In this deeply personal solo episode, I take you through my full travel journey—from growing up in Norwich with no real concept of travel, to building a life around it in Vancouver and around the world.

This isn’t just a story about where I’ve been—it’s about how my mindset around travel has completely evolved over time.

From partying through Southeast Asia in my early 20s, to seeking culture, connection, and purpose in my 30s… this episode breaks down the different phases of travel, what changed, and why I now see travel as a long-term lifestyle rather than a short-term escape.

I also share honest reflections on burnout, money, building a travel-focused career, and what the future of travel looks like for me.

If you’ve ever wondered how travel fits into your life long-term—or how your relationship with it might change over time—this one’s for you.

To finish, I want to share with you, the audience, an episode where you get to know me more. I have been doing this for five years, and I believe sharing more personal details will help build a tighter Winging It community.

I hope you enjoy the episode and that it inspires you to travel for the first time or to dream about making it a lifestyle. Drop me a comment on your thoughts, too.

Support the Podcast

If you enjoyed this episode:

⭐ Leave a 5-star rating or review on your podcast app
☕ Support the show at buymeacoffee.com/wingingit
🌍 Explore more episodes at wingingittravelpodcast.com
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⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Why I’m sharing this story

02:00 Growing up in Norwich & early curiosity about the world

05:30 School trips & no real travel mindset yet

08:00 Moving to London & first exposure to diversity

09:30 Australia 2010 – the trip that changed everything

11:30 The moment I decided to travel long-term

12:50 Ukraine road trip & first taste of raw travel

14:30 Planning the 2013 backpacking trip

15:20 Leaving the UK & heading into the unknown

17:00 First culture shock in Bangkok

18:30 Southeast Asia – party travel & backpacker life

20:00 Australia – working life & maturing

22:30 Smartphones & how travel started to change

23:30 South America solo travel & shift to culture

25:00 Realising travel had evolved for me

26:00 India 2016 – second major culture shock

27:30 Meeting Emma & planning long-term travel

28:30 Health scare & motivation to live fully

29:30 15 months of travel as a couple

31:00 New Zealand, Cook Islands & finding “paradise”

32:00 Turning 30 mindset shift & continuing travel

32:30 Moving to Canada & new chapter

33:00 COVID & travel uncertainty

34:30 Starting the podcast during lockdown

35:00 Planning the 1-year world trip

36:00 Travel becomes a lifestyle, not a phase

37:00 The reality of trying to make money while travelling

38:00 Returning to work & rebuilding

39:30 How I see travel now

40:00 The future: combining work & travel

41:00 Why having a base matters

41:50 Upcoming trips & current lifestyle

42:00 Travel in my late 30s vs early 20s

43:00 Advice for travellers (young & older)

44:00 Final reflections on travel & life

45:00 Personal facts & closing thoughts

46:30 Where to find me & support the podcast

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Produced by Winging It Productions - ⁠https://www.wingingitproductions.com⁠

Voyascape: Travel Podcast Network - https://voyascape.com/

Winging It Travel Podcast - Website

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Winging It Travel Podcast Credits

Host/Producer/Creator/Composer/Editor - James Hammond

Contact me - jameshammondtravel@gmail.com or james@wingingitproductions.com

Social Media - follow me on:

Instagram

TikTok

Facebook

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Thanks for supporting me and the podcast!

Cheers James.

Mentioned in this episode:

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