A few months before my dad died, he called me to his room and asked me to open a drawer. Inside, I pulled out a folder so big that I needed two hands to hold it: our family’s Florida timeshare contract. He wanted me to get rid of it – but I couldn't manage to do … Continue reading Washington Post: Timeshares can trap you. My family couldn’t escape until my dad died.
Business Insider: I’ve traveled to over 60 countries. Here’s why I chose to live in Rio de Janeiro
After more than a decade of wandering as a freelance journalist and digital nomad, I finally decided to stay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I wrote a personal essay for Business Insider about that decision. Stay tuned for a book I'm working on about why people choose to live in the places they do.
Lonely Planet: Canada (Quebec Chapter)
Explain Québec's complex history of French–English relations, sovereignty and identity in less than 125 words? Challenge accepted! (To be fair, I split them up in a few sidebars.)I crisscrossed Quebec from Montreal to Lac-Saint-Jean and Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine to write the 80-page chapter in the Lonely Planet Canada guidebook – my largest, and most personal, guidebook to … Continue reading Lonely Planet: Canada (Quebec Chapter)
Toronto Star: Trekking in Nepal to see one of the world’s highest mountains, I learned the meaning of pilgrimage — the hard way
A personal essay with my photos about a challenging experience that proved to be a turning point in my life path. Read at Toronto Star (it also appeared in print).
AFAR: What to Know About Travel to Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon
I went to Jordan in October for the Adventure Travel Trade Association conference and was among the last travelers to visit the Middle East in its long-gone 2023 "tourism boom". Since then, the industry has been decimated due to the Israel-Gaza war.I spoke to travel industry professionals in Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt about how their … Continue reading AFAR: What to Know About Travel to Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon
Podcast Interview: The Maverick Show
I rarely talk publicly about the nuts and bolts of my career, but I got that opportunity on The Maverick Show podcast with Matt Bowles. On the show, we go over some of my stories from Armenia, Kenya and Brazil, and discuss the ethics of journalism and travel writing. Listen to Part 1 and 2 (Episodes … Continue reading Podcast Interview: The Maverick Show
Lonely Planet: Southwest USA (New Mexico)
After a painful pandemic, I hit the road again for Lonely Planet in September 2022 and here’s my first published guidebook (USA Southwest, New Mexico chapter) in the NEW style. Yes, Lonely Planet has changed its style in its 50th year, and while I’m not paid to say this, I think it’s a game changer. … Continue reading Lonely Planet: Southwest USA (New Mexico)
Atlas Obscura: The Mysterious, Naked Night Runners of Western Kenya
While in Kenya, I kept hearing about these naked nuisances that spook their neighbors at night. Thrilled to see the story with such amazing illustrations by Rodolfo Reyes for Atlas Obscura. Read it here.
Toronto Life: The Homesteaders of Mount Forest
One of my favorite stories ever. I interviewed the Murph-Ariens at their off-grid homestead in Ontario and channeled their life story in an as-told-to feature. Read it at Toronto Life.
Globe: Is Nickel Making These Quebecois Sick?
Concern about contaminated air causes tension in a small town at the heart of Canada’s push to be a leader in a green economy. Read the multimedia feature in the Globe & Mail.
Joel Balsam 