The Long Distance Lounge: More Than Travel

Thanks to her groundbreaking work in the world of upcycling, multidisciplinary designer Nicole McLaughlin is a pioneer in the world of fashion, design, and art. Known for transforming trash or discarded items into fashionable, ready-to-wear pieces, her social media posts have become must-see content for apparel, footwear, and fashion professionals. She's also worked on design collaborations with the biggest brands in the outdoor and fashion industries. On this episode, the New Jersey native shares her journey from a creative child to a successful designer, as well as the most pivotal moments in her career, her creative process, and the importance of sustainability in fashion. Nicole also explains how she overcomes creative blocks with outdoor activity and how small work hiatuses can keep the creative ideas flowing. Finally, she tells host Tim Sweeney about her aspirations for future projects and the impact she hopes to make in the industry.00:00Introduction and Creative Background02:45Creative Process and Social Media Influence05:42Education and Early Career08:39Transition to Reebok and Early Projects11:21Discovering Upcycling and Personal Projects14:34The Shift to Freelancing and Collaborations17:25Sustainability in Fashion and Brand Collaborations30:28The Art of Upcycling and Repair35:22Creative Process and Vulnerability in Design39:43Tools of the Trade: Crafting Unique Designs43:44Balancing Creativity and Functionality48:37Overcoming Creative Blocks and Finding Inspiration51:10Navigating the Business Side of Creativity53:52Future Aspirations and Dream CollaborationsAd read for Twin Thieves Media :35 secondsSubscribe to the podcast and share with friends. Long Distance Lounge podcast is produced by Twin Thieves Media  For more information, visit TwinThievesMedia.com Follow Tim Sweeney on Instagram at @tesweensLogo by Kyle Johnston Designs

Visual storyteller Tommy Roark spends his days (and some nights) capturing stunning video images as a co-founder of Experience Media Studios. He's filmed helicopter tours in Hawaii and spent long, sleepless nights filming EDM shows and massive music festivals like Coachella. Tommy stopped by the Long Distance Lounge to share a few stories of those wild DJ sets and sketchy travel shoots that almost ended in disaster. He also shares his thoughts on balancing technical camera equipment know-how with natural creativity in photography and filmmaking. Finally, we get a little career advice -- including the significance of continuous learning -- from a guy who is doing what he loves at the ripe, old age of 27.  Chapters00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene06:03 Navigating the Pandemic and Career Shifts08:12 Learning the Craft: From Amateur to Professional10:54 The Balance of Technical Skills and Creative Vision12:18 Investing in Equipment and Understanding the Industry14:27 Continuous Learning and the Role of Mentorship17:56 Creative Process and Client Relationships21:59 Building a Network in San Diego22:27 Adventures and Challenges in Filming24:51 Filming Music Festivals: Behind the Scenes30:00 The Art of Capturing Live Events32:40 Multicam Challenges and Techniques34:58 The Highs and Lows of Touring40:19 Family Ties and Personal Motivation42:28 Career Advice for Aspiring CreativesAd read for Twin Thieves Media :35 secondsSubscribe to the podcast and share with friends. Long Distance Lounge podcast is produced by Twin Thieves Media  For more information, visit TwinThievesMedia.com Follow Tim Sweeney on Instagram at @tesweensLogo by Kyle Johnston Designs

Aussie outback guide David McMahon spends his life surrounded by crocodiles, snakes and any number of creatures that can kill you in Australia's Northern Territory. Is it as dangerous as it sounds? Should you be afraid to visit? Hear from a guy who lives among the wildest area of the wildest country. David started as a chef in South Australia, but today he guides guests into the remote places he loves in Arnhem Land, Kakadu National Park and more. With host Tim Sweeney, David discusses the significance of the local Indigenous culture, the diversity of languages in "The Territory", and the challenges of living alongside dangerous wildlife in his role as a lead guide for Venture North Safaris. His passion for spending life in "The Bush" and his experiences in the wild provide listeners with a vivid picture of life in this extraordinary part of the world, and the host chimes with a few of his own yarns from a visit to Darwin and the Top End of Australia. Chapters00:00 Introduction to a Unique Lifestyle10:12 The Wildness of Northern Australia14:09 Living with Nature's Dangers17:05 The Abundance of Food in the Bush20:13 The Impact of Nature on Tourists22:39 Conclusion: A Life of Adventure and Learning29:21 Exploring Diverse Travel Experiences30:21 Cahills Crossing: A Crocodile Hotspot32:52 Understanding Crocodile Behavior and Risks35:19 The Unique Ecosystem of Northern Australia37:46 Close Calls: David's Wild Encounters41:22 Favorite Animals and Fascination with Snakes45:48 Future Aspirations and Adventures48:03 Travel Recommendations for Northern AustraliaAd read for Twin Thieves Media :35 secondsSubscribe to the podcast and share with friends. Long Distance Lounge podcast is produced by Twin Thieves Media  For more information, visit TwinThievesMedia.com Follow Tim Sweeney on Instagram at @tesweensLogo by Kyle Johnston Designs

Ever thought about visiting Normandy, France? Local Normandy D-Day guides join host Tim Sweeney to share some of the heroic, personal stories you will hear if you take a trip to the Normandy region of France. Morgane Bowen and Pierre-Alexandre Roussel spend their days sharing the knowledge they've gained as local Normandy tour guides for Bayeux Shuttle. Morgane, who has lived in the area for a decade, and Pierre, who grew up in Normandy, explain the welcoming nature of the local people and what it's like to bring visitors to the sacred beaches and villages of Normandy. The host shares how his own visit to Normandy impacted him and they discuss the scale of the invasion, the legacy of sacrifice, and practical advice for planning a visit to this historic area.Ad read for Twin Thieves Media :35 secondsSubscribe to the podcast and share with friends. Long Distance Lounge podcast is produced by Twin Thieves Media  For more information, visit TwinThievesMedia.com Follow Tim Sweeney on Instagram at @tesweensLogo by Kyle Johnston Designs

Longtime cycling journalist Andrew Hood talks to host Tim Sweeney about his journey from small town daily newspaper reporter in Colorado reporting on ski vacations of the royal family to becoming a prominent figure in cycling journalism for Velo. Plus, how to plan your trip to the Tour de France, what it’s like to be inside the circus of world’s great bike races, and the craziness of camping out with cycling fans on the side of a French mountain. They also discuss the current state of cycling and the evolution of the sport in America. Having forged a media career in an era that has seen disappearing print outlets and the birth of social media, Hood offers career advice on the importance of being adaptable to change in your professional life and how community journalism was an ideal training ground. Hood has covered dozens of editions of cycling's spring classics as well as the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España, along with numerous world championships in road, track, and mountain biking. He’s also covered multiple Olympic Games and reported on bike races across six continents. His work appears in the Outside cycling network, and he has written for The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, the Washington Post, and many more. Chapters00:00 - Introduction and Background02:41 - Journey into Cycling Journalism09:05 - The Evolution of Cycling in America14:56 - Community Journalism and Its Impact19:01 - Breaking into the Cycling World22:48 - The Rise of American Cycling34:55 - Covering the Tour de France: A Journalist's Perspective43:24 - The Challenges of Reporting in a Fast-Paced Environment46:36 - The Fan Experience at Cycling Events50:24 - The Publicity Caravan: A Unique Cycling Tradition52:33 - Exploring Alternative Cycling Events57:20 - Riding Iconic Climbs: A Cyclist's Journey01:01:28 - The Current State of Cycling: Trends and PredictionsAd read for Twin Thieves Media :35 secondsSubscribe to the podcast and share with friends. Long Distance Lounge podcast is produced by Twin Thieves Media  For more information, visit TwinThievesMedia.com Follow Tim Sweeney on Instagram at @tesweensLogo by Kyle Johnston Designs

Michelle Barry, a scuba diving instructor based in Cairns, Australia joins host Tim Sweeney to discuss the beauty and diversity you can experience on a visit to the Great Barrier Reef, the immersive sensory experience of diving, and the importance of reef conservation. Hear what it's like to have a massive bull shark swim meters beneath you from a woman who has spent a great deal of her life underwater. A Master Reef Guide with Pure Snorkeling, Michelle also shares her journey from growing up in New Hampshire in the US to learning to dive in San Diego to moving to Queensland, Australia to do what she loves in one of the most premier places on earth to do it. The conversation also touches on the health of the reef, the impact of climate change, and the role of tourism in conservation efforts.Chapters01:10Exploring the Great Barrier Reef02:26Meet Michelle Barry: Scuba Diving Expert03:33Journey to Becoming a Dive Instructor06:13Life Underwater: Diving Experience08:57Cairns: The Gateway to Adventure09:42The Job of a Dive Instructor12:34Understanding the Great Barrier Reef18:10The Immersive Experience of Diving21:15Health of the Great Barrier Reef24:32Personal Connection to the Reef27:51The Dynamics of Reef Predators43:05Shark Species of the Great Barrier Reef50:10Conservation Efforts and Eco-TourismAd read for Twin Thieves Media :35 secondsSubscribe to the podcast and share with friends. Long Distance Lounge podcast is produced by Twin Thieves Media  For more information, visit TwinThievesMedia.com Follow Tim Sweeney on Instagram at @tesweensLogo by Kyle Johnston Designs

Rúnar Karlsson chats with host Tim Sweeney from Ísafjörður, Iceland, where he runs Borea Adventures with his partner, Nanný Arna Guðmundsdóttir. Rúnar, Nanny and their team take worldwide visitors on wildlife photography trips, ski touring adventures, whale watching cruises, and hiking and kayaking trips in the remote West Fjords of Iceland. A true local expert who grew up in the area, Rúnar explains how to approach your own Iceland adventure and tells us why the famed arctic fox loves to pose for photos with the guests he draws from around the world. An outdoor lover, he also discusses how a digital detox in nature can reinvigorate a guest. Finally, Runar explains how a “career” in Iceland can be a winding, varied path and why skills and experience are never a bad thing as you plot your own journey. SHOW NOTES:02:25 - Exploring Iceland's Tourism Boom05:05 - Life in the Westfjords10:37 - The Remote House and Its History16:08 - Wildlife Photography and Nature Exploration18:55 - Skiing Adventures in Iceland21:32 - The Unique Experience of Remote Living33:17 - Digital Detox in Nature44:05 - Travel Tips for Iceland49:59 - Career Paths and Life Lessons55:29 - Exploring Iceland: A Unique Perspective55:39 - Career Insights and Alternative PathsAd read for Twin Thieves Media :35 secondsSubscribe to the podcast and share with friends. Long Distance Lounge podcast is produced by Twin Thieves Media  For more information, visit TwinThievesMedia.com Follow Tim Sweeney on Instagram at @tesweensLogo by Kyle Johnston Designs

Travel author and global adventurer Tim Sweeney goes on virtual visits to far-flung places by interviewing guests who live and work in locations that have a spot on every traveler’s bucket list. As the title suggests, the podcast harkens back to the days when people might strike up a conversation with a passing stranger at an airport bar during a layover (as opposed to looking down at their cell phone the entire time). Among the guests: a SCUBA guide on the Great Barrier Reef, a Tour de France journalist, a snake-loving guide in the Aussie outback, an expert on the Normandy D-Day invasions. These individuals share their stories and offer advice on how to plan a visit to their neck of the woods. But it's not JUST travel. They also explain the career track they took to find their way to their current roles or a crossroads moment that urged them to chase their passion for their profession.  If you’re considering a trip, looking for inspiration for one, or just curious how people end up in the interesting jobs they do, download and subscribe to the Long Distance Lounge.  Host Tim Sweeney—the author of a “hilarious,” 5-star rated travel memoir that documents his three years living and traveling through Australia—has lived and worked on three continents, including in the French Alps. His book (Yank Down Under: A Drink and A Look Around Australia) was hailed as "info-tainment" that is  “medicine for the soul.” The Long Distance Lounge podcast  fits the same bill. That is: interesting tales from worldly people with fun stories to share. Subscribe to the podcast and share with friends. Long Distance Lounge podcast is produced by Twin Thieves Media  For more information, visit TwinThievesMedia.com Follow Tim Sweeney on Instagram at @tesweensLogo by Kyle Johnston Designs