Jamie's Wee Podcast

The tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of the American police has turned all eyes of the world on the global pandemic which is racism.

This has been my most nerve wracking podcast episode yet.

With the world in complete turmoil and with everyone on edge, the possibility of saying the wrong thing in an already volatile situation almost forced me to postpone or cancel tackling this subject altogether.

After taking time to grieve for George Floyd and the ongoing issue of racism I felt like I had to use my voice, my white privilege and my platforms to play whatever part I can in helping to move towards a more tolerant and united world.

I decided to script this episode because of the information and the points I wanted to give. I wrote and rewrote the script 18 times to make it as impactful as I possibly could. It’s delivered more as a monologue and less of a discussion.

If ever there was an episode I would like you to listen to or watch then it would be this one.

As always I welcome your feedback and constructive conversation to anything I have said in this episode.

I would like to dedicate this episode to the memory of George Floyd and to the Black Lives Matter movement

Due to the currency Coronavirus situation there has never been a better time to educate yourself on all things cryptocurrency and in particular Bitcoin.

With the world currently printing more money than ever in the form of stimulus and financial aid, this could have devastating effects on the US dollar and monetary system that we all currently know.

In this episode I speak to Jonas Hornehoj who is a travel photographer by day and an obsessive Bitcoin enthusiast by night.

The main aim of this episode was to create a safe haven and a perfect entry point for anyone who has an interest.

This cryptocurrency and bitcoin for beginners episode is perfect for all of you who have never heard of it before, or for those of you who have and want to expand your knowledge with the mind of taking control of your financial future.

Some key talking points from this episode were:

Why we could be about to see a financial implosion on a scale never seen in our lifetime before

How we could see the death of the dollar and what would replace it if so

The mystery behind who founded Bitcoin

When was Bitcoin created and why was it created

How much Bitcoin is there in circulation and will it ever run out

The price rises and falls of Bitcoin from it’s creation and why it has investment potential

How safe is Bitcoin with it being a digital currency with all business being conducted online

The story behind the famous Bitcoin pizza day which is remembered on the 22nd of May

The potential future for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies

Plus much more! Like I say this is packed full of value if you want to get to grips with all things Bitcoin and cryptocurrency.

I hope you enjoy the episode and would love to hear your thoughts and opinions!

As we approach June of 2020 and with the world having over 5 million confirmed cases of Covid-19, I look at why Bali of all places may be immune to the Coronavirus

Having been in Bali before, during and likely after the pandemic, I have had a first hand insight to the procedures that have been taken and the day to day life of what it’s like to live here through this time

In this episode I really stick my head above the parapet for the first time to discuss a subject that sees the world divided, which leaves myself exposed to conversation, criticism and even perhaps censorship.

This would mean my podcast wings could be clipped before I have even had the chance to fly but that's a risk I’m willing to take in order to maintain my integrity and to create real conversations

In this episode I discuss:

The very low coronavirus statistics in Bali compared to the rest of the world

How herd immunity may have been built in Bali in late 2019

The things that all of westerners living here in Bali have in common

Why we shouldn’t be focused on being vaccinated but more so focusing on self care

How staying at home, safe distancing, wearing masks etc has a detrimental impact on our health

This wasn’t an othrodox podcast episode but one I thoroughly enjoyed doing as it was me giving my own informed opinion rather than regurgitated nonsense from the mainstream media

I would really value your input more than ever on this one and welcome informed conversations and opinions.

I talk to the well established and much renowned travel photographer Jordan Hammond about the relationship between mindset and success

Having been through the dizzy highs and excruciating lows on his own journey to success, Jord gives us a fascinating insight into the rise of a self taught photographer

Discussed in this episode:

• The pros and cons of having a profession that creates time and distance from being with family
  
• What Jord’s family think about his chosen career path and how he was fired from his first job working at Morrisons supermarket
  
• The difficulties of maintaining genuine friendships whilst constantly travelling and being away from home
  
• How he was treated from people in his hometown when he returned home from China with a successful Instagram account compared to before he left
  
• How he was pushed to the point of being broke chasing his dream of being a travel photographer and how they turned it around
  
• Why he has been close to giving up on photography multiple times and why he decided to keep going
  
• The period when travel photography had a detrimental impact on Jord’s health
  
• How Jord rediscovered his love and passion for photography after a tough period through making certain changes
  
• The relationship between mindset and success and how Jord invests his time in that
  
• What advice Jord would give other photographers who may be struggling mentally, financially or with motivation
  

If you yourself are a photographer or someone trying to reach what feels like an impossible dream, then indulge in the words of wisdom from mr Jordan Hammond

In part 1 of this 2 part 3 hour marathon episode, I talk to my friend, photographer and all round good guy, Mr Jordan Hammond.

With over 640K Instagram followers it’s fair to say that Jord’s world class photography skills haven’t gone unnoticed.

But how did he reach this level of success?

We discuss, in depth and in length, pretty much everything there is to know about Jord including:

• Growing up Jord was an extreme introvert and not the confident guy you see in his stories now
  
• How university completely changed his life and seen his character transition through that 3 year process
  
• How he met his other half Sophia on a dating app
  
• Their decision to move to China and teach English
  
• The thought process behind buying his first camera
  
• How photography went from an interest to a hobby to then becoming a professional
  
• Jord discusses his self taught process and why you don’t have to go to be professionally taught
  
• How his passion to become a professional pushed him to the point of being broke
  
• The mentality and mindset it takes to become successful
  
• How Jord maintains his mental health and why it’s important
  
• The highs and lows of travel and how he misses family back home
  
• The struggles of being a “travel couple” whilst building a business together
  
• How Jord managed to grow his Instagram account
  

Plus much much more! Like I say it’s a 3 hour episode split into 2 so it’s a full extraction of everything Jordan Hammond.

For any aspiring photographers out there then this is an episode not to be missed!

The Indonesian island of Bali is an unmistakable paradise which is why it’s well renowned for being one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world.

You will have to go some distance to find a place which has been engulfed with tourism in recent years, but still manages to harness the deep rooted cultures, religions and traditions.

With over 6 million tourists passing through Bali every year it can become a bit of a melting pot of east meets west which doesn’t always result in positive outcomes.

This week's podcast guest is American Sean who travels with his girlfriend Stacey. To fund their travels they work online as social media managers which has allowed them to visit Bali several times throughout the last couple of years.

Bali is their second home and one they have grown accustomed to. They have immersed themselves in the local culture by spending time around the island and especially in the eastern jungle where they have even made some lifelong friends in the Balinese people.

What was once a safe haven took a sour turn when Sean and Stacey were on their way home after an evening meal which is when they were attacked in an attempted robbery on their scooter.

The darker side of the island, which unfortunately so many are initially unaware of but have gone on to experience, Sean and Stacey never thought it would happen to them.

In this episode we discuss the sensitive events which unfolded that night, their experience of a Balinese hospital, the crazy way in which the Indonesian police dealt with the crime and the mental and physical scars which will take time to heal.

An episode not to be missed if you are in Bali or plan to visit here at some point in the future.

Has there been a harder hit industry during this Coronavirus pandemic than travel?

In this latest podcast I speak to Australian travel blogger and influencer Jonny Melon who has experienced first hand the devastating impact that this situation has had on a personal and professional level

In December Jonny’s blog had reached a whopping 95,000 monthly page views whilst earning around 9000 Aussie Dollars in the calendar month. Fast forward that to now and Jonny has seen his traffic fall by over 50 percent and his earning potential has been completely obliterated

As an adventure traveller, the ‘Stay At Home’ movement has been a difficult adjustment period for Jonny however he hasn’t let it completely slow him down

Always with an eye for an opportunity Jonny has been working hard behind the scenes to make sure his blog is in the best shape possible for when the travel industry does bounce back

For advice on all things travel blogging including:

• How to grow a blog to 95,000 monthly page views
  
• How to generate a 4 figure income from blogging
  
• How to get work with brands, services and tourism boards
  

Plus much much more, then this is an episode packed full of value!

Have you ever wondered how influencers, content creators and Instagrammers make money by having an engaged online following? Well, no one does it better than the team behind the travel couple account Love Life Passport.

I sat down with Tayler who is one of the most energetic, positive and passionate business gurus you will find on Instagram. With an extremely contagious and infectious energy, it's not hard to see why him, his wife to be Anika and the other members of the Love Life Passport team have become a roaring success.

In this episode we delve into his early years of growing up in Germany and the life changing challenges and decisions he encountered on his way from working at the bottom rung of the ladder in the hospitality business to the beautiful world travelling entrepreneurs based in Dubai.

This is a warts and all chat which also includes how Tayler tried his hand at being the German Justin Bieber, his brief stint at trying to crack it as a professional footballer and also what he learned after spending 3 days in the company of the world-renowned Gary Vee.

This is the first interview Tayler has ever conducted in English so I couldn't be happier to bring this exclusive insight.

I am absolutely delighted to be joined on this episode with Bali based breathwork expert Edward Dangerfield.

Originally from the Isle of White and with a Canadian citizenship, Edward talks openly about the traumatic event which led him on the path of discovering breathwork.

Now plying his trade in Bali under his company name Breathwork Bali, Edward discusses everything from the science behind breathwork, the physical, mental and emotional benefits of breathwork, and also the services that his company offer here in Indonesia.

Edward is one of the most captivating, fascinating and articulate guys I have ever met and it is clear to see why he is regarded as one of the world's greatest breathwork experts.

Has Coronavirus arrived in Bali?

It’s hard to tell as we are currently being told by the World Health Organization and other nations that Indonesia are underreporting the number of those diagnosed and fatalities.

Right now the outside world feels like a movie as everyone goes about as if it’s business as usual here in Canggu.

As the threat of borders closing and flights being cancelled looms I have a dilemma whether to stay in Bali and hope for the best or fly to Perth, Australia to be reunited with my Fiance.

However, if I choose to fly back to Perth there is a catch…

Have you ever experienced a moment of complete and utter bliss?

On this episode I go off-piste for the first time ever as I chat with the expert movement coach Braedy who runs his business, Blissful Movements, in Bali, Indonesia.

We discuss his life before he started Blissful Movements and go through, in intimate detail, the defining moment of bliss which saw him not only solidify his journey of self-improvement but also ignite his passion for helping others find theirs too.

An expert in yoga, breath work and movement, Braedy talks openly and candidly whilst giving so much value on all of these practices and how they can help you both mentally and physically.

It’s difficult to escape the news regarding all things Coronavirus. From the mainstream media, social media and even just seeing the behaviours of people when you’re out and about, you would be forgiven for feeling like this is a doomsday scenario.

For the first time ever on this podcast I take a look at a trending topic and dissect it with my own thoughts and opinions.

I discuss everything Coronavirus related and look to debunk some of the myths surrounding this disease.

TOPICS COVERED:

- Common questions surrounding the Coronavirus. I deliver some hard facts that prove that Coronavirus isn’t a death sentence and that in fact there are really particular characteristics and criteria you must meet before either catching the virus and the risk of it becoming fatal

- Why the Coronavirus is bad for business and could push the world into a recession

- Where the Coronavirus originated and some of the conspiracy theories surrounding it’s creation including that it may have been man made

- Methods on how to prevent catching the Coronavirus and why wearing a mask definitely isn’t one of them

- My thoughts on why this outbreak of Coronavirus makes this the perfect time to book your travels

For anyone looking to grow & monetise their Instagram, there is one couple who have managed to do that in a current climate of when many have felt the squeeze on their growth and reach.   Gavin and Mikali, a 20 something couple from Australia and who base themselves in Perth, have managed to turn their passion for travel and photography into a business through their Instagram account, Life Before Kids.

TOPICS COVERED: 

- I sat down with Gav at his home in Manning, South Perth, and shared a bottle of whisky as we discussed everything before, during and after Life Before Kids. 

- From a teacher in training and an off-shore worker they have managed to develop their self taught digital and photography skills to a point where they now work with brands and services to produce a self-sustaining income. 

- Gav let me in on how he went from someone who had never picked up a camera before into someone who now produces professional photographer standard content to the point where he is in the process of creating his very own online photography course. 

- He also goes into great depth on how there would be no Life Before Kids before Mikali and that without her he wouldn't be able to do what he does. 

- From their first collaboration to working with some of the top brands and services in the world, plus why Gav feels extra pressure to succeed due to the farming family lineage, this is an episode packed full of content and for anyone in the travel couple niche.

Every traveller or holidaymakers worst nightmare is suffering a medical emergency abroad, in unfamiliar surroundings which is exactly what happened to this week's guest Ivana.

What started off as a sore eye, quickly escalated into an abrasion, ulcer, severe infection and after 9 days of Bali medical care, resulted in us losing faith in the Bali hospitals altogether.

Cutting our trip short we rushed to Perth, Australia for emergency treatment which at this point there was a real chance of Ivana losing not just her vision but her whole eye!

TOPICS COVERED:

- We go back to December the 8th and recall the moment Ivana began to feel pain in her eye

-  Ivana's opinion of Bali hospitals, doctors and overall medical care

- Why travel insurance is absolutely essential before not just travelling to Bali, but travelling anywhere that isn't your home country

- The moment we decided to cut short our Bali trip and rush to the emergency department in Perth, Australia

- The difference in medical care and treatment of Bali vs Australia

- Ivana talks about the mental and physical health implications of her eye infection and how she may require surgery to restore her vision

- We round it off by firing off some warnings about being prepared before you head to Bali and what to expect in a medical situation

Keeping it lighthearted this week as I discuss the WORST year of my life, how it turned me into an alcoholic and almost ruined my life, and the unlikely hero that saved me in the nick of time. 

From death to the failure of relationships plus plenty more in between, this is a morbid topic covered with a humorous outlook.

TOPICS COVERED: 

- My relatively trauma-free childhood 

- The timeline of 2008 which was the worst year of my life 

- The quick succession of 5 deaths of people nearest and dearest to me 

- A relationship break up 

- Changing jobs and almost being fired in the first few weeks 

- Buying my first ever property during a recession and with the threat of losing my job hanging over me 

- Turning to alcohol and a wreckless lifestyle and how it almost ruined everything I had including friendships 

- The unlikely hero who spotted I was off the rails and showed me compassion 

- How I managed to turn things around thanks to those around me that helped me instead of abandoning me 

- Plus I why I started a Patreon account and why I would like you to pledge!

One of the questions we are asked the most often is "How did you quit your job and travel the world?" It seems like everyone is interested in hearing the story about how you go from working full-time and living a 'normal life' to all of a sudden unemployed and living a nomadic life. 

Well, this is our story... 

TOPICS COVERED: 

- After the success of episode 1 which touched on my own mental health issues, I begin this episode by telling you about how this had a NEGATIVE effect on my mental health 

- Rolling back the years I give you the back story about what I used to do for work, where I used to live and how I went from wanting to become a rich businessman living in the city to instead wanting to do the exact opposite of that

 - I pinpoint the exact moment in time where I made the decision that full-time travel was the life I wanted to live which meant quitting my job and telling my family I'm leaving 

- The mental attitude and sacrifices required in your day to day life in order to save money and prepare to travel the world for a substantial amount of time 

- Share a really personal moment about why at the last minute I almost decided NOT to leave the UK to go fulfil my dreams of travelling the world 

- Finish up the podcast with 3 non-topic questions from Sam, Jack and Campbell who relayed their questions via voice notes on Instagram

Starting a podcast is a pretty daunting experience. 

From how to start a podcast, how to record a podcast and creating a podcast for audio and video for the very first time, what you see in my very first episode is the end product of being completely self-taught in all of that .

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TOPICS COVERED: 

How To Start a Podcast - This is my first ever podcast episode which of course came with its challenges. From researching podcast software to podcast microphones and everything in between it was a bit of a minefield which I wanted to avoid. The danger of over researching and becoming overwhelmed is real. I took a question from an Instagram follower which let me go really into detail about the whole creating a podcast process.

Why I Wanted To Start a Podcast - When I told people I was starting a podcast you could tell they didn't really understand why or see the value in it. Having started out as a travel Instagram couple before then incorporating the blog, I see the podcast as an essential tool to have as part of our Wander In Two brand and its continued growth. There are also very personal reasons why I wanted to start a podcast which I go into detail about. I share things in this episode that I have only shared with a best friend and Ivana so it felt pretty liberating to talk about it and share. 

What I Hope to Achieve by Having a Podcast - We have massive aspirations for our Wander In Two brand which I know will be only boosted by having this podcast as an outlet and traffic driver to our website. 

The podcast will also be a great outlet to go into depth on subjects such as mental health, overall wellness, business, relationships, travel, blogging, social media and so much more. Without the restrictions of the Instagram algorithm and the Google ranking factors, by having this platform I will be able to discuss subjects in so much more depth and with freedom.

The biggest thing I want to have with this podcast is to have fun and bring a little bit of Scottish humour regardless of the subjects discussed. Life is tough so I want to help bring positivity and fun into everything that is covered in each episode.

Hello and welcome to Jamie’s wee podcast which is hosted by a mid-30s, weather-beaten, well-travelled Scottish guy who has a few stories to tell 

This is very much a no niche podcast as I look to deep dive into a whole host of different topics such as: 

Relationships 

Blogging 

Photography 

Social Media 

Business 

Experiences 

Plus whatever else life throws my way .

Most importantly I will try and touch on wellness as often as I possibly can Mental health, in particular, is a subject close to my heart so it will definitely be the most recurring theme that appears on the podcast.

In terms of a format, well sometimes you will have me just chatting away, talking rubbish and then other times I will invite expert guests on who are equally as good at chatting away and talking rubbish In all seriousness, though I will be looking at getting right into the nitty-gritty of various different subjects and topics which I know will bring you value. 

Sometimes we will laugh, sometimes we will cry, but you can guarantee that no matter what, this is a podcast that will always look to entertain.

A wee podcast, for big personalities and subjects, sprinkled with a touch of Scottish humour I look forward to you joining me on the next episode.