Shows
Backpack DigitalFrom The Rockefeller to El CafecitoHayden has finally produced the chat he had with Tony Lloyd from El Cafecito Travel Talks.
After being interviewed on Tony’s podcast, Hayden realised that Tony may in fact be one of the most interesting people in the world - listen in to hear a story of truly following your heart.
El Cafecito Travel Talks can be found on all podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts
Get in touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2020-10-131h 32
Backpack DigitalThey're Serving What for Breakfast?Join Hayden & Cat in Huế, Vietnam, where we talk about where we've been, where we are, and go down many ridiculous rabbit holes and tangents (That's mainly Hayden).
Question of the Week: Where are you now and where would you rather be?
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2019-11-0459 min
Backpack DigitalReturn of the Back(...pack Digital)Join Hayden & Cat in Ha Long, Vietnam, where we talk about where we've been, why we're back and where we are.
Question of the Week: What is your biggest fear about starting up your own thing and not having a 'job'?
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2019-10-281h 13
Backpack DigitalLast Episode of Season 6?Hayden rambles about: Favelas, 30 for 30, traveling as a solo female traveler, and attempts and fails to do a southern American accent. It's Thursday, it's time to chat with Hayden.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2019-04-041h 28
Backpack DigitalCreating Movie MomentsHayden rambles about: Big snails, Little Chef, cheesy romance & a 1988 Renault 9 automatic, in silver.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2019-03-141h 00
Backpack DigitalQ&A in Brazil (Plus Way Too Many Film Recommendations)Hayden rambles about: Portuglish, Mötley Crüe, Brazilian food & the flat earth. It's Thursday, it's time to chat with Hayden.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2019-02-281h 02
Backpack DigitalI Genuinely Miss Gloria. She's Made of Metal but So Was Dio and I Miss Him TooHayden rambles about: The gym, motorcycle nostalgia, cubed to globe & being 'disappointed but hopeful'.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2019-02-1457 min
Backpack DigitalI Was Not Meant to Come to BrazilHayden rambles about: The absolute mission of getting to Brazil, a potential new season where we get people from zero to... travel... (we'll work on the name), and sings to the tune of a popular Wonder/McCartney song.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2019-01-311h 02
Backpack DigitalI Don't Know What I'm Going to Call This EpisodeHayden rambles about: Loads of stuff. It's Thursday, it's time to chat with Hayden.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2019-01-1759 min
Backpack DigitalSolo Travel - What About Meeting People?Hayden rambles about: His old friend Ray who wasn't called Ray, his only nickname ever, the Hayden Lee show, and meeting people while travelling solo It's Thursday, it's time to chat with Hayden.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-12-1350 min
Backpack DigitalNOW That's What I Call Travel Music: Vol 2 (Listener Edition)Hayden rambles about: Travel music suggestions from listeners!
It's Thursday, it's time to chat with Hayden.
List of songs in order: (Spoiler alert)
Judah and the Lion: Suit and Jacket
Brant Bjork: Biker No. 2
Mansun: Wide Open Space
Bully: Milkman
Tsunami Bomb: Dawn on a Funeral Day
NOFX: Lori Meyers
War on Drugs: Red Eyes
Chuck Ragan: Nomad by Fate
Brian Fallon: Goodnight Irene
Death Cab for Cutie: Trasatlanticism
Postal Service: Such Great Heights
Sigur Rós: Untitled #1 (Vaka)
Sigur Rós: Untitled #4 (Njósnavelín)
Xavier Rudd: Follow the Sun
José Gonzalez: Heartbeats
Alex Cruz: Follow the S...
2018-10-181h 18
Backpack DigitalReverse Culture Shock & Looking Towards Season SevenHayden rambles about: England, relationships, Harry Hill, how people write articles, The Hayden Lee Show & doesn't go on about UFC.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-10-0456 min
Backpack DigitalHaving a Bad Day?Hayden rambles about: Bad days, german roads, Sean Connery, & figuring out what to do with your life.
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-09-0655 min
Backpack DigitalHow to Find Adventure: The Hero's JourneyHayden rambles about: Adventure, Star Wars, Melbourne, women on mobility scooters & mindset.
It's Friday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-08-311h 27
Backpack DigitalNOW That's What I Call Travel Music vol. 1Hayden rambles about: Travel songs, hostel friends, making the perfect hostel, travel food, work days & fibre.
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-08-231h 08
Backpack DigitalChanging Your Frame Changes Your WorldHayden rambles about: Beetles, the Belarus border, 'real' travel, eating maggots, microphones, confidence and 'frames'.
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-08-1646 min
Backpack DigitalWalking in Warsaw. Walk...saw.Hayden rambles about: Silent Uber drivers, punk rock, getting back to nature, not being a brazilian beach man, the difference between dreams and goals & reverse culture shock.
It's Friday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-07-2047 min
Backpack DigitalAirport Q&AHayden rambles about: A fly massacre, B*Witched, migration vs. travel, travel videos, & crablets.
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-07-121h 02
Backpack Digital"If You Take that Picture, I'll Shoot You" .. and Other Stories from the RoadHayden rambles about: A bloke and his gun, wanting to marry a Moldovan girl and start a new life as a border crossing officer, Vlad the Impaler, the Transfagarasan, it definitely being the end soon having pain in an unidentified organ, & flashing a masseuse.
Transfagarasan video: https://youtu.be/OtJXL5vYPGM
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-07-051h 06
Backpack DigitalA Walk Through the Windy City (Not Chicago)Hayden is on the move and instantly regrets recording a podcast walking through a city when a storm's a-brewing.
It's Friday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-06-2240 min
Backpack DigitalRelationships, Location Independence & The Afterlife - Listener Q&AHayden answers listener questions, from relationship advice to location independence.
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-06-071h 03
Backpack Digital"What's Best in Life?" -- Travel 'Projects'Hayden rambles about: A new theory about life. And Conan the Barbarian.
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-05-2431 min
Backpack DigitalThe Story So Far — 7 Months Into Solo Motorcycle TravelHayden rambles about: The last seven months on the road & instagram live.
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-05-1748 min
Backpack DigitalListener Q&A with the MotherHayden & his mom, Gail Faith, answer listener questions!
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-04-261h 20
Backpack DigitalWho is Hayden Lee, anyway?Hayden rambles about: This being his least favourite episode, his parents, swiggz, punk rock, authority, wearing lipstick, freedom, & travel apps.
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-04-1938 min
Backpack DigitalReasons not to TravelHayden rambles about: Expletive correspondence, missing family, travel relationships, forming habits, the search for ALL, risk, confidence & introversion.
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-04-1246 min
Backpack DigitalChatting with Jackie Nourse of The Budget Minded Traveler on Our Podcast AnniversariesHayden & Jackie ramble about: Technology, AirBnb, language learning, Sprenchtalianish, how The Budget Minded Traveler and Travel Stories Podcast have changed & authenticity.
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe and celebrating two years of TSP & four years of BMT.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-03-291h 01
Backpack DigitalRider of the Storm: Thoughts on Habits, Rebellion & MusicHayden rambles about: Riding in the wind, jump starting the bike, Street Fighter II, changing your life through habits, removing restrictions, confidence & answers his favourite question.
It's Friday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-03-2349 min
Backpack DigitalPlanes, Trains, and Automobiles: Travel MethodsHayden rambles about: Waking up, planes, trains, automobiles, Create Loud, Van Hayden, American Psycho & working.
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-03-0851 min
Backpack DigitalHow Solo Travel Can Change YouHayden rambles about: The most badass high-five in the world, naked sunbathing, rain, UFC (again) and how solo travel can change you.
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-03-0246 min
Backpack DigitalHayden's Travel Fears (And Why He Doesn't Agree with the Common Ones)Hayden rambles about: The common travel fears and why he doesn’t have them, getting over a fear of flying, panic attacks, being robbed at angry-look-point, losing a leg, authenticity, why he doesn’t use profanity on the show, becoming Jacked Nicholson, the mediocre old future Hayden who forever fuels present Hayden’s life and what his travel fears are.
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-02-221h 01
Backpack DigitalWhat a Way to Make a Living - Sean Whitehead visits TSPHayden and Sean ramble about: Working 9-5 (What a way to make a living), Carnaval, learning a language, first time travel, discipline, traveling on $500, nervous traveling, nervous riding, & the notion of memories > dreams. It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-02-1555 min
Backpack DigitalWorking Class Travel: Let's Get That Trip BookedHayden rambles about: Being ill, being cynical, Russell Brand, the English class system, bikini girls in the Maldives, travel boredom & how you can afford a trip out this year.
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-02-0839 min
Backpack DigitalEat, Pray, Love, Marlon Brando and Pesto: A Look at Travel InspirationHayden rambles about: Hippie markets, chance encounters, naked sea running, travel inspiration, charlie boorman, black sabbath, #vanlife, marlon brando & pesto.
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-02-0145 min
Backpack DigitalNever Mind Travel, Are You Doing What You Love?Hayden rambles about: Oil changes, man work, windy roads, the perfect picture, traditions, doing what you love, kelly clarkson & squash.
It's Thursday (let's just ignore the fact that it's actually Friday), we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-01-2627 min
Backpack DigitalGoing Off Script with New Friend, Irish NeilHayden (& Irish Neil!) ramble about: Controversial bombs, Irish puns, solo travel, the ‘script’ (not the band), materialism, new experiences, saving for travel, ‘want’ vs. ‘need’ & the realities of travel.
It's Thursday (let's just ignore the fact that it's actually Friday), we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-01-1947 min
Backpack DigitalThe Red Jumper Man & The Meaning of LifeHayden rambles about: Rambling, christmas, dropping the bike, losing his cool, building a habit, the meaning of life, ikigai and answers listeners questions.
It's Thursday (let's just ignore the fact that it's actually Friday), we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2018-01-1139 min
Backpack DigitalThinking About Thoughts in the UK's CancúnHayden rambles about: The question “Where are you from?”, homesickness, age, the fear of regret, his ex girlfriend, star wars (no spoilers), expectations, mindset & stepping stones.
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2017-12-2123 min
Backpack DigitalA Look into How You Ramble After Visiting a Hippie CommuneHayden rambles about: The hippie commune, breaking Gloria, Linus' exit, hitchhiking across water, Van Halen, slow travel, travel romance, digital nomad advertisements, underwear, following the 'life script', learning how to talk to people, getting out of a rut & first time travel.
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2017-12-1443 min
Backpack Digital"How Can You Afford to Travel?" - A Look at the Ol' FinancesHayden rambles about: Being working class, the genesis of the podcast, networking, how he became location independent & his monthly wage.
Hayden breaks down: How much it costs to travel forever, how to afford it & how to start.
Hayden rants about: Living a life you don't want to live, society, the 'powers that be' & stolen time.
It's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2017-12-0724 min
Backpack DigitalWhy Riding a Motorcycle is a Metaphor for TravelIt's Thursday, we're checking in with Hayden and his nomadic motorcycle journey through every country in mainland Europe. Hayden rambles about: Freedom, hitchhiking, goats, the riutbag, being nowhere, motorcycle maintenance, orange theft, dropping the bike & slow travel.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2017-11-3034 min
Backpack DigitalHayden's Lessons Learned (The Hard Way) - Part 1How can one man make so many mistakes in such a short trip? Well, how else do you learn lessons? Hayden discusses (rambles around): First aid, stolen wallets, introversion, trusting others, being in the nether-zone and much more.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2017-11-1641 min
Backpack DigitalUnpacking Season FiveCody and Nicole are back to help Hayden as he unpacks season five, discusses his favorite overarching travel themes, highlights his favorite moments of the season, and looks forward to the epic upcoming changes of season six. In this unpacking and season five finale of the Travel Stories Podcast, Hayden is joined again by Cody and Nicole to reflect on the past season of episodes. They discuss their highlights from the past few months and what they thought of their guests and the stories they shared this season.
They also share flashbacks to their favorite moments. You’ll...
2017-06-261h 09
Backpack DigitalS5E13: The Gates of Hell - Rolf Potts: Author | Vagabonder | TravelerHow do you become the traveler you know you can be? What is the first step on the road to travel? Rolf Potts has the answers to these questions in his back pocket, and he’s more than willing to share; in fact, he’s been giving people this advice for years. Rolf is also one of the reasons Hayden himself got into travel, as Rolf and his book, Vagabonding , crystallized what Hayden had been thinking about travel for his whole life until that point. It gave him the push to become the traveler he knew that he could be a...
2017-06-1935 min
Backpack DigitalS5E12: When You’ve Gotta Go - Mark Wolters: YouTuber | Professor | TravelerWhen should one travel? When they are young, while they are unattached and have all the time in the world? When they are middle-aged, and in the thick of their “normal” lives? When they are old, and it seems that all things have passed them by? The answer, of course, is “yes.” An honest “yes” to all of the above, and Mark Wolters knows better than anybody how important it is to be honest. He believes that you should truly travel right now, because you never know what can happen later. If you get a chance, he thinks you should take...
2017-06-1235 min
Backpack DigitalS5E7: Somewhere, Sometime - Yann Ilunga: Polyglot | Podcaster | TravelerHow can I connect with the world around me when I travel? How can I immerse myself in a culture? How can I share my experiences with the world? Yann Ilunga has the answer to each of these questions, and can help guide travelers to their own unique solutions. Yann Ilunga is an entrepreneur, podcaster, consultant, and all-around legendarily cool guy, in Hayden’s own words. He is the person Hayden trusts most with helping start blogs and podcasts, and he visits the Travel Stories Podcast to share his tips, to tell his stories, and to encourages an adventurous li...
2017-05-0132 min
Backpack DigitalS5E5: Lessons from Japanese Vegetables - Amanda Kendle: Not A Ballerina | Thinker | TravelerTravel changes a person. Adapting to an entirely new culture and people not only alters the traveler while they live in that culture, but also changes them irrevocably when they return home. Getting used to the world around you is an important travel step, and one Amanda Kendle is intimately familiar with. Amanda lived in three foreign countries during her twenties, and is the master of slow travel. During her lifetime, she’s developed a travel mentality that can be summed up in one word: “thoughtful.” She fosters the more cerebral aspect of travel, using her thoughts to rationalize and re...
2017-04-1736 min
Backpack DigitalS5E4: The Magic Tree - Derek Loudermilk: Father | Digital Nomad | TravelerCan a traveler have a home base? What does stability mean to an adventurer? Is the push-pull siren call of the two different traveling worlds surmountable? Derek Loudermilk, host of The Art of Adventure, answers all of these questions and more, unprompted and in depth. Derek is a father, a digital nomad, and a traveler who believes in the power of dichotomy and travels with his infant son, Axel. An adventurer and a businessman, Derek seeks to help others who have the elusive dream of becoming location-independent. Between the jungles of Bali, his wife’s nesting abilities, and his lo...
2017-04-1046 min
Backpack DigitalS5E2: Secret Havana - Rachel Rudwall: Explorer | Motivator | TravelerAre you enough? The answer, no matter how you feel in any particular moment, is always a resounding “yes.” Rachel Rudwall believes that every person is “enough” to start an adventure, that stories are born from the unexpected, and that childlike wonder has a place in the life of a traveler. Her optimistic outlook on life and her love of worldwide connections are a breath of fresh air in the travel world. With a travel story from Cuba and a bright personality, Rachel gives us a story and an interview to jumpstart our own travels. Secret Havana Rachel brings a travel...
2017-03-2742 min
Backpack DigitalS5E1: Kinga Philipps - Adventurer | Shark Lover | TravelerWhat does it mean to explore your senses? What does a sense do for a person when they travel? Can you bottle your experiences and bring them home with you? Kinga Philipps, an adventurer currently living in Malibu with a passion for all things aquatic, discusses these points and more with Hayden. The host of The Wild Side with Kinga Philipps on the Travel Channel, Kinga talks mystery, senses, history, and sharks, the last of which she touches on with love and anger. Why Do Humans Travel? Kinga believes that people love mystery, and that they are fascinated by...
2017-03-2038 min
Backpack DigitalUnpacking Season FourIn this season four finale of the Travel Stories Podcast, Hayden is joined by Nicole (his writer) and Cody (his composer) to look back over the season, share outtakes, and talk about the upcoming fifth season. They weave through every episode and discuss what they thought about the guests and the stories, bringing in recaps and flashbacks to the highlights of each episode. You’ll remember this season featured Tom Butler, Sarah Miduski, Tania Aebi, Nate Buchanan, Britany Felix, Frank Salas, Leon Logothetis, Ladan Jiracek, Justin Walter, Cody Crabb, and Mike Corey. The gang shares their favorite episodes and mom...
2017-02-2758 min
Backpack DigitalS4E12: Tom Butler - ‘On the Right Track’Once upon a time, a wise old Jedi claimed that “fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering.” He stopped after suffering, though, so we have to wonder: what does suffering lead to? Is there a chance that suffering can lead to new possibilities? From suffering, there are opportunities for growth, for change, and for evolution. Suffering can be the catalyst for so many qualities necessary in a travel, and, sometimes, all that you need to do to obtain those qualities is to “rough it” when traveling. Tom Butler makes his triumphant return to discuss...
2017-02-2036 min
Backpack DigitalS4E11: Sarah Miduski - ‘Unexpected Wildlife’Knowing that you’re able to travel - able to afford it, able to hop on a plane and end up halfway across the world only hours later - can grant you a kind of appreciation you never realized before. Living in a place where travel is possible, where going on unprecedented journeys is possible, where listening to travel story podcasts is possible, is the ideal travel situation. How can you live a life of possibility, and how can you utilize the life of possibility that you have been given? Sarah Miduski of Obligatory Traveler joins Hayden to talk ab...
2017-02-1335 min
Backpack DigitalS4E10: Tania Aebi - ‘The Fisherman’Solitude, uncertainty, and unpredictable storms (both physical and metaphorical) are circumstances that every single human being experiences during their lifetime. When you have only yourself and a steadfast belief in luck to rely on, it can be difficult to throw yourself into a situation. If you keep moving forward, though, even the impossible can become possible - and this is especially true when you decide to trust in others and let them help you along your path. Tania Aebi is a living example of the truth behind this. In the late 1980s, starting at age eighteen, Tania Aebi successfully...
2017-02-0626 min
Backpack DigitalS4E9: Nate Buchanan - ‘The Cave’Learning how to trust is something only you can teach yourself how to do. It can be one of the most important things that you will encounter during travel, but encounter it you must. Who do you trust in this world, though? Can you trust someone you’ve only known for a matter of seconds? How can you trust that you’re going to make the right decision? Hayden introduces Nate Buchanan of Kara and Nate to help him answer these questions and more. Nate Buchanan is famously from the travel vlog Kara and Nate, being one half of the...
2017-01-3048 min
Backpack DigitalS4E7: Britany Felix - ‘Parisian Roller Coaster of Emotion’Learning how to live a life that is exclusively yours versus the life that you believe you are supposed to live is an essential part of your growth, not just as a traveler, but as a person. Britany Felix has taken a long road to living her life as she wants to, but she has made it all the way to being the person and traveler she wants to be. Her message is to live unconventionally. Britany joins Hayden from Colorado, at the base of the Rocky Mountains. She talks about compromising on settling down when you travel with...
2017-01-1639 min
Backpack DigitalS4E6: Frank Salas - ‘The Cancun Kidnapping Scare’Living on the road is the dream, the goal for many, but not for all. Everybody on the planet Earth is wired differently, and those varied wirings apply to every area of life, including travel. Figuring out how to live on the road, though, is a huge step on the way to learning how you, personally, are wired, regardless of your circumstances. Frank Salas, who prefers the title of The Talented Mr. Salas, joins Hayden to discuss the paths available to becoming an entrepreneur and a nomad like he is. Frank Salas is a serial entrepreneur and a digital...
2017-01-0939 min
Backpack DigitalS4E5: Leon Logothetis - ‘The Ham Sandwich’Allowing yourself to be vulnerable in any situation is not easy, but, in order to make complete connections with others, it can be very necessary. Granting yourself the freedom to be vulnerable gives you a freedom when traveling that is totally unparalleled. Hayden invites Leon Logothetis, an adventurer, motivational speaker, philanthropist, host of the television series Amazing Adventures of a Nobody , and author of The Kindness Diaries , to discuss vulnerability and kindness when traveling. Leon’s twin passions are kindness and helping people nurture their inner rebel.
He and Hayden discuss that inner rebel and how it can b...
2017-01-0226 min
Backpack DigitalS4E4: Ladan Jiracek - ‘Cheating Death and Hitchhiking Africa’Culture is one of the first things you might notice while you travel. While culture shock is a sizable and impactful thing, experiencing other cultures is vital to travel and vital to humanity as a whole. Learning about culture while traveling can help you learn about those that you share the world with, as well as learning more about yourself. Ladan Jiracek visits this week from his own podcast, the Travel Wisdom podcast. He has been to over ninety countries and loves to think about how travel can be a chance to learn. He and Hayden discuss how to...
2016-12-1935 min
Backpack DigitalS4E3: Justin Walter - ‘Letting Go’Travel is quite the ambitious venture. As Hayden says, “to travel is to live.” “The road is the best teacher,” he continues, and he could not be more right; what travelers can learn from their adventures can shape themselves and their lives from there on forwards. The things we learn about the world are not as important as the things we learn about ourselves. The most important question to ask oneself this week is: how does traveling alone affect what travel gives to us? Justin Walter joins Hayden to answer exactly this question. Justin, a television host, producer, writer, and trav...
2016-12-1228 min
Backpack DigitalS4E2: Cody Crabb - ‘The Ambulance Story’When bad things happen, humans, in essence, have two response options: they can worry about it, stress about it, and live in a place of fear, for one. Their second option, though? They can pre-accept that bad situations might happen and live in a place of learning and gratitude instead. It is nearly impossible to stop bad situations from happening, but one thing that can be controlled is the response. Hayden welcomes Cody Crabb, a composer based out of Salt Lake City. He has worked on a number of full-length films, YouTube channels, and shorts, and is currently composing...
2016-12-0534 min
Backpack DigitalS4E1: Mike Corey - ‘Hypothermia in the Desert?’A proverb known around the world is “curiosity killed the cat,” but few know the rejoinder: “but satisfaction brought it back.” The risk that satisfying curiosity brings is well worth the fulfillment that comes from gratifying curiosity. Curiosity, that force that drives the human race in all they do, and has done so since their birth, is the reason behind most human activities: reading, walking, and, of course, traveling. Mike Corey joins Hayden to further explore the topic of curiosity. Mike is a breakdancing marine biologist and travel videographer who declared that he “captures our world with a curiosity that comes...
2016-11-2835 min
Backpack DigitalSeason Three Q&ASeason three has been a roller coaster ride of emotions, from Laura Bingham to Travis Merrigan and everything in between. Of course, Hayden, Cody, and Nicole have to answer for the questions that Hayden has been pushing for the listeners to send in all season, and they come together to do just that in the final episode of season three - the Q&A.
Hayden reads questions from Chris Williams, Pete James, Jan, Lakshmi Prahlad, Tom Griffiths, Billy Chavez, Mike Cowl, and Nikola Nováková. The team answers questions about overcoming a lack of social skills, finding a w...
2016-11-2150 min
Backpack DigitalUnpacking Season ThreeSeason three has been a roller-coaster ride of emotions and adventures. Best of all, it has been a tapestry of stories, featuring a broad range of different types of stories and an in-depth exploration of the art of storytelling. Hayden, Cody, and Nicole arrive to unpack their favorite moments from the past season. Among their favorite standout moments are features from the episodes of Evan Hanson, Laura Bingham, Marissa Brown, Richard Bruschi, and Jeff Baker. A few other mentions belong to Tom Butler and Johannes Koeppel. The crew also talks about standout discussions from the season, including those regarding...
2016-11-1445 min
Backpack DigitalS3E12: Travis Merrigan - ‘River to the Deepest Amazon’Establishing a human connection is the base of the most important things in this world. Hayden shares what he believes to be the three things that best cultivate these connections between separate human beings before he welcomes Travis Merrigan, one of the founders of Grayl, creator of the infamous Grayl Ultralight Purifier Bottle.
Travis Merrigan visits to talk about how excited he is about life and being alive, and how his travels have made him that way. He discusses solo trips, and how awesome that can be for the traveler and their experience. He believes in turning a...
2016-11-0744 min
Backpack DigitalS3E11: Gail Faith - ‘Havisham’s Goonies’Hayden brings on Cody, Nicole, Remy (his sister), and Gail (his mother) to share stories of fear and fright from around the world. Remy visits to talk about the haunting of Havisham Court by the ghostly Elizabeth Parker, who was destroyed by grief while living in that house. In fact, some say you can still see her roaming the grounds of the house, skeletal in her wedding dress. Nicole shares stories from the haunted graveyard in her Massachusetts hometown - the Quaker Cemetery, also known as Spider Gates, the eighth gate of Hell. Cody talks about the friendly, mischievous...
2016-10-3153 min
Backpack DigitalS3E10: Johannes Koeppel - ‘From Russia With Love’There are two types of traveling - solo traveling, and group traveling. Both have their benefits, depending on the person, but neither one can be easy to accomplish. Johannes Koeppel, the CEO of WeTravel, visits Hayden to talk about his website, which helps travelers create and join group trips around the world. Hayden and Johannes also talk about Johannes’ travel experiences and why he wants to travel and give back to the world. They also discuss putting life in perspective, shifting your mindset, spending appropriate amounts of time in other cultures, and how traveling can shape a child’s open...
2016-10-2432 min
Backpack DigitalS3E9: Paul Kortman - ‘Why You Should Never Trust Google Maps’Many people share the same dream - the yearning to sell everything you own, buy an RV, and just drive. Just live, just be, and enjoy the freedom that comes with that nomadic lifestyle. Hayden lived that way as a child, and Paul Kortman lives that way now. He and his family of six live in an RV, traveling around America and Mexico, making Paul a veritable fountain of knowledge and wisdom when it comes to RV-ing. Paul visits Hayden to discuss his digital nomad lifestyle, how he decided not to settle and why he thinks nobody else should...
2016-10-1744 min
Backpack DigitalS3E8: Kristen Sarah - 'Dancing for an Indian King'Spontaneity is one of the most important parts of having a truly incredible travel experience. Going on an adventure means doing things without thinking, damn the consequences; the best thing one can do is trust their gut and do what feels good. It can turn out badly if common sense is not employed, but trusting your gut feeling when opportunity arises can bring the adventures so longed for. Kristen Sarah of Hopscotch the Globe knows a thing or two about spontaneity, and brings her travel experience along for the ride.
Kristen Sarah has a YouTube channel and a...
2016-10-1034 min
Backpack DigitalS3E7: Evan Hanson - 'Two Summits in Seven Days'Adventure travel is only one possible facet of travel, but it is also one of the most exciting. The challenge of adventure traveling - of climbing mountains, of whitewater rafting, of staying alone in the desert - is enough to get any traveler to try it. Evan Hanson, however, is not just any traveler.
Evan Hanson may be sixty-four years old, but he has lived the lives of at least seven men. He has traveled for many, many years, he considers himself a consummate explorer, and he has come to visit Hayden and bring wisdom to share with the world...
2016-10-0344 min
Backpack DigitalS3E6: Tom Butler - 'Without a Paddle'Countless things can go wrong in travel, and even in life. There is no way to stop mistakes from being made and terrible situations from arising; there is, however, a way to control your own response to these mistakes and situations. Tom Butler, a great friend of Hayden’s, has spent many years of travel solving problems, and has a lot of advice to give. Tom is not only a friend of Hayden’s, but also a friend, bus driver, and groupie to Hayden’s band. The two of them discuss living a life of travel, what it means to set...
2016-09-2644 min
Backpack DigitalS3E5: Marissa Brown - 'The Mystical Mayans’Beliefs and rhythm are the common threads that connect people all over the world, from Utah to Chichen Itza, from the ancient Mayans to the modern Americas. Marissa Brown, a Utah, United States native who studies music and enjoys world percussion, comes to Hayden to share the stories that taught her how similar humans of different cultures and times really are. Hayden and Marissa discuss world percussion and the beats that cultures bring to the worldwide table of rhythm. They toy with starting a band, but move on to talking about how music fits in with travel in Marissa’s...
2016-09-1246 min
Backpack DigitalS3E4: Richard Bruschi - 'Finding Myself'Solitude, silence, and peace are craved by many when they are traveling. However, many others desire companionship instead, wanting someone to share their experiences with. Richard Bruschi has a healthy dose of both, but it was solitude that helped him to truly find himself. Richard Bruschi is a writer for Sonderers Magazine, which functions on the idea that everyone has a story, no matter how modest their experience is or unexciting their life is. Everybody has a story, everybody has a life, everybody has thoughts, and that is a beautiful thing; Sonderers operates under that belief. Richard is, as...
2016-09-0538 min
Backpack DigitalS3E3: Chris Duncan - 'Detoxing in Thailand the Wrong Way'Finding the opportunity to travel is a struggle in itself. Finding the chance to also sustain yourself and control your own work life is an even more rare happening. Chris Duncan talks with Hayden about how to have your own mindset shift that can give you a life of travel outside of the corporate ladder. Hayden reminds everyone to contact him or to visit the Travel Stories Podcast website if you would like to send in questions for the end-of-season Q&A if you want your questions answered, and/or if you want to try to win a GRAYL...
2016-08-2934 min
Backpack DigitalS3E2: Jeff Baker - 'Can an Ocean Rise Up from the Desert?'When you reach a certain age, many people think it becomes their job to settle down at home and leave the living to the young people. Jeff Baker is not one of those men. When Jeff and his wife reached that certain age, and they saw their kids doing fun and exciting things with their lives, they said to themselves, “Why can’t we have fun?” So, they gave away most of their belongings, sold their house, and decided to travel while they still could and share their adventures as they went. “It’s like we’re 25 again,” Jeff said of their...
2016-08-2242 min
Backpack DigitalS3E1: Laura Bingham - '7000 Km, No Money, What Now?'Sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith when you travel. Oftentimes, that faith has to be in humanity itself, and in the humans who inhabit the places you are traveling to. Those people are the ones who can make or break your trip - and, sometimes, they are the ones who prove that humanity really is not all that bad.
Laura Bingham visits Hayden and proves to be not only “incredibly fun to talk to,” to quote Hayden, but also incredibly brave and strong in her faith in humanity. Laura traveled from one side of South...
2016-08-1542 min
Backpack DigitalUnpacking Season TwoA behind-the-scenes look at the creation of something you love is always welcome; Hayden wanted to grant you that opportunity in the season two closer. Cody Crabb and Nicole Mello (the musician and the writer, respectively) join Hayden in unpacking the entirety of season two, looking back at funny, inspiring, and memorable moments from past episodes. Featured primarily among them are Guy Earnshaw, Sean Whitehead, Richard Phu, and, believe it or not, Hayden Lee himself.
The three of them also discuss how the scores are created, how the show notes are written, and how each other’s acc...
2016-08-0839 min
Backpack DigitalHTJ008: Wasn't Born To Follow (Hayden's Travel Journal)In this episode of Hayden's Travel Journal, we rejoin Hayden on his motorcycle journey as he enters the mountains in central Vietnam. It's not all easy riding, as Hayden finds out, encountering buses, trucks and realising why everyone said "DO NOT DO THIS JOURNEY" on the research he did before going. The roads are certainly not for everyone, and one small mistake can mean either a devastating accident or a memorable story. Plenty of stories about the views and experiences on this journey coupled with tips about doing this type of travel make this journal entry an interesting instalment. ...
2016-08-0410 min
Backpack DigitalS2E12: Katharine Elliot - 'Angel in Pink'Putting your faith in the universe, and letting your mind and body take over in order to free your soul, can sometimes be essential to traveling. Your adventure may not be complete if you are too aware of yourself. Katharine “Kate” Elliot had an angel in pink tell her she had to learn to let the universe guide her, and that has granted her some of her greatest travel moments. Let Hayden tell you about how some cool stuff that will be going down next week before Kate brings up her book, A Camino of the Soul: Learning to List...
2016-08-0133 min
Backpack DigitalHTJ007: Seeing Sounds in Saigon (Hayden’s Travel Journal)Traveling yourself is vastly different from hearing stories, or seeing pictures, even though those are fine substitutes. However, nothing can pair up to the real thing, a fact Hayden learned for certain while he was in Vietnam. Hayden shares a message from Billy and calls for people to send him messages, and lets us know about his intentions towards Snapchat and Facebook Live while he is traveling in Brazil. He also introduces Cody Crabb, the composer for Travel Stories Podcast, and they discuss scores Cody has done for past episodes, how Cody writes the scores for episodes, and how...
2016-07-2816 min
Backpack DigitalS2E11: Hayden Lee - 'Love on the Ganges'If you change your thinking, you can change your actions. Hayden wholeheartedly believes in this philosophy, and it was this philosophy that led him to trying to never say no. It was his decision to always say yes to adventures that led him to his love on the Ganges. Hosted by Jackie Nourse of The Budget-Minded Traveler, Hayden Lee shares how he started the Travel Stories Podcast, how sharing stories can help bring a place or a feeling to someone who has never experienced it, and how to integrate your travel life with your daily life.
He a...
2016-07-2554 min
Backpack DigitalHTJ006: Shed Your Skin (Hayden’s Travel Journal)Realizing that you may be seen as an ignorant or privileged traveler can be a blow, but if you just put yourself out there and try new things, you can overcome that image in a heartbeat. Hayden does exactly that as he drives in Vietnam, meets a snake “as thick as a Pringles tube, and twice as daunting,” and rowed a boat for a woman who had not taken a break all day. Hayden also has some serious adventures with food, including learning that you can live off just coconuts or just chili water, and finding a variety of Amer...
2016-07-2117 min
Backpack DigitalS2E10: Sean Whitehead - 'Somebody 'Alp' Me'Fear is a paralyzing emotion, but, in the end, it can truly be your best motivator, and Sean Whitehead has firsthand experience with both ends of that double-edged sword. Sean is not only a friend of Hayden’s and the singer of the band that Hayden and previous guest Guy Earnshaw were once in, but he is also an avid traveler. Sean wants to share his story of traveling in the Alps, and how fear, a good friend, and a bar of Snickers got him to the top of a nearly sheer-faced mountain.
First, Sean shares a tal...
2016-07-1838 min
Backpack DigitalHTJ005: 'Good morning, Vietnam!' (Hayden's Travel Journal)Hayden recounts his last day in Bali, and what makes Indonesia such a peaceful place to be, away from the advertisements, money and stress of daily western life. He goes on to Vietnam, meets and has connections with a lot of people that just moments before were complete strangers, and comes to revelations about life in Vietnam compared to other countries. He then gets given the opportunity to do something 'magical'. He doesn't know quite what it is yet, and has to make the decision to trust someone he just met.
Get in Touch with Hayden on In...
2016-07-1411 min
Backpack DigitalS2E9: Richard Phu - 'Am I in the Movie 'Hostel'?'What is the secret to becoming your own Ultimate Man? What is the key to living a life with no regrets? How do you learn to follow your heart over your head? Richard Phu, of The Ultimate Man and the Forge Your Life podcast, comes with answers to these questions, along with questions of his own. How would you describe an ultimate man, and what is your purpose in life? These two are more tangled up than you might think. Richard leads us forth. Richard Phu visits Hayden from Australia, where he is currently working on his online coaching...
2016-07-1136 min
Backpack DigitalHTJ004: Eat, Pray, What? (Hayden's Travel Journal)Hayden’s continued journeys, as recounted by his past self through his travel journal, begin with him being told: “This is where I kill you and tell everyone you were eaten by cow.” Hayden travels to a secret shipwrecked beach, to a place seemingly untouched by civilization. He journeys through a forest filled with monkeys and snakes, and comes to a tropical island, where time ceases to exist. He also finds another island with as many brothels as they are cows and five hundred of those monkey-and-snake-filled forests. After encountering a real-world version of the Hog Wild level of Crash...
2016-07-0706 min
Backpack DigitalS2E8: John Lee Dumas - 'The Golden Palace'What is the key to success? For John Lee Dumas, the one aspect of success that all entrepreneurs share is setting a good, specific goal for themselves. He shares tips and tricks, as well as advice in just getting out there and getting to work. John Lee Dumas, host of Entrepreneur on Fire and author of The Freedom Journal, calls in from Puerto Rico to talk with Hayden. He shares his unique step-by-step process that he details in the Freedom Journal, a guide that helps you to accomplish goals in a set time frame of one hundred days. He...
2016-07-0421 min
Backpack DigitalHTJ003: Cats, Children’s Laughter, and Roosters (Hayden's Travel Journal)Hayden returns with his travel journal, pulling an entry from when he arrived in Bali, Indonesia.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2016-06-3006 min
Backpack DigitalHTJ002: Pay It Forward (Hayden's Travel Journal)When we last left Hayden and his travel journal, he was leaving Queensland for Brisbane, with the intent to catch a plane to Indonesia. With nowhere to be and nothing to his name but what he has on his back, he spent the entire day in Brisbane on foot. It was here that he learned to pay it forward from a busy mother who wanted to do something kind, along with encountering a couple other kind characters who populate this rich, inspiring tale of humanity in Brisbane.
Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2016-06-2305 min
Backpack DigitalHTJ001: Queensland Gold Mining (Hayden's Travel Journal)In a more adventurous and intimate turn, Hayden starts to read straight from his travel journal in the beginning of his Hayden’s Travel Journal series. As Hayden is a notorious journalist, the details and the personality really come through, following him and his journals from gold-mining, to island romances, to biking through Vietnam, and even further beyond. He almost died twice, but lived to tell the tale, here in these podcasts. Hayden is the type to go off-script (or, off-journal, as it were), but he figured, why not share his stories with the world? And this one starts in...
2016-06-1605 min
Backpack Digital5 Travel Tips to Avoid Theft and Scams (Hayden's Travel Tips 008)Everyone has a healthy dose of paranoia when traveling - it can be a very good thing to have, because it means you tend to keep yourself safe. But it can be hard to know how, exactly, to keep your belongings safe from theft and scams. Hayden wants to make sure you stay safe, and that your money and your important stuff stays safe, too. He offers you five travel tips here for avoiding theft and scams while you travel, sharing personal stories and anecdotes and speaking from experience as he does. Your travel stories should never have to...
2016-06-0913 min
Backpack DigitalS2E4: Jen Montague - 'Big Moments in Little China'“No matter what our differences are, or what our backgrounds are, there is always going to be a way for us to cooperate and communicate with each other, which I think is really beautiful, and an amazing part of travel.” Though cultural variations can make it seem like every human has a great deal of differences from another, when it comes right down to it, there is so much everyone has in common. In our world, people actually have a great deal of similarities, and traveling to faraway places and getting to know the area you have traveled to can...
2016-06-0633 min
Backpack Digital6 Tips on Travel Planning (Hayden's Travel Tips 007)Have you ever decided to take a trip and just taken off? Or are you more the type to sit down and plan out every second of your journey before you set foot in an airport? Hayden Lee brings back guest Guy Earnshaw, our pigeon-fearing friend from our last episode, to help him count down six travel tips concerning planning during traveling. The two of them offer unique perspectives - Hayden likes to be able to do things on a whim and have minimal planning, while Guy likes to sit down with a map and make out a plan an...
2016-06-0216 min
Backpack DigitalS2E3: Guy Earnshaw - 'A Cairns Adventure, A Coward's Surprise'Nobody is born with enough experience to fight off the last living dinosaurs - or even a pigeon, for that matter. That experience can only come with age, but even age can not guarantee that a spider won’t make you scream as much as a saltwater crocodile will. Experience and wisdom come with time, but your mindset can make up for a lack of it all. Keeping a positive mindset while you are travelling and while you are snug at home means everything to how you influence your own experience of your world. Both your home world and yo...
2016-05-3031 min
Backpack Digital7 Tips for Flying (Hayden's Travel Tips 006)It’s Travel Tips time again! Today, Hayden gives seven tips on flying. Included among these tips are items like how you really ought to bring a sarong everywhere you go, a special place to sleep underneath Bangkok Airport, and how the person next to you on a flight can really be the best part of the journey. Hayden is also long since over his fear of flying, and knows that different people handle flying and traveling differently, so his tips are as universal as can be. Hayden wants to make sure you know to be the last one on...
2016-05-2613 min
Backpack Digital7 Tips on Experiencing Travel (Hayden's Travel Tips 005)Today's 'Hayden's Travel Tips' takes on the topic of 'Experiencing Travel'. Now I know what you're thinking. How hard is it? You get a flight, you book in at a place and you go out and see what's going on. Right- and that's cool, everyone's got their own way of doing things- but I'm talking adventure. I'm talking wildest dreams. I'm talking "I have to email Hayden because he won't believe this travel story". I hope you guys enjoy these 7 tips on experiencing travel- Put at least one into use and let me know how it goes!
G...
2016-05-1914 min
Backpack Digital4 Tips on Dealing With a Break-Up Whilst Traveling (Hayden's Travel Tips 004)Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2016-05-1309 min
Backpack Digital7 Mindset Tips for Traveling (Hayden's Travel Tips 003)Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2016-05-0410 min
Backpack Digital5 Language Learning Tips (Hayden's Travel Tips 002)Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2016-04-2809 min
Backpack Digital6 Tips on Finding Your Way Around (Hayden's Travel Tips 001)Get in Touch with Hayden on Instagram: @backpackdigital
2016-04-2006 min