The Maverick Show: Remote Entrepreneurship and World Travel

Matt Bowles: Digital Nomad & Full-Time Traveler Since 2013
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The Maverick Show: Remote Entrepreneurship and World Travel

Meet diverse travelers and digital nomads from every continent who share their personal journey to location-independence as well as their reflections on identity, the power dynamics that shape our world, and how we can be more thoughtful, conscious travelers as we move through it.  Hosted by Matt Bowles—your typical Irish-American hip hop DJ turned human rights activist turned location-independent entrepreneur turned minimalist world-traveler and podcaster—these in-depth conversations take place all over the world (often over a bottle of wine, or 2).  Listen in as Matt draws out stories of their most epic adventures, and unpacks the skills, tactics, and strategies they use to build their remote businesses and design their lifestyles. Ranked the #1 Digital Nomad Podcast by Web Work Travel and the Top 1% of all podcasts by Listen Notes, each episode pulls out actionable tips and advice you can implement in your own life each week.  In 2024 The Maverick Show hit the Top 100 on Apple Podcasts and ranked the #1 “Places and Travel” podcast on Apple.

  1. 6D AGO

    From Racism in Italy to Black Beauty Ideals in Colombia: Empowering BIPOC Travelers to Navigate the World Safely and Confidently with Nicole Phillip

    Hear stories about Guatemala, Morocco, Arctic Snow Hotels in Lapland, Finland and music festivals in Cali, Colombia. _____________________________ Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.). Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________ Nicole Phillip joins Matt from Orlando, Florida and talks about growing up in a Caribbean immigrant home, moving to New York City for college, and encountering racism on a study abroad trip to Italy.  Matt and Nicole reflect on the various ways anti-Blackness and white privilege manifest around the world.  Nicole then talks about her other travel experiences, starting with her European travels outside of Italy during her study abroad program.  She then explains why Colombia is one of her favorite countries and shares her experiences in Cartagena, Medellin, and Cali, including attending the Petronio Alvarez Festival.  Nicole also talks about her travels through Morocco, Guatemala, and her recent birthday trip to the Arctic Circle in Lapland, Finland.  She shares the magical experience of visiting the Arctic Snow Hotel, drinking at the ice bar, sleeping in a glass igloo, going dog-sledding, enjoying a Finnish sauna, and seeing the Northern Lights.  DIRECT LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED ARE AVAILABLE HERE IN THE SHOW NOTES.  ____________________________________ See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn  See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ____________________________________ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally.  You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

    1h 11m

  2. MAR 17

    Curious on Tanzania with Justa Lujwangana

    Learn how to experience the best of Tanzanian nightlife, food, music, beaches, mountains, safaris, history and culture. _____________________________ Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.). Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________ Justa Lujwangana joins Matt from Mt. Vernon, New York and talks about her experience growing up in Tanzania and Uganda before immigrating to New York at age 12.  She reflects on the cultural acclimation process, navigating the contours of Blackness in the U.S., and coming of age as an African immigrant in New York.  Justa talks about maintaining Tanzanian culture in the diaspora, the role of music in her life, and eventually re-connecting with her homeland as an adult.  Matt and Justa then talk about the amazing nightlife in Dar es Salaam, summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro, Safaris in the Serengeti, and the beautiful beaches and distinct culture of Zanzibar.  Justa talks about founding her company “Curious on Tanzania” to help you experience the best of the country, focused on the themes that are most appealing to you.  She reflects on facilitating experiences for African-Americans to reconnect with the Continent and shares her thoughts about the ethical and sustainability dynamics of tourism in Tanzania. Finally share reflects on the impact travel has had on her and offers you a special discount for a “Curious on Tanzania” trip. FULL SHOW NOTES AND DIRECT LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED ARE AVAILABLE HERE. ____________________________________ See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn  See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ____________________________________ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally.  You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

    1h 13m

  3. MAR 10

    Scaling Unbound Merino to a $40 Million Business While Traveling the World as a Digital Nomad with Dan Demsky

    Learn the tactics to start a remote business from scratch and scale it to $40 million/year while traveling the world.   _____________________________ Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.). Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________ In Part 2 of my interview with Dan Demsky, we pull back the curtain and do a deep dive into exactly how he built Unbound Merino from a Kickstarer to an 8-figure global brand. He breaks down the most effective digital advertising strategies and channels that are working today, as well as how to create digital ads that convert today. Dan then describes the evolution of the Unbound Merino clothing line, the launch of the women’s line, and the tactics he used to scale the company to $40 million/year in revenue. He reflects on his CEO leadership style, gives tips on building company culture with a fully distributed team, and explains how he attracts and hires top talent. Dan then gives tips on managing cash flow during periods of rapid growth, approaching business problem solving during periods of high stress, and becoming business partners with personal friends. Next, He talks about how he balances his health, relationships, and digital nomad lifestyle with being productive in a high growth business environment. Finally, Dan shares his vision for the future of Unbound Merino, reflects on what travel means to him today, and offers you a 10% discount on Unbound Merino apparel. SEE FULL SHOW NOTES WITH DIRECT LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED. ____________________________________ See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn  See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ____________________________________ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally.  You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

    1h 1m

  4. MAR 3

    Co-Founding Unbound Merino, Summiting Cotopaxi, and the Value of Stillness with Dan Demsky

    Lean why stillness and connection to nature are so important for a high-performance 8-figure remote business owner.    _____________________________ Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.). Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________ Dan Demsky joins Matt from Buenos Aires for a virtual wine night. He starts off talking about growing up in Toronto, reflects on his early entrepreneurial tendencies, and then tells stories from a life changing trip to Japan. Dan then talks about his passion for travel, his motives for traveling to places like Prague and Buenos Aires, and tells stories from a transformative hike up Cotapaxi in Ecuador. He reflects on the importance of stillness and connecting with nature for high performance entrepreneurs. Dan then takes us on his journey of finding business opportunities, learning about sales, and eventually co-founding the travel fashion brand Unbound Merino. He explains the price to value of Merino wool clothing, breaks down the unique travel-conducive properties of Merino Wool, and the distinct positioning of the Unbound Merino brand. And finally, Dan offers you 10% off Unbound Merino apparel.  FULL SHOW NOTES WITH DIRECT LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED ARE AVAILABLE HERE.  ____________________________________ See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn  See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ____________________________________ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally.  You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

    53 min

  5. FEB 24

    Palestine Solidarity in Greenland, Birthday Parties on the Iron Ore Train, and Protesting the Iranian Regime at the World Cup with Youshita Fathi

    Learn about the “Women. Life. Freedom” protests against the Iranian regime and discovering solidarity in remote places.  _____________________________ Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.). Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________ In Part 3 of this interview, Youshita talks about traveling back to Iran after leaving as a refugee. She explains why she creates her travel content in Farsi and reflects on her last trip back to Iran (including why she can no longer return). Youshita then explains the context for the “Women. Life. Freedom” movement against the Iranian regime, and describes her participation in the protest at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. She talks about the extent of the global media coverage that she received, and the impact of the protest. Youshita then shares stories about finding Palestine solidarity in Greenland, celebrating her birthday on the Iron Ore train in Mauritania, and gives tips on how to integrate more travel into your life if you have a full time job that is not remote. Finally, she shares her perspective on counting countries and reflects on how travel has impacted her as a person and how her view of travel has evolved over the years. FULL SHOW NOTES WITH DIRECT LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED ARE AVAILABLE HERE.  ____________________________________ See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn  See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ____________________________________ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally.  You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

    1h 6m

  6. FEB 17

    A Life-Changing Trip to Balochistan, Afghanistan & Pakistan, and Reflections on Working Locally in 5 Countries with Youshita Fathi

    Hear stories from Balochistan, Afghanistan & Pakistan, and why Youshita wants to travel to every country in the world.  _____________________________ Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.). Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________ In Part 2 of this interview, Youshita talks about her first experience living abroad on her own in London and later moving to Dubai to work as cabin crew for Emirates Airlines. She then talks about her decision to take jobs for 1-3 years at a time in different countries and reflects on living in Dubai, Portugal, Switzerland, Malta and Gibralter. Youshita shares why she loves Spain so much and offers her top recommendations. She then describes her trip to Afghanistan, why it was life-changing, and why it inspired her to travel to every country in the world. Youshita then talks about the month she spent in Pakistan, her experience crossing the land border into Iran, and her stereotype-busting trip through Balochistan. FULL SHOW NOTES WITH DIRECT LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED ARE AVAILABLE HERE.  ____________________________________ See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn  See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ____________________________________ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally.  You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

    57 min

  7. FEB 10

    Visiting Libya in 2025 and Lessons from Growing Up as an Iranian Refugee with Youshita Fathi

    Learn about growing up in Iran, being a refugee in Europe & ethical considerations when traveling to low income areas.  _____________________________ Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.). Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________ Youshita Fathi joins Matt and they start off talking about how they met at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok and connected around their shared human rights activism. Youshita then talks about her recent trip to Jamaica, including both the importance of getting out of the tourist areas and the ethical dynamics of visiting low-income or high-crime areas. Next, she describes her recent trip to Libya in 2025 and why it was so special to her. Youshita then talks about growing up in Iran until the age of 13, and the experience of her family applying for refugee asylum in Europe. She reflects on what that experience taught her about the way refugees are treated, and what she learned from the other refugees she met during that time. Youshita then describes her experience culturally acclimating to Austria as a teenager, confronting stereotypes about Iranians, and later working at an NGO to help religious minorities emigrate from Iran.  FULL SHOW NOTES WITH DIRECT LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUCSSED ARE AVAILABLE HERE.  ____________________________________ See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn  See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ____________________________________ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally.  You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

    50 min

  8. FEB 3

    Evading Bandits in Ethiopia, Eating Japan, and Launching "Asa Tea" with Scott Brills.

    Hear stories from traveling 2,500 miles across India by Rickshaw and driving a “Shoe-Baru” from the UK to Cape Town.   _____________________________ Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.). Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________ In Part 2 of this interview, Scott Brills tells the story of driving from the UK to Cape Town in cars decorated as Chuck Taylor sneakers. He describes his experience getting stuck in Aswan in Southern Egypt, and then evading Bandits in Ethiopia and plowing through a makeshift roadblock. Scott then reflects on doing the “Rickshaw Run” in India 3 times and describes the uniquely rich and immersive experience of traveling 2,500 miles across India in a tuk tuk. Next, he talks about falling in love with Japan and founding his company “Eat Japan” which runs small group tours for people to experience Japanese culture through food. Scott then talks about his distilling and brewing experience and his upcoming launch of his own tea brand, “Asa Tea”. He then offers tips on language learning, as well as business lessons from starting companies in 6 countries. Scott also shares some thoughtful advice on avoiding the pitfalls of voluntourism and the white savior complex. And finally, he reflects on the impact over 2 decades of travel has had on him and what travel means to him today. FULL SHOW NOTES WITH DIRECT LINKS TO EVERYING DISCUSSED ARE AVAILABLE HERE. ____________________________________ See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn  See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ____________________________________ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally.  You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

    1h 1m
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    198 Ratings

    About

    Meet diverse travelers and digital nomads from every continent who share their personal journey to location-independence as well as their reflections on identity, the power dynamics that shape our world, and how we can be more thoughtful, conscious travelers as we move through it.  Hosted by Matt Bowles—your typical Irish-American hip hop DJ turned human rights activist turned location-independent entrepreneur turned minimalist world-traveler and podcaster—these in-depth conversations take place all over the world (often over a bottle of wine, or 2).  Listen in as Matt draws out stories of their most epic adventures, and unpacks the skills, tactics, and strategies they use to build their remote businesses and design their lifestyles. Ranked the #1 Digital Nomad Podcast by Web Work Travel and the Top 1% of all podcasts by Listen Notes, each episode pulls out actionable tips and advice you can implement in your own life each week.  In 2024 The Maverick Show hit the Top 100 on Apple Podcasts and ranked the #1 “Places and Travel” podcast on Apple.

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