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Artwork for The Maverick Show: Global Travel Stories & Life Beyond Borders

The Maverick Show: Global Travel Stories & Life Beyond Borders

Matt Bowles: Full-Time World Traveler Since 2013
Travel
Cultural Identity
Digital Nomad Lifestyle
Tanzania
Digital Nomadism
Brazil
Panama
Travel Writing
Remote Work
Community Building
Kenya
Japan
Digital Nomad
Social Justice
South Africa
Egypt
Travel Experiences
Solo Female Travel
Family Travel
Cultural Exchange

The Maverick Show is a global travel podcast about what really happens when people cross borders and build lives across cultures. Hosted by full-time world traveler Matt Bowles, each episode features intimate, unfiltered conversations (often over a bottle of wine) exploring the human stories behind global travel and what the journey teaches us about the world and ourselves. Guests include expats, ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes403Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Places & TravelPersonal JournalsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Maverick Show: Global Travel Stories & Life Beyond Borders

Latest Episodes

Hear how selling his startup, falling in love with travel, and reconnecting with China transformed Jason's life.

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Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders ... more

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Learn why visitors leave Nigeria with transformed perceptions, lifelong friendships, and a changed view of the country.

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Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond b... more

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Hear how visa barriers, border crossings, and global travel reshaped Dara's perspective about the world—and herself.

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Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond bord... more

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Hear how an act of kindness in Cameroon, an enduring love story & relentless determination got Thor to the finish line.

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Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond b... more

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Adenike Daramola Joondeph
Travel content creator, tour operator, business owner
The Globetrotters; Authentic Traveling Tours
Episode: Traveling to Over 100 Countries on a Nigerian Passport, Breaking Barriers & Changing Perspectives with Adenike Joondeph (Ep 400)
Thor Pedersen
Subject of a decade-long world-tour project to visit every country without flying
Author of The Impossible Journey
Episode: 399: Completing the Impossible Journey: Surviving the Darkest Days, Proposing on Mount Kenya & Coming Home with Thor Pedersen
Cameron Mofid
Traveler who visited every country by age 25
Episode: 397: Visiting Every Country by 25: Cameron Mofid on North Korean Marathons, Jail in Djibouti, and Finding Purpose
Zaakirah Nair Muhammad
Author, TEDx speaker, photographer, disability advocate, travel storyteller and media entrepreneur
Episode: 395: Seeing Life Through a Different Lens: Zaakirah Muhammad on Disability, Belonging & Travel in Africa
Jonny Cooper
Founder and group CEO of the Pinnacle Travel Group; founder of Off the Map Travel and Aurora Buddy
Off the Map Travel; Aurora Buddy
Episode: 394: Northern Lights, Sámi Culture and Raising a Family in Arctic Sweden with Jonny Cooper
Joanne Paul
Founder and CEO of Ilo, Worldschooling/Place-based learning advocate
Ilo.life
Episode: 393: From Haiti to Curaçao: Joanne Paul on Worldschooling and Raising Multicultural Kids
Nadine Arab
Egyptian travel writer, blogger and entrepreneur; founder of Curls en Route
Curls en Route
Episode: 392: Beyond the Pyramids: Nadine Arab on Egyptian Identity, Challenging Stereotypes & Travel as a Political Act
Nicole Green
Digital nomad, Traveling CatSitter, cat lover, and activist
Traveling Catsitter; Nomadic Activist
Episode: 391: How to Travel the World Rent-Free as a Cat Sitter and Drive Political Change as a Nomadic Activist with Nicole Green
Marissa Strang
Washington DC based travel creator, storyteller, and tourism marketing professional
The World Within Us (via connection)
Episode: 389: Culture-First Travel: Marissa Strang on Egypt, Cuba and Centering Women’s Stories in India

Host

Matt Bowles
Host of the show, a full-time world traveler who leads intimate conversations exploring human stories behind global travel and cross-border life.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 473 ratings
  • A Must-Listen for Digital Nomads

    I was featured years ago on this show :)

    The stories shared by the guests on The Maverick Show are incredibly exciting, inspiring, and full of real-world experiences. If you’re a digital nomad or dreaming of becoming one, you’ll learn so many valuable tricks, lessons, and insights from people who are actually living this lifestyle.

    Definitely a must-listen for anyone who wants to travel more, work remotely, and design a life on their own terms!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wonky Joe Willis
    Philippines5 days ago
  • Travel Stories That Stick With You

    This is one of the few travel podcasts that consistently goes beyond surface level destination talk and gets into personal journeys abroad. Matt is a fantastic interviewer who creates authentic conversations and feels like listening to a friend sharing their travel stories. Especially loved the episodes with Marissa Strang who provides insights into local communities and underrepresented perspectives. I keep coming back for more, I highly recommend this travel show!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Aiesha22
    United States23 days ago
  • Inspiring Stories That Stay With You

    The Maverick Show is an incredible podcast that shares the stories of some of the world’s most inspiring and adventurous travelers. Matt does a fantastic job of bringing those experiences to life, asking thoughtful questions, and highlighting moments that make each journey so memorable. Beyond the travel itself, each episode is packed with lessons about resilience, uncertainty, and stepping outside your comfort zone. Highly recommend giving it a listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cameronmofid
    United States2 months ago
  • Outstanding host and a gifted conversationalist

    Matt is an outstanding host and a genuinely gifted conversationalist. What impressed me most was the amount of research he had done before we spoke. As someone who is interviewed regularly, I can honestly say that this is surprisingly rare, and it makes all the difference.

    The conversation flowed naturally, the questions were thoughtful and well informed, and it felt like a real discussion rather than a standard interview. Matt clearly cares about his guests and takes the time to understand the... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    www.thorpedersen.dk
    Denmark2 months ago
  • Sports, Music, and Africa

    Episode 395 naturally moved between sports, music, and African travel — three worlds that don't always get to share a room together, but in this episode they made complete sense side by side.

    The host, Matt creates a space where real laughter happens, not the kind that's performed for a microphone, but the kind that comes from two people who are genuinely connecting. That energy comes through in the recording, and it's rare.

    If you're someone who sits at the intersection of culture, movement, an... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ZAAKIRAH NAYYAR
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise deep, authentic conversations and the host's thoughtful interviewing style that lets guests fully tell their stories.
Audiences note the breadth of guest voices and topics, including diaspora experiences, anti-racist travel ethics, and community-driven travel.
Reviews highlight high-quality, introspective content that balances travel lore with social and political context.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Showing the World the Real Nigeria: Adenike Joondeph on Hospitality, Culture & Changing the Narrative (Ep 401)
Q: What is unique about the experience you offer compared to simply visiting Nigeria on your own?
Travelers join curated group trips that prioritize authentic interactions with locals, deep dives into Yoruba culture, historical context like the slave trade, traditional cuisine, and guided access to sites and performances that showcase Nigeria's warmth and hospitality, making it easier to navigate and connect in a country that can feel inaccessible otherwise.
Showing the World the Real Nigeria: Adenike Joondeph on Hospitality, Culture & Changing the Narrative (Ep 401)
Q: Can you share about the founding of that business and what type of tours you're offering?
We started Authentic Traveling Tours last year as a collaboration between Dara and her husband, leveraging Dara's local knowledge and Chris's experience of Africa, to create group-focused itineraries that showcase the southwest of Nigeria, including Lagos, Badagui, Abeokuta, Ibadan, and more, with a heavy emphasis on authentic hospitality, culture, history, and local experiences.
Traveling to Over 100 Countries on a Nigerian Passport, Breaking Barriers & Changing Perspectives with Adenike Joondeph (Ep 400)
Q: How did your early experiences lead to starting The Globetrotters, and what was your mindset about funding trips?
I started the business to fund my own travels, focusing on small Lagos events that gradually grew into group trips; profit wasn't the primary goal at first—covering my own costs was the key driver.
Traveling to Over 100 Countries on a Nigerian Passport, Breaking Barriers & Changing Perspectives with Adenike Joondeph (Ep 400)
Q: What was the biggest barrier you faced getting your first Schengen visa, and how did you overcome it?
I faced initial rejections due to concerns I might not return home; I learned the appeal process, gathered documentation, and demonstrated credibility with photos and experiences from multiple countries to convince the embassies I would return.
Traveling to Over 100 Countries on a Nigerian Passport, Breaking Barriers & Changing Perspectives with Adenike Joondeph (Ep 400)
Q: What initially sparked your desire to travel outside Nigeria?
I saw travel opportunities through seminars and a MLM program that promised experiences abroad; I saved up, faced visa challenges, and learned to navigate them, which ignited a long-term commitment to travel and building a business around it.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This globally oriented travel show centers on intimate conversations with expats, digital nomads, diaspora storytellers, and human-rights-driven travelers who have built lives across borders. Episodes probe identity, race, belonging, and culture through personal journeys, practical travel ethics, and real-world tips for long-term living abroad. What stands out is the host's patient, wine-fueled interviewing style that invites nuanced storytelling and actionable wisdom for aspiring nomads, location-independent entrepreneurs, and travelers who want depth beyond surface-level itineraries. The lineup often blends intercontinental travel lore with themes of community-building, representation, and the social impact of moving across cultures, maki... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Zero To Travel Podcast
2. Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast
3. Travel Squad Podcast
4. Oprah's Super Soul
5. The Frommer's Travel Show

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 8 years ago and published 403 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Adenike Daramola Joondeph
2. Thor Pedersen
3. Cameron Mofid
4. Zaakirah Nair Muhammad
5. Jonny Cooper
6. Joanne Paul
7. Nadine Arab
8. Nicole Green

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