Episode #125: Fifty Countries in Six Years: Reflections on Genocide, Couchsurfing, Work-Travel Programs and Dating as a Nomad with Lauren Carey

Episode Summary

Lauren Carey takes us on her journey growing up in Boston and then quitting her corporate job at age 27 to travel the world. Despite having no family or friends that were international travelers, she reflects on her decision to get a one-way ticket to Thailand to teach English. She then shares her path to becoming a full time digital nomad and living in 50 countries over the next 6 years. Lauren explains how she documented her entire journey on her blog “Girl Gone Abroad” and built her personal brand on Instagram along the way. She shares her experiences couch-surfing through Turkey, solo-traveling through Siem Reap Cambodia, and the emotional impact of learning first-hand about the Cambodian genocide from family members of those who were killed. Lauren then shares her experience joining the “Wifi Tribe” and traveling the world with a work-travel community. She also reflects on her experiences dating both locals and other travelers, and shares her tips and advice on dating as a nomad. She then offers her tips for solo-female travelers and, finally, reflects on why she continues to travel and what travel means to her. Full Show Notes Available at: www.TheMaverickShow.com

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Lauren Carey

Lauren Carey is a location-independent content creator, world traveler and founder of the blog GirlGoneAbroad.com. Since leaving her commercial real estate job in Boston in 2014, she has been working remotely while traveling the world and has now been to over 50 countries. She documents her journey on her blog and on Instagram were she has over 33,000 followers. Lauren has been featured in Oprah Mag, Buzzfeed, Elle, Huffpost, GQ, Vogue, Airbnb, Time Out, and Forbes.

What You'll Learn
  • How to Get Free Accommodations through “Couchsurfing” and Housesitting
  • Reflections and Tips on Dating as a Digital Nomad
  • Advice for Solo-Female World Travelers
Links From the Episode

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WORK TRAVEL PROGRAMS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

WEBSITES LAUREN USES FOR FREE ACCOMMODATIONS WHILE TRAVELING

#1 BOOK LAUREN RECOMMENDS

#1 PERSON WITH WHOM LAUREN WANTS TO HAVE DINNER

TOP 3 FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

TOP 3 BUCKET LIST DESTINATIONS

LOCATION WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE

WINE CONSUMED DURING IN THIS EPISODE

PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

CONTACT AND FOLLOW LAUREN

Time Stamped Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

[2:00] Matt and Lauren Talk About Where They Are and the Wine They are Drinking

[5:06] Matt Talks about Street Art in Madrid

[9:39] Matt and Laruen Talk about Jericoacoara, Brazil

[14:10] Growing Up in Boston, Studying Abroad and Wanting to Travel

[19:02] Deciding to Quit her Job and Buy a 1-Way Ticket to Thailand

[24:56] Becoming a Full Time Digital Nomad and Traveling to 50 Countries

[28:01] Building her Blog and her Personal Brand on Instagram

[29:42] Lauren’s Experience “Couchsurfing” through Turkey

[35:54] Lauren’s Experience Solo-Traveling in Siem Reap, Cambodia

[40:25] Matt and Lauren Reflect on the Cambodian Genocide

[44:53] Lauren’s Experience Traveling with the “WiFi Tribe” Work-Travel Program

[47:47] Matt and Lauren Reflect on the Value of “Community” in Work-Travel Programs

[51:34] Lauren’s Experiences and Reflections on Dating as a Nomad

[1:04:48] Lauren’s Tips on Solo-Female Travelers

[1:09:05] What Travel Means to Lauren

[1:10:32] The Lightning Round

  • #1 Book Lauren Recommends
  • #1 Person with whom Lauren would like to have dinner
  • #1 Piece of advice Lauren would give to her 18-year old self
  • #1 Travel hack Lauren recommends
  • Top 3 Favorite Travel Destinations
  • Top 3 Bucket List Destinations

[1:16:00] Contact and Follow Lauren