Erica Hackman takes us on her journey growing up in the U.S, studying abroad in Doha, Qatar, and subsequently returning 20 times to see friends. She also shares her experience teaching English in Cambodia, rural Thailand, and Busan, Korea. Erica then talks about her experience living in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, traveling in Tunisia, and then living in rural Zambia and working with a non-profit organization there. She opens up about her personal journey and reflections on the power dynamics and moral complexities surrounding international aid, voluntourism, and the white savior complex. Erica then talks about marrying her Ghanaian husband, raising their son between Ghana and the U.S., and she gives tips on traveling internationally with very young kids. She then talks about her professional trajectory of meeting New York Times bestselling author “Nomadic Matt” Kepnes, getting hired by him to run The Nomadic Network (TNN). Erica explains what makes the TNN tours unique and special and shares some of the upcoming TNN itineraries. Finally, she shares a story about how she personally may be responsible for the Priority Pass airport lounge guest limit, and then reflects on what travel means to her. Full Show Notes Available at: www.TheMaverickShow.com
Episode #236: Black Tie Galas in Ghana, Living in Rural Zambia, 20 Trips to Qatar, and Running The Nomadic Network with Erica Hackman
Episode Summary
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About the Guest
Erica Hackman
Erica Hackman is a purposeful traveler & connector who’s spent 5 years living in the Middle East, Asia, the Caribbean & Africa. She runs The Nomadic Network, a company founded by New York Times best-selling author Nomadic Matt Kepnes, whose team she joined over a decade ago. The Nomadic Network takes small groups of like-minded travelers to destinations all over the world ranging from Costa Rica to Romania to Jordan to Tanzania. Itineraries are designed to take you beyond the typical tourist traps and immerse you in the true culture of each destination, so you get to explore unique neighborhoods as well as meet – and dine – with locals. Erica has traveled to over 40 countries and she and her husband are currently raising their two year old son primarily between New York and Ghana.
What You'll Learn
- Some of the Ethical Complexities Around International Aid and Voluntourism in Africa
- How The Nomadic Network Organizes Unique and Special Travel Experiences
- Tips on Traveling Internationally with Very Young Kids
Links From the Episode
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JOIN ERICA AT CAMP INDIE
CHECK OUT THE NOMADIC NETWORK TOURS
#1 BOOK THAT ERICA RECOMMENDS
#1 PERSON WITH WHOM ERICA WANTS TO HAVE DINNER
- Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram (@FullyRawKristina)
TOP 6 TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
TOP 3 BUCKET LIST DESTINATIONS
LOCATIONS WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Africa
- Asia
- Buenos Aires
- Cambodia
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Europe
- Ghana
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Middle East
- Kilimanjaro
- New York
- Qatar
- Romania
- Rome
- Dakar, Senegal
- Serengeti
- Tanzania
- The Caribbean
- Tunisia
- UAE
- Zambia
OTHER PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Becky Gillespie
- Dani Dirks
- Sharon Rosenberg
- Ivy Xu
- Travis Sherry
- Nora Dunn
- Ray Blakney
- “Nomadic Matt” Kepnes
CONTACT ERICA
Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[2:49] How Matt and Erica Met at an NFT-gated Black Tie Gala in Accra, Ghana
[14:47] Studying Abroad in Qatar and Teaching English in Cambodia, Thailand and Korea
[18:02] Living in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Zambia and Costa Rica
[19:38] Erica’s experience in Qatar and Why She Goes Back Every Year
[26:35] Erica’s experience in Tunisia
[28:33] How to Buy Turnkey Rental Properties in the Best U.S. Markets from Anywhere
[29:33] Erica’s experience in Zambia
[34:13] International Aid, Voluntourism and the White Savior Complex in Sub-Saharan Africa
[43:49] How Erica is Raising Her Son Between the U.S. and Ghana
[47:15] Erica’s Tips on Traveling Internationally with Very Young Kids
[50:21] Meeting “Nomadic Matt” Kepnes and Getting Hired on The Spot
[53:45] Running “The Nomadic Network” (TNN)
[55:08] What Makes the TNN Tours Unique and Special
[59:06] Matt and Erica Discuss Highlights from Tanzania
[1:03:07] What Travel Means to Erica
[1:06:44] How Erica May Be Responsible for The Priority Pass Lounge Guest Limit
[1:10:25] The Lightning Round
[1:14:45] How and Why to Attend “Camp Indie” with Erica
[1:16:37] Follow and Connect with Erica and Learn About Her Tours
