221: Moonlighting as a Jazz Singer in Puerto Rico, Attending Fidel Castro’s Funeral in Cuba, and Becoming a Fully-Nomadic Political Consultant with Flora Mendoza

<p class="MsoNormal">Flora Mendoza joins Matt over a bottle of wine in Dakar, Senegal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> She reflects on what she loves most about Senegal after spending a month in Dakar, and also shares her experiences traveling through Tunisia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.<span style= "mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> Next, Flora talks about being half Mexican and half Basque, shares her experience growing up in Queens, NY, and reflects on her study abroad experience in Salvador de Bahia in Brazil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> She then talks about her journey with music and acting which included studying opera in Italy, being a recurring extra on Saturday Night Live, and spending time with Michael K Williams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> Next, Flora talks about her path to becoming a professional political consultant and pollster, and explains how she turned that into a fully remote position and started traveling the world full time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> She explains why she prioritizes an understanding of the history and politics of her travel destinations and then talks about her trip to Palestine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> Flora and Matt then reflect on the general importance of making distinctions between government policy vs. the individual citizens of a country, and how dominant groups in all societies have the option to side with oppressed groups.<span style= "mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> Flora then talks about moonlighting as a Jazz singer in Puerto Rico, attending Fidel Castro’s funeral in Cuba, and traveling through Colombia in two different decades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> She offers tips on traveling with a relationship partner, solo female travel, and balancing work and travel in different time zones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> Matt and Flora then reflect on the beauty of the Basque country.<span style= "mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> Finally, Flora shares what travel means to her and opens