Citizens of the World: A Stoic Podcast for Curious Travelers

Enough with Florence and Siena already. You should be walking the medieval walls of Lucca; eating aperitivo in Pisa; sipping Chianti at Castello di Brolio; or lounging by the sea in San Vicenzo.    On this episode, Toni Mazzaglia, founder of the food tour company Taste Florence, and I recap our recent road trip through Tuscany. After interviewing Toni for the Florence episode of this podcast, we became fast friends (which you’ll hear on this podcast because we’re gigging our heads off).    Find travel guides containing names, links, and photos of the places we visited at  postcardacademy.co    I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to travel? Sign up for my newsletter and get your free guide to cheap airfare.    Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up via audibletrial.com/postcard   This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insuranceDoes the phrase “public speaking” make you feel a little sick…even if it’s just a team meeting or a group conversation? I made something to help you.Calm Your Nerves in 90 Seconds is a free anxiety-reduction toolkit with a guided meditation and journal to help you communicate with confidence.Use it anytime your brain goes into overdrive and you need a reset.https://sarahmikutel.com/reset

Happy Thanksgiving, U.S. listeners! This year about 54 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles during Thanksgiving, and most of these people will be driving, estimates AAA. However, it’s a myth that the day before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year (that honor actually goes to several weekends throughout the summer). But that’s not the only Thanksgiving myth out there. (Check out these 10 surprising Thanksgiving facts).   Don’t worry, this episode is not about tearing down this revered holiday. Spoiler: Thanksgiving really is a tradition rooted in gratitude and peace. But it’s also a holiday full of surprises that most people don’t know about, which is why I’m happy to share today’s interview with Melanie Kirkpatrick, author of Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience.   We discuss the history of this very American tradition, including why the Pilgrims really came to the New World (it wasn’t to flee religious persecution, if that’s what you’re thinking).   Wherever you’re from, this week I hope you enjoy good food in great company.     I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel, and you can find travel guides and inspiration at  postcardacademy.co Ready to book your trip? Sign up for my newsletter and get your free guide to cheap airfare.    Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up via audibletrial.com/postcard   This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insuranceDoes the phrase “public speaking” make you feel a little sick…even if it’s just a team meeting or a group conversation? I made something to help you.Calm Your Nerves in 90 Seconds is a free anxiety-reduction toolkit with a guided meditation and journal to help you communicate with confidence.Use it anytime your brain goes into overdrive and you need a reset.https://sarahmikutel.com/reset

Glasgow had a reputation for being a down-on-its-luck former industrial hub for decades. But the Glaswegians worked hard to turn their city into a world-class tourist destination with museums, opera, ballet, and more. In 1990, Glasgow was named the European City of Culture and since then travelers from around the world have visited to enjoy its cozy pubs, great restaurants — which include a lot of veg-friendly options, delicious food markets, designer shops, and, of course, cultural offerings.    On this episode, my guest Kathi Kamleitner and I share the best of Glasgow, plus some great off-the-beaten path places for you to discover in Scotland. Kathi is an Austrian expat who moved to Glasgow for grad school. She loved it so much she stayed and now gives private tours of her adopted home. She also blogs about Scotland at Watch Me See. Find photos and links to the places we discuss on postcardacademy.coDoes the phrase “public speaking” make you feel a little sick…even if it’s just a team meeting or a group conversation? I made something to help you.Calm Your Nerves in 90 Seconds is a free anxiety-reduction toolkit with a guided meditation and journal to help you communicate with confidence.Use it anytime your brain goes into overdrive and you need a reset.https://sarahmikutel.com/reset

My friends Daniel Bakken and Alinne Fernanda have been traveling the world together for nearly two years. They saved up their money before hitting the road, but its volunteering through a hospitality service called Workaway that’s financially enabled them to keep traveling as long as they have. If you listened to my episode on house-sitting your way around the world and other free accommodation tips, you heard a little about Workaway.   In exchange for a few hours of work a day, the hosts you find through Workaway will give you free room and board. But this experience is not just about scoring free accommodation or providing free labor. This is a cultural exchange in which the hosts and the guest workers get to learn from each other.    On this episode, Daniel, Alinne, and I talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to work exchanges. But it’s mostly good. Fantastic, in fact, according to Daniel and Alinne. By the end of the show, you will know how to travel the world via Workaway. And I’ll share Daniel and Alinne’s top tips for making Workaway a great experience on postcardacademy.co I’ll also share photos of them literally working their way through Europe, and they’ve been to some pretty unforgettable places.    Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to travel? Sign up for my newsletter and get your free guide to cheap airfare.    This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up via audibletrial.com/postcard   This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insuranceDoes the phrase “public speaking” make you feel a little sick…even if it’s just a team meeting or a group conversation? I made something to help you.Calm Your Nerves in 90 Seconds is a free anxiety-reduction toolkit with a guided meditation and journal to help you communicate with confidence.Use it anytime your brain goes into overdrive and you need a reset.https://sarahmikutel.com/reset

New Orleans celebrates its 300th anniversary this year, and since it’s almost Halloween, I thought this was the perfect time to talk about one of America’s most haunted Southern cities. I’m joined by Hope Kodman, a tour guide with French Quarter Phantoms, which offers tours such as Saints & Sinners, True Crime, Cemetery, Ghost and Vampire, among others.   Hope and I talk about the history of the Big Easy; the origins of Mardi Gras; the difference between cajon and creole; what voodoo is really all about and other fun stories. Of course, we’ll tell you where to find the best: food and drinks, quirky shops and museums, burlesque,  jazz, ‘female-owned romantic boutique,’ and more (visit postcardacademy.co for links and photos).     I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to travel? Sign up for my newsletter and get your free guide to cheap airfare.    Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up via audibletrial.com/postcard   This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insuranceDoes the phrase “public speaking” make you feel a little sick…even if it’s just a team meeting or a group conversation? I made something to help you.Calm Your Nerves in 90 Seconds is a free anxiety-reduction toolkit with a guided meditation and journal to help you communicate with confidence.Use it anytime your brain goes into overdrive and you need a reset.https://sarahmikutel.com/reset

Whether you are single or a student, married, retired or a parent, you deserve time to yourself to do whatever you want and explore the world.    On this week’s episode, fellow podcaster and traveler Gemma Thompson and I discuss why solo travel is such a transformational experience and why everyone should do it at least once. We’ll talk about how to conquer your nerves and book that solo trip; what to do when you feel lonely and how to avoid it,; destinations that are perfect for first time solo travelers; where you should probably NOT go on your first solo trip; and more.    For a round up of everything we talk about, visit postcardacademy.co    I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to travel? Sign up for my newsletter and get your free guide to cheap airfare.    Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up via audibletrial.com/postcard   This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insuranceDoes the phrase “public speaking” make you feel a little sick…even if it’s just a team meeting or a group conversation? I made something to help you.Calm Your Nerves in 90 Seconds is a free anxiety-reduction toolkit with a guided meditation and journal to help you communicate with confidence.Use it anytime your brain goes into overdrive and you need a reset.https://sarahmikutel.com/reset

Today is all about Munich, Germany, often ranked among the world’s most livable cities. I’m continuing my conversation with independent tour guide Maxine Ryder, who you heard on our Oktoberfest episode. She is a British Australian who’s made Munich her home.   You may know that Munich was the birthplace of the Nazi movement and that 80-90% of Munich was bombed in World War II. Maxine and I talk about the beer hall where Hitler honed his oratory skills; about the sad King who came before him and built castles to escape reality; and more.    But it’s not all doom and gloom. Munich is packed with great museums and restaurants and is an easy train ride to fantastic destinations for hikers and castle lovers, and we cover that, too. Visit postcardacademy.co for spellings and links to what we talk about.   But back to Germany’s dark history: if you’re visiting Munich you should visit the Dachau Concentration Camp to pay respect to the victims, survivors, and liberators of the camp. It’s not hard to get to from Munich, and Maxine takes tours there.    I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to travel? Sign up for my newsletter and get your free guide to cheap airfare.    Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up via audibletrial.com/postcard   This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insurance  Does the phrase “public speaking” make you feel a little sick…even if it’s just a team meeting or a group conversation? I made something to help you.Calm Your Nerves in 90 Seconds is a free anxiety-reduction toolkit with a guided meditation and journal to help you communicate with confidence.Use it anytime your brain goes into overdrive and you need a reset.https://sarahmikutel.com/reset

As a vegetarian who doesn’t like beer, I never thought Oktoberfest would be an event for me. But, independent tour guide Maxine Ryder has convinced me otherwise! To start, did you know that at Munich’s massive event you’ll also find a Prosecco tent??    On the Postcard Academy podcast, Maxine, an British/Australian expat and Munich resident, and I talk about the history of Oktoberfest, the type of food and drink you’ll find there, strategies to have an amazing time, and more. Visit postcardacademy.co for a roundup with links.   I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to travel? Sign up for my newsletter and get your free guide to cheap airfare.    Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up via audibletrial.com/postcard   This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insuranceDoes the phrase “public speaking” make you feel a little sick…even if it’s just a team meeting or a group conversation? I made something to help you.Calm Your Nerves in 90 Seconds is a free anxiety-reduction toolkit with a guided meditation and journal to help you communicate with confidence.Use it anytime your brain goes into overdrive and you need a reset.https://sarahmikutel.com/reset

Charleston, South Carolina, consistently tops the lists of ‘world’s best cities to visit.’ It’s also a city that was built on the sweat and blood of slaves, and learning about this history should be part of your travels to this region.    Before slavery was abolished in 1865, Charleston was the slavery capital of the United States. Four million slaves lived in America – 10% of them in South Carolina — and about 40% of the slaves brought to the U.S. came through Charleston Harbor.    This episode is dedicated to the incredible story of Nat Fuller, a Charleston slave who somehow managed to start his own catering and restaurant business, and then went on to become the most celebrated chef in the city. But that’s not all. When Charleston was in confused ruins after the Civil War, Nat hosted a Reconciliation Feast, which brought together black and white diners for the city’s first integrated meal in its history.    I talk to with David Shields, a University of South Carolina professor and author of The Culinarians: Lives and Careers from the First Age of American Fine Dining. I also interview chef Kevin Mitchell, who helped organize and participated in the 150th anniversary celebration of Nat Fuller’s Reconciliation Feast.     I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to travel? Sign up for my newsletter and get your free guide to cheap airfare.    Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   Visit postcardacademy.co for more travel stories, guides, and inspiration.   This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up via audibletrial.com/postcard   This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insuranceDoes the phrase “public speaking” make you feel a little sick…even if it’s just a team meeting or a group conversation? I made something to help you.Calm Your Nerves in 90 Seconds is a free anxiety-reduction toolkit with a guided meditation and journal to help you communicate with confidence.Use it anytime your brain goes into overdrive and you need a reset.https://sarahmikutel.com/reset

LoAnn Halden, Vice President of Communications at IGLTA, the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, joins me to talk about the history of LGBT travel, current trends, the best resources for planning a trip, for checking the safety of a destination, the hottest places to visit right now, and more. (See photos and links at postcardacademy.co)   Later in the show, I chat with travel bloggers and Instagram influencers Roxanne Weijer and Maartje Hensen about what it’s like traveling the world full time as a lesbian couple.    By listener request, I’m putting a special emphasis on lesbian travel because that community hasn’t had nearly as much attention or travel resources dedicated to it compared to what gay travelers have access to.     I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Ready to travel? Sign up for my newsletter and get your free guide to cheap airfare.    Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up via audibletrial.com/postcard   This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insurance  Does the phrase “public speaking” make you feel a little sick…even if it’s just a team meeting or a group conversation? I made something to help you.Calm Your Nerves in 90 Seconds is a free anxiety-reduction toolkit with a guided meditation and journal to help you communicate with confidence.Use it anytime your brain goes into overdrive and you need a reset.https://sarahmikutel.com/reset