Women Who Travel | Condé Nast Traveler

When cabin fever first set in during the early stages of the pandemic, we turned to the experts for help: three women who chose to live in isolation for long stretches of time, whether at a fire lookout in Idaho, on a remote Greek island, or in a sea kayak, like Sarah Outen did while rowing solo across the Pacific Ocean.Three months later, and we're still grappling with what it means to isolate ourselves from friends and family. So we decided to check back in with Outen, a British rower, biker, and adventurer who has spent months-long stretches alone in grueling conditions, including a solo row across the Indian Ocean and a four-year, around-the-world solo trip executed exclusively on bikes, kayaks, and row boats. In this week's episode, she shares her tips for making it through the toughest stretches of being alone, stories about a logistically complicated long-distance relationship, and her newfound joy from rest. (That said, she'll likely inspire you to haul your bike out of the garage and get moving, too.)Find a full transcription of the episode and links here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-one-adventurer-spent-293-days-alone-at-sea-women-who-travel-podcastFollow Sarah: @sarah_outen_homeFollow Meredith: @ohheytheremereFollow Lale: @lalehannahFollow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

While we truly love to drink wine, we would hardly call ourselves experts. And after downing quite a few delicious bottles over the last few months without a sommelier or bartender to guide us, we thought we'd check in with two of the least snobby wine snobs we know: Women Who Travel contributor Shanika Hillocks and Helen's Wines' Helen Johannesen. We talk all about how our taste—and willingness to shell out—has changed during lockdown, some places to start when looking to test your wine comfort zone, and what the wine industry looks like today. (And don't worry, we don't say "vino" once.)If you're headed to your local wine shop after listening or want to browse for some bottles to pick up online, here are all of the wines we mentioned in the episode, with links to where we could find them: Strekov 1075 Fred #5 red blend, Južnoslovenská, Slovakia Valentina Passalcqua Primitivo, Puglia, Italy Calcarius Orange, Puglia, Italy Maison Noir Love Drunk Rosé, Oregon Domaine De Cherouche Gamay, Ayent, Switzerland Zafa Wines and CO Cellars Electric Mayhem cans, Burlington, Vermont Aslina Umsasane red blend, Stellenbosch, South Africa Sieman Mosca Bianca, Veneto, Italy Yetti & The Kokonut Savagnin 'Metro', South Australia Clos Lentiscus Cric Cric Blanc, Penedès, Spain Follow Shanika: @shanikahillocksFollow Helen: @helenswinesFollow Lale: @lalehannahFollow Meredith: @ohheytheremereFollow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

We've been spending a lot of time at home these days, which means more time staring at the art on our walls, the tchotchkes on our shelves, and the souvenirs we've chosen to display. It's also made us think about how to find more meaningful souvenirs on future trips—pieces that bring back memories of trips, a sense of place, or a glimpse of history. So, we checked in with Kiyanna Stewart and Jannah Handy, power couple and owners of Brooklyn's BLK MKT Vintage, to learn how they shop for and curate their store, which maps the Black diaspora through vintage wares and collectibles. (Plus, how they style their own souvenirs and vintage finds at home.) Their biggest tips? Have patience: Whether you're shopping in your own town or have to travel halfway around the world, be prepared to leave a shop or flea market empty handed should nothing speak to you. And think about function and purpose before spending on something that won't fit in your home, let alone your suitcase.Follow BLK MKT Vintage: @blkmktvintageFollow Lale: @lalehannahFollow Meredith: @ohheytheremereFollow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravelFind a transcription of the episode and links here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-to-shop-for-meaningful-souvenirs-women-who-travel-podcast Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This episode was originally broadcast in July 2019. With music festivals on hold this summer, we thought we'd share one of our favorite episodes from last year, recorded live at Pitchfork Festival in Chicago. Lale teamed up with Pitchfork's senior social media manager Vrinda Jagota to chat about travel, music, and more with Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz, the French-Cuban sister act behind Ibeyi. We'll be back with a new episode next week.Follow Lale: @lalehannahFollow Vrinda: @confident_leaderFollow Ibeyi: @ibeyiofficialFollow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Since this season is sure to be unlike any other high season, thanks to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we've been asking a lot of questions about summer travel here at Traveler—from how much we'll be traveling, to how we'll be getting around, to where we'll stay. And this week, we're tackling all of those questions (and more) in one episode with the help of some top notch experts: associate editor Megan Spurrell and New York Times travel reporter Tariro Mzezewa. We hope our conversation gives you the information you need to travel to the beach or a remote Airbnb responsibly—or the blessing to stay home and plan for your out-of-this-world trip for next year.Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremereFollow Lale: @lalehannahFollow Tariro: @tariro__Follow Megan: @spurrellyFollow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In the wake of ongoing protests against police brutality and systemic racism across the U.S. and all industries, much has been made of listening and learning—and amplifying Black voices in the process. Which is why this week, we’re passing the mic. Hosted by Them's executive editor Whembley Sewell, featuring Jessica Nabongo and Evita Robinson, our latest episode focuses on how the industry as a whole can and must step up for Black travelers. Whembley, Jessica, and Evita are all members of the Women Who Travel advisory board, women we've trusted to challenge us over the last nine months, and we hope in listening to this episode—hearing their stories and where they see opportunity for change—you can challenge yourself, too.Here are a few women Evita and Jessica suggest following. Be sure to scroll back through their feeds to understand their full body of work. Lola Akinmade Åkerström, @lolaakinmade Stephanie Young, @stephlyoung Gloria Atanmo, @glographics Ashley Renne, @heyashleyrenne Martinique Lewis, @marty_sandiego Eulanda Osagiede, @dipyourtoesin Cynthia Andrew, @simplycyn Anntte Richmond, @fromannettewithlove Kellee Edwards,@Kelleesetgo Ciara Johnson, @hey_ciara Lee Litumbe, @spiritedpursuit Monet Hambricks, @thetravelingchild Cherae Robinson, @sasyrae Read a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-the-travel-industry-should-support-black-women-women-who-travel-podcastFollow Whembley: @whembleysewellFollow Jessica: @thecatchmeifyoucanFollow Evita: @evierobbieFollow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week, we're joined by Moonlynn Tsai, co-owner of Bon Appetit Hot List winner Kopitiam, and Mei Lin, from the James Beard-nominated Nightshade, who share their stories about everything from how they've found support systems in other restaurant owners to what they're cooking at home right now, and, most importantly, how you can support the restaurant industry during this difficult time.Their big advice? Spend your money, whether it be food or merch for now or gift cards for later, and order directly when possible, instead of through apps, so that your favorite restaurants can keep as much of their profits as possible._______In light of the murders of George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, and countless other Black Americans, we would like to say, unequivocally, that Black lives matter. We stand with protesters across the country raising their voices against police brutality.Donate to the NAACP here: https://www.naacp.org/Donate to Black Lives Matter here: https://blacklivesmatter.com/Donate to Campaign Zero here: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/Donate to local bail funds here: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/nbfn-directoryWe highly recommend subscribing to Code Switch, The Nod, and the New York Times 1619 podcasts to diversify your listening, too.Since this week’s episode is all about women-owned restaurants struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, you'll find a list of Black-owned restaurants across the country to support.Black-owned restaurants in New York City: https://bit.ly/36UXF1gBlack-owned restaurants in Washington D.C.: https://bit.ly/3eHHJ5mBlack-owned restaurants in Austin: https://bit.ly/3cr1c8PBlack-owned restaurants in Seattle: https://bit.ly/2MkVJWFBlack-owned restaurants in Minneapolis: https://bit.ly/3cudJbuBlack-owned restaurants in Los Angeles: https://lat.ms/2MqiQiCWe are committed to sharing Black women’s stories on Women Who Travel, and will continue to do so throughout our podcast episodes and all other platforms. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Nikki Smith is a professional rock climber, boulderer, photographer, writer, and climbing guidebook publisher, with more than 150 first ascents under her belt. She also just happens to be transgender. An advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in the outdoors and an ally fighting for diversity and inclusion in climbing and beyond, she's taking a break from climbing during the pandemic, citing the risks to herself, her climbing partners, and potential rescuers. But that hasn't stopped her from finding refuge outside. This week, we chat with Nikki from her home in Utah about getting her start in climbing, how we can make the outdoor community more welcoming, and the women in the outdoors we all need to be following. (Plus, you can hear a few meows in the background of this episode from her adorable cats.) Read a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/what-rock-climbing-taught-me-about-facing-my-fears-women-who-travel-podcastFollow Meredith: @ohheytheremereFollow Lale: @lalehannahFollow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel__________Follow the women Nikki shouted out in the episode:Kareemah Batts, @herhopnessIrene Yee, @ladylockoffBrittany Leavitt, @bleavitt8Sam Ortiz, @samortizphotoJaylyn Gough, @jaylyn.goughPiseth Sam, @mightymight88Mélise Marie, @meliseymo__________Note, this week's episode of Women Who Travel is not on a Wednesday just because of the long weekend. We are officially moving from our usual Tuesday morning drops and, starting this week, all new episodes of Women Who Travel will pop up in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts on Wednesday mornings instead. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

With the near-constant stream of coronavirus news on our feeds these days, we understand if you want to run screaming from another coronavirus-related chat. But we promise this is not all doom and gloom. In fact, we hope that by answering some of the most frequently asked questions about travel and the coronavirus (Should you cancel a fall trip? Hop on a flight deal for later in the year? Use your vacation days now or save them for later?), we can give you a glimmer of hope about what's to come. Note that this episode was recorded on May 14. You can find all of our up-to-date coronavirus coverage and travel resources at cntraveler.com/coronavirus.Find a full transcription of the episode here: www.cntraveler.com/story/we-answer-your-most-pressing-questions-about-coronavirus-and-travelFollow Meredith: @ohheytheremereFollow Lale: @lalehannahFollow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This episode originally aired in June 2019.In this wild time, Lale and I have found ourselves going back to the episode we recorded with Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert last year. Our conversation was filled with a little grief, a lot of joy, and plenty of travel wisdom—all of which we need right now to tide us over until we can travel freely again. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode.Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremereFollow Lale: @lalehannahFollow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices