Now, we all have moved on from Sacramento (although the 916 will always hold a special place in our hearts). Sharon and Rob live in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where they are a shining example of how to move abroad, how to reinvent yourself, and how to live a well-balanced life of fun and service.
 
So, I hope you enjoy this Sunday morning, tequila sunrise podcast chat with the people I’m still honored to know and call friends all of these years later, Sharon and Rob.
 
Oh, and Cabo, too!
 
Your buddy,
Norm :-) ​

​But ML is also one of the kindest, caring, and accepting people I’ve ever known, and I deeply respect both her and her husband, Pete. I love the journey she’s on – always evolving and growing while empowering others to do the same – and I’ll always be her #1 fan!
 
So, enjoy this chat with ML and I’m glad you’ll get to know here as I have through this podcast!

-Norm :-)

of Cambodia, Kay Kay soon adapted and found his footing by serving others, acting as a mentor and educator for poor street kids who had no other role models or opportunities.
​ 
Soon after, Tiny Toones was born, Kay Kay’s non-profit organization that helps poor, disenfranchised, and at-risk kids with education, life skills, and basic care through breakdancing, rapping, graffiti art, and other endeavors.
 
You can check out more about Tiny Toones and make a donation at www.tinytoones.org
 
And thanks for listening and sharing some time with my friend, Kay Kay!

-Norm :-)

​The movement grew and eventually became Tiny Toones, an international non-profit that’s still in existence today after nearly two decades, offering formal education, life skills, and even job placement.

According to their website, “Our mission is to provide a safe, positive environment for at‐risk youth to channel their energy and creativity into the arts and education, empowering them to build self‐confidence in their daily lives, aim for better employment possibilities, and feel supported pursuing their dreams.”

Kay Kay still runs Tiny Toones all of these years later, making it his life’s mission to save kids from the same gangs, streets, and temptations that almost claimed his life.

Enjoy this part 1 of my conversation with Kay Kay and feel free to check out Tiny Toones and make a humble donation at: www.tinytoones.org 

-Norm :-)

​Even more incredibly, Mounika’s father just passed away before her whirlwind trip, so she flew back to India to honor and bury her father, with all of the emotions and turmoil that brought, and then right on to Japan from there.

Join me in chatting with Mounika about how she overcame her fears, her impressions of Japan, the serendipitous experiences she had, and the wonderful people she met (not to mention all of the great food!).

Discover what she found on the trip of a lifetime on this very heartfelt and human podcast!

-Norm :-)

​Wicced finds his way to the big city, Phnom Penh, where he settles and immediately starts giving back, helping others, and making an impact. Fast forward almost two decades and Wicced is a community leader, advocate for deportation and immigration reform, social activist who has spoken and attended conferences all over thew world, business man, and family man all the same.
 
It's a great honor to have WIcced as a friend and little brother, and I thoroughly enjoyed our sit down and chat, including a surprise answer to a question I asked him eight years ago.
 
I might just have to move back to Cambodia – a place I’ve lived and really love – just to hang out with Wicced more!

I hope you feel the same after listening to this podcast.
 
-Norm :-)
 
PS Big-up to the Deportees and my Khmer fam!

From humble yet gracious beginnings in Communist Romania, she worked her way up in finance, moved abroad to work in other European nations, speaks six languages, and now lives in Paris. 
 
I met Rafaela in the midst of her year traveling around the world, when she focused on reading, exercise, yoga, and fully immersing herself in the moment. But far from your typical stereotypical backpacker, she carried a nice suitcase and told me she loved the high heels that she packed instead of the typical hiking boots - a true sophisticated badass!
 
After months of invitations (and begging), Rafaela finally acquiesced and agreed to hop on the podcast with me, which turned out to be one of my favorite conversations yet!  

-Norm :-)

Now, Wicced is thriving in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. But never forgets where he’s from, always judging himself on the scales of karma. He’s equal parts fearless and compassionate, a man of furious action while at the same time deeply introspective. 

But one thing is for sure – if Wicced is your friend, he’s always got your back.

Thanks for listening to this part one of my interview with Wicced and look for part two coming very soon. 

And mad love to Cambodia and the Deportees! ????

-Norm Schriever :-)

Why do most Ivy League schools from the US and England set up satellite campuses and study abroad programs in Qatar?

Or did you know that Qatar Airways is often voted the world’s best airline, and Hamad International Airport also voted number one?
 
How could Qatar’s society be so modern and progressive yet be governed by the world’s longest-ruling royal family?
 
Can a desert nation with no natural rivers or lakes have some of the most scenic marinas, beaches, and man-made islands you’ve ever seen?
 
And why is such a huge deal that Qatar is the first Arab country to host the World Cup – and what’s all the backlash about?
 
Add it all up and hot damn, Qatar is cool!
 
I’m sure you’ll gain a lot of insight from Jennifer in this podcast. And just as I discovered when traveling to one of the world’s most dynamic and unique nations, our talk will probably dispel more than a few myths and preconceptions you may have about life in an Arabian country.
 
Enjoy this episode #25 of the Who in the World podcast and let’s root for Qatar in this World Cup!
 
Your buddy,
 
Norm

PS Thanks again for listening to my humble podcast and your continued support! 

Guided by their conscience and torn by the censorship, militarization, and Soviet-era crackdowns they saw around them, their comfortable, modern life in Moscow evaporated almost overnight, descending into a dystopian nightmare. 
 
Now, they are refugees, their future uncertain and not sure when or even if they’ll ever be able to return to their mother land.
 
Today on the Who in the World podcast, you’ll hear their story.
 
Having relocated to Thailand last month, I was chilling with my best buddy here, Scott, at a bar called the Red Brick. Sitting at a table next to us were two sisters from Russia and a few of their family members, and we all got to talking as they admired my friend’s pit bull. (Shout out to Frankie!)
 
The conversation turned to how long each of us had been living in Thailand where we were from, etc., and that’s when I first got to know them. Intrigued, I had to learn more, so I invited them back for dinner and drinks while they told me about their lives – this time with the microphone on.
 
Enjoy this podcast and after listening, I’m sure you’ll feel the same respect, admiration, and genuine care for them as I do. 
 
-Norm Schriever
 
P.S. Names, places, dates, and details have been changed or omitted to keep the sisters and their family safe from retribution by the Russian government. Their security was our utmost concern, so everything you hear has been reviewed and approved by them.