Podcast Episode #8 – Sleeping with Strangers [ 30:20 ] Play NowPlay in Popup | Download (154)

The Couchsurfing Project.

In Episode #8 Lainie & Miro talk about their experiences with the global project known as Couchsurfing.com As longtime Couchsurfers & hosts, they have made many significant friendships through the project, experienced a global community, and provided & received the economic benefits associated with Couchsurfing during travel.  Also in this episode, Lainie interviews Tom, Couchsurfing Ambassador from Bonn Germany about his role in the project.

“In a world of war and prejudice, Couchsurfing encourages tolerance and understanding.”

“In a world of greed and avarice, Couchsurfing stands for sharing.”

“In a world of selfishness and individualism, Couchsurfing advocates generosity.”

~Abilio M Godoy (Brazil)

Ever thought about Couchsurfing? Wondered what all the fuss was about? Interested in surfing someone’s couch on your next trip?

Couchsurfers Lauren, Lainie, Katka & Miro

In Episode#8, Lainie and Miro share  insights into the Couchsurfing mission, provide real world tips to make all Couchsurfing experiences positive,  and addresses  safety issues surrounding “sleeping with strangers”. Lastly, both Lainie, Miro and Tom, share real-world stories from the couch-a-sphere, including the good, the bad and the ugly.

If you haven’t already tried it, sign up at Couchsurfing.org and connect with Lainie and Miro there.

Participate in Creating a Better World, One Couch at a Time.

What is Couchsurfing?

It’s a community of people, not to be confused with simply a , free accommodation. It is true that one of the many benefits of Couchsurfing is that it can make your travels more affordable, however the most meaningful benefit is the connection you make with other Couchsurfers.

Dutch Couchsurfer Martin, showing his new tattoo of Miro's drawing

Miro and Lainie share some of their stories and experiences surrounding the Couchsurfing project. They address the human and cultural cultural exchanges made that make this world a better place to live in. The Couchsurfing project helps to raise the collective consciousness, spread tolerance, and facilitate greater cultural understandings. All that, by opening up one’s personal spaces, hosting & being hosted and sharing what it means to be a global citizen.

Lainie and Miro have been involved in Couchsurfing since 2007, when they hosted their first guest in their Los Angles  loft. They  continued to host many people over the year before they left the country, somewhere around 30 guests over that period of time. After that, the two Couchsurfed in Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala, until finally settling in Antigua, Guatemala for 6 months where they became one of the only couchs available and ended up hosting well over 50 travelers during that period of time.

Next, Lainie interviews, Tom Asten,a long-time Couchsurfer, Ambassador to Bonn, Germany & Couchsurfing evangelist. Tom shares some of his experiences hosting & on the road.

Listen to Tom as he shares some of his experiences hosting and being hosted. He also addresses some of the other ways he participates in the Couchsurfing Project as an Ambassador. Last, Tom shares a couple humorous horror stories, “tales of a few naughty couchsurfers”.

RESOURCES

Couchsurfing:

At CouchSurfing International, we envision a world where everyone can explore and create meaningful connections with the people and places they encounter. Building meaningful connections across cultures enables us to respond to diversity with curiosity, appreciation and respect. The appreciation of diversity spreads tolerance and creates a global community.

References from the Podcast

articles:

Lisa Lubin – July 6th, 2009

Surfing the World Wide Couch

By PENELOPE GREEN – September 20, 2007

CouchSurfing: Tips for a Smooth Experience

By Katie Hammel   |   June 19th, 2009

• Mention of Couchsurfer Christopher who is walking from Los Angeles to Brazil, meditating on prayers. His web site is here.
• To connect with Laine and Miro through Couchsurfing, their profile can be found here.

other posts:

• May Day Couchsurfing Potluck in Antigua

• Raising Miro on the Road of Life Podcast Episode #1 featuring Couchsurfer Roxanne

• Podcast Episode #3 – Gay, Lesbian, Trans-Gender in Guatemala featuring Couchsurfers Cassandra and Katja

• Podcast Episode #4 – Bicycling Across the Globe- 2 Amazing Stories featuring Couchsurfer Hanna

• Podcast Episode #5 – Community, Sustainability & Alternate Forms of Energy Exchange featuring Couchsurfer David + discussion on Couchsurfing as a sustainable community model

• Podcast Episode #6 – Modern Day Nomads, Nomadic People and a World of Travelers featuring Couchsurfer and Nomadic Ambassador Joe

• Podcast Episode #7 – The Art and Zen of Motorcycle Guidance featuring Couchsurfer Chris

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Got Questions?

((Like how did Miro get stuck in his chair…) If you have comments or have a question you’d like to have answered in an upcoming podcast, please use send us an email using this contact form. We promise, we answer all of the questions we relieve and we love hearing from you.

Special Thanks

To those of you who have supported us so far on this journey, the donations we’ve received (yes, thank you so much Sonia Kim!!!) and the wonderful words of encouragement. Thank you all for your comments and feedback, and please keep them coming.

Thank you Hanna for giving us a wonderful professional boost with the intro & outro, engineered by Hanna Jakobson, music “Multilayered Timbres” by Dr. Pimp courtesy of CC (creative commons) license.