Roadmap: Find Your Path With Roadtrip Nation

Wondering what to do with your life? We’ve been there—and we’re here to help. At Roadtrip Nation, we’ve spent nearly 20 years traveling the country in a green RV to talk to people who love their jobs. They tell us about their day-to-day lives, the educational paths they took, and the hurdles they overcame along the way. We've blended all of their best stories, insights, and guidance into a podcast that shows you why it’s OK to get lost—and helps you figure out where to go next.

Best Of (so far!) 01/06/2021

Best Of (so far!) New to Roadmap? Start here! Longtime fan? Let’s walk down memory lane (and thank you)! To bring in the new year, we’re taking a look back at our favorite interviews from the last year and their greatest gems of wisdom. Our list spans from an Emmy Award-winning actor to a legendary chef, an Oscar-winning Director to a Spotify engineer, the Chief Creative Officer of Marvel to a Director of Marketing at Netflix, and more! /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/17441528

The Sounds of Star Wars (w/ Ben Burtt) 12/23/2020

The Sounds of Star Wars (w/ Ben Burtt) Even if you’ve never heard of sound designer Ben Burtt, we can guarantee you’ve heard his work… We hit Skywalker Ranch to talk to the Academy Award-winning sound designer behind “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” about how he created Star Wars’ most iconic sounds, including Darth Vader’s bone-chilling breathing, the lightsaber’s buzz, and the quirky voice of R2-D2. /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/17302742

Everything Is A Risk (w/ Diane Guerrero) 12/09/2020

Everything Is A Risk (w/ Diane Guerrero) Actress Diane Guerrero (Orange Is the New Black, Jane the Virgin, Doom Patrol) faced an incredible challenge at 14 when her parents were suddenly deported, but the lessons they had instilled in her fueled her way to a successful career in the entertainment industry. As she explained, “I didn't want to live in fear. I wanted to be seen so that, eventually, I could be heard.” /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/17122436

Don’t Be Too Afraid To Try (w/ Emily Ma) 11/25/2020

Don’t Be Too Afraid To Try (w/ Emily Ma) The world produces more than enough food, yet millions of people lack access to it. How can we solve this? Emily Ma, the Food Systems Lead at X, Google’s moonshot factory, actually sees this as a computer science problem. Learn how she’s combining her interests in environmental conservation and engineering to address one of humanity’s biggest challenges. /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/16946192

Finding Power in Self-Acceptance (w/ Scout Bassett) 11/04/2020

Finding Power in Self-Acceptance (w/ Scout Bassett) Paralympian Scout Bassett’s life path has been full of obstacles, both external and internal. After overcoming so many seemingly insurmountable challenges, her advice for us is simple: Never give up. “When you surrender or quit, you give someone else or something else power over you,” she explains. “The only person that is going to have power over me, is me.” /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/16677713

Making Your Own Luck (w/ Joe Quesada) 10/21/2020

Making Your Own Luck (w/ Joe Quesada) Calling all fans of comics! Wondering how anyone breaks into such a competitive field? For Joe Quesada, chief creative officer at Marvel Entertainment, it took a ton of pure dedication to his craft...and a little bit of luck! Hear the wild story of how he took advantage of a lucky opportunity, then worked his way to the top at Marvel, shaping iconic characters like Spider-Man and Captain America along the way. /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/16476884

“Nothing Worth Doing is Easy” (w/ Diana Trujillo) 10/07/2020

“Nothing Worth Doing is Easy” (w/ Diana Trujillo) As the mission lead for NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Mars Curiosity rover, Diana Trujillo’s job seems like something straight out of science fiction—but her journey to reach that position is even more incredible! Despite every obstacle placed in her path, she never lost focus on her plan to get an education and reach the stars...literally. /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/16301732

“You’ve Gotta Love Losing” (w/ Gary Vaynerchuk) 09/23/2020

“You’ve Gotta Love Losing” (w/ Gary Vaynerchuk) When you think of Gary Vaynerchuk, you probably think of ambition, confidence…and OK, maybe cursing. So where does the entrepreneur and YouTuber get his drive? From reading his one-star reviews. In this interview, Gary reveals how humble beginnings and early failures taught him how to use adversity as his fuel. "Everybody on the sidelines was booing me," he says. "That was the best thing that ever happened." /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/16120868

“I Just Love To Skate” (w/ Rodney Mullen) 09/09/2020

“I Just Love To Skate” (w/ Rodney Mullen) Creator of the kickflip, Rodney Mullen is credited with inventing some of the most popular tricks in skateboarding. (You might also remember him from “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater”!) As he reflects back on his career, he explains how the fame and accolades nearly robbed him of the original joy that drew him to skating—and emphasizes the importance of staying in touch with the motivation behind whatever you pursue. /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/15941630

Redefining Failure (w/ Sabry Tozin) 08/26/2020

Redefining Failure (w/ Sabry Tozin) As Netflix's director of enterprise applications, Sabry Tozin found the key to succeeding in tech was to “fail fast, and fail often.” But as he came up against some major setbacks in his path, he started to realize...there's value in embracing that philosophy in all aspects of life! Here, he walks us through how to deal with failure—and how to bounce back. /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/15754895

Be Unapologetically You (w/ Keana McGee) 08/12/2020

Be Unapologetically You (w/ Keana McGee) Netflix marketing director Keana McGee reflects on being a kid in South-Central Los Angeles, becoming the first in her family to graduate from college, and finding the resilience to be her authentic self, all by continuing to put one foot in front of the other. /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/15578372

Freestyling Through Life (w/ Christopher Jackson & Anthony Veneziale) 07/29/2020

Freestyling Through Life (w/ Christopher Jackson & Anthony Veneziale) For Freestyle Love Supreme’s cornerstone performers—Broadway superstar Christopher Jackson ("Hamilton," "In the Heights," "The Lion King") and improv innovator Anthony Veneziale—freestyle rapping is more than just the center of their show; it’s an art form that teaches you how to get out of your comfort zone and embrace the ups and downs life sends your way. /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/15393998

Invest in Yourself (w/ Lisa Legohn) 07/15/2020

Invest in Yourself (w/ Lisa Legohn) After welding unexpectedly sparked her interest as a teen, master welder Lisa Legohn spent the rest of her career passionately dedicated to the trade. For her, there's no secret formula for success. It just comes down to good old-fashioned dedication, hard work, and a willingness to prioritize your self-betterment. /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/15212891

The Practice of Contentment (w/ Tony Hale) 07/01/2020

The Practice of Contentment (w/ Tony Hale) For Emmy-winning actor Tony Hale—known for his iconic characters on “Arrested Development” and “Veep”—success has been an ever-moving target. Listen as he reflects on living a life of purpose, the importance of building support networks, and why practicing contentment has become a daily discipline for him. /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/15036146

Bring Others With You (w/ Leah Chase) 06/17/2020

Bring Others With You (w/ Leah Chase) Sit down and look back with Leah Chase, the legendary Queen of Creole Cuisine. Her iconic New Orleans restaurant, Dooky Chase’s, was a gathering place for Freedom Riders and leaders of the civil rights movement. Success and struggle—she saw it all, but her response? There’s nothing more beautiful than living. /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/14854568

Making Magic at Pixar (w/ Danielle Feinberg & Ralph Eggleston) 05/20/2020

Making Magic at Pixar (w/ Danielle Feinberg & Ralph Eggleston) Go behind the scenes at Pixar Animation Studios with director of photography Danielle Feinberg and Oscar-winning director and art director Ralph Eggleston. They share how their childhood interests in art and computer science led to careers on the cutting edge of animation, making joyful movies like "Finding Nemo" and "WALL-E." /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/14491379

“If I Can Do It, You Can Too.” (w/ Catalina Laverde) 05/06/2020

“If I Can Do It, You Can Too.” (w/ Catalina Laverde) When Catalina Laverde was 18, she arrived in the U.S. with $200, one suitcase, and zero knowledge of the English language—but she was on a mission to pursue a better education. She's now a senior software engineer at Spotify who believes that challenges—like the ones she faced!—are what make us who we are. /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/14298185

What It's Like To Be a First-Generation College Student (w/ John Legend) 04/22/2020

What It's Like To Be a First-Generation College Student (w/ John Legend) Before he was an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony-winning musician, John Legend was a self-described “fish out of water”—the first in his family to go to college. In an intimate interview, John shares the rarely told story of how we went from attending an Ivy-League school, to dabbling in business consulting, to finally achieving his dreams in the music industry. /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/14072402

"Girls Can’t Do That" (w/ Bogi Lateiner) 04/06/2020

"Girls Can’t Do That" (w/ Bogi Lateiner) When everyone was telling her she couldn’t, or she shouldn’t, Bogi Lateiner set out to prove them wrong. Now a master mechanic, shop owner, and TV personality, Bogi shares her story of overcoming the noise and pressure from society, and carving out a path in the automotive industry—all on her own terms. /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/13878170

Fear is Healthy (w/ Jimmy Chin) 04/06/2020

Fear is Healthy (w/ Jimmy Chin) Oscar-winning filmmaker, photographer, and professional climber and skier Jimmy Chin shows us the blueprint for building an adventure-packed, multifaceted career. Hear his views on facing and overcoming fear, dealing with high expectations from your parents, and taking the unconventional life path. /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/13878065

How Do You Find Your Way? By Getting Lost. 04/02/2020

How Do You Find Your Way? By Getting Lost. Can getting lost actually help you find your way? And how did one road trip evolve into a nonprofit that helps people find work they love? For our first episode, we'll share insights from Radiolab host Jad Abumrad—his words will speak to anyone feeling overwhelmed right now. Then, we'll talk to Mike Marriner, co-founder of Roadtrip Nation, about the road trip that started a movement—and led to this podcast! /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/13825160

Introducing: Roadmap 03/31/2020

Introducing: Roadmap Wondering what to do with your life? We’ve been there—and we’re here to help. At Roadtrip Nation, we’ve spent nearly 20 years traveling the country in a green RV to talk to people who love their jobs. They tell us about their day-to-day lives, the educational paths they took, and the hurdles they overcame along the way. We've blended all of their best stories, insights, and guidance into a podcast that shows you why it’s OK to get lost—and helps you figure out where to go next. /episode/index/show/roadtripnation/id/13778768

Roadmap: Find Your Path With Roadtrip Nation

TOPICS