TOAST: Recent Episodes
Jordan Coppola
Tales of a Seasoned Traveler is a podcast series about a man who has travelled around the world and can't keep his mouth shut about it. Originating from a fear of losing his memories in the future, he's compiling stories of every country he's visited, two episodes at a time.
Full Video
https://youtu.be/dPPt69VuOK4
If your reaction is anything short of SHOCK that there are ZEBRAS in UKRAINE, then you're a much stabler person than I. . The idea that these African horses can survive Ukrainian winters.. for 12 generations.. blew my mind more than staring at a natural pink salt lake. . Check it out. Kherson Oblast is KING
Full Video:
https://youtu.be/-799Smd165I
Pretty inexistent pandemic when you're smashing your face into other people at a packed festival in Ukraine. . What a journey, from pulling out flares to the biggest Ukrainian flag in the world, the journey, start to end, is unforgettable.
Full video:
https://youtu.be/jSbVAq381l8
To switch things up, let's skip the country specific stories and talk about almost dying. . Y'all know this happens more often than I can count but they didn't call me Fortunato for nothing.
Full Video:
https://youtu.be/-u-PGunzVww
I always suggest getting off the "tourist route" or "gringo trail" when traveling because often the best gems aren't where the masses flock.
Hence, my favorite place in myself - I mean Jordan - Wadi Mujib.
Check it out!
Jordan in Jordan. Ismi baladak.
My favourite lines in the short but sweet journey to myself.
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Check out the story of my time in Wadi Rum (filming location of many Star Wars & more recently Dune) and Petra.
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Here I revert to my old ways of travelling with my thumb and dancing on the highways trying to get lifts.
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Full Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEb7bSaY9-8
I fell in love with a place. Not for the first time, not for the last time, but definitely & definitively for life. Hear me ramble about how awesome Dahab is & struggling to fit all of the amazing things this place has to offer. In a nutshell, Dahabibis, the best community of people I've met in 6+ years and 90+ countries of journeying.
Full video:
https://youtu.be/fSjVaZml4xE
Going into the desert is always an intense landscape change.. theres a whole lot of NOTHING. . However today's episode covers an absolute gem in the Sahara, an epic oasis that Alexander the Great himself almost died looking for. . A location where a military warlord becomes a God? Sign me up. .
Naifu grew up in China as a boy, and had yet to return as an adult. In this podcast, Jordan and Naifu discuss the differences between China and North America, touching on topics such as Food & Culture, Individualism, Business Practices, and the sheer amount of humans in the People's Republic.
Full Video:
https://youtu.be/aWrtTHaCMxY
In 2016, my good friend @vincityx took the leap and followed his dream of moving to Europe. In this episode, we discuss the good and bad that comes with moving to a foreign country as well as the challenges that come with moving back after years of living a new life. .
In the end, we both agree that moving abroad is a life-changing experience, one that will allow you to learn more about yourself and give you a new outlook on your life and the world as a whole.
FULL VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/KUldp0-2JBk
Switching up from the TOAST usual, I have my brother in (his own) studio talking about our respective experience of China. How much has it changed? What did Marc do that I didn't and vice versa?
Our stories and experience diverge quite a bit but the overall thing to take away is that we both have numerous stories and incredible experiences from the trips.
Full Vid:
https://youtu.be/_yxXG48JaYs
Have you ever tried to make yourself a garden only to find a large white brick in the ground then you ask the government about it and get your (and your neighbours') home repossessed by the government to dig out a Roman amphitheater?
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Yup, that's the official story of how this 2100 year old structure was (re)discovered and further reconstructed in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. .
Hear about one of my favourite spots in Central/Eastern (depending who you ask) in today's video.
Full Video:
https://youtu.be/J9C8wLTexi8
They say bad things happen in threes.. but what about good ones?
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It seems like my whole experience in Bulgaria and subsequent Romania were just a string of luck that just so happened to fall into categories of threes.
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Today's episode I introduce Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria and a lovely city that I can't wait to return to.
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I made some awesome friends there that I have visited a few times since.
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Full vid:
https://youtu.be/ANe0xmiqKzE
Being in Europe and stumbling upon an entire village made with schist, a method of stacking stones without any adhesion, is absolutely mind boggling.
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Bringing in feelings of Alberobello in Italy or incredible Incan villages in the Andes (South America), this Schist village blew me away. It's so prehistoric and meditative to build structures in a manner that contradicts gravity thanks to balance.
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Needless to say, Coimbra shouldn't be muffled as it's a historically important university city which is almost as photogenic as the ruins in the hills.
Full video:
https://youtu.be/clFq20RdBPw
The beauty of the Algarve region is impossible to overrate. Looking back on some of my experiences I realized how happy I am that next time I visit I'll be able to converse (once I practice the EU pronunciation rules) with the locals and drastically modify my experience.
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Leaving for a year abroad in early 2017 made me a little... frugal.
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Luckily I have no issues making friends and traveling budget friendly when I'm alone so I made it all work out.
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Check out the story and let me know if you have suggestions for future countries!
FULL VID:
https://youtu.be/zI1TaRUoJ1I
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After snorkelling and driving around the sandy Fraser island.. it was time to turn up the adrenaline.
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I don't consider myself an extreme sport enthusiast but there definitely is something to be said about adrenaline rushes. I feel like time moves more slowly when your body is convinced it's going to meet its end.
FULL VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/6B4hzeziFfI
Dropbears are terrifying enough to have nightmare about, dropping from trees and endangering lives of all those who walk under them.. but luckily this story doesn't have any close encounters with them.
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Hitting some of Australia's most scenic spots on the northeastern coast, I cut the story in two episodes because nobody could handle that much awesome in one sitting.
FULL VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/av3DO6BOQXM
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Snowboarding in August, bungy jumping in the midle of a canyon, switching ecosystems multiple times a day.. Seems like a normal day on the south island of New Zealand!
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As you may know, NZ has left a really long lasting imprint on my life as I went there 9 years ago and it hasn't budged from its position in my top 3 countries.
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Instead of reading this, you'd be better off hearing me get all excited in the episode :)
FULL VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/TbfK_CjUaVM
New Zealand shouldn't strike you as anything less than awe inspiring. Sheer untouched nature around every corner, ecosystems that change at the drop of a hat and yet somehow alluring enough to keep you guessing. . Going to NZ I had high expectations that were literally pulverized, blown out of the water and shipped into orbit because the sights, sentiments and disposition (of: do I reeeeeally wanna catch that flight home??) were overwhelming. . Check out the story so I don't waste your time with this text :)
FULL VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/sARASgV5cYQ
Imagine setting out to travel 2000+km with nothing but your thumb and silly dance moves.
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Now imagine appealing to some Chilean ladies so much that they let you tag along their trip for 3 days.
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I guess today's episode is about my middle name, Fortunato, which I am.
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Luck seems to be tightly linked to persistence. Every time I'm at the verge or in the middle of giving up, the tides turn and I get rewarded for my patience.
FULL VID:
https://youtu.be/oQFBH_tygC0
We all know the journey is more important than the destination so this fabled adventure gets two stories.
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Using only my thumb, smile and over the top dance moves I made it from the top to the bottom of Patagonia. Glaciers, mountains, tons of wildlife and a whole lot of introspection were encountered.
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Sometimes the toughest trials are where the magic of personal growth and fear mesh to make you a better human person.
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I hope you're all safe and speaking words of peace, love & acceptance in these trying times.
FULL VID:
https://youtu.be/gnHYO-zdcdA
Travelling alone is probably my favorite way to travel because, well, you're never really alone. You latch on to or acquire fellow travellers as you see fit but most importantly you make lifelong friendships from unplanned moments.. like long bus rides, or simply sitting in the right hostel at the right time :) . Follow my journey from America's first city to some of Colombias best hidden treasures!
FULL VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/8uAFN3oVBsU
Traveling through a country or region should always spark the search "what cultural events are happening there while I'm around?" on your browser. .
Think of someone visiting the USA or Canada in early July just to spend our national holidays camping or on a day-long bus ride.
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Luckily, I didn't need to worry about missing this one as it's a worldwide cultural phenomena (season?) that I wouldn't have missed even if I had been in North Korea.
Full video:
https://youtu.be/kGYDavRj88Y
Enjoying the small things is essential to living a happy life, this episode is evidence of that.
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Sadly in the narration of stories I often omit certain details like buying kilograms of olives, focaccia and olive oil to bring along for the ride. Know that those moments are what are truly appreciated and that I'm grateful for in the moments that I record and share these stories with you. <3
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From saving a baby bird in Lecce to sleeping in the car by the beach, we managed to pack so much into so little time that I refell in love with Italy twelve times over.
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Thanks again (y'all) for your continued support, kind words and most of all, for being yourself :)
FULL VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/c3_7K6GPW9k
Italy is constantly facing an exodus of their small towns, by the beach or not, due to the appeal of work, money and luxuries that cities can provide.
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Where we come from has a huge impact on where we go. Seeing the roots of my father's family, a fully self sufficient farm that needs endless labour yet provides all the necessities of life was so impactful.
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It showed me how my brother @marcangelocoppola is taking the old generation's lifestyle and is revamping it to the 21st century (see @valhallamovement) as well as demonstrating that some things needn't have changed with the turn of the century.
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That lifestyle is still out there, readily available and more than ever in Italy, being supported by various levels of government - which now offer bursaries (funding) for people willing to move back to the small towns. (wink wink, eco-village enthusiasts)
Vince joins me in the studio to tell the first half of his experience in southern Italy.
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Despite moving at a fast pace both in the trip and in our storytelling, the small things (mainly olives) tend to be what makes a story memorable.
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I believe that Vince and I emphasize on the quality of our experience so much because southern Italy has the (best food in the world) charm of being so incredibly (cheap and virtually tourist-free) welcoming to foreigners who perceive Italy as a country of spaghetti and tourist attractions (see: Rome, Florence, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Venice)
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Visit southern Italy :)
Full Video:
https://youtu.be/TnlZMOu7fLw
The hardest thing about being away for years at a time is not being able to see, bring or interact with your hometown friends. . Here's a story of my first weekend in Calabria, facing my uncertainty of developing meaningful friendships in a place where I barely spoke the language. . Not all my TOAST posts will be about great times and jolly experiences, some of that knitty gritty stuff we call character development happens in the cracks below.
FULL VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/Fnk4lyF2oV0
I'm not trying to feed any stereotypes of any country in my videos, positive or negative... but when I'm put face to face with a man unleashing his bowels by the Taj Mahal.. I can't not report it. . I'm going to leave this episode here as the end of India week, keeping all my favorite bits (Jaipur & Delhi solo) for the next time it resurfaces. . For now I'm kicking off my shoes and jumping into a two week special for ITALY :D
Full Video:
https://youtu.be/ew57rQqkccs
What happens when the most populous country forcefully devalues its currency? .
ATM lines surge to hours-long waits, the population is forced to create alternative forms of payment, people are in panic and cannot hoard their cash.. but what about the backpackers? .
Being in the privilege of knowing people in all corners of the world, it didn't affect me as much and I'm grateful to have been but a spectator in one of the biggest moments for the country.
FULL VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/OClVyPLhiYk
Moustache gracias for stopping by.
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Basque country is this amazing culturally diverse region of Spain and France that is shrouded in mistery.
Why are their buildings so cool - and so different?
Where did their (unrelated to any other) language come from?
Why does this language have super long (and simple) words like GAZTELUGATXE?
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Watch my episode so I can definitely not answer any of those questions.
Vince joins me in the studio to tell one of our legendary level tales, the day we could have died... for 5 euros. . Co-telling stories that were co-lived is among the best things we could do - only taking the back seat to actually travelling and making lifelong memories ;)
FULL VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/rgc5p2c-XqU
I'd like to share some strong words as I'm closing my 6 part Balkans series with a tale from Macedonia.
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The region has so much more to offer than I could possibly put into words. It's where East has and continues to meet West, the clashing, meshing and integration of cultures has shaped how we grew as a species.
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I hold the Balkans dear to my heart as my favorite region of Europe, which is saying a lot because my next episodes take place in the Iberian peninsula
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Stay safe
Full Video:
https://youtu.be/MO3133u1_G0
Most people's story behind their first tattoo goes along the lines of deep meaning, some emotional significance or at least something more than a "Why not?" moment.
Sadly, this tiny bundle of crazy decided that a rainy day and a cool hostel are all I needed to get on a tattoo artist's bench for the first time.
Hear the story behind my short but sweet visit to Tirana.
Full Video:
https://youtu.be/a5TgS1l5A8Y
Where are the crossroads of East and West? . Where can you get a Turkish coffee listening to Islamic prayers then walk down the same cobblestone street to a church?
Bosnia is the place. You can stand on a street corner that allows you to see a synagogue, an orthodox church, a catholic church and a mosque simply by pivoting.
Hear my quick tale of Sarajevo, a recently war-torn capital in the middle of two historically monolithic empires - the Austro-Hungarians and the Ottomans.
Watch the full video:
https://youtu.be/4mH28p7n5m8
Sometimes you just hit the jackpot with the place you choose to stay, this was one of those times.
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I don't know why I didn't stay longer even though we kept extending our nights as each day came and went, the crew we became is still my favorite among all the hostels I've ever been to.
Full Video:
https://youtu.be/nMOFHNZynsk
Did you know the largest standing Roman amphitheatre outside of Rome (the Colosseum) is in Croatia?
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Today's episode follows a quick but bountiful journey through Croatia as we raced to catch our flights to Tomorrowland.
Full video:
https://youtu.be/23e7GYmNebQGoing from one country to another with an overnight ferry is more or less typical by this point, but what you do on that ferry often changes your experience.
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We met a few good blokes on the ferry from Bari to Dubrovnik and we started our red journey in Croatia with a boat full of laughs.
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The first country of the Balkan region for me to step foot on was back in 2014, since then I've been back 3 times so it's needless to say that I love them.
Full Video:
https://youtu.be/LixoSH01PXQ
How can a city of 2 million people not even be on the map?
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What's the point of going to such a "small and out of the way" location like Jilin City?
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Listen to find out ;)
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Hoping this works for IGTV because my other post (with Shank/Naifu) is giving me a hard time!
Full Video:
https://youtu.be/n0Mwob4Ka90
Everyone knows that getting arrested is scary, and bad.. but what happens when you get arrested in China?!
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Check out our story of how our very simple day and night escalated into a not so friendly visit with the local police in Changchun, China.
I'm glad that I didn't kill myself on the last day of this hike, as I literally risked my life on an aluminium carabiner.
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I always claim that true backpackers are masochists because we throw ourselves so far out of our comfort zone that we don't know the difference between pain and love anymore.
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Despite the pain that I endure running up mountains for 4 days, seeing icebergs the size of my house and witnessing the sheer glory of the Viedma glacier was worth every drop of sweat.
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Hiking isn't just about reconnecting with nature, rediscovering your love for the sounds of birds (or in this case, insane wind) nor the camping under the stars. I believe it's a physical manifestation of what mental illnesses feel like.
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Opening up Argentina week 1 with another tale of hitchhiking.. but with some spice.
Video:
https://youtu.be/bIBtQxclO7c
Running around Central America isn't complete without a volcano hike, or twelve. This lake in a volcano on and island created by the eruption of a volcano is one of Nicaragua's coolest spots: Ometepe.
Hidden in plain sight the hippies of the world have created a sanctuary of organic farms, chocolate factories and good natural vibes along beaches, volcanoes and howler monkeys.
One of Nicaragua's most popular destinations is Cerro Negro (Black Mountain) which is where some crazy mofos came up with the idea to develop a plank of wood (more of a sled than a board) to attain max speed going down this stand alone mountain in an otherwise flat area of Central America.
The first part of a 2 week adventure with James, aka Jamoncito, chasing volcanoes, lakes, waterfalls and an endless supply of cervezas.
How one question got me out of the hostel and into one of Shanghai's most exclusive clubs.
Introduction to my podcast TOAST, Tales of a seasoned traveler, which describes the type of material and stories one can expect from the future episodes.