“One way of making famous landmarks more comprehensible is to look for surprises, good and bad, that go beyond what you are expected to encounter there, details that open you up to the raw imperfections of the encounter itself.” –Rolf Potts
In this episode of Deviate – which is a redo of episode 229, which didn’t air properly due to technical problems – Rolf and The Vagabond’s Way book club participants discuss how to break out of standard tourist routines and see places in unexpected way (1:30); how to get beyond the transactional, “taxi drivers and bartenders” layer of travel (10:00); how to become more independent of technology and smartphones as a traveler and find the “wisdom of place” (16:00); and the travel photos Rolf wishes he had taken when vagabonding 20 years ago (23:00).
Discussion moderator Luke Richardson is a traveler, author, and DJ based in England.
Notable Links:
The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.
Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.
How underground exploration is the perennial frontier of adventure travel
Honeymoon without her husband: Maggie Downs’ uncommon world journey
The win-win of being a mentor, with Cal Fussman and Alex Banayan
Why a “Shelter in Place Film Festival” beats bingeing video right now
Using your travel skills to make quarantine life better: An open chat
Reports from my travels in quarantine: A Deviate Season Two coda
Life changing travel experiences, quarantine edition: Paris and Prague
How COVID-19 will transform the business of long-term world travel
What fear is, how it works, and how to manage it (with Eva Holland)
On losing one’s parents to COVID-19: A traveler-report addendum
How COVID-19 will transform airports (and other pandemic considerations)
Why the way we discuss (and interpret information about) COVID-19 matters
What it’s like to travel during COVID-19: Reports from around the world
How Nomadic Matt got COVID-19. Plus: Reports from stranded travelers
How to make sense of health data in a time of pandemic (and beyond)
How to enhance your career by becoming a better public speaker and reader
On sabbaticals: How to take a career break without breaking your career
Ari Shaffir and Rolf do a deep-dive on the finer points of indie travel
Remembering Nirvana, and how music can frame experience (and memory)
How music affects you when you’re young (or, the joys of Jane’s Addiction)
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Concrete Pastures Podcast
The Atlas Obscura Podcast
Points Talk with the Travel Mom Squad
Exploring the National Parks
Point Me To First Class