The Joys Of Solo Travel — And How To Take The Best Trip Ever

Summary

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Podcast Summary

Am I Doing It Wrong? (HuffPost)

Episode: The Joys Of Solo Travel — And How To Take The Best Trip Ever

Date: May 28, 2026

Hosts: Raj Punjabi Johnson & Noah Michelson
Guest: Jessica Nabongo, author of Catch Me If You Can

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the anxieties and joys of solo travel, exploring why it's worth trying, how to do it well, and how to overcome the major concerns and challenges that keep people from doing it. Jessica Nabongo, famed for visiting every country in the world, shares stories, practical tips, and fresh perspectives to help listeners plan and enjoy their own solo adventures. The episode moves from mindset and first steps to money-saving tips, safety strategies, dealing with loneliness, and recommendations for top solo destinations.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Why Solo Travel? (03:16–04:14)

• Jessica's Elevator Pitch: Solo travel strengthens problem-solving and adaptability and lets you do whatever you want—“Solo travel just allows you to be more of who you are.” (Jessica, 03:31)
• Freedom and instant itinerary changes are solo travel advantages—plans can shift at a moment’s notice based on local tips.

2. Jessica’s Journey: First Experiences and Lessons (04:29–09:08)

• Starting Young: Traveling was routine in her family; her first solo trip was from the US to Europe, dealing with lost luggage and language barriers (“I survived. And I was like, my friend ended up meeting me later and I was like, if I could survive that, I can survive anything.”—Jessica, 06:23).
• Biggest Lesson: Most people are good. “At the end of the day…people are good. People want to help you…even if they don’t even speak the language.” (Jessica, 08:00)
• She believes moving through the world with positive energy opens doors.

3. Solo Travel Doesn’t Have to Mean International (09:17–10:32)

• Road trips across the US are rewarding—even in perceived “red states” and less diverse areas, kindness and connection prevail.
• Real-world interactions break down stereotypes and reveal shared humanity.

4. Getting Started: Baby Steps and Picking a Destination (10:32–13:34)

• Training Wheels: Start with solo outings in your own city—dinner, movies, museums—then try short, local trips.
• Pick destinations where you feel comfortable and safe, and ideally where you speak the language the first time.
• Don’t wait for a perfect, expensive trip; travel within your “today” budget.
• “If you want to stay at the Four Seasons... and you can’t afford it, don’t not go. Find something you can afford today…live now.” (Jessica, 13:09)

5. Research & Spontaneity Balance (14:14–15:34)

• Jessica prioritizes knowing where she’ll sleep the first night and often arranges airport transfer ahead (“I like a little sign with my name on it…” 14:37).
• She may reserve top restaurants but leaves room for magic and local discoveries.
• The hosts recommend planning one activity daily, then leaving afternoons open for serendipity.

6. Packing & Practicality (16:06–17:52)

• Jessica: “I’m a chronic overpacker. I don’t feel bad. I am packing a bag… I’m team checked bag.” (16:22)
• Don’t stress about forgotten items—“you’re going to a place where other humans live.”
• Trust in human kindness if you need help; learning to rely on strangers is part of the adventure.

7. Technology, Language, and Embracing Vulnerability (17:52–20:25)

• Tech (translation apps, etc.) helps but can reduce direct human connection.
• Jessica encourages struggling through conversations and using body language: “There’s a beauty in trying to communicate as humans without using technology.” (18:53)
• Vulnerability, even awkwardness, leads to memorable interactions (“Just try. Connect. That’s the thing I never want to lose.” —Noah, 20:06)

8. Money-Saving & Planning Tips (20:39–24:06)

• Don’t exchange money ahead of time; best rates are at ATMs. Use bank accounts that waive ATM fees abroad (Jessica uses Charles Schwab).
• Leverage credit card points and airline alliances.
• “Chase the deal, not the destination”—sign up for fare alert services like Thrifty Traveler Premium and The Flight Deal for discounts.
• Treat travel savings like a monthly bill: “After six months, you’ve got $800 or $900 right there. That gets you a round trip ticket to a lot of places.” (Co-host, 23:47)

9. Dealing with Loneliness & Self-Invention (27:05–29:51)

• You can reinvent yourself while traveling solo; even adopt a “character” for fun.
• Best way to meet people: sit at the bar, talk to bartenders/other solo guests.
• “What’s the worst that can happen? …Sometimes you were like, relax…But I’m not going to…let them dampen my experience.” (Jessica, 29:51)
• Don’t let one negative or discriminatory encounter ruin your whole trip.

10. Connection, Compliments, and Making Friends (32:54–35:01)

• Compliments are great icebreakers: “Easy to just compliment someone and then just use that as an opening…” (Jessica, 33:30)
• Curiosity and asking questions help bridge differences—focus on common ground.

11. Safety—Context, Research, and Intuition (35:01–39:08)

• Adapt dress and behavior to local cultural contexts, especially in conservative places.
• “If you don’t like it, do not visit. But you have to [adhere to local norms].” (Jessica, 35:51)
• Listen to your intuition—don’t ignore bad vibes or warning feelings.
• For queer travelers, research openly queer-friendly destinations and don’t put yourself at unnecessary risk.

12. Street Smarts & Scams (39:48–43:56)

• Don’t obsessively read about scams before you go; street smarts and preparation matter more.
• Use crossbody bags, don’t carry your passport daily, minimize valuables.
• Accept that, as a tourist, you might pay more in markets: “That’s your contribution to the economy…imperialism…” (Jessica, 43:30)
• Learn to let minor annoyances or extra costs go rather than letting them sour your trip.

13. Top Three Solo Destinations (44:08–45:33)

• Kenya: Easy, safe, diverse activities (safari, food, beaches).
• Vietnam: Very affordable, safe, good for hostels or luxury, great food.
• USA: Underappreciated for travel, plentiful national parks and cities for solo road trips.

Bonus: Most Beautiful Places in the US: Utah, Maine, South Dakota (45:38–45:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Solo travel just allows you to be more of who you are.” (Jessica Nabongo, 03:31)
• “Most people are good. People want to help you…even if they don’t even speak the language.” (Jessica Nabongo, 08:00)
• “If you want to stay at the Four Seasons… and you can’t afford it, don’t not go.” (Jessica Nabongo, 13:09)
• “If I could survive that, I can survive anything.” (Jessica, 06:23, on her fraught first solo trip)
• “You can be anybody [when you travel].” (Jessica, 27:19)
• “Listen to your intuition…If it says don’t go down that street, turn around immediately.” (Jessica, 36:21)
• “Chase the deal, not the destination.” (Jessica, 21:34)

Time-Stamped Highlights

• 03:31 — Jessica’s elevator pitch for solo travel
• 04:54 — Jessica recounts her first solo trip: lost luggage, language barriers, and learning resilience
• 08:00 — Lesson that most people are good
• 10:59 — “Go to dinner by yourself in your city” as baby step
• 13:09 — Advice to travel within your means and “live now”
• 16:22 — Jessica’s packing realism and ‘team checked bag’ stance
• 18:53 — Human interactions vs. technology in communication
• 20:52 — Money-saving travel tips (ATM fees, flight deals)
• 27:19 — Creating a character to overcome solo travel loneliness
• 33:30 — “A compliment…is the easiest way to start talking to somebody”
• 35:51 — “You are a guest…you will adhere to local norms and customs”
• 36:21 — The importance of intuition and listening to gut feelings
• 43:30 — “That’s your contribution to the economy…imperialism”

Top Five Takeaways ("Better in Five" section, 47:54)

1. Start slow: Try solo activities close to home first. (47:59)
2. Choose comfort for first trip: Start where the language and culture feel familiar. (48:07)
3. Don’t over-research—leave room for magic. (48:15)
4. Scams can happen anywhere—use street smarts and limit valuables. (48:23)
5. Be vulnerable: Start conversations, give compliments, and connect with strangers. (48:38)

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Final Thoughts

Solo travel isn’t about getting it perfect—it’s about allowing for growth, surprises, and connection, both with new places and new people. The episode encourages listeners to push past anxiety, be smart but not fearful, start small, and trust in the kindness and curiosity shared by travelers all over the world.

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Transcript

[Narrator/Host]

48 million people in the United States are adolescents between the ages of 14 and 24. They're working, parenting, leading, sometimes all at once.

[Jessica Nabongo]

I'm balancing work and being a mom at the same time, and I'm still on track to graduate with my Bachelor's next year.

[Narrator/Host]

So what do today's young people need to truly thrive? Tune in to Good Things from Lemonada Media to hear the six part Thrive series.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

It's smart to always have a few financial goals and a really smart one. You can set earning cash back on what you buy every day. And with Discover you can get this Discover automatically matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. Seriously, all of it. And we trust you to make smart decisions. After all, you listen to this show. See [e-mail] creditcard Amazon Health AI presents

painful thoughts why did I search the Internet for answers to my cold sore problem? Now I'm stuck down a rabbit hole filled with images of alarmingly graphic source in various stages of ooze. I can clear my search history, but I can never unsee that.

Don't go down the rabbit hole.

[Jessica Nabongo]

Amazon Health AI gets you the right care fast.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

Healthcare just got less PA.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Hi, I'm

[Noah Michelson]

Raj Punjabi Johnson, Head of identity content at HuffPost.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

And I'm Noah Michelson, head of HuffPost Personal.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Welcome to Am I Doing It Wrong?

[Noah Michelson]

The show that explores the all too

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

human anxieties we have about trying to

[Noah Michelson]

get our lives right.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Hi Raj.

[Noah Michelson]

Hi.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

My question today for you is are you doing solo travel? Wrong. Are you doing solo travel at all?

[Noah Michelson]

I'm definitely doing it wrong and I'm definitely doing it okay. I actually love a little solo trip. Before I was in a serious relationship, I would flit around on any cheap flight. I got to eat barbecue in Nashville or do it. It's so much fun. And I did it on the cheap and I met really cool people and it was wonderful. Was I doing it in the most cost efficient way? My credit card said no. Was I doing it the most responsible way? Probably not. What about you?

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

I haven't done a ton of it. I travel all the time, but I have so many friends in different places that I don't get to see. All my friends have left New York. It makes me so sad. I get it. It's hard to live here.

[Noah Michelson]

Yes, it is.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

But now when I travel, mostly it's to go see people. But I have some solo travel coming up in the next couple months and I'm really excited about it. I like being Alone.

[Noah Michelson]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

So I feel like I can really use this episode because I have a ton of travel coming up, and it's just gonna be me.

[Noah Michelson]

Well, I feel like you built this episode in for yourself. Maybe we are all gonna benefit from it. Today we have with us the lovely Jessica Nabongo.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

She's a travel expert and the author of Catch Me if youf Can.

[Noah Michelson]

One Woman's Journey to Every country in the World.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Because she has, in fact, traveled to

[Noah Michelson]

every country in the world.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Let's go, Jessica.

[Noah Michelson]

Let's do it. Jessica, thank you so much for being here. We're so excited to have you.

[Jessica Nabongo]

Thanks for having me.

[Noah Michelson]

All right, let's start at the very beginning. Now, a lot of people are intimidated by the idea of going on a trip or vacation on their own. So just give me your, like, elevator pitch. Why is it the greatest thing ever?

[Jessica Nabongo]

Elevator pitches just go. But beyond that, I think, like, solo travel will. It will really just strengthen a lot of skills that you don't know that you have. Like, you have to problem solve by yourself. You do have to figure things out. But also, you could get to do exactly what you want to do. You get to go to the restaurants you want to go to. Some say you create a plan and then you talk to a bartender somewhere and you're like, oh, boom. Actually, I'm gonna go do this other thing because a local in that place told me about it, even though I made this whole list from either chat or however you planned your trip. So to me, I think solo travel just allows you to be more of who you are.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

There are very few people that I actually wanna travel with because we don't have the same vibe. And so I'm like. When you're saying, like, you don't have to sort of, like, if you're gonna reconfigure, you don't have to work it through with people you side. That does sound really attractive.

[Noah Michelson]

It is very appealing.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

We want to hear more from you, though, about your own personal solo travel journey. You've been to every country in the world, right?

[Jessica Nabongo]

Yes. Yes.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Have you even been to North Korea?

[Jessica Nabongo]

Yes, I have. I spent six days in North Korea.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Wow. So talk to us about that a little bit. Like, how did this start? Was this something that you planned, like, you had set out to. To go to every country, or did you just start doing this and were like, all right, we're gonna do this thing? What happened?

[Jessica Nabongo]

Yeah, so I. So my parents are from Uganda, and they love to travel. And so growing up, travel was just Such a part of our life. Like every summer we went somewhere, whether we were going to, like, Uganda to see family, to London, to the Caribbean, Mexico, whatever. Like, we like, vacation was a thing, even if we were traveling domestically. So by the time I finished high school, I had probably been to about 10 countries. And then in college and after college, I just kept it going. So my first sort of solo travel experience was one year outside of college. It was Thanksgiving. I had a friend who was doing a Fulbright in Madrid. I had friends and family in London. And then me and my friend were gonna meet in Paris. But this was the first time I was getting on a plane and going across the Atlantic by myself. And I remember being like, oh my God, what am I gonna do for eight hours alone on a plane by myself? I survived it. And. But the crazy thing was, so I landed in lo. My luggage didn't make it, and I was leaving for Paris like the next day. So I get to Paris, I have no luggage, and. Okay, go back with me. Let's go back to 2007. Okay. This is when there were no smartphones. And I mean, the app, the iPhone came out, but there weren't apps or anything like that. Right. And so if you recall, in the airport, you used to be able to use a computer in the airport to like send email. Yeah, you gotta go all the way back with me. So I couldn't find my friend. And I remember getting on a computer in the airport, emailing him like, okay, I booked at Le Meridian on the Champs Elysees, meet me there. And I just had a hard time. Like, I spoke some French and people were just being so mean, like Parisians, and it was really, really hard. So eventually, like, I got out of the metro and I took a taxi and I was like crying. I was frustrated and I'm like, just get me there. Turns out the taxi driver was driving me in circles. And so I ended up paying like double the money. And I finally got to the hotel and I'm like, okay, fine, it's a four star hotel, I can deal with it. I get in the hotel and it's like these little small twin size beds and they were hard as rocks. And it broke my soul. But I survived. And I was like, my friend ended up meeting me later and I was like, if I could survive that, I can survive anything. And I think really that first experience, it like gave me the sort of confidence that I needed to do it anywhere else. Cause I'm like, you know, because you're dealing with language, you're dealing with navigating public transportation, I was like, I survived. I got this. I can do it all.

[Noah Michelson]

Yeah. I feel like once you catch that first l. You're like, no, now I know what to look for. I know how to plan. It's hard to know without actually, like, falling down first.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Yeah, definitely.

[Noah Michelson]

Yeah. So that kind of prepared. So you approached every trip after that with. With like more of like a contingency

[Jessica Nabongo]

plan type of thing? No, I never have contingency plans.

[Noah Michelson]

Okay. Okay.

[Jessica Nabongo]

Honestly, I would say, like, I really, truly move through the world with positive energy, and I believe the entire world will open up for me. And I know that sounds a little bit crazy, but, like, to put it in context to your point, like, I've been to every country in the world. It was something I planned. You can't just kind of fall into it because it takes a lot of effort and planning. But, like, I. At this point, I've been to over 100 countries solo. And the biggest lesson I learned from visiting every country in the world is that most people are good. So, yes, we live in a, like, white supremacist, anti African patriarchy, sure, all of those things. But at the end of the day, when it comes to one on one, people are good. People want to help you. If you look lost or confused, people will come up and ask you how they can help you, even if they don't even speak the language. That has been my experience. So. Because a lot of people are like, but as a black woman, I'm like, first of all, I've only ever been a black woman, so I don't even know what it's like to travel. As a white man, I imagine it's lovely, but I will never know that experience. And my experience traveling as a black woman has been absolutely beautiful and made beautiful by my interactions with strangers around the world.

[Noah Michelson]

Of course, there's like systemic oppression everywhere. But I do get what you're saying. It's totally different if you're approaching with this, like, open energy. And. And I. I really, truly believe in that.

[Jessica Nabongo]

I also love a good American road trip. And I think for a lot of people who are thinking about solo travel, it doesn't have to be international. I've probably road trip to over 25 states. And in 2024, I did my last five, which was Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, north and South Dakota. And you know, some of my followers were like, are you not afraid? Like, yeah, red states. And. And granted, I saw like, less than a handful of black people, but to me, I'm like, the absence of blackness doesn't mean danger, like, in my experience. And so, yeah, I'm driving through red states by myself, never really seeing black people, but I met so many absolutely kind people who I ended up having drinks with, who gave me directions, who took me to dinner, who showed me their cities, who just gave me a wave, good morning at a gas station. And so I want people to even just get out and have more real world experiences with people who don't look like them so that we can all really understand it's all noise, all that oppression is real. But that one to one, I really think a lot of it is grouping. And so when you're one on one, most of the time it's only gonna be goodness.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

I wanna get into some of your tips. You know, how you made those connections with people, how you get invited to dinner. But I wanna wait on that. I think we should start with just like people who are listening have never done solo travel. What are your tips? Where do we start? I'm assuming it's like, where we're gonna go. I love that you just said you don't have to go international, but what are your thoughts about, like, what's a good place? I'm assuming also maybe somewhere that you speak the language. If it's your very first time, think about a beginner. Yeah, but what are you thinking about?

[Jessica Nabongo]

Well, I think first go to dinner by yourself in your city, right? Like, I think, I think there's like little baby steps. Go to a movie by yourself, go to an art museum buyers. Get comfortable in a place where you're already comfortable doing things on your own. Then maybe you do a road trip within three, four hours, you know, something again, that feels comfortable, that feels safe. Because it's like, that's kind of like your solo travel training wheels. And then when you're ready for the big boy, then I think, yeah, you totally, you want to pick somewhere where you speak the language. Somewhere where you feel, feel for whatever reason, whatever the things are that make you feel comfortable. Go to a place that you feel confident and comfortable being in. Because I feel like when you're comfortable and you feel safe, you're gonna be more confident and that's gonna make you less vulnerable. Right. Because then you're walking down the street like, I belong here, as opposed to, I'm so scared something's gonna happen. Like, you know, you just wanna watch your energy.

[Noah Michelson]

Yeah. What else are you thinking about? If you're a beginner, solo traveler, besides choosing the place, what are you Bringing. What kinds of things are you thinking about financially?

[Jessica Nabongo]

Again, obviously, for everyone, it's going to be different. So, for example, for me, there's two options, I think, for solo travel. For me, at this big age, I prefer a hotel because, like, I want a concierge. I want, you know, I want to be able to just go down and eat if I don't really feel like going out, I want to have, like, everything I need at my fingertips. Now, if you're younger and adventurous, I think hostels are great. My rule when I say to hostels, and I've not done it a lot, is that I needed a private bathroom and I would prefer a private room. But again, you can, like, look at reviews. Like, I've stayed in hostels where there's multiple beds when I was young, and it was great because then you meet people. You meet people that you can then go on tours with. So I think that's really cool, too, if you're on the younger side of things. I have stayed in Airbnb solo. It's just not my preference. Not because I think it's unsafe. I just like to have breakfast, somebody I can ask questions to and all of those sorts of things. So I think do something that feels comfortable and within your budget. Now, if you're like, I want to stay at the Four Seasons, right? And you can't afford the Four Seasons, don't not go, right? Don't say, well, I'm not going to go until I can stay at the Four Season. No, find something you can afford today, because what if you never get to the point where you can afford that? So just find something that's within your today budget as opposed to, like, putting something off for years because you're like, I want to do it this very, very way. You know what I mean? I feel like Covid taught us nothing else. I think it taught us live now.

[Noah Michelson]

That's right.

[Jessica Nabongo]

That's what solo travel is about. It's like, no, forget all y'.

[Paige Desorbo]

All.

[Jessica Nabongo]

I'm packing my bags and I'm going. And I think, have some armor, right? So armor could be a book. So if you're a little bit uncomfortable being at a bar by yourself, have a book. So then you know that can, like, make you feel a little more comfortable having little thing. One thing somebody told me years ago is, like, if you're in a foreign country where they're speaking another language, just carry a local newspaper, because then people will think you're local. So then again, you're less vulnerable because they're like, oh, she has a local paper then she obviously understands the language. So just little things like that.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

I love that.

[Noah Michelson]

Yeah, me too.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

How much research do you do before you go somewhere? I was reading online, like one tip someone was saying is if you're going to go to a place you've never been, like, download the public transportation map on your phone. So you have that even if your Internet goes out or something. I was like, that seems smart. But for you, are you doing tons of research when you're at home before you go, or are you just kind of getting there and see what it feels like?

[Jessica Nabongo]

So I am flying by the seat of my pants most days. So for me, the most important things when I go somewhere, it's I know where I'm sleeping at least the first night. And usually I'm booking a car because particularly if I'm traveling very far, I'm not trying to figure out public Transportation after an 8, 9, 10 hour flight. Right. So I like a little sign with my name on it just so that I can settle in very easily. Right. Because then you can talk to that person on the way to the hotel, sort of start to get the lay of the land. The other thing that sometimes I look up and definitely not enough is like, restaurants, I love to eat. And so if there's restaurants that I want to go to that might be booked out, I do try to, like, look that up a little bit in advance so that I can make reservations. But I think, look, a lot of people will be made more comfortable by having concrete plans. That's great. And you have to leave some space for spontaneity as well.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

I will say this doesn't apply to solo travel specifically, but when my husband and I travel, we always pick one cultural thing to do in the morning, like a plan that we have, and then we leave the afternoon totally open to sort of fall into things. And we like that because then we definitely see things. We have a little bit of a plan. We feel confident, but there's still the room for the magic of just discovering things in a new place. And it works out really well.

[Noah Michelson]

It is really magical. Especially when you, like, ask someone about something like Jessica said, and you're like, whoa, I never would have encountered this kind of thing.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Noah Michelson]

Okay, let's talk a little bit about packing. When I travel by myself, I tend to overpack because I'm like, I can't be like, hey, do you have toothpaste? Or whatever. And I don't know if I want to go out in the middle of the night and get it. Do you over pack? Are you overthinking packing when it's just you?

[Jessica Nabongo]

I'm a chronic overpacker. I don't feel bad. I am packing a bag. I don't know what everybody's doing with that extra 20 minutes of their lives, but I'm team. Checked bag. Okay. I'm team. I'm ready for anything for any party. But, yeah, I mean, I think you definitely want to think about that. And I don't want people to have so much anxiety of, like, oh, I don't have everything I need. Because you're also going to a place where other humans live. Right, Right. I feel you. Like, you don't want to have to get up and go get toothpaste in the middle of the night. But typically a hotel can help with, like, those little things. There's always, like, a pharmacy usually within a couple of blocks. So I don't want people to get stuck. Stuck on the packing thing. Like, if you forget something, like, especially in necessity, you're gonna find it. Crazy story. I was in Algeria. I was solo, and my period had just started. And it's horrible. I didn't have anything. And I'm with my male guide, and I'm like, oh, my gosh. So I'm trying to describe in French, like, a. Like, products. And I'm like, I don't know the word in French. So I'm just having to describe. And so he ends up, we have to go to the pharmacy, and he had to buy t tampons for me.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Wow.

[Jessica Nabongo]

And, yeah, I was solo. I didn't have what I needed, and I had to rely on someone. And I think that's the other thing I want people to know. Like, sometimes you're going to have to rely on others. We have to be trusting that other people are comfortable helping to take care of us when we're in their country.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

It is so interesting now, though, because, like, you were talking about traveling in 2007 versus now and how much has changed. I mean, even now with all the translation apps. I just had friends who went to Japan, and they were saying, even if someone doesn't speak Japanese, you can just type it into, like, Google Translate or whatever and show them the phone. And they had so many interactions like that. And it just has changed the way that we can interact with the world.

[Noah Michelson]

Do you think that's good or do you think that's weird? Jessica?

[Jessica Nabongo]

Okay, so it's funny you say Japan. So I moved to Japan in 2008. Again, go all the way back. There was no WhatsApp. There wasn't a lot of stuff. I remember my mother bought me, like, like an actual translator. It was like a separate device. Yes, all the time. And that was super helpful. I think we want to use things within reason. Like, I'm personally not a fan of AI I'm the old curmudgeon. Like, it's gonna destroy humanity, whatever. But I also just think. And we talked about, like, leaving room for magic. So part of the whole language exchange is like, struggle through it a little bit. Use your hands. Like, for me, I can communicate with people all over the world because I never relied on my phone to just do that, you know, of course I do it if I need it in a pinch. But I think there's a beauty in trying to communicate as humans without using technology. And I think I don't want us as a human species to like, lose that ability to communicate cross culturally because we're only relying on technology. Like, I know now they have the AirPods or whatever that translate right.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

I feel that one of the most beautiful experiences I ever had, I was on vacation in the south of France in this little tiny town, and I was having lunch, and this older gentleman, he must have been in his 70s, he came over to me and he was fully tattooed like I am. He didn't speak a lick of English and I didn't speak a lick of French. And we had a conversation, and it was through, like, you were saying, like, hand gestures. He took off his shirt in the middle of the restaurant to show me his tattoos. I took off my shirt and everyone around, around was like, engaging and laughing and smiling and it was so beautiful. And we never said a word that either of us understood, but we completely understood each other. And I loved it.

[Noah Michelson]

You know, there's like the negative kind of vulnerable, which we are going to talk about some more safety stuff, but there's also the positive vulnerability. Like, I don't want us, like you said, to ever stop being vulnerable with each other and be like, I'm going to sound stupid because I don't speak the language or whatever. Just try connect. That's like the thing I never want to lose. Also, it's really cool.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

And aside from, like, mean, like Parisian waiters who don't. Who don't want you to try and speak French and they just start speaking English immediately to you, most people are, I think, gonna appreciate it when you try and, you know, have that conversation with them in their. In their language.

[Noah Michelson]

Yes. Give us some, some Money tips. We are all wondering a little bit, like how you're able to do this. How are we able to do this? Like, give us some money saving tips. I use my miles a lot. Like, how are we gonna get to all the countries like you did?

[Jessica Nabongo]

Okay, so there's a few things. So number one, you do not need to change money in advance. Like you lose so much money. Like when you're trying to like get euros or whatever before your trip, the best exchange rate you're going to get is going to be at an atm. Now, when I travel, I use a Charles Schwab account. I use their checking account because if I use a non Charles Schwab atm, they give me the money back. So obviously as you're traveling, you're not using your bank's atm, so you're getting charged a fee on both ends. Charles Schwab doesn't charge you a fee and they give you back the fee that the foreign ATMs charged you. So that's going to save you a lot of money. Because I know, like, I think, you know, most standard American banks are going to charge you like five to six dollars per ATM transaction, right? Then people are like, oh my God, do I need 100, 200? And then you're trying to do all this math where it's like I just, just keep going and going because I'm never paying for that transaction. So getting that, I love it. That's my little foreign travel bank account. I only use it for that. That's one thing. Credit cards like reward points are super important. Usually for me, the first six months of the year, I don't pay for travel because I'm using all of my miles, points, whatever, and I get points from everyday purchases. So personally, I love Chase, Sapphire Reserve, American Express Platinum has some benefits and yes, loyalty to an airline. Now, airlines are completely out of control. So you want to have an account with the three major alliances, so Star Alliance, One World and SkyTeam so that no matter who you fly, you're getting those miles deposited. And then I think, yeah, if you don't travel regularly, make it a bi weekly or a monthly bill. Like put two, $300 aside, budget for it. But now if you want to try and find deals, I often tell people, chase the deal, not the destination. If you just want to travel, then you can sign up for things like Thrifty Traveler Premium or you can sign up for the flightdeal.com and so those are going to be places that send you flight deals every single day. So if you're like, I just want to go somewhere out of the country, then you might see like, oh, here's a $350 ticket from New York to like Bogota or whatever. And then you can just go. Maybe you didn't plan to go to Colombia, but it's like, it's a cheap flight. So just go there and then figure out that if you just want to

[Noah Michelson]

travel more, that's the cool thing about solo travel in particular. Also, if you do find a deal and you're like, I don't know who else is going to want to go to Bogota? You're like, screw it, I'm going. Like, it's. I've ironically been to Bogota on my own and I loved it. And it was because I was like, this seems amazing. It's that thing you're going back to about honoring your little inner voice and you don't really have to listen to anyone else for these couple of days.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

I also love your idea about making it a monthly bill. My friend Marco, he started doing this. He has taken the money he would spend on takeout one time a week and he puts that into a travel fund. And after six months, you've got eight or nine hundred dollars right there. That gets you a round trip ticket to a lot of places.

[Noah Michelson]

Yeah. Reprioritize.

[Jessica Nabongo]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

You can give up the tikka chicken masala like one time a week.

[Noah Michelson]

Yeah. Make it at home like I do.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

There you go.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

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[Noah Michelson]

That's really crazy to me.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

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[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

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[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Jessica I think one of the biggest things that people worry about when they are going to be traveling solo is that they're going to be lonely. Have you experienced that? How do people get past that, that anxiety?

[Jessica Nabongo]

Yeah, totally. And. And so again, I think the training wheels is good, like starting close to home and doing things by yourself at home. But I also think here's the cool thing about travel in general. You can be anybody, right? So say you're someone who's super introverted. You can create a character. Okay, so me and my friends went to Cuba. This is crazy. Me and my friends went to Cuba and for some reason, you know, this is several years ago, there was no wi Fi. So you just really got to entertain yourself. And so we all came up with a story that we all went to boarding school. Together in France. And this was how we knew each other. But we all took on new names and we went out for the night, but we had. Everybody had to stay in character. And so I were in this club and I, you know, talking to this guy and he's like, what's your name? And I don't remember what my name was, let's say Claire. And he was like, no, your name is Jessica. And I was like, he's like, I know you. I was like, I just ran away because I was like, why would I run into somebody I know at a club in Cuba? And so it was, it was hilarious and I was embarrassed, but whatever. But the point is you can make up a new personality and it's like you're by yourself, no one has to know. You can create a whole backstory, you know, And I think it's really cool. You can tell someone like, you work, say you have a dream job, you've never worked, but just take on a whole new personality and then take it for a spin, you know, I think again for me, when I solo travel, I like eating at the bar because a lot of other solo people are eating at the bar. And you also can like talk to the bartender. So that's kind of like a little built in conversation, I'm really here for

[Noah Michelson]

this catch me if you can nonsense.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Okay?

[Noah Michelson]

Like, I love doing that too.

[Jessica Nabongo]

It's. It also like there's a thing you're

[Noah Michelson]

talking about, like solo travel, self discovery, a little bit of fun, a little imagination. We kind of get to foster our inner child when we're doing these things.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

I love that. I also think too, like, we have to get out of our own way. I mean, we had, we did an episode on making friends as an adult and the psychologist who came on, she was saying that there is this phenomenon that most people misjudge how they're gonna be perceived and they think that people won't like them. And so they don't go up and introduce themselves. They don't say hello, when actually when you do that most of the time. Like you were saying earlier, Jessica, like, people are friendly, people do wanna to know your story. And so if you just can get out of your own way and just try it, start talking to the person sitting next to you at the bar. I think really cool things can happen.

[Jessica Nabongo]

I often say, like, what's the worst that can happen here? Like, okay, someone is like a little bit rude to you. Sure, that happens. I mean, I'm such like a. Hey, hey. And sometimes you were like, relax. And I'm like, okay, I guess you're having a bad day. But I'm not going to also, like, let them dampen my experience. Even when I've had, like, you know, really crappy things happen, maybe, like, something racist happens. I don't allow that to ruin my trip. I also don't allow that to, like, color my entire experience. That doesn't mean the entire country is racist or not safe for black people. Or, or, or, or, or, or, or, or it's like, no, this person was. I had that experience. It may, it may have even made me cry, made me upset, made me angry. Okay, boom. I'm gonna put that behind me and, and keep looking for it. Because one thing you're not gonna do, like, I already spent my money to be here, so I'm going to enjoy the rest of my trip. You know what I mean? I think we also can't let. Even if you come across someone who's being mean or negative or racist or homophobic or whatever, they're wanting to be that day, you can't let that single exc. Experience than, like, take away from what else can come. You know what I mean? Which is hard. I recognize that. That is not easy. And don't waste your money because you spend money to be there. Let me tell you a really quick story. So I was in Fargo, North Dakota, and it was my last day of my road trip. And I've been having such a good time walking around, biking, living my best life. And I was walking down the street, there was a white guy, he was super drunk. He was with his friend, and he was being very racist. I don't even remember what he said, but I was like, we can fight. Like, come on, let's go. His friends ended up dragging him away, But I was so upset. And so I went into my room. I was like, I'm done with this. Like, I have a 5:30 flight. I'm just. I'm just gonna stay in my room. And I was like, no, Jessica, let's just get up and go to one bar. Cause I had a whole list of things I wanted to do. I was like, let just get up and go to one bar, have one drink, and then you can come back and wallow, right? So I'm like, cool. So I go to the speakeasy. I go. I'm sitting down at the bar. The bartender's like, oh, how are you? Where are you from? And I'm like, I hate Fargo. And she's like, what's going on? And I tell her. She's like, no. And there were two other people at the bar, and they're like, no. Like, we're so sorry. That's not who we are. So they're like, buy me drinks, and we're talking. One of the guys ends up taking me out to dinner. Then I meet up with some of them later, and then one of the guys ends up offering to take me to the airport. I had to be at the airport at, like, 5am and he was like, yeah, I'll do it. I was like, no, it's too early. He was like, I'll do it. And so I was so happy that I was a. Even though I was, like, really frustrated and angry, I got past it. And then all of the. I had all of these beautiful experiences that evening with people who are like, no, we're gonna make up for that guy, because that's not who we are. This is who we are. And I will, like, Fargo forever has, you know, a little warm place in my heart.

[Noah Michelson]

See, that's cool that you were open to a second chance. And I think it is really important to remember that, like, one person doesn't represent that entire group of people. Let's talk about just a little bit more about meeting people. For people who aren't as outgoing as you, do you have any advice to be? Like, say you see a fun. This happens to me all the time. I see a fun group of people, and I kind of want to hang out with them. I kind of want to have a drink with them, and they look really open. Or like, two girlfriends, and I'm like, shit, I want to hang out with them. Do you have a line or, like, something or a behavior that you use to gauge whether someone's a friendly or not?

[Jessica Nabongo]

So I'm very big on energy, and I feel like the more. The older you get, the more you travel, you kind of start to, like, tune in on people who are sort of on your vibration, if you will. But I think a compliment. I think that's the easiest way to start talking to somebody. Like, a group of people can be a little intimidating because it's like, you know, that can be a little intimidating. But I think, like, two people, easy to just compliment someone and then just use that as an opening to say, oh, where are you guys from? Are you guys visiting? Oh, are you locals? Oh, like, can you recommend a restaurant? And so just. Yeah, I think. I think the important thing is, like, knowing, like, asking people questions, I think is always very important and being actually curious about the answer. Not like in such a rote way that you come off as a weirdo, but ask about things that you're interested in. Like, Noah mentioned seeing the guy who was tattooed. Like, you guys obviously have something in common. And I think that's the one of the other lessons I learned from visiting every country in the world, is that we have more in common. Like, we're more similar than we are different. You know what I mean? So it's like, yeah, you and that man have a huge age gap between you and a cultural and language gap, but you have so many similarities. And so I think that's the other thing. Like, once we release any biases that we have, to the extent possible, you start just seeing people as people, then you can start to pick up on, oh, there's something we have in common.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

I mean, I love to hear that you, for the most part, have felt safe where you've been and have had really good experiences. But just some tips for safety, especially for solo female travelers, for queer travelers, people who might be in situations, that there could be some dangerous stuff going on.

[Jessica Nabongo]

Number one, you are not the center of the world. We're learning that very clearly. We are being decentered. But I think context definitely matters. So, for example, if I'm in a Muslim majority country, particularly a conservative one, I'm not wearing whatever I want to wear. I'm like, oh, context matters. So when I landed in Sudan, I'm like, okay, I'm going to wear baggy pants, and I'm going to make sure my shirt is long enough to cover my bottom, right? Like, and then, you know, where I have to. I'm going to cover my head as well. So I think context always matters. So for me, first and foremost, I'm going to try to. To adjust to the local context, particularly from women with regard to clothing. So I always say, like, I'm gonna land very conservative, and as I can, I'm gonna peel it back. Right? I think that's really, really important, because if you're going to someone else's country, you are a guest. You will adhere to local norms and customs. I don't care what you feel about women's empowerment. I don't care about any of that. You are a guest in somebody else, this country. If you don't like it, do not visit. But you have to. So I think that's really important. I also think, like, don't assume that a slight is necessarily racism, homophobia, etc. Right? So you can't just always assume if somebody's, oh, it's racist. Like there's just really rude people in the world. Not a ton, but they're there. So I think as women particularly, we have a built in system that keeps us safe and it's our intuition. And I think you have to listen to it because sometimes I think people will try to override and it's like, no, it's there for a reason. Listen to it. If it's like, don't go down that street. Turn around immediately. Not like, well, I wonder. No, the intuition told you to make a U turn. Make the U turn. So for me, I really listened to that stuff. I'm very big on like, oh, whoa. What is like, I can feel energy. I'm like, no, no, I'm going to go that way. That's why, like I said, I prefer to stay at a hotel because like, if somebody's chasing me, I'm like, I can run in the doors and I'm like, save me versus like fiddle with a key trying to open a door. And I think, yeah, for queer travelers, I think it's very similar. Like if you're going to a country where like they have laws against queer travelers, it's like there are things you can do to not be visibly queer. Right? I mean, some people are able to control it more than others. Obviously, I'm very clear about that. But don't put yourself in harm's way. Don't knowingly go into a situation trying to like beat your chest about freedom. Like, this is not that. And yeah, you want to be comfortable, but you also have to like be clear about the context.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

I think that's Martin. I think this is a place too, where a little research might help. I mean, there are countries that I'm not going to go to with my husband because I'm not gonna feel comfortable there. And I want to be able to hold his hand. And so I've just decided, you know what, for now, that's not where we're gonna go. That's my choice. And other people will feel differently, but you can find out with just a quick Google about some of the customs of a country and then, and then you're informed.

[Noah Michelson]

You know, in a similar way, Jessica, I have just expressed this to my partner when we're talking about our travel plans. I don't want to visit places where I have to put my titties up. Like, I want to be like bodily open as much as possible. Now I'm from, my people are from India. It's, it's kind of hazy there. Where There are lots of spaces where you can. Women can be very dressed very provocatively, as I often do, and it's totally fine. And spaces where you don't. Again, research. But, yeah, I'm with you, Noah. Like, Jessica's extremely cultured, and it's like, all about respect, this stuff. But look, look it up and then be like, if I don't feel. If I want to be my exact self openly. Yeah, maybe that's not the place.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

And if you're not on, you know, if you're not Jessica, and you're not going to visit every country in the world, which I think is so badass and amazing, but there are so many places, and I don't get to go on vacation enough as it is, so I just pick a different one.

[Jessica Nabongo]

You know, it's funny because when I went to India, I. I've been a couple times, but I remember being like, oh, this is the home of body positive positivity. Because with the Starbies, everything can be hanging, like, on the side. It's like whether you're thin or you're not. But I love it because it's so normalized that you see back fat and stomach.

[Noah Michelson]

That's right.

[Jessica Nabongo]

I love that. When I was in Udaipur, it was just something I was like. I love it. No one's checking. No one cares about the back fat.

[Noah Michelson]

Yes. Women have their bodies out in India. Thank you very much. Back on track. I think it's really interesting that there's, like, a different scam culture in every country. Should we be looking up, should we be on Reddit being like, what scams are happening in this city I'm visiting?

[Jessica Nabongo]

Okay, so here's the thing. I am not a fan of, like, looking up things to scare yourself in advance. I think.

[Noah Michelson]

You're not.

[Jessica Nabongo]

No, I find it strange. I want everybody to put the phones down, put the Reddit down, put the chat down, put it all down, have actual experiences. I think there's things you can do. So, for example, crossbody bag, right?

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Yeah.

[Jessica Nabongo]

But, like, hopefully, if you can put the zipper on the inside, but always wear it in the front, don't put anything in your back pockets. You know, like, really don't put anything in pockets. If do not leave where you're staying with your passport. Again, do not take your passport out of your hotel, out of your Airbnb, because if your bag is stolen now, you can't get home. So please, everybody leave your passport in the room. Thank you so much. But, yeah, and don't take all your credit Cards out with you. So take one credit card, take your driver's license, because that's easy to get back. And take some money. Don't take a ton of money out so that, you know, just preparing when you leave the hotel. But then, yeah, crossbody bag on the front of you at all times. And then, you know, I'm from Detroit, so you got to keep your head on a swivel. But also, don't spend too much time thinking about that, because then I believe you're going to draw that energy to you. I really believe that. I remember I was doing some travel in Argentina. Every single person I met in Buenos Aires, my friends who live there, in all the tours, every single person I met had been robbed, literally every 100%. And I did not get robbed. I was very proud of myself. But it's also things like, don't keep your phone out in your hand all the time. Don't. Like, I'm not wearing all this jewelry to some places, right? I'm gonna wear brass jewelry as opposed to like 100 gold or diamond. So you again, take into consideration context. Now down to the scams. Where are you getting scammed? You're getting scammed typically in markets and, like, at, like, big tourist sites. I think a lot about Italy. And so have a plan. If you're going to the Vatican and you want to take it, buy it in advance. Like, do not. I don't engage with the people at the Vatican, at Coliseo. I don't. I don't do that because I'm just like, you're. You're a scammer. Like, and I'm not even going to give you any energy if you're in a market. Like, if you're a foreigner, you're 100% going to pay more. So get over that. That's your contribution to the economy.

[Noah Michelson]

That's right.

[Jessica Nabongo]

What I try to do in countries is, like, I try to have a local person go to markets with me because I'm like, how much should this be? Okay, I'm cool with paying a little bit more, but you're not charging me double because then that's just not nice. I know I'm probably gonna pay like 20 to 30% more, but I'm not paying you double because that's just never happening. But I think, like, it's really good to, like, have a guide or something. So you're kind of like, you have an idea of what it is and also asking them, like, is this real? Was this made in China? Like, am I really getting what I think I'm getting. So I think it's like, you really have to learn to rely on local people to, like, insulate yourself from the scams. But I think those are a few things you can do to get around it.

[Noah Michelson]

I kind of love that you brought up something really important. If you're a visitor there, it's okay that you're paying a little more. Don't pay double. Don't get totally bamboozled. But, like, it's fine if you're not paying what the locals are paying. You're visiting. You know, coming from a place with

[Jessica Nabongo]

a stronger currency, a stronger economy. That's right. Like, and also imperialism. Like, our countries ruin their countries, so we got to give back a little bit.

[Noah Michelson]

Oh, I am hyper aware of that stuff when I'm at. That's why I don't haggle as much as I probably should. I'm like, you just take it.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

And also, I love just your idea, too, of like, just be like, have some street smarts. I mean, you can. We can get pickpocketed right here in good old New York City, you know, so. And it happens.

[Noah Michelson]

Our friend.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Our friend at work just got her phone stolen on the subway. So, you know, it's just. Be smart.

[Noah Michelson]

Yeah. There's no cultural context to getting things stolen. Just use your common sense.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Exactly.

[Noah Michelson]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

I think we want to end by you telling us, what are your top three places to solo travel? If you had to pick out of every place you've been, what are the three that you think are the best for solo travel?

[Jessica Nabongo]

I think in Africa. I think Kenya is great. I think Kenya is quite safe. You can do safari, you can go out for great food. You can go to the beach. Obviously, that's not all in the same place, but I think Kenya is a really easy place to do solo travel. Really great tour guides and things like that. So I think Kenya is great. If somebody's looking to solo travel in Africa, I think Vietnam is great because it's affordable and it feels extremely safe. There is lots of hostels, but if you want to stay in a really nice hotel, it's more affordable than a lot of other countries. And there's a lot that you can do and see great food. And then I'm gonna go the US because, number one, Americans take our country for granted. And like I said, I've done so many solo trips across the U.S. during COVID I drove 12,000 miles in four months because I was like, I'm going. And, yeah, there's just so many amazing things to do. We have all of these national parks. You can hike, you can bike. So I'm gonna go to the US That's. Those are my three for now.

[Noah Michelson]

Can you tell us where in the US you think is the most beautiful, like, aesthetically?

[Jessica Nabongo]

So I am obsessed with Utah, Maine and South Dakota.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

All right.

[Jessica Nabongo]

Yeah.

[Noah Michelson]

I got a road trip. I'm so inspired.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Me too. I'm actually going on a solo trip on Friday. One of like my first. I'm going to Ireland, London, and I'm really excited. So I'm going to put a lot of this into action.

[Noah Michelson]

Yes.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Jessica, thank you so much for doing this. This has been lovely.

[Noah Michelson]

Yes. And really fun.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Thank you. I enjoyed this.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

It's smart to always have a few financial goals and a really smart one. You can set earning cash back on what you buy every day. And with Discovery, you can get this. Discover automatically matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. Seriously, all of it. And we trust you to make smart decisions. After all, you listen to this show see [e-mail] creditcard this message is a

[Felix Salmon]

paid partnership with Apple Card. This is Felix Salmon from Slate Money and I'm here to tell you about Apple Card. Even as a seasoned traveler, things can still get stressful, which is why I use Apple Card on my international trips. And with 2% daily cash back on every purchase with Apple Pay, I'm actually earning daily cash as I travel. Instead of coming home feeling like I've drained my bank account, I come back with cash back I can put toward my next trip. Apply in the wallet app on iPhone subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs bank usa Salt Lake City Branch terms and more at Apple Code

[Narrator/Host]

have you looked at your utility bill recently and thought, how is it this high? You're not the only one.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Something that we would hear often was, I couldn't pay my power bill.

[Jessica Nabongo]

I'm no longer turning on my ac.

[Narrator/Host]

Rising energy costs can feel inevitable, but voters have more power than they think. Listen to good things from Lemonada Media to hear how communities are fighting back for energy affordability.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Okay, it's time for better in five. These are our top five takeaways from this episode.

[Noah Michelson]

Number one, if you're intimidated by the idea of solo travel and you haven't done it before, start slow.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Take yourself out to dinner or go

[Noah Michelson]

to a movie by yourself.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Number two, Once you are ready to travel, though, pick somewhere that you're going to feel comfortable for that first trip. Probably somewhere where you speak the language.

[Noah Michelson]

Number three, don't overdo your research. This is a really good tip from Jessica. Research a little, but don't overkill is going to ruin the magic.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Number four, scams can happen anywhere, even right here in New York City. So your best bet is to just keep your valuables out of sight and use your street smarts.

[Noah Michelson]

A scam in New York City. And number five, even if you are

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

a bit of an introvert, take a

[Noah Michelson]

chance on talking to someone. Be a little vulnerable, because it really does pay off to connect with someone.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

So, Raj, were you doing solo travel? Wrong.

[Noah Michelson]

You know, not that wrong. It was a good time.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

And now that I've heard her advice.

[Noah Michelson]

But I will tell you, she's inspired me to do a little more. I think society, we kind of let go of certain ideas of independence. I don't want to do that. And I do think my partner would love to have the house to himself for a couple of days while I flit around Parking City, Utah.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

Yeah.

[Noah Michelson]

You know, so I'm inspired.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

What do you mean? I love that. Like I said earlier, I have some trips coming up and I'm really excited about it. I love what she was saying about just be brave and try talking to people, because beautiful things can happen and I want those magical moments. I want to come back and say, oh, I met this person here, or I did this thing because this person said to do this. So I've been trying in my old age to talk to people more in general, even on the subway.

[Noah Michelson]

Your very old age.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

I'm so ancient. But I love what she said about the compliment. I love telling people if someone's wearing a pair of shoes that I think are great, how good does it make them feel to tell them that they have great shoes? And if in exchange they tell you about a cool bar in the city that you're visiting, everybody wins.

[Noah Michelson]

Human connection is dope.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Love it.

[Noah Michelson]

Yes.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Anyway, until next time. As long as there are things to get wrong and Lord knows there are a ton of them, we're going to be right here to help you do them better.

[Noah Michelson]

See you at the airport.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Am I Doing it Wrong Is a

[Noah Michelson]

co production between HuffPost and Acast.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Our producers are Eve Bishop, Carmen Borca, Carillo and Malia Agudelo.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Our executive producers are Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rutter.

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Special thanks to HuffPost's head of audience,

[Noah Michelson]

Abby Williams, Head of video, Will Took,

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

as well as Kate Palmer, Marta Rodriguez and Terry d'. Angelo.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

And we are your hosts, Raj Panjabi

[Co-host/Interviewer (possibly Noah Michelson or Raj Panjabi Johnson alternating)]

Johnson and Noah Michelson.

[Narrator/Host]

Have you looked at your utility bill recently and thought, how is it this high? You're not the only one.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Something that we would hear often was I couldn't pay my power bill.

[Jessica Nabongo]

I'm no longer turning on my ac.

[Narrator/Host]

Rising energy costs can feel inevitable, but voters have more power than they think. Listen to good things from Lemonada Media to hear how communities are fighting back for energy affordability.

[Paige Desorbo]

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[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

It's smart to always have a few financial goals, and a really smart one. You can set earning cash back on what you buy every day. And with Discover you can get this Discover automatically matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. Seriously. All of it. And we trust you to make smart decisions. After all, you listen to this show. See [e-mail] credit card it's time to

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