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.