YOU on the Camino de Santiago

"YOU HAVE TO GO ALONE!" Yana, a Boston mom of two young boys, shares with us her experiences of preparing to walk the Caminho Português and helps us answer some tough questions: Where (or when) does the Camino really start? What do you do when a friend says you have to go alone? How do you stay “in the moment” when you are preparing to walk the Camino? What are the yellow arrows and why do we love them? How do you know if you need to book beds in advance or if you can just turn up each day?   BE A GUEST ON SEASON THREE OF THIS PODCAST! Let me know you are interested by submitting the podcast guest request form. I am looking for first-time pilgrims planning to walk September through December, 2023, and any time in 2024, any route.   GET YOUR FREE COPY OF NANCY'S TOP 10 CAMINO TIPS (that don't usually make the top 10 lists) And join my email list to receive weekly tips and updates about the Camino de Santiago.   WALK WITH ME IN 2023! Let's set up a Zoom call to talk about your Camino dreams and joining one of my September getting-started Camino groups. Not walking in 2023? No problem, the tentative dates for 2024 are here, too.   AMERICANS, GET YOUR CREDENCIAL HERE Americans can get their pilgrim Credencial before they leave home by visiting the website for the American Pilgrims on the Camino organization. https://americanpilgrims.org/request-a-credential/   Related: Andrea and Jason have inspired a lot of pilgrims! Check out our conversation here. https://thecaminoexperience.com/andrea-and-jason-walk-camino-frances/   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast    

WALKING (only???) SARRIA TO SANTIAGO Walking the Camino your way is tricky business for some people, but not for Laura and her daughter, who will be walking from Sarria to Santiago in June 2023. Find out why they are using a tour company to plan and execute their Camino, and how this fits perfectly with their reasons for completing the pilgrimage. We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, including the long answers on why you would use trekking poles on the Camino and where to stay in Madrid.   JOIN NANCY'S EMAIL LIST, and get your free copy of the Camino Planning Roadmap, plus weekly emails with Camino-focused tips to get you started on your pilgrimage on the right foot.   HOW TO USE THOSE TREKKING POLES Check out this video by perpetual pilgrim, Dr. Guylene Gigi Tree to learn how to get the most out of your poles when walking the Camino.   Related: Wondering what questions you need to ask when considering a tour company for your Camino pilgrimage?   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

THE NATURE OF CAMINO CONNECTIONS In my favorite book, The Art of Pilgrimage, author Phil Cousineau talks about "bringing back the boon." What does that mean?  What are the key elements of the Camino experience, and how do you keep them alive in the weeks, months, and years after your pilgrimage? Join me as I chat with pilgrim David and learn how he brought the pilgrim spirit back into his community.   JOIN MY EMAIL LIST, and get your free copy of my Camino Planning Roadmap. Then each week you will receive tips and updates about the Camino de Santiago. And who knows, maybe we will be able to connect on the trail!   BE A GUEST ON SEASON THREE OF THIS PODCAST! Let me know you are interested by submitting the podcast guest request form. I am looking for first-time pilgrims planning to walk September through December, 2023, and any time in 2024, any route.   WALK WITH ME IN 2023! Let's set up a Zoom call to talk about your Camino dreams and joining one of my September getting-started Camino groups. Not walking in 2023? No problem, the tentative dates for 2024 are here, too.   DONATE TO THE DAMIEN HOUSE Donations to the Damien House, the charity David is supporting, are always welcome.   Related: In my first conversation with David, we talked about how to pack for the Camino.   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast    

LIVE SIMPLY AND DO COOL SH*T That's Kathy's motto, and walking the Camino del Norte certainly fits. Through her preparations for this long walk across Northern Spain, Kathy is finding her courage and learning that it is okay to be the person she wants to be and truly is. For Kathy, the Camino began the moment she said "yes!", and she has embarked on a journey of discovery that will take her to Santiago de Compostela . . . and then who knows where! In addition to courage and finding your true self, we also talk about some more practical topics like what to do if you can't find a bed or if you lose the trail.   CHECK OUT THESE GREAT PILGRIM ORGANIZATIONS American Pilgrims on the Camino Canadian Company of Pilgrims Confraternity of Saint James (UK)   BE A GUEST ON SEASON THREE OF THIS PODCAST! Let me know you are interested by submitting the podcast guest request form. I am looking for first-time pilgrims planning to walk September through December, 2023, and any time in 2024, any route.   GET YOUR FREE COPY OF THE CAMINO PLANNING ROADMAP, and join my email list to receive weekly tips and updates about the Camino de Santiago.   WALK WITH ME IN 2023! Let's set up a Zoom call to talk about your Camino dreams and joining one of my September getting-started Camino groups. Not walking in 2023? No problem, the tentative dates for 2024 are here, too.   DREAMING OF A WINTER CAMINO WALK? Check out Anne Born's book, Buen Camino! Tips from a WINTER Pilgrims   THE WEBSITES WE TALKED ABOUT The Gronze website gives a tremendous amount of information for all Camino routes. The pilgrim.es website offers stage-by-stage suggestions for each of the main Camino routes.   Related: Listen to the first conversation Kathy and I had, back in fall 2022.   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

PILGRIM TIPS, INSIGHTS, AND HOW TO GIVE BACK Maurice from Asheville, North Carolina, shares his thoughts on getting ready for his first pilgrimage on the Camino Francés, along with his three tips for other first time pilgrims. We cover a number of topics, including another long answer from Nancy - this time on travel insurance.   CONNECT WITH NANCY If you will be attending the annual Gathering of the American Pilgrims on the Camino, let's connect! Email: youonthecamino@gmail.com Or, connect and get your free copy of my Camino Planning Roadmap by signing up for my email list.   FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE AMERICAN PILGRIMS ON THE CAMINO It's too late to attend the 2023 annual APOC Gathering, but you can find out more about the organization and find your local chapter on their website.   CHECK OUT LEIGH BRENNAN'S PODCAST Maurice learned about the "YOU on the Camino de Santiago" podcast from this episode of The Camino Cafe podcast.   DONATE TO THE PRODUCTION FUND This podcast is free and always will be. Donations for the production fund are gratefully accepted. You can donate here.   Related: Maurice mentioned he had been checking flight fares with my favorite website for that, Matrix ITA Software. I talk about that website in the episode on the most popular starting points on the Camino Francés.   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

THE SACRED PRACTICE OF PILGRIMAGE With special guest, Father Michael Barham. In 2001, Michael made the Camino pilgrimage by foot, walking 500 miles from the French border town of St. Jean Pied-de-Port to the shrine of St. James the Greater in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.  And that was just the start. After completing several more pilgrimages to ancient, holy sites in Europe, Michael wrote his thesis on pilgrimage, and gave it the beautiful title, Holy Lingering: A Spiritual Reflection Model for Compostelan Pilgrims. In this episode you are going to hear all about Michael’s love of pilgrimage and how he has incorporated that practice into his life and ministry. Michael shares with us how walking the Camino invites us to bring the practice of pilgrimage into our daily lives, and shows us how the big pilgrimage destination of Santiago de Compostela is calling us to explore smaller, closer-to-home pilgrimage places – simple, quiet, less-well-known places that give us space and time for reflection, meditation, and prayer. Our conversation covered so many nuances of pilgrimage and walking the Camino, making this the perfect topic to kick off the 2023 Camino de Santiago pilgrimage season.   SMALL PILGRIM PLACES Learn more about the Small Pilgrim Places Network referenced by Michael.   GET YOUR FREE ROADMAP! Click here to get your free copy of Nancy's Camino Planning Roadmap. You will also be added to Nancy's email list so you can receive more tips and helpful information for planning your pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago.   DONATE TO THE PRODUCTION FUND This podcast is free and always will be. Donations for the production fund are gratefully accepted. You can donate here.   Related: Get your copy of The Art of Pilgrimage by Pilgrimage by Phil Cousineau.   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

HOLAAAAA! It's time for Spanish for the Camino with María Seco. In this episode we will be learning some language rules for how to correctly pronounce words in Spanish. Specifically, we will focus on place names on the Camino Francés, learning tips you can use to pronounce any word in Spanish.   FOLLOW ALONG WITH OUR SPANISH LESSONS Go to the How to Pronounce Place Names page of Nancy's website for the list of words we will be learning in this episode.   GET YOUR FREE ROADMAP! Click here to get your free copy of Nancy's Camino Planning Roadmap. You will also be added to Nancy's email list so you can receive more tips and helpful information for planning your pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago.   LEARN SPANISH WITH MARIA Check out all the great things María has to offer pilgrims who want to enhance their experience of walking the Camino. Related: Nancy was a guest on María's podcast, and the interview was all in Spanish!   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast

QUESTIONS, ANSWERED! Pilgrims Andrea and Jason ask all the questions you are probably also asking by this point in the podcast series. Grab your notebook and a pen, pour yourself a beverage, and plop into your favorite chair, because we are about to cover a lot of ground.   WALK WITH ME Are you thinking of walking the Camino Francés in September? LET'S TALK! I will help you get off on the right foot.   JOIN MY EMAIL LIST And get your FREE copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually make the top 10 lists).   Related: Don't miss part one of the conversation with Andrea and Jason.   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE MEETS FOMO How do you plan but don't over plan for your first pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago? How do you make sure you don't miss out on any of the best sites and stops on the trail? Find out how Andrea and Jason answer these questions as well as how they went from planning a two-week walk on the Camino to stepping out of their daily routine to spend five weeks walking the entire Camino Francés. This is Part 1 of a two-part episode.   FREE STUFF & CAMINO TALK Join Nancy's email list for even more tips and planning tools to help make your dream of walking the Camino a reality. (If you are on your phone, scroll down the home page to find the sign up form. If you are on a computer, scroll or look for the popup form after three seconds on the website.)   OTHER CAMINO PODCASTS Nancy had the pleasure and privilege of being a guest on two other Camino podcasts. Check it out: The Camino Cafe Podcast Spanish for the Camino Podcast   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast  

NANCY'S CAMINO TRAINING GUIDE . . . for the non-athlete regular person who wants to walk all or part of the Camino de Santiago How do you prepare for the physical challenges of walking the Camino de Santiago? Do you really need to prepare? How much training do you need to do? What do you need to do – is it enough to just walk around your neighborhood a couple times a week? We will find out in this episode of the YOU on the Camino de Santiago podcast! Here are all the links mentioned in this episode:   LINK TO NANCY'S WEBSITE Nancy's Camino Training Walking Plan   JOIN MY EMAIL LIST And get your FREE copy of Nancy's Top 10 Camino Tips (that don't usually make the top 10 lists).   OTHER PODCASTS The Camino Cafe Podcast with Leigh Brennan Spanish for the Camino Podcast with Maria Seco   WORKOUTS AND INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS How to adjust your trekking pole straps, with Jayah Faye Paley How to stretch for walking Get the MapMyWalk App The Tabata Workout PopSugar Workouts   BOOK SUGGESTION Walk in a Relaxed Manner, by Joyce Rupp   Related: Selecting Your Boots for the Camino   #youonthecamino #caminodesantiago #firsttimepilgrim #thecaminoexperience #caminopodcast