The Young Pioneer Podcast

On this inaugural 2024 episode of the Young Pioneer Podcast, we open with an interview with YPT CEO and Founder Gareth Johnson to discuss a number of exciting, new tours just recently announced for this year. After speaking with Gareth, host Justin Martell debuts his interview with YPT's local travel partner in the reclusive horn of Africa nation of Eritrea, referred to by some as the "North Korea of Africa." For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

On this episode of the Young Pioneer Podcast, we kick things off by interviewing YPT's newest staff member Morgan Bourven, discussing his background and current focus on our cruise tours. After talking with Morgan, we continue our Horn of Africa series with a field recording of host Justin Martell's conversation with our local tour partner in the unrecognized sovereign state of Somaliland. As usual, Martell provides updates on YPT's upcoming tours to Mali, Burkina Faso and Angola. For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

On this episode of the Young Pioneer Podcast, YPT guide Justin Martell brings listeners Part One of a three-part series recorded during our recent Horn of Africa tour. Covering Djibouti, Somaliland Eritrea and Mogadishu, our Horn of Africa tour provides travelers with an affordable and safe way to visit one of Africa's most geo-politically complex regions. In addition to an interview with YPT's local guide about Djibouti and its growing tourism sector, Martell also provides updates on North Korea travel and popular upcoming tours, such as the return of our one-of-a-kind Least Visited Countries Tour. For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

On this episode of the Pioneer Podcast, YPT guides Justin Martell, Rowan Beard, along with a group of YPT travelers, explore the world's newest nation: the Republic of South Sudan. Neglected by the central government in Khartoum when part of Sudan and then plunged into civil war following independence in 2011, life has been hard for the South Sudanese. However, its people are friendly and hopeful, and its landscape is rich in culture that is completely unique to this young country. Listen to this episode for field recordings made during a night spent with the nomadic Mundari tribe, the infamous cattle herders known for their cow vagina blowing and cow urine showering practices, as well as an extended interview with YPT's local partner all about the history of South Sudan, past and present. For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

In this episode, YPT partner and sometimes-guide Justin Martell talks with local Socotra travel operator Adnan Alnoby. The two discuss Socotra's past history and current political situation, as well as the amazing experience travelers can expect when visiting this unblemished, one-of-a-kind island paradise. Martell also provides listeners with exciting YPT tour updates. For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

Gareth Johnson and Justin Martell speak with former congressman Dennis Kucinich. Kucinich has just published his latest book "The Division of Light and Power," which chronicles his struggle as America's youngest mayor to stop the sale of Cleveland's Municipal Light. On the back half of the conversation, Gareth and Justin are able to pose some general questions about American foreign policy and the importance of dialogue in international relations. For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

Felix Abt is a business expert on North Korea currently based in Vietnam. Abt was one of the first foreign businessmen to seek and do business in Kim Jong Il's North Korea, where he lived between 2002 to 2009 consulting and advising on business development within the country. He is also the author of the fascinating memoir "A Capitalist in North Korea: My Seven Years in the Hermit Kingdom." On this episode, Gareth and Justin are joined by YPT's North Korea tour manager Rowan Beard for a conversation with Felix Abt and delve into everything regarding doing business with one of the most sanctioned countries in the world. For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

On this episode on the Pioneer Podcast, co-host Justin Martell flies solo and interviews Jeffrey Donenfeld. Jeffrey Donenfeld is a venture investor, field science manager, and explorer. His projects have taken him across the polar regions, into the boardroom and occasionally onto broken dinghies. He’s a geek for a good rocket launch, loves almost missing flights, and yes, will listen to your startup pitch. Find him at http://jeffreydonenfeld.com/ For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

On Episode 6 of the Pioneer Podcast, Gareth Johnson and Justin Martell interview Jodie Hill. Jodie Hill is a well-traveled English lawyer who was instrumental in helping to setup the world's first crowdfunded tropical island. She is also the Prime Minister that same Island's micronation, the Principality of Islandia! For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

On Episode 5 of the Pioneer Podcast, Gareth Johnson and Justin Martell interview Jonny Blair. Blair is a famous travel blogger from Northern Ireland, football fanatic and author/owner of dontstopliving.net. He is the foremost expert on micronations, and on this episode the group share their thoughts on which micronations truly 'count' as a country. For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

Our guest on Episode 4 of the Pioneer Podcast is Dr. Joseph Terwilliger. Dr. Joe is a geneticist, professor of neurobiology at Columbia University Medical Center, and a classically trained tuba player! However, our listners might be more familiar with Dr. Joe from seeing him alongside NBA superstar Dennis Rodman on his multiple trips to North Korea for his basketball diplomacy projects and meetings with its leader Marshal Kim Jong Un. Fluent in the North Korean dialect, Chosunmal, Dr. Joe served as Dennis' Korean translator in North Korea and worked with him again during Dennis' appearance at the 2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit. How does a Columbia University Medical Professor and tuba player from New York end up meeting the leader of the Hermit Kingdom, alongside one of the most flamboyant NBA players of all time? Find out that and more in Episode 4 of the Pioneer Podcast. For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

Dave Kitson is an ex-Premier League footballer who made his name with Reading and Stoke. Following his career he has not been without controversy. He has stated that he would like to become PFA Chairman (trade union for footballers). On many occasions he has also been accused of being the “secret footballer” an as of now unknown ex-footballer who has written a number of tell all books about the professional game. As you can imagine quite an interesting character to have on a podcast! Believe it, or not footballers are just people too. Whilst they might have a reputation for playboy lifestyles and holidaying in places like Dubai, Dave Kitson is very much the exception to the rule. In fact it was his interest in “weird” countries that led him into contact with us, from where a friendship was formed. The first half, the free bit we shoot the breeze about travel in general, before the second half where we go into a bit more juice detail and ask some slightly more interesting questions. For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

On Episode 2 of the Pioneer Podcast, Gareth Johnson and Justin Martell interview Dean Karalekas about his 2019 trip with Young Pioneer Tours to Bir Tawil, an uninhabited patch of land located between Egypt and Sudan. Dean Karalekas is an academic whose research interests include international security, indigenous rights, and cultural studies. He is also a frequent YPT traveler and the author of "The Men in No Man's Land: A Journey Into Bir Tawil." Pick up your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Men-No-Mans-Land-Journey-ebook/dp/B08CZBT2W7 For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.

The first episode of the Pioneer podcast features two homegrown talents, with YPT founder Gareth Johnson and Pioneer Media founder Justin Martell taking the spotlight for the inaugural episode. Justin Martell in 2017 founded YPT’s partner, Pioneer Media, offering production services across a wide variety of unique locations from Asia to Eastern Europe. He has worked extensively in the horror movie genre (he once shot a horror film in Albania with Gareth serving as co-producer!) and has written the foremost authoritative book on 60s pop star Tiny Tim. He certainly has a tale to tell. For more information on how you can visit our "destinations your mother wishes you'd stayed away from" visit us at youngpioneertours.com.