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Take a profound and distant journey. Call it Deep Travel, Immersive Travel, Slow Travel, or Vagabonding. Francis Tapon guides you to the intersection of travel, technology, and transformation. The podcast will compel you to go beyond your comfort zone. Occasionally, you‘ll also delve into the misunderstood world of cryptocurrencies.
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
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https://FrancisTapon.com
4 days ago
4 days ago
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Episode #5 of 5 with Sym
Sym Blanchard and I talk about families and free will.
Sym Blanchard has a 36-year-old daughter and a 38-year-old son. He is estranged from his daughter, but has a close, positive relationship with his son. I ask:
- What is the hardest time to raise children?
- Why does Sym struggle to get along with his daughter and yet gets along great with his son?
- Free Will vs. Environment?
I mention Dr. Isabelle Morsley's book, They're Not Gaslighting You.
Timeline
00:00 Estranged daughter
05:15 Francis's disconnected brother
08:00 We overestimate our free will
21:00 Personality disorders
23:00 Advice to snap out of it
27:00 Dunning–Kruger effect
30:00 Sym's travel plans
More from Sym
If you enjoy this philosophical episode, listen to the dozen episodes with Sym Blanchard!
In 2025, I catch up with one of the most remarkable 72-year-olds you'll ever meet, Sym Blanchard!
This page features five episodes starring Sym.
Listen to all the episodes featuring Sym Blanchard since 2018!
- A 66-year-old Adventurer Shows How To Live A Meaningful Life in 2018 (one of the top 5 most popular WanderLearn episodes!)
- Traveling To Find One's Ancestors in 2019
- Near Death on the CDT + Sym's 60-Year Love Story in 2020
- Nine Shows Sharing Travel Wisdom Featuring Sym Blanchard in 2022
- Unstoppable 70-year-old Adventurer Sym Blanchard in 2023
Connect
Send me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTapon
You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.com.
If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!
On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:
Sponsors
1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon
2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!
3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM! Use code LR32K
4. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.
5. Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!
6. In the United States, I recommend trading cryptocurrency with Kraken.
7. Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!
8. For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.
4 days ago
4 days ago
ALERT! My podcast has moved! Take action to keep getting my podcast!
The fact that you're getting this podcast means that your podcast player has updated my podcast!
Substack is now my podcast host, not Podbean.
That means Substack is delivering my podcast to you, but if you're getting this episode, that means you're still getting my podcast from Podbean, which I'm canceling tomorrow!
Therefore, in your podcast player, add my new RSS feed. Copy and paste my RSS feed into your podcast player. Here's my NEW RSS feed:
https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/6569364.rss
If you click on that link, you'll get an incomprehensible page.
So just highlight it, copy it, and paste it into your podcast player.
If you're unsure, ask an AI how to do it. Perplexity can help or use ChatGPT.
I don't want to lose any subscribers, so please make the transition for me!
Thank you!
Now enjoy this episode....
Episode #4 of 5 with Sym
Sym Blanchard explains the benefits of tracing your genealogy.
Why We Gravitate to Extraordinarily Accomplished People.
At the end of the episode, I mention my epic Cosmic Chain article.
If you enjoyed this episode, listen to a dozen episodes featuring Sym Blanchard!
Connect
Send me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTapon
You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.com.
If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!
On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:
Sponsors
1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon
2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!
3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM! Use code LR32K
4. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.
5. Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!
6. In the United States, I recommend trading cryptocurrency with Kraken.
7. Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!
8. For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.
4 days ago
4 days ago
ALERT! My podcast has moved! Take action to keep getting my podcast!
The fact that you're getting this podcast means that your podcast player has updated my podcast!
Substack is now my podcast host, not Podbean.
That means Substack is delivering my podcast to you, but if you're getting this episode, that means you're still getting my podcast from Podbean, which I'm canceling tomorrow!
Therefore, in your podcast player, add my new RSS feed. Copy and paste my RSS feed into your podcast player. Here's my NEW RSS feed:
https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/6569364.rss
If you click on that link, you'll get an incomprehensible page.
So just highlight it, copy it, and paste it into your podcast player.
If you're unsure, ask an AI how to do it. Perplexity can help or use ChatGPT.
I don't want to lose any subscribers, so please make the transition for me!
Thank you!
Now enjoy this episode....
Episode #3 of 5 with Sym
Sym Blanchard and I have a lively discussion about a variety of topics. In this episode, we have an informal discussion. Think of you eavesdropping on a debate between long-time friends.
Yes, I talk over and interrupt Sym throughout the conversation, which is "unprofessional" for a typical interview. Again, this is meant to be a natural, fast-paced conversation. If you love it, great. If you hate it, listen to my other 350 podcasts, which are not like this one.
00:00 Te Araroa
09:40 Koreas uniting
14:00 Shakespeare
Listen to a dozen episodes with Sym Blanchard!
More about Sym
In 2025, I catch up with one of the most remarkable 72-year-olds you'll ever meet, Sym Blanchard!
This page features five episodes starring Sym.
Listen to all the episodes featuring Sym Blanchard since 2018!
- A 66-year-old Adventurer Shows How To Live A Meaningful Life in 2018 (one of the top 5 most popular WanderLearn episodes!)
- Traveling To Find One's Ancestors in 2019
- Near Death on the CDT + Sym's 60-Year Love Story in 2020
- Nine Shows Sharing Travel Wisdom Featuring Sym Blanchard in 2022
- Unstoppable 70-year-old Adventurer Sym Blanchard in 2023
4 days ago
4 days ago
ALERT! My podcast has moved! Take action to keep getting my podcast!
The fact that you're getting this podcast means that your podcast player has updated my podcast!
Substack is now my podcast host, not Podbean.
That means Substack is delivering my podcast to you, but if you're getting this episode, that means you're still getting my podcast from Podbean, which I'm canceling tomorrow!
Therefore, in your podcast player, add my new RSS feed. Copy and paste my RSS feed into your podcast player. Here's my NEW RSS feed:
https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/6569364.rss
If you click on that link, you'll get an incomprehensible page.
So just highlight it, copy it, and paste it into your podcast player.
If you're unsure, ask an AI how to do it. Perplexity can help or use ChatGPT.
I don't want to lose any subscribers, so please make the transition for me!
Thank you!
Now enjoy this episode....
Episode #2 with Sym
Listen to a dozen podcasts featuring the elder adventurer Sym Blanchard!
In this episode, Sym Blanchard and I discuss geopolitics and Bitcoin:
00:00 Israel and Gaza
10:00 Ukraine War
16:00 Coming Recession
19:40 Bitcoin
Connect
Send me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTapon
You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.com.
If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!
On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:
Sponsors
1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon
2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!
3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM! Use code LR32K
4. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.
5. Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!
6. In the United States, I recommend trading cryptocurrency with Kraken.
7. Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!
8. For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.
4 days ago
4 days ago
ALERT! My podcast has moved! Take action to keep getting my podcast!
The fact that you're getting this podcast means that your podcast player has updated my podcast!
Substack is now my podcast host, not Podbean.
That means Substack is delivering my podcast to you, but if you're getting this episode, that means you're still getting my podcast from Podbean, which I'm canceling tomorrow!
Therefore, in your podcast player, add my new RSS feed. Copy and paste my RSS feed into your podcast player. Here's my NEW RSS feed:
https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/6569364.rss
If you click on that link, you'll get an incomprehensible page.
So just highlight it, copy it, and paste it into your podcast player.
If you're unsure, ask an AI how to do it. Perplexity can help or use ChatGPT.
I don't want to lose any subscribers, so please make the transition for me!
Thank you!
Now enjoy this episode....
Episode #1 with Sym
In 2025, I catch up with one of the most remarkable 72-year-olds you'll ever meet, Sym Blanchard!
This page features five episodes starring Sym.
Listen to all the episodes featuring Sym Blanchard since 2018!
- A 66-year-old Adventurer Shows How To Live A Meaningful Life in 2018 (one of the top 5 most popular WanderLearn episodes!)
- Traveling To Find One's Ancestors in 2019
- Near Death on the CDT + Sym's 60-Year Love Story in 2020
- Nine Shows Sharing Travel Wisdom Featuring Sym Blanchard in 2022
- Unstoppable 70-year-old Adventurer Sym Blanchard in 2023
Is Veganism & Osteoporosis Linked?
You'll want to watch the video because it's the only part of this podcast series with Sym that I filmed in 2025.
Timeline
00:00 Introducing Sym
04:00 Reversing Aging
08:50 Veganism and osteoporosis
19:45 Testosterone creams on your genitals
22:00 Aging advice
25:00 Dating Lessons
There is evidence linking veganism and osteoporosis, though the relationship is nuanced and influenced by diet quality and nutritional adequacy.
-
Increased Risk with Poorly Planned Diets: Multiple extensive studies and systematic reviews have found that vegans—especially those consuming diets low in calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, protein, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids—tend to have lower bone mineral density (BMD) and an increased risk of both osteoporosis and bone fractures compared to omnivores. This elevated risk has been observed in major cohort studies, such as the EPIC-Oxford study, which reported a significantly higher risk of fractures among vegans even after adjusting for body mass index and lifestyle factors 27.
-
Nutritional Deficiencies Matter: The increased risk is primarily attributed to common deficits in key nutrients critical for bone health, such as calcium, vitamin D, and B12, which are less prevalent in plant-based foods unless supplemented or fortified. Protein intake is also sometimes lower in vegan regimens, which can further impact bone strength.
-
Well-Planned Vegan Diets & Positive Outcomes: Recent research shows that a "well-planned" vegan diet—emphasizing adequate intake of calcium, vitamin D, B12, protein, and other bone-related nutrients (often through fortified foods or supplements)—does not significantly increase the risk of osteoporosis compared to omnivorous diets. Some studies have found that a healthful, plant-based diet may even reduce the risk of osteoporosis due to increased intakes of bone-protective nutrients like vitamin K, magnesium, and antioxidants, as well as because such diets tend to produce a lower acid load, which may reduce bone resorption.
-
Physical Activity Modifies the Risk: There is also evidence that resistance exercise (such as weightlifting or strength training) can improve bone strength in vegans, potentially offsetting some of the increased risk associated with plant-based diets.
-
Summary Table: Veganism and Osteoporosis Risk
| Type of Diet | Bone Health Risk Factors | Osteoporosis/Fracture Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Unbalanced vegan | Low calcium, D, B12, protein, zinc, omega-3s | Increased fracture/osteoporosis risk |
| Well-planned vegan | Supplemented/fortified nutrients, diverse plant foods | Similar risk as a balanced omnivorous diet or slightly reduced risk |
| Omnivorous | Generally, a higher intake of bone-critical nutrients | Standard baseline risk |
Key takeaways:
-
Vegans who do not carefully plan their diet are at higher risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
-
With mindful planning and supplementation, a vegan diet can support good bone health.
-
Ensuring sufficient calcium, vitamin D, B12, protein, and engaging in regular weight-bearing exercise are crucial for vegans to minimize their risk of osteoporosis.
Sponsors
1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon
2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!
3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM! Use code LR32K
4. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.
5. Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!
6. In the United States, I recommend trading cryptocurrency with Kraken.
7. Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!
8. For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.
Friday Oct 24, 2025
Friday Oct 24, 2025
Alert! If you're still receiving this, consider switching to my Substack podcast, where all new episodes are now available!
Add this RSS feed to your Podcast player:
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Watch the PREVIOUS episode on YouTube!
Watch THIS episode on YouTube!
TIMELINE
00:00 AI Computational Approach
13:00 Decoding Voynich
19:30 Hoax?
21:00 Could women have written it?
26:15 What to ask the manuscript's producer
27:00 How do we know we've cracked the code?
30:00 Reconsidering Voynich
Egyptian hieroglyphics confounded Egyptologists for centuries until the discovery of the Rosetta Stone.
The Voynich Manuscript is another old text that has perplexed experts since its discovery about 600 years ago.
Dr. Robert H. Edwards specializes in investigating the biggest mysteries of the 20th century. I interviewed him on the 100th anniversary of George Mallory's death. I interviewed him again after we found Mallory's climbing partner's foot. Spoiler: We still don't know whether they reached Everest's summit.
The other mystery Edwards investigated was D. B. Cooper, who stole $200,000 and disappeared after skydiving.
Now, Edwards turns his analytical brain to the world's most mysterious manuscript: the Voynich Manuscript.
Voynich Reconsidered: The Most Mysterious Manuscript in the World is Dr. Edwards's attempt at decoding this headache-producing document. If you think James Joyce's Finnegans Wake is hard to decipher, try the Voynich Manuscript!
Here is my interview about the Voynich Manuscript with Dr. Edwards:
Excerpts from Voynich Reconsidered
The parchment for these four folios was most probably produced sometime in the first half of the fourteenth century.
Who wrote the Voynich Manuscript?
Nobody knows. Edwards debunks the idea that Roger Bacon authored it:
D’Imperio devoted considerable effort to the study of the supposed link between the manuscript and Roger Bacon. She could not have known that the Voynich parchment would eventually be submitted to radiocarbon technology and that the samples would be dated, with up to 92 percent probability, to periods ranging between 1308 and 1458. Therefore, she could not have known that Bacon, who lived in the thirteenth century, would be excluded as the author of the manuscript, or at least as its producer or as one of its scribes.
Is the Voynich Manuscript a hoax?
Before we embark on our own voyage of investigation of the Voynich manuscript, we must consider the alarming possibility that it is a journey to nowhere. That is to say: it may be that the manuscript cannot be translated or deciphered because it has no intrinsic meaning. For want of better words, we must consider that the manuscript could be a hoax or a forgery.
What's the Voynich Manuscript about?
There is an “herbal” section, consisting of 129 pages and thereby comprising more than half of the book.
The astronomical, cosmological, and astrological sections are short. Edwards is "tempted to group them together into a 'cosmic' theme, occupying thirty-one pages."
The Voynich manuscript invites, for those who are so disposed, the insertion of a preconceived narrative. In this respect, it bears comparison with the notorious proliferation of narratives relating to the man who came to be known as D.B. Cooper, and his hijacking of Northwest Airlines Flight 305 on November 24, 1971.
Do we know what the Voynich Manuscript's message is?
For many years, the mission controllers at NASA resisted demands for another photographic targeting of the “Face. ” Finally, they relented. In 2001, the Mars Global Surveyor took the first new image of the object, at a much higher resolution than that of the Viking. It was revealed to be an eroded mesa with a pleasing symmetry, and certainly with gulleys and hollows that conveyed elements of a human face. Whether that is the end of the story, the reader may decide. This author is content for the mesa to be the product of erosion, by wind or by water, and not the work of ancient Martians, however much we would like it to be so. Likewise, determined researchers of the Voynich manuscript can find, within its cryptic and inscrutable pages, that which they wish to find
Conclusion
I loved Dr. Edwards's other two books (Mallory & Cooper). Although I liked this one about the Voynich manuscript, it's such an inscrutable and inaccessible document that I found it challenging to stay engaged.
Moreover, I don't understand why some people believe that old documents are worth much more than their historical value. Religious texts are helpful because they reveal the values and ideas of the past, but are often utterly wrong, especially when it comes to scientific facts. Even when they're not mistaken, they're often incomplete. A modern botanist knows far more about plants than a 14th-century writer.
Some fans of the Voynich manuscript seem to believe that if we can somehow decode it, we'll learn a mind-bending revelation. I doubt it.
Other fans, including Dr. Edwards, find the Voynich manuscript fascinating for the same reason people are drawn to Sudoku or a crossword puzzle: it's fun to solve a mystery even if it yields little practical benefit.
If you're drawn to puzzles and the Voynich manuscript, you must buy the Voynich Manuscript and then read Voynich Reconsidered: The Most Mysterious Manuscript in the World. You're guaranteed to learn countless remarkable facts about the manuscript in Dr. Edwards's splendid and thorough analysis.
For others, I'd first start by reading Dr. Edwards's other two books, which are more accessible than this one.
Verdict: 7 out of 10 stars.
Connect
Send me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTapon
You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.com.
If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!
On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:
Sponsors
1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon
2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!
3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM with its unlimited hotspot & data that never expires! Use code LR32K
4. Or get 5% off when you sign up with Saily, another global eSIM with a built-in VPN & ad blocker.
5. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.
6. Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!
7. In the United States, I recommend trading cryptocurrency with Kraken.
8. Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!
9. For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.
Friday Oct 17, 2025
Friday Oct 17, 2025
Egyptian hieroglyphics confounded Egyptologists for centuries until the discovery of the Rosetta Stone.
The Voynich Manuscript is another old text that has perplexed experts since its discovery about 600 years ago.
Watch this episode on YouTube to see nonstop images of the book itself!
Dr. Robert H. Edwards specializes in investigating the biggest mysteries of the 20th century. I interviewed him on the 100th anniversary of George Mallory's death. I interviewed him again after we found Mallory's climbing partner's foot. Spoiler: We still don't know whether they reached Everest's summit.
The other mystery Edwards investigated was D. B. Cooper, who stole $200,000 and disappeared after skydiving.
Now, Edwards turns his analytical brain to the world's most mysterious manuscript: the Voynich Manuscript.
Voynich Reconsidered: The Most Mysterious Manuscript in the World is Dr. Edwards's attempt at decoding this headache-producing document. If you think James Joyce's Finnegans Wake is hard to decipher, try the Voynich Manuscript!
Here is my interview about the Voynich Manuscript with Dr. Edwards:
Video
Excerpts from Voynich Reconsidered
The parchment for these four folios was most probably produced sometime in the first half of the fourteenth century.
Who wrote the Voynich Manuscript?
Nobody knows. Edwards debunks the idea that Roger Bacon authored it:
D’Imperio devoted considerable effort to the study of the supposed link between the manuscript and Roger Bacon. She could not have known that the Voynich parchment would eventually be submitted to radiocarbon technology and that the samples would be dated, with up to 92 percent probability, to periods ranging between 1308 and 1458. Therefore, she could not have known that Bacon, who lived in the thirteenth century, would be excluded as the author of the manuscript, or at least as its producer or as one of its scribes.
Is the Voynich Manuscript a hoax?
Before we embark on our own voyage of investigation of the Voynich manuscript, we must consider the alarming possibility that it is a journey to nowhere. That is to say: it may be that the manuscript cannot be translated or deciphered because it has no intrinsic meaning. For want of better words, we must consider that the manuscript could be a hoax or a forgery.
What's the Voynich Manuscript about?
There is an “herbal” section, consisting of 129 pages and thereby comprising more than half of the book.
The astronomical, cosmological, and astrological sections are short. Edwards is "tempted to group them together into a 'cosmic' theme, occupying thirty-one pages."
The Voynich manuscript invites, for those who are so disposed, the insertion of a preconceived narrative. In this respect, it bears comparison with the notorious proliferation of narratives relating to the man who came to be known as D.B. Cooper, and his hijacking of Northwest Airlines Flight 305 on November 24, 1971.
Do we know what the Voynich Manuscript's message is?
For many years, the mission controllers at NASA resisted demands for another photographic targeting of the “Face. ” Finally, they relented. In 2001, the Mars Global Surveyor took the first new image of the object, at a much higher resolution than that of the Viking. It was revealed to be an eroded mesa with a pleasing symmetry, and certainly with gulleys and hollows that conveyed elements of a human face. Whether that is the end of the story, the reader may decide. This author is content for the mesa to be the product of erosion, by wind or by water, and not the work of ancient Martians, however much we would like it to be so. Likewise, determined researchers of the Voynich manuscript can find, within its cryptic and inscrutable pages, that which they wish to find
Conclusion
I loved Dr. Edwards's other two books (Mallory & Cooper). Although I liked this one about the Voynich manuscript, it's such an inscrutable and inaccessible document that I found it challenging to stay engaged.
Moreover, I don't understand why some people believe that old documents are worth much more than their historical value. Religious texts are helpful because they reveal the values and ideas of the past, but are often utterly wrong, especially when it comes to scientific facts. Even when they're not mistaken, they're often incomplete. A modern botanist knows far more about plants than a 14th-century writer.
Some fans of the Voynich manuscript seem to believe that if we can somehow decode it, we'll learn a mind-bending revelation. I doubt it.
Other fans, including Dr. Edwards, find the Voynich manuscript fascinating for the same reason people are drawn to Sudoku or a crossword puzzle: it's fun to solve a mystery even if it yields little practical benefit.
If you're drawn to puzzles and the Voynich manuscript, you must buy the Voynich Manuscript and then read Voynich Reconsidered: The Most Mysterious Manuscript in the World. You're guaranteed to learn countless remarkable facts about the manuscript in Dr. Edwards's splendid and thorough analysis.
For others, I'd first start by reading Dr. Edwards's other two books, which are more accessible than this one.
Verdict: 7 out of 10 stars.
Connect
Send me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTapon
You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.com.
If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!
On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:
Sponsors
1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon
2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!
3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM! Use code LR32K
4. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.
5. Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!
6. In the United States, I recommend trading cryptocurrency with Kraken.
7. Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!
8. For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.
Thursday Oct 09, 2025
Thursday Oct 09, 2025
Hrish Lotlikar of the Superworld app interviewed me in 2025.
Watch the video on their channel
You might enjoy it. Here's what the Superworld Channel wrote:
What if you could leave behind the corporate grind and explore the world—without a trust fund? That’s precisely what Francis Tapon did. After earning an MBA from Harvard and working in Silicon Valley, he walked away from it all to spend five years traveling through every country in Africa and 3.5 years exploring Eastern Europe.
In this episode of Building a Better World with Hrish Lotlikar, Francis shares:
✅ The biggest misconceptions about "dangerous" countries and why most are safer than you think
✅ How he picked up 3,000 hitchhikers across Africa and what it taught him about humanity
✅ Why leaving behind a traditional career was the best decision of his life
✅ His top strategies for traveling on a budget—without sacrificing incredible experiences
✅ What his upcoming book, The Unseen Africa, reveals about the world’s most misunderstood continent
🌍 Want to see the world differently? Don’t miss this conversation!
Connect
Send me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTapon
You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.com.
If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!
On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:
Sponsors
1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon
2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!
3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM with its unlimited hotspot & data that never expires! Use code LR32K
4. Or get 5% off when you sign up with Saily, another global eSIM with a built-in VPN & ad blocker.
5. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.
6. Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!
7. In the United States, I recommend trading cryptocurrency with Kraken.
8. Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!
9. For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.
Friday Oct 03, 2025
Friday Oct 03, 2025
It's part 2 of 2 of my conversation with Dr. Johnny Hanson! His 2025 book, Living with Lynx: Sharing Landscapes with Big Cats, Wolves and Bears, is a nuanced analysis of the complex topic of rewilding.
Watch the Video of this Podcast
Timeline
00:00 Myths
04:00 What surprised Hanson?
06:00 The hardest to co-exist with
12:00 Paradox of Tourism
18:00 Recommendations
In this two-part interview (this is part 2), we discuss the pros and cons of reintroducing apex predators in areas where they have gone extinct.
Can we co-exist with this megafauna?
If we live with lynx, what will happen?
What do you think we should do?
Video #1: Introducing Jonny Hason
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9. For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.