The True Travel Podcast

The podcast's very own host, British journalist and travel writer, Laura Sanders, documents her journey through Peru with small group tour specialists G Adventures. South America's third-largest country, Peru is a land of deserts, glaciers, lakes and jungles. But it's most famous for Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas.  Learn more about this powerful civilisation as Laura makes her way through Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. Laura then treks to Rainbow Mountain, an overnight social media success story, before sleeping beneath the jungle canopy in an eco-cabin just outside of Porto Maldonado.  Hang on until the end, when Laura answers your questions about Peru, preparing for the Inca trail, and  travelling with G Adventures.See Laura's itinerary and the other tours on offer with G Adventures here.Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

Hot off the back of a tense finale of Race Across the World season 3, the winners talk to Laura about their experience, what they've been up to since and where they're off to next.Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

As we approach the new year, Laura asks Skyscanner's Travel Trends Expert, Laura Lindsay, about what and where is up and coming in 2023 - so you can get in there ahead of the crowds.According to Laura, we're more determined than ever to travel despite the cost of living crisis, but we're looking for places which offer better value for our hard-earned cash. As a result, lesser-known destinations such as Amman, Madeira and Zagreb are on people's radars. Having recently returned from Jordan herself, Laura tells us why it's one of Skyscanner's trending destinations - and why it should be on your travel checklist. Skyscanner is a search engine which helps you find the cheapest flights and hotels. You can browse flights across an entire month to find the best deal and use it's 'Everywhere' feature to find the cheapest destinations to fly to from your chosen airport. Feeling inspired? Find cheap flights on Skyscanner.Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

The True Travel Podcast: Travel Guides takes you on a journey to an exciting destination, sometimes with the help of a guest expert.In this first Travel Guides episode, award-winning travel journalist and author Tharik Hussain (S4,E4) joins Laura to tell us what Saudi Arabia has to offer as it undergoes a dramatic transformation.Having lived there for some time and travelled the country extensively, Tharik shares his insider knowledge and tells us what to see and do, where to stay, and what's on the menu. He also tells us how Saudi Arabia has changed since he first moved there and how the country is pumping billions into the tourism industry.Tharik's top tips? Get in there before Saudi Arabia goes mainstream and pack plenty of sunscreen!The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastTharik HussainInstagram:  @tharik_hussainTwitter:  @_TharikHussainWebsite:  tharikhussain.co.ukBuzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

Travel journalist Oli Smith joins Laura to talk about the world's abandoned wonders, as detailed in his new book, Atlas of Abandoned Places.During the episode, Oli talks about some of the destinations which feature in the book - many of which he's visited himself - as well as some of his earliest adventures as a young backpacker and his career as a travel journalist.Oli also tells us why you shouldn't try visiting some of the destinations in this book yourself as it can be illegal. But this hasn't stopped a group of people who've formed the “Urbex” community who sneak into off-limits places.The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastOli SmithInstagram: @olismithtravelTwitter:  @OliSmithTravel Website: oliversmithtravel.com Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

Tharik Hussain is a British-Muslim travel writer and author who's been travelling in search of Europe's native Muslim communities. Tharik released his book Minarets in the Mountains:  A Journey into Muslim Europe  in July which is all about his adventures around the Western Balkans, connecting with muslims who have lived there for centuries.During the episode, Tharik talks about the way Muslim heritage has been erased from travel literature by colonial-era writers, what elements of the journey surprised him and challenged his preconceptions about muslim identity, and why travel writing desperately needs more diverse voices.The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastTharik HussainInstagram:  @tharik_hussain Twitter:  @_TharikHussain Website:  tharikhussain.co.uk Buzzsprout  is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching  the True Travel Podcast really easy.  As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

James Willcox is the co-founder of Untamed Borders which creates bespoke tours in places such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan, among other unconventional destinations.During this episode, James tells us the story behind Untamed Borders and how it has helped documentary film makers - most recently Michael Palin - access and explore these seemingly cut-off corners of the globe. But you don't have to be in the media to go on one of their trips and James tells us what's on offer to travellers. Laura also asks James about the issue of safety when arranging tours in places we typically only hear about when there's war and other dangers.The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastJames Willcox/Untamed Borders -Instagram:  @untamedbordersTwitter: @untamedbordersWebsite: untamedborders.comBuzzsprout  is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching  the True Travel Podcast really easy.  As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

Mary Novakovich is a British travel journalist specialising in Croatia and the Balkans. Both her parents are originally from Croatia, which at the time of their births was part of Yugoslavia. Mary's memoir, My Family and Other Enemies: Life and Travels in Croatia's Hinterland, was released in August this year and documents her many journeys to visit family in Lika, where her mother was born and grew up. Mary first visited as a little girl when the country was part of Yugoslavia and later took her mother back down memory lane there. Having witnessed how the country and her parents' birthplace has changed over the decades, her memoir gives a personal account of a moment in history, but it's above all a travelogue which talks of the breathtaking scenery and authentic cultural experiences on offer.Mary tells us all about the book and her other adventures as well as sharing tips for getting off the beaten path in Croatia.The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastMary Novakovich -Instagram: @marynovakovichTwitter: @mary_novakovichWebsite: marynovakovich.contently.comBuzzsprout  is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching  the True Travel Podcast really easy.  As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

Jess Vincent started writing about travel a few years ago when she went backpacking in South America. It wasn't long before she scored commissions with the big names and won awards for her words.  Jess has covered South America extensively, penning stories about hiking the Camino Copalita - a little-known trail only a privileged few get to experience in Mexico - and tasting the country's ancient "caviar". Having grown up in Spain,  she knows where to find the hidden gems and experience truly authentic food and hospitality.While she was grounded during lockdown, Jess got her fix by burying her head in the great work of other travel writers, when she came up with the idea of collating all of these stories into one big anthology. And so,  with the help of some of the other most-respected names in the world of travel literature, The Best British Travel Writing of the 21st Century was born. During this episode, Jess talks to Laura about the mammoth task of selecting stories for the book and what makes a great piece of travel writing, as well as reflecting on some of her favourite adventures.The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastJess Vincent -Instagram:@nomadatravelTwitter: @jessicagvincentWebsite: jessicagvincent.comBuzzsprout  is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching  the True Travel Podcast really easy.  As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

May 29th marked International Everest Day and so joining Laura this week is The Telegraph's Lucy Aspden who recently completed Basecamp Everest. Leading her up the mountain was the son of Sherpa Tenzing, one of the first two men to summit Everest almost 70 years ago. The trek to Everest has changed a lot since then and Lucy tells us what it's really like to summit basecamp in 2022, with far more comfortable accommodation, thousands of climbers visiting every year... and the impacts of climate change being felt.She also tells us about life in the Himalayas, why so-called ‘overnight mountaineers' are ruining Everest, and how locals are cleaning up the mountains so future generations can enjoy it.The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastLucy Aspden-Instagram: lucy_aspden Twitter: @Lucy_Aspden  Buzzsprout  is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching  the True Travel Podcast really easy.  As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

Cheryl B Engelhardt is a marine biologist turned bestselling New Age artist and composer from New York. She holds the unofficial title of being the first person to make an entire album on a cross-country train in the USA.What started as a cheaper way to travel to the Grammys ended up being a 9-day round trip from New York to LA after the event was cancelled during the pandemic. Cheryl produced her twelve-track album - aptly named The Passenger - whilst winding through the Rocky mountains, past enchanting frozen lakes and herds of wild Elk streaking through the valleys.Find out more about Cheryl's journey and how it inspired the music as well as the Grammys from an insider's perspective, her dodgy gig in Germany, a hairy helicopter ride in Hawaii, and travelling the world with social justice choirs.The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastCheryl B Englehardt -Instagram: @cbemusic Twitter: @CBE Website: cbemusic.com Buzzsprout  is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching  the True Travel Podcast really easy.  As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

Kate Wickers is a travel journalist and author whose debut book - Shape of a Boy - is a memoir about travelling with her husband and three sons from Borneo to Cambodia, Mexico to Thailand, and everywhere in between.Each chapter of her book is a different family trip and includes a life lesson her three boys learned as well as the laughs, cries, and experiences they've shared along the way.During the episode, Kate and Laura talk about some of the trips in detail, including how Mexico helped the boys after the unexpected loss of their uncle. Kate then answers some of your questions about family travel.The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastKate Wickers -Instagram:  @wickers.kate Twitter: @KateWickers Website: katewickers.com Buzzsprout  is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching  the True Travel Podcast really easy.  As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

If you think that travelling sustainably means spending more money or going to some far-flung place to plant trees, think again. Sustainable travel journalist Richard Hammond from the Green Traveller explains how any holiday can be made more planet-friendly.From what you decide to pack to choosing accommodation with the right eco credentials, Richard's new book The Green Traveller  is full of useful tips and planet-friendly holiday ideas. He discusses some of them in this episode.The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastRichard Hammond - Instagram: @greentravellerTwitter: @greentravellerWebsite: greentraveller.co.ukBuzzsprout  is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching  the True Travel Podcast really easy.  As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

This week, we're heading to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco to hear from Alice Morrison, a British author, adventurer and self-proclaimed 'Indiana Jones for girls.' She moved to Morocco eight years ago and now speaks Arabic.Alice tells us of her adventures across the Sahara desert, encountering snakes, quicksand and lost kingdoms. During this episode, Laura asks her about one of her most recent expeditions following the 1,500km Draa River from source to sea with two nomad men and their camels. Alice gained exclusive access to the nomadic communities along the way and been able to speak to the women of the families and find out what nomadic life is really like. She also tells us what life is like in her compound in the mountains and how she's become the adoptive crazy aunt there.The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastAlice Morrison - Instagram: @aliceoutthere1Twitter: @aliceoutthere1Website: alicemorrison.co.uk Buzzsprout  is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching  the True Travel Podcast really easy.  As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

Author and journalist Pip Stewart completed a world-first expedition through the depths of the Amazon jungle in 2018.  She followed the Essequibo River in Guyana from source to sea, taking three months in total. Pip hiked, kayaked and hacked her way through the dense, unexplored wilderness along with two friends and five members of the Wai Wai indigenous community.  They went through with this expedition knowing that if they got into trouble, there was no guarantee that help could reach them. Pip faced deadly snakes, jaguars - and worst of all a flesh-eating parasite, which she provides all of the gory details of. Find out what this adventure taught Pip about life and travel as she immersed herself in the natural world - and what her first meal was after weeks of foraging for food.Pip reflects on her epic adventure and what it taught her about life, travel, and finding a new level of respect for the natural world in her book: Life Lessons from the Amazon., out now. The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastPip Stewart -Instagram: @pipstewartTwitter: @PipStewartWebsite: phillipastewart.com Buzzsprout  is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching  the True Travel Podcast really easy.  As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

Once a frequent flyer and jetting off to Europe most weekends, editor at The Independent Travel, Helen Coffey, quit flying for a year in 2020. She's now written a book about her flight-free adventures and the impact of the aviation industry on the planet.Throughout the pandemic, ‘build back better' has been the buzz phrase as the travel industry had time to reflect during lockdown on its impact on the planet. But traveling more sustainably is easier said than done - especially when flights are often cheaper and more convenient. Helen makes it sounds totally doable as she reflects on her experience of using trains, bikes and hitch-hiking (among other modes of transport) to reach Croatia, Amsterdam and even Morocco. She also shares her tips for trying flight-free travel for the first time.Helen's part-memoir, part investigation: Zero Altitude: How I learned to fly less and travel more is due out on 26th May 2022.The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastHelen CoffeyTwitter: @LenniCoffey  Buzzsprout  is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching  the True Travel Podcast really easy.  As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

Kicking off season three with Laura is Carmen Roberts, presenter on the BBC's The Travel Show, who takes us behind the cameras on some of her most memorable assignments.Born in Singapore, Carmen has since lived in Australia, Japan and the UK and visited more than 80 countries.  During the episode, she reminisces about some of her most memorable assignments with Laura, taking us from a bizarre tour bus in North Korea to a devastated Phuket in the wake of the Boxing Day Tsunami. Carmen also reflects on the assignment where everything went wrong in Peru, how a TV project in Scotland led her to some long lost family and what she's recently been up to in Chile.The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastCarmen RobertsInstagram:  @carmenroberts_travels Twitter: @carmenlrobertsWebsite:  carmenlroberts.com Buzzsprout  is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching  the True Travel Podcast really easy.  As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

Guidebook writer Rebecca Hall talks all things Greece as she sits down with Laura to discuss her travel writing career and some of the hidden gems she's discovered in the country she now calls home.Originally from London, Rebecca has traveled all over the world, but Greece has always had a special place in her heart. She moved there after graduating from University to teach English. That was until a Rough Guide author read her blog. She now regularly contributes to guide books, travel magazines and blogs as well as still teaching English on the side. The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastRebecca HallInstagram: @beyondbexTwitter: @BeyondBexWebsite: lifebeyondbordersblog.com Buzzsprout  is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching  the True Travel Podcast really easy.  As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

Travelling artist Natasha Cross, who's originally from London, has been making her way up through South America; painting, volunteering and teaching as she goes. She's currently in Bolivia, a country which stole her heart and stopped her in her tracks three years ago. During that time, Natasha has seen the country go through a political crisis and was at one point walking through blockades to get to work. Shortly after, the pandemic struck and to keep herself busy in lockdown, she used painting as a way of documenting what she witnessed.Natasha's also got some funny stories to tell, like the time her colleague accidentally painted a devil on the wall of a kindergarten class - more on that later.As a travel destination, Bolivia is often overshadowed by neighbouring Peru and Chile, but Natasha says for those who are up for an adventure, Bolivia will reward its visitors with some real off-the-beaten-path beauty spots.The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastNatasha CrossInstagram: @natashacrossart Website: natashacrossart.comBuzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

American photojournalist Adam Schluter travelled to Europe with less than $50 to his name and just one night in an Airbnb and took a huge chance with an idea for a photography project. Luckily for him, a travel company liked it and agreed to sponsor him to travel along Europe's railways, taking photos of complete strangers and asking for their stories. The project is called ‘Hello from a Stranger' and it was started by Adam's craving for real human interaction in a world obsessed with social media. Now Adam has collected more than 1000 photos and stories and he continues to find meaningful interactions with people from all walks of life.  Enjoyed this episode?  Remember to subscribe so you don't miss out.The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastAdam SchluterInstagram: @hello.from.a.stranger Twitter: @AdamSchluter Website:  hellofromastranger.comBuzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

Travel journalist and author, Shafik Megji, talks backpacking across India and South America, writing travel guide books, the countries he wouldn't write about for ethical reasons and so much more. Have you ever picked up your hefty Lonely Planet or Rough Guide book on your flight somewhere and wondered who writes all of that and what level of research they undertake? Well this week's guest, Shafik Meghji is one of the writers guiding you through new lands.A travel writer, author and adventurist, Shafik defected from sports journalism and went on a gap year to travel the world - first to India, where he discovered more about his heritage, and then to South America - and he's never looked back. Shafik has been to more than 50 countries, but his expertise lie in South America and India.Shafik tells Laura what's involved in writing travel guide books (he's now helped to write over 40 of them), how he got into the industry and some of the highlights of his travels. Shafik has also worked for Amnesty International and he sheds light on some countries he wouldn't write about to promote tourism because it could help prop up harmful regimes. He provides his advice to conscious travellers who don't want to support such things either.Enjoyed this episode?  Remember to subscribe so you don't miss out.The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastShafik Meghji -Instagram: @shafikmeghjiTwitter:  @shafikmeghjiBlog: shafikmeghji.comBuzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

This week, Laura speaks to travel journalist Simon Parker about his world cycling expeditions and his exciting career so far.  In 2016, he cycled and sailed from China to London for a documentary. That was his biggest challenge until lockdown in 2020, when he completed a 3,500 mile cycling expedition around the UK, which he's now written a book about.Simon's reported from more than 100 countries in his career to date and talks about some of the highlights, as well as where he's going next and the types of stories he likes to cover.Simon talks about his struggles with anxiety and depression during his cycling expedition around the UK, as well how travelling during the pandemic in this way enabled him to witness this moment in history from a unique and privileged perspective.Enjoyed this episode?  Remember to subscribe so you don't miss out.The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastSimon Parker -Instagram: @simonwiparkerTwitter: @SimonWIParkerBlog: simonwparker.co.ukBuzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

What it's like being a solo female backpacker from India in Latin America, scares and scams at the borders,  travelling in India (which is more like a continent rather than a country), and living in the experimental community of Auroville with Manisha Singh.A few years ago, Manisha realised that working in the corporate world in Mumbai wasn't for her. Dissatisfaction with her job combined with  a serious relationship coming to an end led Manisha to believing she needed to do something to get her out of her funk. Manisha tried everything to get her mental health back on track and find her mojo again, but after nothing worked, she decided she needed to do something "drastic": travel half-way across the world to Latin America.On day one, she landed in Brazil with just her first night's stay booked and the money she'd saved up. Manisha tells Laura what it's like to travel as not only a female, and a solo female at that, but an Indian backpacker in a part of the world which isn't used to seeing Indian travellers. Get ready to laugh at some of the questions she's been asked by locals about her culture as she reflects upon the highs and lows of her journey. There were also some frightening moments at border crossings, which highlight the issues surrounding passport privilege and partly answers why there aren't many people from India travelling in Latin America.Manisha also talks about her travels in her home country, which she says should be a continent in itself, with hundreds of unofficial languages and such contrasting landscapes.Finally, she explains how people in India are beginning to look further afield to travel and how it's no longer exclusive to the upper classes there. India has been a backpacking haven for years, but now Indian people are beginning to embrace this travel style themselves.Enjoyed this episode?  Remember to subscribe so you don't miss out.The True Travel Podcast -Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastManisha Singh -Instagram: @thesolespeaksTwitter: @thesolespeaksBlog: thesolespeaks.comBuzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

Tom Chesshyre joins Laura to discuss some of the highlights of his 25-year career as a travel journalist as he releases his tenth book. Tom started out as a sports journalist before realising he wasn't particularly excited by reporting on footballers' injuries for the rest of his career. Soon after, a holiday of a lifetime to South Africa turned into his first big travel story as he followed the infamous Barmy Army around the cricket matches out there. Now, after two decades of working on The Times Travel desk and writing ten travel books, Tom has come on to reflect on some of his adventures.  Expect to hear about travelling across North Africa post-Arab Spring (and probably being the last tourist to do so), exposing the dark side of Maldives, and his tenth book - Park Life: Around the World in 50 Parks  - which was written during lockdown. Enjoyed this episode?  Remember to subscribe so you don't miss out.The True Travel Podcast - Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastTom Chesshyre - Twitter: @tchesshyreWebsite: tomchesshyre.co.ukBuzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

Fetish cafe's and fantasy dining in Japan, Goth fashion and subcultures around the World, and spooky travel destinations with La Carmina.Kicking off season two with Laura this week is nobody more fitting to come on just before Halloween; it's travel journalist and TV presenter La Carmina, who specialises in Goth subcultures, alternative travel and all things Japan. La Carmina started her blog about Goth fashion and travel just as a creative outlet while she was studying law in 2007. But it soon evolved into an entity of its own and more than ten years later, Carmina has won awards, presented TV shows, written books and become the first person ever to give a TEDx talk on Goths. She joins Laura from her hometown of Vancouver for this episode, as she reveals some of the spookiest - and in some cases, weirdest - places she's visited. Carmina is also an expert on Japan, having travelled there since she was a child, and she's going to give us her alternative guide to the country and it's vibrant youth culture.Enjoyed this episode?  Remember to subscribe so you don't miss out.The True Travel Podcast -  Instagram: @truetravelpodcastTwitter: @truetravelpodFacebook: The True Travel PodcastLa Carmina - Instagram: @lacarmina  Twitter: @LaCarmina Blog: lacarmina.comBuzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

S1, Ep8This week's episode is packed with adventure as New York-based travel writer Katherine Parker-Magyar talks about her exciting career. From a champagne breakfast in the Nepali jungle to  going off-grid on an eco-tour in the Amazon, her first travel assignment in Hawaii, and sleeping in the world's highest lodges in Peru - Katie has some amazing stories to share. Katie's travels are always driven by the people she meets and having that deeply immersive experience.  As a writer, her mission is to bust the myths and stereotypes about other countries and cultures. "People are not their politics," she said after a visit to China. Katie also talks about why outdoor adventure travel is perceived as something masculine (and why it shouldn't be)  and how she pleasantly surprised herself on a trekking adventure in Peru.Plus - if you've ever wondered how you get into travel writing, Katie shares plenty of tips throughout the episode. Enjoyed this episode? Remember to subscribe so you don't miss out.You can also follow the True Travel Podcast on Instagram: @truetravelpodcast and Twitter: @truetravelpod.Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

S1, Ep 7: Janey McGill credits her father with her sense of adventure.  Since she was a little girl, she's always had a love for the great outdoors and horses, and for a short while, she was raised in Vegas. A nasty accident while riding meant she was forced to give up her career in the military, but she hasn't let that hinder her travel plans.  From moving to France to nanny a blind dog and several horses, to trekking for 28 days across the desert,  Janey's travel tales are certainly unique.Janey's need for a challenge, combined with her intolerance to sitting at an office desk all day, and her fascination with the Middle East, led her to taking on a major expedition across the Empty Quarter in Oman with two other women. Janey and Laura discuss her expedition, some of the beauty spots to be seen along the British coastline, wild camping, and overcoming life's challenges.You can watch a short film of Janey's expedition over on Instagram - @truetravelpodcast - where you can also get the latest on all of the podcast's other guests.Enjoyed this episode? Remember to subscribe so you don't miss out.You can also follow the True Travel Podcast on Instagram: @truetravelpodcast and Twitter: @truetravelpod.Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

S1, Ep 6:Steve Brock is the author of Hidden Travel: The Secret to Extraordinary Trips, which is a guide to how to travel more meaningfully based upon his 40 years of travelling to more than 50 countries.There are so many forms of travel out there and everybody's idea of "travel" and what they want to gain from it is different. Steve's book acts as a guide to travelling more purposefully and travelling in a deeper way.Like his book, this episode is packed with a mixture of deep conversations about what travel is, as well as more practical advice, hints and trips he's picked up along the way.Steve and Laura also discuss whether travel is selfish and how we can make a positive impact on the people and places we visit. Enjoyed this episode? Remember to subscribe so you don't miss out.You can also follow the True Travel Podcast on Instagram: @truetravelpodcast and Twitter: @truetravelpod.Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

S1, Ep5: Ex-Emirates air hostess-turned-Dubai expat Adele Goddard was given a sense of adventure from a very young age by her parents who loved jetting off to far-flung destination. She was an air hostess for five years with Emirates, during which time she was based in Dubai and travelling all over the world.  After leaving the company and moving home to the UK, she decided she missed it too much and now lives in Dubai with her husband and young son, with her own travel business.Adele gives us an insight into travelling for one of the biggest airlines in the world, places to see in and around Dubai, travelling with a small child and what people are craving in travel after the pandemic. Enjoyed this episode? Remember to subscribe so you don't miss out.You can also follow the True Travel Podcast on Instagram: @truetravelpodcast and Twitter: @truetravelpod.Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

S1, Ep 4:American 'serial expat' and work-abroad expert, Kat Smith, is this week's guest. She tells us what is meant by a “serial expat”, how she and her husband met and the realities of being a travel couple, why getting a job abroad can be easier than you think - even in a remote village in Ecuador you've never heard of, and how to convince your significant other to go travelling if they're not so adventurous.All of that and more from Kat, who's been travelling for 8  years and she's Zooming me from Tennessee having just moved home from Vietnam.Enjoyed this episode? Remember to subscribe so you don't miss out.You can also follow the True Travel Podcast on Instagram: @truetravelpodcast and Twitter: @truetravelpod.Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

S1, Ep3: British Documentary producer-director, Bella Falk, has been travelling the world for 17 years making history and science programmes for the biggest TV channels.From diamond mines in Namibia to eating ant eggs for dinner in Mexico, she's experienced some extraordinary things on her travels - and that's just her day job.When Bella isn't travelling  making TV shows, she's, well, travelling (probably at a more leisurely pace) and populating her blog with stunning photographs and her travel tales.Enjoyed this episode? Remember to subscribe so you don't miss out.You can also follow the True Travel Podcast on Instagram: @truetravelpodcast and Twitter: @truetravelpod.Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

S1, Ep2:  Laura speaks to award-winning travel photographer and writer, Yulia Denisyuk, who turned her back on a six-figure salary in the corporate world to pursue her dreams of becoming a travel photographer. It was a big risk, but one which paid off.Yulia reveals what it's really like to work as a travel photographer and writer, her favourite assignments, and how you have to make things happen, you can't "wait to be discovered", if you want to make it in the industry.Yulia also talks about the problematic behaviours of many journalists in the travel industry, who subject local communities to the Western gaze and "come, take and leave" without so much as a "hello".  It's Yulia's strong morals and her "humble approach" to locals that gained her the trust of and access to a nomadic community in Jordan. Enjoyed this episode? Remember to subscribe so you don't miss out.You can also follow the True Travel Podcast on Instagram: @truetravelpodcast and Twitter: @truetravelpod.Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).

S1, Ep1: Travel and mental health, pulling a sickie from half way across the world, being a national newspaper columnist but not being able to afford the bus, and the healing powers of El Camino de Santiago. Financial services consultant turned travel writer Paul Thomas Bell is this week's guest.Laura speaks to fellow broadcaster and travel writer, Paul Thomas Bell.  He talks pulling a sickie from the other side of the world, trekking twice across El Camino de Santiago, and how travel has been with him during some of the darker periods in his life. You can also expect to hear about the irony of having a national newspaper column but being broke, the unexpected people you can expect to work with in a call centre, and Paul's plan to give the lesser known destinations the spotlight they deserve.During this episode, Laura asks the question: "Do some use travel as a way of 'escaping' their mental health issues - and is that necessarily a bad thing?" Find out what Paul has to say about that and so much more.Enjoyed this episode? Remember to subscribe so you don't miss out.You can also follow the True Travel Podcast on Instagram: @truetravelpodcast and Twitter: @truetravelpod.Buzzsprout is the #1 podcast hosting platform and made launching the True Travel Podcast really easy. As a subscriber, you get tons of guides, from finding the right equipment at the right price to growing your podcast organically; as well as detailed analytics to see how people are listening, tools to promote your episodes, and more.Start your free trial with Buzzsprout now.(Affiliate disclaimer: Following this link lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show).