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Zero To Travel Podcast

Cracking the Cultural Code With Lorelou Desjardins

Zero To Travel Podcast

Jason Moore

Society & Culture, Business, Entrepreneurship, Places & Travel

4.6866 Ratings

🗓️ 22 August 2023

⏱️ 96 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Integrating ourselves into a new culture allows us to meet more locals and enhance our travel experience. But how can we do this in the most authentic and ethical way? Lorelou Desjardins is a French lawyer who’s lived in seven countries, speaks four languages, and has dedicated over a decade to addressing environmental issues and fighting injustice on behalf of Indigenous people worldwide. She is also a fellow immigrant to Norway and has a popular blog and book called A Frog in the Fjord, which has become a bestseller here in Norway.  During today’s chat with Lorelou, you´ll hear about her experience advocating for Indigenous rights and rainforest protection. She’ll share tips on ethical travel to Indigenous areas, advice for cracking the cultural code wherever you go so you can get the most out of your trip, and the importance of being unafraid to follow a different path that others may not agree with. We also commiserate on the curiosities of life in Norway and some of the quirky things we’ve experienced living here as immigrants! Have you taken the time to immerse yourself in local culture while you travel? I'd love to hear about your experience and hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Want access to the private Zero To Travel podcast feed, a monthly bonus episode (decided on by YOU), exclusive content, direct access to me to answer your questions, and more? Click here to try Premium Passport for only $1. Tune In To Learn: How traveling as a child and witnessing Aboriginal injustice in Australia led to a life working in human rights Lorelou’s advice for effecting change in areas that matter to you and dealing with the naysayers The stigma and exotification of Indigenous cultures and her experience working for their rights and rainforest protection The time she was asked to be the doctor in a remote village (you won’t believe how it ends!) The irony of Indigenous shame when it comes to environmental reform and climate change How tourism can be a powerful tool for Indigenous communities if done right Why integrating into Norweigan culture was more difficult for her than in Indonesia What life is like as a woman in Norway and why she feels this country allows you to have it all What Lorelou loves most about calling Norway home and her favorite travel experiences here How writing has allowed her to process the journey of integrating into a new country And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Subscribe to our FREE newsletter Today's Sponsor - US Bank Learn more about Lorelou, her work, and living in Norway Connect with Lorelou on Instagram Want More? Australia Through Indigenous Eyes Connecting Across Cultures w/ Tayo Rockson Hidden Norway: 7 Off The Beaten Path Gems You’ll Love, Popular Norwegian Concepts Worth Stealing, Trekking In Bhutan, & Living At The Crossroads of Magic & Science w/ Torunn Tronsvang from Up Norway Thanks To Our Sponsors This episode is also sponsored by US Bank's Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card, with the ability to earn up to 5x the points on travel-related expenses like hotels, and rental cars, this card will get you the most return on your next trip. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

And this lady comes up to me and says, do you have medicine? And so, of course, as a traveler,

0:04.8

going to a tropical place, of course, I had medicine. And so I say, yes, and said, okay, our

0:11.0

shaman is sick. Could you come and check, you know, what he has? And I'm thinking, okay, I don't

0:18.0

have any kind of medical training whatsoever.

0:24.3

That was Laura Lou Desjardin, who is today's guest.

0:26.3

She was talking about the time.

0:29.9

She was in a remote village, and she was asked to be the village doctor.

0:31.7

You're not going to believe how this story ends.

0:32.9

You're going to hear it today.

0:35.0

Laura Lou is full of incredible stories.

0:38.2

She's a French lawyer who has lived in seven different countries,

0:43.6

speaks four languages, and has been working on environmental issues and fighting injustices on behalf of indigenous people around the world for over a decade. Today, you're going to hear

0:48.6

her tips on ethical travel in indigenous areas, some advice for cracking the cultural code

0:53.6

wherever you travel, so you can

0:55.7

get more out of your trip, the importance of being unafraid when following some different

1:01.0

paths in life that others may not necessarily agree with. And of course, we commiserate on

1:08.9

the curiosities of life in Norway as immigrants where we both live.

1:13.6

All of that and much more happening in today's show right now.

1:17.3

So buckle up, strap in.

1:18.7

Thanks for being here.

1:19.5

And welcome to the Zero to Travel Podcast, my friend.

1:32.5

You're listening to the Zero to Travel podcast where we explore exciting travel-based work,

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