Zero Dollars, 40 Countries — with Tal

This week on Restart with Debbie, I sat down with Tal, a young creator whose story stopped me in my tracks.What started as a simple moment on his 18th birthday — trading photography for a scooter in the south of France — turned into a life-changing decision: traveling the world through 40 countries with zero dollars, relying only on creativity, courage, and human connection.Tal shared how exchanging value instead of money opened doors everywhere — from places to sleep, to meals, to opportunities — and how strangers became helpers when he trusted people enough to ask.But the journey took a dramatic turn on October 7, when Tal was hitchhiking through Turkey and suddenly found himself needing to escape as war broke out. With no plan, no money, and only instinct, he made it out — guided by resilience and the unexpected kindness of the Jewish community, even from people he had met years earlier.This episode is about courage, faith in people, and the power of showing up with something to give — even when you think you have nothing. A reminder that sometimes, the world opens when you choose to move differently.