch this podcast! This page features five episodes starring Sym. Listen to all the episodes featuring Sym Blanchard since 2018! * A 66-year-old Adventurer Shows How To Live A Meaningful Life in…
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About this show
Take a profound and distant journey. Call it Deep Travel, Immersive Travel, Slow Travel, or Vagabonding. Francis Tapon guides you to the intersection of travel, technology, and transformation. The podcast will compel you to go beyond your comfort zone.
ftapon.substack.com
Hosted by
Francis Tapon
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