Season 2 Episode 04: Black Life In Mexico

Rooftop selfie with Adalia Aborisade

In this episode, we’re going to Mexico City and we’ll be chatting with  Adalia Aborisade (AKA Picky Girl Travels The World) - a former teacher from Houston - about what life is like as a Black ex-pat in Mexico City and why she believes the city is an untapped gem waiting to be discovered by more ex-pats.

In this episode, we'll talk about:

• What life is like for Black people in Mexico City.

• Why Mexico City should be on the top of your travel list.

• What the quality of life and cost of living is in Mexico City (compares to the U.S.).

• How Adalia is using her background in education and finance to help more Black women travel and live the lives they want. 

Check it out and let me know what you think by dropping a review of the episode :-)!

Season 2 Episode 03: Black Family Travels

In this episode, I sit down with the award-winning travel blogger and the mother of the first family ever to be crowned "Traveler of The Year" by the National Geographic travel magazine - Heather Greenwood Davis. 

We'll discuss topics like:

• The importance of Black family travel

• How travel expands the world of Black children

• And how to start a career as a travel storyteller

Guest Bio:

Heather Greenwood Davis is a Contributing Writer and on-air storyteller for National Geographic and a  Feature Writer with The Globe and Mail. Her work appears regularly in a host of national and international publications.

The popular media personality appears on television stations across North America. She is the resident travel expert on The Social - a national daily lifestyle show -  and co-host of Get, Set, Go!  on CHCH.

Heather believes in travel as a change agent, and has shared insights as a speaker in university classrooms, at conferences and at trade gatherings hosted by TravMedia, US Travel Association, Destination Canada, SATW and others.

Her words and opinions have been featured in spaces ranging from O Magazine to NPR. Heather is also the voice behind GlobetrottingMama.com – an international, family travel blog that features the adventures she takes with (and without) her husband Ish and their two sons, Ethan and Cameron.

Relevant links:

https://globetrottingmama.com/family%20travel/

https://heathergreenwooddavis.com/portfolio

Season 2 Episode 02: Traveling for Mental Wellness and Self Discovery

A conversation about intentional travel for mental wellness and self discovery with Master Life Coach, avid traveler, and founder of the travel wellness company - Project Passport, Sabriya Dobbins.

 Sabriya Dobbins is an award-winning Master Life Coach and avid traveler having traveled to 10+ countries and counting. She is certified in Life Purpose Coaching, Rational Emotive Behavioral Techniques Coaching, Cognitive Behavioral Coaching, and Happiness Coaching.

She created Project Passport with the dream of providing transformational retreat experiences that focused on supporting individuals and their mental well-being. She also wanted to create dynamic event space for women to challenge the status quo of mental health and achieve personal wellness.

Season 2 Episode 01: Danielle Desir

Have you ever been in a position where you wanted to make a life-changing purchase like buying a car or a home, or maybe you’ve wanted to make a life-enhancing purchase like taking that group trip to Ghana with the homies (which really ends up being a solo trip because you know folks are noncommittal, talking bout “man I was waiting on you to tell me…) Anyway, anyway… you’ve probably wanted to make some huge change in your life that required money only to remember that, like many of us millennials, you’re saddled with student loan debt that makes it feel impossible to accomplish any of these dreams? 

Danielle Desir, a Haitian-American entrepreneur, is no different. When she looks back at her journey from $63000 in student debt and living with her mom, the determination to fulfill her dream trip to Paris puts her on a path to exceed her own expectations. 

Today, through her award-winning affordable travel and personal finance blog and podcast, Danielle is changing the lives of thousands of people by sharing her stories and tips on affordable travel, paying off debt, and building wealth while taking that dream trip they’ve always wanted.

When we spoke, she was in the Green Mountain State also known as Vermont, where she was vacationing with her husband and their dog Murphy, reflecting on her childhood travels to Haiti and sharing how $25 a day led her to her first trip in Paris despite having a massive amount of student debt...

Season 1 Episode 16: Moving Back to America and Why We’re Ready To Leave Again

What is culture shock like when returning to your own country?

Welcome to part three of our "Get To Chech and Devione" series. We have thoroughly enjoyed sharing our personal stories of struggle, triumph, adventure, and growth with you. In part one of this series, we shared why we left America. In part two,  we talked about why we stayed abroad for collectively 10+ years despite challenges with our families, jobs, and our futures. And this week, we wrap up this series with part 3 and share why we moved back to America and why we are beyond ready to leave again. 

 In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• The exact reasons why we left China and our difficulties transitioning home to America.

• The unexpected struggles we’re facing in America that show we need to leave...again.

• Where we are considering moving to and why.

Hope you enjoy it!

If you enjoy this episode or know someone who would also enjoy it, don't be stingy -- please, pay it forward then subscribe to The Buddy Pass to never miss a new episode.

Season 1 Episode 15: Why Chech and Devione Stayed Abroad for (Collectively) 10+ Years!

Why would anyone pick up and leave their home to move abroad...for 5 years?!

In this week's episode, we bring your Part 2 of a 3-part series that explores the lives and travel stories of co-host Chech and Devione. In Part 1, they shared the personal struggles that led them to leave the U.S. (if you haven't listened to that episode yet, I suggest you have a listen before diving into Part 2. It's pretty dope.) 

In Part 2, this week's episode, you'll learn why they stayed abroad for collectively 10+ years despite challenges with their families, jobs, and their futures. You'll learn why they stayed and built lives despite:

• Not Feeling Supported by Family and Friends

• Realizing their first jobs were scams

• Knowing that they wouldn’t be abroad forever

Hope you enjoy it!

If you enjoy this episode or know someone who would also enjoy it, don't be stingy -- please, pay it forward then subscribe to The Buddy Pass to never miss a new episode.

Season 1 Episode 14: Why We Left America: Chech and Devione's Search For...Self.

Hey this is Chech and this is Devione — we’re two friends who met in China who interview other black people who see beyond the American dream. This week's episode will kick off a three-part series that explores the stories of Chech and Devione, the host of The Buddy Pass. You've heard hours of interviews with other people but you haven't heard our stories. So, by popular demand, that's what you'll hear over the next three episodes. You'll learn: The personal struggles that led us to leave the United States.Why one of us believes Africa is where Black people can find themselves and why one of us don't (you'll be surprised who thinks what)Also, why Beyonce's Black is King is crucial to why we left (yes, it just came out, but the themes PREACH!)Hope you enjoy it! If you enjoy this episode or know someone who would also enjoy it, don't be stingy -- please, pay it forward then subscribe to The Buddy Pass to never miss a new episode.

Season 1 Episode 13: Black Exodus: Entrepreneur, Tré Bacon, shares Why Black Expats Are Leaving America Again

In this week's episode of The Buddy Pass, we talk with the amazing and inspiring entrepreneur, Tré Bacon to discuss why Black ex-pats are packing up and leaving America...again. Also, during this week's episode you'll learn:

•  Why Tré walked away from the American dream after achieving it

• What fears keep Black people from moving abroad

• Why Black women feel more empowered abroad than in America

Tré Bacon is a former ex-pat in Dubai, Beijing, and Shanghai, and world traveler. In 2013, she left her life as a celebrity hairstylist. And by celebrities, we mean Pink, Rachel Ray, and basketball wives. She was in her late twenties, had gained the notoriety stylists would dream of and she walked away. She walked away from the American dream because she knew deep in her bones she couldn’t find peace of mind in America. Now she runs her own luxury handbag line, Zia Zingara. Tre is an inspiration in every single way. She has lived her life in a way that’s full of spontaneity and adventure, and to us, she really epitomizes the power and joy Black women have when we have the confidence to deeply believe ourselves, our desires, and our dreams.

If you enjoy this episode or know someone who would also enjoy it, don't be stingy -- please, pay it forward then subscribe to The Buddy Pass to never miss a new episode.

Season 1 Episode 12: Dark Travel Experiences that are NOT for the Instagram Highlight Reel!

Have you ever wondered what type of negative experiences people have when traveling abroad? You ever wondered what travel experiences are NOT making onto our Instagram highlight reel? Well, we got some answers for you on this week's episode of The Buddy Pass. In this week's episode on The Buddy Pass we’re going to talk to two guests about the dark side of travel and what it means to be Black in Europe. We’ll cover some sensitive topics. FULL DISCLOSURE pornography and drugs will be mentioned, so you may want to put the kiddies to bed before listening. First, we’re going to hear from Newton Davis, a queer black man in Berlin, Germany who realized his new home offered a lot more sexually than he was even ready for. Secondly, we have Achille Tenkiang a black man who lived in Paris for 18 months and realized his dream country- France - wasn’t as welcoming to black people as he remembered. But, at the top of this episode, Chech and I will be sharing with you all some of our most frightening and "What the hell just happened?" travel moments. It gets crazy. If you enjoy this episode or know someone who would also enjoy it, don't be stingy -- please, pay it forward then subscribe to The Buddy Pass to never miss a new episode.

Season 1 Episode 11: Dr. Anima Adjepong on Growing Up Queer in Ghana, African Spirituality, and Liberation Through Black Studies

On this week's show, we're graced by the presence of Dr. Anima Adjepong, a sociologist whose research examines culture, identities, and social change in West Africa and the diaspora. 

During this episode you'll learn:

• What it's like to grow up queer in Africa.

• How to develop spiritual practices to connect with ancestors.

• And, how studying Black Studies can help you feel grounded and healed in this crazy crazy world. 

Anima is a beacon of inspiration and was a joy to speak with. We hope you all enjoy this listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed creating it. 

If you enjoy this episode or know someone who would also enjoy it, don't be stingy -- please, pay it forward then subscribe to The Buddy Pass to never miss a new episode.