Travel is more than just a journey from one place to another—it’s an experience that shapes perspectives, builds connections, and unveils the unseen beauty of the world. Few people embody this spirit better than Brian, the traveler and storyteller behind I May Roam. With a passion for urban exploration, public transportation, and discovering cultural gems, he has journeyed through 41 countries and almost every U.S. state. But behind the adventures and food tours, who is the man behind the blog? In this exclusive interview, we dive into Brian’s world—his career, his inspirations, and the personal side of a globetrotter.
Moni: You have a degree in Management & Marketing and have traveled extensively. How do you balance your professional career with your passion for blogging and travel? Do the two ever intersect?
Brian: Whenever I travel, I’m always making mental notes. Even when I’m out with family or friends, I’m thinking, “Could this be a fit for a future story?” Sometimes, it takes years to make a place/experience fit. But I have hundreds of notes on my phone and an equal amount of draft stories in Grammarly.
Moni: Evolution of ‘I May Roam’: Your blog covers everything from food tours to urban exploration. Has the focus of I May Roam changed over the years? If so, what prompted those shifts?
Brian: In the beginning, it was just me writing about local experiences in New York City and Pennsylvania. As I started traveling to other countries/continents, the geographic focus broadened. And since COVID, I’ve been taking guest posts from writers around the world. Those guest posts often present an opportunity for me to use photos and video clips that may have otherwise never seen the light of day.
Moni: Many see the glamorous side of travel blogging, but what’s something about maintaining I May Roam that people don’t realize? Any unexpected challenges?
Brian: Making sure you don’t get hacked is at the top of the list. It has happened to many of my contemporaries. There are also annual fees (web hosting, backups, etc.) that you need to find a way to cover.
Moni: If money, time, and logistics weren’t a constraint, what would be your ultimate travel or blogging project?
Brian: Visiting Antarctica, which would be my seventh continent. I had a trip booked, then COVID happened. Nowadays, I’m having too much fun traveling around North America, Asia, and the Middle East to plan an Antarctica trip.
Moni: You’ve traveled to 41 countries. Was there a particular trip that changed you as a person or shifted your worldview?
Brian: I’ve been to 57 (soon to be 58 countries). The most impactful were.
- Rome 2003: visiting where my ancestors came from.
- Paris 2004: my first solo trip to a country where I don’t speak the language.
- Cambodia 2016: brought me face to face with the impact that decades of war continue to have on a country.
- Israel/Palestine 2017: if you’re only going to visit 5 countries in your life, this should be one of them (so important to three global religions and the kind of place where you can’t take anything for granted)
Moni: You immerse yourself in different cultures while traveling. Have you ever experienced culture shock that forced you to rethink your approach to travel?
Brian: Maybe a vague answer, but I think you should take the things with you that work and avoid the things that don’t. While I enjoy Spain and Argentina, I’ll never get used to eating dinner when I’d normally be in bed. I do it when I’m there, but don’t miss it when I get home. Since my first subway ride in New York, I’ve always tried to make it a point to take at least one trip on the local version of such whenever I’m visiting a destination.
Moni: How has travel influenced your relationships—both personal and professional? Do you think it has made maintaining deep connections easier or more challenging?
Brian: When you spend more than 100 nights a year in hotels, it makes it difficult to relate to those that don’t. And you’re just not around that much. You may only see your closest friends a couple times a year at most. Most of the socializing I do is either at travel industry events or the family functions I’m able to attend.
Moni: When you’re not traveling, writing, or attending travel events, what’s something about you that most people wouldn’t expect? Any quirky hobbies or guilty pleasures?
Brian: I have a morning routine that has been the same for nearly a decade. Wake up to Slayer or Metallica, check emails, do some kind of exercise for 45 minutes give or take, and have a smoothie for breakfast. Desserts are my guilty pleasure (almost always at the end of the day).
As our conversation with Brian comes to an end, one thing is clear—travel is not just about destinations; it’s about experiences that shape who we are. Whether it’s the challenges of balancing work and passion, the deep cultural connections he’s built, or the untold stories behind his blog, Brian’s journey is an inspiration. If you haven’t already, check out I May Roam for more of his travel insights, recommendations, and stories from across the globe. And as he continues to roam, we’ll be eagerly following along—because every journey has a story, and Brian’s is one worth telling.
