A few weeks before Burning Man last year, I saw a post from Aaron Muszalski, aka Slim, asking for help sending cancer patients/survivors to the annual "social experiment" in the Nevada desert. I couldn't help but wonder: Why would a cancer survivor want to go to Burning Man? It can be super dangerous for anybody. … Continue reading Adventure.com: The patients who said ‘f*ck cancer’ and went to Burning Man instead
TIME: He Saved the Largest Venomous Snake in the Americas. Now, He Hopes It Could Save Human Lives.
Which would you rather save, a cuddly panda or a deadly viper? The snake is more valuable than you think. I’m proud to finally share this story I’ve been working on since early 2018 about a man saving the world’s largest pit viper. Photos by Stephanie Foden Story on TIME
National Geographic Travel: Oaxaca welcomes spirits home with “bread of the dead”
While walking through 20 de Noviembre market in Oaxaca City, I felt the eerie feeling of being watched. It wasn't by somebody, but by some faces embedded in loaves of pan de muerto (bread of the dead). My quest to discover the significance of this bread within Día de Muertos led me to four towns, … Continue reading National Geographic Travel: Oaxaca welcomes spirits home with “bread of the dead”
Guardian: Black cowboys – Creole trail rides showcase unique culture
What do you think of when you think of a cowboy? A gun-slinging John Wayne type? As my first story for The Guardian shows, there's a whole other group of cowboys that this mainstream narrative leaves out. Photos by Stephanie Foden.
ESPN: Chasing River Monsters In The Brazilian Amazon
When I was in Brazil for five months, photographer Stephanie Foden and I heard about surfers riding waves on the Amazon River. Yes, rivers tend to be calm, especially the Amazon – but a couple of times a year a tidal bore wave comes thrashing through the lush forest. I reached out to tidal bore … Continue reading ESPN: Chasing River Monsters In The Brazilian Amazon
VICE: My Uncomfortable Stay in the BDSM Room of a Brazilian Sex Motel
Love motels. They seem weird, don't they? But in Brazil and many countries around the world they're a common sight. When I thought about going to one with my girlfriend Stephanie Foden, I didn't think she'd want to go, let alone do a story on it. But she loved the idea and we tried one … Continue reading VICE: My Uncomfortable Stay in the BDSM Room of a Brazilian Sex Motel
Lonely Planet: How to join a Creole trail ride
On any given weekend in towns across Louisiana and Texas, hooves click-clack on pavement and wagons blast infectious zydeco rhythms. Holding the horse's reins in one hand, and a cold beer in the other, is a long line of cowboys. Not the John Wayne-type typically seen in Hollywood westerns, but African American men and women, … Continue reading Lonely Planet: How to join a Creole trail ride
Dazed And Confused: I Went To The Unofficial Britney Spears Museum
I was on an RV road trip across the US when I heard there was an unofficial Britney Spears museum. I simply had to go. How could you not? The potential for weirdness was too great. In the end, an adorable town shifted my presumptions – and made me feel like a jerk in the … Continue reading Dazed And Confused: I Went To The Unofficial Britney Spears Museum
AskMen: I Got Down And Dirty In The Birthplace Of Rum At Barbados’ Crop Over Festival
If you've met me traveling, you know I love a good street carnival – and Crop Over in Barbados was one for the ages. Read the travel story over at AskMen. Photos by Stephanie Foden
10 Awesome Podcasts From 2017 To Turn You Into An Avid Listener
I am what some have called a podcast "super listener." On most days, I probably listen to five podcasts -- many of them at 1.5x or 2x speed. I listen when I wake up, when I'm traveling, when I'm walking around, and when I'm cooking or cleaning. There is just so much incredible audio being churned … Continue reading 10 Awesome Podcasts From 2017 To Turn You Into An Avid Listener
Joel Balsam 