REVIVING THE MAGIC OF ANALOG TRAVEL AND THE HUMAN SKILLS THAT COME WITH IT
Say hello to a stranger.
Travel like it’s 1999!
Our Looney Planet is a project of Matlana Media, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to use entertaining media and the skills of pre-digital travel—curiosity, improvisation, listening, trust, and talking to strangers—to rebuild human connection in an increasingly isolated and screen-dependent world.
30 years ago, Ian Wright & Justine Shapiro, the original hosts of the travel series Lonely Planet / Globe Trekker, backpacked through more than 100 countries before the smartphone. No GPS. No translation or weather apps. They appeared on camera unscripted and often unshowered, and their intrepid spirits attracted tens of millions of viewers across the globe.
They navigated with common sense, paper maps, phrase books, cash, and the help of strangers. That dynamic wasn't a by-product of the trip. It was the trip.
Those weren’t just travel skills. Those were human skills. And they’re worth bringing back.
So buckle up as the Mulder and Scully of pre-digital travel reacquaint us with the joy, challenges and rewards that come from making friends with the unknown.
Taa Daaaaa!! Season 2 launches in September!
Analog travel skills are in play in Season 2 where we talk to strangers, navigate without a script, listen to people whose lives are different from ours, and allow curiosity and respect to lead the way.
Participate
Throughout Season 2 we want your stories. We really really do. PARTICIPATE by sending us a video message. We're all a little Loonie around here, and honestly… your stories are as good as ours.
Our Latest Episode
Episode 6: Part 2: Life After Globe Trekker
March 19, 2026
In Episode 6, Part 1, Ian and Justine pulled back the curtain on what it was really like to have "The Best Job in the World." Now, in Part 2, Ian & Justine are back to tell us what they've been up to since hosting Globe Trekker.
