WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life

Many who dream of traveling the world haven't even traveled around their neighborhood. The San Francisco Bay Area has 7 million people. Most haven't been on top of San Bruno Mountain (pictured). Still, many Bay Area residents dream of going to the Himalayas or the Swiss Alps. There are wonders all around us. Never say that you can't afford to travel. If you don't travel, it's just not a priority.In this episode, I explain how to travel when you're broke or short on time.More infoYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.If you like this, subscribe and share! I made this as a YouTube episode too.On social media, my username is always ftapon. Follow me on:http://facebook.com/ftaponhttp://twitter.com/ftaponhttp://youtube.com/user/ftaponhttp://pinterest.com/ftaponhttp://tumblr.com/ftaponSnapchatClaim your reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTaponRewards start at just $1/month! Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

Gary Arndt has been a travel blogger for a dozen years. Along the way, he's figured out what works and what doesn't. Gary Arndt never minces words. He doesn't care if he offends someone. Internet trolls have hardened his skin. If you're curious what it's really like to be a top travel blogger, you must listen to this show.In this episode, you'll learn:What most starting travel bloggers get wrong.What are Gary Arndt's favorite travel apps?Where does he get Gary Arndt's best travel deals?How Gary morphed into a travel photographer.What's the stupid advice that photographers often give.What's the difference between Pinterest and Instagram.What about AR and VR? Does it have a future?How to do a travel podcast (he's involved in 3 travel podcasts!)?Will he ever write a book?You can find Gary Arndt at Everything-Everywhere.com.More infoYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.If you like this, subscribe and share! I made this as a YouTube episode too.On social media, my username is always ftapon. Follow me on:http://facebook.com/ftaponhttp://twitter.com/ftaponhttp://youtube.com/user/ftaponhttp://pinterest.com/ftaponhttp://tumblr.com/ftaponSnapchatClaim your reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTaponRewards start at just $1/month! Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

When you're traveling, it's easy to forget to exercise. In fact, even when you're not traveling, it's hard to have the daily discipline. Some people get more exercise when they're traveling than when they're at home because when they're traveling, they're walking far more. For others, it's the opposite. When they travel, they're lost without their local gym. What I forgot to mention in this podcastOne of the best ways to exercise every day is to make exercise part of your commute (or at least part of your work).For instance, take the bike to work. I took the bike to Microsoft, even when it was raining. (It helps that I didn't have a car.) With more and more businesses allowing their workers to dress casually, you no longer have the excuse that your expensive suit will get sullied. Many companies have showers at the office making it easier than ever to run or bike to work.Another way to integrate exercise in your day is to run errands on a bike or on foot. When I lived at the top of Potrero Hill, I still did my grocery shopping with my bike. I lugged the bike with a backpack full of groceries up that steep hill. Instead of meeting someone for coffee or lunch, meet them for a hike or a walk. That's exactly what I did with my friend Jeremiah Owang. I usually take the stairs, even when I have to go to the 11th floor.Make exercise a priority in your schedule. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama demanded that their daily schedules have one hour for exercise. If they can make time for exercise, so can you.More infoI encourage you to post comments and ask questions for a future Q&A episode.If you like this, subscribe and share! I made this as a YouTube episode too.On social media, my username is always ftapon. Follow me on:Facebook http://facebook.com/ftaponTwitter http://twitter.com/ftaponYouTube http://youtube.com/user/ftaponPinterest http://pinterest.com/ftaponTumblr http://tumblr.com/ftaponSnapchatClaim your reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

The Internet was supposed to disrupt the middlemen. Yes, it created some peer-to-peer technology and services.However, middlemen are doing better than ever. Uber and Airbnb, with their lack of hard assets, are quintessential middlemen.In the travel world, Expedia, Priceline, Kayak, and Booking.com are also middlemen par excellence.The Internet was supposed to level the playing field and disrupt monopolies. Today, Expedia and Priceline control 95% of the US Online Travel Agency (OTA) market. Just three travel companies (Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport) own at least 90 percent of the Global Distribution Systems market share.In 2010, Google bought ITA Software to create its flight booking engine. In 2014, it opened it up to small business and individuals to access. On April 10, 2018, however, Google closed off access to its QPX Express API service. This will shut out small companies from accessing its valuable travel data.Meanwhile, private travel data kept on centralized servers have security risks. Last year, for example, Sabre was hacked.Blockchain technology threatens to disrupt the travel industry. Blockchain to the rescue?Blockchain technology guarantees tight, immutable security. It also promises to do what the Internet failed to do: destroy the middleman.Is the second time the charm? Or are the geeks crying wolf again?What is Winding Tree?Winding Tree is a nonprofit that aims to stir innovation in the travel industry by leveraging public Blockchain technology. It is creating a decentralized travel distribution network.If their vision succeeds, travelers and travel service providers (e.g., hotels, airlines, tour guides) will split the billions of dollars that travel middlemen currently take. Translation: lower prices for the traveler and higher profits for the entities that actually deliver the service to the customer.To facilitate this vision, Winding Tree raised money (Ethereum) via an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) that closed on February 14, 2018. Their token is called the Líf (pronounced “leaf”).I interviewed Winding Tree’s CEO, Maksim Izmaylov, to learn more. We recorded this right before the ICO, but it's still relevant.In the Q&A that follows, I paraphrase Izmaylov’s answers. (Izmaylov approved of the Q&A summary.)Winding Tree's CEO, Maksim Izmaylov, and its CTO, Jakub Vysoký (right). Photo Credit: JULIA NOVICKAJADoes the world really need another ICO? Why Líf? Why can’t Winding Tree just use a cryptocurrency like Ethereum, which already has smart contracts built into it?Líf is more than a cryptocurrency. It’s a token that is based on the ERC827 token open standard, which we worked with Open Zeppelin to create.Líf is optimized to carry travel-specific data. With Ethereum, it’s cumbersome to make a contract that says that you want a room for two single beds with a view and breakfast included. With Líf, it’s simple.Also, bundling products are tricky with Ethereum. With Winding Tree, it's a no-brainer to bundle a car reservation with a hotel reservation.Líf isn’t an alternative to Ethereum. In fact, Winding Tree is deployed on the Ethereum blockchain. Think of it as a layer on top of a developed blockchain. We can deploy Winding Tree on several other blockchains in the future.Líf helps minimize foreign exchange fees. When you buy an international plane ticket, your dollars will get converted to pay for fees at every stop your plane makes. The more countries, the more foreign exchange fees. Líf tokens minimize those transactions and reduce their cost since trading Lífs is negligible.The Winding Tree pitch.WINDING TREEWhat the biggest misunderstanding about the Líf ICO that you would you like to dispel?People think that Winding Tree is just another cash alternative. The implications go far beyond that. Líf will carry booking data, for example. It could carry your travel identification, your baggage tracking details, and your loyalty points. It’s powerful.Others think that we’re trying to create another intermediary. That’s the exact opposite of what we’re trying to do.When a hotel booking or airline reservation has a problem, you often go to the middleman who sold it to you to help resolve the problem. When travelers use Winding Tree’s blockchain, they skip the middleman. What recourse do they have when something goes wrong?You will have all your immutable records on the blockchain. You will own your own data. Also, there will be a reputation system. All these help resolve disputes.Why has Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, Nordic Choice hotels and others partnered with Winding Tree? Why should a hotel or airline partner with Winding Tree?First, all our partners bought Líf tokens. Anyone who wants to operate on the Winding Tree platform needs Líf tokens. Second, our partners have promised to give us access to their inventory. Nordic Choice is already testing our smart contracts. Third, they provide us with their expertise. Air New Zealand has provided us developers to collaborate with us. We plan to have work

Although it's sad to read about your fellow alums dying, it's also motivating. It's especially motivating when a dead alum is younger than you. This depressing fact can light a fire underneath your butt to live a purposeful and meaningful life.It's a way to compel you to stop making excuses. Meanwhile, this doesn't necessarily mean that you should become busier. Instead, it should compel you to use your time more wisely. That means that perhaps you need to become less busy! For some, that means to work less and spend more time with your family and friends.For others, it might mean to spend less time with their family and friends and more time pursuing that music career they've always wanted to have.The point is that the death of your fellow alums should spur you to live. Transform yourself now. I encourage you to post comments and ask questions for a future Q&A episode.If you like this, subscribe and share! I made this as a YouTube episode too.On social media, my username is always ftapon. Follow me on:Facebook http://facebook.com/ftaponTwitter http://twitter.com/ftaponYouTube http://youtube.com/user/ftaponPinterest http://pinterest.com/ftaponTumblr http://tumblr.com/ftaponSnapchatClaim your reward by becoming a patron. Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

Joe 'Stringbean' McConaughy is a young legend in the thru-hiking community. He set the fastest known time (FKT) on the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail. His Appalachian Trail record was truly astounding because (at the time he finished the trail) his unsupported record was faster than any supported record! What's the difference between a supported and unsupported thru-hike?Supported thru-hikes have one or more people lending you a hand. These lovely people will typically:Meet you at junctions where the trail meets a road.Give you a food, water, and medical supplies. Set up and break down your tent.As a result, you don't have to make any detours to go to the post office or to a store to resupply. More importantly, you can carry little or no food. You may be able to leave your shelter and sleeping bag behind too. You can get by with less water because you know your crew will have plenty at the next road crossing. On the Appalachian Trail, these trail junctions happen far more often than on the Pacific Crest Trail and Continental Divide Trail.This results in considerably less weight than an unsupported thru-hike (which is what 99% of thru-hikers do).If you do an unsupported thru-hike, you're on your own for everything.Although Karel Sabbe has recently beaten some of McConaughy's speed records, his unsupported Appalachian Trail record still stands.I'll be interviewing Karel Sabbe in 2019, but enjoy McConaughy's remarkable sense of humor and athletic feats.On social media, my username is always ftapon. Follow me on:FacebookTwitterYouTubePinterestTumblrGet rewarded for being one of my patrons! Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

I share my secrets of how I've been able to travel nonstop since 2006.The most common question I get asked is how I am able to afford to travel to 120+ countries. That's why I'm addressing this FAQ in the third episode of the WanderLearn podcast. If I waited any longer, there would be a mutiny. Yes, both of my listeners would revolt! The most important action you need to take is to save enough f**k-you money so that you have the financial ability to not just travel the world for months or years, but also to make other bold moves in your life.In just 10 minutes, I break down how what you need to do to earn plenty of f**k-you money. It's tough, which is why few people have f**k-you money.For those who want to learn more, read my epic article that addresses this question.If you like this, subscribe and share! I made this as a YouTube episode too.On social media, my username is always ftapon. Follow me on:FacebookTwitterYouTubePinterestTumblClaim your reward by becoming a patron. Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

Officially, this is my second podcast, but it's really my first proper podcast since my first episode was just a 4-min teaser introduction.What better way to kick off this travel podcast than to have my first guest be Travis Sherry. He is the creator of one of the top travel podcasts, Extra Pack of Peanuts.Here's what you will learn in this two-hour episode:Who is Travis Sherry?What's the origin of the name Extra Pack of Peanuts?What are his favorite countries?What's the Jetto app and why should you get it?What are good ways of monetizing an app or podcast?How can you find the best travel deals? He runs the Frequent Flier Bootcamp, so he should know!Why should you care about the Paradise Pack project coming out at the end of May 2019?What's it like to live in Japan?How are Africans and Japanese similar?What's the best credit card?What are the two most popular reasons why people don't travel?At the end of the podcast, Travis can't resist putting on his interview hat. He surprises me by asking me a couple of questions.I plan to release a new episode every Tuesday and Friday until I have 50 episodes. At that point, I may slow down the pace to once a week.I encourage you to post comments and ask questions for a future Q&A episode.If you like this, subscribe and share! I made this as a YouTube episode too.On social media, my username is always ftapon. Follow me on:FacebookTwitterYouTubePinterestTumblrSnapchat(I use the first three accounts far more than the last three.)Claim your reward by becoming a patron. Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

Discover what this podcast is about! For those who are too lazy to listen, here are the three themes we'll tackle:TravelTechnologyTransformationFrancis Tapon is your host in this travel podcast. Tell your friends and enemies about it.Also, get rewarded for supporting it!To comment on this episode, visit WanderLearn.com. Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe