

YOU on the Camino de Santiago
Nancy @ The Camino Experience
You want to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain but where do you start? What is your first step in preparing and planning for such a big undertaking?
Whether you have just now heard of the Camino, or if your flights are booked and you have a start date, this podcast will walk with you as you take your first steps of preparing, planning, and starting your Camino experience.
Guide and long-time pilgrim Nancy Reynolds shares her nearly 20 years of experience walking the Camino and leading 15 small groups on the Camino Francés - plus interviews with new pilgrims getting ready for their first ever Camino walks.
Whether you have just now heard of the Camino, or if your flights are booked and you have a start date, this podcast will walk with you as you take your first steps of preparing, planning, and starting your Camino experience.
Guide and long-time pilgrim Nancy Reynolds shares her nearly 20 years of experience walking the Camino and leading 15 small groups on the Camino Francés - plus interviews with new pilgrims getting ready for their first ever Camino walks.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 25, 2023 • 53min
S2 Ep 14: A Conversation with Pilgrim David About What He’s Doing AFTER the Camino
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

Apr 18, 2023 • 55min
S2 Ep 13: A Conversation with Pilgrim Kathy as She Counts Down to Her Pilgrimage on the Camino del Norte
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

Apr 11, 2023 • 50min
S2 Ep 12: A Conversation with Pilgrim Maurice as He Prepares to Walk the Camino Francés
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

Apr 4, 2023 • 1h 10min
S2 Ep 11 A Conversation on Pilgrimage with Father Michael Barham
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

Mar 28, 2023 • 53min
S2 Ep 10: Spanish for the Camino with María Seco
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

Mar 21, 2023 • 1h 7min
S2 Ep 9 Q & A with Pilgrims Andrea and Jason (Part 2)
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

Mar 14, 2023 • 38min
S2 Ep 8 A Conversation with Pilgrims Andrea & Jason About Their Upcoming Walk on the Camino Francés
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

Mar 7, 2023 • 48min
S2 Ep 7: Training to Walk the Camino de Santiago
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

Feb 28, 2023 • 1h 4min
S2 Ep 6: A Conversation With Meg as She Prepares to Walk the Camino Francés
WALKING THE CAMINO WITH FAMILY
Meg from Tacoma, Washington, USA, is planning a walk on the Camino Francés with her mom and sister - in the heat of July.
How does the weather impact your Camino? Is it better to walk alone or should you be recruiting family and friends to walk with you? And if you do walk with "your people", how do you ensure each person has the experience they are seeking?
In this episode, Meg shares how she and her family are preparing for their Camino walk, leveraging each person's strengths and interests.
WALK WITH ME!
Is this your year to walk the Camino de Santiago?
Let’s begin this journey together, with expert guidance getting ready and getting started on the Camino Francés route.
And let’s get you connected to the pilgrim community before you start your walk, with a small group of pilgrims who are, like you, embarking on their first ever pilgrimage
on the Camino de Santiago. Start here.
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).
BE A GUEST ON THIS PODCAST
Are you ready to share your getting-ready Camino story and get some personalized advice on your planning and preparations? Let me know you are interested here.
Related: Who will you walk the Camino with?
#youonthecamino
#caminodesantiago
#firsttimepilgrim
#thecaminoexperience
#caminopodcast

Feb 21, 2023 • 32min
S2 Ep 5 Hiking Clothes & Rain Gear for the Camino de Santiago
HIKING CLOTHES & RAIN GEAR - Know what's right for you for your pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in Spain
When you walk the Camino de Santiago you will be outdoors walking for hours each day. How do you dress for walking the Camino? And what will you wear when you are not walking, in the evenings? How do you protect yourself from the elements? What gear will you need for walking?
Our goal here is to be sure you have the right clothes for the job, which means, the right clothes for the weather you are likely to encounter while on the Camino. Having the right clothes will make it possible for you to pack light – no extras, just in case. It means you will be comfortable on the trail. It could even be a question of safety, which means staying dry and preventing overheating in hot weather and hypothermia in colder weather.
Here is what we will cover in this episode:
What hiking clothes you will need
What you will wear when you’re not walking
How to choose your rain gear
How many undergarments and pairs of socks to bring along
Does brand matter?
And of course, there is a top tip that’s sort of related to packing for the Camino (but not really).
Want to learn more about layering? Here is a good article on what hiking clothes to get.
If you want your Camino pilgrimage to be about more than just your packing list, come walk with me!
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: Hear what an experienced pilgrim has to say about packing for the Camino.
#youonthecamino
#caminodesantiago
#firsttimepilgrim
#thecaminoexperience
#caminopodcast