The Thoughtful Travel Podcast

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the March 2023 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, talking about Travel as a Political Act by Rick Steves. Justin and I chatted about some of the positives of this book - the various lessons learnt from travel and some guidelines for travelling thoughtfully - along with a few parts we didn't agree with so wholeheartedly. If you'd like to join the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, all the info is at https://notaballerina.com/bookclub, and you can keep up with all the thoughts about our current books in the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook Group at https://facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy 7th birthday to The Thoughtful Travel Podcast! This is a special episode with a few interesting tidbits about the podcast, inspired by members of the Thoughtful Travellers groups who gave me some excellent suggestions. For example, I've got the stats to show you which seven episodes have been the most downloaded over the history of the podcast; I've also got our group's version of the seven deadly sins of travel. I've also combined this seven-year celebration with a trip report on my recent experience in Kununurra, in the far north-east of Western Australia. It's an incredible part of the world and I feel so blessed to have been sent there to run some workshops, and I wanted to share a few of the highlights from my experience. But I have to return to see more!!! Links: SxSW Session Select voting - https://notaballerina.com/vote  “Why We Need Travel More Than Travel Needs Us” (until 11th April 2023) My Instagram for Kununurra pics and videos - https://instagram.com/amandakendle  Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/290 Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What really goes on behind the scenes of travel writers, content creators and podcasters, and their counterparts in the tourism and travel industry, public relations firms and tourism boards? I recently spent the best part of a week in Sydney immersed in this world and I realised that lifting the curtain on how this part of travel and tourism works might prove interesting for my listeners. This episode is part trip report (in short: Sydney is gorgeous) and part BTS of IMM Australia, and more. The what? You'll have to listen to find out! I also chat with Christina Koullas of CK PR who gives us a great rundown on how public relations in general works within the travel industry. Links: Christina Koullas of CK PR - https://ckpr.com.au/  Christina’s blog about working with a journalist - https://ckpr.com.au/how-we-secured-a-cover-story/ The resulting article from Catherine Marshall - https://www.traveller.com.au/cape-york-queensland-travel-guide-the-last-great-adventure-destination-in-australia-h1twly TravMedia - https://travmedia.com  Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/289 Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It'd be great if any time we took ourselves travelling and volunteered somewhere that it was a purely good act. The problem is, of course, that we are now getting to understand just how damaging some kinds of volunteer tourism can be. Is it all bad, though? I don't think so! But we definitely have to be very, very thoughtful any time we sign up for voluntourism. In Episode 288 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I chat with three travellers about their thoughts and experiences with volunteer travel. First up, I speak with Eliza Raymond of Good Travel, who has a very telling story about an experience she had volunteering in Guatemala at just eighteen years of age. Next, I talk to Jonathan Coleman from the Reset Tourism Fund at the UnTours Foundation. After working with NGOs hosting volunteer groups, along with various other tourism experiences throughout his career, he's very sceptical about the ability of almost any travel volunteer experience to be a truly worthwhile one for every party involved. Finally, I chat to Kayra Martinez of Love Without Borders For Refugees. Kayra was living in Germany when she saw an influx of refugees on the news back in 2015, and tried to find out what she could do to help - this led to a seriously big commitment to voluntourism in Greek refugee camps. Links: Eliza Raymond - Good Travel - https://www.good-travel.org/  "Youth, Let’s Be Good Travellers" video - https://www.good-travel.org/blog/youth-lets-be-good-travellers Jonathan Coleman - Untours Foundation -  https://untoursfoundation.org/  Kayra Martinez - Love Without Borders - http://lovewithoutborders4refugees.com/ Episode 228 - Volunteering Experiences - https://notaballerina.com/228  Episode 145 - Volunteering Experiences While Travelling - https://notaballerina.com/145  Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/288 Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I don't think I'm the kind of traveller who's going to board a five-thousand-passenger cruise ship any time soon. But when I chatted with these three guests about their experiences with what I've called "not your typical" cruises, then I'm feeling much more inclined to pack my bags and my seasickness tablets! My first guest is Rick Antonson, an author of many fantastic travel books, and veteran of nearly no cruises! He did, however, have a brilliant experience on a river cruise in Myanmar a few years back, and does a good job of convincing me that it's my kind of cruise, too. Next, I chat to Noah Barnes, captain of a sailboat or windjammer off the Maine Coast, about how the trips he runs are absolutely not your typical cruise. I'm literally ready to sign up. Finally, I speak with Justin Meneguzzi about an experience he had on the kind of cruise that's always appealed to me - an expedition cruise. You'll have to listen to find out why three hundred passengers all abandoned their dinner and grabbed their cameras when they were cruising near Svalbard. Links: Rick Antonson - www.rickantonson.com Rick’s new book, Train Beyond the Mountains - https://amzn.to/3Zq1C8T (out April 2023) Maine Windjammer Association - https://www.sailmainecoast.com/  Noah’s boat - Stephen Taber - https://www.stephentaber.com/  Justin Meneguzzi - https://www.justinmeneguzzi.com  Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/287 Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of my very favourite cities anywhere is Melbourne, Australia. It's a city I seriously considering moving to when I returned from living abroad, and I have so many friends there - long story short, I always love visiting Melbourne. When my son was picked as a goalkeeper for the Western Australian state indoor soccer team, and we found out he'd be headed to Melbourne for the National Fustal Championships in January 2023, I was equally excited about his inclusion in the team and the fact that we'd "have to" go to Melbourne! This episode is a trip report about our experiences on sports travel, as well as a few days down in San Remo and Phillip Island, topped off with a city staycation in the heart of my beloved Melbourne. Links: Penguins at Phillip Island - https://www.penguins.org.au/ Voco Melbourne Central - https://www.ihg.com/voco/hotels/us/en/melbourne/melct/hoteldetail Immigration Museum - https://museumsvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/  Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/286 Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've always wanted to get to Hawai'i some day - but now I know why I haven't made it yet. I needed to read this brilliant book first! This episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is an interview with Annie Daly and Kainoa Daines, the authors of "Island Wisdom: Hawaiian Traditions and Practices for a Meaningful Life". It's one of those brilliant books - all too rare - which serve the function of teaching us really important things about a destination before we arrive, and enrich the experience we have once we're there. Having read this book, I know for certain I'll get so much more out of a future Hawai'i trip then if I hadn't read it. I had such a wonderful chat with Annie and Kainoa, and I've tried to edit it down a little - we couldn't stop talking! - but it's still a little longer than a regular episode. Hope you enjoy it and that if you've visited Hawai'i before, it gives you some extra context, or that it enriches a future trip if you're like me and haven't had the magic of a Hawaiian experience just yet! Links: Island Wisdom - https://amzn.to/3E2oNgO Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/285 Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We know that having expectations can often set us up for disappointment - and many thoughtful travellers will also know that letting go of these expectations and just embracing whatever happens can often lead to the most memorable and enjoyable trips. In this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I chat with three guests who prove just that. Firstly, I talk with Diana Fischer of Detours Zürich about some of her experiences of travel and how she’s learnt that being humble and open-minded can teach her the most. I then speak to windjammer captain Noah Barnes who explains that both his own travel experiences and those he observes of his cruise passengers have taught him that having expectations is the enemy of fun, and that a certain amount of discomfort is actually the best recipe for a memorable trip. Finally, Nancy Edwards gives some examples of the unexpected occurrences she’s faced on travels in Sierra Leone and Laos, reminding us that being prepared for anything is likely to both teach us the most and give us the best possible travel experience. Links: Diana Fischer from Detours Zürich - https://www.detours-zurich.ch/  Maine Windjammer Association - https://www.sailmainecoast.com/  Noah’s boat - Stephen Taber - https://www.stephentaber.com/  Nancy Edwards, author - https://www.nancyedwards.ca - Not One, Not Even One: A Memoir of Life-altering Experiences in Sierra Leone, West Africa Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/284 Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the season for Antarctic travel - but should we really encourage Antarctic tourism? That's the question I had in mind when I chatted with Justin Watson (well-known to listeners as my Book Club co-host), who travelled to Antarctic recently on a true trip-of-a-lifetime. We chat about the highlights of an Antarctic trip, Justin's tips for deciding on a ship to join, and also our thoughts on whether Antarctic tourism is for better or worse. You'll have to listen to find out what we decided! Links: Justin’s blog with some great photos on his Antarctic posts - https://justins.world  Nikki Gemmell’s book Shiver - https://amzn.to/3Dqfvei  Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/283 Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the 2022 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, talking about Peel Me A Lotus by Charmian Clift with my co-host Justin Watson, and later joined by Thoughtful Travellers member Philippa. If you'd like to join the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, all the info is at https://notaballerina.com/bookclub, and you can keep up with all the thoughts about our current books in the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook Group at https://facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.