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Episode #17: Jay the World

1/12/2022

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I recently got back from a three-week trip to Medellin, Colombia. My first time in the country, I was lucky enough to meet a few other young expats and digital nomads from the U.S., albeit in their 20s – the next generation of Road Dogs.

​These guys were totally unique and interesting in their own way, with different backgrounds, motivations, and goals, but collectively they assured me that there are still some cool people worth celebrating out there.
 
So, I had the chance to sit down and chat with Jay “The World” as I call him, or Jay Caviel. 

Assigning any definitions to Jay is a fool’s errand, but we might as well try. He’s a Portland skater, creative genius who hated school, and went from selling weed to the iron workers union to corporate sales and tech recruiting.
 
Jay just recently moved to Medellin, Colombia on a whim, where he bought the biggest computer monitor I’ve ever seen and jumped into the world of FX or forex trading.
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(I had no idea what that was, but it’s a foreign currency trading – quite a complex and daunting undertaking). 

Now, he’s 100% locked in and focused on becoming an “all-star FX trader.” He speaks limited Spanish but will soon start an immersive nine-month course. He lives with locals and rides a bike around the city.
 
Jay is ready to learn how to surf and asked me extensively about Costa Rica, but admittedly can’t swim that great yet.
 
He’s fearless, disciplined, and balanced but with the wisdom of an old soul - a true lifestyle architect. 
 
Try putting him in a box, I dare ya…
It would need to be as big as the world.
 
It’s encouraging for me to see that there are people who travel and live abroad for the right reasons – not just to leverage comfort and pleasure at low prices, but to explore the world, experience other cultures, learn every day, humble themselves, and increase the vibe no matter where they are.
 
Enjoy this podcast interview with Jay, who doesn’t know where he’s going yet…but is on the exact right path.
 
-Norm Schriever ?
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Episode #16: John Abate

12/19/2021

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​In this podcast episode, please meet John Abate. I’ve known John all the way back to my post-college days back in Colorado, where we definitely saw some wild stuff and have some stories to tell.
 
John and I both happened to move to San Francisco years later and were friends there, where I always got a kick out of his bike messenger lifestyle and crowd.

​He went on to race semi-professionally for years in Encinitas before tragedy came on August 16th, 2016. 


​On that day, John was struck by car while on a cycling ride only one-half mile from his house. The impact sent him about 45 feet and 12 feet in the air, his body almost clipping a tree branch. The hit-and-run driver sped off, leaving him for dead on the side of the road.

​Just about everything in his body was broken, including his back that would need five vertebrae fused and serious internal bleeding.
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But he lived, defying the odds and amazing even his doctors, a testament to the incredible physical shape he was in, as well as a good amount of luck.
 
During the excruciating recovery and rehabilitation, found forgiveness and mindfulness as a way to heal, mind, body, and soul.
 
Particularly, he used a method called Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to aid his healing and send him on his spiritual journey, and became a certified teacher in MBSR.
 
In a recovery that would take most people years or even decades, John was somehow healed and up and walking within only four months. Of course, there was still a lot of work to do and rehabilitation, but John’s turning inward somehow sped his miraculous rehabilitation.
 
Now healthy, happy, and still enjoying athletics, John teaches MBSR and meditation workshops to individuals and companies, and even offers free courses for anyone who would benefit.
 
Long gone are the days of college antics and bike messenger wildlings, and the evolved man before us now concerns himself with helping others find compassion, forgiveness, and becoming aware of their true (higher) selves.
 
Enjoy this chat with John Abate and thanks for listening and subscribing to the Who in the World podcast!

-Your friend,

Norm :-)
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Episode #15: Jen Queen

12/1/2021

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Today on the Who in the World podcast I’m super stoked to have on my friend Jen Queen, who I met around 2015 when we both we’re living in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

​Originally from Ohio before relocating to San Francisco, Jen is a world-class bartender and Mezcalier, the term for someone who’s an expert in Mexican mezcal spirits. 

​Similar to a sommelier with wines, my understanding is that Jen was only the 14th person in the world to earn that Mezcalier designation.

She went on to establish herself in San Diego before taking the huge leap of faith to move to the capital city with high-wire energy in the Kingdom of Cambodia, Phnom Penh.

​After years in PP working for La Familia, educating and collaborating with other local bars and industry folks, and plenty of ripping up the nightlife scene in a getaway tuk tuk, Jen moved on to Yangon, Myanmar (formerly Burma).

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There, she picked up where she left off as a Bar Manager for 57 Below and Union Bar & Grill in the vibrant British colonial city shrouded in mystery, which had just recently opened to the outside world again.

But political unrest in Myanmar forced her and her new bride to relocate, taking refuge during the pandemic back in the U.S. and Mexico. 

Now, Jen Queen has a bright and bold new chapter to her story in Hong Kong, the preeminent hub of everything food, drink, and bar related. 

From discussing her concepts on building culture to what makes a great bar to her day-off ritual (Fresh Cut Fridays and a bottle of So Co and lemons in a dark piano bar), seeing the world through Jen’s lens of experiences makes me want to pack my suitcase again – and order another round.

Enjoy this podcast and all hail the (Jen) QUEEN!

​-Norm :-)
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Episode #14: Gaspar

11/18/2021

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Meet Gaspar - the "Nicaraguan Ray Donovan" and one of my best friends.

​​One of the most memorable and positive experiences of my life was the year I lived in a local barrio in the sleepy seaside town of San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua. There, I met Gaspar, who was sort of like the patron saint of Barrio Chino – or, China Town. 
 
Gaspar grew up right there in Barrio Chino in the wake of the revolution and ensuing civil war in Nicaragua. With no father and a mother forced to cross the border into neighboring Costa Rica to take any work she could, he was forced to become self sufficient at a young age.
 
Soon, Gaspar began fighting in the streets, first with a lot of older kids and then even adults. His reputation as the toughest kid in the barrio and San Juan del Sur grew, but so did his aspirations for a better life.

​​Only a middle school student, Gaspar climbed the wall and broke into his own school at night.
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But he didn’t try to steal just anything or pocket things he thought he could sell. Instead, Gaspar broke into the school’s library and stole a big, virtually unused book: the English dictionary.
 
He began teaching himself one word per day, underlining it when he’d mastered it, and then, ten words and soon, forty per day. In short order, he was conversational in English in a time and place where few were. 
 
Despite his wild, hard drinking, knuckle bruising antics as a teenager and young adult, Gaspar simultaneously put himself through business school and then law school, becoming an attorney.
 
His new role as high-end "problem solver" for foreigners, the rich, and politically connected have earned him the nickname, "The Nicaraguan Ray Donovan."
 
These days, Gaspar is a family man, with a beautiful wife, Rebeca, a seven-year-old son, Gasparcito, and a newborn daughter who was less than a week old at the time of this recording, Luz (light).
 
Nothing much else has changed – he still lives in San Juan del Sur where he sells real estate, develops land, and has his sights on eventually becoming mayor, serving the people who both nurtured and sharpened him as a youth.
 
I started this humble Who in the World podcast to share the life stories of the remarkable, interesting, and downright crazy people I met around the world, and Gaspar is a prime example. 
 
In fact, his life story and these conversations bring to mind the famous quote by Mark Twain who said, “Travel is “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”
 
Enjoy this podcast and some next-level real life shit with the one and only Gaspar.
 
-Norm Schriever
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Episode #13: Trevor Gibbs

10/24/2021

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​Today on the Who in the World Podcast, I have the pleasure of interviewing my good buddy, Trevor Gibbs.
 
Originally from Austin, Texas, Trevor studied engineering and actually completed his masters degree while living in Qatar. He went on to travel throughout the middle east, Europe, Latin and South America, and has 40-something countries under his belt (and we had a fun rivalry about who’s visited more countries.)

​I first met Trevor when we were both living down in Costa Rica in 2011, and actually followed him up to the seaside village of San Juan del Sur when he discovered the great surf, chill vibe, and low-priced tacos!
 
There in San Juan, he opened a famous café called Banana Hamacas, or Banana Hammocks! We’ve since hung out in Texas and Trevor most recently visited me in the Philippines a couple of years ago for an epic trip of island hopping.
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​I think you’ll enjoy his chill Texas drawl as much as you enjoy his wise words and worldly perspective.

 
It’s Trevor Gibbs for episode #13 of the Who in the World podcast!
 
-Norm
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Episode #12: Clint da Monsta

10/8/2021

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​In this podcast, I catch up with my great Aussie friend Clint G, or 'Clint da Monsta" as I call him. 
 
I first met Clint at a remote fitness complex in Cambodia, and we hit it off immediately and started to train, travel, and do a little bit of partying together.

​Since then, I've hung out with Clint dozens of times throughout Cambodia, in Pattaya and Koh Samui in Thailand, and Manila in the Philippines. 

​Now a family man who's got a beautiful wife and child, Clint is one of the smartest, most conscious, humble, and laid-back people I've ever met. I can honestly say that through the years, we've evolved and grown up together. 
 
We haven't seen each other since January of 2020 in Manila, where he and his wife came to visit her family and baptize their young son. 
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In the short span since then, the world has gone completely crazy and gone together, so it's nice to always hear the steady, sage voice of my buddy, Clint. 
 
In this podcast, we chat about the people, places, good times - and bad - that we've experienced together, how things may evolve through a post-Covid world, and hopes for the future. 
 
Enjoy this podcast with Clint and you can be assured there are more to come! 
 
-Norm Schriever
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Episode #11: Jake Magnus

9/5/2021

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In this episode, I rap with Jake Magnus, an Aussie friend of mine who is living in Costa Rica. 

I first met Jake on the basketball court with some other friends, and he and I started beating each other up almost immediately. I knew I liked him after that!
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But it was also obvious that Jake was a deep and intelligent guy. He always had a smile on his face and a kind word, but his eyes told me he had quite a story to share.

​Today, I have the pleasure of bringing you that story in this two-hour conversation with Jake Magnus, architect and owner of Tierra Perma design studio, environmental advocate, globe trotter, all-time road dog, coffee enthusiast, and more.

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While Jake’s life story is remarkable, his deeply personal revelations about true love, tragic loss, and picking up the pieces to find beauty in life again will leave you in tears. 

I know they did for me. 

Enjoy this podcast with Jake Magnus and thanks for your support.

-Norm Schriever  :-)
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Episode #10: Sherli Quinn

8/21/2021

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From humble beginnings in Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast to working for the hit TV show Survivor and traveling the globe, it's the great and fearless Sherli Quinn!

In this episode, I'm thrilled to finally chat with my wonderful old friend, Sherli Quinn.

I say 'finally' because I've been trying to catch up with Sherli since I started this podcast, but her busy schedule , island lifestyle, and globe-trotting ways kept it from happening.

After all, Sherli works on-location for the hit TV show, Survivor, so you can only imagine!

But I first met Sherli back in 2013 when we both were living in the charming seaside village of San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua, and we became good friends.
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Honestly, she’s one of the most chill, high-character people I’ve ever met, so it was fascinating to hear her story. 

Life has taken Sherli from humble beginnings in Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast to now working for Survivor the past eight years, splitting her time between Bali, Australia, and traveling the world.

Whether she's jumping into the ring for a boxing match, wrangling snakes, camping in Australia's Outback, or just enjoying the slow, simple island life, Sherli is one of a kind.


So, I’m really looking forward to introducing you to the great and fearless Sherli Quinn!

Let's go!

-Norm Schriever   :-)
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Episode #9: Yohaun Walker

7/17/2021

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In this episode, I sit down for tea with Yohaun Walker, a cool cat I met down here in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

​Originally from the Inglewood area of Los Angeles, California, Yohaun recently relocated to the land of pura vida – or pure life. 
 
It’s a fitting setting for him to cultivate and grow his tea enterprise, Wadi Grammi (you’ll find out where that name comes from in this podcast, which will bring you an “Ahhhhhh” moment!).
 
For Yohaun, tea is his communion, an act of self-love, and part of his identity. He works with more than 60 premium herbs to hand-craft blends that promote health and wellness; mind, body and soul.
 
He works with local artisans and growers and also offers unique tea experiences like curated tea ceremonies, tastings, and even cocktail-infused teas! ​
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When I found Yohaun at his cozy apartment down a back rode in the pacific village of Villareal, Costa Rica, I expected our conversation to be a primer on tea. Instead, it was much more – an honest and surprisingly vulnerable look into his family history, his tumultuous journey, and the soul of a damn fine human being. 
 
Enjoy this podcast interview with my friend, Yohaun.
 
-Norm  :-) 
 
PS Check him out soon at www.WadiGrammi.com
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Episode #8: Val and Lupe (Part 2)

6/26/2021

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​In part 2 of this podcast interview, I sit down for cocktails with Valeria and Guadalupe Montero, Tica (Costa Rican) sisters who’ve become two of my best friends over the last seven months living in Tamarindo.

If you’ve traveled to that sleepy surf town, maybe you’ve even seen Val or Lupe at their Tierra Bendita Café. That’s how I met them, and their cute garden café with amazing food and dope music has become my regular go-to spot for smoothie bowls and coffee every morning.

But Val and Lupe have a story that goes far beyond what you see at their café, transcending their model good looks and engaging banter in both Spanish and English gleaned from the streets (ok, the malls) of Los Angeles. In fact, even a year ago they were living in San Jose, the capital city in Costa Rica, where they were on-track for lucrative careers in law and architecture, respectively. 
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However, their soul-sapping corporate cubicle life further pushed them to the Less Than Zero life on the weekends, and soon they were depressed, despondent, and self-medicated with the prospect of spending their next 30 or 40 years that way.

So, Val and Lupe chose the road less traveled, deciding to move to the beach in Tamarindo, which is about five hours away from San Jose but may as well be another planet in terms of the pace, vibe, and the pura vida, or pure life.

It was anything but easy: the Covid pandemic essentially shut down Costa Rica from tourism for about seven months, but at least they were living a life of purpose and passion now. Finally, after months of struggle and hard work, they grew their Tierra Bendita Café, which means sacred or holy ground in Spanish. That’s an apropo term for the place that both saved their lives and serves as the center of community life in Tamarindo for so many (me included).

We talked about all of that when we sat down at Lizard Lounge recently, my favorite bar in Tamarindo, with the mic rolling and margaritas flowing.

Over our nearly two-hour conversation, Vale, Lupe and I covered the story of their move to Tamarindo, the build-up of their café against all odds, dealing with mental health, chasing their dreams, sacrificing everything to live an authentic life, and much more. These sisters couldn’t be more different in terms of personality, but I like and respect both of them a little more every single time we talk and the closer we become.

Enjoy this (slightly inebriated) part 2 of my pow wow with Val and Lupe, and shout-out to Wes at Lizard Lounge for hosting us!

-Norm  :-)
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You can follow the sisters and their café life at @tierrabendita.cr on Instagram, and give some love to Lizard Lounge at @lizardloungecr

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    the Who in the World podcast w/
    ​Norm Schriever

    In this podcast, I’m going to chat with the interesting, remarkable, and sometimes downright crazy people I’ve met from my travels and time living abroad. 


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Norm Schriever

Email:     hi@NormSchriever.com