WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life

Is grounding & earthing BS?I interview two skeptical elders: Joan Chan & Sym Blanchard.Hear what happened.Watch the video!Timeline00:00 Car accidents04:55 Intro to Earthing08:00 Placebo effect?11:30 The Limits of Grounding14:50 How to startWhat do you think?Put your thoughts in the comments.ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my Substack newsletter.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:* YouTube* Facebook* Instagram* X* TikTok* LinkedInSponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM with its unlimited hotspot & data that never expires! Use code LR32K4. Or get 5% off when you sign up with Saily, another global eSIM with a built-in VPN & ad blocker.5. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.6. Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!7. In the United States, I recommend trading cryptocurrency with Kraken.8. Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!9. For backpacking gear, buy from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.gossamergear.com/

Sym Blanchard has appeared on many WanderLearn episodes. In this 3-part series, Sym appears with his sweetheart, Joan Chan.Both are in their early 70s. I love elders because they usually don’t give a f**k what others think of them. They’re the opposite of teenagers. Elders are genuine, transparent, and wise.They’re also human, as this three-part series will reveal. Watch it:Timeline00:00 How they met05:00 First night together8:00 First trip11:00 Downsides of nomads16:00 Relationship managementWhat do you think?Put your thoughts in the comments.ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my Substack newsletter.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:* YouTube* Facebook* Instagram* X* TikTok* LinkedInSponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM with its unlimited hotspot & data that never expires! Use code LR32K4. Or get 5% off when you sign up with Saily, another global eSIM with a built-in VPN & ad blocker.5. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.6. Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!7. In the United States, I recommend trading cryptocurrency with Kraken.8. Outside the US

Thank you, Sande, my 1,000th Substack subscriber!Naturally, the other 999 of you are equally valuable!Thank you to Adam Gasner for being my first Founding Member and Sym Blanchard for being my first paid member!When you create content, you often feel like you’re speaking to a wall. Even when you have 1,000 Substack subscribers or 4,500 YouTube subscribers, it’s sometimes a lonely endeavor: crickets. Still, I’m grateful for days like today.So, thank you!Next goal: 2,000 subs by August 2026!Francis Tapon Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Sten Odenwald discusses The Essential Book of Black Holes. See my review of the new book below.But first, watch this video in which I interview Dr. Odenwald about his book!Timeline00:00 Intro2:15 Math & Black Holes5:00 Holographic universe5:50 Hypernova9:05 White holes14:45 Is our universe in a black hole?17:50 Gravity is NOT a force25:45 Galactic Power PlantBook Review of The Essential Book of Black HolesAt 159 pages and 12 chapters, The Essential Book of Black Holes is a literary black hole: deceptively small, absurdly dense, and liable to warp your sense of time until “I’ll just read a few pages” becomes “where did my evening go?”If you’ve ever wanted a NASA astronomer to sit you down and explain black holes without making your brain perform quantum tunneling, this is it.Sten Odenwald walks you through gravity, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and even the holographic principle in bite-sized chunks that hit harder than a collapsing star. The language is accessible, which is impressive given the subject matter and slightly suspicious given how much you suddenly think you understand.The format helps with the illusion of safety: 12 short chapters, full color, pretty illustrations, and a neat foil-stamped hardback in the print edition—like a friendly brochure for the end of spacetime. Each chapter is compact enough to read on a commute, but information-dense enough that your neurons may demand hazard pay. It’s marketed as a “pocket volume,” which is appropriate, because it will happily consume every spare pocket of free time you have.As an introduction, it’s almost suspiciously good: clear explanations, focused scope, and just enough cosmological mind-bending to make you question reality without needing a support group. If you’re black-hole-curious and want a fun, manageable plunge into the abyss, this is a stellar gateway drug to modern astrophysics—compact, colourful, and with a gravitational pull that far exceeds its modest 159 pages.VERDICT: 9 out of 10 stars!About Sten OdenwaldSten Odenwald is an American astronomer, author, NASA scientist-educator, and science communicator.He earned his Ph.D. in astronomy from Harvard University in 1982, focusing on accretion disks around supermassive black holes and the far-infrared properties of the Milky Way’s Galactic Center.CareerOdenwald worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Naval Research Laboratory’s Space Sciences Division from 1982 to 1990, contributing to th

The term “Global South” is doing a lot of heavy lifting for a geographically illiterate phrase. Australia is in the Global South. So is New Zealand. Both are fabulously wealthy, stable democracies with excellent dental care.Meanwhile, Afghanistan is in the Global North.The “Global South” term was invented by diplomats who needed something that sounded neutral but meant “the countries that got colonized and are still annoyed about it,” which is fair, but the compass metaphor fell apart immediately upon contact with a map.“Developing countries” is perhaps the most optimistic euphemism in the history of language. It implies that Sudan is in some kind of chrysalis phase, about to emerge as a butterfly of prosperity any day now — any decade now — just give it time. Sudan has been “developing” since the term was coined. At some point, you have to admit the butterfly is not coming.“Developed countries” have other problems. It implies completion. South Korea is developed. South Korea is finished. South Korea has arrived. South Korea shouldn’t be considered a “developed” country because it’s still developing . . . at a ferocious pace.”“Third World” is Cold War archaeology. It was coined in 1952 by French demographer Alfred Sauvy to describe countries aligned with neither NATO nor the Soviet bloc — the First and Second Worlds, respectively. The First World was the US alliance. The Second World was the communist bloc. The Third World was everyone else, which included India, Yugoslavia, and Egypt — all countries with ancient civilizations that found it slightly condescending to be ranked third.Then the Soviet Union dissolved, the Second World vanished, and suddenly we had a ranking system with a missing middle tier. Nobody uses “Second World” anymore, so “Third World” just floats there, meaning “poor” by inertia and insult.The best alternative is probably the most boring one: low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries, as classified by the World Bank using GDP per capita thresholds. It is not poetic. Nobody is writing a political manifesto that opens with “the struggle of low-income countries.”But it is at least accurate, updatable, and it doesn’t imply that geography determines destiny or that anyone is finished developing. South Korea can graduate. Sudan’s situation can be described honestly. Australia doesn’t have to share a category with Mozambique because they’re both south of the equator.The runner-up is “majority world,” which at least has the virtue of pointing out that the so-called periphery contains most of the humans. It flips the frame.The Global North, with its confident assumption that it is the default, contains a minority of the world’s population, making the rules for everyone else. “Majority world” is a quiet little power move that geographers occasionally use and that never quite caught on because it makes wealthy nations s

Rapido Trimarans Founder Paul Koch reveals the truth about their fast trimarans. There are many myths and misunderstandings that Paul seeks to shatter. Listen to this 30-minute interview with one of sailing’s greatest innovators, shot in Vietnam.Watch my interview with Paul Koch of RapidoBackgroundTrimarans are boats with three hulls, whereas catamarans have two hulls, and monohulls have one hull.I have a long-term dream of sailing around the world, so I’m looking for the best boat to make that happen.I’ve crossed monohulls off the list, even though most sailboats are monohulls. Although they have some advantages, I dislike how they heel (tilt) more than multihulls and are the slowest boats.Catamarans are attractive, but trimarans have advantages that cats lack. The interview goes into many of the advantages of a trimaran, so I won’t repeat.Timeline00:00 Foldable trimarans01:00 Speed, tack, & angle advantages02:15 Unsinkable05:25 Sailing Future08:00 High latitude sailing09:50 Why make a boat in Vietnam?12:30 Why are trimarans unpopular?18:30 Rapido future19:45 All-electric boats21:45 Are trimarans hard to sail?24:30 Who should not get a Rapido?26:20 Plans for 203027:00 Paul’s sailing origins29:00 Best tenders and dinghyWhy Rapido is on my shortlist of dream sailboatsI like the Rapido 40, 50, and 53XS.The Rapido Trimaran 50 is my favorite because it features the folding amas and a protected helm (whereas the Rapido 40 has an exposed helm).The Rapido 53XS is also tempting, but I’d like a shorter boat. Already, the 50 is plenty long.In case you’re a boat nerd, here are some other boats I find intriguing...List of contenders* Neel 43 trimaran* Fountaine Pajot Aura 41 Electric* Vaan the R4 Aluminium Electric Catamaran* Outremer’s 4 zero failed, so retrofit a 48-ft Outremer X* HH44* Seawind 1270 has 0.9 meter bridge deck clearance & is made in Vietnam, like Rapido.* <a target="_blank" href="https://w

Warning: this show has spoilers!Watch the video of this podcast:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd-jGXonSzMTIMELINE00:00 Spoiler01:00 Three positive features02:00 Fatal Flaw 103:30 Fatal Flaw 205:10 Sleep schedules06:00 And then there were 208:00 Confirmation bias10:20 Hal Finney is NOT half of Satoshi18:00 Widows19:33 Benjamin Wallace's 5 points22:00 ConclusionWatch the trailer for Finding Satoshi.In April 2026, Finding Satoshi is the only place where you can see the full movie. I used the code NATALIE and got a small discount (the total price was $14.31 after the coupon). The code may have expired or been used up by the time you read this. It's expensive, but it's a high-end production. Although I disagree with the film's conclusion, I enjoyed watching it. I hope one day it will appear on the streaming services.Benjamin Wallace’s TakeAfter only seeing the trailer, Benjamin Wallace emailed me his first impressions:They interview some of the same people I did, including Will Price (who supervised Hal Finney), Jon Callas (who worked with Finney and was a close friend of Sassaman), and Meredith Patterson (Sassaman’s widow).When I first spoke with Will and Jon, I, too, had a thrilling eureka feeling that I had cracked the mystery.Alas, there were too many confounding factors to remain confident in this theory:1. Len Sassaman was very critical about Bitcoin, and Meredith said the criticism was sincere;2. it’s far from certain that Satoshi’s 2014 “I am not Dorian Nakamoto” message, 3 years after Sassaman’s death, was from a hacked account;3. Jon Callas and Ben Laurie both told me that Sassaman wasn’t a naturally modest person, likely to conceal his involvement in the creation of a revolutionary technology,4. and both Callas and Bram Cohen, creator of BitTorrent and Sassaman’s former roommate, told me they didn’t think Sassaman had the technical chops to create Bitcoin.5. Finally, Sassaman wasn’t a close hit on either prose or code stylometry.The 6 CandidatesAt minute 15, the movie suddenly lays out its six candidates that “journalists and other experts have floated.” It does not explain how they came up with these six Satoshi candidates. They are:1. Adam Back2. Nick Szabo3. Hal Finney4. Len Sassaman5. Paul Le Roux6. Wei DaiAlthough this is an excellent short list, these candidates have been thoroughly scrutinized. Furthermore, all these

See the video:https://youtu.be/3kGTgRjpcRwLast week, John Carreyrou and Dylan Freedman of The New York Times reported that Satoshi Nakamoto is Adam Back.Read the full New York Times article (and to bypass the NYT paywall legally).Or if you have a NYT subscription, read the original.Last year, I interviewed Benjamin Wallace about his remarkable book, "The Mysterious Mr. Nakamoto." Watch the interview:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0KVOcLJe50X post by a pro programmer comparing Adam Back's code with Satoshi Nakamoto's code, circa 2008.My video mentions: https://x.com/JohnCarreyrouhttps://x.com/BenJWallaceAt the start of the NYT Daily podcast, Carreyrou said he is "99.5% and 100%" sure Satoshi is Adam Back.That surprised me for two reasons:1. I respect Carreyrou's reporting. He's best known for unmasking Elizabeth Holmes, proving she was a deceptive crook. Carreyrou is a brilliant reporter. He's not into hyperbole. If he says he's 99.75% sure, we must pay attention.2. I also respect Benjamin Wallace's reporting, especially regarding Nakamoto. Wallace has spent probably ten times more time researching Satoshi than Carreyrou has. And Wallace is unconvinced that Adam Back is Satoshi. Wallace thinks Adam could be Satoshi, but he's confident that Satoshi is someone else. Adam is not one of Wallace's top two candidates. Indeed, on WanderLearn Show, Wallace said there's "more than a 50% chance" that Satoshi is none of the dozens of candidates he evaluated in his book. Therefore, we have a dilemma. Whom should we believe: Carreyrou or Wallace? Both are outstanding reporters.Wallace and I exchanged emails after the NYT's declaration. He's busy reporting, so he didn't have time to appear on the podcast again this month, but his book explains why Wallace is unconvinced that Adam Back is Nakamoto.Although the NYT used stylometry to match Back & Satoshi based on their writing in bitcoin forums, the NYT did not use it to match their programming stylometry, whereas Wallace did. Programmers, like English prose writers, have style tics. Adam Back's programming style does not match Satoshi's. Some observers argue that the code style does not line up cleanly. A few commentators described Back’s code as looking like typical academic Unix-programmer code, while S

Corporations are often seen as evil, selfish entities. We overlook that they allow billions of parents to feed, educate, and heal their kids. Jobs also generate taxes that allow governments to build roads, hospitals, and schools. Taxes fund welfare and protect national parks.None of this would be possible (or at least easy) without corporations.Don’t believe me? Consider humanity before corporations. Our global standard of living was far lower than today.Still don’t believe me?Listen or watch this episode with Sawyer CEO Kurt Avery.https://youtu.be/yAzYx2psyXQBuy his book, Sawyer Think.Timeline00:00 Sawyer’s charitable actions05:00 Sawyer Think book10:00 Protecting Against Bugs12:20 Origin Story17:00 Burning off the COGs19:00 The Why20:30 Decision Matrix22:55 Math Trap27:10 Final AdviceIf you’re a backpacker, you’ve heard of Sawyer & probably used their filters.In this show, Kurt Avery explains what he’s been doing for decades through his company. It might surprise even the most cynical of you out there. It might give you a bit of hope for humanity, too.If this episode inspires you, consider giving to the Sawyer Foundation.Or, if you want a win-win, buy their Sawyer’s products online or at your local retailer. A portion of Sawyer’s profits always goes to charity.ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my Substack newsletter.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:* Facebook* X* YouTube* Instagram* TikTok* LinkedIn* Pinterest* TumblrSponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at <a target="_blank" href="http://patreon.com/FTap

Sometimes a brief meeting with one human can change your life. Lauren Speeth, President of Elphenworks Productions, met US President Jimmy Carter decades ago.Watch!Lauren Speeth, PhD, combines a lifelong background in Silicon Valley technology with a commitment to educational, pro‑social storytelling. A classically trained violinist and longtime member emeritus of The Peninsula Symphony’s first violin section, she is also a voting member of The Recording Academy and has produced films and media projects that address poverty, inequality, and the climate crisis while aiming to foster hope.Her work in social impact has led to advisory roles with leading institutions: she serves as an External Advisor to Stanford’s Center on Poverty and Inequality, where she helped architect the Center’s first website and co-orchestrated its launch with a Concert for Hope, and she is a Lifetime Member of the Board of Councilors at The Carter Center. In higher education, she has held positions as a Regent Emeritus of Saint Mary’s College of California and has taught and lectured widely in management, statistics, computer science, and social entrepreneurship, including ongoing involvement with Bakke Graduate University.Speeth’s activism and philanthropy were shaped in part through a mentoring relationship with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, whom she came to know through her deep engagement with The Carter Center.As a Life Member of its Board of Councilors, she sought guidance from Carter while framing the mission and operating principles of The Elfenworks Foundation; during these conversations, he encouraged her to “risk failure for worthy causes,” advice that helped her define the foundation’s core pillars of having a clear vision, working in partnership, avoiding duplication, sharing credit, measuring results, and staying the course.Speeth has since carried Carter’s counsel into her writing and public speaking, including her book Taking the Stairs and Liking It: 7 Steps to an Amazing Life, which draws directly on his wisdom along with her own research and global experience.I bought the book & it’s only 99 cents on Amazon.Timeline00:00 Jimmy Carter meeting13:00 How to get feedback16:30 StaminaConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my Substack newsletter.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:* <a target="_blank" href="http://face

Watch this interview to enjoy the b-rollhttps://youtu.be/35UMP6SV-zwHal makes informative videos about Vietnam.1st video of the series:Subscribe to Hal's outstanding YouTube channelB-Roll credit: @HalOnEarthTimeline00:00 Do The Vietnamese Like China More Than The USA?03:20 Learning the Vietnamese language05:00 YouTube channel goals07:00 What Hal Loves & Hates about Vietnam10:00 Sexism in Vietnam?13:00 Religion14:45 Educational system19:00 Vietnam's futureHal's videos mentioned in the interview:SE Asia 30 years agoConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my Substack newsletter.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:FacebookXYouTubeInstagramTikTokLinkedInPinterestTumblrSponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM with its unlimited hotspot & data that never expires! Use code LR32K4. Or get 5% off when you sign up with Saily, another global eSIM with a built-in VPN & ad blocker.5. Get 25% off when

Watch the video version of this podcastHal makes informative videos about Vietnam.See my previous video with him:Subscribe to Hal's outstanding YouTube channel. ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my Substack newsletter.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:* Facebook* X* YouTube* Instagram* TikTok* LinkedIn* Pinterest* TumblrSponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM with its unlimited hotspot & data that never expires! Use code LR32K4. Or get 5% off when you sign up with Saily, another global eSIM with a built-in VPN & ad blocker.5. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.6. Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!7. In the United States, I recommend trading cryptocurrency with Kraken.8. Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!9. For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear Get full access to Francis Tapon at <a hre

Hal makes informative videos about Vietnam.Watch the video of this podcasthttps://youtu.be/RFcLm9fe4a0Hal gets credit for the B-roll in the video!Subscribe to Hal's outstanding YouTube channel.Timeline00:00 Who is Hal Medrano?04:00 Pittsburgh, PA06:30 Why Hal Returned to Vietnam08:00 Hal On Earth ChannelHal's videos mentioned in the interview:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo0mkcMbDHISE Asia 30 years agoConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my Substack newsletter.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:* Facebook* X* YouTube* Instagram* TikTok* LinkedIn* Pinterest* TumblrSponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM with its unlimited hotspot & data that never expires! Use code LR32K4. Or get 5% off when you sign up with Saily, another global eSIM with a built-in VPN & ad blocker.5. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.6. Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!7. In the United S

Jost Kobusch, a 32-year-old German mountaineer who summited Denali in winter, is attempting what some experts give a 1% chance of success: he wants to summit Everest in winter, alone, without supplemental oxygen, and following a rarely climbed route, the dangerous West Ridge.https://youtube.com/watch?v=b1QtNL4CqJoIn this WanderLearn Show, Jost discusses his overall goal, the extreme winter conditions at Everest’s altitude, being blown off the mountain on past attempts, why he chose the West Ridge, details on route maps, filming mishaps, rope use, when he might change his plan, the story of Mallory and Irvine, and what it would mean if he died after summiting.Timeline00:00 Jost’s goal01:00 Everest is 9,000 meters in winter06:00 Blown off the mountain07:20 Why West Ridge Route?08:23 Map of Route13:25 Filming Disasters19:00 How Jost uses rope21:00 When would he change?23:30 Mallory & Irvine24:30 What if he dies after summitting?26:30 Follow JostCreditsIn the video interview, you’ll see some b-roll from the following sources: ALONE video: 3D Everest MapJost Photos by Daniel HugIn my next interview with Jost, what would you like me to ask him? Put it in the comments!Here are my future questions for Jost:- Will you fly down the mountain? (He loves to paraglide off mountains.)- Why not do the route alone during May-June first as a proof of concept?ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my Substack newsletter.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:* Facebook* X* YouTube* Instagram* TikTok* LinkedIn* Pinterest* TumblrSponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphir

I bumped into Erik while visiting Big Basin National Park in Nevada, USA. He's been a nomad, living out of his Subaru on a modest budget, and vlogging about his experience. He shows us how he does it.youtu.be/BhUD0pjITsUhttps://youtu.be/BhUD0pjITsUFollow Erik's YouTube channel Why Erik Ditched His Teardrop TrailerLoneliest American RoadCREDIT FOR THE TWO EMBEDDED VIDEOS:Kenai Pop-Up Truck Camper Tour - Scout CampersOverland Ready! 2024 Toyota Tacoma with Kimbo Camper Walkaround - Salty Gears Off Road Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Isabelle Morley is a couples therapist and author of "They're Not Gaslighting You."https://youtu.be/cPahcRnG_FgThe kiss cam moment exposes much more than a couple’s private drama—it reveals how we judge, label, and punish one another in the court of public opinion. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Isabelle Morley to unpack why cheating feels unforgivable to most people, how labels and “therapy-speak” get weaponized online, and what gaslighting really looks like beyond the memes. We also explore when it makes sense to set boundaries, walk away from toxic situations, or hire a therapist instead of relying on social media for armchair diagnosis.00:00 Kiss Cam Scandal05:00 Why is cheating unforgivable for most people?10:00 Why do people label?11:20 Gaslighting13:48 When attacked?15:15 When to quit16:45 When do you hire a therapist18:30 Using therapy-speak20:30 Bounderies22:15 ADHD BookWatch the first time I interview Dr. Morley:youtube.com/watch?v=rPm8U3P_GLg Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

WanderLearn explores travel, tech, and transformation. This is a tech-related episode.Aleksandar Svetski is the CEO of Satlantis.io, which began as a travel app but has pivoted toward events, including travel-related events.Satlantis is a new kind of social network for “Sovereign Individuals.” It aims to become the go-to place for people who want more out of life and refuse to conform to the mainstream.Satlantis is part map, part directory, part aggregator, and part social app. Imagine elements of Instagram, Google Places, Meetup, TripAdvisor, NomadList, and Facebook Groups, but built for the next era.They’re using Nostr, which is crucial to creating a user-centered internet. Timeline00:00 What is Satlantis.io?08:45 BTC Lightning payments14:00 Who is adopting it?16:00 Stablecoins on BTC in 202617:30 Vision of 203021:30 Free events24:00 Vision of 2026 ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my Substack newsletter.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:* Facebook* X* YouTube* Instagram* TikTok* LinkedIn* Pinterest* TumblrSponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM with its unlimited hotspot & data that never expires! Use code LR32K4. Or get 5% off when you sign up with Saily, another global eSIM with a built-in VPN & ad blocker.5. Get 25% off when you sign up

Dr. Robert Edwards, author of The Last Step but One, proposes 5 hypotheses about Mallory and Irvine’s final ascent of Everest.Two of the hypotheses have sub-hypotheses, bringing the total number of conjectures to 8.Robert Edwards's Mallory & Irvine book.Watch the YouTube videoTimeline00:00 Hypothesis 106:10 Hypothesis 209:00 Hypothesis 312:20 Hypothesis 4.119:30 Hypothesis 4.223:00 Hypothesis 5.125:35 Hypothesis 5.228:30 Hypothesis 5.331:50 ReflectionsDISCLOSURE: I used AI to generate the thumbnail for this video. So if you're wondering why the image is inaccurate, you'll know why.ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my Substack newsletter.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:* Facebook* Twitter* YouTube* Instagram* TikTok* LinkedIn* Pinterest* TumblrSponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM with its unlimited hotspot & data that never expires! Use code LR32K4. Or get 5% off when you sign up with Saily, another global eSIM with a built-in VPN & ad blocker.5. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.6. Start your podcast with my company, <a target="_blank" href=

It’s easier to watch the episode because of all the slides. The comments on YouTube will be interesting to read, too!TIMELINE00:00 Exclusive announcement!05:00 What we know10:30 Odell sighting14:00 Ice ax17:00 Oxygen bottle19:25 Mallory's body23:45 Irvine's boot29:30 What we do NOT knowRobert Edwards’s Mallory & Irvine bookDISCLOSURE: I used AI to generate this video's thumbnail. So if you're wondering why the image is inaccurate, you'll know why.On the 100th anniversary of George Mallory and Sandy Irvine's death on Mount Everest, I interviewed Dr. Robert Edwards, author of Mallory, Irvine, and Everest: The Last Step But One, which reexamined their mysterious story in detail.Watch my original interview with Dr. Edwards, my most popular interview in 2024. It provides an excellent background for today's interview.Dr. Edwards went on the WanderLearn Show to discuss Jimmy Chin's surprising October 2024 announcement that he found Andrew Comyn Irvine's foot! Andrew Irvine's nickname was Sandy.WATCHNational Geographic sponsored the expedition and announced the momentous news. The rest of Sandy's body has not been found yet.Sandy died 100 years ago. In 1960, Chinese climber Wang Fuzhou claimed he spotted a dead European climber who had to be Sandy Irvine. Assuming that sighting was accurate, nobody has seen Irvine since then ... until now.Famed mountaineer and photographer Jimmy Chin found Sandy's foot inside the 100-year-old boot. Robert Edwards wrote his initial impressions of Sandy's discovery on Goodreads. In this interview, we delve into greater detail, including the map Dr. Edwards made.ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my Substack newsletter.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:* Facebook* X* YouTube* Instagram* TikTok* LinkedIn* Pinterest* TumblrSponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, <a target="_blank

Buy Dan’s book, Waterborne.Dan Rubinstein undertakes a 1,200‑mile solo stand‑up paddleboarding journey from Ottawa through Montreal, New York City, Toronto, and back, traveling rivers, lakes, and canals over ten weeks.Along the way, he explores the concept of “blue space”—how being in, on, or near water can promote healing, enhance mental and physical health, and foster care for the natural world—while meeting a diverse range of people connected to these waterways.Blending research, interviews, and a reflective, anticolonial adventure narrative, the book argues that water can reconnect fractured communities and help address modern social and environmental challenges without requiring an epic expedition.Video 2: Surprises00:00 Quitting02:00 SurprisesConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my Substack newsletter.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:* Facebook* Twitter* YouTube* Instagram* TikTok* LinkedIn* Pinterest* TumblrSponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM with its unlimited hotspot & data that never expires! Use code LR32K4. Or get 5% off when you sign up with Saily, another global eSIM with a built-in VPN & ad blocker.5. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.6. Start your podcast with my company, <

In this two-part interview, Canadian Dan Rubinstein discusses the logistics and surprises of his stand-up paddleboard (SUP) journey!Buy Dan’s book, Water Borne.Dan Rubinstein undertakes a 1,200‑mile solo stand‑up paddleboarding journey from Ottawa through Montreal, New York City, Toronto, and back, traveling rivers, lakes, and canals over ten weeks.Along the way, he investigates the idea of “blue space”—how being in, on, or near water can heal, improve mental and physical health, and inspire care for the natural world—while meeting a wide range of people connected to these waterways.Blending research, interviews, and a reflective, anticolonial adventure narrative, the book argues that water can reconnect fractured communities and help address modern social and environmental challenges without requiring an epic expedition.00:00 Gear selection05:00 Route selection07:00 Campsite selectionConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my Substack newsletter.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:* Facebook* Twitter* YouTube* Instagram* TikTok* LinkedIn* Pinterest* TumblrSponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM with its unlimited hotspot & data that never expires! Use code LR32K4. Or get 5% off when you sign up with Saily, another global eSIM with a built-in VPN & ad blocker.5. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/refer/RAF280959/?utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=refer-a-friend&utm_campaign=refer-a-frien

I made several gloomy predictions for 2025 that did not occur.So, now, like a lousy gambler, I am doubling down on those gloomy predictions and reiterating some of them for 2026!A broken clock is correct twice a day! I will be a glorious Nostradamus in 2026!1. Global recession strikes.I incorrectly predicted that we’d have a recession in 2025, so how about 2026? I asked Perplexity.ai, and most experts say my prediction is wrong. Screw them. I say that the US unemployment rate will rise above 7%. Tariffs send the world into a downward spiral.2. Renewables Overtake Coal as Top Global Power Source.Renewables will generate over 6,000 terrawatts, more than at any other time in history, and surpassing coal for the first time.3. Bitcoin revisits its 300-week moving average.BTC’s bear market deepens. Bitcoin’s 2025 peak was approximately $125k, so it must drop by at least 50%, meaning it will likely dip below $70k, and possibly as low as $50k, which is near its current 300-week moving average.Many analysts think the 200-week moving average represented the floor of BTC’s price, but with diminishing returns, the new floor is the 300-week moving average, which BTC tagged in March 2020 and crossed in November 2022. All bear markets must now cross the 300-week moving average, not just the 200-week.By the end of 2026, BTC will be climbing back from its cycle low, but it won’t revisit $100k in 2026 (except maybe in the first quarter).4. One in four light vehicle sales will be electric.Although electric car sales in the USA may decline, the rest of the world will continue adopting them aggressively, reaching an all-time high in market share.5. Democrats win back the US House of RepresentativesMidterm elections are rarely good news for the incumbent US President.6. Republicans retain the Senate.A divided Congress plagues the lame-duck period of Trump’s final term.7. MSTR drops 80% from its all-time high and dips to $100.In 2025, Strategy was once worth $543. In 2026, it will be worth $100.8. Humans will revisit the Moon in a flyby.NASA will successfully launch the Artemis II mission, sending four astronauts around the moon in the first crewed lunar mission since 1972. They will NOT land on the Moon.9. I’ll finish The Unseen Africa.I’ll stay in Chile until it’s done!To see my previous forecasts, check out my predictions for 2018, 2019, <a target="_blank" href="https://ftapon.com/Travels/Advice/Predictions-fo

In Part 1, Forbes Contributor Clem Chambers predicted that Bitcoin & crypto will continue being a bear market throughout 2026. In Part 2, Chambers predicts the NASDAQ & AI will surge up like a balloon, and then will pop, with prices crashing in 2026-2028.Clem’s Bitcoin PredictionsChambers says that either BTC will “never” get to $1 million or it will get there in 12 years. Specifically, he breaks down its future rise in these steps:$250k in 2030$500k in 2034$1 million in 2038Connect with Clem* Clem Chambers Alpha channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ClemChambersAlpha* X (Twitter): https://x.com/ClemChambers​* Personal site: https://www.clemchambers.com* LinkedIn (Online Blockchain / ADVFN profile): https://uk.linkedin.com/in/clem-chambers-756145196​* Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/chambers.clem/​ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter athttps://wanderlearn.comIf you like this podcast, subscribe and share!On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:* Facebook* Twitter* YouTube* Instagram* TikTok* LinkedIn* Pinterest* TumblrSponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM with its unlimited hotspot & data that never expir

Clem Chambers has been a Forbes contributor for 20 years. His predictions have often been surprisingly accurate, so it’s worth listening to what his crystal ball has to say about 2026.VideoConnect with Clem* Clem Chambers Alpha channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ClemChambersAlpha* X (Twitter): https://x.com/ClemChambers​* Personal site: https://www.clemchambers.com * LinkedIn (Online Blockchain / ADVFN profile): https://uk.linkedin.com/in/clem-chambers-756145196​* Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/chambers.clem/​Perplexity wrote...Clem Chambers has generally predicted a capped upside for Bitcoin this cycle around the low‑hundred‑thousands, followed by a sharp “crypto winter” pullback, with much higher long‑term potential over multiple halvings.​Key cycle targets* In a 2024 article, he suggested that after breaking the old 60k~60k 60k high, a reasonable peak for this halving cycle would be around 120,000 USD, using a simple “previous peak × 2 after halving” rule of thumb.​* In late 2024, he wrote that moves from 100,000 toward about 110,000–120,000 USD still looked “sensible,” while 150,000 was “not impossible” but more stretched for this cycle.​* In late 2024, commentary quoted by financial media, he said Bitcoin might top out near 120,000 USD and that he had exited around 100,000, expecting the current cycle to be near its peak.​Downside and crash scenarios* In mid‑2023 roundtable comments, he floated a possible downside as low as 13,000 USD in a bearish scenario, but said a more likely level for that bear phase was around 25,000 USD by the end of 2023.​* In a 2025 Forbes piece on crash scenarios, he discussed how far Bitcoin could fall from its then‑high around 126,000 USD, describing a roughly 30% drop to below 90,000 as part of an expected post‑peak correction within the halving‑driven cycle framework.​* In a 2025 Kitco/iHeart interview, he warned of an imminent “crypto winter” that could push Bitcoin back into roughly the 40,000–60,000 USD range after the current cycle peak.​Longer‑term views* Chambers has repeatedly framed Bitcoin as “digital exit gold,” arguing that the four‑year halving cycle tends to drive a rough doubling of price each time, which in his view supports the idea of much higher prices over multiple future cycles rather than a straight line to extreme targets in this one.​* In a 2025 debate, he allowed that Bitcoin could reach very high levels, such as 1 million

Sym Blanchard and I have a lively, informal discussion. Think of it as eavesdropping on a debate between long-time friends. Yes, I talk over and interrupt Sym, which is unprofessional for a typical interview, but meant to be a natural, fast-paced conversation.00:00 Te Araroa09:40 Koreas uniting14:00 ShakespeareScott Williams, a hiking buddy of Sym and me, disagrees with Sym about the Te Araroa trail. Unlike Sym, Scott hiked almost all of it. Subscribe to get his take in 2026!More from SymIf you enjoy this philosophical episode, listen to the dozen episodes with Sym Blanchard!In 2025, I catch up with one of the most remarkable 72-year-olds you’ll ever meet, Sym Blanchard!This page features five episodes starring Sym.Listen to all the episodes featuring Sym Blanchard since 2018!* A 66-year-old Adventurer Shows How To Live A Meaningful Life in 2018 (one of the top 5 most popular WanderLearn episodes!)* Traveling To Find One’s Ancestors in 2019* Near Death on the CDT + Sym’s 60-Year Love Story in 2020* Nine Shows Sharing Travel Wisdom Featuring Sym Blanchard in 2022* Unstoppable 70-year-old Adventurer Sym Blanchard in 2023Do cherry trees in South Korea produce edible cherries?In the episode, Sym said, “No.” I was skeptical and fact-checked. This is what Perplexity.ai says:Cherry trees in South Korea do produce fruit, but it depends on the variety. Native species like King cherry (Prunus yedoensis var. Nudiflora) and Korean mountain cherry (Prunus maximowiczii) produce edible fruit. The King cherry, native especially to Jeju Island, bears fruit but is primarily valued for its blossoms. Many ornamental varieties like the Yoshino cherry produce small, bitter fruit less suitable for human consumption, but can feed wildlife.Summary:* Native Korean cherries produce edible fruit.* Ornamental varieties mainly produce less palatable fruit.ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questi

Sym Blanchard and I talk about families and free will.Sym Blanchard has a 36-year-old daughter and a 38-year-old son. He is estranged from his daughter, but has a close, positive relationship with his son. I ask:* What is the hardest time to raise children?* Why does Sym struggle to get along with his daughter and yet gets along great with his son?* Free Will vs. Environment?I mention Dr. Isabelle Morsley’s book, They’re Not Gaslighting You.Timeline00:00 Estranged daughter05:15 Francis’s disconnected brother08:00 We overestimate our free will21:00 Personality disorders23:00 Advice to snap out of it27:00 Dunning–Kruger effect30:00 Sym’s travel plansMore from SymIf you enjoy this philosophical episode, listen to the dozen episodes with Sym Blanchard!In 2025, I catch up with one of the most remarkable 72-year-olds you’ll ever meet, Sym Blanchard!This page features five episodes starring Sym.Listen to all the episodes featuring Sym Blanchard since 2018!* A 66-year-old Adventurer Shows How To Live A Meaningful Life in 2018 (one of the top 5 most popular WanderLearn episodes!)* Traveling To Find One’s Ancestors in 2019* Near Death on the CDT + Sym’s 60-Year Love Story in 2020* Nine Shows Sharing Travel Wisdom Featuring Sym Blanchard in 2022* Unstoppable 70-year-old Adventurer Sym Blanchard in 2023ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.comIf you like this podcast, subscribe and share!On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:* Facebook* Twitter* YouTube* Instagram<p

Sym Blanchard explains the benefits of tracing your genealogy.BONUS at the 5:00 mark: Why We Gravitate to Extraordinarily Accomplished People At the end of the episode, I mention my epic Cosmic Chain article.If you enjoyed this episode, listen to a dozen episodes featuring Sym Blanchard!ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.comIf you like this podcast, subscribe and share!On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:* Facebook* Twitter* YouTube* Instagram* TikTok* LinkedIn* Pinterest* TumblrSponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM! Use code LR32K4. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.5. Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!6. In the United States, I recommend trading cryptocurrency with Kraken.7. Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!8. For backpacking gear, buy from

Listen to a dozen podcasts featuring the elder adventurer Sym Blanchard!In this episode, Sym Blanchard and I discuss geopolitics and Bitcoin:00:00 Israel and Gaza10:00 Ukraine War16:00 Coming Recession19:40 Bitcoin ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.com.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramTikTokLinkedInPinterestTumblr Sponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM! Use code LR32K4. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.5. Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!6. In the United States, I recommend trading cryptocurrency with Kraken. 7. Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!8. For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear. Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

In 2025, I catch up with one of the most remarkable 72-year-olds you’ll ever meet, Sym Blanchard!Watch this podcast!This page features five episodes starring Sym.Listen to all the episodes featuring Sym Blanchard since 2018!* A 66-year-old Adventurer Shows How To Live A Meaningful Life in 2018 (one of the top 5 most popular WanderLearn episodes!)* Traveling To Find One’s Ancestors in 2019* Near Death on the CDT + Sym’s 60-Year Love Story in 2020* Nine Shows Sharing Travel Wisdom Featuring Sym Blanchard in 2022* Unstoppable 70-year-old Adventurer Sym Blanchard in 2023Is Veganism & Osteoporosis Linked?You’ll want to watch the video because it’s the only part of this podcast series with Sym that I filmed in 2025.Timeline00:00 Introducing Sym04:00 Reversing Aging08:50 Veganism and osteoporosis19:45 Testosterone creams on your genitals22:00 Aging advice25:00 Dating LessonsIn the episode, we discuss the connection between veganism and osteoporosis. Neither of us is a doctor, and you shouldn’t take anecdotal evidence as proof of anything. I asked Perplexity.ai about the issue, and it said:There is evidence linking veganism and osteoporosis, though the relationship is nuanced and influenced by diet quality and nutritional adequacy.* Increased Risk with Poorly Planned Diets: Multiple extensive studies and systematic reviews have found that vegans—especially those consuming diets low in calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, protein, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids—tend to have lower bone mineral density (BMD) and an increased risk of both osteoporosis and bone fractures compared to omnivores. This elevated risk has been observed in major cohort studies, such as the EPIC-Oxford study, which reported a significantly higher risk of fractures among vegans even after adjusting for body mass index and lifestyle factors.* Nutritional Deficiencies Matter: The increased risk is primarily attributed to common deficits in key nutrients critical for bone health, such as calcium, vitamin D, and B

True story: I bumped into Reinhold Messner at the base of Mount Sabyinyo in Rwanda on December 31, 2016.Because I had read several of his books, I instantly recognized him with his signature disheveled hair and gray beard.Still, I politely asked, "Excuse me. Are you Reinhold Messner?"He looked at me, grumbled an unclear non-answer, and turned away to join his small group.I shuffled over to Rejoice Tapon and said, "I'm 95% sure that that man over there is Reinhold Messner, the greatest mountaineer ever!"She'd never heard of him, but she said, "I'll get a selfie with him!"Rejoice boldly asked him for a selfie. Perhaps Messner was impressed with her beauty, or didn't want to appear racist by turning down what he figured was a local Rwandan (Rejoice is from Cameroon). Regardless, he agreed. And she triumphantly showed it off to me to rub it in. I mention this story because I laughed when I read Messner's confession on Kindle Location 3057 of "Against the Wind." He wrote: "Approachability and sociability have never been my strong points."This sums up what I hope is NOT his final book. His book is full of criticisms of Messner. Most criticisms originate from journalists, climbers, or partners. However, sometimes he criticizes himself (like his poor social skills).For Messner, all these criticisms are a constant "headwind" that he has faced throughout this remarkable long life (he's over 80).This book is NOT what I expected. I've read five of his books and loved them all, especially "Crystal Horizon," which is about his solo climb up Everest's north face in 1980 without oxygen.I expected profound reflections and wisdom. The book's subtitle even promises "reflections." However, the reflections are shallow.The subtitle should be, "Defending Myself Against an Army of Critics." He spends about 25% of the book discussing the tragic loss of his brother, Gunther, on Nanga Parbat. Throughout the book, he has long excerpts of articles that heavily criticize Messner, especially about how he "abandoned" his brother after summitting. I admire Messner for sharing what his critics say and then offering his rebuttal. He could have made a series of strawman arguments that he could easily tear down.Instead, he gives his critics a strong platform, and they crucify him.I never doubted his story, which I read in one of his previous books.He said that after he and Gunther summited, they traversed the mountain by descending the Rupal Face instead of returning the way they ascended.Reinhold was significantly ahead of Gunther, who died in an avalanche.Messner spends MANY pages refuting idiotic claims that others have made. For example, they claim Messner went down one way while he told his brother to go down a different way, alone. They claim that he planned al

Watch the PREVIOUS episode on YouTube!Watch THIS episode on YouTube or click below!TIMELINE00:00 AI Computational Approach13:00 Decoding Voynich19:30 Hoax?21:00 Could women have written it?26:15 What to ask the manuscript’s producer27:00 How do we know we’ve cracked the code?30:00 Reconsidering VoynichEgyptian hieroglyphics confounded Egyptologists for centuries until the discovery of the Rosetta Stone.The Voynich Manuscript is another old text that has perplexed experts since its discovery about 600 years ago.Dr. Robert H. Edwards specializes in investigating the biggest mysteries of the 20th century. I interviewed him on the 100th anniversary of George Mallory’s death. I interviewed him again after we found Mallory’s climbing partner’s foot. Spoiler: We still don’t know whether they reached Everest’s summit.The other mystery Edwards investigated was D. B. Cooper, who stole $200,000 and disappeared after skydiving.Now, Edwards turns his analytical brain to the world’s most mysterious manuscript: the Voynich Manuscript.Voynich Reconsidered: The Most Mysterious Manuscript in the World is Dr. Edwards’s attempt at decoding this headache-producing document. If you think James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake is hard to decipher, try the Voynich Manuscript!Excerpts from Voynich ReconsideredThe parchment for these four folios was most probably produced sometime in the first half of the fourteenth century.Who wrote the Voynich Manuscript?Nobody knows. Edwards debunks the idea that Roger Bacon authored it:D’Imperio devoted considerable effort to the study of the supposed link between the manuscript and Roger Bacon. She could not have known that the Voynich parchment would eventually be submitted to radiocarbon technology and that the samples would be dated, with up to 92 percent probability, to periods ranging between 1308 and 1458. Therefore, she could not have known that Bacon, who lived in the thirteenth century, would be excluded as the author of the manuscript, or at least as its producer or as one of its scribes.Is the Voynich Manuscript a hoax?Before we embark on our own voyage

Egyptian hieroglyphics confounded Egyptologists for centuries until the discovery of the Rosetta Stone.The Voynich Manuscript is another old text that has perplexed experts since its discovery about 600 years ago.Watch this episode on YouTube to see nonstop images of the book itself!Dr. Robert H. Edwards specializes in investigating the biggest mysteries of the 20th century. I interviewed him on the 100th anniversary of George Mallory's death. I interviewed him again after we found Mallory's climbing partner's foot. Spoiler: We still don't know whether they reached Everest's summit.The other mystery Edwards investigated was D. B. Cooper, who stole $200,000 and disappeared after skydiving.Now, Edwards turns his analytical brain to the world's most mysterious manuscript: the Voynich Manuscript.Voynich Reconsidered: The Most Mysterious Manuscript in the World is Dr. Edwards's attempt at decoding this headache-producing document. If you think James Joyce's Finnegans Wake is hard to decipher, try the Voynich Manuscript!  Here is my interview about the Voynich Manuscript with Dr. Edwards:Video  Excerpts from Voynich ReconsideredThe parchment for these four folios was most probably produced sometime in the first half of the fourteenth century.Who wrote the Voynich Manuscript? Nobody knows. Edwards debunks the idea that Roger Bacon authored it:D’Imperio devoted considerable effort to the study of the supposed link between the manuscript and Roger Bacon. She could not have known that the Voynich parchment would eventually be submitted to radiocarbon technology and that the samples would be dated, with up to 92 percent probability, to periods ranging between 1308 and 1458. Therefore, she could not have known that Bacon, who lived in the thirteenth century, would be excluded as the author of the manuscript, or at least as its producer or as one of its scribes.Is the Voynich Manuscript a hoax?Before we embark on our own voyage of investigation of the Voynich manuscript, we must consider the alarming possibility that it is a journey to nowhere. That is to say: it may be that the manuscript cannot be translated or deciphered because

Egyptian hieroglyphics confounded Egyptologists for centuries until the discovery of the Rosetta Stone. The Voynich Manuscript is another old text that has perplexed experts since its discovery about 600 years ago. Watch this episode on YouTube to see nonstop images of the book itself! Dr. Robert H. Edwards specializes in investigating the biggest mysteries of the 20th century. I interviewed him on the 100th anniversary of George Mallory's death. I interviewed him again after we found Mallory's climbing partner's foot. Spoiler: We still don't know whether they reached Everest's summit. The other mystery Edwards investigated was D. B. Cooper, who stole $200,000 and disappeared after skydiving. Now, Edwards turns his analytical brain to the world's most mysterious manuscript: the Voynich Manuscript. Voynich Reconsidered: The Most Mysterious Manuscript in the World is Dr. Edwards's attempt at decoding this headache-producing document. If you think James Joyce's Finnegans Wake is hard to decipher, try the Voynich Manuscript!   Here is my interview about the Voynich Manuscript with Dr. Edwards: Video     Excerpts from Voynich Reconsidered The parchment for these four folios was most probably produced sometime in the first half of the fourteenth century. Who wrote the Voynich Manuscript?  Nobody knows. Edwards debunks the idea that Roger Bacon authored it: D’Imperio devoted considerable effort to the study of the supposed link between the manuscript and Roger Bacon. She could not have known that the Voynich parchment would eventually be submitted to radiocarbon technology and that the samples would be dated, with up to 92 percent probability, to periods ranging between 1308 and 1458. Therefore, she could not have known that Bacon, who lived in the thirteenth century, would be excluded as the author of the manuscript, or at least as its producer or as one of its scribes. Is the Voynich Manuscript a hoax? Before we embark on our own voyage of investigation of the Voynich manuscript, we must consider the alarming possibility that it is a journey to nowhere. That is to say: it may be that the manuscript cannot be translated or deciphered because it has no intrinsic meaning. For want of better words, we must consider that the manuscript could be a hoax or a forgery. What's the Voynich Manuscript about? There is an “herbal” section, consisting of 129

Hrish Lotlikar of the Superworld app interviewed me in 2025. Watch the video on their channelYou might enjoy it. Here's what the Superworld Channel wrote: What if you could leave behind the corporate grind and explore the world—without a trust fund? That’s precisely what Francis Tapon did. After earning an MBA from Harvard and working in Silicon Valley, he walked away from it all to spend five years traveling through every country in Africa and 3.5 years exploring Eastern Europe.In this episode of Building a Better World with Hrish Lotlikar, Francis shares:✅ The biggest misconceptions about "dangerous" countries and why most are safer than you think✅ How he picked up 3,000 hitchhikers across Africa and what it taught him about humanity✅ Why leaving behind a traditional career was the best decision of his life✅ His top strategies for traveling on a budget—without sacrificing incredible experiences✅ What his upcoming book, The Unseen Africa, reveals about the world’s most misunderstood continent🌍 Want to see the world differently? Don’t miss this conversation!Follow Hrish Lotlikar Follow Superworld on Instagram ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.com.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramTikTokLinkedInPinterestTumblr Sponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM with its unlimited hots

It's part 2 of 2 of my conversation with Dr. Johnny Hanson! His 2025 book, Living with Lynx: Sharing Landscapes with Big Cats, Wolves and Bears, is a nuanced analysis of the complex topic of rewilding. Watch the Video of this PodcastTimeline00:00 Myths04:00 What surprised Hanson?06:00 The hardest to co-exist with12:00 Paradox of Tourism18:00 RecommendationsIn this two-part interview (this is part 2), we discuss the pros and cons of reintroducing apex predators in areas where they have gone extinct. Visit my website for part 1.Can we co-exist with this megafauna? If we live with lynx, what will happen?What do you think we should do?Video #1: Introducing Jonny Hason ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.com.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramTikTokLinkedInPinterestTumblr Sponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM with its unlimited hotspot & data that never expires! Use code LR32K4. Or get 5% off when you sign up with Saily, another global eSIM with a built-in VPN & ad blocker.5. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that

Dr. Johnny Hanson's new book, Living with Lynx: Sharing Landscapes with Big Cats, Wolves and Bears, is a nuanced analysis of the complex topic of rewilding. Watch the Video of this InterviewIn this two-part interview, we discuss the pros and cons of reintroducing apex predators in areas where they have gone extinct. What do you think we should do?Timeline00:00 What's the book about?04:50 Limousine LiberalsConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.com.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramTikTokLinkedInPinterestTumblr Sponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM with its unlimited hotspot & data that never expires! Use code LR32K4. Or get 5% off when you sign up with Saily, another global eSIM with a built-in VPN & ad blocker.5. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.6. Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!7. In the United States, I recommend trading cryptocurrency with Kraken. 8. Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees

Benjamin Wallace's new book is The Mysterious Mr. Nakamoto: A Fifteen-Year Quest to Unmask the Secret Genius Behind Crypto.  It's the greatest whodunit. Whoever created Bitcoin became the world's richest person, yet we don't know who he is. In fact, we don't even know if it's one person.There have been other cases where identities have been hidden for a while:Mysterious Whistleblowers (Deep Throat)Mysterious Authors (Ferrante, Klein, Publius)Mysterious Artists (Banksy)Mysterious Spies / Hackers (Cambridge Five, QAnon figureheads, Cicada 3301)However, nothing tops the enigma of Satoshi Nakamoto. Watch my interview with Benjamin Wallace on the WanderLearn Show:Watch the Video InterviewQuestions for Benjamin WallaceIn 60 seconds, tell us why we should be curious about who Satoshi Nakamoto was.What's the percentage chance that Satoshi Nakamoto is more than one person?What's the percentage chance that Satoshi Nakamoto is dead?Assuming he's alive, what's the percentage chance that Satoshi Nakamoto will voluntarily reveal himself in his old age or via a dead man's switch video?Who are your top 4 candidates for Satoshi Nakamoto?If those 4 candidates are in a pie chart, how big is the 5th piece of the pie: the Someone Else slice? Although Nakamoto's OPSEC was impeccable, is it realistic to believe that he faked his Britishisms, his double-spacing after periods, and potentially running his prose & code through a stylometry mixer because he was certain that Bitcoin would become a multi-trillion-dollar asset?What new insights have you had since you wrote the book?What's the percentage chance that we will definitively solve this mystery like we solved the Deep Throat mystery? Or will the ending be more like Forrest Fenn (e.g., a partial conclusion because we know the treasure was found and by whom, but we don't know where)? What surprised you in your investigation?It seems you want Nakamoto to be Hal Finney, but it's hard to believe he didn't tap into the fortune when his life was on the line. And why not admit to being Nakamoto when he was on his deathbed? Perhaps to protect his family from assaults? Perhaps because he collaborated with someone else and doesn't want to unmask him. But then he could admit that he was part of the Satoshi team and leave it at that.Who is Satoshi Nakamoto?In his book, Wallace writes that any plausible Nakamoto candidate should have the following characteristics:<

Replaceable You by Mary Roach is science writing with a mischievous grin. This book dives headfirst (and sometimes with prosthetic limbs) into humanity’s never-ending quest to patch, upgrade, and outright swap out our squishiest parts. Watch My Video ReviewI've read all of Roach's books. Roach, as always, brings her snort-laugh wit to the party, dragging us through a parade of oddballs, surgeons, biohackers, and the occasional harvested cadaver limb. You’ll read about everything from organs grown in stem cell “hair nurseries” to attempts at 3D printing spare parts. Spoiler: not a single scene is boring.But fair warning: this book spends nearly half its time on the past. Just as you’re itching for a jetpack kidney or a downloadable heart, Roach detours into the wacky history of medicine—think iron lungs big enough for a disco (but only if you like the rhythm of labored breathing), and the lost art of crafting noses from brass, because nothing says “fashion” like a faceful of steampunk.It’s charming… but if you came craving future-shock, you may find yourself staring at the calendar, wishing she’d hurry up and get to the bionic arms, brain chips, or at least a Bluetooth spleen. And don’t expect a grand promise that nature is almost obsolete. On the contrary, Roach’s conclusion drops the mike with a tear. Not a metaphorical tear—an actual, salty, rolling-down-your-cheek tear. Turns out, scientists can engineer robotic pancreases and print some new tracheas, but when it comes to replicating the humble human tear (yes, your basic public-crying fluid), they’re still stumped. Apparently, its precise chemistry is tougher to copy than most nanotechnology. So if we can’t even duplicate a tear, what hope do we have for building a better lung, heart, or anything else that squishes and squelches?Still, call me an optimist, but I think we'll get there this century.In conclusion, come for the face transplants, stay for the punchlines, and don’t blame Roach if you find yourself crying (with genuine, irreplicable tears) over the sheer weirdness—and stubborn brilliance—of the human body.VERDICT: 9 out of 10 stars.ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.com.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:FacebookTwitterYouTube<b

Watch this episode on YouTube! Derek has accomplished numerous impressive feats. He founded CD Baby. In 2008, he sold CD Baby for $22 million and donated the proceeds to a charitable trust dedicated to music education. After selling the company, he transitioned into writing and speaking.Derek's books are short, dense, and profound. In honor of his style, I've broken up my interview with him into three fascinating segments.It would be great if you could buy Derek's new book, Useful Not True, from Amazon, as I receive a small commission. However, if you want a much better deal, do what I did: buy multiple copies of his book from Derek Sivers's website. It's significantly cheaper than Amazon, especially when purchasing multiple copies, as each additional hardcover copy costs only about $4 more. How Derek Sivers and I metDerek Sivers stumbled onto The Hidden Europe, fell in love with it, and reached out to me 10 years ago, telling me how much he loved my book.I had no idea who he was, but soon found out.A-list celebrities, such as Tim Ferriss, have interviewed Derek on multiple occasions.Still, I'm not one to fall for celebrities, unless she's Megan Fox.What makes me most thrilled about interviewing Derek is his philosophy: he's a stoic.This guy sold his company (CD Baby) for $22 million and gave the money away to charity. He loves to experiment, travel, and think out of the box.It pains me that he and I missed each other when I visited his city in Wellington, New Zealand. I was there for a day, and it happened to be the day that he devotes entirely and exclusively to his son. I wish he were a less responsible father.About Derek SiversDerek Sivers is focused on creation, learning, and living a minimalist, highly intentional life.Background: Born in 1969 in Berkeley, he moved frequently during his childhood, including to U.S. cities and England. His early focus on music began at the age of 14, when he was trained at Berklee College of Music. He transitioned into entrepreneurship.Career: Started multiple companies, including CD Baby and HostBaby, sold them in 2008, and since then has focused on writing, traveling, and intrinsic creativity rather than money or fame.Life Philosophy: Influenced by Stoicism, skeptical and open to changing perspectives, values self-strengthening for the future, and embraces the paradox that opposite views can both be true.Work Style: Loves to work alone intensely for long hours (12+ hours daily), prefers solo creative pursuits, and values deep focus and minimali

This is episode 2 of 3 featuring Derek Sivers.Watch it on YouTube!Derek has accomplished numerous impressive feats. He founded CD Baby. In 2008, he sold CD Baby for $22 million and donated the proceeds to a charitable trust dedicated to music education. After selling the company, he transitioned into writing and speaking.Derek's books are short, dense, and profound. In honor of his style, I've broken up my interview with him into three fascinating segments.It would be great if you could buy Derek's new book, Useful Not True, from Amazon, as I receive a small commission. However, if you want a much better deal, do what I did: buy multiple copies of his book from Derek Sivers's website. It's significantly cheaper than Amazon, especially when purchasing multiple copies, as each additional hardcover copy costs only about $4 more. How Derek Sivers and I metDerek Sivers stumbled onto The Hidden Europe, fell in love with it, and reached out to me 10 years ago, telling me how much he loved my book.I had no idea who he was, but soon found out.A-list celebrities, such as Tim Ferriss, have interviewed Derek on multiple occasions.Still, I'm not one to fall for celebrities, unless she's Megan Fox.What makes me most thrilled about interviewing Derek is his philosophy: he's a stoic.This guy sold his company (CD Baby) for $22 million and gave the money away to charity. He loves to experiment, travel, and think out of the box.It pains me that he and I missed each other when I visited his city in Wellington, New Zealand. I was there for a day, and it happened to be the day that he devotes entirely and exclusively to his son. I wish he were a less responsible father.About Derek SiversDerek Sivers is focused on creation, learning, and living a minimalist, highly intentional life.Background: Born in 1969 in Berkeley, he moved frequently during his childhood, including to U.S. cities and England. His early focus on music began at the age of 14, when he was trained at Berklee College of Music. He transitioned into entrepreneurship.Career: Started multiple companies, including CD Baby and HostBaby, sold them in 2008, and since then has focused on writing, traveling, and intrinsic creativity rather than money or fame.Life Philosophy: Influenced by Stoicism, skeptical and open to changing perspectives, values self-strengthening for the future, and embraces the paradox that opposite views can both be true.Work Style: Loves to work alone intensely for long hours (12+ hours daily), prefers solo creative pursuits, and val

Video #1: What's Useful, Not True?This is episode 1 of 3 featuring Derek Sivers. Derek has accomplished numerous impressive feats. He founded CD Baby. In 2008, he sold CD Baby for $22 million and donated the proceeds to a charitable trust dedicated to music education. After selling the company, he transitioned into writing and speaking.Derek's books are short, dense, and profound. In honor of his style, I've broken up my interview with him into three fascinating segments.It would be great if you could buy Derek's new book, Useful Not True, from Amazon, as I receive a small commission. However, if you want a much better deal, do what I did: buy multiple copies of his book from Derek Sivers's website. It's significantly cheaper than Amazon, especially when purchasing multiple copies, as each additional hardcover copy costs only about $4 more. At 10:00 in the episode, Derek mentions Stewart Brand's How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They're Built. How Derek Sivers and I metDerek Sivers stumbled onto The Hidden Europe, fell in love with it, and reached out to me 10 years ago, telling me how much he loved my book.I had no idea who he was, but soon found out.A-list celebrities, such as Tim Ferriss, have interviewed Derek on multiple occasions.Still, I'm not one to fall for celebrities, unless she's Megan Fox.What makes me most thrilled about interviewing Derek is his philosophy: he's a stoic.This guy sold his company (CD Baby) for $22 million and gave the money away to charity. He loves to experiment, travel, and think out of the box.It pains me that he and I missed each other when I visited his city in Wellington, New Zealand. I was there for a day, and it happened to be the day that he devotes entirely and exclusively to his son. I wish he were a less responsible father.About Derek SiversDerek Sivers is focused on creation, learning, and living a minimalist, highly intentional life.Background: Born in 1969 in Berkeley, he moved frequently during his childhood, including to U.S. cities and England. His early focus on music began at the age of 14, when he was trained at Berklee College of Music. He transitioned into entrepreneurship.Career: Started multiple companies, including CD Baby and HostBaby, sold them in 2008, and since then has focused on writing, traveling, and intrinsic creativity rather than money or fame.Life Philosophy: Influenced by Stoicism, skeptical and open to changing perspectives, values self-strengthe

Watch the VideoThis podcast is an edited version of the video, where I have removed the unboxing section, as it's challenging to follow in an audio-only format.After reviewing the Keystone 3 Pro, I wanted to inspect the Keystone Tablet Plus, a steel slab similar to the Coinkite Seed Plate and the Scaletron Crypto Seed Capsule, both of which I've reviewed.Watch the video below for my review, but also read the text below, as it includes one additional PRO and one additional CON that I did not mention in the video.Timeline00:00 Why buy a metal tablet?02:20 Unboxing05:00 Using it06:30 What is special about the Plus?07:45 Pros09:45 Cons12:00 VerdictBuy a Keystone Tablet Plus3 Pros of the Keystone Tablet Plus1. Reusability! Unlike the Coinkite Seed Plate or the Scaletron Crypto Seed Capsule, the Keystone Tablet Plus is reusable. If you change seed phrases, you rearrange the letters accordingly. 2. Extra security! Two security features make the Keystone Tablet Plus stand out. First, the package includes tamper-evident tape. Second, it has a hole that allows you to put a padlock. Admittedly, neither of these features prevents a thief from outright stealing the metal plate and cutting the lock off. However, they can alert you if someone is trying to snoop on your seed phrase slyly and quietly drain your wallet.3. Ease of use. I forgot to mention this in the video. Unlike the Coinkite Seed Plate or the Scaletron Crypto Seed Capsule, the Keystone Tablet Plus doesn't require you to awkwardly and permanently bang out your seed phrase. It3 Cons of the Keystone Tablet Plus1. No passphrase option. I forgot to mention this in the video review, but I thought about it after reviewing the Scaletron Crypto Seed Capsule

Watch Video on YouTubeFive years ago, I predicted Plan B's Bitcoin stock-to-flow model (S2F) would fail in this decade because it had 8 flaws.During Bitcoin's spectacular 2022 crash, many analysts declared the S2F models dead.I surprised everyone when I (one of Plan B's most prominent critics) said, "It's not dead yet."The reason Plan B's stock-to-flow Bitcoin models are not dead is not because they're correct, but because they have a wide range of acceptable values that will allow them to survive until the next halving.In 2025, the S2F average price has risen to a staggering $500,000, while Bitcoin (BTC) hovers around $120,000 as of August 11, 2025, when I released this video.Therefore, even though BTC has increased by over $100,000 from its $15,000 price in November 2022, and should be a cause for massive celebration for BTC fans, Plan B is lamenting the relatively low price appreciation of this "strange, flat bull market."In my annual S2F update, I'll examine how the S2F model is doing and explain why it will begin its slow and painful death at the end of this year. ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.com.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramTikTokLinkedInPinterestTumblr Sponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM! Use code LR32K4. <a href="https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/refer/RAF280959/?utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=refer-a

I encourage you to watch this 3-minute podcast on YouTube.YouTube is now dubbing my English videos into 10 other languages:DutchFrenchGermanHindiIndonesianItalianJapaneseKoreanPolishPortugueseSpanishIn my "After the Spike" video, YouTube only offers 8 languages.I don't know why.I'm fluent in French and Spanish, so I can confirm that the translation is surprisingly accurate! I suppose it's the case for other languages that I don't speak.Try it out!Go to any of my videos.Click on the Settings Wheel in the lower-right corner.Change the audio track to whatever language you understand!What do you think of the translation accuracy?Why me? YouTube added this slick feature to my YouTube channel because I participate in their Partner Program and my channel is educational.I suspect they will roll out the feature to more video creators in 2026.ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.com.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramTikTokLinkedInPinterestTumblr Sponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM! Use code LR32K4. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters</a

See 20 other misused terms or expressionsRather than a left/right political spectrum, I prefer the 5 categories in the pictured grid. Take the test to discover where you stand.The terms "left" and "right" on the political spectrum can be confusing, partly because their meanings have evolved significantly over time and differ across countries and historical contexts.The same applies to the term "liberal."Initially, "left/right" originated from the seating arrangements during the French Revolution, where those who sat on the left supported revolutionary change. At the same time, those on the right favored the monarchy and the status quo.Today, “left” generally refers to progressive, reformist, or socialist policies, and “right” to conservative or traditionalist views. However, the specific policies and ideologies associated with each can vary dramatically between countries and eras.In the United States, “left” is often associated with Democrats or progressives, supporting ideas like social welfare, civil rights expansion, and government intervention in the economy.In parts of Europe, some parties that call themselves "liberal" actually promote free-market policies (which, in the U.S., are usually considered “right” of center).In Latin America, "right-wing" can sometimes mean supporting authoritarian regimes, while “left-wing” can carry connotations of populist or anti-imperialist movements, which again differ from European or North American understandings.The term "Liberal" is another example of shifting meaning:In the United States, "liberal" tends to refer to people who favor more government intervention in social and economic affairs, aligning with the political left.In the UK, "Liberal" historically meant support for free markets, individual liberties, and limited government, often closer to what Americans would call "libertarian" or even (in some cases) "conservative."In Australia or Canada, "liberal" can fall anywhere along the spectrum: in Australia, the Liberal Party is a major right-of-center party.Because political contexts, historical developments, and party platforms differ by place and time, these terms do not have a fixed, universal meaning. As a result, simply labeling someone or a policy as “left,” “right,” or "liberal" can cause confusion or miscommunication unless the specific conte

Do you know people who wail about "the media"? Whenever that happens, it's always an incomplete sentence. They should say, "The media I disagree with."Saying "the media" implies there is only one media or that they have a united message. Media isn't unified. Just skim the Internet for a few minutes, and you'll get wildly different points of view and reporting.In the mini-episode, I elaborate.This mini-episode is another Public Service Announcement from a grammar Nazi. It's my simple effort to clean up sloppy English.ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.com.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramTikTokLinkedInPinterestTumblr Sponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. For the best travel credit card, get one of the Chase Sapphire cards and get 75-100k bonus miles!3. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM! Use code LR32K4. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.5. Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!6. In the United States, I recommend trading cryptocurrency with Kraken. 7. Outside the USA, trade crypto with Binance and get 5% off your trading fees!8. For backpacking gear, buy from Gossamer Gear.  Get full access to Francis Tapon at <a href="https://ftapon.sub

Simon & Schuster provided me with an advanced copy of the superb book After the Spike: Population, Progress, and the Case for People, scheduled for release on July 8, 2025.The University of Texas authors, Dean Spears and Michael Geruso, have written a mind-blowing book! It's my second favorite book of 2025! My favorite 2025 book is They're Not Gaslighting You.Videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-JfpjJRkokPodcast The Population WhimperWhen I was born, Paul R. Ehrlich's book, The Population Bomb, was a mega-bestseller. Although I never read the book, my generation believed the book's message that humanity is dangerously overpopulated. The book gave me one major reason not to have children. The book made intuitive sense, built on Thomas Malthus's observations, that if our population continues to expand, we will eventually hit a brick wall.However, Ehrlich, a Stanford biologist, made these stunningly wrong predictions in The Population Bomb:Mass Starvation in the 1970s and 1980s: The book opened with the statement, "The battle to feed all of humanity is over. In the 1970s, hundreds of millions of people will starve to death in spite of any crash programs embarked upon now."  England's Demise by 2000: He suggested that England would not exist by the year 2000 due to environmental collapse related to overpopulation. Devastation of Fish Populations by 1990: He predicted that all significant animal life in the sea would be extinct by 1990, and large areas of coastline would need to be evacuated due to the stench of dead fish. India's Famine: He predicted catastrophic food shortages in India in the 1990s that did not materialize. United States Food Rationing by 1984: He envisioned the U.S. rationing food by 1984.Instead of all this doom and gloom, here's what happened: we went from 3.5 billion (when Ehrich wrote his doomsday book) to 8 billion people today, most of whom are fat. Today, our biggest problem isn't famine but obesity.Dean Spears and Michael Geruso's new book should have been called The Population Whimper because it says the opposite of what The Population Bomb said. Forget a catastrophic demographic explosion. We're going to suffer a catastrophic demographic implosion.The graph on the cover of After the Spike sums up the problem: during a 200-year time period, the human population will have spiked to 10 billion and then experienced an equally dramatic fall.Three criticisms of After the Spike

Happy 4th of July, 2025! Celebrate your independence by exploring outside!In 3 WanderLearn episodes, Alex Hutchinson and I discuss his new book, The Explorer's Gene. This is the 3rd of 3 episodes.The Explorer's Gene examines human exploration broadly, going beyond traditional expeditions to investigate why humans explore everything from new foods to music.Watch my First Video Interview with Alex Video #2: Does Tech Impact on Our Desire to Explore? Is Exploration Required for Fulfillment?Video #3: Exercising Your Explorer Muscle. Exploring vs. Exploiting. Exploration in our DNA. Timeline for Episode 30:00 Tips02:00 Endurance & Exploring05:30 Exploiting vs. Exploring07:00 Exploring in our DNA09:00 Many ways to exploreAbout the book, The Explorer's GeneThe Explorer's Gene is made of 3 parts:1) Why do we explore2) How do we explore3) What does exploring meanWritten in an engaging style that combines narrative stories with scientific research, it's comparable to Malcolm Gladwell's work but with stronger research foundations.It has a comprehensive scope and accessibility. It investigates human and animal exploratory behavior.The book connects external exploration to internal growth, offering insights into decision-making and personal development.It blends entertainment with scientific rigor, appealing to readers interested in human behavior, science writing, and personal growth.FeedbackLeave anonymous audio feedback at SpeakPipeConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.com.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramTikTokLinkedInPinterestTumblr Sponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/mo

Michael Zervos is the fastest traveler ever!Watch the VideoNow that Michael Zervos has traveled to all the countries faster than anyone else, what's next for him? Additionally, what advice would he offer to anyone who wants to break his speed record? Did you know Zervos has a book deal? Exciting! We cover it all in 13 minutes!Timeline00:00 Advice to the next person who tries to beat the record04:50 Next stepsMichael Zervos has visited every country faster than anyone else while recounting the happiest moments in people's lives. In this interview series, we talk about his Project Kosmos.Michael Zervos makes well-produced social media content. Visit Michael Zervos's Linktree for all his links.Follow Michael Zervos on Instagram.ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.com.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramTikTokLinkedInPinterestTumblr Sponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon.com/FTapon2. Get $5 when you sign up for Roamless, my favorite global eSIM! Use code LR32K3. Get 25% off when you sign up for Trusted Housesitters, a site that helps you find sitters or homes to sit in.4. Start your podcast with my company, Podbean, and get one month free!5. In the United States, I recommend trading cryptocurrency with Kraken. 6. Outside the USA, trade crypto with <a href="htt

I'm celebrating the 350th podcast episode with Michael Zervos! He did it!Many people try to travel to all the countries in the world quickly, but most fail.Therefore, when I met Zervos in Côte d'Ivoire in February 2024, when he was just 10% into his race, it seemed highly unlikely that he would succeed where so many others had failed.Still, there was something about Zervos that made me believe he would pull off this stunt. Although many things impressed me about Zervos, the most important was his level of organization. He had secured valuable sponsors who would help him get visas, which is the biggest bottleneck in this quest. As someone who has visited 127 countries, I know how visas limit you more than money. Having two passports would help in obtaining visas, although he did most of the journey with only his US passport.After completing his quest, Zervos and I discussed the following topics:00:00 The stats03:00 Deported from Nicaragua6:16 Two other surprises10:45 One regret12:45 Where to revisit 16:30 Where not revisitVideohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfprfrcYrvUPodcast Michael Zervos has visited every country faster than anyone else while recounting the happiest moments in people's lives. In this interview series, we talk about his Project Kosmos.Michael Zervos makes well-produced social media content. Visit Michael Zervos's Linktree for all his links.Follow Michael Zervos on Instagram.ConnectSend me an anonymous voicemail at SpeakPipe.com/FTaponYou can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at https://wanderlearn.com.If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! On social media, my username is always FTapon. Connect with me on:FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramTikTokLinkedInPinterestTumblr Sponsors1. My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron for as little as $2/month at https://Patreon