From calamari and patatas bravas on the Costa Brava to poolside chicken fingers in Surfside Beach and from pomme frites in Amsterdam to, wait, more chicken fingers (???), this episode is as varied and delicious as the Shady Maple breakfast smorgasbord*  (IYKYK).  

Episode 2 of our 6 part Year in Review answers all those burning questions like "did frugal Trav really drop $500+/night on a hotel?", "if so, did Trav pass out immediately after hitting book on said hotel?", "what's it like inside a Mexican sweat lodge?", and "how easy is it to find your wallet if it gets buried in the sand in a seaside town in the Netherlands?".  

Stories abound, so hit play and enjoy!

For the 9th year, we are back with our 6 part Year in Review, starting with 2024 travel stats.  How many places did we sleep last year?  Did we spend multiple nights on an airplane (unfortunately, yes).  What new places did we visit?  And how many total miles did we travel in 2024?  All these answers, and more, in this jam packed episode.

Today, I'm joined by one of the smartest people I know and a crypto early adopter, Francis Tapon.  He gives you a great "crypto for beginners" primer, discusses what he thinks the future holds (hint: it's a more rational viewpoint than most TikTok talking heads), and discusses why he thinks crypto is such a game changer for travelers and people who want to lead life on their own terms.

After living there for the past 10 (!!!) years, Jason shares what life as an expat is like in Norway, why he moved there in the first place (hint: ❤️), the reserved nature of Norwegians and if it's a warranted stereotype and of course, his favorite Norwegian foods.

We also discuss the challenges and rewards of living in a different culture, the difficulty of understanding cultural references, the importance of shared background in creating a sense of belonging, and the impact of social media on cultural awareness.

In this episode, Travis and Jason discuss their dream travel itineraries for various types of trips - including solo trips, family trips, friends trips, and a "snap your fingers" trip, where you get to spend just one day anywhere in the world (and you'll never guess where Trav chooses). 

Heath Padgett, former broke newlywed and now parent and RV entrepreneur, discusses visiting all 50 states in the US while working various jobs, how traveling with kids compares to a "nested life" in Colorado (and it's probably not what you expect), and his experience with Boundless Life, which offers a blended lifestyle of travel and community for families in various countries around the world.

What do red berry G&T's, El Jefe, the Northern Lights, and elementary school field trips have in common?  Those, plus 20 other things, are all things we were (unexpectedly) thankful for in 2024.  Have a listen - and let us know on instagram @extrapackofpeanuts what you are thankful for in 2024.