What happens when one of our most experienced travelers finds herself seeing the world with brand new eyes? 

Author, photographer, and world traveler Jessica Nabongo became the first Black woman to visit every country in the world, but there was still one final continent left to explore: Antarctica. Venturing across the Drake Passage and into a landscape unlike anywhere she’d experienced before, Jessica found herself overwhelmed by the scale, silence, and otherworldly beauty of a place that invited her to see the world with fresh eyes.

From drifting past towering icebergs and witnessing an avalanche from a canoe, to the joy of playful penguins and braving a polar plunge, Jessica reflects on the childlike joy she found at the bottom of the world, the power of staying curious no matter how much we’ve seen, and why the most transformative travel stories are the ones that teach us how to be surprised again. 

Follow Jessica Nabongo on Instagram @jessicanabongo and on TikTok @thecatchmeifyoucan.

Visit https://www.jessicanabongo.com/cookbook to pre-order Jessica’s new cookbook “Catch Me In The Kitchen” 

Travel Tips: Antarctica (from the episode)

• Put Antarctica higher on your bucket list: Jessica’s biggest tip is simply to go. She notes that many travelers don’t realize Antarctica is accessible to visitors, with different expedition options available.
• Spend time with some penguins: Antarctica’s penguin colonies were a highlight for Jessica. Give them plenty of space and stay out of their paths, then enjoy watching them waddle, slide, and play in their natural habitat.
• Embrace every excursion: Get off the ship whenever you can, whether you’re exploring the water, hiking, visiting wildlife, or learning from the expedition experts on board. Jessica’s advice is to take advantage of every activity offered.

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About Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel:

Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel is a podcast for the curious, luxurious, and adventurous traveler. Host and veteran travel writer Daniel Scheffler ventures off the map and into immersive travel experiences of beauty, blunder, and transformation - those unforgettable moments guidebooks can't capture. With local tips, food adventures, and cultural encounters, Wayfinder reveals not just where to travel, but how to journey through the world with humor, wonder, and our own curiosity.

About Daniel Scheffler:

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, storyteller, and lifelong adventure-seeker who has spent years circling the globe in search of the experiences that can change us. Having traveled to more than 140 countries and written for publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, he believes the best journeys begin when we let go of the map. As the host of Wayfinder: Life-changing Travel, Daniel explores how travel can help us lose ourselves, find something unexpected — and ultimately come home changed.