The Founder of Couchsurfing on what all went into building such a great community

The Founder of Couchsurfing on what all went into building such a great community

Author: travelwisdompodcast@gmail.com (Ladan Jiracek) February 6, 2019 Duration: 48:42

It was a pleasure to talk to Casey Fenton, the founder of Couchsurfing again. We had met a year ago in Bali but with a tight schedule and us celebrating his 40th birthday we never ended up recording an episode at that time. 

Luckily, he is now writing a book about his experiences building my favorite community for travel. Couchsurfing allows you to stay with strangers for free while travelling and its all backed on a review system that makes sure you stay safe. I've used it over 100 times and I have to say that some of my best friendships have come from the site!


The Travel Wisdom Podcast explores the profound, lasting value hidden within our journeys. This isn't just about destinations; it's about how the languages we stumble through, the cultures we briefly inhabit, and the people we meet far from home fundamentally shape who we are and how we see the world. Host Ladan Jiracek draws from personal experience across more than eighty countries, examining how travel plants seeds of practical and personal wisdom that can grow into unexpected opportunities, deeper understanding, and even professional success. Each episode delves into the tangible lessons learned from foreign concepts, business practices, and social customs, arguing that the world is the most dynamic classroom available. Listeners will hear specific stories and reflections on turning global exposure into a tool for personal growth, improved communication, and a more nuanced approach to life and money. The podcast moves beyond the simple romance of wandering to consider how these experiences compile into a unique form of education, one that challenges assumptions and builds a resilient, adaptable mindset for navigating an interconnected world.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Travel Wisdom Podcast -travel and learn languages for success and money
Podcast Episodes
Lawrence Leyton and Mark Wein Discuss the Fear of Flying [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:53
Lawrence Leyton is a therapist who has helped people overcome fears. In this episode, Ladan interviews Lawrence Leyton and one of his clients, Mark Wein, whom Leyton has helped to overcome his fear of flying. Lawrence Le…
4 years of constant Couchsurfing with Shawn Paris [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:07
Shawn Paris has spent the last 4 years of his life essentially homeless. He has stayed with around 200 couchsurfing hosts in the US, France and Japan while going around and performing. I hosted him for a few days and we…
Traveling the world in the 70s like a hippy with Tom Hughes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:40
I met Tom at a conference last year and we really hit it off because of both of our travels. Turns out he travelled all around the world many decades ago when the world was a different place. He was able to go to Iraq, A…
Real diversity from successful businessman, Robert Hartline [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:21
Robert Hartline has built several successful businesses and was able to grow it to $100 million in revenue. He now lives in a location independent lifestyle and is able to work whenever and wherever he wants. He thinks o…