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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
Digital Nomadism
Tanzania
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes401Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Places & TravelPersonal JournalsSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

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

Latest Episodes

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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Learn what inspired Thor's impossible journey and why he now believes a stranger is a friend you’ve never met before.

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

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Hear how completing his journey to 195 countries inspired Cameron's humanitarian work & shaped his vision for the future.

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

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Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Thor Pedersen
Danish adventurer and humanitarian who completed an unbroken journey to every country without flying
Red Cross, Danish Red Cross
Episode: 398: Visiting Every Country Without Flying: Thor Pedersen on Borders, Strangers & Human Connection
Cameron Mofid
Youngest person to visit all 195 countries (as of 2025)
Founder of Humanity Effect
Episode: 396: From Debilitating OCD to Exploring the World’s Most Misunderstood Countries with Cameron Mofid
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
Janine Jervis
Tourism marketer, storyteller, and entrepreneur with nearly 20 years in Jordan's Tourism Board communications and PR
Cultural Link Communications (founder)
Episode: 388: From Jamaica to Jordan: Finding Belonging and Challenging Western Narratives Through Travel with Janine Jervis

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 470 ratings
  • 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 Statesa month 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
    Denmarka month 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 Statesa month ago
  • Great resource for digital nomads

    I’m a nomad who is starting my own business, and this is a great resource for getting ideas and inspiration from other nomads!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    popedotninja
    Netherlands2 months ago
  • Travel & Culture Lovers, This One's For You

    I’ve been listening to The Maverick Show Podcast lately and genuinely enjoying it way more than I expected to. Matt has this interviewing style that feels really natural and unforced, like you’re just listening in on a conversation between people who are actually curious about each other and the world.

    You learn so much about different cultures, perspectives, identities, and the realities of travel beyond the polished Instagram version of it all. The guests are always interesting, but I think ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    izzmarissa
    United States3 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.

398: Visiting Every Country Without Flying: Thor Pedersen on Borders, Strangers & Human Connection
Q: How did you manage sponsorship and funding to sustain a $20-a-day budget?
Pedersen researched budgets, pursued sponsorships, and launched Once Upon a Saga with a Red Cross connection to align the journey with humanitarian goals, using a mix of donations, sponsorships, and a blog to engage supporters.
398: Visiting Every Country Without Flying: Thor Pedersen on Borders, Strangers & Human Connection
Q: What sparked the idea to travel to every country without flying?
The idea arose after discovering there were people facing severe challenges while traveling, and then realizing no one had attempted to visit every country without flying; it evolved into a humanitarian-driven project with Red Cross sponsorship.
393: From Haiti to Curaçao: Joanne Paul on Worldschooling and Raising Multicultural Kids
Q: How can listeners participate or learn more and what offer is available?
Listeners can learn more at Ilo.life and via the show notes to access details about upcoming cohorts; Maverick Show listeners receive a $250 fee waiver when booking with the promo code maverickpodcast.
393: From Haiti to Curaçao: Joanne Paul on Worldschooling and Raising Multicultural Kids
Q: Who is Ilo for and how flexible is the program?
The program targets homeschooling and worldschooling families, with cohorts ranging from 30 to 90 days, plus camps; it emphasizes long-term immersion and local integration, with fall, winter, spring cohorts and flexible December–January windows.
393: From Haiti to Curaçao: Joanne Paul on Worldschooling and Raising Multicultural Kids
Q: What exactly is Ilo and what makes it unique?
Ilo is an island-centered ecosystem offering housing, coworking, community, and education through a partner-based model with local institutions like the Children's Museum, designed to immerse families in Curaçao's culture rather than confining them to a bubble.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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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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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Zero To Travel Podcast
2. Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin
3. Ologies with Alie Ward
4. Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast
5. Travel with Rick Steves

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 8 years ago and published 401 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. Thor Pedersen
2. Cameron Mofid
3. Zaakirah Nair Muhammad
4. Jonny Cooper
5. Joanne Paul
6. Nadine Arab
7. Nicole Green
8. Marissa Strang

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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