This week, I have an interview for you. Well, it’s basically just a conversation with my favourite middle-aged grandparent travel couple from Chattanooga, Tennessee, while I’m working on a regular episode from Georgia – the country not the state. You’ll get that next week.
I had the pleasure of meeting Michael and Angela Ballard, the adventurous duo behind We Married Adventureon a recent trip to Syria. Together, they’ve visited more than 120 countries on all seven continents, sharing their travel stories and expertise with audiences worldwide. With contributions to outlets like ABC-TV, Lonely Planet, and Atlas Obscura, they have carved a unique path as travel journalists, educators, and explorers on the quest to find their next place to live.
A Marriage Built on Adventure
When Michael proposed to Angela, she agreed to marry him on one condition: they had to embark on a big adventure for their fifth anniversary. Michael, already an experienced traveler having lived in Saudi Arabia and visited 30 countries by that time, was more than happy to oblige. The adventure they chose was a trip to Morocco, which set the tone for the rest of their journey together. Angela recalls,
“I just bought the tickets to Spain, Gibraltar, and Morocco, and we haven’t stopped traveling since.”
Raising a Family on the Road
But this wasn’t just a journey for two. Michael’s two sons, who were six and ten at the time of their marriage, became part of the adventure. Michael made sure to include the boys when he proposed to Angela along the Chattanooga River. As a family, they’ve taken trips across the United States and beyond, with their sons’ first overseas experience being a sailing trip to Turkey and Greece, followed by a trip to India.
Angela explained the challenges and joys of balancing different interests and stamina as a family when traveling. But, as they’ve proven, travel can be the ultimate bonding experience. “Travel brings out a different aspect in a relationship,” Angela said. “It’s constant problem-solving and flexibility.”
From Scuba Diving to Solo Travel
Michael learned how to scuba dive in Saudi Arabia and passed his love of diving onto his family. In 2013, the Ballards became certified divers and began to explore underwater destinations around the globe. But adventure doesn’t stop with family trips. Angela shared her personal leap when she traveled solo to Morocco to teach English – an experience that made her fall in love with the country even more.
Travel Journalism and Their Mission
Michael and Angela’s passion for travel goes beyond personal enjoyment. They’re educators at heart and aim to help people “travel better.” They’ve taught travel classes, contributed to travel media, and even started working as travel correspondents for their local ABC-TV affiliate. Their segments, which range from travel tips to destination features, have expanded beyond their local area, reaching audiences across the United States.
But what really makes Michael and Angela’s approach unique is their mission to prioritize experiences over material things. Instead of buying physical gifts for their children, they gave the gift of travel – creating geography-related games with clues to their next destination. This shift in mindset is something they teach to others who want to embrace the adventure of travel while being mindful of their spending.
Home is Chattanooga
Currently residing in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Michael and Angela are on a global mission to find their next place to live. They’ve visited over 120 countries and are in the process of ranking them based on their needs and preferences for a future home. Some countries have been incredible vacation spots, while others are real contenders for a permanent move.
Their philosophy? You don’t need stuff – you need experiences. Michael said it best,
“We need to reduce the footprint we have in our homes and increase the footprint we have in our brains.”
Next: A trip to 60 Countries
They’re embarking on another journey around the world. Click here to see their latest TV appearance about that.
See You at Extraordinary Travel Festival?
That’s it for this week’s episode of The Radio Vagabond. I hope you liked it and found it inspiring, and I can’t wait to meet them again at The Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok in November. This is a conference with some extreme travellers, and it’s going to meet so many inspiring people in one place. And yes, I will bring my microphones.
By the way, if you want to go, I have a code that will get you $60 USD of your ticket price. Simply go to www.ExtraordinaryTravelFest.com and use the code VAGABOND.
My name is Palle Bo, and I gotta keep moving. See you.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
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Either way, I would love to hear from you. It’s so nice to know who’s on the other end of this.
SPONSOR
A special thank you to my sponsor, Hotels25.com, who always provide me with the best, most affordable accommodation wherever I am in the world.
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