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[audio:http://thestatelessman.jellycast.com/files/audio/The_Stateless_Man-2013-04-08.mp3|titles=The Stateless Man: Stranded in American Samoa; the Valley of Longevity, Ecuador; Why Millennials Are so Ironic; Radical Unschooling]

Guests:

Mikhail Sebastian (3:42),

Jim Braman (23:50),

Zachary Caceres (43:56),

Dayna Martin (1:01:15).

Akin to the Tom Hanks movie “The Terminal,” Mikhail Sebastian is a man with no nationality who was stuck down in American Samoa for more than a year. He reveals the painful reality of laws that discriminate based on someone’s nationality, as explained in my commentary on the matter, “Nativism, the Citizenship Union, and Barriers to Movement.”

Sebastian’s presence also helps to clarify what “stateless” means for the Stateless Man. It does not mean throwing one’s passport into the river or renouncing citizenship in such a way that would grossly impede one’s options. On the contrary, it means the renunciation of confining allegiances, being an independently-minded person towards rather than against greater freedom. It also means being pragmatic, and Sebastian can tell you how important your travel documents are in that regard.

A friend of mine from North Carolina has begun a new life alongside his wife in Vilcabamba, Ecuador—the Valley of Longevity (pictured above). For a host of reasons (some better than others), Ecuador is a leading expat destination, and Jim Braman gives you a straight up appraisal. You can follow his story at TravelPod blog.

After speaking with Braman, I mentioned Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, an important book for those who seek to understand the pressures on politicians in developing nations. It just missed out on my list of ten life-changing books in this week’s feature article.

Zachary Caceres is editor of Radical Social Entrepreneurs, and a couple of his articles have caught my attention recently. One is on why millennials, and that includes most Stateless Man followers, are so ironic. “[W]e know we’re being screwed,” he says. Consider this data from the United States:

In 1984… households headed by people 65 or older had 10 times the wealth of households headed by people under 35. By 2005 — before the Great Recession hit — the gap had increased to 22 times, and by 2009 it was 47 times.

The other article explores the “cult of the American athlete” and why “we need better heroes.”

Many of you will have heard the term, “unschooling,” an alternative approach to education that is gaining popularity. The final guest, Dayna Martin, explains what that means and how you can explore it further. She has just finished directing the Life Rocks! conference on the matter, and she is also author of Radical Unschooling: A Revolution Has Begun.

Regarding the limits of higher education, a recurring theme on the Stateless Man, Martin recommends Hacking Your Education: Ditch the Lectures, Save Tens of Thousands, and Learn More Than Your Peers Ever Will.

Rachel Mills of the Full Frontal Liberty podcast was my lovely cohost this week, with plenty of excellent contributions. Be sure to check out her new Facebook page.