Welcome back to The Radio Vagabond, where I take you around the world, meeting fascinating people and sharing incredible travel stories. In this episode, I’m bringing you a conversation from the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok, where I sat down with two remarkable travelers.
One of them has spent his career in the airline industry, using his access to flights to explore the world in ways most of us can only dream of. The other has embarked on a one-of-a-kind journey to hand-deliver 50 letters across the globe, following an old tradition from the Galápagos Islands.
And the funny thing? They’re both from New Zealand – but they didn’t know each other before this event.
Two Kiwis, One Festival, and a Shared Passion for Travel
I started my conversation with Jonny Beardmore and Christian Fleischer by pointing out something amusing: we had a bit of an unintentional Kiwi theme going on. Both of them are from New Zealand, though they’ve spent years living elsewhere.
“I’ve not been in New Zealand for 11 years,” Christian admitted.
“And I’m based in London,” Jonny added.
So, why leave such a wonderful country?
“It’s the greatest place in the world to go on holiday,” Jonny explained. “But living and working there has got the same issues as anywhere else in the world. Pressures, time, work – it’s as expensive as anywhere else.”
Christian chimed in with a classic Kiwi complaint: “The price of cheese is outrageous these days. You can almost exchange it for currency.”
Jonny laughed, adding:
“Bitcoin still doesn’t have the value of cheese.”
New Zealand might be one of the best places on the planet to visit, but both of these travelers found their opportunities elsewhere.
Christian Fleischer:
From Aviation to Every Country in the World
Christian’s travel story is deeply tied to his career in aviation.
“I’ve worked in aviation my entire life,” he told me.
“My first job was in the US with US Airways, in pricing and revenue management. That’s the department that sets fares, decides how many seats to sell at each price, and even handles overbooking – which a lot of people love to hate.”
It was through this job that Christian first got the idea to move to New Zealand.
“I had been to New Zealand twice, and I thought, ‘This is where I want to live.’”
After strategically networking and passing along his resume, he landed a job with Air New Zealand and made the move despite financial obstacles.
“At that time, the Kiwi dollar was half the US dollar,” he explained. “And all my debt was in USD. Financially speaking, I should never have made the move. But I was 26, 27, and I thought, ‘I can’t pass up this opportunity.’”
It was a decision that ultimately led him to become a New Zealand citizen, and later, a global traveler. Earlier this year, he completed a major milestone: visiting every single UN-recognized country in the world.
“I finished in February in the Bahamas,” he said. Not a bad place to celebrate, right?
Jonny Beardmore:
The Galápagos Postman and His Global Mission
On the other side of our conversation was Jonny Beardmore – also known as The Galápagos Postman. His project is something truly special.
“I’ve taken 50 letters from an ancient postbox on Isla Floreana in the Galápagos,” Jonny explained. “The postbox has been there since 1793. Back then, whalers and sailors would leave letters, hoping that someone heading in the right direction would pick them up and deliver them.”
Today, tourists still participate in the tradition, leaving letters and picking up others. But Jonny took it to another level.
“I went back, grabbed a whole pile, and now I’m traveling for 12 months, delivering them by hand.”
His journey has led to some incredible moments. But this adventure isn’t just about fun and travel. It’s a deeply personal mission for Jonny, whose father battled Motor Neurone Disease (MND) for eight years before passing away in 2022.
“I’m raising awareness and funds for MND charities in New Zealand and the UK,” he explained.
“This disease isn’t just a physical battle – it leads to isolation. And that’s what this project is about: human connection.”
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From Five-Star Hotels to No Running Water:
Christian’s Wildest Travel Experiences
One of the most fascinating things about Christian’s travel journey is how adaptable he is. Having visited every country in the world, he’s experienced the full spectrum of travel – luxury and extreme budget alike.
“I’ve had the privilege of traveling in business and first class, staying in some of the most incredible five-star hotels, but on the flip side, I’ve also stayed in places with no running water.”
I asked him about his most memorable travel moments, and unsurprisingly, he had plenty to choose from.
“In Angola, I stayed in this place with no electricity, no running water – just the basics,” he said.
“And you know what? It was one of my favorite experiences. Travel isn’t about the luxury; it’s about the people and the places that challenge you.”
Another story that stood out was his final country – The Bahamas.
“When you think of finishing your last country, you imagine something dramatic, maybe a wild celebration. But honestly, I just walked off the plane, looked around, and thought, ‘Okay. I did it.’”
Still, after decades of traveling and an entire career in aviation, completing every country in the world is no small feat.
Jonny’s Most Unforgettable Deliveries:
Clowns, Pirates, and a Love Story
Jonny’s mission to hand-deliver 50 handwritten letters has led him to some truly bizarre and heartwarming encounters.
“One of the most unexpected deliveries was in Houston, Texas at the Karbach beer brewery. There was a beer there called Clown Town and the Mayor was the master brewer of the beer.”
If that wasn’t surreal enough, he also made a delivery while dressed as a pirate in Singapore.
“I had a letter addressed to a three-year-old girl who believed in fairies. Her grandparents had left a letter for her. There was a reference to pirates, so I figured if I was going to do this, I had to do it properly. I found a pirate outfit, rang the doorbell, and said, ‘I have a message from the pirates.’”
But not every delivery is just for fun. Some letters have led to deeply emotional moments.
“I delivered one letter to a woman in Mexico, only to realize she couldn’t read. We had to read it to her. That moment really hit me – how something so simple can be so powerful.”
One of the most beautiful stories came from a letter he delivered in Belize.
“It was a love letter. Turns out, the couple had broken up but then found their way back to each other. The timing of the letter arriving just added to the magic of it all.”
His entire journey is built around one theme: human connection.
“The world can feel disconnected sometimes,” Jonny said.
“But something as simple as a letter can remind us that we’re all part of a bigger story.”
What’s Next for These Adventurers?
Before wrapping up our conversation, I had to ask what’s next for these two extraordinary travelers.
For Christian, the list of UN countries may be complete, but that doesn’t mean he’s done exploring.
“I want to go back to some of the places I rushed through,” he said.
“Sometimes, when you’re chasing numbers, you don’t get to fully appreciate a place. Now, I want to slow down and experience them differently.”
The Final Stretch:
Racing to the Finish Line
As Jonny approached the final leg of his Galápagos Postman journey, the pressure was on. He had spent almost a year hand-delivering letters across the globe, but now, with only a few left, the clock was ticking.
“I’ve got about a month left,” he told me, “and it’s turning into a bit of a race to get these last ones delivered before I wrap it all up in London on March 1st.”
Each remaining letter came with its own unique challenge – whether it was tracking down the recipient, navigating unexpected travel delays, or simply making sure he got to the right place at the right time.
“The closer I get to the finish, the more intense it feels,” Jonny admitted.
“It’s like a real-life treasure hunt, except instead of gold, I’m delivering messages that have been waiting months – sometimes years – to reach their destination.”
With the final milestone in sight, Jonny was gearing up for a big finale in London – a moment to reflect on the journey, celebrate the connections he had made, and, of course, deliver that last letter.
“After so many miles, so many stories, and so many surprises… it’s all coming down to this.”
See all the links below.
Whatever comes next, one thing is certain: these two epic travelers aren’t slowing down anytime soon.
Wrapping Up:
Why Stories Like These Matter
As I sat down with Christian and Jonny, I was reminded of something I’ve learned after years of traveling and meeting extraordinary people: travel isn’t just about the places we visit – it’s about the stories we collect along the way.
Christian’s story is one of determination and curiosity, of using his access to the aviation industry to explore the farthest corners of the world. He didn’t just travel for leisure – he travelled to understand, experience, and challenge himself.
Jonny’s journey is different but just as inspiring. His hand-delivered letters have created moments of laughter, nostalgia, and even deep emotion, proving that even in the digital age, something as simple as a handwritten note can bridge cultures and connect strangers.
I asked both of them if they had any final thoughts for fellow travellers.
Christian:
“Don’t rush the journey. If I could do it all over again, I’d slow down. Take the time to really be in a place, not just tick it off a list.”
Jonny:
“Say yes more often. Some of the best travel moments happen when you take a chance, whether it’s a random letter delivery or just chatting with someone new.”
That’s really what The Radio Vagabond is all about – taking chances, meeting fascinating people, and saying ‘yes’ to adventure.
NEXT TIME ON THE RADIO VAGABOND
This episode was recorded at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok – an event where some of the world’s most adventurous travelers gathered to share their journeys.
In the next episode, I’ll introduce you to even more incredible travelers with mind-blowing stories. You won’t want to miss it!
Until next time, my name is Palle Bo, and I gotta keep moving. See you!
LINKS:
Follow The Galapagos Postman adventure on Instagram.
Where in the world is The Galapagos Postman tracking map.
Support the fight against Motor Neurone Disease MND NZ.
Support Stand Against MND UK here.
Buy a TGP t-shirt here.
The Galapagos Postman Challenge – “Is this 2024/25’s quirkiest adventure?
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