Rolf Potts

Catch Rolf on Do Radio: Tomorrow's World with Jon Kaye 01-07th December 2025.

is a travel writer best known for Vagabonding, the book that helped define long-term travel as a mindset, not just a gap year. Born in Kansas, he’s spent the last two decades chasing stories across more than sixty countries, writing for places like The New Yorker, National Geographic, and The New York Times.

He’s not just a writer though. One of his more well-known experiments was a six-week, no-luggage trip around the world, carrying nothing but what fit in his pockets. It wasn’t a stunt so much as a statement: freedom isn’t about what you pack, it’s about how you live.

His follow-up book, Marco Polo Didn’t Go There, won awards for travel writing that pushed boundaries, mixing memoir, philosophy, and craft. These days, he still writes, teaches, and hosts workshops for new storytellers, often from his farmhouse back in Kansas.

Rolf’s work asks deeper questions about why we travel, how we connect, and what it really means to be at home in the world.

Show Notes:

In this conversation, Jon Kaye and Rolf Potts explore the intersection of travel, writing, and technology. Rolf shares his journey from aspiring travel writer to established author, discussing the challenges of maintaining passion in a professional context. They delve into the importance of journaling and note-taking, the impact of technology on creativity, and the role of AI in writing.

Rolf reflects on the challenges of navigating technology and attention in today's world, and the nostalgic value of music and travel experiences. Rolf discusses the evolution of his travel experiences and the importance of balancing travel with a sense of home. He reflects on the vagabonding philosophy, emphasising the need for permission to travel and the concept of time wealth versus money wealth.