Travel safety is one of those topics many of us don’t think deeply about until something happens, or until we start travelling more extensively and realise the world isn’t always as straightforward as our home environment.
In this episode, I’m joined by Erin, Nomad Life, a long-term nomad and newly certified Empowerment Self-Defence (ESD) coach, to talk about practical travel safety, situational awareness, intuition, confidence, and how to travel the world without living in fear.
Erin has spent 15 years travelling through more than 60 countries, often solo and far off the beaten path, and shares the tools and mindset shifts that have helped her stay safe while continuing to explore the world boldly and confidently.
We also dive into real-life travel experiences, from attempted thefts in Costa Rica to uncomfortable situations on public transport, and discuss simple habits that can make a huge difference when travelling internationally.
Most interestingly from this discussion you’ll hear how being prepared and aware, rather than make you more paranoid, actually makes you more confident and able to explore the world with freedom and peace of mind.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
What Empowerment Self-Defence (ESD) actually is, and why it’s about far more than fighting.
Why situational awareness is one of the most powerful travel safety skills you can develop.
How intuition and body awareness can help you avoid dangerous situations before they escalate.
Practical techniques for using your voice, body language, and boundaries to de-escalate threats.
The importance of confidence and preparation when travelling solo or as a couple.
Simple travel safety tools Erin carries everywhere she goes.
Why freezing in dangerous situations happens, and how practice helps reduce it.
How to stay aware without becoming fearful or hypervigilant.
Real stories from years of global travel and the lessons learned from them.
Key Takeaway
One of the biggest takeaways for me from this conversation was just how many situations can potentially be avoided or de-escalated simply through better situational awareness.
Paying attention to your surroundings, trusting your instincts, and reacting early can often stop incidents escalating long before they become dangerous.
Time-stamped Guide
00:00 Welcome + introducing Erin from Nomad Life
01:30 What Empowerment Self-Defence (ESD) actually is
03:00 Erin’s solo travels through 60+ countries and why she first trained in ESD
06:00 Free travel safety resources, training, and Erin’s ESD app
07:45 Why travellers can be more vulnerable abroad than they realise
10:45 Jo’s Costa Rica theft experience + emergency response challenges overseas
14:45 The core principles of ESD and why awareness matters
17:30 Intuition, boundaries, body language, and learning to react instead of freeze
22:30 Simple travel safety tools and habits Erin uses around the world
26:00 Staying aware without slipping into fear or hypervigilance
30:30 Real-world travel safety experiences and avoiding dangerous situations
33:30 Are some countries actually more dangerous than others?
36:00 Jo’s London dog theft incident + trusting your instincts
39:00 Final thoughts on confidence, preparation, and travelling safely
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Free ESD App (Apple & Android) - Apple Store | Google Play
Join the Conversation
Have you ever had a travel experience that made you more aware of personal safety?
Or do you have any travel safety habits or tools you swear by when exploring the world?
Share your thoughts, experiences, or best tips in the comments, we’d love to hear them.
