#30: Life Lessons From the World’s Most Dangerous Places | Robert Young Pelton

#30: Life Lessons From the World’s Most Dangerous Places | Robert Young Pelton

From Two Percent with Michael Easter by iHeartPodcasts

July 21, 2026 · 59 min · Episode 30

About this episode

Robert Young Pelton shares his experiences and insights from reporting in the world's most dangerous places, discussing travel safety and personal reinvention.

Robert Young Pelton spent his early career as an advertising executive with 50 employees, a Rolls Royce, and a half acre on the ocean. At 40, he walked away from it to become a journalist and report from the world's most dangerous places. In the 30 years since, a Liberian rebel has put a bullet two inches from his ear, a Colombian death squad held him at gunpoint for ten days, and he’s arranged secret dinners between American generals and Taliban leaders. His method has never changed: show up, sit down, ask about their kids, and understand why people do what they do. This conversation is packed with some of his wildest stories and lessons for a life well travelled. Robert shares why traveling is statistically safer than staying home. He also shares how the State Department uses their travel warnings for political reasons, rather than assessing how safe a region actually is. Plus, the rule he lives by at 70, happy and married for almost 50 years: the clock is ticking, so don't be afraid to reinvent yourself. *This episode is not suitable for children as it contains descriptions of violence. Two Percent is hosted by Michael Easter. Today’s episode was produced by Joey Fischground…

People in this episode

Host: Michael Easter

Guest: Robert Young Pelton

Topics covered

  • dangerous places
  • travel safety
  • journalism
  • personal reinvention
  • political travel warnings
  • life lessons

Keywords

  • Colombia
  • Taliban
  • travel
  • journalism
  • safety
  • reinvention
  • violence
  • life lessons

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: State Department, Kaleidoscope, iHeart

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