{"podcast":{"title":"Whereabouts Tales | Stories of Belonging and Immigrant Experiences","slug":"whereabouts-tales-stories-of-belonging-and-immigrant-experiences-7144981","podcast_index_feed_id":7144981,"rss_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/fe6afdfc/podcast/rss","website_url":"https://www.whereaboutstales.com","image_url":"https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/staging/podcast_uploaded_nologo/42584247/42584247-1752127550745-9b2eab05efe95.jpg","author":"Paul Puscas | Stories of Belonging and Cultural Exploration","episode_count":75,"summary":"Whereabouts Tales shares the real stories of immigrant experiences, belonging, and global journeys from expats, returnees, and cultural explorers. I'm diving into life between worlds unpacking identity, transformation, and what it means to belong. Each episode is a conversation about chasing dreams, navigating change, and discovering yourself far from home. Tune in for raw, thoughtful, and inspiring journeys across borders. 🎧 New episodes every 2 weeks | 🌍 Real people. Raw stories. Remarkable paths.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-23T06:20:22.667896+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/whereabouts-tales-stories-of-belonging-and-immigrant-experiences-7144981"},"episode":{"title":"3 Years, 80+ Countries: The Solo Traveler's Journey","slug":"3-years-80-countries-the-solo-traveler-s-journey","published_at":"2026-03-25T13:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/whereabouts-tales-stories-of-belonging-and-immigrant-experiences-7144981/3-years-80-countries-the-solo-traveler-s-journey","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/whereabouts-tales-stories-of-belonging-and-immigrant-experiences-7144981","url":"https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paul-puscas/episodes/3-Years--80-Countries-The-Solo-Travelers-Journey-e3gs001","audio_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/fe6afdfc/podcast/play/117358017/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-2-23%2F420605045-44100-2-e8132bd9b140a.mp3","summary":"Good evening, or whenever you're tuning in! I'm thrilled to bring you a truly special episode today, one that moves beyond typical expert advice to deliver a profound experience. I recently stumbled upon Carl's story on Reddit, where his 'Ask Me Anything' post captivated me: 'I'm 33, a man, and I traveled the whole world the last three years (85+ countries).' I knew immediately I had to invite him to share his incredible journey. Carl, an Austrian, embarked on a nearly three-year solo adventure. What struck me first was his refreshing honesty about how he afforded it: openly discussing 'privilege,' meticulous saving for over a decade, and clear priorities (06:11). I particularly resonated with his point about understanding the immense privilege of an Austrian passport and the ease of travel we often take for granted (09:25). His journey wasn't just about seeing places; it was about choosing experiences over possessions, giving up his apartment and belongings – a truly frightening leap of faith (14:13). His impulsive travels through South America, Asia, and Central Asia were filled with natural wonders and cultural immersion. He recounts booking a flight to Rio on a whim (16:55), or hiking through Nepal, asking villagers for a place to sleep without prior bookings (38:53). But Carl also sheds light on the often-unspoken realities of long-term travel, including profound loneliness, even when surrounded by people (22:35). The emotional drain of constantly forming and dissolving friendships truly made me think. From Bali’s digital nomad bubble and unexpected culinary delights (48:26) to infrastructure challenges in the Philippines and the overwhelming kindness of strangers in Kazakhstan, Carl encountered it all, often shattering his own prejudices (53:05). A profound takea…","meta_description":"Good evening, or whenever you're tuning in! I'm thrilled to bring you a truly special episode today, one that moves beyond typical expert advice to delive…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":6302,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/whereabouts-tales-stories-of-belonging-and-immigrant-experiences-7144981/episodes/3-years-80-countries-the-solo-traveler-s-journey/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/whereabouts-tales-stories-of-belonging-and-immigrant-experiences-7144981/3-years-80-countries-the-solo-traveler-s-journey.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}