War of the Worlds by Orson Welles is perhaps the most famous radio play on Earth. But what’s left out of the story is where the play was set — a real, little town in New Jersey. It took decades, but the people who live in Grover’s Mill have come to embrace their part in one of the biggest media hoax… War of the Worlds by Orson Welles is perhaps the most famous radio play on Earth. But what’s left out of the story is where the play was set — a real, little town in New Jersey. It took decades, but the people who live in Grover’s Mill have come to embrace their part in one of the biggest media hoaxes of all time. In fact, they’ve turned it into something to be proud of. more

Shakeemah Smith, aka The Passport Abuser, is a solo traveler who has visited 92 countries and helped more than 12,000 people ace their first solo trip. A former social worker from East Orange, New Jersey, she built her platform, Travel Like a Bawse, to teach practical strategies for traveling more a… Shakeemah Smith, aka The Passport Abuser, is a solo traveler who has visited 92 countries and helped more than 12,000 people ace their first solo trip. A former social worker from East Orange, New Jersey, she built her platform, Travel Like a Bawse, to teach practical strategies for traveling more affordably and flipping everyday bills into airline miles. She later relocated to Antigua and Barbuda, where she now lives as an expat. 

In this episode, we talk about the personal shift that makes solo travel possible, how to travel for free without credit cards, and what it’s really like to move abroad and build a life in the Caribbean. 

Shakeemah opens up about calling off her wedding three months before the big day, boarding her first solo flight to Paris in the middle of heartbreak, and realizing she didn’t know how to be alone. What follows is a conversation about self-trust, identity, and deciding to meet the “2.0 version” of yourself instead of waiting for permission. 

We also get tactical. Shakeemah shares the exact systems she used to earn airline miles through everyday expenses like gas, groceries, utilities, and dining. And we talk honestly about leaving the U.S., adjusting to island life, and what it means to create safety and belonging on your own terms. 

If you’ve been waiting for the right time, the right money, or the right person to travel with, this one might challenge that story. 

Who would you become if you stopped waiting and just went? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. 

Tune In To Learn: 


How growing up near New York City shaped her worldview and early curiosity about the world 


Why ending her engagement forced her to confront her fear of being alone 


The insights and exercises that helped Shakeemah move from emotional dependence to independence and from fear to self-trust 


Why she believes solo travel is a fast track to trusting your instincts and enjoying your own company 


The moment she decided to build a framework to help others take their first solo trip 


How she turned 34 countries’ worth of lessons into a structured framework for new travelers 


The overlooked airline shopping portals that generate miles without opening new credit cards 


How to earn flights from gas, electricity, and everyday bills you’re already paying 


The mindset behind “bills to boarding passes” and why it works long term 


Why she moved to Antigua and Barbuda during 2020 and what that decision taught her about safety and lifestyle design 


The cultural adjustments of living on island time and navigating life as an American expat 


And so much more 

Resources: 


Sign up for our FREE newsletter 


Travel Like a Bawse 


Bills to Boarding Passes FREE masterclass 


Instagram 

Want More? 


How to Win at Travel with “The Points Guy” Brian Kelly 


Seizing Your Opportunity to Travel, Saving Money as a Solo Traveler, Lessons from a Career Break, and How to Figure Out What You Want (In 60 Seconds) with Leslie McKellar 


7 Mistakes to Avoid When Moving Abroad (Or Traveling Long-Term) with Chrishan Wright 

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A seven-night cruise on Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas from Bayonne, New Jersey to Florida and The Bahamas. This cruise had a stop in Nassau, Port Canaveral, and Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

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Tom left his home in New Jersey one day before his 26th birthday.  He walked.  Around the world.  For 7 years.  28,000 miles. 38 countries. 34 pairs of shoes. And one trusty companion (who was not part of the original plan).
I've been fascinated by Tom's journey for years now - and it's as epic as i… Tom left his home in New Jersey one day before his 26th birthday.  He walked.  Around the world.  For 7 years.  28,000 miles. 38 countries. 34 pairs of shoes. And one trusty companion (who was not part of the original plan).
I've been fascinated by Tom's journey for years now - and it's as epic as it sounds.  It's also, sometimes, as boring and mundane as it sounds.  Tom dives into all that - why he started in the first place, how and why he kept going, what his favorite countries were, and how something like this changed him.But also, how being "the guy who walked around the world" isn't his only identity, and how he's dealing with life after such an epic adventure while being "constrained" to Cincinnati.  An open, honest, and insightful look at an accomplishment that very few people have ever achieved through the eyes of someone who has done it.  
 
00:00 The Journey Begins: Tom's World Walk Introduction
03:49 A Life-Changing Event: The Motivation Behind the Walk
10:55 Keeping the Vision Alive: Overcoming Doubts and Challenges
13:26 Reality vs. Expectation: Insights from the Walk
17:12 Gradual Change: Experiencing Cultures on Foot
21:35 The Beauty of Serendipity: Embracing Unexpected Moments
31:17 Rich Experiences: Countries That Left a Mark
33:05 Planning the Route: Balancing Flexibility and Structure
34:37 Navigating the World During COVID
35:11 Defining a World Walk
36:41 The Decision to Walk with a Dog
42:05 Challenges and Companionship on the Journey
47:31 Overcoming Physical and Mental Hurdles
53:49 Reintegration into Normal Life
56:38 Writing the Book: A Journey of Reflection
01:02:32 Embracing Constraints for Growth
01:04:37 Future Adventures and Projects more

Tom Turcich and his dog, Savannah, completed their world walk in 2022. On this week’s episode of Travel Tales, we hear their story.
We first talked with Tom and Savannah back in 2021, when they were in Kyrgyzstan, six years into their journey, which began in 2015. They had been held up by the pandem… Tom Turcich and his dog, Savannah, completed their world walk in 2022. On this week’s episode of Travel Tales, we hear their story.
We first talked with Tom and Savannah back in 2021, when they were in Kyrgyzstan, six years into their journey, which began in 2015. They had been held up by the pandemic, which was only one of many ordeals they faced on their circumnavigation. A year and a few thousand miles later, they were done and back home in New Jersey. And now, two years later, Tom has released his memoir, The World Walk: 7 Years. 28,000 Miles. 6 Continents. A Grand Meditation, One Step at a Time.
In his Travel Tale, Tom reads an excerpt from the book, a moment set in the Peruvian desert about a year and a half into his journey. At that time, he’d already been held up by knife point and chased by semi-feral dogs in South America. The novelty of his walk had worn off and as he shuffled through the desert, he started to lose sight of why he was attempting this journey. And then he encountered a special restaurant with a special individual, one that revealed that he was indeed on the right path. 
Tom and host Aislyn Greene also talk about what it was like to return to “real” life after seven years of walking, his relationship to walking now, and where he wants to go next.  
Copyright © 2024 Tom Turcich. Excerpted by permission of Skyhorse Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Resources
Read the transcript of the episode.
Listen to the episode on YouTube on August 29th.
Buy Tom's book on Amazon and on Barnes & Nobles.
Follow Tom on Instagram. 
Read our feature on Tom and Savannah. 
Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks one tricky topic in travel each week. 
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