General Info + Links
Lainie and Miro started podcasting in June 2010 as a way to work on a project together. Like any production team, they brainstorm the topics for each upcoming episode. Lainie and Miro alternate conducting interviews, and as time has gone on, Miro has become more comfortable with the interviewing process. The research and writing that goes into each episode is a joint effort.
[Feeds]
In addition to the general blog RSS feed (available here) , subscriptions for the podcast exclusively via RSS is available as well as a direct itunes subscription.
Podcast Episode #1
Raising Miro on the Road of Life Podcast Episode #1
Interviews with Human Rights Worker Roxanne and Greg, Miro’s Dad
This first episode is an introduction to Lainie (mom) and Miro (son) and their feelings about the journey they’ve embarked on together. The duo has been traveling for just under a year at the launch of this podcast. Since, they’ve traveled throughout all of Central America and have been inspired by both the personal connections they’ve made and the rich cultural experiences they’ve gained. Although, the two do not have a definitive destination or end travel date in mind, Lainie’s desire to raise her son as a global citizen is the inspiration that keeps them on the road of life.
Podcast Episode #2
Dogs, Cats, Treats & Other Gifts
Lainie & Miro Discuss their Volunteer Work with Animals + an Interview with Children’s Education Volunteer at NGO Safe Passages
Lainie and Miro talk about their passion for animals as they share a few of their volunteer experiences in Belize, Nicaragua and Guatemala.
In Belize, the pair volunteered at P.A.W. Cat Sanctuary & Humane Society on the beautiful paradise island of Caye Caulker.
In Nicaragua, they volunteered in a make-shift triage at a temporary spay and neuter clinic. And in Guatemala, they have a regular following of street dogs, all whom all wag their tails when the see the pair approaching.
Podcast Episode #3
Gay, Lesbian, Trans-Gender in Guatemala
The Queer Issue
This episode includes a discussion between Lainie & Miro sharing their feelings about human rights, gay rights & activism. This episode includes Miro’s thoughts on being raised in an activist environment + 2 interviews: A “queer” activist from Chicago & an interview with the Executive Director of OASIS, a Guatemala based NGO that serves the gay, lesbian, queer, trans-gender & sex worker community.
Lainie & Miro share their feelings about human rights, gay rights & activism.
Podcast Episode #4
Bicycling Across the Globe- 2 Amazing Stories
Extraordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things: Leaving your mark on the world in big and little ways.
This episode includes two candid conversations with two extraordinary people, who both find themselves exploring the world on their bicycles. We touch on issues of green travel, interacting positively with diverse cultures and combating fear along the way.This episode includes Miro’s thoughts on the little things we all can do to be eco-conscious + 2 interviews: A Swedish bicycle rider on a 3 Continental bike tour & an interview with a man who has been on a global 8 year tandem bike journey, pedaling for peace.
Podcast Episode #5
Community, Sustainability & Alternate Forms of Energy Exchange
Exploring new models for sustainable living and creating a community of unity.
This episode includes Lainie & Miro’s experiences at the Conscious Convergence gathering July 17 & 18, honoring beginning of the Mayan 9th Wave on Consciousness, an era of “unity”. Also included in this episode is part of a round-table discussion exploring sustainability and alternate forms of energetic exchange. Lastly, Lainie talks to yoga teacher and massage therapist Holly who shares her travel experiences.
Lainie and Miro share a candid conversation about the idea surrounding the concept of “community”. Miro has been a part of many communities throughout his life, but not sure if had ever been asked to consider that before. Miro’s surprising response about his personal responsibility “to change the world” is charming and uplifting.
Podcast Episode #6
Modern Day Nomads, Nomadic People and a World of Travelers
In this episode includes Lainie & Miro take a look at what it means to be a “nomad”.
The term is commonly used among modern day travelers who find themselves in the midst of long-term travel. This episode explores how travelers define the word “nomad” and address the reasons why we travel. Episode #6 also includes an interview with Joe, who has been traveling for the last 17 years. He talks about his experiences and shares his thoughts about some of the places he’s been.
If you’ve listed to the Raising Miro podcasts before, you’ve heard Lainie and Miro’s philosophy on their travels and the concepts that keep them motivated to continue. They are slow traveling around the world, with no real place they have to be, no real destination in mind and no big picture plans other than, living in the moment and experiencing the world as a global citizen.
Podcast Episode #7
The Art and Zen of Motorcycle Guidance
Follow your passion, live the dream.
In episode #7 Lainie & Miro take time to honor the friendships they’ve made on their travels as well as reflect together on some of the inner changes that have taken place over the last 400+ days. This episode includes Miro and Lainie’s thoughts on saying goodbyes, living from a source of passion and honoring friendships. Lastly, Miro answers a question about his favorite dish, discovered in Guatemala.
Podcast Episode #8
Sleeping with Strangers
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.
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.
Podcast Episode #9
Reflecting on Culture Through the Arts
Arts & Culture
As Lainie and Miro travel, they have made it their mission to learn as much about the cultures they visit and have discovered, one of the best ways to understand any culture is to explore the arts. In episode #9, Lainie & Miro share their impressions of the art and artifacts they’ve experienced along their journey and share what they’ve learned about Pre-Columbian art history. Also in this episode, Miro & Lainie speak with Mario Lanz, an up & coming Guatemalan artist . Miro …
Podcast Episode #10
Happy Faces Worth A Million Smiles
The road less traveled often reveals the perfect opportunity… and the search is over.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~Mark Twain
In Episode # 10 Lainie and Miro share a bit of their experiences as they start traveling once again.
For the last 4 weeks, the duo find themselves in a state of …
Podcast Episode #11
Clowning Around
Laugh often,Dream big, Reach for the stars!
“The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter”
~Mark Twain
In Episode # 11 Lainie & Miro get you caught up on the last two weeks of their adventure.
Lainie and Miro share a little of their experiences in Nicaragua, from their stay at the surf hostel at Playa Madera called the Dreamcatcher to crossing over the border into Costa Rica. If you listen carefully you might even hear Miro tell his first joke on a podcast. Next, they share their future travel …
Podcast Episode #12
Transformational Experiences Leading Into 2012 & Beyond + Travel in Panama
Making Connections that Stick, Attracting Our Global Family
“Everything I thought I knew, I didn’t. Once I realized, I don’t know anything at all, I set out to search for the truth. In order to see the truth, I needed to be open to any possibility.”
~Bubba Davis Aragon
In Episode # 12 Lainie & Miro start off by sharing a few of their experiences over the last two weeks as they explore the Panama City area including the canal, the grand seafood market, Casco Viejo and Isla Toboga. Also, Lainie & Miro speak with friends Bubba & Dixie Aragon, a wonderfully inspiring mother and son duo whom they’ve met over the past year, on the road of life
Podcast Episode #13
Migration of Birds and Men
Flying High in Panama
In Episode # 13 Lainie & Miro share their experience on Panama’s Pacific Coast, among a community of conservative expats + the duo share a brief history of Panama’s month-long independence celebrations. Finally in Epi #13, Miro conducts a phenomenal interview with Beny Wilson, a passionate Panamanian “birder”.
“How much more there is now to living! Instead of our drab slogging forth and back to the fishing boats, there’s reason to life! We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as …
Podcast Episode #14
Swashbuckling Tales of Carnage, Adventure & Love!
In Episode #14, Lainie & Miro speak with adventurer Paul, who was inspired to build a boat to visit the secluded Mayan ruins on the Usumacinta River in Mexico and found much more than he bargained for.
Also in this episode, the history of a Panamanian port village, discovered by Columbus complete with real-life Pirates on the Caribbean. Portoblo is a sleepy port town in the Caribbean, but underneath it’s surface, a rich history. Pirates, a mysterious black Christ and it’s devoted pilgrims, and a rebel slave revolt driven which …
Podcast Episode #15
Growth Holds No Limits
Hope for the Children of Guatemala
In Episode #15, Miro interviews Joe, a public development & research economist, working on a project in Guatemala that studies chronic malnutrition among children.
“Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future”
~John Fitzgerald Kennedy
The Program is geared towards eradicating malnutrition and stunting among children , something that effects over half the children in Guatemala. Staggering statistics, indeed! Also in this episode, the Lainie and Miro talk about what they discovered from their our week long adventure on the Archipiélago de las Perlas.
Podcast Episode #16
Unschooling, Discovering No Differences Between Living & Learning
Love, Laughter & Learning on the Road of Life
In the 1st half of Episode #16, Lainie & Miro share some of their funniest & most sentimental moments from their travels. Also in Episode #16, Lainie speaks with Theodora, another nomadic-single mum, traveling the world with her 10 year old son also schooling her son on the road of life.
“My mother said to me, “If you become a soldier you’ll be a general; if you become a monk you’ll end up as the pope.” Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.” ~Pablo Picasso
Podcast Episode #17
Travel – It’s a Family Affair
You & Your Family CAN Take a Gap Year!
In Episode #17 Lainie & Miro talk about just landing in South America & exploring the Colonial City of Cartagena, Colombia. Also in this episode, Lainie interviews traveler, Lisa Shusterman, author of the book Around the World in Easy Ways.
Miro and Laine both experienced deep emotions surrounding saying goodbye to Central America and are wide eyed and excited about their new adventure in South America…
Podcast Episode #18
Being Happiness(es)
Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. ~Abraham Lincoln
Being “happy” does not depend on your current location, does not rely on your life’s achievements, does not count how many countries you’ve been to or does not hinge on your bank balance. Happiness is a state of mind, accessible at any given moment. Happiness is the most magnificent gift we can give to ourselves and to humanity. However, happiness is something to be experienced, not pursued.
In Episode # 18, Lainie & Miro speak with documentary film maker, Ainara Aparici who’s working on a new film about happiness in Latin America.
Podcast Episode #19
Spring Flowers & New Connections
Eternal Spring in Medellin
In Episode #19 Lainie & Miro share the beautiful city of Medellin, located in the heart of the Aburrá Valley in Colombia. Also meet 5 travel bloggers, via twitter connections & listen to what happens at a tweet up armed with an 11 year old and a microphone.
After Lainie & Miro left Santa Marta and Taganga, they took an 18 hour bus ride to Medellin. They were greeted by a beautiful modern brick city. Since they arrived, they have been exploring the city, enjoying the amazing weather and being welcomed by the wonderful citizens. Miro and Lainie even found their story featured in a local newspaper called Gente.
Podcast Episode #20
Passport to Global Citizenship
In the World, of the World, Participating with Compassion.
In Episode #20 Lainie & Miro take a look at what being a ‘Global citizen’ really means. Then, Lainie interviews a young global citizen in New York, named Sal Lavallo, author of the stimulating blog YoungGlobalCitizen.com
Podcast Episode #21
‘Getting Global’ with Tales of a Female Nomad’s Rita Golden Gelman
In Episode #21 Lainie & Miro explore the concept of long- term travel, or being a nomad. Then, Lainie has the great honor of speaking with one of her personal heroes, Tales of a Female Nomad author. Rita Golden Gelman shares her thoughts on humanity, travel, trust and her new project, ‘Let’s Get Global’.
“I am a modern-day nomad. I have no permanent address, no possessions except the ones I carry, and I rarely know where I’ll be six months from now….”
Podcast Episode #22
Unschooling- A World of Learning Part 1
Exploring Unschooling-Part 1
Interview with life learner, unschooler Peter Kowalke
Episode #22 is the 1st in a 3 Part Series on the subject of ’unchooling’. Lainie & Miro explore the concept with unschooled documentary film maker, writer & journalist Peter Kowalke. Also in this episode, Lainie & Miro share their experiences in the heart of coffee country, Manizales, Colombia.
This is the first in a 3 part series in exploring the ideas surrounding ‘unschooling’. We’ve talked about unschooling in other podcasts (Podcast Episode #16 – Unschooling, Discovering No Differences Between Living & Learning), but we decided to spend this month exploring the concept of child led learning deeper by speaking with a couple of well known ‘unschooling personalities’ and another family who is preparing for their up and coming unschooling world adventure of their own. We set out to present you with a well rounded series to answer your questions about not only Miro’s education, but life learning in the world, as an unschooler.
Podcast Episode #23
Unschooling- A World of Learning Part 2
Interview with Canadian unschooling mom, Amy from WorldSchoolAdventures.com
Episode #23 is the 2nd in a 3 Part Series on the subject of ’unschooling’. Lainie & Miro explore the concept of child-led education. Also in this episode, Miro shares a little about his current interest, Cryptozoology.
This podcast series, which include Episodes #22 #23 and #24, Parts 1-3 called ‘A World of Learning’, explore in greater detail the concept and application of unschooling. In the Part 1, we spoke with Peter Kowalke, an unschooled adult, filmmaker and journalist. He shared with us how unschooling was applied to his childhood and the effects his unschooling experiences have on his life now.
Podcast Episode #24
Unschooling- A World of Learning Part 3
Exploring Unschooling-Part 3
Interview with Eli Gerzon, an unschooled adult who decided to direct his own education at the age of 15
Episode #24 is Part 3 of the series on the subject of ’unschooling’. Lainie & Miro explore the concept of child-led education. Also in this episode, Lainie and Miro talk about the beautiful Colonial town of Salento and share some discoveries about pirates and zombies. It’s a great episode!
Episode #24 the last in a 3 part series in exploring the ideas surrounding ‘unschooling’. Because we continue to receive many emails from our audience asking us questions about my education, we decided to dedicate the month of April to exploring the idea of unschooling.
Podcast Episode #25
A Walk of Inspiration Across 11 Countries
A Pilgrim’s Walk from LA to Brazil
Prayers & Meditation
Sometimes that inspiration comes as an impulse. Sometimes it comes as a feeling. Sometimes it’s felt as a deep desire. Sometimes it’s a message spoken through our inner voice. And sometimes we experience inspiration though a powerful vision or dream, so powerful that not following it feels so contrary to our very existence.
For each person, it is different. The challenge, is to overcome our inner fears, often times heard through their ‘voice of reason’, arguing against your inner most inspiration.
Podcast Episode #26
A One Year Commitment to Serve Humanity
Episode #26 we speak with Alisha Robertson from SmallWorldPursuits.com
Today, we talk to someone who is changing the world, impacting her reality and serving humanity by connecting with her passion. This episode is about being in service and one woman’s chose to dedicate a year of her life to serve causes that are meaningful to her, and doing so on a global scale.
This episode includes an insightful interview where we talk about volunteering, being of service and connecting with that inner inspiration that we’ve learned to follow as it guides our lives. Alisha also shares tips on how to plan a one year volunteer trip, criteria for choosing organizations to volunteer with, and strategies to save money in preparation.
Podcast Episode #27
Family on Bikes-Part 1
Episode #27 we speak with a remarkable family who views the world as their home. But what makes this family so unique, is they have spent the last 3 years traveling together on bikes.
This is the first in a two part series, where both Miro and I speak with the Vogal Family, also known as Family on Bikes. This family just completed a multi year bicycle trek, starting in Alaska, traveling down the pan american highway, finally to reach their destination in Argentina.
The trip covered 17,300 miles through the Western portion of Canada, the west coast of the United States, then the entire Central America continent, finally biking the length of South America from Colombia to the southernmost tip in Argentina.
Podcast Episode #28
Family on Bikes – Part 2
In Episode #28 we speak with Nancy Vogel of FamilyonBikes.org about everything from trip planning to preparations, education on the road and keeping your family healthy on an extended journey.
Nancy also shares some valuable advice for anyone who may have some fear preventing them from following their dreams.
Podcast Episode #29
Teen Talk + Peru Review
This Raising Miro podcast features an interview between two 12 year old unschooled boys, Miro & Devin Martin. We talk about unschooling & the things one unschooler has learned in Peru.
In today’s podcast you will hear an interview between two 12 year old unschooled boys, Miro & Devin Martin. Unshcooling has always been a part of Devin’s experience. He has been encouraged to follow his interests and peruse his hobbies. We learn about Devin’s interest in “Steam Punk” and we discover his passion for hand-made projects. Devin currently lives with his family in the United States.
Podcast Episode #30
Podcast Episode #30 – Living Ancient Cultures NOW with Brien Foerester
Question Everything- Seeking the True History through Archaeological Research
Episode #30 In this episode we speak with Brien Foerester, brilliant author & cultural researcher about the artifacts, folklore, rituals and archaeological sites left behind by ancient cultures.
Welcome to episode #30 of the Raising Miro Podcast. Episode #30 contains an interview with noted researcher & author, Brien Foerester. (See below for his bio & links) We had the honor of meeting him in person last December when we visited the Paracas History Museum, home of thelargest collection of elongated skulls.
Podcast Episode #31
Podcast Episode #31-Shipibo- At Home in the Amazon
Art & Culture of the Shipibo People in Peru
Episode #31 we explore one of the indigenous cultures in Peru’s Amazon, the Shipibo. This podcast includes an interview with a Shipibo artist who shares with us an emotional song.
Welcome to Podcast Episode #31. This podcast focuses on the culture of the Shipibo people of the Amazon jungle region in Peru. We examine some of the challenges facing the indigenous peoples of the world and specifically at the struggles of the Shipibo. This podcast includes an interview with a Shipibo artisan, in which we only scratch the surface in terms of exploring this beautiful culture. However, our hopes are that this podcast creates inspiration within you, our listeners and readers that you seek more information on this and other indigenous cultures.
The Intro and Outro were engineered by Hanna Jakobson, music “Multilayered Timbres” by Dr. Pimp courtesy of CC (creative commons) license.