The curious case of a con-man who infiltrated the world of elite travelers

“Wanderlust can dictate the course of your life.” – Dave Seminara

In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Dave discuss the philosophical underpinnings of wanderlust (2:00); the subculture of competitive travelers (10:00); the mystery of William Baekeland (20:00); and the impact of wanderlust on peoples’ lives (44:00).

Dave Seminara is a writer and former diplomat. His latest book, Mad Travelers: A Tale of Wanderlust, Greed and the Quest to Reach the Ends of the Earth, is a deep exploration of wanderlust, focused around the true story of William Baekeland, a young Brit who conned many of the world’s most traveled people as they sought to reach the planet’s most remote and off-limits places. For more about Dave, check out his website at https://daveseminara.com.

Notable Links:

• Most Traveled People (club)
• Nomadmania (club)
• The Travelers’ Century Club (club)
• Charles Veley (traveler)

The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.

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