THE WANDERLUSTERS MIND PODCAST

Abby Lewtas 16/4/19 Abby Lewtas 16/4/19

Circumnavigating South Georgia Island with Chris Porter

Chris circumnavigated South Georgia Island in a Sea Kayak, an expedition that was 2 years in the making. This epic adventure truly challenged his psyche.

About Chris

Chris Porter resides in Anglesea on Victoria’s Surf Coast and is a surfer, surf lifesaver, and kayak paddler. Chris began his love with the ocean over 50 years ago when he joined the Anglesea Surf Lifesaving Club as a “Nipper” That love of the ocean grew into a business opportunity when he founded Go Ride a Wave in 1987.

Although Chris is now retired, Go Ride a Wave is one of the largest Outdoor education operators in Australia, teaching surfing, lifesaving and paddling to over 50,000 enthusiasts each year.

On his retirement, Chris was able to further some of his adventurous ambitions, one of them being to paddle in a polar environment. With four friends, in 2015, they successfully paddled around the remote island on South Georgia a feat that is regarded as the “Everest” of sea kayaking. For their endeavours, the team was awarded the Australian Adventurers of the year. Chris now spends his time, as he approaches 60 years of age, planning further adventurous trips and mentoring up and coming adventurers.

“Every day we were on the trip, I was outside my comfort zone.”

— Chris Porter

In the episode...

Chris became so interested in travels and adventures as he has always be curious, always wanting to know what is around the corner and more recently wanting to learn about the history of people and places.
Chris did a paddling trip circumnavigating South Georgia Island in a Sea Kayak.
There was so much planning Chris and his team had to undertake. It took 2 years to get to the starting point.
The expedition took around 42 days in total, including getting to the island on the yacht they had to charter, the paddle its.
They had to get their equipment to Poland (the other side of the world) so they could freight it to where it needed to be.
Some days winds would get up to 100km per hour, 1-2 degrees Celsius in the middle of summer.
The paddle in total would be 500km. The aim was just to attempt the paddle - they were never certain that they would complete the circumnavigation because it was so unknown.
Every day of the paddle Chris felt outside of his comfort zone.
There was so much wildlife they encountered on their trip, 650,000 king penguins on one beach. This was one of the most confronting things for Chris.
Chris biggest learning, after seeing so much thriving wildlife was the impact that we are having on the planet.
This trip has changed Chris’ psyche and realised how hard it is to create change in society. The trip gave him a passion to inspire people who have similar interests to him.
Chris inspires others by showing them the opportunity and questioning them about how they would start something that they really want to do.
Chris wants to inspire people who have the tiniest inkling for an adventure. He suggests finding out what it is that you are best at.
Going away on a trip gives you a chance to think.
Chris believes that we should always care about what other people think, in a sense that we should be respectful and consider the impact we are having.
Chris would love to paddle the north west passage as he wants to see the REAL impact that humans are having on the planet as it is very evident. This has never been done all at once.
Chris has now started up World Paddle to help others train, prepare and go on similar adventures or compete in adventure paddling races.

Why Chris continue to seek out travel and adventure? Its just part of his nature and the curiosity of seeing the world.

“We went down there with a goal to paddle around the island, but to me, the most confronting thing was to see how, left to their own devices, (to a certain degree), animals could thrive.”

— Chris Porter

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

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

Welcome to Season 2.

Welcome back to season 2 of the Wanderlusters Mind podcast. Im so thrilled to be back with you in 2019 and I have some amazing chats lined up for you hear on the show.

This year Im taking a slightly different angle on the podcast and I’ll be chatting to my guests about their incredible adventures and travels and the lessons, insights, learnings and growth that they have had from them. I believe travel and adventure is an incredible catalyst for growth and transformation and my aim is to share those stories with you here on the show.

Season 2 of the Wanderlusters Mind Podcast is about to begin. Sit back, relax and come along for the adventures.

Welcome Back

Welcome back to season 2 of the Wanderlusters Mind podcast. Im so thrilled to be back with you in 2019 and I have some amazing chats lined up for you hear on the show.

I was honoured to learn that The Wanderlusters Mind podcast was nominated as a finalist in the Beautiful You Awards in the category of Podcast/Book/Product and the winners will be announced in March. Ill be keeping you up to date with the results.

Thank you to all my guests, listeners and supporters for making this show so incredible.

Thank you and wrapping up 2018

Taking a look back on 2018 and thank you all for your continued support. Thank you to all my guests, listeners and supporters.

I was honoured to learn that The Wanderlusters Mind podcast was nominated as a finalist in the Beautiful You Awards in the category of Podcast/Book/Product.

Thank you so much for tuning in to the Wanderlusters Mind Podcast in 2018.

Thank you

Taking a look back on 2018 and thank you all for your continued support. Thank you to all my guests, listeners and supporters.

I was honoured to learn that The Wanderlusters Mind podcast was nominated as a finalist in the Beautiful You Awards in the category of Podcast/Book/Product.

Stay tuned in 2019 as I bring you more stories, lessons, learnings and travel adventures from my beautiful guests.

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Abby Lewtas 18/12/18 Abby Lewtas 18/12/18

Iceland, Vikings and Medieval Norse Studies...a different world with Hannah Hethmon

Hannah Hethmon is an independent museum and public history professional. Currently based in Warsaw, she is the producer and host of Museums in Strange Places, a podcast that explores the world through museums. She has a master's degree in Viking and Medieval Norse Studies.

In 2013, Hannah moved to Iceland for two years to do her Master's degree in Viking and Medieval Norse Studies. During that time, she did an exchange semester in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 2015, she moved back to the greater Washington, D.C. area for a few months before moving to Nashville, Tennessee for work. In 2017, Hannah returned to Iceland for a Fulbright Fellowship to learn Icelandic and study Icelandic museums. In May 2018, she moved to Warsaw, Poland to live with her Finnish husband for the first time after a 4 year long-distance relationship that started in Iceland in 2014.

Hannah juggled a long distance relationship, reverse culture shock and studying in Iceland.

About Hannah

“Everytime I move, I go through a lot of crying!”

— Hannah Hethmon

When coming home...

Emotions and differences Hannah faced - This was a challenge to start new groups of friends. Hannah cried a lot when she got home. She was also in a long distance relationship.
What had changed for Hannah - She was in a job with many people older than her so she didn’t really relate to them. Building the community and making friends with like minded friends.
Biggest stress for Hannah - Long distance relationship, feeling lonely yet excited to be in a new place.
How Hannah supported herself - Met people through groups, she wished there was a ‘Tinder’ for friends and then she found this on Bumble BFF. Hannah called and spoke to her mum a lot. Hannah started hobbies such as cooking, yoga and getting into a routine. She found the joy in a normal daily routine
How her mindset had changed - She was exposed to a lot of ways of thinking, looked at the religion she followed and started to explore her beliefs a little more. Started volunteering and trying to find connections
3 Lessons learned from travel and reverse culture shock

Its important to have people around you that you can count on.
Go to museums as these places hold stories and people who are very passionate to share with you.
Wait before you apply stereotypes to others and be willing to see people honestly.

Advise to herself for returning home - Meet people as fast as you can, find anyone to do things with and then enjoy the place your at. There is always something to learn. Find the things you have never seen where you are.