Best Stephan Kesting Podcasts (2025)

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439 - The Real Catch Wrestling and What it Can Teach Jiu-Jitsu, with Val 'The Crippler' Childs 1:04:15

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3d ago1:04:15

1:04:15

Catch wrestling was a brutal method for settling disputes on the American Frontier as well as one of the largest, most respected spectator sports prior to the modern era. In this episode Val Childs - who has been training in catch wrestling since he was 5 - takes us on a tour through the historical roots of catch, the modern catch competition circu…

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11 European Dishes You Must Try Before You Die (Plus Movie Pairings) with Kenny Dunn 1:23:43

3d ago1:23:43

1:23:43

Which European dish is so good you’d plan a trip around it? Kenny Dunn is the founder of Eating Europe, a food tour company that has guided over 400,000 travelers to the best local eats in 17 of Europe’s greatest cities since 2011. In this episode, Kenny shares 11 European dishes you must try before you die, including cultural context, restaurant t…

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Remote Roundup: Bangkok & Oaxaca, Remote Career Trends, Missing Out at Home, Practical Holiday Gift Guide (November 2025) 1:05:20

8d ago1:05:20

1:05:20

How do you choose where to live, what to do, and when to go home when your life is fully remote? Remote Roundup is a monthly series hosted by Zero To Travel’s associate producer, Caitlin Sunderland, and partnerships manager, Janessa Klatt. Explore what's new in remote work and travel, including helpful tools and resources, need‑to‑know trends, dest…

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Top 10 World’s Most Difficult Countries to Visit (How and Why to Go) with Gunnar Garfors and Jacqui Kunz 1:09:34

10d ago1:09:34

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What are the most difficult countries to visit, and why do some require months of effort just to get in? Gunnar Garfors is an author, journalist, and the first person to travel to every country in the world twice. Jacqui Kunz was named “World’s Most Intrepid Traveler” in 2023 and is also well on her way to visiting every country in the world. In th…

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189. Solo - Where the hell have I been?

10d ago

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Not much to write here. This long overdue episode fills you in in what I have been up to this past summer. A new hip, travel, adventure, bikes and boards, school and major life changing considerations. I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I enjoyed making it. It’s been too long. Huge thanks to Mannmade Cycles for sponsoring the My Back 40 Podca…

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Independent Travel as a Female in Afghanistan, Hitchhiking Iraq, and Ex-Pat Life in Sudan with Jacquelyn Kunz 1:30:25

15d ago1:30:25

1:30:25

IMPORTANT: This episode was recorded before the conflict in Sudan, and Jacqui has since left the country. For additional information and ways to support the Sudanese people, you can visit eyesonsudan.net and follow Jacqui on Instagram. Why would someone choose to travel to the world’s most dangerous places? Today I’m joined by Jacquelyn Kunz, the f…

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438 - Crafting Your Ideal Jiu-Jitsu Journey, with Tom Wortman 59:08

17d ago59:08

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AOJ black belt Tom Wortman is a fierce competitor; he won IBJJ Pans, Euros, North Americans and Master Worlds in a single year as a brown belt. He's also a jiu-jitsu gypsy, typically training at a club for 3 to 6 months, then moving thousands of miles to see a new part of the country and training at a new club. Find out how he he does this, what th…

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Beginner's Guide to Travel (No Matter Your Age) + How to Travel with Diabetes with Jason Robinson 1:18:21

17d ago1:18:21

1:18:21

What does it really take to build a travel lifestyle from scratch, especially if you’re starting later in life or managing a serious medical condition? Jason Robinson is the founder of The Nomad Experiment and author of The Beginner Traveler’s Guide. After digging out of debt and selling his home, he now travels full-time while living with type 1 d…

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Top 7 Destinations to Visit (Before They Get Crowded) with Gunnar Garfors 1:29:22

22d ago1:29:22

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Need some inspiration for your upcoming travels? Gunnar Garfors is the first person to travel to every country in the world not once, but TWICE. As the ultimate travel expert, he’s with us to share his list of the best places to visit before they get too popular. You’ll hear about seven out-of-the-ordinary destinations spanning all seven continents…

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The Revival of Night Train Travel and Launching a European Sleeper Train Startup with Thibault Constant 59:56

24d ago59:56

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Is night train travel making a comeback? Trains have long been seen as a romantic or nostalgic way to explore a destination, but what if it could also be the most practical, comfortable, and climate-friendly way? Thibault Constant is a French train enthusiast turned entrepreneur who built a following of 300k on his YouTube channel, Simply Railways.…

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How To Be a “New Tourist,” the Powers and Perils of Tourism, Embracing Tourist Traps, and the Impact of Travel with Paige McClanahan 1:40:27

29d ago1:40:27

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How is tourism impacting communities, and what can we do about it? Paige McClanahan joins me to talk about the dualities of the tourism industry and how we can have deeper travel experiences while benefiting the world. Paige McClanahan is the author of The New Tourist: Waking up to the Power and Perils of Travel. She is an American journalist based…

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7 Chile Hidden Gems: Off-the-Beaten Path in Patagonia, Mapuche Culture, and More with Steph Dyson 1:34:51

1M ago1:34:51

1:34:51

Want to explore volcanoes, wine valleys, remote wilderness, and vibrant indigenous cultures, all in one country? Why not make Chile your next adventure? Steph Dyson is a travel journalist, guidebook author, and founder of the website Worldly Adventurer. She has spent nearly a decade living and travelling across Latin America, including three years …

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437 - Adam Shoalts, Vanished Beyond the Map 39:55

1M ago39:55

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Canoeist and author Adam Shoalts on the mindset that drives individuals to seek adventure, and the importance of safety and decision-making in the wilderness. We also dive into the mysterious disappearance of the greatest explorer you've never heard of. Grab Adam's book, Vanished Beyond the Map, anywhere books are sold or here: https://adamshoalts.…

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Remote Roundup: True Costs of Long-Term Travel, Taxes & Borderless Living, an Underrated Productivity Habit, + More (October 2025) 1:17:23

1M ago1:17:23

1:17:23

What tools and routines make the biggest difference for nomads? What really drives down your cost of living abroad, and what are you giving up to get there? On this month’s episode, Caitlin and Janessa swap stories on budgeting, daily tradeoffs, and what it takes to feel comfortable in constant motion. You'll hear their thoughts on shifting priorit…

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7 Epic Travel Fitness Adventures (For All Levels) and Solo Travel for Transformation with Heidi Nicklaus (+ Jason’s Ultimate Travel Blunder) 1:11:38

1M ago1:11:38

1:11:38

What would your travels look like if you planned them around the most epic, life-shaping active adventures you could dream up? Heidi Niklaus is the founder of Heidi Runs Abroad LLC, where she helps travelers, expats, and digital nomads maintain their wellness routines on the road. With a background in higher education at Rutgers University, she piv…

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436 - How Training Your Submissions as Positions Takes Your Game to the Next Level, with Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models 58:08

1M ago58:08

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Today the tables get turned and I end up on the other end of the microphone as Steve Kwan from BJJ Mental Models picks my brain about the huge benefits that arise to treating your jiu-jitsu submissions as positions first, and submissions second. I promise this will make perfect sense by the end of the episode, and may change how you approach your t…

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#10: KC Jones - Never Quit: The True Meaning of a Black Belt 1:08:41

1M ago1:08:41

1:08:41

“A black belt means I never quit.” “We may not speak the same language, but we can all speak martial arts.” “BKF wasn’t Kenpo — it was the first real MMA school.” “Fear is natural. The trick is to understand it, not run from it.” “Relaxation under pressure — that’s the highest skill.” “We started with 30 students. Only two made it. That’s what bein…

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435 - Roy Dean and the Origins of BJJ in North America 1:02:36

1M ago1:02:36

1:02:36

Renowned BJJ blackbelt Roy Dean came onto The Strenuous Life Podcast to talk about his research into how BJJ got started in North America, martial arts culture in Japan, the power of Judo in self defense situations, the importance of role models in shaping one's conception of masculinitym and more. If you get a chance, please give this show a ratin…

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Top 15 USA National Park Hikes: From Iconic Must-Dos to Hidden Wilderness Gems with Jason Frye 1:34:14

1M ago1:34:14

1:34:14

What if the best hikes in America’s national parks aren’t the ones you’ve already heard of? Jason Frye is a travel and outdoor writer who grew up in the mountains of West Virginia and now lives in North Carolina near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. His latest book with Moon Travel Guides, USA National Parks Hiking: The Top 100 Trails, cove…

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How to Harness the Power of Your Intuition (Using the Icelandic Concept of Innsæi) with Hrund Gunnsteinsdottir 1:28:49

2M ago1:28:49

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What would life feel like if you could reliably tap into your intuition, even when your logic is pulling in another direction? Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir is an Icelandic author, speaker, and creative leader known for popularizing the concept of InnSæi, the Icelandic approach to intuition. She spent years working in international development (including …

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434 - High-Percentage BJJ Competition Strategies with Beatrice 'Berimbozo' Jin 54:34

2M ago54:34

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Beatrice Jin shares the competition strategies that have allowed her to become the American National adult black belt middleweight champion and one of the top ranked black belts in the world. From guard pulls to sweeps to takedowns to pin escapes to conditioning to KO grips to structuring open mats so that they become a competitive advantage for yo…

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Peru’s Hidden Gems, Why NOT to Hike the Inca Trail + Amazing (Less Crowded) Alternatives with Heather Jasper 1:16:45

2M ago1:16:45

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By Jason Moore

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Surviving On a Desert Island + Transformative Travel with Tom Williams from Desert Island Survival 1:18:20

2M ago1:18:20

1:18:20

By Jason Moore

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Top 7 French Riviera Hidden Gems (A Local’s Guide) + A Lifestyle Redesign Built Around Travel with Cédric Pages 1:03:25

2M ago1:03:25

1:03:25

By Jason Moore

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Remote Roundup: Intentional Travel, Nomadding Berlin, Work Setups, Co-Living Trends, Overhyped Destinations (September 2025) 1:01:14

2M ago1:01:14

1:01:14

By Jason Moore

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Traveling with No Destination and No Goals: Lessons from a 3-Year, 38,000-Mile Solo Bike Ride Around the World with Jacob Lemanski 56:53

2M ago56:53

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By Jason Moore

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433 - How Jiu-Jitsu Builds an Unshakeable Self Confidence, with Alicia Reitz 51:07

2M ago51:07

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Alicia Reitz and I dive deep into how BJJ can be used to develop a strong sense of self confidence for everyone, and how that self confidence can then be put to good use in self defense and the the rest of your life. We also digress a little into specifics of the social media drama that I was involved in recently, which certainly raised my blood pr…

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Safari Planning 101 + How to Build Your Life Around Travel with Scott Brills 1:32:36

3M ago1:32:36

1:32:36

By Jason Moore

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10 Steps to License Your Product Ideas for Location Independent Passive Income (No Manufacturing Required) with Courtney Laschkewitsch 1:35:54

3M ago1:35:54

1:35:54

By Jason Moore

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Adventures in Urban Exploration with Greg Abandoned 1:35:07

3M ago1:35:07

1:35:07

By Jason Moore

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Counterintuitive Advice on Selling Online, Starting Before You’re Ready, & Building a Fiction Career with Nat Eliason 1:25:21

3M ago1:25:21

1:25:21

By Jason Moore

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432 - Hybrid Training 4: Optimal Conditioning for Winning BJJ Tournaments, with James Deirmendjian 57:54

3M ago57:54

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James Deirmendjian a strength and conditioning coach specialising in combat and tactical athletes who ALSO competes in BJJ, fighting against much younger opponents. As such he was the perfect choice to finish our 4-part series on hybrid training and the science of developing strength and endurance at the same time. In this episode James and I touch…

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The Elements of AlUla: Arabia’s Lost City and the Heritage of Earth 49:05

3M ago49:05

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By Jason Moore

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15 Years of Sacrifice, Secrets, & Sleeping with Cobras: Refusing an “Ordinary” Life to Build a Lost Paradise with Martin Vrana 1:16:23

3M ago1:16:23

1:16:23

By Jason Moore

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431 - Hybrid Training 3: Mixing Ultramarathon and Strength Training with James Pieratt 53:41

3M ago53:41

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James Pieratt from Wild Hunt Conditioning joins us to share what he learned on an expedition in which he ran 802 miles through nearly the entire state of California. James is unique in the ultrarunning community because he also lifts heavy weights and trains in BJJ. We looked at the mindset and philosophy required for ultrarunning, the emotional jo…

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PK Podcast 61: James Steyn, FGASA Scout on Walking Safaris, Guiding Standards and Tracking at the Highest Level 2:11:02

3M ago2:11:02

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In Episode 61 of my podcast, I speak with James Steyn, one of only a handful of guides to hold the elite FGASA Scout qualification, combining Senior Tracker status with advanced dangerous game trails guiding. James shares his journey from growing up near Kruger to guiding wilderness trails, training future guides, and running Senalala Safari Lodge …

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Remote Roundup: Future Hotspots, Productivity Experiments, Digital Nomadding 2.0 (August 2025) 57:08

3M ago57:08

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By Jason Moore

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100 Documentaries Project: Traveling the Globe to Find Extraordinary Humans + Changing the World One Story at a Time with Robin Danehav 1:05:48

3M ago1:05:48

1:05:48

By Jason Moore

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Disrupting Travel and Building Community with Beth Santos 1:01:36

4M ago1:01:36

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By Jason Moore

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The 5 Best Hacks of “All the Hacks”: Travel, Money & Life Optimization with Chris Hutchins 1:23:58

4M ago1:23:58

1:23:58

By Jason Moore

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430 - Hybrid Training 2: The Science of Strength, Power and Endurance with Chris Duffin 1:02:26

4M ago1:02:26

1:02:26

Record-setting powerlifter and freak athlete Chris Duffin discusses the intricacies of hybrid training, focusing on the balance between strength and endurance. He shares his unique qualifications, including his experience with elite athletes and his world record feats. Chris breaks down the relative importance of skill, and the mechanical, neurolog…