THE WANDERLUSTERS MIND PODCAST

Abby Lewtas 9/4/19 Abby Lewtas 9/4/19

A life living in diverse cultures with Tamara Yousry.

Tamara has many facets to her identity as a result of being a 4th Culture Kid with parents from different cultures. A citizen of the world, Tamara is also a teacher, wife, musician, singer, percussionist, actress and lover of long, deep and meaningful conversations. Tamara has lived in 7 different countries on 4 different continents: England, Scotland, Norway, Kuwait, Egypt, Singapore, Australia - and each experience has been special and has given her greater insight into different people, their values and traditions.

Tamara describes her life as a ‘patchwork quilt.’ Tamara and her family had to leave Kuwait when the war broke out and has since lived in 7 different countries. She feels as is she has never settled.

About Tamara

Tamara has lived in 7 different countries on 4 different continents: England, Scotland, Norway, Kuwait, Egypt, Singapore, Australia - and each experience has been special and has given her greater insight into different people, their values and traditions.

“Travel just broadens your horizons.”

— Tamara Yousry

In the episode...

Tamara became a teacher in Egypt and then wanted to move to Europe, however was unable to find work there but found work in Singapore.
Tamara wanted to return to Europe, but she had formed a deeper connection with her sister who was living in Australia.
She moved to Perth Australia after meeting her now husband.
Because she has done so much travel she feels like its natural to her and every through years feels as though she wants to move around.
Tamara didn’t really feel like she was from anywhere after moving around to such different cultures at such an early age in her life.
Tamara found living in Egypt was tough, she describes it as a very ‘proud’ culture and despite having an Egyptian father, she didn’t have the foundations from growing up there such as speaking Egyptian Arabic well.
Tamara feels most outside her comfort zone in Australia as she feels like she doesn’t know much of the history, culture so sometimes does not understand jokes or what is meant when people say certain things.
The most important thing to do when moving to a new country or new place is to go out and meet people.
Because Tamara moved around so much she has a deep love for travel. She enjoys meeting people from different countries and cultures and loves the freedom that comes with it.
The biggest lesson that Tamara has learned from her travels is that people fundamentally want the same things in their life, no matter their religion, race or what they wear.
Tamara is still figuring out how to put all her experience and learnings together and share it in a meaningful way.
Tamara was motivated by her siblings who were out in the world doing different things and feels like this is where her strong outlook comes from.
Tamara urges people to travel as she believes it opens up a lot of doors for them.

Why Tamara continue to seek out travel and adventure? So she can continually open her mind, have fun, meeting new people and laughing.

“I really believe that travel opens your mind”

— Tamara Yousry

Travel is a privilege with Bianca Raby.

Bianca is a passionate educator and entrepreneur with over 12 years of professional experience spanning sectors, communities and countries. From classroom teaching in Australian remote Indigenous communities to launching her own digital education company Bianca is a global citizen with the passion and conviction to change the world for the better.

Bianca Raby was so keen to learn about the world but didn’t know how to do that through a textbook. Instead, she went out and explored it for herself.

About Bianca

She started travelling in 2010 after divorcing her high school sweet heart. Since then, she has found it hard to stay put and is designing her company to be fully online so she can have the freedom to be anywhere that she desires.

“We have the privilege to leave.”

— Bianca Raby

In the episode...

Started dreaming about all the places she wanted to visited as she knew she could not learn about the world through a textbook.
Her first plane trip was to Hawaii!
Felt outside her comfort zone when she moved to Siem Reap. She constantly wondered if she should be be there and the best way to integrate with the community.
Bianca’s experience at the Turkish baths.
Her experience living in ‘two worlds’ when she was in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
The privilege that we have, as citizens of the western world.
Bianca’s experience when travelling to a digital nomad conference where nobody thanked the country for hosting the conference.
How ‘western citizens' are changing the landscape of local communities.
How Bianca walked into a supermarket with so many staff how she challenged herself to look at the situation with an entirely new perspective.
Being open to discussions that challenge you.
How Bianca is finding it difficult to find a place to call home.

Rapid fire round

What was the last place you visited? Chang Mai, Thailand
A place you tell everyone to visit? Venice, Italy
Scariest place travelled to? Cape Town and Camping in Africa
Your favourite thing about travel? The first day of arriving in a new place.
Wheres your next trip? Adelaide and then to the South of Thailand.

Why Bianca continues to seek out travel and adventure? The people that you meet, the personal growth that you get and the diversity of perspectives that you are exposed to.

“We are impacting communities, we are changing the landscape of different suburbs we are gentrifying things we are expecting services like home and those services are being created for us and so we have to be really careful that we are always acknowledging that the local people are inviting us in and letting us do this.”

— Bianca Raby

Broadening your perspective through travel with Jamin Heppell

Before co-founding Mountains and Marathons, Jamin was the director of three leadership organisations centred around the development of health and resilience. He has had the privilege of working with over 15,000 people from diverse communities across Australia and North America.

Jamin had a vision to run a marathon and climb a mountain on every continent. He wanted to create community and a business around his idea, so he drew on his passions and abilities to bring it all together.

About Jamin

Having bounced back from burnout, depression and seven major surgeries, Jamin knows what it's like to struggle and what it takes to transform. He is committed to peak health and performance and supporting others to do the same.

“Courage is not comfortable.”

— Jamin Heppell

In the episode...

Jamins first taste of travel was when he went on a trip to Japan with his school.
Things such as lining up for a train and selling alcohol in vending machines really ‘blew his mind’ and started understanding how different cultures can be.
Jamin found himself outside his comfort zone when he couldn’t communicate in Puerto Rios, Argentina and he had to find a way to withdraw cash in a very small town.
The real reason Jamin travels is to understand and explore different cultures and realises that this broadens his perspective.
Jamin loves that getting into different places and cultures really enables him to connect with a new level of creativity. When in this space he believes he feels that he is able to step into bigger things that he is capable of.
He is trying to create the digital nomad lifestyle whilst travelling around the world. This demands him to continually be creativity, innovative and think on his feet.
Jamin found that running his business can be difficult, especially when they travel to places with unreliable business. He knows when this happens its time to move.
Jamin sees his travelling similar to the ‘heros journey’ where he has an inner personal transformation so recognises that when he returns home he wants to make sure that his community is aware of this. He has planned to create a big homecoming which fits into his business and celebrate his return.
Advise for people who have not yet taken the leap to go out and travel is the same as what he would give anyone facing their fears and that is in line with the quote ‘courage is not in never having fear, but in having fear and doing it anyway.’

Rapid fire round

What was the last place you visited? Munich, Germany
A place you tell everyone to visit? Chamonix mont blanc, France
Scariest place travelled to? Moshi, Tanzania
Your favourite thing about travel? The stories you create and the people that you meet.
Wheres your next trip? Uncertain - formally Tanzania but hoping to fit in a trip in-between

Why Jamin continue to seek out travel and adventure? An insatiable curiosity.

“I believe that our minds only going to expand as far as we are willing to stretch them and travel is quite a remarkable way to do that.”

— Jamin Heppell

The 'good' and 'bad' uncomfortableness of travel with Cydny and Marc Voicechovski.

Cydny and Marc Voicechovski (voice-chov-ski) a.k.a, The V’s, call themselves "Adventure Motivators" with GOAL Traveler. They blog, vlog, and podcast regularly inspiring their followers to join the movement to Get Out And Live. They consider themselves an ordinary couple with an extraordinary desire to travel and a passion to inspire you to do the same!

Cydny and Marc are travellers at heart and so passionate about sharing stories of travel. They are now moving to Vietnam to experience living in a new country.

About Cydny and Marc

They may be seen hiking volcanoes or touring a country via campervan, but often end their treks splurging on 5-star views and 10-course tasting menus. Why? Because they want to experience all aspects of what a location has to offer. They currently are about to embark on an upended journey that has them moving from New Jersey to Hanoi, Vietnam.

“I can do this, reminding myself that I have the power to do this, I’m much stronger than I think I am, and I am much more confident than I think I am.”

— Cydny Voicechovski

In the episode...

Cydny talks about a time when she was in Kuala Lumper when she was very jet lagged and realised she was being disrespectful towards the muslim culture and how uncomfortable it made her feel.
Marc talks about the good and bad uncomfortable. The first time he was on his own on another country and also when he was in an unsafe neighbourhood in Naples, Italy.
Good uncomfortableness can stretch you and help you learn lessons and grow as a person.
How the language barrier can lead you into difficult situations and how Cydny and Marc had their motorbike impounded.
Travel has helped them to become more open minded.
Travel has taught them to be patient with travelling itself as well as travelling with a partner.
Marc realises that travel will not answer all your life questions but you will be more likely to ask more!
The journey of travel really teaches you about yourself.
If you are holding back from travel, start small. Also figure out what is holding you back and start from there.

Rapid fire round

What was the last place you visited? Vermont and Oregon.
A place you tell everyone to visit? Greece and Iceland.
Scariest place travelled to? New York City subway at night and Naples Italy.
Your favourite thing about travel? The most educational experience you can get and the food.
Wheres your next trip? Mont Tremblant, Canada

Why Cydny and Marc continue to seek out travel and adventure? Cydny says to get out of the day to day routine and face her fears. Marc says the pursuit to explore new places and the unknown.

“Just go somewhere and reflect on it afterwards.”

— Marc Voicechovski

Stepping into her passion after travelling the world with Chloe Santarossa.

Chloe Santarossa is a Holistic health coach, yoga teacher & personal trainer. She believes that life is meant to be lived to the absolute fullest! Along side health and fitness, she loves to travel and live freely enjoying life and everything it has to offer. It is Chole’s mission to inspire you to live a life full of passion so that you are motivated to jump out of bed everyday feeling amazing with the confidence to do anything your heart desires. She is here to empower you in making healthy sustainable choices through full body nourishment so you can feel strong, sexy and confident.

Chloe started travelling the world after a break up and after returning home and dabbling in a few jobs she decided to set up her own health and wellness business.

About Chloe

Chloe Santarossa is a Holistic health coach, yoga teacher & personal trainer. She believes that life is meant to be lived to the absolute fullest! Along side health and fitness, she loves to travel and live freely enjoying life and everything it has to offer.

It is Chole’s mission to inspire you to live a life full of passion so that you are motivated to jump out of bed everyday feeling amazing with the confidence to do anything your heart desires. She is here to empower you in making healthy sustainable choices through full body nourishment so you can feel strong, sexy and confident.

Chole set off on her first soul searching adventure after ending a long term relationship. She headed for Europe and her travels unfolded from there.

“Just do it [Travel] because you will not regret it at all.”

— Chole Santarossa

In the episode...

After coming out of a long term relationship, Chloe went on a soul searching journey to rediscover herself, which she confesses, in the beginning, her intention was just to party and have fun meeting new people.
How easy it is to meet like minded people and talk about common interests.
Chloe and I met in Central America.
Having an intention when you travel and a way to give back.
Chloe went on a 26hour bus ride to work on a conservation project deep in the amazon. They had to trek into the project, crossing 14 rivers along the way and lived in a cage, hiding from monkeys in an extremely primal and unique way.
Travelling meant she had to step outside her comfort zone and face her fears many times having to figure out ‘little things’ like boarder crossings, language barriers, currency etc. Its all about working towards an end goal. This mimics life as there are so many times when you are faced with uncertainty and fearful situations that you need to push through to reach the end goal.
The fear mongers that scare you when you are going to travel on your own or to a country slightly different.
Staying smart when travelling, you can avoid many problems that a lot of people face.
Live a life thats inspiring and passionate. Have a career and community that you are passionate about and that you are excited to come home to.
Chloe worked through my life coaching program where she had an incredible transformation which reignited her spirit to set up a life which she is passionate about and doesn’t have to ‘run away’ and travel all the time.
We are the creators of our lives if you are willing to do the work, hold the vision in your mind and keep taking the steps towards what you want.
Chloe now travels for a month at a time with her partner. They have relationship goals and always sets and intention and purpose for their travels.
You can choose to live a life that inspires you.
Chloe was excited to come home and tell all her friends and family about her travels but realised that they had not had the same experiences that she had and it would be difficult to have those conversations. She also felt lost and unable to find her place.
Its ok to outgrow people, look for the people that have similar interests, attend workshops so you can up-skill yourself.
Chloe’s advise to people who are holding back about having travels and adventures - Just do it as you will not regret it. It will help you to have more confidence and expand your experiences that will later help you in your life.

Rapid fire round

What was the last place you visited? Egypt
A place you tell everyone to visit? Croatia, Switzerland, Central America, Colombia, Brazil
Scariest place travelled to? San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Your favourite thing about travel? The freedom to decide what you want to do and the experiences you want to have.
Wheres your next trip? Sri Lanka & The Maldives

Why Chloe continues to seek out travel and adventure? Being fulfilled!

“We are all fearful of certain things and I think a little bit of fear is good, and when you overcome that it helps you grow as a person.”

— Chole Santarossa

Connecting with people to really understand cultures with Claudia Neiman

Claudia is an organised creative which, although may sound oxymoronic, means that she is able to address problems in a open way and is willing to turn things upside down if that makes the most sense. Claudia is passionate about learning and the environment and her goal in life is to be happy (happiness is defined both by fulfilment and the ability to enjoy this feeling).

Claudia has travelled to many different cultures and spent a lot of time living in Spain. She is not in Finland working on projects surrounding cultural differences around the world.

About Claudia

“If you are going to experience other cultures, you are going to experience culture shock and if you don’t, its like learning how to swim without water.”

— Claudia Neiman

In the episode...

Claudia has travelled to many countries with differing cultures.
Claudia felt outside of her comfort zone when she was in Brazil and decided to hitchhike and got into a car with a local.
She spend her first day in class in Spain with the teacher stereotyping Americans.
You have to really understand the culture, you really have to spend quite a bit of time in that place.
The real reason Claudia travels is for the people, the food, the experience that is like nothing that she has had before.
How travel teaches you that there are so many different ways of doing things, not only one way!
Claudia’s biggest insight and learning from travel is seeing how we are all connected and how we can get to know people even if we dont speak their language.
Until we actually connect and have conversations with people we actually have no idea about their lives and their culture.
If you haven’t had the experience of being a foreigner in another country, its really hard to know how difficult it can be to be judged for how you look, your race, sexual orientation, gender etc
Claudia attempts to understand many different perspectives and be open to other peoples opinions.
Travel has taught Claudia that we are all just looking for the place where we fit in.
When everyone follows their own path and does their own things, it makes like interesting.
Travel is what YOU make it! Whatever feels right for you can be the basis of your travels. Do what FEELS good for you.
How travel should not just be about bucket lists and ticking a box.

Rapid fire round

What was the last place you visited? Cordoba, Spain
A place you tell everyone to visit? Granada, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal
Scariest place travelled to? Has not really travelled to “scary” places but has had scary moments in Rio, Brazil.
Your favourite thing about travel? Treating herself, people and food.
Wheres your next trip? Scandinavian trip….Sweden, Estonia, Iceland.

Why Claudia continues to seek out travel and adventure?

“The biggest reason that I travel is to put myself out there, to meet other people, but also to question these ideas that I have about myself and who I am and how I see the world.”

— Claudia Neiman