THE WANDERLUSTERS MIND PODCAST

Abby Lewtas 7/5/19 Abby Lewtas 7/5/19

Aligning her life through travel and school bus living with Laura Banks

Laura sold her house and left her corporate job to get the most out of living her life. She now lives on a school bus and runs her own business as a life coach, continually being an example for her clients to show them how getting outside their comfort zone leads to a truly rewarding life.

About Laura

Laura is an internationally certified coach and Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner for humans who are ready to let go of their limitations and live into their potential.  Her unique approach to creating powerful and lasting transformation can be summed up as mindset, magic and mechanics.   Mindset focuses on subconscious transformation, helping release the deep-seated beliefs, habits, thoughts and emotions that are holding you back, then re-wiring your brain with new programs.   Magic is about learning how to connect with and trust your truth - your intuition.  And mechanics is about taking the inner and outer action to create a life and business on your terms, one that feels good AND gets results.

After a car accident Laura went on a journey to become the sort of person she wanted to be and live a life she wanted to live – not the life she thought she ‘had’ to live.  Now, she loves challenging herself to get out of her comfort zone, which has seen her compete in a half-ironman triathlon, get a mystery haircut and convert a bus into a tiny home with her husband.  

“To be living this lifestyle [on the bus] was a huge step outside my comfort zone.”

— Laura Banks

In the episode...

Laura’s first experience of travel was when she went to Japan on a school exchange.
She was originally going to travel to Japan but ended up meeting a ‘Kiwi’ and moved to New Zealand instead.
Laura has had many variations of stepping out of her comfort zone whilst travelling and the first was moving to New Zealand where she only knew her partner Matt.
Laura uses travel as a way to look at her values and they way she lives her life at home.
Laura and her partner Matt sold their house, brought a bus which they renovated and moved into to live in.
Minimalism was not originally part of something they had intended however it happened naturally when they moved into the school bus.
They get out and about every week in the bus to explore Tasmania.
Laura does have to think about all the challenges such as where to park the bus, emptying the composting toilet and managing transport to work.
Traditionally in her family they followed the ‘normal’ way of life and so living this style of life was outside her comfort zone however she always likes to ‘get outside her comfort zone.’
Laura was concerned that she would let her parents down when she would tell them they had sold their house and brought a bus to live in.
When they share their lifestyle with others, Laura recognises that their lives challenges others to think about the way they live their life.
Laura shares that the big changes were really just a collection of small steps towards something that she wanted.

Why Laura continue to seek out travel and live abroad? Because of the potential and possibilities that travel can bring in you and your life.

“You can just do YOU in the world”

— Laura Banks

Living in Spain and the complexity of the english language with Dani Jauregui.

Dani is a Spain aficionado who first discovered the country she now calls home, during a study abroad semester in Alicante, Spain. While studying a double major in Sociology and Hispanic Studies at a small, liberal arts school (Illinois Wesleyan University), Dani was incredibly encouraged to study abroad and she hasn’t looked back since. Danis life since her graduation has been primarily lived abroad.

Dani went to Spain on a study abroad program, she returned many times and now lives there and teaches English. She loves diving deep into the complexity of the english language.

About Dani

“I realise how little we pay attention to our own language and our own culture until we have this opportunity to see the differences from another one.”

— Dani Jauregui

In the episode...

Dani went to study in Spain and loved the country so much that she returned for more study. She continued to return to Spain and now lives and works in Granada.
Dani feels confident with the language and spent a lot of time in Spanish speaking countries so has not really felt outside of her comfort zone.
There has been so many lessons she has learned along the way and has loved learning from the students she is teaching.
How little we pay attention to our own language until we have to explain it and use it with others.
The way we use our words and our language and how it can be used in a more empowering way.
Dani now tries to apply this in her own language so she is speaking in a more empowered way.
Dani teaches mostly in English so does not often pick up the other languages through the teaching process.
How some countries and cultures give words to particular things which takes a while to explain as the English language has not given this ‘thing’ a word.
When Dani returned back to the United States she feels as there is conflicting energy as some people haven’t changed as she has. She also notes that you have missed out on so much of their life and that it is hard to find your place.
Dani thinks that sometimes her friends from home might not want to talk about the life they have been living aboard. Her friends have been able to see what her life is like on social media but may not be interested in learning the details.
Danis mindset has changed and she initially adopted the ‘no-passa nada’ attitude which can be translated to ‘its all fine, just go with the flow!’ But agrees that sometimes its not that easy to live in that mentality when you are setting up your life in a different country.
The advise Dani would give to people who are thinking of traveling, studying or living in a new country is use the resources that are out there to meet people ahead of time, in particular the local people.

Rapid fire round

The last place Dani visited - Sierra Nevada Mountains, Spain.
A place Dani tells everyone to travel to - Granada, Spain.
Scariest place travelled to - Dani has not felt scared in any place she has travelled to.
Favourite thing about travel - Meeting the people.
Dani’s next destination - Valencia, Spain.

Why Dani continue to seek out travel and live abroad? She likes to keep things interesting rather than falling into a routine. She likes to discover and get excited about the world.

“It says so much about a culture, the things that they have bothered to give a word to and the things that maybe we didn’t.”

— Dani Jauregui

Responsible tourism and accessing inner wisdom with Bianca Caruana

Bianca is a freelance journalist & sustainable tourism blogger from Sydney, Australia specialising in stories that ignite thoughts surrounding compassion, ethics and the happiness of all beings. She travels the world as a digital nomad with the aim to promote ethical values and give a voice to those who are making the world a better place.

Bianca Caruana AKA the altruistic traveller has left Australia on three separate occasions, she now shares her knowledge of we can all travel in a more ethical way.

About Bianca

Bianca left Sydney for the third time in October 2018, committing to full-time travel as a digital nomad. This means that she had no single home, her home is where her backpack and heart rest. Bianca wanders from place to place, working online and connecting with local communities, offering her storytelling skills and connections in the social and environmental impact space.

“While Nepal may seem chaotic from the outside, actually from the inside people are quite happy and peaceful and patient and going with the flow.”

— Bianca Caruana

In the episode...

How places like Nepal can seem so chaotic on the outside yet the people are at peace where as many places in the western world like Australia can be opposite Chaotic on the inside and looking at peace on the outside.
How anxiety can seem to be so much more common in the world and in youth today.
Bianca’s experience of when she was stuck in traffic on a bus in Nepal and how it made her thing about being in the present moment.
How we make a ‘catastrophe’ of things that really are not that big of a deal!
How travel has taught her about change and how beautiful it is and how she can let go of fear.
There are so many things that are removed when we travel on our own which is why it can be a great vehicle for self inquiry.
When coming home, it can feel like an identity crisis. Bianca finds it hard to use her wisdom when returning as she feels challenged by the ‘chaotic’ energy of home?
Confronting her physical fear of riding a scooter and how she did it.
The importance of using the right words such as “I cant” or “I can.”
Some ways that travellers can lower their negative environmental and social impacts on countries when they travel abroad.
Bianca’s advise for people who are holding back from travelling is that its so much easier than it seems. Also really understanding what your reason for travel is.

Rapid fire round

The last place Bianca visited - Bali
A place Bianca- Ko Pha-ngan, Thailand
Scariest place travelled to - India’s North
Favourite thing about travel - Meeting incredible trip
Bianca’s next destination - Nepal

Why Bianca continue to seek out travel and adventure? The wisdom and knowledge that she is able to access from others.

“The best thing about travel is that it puts you in a scenario where you really get the chance to do self-reflection.”

— Bianca Caruana

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

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