Greg Clifford is a retired broadcast engineer and avid ham radio operator. Discover Greg's adventurous career journey, from maintaining mountaintop transmitters for a public television station in Idaho to his passion for ham radio. Explore the challenges and joys of field engineering, and learn how Greg's experiences have shaped his unique perspective on technology and nature. Tune in for an engaging episode filled with stories of exploration and curiosity.

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Transcript: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/episodes-and-transcripts/

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Travel book recommendations: http://nearandfar.travel/books/

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About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast

Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/

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Chapters

0:00 Introducing: Greg Clifford

Marina Steiner didn't expect to build a life of travel, but an undergraduate certificate in global health set her on a journey to Nepal, New Zealand, central Asia, and beyond! From moving abroad without housing to trying fermented horse milk in Uzbekistan, Marina shows us the benefits of being comfortable with being uncomfortable, She shares how any of us can make an impact on a global scale through her work addressing health disparities affecting Himalayan home cooking, rural access to healthcare, and remediating the toxic byproducts from the destruction of the Aral Sea.

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Transcript: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/episodes-and-transcripts/

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Travel book recommendations: http://nearandfar.travel/books/ https://bookshop.org/shop/near_far_travel

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Follow Near and Far

Monthly Near and Far newsletter: https://nearandfar.travel/newsletter/

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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@near_far_travel

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/near-far-travel

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About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast

Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/

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Chapters

0:00 Introducing: Marina Steiner

0:55 Nepal, accessing rural healthcare, and cooking for the household

15:12 Leave a Review!

15:40 New Zealand's cultural insights

27:17 Subscribe to the Near and Far Newsletter

27:44 Karakalpakstan and the destruction of the Aral Sea

Michael Zislis lived in Japan for several years before starting a company (JPN Guides) that helps other westerners learn how to navigate the "land of the rising sun." In this episode, Michael tells how he happened upon his favorite ramen, shares why he visits his favorite sushi place at 5:00 a.m., why he recommends venturing into the Japanese countryside, life in Niigata, recommendations in Sapporo, Shinto temple etiquette, why hot milk and hot springs follow affordable skiing, cherry blossom maps, and language tips.

He then goes through the process of creating a custom personalized guidebook for Zackery, just as he would for JPN Guides.

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JPN Guides: https://www.jpnguides.com/

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Transcript: https://nearandfar.travel/your-guide-to-japan-with-michael-zislis-of-jpn-guides/

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Other travel book recommendations: http://nearandfar.travel/books/ https://bookshop.org/shop/near_far_travel

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Follow Near and Far

Monthly Near and Far newsletter: https://nearandfar.travel/newsletter/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/near_far_travel/

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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@near_far_travel

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/near-far-travel

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About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast

Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/

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Chapters

0:00 Welcome

0:57 Michael's First Trip to Japan

4:47 Sushi and Ramen in Tokyo

11:56 Be a Podcast Guest!

12:23 Sapporo

17:48 Shinto Temple Etiquette

21:42 Cultural Differences When Living in Niigata

27:35 Subscribe to the Near and Far Newsletter!

28:02 Hot Springs and Skiing

31:29 Cherry Blossoms, Kyoto, and Going Beyond the Golden Route

34:23 Language Tips and "Sumimasen!"

39:11 Your Guide to Japan

Javier ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Navarra... and the he ran again and again and about twenty more times! Javier Ochoa-Reparaz grew up in the Basque culture in northern Spain and enjoyed Basque traditions, food, and language until he moved to Boise. In addition to his encounters with bulls during the Festival de San Fermin, Javier speaks about growing up in the Basque culture, experiencing separatist terrorism as a child, watching the Osasuna fútbol club, overtourism in Spain, tips for being a responsible tourist, and opportunities to run alongside sheep and reindeer!

This episode mentions extreme political violence and other sensitive themes.

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Transcript: https://nearandfar.travel/running-with-the-bulls-in-pamplona-interview-with-javier-ochoa-reparaz/

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Travel book recommendations: http://nearandfar.travel/books/ https://bookshop.org/shop/near_far_travel

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Follow Near and Far

Monthly Near and Far newsletter: https://nearandfar.travel/newsletter/

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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@near_far_travel

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/near-far-travel

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About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast

Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/

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Chapters

0:00 Welcome

0:57 Running with the Bulls in Pamplona

17:15 Leave a Review!

17:42 Basque culture, food, and language

28:49 Basque separatism and political violence

40:10 Subscribe to the Near and Far Newsletter

40:37 How to be a good tourist in Spain

51:05 Running with the Sheep and Reindeer

Becca and Phil Stich just can't catch a break on road trips. They routinely drive 1,200 miles on road trips to visit family, and their cars routinely get broken, pummeled, or buried in the cold remote stretches of North Dakota, all while their kids are screaming in the back seat! Becca and Phil have become experts at adapting to change, and their mantra "Embrace the Fluidity" offers us a model for navigating unexpected travel situations.

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Travel book recommendations: http://nearandfar.travel/books/ https://bookshop.org/shop/near_far_travel

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Follow Near and Far

Monthly Near and Far newsletter: https://nearandfar.travel/newsletter/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/near_far_travel/

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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@near_far_travel

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/near-far-travel

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About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast

Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/

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Chapters

0:00 Welcome

1:03 Embracing the Fluidity

3:18 North Dakota Winters

11:39 Leave a Review!

12:07 The Banshee Car Story

20:07 Windshield Woes and the Deer Incident

28:47 Near and Far Newsletter

30:06 Italy and Lucky Breaks

William Meany knows how to get there on a budget! We discuss a shocking theatrical experience during a class trip to the UN, William's tips for traveling affordably (including a $1 trip to Manhattan), and why the rest of us should consider visiting his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio!

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Travel book recommendations: http://nearandfar.travel/books/ https://bookshop.org/shop/near_far_travel

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Follow Near and Far

Monthly Near and Far newsletter: https://nearandfar.travel/newsletter/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/near_far_travel/

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/nearandfar.bsky.social

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@near_far_travel

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/near-far-travel

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About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast

Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/

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Chapters

0:00 Introducing: William Meany

02:16 Manhattan Trips

12:45 Getting there affordably

20:17 Lodging at Hostels

24:50 Why we must visit Cleveland

Bryn Thoms has been shaped by people with very different backgrounds than his own. In his youth, Bryn's parents hosted Eritrean refugees and he speaks about Portland's Eritrean community. We then discuss his role remediating mining contamination in Oregon, and how he brought those skills to Huancavelica, Peru to help heal the toxic legacy of the largest Spanish colonial Mercury mine in the Americas.

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Environmental Health Council: https://mercurycleanup.org

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Travel book recommendations

http://nearandfar.travel/books/

https://bookshop.org/shop/near_far_travel

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Follow Near and Far

Monthly Near and Far newsletter: https://nearandfar.travel/newsletter/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/near_far_travel/

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/nearandfar.bsky.social

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@near_far_travel

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/near-far-travel

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About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast

Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/

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Chapters

0:00 Introducing: Bryn Thoms

Ben has followed his passions around the world. From leading Boise State's drumline at the Fiesta Bowl during the NCAA college football playoffs to performing around Europe to finding fish in Idaho's remote streams, Ben Martin has followed his passions around the world.

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Travel book recommendations:

http://nearandfar.travel/books/

https://bookshop.org/shop/near_far_travel

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Follow Near and Far

Monthly Near and Far newsletter: https://nearandfar.travel/newsletter/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/near_far_travel/

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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@near_far_travel

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/near-far-travel

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About the Podcast: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast

Be a podcast guest: https://nearandfar.travel/podcast/be-a-podcast-guest/

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Chapters

0:00 Introducing: Ben Martin

0:56 How Ben Found Boise State

4:26 Traveling with the band in high school: Europe and “Bands of America”

9:55 Being Spontaneous

13:30 Near and Far Newsletter

13:58 Drumline at the Fiesta Bowl with Boise State

27:50 Leave a review

28:10 The joy of fishing: sharing spots and enjoying company