Ep 196 Brad States AKA bradthenomad85

On this episode we had the pleasure of talking to the author of Rooftop Diaries...Brad States AKA bradthenomad85 on Instagram. Brad has a lot of great travel/adventure stories and just great life advice for anyone looking to catch the travel bug.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZCSD72V/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&dplnkId=333207c2-9e24-4375-81ca-cac02f8f0f80&ref_=nodl_

https://www.facebook.com/rooftopdiariesofficial/

https://www.instagram.com/bradthenomad85/

https://www.rooftopdiaries.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradstates/

https://twitter.com/bradthenomad85

Brad States

Former baseball player turned backpacker - BradtheNomad85 - Visit over 75+ countries, and you are bound to encounter unique experiences. A poster hung in Brad's college dorm room containing a quote by Henry David Thoreau—"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. LIVE the life you've imagined."

A childhood love of sports led to a Division 1 baseball scholarship. As the dream of going pro faded away, a newfound passion for travel began. Having a type-A outgoing personality, Redbull in his blood, combined with a curiosity level higher than a newborn kitten, there was no looking back.

Now, a veteran employee and customer of the travel industry—over 15 years of escapades accumulated in Brad's brain. He decided to share the awe-inspiring stories, life lessons, and secret tips with you. While writing, "BradtheNomad" lived out of a suitcase and stayed at lodgings with rooftop terraces to keep the creative juices flowing. Visit www.rooftopdiaries.com for more details.

"Imagine escaping a police ambush from a high-rise balcony in Thailand, getting punched by an NHL hockey player in Canada, and being heartbroken by "the one" in Spain ...all on the same weekend. This compelling read whisks you away to a different country each and every chapter from the comfort of your seat. You'll encounter suspense, adventure, fear, romance, heartbreak, tears, laughs, and learn along the way. The author vividly describes the numerous unconventional true stories from 78 countries of exploration. You'll pick up ninja travel tips, gain a broader perspective of the world, and be motivated to seize opportunities before they pass. Don't think of this as your typical destination guide—it's a treasure map to discover your potential. Pack your bags; we leave tonight."

"Ding ding ding! The bell sounded as the fighters jabbed away in the center while Renee stood by the ropes. After a few minutes, they got tied up in a corner. As she approached them to break it up, one tripped on her foot, and like dominoes, they all tumbled in sequence. Without stopping their quest to get the K.O., the two opponents quarreled directly on top of Renee. I popped up out of my seat, ready to enter the ring and intervene. She motioned her right leg back toward her chest and kicked upward. It was a direct hit, launching one boxer up and over the ropes. He landed on a high table, spilling drinks from patrons watching the battle royale. I suddenly had flashbacks of the WWE attributes from Thailand and sat my a** back down. With that soaring kick, the final bell rang. Renee stood up, along with the last remaining boxer. He took her hand and placed it in the air to celebrate her victory. The crowd went absolutely berserk. Even the MC was in shock at what had just occurred. It was not a bona fide sparring match anyway—so what if the referee ended up winning instead of a competitor? "

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"The three attractive ladies who came down in front of Brett and me wore a sexy nurse outfit, a Little Bo Peep costume, and Red Riding Hood garb. It was difficult to make out what they were saying with the techno music blaring right behind us. I leaned in and put my right arm around Little Bo Peep’s shoulder to understand her. Expecting to hear a gentle voice, a strong, brute tone roared in my left ear instead, “HEY! THAT’S MY GIRLFRIEND!”

...and that was the last thing I heard that night.

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"Montañita faces west and naturally has incredible sunsets. On that morning, however, it was the sunrise that was special. The moon was setting on the ocean’s horizon at dawn just as the sky began to illuminate. I reconnected with the others as the party toned down. We all sat on the sand talking about everything travel-related as roosters crowed. Thoughts and memories flooded my brain from the last decade and how great it’s been to spend it with like-minded people. Think abou...