{"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":"8 Months to the Middle East: T.E. Lawrence's Path Revisited #0050","slug":"8-months-to-the-middle-east-t-e-lawrence-s-path-revisited-0050","published_at":"2025-12-19T15:00:01+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/whereabouts-tales-stories-of-belonging-and-immigrant-experiences-7144981/8-months-to-the-middle-east-t-e-lawrence-s-path-revisited-0050","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/8-Months-to-the-Middle-East-T-E--Lawrences-Path-Revisited-0050-e3cib3n","audio_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/fe6afdfc/podcast/play/112847415/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-11-18%2F414658968-44100-2-9e6fdbea4b53a.mp3","summary":"In this episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Wells Jones, a man whose life story is nothing short of an epic adventure. Wells, along with his partner Miles Spencer, embarked on an audacious journey in 2006, retracing T.E. Lawrence's path through the Middle East. What truly captivated me wasn't just the destination, but the sheer, mind-boggling preparation that went into it. Imagine spending eight months preparing for a trip through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria – not as soldiers, but as civilians, in the volatile post-9/11 era. Wells shares how they had to draft wills, secure international kidnap and ransom insurance, and even undergo specialized conflict and risk assessment training (04:05), led by a former SAS major who once guarded Princes Harry and William. It's truly a testament to their commitment! Their adventure was a fascinating blend of historical exploration and cutting-edge (for 2006!) technology. I was absolutely amazed to hear about their Motorola Razr phones, a satellite phone that doubled as a weapon (07:39), and their Panasonic Toughbook – which I promptly Googled – powered by a roll-out solar panel. And get this: they even had a Broadband Global Access Network (BGAN) terminal for *satellite internet in the desert* (13:34)! This wasn't just a trip; it was a self-contained, high-tech expedition into the unknown. Beyond the gear, Wells shares deeply personal encounters: the chaotic border crossings at gunpoint (20:57), the surprising welcome from Saudi citizens, including Prince Khalid bin Faisal himself, who apologized for 9/11 (26:44). But the most profoundly moving moment for me was hearing about their driver, Mahmoud, a Palestinian whose visceral hatred for Israel was palpable during a tense checkpoint encounter (36:35), and the raw, tearf…","meta_description":"In this episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Wells Jones, a man whose life story is nothing short of an epic adventure. Wells, along with his par…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":5849,"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/8-months-to-the-middle-east-t-e-lawrence-s-path-revisited-0050/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-7144981/8-months-to-the-middle-east-t-e-lawrence-s-path-revisited-0050.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}