Flora Mendoza joins Matt over a bottle of wine in Dakar, Senegal. She reflects on what she loves most about Senegal after spending a month in Dakar, and also shares her experiences traveling through Tunisia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Next, Flora talks about being half Mexican and half Basque, shares her experience growing up in Queens, NY, and reflects on her study abroad experience in Salvador de Bahia in Brazil. She then talks about her journey with music and acting which included studying opera in Italy, being a recurring extra on Saturday Night Live, and spending time with Michael K Williams. Next, Flora talks about her path to becoming a professional political consultant and pollster, and explains how she turned that into a fully remote position and started traveling the world full time. She explains why she prioritizes an understanding of the history and politics of her travel destinations and then talks about her trip to Palestine. Flora and Matt then reflect on the general importance of making distinctions between government policy vs. the individual citizens of a country, and how dominant groups in all societies have the option to side with oppressed groups. Flora then talks about moonlighting as a Jazz singer in Puerto Rico, attending Fidel Castro’s funeral in Cuba, and traveling through Colombia in two different decades. She offers tips on traveling with a relationship partner, solo female travel, and balancing work and travel in different time zones. Matt and Flora then reflect on the beauty of the Basque country. Finally, Flora shares what travel means to her and opens up about the real reason why she continues to nomad and live her life to the fullest. FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: www.TheMaverickShow.com
Hosted by Matt Bowles
221: Moonlighting as a Jazz Singer in Puerto Rico, Attending Fidel Castro’s Funeral in Cuba, and Becoming a Fully-Nomadic Political Consultant with Flora Mendoza
Episode #221: Moonlighting as a Jazz Singer in Puerto Rico, Attending Fidel Castro’s Funeral in Cuba, and Becoming a Fully-Nomadic Political Consultant with Flora Mendoza
Hosted by Matt Bowles
221: Moonlighting as a Jazz Singer in Puerto Rico, Attending Fidel Castro’s Funeral in Cuba, and Becoming a Fully-Nomadic Political Consultant with Flora Mendoza
Episode Summary
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About the Guest
Flora Mendoza
Flora Mendoza is a public affairs professional, political consultant, and semi-professional musician. She has an undergraduate degree from Yale, a graduate degree from NYU and she is a classically trained opera singer, pianist, and flutist who has toured internationally as a performer. She is also an actor and got her SAG membership as a recurring extra on Saturday Night Live. Flora is half Mexican, half Basque, grew up primarily in New York City, and is now a full time digital nomad who has traveled to over 70 countries.
What You'll Learn
- The Importance of Understanding the Historical and Political Context of Your Travel Destinations
- Reflections and Highlights from traveling in the Basque Country
- Tips for both Solo Female Travelers and Nomading with a Relationship Partner
Links From the Episode
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LEARN HOW YOU CAN TRAVEL THE WORLD WITH OTHER REMOTE PROFESSIONALS ON THE “REMOTE YEAR” PROGRAM (Get a $100 Credit for Your First Remote Year Program)
SCHEDULE A FREE VIDEO CONSULTATION ON TURNKEY REAL ESTATE INVESTING WITH MAVERICK INVESTOR GROUP
#1 BOOK THAT FLORA RECOMMENDS
LOCATION WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
WINE SHARED IN THE INTERVIEW
TOP 3 TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
TOP 3 BUCKETLIST DESTINATIONS
MUSICIANS AND ACTORS MENTIONED
- Michael K Williams
- Kelly Clarkson
- Luciano Pavarotti
- Michael Kenneth Williams
- Placido Domingo
- Roberta Flack
- Taylor Swift
- Tommy Torres
OTHER PEOPLE MENTIONED
- Jan D’Osopo
- Gerry Adams
- Martin McGuinness
- Anthony Bourdain
- Fidel Castro
- Frank Owen Gehry
- Miguel Ángel Blanco
REAL ESTATE PROJECTS FLORA WORKED ON IN NEW YORK CITY
VIDEO GAME IN WHICH FLORA WAS CAST:
RESTAURANTS, HOTELS AND CO-WORKING SPACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Akelarre in the Basque Country
- The Gallery Inn in Puerto Rico
- The Third in Senegal
- The Walled Off Hotel in Palestine
TV SHOWS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Yasser Arafat’s Tomb
- The Basque Country
- Botswana
- California
- China
- Colombia
- England
- Europe
- Guggenheim Museum
- Havana, Cuba
- Hawaii
- Ireland
- Palestine
- Italy
- Namibia
- New York City
- Puerto Rico
- Barcelona, Spain
- Tunisia
- United States
- Washington DC
- West Africa
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
CONTACT FLORA
Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[1:47] Flora’s Experience in Dakar, Senegal
[3:48] Fora’s Experience in Tunisia
[6:07] Traveling to Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe
[7:01] Flora’s Parents Background
[10:27] Growing up Half Basque and Half Mexican in Queens, New York
[15:51] Studying Abroad in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
[18:44] Flora’s Musical Journey
[21:36] Flora’s Experience on Saturday Night Live
[23:19] Spending time with Michael K. Williams
[26:18] Becoming a Fully-Nomadic Political Consultant
[30:50] Schedule a Free Consult with Matt’s Company About Buying Turnkey Rental Property
[31:50] Understanding the Historical/Political Context of Her Travel Destinations
[34:04] Reflections on Traveling to Palestine
[36:55] Distinguishing Between Government Policy and Individual People
[40:46] Moonlighting as a Jazz Singer in Puerto Rico
[45:55] Flora Performs a Jazz Number Acapella
[46:42] Attending Fidel Castro’s Funeral in Cuba
[50:37] Reflections on Her Travels Colombia
[53:51] Tips on Nomading with a Relationship Partner
[57:29] “The Third” All-Women’s Co-Working Space and Hotel/Spa in Dakar
[59:06] Doing the “Remote Year” Work-Travel Program as a Couple
[1:00:51] Flora’s Tips for Solo-Female Travelers
[1:03:41] How Flora Balances Work, Travel and Designs Her Lifestyle
[1:06:56] What Travel Means to Flora
[1:08:48] Matt and Flora Talk About The Basque Country
[1:17:26] The Lightning Round
[1:20:15] Contact and Follow Flora
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