Passport Joy Travel Talk

98: Puerto Escondido, Mexico

December 09, 2021

We discovered a slice of heaven down here in Southern Mexico. Wow! What a great spot. Sun, sand, great food options, outdoor adventures, easy to get around, scooter vibe, and...

97: Making Money from Travel

February 09, 2021

We tend to think about the money we are going to spend on a vacation or travel but rarely do we think about the money we can make from our...

96: Roatan, Honduras Live Podcast from the Island

January 12, 2021

Watch the episode filmed in Roatan, Honduras - https://youtu.be/jzJ8mCMQ7ksRoatan is a Caribbean island off the northern coast of Honduras as part of the Bay Islands. It is home to the...

95: Live from Miami Beach, Florida

December 23, 2020

We just had a great week in Miami Beach, Florida soaking up the sun, going out to restaurants and bars, and enjoying the freedoms of travel. We felt like everything...

The Best Time to Book Travel

November 25, 2020

Is this the best time ever to book your travel? Based on my experience, I will tell you why now is the time to make the most of these amazing...

93: Finance Set Up Now for World Travel Later

October 15, 2020

This podcast is all about how to get your finances lined up before taking that big trip around the world. We used this system to travel stress-free for 27 months...

92: Where You Can Travel Now (+ What I Would Do)

September 14, 2020

With the travel restrictions continuing, many are wondering where they can go now. As this is an everchanging list, I am creating my WHAT I WOULD DO NOW list (dreamingly)...

Die with Zero (Spend that Travel Money Now)

August 17, 2020

This week’s podcast is a review of the best selling book, Die with Zero by Bill Perkins. Yes, it aligns with everything I believe in maximizing life experiences over buying...

90: Dave Chappelle Live in a Cornfield in Ohio

July 28, 2020

Title: Dave Chappelle Live in a Cornfield in OhioHaving the chance to watch Dave Chappelle live in Ohio was a no brainer. It is a unique event to see someone...

89: Las Vegas Reopening Trip and I’m COVID Free

June 18, 2020

Las Vegas opened on June 4th and I was there to find out what it was like as the Strip came to life. I also spent time on Fremont Street,...

88: Cathleen Merkel Interview (Legendary Leaders)

April 17, 2020

Cathleen Merkel aims to inspire her audience to take charge and create a fulfilling career and personal life without sacrificing their hard-earned success. I was recently interviewed on her podcast...

87: Convos (Panama, Philippines) during the Crisis

April 15, 2020

During this series of discussions, I am catching up with a wide range of friends from around the world to see how the current crisis is affecting them and their...

86: Convos (Dublin, Italy, Tokyo) during the Crisis

April 11, 2020

During this series of discussions, I am catching up with a wide range of friends from around the world to see how the current crisis is affecting them and their...

85: Convos (Kolkata, Athens, South Africa) during the Crisis

April 08, 2020

During this series of discussions, I am catching up with a wide range of friends from around the world to see how the current crisis is affecting them and their...

84: Convos during COVID (Ecuador, Singapore, Romania)

April 06, 2020

During this series of discussions, I am catching up with a wide range of friends from around the world to see how the current crisis is affecting them and their...

83: Wet Markets + Virus Thoughts (Where to Get Stuck)

March 23, 2020

With all of the uncertainty in the travel world, I wanted to discuss wet markets, the impact on prices, and my top places to be stuck in a pandemic. In...

82: Cebu + Moalboal Philippines (Scuba and Scooters)

March 05, 2020

We loved our time in Cebu, Philippines so much that we canceled a trip to the exotic island of Boracay to spend more time. Having the chance to really get...

81: Philippines (2 Weeks of Adventure Travel)

February 28, 2020

We spent two full weeks getting to know the Filipino way of life visiting Manila, Cebu, and Moalboal. We scootered around the islands having a blast diving off waterfalls, getting...

80: Coronavirus (Back from Asia Travel with COVID-19 Scare)

February 20, 2020

There are a lot of fears about traveling to Asia with the Coronavirus spreading. I discuss my 2-weeks of travel after returning from Asia during the COVID-19 scare. Obviously, this...

79: Young Traveler Advice (Hot List to Start Now)

January 29, 2020

I am asked often by the younger travelers that hope to accomplish big travel goals, where they should begin in their quest to see the world. How to save, what...

78: Travel Photos – 3 Types of Books to Capture Your Vacation

January 24, 2020

Taking memorable photos is a fun part of traveling. What do you do when you return from your trip or vacation with the photos? In this episode, we are going...

77: Big Goals – Our Framework for Accomplishing (Travel + More)

January 02, 2020

Since returning home from the 27-month trip around the world, many people ask us how we went about accomplishing such a big feat. It all started with having big goals...

76: 2020 Hot List for Travel (What’s Matt’s Favorite)

December 13, 2019

We get asked the question all of the time ‘what was our favorite place we visited?’ In this episode, I talk through my top list and where I would go...

75: Bus Ride + Pittsburgh + Season 2

November 27, 2019

Have you used Mega Bus or one of the other big bussing companies in America? I did recently and I tell you all about it. I also discuss our trip...

74: Real ID – Important for Your Travel Plans

November 14, 2019

You may have heard about the October 2020 deadline for the Real ID transition but are you aware of the importance of how it may affect your travels? In today’s...

73: Flying Private (Taking Advantage of Empty Leg Charter Flights)

November 07, 2019

We are talking about flying private with my buddy, Eddie, who recently flew from Phoenix to Las Vegas for cheaper than flying commercial. ‘Empty legs’ are flights that are due...

72: Back Pain Exercises + Back Tips for Vacation (After Major Surgery)

October 23, 2019

After a major back surgery six years ago from chronic back pain, I am now able to travel the world. In this podcast episode, I discuss how I went from...

71: Cricket Star Chris Gayle’s Birthday in Kingston, Jamaica

October 07, 2019

Americans don’t grow up knowing about Cricket (2nd most popular sport in the world), so when I befriended Chris Gayle through social media about a year ago, I had no...

70: National News Coverage (Update Podcast + Small World Stories)

September 12, 2019

It was quite a week with the launch of the photography book POLICE: Brotherhood in Uniform Around the World. Getting featured on Fox & Friends nationally, as well as two...

69: Planning for Weather During Vacations with World Traveling Meteorologist Todd Klaassen

September 05, 2019

The weather can play a huge part in how well your vacation goes. The weather is not predictable, but some have more skills than others. Today we talk with one...

68: POLICE Around the World (Travel Photography Book)

August 27, 2019

This podcast is dedicated to describing the new self-published 180-page photography book POLICE: Brotherhood in Uniform Around the World which showcases police officers encountered during our 800-day journey around the...

67: Long Term Travel Prep Part 3 (Future World Traveler Asks Questions)

August 08, 2019

Helping others achieve their travel dreams is a big part of what I plan to accomplish now that we have returned home. In this three-part series, I talk with a...

66: Long Term Travel Prep Part 2 (Future World Traveler Asks Questions)

August 01, 2019

Discussing travel with other jetsetters is one of our favorite things to do. In this three-part series, I talk with a future world traveler as he has plans to set...

65: Long Term Travel Prep Part 1 (Future World Traveler Asks Questions)

July 25, 2019

We love to be able to share our advice with other travel lovers around the world. In this three-part series, I talk with a future world traveler as he has...

64: Kindness from Strangers (Amazing Humans during our Travels)

July 11, 2019

It is hard to have a clear perspective of the world if you only hear negative stories perpetuated by the mainstream media. Travel does have some dangers, but at the...

63: A Few Lessons Learned (from Long Term Travel)

June 27, 2019

Being able to see the world as we did for 27 months gave us much to ponder as we returned home. In this episode of Passport Joy Travel Talk, we...

62: Live Q&A After 800 Day Journey (Part 2)

June 06, 2019

In Part 2 of the Q&A with Matt’s longtime friend, Mike Polder, in Youngstown, Ohio, we talk about what we would do first if we started the journey over, cannabis...

61: Live Q&A After 800 Day Journey (Part 1)

May 31, 2019

After traveling the world for 27 months, we are back in the United States visiting friends and family. As we make the rounds to a few cities in the midwest,...

60: New Zealand Part 2 (South Island)

May 28, 2019

We heard about the natural beauty of the South Island of New Zealand from travelers around the world. They told us many times about the mountains, hills, lakes, and countless...

59: New Zealand’s North Island (Road Trip Tips)

April 25, 2019

Road tripping through the North Island of New Zealand was more fun than we could have imagined. Taking in all of the beauty with the endless hills, wildlife on the...

58: Fiji Islands (Tips for an Unforgettable Trip)

April 18, 2019

The Fiji Islands are high on everyone’s bucket list for good reasons. With unforgettable snorkeling, world-class hospitality, and gorgeous beaches, you will have the time of your life no matter...

57: Brisbane + Sydney (Living the Australian Life)

April 11, 2019

Spending almost three weeks in Brisbane and Sydney helped us truly understand the ins and outs of Australian life. We enjoyed our time with our two friends, Nick and Kathryn,...

56: Passion Project Updates (Final Weeks of Travel)

March 28, 2019

With only a few weeks left on the 27-month journey around the world, we wanted to take some time to give updates on what the future of our trip looks...

55: Tasmania Travel (Peaceful Australian Island)

March 21, 2019

Tasmania is a gorgeous island state of Australia off the southern coast of the mainland. We wish we could have stayed longer to enjoy the beauty of the wilderness, the...

54: Melbourne, Australia (Travel to the Great Ocean Road)

March 14, 2019

Arriving in Melbourne was exciting as we began our month traveling to a few cities in Australia. The large, beautiful city has a multicultural vibe with a ton of great...

53: Kolkata (Calcutta) India {23 Hours in the City of Joy}

March 07, 2019

We had the chance to spend 23 hours in Kolkata on a long layover from Hyderabad, India to Bangkok, Thailand, so we jumped on it. Based on a relationship that...

52: Hyderabad, India (Indian Wedding + Much More)

February 28, 2019

Having the chance to go back to Hyderabad, India for a wedding of our two friends, Preetham and Spandana, was an unforgettable experience. Not only did we have the opportunity...

51: Why We Love Southeast Asia

February 21, 2019

We have spent plenty of time during our journey in Southeast Asia. We love everything these countries have to offer travelers. The people, food, scooter lifestyle, gorgeous beaches, and affordability...

50: Da Nang, Vietnam (Trip of a Lifetime)

February 14, 2019

Da Nang is a fantastic city in Central Vietnam with a vibrant culture and gorgeous coastline. We have had the privilege of spending 50 days in this city over the...

49: Fast vs Slow Travel (Which is Better?)

February 07, 2019

Is it best to stay in one city for a few days and then hop to the next city or is it better to stay longer to really understand the...

48: India is Incredible (2 Months Traveling 7+ Cities)

January 31, 2019

Having the chance to spend two months traveling to a few different cities in India is something we will always remember about our journey around the world. Seeing the Taj...

47: Saving Money Ideas (Short Trips or Long Vacations)

January 24, 2019

Traveling for almost two years straight now on a budget has made us very smart about how we spend our money. In this podcast episode, we discuss all of the...

46: Travel Myths to Ignore (Early 2019 Travel Plans)

January 17, 2019

People have all kinds of fears about traveling. We attempt to tell the truth on a few of the travel myths that are keeping people from engaging in the experiences...

45: Who We Are, Why We Did It, and Where We’ve Been

January 10, 2019

Matt and Nikki Javit are currently traveling the world full time with just a single backpack each after leaving the US in February 2017. They have been to places like...

44: Vietnam with a Friend (Da Nang, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Quy Nhon)

December 20, 2018

Back in Da Nang where we have fallen in love with the Vietnamese culture and this time to meet a friend from the US. We spent almost two full weeks...

43: Phu Quoc (Fantasy Island of Vietnam)

December 13, 2018

Phu Quoc, Vietnam is an island south of Cambodia and Vietnam. We had the chance to spend 8 fun days there in the heart of the action and on a...

42: Cambodia Travel (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Angkor Wat)

December 06, 2018

Our adventure to Cambodia included celebrating the Water Festival (Bon Om Touk) while in Phnom Penh, discovering the beauty of Siem Reap, and taking in the mystery of Angkor Wat....

41: Beautiful Bali, Indonesia (4 Weeks in Travel Paradise)

November 29, 2018

We had the luxury of spending four fantastic weeks in Bali, Indonesia. It was a location that was highly anticipated on our journey as we heard stories from other travelers...

40: Thankful for Travel (Crazy Stories & Gratitude)

November 22, 2018

We have much to be grateful for this year, so we take some time to run through a few stories and situations that we are thankful for. We talk about...

39: Best Travel Spots for 2019 (Places You May NOT Know)

November 15, 2018

In this podcast episode, we share ideas for your 2019 travel wish list. We are not going to talk about the top 20 travel destinations around the world but focus...

38: Back to Travel Basics (13 Tips to Think About)

November 08, 2018

We have been asked to talk about the idea of taking a few steps back as ‘expert travelers’ and how would we handle traveling if we started over based on...

37: When Traveling Sucks (Things We Hate About Our Journey)

November 01, 2018

We often get asked after telling someone about our journey ‘what is something bad that has happened?’ or ‘what do you miss the most’ or ‘have you been in danger...

36: Singapore and Kuala Lumpur Travel (2 Kinds of Awesome)

October 25, 2018

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Singapore are both great travel destinations that have their own flavor. While staying in the Bukit Bintang area of Kuala Lumpur, we had the chance to...

35: Overtourism (What!?!)

October 18, 2018

Overtourism is a term that is being thrown around a bunch recently as the travel industry has hit peaks in specific locations around the world. Based on our experience, conversations...

34: Thailand Adult Trip (Bars, Night Markets, and an Island)

October 11, 2018

With our sixth trip back to Thailand, we had a chance to explore with our friends that were visiting from the US. It was a fun-filled ten days showing them...

33: World Barber Shop Adventures (Why, How, & What’s Next?)

October 04, 2018

In this podcast episode, we discuss the new docuseries World Barber Shop Adventures. We present how the idea came about, why there is so much passion behind the project and...

32: Japan Travel Part 2 (Sumo Wrestling, Geisha, and the Countryside)

September 27, 2018

Our six weeks in Japan were unforgettable. Getting the chance to see how cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto differ was quite an experience. Mixing in time along the countryside...

31: Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls, and Buenos Aires (Brazil & Argentina)

September 20, 2018

Rio de Janeiro is one of the most spectacular cities in the world. Buenos Aires is one of the most romantic. And, the Iguazu Falls will have you in awe...

30: Machu Picchu and Cusco, Peru (Bucket List Journey)

September 13, 2018

Visiting Machu Picchu is a bucket list travel location for many travelers. It was absolutely a location that we had to see on our journey. While making your trip to...

29: Japan Travel Part 1 (Our First 3 Weeks)

September 06, 2018

Our first three weeks traveling Japan have been unforgettable. Tokyo (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Roppongi), Kobe, Osaka, Koyasan, Nara. There are so many positive things that we will share in this podcast...

28: Chile Travel – Santiago, Valparaiso, San Pedro de Atacama (& Other Beauty)

August 30, 2018

Chile has many destinations that you will want to add to your travel list. Santiago as a mega city but beautiful location, Vina del Mar, and Valparaiso as coastal paradises,...

27: Galapagos Islands (One of Earth’s Most Unique Locations)

August 23, 2018

One of the most unique and untouched places on the planet, the Galapagos Islands, was a bucket list location for us as we set out on our journey. We loved...

26: Estonia to Qatar Night Trip (Reflection of 18 Months)

August 16, 2018

We cannot believe how fast the last 18 months have gone on the road. In this episode, we reflect back on the journey and detail all of the places we...

25: Free Travel with Pet and House Sits (3 Weeks in Zurich)

August 09, 2018

Can you imagine having a free place to stay in amazing places like Paris, Tokyo, or Zurich? It is possible by taking care of pets and watching homes for vacationers...

24: Panama City, Casco Viejo, and San Blas (Sailing Adventure in Panama)

August 02, 2018

Have you ever wanted to discover the islands that look like the ones in the Corona commercials where there is a single palm tree with a small hut? Well, you...

23: Croatia Island Travel (Yacht Week & 2 More Weeks Exploring)

July 26, 2018

There are many ways to see the beauty of the Croatia Islands whether it is with a fantastic company like The Yacht Week or on your own schedule using ferries...

22: Discovering Poland – Warsaw, Krakow, Auschwitz (And a Bit of Bucharest, Romania)

July 19, 2018

Visiting Poland for the first time was educational, entertaining, and a bit heartbreaking. Krakow, Warsaw, and Auschwitz have a history that has been told around the world. Many movies have...

21: Five Greek Islands We Love (with Tips and Tricks) and 4 Books Reviewed

July 12, 2018

We have been fortunate to spend time on five beautiful islands of Greece - Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Corfu, and Aegina. The beauty of these Greek Islands does not stop with...

20: Volunteering During Travel (Voluntourism) & Using WorkAway for Free Stays

July 05, 2018

Have you been a part of volunteering efforts that helped you see different parts of the world? Have you thought about combining your passion for travel with your desire to...

19: Alicante (Spain) and Our Podcast Production Process

June 28, 2018

Alicante is a beautiful city along the southeastern coast of Spain. It has an international airport, excellent public transportation, beautiful public beaches, fun nightlife, and plenty of good restaurants. With...

18: Lisbon, Portugal (Our Second Trip to the Romantic & Festive City)

June 21, 2018

Visiting Lisbon, Portugal for the second year in a row brought us memories for a lifetime. Lisbon is a romantic city that comes alive in June with many festivities. From...

17: Ireland Road Trip – Lush and Luxury (And how we do laundry)

June 14, 2018

We had a wonderful time on our road trip adventure around Ireland. We had a chance to see many of the beautiful locations - Belfast, Giant’s Causeway, Old Bushmills Distillery,...

16: Sicily and Isle of Man (2 Very Different Island Experiences)

June 07, 2018

We had the chance to visit two unforgettable island locations in Europe in a two-week span. Spending time in Sicily, Italy with friends gave us an opportunity to understand the...

15: Gap Year Travel (What’s the best age to travel the world – 20’s? 30’s? 40’s?)

May 31, 2018

Do you have a desire to travel long term? We did. The question comes up often if we wish we would have made our adventure in our 20’s or early...

14: Early European Travel Highlights (Amsterdam, Vienna, Budapest…)

May 24, 2018

We are in the early stages of our time in Europe for the spring and summer. In this podcast episode, we talk about our time in Munich, Amsterdam, Jena, Prague,...

13: Traveler’s Guilt (Making Sure You Do You)

May 17, 2018

You only get so much time to RELAX and enjoy yourself when on vacation or holiday. TRAVELER’S GUILT can creep in because you want to do EVERYTHING that you have...

12: Hong Kong Travel Tips (and how we decide Where is Next)

May 10, 2018

HONG KONG took us by surprise! We really did not know what to expect and then it turned out being better than we could have imagined. In this Podcast Episode,...

11: Vietnam Travel (and Location We Hated during our World Tour)

May 03, 2018

We have now visited Vietnam on two different trips totally over 6 weeks. We break down the reasons why we love visiting Da Nang, Saigon, Hanoi, and Nha Trang. We...

10: Financial Travel Tips, Same Outfits, Indian Food (and Annoying Photo Bombing)

April 26, 2018

This is a very informative episode full of great MONEY SAVING TIPS for all of you travelers out there! We will talk about FINANCIAL tools we use during our travels;...

9: Medical Travel Advice (and Watching Sports on the Road)

April 19, 2018

Nikki discusses the importance of TRAVEL INSURANCE, what it is and why you should get it. We also talk about what great travel insurance policies should cover and certain limits...

8: In LOVE with Bangkok (and a Visit to the Hospital)

April 12, 2018

We talk about all of the reasons that we love spending time in BANGKOK, Thailand. This being our fourth trip to the always-active city, gave us a chance to live...

7: Travel Technology (Life Made Easy With These Hacks)

April 05, 2018

We go in a few directions in this episode. We start by covering many of the technologies and electronics we use to help us navigate the complexities of traveling full...

6: Skyping with a Billionaire and Wood-Fired Pizza (Ask to Receive)

March 29, 2018

JUST ASK! Sometimes asking for a favor or reaching out to someone you don’t know is tough. Matt talks about how he SKYPED WITH A BILLIONAIRE after sending a cold...

5: Staying Safe on the Road (Matt Gets Left at Sea)

March 22, 2018

Being safe and secure is the primary concern when traveling anywhere around the world. We discuss how safe it is to leave the US and what precautions you can take...

4: South Africa: A Guys’ Trip Heaven (Couples Welcome Too)

March 15, 2018

Traveling back to South Africa for the second time in only two years was Nikki’s idea but it became Matt’s playground as they hiked the mountains, went to a safari,...

3: Crying Babies, Guinea Pigs, and Narcos: How We Stay Around the World

March 08, 2018

Where do we stay as we travel around the world? How do we keep our costs to a minimum with our accommodations? In this episode, we discuss the differences between...

2: What’s in Our Bag, What We Miss, and Do We Get Sick of Each Other?

March 01, 2018

2: What’s in Our Bag, What We Miss, and Do We Get Sick of Each Other? How can you possibly pack for over two years on the road with...

1 : How We Made this CRAZY Decision! (The Who-We-Are Episode)

February 21, 2018

How could we possibly leave our amazing careers and awesome lives to live out of a single backpack? In this episode, you will find out more about who we are...

0 : The Launch Episode (We did it!)

February 15, 2018

In this Launch Episode, we (Nikki and Matt Javit) give a high level of who we are and what we did. We discuss what we plan to cover in our...