Planning a trip to Paris? Jay Swanson is an American writer & vlogger who came to Paris on a visa no one had heard of and managed to stay. His down-to-earth vlogs documenting life in Paris have built a devoted following, leading him to become a trusted local travel expert.  Jay shares helpful and uncommon advice for tackling a city like Paris, like where to stay and how to meet locals. At the top of the episode, we also discuss his intense experience working on Mercy ships—hospital ships that travel around the world. You’ll hear about the traumatic and magical things he witnessed during that time and how that led to his crazy life as an expat in Paris. What uncomfortable travel experience helped you grow? I'd love to hear about it and hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. Premium Passport: Get ad-free episodes, exclusive content, and access to all episodes for only $3/month. Subscribe now! Tune In To Learn: His life-changing experience working on Mercy ships in developing countries and the traumatic event that caused him to have PTSD (and why he chose to keep going) His internal struggles while transitioning back to “regular” life after seeing so much suffering  Insights into measuring personal growth, balancing your own needs with serving others, and leading a value-driven life The wild story of how he moved to Paris on a visa that no one had ever heard of  The French culture and one word that will make all the difference in connecting with locals Why you should avoid staying near the Eiffel Tower Where to go for the best food and drinks (not the tourist traps!) Where to go for a nice coffee and do some writing that’s not your usual place His #1 piece of advice for making a living on YouTube with less than 100k subscribers And so much more Resources: Join Zero To Travel Premium Passport Sign up for our FREE newsletter Visit Jay’s website  Grab his guide on Paris (use discount code ‘zero2travel’) Jay’s YouTube Jay on Instagram Stats on leading city tourism destinations Want More? Top 7 Grand European Journeys With Lucas Peters Ireland: An Insider’s Tour of the Emerald Isle with National Geographic Author Jack Kavanagh Hitting Refresh on Your Life with Travel + How to Move to Europe Thanks To Our Sponsors Nissan - There’s no better vehicle for adventure than the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder. Learn more at www.nissanusa.com. Babbel - Learn a new language with Babbel! Visit babbel.com/zerototravel to get up to 60% off your subscription.