Intrepid Times: Recent Episodes
Intrepid Times
Intrepid Times is the online magazine for wanderers, nomads and passionate travelers. Take a journey with our travel stories from around the world, and listen to our interviews with renown travel writers and journalists.
Every day when submissions are open, dozens of travel stories or pitches land in the Intrepid Times inbox. While the quality of course varies, most of these submissions are from sincere, legitimate writers who have a story to get across. However, an increasing number are entirely or partially AI-generated.Early on, it was quite easy to tell what was AI and what wasn't. Now, as AI tools become more sophisticated and people become increasingly dependent on them, it gets harder and harder to parse the human from the artificial. We are determined at Intrepid Times that not one sentence of AI-confabulated prose will ever be published on this platform, but holding the line has never been harder.Today, Thom Brown, associate editor at Intrepid Times and an award-winning travel writer, takes listeners behind the scenes on our war against AI in travel writing.Learn more about Thom Brown: https://www.thombrown.co.uk/And read his articles at Intrepid Times: https://intrepidtimes.com/author/thombrown/Read Intrepid Times's AI travel writing policy: https://intrepidtimes.com/ai/
Paul Theroux called Thomas Swick 'the ideal travel writer,' but he's the first to admit he hasn't always been the ideal traveler. He moved to Poland in the late 1970s as a young aspiring travel writer in love with a local woman, whom he would eventually marry. As he learned the (formidably challenging - I should know!) Polish language and gained his first published clippings, he also spent much of his travels in a state of high, anxious alert. Shouldn't a travel writer be cooler and less fazed by the ordeals of a journey? As Thomas would come to realize, no, one shouldn't. In fact, it's this very hyper-alertness that causes the travel writer to notice and be sensitive to things more relaxed travelers may miss. Thomas Swick joined the travel writing podcast to talk about his extraordinary career, sharing his top tips for travel writers, and discussing his immensely readable and instructive memoir, Falling Into Place - A story of love, Poland, and the making of a travel writer, which features a foreword by Pico Iyer.
none of these stereotypes capture the full truth of a deeply layered and complex city. Paris Norriss is a self-made media figure who created a name for himself through hard work and charisma. He is summoned to stages internationally to speak on the subject of grit, a concept larger than perseverance or hard work, and one which all writers, travel or otherwise, can benefit from on long journeys and through the grind of getting published and building a name as creators and communicators. Paris joined the Travel Writing Podcast to talk about his career, what the labels miss about Dubai, and how he forged his own name as an independent travel creator. Learn more about Paris Norriss:https://www.parisnorriss.comhttps://www.instagram.com/parisnorrisshttps://www.instagram.com/guyindubai/?hl=en
Some view travel as a competitive sport, tallying up countries like points on a board. James Merriman began his travel life like this, relentlessly collecting passport stamps for years. He had fantastic adventures from Afghanistan to Venezuela, and almost everywhere in between. At the same time, he gradually came to realize that his approach may not have been giving him the best of what travel has to offer. As James pivoted to learning travel writing, graduating from the Intrepid Times Craft of Travel Writing Certificate and beginning his forays into publication, his attitude to travel started to evolve. He continues to visit difficult-to-reach places, but his focus is more on the people there than on the stamp in his passport. Learn more about James at his website: https://www.jamesmerriman.co.uk/
By the time she was a teenager, Katherine Parker-Magyar had explored the Arctic Circle and visited every one of the United States. As time went by, her travels never slowed down. She has now traveled to over 100 countries, often on paid assignments, and has shared the resulting stories with publications as diverse as the Daily Beast and Architectural Digest to Forbes and National Geographic Traveler.Katherine's focus on human connection and culture insulates her, she feels, against competition from the likes of ChatGPT. Only a human can meet a stranger, look them in the eye, and gradually tease out the kind of story that will endure. Between her time driving husky sleds in Lapland, sailing the Brazilian Amazon, and tracking rhinos in Kenya or Tigers in Nepal, she is based in New York City. Katherine joined the travel writing podcast to share her passion and energy, and provide a well-needed moment of uplift and optimism for those of us chipping away at this craft and art form that we love so much.Follow Katherine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katherineparkermagyar/?hl=enDiscover more on her website: https://www.katherineparkermagyar.com/about
Sports journalist Neil Squires was used to rubbing shoulders with athletes at the top of their game. He ghostwrote the memoir of England rugby legend Johnny Wilkinson (for our American listeners, that's like being the personal writer of Tom Brady) and covered sport for the national papers. Yet Neil never expected to be a famous athlete himself, and certainly did not imagine becoming one in middle age... until a WhatsApp message out of the blue changed that. Laid off from his journalism job, Neil and a group of friends traveled 5500 miles to Hokkaido, Japan, to participate in a bizarre yet strangely compelling sport: Mölkky, also known as Finnish skittles. Neil and his teammates represented Britain and became unlikely media celebrities in Japan. The result of this odyssey is the endearing and charming book The Fall and Rise of the Mölkky Bar Kids: A Sporting Underdog Story, which is out now.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fall-Rise-M%C3%B6lkky-Bar-Kids/dp/1837733163
Victoria Watts Kennedy's family travel blog, Bridges and Balloons, has twice won her prestigious awards. Last year, she picked up the Travel Blogger of the Year Trophy from the British Guild of Travel Writers, and just this week, she was named 2026 Travel Blogger of the Year at the TravMedia Awards in London. This success comes at a tumultuous time for bloggers as AI upends the playbook for how blog articles are not only discovered through search engines, but also how they are written. Victoria joined the Travel Writing Podcast to talk about her writing and blogging career, the joys and challenges of travel with kids, and how some bloggers, like her, are managing to ride through the AI storm with their audiences intact. Learn more about Victoria:https://www.instagram.com/bridgesandballoonshttps://bridgesandballoons.com https://www.victoriawattskennedy.com
When Martin Hesp's father was working as a journalist in England's southwest, he would hand-deliver his copy every day to the local bus driver. Martin began his career as a travel writer and journalist in a world where colleagues would still have to wake before dawn to light coal fires in the offices. He is still writing today, 50 years on, and has embraced the worlds of blogging, podcasting, and even, with due caveats, generative AI. Martin joined the Travel Writing Podcast to trace his journey. He tells the story of how he got 'the best journalism job in the world' as a feature writer for the Western Morning News, his extensive travels in Greece and beyond, how the audience for travel writing has changed, and how changing tech has transformed the journalist's life.Learn more about Martin at https://www.martinhespfoodandtravel.com/
Risk and travel have always kept close company, but what if even the most innocent-seeming meal could threaten you with mortal peril? Allie Bahn's childhood revolved around two themes: watching her charismatic uncle travel the globe as a TV presenter, and battling severe food allergies that threatened to reduce her freedom significantly. Allie was determined not to let this constraint prevent her from enjoying travel, and she has shared her experience in a blog, Miss Allergic Reactor, and an Instagram page that tens of thousands of travelers around the world have turned to for guidance. Communication is often the key, Allie explains, as you need to be certain about what you are being served. As rates of food allergies skyrocket in the Western world, Allie's advice will only become more sought-after. Listen to Allie Bahn on the Travel Writing Podcast and learn how she carved out this niche as a travel writer and influencer, the challenges of traveling with a significant medical constraint, and her upcoming travel plans as a new mother.https://missallergicreactor.com/https://www.instagram.com/miss_allergic_reactor/?hl=en
Borders between countries may look so neat on a map, but when you're on the ground, the reality gets more interesting. Languages may shift long before your passport is stamped, and an ancient divide between cultures and worldviews may not even appear on a modern atlas.Richard Collett became fascinated by unusual borders early in his travel writing journey. When he came across a 'micronation' hidden in outback Australia, he cold-pitched the story to the BBC. They took it, and would end up publishing many more of his pieces, launching a travel writing career that has taken him around the world, a journey he narrates at his blog, Travel Tramp.It was closer to home, in Southwest England, that Richard's fascination with borders led him to unexpected discoveries. Cornwall, separated from the rest of Britain by the River Tamar, seemed to him just another English county until his girlfriend, who is from there, opened him up to the region's distinctive history. This led Richard on a quest to trace the forgotten borders that carve up the British Isles. The result is Along the Borders - In search of what divides and unites us. Richard discusses the origin of the book, as well as his publishing journey, in detail.Links to explore more:https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/462381/along-the-borders-by-collett-richard/9781529935882https://www.travel-tramp.com/https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20200811-a-tiny-nation-in-outback-australia
As an expat in Hong Kong, James Durston was part of the team that helped launch the brand that would eventually become CNN Travel. Rising from copy editor to senior producer, he would eventually own the home page, a role that meant he was responsible for ensuring the travel pieces he published consistently found an audience. James shares how his experiences as an editor shaped his approach as a writer. He breaks down the specific headline and pitching styles and techniques that get results, and shares the attributes he looks for in the freelance writers he commissions. James is also the creator of Travel Writing Skool; it's the perfect companion to our Craft of Travel Writing Certificate. Where Intrepid Times focuses mostly on the writing itself, James leans into the business side, helping you start sending pitches and getting published, fast. Inside your Skool student area, you will also find a lively community of travel writers at all stages.https://www.skool.com/travel-writing/about?ref=bfd96d10548945ccb57d649b4328a632 Intrepid Times will earn a small commission on those who sign up with our link. Thank you for supporting narrative travel writing with heart.
In 2003, Sue Watt walked away from a career in law to become a travel writer. Over the last two decades, she has won or been nominated for a staggering number of awards, many of which celebrate her coverage of the continent that has fascinated her from the start: Africa.In our conversation for the Travel Writing Podcast, Sue talks about luxury travel versus backpacking, why flight shaming may actually be hurting conversation efforts, the pitfalls and opportunities for travel writers in Africa today, and much more besides. Learn more about Sue Watt and discover her writing at https://www.suewatt.co.uk/
In 2022, as the world creaked open after the COVID lockdown, Briana set out from her United States home and took a flight to Europe. Her destination was an unusual one. Instead of selfies in Italian cities or relaxing on Spanish beaches, her mission was to retrace the front lines of World War I (WWI).Completing the 500-mile hike in just 36 days, Briana Gervat became the first recorded woman to hike the Western Front Way solo. Her memoir of the experience, There Will Come Soft Rains, recounts the way that travel interacts with memory and history. It is a journey about being in multiple places at once; a village in the present that is still saturated with the experiences of those who came before.Briana Gervat joined the Travel Writing Podcast to talk history, how landscapes hold memory, and her writing and self-publishing journey.
In today's episode of the Travel Writing Podcast, we try and stitch together the threads of Holly Budge's epic life. Not only is she the first woman to skydive from the top of Mt Everest, Holly is also the founder of How Many Elephants, a charity that supports female rangers on the frontlines. She has risen at dawn to walk alongside the brave women who guard Africa's most vulnerable elephant populations from the guns and greed of poachers, and worked to advocate for their stories on the global stage. Holly is also a tour leader, inspiring wildlife-positive travel around the world, and you can join her this year in Slovenia. How do these various activities tie together? There is a story here, and you can listen to it right here.Learn more about Holly with the links below.Holly BudgeWebsite: https://www.hollybudge.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollybudgeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollybudge/Wildlife Positive TravelWebsite: https://www.wildlifepositivetravel.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildlifepositivetravel/How Many ElephantsWebsite: https://howmanyelephants.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howmanyelephantsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/how-many-elephantsWorld Female Ranger WeekWebsite: https://www.worldfemalerangerweek.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldfemalerangerweekLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-female-ranger-wk
, both published by Blackstone. Listen to Jen Ruiz on the Travel Writing Podcast for a wealth of advice on writing travel books that people want to read and confidently navigating the worlds of self-publishing and traditional publishing. You can also find the travel writing podcast on Spotify or iTunes.
When Amy Aed was still a teenager, she started a travel blog, Wandering Everywhere, that quickly got attention. This was in a different world, where blogs were exploding with popularity, and access to freebies soon made Amy realize she had more than just a hobby on her hands.Extensive travel followed, with one place capturing her heart: Taiwan. Amy studied Mandarin Chinese and became fascinated with the local culture and production of tea. This led her on a journey, meeting with small farmers, learning the ritual and artistry associated with tea, and, of course, drinking many warm and invigorating mugs.The result is Amy's new book Leaf by Leaf: A Journey Through Tea, Tradition, and the Legends Behind the Leaves which she will soon be going on a book tour in the UK to promote. Amy joins the Travel Writing Podcast to talk travel writing, travel blogging, AI, and her self-publishing journey.
Kassondra Cloos used to spend her days on the crime beat in Colorado Springs, filing as many as five stories per day, each more grim and grizzly than the last.Then, she pivoted. Using her love for the outdoors as a bridge, she transported her career from reporting to travel writing. Eventually, her path took her to London, where she fell in love with a quirky series of guides from independent publisher Hoxton Mini Press. Eventually, they would ask her to write the Opinionated Guide to Wild London. Kassondra joins The Travel Writing Podcast to share her journey into travel writing, the differences between her experiences in the UK and the US, and why, after five years in London, she has chosen this moment to return home and write uplifting travel stories about the United States. Kassondra Cloos was the 2024 British Guild of Travel Writers Travel Writer of the Year, and you can find her writing at the Out of Office Substack.
It seems appropriate that we should be publishing this episode over the Easter break, a celebration that is associated with ideas of rebirth and renewal. Tanya Fraser didn't choose to walk away from her 'normal' life with a home, husband, and a career - but something happened that meant she could no longer stay.Instead of wallowing, Tanya chose adventure, self-discovery, and self-expression. On today's episode of the Travel Writing Podcast, she shares her story. She speaks of the joy and complexity of reinventing and rediscovering yourself in your 40s, and the power of travel writing to build communities and galvanize people with shared experiences.This episode was unexpectedly joined by my 14-month-old daughter Jozia, whose poignant interjections can occasionally be heard throughout the episode. It is produced by Shebs Alom, who introduced Tanya to the podcast.Tantya is the author of The PLAY Papers Substack, and her Instagram is @TheTanyaFraser
This story was selected as the WINNER of our “A Book Led Me There” competition. Following a sickness-stricken childhood, a traveler vows to discover the long-lost city of Machu Picchu, which she’d known only through books, battling mountain mudslides and broken boots while carrying her younger self on an adventure that once seemed impossible.Story link: https://intrepidtimes.com/2025/11/sick-inner-child-impossible-machu-picchu-adventure/
Tens of thousands of flights cancelled. Fuel costs are variously described as spiking, surging, or skyrocketing. Travelers still stranded, unable to complete their journeys or return home. Once again, the world has been plunged into chaos. What role does the travel writer play in times like this? How do travel writers guide travelers when the best laid plans all fall apart?For this special episode, I was joined by Shebs Alom, AKA Shebs the Wanderer. He is not only a media figure, podcast host, and editor, but also the newly minted producer of the Travel Writing Podcast. Not to mention, a sworn rival, we are going head-to-head for the Inspire Global Media award for best broadcast in London in May this year. May the best podcast win!Listen here, or find the Travel Writing Podcast on Spotify or iTunes.
about 30 years on a farm in the Cotswolds in the British countryside, published by Bradt Guides and out now.
Most conversations on the Travel Writing Podcast look, in one way or another, at the professional world of writing, travel, and publication.But not everything worth writing is meant to be read. And the value of your writing cannot be accurately determined by the fickle media ecosystem.Sometimes, you write for yourself. To explore an idea. To purge an emotion. To confront a truth. To document a transformation. And yes, sometimes those lines blur.Valley Haggard is an expert in guiding writers to look inside, not outside, and summon the courage to confront the deeper challenges of confidence and self-worth that dog so many writers, from beginners all the way to published authors.Valley joins the travel writing podcast to share her journey - through pain, addiction, and healing - and her advice to writers struggling with the internal aspect of the craft. She will be leading the Writer's Workshop in East Africa, facilitated by the Global Livingston Institute, and we look forward to publishing many of the resulting stories in Intrepid Times.
Tom Sykes has authored neither a macho memoir nor a self-help text. It's a frank and thoughtful meditation on where this fear that so many travelers feel truly comes from. Intrepid Times will be supporting the launch of this book by publishing a series of interviews conducted by Tom with notable travelers and writers every Monday in March, starting next week.Dr Tom Sykes is an Associate Professor of Creative Writing and Global Journalism at the University of Portsmouth. He is the author of six books, including the travelogues The Realm of the Punisher (2018) and Coast of Teeth (2023), and the novel Tangled Saviours (2023). His books have been praised in the Times Literary Supplement, the London Magazine, and his expertise has been sought by the New York Times, the BBC World Service and the universities of Oxford, Sydney, the Philippines and Hawai’i.
award:https://www.travelandleisure.com/lofoten-islands-norway-summer-11772065 https://www.bbc.co.uk/travel/article/20250801-are-the-worlds-most-beautiful-islands-in-dangerIn today's episode of the Travel Writing Podcast, Phil talks about how he got there, step by step.(If you notice this episode is a lot more polished than our usual haphazard productions, that's because it was edited by the wonderful Shebs Alom, @shebsthewanderer, big thanks for helping to lift our game here!)
Meera Dattani's family story is rich in voyages and the intermingling of cultures between India, Uganda, and the United Kingdom. It is perhaps no surprise then that, in a freelance travel writing career now entering its third decade, Meera is known for incisive cultural observation and a sense of moral purpose behind her writing.As the executive editor of Adventure.com, Meera has a potent platform from which to shape the conversation in a volatile time for media of all kinds. On the Travel Writing Podcast, we talked about Meera's background and how that influenced her worldview, her advice for freelance writers looking to break into travel, and how her dual role as a freelance travel writer and an executive editor shapes her approach to both positions.
and available to read here: https://intrepidtimes.com/2026/01/pope-dying-vatican-city-human-bones/
she wrote near the time).Hilary generously joined the Travel Writing Podcast to share her journey from the early days stapling together the first copies of her first guidebook to how Bradt is adapting to the changing needs of readers in the digital world.We discussed Hilary's article in the recent British Guild of Travel Writers' anthology, Around the World in 65 Years, where Hilary takes a thought-provoking perspective on what ethical travel really means. We spoke about Bradt Guides' new Journey Books imprint, and why she still believes in the enduring power of print.
It's been a while since I've published a solo episode of the Travel Writing Podcast, so what better time than now? In a year that has seen huge growth and recognition for Intrepid Times and our writers, we've also witnessed yet more attacks on the importance and validity of both travel and writing. So let's take this time, when normal life seems to suspend itself in so much of the world, and ask ourselves a few tough questions. A huge thank you to all our wonderful podcast guests, and I'm so sorry that just a couple of names rattled off my tongue as I blitzed through that segment. And thank you to everyone who is here, listening, reading, and writing. What you are doing matters, even when it doesn't feel like it.References in this episode:What's the Point of Travel, Anyway? https://intrepidtimes.com/2023/07/whats-the-point-of-travel-anyway/Letters to Yesenin by Jim Harrison https://www.coppercanyonpress.org/books/letters-to-yesenin-by-jim-harrison/
Moonshine about this time in Slovenia, and has launched the Travel Memoir Review to celebrate the achievements of his fellow travel writers and help readers make more informed choices. Sam joined the travel writing podcast to talk about what makes a good (and marketable) travel memoir, why he chose to self-publish his first book, the enduring relevance of travel writing in the time of AI, and how to get involved with the Travel Memoir Review.
When a volunteering offer took Jonty Crane and his wife to Timor-Leste, one of the least visited countries in the world, they had no idea what to expect. What they found was a country, largely undiscovered, still crawling its way out of a traumatic history, that offered friendly locals, beautiful scenery, and hikes through untouched landscapes. They also were confronted by chaos, multiple bouts of severe illness (including typhoid), and the reality of life in a land where the black flag of death seems to stalk every street.Joining us from his new home in Fiji, where is engaged in another volunteering project arranged by Volunteer Service Abroad - which can be thought of as a New Zealand equivalent to the Peace Corps or the UK's Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO), Jonty talked about his time in Timor-Leste (formerly known as East Timor) and how he came to write several guide books about the country including Exploring Timor-Leste: A comprehensive travel guide to one of the least visited countries in the world. He also shared how volunteering can unlock authentic, real world travel in places tourists seldom get to see.
- if anyone would know one, it would be Dervla.Just a few years later, Scott-Stokes cycled across Eastern Europe as the collapse of the Berlin Wall was still echoing in the fields of Poland. She wrote about that in her book The Amber Trail: A journey of discovery by bicycle, from the Baltic Sea to the Aegean. She also wrote a book about Guatemala and a biography of Margaret Fountaine.More recently, Natascha Scott-Stokes authored a conflicted love-letter to Chile, Tales from the Sharp End, published by the University of New Mexico Press. Part history, part travelogue, part memoir, the stories invite you into the lives of those who inhabit Chile's cities and its hinterland, rich, evocative, and full of that intimate access only the best travel writing brings.Hear Natascha Scott-Stokes talk about her extraordinary life and captivating work on the Travel Writing Podcast.
Tim van Es's story of a humble tea seller who changes three lives in Mumbai became an Amazon bestseller and has won praise for its depiction of everyday life in India and the characters who pass through its pages. In the second and final part of our interview series with Tim, we explore how we went about writing the novel, the inspiration behind the characters, and we complete the story of his journey from corporate burnout to bestselling novelist. Quite a lifestyle change indeed!
Many sit in cubicles every day and dream of abandoning the office, the politics, the metrics, and the madness and embarking on a life of creative freedom and fulfilment. Few actually make the transition. Once you're in the corporate world, it's hard to leave. The paycheck leads to a lifestyle that is not easy to walk away from, and your whole identity and sense of self get enmeshed with everything that comes with it.Tim van Es was riding high as an executive at Unilever - at least on paper. He was traveling the world and getting promotion after promotion. But under the surface, things were less than idyllic. In a special two-part series on the Travel Writing Podcast, Tim shares how he made the leap out of the corporate world and reinvented himself as a full-time writer. In part one, published today, he talks about his life, his travels, and the series of events which led to the moment of definitive change. In part two, coming next week, he talks in depth about the resulting book, The Chaiwallah, an Amazon bestseller promoted by Bookbub this week.
What happens when the mainstream publishing community isn't putting out the kind of sincere, literary travel stories you crave? For Mike Robertson, the answer was simple: Start your own publishing house. Sun Rider Press has published books on pilgrimages in Tibet, bike rides across India, wayward adventures, and self-discovery along the English Channel, and more besides. Their print runs are small; their distribution channels simple. No Amazon. No chain retailers. Just a signed copy of the book mailed to you personally by the publishers themselves. In the midst of a publishing identity crisis fueled by collapsing margins, bullying online retailers, and the perils of AI, could this example of passionate micro-publishing be the answer? Mike Robertson joins the Travel Writing Podcast to speak about his journey.
From a successful career as the founder of 'Under 30 CEO' in New York, he embraced the digital nomad freedom with a base in Puerto Rico. Years of travel followed, but business was not left behind. Matt fused his passion for travel with his entrepreneurial skills to create 'Under 30 Experiences,' a Millennial-oriented travel company. He authored the Millennial Travel Guidebook and made the Financial Times 1000 list of America's Fastest-Growing Companies.Matt is now a father, and we spoke about how fatherhood changed his approach to travel, business, and work-life balance. (And, although she was so well-behaved you won't hear on the audio, my baby daughter joined us for the last 10 or so minutes of the episode, and you'll hear Matt's reaction as she enters the screen).Listen to Matt speak about success, business, travel, and parenthood on the Travel Writing Podcast here or find us on Spotify or iTunes.
Experiences from the Road Less Travelled, edited by Mary Anne Evans, published by Bradt Travel Guides and available from November 4, 2025. Listen here or find the Travel Writing Podcast on Spotify or iTunes.
The three words are scrawled everywhere; on walls, banners, and even on the side of Barcelona's rubbish bins. It's easy to dismiss them as the word of isolated cranks. But it isn't. The message increasingly reflects popular sentiment, and not just in the tourist hotspots in Spain. And with short-term rentals like Airbnb driving locals out of their apartments, while the digital nomad ghettos as distant as Chiang Mai and Medellin, cause skyrocketing prices out of the reach of residents, it's impossible for a sincere traveler not to ask the question: Are we part of the problem?Daniel Maurer wrestles with the big questions, such as this, in his new book The Future of Travel, part of an intriguing 'Futures' series by Melville House. Daniel is an award-winning food, culture, and travel journalist who has written for outlets such as The New York Times, New York magazine, Thrillist, The Art Newspaper, Eater, The Daily Beast, Atlas Obscura, and others. He won two James Beard Media Awards while chief editor of Grub Street.Daniel joined the Travel Writing Podcast to speak about overtourism and traveler's guilt, and how we can keep traveling without causing harm to the places we visit.
it's out in November through Astral Press in the US and Icon Books in the UK. In our episode of the Travel Writing Podcast, Brad Fox talks about his time in Peru. He traces the journey of his two most recent non-fiction books, and brings us into the strange yet piercingly clear world of tradition, ayahuasca, and healing, he inhabited far from the high rises and emails of modern life. We also talk about Brad Fox's earlier travels, including years spent as an aid contractor in Serbia, and a mysterious diving expedition in central Budapest. L
One day, the writer and professor Kurt Caswell received a cryptic mission from an editor. Laika, the Russian dog who would become the first living creature sent into orbit, had a window in her spacecraft. "I want you to think on this," the editor said, "and write a book about it." The resulting book, Laika's Window, won a Foreword Indie Silver Medal for science writing.Kurt's connection with Intrepid Times began with the story, Driving the Dalton Highway, a fascinating meditation on the experience of driving and being driven, which we discuss in the podcast. We also talk about Kurt's work as a professor of creative writing at Texas Tech University, and his life in travel and writing across Iceland, Russia, the United States, and far beyond. Kurt's most recent book is Iceland Summer: Travels along the Ring Road (2023), the first in a series about travel on islands. You can learn more about Kurt and his books at his website, kurtcaswell.com
"See the mice in their million hordes," Bowie sings, "From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads." For most, these lines, from Bowie's culture-bending 1971 track "Life on Mars?" are intriguing, amusing, or perhaps just baffling in Bowie's inimitable yet irresistible way. Yet for James Briggs, they were a route map. He set out to make real the journey Bowie merely obliquely sketched, cycling for over 100 days from the Spanish island of Ibiza to the English network of rivers and lakes known as the Norfolk Broads. Along the way, he meets Bowie fans of all ages and explores the many and varied cultural influences that informed the iconic English musician's journey.Taking the journey was one thing; getting the story published was another. As James shared in our interview, over eight years passed between the initial trip and the eventual publication of the resulting story: From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads, a Bowie Odyssey. James Briggs joined the Travel Writing Podcast to talk about the journey, the book, and everything in between.
Eighteen months after his daughter was born, Dom and his wife still hadn't had a full night's sleep. An ambitious family trip to Colombia loomed, but they knew their little one just wasn't ready for the trip. Everything was booked, and the trip tied in with work commitments for Dom's university job, so a tough call was made: Dom would travel alone. What followed was a series of lonely nights in hotel rooms; the cribs they had arranged in each destination stood empty. And yet, the silver lining: This was something to write about. With as yet no clippings or travel writing publications to his name, Dom took a chance. The resulting piece, 'My Daughter's Laugh' won the 2016 Bradt New Travel Writer of the Year award and catapulted Dom into the world of publication. Since then, he has been featured in The Times, The National Geographic, The Independent, and elsewhere, often writing about traveling as a father. Dom's appearance on the Travel Writing Podcast forms an instalment of our Traveling While Dad series.
Over the course of 15 years, Shafik Meghji traveled repeatedly to South America, falling in love with the continent and in particular with Buenos Aires, which he came to feel was his second home. Traveling from London, Shafik noticed that Britain came up a lot on his travels; the eerie hulk of a Harrods branch in central Buenos Aires, the rusting shells of British buses on the salt flats of Bolivia, and the surnames of the descendants of settlers hanging out in Patagonia. The result is Small Earthquakes: A Journey Through Lost British History in South America - Published last month by Hurst Publishers, to wide acclaim. Shafik joins the Travel Writing Podcast to talk about how the book came to be, to geek out on his influences such as Bruce Chatwin, and to bring writers behind the scenes on his publishing journey.
When Jamie Edwards was a mother of a two-year-old and expecting a second child, her husband was offered a job in Tokyo. They left all that was familiar and headed overseas. What followed was a life rich in adventure, more often than not, with the kids in tow.Through over 50 countries, Jamie gained confidence not only in the art of parenting on the move but also in crafting a compelling story that did justice to her travel experiences. She founded a popular blog, I am Lost and Found, to share her recommendations, and used her networking skills to help her break into some of travel writing's most prestigious publications. In the latest episode of the Travel Writing Podcast, which also forms an instalment in our 'Traveling While Dad' series, Jamie talks about sharing real travel experiences with children and describes how she polished her storytelling skills and became a contributor to the upcoming National Geographic Traveler's Atlas of the World.
Luke Waterson was a prolific travel writer who wrote guidebooks for the likes of Moon Guides and Lonely Planet about destinations that ring exotic in the minds of most readers, like Cuba, Machu Picchu, or the Amazon rainforest. And then he became a father. Basing himself in rural Wales and largely confining his travels to regional Britain, he found that he was not only able to discover joy in unexpected pockets of his homeland, but his travel writing career reached new heights as well. Luke joined the Travel Writing Podcast to talk about the life and craft of travel writing today. In a deeply personal and candid interview, he shares the challenges of fatherhood amidst separation, the joys and constraints of the solitary writer's life, and how his background as a novelist and short story writer informs his approach to his work. Listen here or on Spotify or iTunes.
A man walks calmly through a crowd, a BMX bike handle thrust through his cheek. Two fighters leap over a catholic cross, ready to engage in hand-to-hand combat with anyone who interrupts their ritual. A group of adherents whirl and spin, appearing intoxicated, yet no drugs have been taken. These are just some of the many otherworldly festivals Daniel Stables witnessed, understood, and reported on for his new book, Fiesta: A Journey Through Festivity, out next month through Icon Books. Daniel joined the Travel Writing Podcast to talk about traveling to festivals in Britain, Turkey, Thailand, Spain, and beyond, witnessing jealously guarded rituals and getting to the deeper questions about the rituals that bind us together and transcend the ordinariness of everyday life.
When Reid Mitenbuler was denied travel during the long days of lockdown, he sought out the distillation of travel in human form. Peter Freuchen (1886-1957), the legendary Danish explorer, brought stories of remotest Greenland to the world. He married an Inuit woman, learned the language, fathered children, and ventured to its most extreme locations, risking life and (literally) limb in the process. Later, he became wealthy by winning a game show, and found himself an unlikely Hollywood celebrity. Reid Mitenbuler shared his story in his book, Wanderlust - An Eccentric Explorer, an Epic Journey, a Lost Age. The New York Times called it "An absolute joy… a compelling introduction to one of the most charismatic explorers to ever cross the ice." Reid joined the Travel Writing Podcast to talk about how he came across Freuchen's story and why he knew it had to be told, his process for choosing topics and writing successful non-fiction books, and some Hollywood insider wisdom about the impact of AI on professional writers.
It's no coincidence that we are releasing this special episode of the Travel Writing Podcast on Friday the 13th. La Carmina is a multi-talented author, influencer, blogger, food writer, television personality, and expert in the mysterious fringe communities that most tourists never even catch a glimpse of. She has authored a highly acclaimed treatise on Satanism (The Little Book of Satanism), befriended author-phenomenon of Prozac Nation fame, Elizabeth Wurtzel, and brought readers into the worlds of fringe and underground subcultures, sincerely understanding and cherishing these communities while interpreting them for the uninformed.In this episode, we trace La Carmina's unusual (or, as she clarifies, perhaps not so unusual) path from Yale Law School to travel writing. We talk about how she carved a distinct niche in a crowded field, and she shares tips for new writers on how to do the same. We also talk about fringe cultures, making meaningful connections while traveling, and of course, we bust myths of Satanism. Listen below or find the Travel Writing Podcast on Spotify or iTunes.
When your mental health is fragile, the temptation may be to stay home and take things slow. Not so for Mark Agnew. When dealing with internal challenges, he took the fight externally, pitting himself against the elements. His ultimate quest? To be among the first to conquer the Northwest passage, the infamous route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, which has defeated numerous explorers for centuries, with only human-powered kayaks. In this episode of the Travel Writing Podcast, we speak about Mark's ultimately successful undertaking with his team, the Arctic Cowboys. We talk about the reality of making it as an adventurer in today's world, what his adventures taught Mark about resilience and mental health, and how he crafted his experience into a compelling book: There Will be Headwinds: Kayaking the Northwest Passage (3rd July 2025 from Icon Books).
For people like travel writer Ash Bhardwaj, travel is the "driving force" that inspires and defines his life. But how do you balance the challenges and complexities of travel with the joys and demands of parenthood? This is a subject I am particularly interested in, having recently become a father myself!Ash and I sat down for a deep conversation about travel, parenthood in general, and fatherhood in particular. We spoke about the conspicuous absence of devoted fathers among the great travel writers of the last generation, the experience of traveling with children, and how being a Dad had changed Ash's approach to his career and profession as a travel writer. By Ash Bhardwaj: The paperback edition of "Why We Travel - 12 Reasons to Travel and What They Can Teach You About Life" is out now and available from Amazon and wherever good books are sold.This was a deep and unusual personal podcast, touching on topics we don't normally explore here at Intrepid Times. I am looking forward to hearing what you think!
There are plenty of guidebooks about Venice and Edinburgh, but have you ever wondered about Chelmsford or Sunderland? Ben Aitken has. In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, we sit down with Ben, author of Shitty Breaks: A Celebration of Unsung Cities. He discusses his fun, irreverent approach to travel that seeks joy in the most under-visited destinations.From working in a Poznan chippy to skiing in Sunderland, Ben shares stories from his offbeat journey through the places tourism forgot. We also discuss the art of attention-seeking to get published, how to come up with a provocative (but not off-putting) book title, and the painful process of recording an audiobook.Despite his cheeky demeanor, Ben’s on a mission to prove that every place and its people are worth a visit. His work champions curiosity toward the overlooked places written off by major tourist guidebooks.In a world obsessed with hotspots, discover how joy can be found in that forgotten city up the road.
What drives someone to keep exploring the world — not for clicks or clout, but for something deeper? In this episode of the Travel Writing Podcast, we sit down with Shebs Alom — award-winning writer, broadcaster, and host of the Take a Wander with Shebs podcast — for an authentic chat about his journey as a travel writer.Shebs opens up about mental health, finding purpose, and rediscovering joy when travel is your job. We also peel back the curtain on PR travel trips, media award circuits, and the dangers Shebs has faced in his professional life. Plus, he reveals the secret of how he formed a connection with eminent British explorer, Levison Wood.Grab this opportunity to take a peek into the daily realities of life as a professional traveler.
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of real-life violence. Listener discretion is advised, and this content definitely isn't suitable for children.We approach travel from a new angle in this episode of the Travel Writing Podcast. Dawn Barclay — suspense author, award-winning travel journalist, and true crime enthusiast — joins us to discuss her latest book, Vacations Can Be Murder: A True Crime Lover's Travel Guide to New England.Part travelogue, part criminal history deep dive, Dawn’s book uncovers the darker side of New England. From haunted hotels and former prisons to crime scene landmarks and ghost tours, she maps out a chilling yet fascinating journey through the region’s most notorious sites.In our conversation, Dawn takes us under the hood of her book. We chat about what draws people to dark tourism, how to write responsibly about real-life violence, and why true crime continues to captivate readers and travelers alike.
What is Eastern Europe, and does it still exist? Jacob Mikanowski set out to answer these questions and more in his book "Goodbye Eastern Europe: An Intimate History of a Divided Land". In this episode of the Travel Writing Podcast, he shares how his Polish heritage, academic background, and personal travels shape his work.Staying in Warsaw at the tail end of communism, Jacob lived through Poland's transition from sleepy empty streets to the chaotic capitalism of the 1990s. He has since traveled across nearly every Eastern European country, exploring both their nuances and shared identities.His book is a personal farewell to an Eastern Europe that feels lost to history. Drawing on real anecdotes, he brings to life forgotten traditions, hidden secrets, and the cultural richness of an often-overlooked region. In our conversation, we consider what “Eastern Europe” really means, why the term remains controversial, and why Jacob believes its identity deserves to be reclaimed.
A contributor to the New York Times, National Geographic, BBC Travel, and Lonely Planet (to name a few), David Farley is living the travel writing dream. When his career was just starting, though, he didn't have a direct line to any editors; he had to prove himself. In this episode of the Travel Writing Podcast, he maps his rise from amateur to regular contributor to the biggest publications. This is your chance to learn how to get your foot in the door. Before you know it, you could be sent around the world to cover stories that will be read by thousands.
Dustin Grinnell's personal essays go deep into his psyche, exposing wounds and aspirations from deepest childhood, wrestling with illness, relationships, authority, and disappointments. While travel publications like Intrepid Times can be reluctant to publish these kinds of deeply personal memoirs/reflections (or, as Dustin calls it, autoethnography) Dustin's stories have achieved recognition and a wide audience, being published in Outside Magazine, Perceptive Travel, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Philadelphia Enquirer, and elsewhere. Dustin achieved this while maintaining a decades-long career as a marketing writer for major corporations and institutions. On the latest episode of the Travel Writing Podcast, Dustin talks about balancing his creative travel writing and introspective essays with his copywriting day job, how he makes his personal essays interesting and appealing to a wide audience, and the many lessons he has learned from writing, reading, and travel. Listen here on Intrepid Times or subscribe on Spotify or iTunes Dustin's book, published by Peter Lang, is Lost & Found, Reflections on Travel, Career, Love, and Family. It is available now.
Despite its UNESCO World Heritage medieval old city, Moorish cisterns, and delicious jamon iberico, Cáceres in Spain's Extremadura still somehow manages to cling to that most overused of adjectives, 'untouched.' As tourists continue to swarm to Barcelona and Ibiza, Cáceres gets on with the mysteries of normal life in one of Europe's best-preserved medieval towns.Troy Nahumko has been based in Cáceres for over a decade. A fluent Spanish speaker, he set out to unravel the mysteries of this ancient, storied, yet little-visited region of Spain. The result is Stories Left in Stone, Trails and Traces in Cáceres, Spain published by the University of Alberta Press. In the latest episode of the Travel Writing Podcast, Troy talks about getting the story behind the story in Cáceres, establishing himself as a travel writer, writing in both English and Spanish, getting his initial stories published in both languages, and the publishing journey and reactions to his book both at home and abroad. Listen here on Intrepid Times or on Spotify or iTunes.
The travel writing career has captivated many with the dream of scrawling notes on exotic train rides, sending off your narratives to venerable magazines, and collecting enough in fees and royalties to keep the journey going. But is that really what the life of a professional travel writer looks like today? Tim Leffel has been a full-time, professional travel writer since 2006 and literally wrote the book on the travel writing career, Travel Writing 2.0. In our conversation, he describes his own journey and gives an honest, no-nonsense overview of how today's travel writers actually go about earning money, growing their income, and paying the bills.
When Ryan Murdock moved to Malta in 2011, he intended to write a "breezy island novel" replete with quirky characters and sun-soaked tranquility. He would go on to write a book, but it was not the one he imagined. In a book that is part thriller, but anthropological examination, and part tribute to the pioneering Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, Ryan told a gripping tale that all serious readers of travel writing need to have on their shelves.
In 2015, having recently left her job at the International Bar Association, Rebecca Lowe was transitioning to freelance journalism. Aiming to collect stories from the Middle East to help build her new career path, she set out on an 11,000km, 20-country solo cycle ride from London to Tehran, via Europe, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Oman, the UAE, and Iran. The journey lasted a year, and collect stories she did. While she didn't originally intend for the journey to lead to a book, when the opportunity arose, she took on the project and wrote The Slow Road to Tehran: A Revelatory Bike Ride through Europe and the Middle East, which was shortlisted for the 2023 Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year. This podcast episode focuses on both her incredible journey through the Middle East and the book that came out of it. During the episode, Rebecca talks about how she approached the idea of risk vs. recklessness as a solo female traveler, what traveling through the Middle East as a woman was really like, the highs and lows of her journey, how she balanced out the seriousness of the problems facing the Middle East with a healthy sense of humor, and more.If you enjoy this episode, don't forget to review the podcast and subscribe -- it means the world!
Travel tends to offer rewarding, enlightening, and overall joyful experiences. We come out of them with fresh perspectives, new friends, and an increased understanding of our place in the world. But sometimes, travel is hard. It walks us into experiences that are frustrating, saddening, disappointing, or even dangerous. Once we've gone through these experiences, we may feel compelled to get them down on paper, to share them. Is there a good reason to do that? And if so, how do we cut through the emotional turmoil of the experience to get at the real story? These are the questions we tried to tackle on this week's episode of The Travel Writing Podcast.During the episode, we talk about why waiting a while after an experience can benefit the emotional process that needs to take place before writing, the reason negative travel experiences beg to be written, how we can imagine the experiences in a new light, how one can go about editing a story based on a negative travel experience, and more. If you enjoy the episode, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review -- it means the world!
Inspired by a new translation of The Odyssey by Emily Wilson, Laura Coffey set off for an Italian island in order to find a renewed sense of freedom and clarity in the midst of extreme loneliness. What was supposed to be a short break turned into a six-month journey across towns and islands in Italy, Croatia, and Spain as she chased the myth of The Odyssey. Her attempt to live between myth and reality allowed her to cope with her father's worsening health, and the journey turned into her first travel memoir, Enchanted Islands: Travels Through Myth & Magic, Love & Loss.In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, I spoke with Laura about her island journey and the resulting memoir. During the interview, we talk about how Laura developed her writing while working her day job in tech start ups, why myths and legends can so easily help us escape when the world feels strange and unreal, how Laura brought the joy of travel into a book that touches on some very sad moments, and more. For anyone who has struggled with grief and sadness, this episode offers a nuanced look at how we can learn to trust ourselves in the face of life's hardest moments.
Over the years, Mike Richards has been to over 150 countries, has written global political and economic research for renowned global research houses, and has become a meditation teacher. During his years of traveling, he's come to a simple conclusion: most people are good. In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, Nathan spoke with Mike about his new book, how traveling with his young daughter has helped him rediscover a sense of wanderlust, how a trip to Iraqi Kurdistan opened his eyes to people’s true natures, how his work as a risk analyst shapes his travel experiences, what he’s learning about connection and community through his travels to unlikely places, and much more. If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review -- it means the world!
JT Genter didn't set out to become a digital nomad. He was working as a tax accountant when he and his wife decided they wanted to do some traveling. Looking for a way to reduce the cost of a trip to China, he discovered that signing up for one credit card could get them enough miles to fly round-trip for almost nothing out-of-pocket. As luck would have it, points and awards was a growing area of interest in the travel space, aligning perfectly with JT's experience in accounting and his love of travel. This intersection found him contributing as a freelance writer for The Points Guy, eventually earning a position as a full time writer for the publication and later as the editor-in-chief of AwardWallet, which has allowed him and his wife to travel full time.In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, Nathan and JT talk about how JT found his unique niche, why flying economy allowed him to get his foot in the door, how he keeps himself organized with a travel schedule that has him moving every few days, his approach to the boom in AI as the editor-in-chief of a growing publication, and more. If you enjoy the episode, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review!
Years ago, while hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain, Tim Mathis became fascinated by the idea of the pilgrimage. It was spiritual but didn't have to be religious, and it was, it seemed, always transformative for those who made the journey. The experience stuck with him and led him to write a unique guidebook for those interested in tapping into the power of the Camino's long walk. The guidebook is called The Camino for the Rest of Us: A Comprehensive Guide to a Life-Changing Journey on the World's Most Approachable Pilgrimage and was the focus of this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast.During the episode, Nathan and Tim discuss why Tim decided to write a physical guidebook in the age of the internet, how "sacred texts" of all sorts can be guiding lights for us all, the idea of the “gap month” and how it can open space for change, the highs and lows of self-publishing, and much more.If you enjoy the episode, don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review!
In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, Jennifer speaks with travel journalist Paige McClanahan about her new book, The New Tourist. From Hawaii to Saudi Arabia, Amsterdam to Angkor Wat, Paige has been witness to various approaches to tourism, which led her to question not only how governments are approaching tourism, but also her own actions and insights as a tourist. Her new book seeks to help those who love to travel become better and more conscientious tourists wherever they go.During the conversation, Paige discusses how the shift from the old to new tourist translates to travel writing; how social media has helped democratize the travel writing space; how the empathy we gain through travel may help us confront the challenges we’ll face as a species in the coming decades; why questioning our motivations for traveling can be the first step toward becoming a better tourist; and much more. This is a great listen for anyone who loves to travel and wants to have a positive impact on the places they visit.
Many of the most well-known authors in history have struggled with their dark side, a struggle that so often provided the energy for great writing. This dark side is what Brad Kelly and his co-host Kevin Kautzman explore on their podcast Art of Darkness. In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, Nathan invited Brad on to talk about some of the authors that Art of Darkness has covered and how travel specifically played a role in the development of their creativity and writing. Brad also offered insight into how researching other authors has both helped and haunted his own writing.
The idea of sustainable tourism can leave a weird taste in your mouth, especially as the term is used incorrectly in all kinds of contexts and scenarios. But the idea, in its authentic form, is an important one, and one that we know many of our listeners are interested in learning more about, so we decided to tackle it on this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast.For this conversation, which we knew would need a nuanced and candid approach, we invited on Jeremy Sampson, the CEO of The Travel Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps the travel industry better manage its impact and improve local livelihoods.During the episode we talked about the important questions for travel writers to ask when writing about a destination, how the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action and Tourism has created and maintained momentum toward positive change in the tourism sector, how writers’ ability to demonstrate nuance can be key in advancing positive tourism practices, and more.
Traveling is often full of joy and intrigue. Writing about those travel experiences can be difficult but almost always fulfilling. But editing...that's where writers tend to get stuck. Editing can feel not only overwhelming and intimidating, but also tedious. In this episode, Jennifer explores the reasons why editing can feel so tough, but also why it's one of the easiest ways to get across professionalism and interest, build trust with editors, and demonstrate that you care deeply about the story you're trying to tell. In the end, you don't have to be a professional editor in order to engage thoughtfully in the editing process, nor do you ever need to aim for perfection.
In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, Nathan and Jen take on the daunting topic of AI. It's a topic that (understandably) makes writers, in particular, very nervous, considering the advances in LLMs. Should we be as worried as we are? Will AI actually ever be able to replace the need for writers, or is there something about the act of putting ideas on paper (or a screen) that is uniquely human? During this conversation, the hosts also explore how they have personally experimented with tools like ChatGPT, where they see the most promise, what a future in which AI can replicate human personality may look like, why grappling with words is (and may always be) a deeply useful exercise, and why they remain hopeful even as LLMs advance.If you enjoy the episode, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review!
On this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, Nathan interviews travel writer, filmmaker, and storyteller Ash Bhardwaj. The conversation includes a discussion about the role hedonism plays in our motivation to travel, how seeking out the “other” can push us to travel to certain places, why a desire for self-discovery can be a powerful motivator, how certain types of disconnection can lead to the most meaningful travel experiences, and much more.The interview is built around Ash's new book, Why We Travel: A Journey Into Human Motivation.
In her recent interview with Nathan Thomas, travel writer Katie Silcox talks about the experience that made her realize she would have to discover her inner strength if she wanted to live abroad; the many ways that her versatile skill set has served her travel writing lifestyle; her advice for female travelers; why a bit of chaos and uncertainty can be a good thing; and much more.
Welcome to an unusual episode of the Travel Writing Podcast — Here, I take the mic solo, for what may be described as a rant but is hopefully more of an exploration of the pressures bearing down on travel writers in today's world. The perverse incentives of Search Engine Optimization and social media. The perils of perpetual connectivity. How can you write something that will last when your editor only cares about what's going to rank highly on Google? How can you tune in and be present in the moment, soaking up the wonderful strangeness of an overnight train journey when your phone is vibrating in your pocket, giving you instant access to everyone you know and, perhaps more damagingly, all the obligations of your sedentary life? I explore this in today's episode of the travel writing podcast. Have no fear — we return to our normal conversation and interview format from the next episode onwards!
We travel, we write, we read, and then we travel again. Does being immersed in the genre of travel writing as a writer and reader change the experience of travel? In this episode, the editors of Intrepid Times take a moment to think about how the travel writing we read inevitably influences the way we interact with the places and people we encounter while traveling. They discuss some examples of when reading about a place helped deepen their understanding, the possible dangers of reading about a place before going there, the power that travel stories have as part of a larger whole that is constantly informing and influencing travelers, and much more.
In this episode, Nathan interviews John Dolan, an American poet, author, essayist, and co-host of Radio War Nerd. John discusses how he ended up in New Zealand, Moscow, and later the Middle East and Indonesia; the event that had him on the edge of sacrificing his pursuit of the truth; the circumstances that led him to compile his travel stories into his recently published book Erdogan Pizza; why he developed a sense of black humor in his writing; and much more.
Tim Hannigan is back on the podcast to discuss one of the major ethical considerations in travel writing: the truth. In this conversation with Jennifer, Tim talks about the underlying tensions that make talking about truth in travel writing so tricky, strategies travel writers use to create a rhetoric of truth that readers can rely on, how the shifting definition of travel writing makes any conversation about whether it should be true or not a bit impossible, why what we leave out can be just as important as what we add in, Tim’s view on why fictionalization in travel writing can be a slippery slope, and how new and experienced travel writers can audit their own writing to ensure any story stays as close to the truth as possible.
In this episode, the editors of Intrepid Times take a moment to analyze the travel writing tendencies that helped define 2023, as well as what they hope and expect for travel writing in 2024. The conversation takes a couple of interesting turns, including veering into a conversation about the benefits of traveling alone versus traveling with others. They also touch on the role that humor and fun can play in travel writing, as well as a few writing challenges they'd like to see the Intrepid Times community take on this year.
In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, Mary Novakovich, an award-winning travel journalist, speaks about why she found the process of writing a book more “liberating” than her work with articles and stories; how she approached writing about members of her family, especially when thinking about traumatic events; how she attempted to find balance with the difficult history and the current culture of Croatia; how who you’re traveling with affects the way you understand a place; and why writing both listicles and travel narratives has worked out so well for her.
In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, Harry Mitsidis, founder of NomadMania, talks about his personal motivation for visiting every country in the world twice, how his “addiction to movement” has driven his travels, how he maintains enthusiasm while constantly exploring, and why his recent trip to Ukraine was the most significant one he has ever done. He also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the voyage to one of the world's most remote islands where he met a mysterious world traveler who would ultimately inspire Harry's book, The Curious Case of William Baekeland.
In this episode, Scottish travel writer Jamie Lafferty discusses why travel writing is anything but "leisurely" work, how coming from a working class background shaped the trajectory of his career and the stories he chooses to write, why he loves to interview “upper class” people, and how a trip to cover every prefecture in Japan after the 2011 tsunami shifted the way he thought about his work and the impact it could have.
Between delayed flights, strange streets, new languages, and endless challenges, travel can feel like a nightmare for those who struggle with anxiety. But what if travel could actually be a kind of treatment? In this episode, Intrepid Times editors Nathan and Jen discuss the travel experience that tested Jen's developing anxiety management skills, the kind of preparation people with anxiety may need before travel, how to think of the challenges of travel as opportunities, why travel writing can enhance those skills and kickstart personal growth, and much more.
In this episode, Intrepid Times editor Jennifer Roberts and Dr. Jeffrey Skoblow talk about how learning to write is like learning a new language, why the choice of what you read can be critically important, the role that community plays in both reading and writing, and how presence and attention factor into both.
In this conversation with Intrepid Times' founder Nathan Thomas, Pier Nirandara explores how she taps into creativity even while working in the business world, what role awe has played in her life and writing, how she had to overcome imposter syndrome before finally calling herself a "writer," and more.
In this episode, Kapka Kassabova joins us for a conversation about her most recently published book, Elixir, the third in what will soon be a quartet set in the southern Balkans. She speaks about how the heartbreak that she found during her journey for the first book in the quartet prepared her emotionally for Elixir, why she always seeks out a guide during her travels, and why it's important for every traveler (and writer) to "own your wounds and your hopes."
Today's episode includes excerpts from two of the many masterclasses offered to students of Travel Writer Transformation, Intrepid Times' 8-week writing course. In the first excerpt, the Intrepid Times editors discuss the first paragraph of a travel story and how to make sure you grab readers' attention without giving them too much information. The second excerpt discussions conclusions and how writers can make sure they deliver on any goodwill they've built up throughout their story.
In this episode, travel writer Thom Brown discusses the process of tracking down a story in Mongolia, which led to his recently published story, "The Silicon Steppe." He talks about why the story he ended up writing was so different from his original idea, how he found contacts in Mongolia, and the various angles he had to consider while writing.
In this episode of the Intrepid Times Podcast, editors Nathan Thomas and Jennifer Roberts discuss a recent New Yorker article and ask the question, "Can travel change you?" They dig into the subtle and not-so-subtle changes that happen when we travel, explore the trials and tribulations of some of their early travel experiences, and offer ideas for how people can make sure travel changes them for the better.
In this episode, travel writer Tim Hannigan discusses his new book, The Granite Kingdom, based on his journey walking east to west across Cornwall. He explores why both inside and outside voices are needed in travel writing, the ethical issues around writing about those you meet while traveling, how to find balance with a sense of belatedness, and when the second person can be a great tool for writers.
In this episode, Nathan Thomas explores how his new book, "Untethered: Living the digital nomad life in an uncertain world," attempts to reframe the stereotype and expectations of the digital nomad, why stillness is important, even when one is constantly on the move, how his experience with “traditional” travel writing informed the way he approached writing "Untethered," and how writing a second book felt different from the first.
In this episode, the editors of Intrepid Times take you behind the scenes of “Romance on the Road” and show you what it looks like when editors sit down to choose the winners out of hundreds of entries. Along the way, they talk about what the winners did differently that made them stand out from the rest, and share hard-won insights for writing a powerful travel story that editors can’t say no to.
In this episode, Shafik Meghji speaks about his new book, as well as about the responsibility travel writers wield when deciding what and where to write about, whether it’s possible to be truly objective as a travel writer, and the way good travel writing helps us make connections that may get overlooked. He also offers some great insight into how travel writers can decide which stories are interesting enough to tell and how to make potentially uninteresting stories feel relevant and inspiring.
In this episode, the editors of Intrepid Times explore their journeys from studying the humanities to developing writing and editing careers, and tackle some uncomfortable questions about becoming a writer in 2023: Are the humanities still valuable, and if they are, then why? Is writing really a safe career choice with the new advancements in AI tech? Is the promise of the writing career actually a myth? And, if people, young or old, decide to try their hand at a career in the literary field, what can they reasonably expect to find?
In this episode, the editors of Intrepid Times tell the stories of how Elizabeth Gilbert's wildly popular memoir, "Eat, Pray, Love," came to land in both of their laps at very different points of their travel lives and what that meant for how they perceived its importance. They also discuss the things the book does (and doesn’t) do well, the role of emotion in travel writing, and how a personal story can shape and inform a travel story.
In this interview, B.A. Van Sise discusses his upcoming book, Invited to Life, with Nathan James Thomas of Intrepid Times.
Nathan James Thomas, the founder and editor of Intrepid Times, interviews Jessica Vincent, an award-winning travel journalist and editor of The Best British Travel Writing of the 21st Century. Nathan and Jessica discuss how travel writing impacts the way we see the world and how Jessica and her co-editors chose the stories to be included in their anthology.
Today, we are celebrating 12 months of the Intrepid Times Private Writer's Club. To celebrate this milestone as we look back of one extraordinary and challenging year of travel writing, we are making a special exemption and releasing this recording publicly. For 10 more travel writing masterclasses like this, and monthly feedback on your travel writing, join at at: https://intrepidtimes.com/writers-club/
Many of us are diligent journal writers when we travel. And then we come home, and we stop. In this extract from the latest Writer's Club masterclass, British author Alyss Thomas explains why this is a mistake! In fact, you'll learn that, if you're a travel writer, keeping a journal even when life seems "dull" can transform not only your writing, but also your life. Enjoy!
More about Alyss Thomas: https://journalwritingforsuccess.com/the-author/
More about Intrepid Times: http://intrepidtimes.com/writers-club
Here's an extract from the 4th Writer's Club masterclass where Intrepid Times editor Jennifer Roberts speaks about how writing can teach you things about yourself you never would have known. In the full masterclass entitled "Be Your Own Editor" you'll learn how to vanquish typos, avoid embarrassing mistakes, and eek the full power from your prose. It's easily the most detailed and info-packed lesson yet! To get access, join our Writer's Club at http://intrepidtimes.com/writers-club
Drawing on everything from Aristotle's "Poetics" to the hidden formula behind Hollywood blockbusters, in this masterclass we deconstruct the art and science of telling a compelling travel story. For the full audio lesson and PDF workbook, join us at http://intrepidtimes.com/writers-club
We just recorded travel writing Masterclass #2! So excited about this one. Here, Intrepid Times' editor Nathan James Thomas catches up with food and travel journalist Thomas Heaton (The Kathmandu Post) to talk about how to write a travel story like a professional. Check out this brief extract on when to put yourself in your travel story. To get the full version, join http://intrepidtimes.com/writers-club
Here's a tiny preview of the first ever masterclass released for our Private Travel Writer's Club. Theme: How to write a first paragraph that editors will not be able to resist. Enjoy!
To get the full masterclass and join the club, check out http://intrepidtimes.com/writers-club
Nathan James Thomas of Intrepid Times interviews photojournalist B.A Van Sise about his globe-spanning career, exhibits, writing, poetry, and travel. Listen to more at https://intrepidtimes.com/category/interviews/
A few years ago, writer Glenn Kurtz was conducting research for a novel when he came across an old video, recorded by his grandfather in 1938 in small, predominantly Jewish town in Poland. The video is vibrant - much is in color - and children jostle and laugh before the camera.
The majority of those pictured would soon perish in the Holocaust and the other horrors that were inflicted in Poland during and after the Second World War. But some survived, and created new lives in the USA, Britain and Israel. Glenn spent four years researching every face shown in the video. He speaks to survivors, and tells their story in gripping detail in his book, Three Minutes in Poland, Discovering a Lost World in a 1938 Family Film.
In our interview, we talk about Glenn's experience creating his book and meeting the survivors from his grandfather's home town.
Author photo: Franziska Liepe.
More at http://intrepidtimes.com
Keith Kahn-Harris describes himself as professionally curious. This curiosity has taken him around the world in search for the big fish who make their smash in small communities. Just who is the best water skier and Luxembourg, and what is the name of the most powerful politician on the tiny island or Alderney?
In this interview for IntrepidTimes.com, he discusses his travels, and the fascinating communities around the world which he has explored.
See more at: http://intrepidtimes.com/2017/06/the-best-waterskier-in-luxembourg-the-big-fish-in-small-communities-with-keith-kahn-harris
Charles Anderson is a New Zealand writer and journalist whose work focuses on uncovering mysteries at home and getting to the bottom of the story overseas. His work has appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, National Geographic Traveler, and pretty much every paper in New Zealand.
In his interview for http://intrepidtimes.com, we discuss his work uncovering mysteries in New Zealand and getting to the bottom of the story overseas.
Colin Wright discusses long term travel and his adventures around the world with Intrepid Times. Original link:
http://intrepidtimes.com/2016/05/colin-wright/
More interviews with travelers at:
http://intrepidtimes.com
Seven years ago, Colin Wright was working 100 hours a week running a branding studio in LA. He was on track to reach his goal of becoming a millionaire before the age of 25, when he had a change of heart. This lifestyle wasn’t so exciting anymore, and he wanted see the world.
He started a blog, and asked his readers, most of them strangers, to vote on which country he was to move to next. This experiment worked, and he has been traveling around the world based on the votes of his steadily growing audience ever since.
As a staff writer for The New Yorker and author of three acclaimed books on China, Hessler’s writing offers fascinating and deeply felt insights into the changing landscapes, cultures and characters he has encountered in his travels. In this interview for Intrepid Times, we discuss his travels in China and Egypt.
Original Link:
http://intrepidtimes.com/2016/04/peter-hessler/
Katya Knyazeva interviewed by Intrepid Times about the history and architecture of old Shanghai - http://intrepidtimes.com
Night Train to Mandalay. The audio recording of an article on http://IntrepidTimes.com describing an overnight train journey from Yangon to Mandalay in Myanmar undertaken by the author.
Read more at: http://intrepidtimes.com/2016/09/night-train-mandalay/
There are over 320 million people in China aged between 15 and 30.
This generation is often derided by their elders as well as the media. Depending on who you ask they’re shallow and materialistic, apathetic or overly patriotic.
Beijing based journalist Alec Ash thought this stereotype might be missing the full picture, so he set out to do some research.
Over four years, he followed the lives of 6 millennials growing up and pursuing their aspirations in new China.
His debut book ‘Wish Lanterns’ chronicles their experience. It was released last month in the UK to widespread acclaim, winning an interview in the New York Times and glowing endorsements by veteran China writers.
I met up with Alec last weekend at the Shanghai launch of his book, and interviewed him for half an hour. Here’s the edited recording where Alec discusses his book, and the challenges and rewards faced by foreigners who write about China.
http://intrepidtimes.com/2016/07/wish-lanterns-interview-china-writer-alec-ash/
Intrepid Times interviews Nick Hunt about his 9 month, 4000 kilometer walk across Europe in the footsteps of Patrick Leigh Fermor. Read more at: http://intrepidtimes.com/2016/08/nick-hunt/