u/presently_pooping

I worked for the guy from 2012-2017 guiding the exact three-week multinational tours that the first caller on today's ep (281) is describing. My heart genuinely sank hearing Gareth's representation of him.

Rick is the most generous, empathetic, and progressive guy in the travel industry, and remains to be the best boss I've ever had; I only left the company to work on an advanced degree, and would likely still be there if not for that goal. His team is incredibly well-compensated, without relying on tips from tour guests to pay his guides.

Some of his travel philosophies are certainly rooted in 70s hippie backpacker culture, but he's adapted them appropriately over time as his core fan base has aged with him. The "duffel bag" the caller is referencing is likely one of these, a large backpack that's certainly large enough to accommodate three weeks of travel - particularly the non-luxurious, carry-your-own-stuff vibe of RS tours. Nothing worse than carrying multiple roller bags up steep, narrow steps or down cobblestone roads - a trip or two to a laundromat is worth that tradeoff, IMO

Rick's also incredibly politically active in some ways Gareth would love; he recently championed WA's "millionaire tax", one of the most aggressive tax-the-rich policies in the country right now. He spent millions last year to purchase and operate a large homeless shelter. He's essentially the reason marijuana was legalized so early, and so progressively, in WA. One of the few rich guys doing it right.

I know I'm overreacting to a Gareth bit, but I felt inclined to set the record straight.