Daniel Noll & Audrey Scott - Uncornered Market Originally Began As A Portfolio For Our Writing, Photography & Other Creative Work, But It Quickly Grew Into A Leading Travel Blog & Community (Travel Bloggers, USA)

Being around different stimuli, cultures, peoples, languages, nature, foods, architecture, history, and so much more. All of this provides endless opportunities to learn, grow, let go, and find connection.

1.Tell us about your background and journey.

We are a husband-and-wife team from the United States, but we live now in Berlin, Germany. Our around-the-world journey began in December 2006 where we left our traditional jobs in Prague, Czech Republic, for a 12-18 month creative sabbatical.

Along the way, we began picking up freelance writing and other work, built our website – Uncornered Market – and eventually began doing marketing and consulting work with travel brands, destinations, sustainable tourism NGOs, and other organizations.

So, what was meant to be a sabbatical turned into a new business and lifestyle of exploring, sharing stories, advising companies and writing that has taken us to over 100 countries.

2. What do you love most about travelling?

Being around different stimuli, cultures, peoples, languages, nature, foods, architecture, history, and so much more. All of this provides endless opportunities to learn, grow, let go, and find connection.

3.What's your favourite place so far?

This is always a difficult question to answer as there is no ONE favourite place. However, a few countries that always rise to the top of mind when we answer this question include Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Georgia and Peru.

The reasons for this include the combination of incredible nature, warm and welcoming people, and the ability to always find a new adventure. 

4. What place is top of your bucket list right now?

We were fortunate to be able to visit one of the places high on our travel wish list just before the pandemic began: Bhutan. Still high in our bucket list are Taiwan and Papua New Guinea. 

5. What can't you travel without?

A refillable water bottle and earplugs. Staying well hydrated when traveling is so important, as is good sleep, so that you stay healthy and feel good as you explore.

6. What are the best road trips have you taken across the country?

One of the most epic road trips that we've ever taken was the Pamir Highway from Osh, Kyrgyzstan to Khorog, Tajikistan. Incredible high mountain scenery, warm Pamiri people and culture, and truly a feeling of adventure. Another incredible multi-day road trip was in Bolivia in the Salar de Uyuni (Salt Flats) as it felt like we had landed on another planet with all of the surreal landscapes and colors around us.

In the United States, we love driving the Pacific Highway in California that goes along the coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Incredible ocean views, dramatic cliffs and cute small towns along the way.

7. Are you someone who likes to take control of the wheel or stay back whilst enjoying the scenic vistas?

Dan is the one who usually takes the wheel while I (Audrey) enjoy the scenic vistas and navigate, which sometimes means getting lost :)  If we are traveling in a country with rough roads that require a 4-wheel drive car then we usually hire a driver or take a tour so that the driving is taken care of for us and we can enjoy the scenery and experience.

8. Throw some light on your website "Uncornered Market".

Uncornered Market originally began as a portfolio for our writing, photography and other creative work 15 years ago, but it quickly grew into a leading travel blog and community focused on adventure and sustainable travel, unusual destinations, and connecting travelers to immersive experiences around the world.

As our blog, social media channels and community grew, we began getting contacted by destinations and travel brands for different types of projects. From there we began offering tourism development and marketing consulting services with a focus on sustainability, designing community-driven travel experiences and delivering positive impact for local people. 

9. What is the common misconception people have about what you do?

Those companies give us money to just travel and have fun on the road. I wish that were the case, but the reality is not that simple. We are paid for the work we do and deliver – whether it is writing for our blog, photography, social media posts, consulting, speaking, etc. -- all of which takes time to develop these skills and deliver high quality work.

10. For a complete outsider with inroads, what advice would you like to give?

Don’t try to do it all. Instead, put your attention and time to developing a craft or specific skills, and have a narrow focus or topic area where you are an expert. 

11. Which is your favourite book and why?   

“Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl is a book that we refer to regularly and have read several times. It’s perhaps not the most light or easy reading, but it’s an important reminder of the importance of purpose, meaning and imagining the future so we can help create it.

- Daniel Noll & Audrey Scott

- Instagram: Daniel Noll & Audrey Scott

- Website: Uncornered Market

- Interviewed By Pearlina Marie Rein