Freedom to Travel: Meet the First Black Woman to Travel to Every Country in the World

This week we chat to trailblazer Jessica Nabongo, an influencer
with actual influence. Her following – 197,000 and counting –
watched her, as we did, become the first Black woman to travel to
all 195 countries in the world. She slept in a yurt in Mongolia,
toured pyramids in Sudan and broke bread in Pakistan before
finishing her two-and-a-half-year race around the world on the
shores of the Seychelles. We couldn’t think of a better guest to
have on Episode 6 of The Upgrade podcast, which coincides with
the launch of our Volume 31: The Freedom Issue. 


It comes at a time when the idea of “freedom” sits awkwardly with
our social, political, economic and mental realities.
Nevertheless, we believe that the culture of travel, of building
connections across the world and immersing yourself in other
countries and communities can be incredibly freeing. 


We chat to the influencer, travel expert and businesswoman
Jessica Nabongo about her thoughts on diversity in the travel
industry, the highs and lows of her journeys and how we can
support African artisans through her new business venture, The
Catch. 


We’d love to know where you’re going next and how you think the
travel landscape might change as lockdown restrictions ease. Send
your voice notes to fleur@suitcasemag.com or drop us a DM on
Instagram @indiadowley and @fleur_rm. For a daily dose of travel
inspiration, check in with us at suitcasemag.com. 


Links and notes from the episode 


You can follow along with Jessica Nabongo’s 50-state US road trip
here


https://www.instagram.com/thecatchmeifyoucan/


Want to fill your home with Jessica’s well-curated selection from
artisanal items from around the world? Shop The Catch. 


https://www.instagram.com/thisisthecatch/


And these are the Black-owned businesses Jessica recommends:


The Honey Pot Company


https://thehoneypot.co


The Lip Bar (for your seven-minute full face) 


https://thelipbar.com


AJ Crimson 


https://ajcrimson.com


Coco and Seed (for Jessica’s plant babies)


https://cocoandseed.com


Essie Spice 


https://www.essiespice.com


This is the article about passport privilege India and Fleur urge
you to read: 


https://suitcasemag.com/articles/the-right-to-travel


And these are the articles we take a look at to help you become a
better ally: 


https://suitcasemag.com/articles/otherness-superpower-journey-belonging


https://suitcasemag.com/articles/blackness-becoming-and-breaking-barriers


https://suitcasemag.com/articles/us-cannabis-industry


https://suitcasemag.com/articles/neocolonial-tourism


https://suitcasemag.com/articles/breaking-into-travel-journalism


Want to be one of the first to receive our brand new issue? 


https://suitcasemag.com/shop/subscriptions