What I'm Listening to: Zero to Travel
Start with anything. Go everywhere.
The Podcast
We all pay lip service to traveling and adventure, but when the rubber hits the road most of us are much better at making excuses than getting out there and actually doing it. Jason over at Zero to Travel has put together the ultimate resource to help cut through all the BS and turn your travel dreams into a reality.
I started listening to Zero to Travel early this year when my wife and I began planning a big trip to Europe to celebrate five years of marriage. The podcast boasts a huge, rich, searchable backlog which makes it easy to cherry-pick episodes that are relevant to your interests. So if you're not interested in taking your entire life on the road, you can still find helpful content to get yourself ready for that big road trip or first international vacation.
Whether you're a seasoned traveler out there on the road or you're just gearing up to dip your toes into the wonderful world of travel, the Zero to Travel podcast has something to offer. You can learn how to explore the world for less through travel hacking. You can find awesome destinations to fit your budget. There are episodes about all kinds of unique travel methods and interviews about specific locations. There are guides to becoming a digital nomad and adopting a lifestyle that revolves around traveling. Jason even has more philosophical discussions about designing the life that you really want. And, of course, there are tons of practical tips for rookie travelers and old pros alike.
The polish and production quality of Zero to Travel makes it very easy to listen to and Jason is a very charismatic and personable host. The show brings it's listeners a huge variety of engaging interviews and topics, so every episode is fun and unique as well as educational. Jason always keeps the conversations moving to hold your interest and provide value to the listeners.
One Small Criticism
One minor complaint that I have it is that the episode intros can get a bit lengthy. I would describe them as a preamble where the show topic is teased, but Jason also discusses other travel-related tidbits and does a bit of selling of his online products. There's nothing at all wrong with selling; that's how Jason supports himself and provides this great content to us all for free. However, Jason does like to talk; it's part of what makes him such a good podcaster. The trade-off is that sometimes the intros get a bit too long to hold my interest.
I occasionally find myself skipping the first 5-10 minutes to dive right into the topic that initially caught my interest. Finding the right balance of being casual and conversational versus sticking rigidly to the topic at hand is a constant struggle for podcasters. No matter how hard they try, they just can't please everyone.
Make Your Travel Dreams a Reality
Don't let excuses keep getting in the way of doing the things you really want to do with your life. Commit to start taking steps to move toward your travel goals, whatever they may be. Be sure to use Zero to Travel as a resource to help get over any hurdles that are standing in your way. Because the life you want isn't just going to fall in your lap, you have to make it happen. Start today; as Jason likes to challenge, "If not now, when?"
The Cover Art
Zero to Travel Cover Art
I love the Zero to Travel podcast cover art. The bold typography is extremely legible even at small sizes. The bold font with subtly rounded corners and custom letterforms make a fun, inviting title. The globe nestled into the "O" is a nice touch and gives visual support to the theme of the show.
The tagline is simple and clear; it doesn't compete with the main text and it gives a layer of context to the cover.
Everything is set on a background photo of a beautiful and intriguing travel destination. The photo has been adjusted to allow the text to stand out nicely without looking artificial or over-processed.
The faux passport stamps hammer home the idea that this is a show about traveling, but in my opinion they are overkill. Their bright colors compete with the podcast title and they bring unnecessary clutter to the composition. The design could be improved by making the stamps a bit more subtle or even getting rid of them altogether.
However, that is a minor complaint about some really effective and beautiful cover art.