The Thoughtful Travel Podcast

391 Enviable Travel Jobs

Sat, 02 May 2026 09:37:24 +0000

It's easy to be a little envious of anyone who gets to travel to interesting places as part of their work, but when the work itself is also truly fascinating, then I think it's fair that we can all be rather jealous! Nonetheless I loved chatting with these four guests about the experiences their careers have afforded them around the globe.

First up, Tudor Morgan explains how his lifelong love of the polar regions has translated into a range of rewarding work opportunities. Next, Kerstin Pilz tells of a very special job that she did during her academic career, on The Scholar Ship. Cade Martin then explains how his initial work in photography came about via a National Geographic project, and finally, Neil Laird describes the making of his graduate school film in Egypt, which led to a lifetime of travelling the world making documentaries.

Links:

Tudor Morgan of HX Expeditions - https://www.travelhx.com/en-au/
Kerstin Pilz - https://kerstinpilz.com/
Kerstin Pilz’s book “Loving my lying, dying, cheating husband” - https://amzn.to/422vCdn
Cade Martin - https://www.cademartin.com/
Wheelchair Mafia short film on rescue dogs in Thailand - https://www.cademartin.com/exploration-wheelchair-mafia
Neil Laird - https://neillaird.com
Neil’s Prime Time Travelers novels - https://amzn.to/48jqoNB
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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/391

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NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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390 How to be a Good Volunteer Abroad

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:35:07 +0000

The world of volunteer tourism is a tricky one. Getting the balance right between enabling people to volunteer in another country, and meeting the needs of the places they volunteer at, isn't easy, and the guests in this episode have many thoughts about what can go wrong and what are better ways to go about volunteering abroad.

I first chat with Kim Krowne and Edward Lyimo, who in fact first met when Kim went to Tanzania to volunteer at a program where Edward was involved. After that, I speak with Jonty Crane who has recently done long volunteer stints with his wife in Timor Leste and Fiji, organised through New Zealand's Volunteer Service Abroad program. Finally, I discuss giving back on your travels with Bianca Rappaport, who has a long-term digital nomad has found many varied ways to donate her time or expertise in many different parts of the world.

Links:

Edward Lyimo and Kim Krowne - Pristine Trails - https://pristinetrails.com/
Jonty Crane - https://jontytravels.com/
Exploring Timor - https://www.exploringtimor.com/
Bianca Rappaport - Wanderwell Club - https://www.instagram.com/wanderwellclub/
Give Back Guide - https://giveback.guide/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/390

Long term volunteer programs:

NZ: Volunteer Service Abroad
Australia: AVI (Australian Volunteers International)
US: Peace Corps
Canada: VCP (Volunteer Cooperation Program)
Germany: GIZ (Deutsch Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)
UK: VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas)
Japan: JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)
South Korea: KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency)

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389 How Travel Transforms Our Thinking

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 02:09:15 +0000

The more I travel (and the older I get!), the more I realise how little I know, and how wrong I've been about so many things! In this episode, I chat with three guests about various ways their travel experiences have transformed their thinking and perspective, and the general consensus is that everything's more complicated than we first think.

I speak with Nikki Padilla Rivera about her experiences in Vietnam and Cuba, two very different work trips that introduced her to local knowledge and culture in varying ways and smashed her preconceived ideas about these places. Next, my discussion with Tom Sykes harks back to our younger years of travelling and how we now reconsider our old thoughts and attitudes, and in general how much travel teaches us about the nuances of the world, politics, culture and more. Finally, I round out the episode with a story from James Ward about a perspective shift in his daughters after he took them to Zambia.

Links:

Nikki Padilla Rivera of She Shapes History NYC - https://sheshapeshistory.com/nyc
Tom Sykes - https://tomgsykes.co.uk/
Tom’s book The Years of Travelling Anxiously - https://amzn.to/4cbKPPC
James Ward - https://jameswardphotography.com/
James’ Rewild Safaris - https://rewildsafaris.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/389

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program

NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

388 Iceland: Chats with Locals

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 01:13:37 +0000

Iceland is a place many travellers dream of visiting; if, like me, you've been lucky enough to see Iceland, you probably desperately want to return. In this Chats with Locals episode, I talk with three Icelanders about their country: why they like living there, what Icelanders are really like, and all about their favourite Icelandic traditions. I also ask them what surprises visitors to Iceland, why they think it's such a popular place for travellers, and what important information we need to know before we go.

The Chats with Locals series, sponsored by Slowly, a global penpal app, is something I've been wanting to do for ages: some of the best moments of our trips come from speaking with local people, learning about what's the same or different where they live compared to us, and getting the unexpected stories that you don't know about (for me in this episode, it's about the fame of cats in Reykjavik - there's an intriguing reason!). Since Iceland is one of my all-time favourite places, it seemed a great place to begin! A huge thank you to my three guests Ragnhildur, Alda and Halli for so openly and warmly sharing information about their home country, Iceland.

Links:

Thanks to sponsor, Slowly - download Slowly to start building genuine friendships today -available for free on the App Store and Google Play - https://notaballerina.com/slowly
Ragnhildur Jóhanns, artist -
https://www.instagram.com/ragnhildur_johanns/
Ragnhildur's shop The Heart of Reykjavik -
https://www.hjartareykjavikur.com/ and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theheartofreykjavik/
Alda Sigmundsdóttir - https://aldasigmunds.com/
Alda's books about Iceland - https://amzn.to/4s8cXYC
Alda's new book The Shape of Silence, coming soon
Haraldur (Halli) Thorleifsson - https://www.haraldurthorleifsson.com
Halli's Ramp Up - https://www.rampup.team
Iceland reading list on Amazon https://amzn.to/4dpAyR3
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/388

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NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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387 Ten Years of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 22:01:00 +0000

A decade ago to the day - 25th March 2016 - I launched the first episodes of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast. Somehow, I have just kept interviewing great people about their thoughts on travel, put together episodes almost every week, and magically, I've now been running this podcast for a full ten years!

To celebrate, I've compiled some of my very favourite snippets of stories my guests have told me over the years. I've got the sad stories, the hilarious stories, and the ones that gave me advice I've both ignored and also followed!

A huge thanks to every listener and every guest over this decade - I appreciate you all so much, because without guests and listeners, this would be a very boring podcast indeed. Here's to another decade!

Links:

James Mwenda in Episode 246 - Deep Dive Interview https://notaballerina.com/246
Dean O’Shea in Episode 133 - The Big Trips That Changed Everything https://notaballerina.com/133
Nicci O’Mara in Episode 174 - Life Lessons from Travel https://notaballerina.com/174
Matt Eakin in Episode 78 - Border Crossings https://notaballerina.com/78
Bex Thomas and Angela Correll in Episode 344 - Learning Languages and Making Mistakes https://notaballerina.com/344
Stephen Henson in Episode 1 - Food in a Foreign Language https://notaballerina.com/01
Tim Tricker in Episode 224 - Big Purchases on Your Travels https://notaballerina.com/224
Narelle Wilson in Episode 128 - Travel Planning and Research https://notaballerina.com/128
David Soto Jr in Episode 13 - Slow Travel https://notaballerina.com/13
Heidi Brown in Episode 358 - Solo Travel for Women https://notaballerina.com/358
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/387

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386 It Could’ve Been Much Worse: Surviving Travel Dramas

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:02:59 +0000

Some travellers have a much keener sense of adventure and embracing physical risk on their travels, and others just stumble into a travel drama they didn't anticipate; we have all kinds on this episode about things going wrong!

First up, Tudor Morgan, a veteran of many Antarctic stays and current Antarctic Ambassador for HX Expeditions, calmly explains a near-disaster he experienced some years back when working for British Antarctic Survey.

Patrick Nash then explains a tricky border crossing from the 1980s between then Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), and the Central African Republic. Over the years, I have heard a number of harrowing border crossing tales from my guests and this is up there with the best of them!

Finally, I chat with Shannon O'Brien about an accident she was involved in while travelling in Myanmar. To go with the theme of this episode it could, of course, have been so much worse - though it was already pretty bad, I reckon!

Links:

Tudor Morgan of HX Expeditions - https://www.travelhx.com/en-au/
Patrick Nash - https://www.patricknash.co.uk/
Patrick’s book Shots Across the Water: Tales of a Journey Through Africa - https://amzn.to/4cMl0UQ
Shannon O’Brien - https://www.shannon-obrien.com/
Shannon’s memoir Stray - https://amzn.to/4bQdiKT
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/386

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NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

385 Women in History and Travel - International Women’s Day 2026

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 23:12:21 +0000

It's International Women's Day again and I've got a different focus this year: some of the ways history and travel is not the same for women!

When we travel, especially on our own, we can be confronted with cultural differences and people's opinions in a starker way than others, and I loved hearing more about this from listeners who contributed to a chat on this in the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group.

History is also not the same for women - and women are often omitted from the history we learn about a place when we travel there. I chat with Nikki Padilla Rivera of She Shapes History about how this happens and what this fabulous Australian-born tour company is doing about it.

Links:

2025 International Women’s Day Episode 340 - https://notaballerina.com/340
She Shapes History walking tours and more - https://sheshapeshistory.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/385

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Book Club 24: Always Home, Always Homesick by Hannah Kent

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:14:43 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the live-streamed February 2026 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, chatting with author Hannah Kent about her book "Always Home, Always Homesick" - https://amzn.to/3Kxcb7M

If you'd like to join the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, sign up for our updates at https://thoughtfultravellersbookclub.substack.com/

You can also read more about it at https://notaballerina.com/bookclub, and you can keep up with all the thoughts about our current books in the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook Group at https://facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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384 Travel With All Your Senses

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:17:47 +0000

We often focus on the visual when we travel ... after all, travellers go sightseeing, not "sound-hearing" or "taste-tasting"! But when we look back on our travel memories, it's often a smell, taste, sound or feel that actually has the most long-lasting impact.

In this episode we hear from three travellers about their own experiences with non-visual senses, starting off with travel writer Tom Sykes, who also emphasises why this is important for writer as well. I then chat with Hannah Ballint about some of her fondest travel memories, which often involves sound and smell, across Vietnam, the United States and Australia. Finally, Ethan Kavanagh takes us through some of his highlights of a trip to Ireland with a focus on the feel and taste, too.

Links:

Tom Sykes - https://tomgsykes.co.uk/
Tom’s new book (coming March 2026) - The Years of Travelling Anxiously - https://amzn.to/4cyr2L1
Tom’s book recommendation, Sven Lindqvist’s Exterminate All The Brutes - https://amzn.to/4u1LAlo
Hannah Balint - https://www.hannahbalintcoaching.com
Ethan Kavanagh - The Perth Tourist - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-perth-tourist/id1823861279
Ethan on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/noisepilotau/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/384

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program - NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

383 Small Connections, Big Memories

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:45:33 +0000

One of the most memorable parts of travel is the people that we meet - not just the friends we make or the people we stay with but also the incidental encounters along the way. Speaking with people on our travels is one of the ways we learn the most about the places we're visiting and it's amazing how long these people stay in our minds, even when we don't know their names.

In this episode I share some of my own small but memorable encounters, as well as including stories from four guests. Eryn Gordon starts us off with a tale from Thailand, where the people are stereotypically friendly and she proves it to be true. Amy Willis then shares a place she goes where it's easy to make a connection with the local people wherever you are. Nomad Bianca Rappaport explains how she's managed to both make and maintain connections during her years of housesitting in many places around the world, and finally Heidi Brown highlights one of the big benefits of repeated visits to a beloved place.

Links:

Eryn Gordon’s website Earth to Editorial - https://earthtoeditorial.com/
Eryn's TEDx Talk on “What it means to be a good traveler” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WQYSdm-5ps
Amy Willis from Ker & Downey https://kerdowney.com/
Amy's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amynwillis/
Bianca Rappaport Website: https://wanderwell.club/
Bianca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wanderwellclub -
Heidi Brown - https://www.heidikristinbrown.com/
Heidi’s memoir The Map I Draw: A Memoir of Travel as a Passport to Self - https://amzn.to/44Mky6T
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/383

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program

NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

382 Travel Meet Cutes

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 11:28:43 +0000

We need some light relief in these tricky times and I found these stories just perfect! Finding love while you're travelling sounds like it belongs in a romantic comedy, but even those must be inspired by truth: this episode has stories from three couples who met in far-flung parts of the world, sometimes both far from home. If you think about all the decisions that led them to be in the same place at the same time, you have to really start thinking that fate is a thing!

First up I chat with Edward and Kim, who together tell the story of how they met - and later, how they became a couple and many years later, husband and wife - when Kim decided to head to Tanzania to do some volunteer work before going to graduate school.

Next, Hannah Balint explains how she was about to leave Vietnam after living and teaching there, and just a few weeks before her plane took off, she bumped into a handsome Australian in an unusual place.

Finally, I talk to my friend Shaney Hudson about how she originally met her Dutch husband. This tale also crosses many continents and it's pretty amazing that love always seems to win the day!

Links:

Edward Lyimo and Kim Krowne from Pristine Trails - https://pristinetrails.com/
Hannah Balint - https://www.hannahbalintcoaching.com
And thanks to Shaney Hudson!
Episode 212 - Honeymoons and Weddings - https://notaballerina.com/212
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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/382

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381 Elephants, Tigers and Responsible Animal Tourism

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 11:22:41 +0000

Various statistics suggest that more than half of travellers want to see animals when they travel: that's why we keep returning to the topic of animal tourism and how we can do this in ways that both keep humans interested in caring for animals but without doing too much harm - and while bearing in mind that for many communities, animal tourism can be a significant part of their economy. To sum up: it's tricky!

In this episode I get a bunch of different perspectives. I start with Eryn Gordon, a travel writer who visited Thailand and had her first encounter there with an animal sanctuary that was ethical on paper but made her question this when she was there in person - something that many tourists experience.

Next, I speak with safari guide Suyash Keshari, who has many years of experience working in tourism with tigers in India (and other animals around the world), and discusses the difficult balance of tourist behaviour that does and doesn't impact animals in ways that actually change their lives.

Finally, John Roberts takes us back a couple of decades to describe some of what was happening when the world first started to consider whether it was okay or not to train and tame elephants for tourism purposes, and some of the tricky elements of this in the Thai context in particular.

Links:

Eryn Gordon’s website Earth to Editorial - https://earthtoeditorial.com/
Eryn's TEDx Talk on “What it means to be a good traveler” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WQYSdm-5ps
Suyash Keshari, Ameliya Safaris - https://ameliyasafaris.com/
John Roberts, Group Director of Sustainability and Conservation, Minor Hotels -https://www.minorhotels.com/
Whither Captive Elephants? by Daniel Stiles - https://medium.com/@danielstiles/whither-captive-elephants-f4e70a36aff8

Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin

Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/381

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

380 Pandemic Travel and Big Life Changes

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:46:48 +0000

It's (somehow!) six years ago that we started to learn about this new virus and then find ourselves caught up in a global pandemic. While there were some truly tragic parts to that crisis, it turns out there were also some good results, too. Quite by chance recently, two guests in the space of a couple of days told me stories about huge changes in their lives brought about by their travels around Covid times, and these stories were so interesting I quickly decided to create a whole episode on the topic.

First up, I chat with Shannon O'Brien, an international school teacher who was actually working at a school in Shenzhen, China, at the start of 2020. During a school break for the Chinese New Year, Shannon flew to Sumatra, Indonesia, for a short holiday. Spoiler alert: it became a very long holiday!

I then speak with Eva Westerling, a German doctor who in 2019 had decided that it was time for a big change and was contemplating a permanent shift to Morocco. When the pandemic hit, she and her partner were in the earliest stages of setting up a tourism business in Morocco, and then of course, no tourists came.

My final guest is Eryn Gordon, who was working a corporate job in the United States when the pandemic began, and she soon found herself out of work. Instead of laying low like many of us did during Covid times, Eryn instead decided to get a new qualification and move to the other side of the world, to work in Seoul, South Korea.

Links:

Shannon O’Brien - https://www.shannon-obrien.com/
Shannon’s memoir Stray - https://amzn.to/4bQdiKT
Eva Westerling’s blog Not Scared of the Jet Lag - http://www.notscaredofthejetlag.com
Eva’s tour business in Morocco, Berber Adventure Tours - https://berberadventuretours.com/
Eryn Gordon’s website Earth to Editorial - https://earthtoeditorial.com/
Eryn's TEDx Talk on “What it means to be a good traveler” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WQYSdm-5ps
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/380

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program

NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

379 Overtourism and What We Can Do About It

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 05:11:16 +0000

Can you imagine that we didn't used to talk about overtourism? It's really only a decade since this word entered common usage but it seems we hear about it constantly now. In this episode I chat with two guests who have great perspectives to add on this issue, and I also share some tips on how we can deal with overtourism as travellers.

First up, I chat with Christine Newell, who spent a year living in Seoul, South Korea, before it became a big deal on the international tourist radar. She talks about how it has changed over the past two decades and gives examples of mitigation efforts like curfews keeping tourists out of particularly affected areas.

I then speak with Bex Thomas, who started giving serious thought to issues like overtourism and economic leakage in tourism some years back when she and her friend made an effort to book locally to climb Mt Kilimanjaro. She highlights how being more mindful about our tourist time and dollars can also lead to a better travelling experience - win-win!

Finally, some tips on how we can deal with overtourism to both make our own trips better and impact the places we visit positively instead of negatively - drawing on my own experiences and a great blog post from Erin Hynes.

Links:

Christine Newell - https://www.christinenewell.com/
Christine’s book Five Seasons in Seoul - https://amzn.to/4hHQmhb
Bex Thomas - Sabbatical Stories Podcast - https://bexthomas.com/podcast/
Community Back Pocket - https://communitybackpocket.com/
Erin’s post on overtourism - https://pinatravels.org/avoid-contributing-to-overtourism/
Erin’s post on economic leakage - https://pinatravels.org/what-is-economic-leakage-in-tourism/
Episode 378 Seoul Trip Report - https://notaballerina.com/378
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/379

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program

NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

378 Seoul Trip Report: Spontaneous Budget Travel to South Korea

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 23:16:21 +0000

I last saw South Korea's fabulous capital Seoul way back in 2002, so when my 15-year-old son spotted a great flight price in November I was very keen to take him there! This podcast episode reports back on our week in Seoul, and I even persuaded my son to come on and chat about our trip, too.

I'm a big believer in being a thoughtful traveller in all phases of a trip, so in this episode I start off explaining the three things I did to prepare for our trip (at short notice - we booked a fortnight before we left) - and they do not involve planning a day-by-day itinerary. My son Ruben and I then chat about some of our favourite parts of the trip, including the best day out, most delicious meal and our most fun shopping experiences. I give us a rating on the thoughtful travel scorecard and then finish up by explaining our budget - for once I had all the figures to hand and several people had asked me. Listen and tell me if you think our budget was appropriate or not!

Links:

Korea travel reading list - https://amzn.to/45Oxn0l
Ruben’s YouTube channel of Pro Clubs (FIFA) gaming, Reginald Ramen - https://www.youtube.com/@ReginaldRamen
The best moments of my trip to South Korea were not on my itinerary - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/p/the-best-moments-of-my-trip-to-south
PLK Travel for DMZ Tour - https://www.plktravel.com
My Seoul Map - https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1s8N441QUJAOnjRQUMH0X9D6H6unt6cU&usp=sharing
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/378

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

377 Overlooked Perspectives on Travel

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 22:05:00 +0000

How often do we go somewhere with a preconceived idea and find it hard to really see other perspectives ... well, speaking for myself, pretty often! In this episode I share three stories which highlight ways to learn about and understand different perspectives - but are also just great stories on their own.

First up, Kiliii Yuyan tells me about his experiences in Palau, and shares a fascinating story from Palauan culture which is vital to helping their coral reefs recover from algal blooms in a way I wish other reefs could. Next, Jamie Burr explains some of the results of his research into Chinese attitudes to carbon offsets - quite honestly, a perspective I'd never considered, and an interesting one indeed! Finally, Monisha Rajesh shares two examples of overlooked, alternative perspectives, one from her travels in Tibet, and another from a fellow tourist in North Korea.

Links:

Killii Yuyan’s website - https://kiliii.com/
Kiliii’s new book - Guardians of Life: Indigenous Knowledge, Indigenous Science, and Restoring the Planet - https://amzn.to/3YcpYUx
Jamie Burr - https://jamieburr.com/
Monisha’s website https://monisharajesh.com/
Moonlight Express: Around the World by Night Train - https://amzn.to/4mm4UEN
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/377

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 23: The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 11:57:06 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the December 2025 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, chatting about book "The Geography of Bliss" by Eric Weiner - https://amzn.to/47KtLea

If you'd like to join the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, sign up for our updates at https://thoughtfultravellersbookclub.substack.com/

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

376 All Aboard for 2026 Travels!

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 04:24:51 +0000

The end of 2025 is imminent and it's time to look back on our discussions and travels and then get ready for a thoughtful and fun 2026! In this episode I'll tell you which episodes were the most downloaded during 2025 and share some other podcast highlights.

And then it'll be crystal ball time: what will 2026 bring us? Listeners have weighed in with some of their concrete travel plans as well as some ideas that they're not quite sure about yet; and because 2026 will be the 10th anniversary of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I'll let you know about some exciting plans I have for celebrating this milestone.

Thanks to all my wonderful listeners and community members of thoughtful travellers - both for listening to episodes every week and for all your discussions and feedback. I'm so lucky to have you all! Happy New Year and wishing you all safe and thoughtful travels in 2026.

Links:

Get podcast merch - https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-thoughtful-travel-podcast
Substack subscription - listener and community special of 50% off Substack https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=00e800ba or https://www.notaballerina.com/half
Hannah Kent's book Always Home, Always Homesick - https://amzn.to/49xigL6
Event link for our February 2026 book club with Hannah Kent - https://www.facebook.com/events/884742791192736
Book Club info also available at https://thoughtfultravellersbookclub.substack.com/
RISE Travel Institute's Experiential Journey https://www.risetravelinstitute.org/rise-experiential-journey
Tracy Collins - UK Travel Planning Podcast - https://uktravelplanning.com/
Barefoot Backpacker - Travel Tales from Beyond the Brochure - https://barefoot-backpacker.com/category/podcast/
Michael Jensen - Brent and Michael are Going Places -https://www.brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/376

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

375 Chris Christensen: Deep Dive into Travel Podcasting

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 04:47:09 +0000

Chris Christensen had the foresight to start a travel podcast before almost anyone had even heard of podcasts - way back in 2005. The Amateur Traveler podcast is still going strong - and is approaching its one thousandth episode.

Chris and I chatted about the evolution of podcasting in general and the Amateur Traveler specifically, his approach to life now that he has retired from his 'day job' to the podcast, and what he thinks it means to be a thoughtful traveller.

Links:

Amateur Traveler - https://amateurtraveler.com/
Chris's previous appearances back in Episode 40 - https://notaballerina.com/40 and Episode 32 - https://notaballerina.com/32
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/375

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

374 Cultural Intelligence for Travellers

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 01:56:21 +0000

When I learnt that past guest Renae Ninneman runs a business providing cultural intelligence assessments and intercultural training I was immediately fascinated. And when Renae offered to guide me through a CQ - cultural intelligence - assessment complete with a debrief, and was happy to record it so I could share some on the podcast, I was thrilled!

Cultural differences have captivated me particularly strongly since I began teaching in Japan in 2001, when I had a perfect opportunity to learn many of the nuances of cultural differences in my conversational lessons with students.

In this episode, Renae discusses the results of my CQ assessment and we also talk about what to do with this knowledge - taking it beyond just a point of interest to help with communication in all kinds of situations, including when meeting people of different cultures on your travels.

Links:

Renae Ninneman - Beyond Tourism: Cultural Travel and Training - https://www.goingbeyondtourism.com/
Renae on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/goingbeyondtourism
Renae on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@beyond_tourism
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/374

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

373 Dangerous Animals on our Travels

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:49:26 +0000

Travelling to observe animals in the wild is a huge reason that we move around the world. The best case scenario is that we can see them without disturbing their environments or habits, perhaps take some photos, and head home. The worst case scenario is that something goes wrong and these animals become dangerous to humans! In this episode - spoiler alert, everyone survives, animals included! - we have some great stories of animal encounters in the wild.

We start with Satyajit Das, author of "Wild Quests" about his experiences with ecotourism and animal encounters, and he takes us back a couple of decades to a visit to Venezuela looking for green anacondas.

Next up, Ameliya Safaris owner Suyash Keshari tells us his signature "campfire story", the one he scares his safari guests with frequently - and it's about a particularly close tiger encounter in India that you wouldn't want to relive!

Finally, Neil Laird, author and documentary producer, has a story to tell about a time when filming a TV series in the United States, when a non-nature-loving family had a close encounter with a bear.

Links:

Satyajit Das - author of Wild Quests - Journeys into Ecotourism and the Future for Animals - https://amzn.to/4eMWpP9
Suyash Keshari, Ameliya Safaris - https://ameliyasafaris.com/
Neil Laird - https://neillaird.com
Neil’s Prime Time Travelers novels - https://amzn.to/48jqoNB
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/373

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

372 Ayutthaya, Thailand: Visiting Thoughtfully

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 22:01:00 +0000

One of my favourite outings in Bangkok last month was heading north to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic city of Ayutthaya for a day, together with my friend Vincie. Since we are both deeply into contemplating thoughtful travel - Vincie is the founder of RISE Travel Institute - we decided to record a chat about our experiences in Ayutthaya through a "thoughtful travel lens". We report the good and the bad and our conversation ranges from sustainabilty practices through tourist education and on to wildlife protection as well, and we also have a lot of fun reminiscing - so hope you enjoy this conversation too.

Links:

Ep 368 Bangkok Trip Diary and Thoughtful Travel Scorecard - notaballerina.com/368
RISE Travel Institute - risetravelinstitute.org
Retouch Ayutthaya app - https://www.retouchayutthaya.com/
Ep 252 RISE Capstone project: Elephants Are Many Shades of Grey - notaballerina.com/252
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/372

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

371 Travel Trends for 2026

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 04:35:14 +0000

The new year is coming at us fast: 2026, here we come! At this time of year the reports and articles about travel trends are rife, and I like to look through them all and see what might be happening in tourism and whether or not I like it (by which I mean, of course, does it fit with a thoughtful travel ethos?).

In this episode, I take you through some of the key trends identified by numerous players in the travel industry and also figure out which destinations are being predicted most often as being 2026 hotspots. I also chat with some experts, starting with Brett Mitchell, Managing Director of Intrepid Travel for Australia and New Zealand, who describes key trends Intrepid has identified and discusses their annual "Not Hot" list. I then chat with Melanie Fish, Vice President of Global PR for the Expedia Group, who explains how their "Unpack 26" study has included a new feature this year which I particularly like.

Links:

Intrepid Travel's Not Hot List 2026 - https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/newsroom/releases/2026-not-hot-list
Unpack 26 from Expedia - https://www.expedia.co.uk/unpack26/
Hilton 2026 trends report - https://stories.hilton.com/2026-trends
Booking.com 2026 trends report https://news.booking.com/the-era-of-you-bookingcom-predicts-the-top-trends-defining-travel-in-2026-with-individuality-taking-center-stage/
Skyscanner 2026 travel trends - https://www.skyscanner.com.au/travel-trends
Priceline 2026 travel trends - https://www.priceline.com/partner/pcln-promotions-2026-travel-trends-report-pr
Explore Worldwide 2026 travel trends - https://www.exploreworldwide.com.au/travel-trends-2026
Trafalgar 2026 travel trends - https://www.trafalgar.com/real-word/2026-travel-trends/
Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2026 - https://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel
Contiki top 2026 travel destinations - https://www.contiki.com/six-two/article/top-travel-destinations-in-2026/
Virtuoso best destinations 2026 - https://www.virtuoso.com/travel/articles/the-best-travel-destinations-2026
Forbes 26 best trips for 2026 - https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2025/08/21/the-26-best-trips-for-2026-according-to-travel-experts/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/371

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

370 Van Life Diaries: Europe 1985: UK, Ireland and Singapore

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 07:16:06 +0000

In this final episode of the Van Life Diaries: Europe 1985, we return to England, drive through Scotland and Wales, and catch a ferry to Ireland. Then it's back to London, a farewell to our beloved campervan, on to Singapore for a few days and finally we end up back home in Perth, Australia, after six months away. What a strange feeling!

This is the sixth part of a monthly, six-episode series celebrating the fact that exactly 40 years ago this year, my family and I spent six months in a striped motorhome travelling around Europe. I was nine years old and yes, this trip had an enormous impact on my life - I'm sure you wouldn't be listening to this podcast today if Van Life 1985 hadn't taken place! Throughout the series, I'll include chats recorded with my Dad this year, extracts from my late Mum's travel diary from 1985, and of course my own memories and thoughts.

A big thanks to Context Travel for sponsoring this series, and an even bigger thanks to my Dad for agreeing to be part of it.

Links:

Context Travel - https://bit.ly/contexttravel - use the code THOUGHTFULTRAVEL to get 15% off any online booking. Context Travel operate walking tours in cities around the world, and have interesting and qualified subject-matter experts leading your walk
Listen to Part 1 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 348 - https://notaballerina.com/348
Listen to Part 2 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 351 - https://notaballerina.com/351
Listen to Part 3 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 355 - https://notaballerina.com/355
Listen to Part 4 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 359 - https://notaballerina.com/359
Listen to Part 5 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 364 - https://notaballerina.com/364
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/370

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

369 Travel and Language Learning

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 09:58:01 +0000

Travel and learning other languages often go hand in hand, whether we're cramming in a few words before we visit somewhere for the first time or we are intentionally travelling to practice a language, perhaps even heading to a language school for full immersion.

This episode covers all manner of language experiences, starting with Chris Magnuson who was a brave and confident teenager, boldly striking out on French streets with the goal of just talking French with as many people as possible. Spiri Tsintziras then chats with me about her relationship with Greek - the language spoken in her childhood home in Australia, and a language she wanted to pass on to her children. Next, Ros Belford describes her initial learning of Italian and some tips for new learners of any language, involving focusing on a passion. Finally, Megan Frye talks about choosing a language school when you are specifically taking a trip to practice another language.

Links:

Preply to find language tutors - https://notaballerina.com/preply
Chris’s website - https://www.streetviewvagabond.com/
Streetview Vagabond on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/streetviewvagabond/
Spiri Tsintziras - https://www.writingspirit.com.au/
Spiri’s new book Twelve Golden Gifts - https://amzn.to/4mWCqCa
Ros Belford - https://rosbelford.com
Ros’s book Children of the Volcano - https://amzn.to/4dq2vpz
Megan Frye - https://www.meganfrye.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/369

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 22: Moonlight Express by Monisha Rajesh

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 22:05:00 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the October 2025 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, speaking with author Monisha Rajesh about her book "Moonlight Express: Around the World by Night Train" - https://amzn.to/4nAkyNx

If you'd like to join the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, sign up for our updates at https://thoughtfultravellersbookclub.substack.com/

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

368 Bangkok Trip Diary and Thoughtful Travel Scorecard

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 10:07:32 +0000

Bangkok called my name again in September, and this episode recaps my experiences spending five days in the Thai capital, for a mix of work and fun purposes (of course, even the work parts were fun!).

Along with explaining what activities I got up to in Bangkok, I decided to rate each day in terms of how much of a "thoughtful traveller" I was, so listen in to see my daily score out of ten, and my final result.

My trip included some networking and education with Tourism Cares, many wonderful Thai meals, great chats with friends, a sightseeing outing to Ayutthaya, and best of all, I finally had the chance to spend time in person with my dear friend Vincie Ho, founder of RISE Travel Institute. We've worked together online for years but never before seen each other in real life!

Links:

Google Map of places I mention https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1B6yO5RH-U8jG3Rv16gE1A6yhoVAOp1c&usp=sharing
Rise Travel Institute - https://www.risetravelinstitute.org
Tourism Cares - https://www.tourismcares.org/
Curious Tourism - White Lotus recaps - https://voyascape.com/curious-tourism/the-white-lotus-recap-s3e1-same-spirits-new-forms/
304 Bangkok Travels with Friends - notaballerina.com/304
302 Chiang Rai - Thailand’s Far North - notaballerina.com/302
111 Secret Thailand: Phrae and Nan - notaballerina.com/111
My Substack post on visiting Thailand many times - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/p/do-you-travel-to-the-same-place-over
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/368

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

367 Visiting Lesser-Known Places

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 02:36:17 +0000

Now that we're worried about crowds and overtourism, the idea of visiting lesser-known places is a real winner. I've always loved to go to the places that aren't listed frequently on travellers' itineraries and maintain that many of the best experiences happen there - and the stories from the three guests in this episode seem to confirm that.

First up, I chat with Jonny Wright about his love of going to places nobody knows about. He explains an experience in eastern Türkiye, and the circuitous route he took to end up on a little-known island off the coast of Hiroshima, Japan.

Pam Petro is obsessed with Wales - itself not an entirely lesser-known place, though how she ended up there is not a usual way - but it led to an especially intriguing trip around the world visiting all the places where Welsh is spoken, including an unsuspecting part of South America.

Finally, Barefoot Backpacker has returned to tell me their tales of visiting Paraguay. I think they are the only person I know to have stories about travelling to Paraguay, and I was thus very intrigued to hear them!

Links:

Jonny Wright on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/goandfindoutpod/
Jonny's podcast Go And Find Out - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/go-and-find-out/id1807777446
Pam Petro - https://www.pamelapetro.com/
Pam’s book Travels in an Old Tongue - Touring the World Speaking Welsh https://amzn.to/3VMIVvZ
Ep 323 Language Learning Through Travel and Immersion - https://notaballerina.com/323
Simon Wilson’s visit to Welsh Patagonia - https://youtu.be/H9Z-m763gWc?si=gntUzp8jd9Gscukz
The Barefoot Backpacker blog - https://barefoot-backpacker.com/
Travel Tales from Beyond the Brochure - Episode 99 about Paraguay - https://barefoot-backpacker.com/category/podcast/
https://barefoot-backpacker.com/podcast-099-paraguay-iguazu/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/367

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

366 Travel and Mental Health

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 11:25:40 +0000

Is travel good for your mental health? If you believe my guests in this episode (and me), then it's a resounding yes. I chat first with Kaila Yu who explains some of what she thinks helps your mental health when travelling, including some chat about the miraculous quiet of being under the sea when scuba diving. Next, Heidi Brown describes her mental journey before, during and after a trip, identifying some of the precise reasons that she believes her travels have improved her mental health. Finally, Diane Hartmann describes some of what happened to her on her first trips abroad - all solo - and how these challenges contributed positively to her mental health. A content warning: some of our conversations include references to depression and in the final part of the podcast, suicide, so skip this one if you'd rather not hear these discussions.

Links:

How travel makes me feel more like myself - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/p/how-travel-makes-me-feel-more-like
Kaila Yu - https://kailayu.com/
Kaila’s memoir Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Beauty, and Feminism - https://amzn.to/40EL7ID
Heidi Brown - https://www.heidikristinbrown.com/
Heidi’s memoir The Map I Draw: A Memoir of Travel as a Passport to Self - https://amzn.to/44Mky6T
Diane Hartman https://dianehartmanauthor.com/
Diane’s new book Getting Lost On My Way: Self Discovery on Ireland’s Backroads - https://amzn.to/45Q9Awp
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/366

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

365 Monisha Rajesh: Deep Dive into a Love of Train Travel

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 23:44:33 +0000

Chatting with author and journalist Monisha Rajesh was just as delightful as I expected (and I had high expectations!). Long-distance train travel is basically synonymous with being a thoughtful traveller, and our chat ranged from a favourite train (you are allowed to have favourites!) through some of the most interesting passengers she's met and a little taster about the thrills of sleeper train travel, which she delves into more in her new book Moonlight Express.

If you're listening to this shortly after publication, don't forget you can join us live to chat with Monisha on 10th October for our Thoughtful Travellers Book Club - Moonlight Express edition.

Links:

Monisha’s website https://monisharajesh.com/
“Moonlight Express” book club with Monisha - https://www.facebook.com/events/730399343332753
Moonlight Express: Around the World by Night Train - https://amzn.to/4mm4UEN
Our previous book club chat on Around the World in 80 Trains - https://youtu.be/9WsdgaAUaGs?si=F7k3iR8K6-__SjON
Episode 313 - Train Travel in Australia - https://notaballerina.com/313
Monisha’s Around India in 80 Trains - https://amzn.to/469DcGA
Around the World in 80 Trains - https://amzn.to/4gqtGSA
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Thoughtful Travellers Book Club mailing list - https://thoughtfultravellersbookclub.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/365

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

364 Van Life Diaries: Europe 1985: Denmark, Sweden and Norway

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 22:01:00 +0000

In this episode of the Van Life Diaries: Europe 1985, we move on to Scandinavia. Starting off in Denmark, we looked for Lego, noticed the size of the Little Mermaid, and enjoyed spending time in Copenhagen. From Denmark it was a short ferry ride to Sweden, and while my Dad and I muse that we don't have many strong memories from our time there, my Mum's diary does the heavy lifting contributing details about our time in some seaside islands, followed by Stockholm, and an intriguing visit to a timber mill area. Finally, we chat about how much we loved Norway, including time in Oslo, the fjords and playing badminton in Bergen.

This is the fifth part of a monthly, six-episode series celebrating the fact that exactly 40 years ago this year, my family and I spent six months in a striped motorhome travelling around Europe. I was nine years old and yes, this trip had an enormous impact on my life - I'm sure you wouldn't be listening to this podcast today if Van Life 1985 hadn't taken place! Throughout the series, I'll include chats recorded with my Dad this year, extracts from my late Mum's travel diary from 1985, and of course my own memories and thoughts.

A big thanks to Context Travel for sponsoring this series, and an even bigger thanks to my Dad for agreeing to be part of it.

Links:

Context Travel - https://bit.ly/contexttravel - use the code THOUGHTFULTRAVEL to get 15% off any online booking. Context Travel operate walking tours in cities around the world, and have interesting and qualified subject-matter experts leading your walk
Listen to Part 1 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 348 - https://notaballerina.com/348
Listen to Part 2 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 351 - https://notaballerina.com/351
Listen to Part 3 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 355 - https://notaballerina.com/355
Listen to Part 4 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 359 - https://notaballerina.com/359
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/364

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

363 Di Westaway, Coastrek Founder: Deep Dive into Going Beyond Your Comfort Zone

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 07:15:54 +0000

Di Westaway is the founder of Coastrek and Wild Women on Top, and she has had the most fabulous career building up these businesses - topped off with many well-deserved accolades like an Order of Australia medal for services to women's health, fitness and charity services. It was so much fun to chat with Di about how her impulsive decision to attempt to climb South America's highest peak, Mount Aconcagua, even when she'd never done anything remotely like it before, set off a chain reaction leading to decades of fascinating travels and influencing and inspiring countless people to look after themselves more and take on new challenges.

During our chat we move from the "big fail" of Mount Aconcagua through some other favourite hiking trips around the world, Di's world record for the highest handstand, a scary night on Mount Rinjani in Indonesia (and a story she said she's never told anyone publicly!!!), and through to the success of Coastrek today in getting thousands of people out there hiking the most beautiful parts of Australia and raising millions of dollars for worthwhile charities like Beyond Blue and the Fred Hollows Foundation.

Links:

Coastrek - https://www.coastrek.com.au/
Wild Women on Top - https://www.wildwomenontop.com/
My blog post including the microlight flight - https://www.notaballerina.com/2016/10/australias-coral-coast-stretched-comfort-zone.html
Di Westaway on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/diwestaway/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/363

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362 Travel and Creativity

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 01:06:19 +0000

Creativity is an important part of my life, and I have so often observed that when I'm travelling, and also on my return, my creative thinking gets a huge boost. In this episode I chat with other travellers who feel the same.

First up, I talk to author Spiri Tsintziras. Spiri has written several memoirs related to her experiences and travels in Greece, and explains beautifully how being away from home impacts her creativity so positively.

Next, artist Carol McQuaid describes how travelling not only allows her creativity to flourish, but also talks about how travellers who take her visual art workshops while they are travelling have the same experience.

Finally, author Diane Hartman tells me about her experiences in Ireland and in particular, about a writing retreat in a beautiful part of County Cork which included all the required ingredients for maximum creativity.

I also chatted with friends and colleagues from the Creative Schools program, Claire Davenhall and Joanne Marriott, about how they feel travel and creativity come together, and I've included some of their thoughts.

Links:

Episode 207 Writing Retreats Around the World - https://notaballerina.com/207
Episode 52 How Travel Sparks Creativity - https://notaballerina.com/52
Spiri Tsintziras - https://www.writingspirit.com.au/
Spiri’s new book Twelve Golden Gifts - https://amzn.to/4mWCqCa
Carol McQuaid - The Illustrated Vagabond - https://www.theillustratedvagabond.com
Diane Hartman https://dianehartmanauthor.com/
Diane’s new book Getting Lost On My Way: Self Discovery on Ireland’s Backroads - https://amzn.to/45Q9Awp
Claire Davenhall, visual artist - https://www.instagram.com/clairedavenhall
Joanne Marriott - MOJO Creative Leadership + Culture - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannemarriott/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/362

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 21: Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 22:01:00 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the livestream of the August 2025 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, speaking about Chris Broad's book "Abroad in Japan" - https://amzn.to/4pVg7yj

If you'd like to join the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, all the info is at https://thoughtfultravellersbookclub.substack.com and you can keep up with all the thoughts about our current books in the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook Group at https://facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

361 Making New Friends On Your Travels

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 22:01:00 +0000

Getting to know new people is one of the fun parts of travelling, and sometimes these encounters turn into long-term and even lifelong friendships. In this episode, my guests have wonderful stories to tell about the friends they have made on a trip - I found it very uplifting!

First up, Heidi Brown describes how taking solo trips to indulge her love of U2 has led to a delightful network of similarly U2-obsessed friends, who continue to meet up around the world. I then chat with Shari Leid, who carried out a fantastic project having a meal with a stranger or near stranger in all fifty US states, making some good friends along the way. Finally, Steve Hoffman ponders the difficulties inherent in making lasting friendships when we travel and gives a great example of a friend he made while spending an extended period in rural France.

Links:

Substack post I mentioned: Conversations that changed my perspective on life - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/p/conversations-that-changed-my-perspective
Heidi Brown - https://www.heidikristinbrown.com/
Heidi’s memoir The Map I Draw: A Memoir of Travel as a Passport to Self - https://amzn.to/44Mky6T
Sharri Leid - An Imperfectly Perfect Life - https://animperfectlyperfectlife.com/
Shari’s book Table for 51: Lessons Learned from Sharing Meals across America - https://amzn.to/4ls5WOQ
Steve Hoffman - https://www.sjrhoffman.com/
Steve’s book, A Season for That: Lost and Found in the Other Southern France - https://amzn.to/3DSqosP
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/361

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

360 Amanda’s Interview on the Global Travel Planning Podcast

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:41:31 +0000

When my friend Tracy Collins messaged me to say hey, I'm doing a new series on the Global Travel Planning Podcast and I want to interview you first - I said yes as fast as I could. Tracy had an idea to guide me through a chat about a number of my very most special travel experiences and I knew it would be fun.

In fact, I think it turned out to be such a great chat that I asked Tracy if I could share it here with all my audience too. We cover so many topics: who inspired me to travel in the first place, some of my favourite trips (taking the Trans-Siberian across Russia and my road trip in Iceland both got airtime here), why I love and keep returning to Japan, how speaking a language can help you connect more deeply with a place and where I'd really like to return to soon. And more! Hope you enjoy listening just a fraction as much as I enjoyed being interviewed - thanks Tracy!

Links:

Global Travel Planning - https://globaltravelplanning.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/360

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

359 Van Life Diaries: Europe 1985: Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 06:27:45 +0000

This is the fourth part of a monthly, six-episode series celebrating the fact that exactly 40 years ago this year, my family and I spent six months in a striped motorhome travelling around Europe. I was nine years old and yes, this trip had an enormous impact on my life - I'm sure you wouldn't be listening to this podcast today if Van Life 1985 hadn't taken place! Throughout the series, I'll include chats recorded with my Dad this year, extracts from my late Mum's travel diary from 1985, and of course my own memories and thoughts.

In this episode, we move on to spend time in Germany, a country that would become very important in my future life. We bypassed Munich, visited the Black Forest, Baden Baden and Heidelberg, and spent time staying with friends near Frankfurt, where my sister and I especially enjoyed the flying fox play equipment in a local path. Belgium featured very briefly in our trip and we then carried on to the Netherlands, enjoying a cheese market in Alkmaar and a canal cruise in Amsterdam.

A big thanks to Context Travel for sponsoring this series, and an even bigger thanks to my Dad for agreeing to be part of it.

Links:

Context Travel - https://bit.ly/contexttravel - use the code THOUGHTFULTRAVEL to get 15% off any online booking. Context Travel operate walking tours in cities around the world, and have interesting and qualified subject-matter experts leading your walk
Listen to Part 1 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 348 - https://notaballerina.com/348
Listen to Part 2 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 351 - https://notaballerina.com/351
Listen to Part 3 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 355 - https://notaballerina.com/355
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/359

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

358 Solo Travel for Women

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 22:01:00 +0000

Solo travel might seem daunting, but as you'll hear from my guests today, the benefits can be amazing. While this episode features women who travel alone, the advantages they talk about are definitely relevant to anyone.

First up, Heidi Brown shares her love of solo travel and explains that she's developed a unique strategy for finding great restaurants when she's travelling alone - it's surprisingly effective and has something to do with design choices.

Next, Kaila Yu travels solo frequently for work and has discovered a clever way to avoid unwanted attention as a solo female traveller. She also talks about the freedom of not having to compromise when you're on your own.

Renae Ninneman then tells us about her spontaneous encounter with a fellow traveller at a music festival in South Korea - one of those benefits of travelling alone when you can be completely flexible.

Finally, Chelsea Gruber shares her approach to staying safe while solo travelling, including some practical preparation tips and a system involving her mother back home.

Links:

Heidi Brown - https://www.heidikristinbrown.com/
Heidi’s memoir The Map I Draw: A Memoir of Travel as a Passport to Self - https://amzn.to/44Mky6T
Kaila Yu - https://kailayu.com/
Kaila’s memoir Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Beauty, and Feminism - https://amzn.to/40EL7ID
Renae Ninneman - Beyond Tourism Cultural Travel and Training - https://www.goingbeyondtourism.com/ cultural training and cultural competence business
Chelsea Gruber - https://www.chelseasolotravels.com/
Chelsea's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chelseasolotravels/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/358

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

357 Jobs in Tourism

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 01:47:11 +0000

Did you know that one in ten jobs worldwide is in the tourism industry? I think we're all sometimes guilty of merrily going on our travels without giving much thought to the people behind the scenes that make this possible. In this episode I chat with three people in very different careers in the travel area and hear some of the behind-the-scenes of what makes tourism tick.

First up, Suyash Keshari, founder of Ameliya Safaris, gives us the rundown of a typical day in the life of a safari guide. It's interesting to hear the ups and the downs of what sounds like a dream job.

Next, I speak with John Roberts, who's the Group Director of Sustainability and Conservation in the Minor Hotels group. He tells me about some of the challenges and goals of implementing sustainability actions and policies across a hundreds of hotels in different parts of the world.

Finally, Jamie Burr describes how he entered the tourism industry and explains his previous and current roles in marketing. His thoughts on how travel businesses can promote themselves through telling stories rather than posting trip deals are especially interesting.

Links:

Suyash Keshari, Ameliya Safaris - https://ameliyasafaris.com/
John Roberts, Group Director of Sustainability and Conservation, Minor Hotels -https://www.minorhotels.com/
Jamie Burr - https://jamieburr.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/357

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

356 Connecting Novels and Travel

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 11:46:18 +0000

Two of my favourite things in life are reading novels and travelling, so it's about time they appeared in a podcast episode together - especially since so many other people love this combination of joys, too!

Starting with a bunch of wonderful "novel on a trip" experiences from listeners, I next hear from Carol McQuaid about the long list of novels she created to read on a round-the-world trip, along with continued reasons to read novels related to her travels.

Next, Louis Hall has a fabulous argument for why reading fiction might even be more relevant to your travels than the typical non-fiction travel narratives we often read when preparing for a trip.

And finally, Jonny Wright joins me with some deep thinking on the impact of reading during our travels, both for the books we read and the places we read them in.

Links:

Festival of Fiction in Perth - https://festivaloffiction.com.au/
Carol Mc Quaid - The Illustrated Vagabond - Carol’s pre-trip reading list - https://www.theillustratedvagabond.com/blog/reading-list-jkbjz
Carol's South American Sketchbook - https://www.theillustratedvagabond.com/shop/p/southamericansketchbook
Louis Hall - https://www.louisdhall.com/
Louis’ book In Green: Two Horses, Two Strangers, a Journey to the End of the Land - https://amzn.to/3FP0J52
Jonny Wright on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/goandfindoutpod/
Jonny's podcast Go And Find Out - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/go-and-find-out/id1807777446
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/356

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

355 Van Life Diaries: Europe 1985: Switzerland and Austria

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 02:50:11 +0000

This is the third part of a monthly, six-episode series celebrating the fact that exactly 40 years ago this year, my family and I spent six months in a striped motorhome travelling around Europe. I was nine years old and yes, this trip had an enormous impact on my life - I'm sure you wouldn't be listening to this podcast today if Van Life 1985 hadn't taken place! Throughout the series, I'll include chats recorded with my Dad this year, extracts from my late Mum's travel diary from 1985, and of course my own memories and thoughts.

In this episode, we move on from Italy to Switzerland, where much of our fun involves mountain and snow. Growing up in Western Australia, none of us had any experience with snow, and we were all thrilled to play in the summer snow we found in alpine Switzerland. You need to listen to find out what we wore during these snowy adventures! We then spent time in Austria, and thanks to my Mum's diary we know we had some good times there too - curiously, neither my Dad nor I remember it well. Travel memories are strange!

A big thanks to Context Travel for sponsoring this series, and an even bigger thanks to my Dad for agreeing to be part of it.

Links:

Context Travel - https://bit.ly/contexttravel - use the code THOUGHTFULTRAVEL to get 15% off any online booking. Context Travel operate walking tours in cities around the world, and have interesting and qualified subject-matter experts leading your walk
Listen to Part 1 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 348 - https://notaballerina.com/348
Listen to Part 2 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 351 - https://notaballerina.com/351
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/355

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

354 Saying Yes

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 14:59:36 +0000

When you're given an intriguing invitation or an interesting opportunity on your travels, do you say yes?

I try to whenever possible, and that's led to some very memorable experiences - and the same is true of the three guests in this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast.

First up, Carl Klein explains what happened when he was invited to tag along with a family he'd got to know in northern Colombia, as part of a very important day.

I then chat with Tracy Collins about her brave "yes" moment, which led to a lifetime of fun and friendship.

Finally, Chiara Barbera explains that although her cousin tried to put her off agreeing to a particular offer in Italy, saying "yes" led to quite the epiphany and a major passion and goal in life.

Links:

Carl Klein - Lost Canyon Imports - https://www.lostcanyonimports.com/
Tracy Collins - UK Travel Planning https://uktravelplanning.com and Global Travel Planning at https://globaltravelplanning.com
Chiara’s Assaggio platform - https://experience-assaggio.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/354

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

353 Public Transport

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 10:28:18 +0000

Whether it's a bus, train or subway, using any kind of public transport or transit system when you're travelling can be very eye-opening (and a lot of fun!). In my opinion it's a much better way to get to know a place you're visiting, and of course it's also usually the most budget-friendly way of getting around, another bonus.

In this episode you'll hear from four guests who have stories to share about their use of public transport across the world. Ros Belford has some lovely stories about bus drivers in Italy; Martha Waslen talks about the famous subway of New York and the nearly equally well-known trains of Tokyo; Scott Antcliffe compares his experience of public transport in the UK with recent travels in Singapore and Berlin; and Megan Frye gives a good explanation of some of the reasons why public transport helps you get to know a city, and even a country.

Links:

Ros Belford - https://rosbelford.com
Ros’s book Children of the Volcano - https://amzn.to/4dq2vpz
Martha’s DayAway platform - https://mydayaway.com
Scott Antcliffe’s website - https://www.scottantcliffephoto.co.uk/
Scott’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/scottantcliffephoto/
Megan Frye - https://www.meganfrye.com/
BlaBlaCar - https://www.blablacar.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/353

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 20: Why We Travel by Ash Bhardwaj

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 06:32:46 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the June 2025 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, speaking with author Ash Bhardwaj about his book "Why We Travel" - https://amzn.to/3EvnwSW

If you'd like to join the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, all the info is at https://notaballerina.com/bookclub, and you can keep up with all the thoughts about our current books in the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook Group at https://facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

352 Mindful Travel

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 10:22:48 +0000

There's no single definition of mindful travel, but in this episode we talk about various ideas: from travel where we intentionally take time to practice mindfulness like on a yoga or meditation retreat, through the kinds of trips where we are really paying attention to what's happening around us, and even some specific ways we could travel that encourage mindfulness.

First up, I chat with frequent solo traveller Chelsea Gruber, who has had numerous trips where she specifically aims to be mindful, such as yoga retreats. I then speak with Christine Newell about some experiences she's had about really being present on travels, with a great example from some time she spent in Japan. Finally, Louis Hall describes how he discovered that travelling with a horse forces mindfulness in a very positive way, something that he's found quite life-changing.

Links:

Chelsea Gruber - https://www.chelseasolotravels.com/
Chelsea's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chelseasolotravels/
Christine Newell - https://www.christinenewell.com/
Christine’s book Five Seasons in Seoul - https://amzn.to/4hHQmhb
Louis Hall - https://www.louisdhall.com/
Louis’ book In Green: Two Horses, Two Strangers, a Journey to the End of the Land - https://amzn.to/3FP0J52
Louis’ charity The Big Hoof - https://www.thebighoof.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/352

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program

NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

351 Van Life Diaries: Europe 1985: Spain, Italy and Greece

Thu, 29 May 2025 13:04:28 +0000

This is the second part of a monthly, six-episode series celebrating the fact that exactly 40 years ago this year, my family and I spent six months in a striped motorhome travelling around Europe. I was nine years old and yes, this trip had an enormous impact on my life - I'm sure you wouldn't be listening to this podcast today if Van Life 1985 hadn't taken place! Throughout the series, I'll include chats recorded with my Dad this year, extracts from my late Mum's travel diary from 1985, and of course my own memories and thoughts.

In this episode, we drive briefly through Spain, which none of us really remember (sorry, Spain, I do love you now!). We then had some fun times in Italy, with vivid memories of climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and quite the adventure getting mixed up with the local police in the small town of Potenza. We spend a few weeks thoroughly enjoying Greece before diverting back through Italy, Venice in particular, en route to our next country.

A big thanks to Context Travel for sponsoring this series, and an even bigger thanks to my Dad for agreeing to be part of it.

Links:

Context Travel - https://bit.ly/contexttravel - use the code THOUGHTFULTRAVEL to get 15% off any online booking. Context Travel operate walking tours in cities around the world, and have interesting and qualified subject-matter experts leading your walk
Listen to Part 1 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 348 - https://notaballerina.com/348
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/351

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

350 Moments of Kindness While Travelling

Thu, 22 May 2025 01:10:52 +0000

It rarely takes much experience of travel to collect an experience of someone you meet while travelling being surprisingly kind. While we're often trained to think the worst, countless tales from travellers tell of strangers helping out and showing kindness in myriad ways - it's one of the most heartening parts of seeing the world, I think!

In Episode 350, I chat with four travellers who have stories of kindness to share. The first happened some decades back in Sudan, when Patrick Nash was welcomed into a Dinka village and given a special treat. Next, Ros Belford explains what happened when she found herself stuck in an Italian train station at midnight with her two toddlers and no taxis. Jonny Wright, a frequent hitchhiker, tells me just how often the vulnerability of hitchhiking is met not with the danger we often worry about but acts of thoughtful kindness. Finally, Chris Magnuson talks about how another wonderful act of kindness almost meant he missed his flight!

Links:

Patrick Nash - https://www.patricknash.co.uk/
Patrick’s book Shots Across the Water: Tales of a Journey Through Africa - https://amzn.to/4cMl0UQ
Ros Belford - https://rosbelford.com
Ros’s book Children of the Volcano - https://amzn.to/4dq2vpz
Jonny Wright on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/goandfindoutpod/
Jonny's podcast Go And Find Out - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/go-and-find-out/id1807777446
Chris’s website - https://www.streetviewvagabond.com/
Streetview Vagabond on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/streetviewvagabond/
Ep 242 Meeting Kind Strangers - https://notaballerina.com/242
Ep 76 The Kindness of Strangers When You Travel - https://notaballerina.com/76
Ep 88 Random Acts of Travel Kindness - https://notaballerina.com/88
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/350

*Full disclosure: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program

NotABallerina.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

349 Nicole Smith on Travel Photo Memories - Deep Dive with Flytographer’s Founder

Tue, 13 May 2025 11:10:23 +0000

We all take hundreds of photos on our travels these days, but I was keen to chat with Nicole Smith, founder of Flytographer, about how their network of photographers take this to the next level in many popular travel spots around the world. Nicole is an avid traveller who caught the travel bug young, and after a very unfortunate photographic "accident" on a long trip through Asia, she realised just how important having photos to job our memories can be.

Nicole and I chatted about what it means to be a thoughtful traveller, the benefits of meeting up with local people in the places we visit, and more about how special our photographic travel memories can be.

Links:

Flytographer - https://www.flytographer.com/
Win a $100 Flytographer voucher - https://forms.gle/zUsK9byTtER9XbLD8
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/349

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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348 Van Life Diaries: Europe 1985: Hong Kong, England and France

Tue, 06 May 2025 12:52:16 +0000

This is the first of a monthly, six-episode series celebrating the fact that exactly 40 years ago this year, my family and I spent six months in a striped motorhome travelling around Europe. I was nine years old and yes, this trip had an enormous impact on my life - I'm sure you wouldn't be listening to this podcast today if Van Life 1985 hadn't taken place! Throughout the series, I'll include chats recorded with my Dad this year, extracts from my late Mum's travel diary from 1985, and of course my own memories and thoughts.

In this episode, our journey starts in Hong Kong, where you might be surprised at what my Dad remembers most; we then fly into London, where it's all systems go to equip us for the months of travelling ahead, including the important purchase of a motorhome (or a campervan as we called it). We take a hovercraft across the Channel to France, see Paris, and have a very special experience in coastal Biarritz.

A big thanks to Context Travel for sponsoring this series, and an even bigger thanks to my Dad for agreeing to be part of it.

Links:

Context Travel - https://contexttravel.com - use the code THOUGHTFULTRAVEL to get 15% off any online booking. Context Travel operate walking tours in cities around the world, and have interesting and qualified subject-matter experts leading your walk
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/348

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

347 Walking and Running on Your Travels

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 22:01:00 +0000

Travelling on foot is the ultimate slow travel and you can have some amazing experiences when incorporating a walk, hike or run into your travel plans.

In this episode I start by chatting with Chelsea Gruber, a big fan of solo travel who's had quite a few active adventures on her trips and when we spoke was in training to run the Paris marathon.

I then chat with Patrick Nash who spent time some decades back travelling through many parts of Africa, and his story centres on a long walk through the Congo, or what was then Zaire.

Finally, Amy Willis shares some of her active travels, starting off with her experience on the Rim to Rim to Rim at the Grand Canyon, and then going on to tell me about a recent experience running in northern Kenya.

Links:

Chelsea Gruber - https://www.chelseasolotravels.com/
Chelsea's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chelseasolotravels/
Patrick Nash - https://www.patricknash.co.uk/
Patrick’s book Shots Across the Water: Tales of a Journey Through Africa - https://amzn.to/4cMl0UQ
Amy Willis from Ker & Downey https://kerdowney.com/
Amy's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amynwillis/
Ep 253 Walking the World https://notaballerina.com/253
Ep 175 Walking and Hiking Travels https://notaballerina.com/175
Ep 308 My trip report from hiking the Basho Trail with Walk Japan in 2023 https://notaballerina.com/308
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/347

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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346 How to Make Sustainable and Ethical Travel Choices

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 11:02:39 +0000

Most of us want to make more sustainable and ethical choices when we travel, but it's not always easy to do! Avoiding plastic straws and disposable shopping bags is one thing, but how can we choose our accommodation in a way that does more good, or think about our carbon footprint and change our travel habits?

In this episode, I start by chatting with two travel writers who have come to the realisation that the constant jet-setting often required by that job is something they don't want to partake in, and have found other ways to work. Nina Karnikowski and Megan Frye both have great suggestions and information that can help all of us travel a bit "better", too.

One of the specific ways we can travel more ethically is related to animal and wildlife attractions - a very common activity for travellers - so to round out this episode, Suzanne Milthorpe from World Animal Protection Australia has some useful tips about how we can make better decisions about the sanctuaries or rescue places we visit.

Links:

Nina Karnikowski - https://ninakarnikowski.com/
Nina’s book, The Mindful Traveller - https://amzn.to/3EzeAf8
Megan Frye - https://www.meganfrye.com/
Suzanne Milthorpe - Head of Campaigns, World Animal Protection Australia - https://www.worldanimalprotection.org.au/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/346

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

345 Different Ways to Be A Thoughtful Traveller

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:02:03 +0000

My dear friend, the Barefoot Backpacker, is a thoughtful traveller, but they often approach travel in different ways to me. We've chatted many a time about our varied styles and decided that making a collaborative podcast episode about just this would be a lot of fun.

So, this episode is a combination of the two of us as hosts from Travel Tales from Beyond the Brochure and The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, and to frame our conversation we picked, of all things, a Buzzfeed quiz on the age-old (silly!) distinction of traveller versus tourist. But this did help us to discuss many of our travel ideas: what is slow travel, and can it look different? How do you get the most out of travel when you have limited time off from a "real" job? Why do people enjoy luxury service (and why don't we)? Is it still possible to travel without making plans or booking accommodation in advance? All this and much more, along with quite a few laughs!

Links:

The Barefoot Backpacker blog - https://barefoot-backpacker.com/
Travel Tales from Beyond the Brochure - https://barefoot-backpacker.com/category/podcast/
The Buzzfeed Quiz we used - https://www.buzzfeed.com/remeepatel/traveler-or-vacationer
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/345

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

344 Learning Languages and Making Mistakes

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 10:40:56 +0000

Learning languages, in the early days, is all about making mistakes, and then as we improve, we can see the benefits of really getting to know people and cultures by having common words and expressions. We still make mistakes though! In this episode I chat with three guests who've spent significant chunks of time in France and Italy, and have learnt much about these second homes through their gradual improvements with French and Italian.

First up, I speak with Angela Correll who moved to Italy with just "survival Italian", but found it a good start nonetheless. I then chat with Steve Hoffman who has spent many years devoting himself to flawless French, and we also discuss our different approaches (let's just say my approach to German is the non-flawless version!). Finally, Bex Thomas tells me how easy it is to make mistakes when you just assume you've understood, and talks about what else she's learnt about life and language through spending six months each year in France.

Links:

Angela Correll - https://www.angelacorrell.com/
Angela’s book, Restored in Tuscany - https://amzn.to/3Qdwu9r
Steve Hoffman - https://www.sjrhoffman.com/
Steve’s book, A Season for That: Lost and Found in the Other Southern France - https://amzn.to/3DSqosP
Bex Thomas - https://feelgood-getaways.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/344

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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343 Where Are They Now? Podcast Guests From the Early Years

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 04:37:48 +0000

Happy ninth birthday to The Thoughtful Travel Podcast! To celebrate, I've gone back to three of the early guests and interviewed them again to see what's changed in their lives in the intervening years. It was so fun to do!

First up, I chat with photographer Kiliii Yuyan, who first appeared way back in Episode 2 in 2016. Since that time, Kiliii has had an incredible career and been able to go on some very special adventures to create stories for National Geographic.

I then speak with Kerstin Pilz, from Episode 3, who at the time we first recorded an interview was working through the tremendous grief of losing her husband and having her home and community severely impacted by a cyclone. Fast forward to today and Kerstin's had some impressive career highlights and has set up a new business that combines many of her passions, including travel.

Finally, I had the chance to talk again with one of the very first podcast listeners who became a guest, Scott Antcliffe. In our initial conversation, Scott was working as a school teacher, but since then, he's had a huge career shift and yes, it involves more travel, too!

Links:

Celebrate the podcast's 9th birthday with a T-shirt - https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-thoughtful-travel-podcast
Killii Yuyan’s website - https://kiliii.com/
An example of Kiliii’s National Geographic work - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/impact/article/kiliii-yuyan-explorer-story
Kerstin Pilz’s book “Loving my lying, dying, cheating husband” - https://amzn.to/422vCdn
Kerstin’s Transformational Writing Retreats - https://transformationalwritingretreats.com/
Scott Antcliffe’s website - https://www.scottantcliffephoto.co.uk/
Scott’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/scottantcliffephoto/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/343

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

342 Political Tours with Nicholas Wood

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 09:57:52 +0000

Joining a tour connected to any special interest you have is bound to result in a memorable trip and when I heard about Political Tours, I was instantly attracted! This episode is a deep dive interview with founder Nicholas Wood, who used his skills and network from experiences like working as a foreign correspondent the New York Times to launch Political Tours back in 2011. We chat about how a tour works, the many aspects of such trips that lean heavily into being a thoughtful traveller - especially connecting with local people and not making a beeline for the famous tourist sights - and in general chat about all the reasons anyone with an interest in politics might be keen to travel in such a way.

Links:

Political Tours - https://www.politicaltours.com/
Political Tours' webinars - https://www.politicaltours.com/webinars/
On Tranistrian money - https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/transnistria-the-rubles-are-plastic-the-caviar-plentiful-in-this-secret-beakaway-republic-20191016-h1iwel.html
Thanks to archive.org for the radio footage https://archive.org/details/sraa-radio-berlin-international-final-episode-october-2-1990
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/342

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

341 Virtual Travel

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 11:44:36 +0000

Confession time: I'd long assumed that virtual travel was a very inferior cousin to in-real-life travel. But then Covid hit, I experienced a couple of virtual tours, and really did feel transported to Thailand and China for an hour or two. Those kind of virtual tours are just the tip of the virtual travel iceberg though, and in this episode I speak with three people approaching virtual travel in different - and wonderful! - ways.

First, I chat with Chiara Barbera about her "Assaggio" platform, which gives us a window into Italian culture that would be hard to get even as the average tourist visiting Italy in person. I then speak with DayAway founder Martha Waslen, who points out many ways that virtual experiences can truly be thoughtful ones. Finally, my conversation with Chris Magnuson about his Streetview Vagabond videos shows me just how well you can connect with people without setting foot in their country.

Links:

Chiara’s Assaggio platform - https://experience-assaggio.com/
Martha’s DayAway platform - https://mydayaway.com
Chris’s website - https://www.streetviewvagabond.com/
Streetview Vagabond on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/streetviewvagabond/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/341

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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340 Australian Podcasters for International Women’s Day 2025

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 08:23:39 +0000

Since 1911, International Women's Day has been a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

To celebrate International Women's Day on 8th March 2025, I've gathered some of my favourite women travel podcasters in Australia for a conversation about impactful women in travel, and some of the most important lessons we've learnt while travelling, plus we have a few laughs, too!

Thanks to the wonderful Australian women podcasters who joined me for this important conversation. Please go and listen to their fantastic podcasts!

Dianne Bortoletto and Monique Ceccato - And Away We Go F1 Podcast

Caro Ryan - Rescued: An Outdoor Podcast for Hikers and Adventurers

Natascha Mirosch - ExtraVirgin Food & Travel

Kirstie Bedford and Belinda Jackson - The World Awaits

Carolyn Schönafinger - Holidays to Switzerland Travel Podcast

Links:

Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/340

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

339 Living Abroad

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 22:01:00 +0000

Living abroad by choice can be such a wonderful experience - I was lucky enough to be able to spend time teaching English in Japan, Slovakia and Germany and these years were truly life-changing.

In this episode, three guests share some of the fun, struggles and intriguing moments from their time living in Italy, South Korea and Poland. It's a real mixed bag of stories and I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

First up, I chat with Angela Correll, who bought an apartment in Tuscany with her husband, thinking it would just need a little fixing up - but it turned into a major renovation project, and taught them so many lessons (and a lot about Italy!).

I then speak with Christine Newell, who accepted a job with a theatre company in Seoul before she knew much about South Korea at all. Of course, her time in Seoul had its ups and downs but she came away with a real love for it and many great life lessons.

Finally, Thomas Swick tells a fabulous story about his attempts to extend his visa when living in Poland in the late 1970s. Let's just say it didn't work out as he'd hoped and you'll have to listen to find out more!

Links:

Angela Correll - https://www.angelacorrell.com/
Angela’s book Restored in Tuscany - https://amzn.to/3Qdwu9r
Christine Newell - https://www.christinenewell.com/
Christine’s book Five Seasons in Seoul - https://amzn.to/4hHQmhb
Thomas Swick - https://www.thomasswick.com/
Thomas’s book Falling Into Place: A Story of Love, Poland, and the Making of a Travel Writer - https://amzn.to/3EmpBA8
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/339

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

338 Staying in Hostels

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 22:01:00 +0000

Hostel life can be great fun and easy on the travel budget, too. I'll always remember my Dad, in his 50s or 60s, explaining to me that hostels weren't just for young people anymore, and anyone could stay there - a philosophy I have long enjoyed and used.

In this episode, we chat about many sides of staying in hostels, starting with Jamie Burr and his description of why he loves to book hostels when he travels. I then chat with Will Hatton who loves them some much he actually built his own - Tribal hostel and co-working space in Bali. Finally, I speak with my good friend Christina Koullas about a particular hostel experience she had in Barcelona, when it all went wrong - I feel like all of us who've spent time in more than a handful of hostels can tell a story like this, and as it happens, I also explain to Christina what went wrong for me in a Taipei hostel.

Links:

Jamie Burr - https://jamieburr.com/
Will Hatton - The Broke Backpacker - https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/
Tribal Bali - https://www.instagram.com/tribal_bali/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/338

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

337 Wonderful Learnings from Travel

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 13:27:34 +0000

Travellers will all have their special memories about the wonderful learnings they've had from travel: from tiny things like a new way to enjoy a favourite food, to enormous life-changing epiphanies inspired by other cultures or someone they meet. In Episode 337 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I chat with three people about some of the ideas that have stayed with them or made them think.

First up, Thomas Swick describes several moments including a long (very long!) train journey through eastern Europe, and what this still means to him decades later. Angela Correll then gives examples of some of her cultural learnings while living in and renovating a home in Italy. Finally, Daniel Troia explains some of what a unique experience riding a bicycle across America taught him about himself and the world.

Links:

Thomas Swick - https://www.thomasswick.com/
Thomas’s book Falling Into Place: A Story of Love, Poland, and the Making of a Travel Writer - https://amzn.to/3EmpBA8
Angela Correll - https://www.angelacorrell.com/
Angela’s book Restored in Tuscany - https://amzn.to/3Qdwu9r
Daniel Troia’s doco “We Are All In This Together” - https://www.weareallinthistogethermovie.com/ - streaming on several major platforms now and picking up many awards!
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/337

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

336 Meeting Interesting People on Your Travels

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 12:35:27 +0000

Encountering new and interesting people is part of the magic of a good trip. Chatting with a stranger on a train or making a new friend at a hostel or bar is often what you remember above the sights you've seen.

In this episode, I start by chatting with Carol McQuaid, who tells of a special person she met while working on a cruise ship. Next, veteran writer Thomas Swick shares tales of several of the fabulous people he has come across on his many travels. Finally, Bex Thomas explains just what happened when she followed her aunt's command to "go and visit John", a family friend, when she was travelling in New Zealand. (It's a wonderful case of "you'll never guess what happens next"!)

Links:

Carol McQuaid - https://www.theillustratedvagabond.com/
Carol’s World Voyage Sketchbook - https://www.theillustratedvagabond.com/shop/p/illustrated-vagabonds-world-voyage-sketchbook-pre-sale
Thomas Swick - https://www.thomasswick.com/
Thomas’s book Falling Into Place: A Story of Love, Poland, and the Making of a Travel Writer - https://amzn.to/3EmpBA8
Bex Thomas - https://feelgood-getaways.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/336

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

335 Mindful Travel with the Curious Tourism Podcast

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 12:05:10 +0000

I'm excited to share this episode of Curious Tourism, a fabulous podcast about responsible travel, which I recorded recently with host Erin and producer Kattie, who generously agreed I could also share it here in my feed.

We start off by chatting about some recent visa news for visitors to Europe and the UK, as well as the outrage in Australia to see our passport is the most expensive in the world.

Then we get seriously deep by covering a bunch of thoughtful travel topics: how we can be more intentional in our travels at the same time as de-centring ourselves; how social media is often not helping when it comes to travelling better; the sometimes tricky issue of wildlife tourism; and our plans for 2025.

Links:

Curious Tourism website - https://pinatravels.org/curious-tourism/
Erin on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pinatravels
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/335

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

334 Taking Your Nieces and Nephews Travelling

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 10:48:37 +0000

Want to know how to be the favourite aunty or uncle? This episode about taking your nieces and nephews travelling will give you plenty of ideas!

Mike Day, a wonderful uncle, starts off by explaining how he really hoped he could give his nephews something special by giving them the gift of travel. It seems to have worked as he has a wonderful story to tell about the impact a trip over a decade ago had on one of his nephews.

I then chat with Dianne Bortoletto, a fabulous aunty, about her recent experience in Italy with her niece. To alleviate teenage boredom, Di came up with a very special (and delicious) challenge and surely is now her niece's very favourite aunty!

Links:

Mike Day - https://www.mikedaytravels.com/
Mike’s book "The World Has a Big Backyard" - https://amzn.to/42sIg7b
Dianne Bortoletto - Travelletto - https://travelletto.com/
Di’s new podcast And Away We Go F1 Podcast - including F1, travel and lifestyle - https://www.andawaywegof1podcast.com/
Sherry Ott’s Niece Project - https://www.ottsworld.com/blogs/the-niece-project/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/334

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

333 Overtourism

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 10:37:34 +0000

Overtourism is a buzz word of late, but not a good one. We've all read about the cities and regions being overrun by tourists, who might be damaging natural or historical sights, or making an area unaffordable for its original residents to stay in. In this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I speak with three guests with an interest in overtourism and ask for their thoughts.

First up, I speak with Dylan Thuras of Atlas Obscura. Dylan's whole website and podcast are based around encouraging people to learn about, and visit, less popular, more obscure places, so he's been thinking about overtourism and its opposite, undertourism, for many years.

I then chat with Jamie Burr, who specialises in marketing for responsible tourism businesses, and therefore also has a significant interest in overtourism and how we might deal with it.

Finally, Chris Christou from The End of Tourism podcast talks about some future alternatives for tourism, speaking from the example of his home of Oaxaca in Mexico, that may be one way to mitigate the problems of overtourism.

Links:

Dylan Thuras - Atlas Obscura podcast https://www.atlasobscura.com/podcast
Jamie Burr - https://jamieburr.com/
Chris Christou - The End of Tourism podcast - https://www.theendoftourism.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/333

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

332 Playing and Watching Sports on Your Travels

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 02:10:00 +0000

If you're a sports fan (and as one guest will prove, even if you're not), travelling to play or watch sports can be a great combination of two enjoyable pastimes. It's one way you can immerse yourself in something that local people enjoy as well, and can even be a great way to connect or make new friends.

In this episode I hear firstly from Julie Kaplan who has had some fun table tennis experiences in several countries - it's a great story! I then chat with Tara Wells, who is not usually a sports fan, but can make an exception when she travels. Finally, I speak with Scott Antcliffe who is a very devoted ice hockey player and fan, and is headed on an international trip shortly to play in a very special final tournament.

Links:

Julie’s YouTube channel, Julie from LA - https://www.youtube.com/@juliefromla
Tara Wells’ website - https://www.tarawellsauthor.com/
Scott Antcliffe's photography website - https://www.scottantcliffephoto.co.uk/
Episode 238 - Travelling for a Sporting Event - https://notaballerina.com/238
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/332

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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331 Working with Animals in Tourism

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 08:19:31 +0000

Learning more about being a responsible traveller when it comes to seeing or interacting with animals on my trips is one of the biggest learning curves running this podcast has given me over the past decade. In this episode, I hear from three professionals working at the intersection of animals and tourism, in three different but equally fascinating roles.

First up, I chat with Nora Livingstone of Animal Experience International, about a trip she took to Sierra Leone to visit a dog rescue centre that was looking for volunteers. Then, I speak with John Roberts, director of Sustainability and Conservation for the Minor Hotels group, and he describes the particular case of looking after hornbills at their Avani resort on Koh Lanta, Thailand. Finally, Suzanne Milthorpe of World Animal Protection Australia explains the sad sight that awaited her on a visit to a so-called turtle rescue venue in Bali, Indonesia. From all of these stories, there is plenty for us to take away and help in our considerations for future trips so that we can be thoughtful when it comes to how we include animals in our travels.

Links:

Nora Livingstone from Animal Experience International - https://www.animalexperienceinternational.com
John Roberts - Group Director of Sustainability and Conservation, Minor Hotels -https://www.minorhotels.com/
Suzanne Milthorpe - Head of Campaigns, World Animal Protection Australia - https://www.worldanimalprotection.org.au/
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330 Travel Trends and Resolutions for 2025

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 12:37:23 +0000

2024 is reaching an end, and I'm honestly looking forward to getting on with 2025!

This year was a bit of a bust: the sudden loss of my Mum tainted most of the year with various repercussions, and even this podcast suffered from some neglect! But with a shiny new year ahead, I'm happy to look back on what travel I did manage in 2024, as well as talk about what seem to be the most likely travel trends for 2025.

I also asked listeners about their resolutions for 2025 and I'm glad to include a wonderful selection of ideas - most especially because all of my listeners are so thoughtful!

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and I look forward to being back in your ears every week in 2025. Happy travels!

Links:

Julie - Have Wheelchair Will Travel - https://havewheelchairwilltravel.net
Michael - Brent and Michael Are Going Places - https://www.brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com
Carolyn - Holidays to Switzerland - https://holidaystoswitzerland.com/podcast/
Barefoot Backpacker - Travel Tales From Beyond the Brochure - https://barefoot-backpacker.com/category/podcast/
Conde Nast’s Best Places to Go in 2025 - https://www.cntraveler.com/story/best-places-to-go-in-2025
AFAR’s list of Where to Go in 2025 - https://www.afar.com/magazine/where-to-go-in-2025
CNBC’s article on Travel Trends in 2025 - https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/20/travel-trend-in-2025-places-that-are-lesser-known-and-less-crowded.html
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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/330

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329 Museums and Ethical Issues

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 10:28:42 +0000

Like many parts of travel, in recent years I've started to rethink some aspects of museum that I just took for granted in my early years of travel. In this episode, I chat with three guests on a variety of aspects of the ethics of museums, which all gave me great food for thought.

First up, I spoke with Chris Christou, who articulates some of the key ethical issues many museums face, especially those that are focused on archaeological artefacts - some of which might not have been acquired in the most ethical of ways!

Next, Dylan Thuras of Atlas Obscura tells me about his particular interest in medical museums, and some of the questions surrounding these, and includes an interesting example of a museum he visited in Mexico.

Artist Carol McQuaid highlights a recent art gallery scandal involving MONA in Tasmania, Australia, which she had the opportunity to visit recently. While chatting galleries, I was reminded of my recent experience at the Manchester Art Gallery in England, which has recently had a significant rethink of how they run their displays.

Links:

Chris Christou - The End of Tourism podcast - https://www.theendoftourism.com/
Dylan Thuras - Atlas Obscura podcast https://www.atlasobscura.com/podcast
Atlas Obscura article about the Mummies of Guanajuato - https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/museo-de-las-momias-de-guanajuato
Carol McQuaid - https://www.theillustratedvagabond.com/
Carol’s World Voyage Sketchbook - https://www.theillustratedvagabond.com/shop/p/illustrated-vagabonds-world-voyage-sketchbook-pre-sale
Catherine’s article about the Ladies Lounge in Mona - https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/mona-ladies-lounge-high-tea-inside-the-secretive-new-womenonly-experience-20220530-h243zx.html
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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/329

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328 Hong Kong Trip Report 2024

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 12:42:47 +0000

Almost 40 years after my first trip to Hong Kong, I returned in November with my teenager son. Back as a nine-year-old, Hong Kong was the very first place I'd been to outside of Western Australia, so it made quite the impression.

This time, I was there to visit friends who've recently moved there, and to do some extra sightseeing while they were at work. In this trip report episode, I'm going to let you know what my highlight was (hint: it could happen anywhere in the world!), explain the sightseeing we did and something intriguing I learnt about, and also tell you all about my brief foray into China, a country I've long wanted to visit, and now want to see even more of, please! I then have a Disney-related confession to make, and some ethical pondering about visiting Hong Kong.

I'd love to hear about your own Hong Kong experiences as I'm keen to return and deepen my knowledge of this fascinating place, so let me know your thoughts!

Links:

Indelible City by Louisa Lim - https://amzn.to/4ihZp9p
Lots of my pics on Insta - https://instagram.com/amandakendle
Indigenous cultures of Hong Kong - https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/lifestyle/features/article/3073367/hks-indigenous-people-and-other-tribes-helped-create
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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/328

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327 Rare Encounters With Nature on Your Travels

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 11:01:47 +0000

A huge reason many people travel is to get away from city life and into nature. In Episode 327 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast we don't just get into nature - we hear about some really rare and unique encounters with the natural world.

First up, I chat with Satyajit Das, a veteran of many intriguing wildlife encounters on his travels, who explains how lucky he was in coming across the small cats of South and Central America: ocelots, margays and onchillas.

Next, Paul Christie explains something of the history of the sakura or cherry blossom in Japan, and leaves me with the surprising fact that you don't necessarily have to be in Japan in springtime to see the beautiful cherry trees bloom.

Finally, Iris Villarreal tells the story of her experience with a nomadic Kazakh ethnic minority in western Mongolia, and in particular, how they train and use eagles for hunting.

Links:

Satyajit Das - author of Wild Quests - Journeys into Ecotourism and the Future for Animals - https://amzn.to/4eMWpP9
Paul Christie, CEO of Walk Japan - https://walkjapan.com/
Iris Villarreal - https://www.instagram.com/outventurenow
'Cherry' Ingram: The Englishman Who Saved Japan's Blossoms by Naoko Abe - https://amzn.to/4cR2Z6I
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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/327

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326 UK Trip Report England and Wales 2024

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 12:44:40 +0000

This episode is a joyful collaboration with Tracy of the UK Travel Podcast.

When one of your best friends invites you to his wedding in the Lake District in England, you say yes!

We first met Cham in Cambodia - back in Episode 114 - and we've holidayed with him across Asia ever since, but meeting up in the UK to celebrate his wedding was our most exciting adventure together yet. My 14-year-old son and I took the opportunity to explore some more of north-west England and northern Wales while we were there, taking in Manchester, Liverpool, the Lake District, and northern Wales, including Wrexham and Llangollen.

In this collab with the UK Travel Podcast, Tracy interviews me about my UK experience and I describe it through a thoughtful travel lens, from our planning, our experiences and then our post-trip reflection. There's also some unexpected sandwich chat!

Links:

Tracy Collins - UK Travel Planning https://uktravelplanning.com
And, Tracy's Global Travel Planning at https://globaltravelplanning.com
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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/326

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325 What People Think About Australia

Sat, 06 Jul 2024 07:21:41 +0000

If you think of Australia, you're bound to imagine a few stereotypes of what life here is like: sun and sand might feature, and you will perhaps imagine we're a laidback nation of permanently relaxed people. Over the last year, the topic of what people think about Australia has come up with quite a few guests so I decided to compile an episode about these ideas.

I chat first with Michael Jensen who spent half a year here on student exchange in the 1980s, and recently returned for another months-long stint: what had changed? Quite a lot, as you can imagine, and we had an interesting chat.

Alex Zeringer, a German student now based in Ireland, came to Australia on a much more recent student program just last year, and I asked him about his impressions of my home town of Perth.

Our reputation often precedes us, and Julia Kaplan told me her ideas about Australia and its people although she hasn't yet been here - but she's met enough Aussies abroad on her travels to get a good idea.

Finally, I speak with Jules Park, who moved here from South Korea, and tells me some of her initial cultural shocks, including the tale of pink hair!

Links:

Brent and Michael are Going Places - https://www.brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com/
Alex Zeringer on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-zeringer-532728130/
Julie Kaplan - https://www.juliekaplan.com/
Jules Park - Amazing Sydney Life on Instagram or TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/amazingsydneylife/ or https://www.tiktok.com/@amazingsydneylife
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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/325

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324 Friends From Travelling

Sat, 08 Jun 2024 08:56:32 +0000

Meeting new people is one of my favourite parts of travelling, and when these chance encounters turn into long-term friendships, that's just perfection! My most recent trip, three weeks in England and Wales, came about because my son and I were invited to attend the wedding of a dear travelling friend, who we originally met in Cambodia and have also travelled with in Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand - and now England!

This episode features many such friendships, but the most unique is Daniel Troia's friendship with a family in a tiny, picturesque village in the Swiss Alps. He has spent many summers with these now long-term friends, despite not having a common language when he first met them.

My second guest is Rupert Grey who tells of his very special friendship with Bangladeshi photojournalist Shahidul Alam, who he first met back in 1992 when travelling briefly in Bangladesh with his family.

Finally, Tracy Collins tells me about several special friends from travelling, and in particular she highlights some of the many and varied ways you can more easily find yourself making friends when you're away from home.

Links:

Daniel Troia’s doco “We Are All In This Together” - https://www.weareallinthistogethermovie.com/
Rupert Grey - https://rupertgrey.co.uk/
Rupert’s movie Romantic Road - https://www.romanticroadmov.com/
Tracy Collins - UK Travel Planning https://uktravelplanning.com
and Global Travel Planning at https://globaltravelplanning.com
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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/324

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323 Language Learning Through Travel and Immersion

Thu, 16 May 2024 11:32:24 +0000

Learning other languages can be really hard - especially if you're sitting in your home country trying to learn from a boring textbook. The guests in this episode all decided that they'd learn another language - Thai, French, Polish and Welsh - by travelling and immersing themselves in the language, in varied and interesting ways.

First up, I hear from Paddy Jenkins about his experience of learning Thai - in fact, teaching himself Thai - while he spent six months volunteering in Chiang Mai. Spoiler alert: yes, he would literally take his notebook and dictionary even if he went to the pub or a nightclub! That's dedication.

Next, I speak with Tracy Collins who was told by her French teacher she would never be able to speak French, but proved her wrong when she moved to France to work as an au pair. She also was lucky to be working for a family that helped her out in some perhaps unexpected ways.

Love is often a reason for learning another language and this was what took Thomas Swick to living in Poland. I did laugh when he was explaining the grammatical complexities of Polish, although when you're leaning it you're more likely to cry, I think!

Finally, Pam Petro decided to make the effort to learn the lesser-spoken language of Welsh. She went through some hardcore learning and even took some surprising travels in her pursuit of Welsh fluency.

Links:

Thai Talk with Paddy https://www.youtube.com/ThaiTalkwithPaddy/
Tracy Collins - UK Travel Planning https://uktravelplanning.com and Global Travel Planning at https://globaltravelplanning.com - both also podcasts
Thomas Swick - https://www.thomasswick.com/ - and his new book, Falling Into Place
Pamela Petro - https://www.pamelapetro.com/
Pam’s book The Long Field - https://amzn.to/4bt7TGq
Episode 277 Languages and Connection https://notaballerina.com/277
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322 Life-Changing Study Abroad Experiences

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 22:01:00 +0000

Although I never studied abroad myself I have no doubt at all that I would have loved every minute of it - and my three guests today certainly remind me of all of the many ways a study abroad experience can be life-changing.

I start off chatting with Pam Petro who studied a graduate program in Wales, and not only learnt something from her course but began a lifetime obsession with all things Welsh.

Next, I speak with Brandon Miller who studied abroad in France. He has now co-founded the Too Fly Foundation which helps students from under-privileged backgrounds access experiences like study abroad programs, as he recognised how valuable and life-changing they are.

Finally, I talk to Alex Zeringer, who was a student I met while he was studying abroad here in Perth at Murdoch University, where I teach (among other subjects) podcasting - it was so great to catch up with him now that he's back at university in Ireland.

Links:

Pam Petro - https://www.pamelapetro.com/
Pam's book The Long Field - https://amzn.to/3KANEOL
Brandon Miller from the Too Fly Foundation - https://www.tooflyfoundation.org/
Alex Zeringer - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-zeringer-532728130/
Episode 233 Studying Abroad notaballerina.com/233
Episode 248 Studying in Other Countries notaballerina.com/248
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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/322

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321 B Corps in the Travel Industry

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 22:01:00 +0000

For travellers like us, knowing a tourism business we are about to use is properly thoughtful, taking into account the impact we will have on the community and the environment, is important. But with an industry full of greenwashing and unsubstantiated eco-credentials, it's sometimes difficult to know what we can trust.

Over the past few years now I've had a growing awareness of B Corps but was very keen to dig deeper, so this podcast episode is here to satisfy my own desires to know more, but also to help my listeners understand what makes a B Corp so they can make decisions about their travel with care.

My first guest is Jonathan Coleman from Untours. When I chatted with Jonathan last year, he explained to me that Untours was, in fact, the very first B Corp back in 2007, and learning how this came about was the impetus for me to find some more people to talk to about this important topic.

I speak next with Narelle Wilson of Volta Consulting, who knows a lot about the process of how a business applies to be certified as a B Corp, and explains it clearly!

Finally, I talked to Aurora Expedition's Chief Marketing Officer, Hayley Peacock-Gower, about Aurora's recent B Corp certification. She gives some interesting examples of some of the improvements Aurora is making as part of the continuous improvement that the B Corp movement encourages.

Links:

Jonathan Coleman from Untours Foundation - https://untoursfoundation.org/

Narelle Wilson from Volta Consulting - https://voltaconsulting.com.au/

Aurora Expeditions - https://www.auroraexpeditions.com.au/

Aurora’s journey to becoming a B Corp - https://www.auroraexpeditions.com.au/blog/our-b-corp-journey/

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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/321

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320 Thanks for the Travel Bug, Mum

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 12:11:45 +0000

This is an episode I never imagined I'd need to make; family lore was that my mum June would live to a hundred. But very sadly, after a sudden terminal cancer diagnosis in late January, my beautiful mum passed away early in February. As the biggest fan of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I knew I couldn't restart it after my time away without mentioning my mum and how she encouraged me to travel - I definitely wouldn't be here creating this podcast without her influence throughout my life.

My dear friend Di Bortoletto and I sat in her spare room last weekend to record this chat about my mum's travel experiences and about some of the special experiences we'd had together as well, and I wanted to share that with you all.

Links:

Dianne Bortoletto's site Travelletto - https://travelletto.com/
Di on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/travelletto/
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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/320

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319 Homestays When You Travel

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 03:51:02 +0000

Staying in someone’s home is the ultimate in starting to understand the local way of life when you travel, and I’ve had some brilliant homestay experiences in the past. In this episode devoted to homestay accommodation, I first tell you my own tales of Russian homestays, with some of the delightful interactions with homestay hosts in Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg, Moscow and St Petersburg.

I then chat with Nina Karnikowski who explains many of the thoughtful values of homestays, and has a great example of her own experience in India. My other guest is Iris Villarreal, who tells me about some homestays she has done in Guatemala, learning much about the local culture along the way.

Links:

Nina Karnikowski - https://ninakarnikowski.com/
Iris Villarreal - https://www.instagram.com/outventurenow
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/319

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318 Gevorg Babayan: Deep Dive into Experiential Tours in Armenia and Beyond

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 22:01:00 +0000

When I was first introduced to Gevorg Babayan and his company LikeLocal.io, which matches travellers with local experiences, I knew he'd be a good guest for The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, but as I got to know him more through interactions in the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group, I soon realised that a quick chat wouldn't be enough - we would need a deep dive!

In this chat, I learn more about Gevorg's background in Armenia, his work in tourism there and abroad in places like Cambodia, and most impressively to me, some of the unique approaches to tours he offers his visitors. I loved hearing about his creativity in coming up with different ways that travellers can get to know more about a destination and its people, and I'm sure you will too.

Links:

Like Local - https://www.likelocal.io/
Netflix Episode with Olafur Eliasson on Abstract: The Art of Design - https://www.netflix.com/title/80057883
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/318

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317 Border Crossing Tales

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 22:01:00 +0000

Tales of things going wrong - or almost - are always popular, and I think if you throw in the trickiness of a border crossing, these stories are top-notch entertainment! In this episode, I start off chatting with Michael Jensen about a triple-border experience in northern Thailand recently - made more fun by knowing exactly the spot he was talking about as I was lucky enough to visit that same spot just last year.

I then talk to Antonio Cala who has not one but two border crossing tales to tell from a long motorcycle trip he and his wife took from the top to the bottom of Africa in 2022. The first involves the river border between Cameroon and the Central African Republic, a tale that had me worrying the whole time about hippos. Antonio's second story takes place on the border between Algeria and Mauritania, a spot that wasn't even a tourist border crossing at all until 2019, and let's just say, that doesn't go smoothly at all.

Links:

Michael Jensen - Brent and Michael are Going Places - https://www.brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com/
Antonio Cala - Adventure Fix - https://www.adventurefix.co/
Episode 78 on Border Crossings - notaballerina.com/78
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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/317

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316 Fathers on Travelling with Kids

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 01:10:56 +0000

I am absolutely convinced that taking kids travelling is one of the best things you can do for them, and in this episode I've gathered together the thoughts of four fathers who agree with me!

First up, I chat with Rupert Grey, who took his daughters across the world at a young age - in particular, he tells me about their experience visiting Bangladesh in the 1990s, and the impact that their travels has had on them now that they are adults.

Cristian Martinus tells me about the reactions from kids on his tours in Morocco, then has a great example to share about a time when things went wrong while travelling with his young daughter - but it all turned out brilliantly.

Peter Baines then tells me about the experience of cycling with his own children in Thailand, as well as an example of a father and son pair who were recent tour participants.

Finally, Rick Antonson takes it one generation further with his tales about travelling as a grandfather, and in particular his trip with a ten-year-old grandson in western Canada.

Links:

Rupert Grey - https://rupertgrey.co.uk/
Rupert’s movie Romantic Road - https://www.romanticroadmov.com/
Cristian Martinus - Sun Trails - https://www.sun-trails.com/
Peter Baines - Hands Across the Water - https://www.handsacrossthewater.org.au/
Rick Antonson - https://www.rickantonson.com
Rick’s new book, Train Beyond the Mountains - https://amzn.to/3Zq1C8T
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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/316

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315 Meeting Locals When We Travel

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 22:01:00 +0000

Connecting with local people when we travel is a true joy for me - whether it's just a quick conversation in a queue, or a deeper day or more spent together, learning about how our lives are the same and different - I love it all! In this episode I chat with three guests who agree, and have found various ways to meet locals when they travel.

First up, I get the tour operator perspective from Cristian Martinus, who confirms that guests who travel on his Moroccan tours particularly enjoy any opportunities for genuine connection with local people - but (appropriately, I think) he warns against "staged authenticity".

Next, Will Hatton describes some of the ways he has met local people on his travels across the world, and we particularly get deeper into describing some of his Couchsurfing experiences.

Finally, Dara Brewton highlights how taking a cooking class or two can be a special window into the lives of locals, with lots of time to chat (and a delicious outcome as a bonus!).

Links:

Cristian Martinus - Sun Trails - https://www.sun-trails.com/

Will Hatton - The Broke Backpacker - https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/

Dara Brewton - https://travelness.com/

Cookly - https://www.cookly.me/

Episode 302 about Chiang Rai - https://notaballerina.com/302

Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

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Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/315

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314 Paul Christie, CEO Walk Japan - Deep Dive into Revitalising Rural Japan

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 01:41:25 +0000

If you decided to escape the corporate world, would you buy up a plot of land in an isolated part of Japan? It's not my first thought, but this is what Walk Japan CEO Paul Christie did at the age of forty, and with many good consequences.

One of these is that Walk Japan has a strong social, "giving back" element, between the Community Project in Kyushu - which springs from Paul's initial plot of land - and its emphasis on taking travellers to rural areas of Japan which can really benefit from the tourism dollars (quite apart from being some of the most beautiful parts of the country, with the most welcoming inhabitants!).

This episode is a wide-ranging chat with Paul about his career, how he came to be in Japan and what Walk Japan is doing to give back to many local communities, and particularly in the Kunisaki Peninsula in Kyushu, southern Japan.

Links:

Walk Japan - https://walkjapan.com/
Fukushima Trip - Episode 310 - https://notaballerina.com/310
My Walk Japan Trip - Episode 308 - https://notaballerina.com/308
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/314

Disclaimer stuff: Walk Japan hosted me on my September/October walk in Japan, which means they covered my travel costs (thank you!). However, my opinions, as always, are all my own, honest truth.

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313 Train Travel in Australia

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 22:01:00 +0000

It's common knowledge that train travel beats air travel in the sustainability stakes, but in recent months I've put this to the test a bit more than usual, in a country where it can be hard to do: my homeland, Australia.

It all began when Dr Susanne Etti, the Global Environmental Impact Manager for Intrepid Travel, challenged me to fly the shorter route to Melbourne and then take the train with her from Melbourne to Sydney, on our way to speak at SXSW Sydney. The Melbourne to Sydney route is one of the busiest domestic air routes in the world, and seeing how the train alternative worked was such a good idea! Susanne and I recorded our thoughts along the way, so you'll hear those in this episode, along with our answers to a bunch of questions asked by listeners about our experience.

Once you start looking, there are other times you might take the train instead of alternatives like flying or driving. Justin Watson, another SXSW panelist, took the train from Canberra to Sydney instead of driving or flying, and I chat with him about this experience too.

Finally, I added another train ride just in time to make this episode - travelling on the Australind train from Perth to Bunbury on my way to run workshops in south-west Western Australia. Another fantastic experience, and I tell you all about it in this episode.

Links:

Dr Susanne Etti - https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanneetti/
Intrepid Travel - https://www.intrepidtravel.com/
Susanne's op ed, The Track Less Travelled - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/track-less-travelled-what-12-hr-train-trip-between-melbourne-etti
Justin Watson - https://justins.world/
Flight emissions calculator - AtmosFair - https://www.atmosfair.de/en/offset/flight/
Carbon footprint calculation from the Nature Conservancy - https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/carbon-footprint-calculator/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/313

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

312 Giving Back When We Travel

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 02:57:30 +0000

The statistics tell us so: more and more of us want to give back and do good when we travel. This is heartening, right? Now we just have to start figuring out the best ways to contribute to the places we visit, in genuinely useful ways - and some of these are described in this episode.

First up, I chat with Roger Smith of Echidna Walkabout who gives a good overview of giving back, and shares his wisdom from a tour operator perspective. I wish every tour operator thought like Roger!

Next, I speak to Meg Jerrard and Mar Pages, two hardworking women I've known for many years, who now run small group tours under their Solo Female Travelers Club brand. Through this work, they've been giving back in Tanzania, and explain the story of Glory Thobias, who runs the Tanzanian Women Guides Foundation and trains female porters and guides to work in the lucrative tourism industry at Mount Kilimanjaro.

Finally, I talk to Peter Baines, founder of Hands Across the Water, a company offering cycling tours of Thailand with a very important giving back purpose, aided by compulsory fundraising for the tour participants. It's a great model that's proven vital for helping some at-risk groups of children in Thailand.

Links:

Roger Smith - Echidna Walkabout - https://echidnawalkabout.com.au/
Meg Jerrard and Mar Pages - Solo Female Travelers Club - https://www.solofemaletravelers.club/
Glory’s Tanzanian Women Guides Foundation -https://tanzaniawomenguidesfoundation.org/
Peter Baines - Hands Across the Water - https://www.handsacrossthewater.org.au/
The Perils of Giving Back - JoAnna Haugen - https://rootedstorytelling.com/social-impact/tourism-travel-giving-back/
Carolyn Beasley’s Australian Geographic article on Travel for Good - https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/travel/2023/08/travel-for-good/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/312

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

311 Micah Kamohoali’i - Deep Dive into Hawaiian Culture and Tourism

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 05:34:43 +0000

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Micah Kamohoali'i when I was in Sydney for SXSW recently, and I knew immediately we would need a LONG chat! This discussion was a pleasure from start to finish: we start off discussing how Micah found himself working in the tourism industry, and what tourism in Hawai'i has been like over the years: with ups and downs of how responsible it was (and wasn't) and the different kinds of tourists they were attracting.

In a wide-ranging discussion which moves us via snakes in the grass to pounding bark for cloth, and incredibly then to the story of Micah being invited to take part in New York Fashion Week, whatever we talk about, Micah's clear love of Hawai'i and Hawaiian culture shines through and we finish up by hearing about his proudest moments from a splendid (and ongoing!) career.

Links:

Merrie Monarch festival https://www.merriemonarch.com/

House of Kamohoali’i documentaries:

London https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/video/2023/04/11/house-kamohoalii-london/
Paris https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/video/2023/05/10/house-kamohoalii-paris-2/
Milan https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/video/2023/04/26/house-kamohoalii-milan-3/
Thoughtful Travel to Hawaii - Island Wisdom by Kainoa Daines and Annie Daly - Episode 285 - https://notaballerina.com/285
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/311

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

310 Fukushima, Japan - Hope Tourism, not Dark Tourism

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 02:22:46 +0000

I'm not alone in finding Japanese museums about earthquakes and tsunamis interesting and impactful; I know my friend Catherine who travelled with me in Tohoku last month is the same. This episode will test out whether it's just the two of us, or if more of you share this feeling - a yearning to understand more about these kinds of disasters, to get to know more about the human stories behind them, and a keen desire to share in the "hope tourism" equation of the scenario.

In this episode, I talk about three parts of my recent trip to Japan that fit under this idea of "hope tourism" - and not "dark tourism". As well as visiting the "Kaze no Denwa", we spent many hours at two new museums in northern Japan: the Iwate Tsunami Memorial Museum in Rikuzentakata, Iwate, and the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum in Futaba, Fukushima. We both found these visits so impactful, and I'm still mulling over a lot of what I saw and learnt there to this day.

Links:

“Really Long Distance” - This American Life episode about the Wind Phone - https://www.thisamericanlife.org/597/one-last-thing-before-i-go-2016/act-one
Iwate Tsunami Memorial Museum - https://iwate-tsunami-memorial.jp/en/visit.html
The Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum - https://www.fipo.or.jp/lore/en
Hope Tourism - https://www.hopetourism.jp/en/
Walk Japan - our hike - Episode 308 - https://notaballerina.com/308
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/310

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

309 SXSW Sydney: Why We Need Travel More Than Travel Needs Us

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 13:17:57 +0000

Here it is! This is the live recording of our panel at South By South West (SXSW) Sydney, from October 2023, on the topic “Why We Need Travel More Than Travel Needs Us”.

It was such a thrill to be on the podcast stage at SXSW with Catherine Marshall, Susanne Etti and Justin Watson, three fabulous guests who had so many interesting stories and opinions to offer for this tricky topic.

We start off with everyone sharing a story about what travel means to them, then dive deeper into topics like wildlife tourism, overtourism, and how we can travel better.

This episode was recorded live at SXSW Sydney 2023.

Links:

Catherine Marshall - Instagram - https://instagram.com/zizzyballord
Susanne Etti - Intrepid Travel - https://www.intrepidtravel.com/
Justin Watson - Justin’s World blog - https://justins.world/
SXSW Sydney - https://sxswsydney.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/309

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

308 Walk Japan: Following Basho’s Road to the North

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 13:50:13 +0000

There are many, many ways to see Japan, but I think I've just experienced my favourite: on foot. In late September/early October 2023, I undertook a six-day trip with Walk Japan, on the Self-Guided Basho Wayfarer walk around Sendai. And it was brilliant!

In this episode, I give an overview of the content and logistics of this trip, which essentially includes hiking various segments of the route that haiku poet Matsuo Basho took in the 1700s, as he describes in his book "Narrow Road to the Deep North". It had all the elements of a trip that I need to really love it: incredible scenery, interesting sightseeing spots, truly delicious food, some great interactions with locals, and all with one of my best friends. What more could a girl ask for?

Most of this episode is a chat I recorded with my travel companion, Catherine Marshall, about our highlights from the trip. We cover our favourite hiking, food, train, and accommodation moments, along with our most unexpected highlights.

Links:

Walk Japan main website - https://walkjapan.com/
Self-Guided Basho Wayfarer walk - https://walkjapan.com/tour/self-guided-basho-wayfarer
Cape to Cape Track Episode 276 - https://notaballerina.com/276
Catherine Marshall on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zizzyballord
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/308

Disclaimer stuff: I was hosted for this trip, which means Walk Japan covered my travel costs. However, my opinions, as always, are all my own, honest truth.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

307 When Things Go Wrong At Sea

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 22:01:00 +0000

It's a strange phenomenon, but podcast episodes full of stories of things going wrong on our travels are always popular! For Episode 307, I've got two stories of strange goings-on while my guests are at sea. Enjoy?!

First up, Antonio Cala tells the story of that time he and his wife needed to be rescued by the Jamaican coastguard. Fortunately, we know they lived to tell the tale, but let's just say life on their catamaran in the Caribbean was not all plain sailing.

I then chat with Imogen Lepere, who has a story to share from her very first press trip, aboard a boat in Indonesia on which she and her photographer boyfriend became the only passengers after everyone else cancelled after a tsunami the day before it set sail. Things only got stranger after that!

Links:

Antonio Cala - Adventure Fix - https://www.adventurefix.co/
Imogen Lepere - https://www.imogenleperewriter.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/307

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

306 Eco-Accommodation

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 01:17:12 +0000

If we want to be mindful of our carbon footprint when we travel, a good way to do this is to consider more carefully the kinds of places where we choose to stay - like focusing on eco-accommodation. This is a part of my travel I definitely haven't given enough thought to in the past, and this episode has inspired me with stories about all kinds of accommodation options which are more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

First up, I chat with Dara Brewton who spent a month in Chiang Mai, Thailand, recently. By chance, almost, she ended up choosing some eco-friendly accommodation which has the added bonus of also looking adorable!

I then speak with Fran and Andrew Robinson, who are owners of certified eco-friendly chalets near Busselton, Western Australia - since they also have their own trees (thousands of them!), they actually personally offset more carbon than their business produces.

Finally, travel writer Nina Karnikowski gives a couple of great examples of sustainable accommodations options that she has enjoyed, in Nepal and in Australia.

Links:

Dara Brewton - https://travelness.com/
Leafy Greens - https://www.facebook.com/leafygreensCM
Fran and Andrew Robinson from Tree Chalets - https://www.treechalets.com.au
Nina Karnikowski - https://ninakarnikowski.com/
Happy House Nepal - http://www.happyhousenepal.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/306

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

305 Accessible Gold Coast Travels

Sat, 23 Sep 2023 03:04:26 +0000

Travel experiences should be accessible to everyone - I strongly believe that's an important part of the whole thoughtful travel ethos. As part of the Year of Accessible Tourism in Queensland, I've put together this episode about accessible travel on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia - it's full of great stories of people doing better, and I hope you enjoy it!

First up, I chat with Daniel Watkins, world champion wake boarder turned owner of the Gold Coast Wake Park and Gold Coast Aqua Park. Daniel tells me all about their recent trial of all-abilities sessions and how important it is to him to make access to these experiences available to everyone going forward.

I then speak with Mike Brigg of iFly Gold Coast, a skydiver and instructor who loves helping people discover what it feels like to fly. He has some really interesting stories to tell of the experiences of people with disabilities at iFly.

Finally, Anna Carroll from HOTA Home of the Arts explains what they have done as a multi-arts facility to really be an inclusive and accessible venue for people to experience all manner of arts and creative experiences.

Thanks so much to Julie Jones of Travel Without Limits magazine and Destination Gold Coast for their help in making this episode possible.

Links:

Destination Gold Coast - https://www.destinationgoldcoast.com/
Gold Coast Wake Park and Aqua Park - https://gcwakepark.com.au/
iFly Gold Coast - https://ifly.com.au/locations/gold-coast
HOTA Home of the Arts - https://hota.com.au/
Travel Without Limits Magazine - https://travelwithoutlimits.com.au/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/305

With thanks to Destination Gold Coast for sponsoring this episode.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

304 Bangkok Travels with Friends

Sat, 16 Sep 2023 13:19:55 +0000

Bangkok is a city which rewards many repeat visits and my recent trip there proved it! Putting together Episode 304 was a special chance for me to chat with several friends, old and new, who I had the joy of travelling with on our recent trip to Thailand.

In this episode, I start of chatting with Paddy Jenkins about our mutually favourite part of this Bangkok trip - visiting the Portuguese quarter or Kudijin (Kudichin). Diving deeper into the history of Bangkok here and learning about the Portuguese influence was so interesting (and side note, also delicious!).

Next up, I speak with Bonnie Grima about another fun part of our Bangkok days, exploring some of its most famous temples, Wat Arun and Wat Pho. This time, we had with us master guide Suree, and she helped us know more of the extra-interesting details about these temples, both historical and modern.

For Jules Park, a committed foodie, our evening in Chinatown was an especially memorable part of our Bangkok stay and we had a good chat about the atmosphere and some of the special treats we got to eat.

Finally, I have included a part of an interview I recorded with our guide Suree while we were sitting in the cafe of the delightful Baan Kudichin museum in the Portuguese quarter. She gives me another good Bangkok tip, but we mostly chat about Thai culture and why Thai people often seem so content.

Links:

Thai Talk with Paddy - https://www.youtube.com/ThaiTalkwithPaddy/
Bonita Grima - https://www.bonitamaygrima.com/
Jules Park - @amazingsydney life - https://www.instagram.com/amazingsydneylife/
Talat Noi in Bangkok - https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/talat-noi
Amazing Thailand - https://amazingthailand.com.au/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/304

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

303 Digital Nomad Life

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 22:01:00 +0000

Thank you internet: you've made many things possible, two of them being podcasts, and working as a digital nomad. In this episode on digital nomading, I've got three guests who all bring quite different perspectives on digital nomad life, and I hope it sparks some thinking!

First up, I chat with Will Hatton, aka The Broke Backpacker, who's spent many years wandering the world, making money in various ways online, including through his well-known blog. He describes his digital entrepreneurship trajectory and also gives some tips for prospective nomads.

I then speak with Dara Brewton, who has been working as a freelancer for about five years and recently started doing some digital nomad stints, like a month working out of Chiang Mai in Thailand during her son's summer school vacation.

Finally, I talk to Chris Christou of the End of Tourism podcast. Chris has lived in Oaxaca, Mexico, for about eight years now, and it's a real digital nomad hotspot - this has caused Chris to have a deeper think about digital nomad life than most and the results are super-interesting.

Links:

Taiwanese listeners! Find me on Instagram https://instagram.com/amandakendle
Will Hatton - The Broke Backpacker - https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/
Dara Brewton - https://travelness.com/
Chris Christou - The End of Tourism podcast - https://theendoftourism.com/
Episode 134 on Location Independent Work - notaballerina.com/134
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/303

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

302 Chiang Rai - Thailand's Far North

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 22:01:00 +0000

Ah, finally, I've made it to Chiang Rai! I've wanted to visit this most northern part of Thailand my whole life, as my dear late aunty came from Chiang Rai. Spending a few days up there was delightful, and full of really fascinating experiences, but I've narrowed it down to my three favourites for this podcast episode.

First: the White Temple. It's a very new temple, built on the site of an old one, and is almost more art and architecture than temple, designed and funded by well-known Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. I try to describe it - but you really do have to see it to believe it.

My second highlight was our day at Ahsa Farmstay, a little further north of Chiang Rai city. In this episode I explain what I loved about it and also share an interview with one of the women who run it, Aun Wannamala.

Finally, I explain my day at the Ban Pang Ha village right up in the northern tip of Thailand in Mae Sai. This is another excellent community-based tourism initiative and we enjoyed massages, facials, paper-making, great food and more up here; I chatted to Thiraphon Saraphrom about what makes Pang Ha so special.

Disclaimer stuff: I was hosted for this trip, which means the Tourism Authority of Thailand covered my travel costs. However, my opinions - and my love of Thailand - are all my own, honest truth.

Links:

Ahsa Farmstay - https://ahsafarmstay.com/
Ban Pang Ha community - https://www.thailand.go.th/issue-focus-detail/001_02_169
Community-Based Tourism - Episode 301 - https://notaballerina.com/301
Amazing Thailand - https://amazingthailand.com.au/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/302

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 19: Landlines by Raynor Winn

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 02:34:27 +0000

In July 2025 reports were published by The Observer (UK) suggesting significant parts of Raynor Winn’s story are untrue. This is a really sad development for books that both I and my listeners have held dear.

You can read the main Observer article at https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-real-salt-path-how-the-couple-behind-a-bestseller-left-a-trail-of-debt-and-deceit

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the August 2023 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, talking about Landlines by Raynor Winn with my co-host Justin Watson, and later joined by Thoughtful Travellers member Philippa.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

301 Community-Based Tourism

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 02:07:33 +0000

Community-based tourism experiences are one of my favourite things to seek out when I travel, and this episode is a great explanation of what CBT is, illustrated with fabulous examples from Thailand, Jamaica and Australia.

I first chat with Justin Meneguzzi who gives a great overview of community-based tourism as a whole, and then illustrates this with an example from an organic coffee farm he visited in northern Thailand.

Jonathan Coleman of Untours then tells me some examples of small community-based tourism businesses that the Reset Tourism Fund is looking to support - Jonathan has the fabulous role of travelling around to find these businesses.

Finally, I speak with Roger Smith from Echidna Walkabout, who has a great example of a way that a tour can support the local community with deliberate choices of accommodation.

Links:

Justin Meneguzzi - https://www.justinmeneguzzi.com
Suan Lahu - organic coffee farm in Thailand - https://suanlahu.org/
Jonathan Coleman - Untours Foundation https://untoursfoundation.org/
Roger Smith of Echidna Walkabout - https://echidnawalkabout.com.au/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/301

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

300 Thailand: First Post-Covid Adventure Abroad

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 00:58:51 +0000

Thailand was calling, and I had to go!

Three and a half years after my last pre-Covid adventure abroad, I finally managed to get out of Australia for a short media trip to Thailand. I'm home again now and celebrating that trip along with the milestone of the three hundredth episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast seems very appropriate.

In this episode I'll tell you a little bit about my trip to Bangkok and Chiang Rai - more to come on these destinations in future episodes - and about how I felt to be leaving Australia. I've also included an extract from a chat I recently had with my friend Jean, who took her first post-Covid trip to Iraq a couple of months ago, and had lots of similar thoughts about this "new" travel experience.

Of course, I always try to be a thoughtful traveller, and like to divide ways to be thoughtful into before, during and after a trip, so in this episode I ponder how well I did with this, considering it was a trip that arose at fairly short notice.

And finally, I ask our Bangkok guide Suree for her tips on how we can be thoughtful travellers in Thailand, and she has plenty of advice for travelling and, to be honest, for life in general.

Disclaimer stuff: I was hosted for this trip, which means the Tourism Authority of Thailand covered my travel costs. However, my opinions - and my love of Thailand - are all my own, honest truth.

Links

Amazing Thailand - https://amazingthailand.com.au/
How to be a thoughtful traveller - https://www.notaballerina.com/2018/01/thoughtful-travel.html
Previous chat with Jean about her trip to Iraq - https://notaballerina.com/297
Jean's site Traveling Honeybird - https://www.travelinghoneybird.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/300

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

299 Van Travel

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 22:01:00 +0000

Travelling in some kind of van - a campervan, a caravan, an RV, a motorhome - is a unique and fabulous way to see the world. I was lucky enough to spend many months in a campervan as a child, exploring both Europe and Australia, and it was completely life-changing! In this episode I have three guests with a wonderful variety of van experiences.

First up, I chat with Julie Kaplan, who is a self-described "reluctant" van traveller, but she tells a great story about a van trip she recently took with friends in Montenegro. Next, Staci Mellman explains one of her favourite ever trips, which happens to be a campervanning adventure around my own home state of Western Australia. Finally, I speak with Fran and Andrew Robinson, who talk about some wonderful family travels with their sons in a caravan around Australia - meeting some interesting characters along the way.

Links:

Julie Kaplan - https://www.juliekaplan.com/
Staci Mellman, Senior VP, Brand USA - https://www.thebrandusa.com
Fran and Andrew Robinson from Tree Chalets - https://www.treechalets.com.au
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/299

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

298 Conservation Travel

Sat, 15 Jul 2023 22:01:00 +0000

There are so many ways we can try to do better when we travel, and looking for tours or activities that have a conservation angle is one that, with a little research, can be surprisingly easy. In Episode 298 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I chat with two tour operators who have been diving deep into the conservation travel area for years, and to a traveller who was impressed by a conservation project in India and made a point to visit.

First up, Roger Smith from Echidna Walkabout does a good job of providing a definition of conservation travel, and then gives some great examples of what it can be and the effect it can have. It's good food for thought, too, that here in Australia, many people don't understand the value of our wildlife nor really see why it's so important to conserve it.

I chat then with Jamie Van Jones from Salt and Bush Eco Tours, who has a great example of a conservation project she's been involved with centred on fairy terns, small birds which are classed as a "vulnerable" protected species.

Finally, my long-time listener and friend Anuj explains more about his trip to the Gir National Park in India, where there has been a successful conservation campaign to improve outcomes and numbers for the local lions.

Links:

Roger Smith of Echidna Walkabout - https://echidnawalkabout.com.au/
Jamie Van Jones - www.saltandbush.com.au
Anuj’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/anujph/
Episode 293 - Citizen Science for Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/293
Episode 292 - Ethical Animal Experiences - https://notaballerina.com/292
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/298

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

297 Travels in Iraq

Sat, 08 Jul 2023 09:55:08 +0000

City names like Mosul, Karbala and Basra - and of course the capital Baghdad - are familiar to us all, but not from seeing people's holiday snaps, unfortunately. Tourism in Iraq is a very small-scale affair, but I've been curious about it recently after seeing a couple of people I knew travel there - and I've interviewed two women who've recently travelled to Iraq for this episode.

First up, I speak with Julie Kaplan. Curiously, Julie intended only to spend a few days in Kurdistan and on the insistent advice of friends she made there, decided to explore federal Iraq as well - and ending up spending four months there!

I then chat with longtime friend of the podcast Jean Cheney, who joined a small group tour in Iraq recently. She explained how safety issues were dealt with along with telling me about the amazing history and food of Iraq - enough to make me yearn to get there some day, for sure!

Links:

Julie Kaplan's website - https://www.juliekaplan.com/
Julie’s YouTube channel, Julie from LA - https://www.youtube.com/@juliefromla
Jean's website, Traveling Honeybird - https://www.travelinghoneybird.com/
Janet's Journeys - https://janetsjourneys.com/
Episode 157 - Eva on her work trip to Iraq - notaballerina.com/157
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/297

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

296 Connecting with Local People When You Travel

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 11:50:26 +0000

Making connections - either brief or lasting - with local people when you travel can often be the highlight of a trip. In this episode, three guests tell stories about people they have befriended on their travels and I hope it inspires you to be open to these kind of connections when you are next wandering the world, too.

My first guest is Antonio Cala, who talks about a stay in Mexico in the first month of he and his wife's years-long journey cycling down through Central and South America. Having an open schedule meant they could say yes to some incredible opportunities.

Next, I chat with Martha Waslen, who reminds us that you can also make connections on shorter trips too - again, it's about staying open to the possibilities. She and her husband made lifelong friends amongst the locals working in a Maldives resort, and she's drawn on that lesson to start her business.

Finally, Sequoia Armstrong describes a stay in Cuba when she and her friend got to know their trishaw rider and got to experience some local Cuban fun!

Links:

Antonio Cala - Adventure Fix - https://www.adventurefix.co/
Martha Waslen - DayAway - https://mydayaway.com/
Sequoia Armstrong - Puebla York - trips to Japan and Mexico - https://pueblayorkinc.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/296

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

295 Overnight Train Travel

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 06:20:14 +0000

Travelling overnight in a train is, I think, a very special experience. I've slept peacefully on overnight trains in Russia, Finland and Vietnam, and will happily do so again, for many reasons. Spending extended periods of time on trains is a wonderful way to get chatting to other travellers, a comfortable way to really see a country's landscapes, and of course, it's also more environmentally friendly than flying.

My first guest on this episode is Justin Meneguzzi, who recently included overnight train travel to replace domestic flights on his trip to Thailand. It was great to hear about his experiences in both first and second class and has definitely inspired me to test out the Thai rail system on my next trip there.

I then chat with Julie Kaplan, who not long ago spent four months travelling in Iraq. She took her first overnight train trip while she was there, and tells me about her experience travelling from Baghdad to Basra.

Finally, I speak with Imogen Lepere about her trip across Russia on the Trans-Mongolian. As is often the case with overnight train travel, she struck up some kind of connection with the local travellers sharing her cabin.

Links:

French ban on short plane trips - https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/12/02/is-france-banning-private-jets-everything-we-know-from-a-week-of-green-transport-proposals
12 Go Asia https://12go.asia/en - booking transport in Asia
Justin Meneguzzi - https://www.justinmeneguzzi.com
Julie Kaplan - https://www.juliekaplan.com/
Julie’s YouTube channel, Julie from LA - https://www.youtube.com/@juliefromla
Imogen Lepere - https://www.imogenleperewriter.com/
Imogen’s book The Ethical Traveller - 100 ways to roam the world without ruining it - https://amzn.to/3Pj7KO7
Trans-Siberian Train Journeys, Episode 194 - notaballerina.com/194
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/295

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

294 Raynor Winn: Deep Dive Into Thoughtful Travel

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 23:31:57 +0000

You can read the main Observer article at https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-real-salt-path-how-the-couple-behind-a-bestseller-left-a-trail-of-debt-and-deceit

**********************

Raynor Winn, bestselling author, one of my personal heroes, all-round amazingly nice person - is the guest on this deep dive episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast.

I discovered Raynor Winn's books thanks to the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, when one of our members, Joan, suggested we read "The Salt Path". I'm so glad she did, because it became a firm favourite amongst book club members, and we've subsequently read "The Wild Silence" and will soon discuss Raynor's third book, "Landlines", too.

In this chat, we discuss the mindset shifts from the hiking life, and what to do when you have to spend time back in "normal life"; we talk about making connections with other people on your travels; we cover the issue of homelessness, something important to both of us; we delve into how Raynor actually became a writer, and what her writing process is like now; and finally, we end with some fabulous lessons from travel.

It was such a thrill to record this chat, and I hope you all enjoy it even half as much as I did!

Links:

Landlines by Raynor Winn - https://amzn.to/3WLpmDO
Thoughtful Travellers Book Club - https://notaballerina.com/bookclub
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/294

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

293 Citizen Science for Travellers

Fri, 26 May 2023 09:33:06 +0000

Many of us like to “do good” when we travel, and getting involved in some kind of citizen science program when we travel is a fantastic way to do this. Citizen science might involve making observations of wildlife or flora, collecting other kinds of data or even working in a science lab, and the guests on this podcast have a variety of wonderful citizen science experiences to report.

First up, I chat with Roger Smith of Echidna Walkabout. After running tours in Australia for several decades, largely centred on our intriguing wildlife, he has much to say about using citizen science on their tours, and has a great example from a koala project to share.

I then speak with Jamie Van Jones of Salt and Bush Eco Tours. They include some kind of citizen science aspect to all their tours and Jamie explains how travellers are contributing to helping conserve a critically endangered possum in Western Australia.

Finally, Justin Meneguzzi explains his experience of citizen science on an expedition cruise to Antarctica, where he could get involved in various projects run by the scientists on board the ship.

Links:

Roger Smith of Echidna Walkabout - https://echidnawalkabout.com.au/
Koala Clancy Foundation, their NFP - https://www.koalaclancyfoundation.org.au
Jamie Van Jones - www.saltandbush.com.au
Swanlandia, their NFP - https://www.swanlandia.com.au
Justin Meneguzzi - https://www.justinmeneguzzi.com
eBird - https://ebird.org/
iNaturalist - https://www.inaturalist.org
Questagame - https://questagame.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/293

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

292 Ethical Animal Experiences on Your Travels

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 01:18:41 +0000

Getting animal experiences right when we travel is something we can all try hard to do - checking ahead of time whether the ways we might be about to interact with animals are ethical and appropriate.

In this episode I have a bit of theory and practice to share. First up, we hear from Nora Livingstone at Animal Experience International, an organisation which helps travellers volunteer at ethical animal experiences around the world.

We then move on to India with my long-time listener Anuj, who recently spent time in the Gir National Park in Gujarat, India, and explains both the ethics and his incredible experiences there.

Links:

Nora Livingstone from Animal Experience International - https://www.animalexperienceinternational.com
Anuj’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/anujph/
Gir National Park - https://girlion.gujarat.gov.in - official site, available only in India
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/292

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

291 Things Going Wrong on Our Travels

Sat, 08 Apr 2023 09:41:13 +0000

There is, apparently, no end to the appetite of both me and my listeners to hear stories about things going wrong on our travels. It’s not that we want to laugh or point fingers at people who have bad things happen to them - I think it’s more an empathy and sympathy, and the kind of entertainment that arises from someone who’s told a travel story many times, and can tell it well. That’s my excuse anyway: this is just one more of quite a number of episodes on this topic!

My first guest in this episode is Nora Livingston of Animal Experience International, and her tale of something going wrong does, indeed, feature an animal - a Cape buffalo, in fact, in Kenya. Fortunately, all involved come out of the experience unharmed.

I then chat with Staci Mellman of Brand USA about the natural disaster kind of “things going wrong” - when cyclonic storms interrupted a boat ride while she was in Fiji a few years back.

Finally, I discuss work travel with Joseph Kolapudi, who’s had quite a string of bad luck when he’s travelled to present at conferences. He has tales from India and Kenya about some of the things that have gone wrong - but that he always manages to get through nonetheless.

Links:

Nora Livingstone, Animal Experience International - https://www.animalexperienceinternational.com
Staci Mellman, Senior VP, Brand USA - https://www.thebrandusa.com
Joseph Kolapudi, SolveSquad - https://www.solvesquad.co/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/291

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 18: Travel as a Political Act by Rick Steves

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 22:01:00 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the March 2023 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, talking about Travel as a Political Act by Rick Steves.

Justin and I chatted about some of the positives of this book - the various lessons learnt from travel and some guidelines for travelling thoughtfully - along with a few parts we didn't agree with so wholeheartedly.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

290 Kununurra and Seven Years of Podcasting

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 22:01:00 +0000

Happy 7th birthday to The Thoughtful Travel Podcast!

This is a special episode with a few interesting tidbits about the podcast, inspired by members of the Thoughtful Travellers groups who gave me some excellent suggestions. For example, I've got the stats to show you which seven episodes have been the most downloaded over the history of the podcast; I've also got our group's version of the seven deadly sins of travel.

I've also combined this seven-year celebration with a trip report on my recent experience in Kununurra, in the far north-east of Western Australia. It's an incredible part of the world and I feel so blessed to have been sent there to run some workshops, and I wanted to share a few of the highlights from my experience. But I have to return to see more!!!

Links:

SxSW Session Select voting - https://notaballerina.com/vote “Why We Need Travel More Than Travel Needs Us” (until 11th April 2023)
My Instagram for Kununurra pics and videos - https://instagram.com/amandakendle
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/290

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

289 Behind the Scenes of Travel Media and Public Relations

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 22:01:00 +0000

What really goes on behind the scenes of travel writers, content creators and podcasters, and their counterparts in the tourism and travel industry, public relations firms and tourism boards? I recently spent the best part of a week in Sydney immersed in this world and I realised that lifting the curtain on how this part of travel and tourism works might prove interesting for my listeners.

This episode is part trip report (in short: Sydney is gorgeous) and part BTS of IMM Australia, and more. The what? You'll have to listen to find out! I also chat with Christina Koullas of CK PR who gives us a great rundown on how public relations in general works within the travel industry.

Links:

Christina Koullas of CK PR - https://ckpr.com.au/
Christina’s blog about working with a journalist - https://ckpr.com.au/how-we-secured-a-cover-story/
The resulting article from Catherine Marshall - https://www.traveller.com.au/cape-york-queensland-travel-guide-the-last-great-adventure-destination-in-australia-h1twly
TravMedia - https://travmedia.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/289

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

288 Is Volunteer Tourism Good or Bad?

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 22:01:00 +0000

It'd be great if any time we took ourselves travelling and volunteered somewhere that it was a purely good act. The problem is, of course, that we are now getting to understand just how damaging some kinds of volunteer tourism can be. Is it all bad, though? I don't think so! But we definitely have to be very, very thoughtful any time we sign up for voluntourism.

In Episode 288 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I chat with three travellers about their thoughts and experiences with volunteer travel. First up, I speak with Eliza Raymond of Good Travel, who has a very telling story about an experience she had volunteering in Guatemala at just eighteen years of age.

Next, I talk to Jonathan Coleman from the Reset Tourism Fund at the UnTours Foundation. After working with NGOs hosting volunteer groups, along with various other tourism experiences throughout his career, he's very sceptical about the ability of almost any travel volunteer experience to be a truly worthwhile one for every party involved.

Finally, I chat to Kayra Martinez of Love Without Borders For Refugees. Kayra was living in Germany when she saw an influx of refugees on the news back in 2015, and tried to find out what she could do to help - this led to a seriously big commitment to voluntourism in Greek refugee camps.

Links:

Eliza Raymond - Good Travel - https://www.good-travel.org/
"Youth, Let’s Be Good Travellers" video - https://www.good-travel.org/blog/youth-lets-be-good-travellers
Jonathan Coleman - Untours Foundation - https://untoursfoundation.org/
Kayra Martinez - Love Without Borders - http://lovewithoutborders4refugees.com/
Episode 228 - Volunteering Experiences - https://notaballerina.com/228
Episode 145 - Volunteering Experiences While Travelling - https://notaballerina.com/145
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/288

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

287 Not Your Typical Cruise

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 22:01:00 +0000

I don't think I'm the kind of traveller who's going to board a five-thousand-passenger cruise ship any time soon. But when I chatted with these three guests about their experiences with what I've called "not your typical" cruises, then I'm feeling much more inclined to pack my bags and my seasickness tablets!

My first guest is Rick Antonson, an author of many fantastic travel books, and veteran of nearly no cruises! He did, however, have a brilliant experience on a river cruise in Myanmar a few years back, and does a good job of convincing me that it's my kind of cruise, too.

Next, I chat to Noah Barnes, captain of a sailboat or windjammer off the Maine Coast, about how the trips he runs are absolutely not your typical cruise. I'm literally ready to sign up.

Finally, I speak with Justin Meneguzzi about an experience he had on the kind of cruise that's always appealed to me - an expedition cruise. You'll have to listen to find out why three hundred passengers all abandoned their dinner and grabbed their cameras when they were cruising near Svalbard.

Links:

Rick Antonson - www.rickantonson.com
Rick’s new book, Train Beyond the Mountains - https://amzn.to/3Zq1C8T (out April 2023)
Maine Windjammer Association - https://www.sailmainecoast.com/
Noah’s boat - Stephen Taber - https://www.stephentaber.com/
Justin Meneguzzi - https://www.justinmeneguzzi.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/287

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

286 Melbourne, Victoria, and Sports Travel

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 03:21:08 +0000

One of my very favourite cities anywhere is Melbourne, Australia. It's a city I seriously considering moving to when I returned from living abroad, and I have so many friends there - long story short, I always love visiting Melbourne.

When my son was picked as a goalkeeper for the Western Australian state indoor soccer team, and we found out he'd be headed to Melbourne for the National Fustal Championships in January 2023, I was equally excited about his inclusion in the team and the fact that we'd "have to" go to Melbourne!

This episode is a trip report about our experiences on sports travel, as well as a few days down in San Remo and Phillip Island, topped off with a city staycation in the heart of my beloved Melbourne.

Links:

Penguins at Phillip Island - https://www.penguins.org.au/
Voco Melbourne Central - https://www.ihg.com/voco/hotels/us/en/melbourne/melct/hoteldetail
Immigration Museum - https://museumsvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/286

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

285 Thoughtful Travel to Hawaii - Island Wisdom by Kainoa Daines and Annie Daly

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 22:01:00 +0000

I've always wanted to get to Hawai'i some day - but now I know why I haven't made it yet. I needed to read this brilliant book first!

This episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is an interview with Annie Daly and Kainoa Daines, the authors of "Island Wisdom: Hawaiian Traditions and Practices for a Meaningful Life". It's one of those brilliant books - all too rare - which serve the function of teaching us really important things about a destination before we arrive, and enrich the experience we have once we're there. Having read this book, I know for certain I'll get so much more out of a future Hawai'i trip then if I hadn't read it.

I had such a wonderful chat with Annie and Kainoa, and I've tried to edit it down a little - we couldn't stop talking! - but it's still a little longer than a regular episode. Hope you enjoy it and that if you've visited Hawai'i before, it gives you some extra context, or that it enriches a future trip if you're like me and haven't had the magic of a Hawaiian experience just yet!

Links:

Island Wisdom - https://amzn.to/3E2oNgO
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/285

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

284 Letting Go of Expectations on Your Travels

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 13:09:08 +0000

We know that having expectations can often set us up for disappointment - and many thoughtful travellers will also know that letting go of these expectations and just embracing whatever happens can often lead to the most memorable and enjoyable trips.

In this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I chat with three guests who prove just that. Firstly, I talk with Diana Fischer of Detours Zürich about some of her experiences of travel and how she’s learnt that being humble and open-minded can teach her the most.

I then speak to windjammer captain Noah Barnes who explains that both his own travel experiences and those he observes of his cruise passengers have taught him that having expectations is the enemy of fun, and that a certain amount of discomfort is actually the best recipe for a memorable trip.

Finally, Nancy Edwards gives some examples of the unexpected occurrences she’s faced on travels in Sierra Leone and Laos, reminding us that being prepared for anything is likely to both teach us the most and give us the best possible travel experience.

Links:

Diana Fischer from Detours Zürich - https://www.detours-zurich.ch/
Maine Windjammer Association - https://www.sailmainecoast.com/
Noah’s boat - Stephen Taber - https://www.stephentaber.com/
Nancy Edwards, author - https://www.nancyedwards.ca - Not One, Not Even One: A Memoir of Life-altering Experiences in Sierra Leone, West Africa
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/284

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

283 Antarctic Travel

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 04:20:38 +0000

It's the season for Antarctic travel - but should we really encourage Antarctic tourism?

That's the question I had in mind when I chatted with Justin Watson (well-known to listeners as my Book Club co-host), who travelled to Antarctic recently on a true trip-of-a-lifetime. We chat about the highlights of an Antarctic trip, Justin's tips for deciding on a ship to join, and also our thoughts on whether Antarctic tourism is for better or worse. You'll have to listen to find out what we decided!

Links:

Justin’s blog with some great photos on his Antarctic posts - https://justins.world
Nikki Gemmell’s book Shiver - https://amzn.to/3Dqfvei
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/283

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 16: Peel Me A Lotus by Charmian Clift

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 22:01:00 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the 2022 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, talking about Peel Me A Lotus by Charmian Clift with my co-host Justin Watson, and later joined by Thoughtful Travellers member Philippa.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

282 Friendships Made While Travelling

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 11:14:30 +0000

Friendships made while travelling are some of the best friendships of all, right? I think the kind of person we act as while we travel is closer to our best self than usual, plus we’re likely to interact with people who have similar interests and values - and then, whammo, we suddenly have friends for life!

In this episode I start off with a beautiful story from Diana Fischer about a friend she made on her first backpacking trip to Asia, in Sri Lanka. It’s a friendship that has stood the test of time.

Next, I speak with Noah Barnes, who describes both his own travel friendships, as well as the many friendships he witnesses being made every sailing season aboard his windjammer in Maine.

Finally, I chat to Oliver Jähnke about travelling for his YouTube channel, Queers of the World, and how the people he makes contact with ahead of every trip help provide him with instant friendships on arrival.

Links:

Diana Fischer from Detours Zürich - https://www.detours-zurich.ch/
Maine Windjammer Association - https://www.sailmainecoast.com/
Noah’s boat - Stephen Taber - https://www.stephentaber.com/
Oliver Jähnke - Queers of the World - https://www.youtube.com/queersoftheworld
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/282

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 15: Sovietistan by Erika Fatland

Tue, 27 Dec 2022 08:17:27 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the December 2021 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, talking about Sovietistan by Erika Fatland with my co-host Justin Watson.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

281 Regenerative and Sustainable Travel

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 22:01:00 +0000

We all see the headlines about how travelling is bad for the earth - and yet I know my podcast listeners also agree that travel is so very good for us, in so many ways, that we need to find a way to continue to travel. This makes the ideas of regenerative travel and sustainable travel important to talk and think about, and I'm pleased to have put together this episode to help us all do just that.

I chat first of all with Dr Susanne Etti, who's currently the Global Environmental Impact Manager at Intrepid Travel. We discuss how we can "make flights count", and her ideas on what we should do about carbon offsets, too.

My second guest is Diana Fischer from Detours Zürich, a small but impactful tour business running in Switzerland. It's exciting to hear Diana's thoughts behind how and why she set up the business and it's a good reminder for us to consider the impact of every business we choose to support when we travel.

Finally, I had wonderful chat with Sam Combs from the middle of a rainforest in Belize, where he and his family run the Sattva retreat centre. He ponders whether regenerative travel is really able to do more good than harm but also explains the lessons we can take home from travel, along with the permaculture focus of their centre.

Links:

Dr Susanne Etti from Intrepid Travel - https://www.intrepidtravel.com/
Diana Fischer from Detours Zürich - https://www.detours-zurich.ch/
Sam Combs from Sattva retreat centre in Belize - https://www.sattvaland.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/281

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 14: A Beginner's Guide to Japan by Pico Iyer

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 09:27:20 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the October 2021 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, talking about A Beginner's Guide to Japan by Pico Iyer with our special guest, Miyuki Seguchi, host of Japan Experts podcast.

Get your own copy of the book at https://amzn.to/3oXYz5y

You can listen to Japan Experts on any podcast app or at https://anchor.fm/japan-experts

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

280 Western Australia - Thoughtful Travels in 2022

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 22:01:00 +0000

I'm one lucky gal. Work and being (suddenly!) the parent of a high school kid has kept me from too many big trips this year - along with the after-effects of Covid on travel - but I have been able to spend time running workshops in various parts of my beautiful home state, Western Australia. When I look at all those trips together, I realise properly what fabulous experiences I've had this year, and I wanted to celebrate this special 280th episode by chatting about how I saw my home state thoughtfully.

My first 2022 trip was in March, to Broome in the far north of Western Australia (in other continents I would have crossed multiple countries to get there!), my first time to this iconic destination. One highlight was meeting a local friend and hearing more about what life is like in Broome for those on the margins.

I headed "down south" in June, basing myself in Busselton for a few days of work and exploration. It's an area I've visited frequently, so I set myself the challenge of finding something new, and in so doing learnt much about the Wonnerup Massacre from almost two centuries ago - but still very important today.

Later that month I went further south to Albany, a town on the south coast of Western Australia and one I'd visited dozens of times over the years when my grandmother was alive. With over a decade between trips, I was keen to see new developments like the National Anzac Centre.

My final trip was a few hundred kilometres north to Geraldton, another first-time visit for me, where exploring the HMAS Sydney II memorial touched me - though not as much as the random exploration of a place my father lived back in the 1940s.

I hope this episode gives non-Western Australians a taste of what this state is like, and maybe even helps everyone to ponder how they can make their own travels more thoughtful, too.

Links:

Broome - Episode 273 https://www.notaballerina.com/2022/05/broome-western-australia-episode-273-thoughtful-travel-podcast.html
Cape to Cape Hike - Episode 276 https://www.notaballerina.com/2022/10/walking-cape-to-cape-track-episode-276-thoughtful-travel-podcast.html
Wonnerup Massacre reporting - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-17/wonnerup-minninup-massacre-the-ghosts-are-not-silent/100458938
National Anzac Centre in Albany - https://www.nationalanzaccentre.com.au
Feed the Little Children Inc. - https://www.feedthelittlechildren.org.au
HMAS Sydney II information - https://museum.wa.gov.au/explore/sydney
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/280

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

279 Travels Along the LGBTQIA+ Rainbow

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 22:01:00 +0000

For many kinds of travellers who belong to some kind of minority - even large minorities! - the experience of travel can be quite different to the mainstream. The plight of travelling as an LGBTQIA+ person has been in discussion in our household of late thanks to my son's interest in soccer and his disgust at what he's been learning about Qatar's treatment of gay people - and the concern for gay travellers headed there to watch the World Cup later this month.

That made it seem just the right time for me to release this episode which includes contributions from three travellers from the LGBTQIA+ rainbow. My first guest is Mark Chesnut, who chats about the changes he has seen in travelling as a gay man over the past three decades, from the interesting perspective of being a travel writer. I then speak with Oliver Jähnke, a trans man from Sweden, about the way his travels and approach to travelling has changed throughout his transitioning years. Finally, I have a wonderfully insightful contribution from the Barefoot Backpacker about how being asexual, aromantic and non-binary has impacted their travels around the world.

Links:

Mark Chesnut - https://www.markchesnut.com and his new book “Prepare for Departure” a beautiful memoir
Oliver Jähnke - Queers of the World - https://www.youtube.com/queersoftheworld
Barefoot Backpacker Travel Tales from Beyond the Brochure - https://barefoot-backpacker.com/category/podcast/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/279

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

278 Saying Yes to Invitations from Locals

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 22:01:00 +0000

What happens if you just say yes?

When we travel, there are times that an interaction with a local person offers us something a bit off the beaten path - an experience you won't find in a travel brochure. The three guests in this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast all said yes to invitations from locals and came away with some very interesting stories to tell!

First up, I chat with Oliver Jähnke, who visited Kyrgyzstan and met a family who, on learning about his interest in horses, sent him off to the mountains with a relative to have a very unique experience.

Next, Nathan Thomas tells me about what saying yes to a friend in China meant one weekend. And finally, Sophia Bentaher explains the story of having dinner in Bulgaria with a man who held rather opposing political beliefs - and the lessons she learnt from this experience.

Links:

Oliver Jähnke - Queers of the World - https://www.youtube.com/queersoftheworld
Nathan Thomas of Intrepid Times https://intrepidtimes.com/
Nathan’s new book Travel Your Way: Rediscover the World on Your Own Terms
Sophia Bentaher’s website https://sophia-b.co/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/278

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

277 Languages and Connection

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 22:01:00 +0000

A human connection - whether it’s brief and in passing, or deeper and more lasting, is a wonderful side product of travelling in another country. Those connections help us learn so much more than a guidebook or top ten list can ever tell us, and are often the most memorable parts of a trip. Sometimes a language barrier prevents this connection and so in Episode 277 we talk about the ways knowing a local language, whether just a few words or fluently, can make a huge difference to the quality of your experience.

As well as fabulous anecdotes shared by members Anuj, Justin and Carolanna, members of the Thoughtful Travellers community, I also speak with three guests. Eliza Raymond summarises perfectly how a common language is so connecting, and then James Patterson gives a great example of learning some words of local language during his stays on Orkney. Finally, Kayra Martinez, who’s spent a lot of time studying many languages, discusses the value of language learning not just amongst travellers but amongst refugees as well, in the context of a northern Greece refugee camp where she’s spent a lot of time working. Throughout the episode I also make mention of some of the academic research on the topic, carried out by Portuguese researchers.

Links:

Eliza Raymond - Good Travel - https://www.good-travel.org/
James Patterson - https://www.jrpatterson.ca
Kayra Martinez - http://lovewithoutborders4refugees.com/
Research from Ines Carvalho
Carvalho, I. (2021). "You can see both sides of the coin" - how the pursuit of language skills influences the travel experience. Tourism Recreation Research, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2021.1894044
Carvalho, I., & Sheppard, V. (2022). Memorable experiences in language travel. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 22(2), 149-163. https://doi.org/10.1177/14673584211013866
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/277

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

276 Walking the Cape to Cape Track in Western Australia with Catherine Marshall

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 22:01:00 +0000

The Cape to Cape Track has loomed iconically in my mind for many years, although its location down in the south-west corner of Western Australia means many of you won't have heard of it. Running from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin - and more traditionally, from the lighthouses at each end which I've visited as tourist attractions many times throughout my life - this 124km walk passes along beaches and cliffs, through forest and up and down dunes, all the time with the ocean either boldly visible or at least close enough that you can hear the waves. In short, it is amazing, and what's even better, my friend Catherine and I have just come back from hiking it.

This episode includes a chat between Catherine and I after we returned from our week-long hike. We'd had grand plans of recording small snippets each night but soon realised that hiking over 20km per day took all our energy and brain space, but I think this more reflective chat after the event will give you a really good idea of what this experience meant to us. Enjoy!

The disclosure bit: we self-funded this trip - our opinions (as always) are 100% our own!

Links:

Cape to Cape Track - information from Friends of the track - http://www.capetocapetrack.com.au

Cape to Cape Explorer Tours - https://capetocapetours.com.au/

Catherine’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zizzyballord/

Amanda’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amandakendle/

Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin

Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/276

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 17: The Wild Silence by Raynor Winn

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 06:42:02 +0000

You can read the main Observer article at https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-real-salt-path-how-the-couple-behind-a-bestseller-left-a-trail-of-debt-and-deceit

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the October 2022 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, talking about The Wild Silence by Raynor Winn.

We chat about Raynor and Moth's journey from homelessness to a farm in need of rewilding, her experience of writing and publishing The Salt Path, and their hiking trip in Iceland. Thanks to Justin, Pam and Philippa for joining me!

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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275 Kids Are Shaped By Travel

Sat, 06 Aug 2022 10:24:39 +0000

My own kid is twelve years old now, and thanks to the pandemic had spent more than two years without a trip outside his home state of Western Australia. I wish it could have been otherwise, but what excited me no end on our recent trip to New South Wales was that all this time without travel hadn't blunted his enthusiasm for it - quite the opposite, perhaps, he was more excited than ever to step on a plane and explore someplace new to him. On this trip I saw so many ways that our past travels had shaped him, so I was keen to put together this episode of other voices saying the same about their own kids.

First up, I chat with Carmen and David Allan-Petale who spent a year and a half travelling around Australia in a caravan with their young daughter. The stories they share of her experiences and how they believe it shaped her personality are truly heartwarming.

Next, I speak to Erika Kritikides from Intrepid Travel. Her son's experiences of China as a six-year-old - what was important to him, and how he dealt with such a unique trip - confirm that travel really shapes kids.

Finally, I talk to Eliza Raymond who is literally doing a PhD on what kids learn from travel - truly a woman after my own heart! I can't wait to see the results of her studies (and hope she confirms what this episode anecdotally proves to be true!).

Links:

Carmen and David Allan-Petale of Red Platypus Creative - https://redplatypuscreative.com
Also, hosts of the Committed Creative Podcast https://podcast.redplatypuscreative.com
Erika Kritikides from Intrepid Travel Small Group Adventures www.intrepidtravel.com
Eliza Raymond from Good Travel - https://www.good-travel.org/
Eliza's research profile - https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/som/research/phd/tour/eliza-raymond
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/275

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

274 Dale Neill: Deep Dive into Thoughtful Travel

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 01:32:43 +0000

Dale Neill, photographer, traveller, teacher and all-round nice guy, is my guest for this special Deep Dive episode. I've known Dale for a decade or so and many times been entranced by his fantastic stories (travel and otherwise!) and it was such a pleasure to chat with him at length for this episode.

Dale's tales on this episode start in Borneo photographing orang-utans, then move to meeting local dogs on Naxos in Greece. He's led many tours so has a crazy tale to tell of dealing with tour participants with high expectations in Turkey, and we finish up with his expectations not being met in a hotel in Vietnam.

Links:

Dale’s website - http://www.daleneill.com.au/
Previous stories from Dale:
Episode 178 Interesting Plane Passengers Sitting Next To You - https://notaballerina.com/178
Episode 136 Photography for Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/136
Episode 146 Travelling in Iran - https://notaballerina.com/146
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/274

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

273 Broome, Western Australia

Sun, 29 May 2022 11:09:10 +0000

Broome in Western Australia is in my home state, but it’s over 2000km away, so earlier this year was the very first time I’d finally got that far. Of course, it was worth the wait in many ways.

Episode 273 is about my Broome experience, which was mostly a work trip, but it’s also about being a thoughtful traveller, and how I went with applying some of the key principles of thoughtful travel to my days in Broome.

This was a very special trip for me - my first flight since January 2020, when I returned from Kuala Lumpur amongst rumours of this strange virus circulating. Getting quite far away from Perth was a wonderful reset and refresh and I hope you enjoy hearing about it.

Links:

Salty Plum Social for bar and art tours - https://www.saltyplumsocial.com.au
Documentary I watched in Broome - Djkamirr - https://www.birthingoncountry.com/djakamirr
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/273

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

272 Travel Gives You Confidence

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 22:01:00 +0000

Whether you're hitchhiking, making new friends or buying a train ticket in India, all of these things take confidence. We talk often on The Thoughtful Travel Podcast about the myriad ways travel helps you grow, and one of the biggest benefits I've had from travelling is that it's given me immense confidence - a trait that's carried through into my personal and professional life far beyond my travels.

In Episode 272, my three guests tell me about incidents from their travels which have given them lasting confidence. I start with Sophia Bentaher who has a great philosophical approach to what she's learnt from travel and thinks that travelling gives a compounding benefit as you see the results of your actions and become increasingly confident in all that you do.

I then chat with Nathan Thomas who describes the daily achievements in travel like buying a ticket at an Indian train station where even the scam artists are dressed in an official-looking uniform. Each of these kinds of achievements add to your confidence. Finally, I hear from Sarah Meyer who intentionally went looking for her confidence to be built on a long-term solo trip in Asia - and found it in spades.

Links:

Crossing cultures: Student travel and personal development - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0147176797000217
Sophia’s website https://sophia-b.co/
Nathan of Intrepid Times https://intrepidtimes.com/
Nathan’s new book Travel Your Way: Rediscover the World on Your Own Terms
Sarah’s site Last Minute Wanders https://lastminutewanders.com/
Ep 15 - Travel Builds Confidence, So Do It! - notaballerina.com/15
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/272

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

271 Six Years of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 12:34:13 +0000

Can you believe this - because I almost can't - that The Thoughtful Travel Podcast turned six years old recently?! Unfortunately, my household were all suffering with Covid on its actual birthday, but I've now recovered enough to put together this episode to celebrate.

In particular, I'm excited to share some wonderful voice messages from friends and listeners of the podcast - collating these gave me such a thrill! In this episode I also outline a few of the last year's successes, and talk about some plans I have for the next year of the podcast.

Thanks so much to everyone who listens, shares, participates in our groups and in all other ways supports The Thoughtful Travel Podcast - I am so very grateful for you all.

Links:

Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/271

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

270 Post-Pandemic Travel: What Will Change?

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 09:29:24 +0000

I don’t think we’re at the post-pandemic stage yet, but we definitely seem to be at the stage where people are travelling a lot more - even the Australian border is open now, and Western Australia’s will be soon too. So it seems like an appropriate time to revisit the great hopes of 2020 - when we all said that after the pandemic we’ll be much more thoughtful travellers, basically.

In this episode, I talk about some academic research and a prediction of the different ways people will approach travel after the pandemic - they’ve based it on ‘terror management theory’ which is intriguing in itself. After discussion both the short and long term predictions of how people may change their thoughts about travel, I dig into the anecdotal evidence I’ve been able to collect in recent weeks.

Basically, I think there is good news and bad news. And I really hope the good news wins out in the end!

Links:

“Proximal and distal post-COVID travel behavior’ in the Annals of Tourism Research, Volume 88, by L Miao, J Im, X Fu, H Kim and YE Zhang - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2021.103159
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/270

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

269 Working in Tourism and Travel

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 22:01:00 +0000

Working in the tourism industry sounds like a dream, right? (Well, maybe not during a pandemic ...) But there's certainly something to be said for working in an industry where the focus is on something happy and joyful, and the three guests in this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast all have had some wonderful experiences working in tourism and travel.

I start off by chatting with Lucky Legong who migrated from South Africa to Australia to continue working in the hospitality industry. She started off spending several years on gorgeous (but remote!) Kangaroo Island and then moved to Lord Howe Island - there are definitely some perks to this work, especially the beautiful surroundings.

Shelley Winkel spoke to me about her career in publicity in the tourism industry, with a wide-ranging list of appointments across the globe, though for some years now her big love has been promoting Queensland - which is how we originally met.

To finish up I talk to travel writer Bev Malzard about one of the most envy-inducing parts of working in travel, the famil - I've also been on a number of familiarisation trips and they're most commonly thought of by others as a holiday when in fact they can be quite a lot of hard work - in the case of this hilarious story from Bev, it's her stomach which had to work hard!

Links:

Lucky Legong from the Baillie Lodges group - https://baillielodges.com.au
Lucky's previous interview about migrating to Australia to continue her hospitality work - notaballerina.com/254
Shelley Winkel from Tourism and Events Queensland - https://teq.queensland.com
Bev Malzard’s blog TravelGal on the Move - https://travelgaltravels.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/269

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

268 Finding Yourself in Danger on Your Travels

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 22:01:00 +0000

Warnings of danger on our travels seem to be over-represented in the discussions people have before rips. Perhaps it’s the (understandable) fear of the unknown, combined with our tendency to spread more bad stories than good ones. For Episode 268, I’ve brought together a bunch of guests who’ve had a range of experiences that are dangerous or could-have-been dangerous, with one overarching message: they are all okay!

That’s not to say we shouldn’t be aware and somewhat risk-averse when we travel, of course. My first guest is Jess Stone who had an experience in Mexico which to start with, was quite frightening. I then chat with Brent Hartinger and Michael Jensen about two experiences they’ve had with fire while travelling (the second of which made me properly scared!). Finally, Helena Fox tells me about an experience she had as a young backpacker in France, where she ended up being lucky in a situation I know can turn out quite differently.

Links:

Jess Stone of Go Ruffly, ethical outdoor dog gear - https://www.goruffly.com/
Brent and Michael are Going Places - https://www.brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com/
Helena Fox - https://helenafoxauthor.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/268

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

267 Specialised Group Travel

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 22:01:00 +0000

Are you a fan of group trips? Or are you, like me, more generally a keenly independent traveller who needs a very good reason to decide to take a group tour of any kind?

When it comes to group travel, I've learned over the years that there really is a group trip to suit everyone, even people like me who are highly reluctant group travellers - and often what turns us is the idea of some highly specialised group travel. In this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I speak with three people who've had experiences in specialised group travel and they make a great case for why we all should try it sometimes.

First up, I chat with Evan Petrelis from Renaissance Tours, who specialise in tours connected to special interests like ballet, archaeology and gardens. He runs through some of the advantages and disadvantages of group travel and highlights how travelling with likeminded people with the same passion can be particularly rewarding.

Next, I speak to Debbie Clarke, who has run tours for the LGBTQ community for many years. She has a pretty touching story to tell of the outcome of these tours for some of the participants.

Finally, Vicky Sahami joins me to explain her highly specialised group trips which focus on visiting the best places in the world to observe total solar eclipses. It's a fascinating special interest which has seen Vicky experience some really far-flung parts of the globe, and in really unique ways.

Links:

Evan Petrelis from Renaissance Tours - https://renaissancetours.com.au/
Debbie Clarke from the Good Awaits podcast - https://goodawaits.podbean.com/
Vicky Sahami’s solar eclipse tours at Sirius Travel - https://siriustravel.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/267

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

266 LGBTQIA Travel

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 22:01:00 +0000

How does travel differ for the LGBTQIA community? It's a question I've long pondered and in this episode I get to chat to four excellent guests to hear about their thoughts and experiences on the matter.

First up, Debbie Clarke explains why she started a tour company focused on LGBT travellers, and why such a thing is necessary even in a country as progressive as New Zealand.

I then chat with Brent Harbinger and Michael Jensen, a gay couple who are digital nomads exploring the world and not boycotting a country even if there are homophobic laws or customs - and we have a great discussion about why.

Finally, I talk with my good mate, the Barefoot Backpacker, about their experiences as an asexual traveller and also - common thread throughout this episode - about why they think you shouldn't avoid a destination just because it has repressive policies.

Links:

Debbie Clarke from the Good Awaits podcast - https://goodawaits.podbean.com/
Michael Jensen and Brent Hartinger from Brent and Michael are Going Places their newsletter - https://brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.substack.com/
Barefoot Backpacker from Travel Tales from Beyond the Brochure - https://barefoot-backpacker.com/category/podcast/
Post on all the pride flags - https://barefoot-backpacker.com/guide-to-pride-flags/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/266

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

265 A Year Without Travel

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 22:01:00 +0000

Happy new year! It’s 2022 and who really has any idea this year has in store for us - I’m sure we’ve now learned our lesson about having expectations. I want to start the year, in fact, by having a look back over 2021 for me: a year without travel. It’s a very weird thing for a travel podcaster to not take a plane or leave the state - or barely even leave home - for a whole year, and I hope it never happens again!

This episode includes an update on pandemic life in Western Australia, too, one of the last places around the world to be living a relatively Covid-free life though - it seems - not for much longer.

I also let you in on some of my plans for The Thoughtful Travel Podcast in 2022. It might just be the best year yet!

Links:

RISE Travel Institute’s Flagship Program - https://www.risetravelinstitute.org/rise-flagship-program
Travelling (Thoughtfully) for Work - Episode 263 - notaballerina.com/263
Covid Thoughts from Western Australia June 2020 - Episode 190 - notaballerina.com/190
Covid Thoughts from Western Australia May 2021 - Episode 236 - notaballerina.com/236
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/265

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

264 Celebrity Encounters on Your Travels

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 22:01:00 +0000

You mightn't think there's a place for tales of celebrity encounters on a podcast about thoughtful travel but I'm sure you'll listen to this episode and realise there absolutely is. It turns out that many thoughtful travellers are kind of oblivious to who's famous and can hang out with a celebrity without even knowing!

That's certainly the case for my first two guests. I start by chatting with Jennifer Johnston about the time she spent the day with Johnny Cash ... and didn't realise who he was. To be fair, it was many years ago and she now wishes she had paid more attention!

Similarly, Vicky Sahami spent a half hour in the company of Jack Nicholson while they were both holidaying in Antiga, and didn't realise who he was until the next day.

Finally, I hear from Bev Malzard about a different kind of celebrity sighting which involves a king and a gun, and an invitation ...

Links:

Jennifer Johnston’s blog Travel Bug Within - https://travelbugwithin.com.au
Vicky Sahami's solar eclipse tour business, Sirius Travel - https://siriustravel.com/
Bev Malzard’s blog TravelGal on the Move - https://travelgaltravels.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/264

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

263 Travelling for Work: Can You Be A Thoughtful Traveller?

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 22:01:00 +0000

Travelling for work can be very different to other kinds of travel, but when I had the chance to travel to south-west Western Australia to run workshops recently, I decided to document my trip and decide whether or not I was being a thoughtful traveller.

This episode includes audio-diaries of my three days in Yallingup - two of which were recorded under a blanket in a hotel room, trying to soundproof my recording! I also chatted with members of the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group about their experiences of trying to be thoughtful travellers while travelling for their job.

Links:

Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/263

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

262 Josie Major and Debbie Clarke: Deep Dive into Thoughtful Travel

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 22:01:00 +0000

It's time for a deep dive and I absolutely loved getting to know the two women behind the GOOD Awaits podcast - New Zealanders Josie Major and Debbie Clarke. Their podcast arose from an almost chance meeting and focuses on regenerative tourism, something that aligns very closely with thoughtful travel.

During the chat, I asked Debbie and Josie about how their love of travel began and what sustains it to this day. We also talked about their current work and especially focused on how they think travel and tourism need to change to face some of the dilemmas of the twenty-first century. It's definitely not all doom and gloom and I finished our conversation feeling really hopeful.

Links:

GOOD Awaits - https://goodawaits.podbean.com/
Josie Major of Good Travel - https://www.good-travel.org/
Debbie Clarke of New Zealand Awaits - https://www.newzealandawaits.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/262

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

261 Languages and Accents

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 23:16:07 +0000

Hearing languages I can't understand is one of my favourite parts of travelling - it's one of the surest ways to feel I am away from home, exploring a foreign-to-me place. I've also been lucky enough - from an English-speaker perspective, especially - to have studied quite a few different languages over the years. I still wish, of course, I'd been born somewhere in Europe where I would have grown up learning multiple languages more easily from a young age, but I can only dream about that!

In Episode 261 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I chat with three guests about their various experiences with languages and accents. First, I speak with Helena Fox about the languages of her childhood and how they contributed to her accent. I then chat to Carolanna Lisonbee who chose to study Mandarin and Japanese for a really fabulous reason.

Lastly, I turn to Lindsay Williams for some tips on languages for travellers - she has much to say about being practical with your approach to language learning before and during a trip and her tips are really valuable.

Links:

Helena Fox - https://helenafoxauthor.com
Helena’s young adult fiction book How It Feels to Float - https://amzn.to/3C9VaYu
Carolanna Lisonbee - her poetry collection is Wisp of Fog Moment - https://amzn.to/3p9HiHl
Lindsay Williams’ site Lindsay Does Languages - https://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/261

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

260 Berlin: Travel Bringing History to Life

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 10:56:54 +0000

History, current events and politics are intrinsically interesting, but when you have the chance to travel to the places where important world events have taken place - or be somewhere at the moment something historic actually occurs - then that's even more impactful. In this special episode, I trace my personal history with the city of Berlin, and how my travel experiences there have brought history to life for me (as well as influencing, well, basically my whole life!).

I start off way back in the 1960s when - no, I wasn't alive - the Berlin Wall was built, and then move forward to 1990 when I had the immense luck of being in Berlin for the night of reunification, as a fourteen-year-old. Coming all the way from Australia meant that experiencing such a historic moment firsthand impacted me in many ways.

I returned to Berlin several times after 1990, and most recently took my son in 2015, and it's pretty amazing to track our experiences.

Links:

News audio extracts from https://archive.org/details/1962-08-16_The_Wall and https://archive.org/details/newsweekonair_891112_complete
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/260

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

259 Being Less Tourist, More Traveller

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 22:01:00 +0000

Focusing away from the big tourist attractions and being more open to just seeing what comes your way when you travel is one way we can be “less tourist, more traveller”, and this episode includes several stories which are wonderful examples of what happens when you do just that.

First up, I chat with Kate Peterson about an experience she had in Greece. While it starts off being a tale of everything going wrong, Kate explains that she learnt a lot from his and ends up having a very special experience in a cafe.

I then talk to Paula Morgan about a time when an elderly man in Penang taught her about the value of just saying yes to opportunities that present themselves unexpectedly, even if you feel a bit suspicious of them.

Finally, travel writer Tim Richards discusses the idea that it’s the things that you don’t ordinarily expect will make it into published travel stories that are often the experiences which make the best stories.

Links:

Kate Peterson’s Art - https://www.katepeterson.art/
Kate’s travel journal Around the World and Back Again - https://amzn.to/3FTAHZH
Paula Morgan of Sydney Expert - https://sydneyexpert.com/
Tim Richards’ website I, Writer - http://iwriter.com.au/
Tim Richards’ new book Heading South - https://amzn.to/2ZFVxuS
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/259

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

258 Making Connections When We Travel

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 22:01:00 +0000

Getting to meet all kinds of people is one of the best parts of travelling and this episode is full of stories of connecting with people in all kinds of different ways. First up, Kate Peterson tells an amazing story about both her parents' connections with a Greek man back in the 1970s, and her follow-up explorations when she lived in Greece decades later.

I then chat with Tobi Barth, who takes people on tours to see the northern lights in the Yukon, about a special connection he's made from this work. Finally, Lindsay Williams explains a lovely connection made quite randomly in Cuba on a muddy walk that turned into something very special.

Links:

Kate Peterson’s Art - https://www.katepeterson.art/
Kate’s travel journal Around the World and Back Again - https://amzn.to/3FTAHZH
Tobi Barth of Epic North - https://epic-north.com/
Lindsay Williams of Lindsay Does Languages - https://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/258

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

257 Travel Writing World x The Thoughtful Travel Podcast

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 22:01:00 +0000

In this special collaborative episode, I chat with Jeremy Bassetti of the Travel Writing World Podcast. We talk about our most memorable and influential travel reads, what's important about travel literature and why we enjoy it. (So many reasons!)

We also compare our podcast experiences, including talking about writers we've enjoyed talking to (spoiler: we only say nice things!).

And of course, readers like us are very often also writers, so we chat about the future of the travel genre and our own experiences of writing books, and some of our hopes for the future of the industry.

Links:

Travel Writing World - https://www.travelwritingworld.com/
Info about the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club - https://www.notaballerina.com/bookclub
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell - https://amzn.to/3a0oBwD
Around the World in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh - https://amzn.to/2Rvqlrw
All the Way to the Tigers by Mary Morris - https://amzn.to/3cfiEzY
A Beginner's Guide to Japan by Pico Iyer - https://amzn.to/3oXYz5y
Mountains of the Mind by Robert Macfarlane - https://amzn.to/3BfmTFW
Video Night in Kathmandu by Pico Iyer - https://amzn.to/3A0DDPZ
Shadow City: A Woman Walks Kabul by Taran Khan - https://amzn.to/3B4oyhK
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/257

NotABallerina.com is participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program linked to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may get compensated at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through a link.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

256 Travel Teaches Us So Much

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 22:01:00 +0000

Travel is fun, but even more, it teaches us so much. From life skills to personal development and even changing our fundamental personality, travel has the potential to do it all. I start off this episode briefly mentioning some of the research that has backed this up, but the most important thing is hearing the stories from my three wonderful guests.

First up, I chat with Jennifer Johnston who has one particularly important lesson from travel: learning how similar we all are, no matter what our culture or homelife or language. Next, I talk to Carolanna Lisonbee who spent a year teaching English in China, and this particular experience changed her significantly. Finally, I speak with artist Kate Peterson who points out something I hadn't concretely considered before now - that the contrast of learning about other cultures when you travel helps you understand your own background and culture much more deeply.

Links:

Jennifer Johnston - https://travelbugwithin.com.au/
Carolanna Lisonbee’s poetry book - Wisp of Fog Moment - https://amzn.to/3aKbxyh
Kate Peterson’s art - https://www.katepeterson.art/
Kate’s travel journal Around the World and Back Again - https://amzn.to/3FTAHZH
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/256

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

255 Vincie Ho: Deep Dive into Thoughtful Travel

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 22:01:00 +0000

In the fourth of my Deep Dive Into Thoughtful Travel interview episodes, I chat with Dr Vincie Ho, founder and executive director of the RISE Travel Institute. We met while I was studying for a Certificate in Sustainability and Anti-Oppression in Travel through RISE and I couldn't wait to chat with her about her travel history.

Vincie and I discuss where her love of travel came from, some of her experiences in studying abroad and volunteering, and what her hopes are for RISE Travel Institute and the future of thoughtful travel. It's a great chat which I can safely say we both thoroughly enjoyed, and hope you do too.

Links:

RISE Travel Institute - https://www.risetravelinstitute.org
My capstone project from my recent RISE course - my topic was ethical wildlife tourism - Episode 252 - https://notaballerina.com/252
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/255

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

254 Migrating to Australia

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 22:01:00 +0000

The ultimate long trip is not a trip at all: migrating to another country has much in common with long-term travel, but then, you never go home. Episode 254 is about migrating to Australia in particular - it interests me greatly to hear more about how and why people have moved to my home country, and what they like or dislike about it.

First up, I chat with Catherine Marshall, who migrated from South Africa almost two decades ago. As she mentions, we have a significant number of South African migrants here in my hometown of Perth, so it's especially intriguing to hear more about her experiences.

I then speak with Anuj, a migrant from India who now lives in Melbourne, after initially coming to Australia to complete postgraduate study. Fifteen years on, he seems very happy here!

Finally, I talk to Lucky Legong, another immigrant from South Africa who arrived in Australia more recently after being offered a job at Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island. From never having considered Australia as a destination, to migrating here and working for more than four years now in the tourism industry, Lucky has enjoyed her experience of moving to Australia - and that makes me glad!

Links:

Thanks to our sponsor, Proudly South African in Perth - https://proudlysouthafricaninperth.com
Cost of living in Australia calculator - https://proudlysouthafricaninperth.com/product/cost-of-living-in-australia-calculator/
Aussie slang for new migrants - https://proudlysouthafricaninperth.com/settle/guide-aussie-slang-new-migrants/
Putting petrol in your car - https://proudlysouthafricaninperth.com/settle/how-to-put-petrol-in-your-car/
Catherine Marshall - Time to Wander - https://www.timetowander.com.au
Thanks to Anuj in Melbourne, a listener who’s become a friend
Lucky Legong from the Baillie Lodges group - baillielodges.com.au and profile at https://baillielodges.com.au/success-stories/lucky-legong/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/254

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

253 Walking the World

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 02:59:00 +0000

Walking is such a wonderful way to explore the world - it's a way to slow down, really look around you, often to get in touch with nature too, and it's healthy and environmentally-friendly as well. In Episode 253 I chat with travellers who've walked in many parts of the world and got so much out of it that it'll make you want to follow in their (literal!) footsteps.

First up, I chat with Kath and Howie of The Museum of Us, a couple who have become quite addicted to long walks over the last few years - curiously, as the result of knee injuries. I talk with Kath and Howie about their experience of walking the Camino a few years back.

Next, Justin Watson tells the story of a popular walk in Bhutan to see the Tiger's Nest Monastery or Paro Taktsang in Bhutan. It's a pretty vertical walk and it's a fun story!

Finally, Tara Wells talks to me about how to get the most out of walking - she's just published a guide book on a long Sydney walk, so she should know!

Links:

Kath and Howie’s YouTube channel The Museum of Us - https://www.youtube.com/themuseumofus
Justin’s blog Justin’s World - http://www.justins.world
Tara Wells’ website - https://www.tarawellsauthor.com/
Tara’s book, The Bondi to Manly Walk - https://amzn.to/3lNeL9u
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/253

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

252 Ethical Wildlife Tourism: Elephants Are Many Shades of Grey

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 22:01:00 +0000

Should we ride elephants? (For me, the answer is definitely no.)

But did you know that at one stage, the offering of elephant rides was seen as being part of "saving" them from a tortuous life working in the forestry industry, dragging heavy logs around?

And did you know there are now thousands of domesticated elephants in Thailand who still need to be supported, somehow?

While I always strive to be an ethical wildlife tourist, diving deeper into this topic has proven to me it's never as black and white as we think, and that many solutions to these kind of problems are best solved through empowerment and many discussions with the local people involved - and that this is not a quick or easy solution, but a better one for sure!

This is a special episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast - I've put it together as part of the requirements for the Certificate in Sustainability and Anti-Oppression in Travel, a fabulous course I've been studying through the RISE Travel Institute. See the show notes for references, more information and videos.

Links:

RISE Travel Institute - https://www.risetravelinstitute.org
Catherine Marshall at Time To Wander - https://www.timetowander.com.au
World Animal Protection - https://www.worldanimalprotection.org.au
Animondial - https://animondial.com
Diana Edelman's post about riding elephants in Thailand - https://dtravelsround.com/2015/08/11/truth-about-riding-elephants-in-thailand/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/252

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

251 Penny Rafferty: Deep Dive Into Thoughtful Travel

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 22:01:00 +0000

In the third of my Deep Dive Into Thoughtful Travel interview episodes, I chat with Penny Rafferty in South Australia, with a wide-ranging discussion about all manner of thoughtful travel topics.

I started off asking Penny about her fascinating career trajectory, which sees her now taking the roles of both Head of Sustainability at Tourism Australia and Executive Officer of Luxury Lodges of Australia. Her roles have given her plenty of food for thought and we discuss both her professional and personal experiences of tourism and travel, how travel can change us, and how travellers can change the world.

Links:

Luxury Lodges of Australia -
https://luxurylodgesofaustralia.com.au Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/251

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 13: All the Way to the Tigers by Mary Morris

Sun, 22 Aug 2021 09:32:29 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the August 2021 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, talking about All the Way to the Tigers with author Mary Morris.

You can find out more about Mary at her website https://marymorris.net and read the book at https://amzn.to/3cfiEzY

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

250 Making Friends Through Podcasting

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 22:01:00 +0000

It's the semiquincentennial episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast (and listener Justin, who features in this episode, told me about that crazy word in the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group) - in any case, it's Episode 250, a round-numbered episode and time for something totally different!

One of the most fabulous parts of running this podcast for over five years is the people I've met - some of whom have become good friends who I can't imagine not knowing! I feature as selection of them in this episode - just a handful out of many - and I'm so grateful that running this podcast gave me the chance to get to know them.

From the UK, I feature Ian Oliver (who now runs his own podcast, Travel Tales from Beyond the Brochure), and Penny Wincer, who is originally Australian but now resides in England. Out of Europe I mention Eva Westerling who lived in Germany when we first chatted but has spent more time in Morocco of late, and also Erin Gustaffson of Oregon Girl Around the World, an American currently based in Denmark. And finally, I talk about Justin Watson, a fellow Aussie and a friend I made through the Thoughtful Travellers group, who's now my cohost of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club.

All in all, it's a mix of a behind the scenes episode, and a wave of gratitude for all the fabulous people I've got to know over the last five years - thank you all of you!

Links:

Ian from Travel Tales from Beyond the Brochure - https://barefoot-backpacker.com
Penny Wincer - pennywincerwrites.com
Eva from Not Scared of the Jet Lag - notscaredofthejetlag.com
Erin from Oregon Girl Around the World - oregongirlaroundtheworld.com
Justin’s blog - http://www.justins.world
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/250

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

249 The Dangers of Elephants

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 22:01:00 +0000

I’m usually talking about elephants in the sense of seeing them on safari, or of how we should ethically visit elephants in appropriate sanctuaries, and how we absolutely shouldn’t ride them. But this episode is about what happens when travellers and elephants collide - quite literally!

I first chat with Catherine Marshall, who has travelled extensively throughout Africa and has a special love for elephants - but also, a very serious respect for them. She tells me of an elephant encounter some time back in Kruger National Park.

My second guest is Henry Gold who has a rather dramatic elephant story to tell. His encounter takes place in India while he was running a cycling tour. You’ll soon understand why this story is one that Henry has told very frequently since it happened a decade ago.

Links:

Catherine Marshall’s Time to Wander site - https://www.timetowander.com.au
Henry Gold, founder of Tour D'Afrique Cycling - https://tdaglobalcycling.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/249

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

248 Studying in Other Countries

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 22:01:00 +0000

Studying in other countries isn't just about getting a qualification: oh no, it's SO much more! In Episode 248 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I chat with three women who've spent some time studying abroad, both undergraduate and postgraduate, and without fail they mention how significant and life changing this experience was.

First, I chat with Kaitlyn Jain. She hadn't never been outside of North America before she spent a semester at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, and this experience was particularly life-changing for Kaitlyn because she really threw herself into Australian life.

My next guest is Helena Fox who dutifully completed a law degree in her home country before finally "running away" - her words! - to the United States to study writing; let's just say, she's now a writer and not a lawyer!

Finally, I speak with Annie Daly who majored in American Studies at college, and had a wonderful full year studying abroad in England as part of this.

Links:

Kaitlyn Jain - https://www.kaitlynjain.com - her book is Passports and Pacifiers - Traveling the World, One Tantrum at a Time
Helena Fox - https://helenafoxauthor.com
Helena’s young adult fiction book How It Feels to Float - https://amzn.to/3C9VaYu
Annie Daly - https://www.anniedaly.com/
Annie’s book Destination Wellness - https://amzn.to/3lmLaoO
Episode 233 Studying Abroad - https://notaballerina.com/233
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/248

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

247 Benefits of Family Travel

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 22:01:00 +0000

I've been raving about the benefits of travel with kids for many years now (almost my whole life!), and I loved putting together this episode about the benefits of family travel. The benefits run in all directions - both for the children and the parents, and beyond.

My first guests are Kath and Howie of The Museum of Us, who have travelled for many years with their daughter. We discussed their three-month stint in Thailand when she was two years old, and how having her with them opened up all kinds of doors to local society.

I then chat with Kaitlyn Jain who decided that having kids (four of them) wouldn't stop her pursuing her love of travel, and it hasn't - it's just changed it, and for the better.

Finally, I speak with Deborah Haile and her son Jonah about what travel teaches kids and why it's beneficial for both them and us to go travelling with them.

Links:

Kath and Howie - The Museum of Us - https://www.youtube.com/themuseumofus
Kaitlyn Jain - https://www.kaitlynjain.com - her book is Passports and Pacifiers - Traveling the World, One Tantrum at a Time
Deborah Haile and her son Jonah https://www.tinyglobalfootprints.com
Previous episodes on travelling with kids:
19 - Travelling with Kids is Good for Everyone - https://notaballerina.com/19
54 - Benefits of Travelling with Kids - https://notaballerina.com/54
66 - On Taking Your Kids Travelling - https://notaballerina.com/66
94 - How Travel Changes Kids - https://notaballerina.com/94
164 - Please Travel With Your Children! - https://notaballerina.com/164
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/247

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

246 James Mwenda: Deep Dive Into Thoughtful Travel

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 22:01:00 +0000

In my second Deep Dive Into Thoughtful Travel interview episode, I speak with James Mwenda in Kenya - and I'm really excited to share our chat.

For almost a decade, James was a caretaker for the last three - then two - northern white rhinos in the world, at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. It's heartbreaking to imagine working with the very last animals of a species - and James talks about the emotional toll this work takes.

We also talk about what thoughtful, sustainable travel should look like, and James has recently started his own expedition company, Jemu Expeditions, to show travellers to Kenya the things he loves most about his country. From the importance of tourism dollars for conservation efforts to his emphasis on using tourism to support his local community, James has so many words of wisdom.

Links:

James’s expedition company, Jemu Expeditions - https://www.jemuexpeditions.com
Ol Pejeta Conservancy - https://www.olpejetaconservancy.org
Video of James speaking about Sudan, the last male northern white rhino - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G9brceVivo
Extract from Kifaru, a documentary about the rhino caretaker unit James was a part of - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_WKm547F20
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers -
https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/246

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

245 What Does Thoughtful Travel Mean?

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 22:01:00 +0000

My definition of thoughtful travel has come a long way since I named this podcast over five years ago; I’ve also been excited to see a lot more people giving thought to the question of what thoughtful travel means. Episode 245 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast gathers the ideas of many more people to help us consider this important question.

I chat with four guests about what they think thoughtful travel means, starting with Henry Gold. He emphasises respecting others, especially because you are visiting their home or country. Next, we hear from James Mwenda who focuses on the impact our travels have.

Helena Fox talks about being present in the place you go to, and also discusses ideas of respect and slow travel. My final guest, Vince Dickson, talks about being more open to different experiences, as well as considering the impact our travels have.

Links:

Henry Gold founder of TDA Cycling - https://tdaglobalcycling.com/
James Mwenda - Jemu Expeditions - https://www.jemuexpeditions.com
Helena Fox - https://helenafoxauthor.com - her recent novel is “How It Feels to Float” - https://amzn.to/3kNNfd9
Vince Dickson, from Hunu - https://www.wearehunu.com/
The book mentioned by Vince is “Sapiens” by Yuval Noah Harari - https://amzn.to/36tSZjw
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin or direct to https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13984484/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/245

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

244 Transport Glitches

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 22:01:00 +0000

Most of travel involves a flight, train or ferry ride, and things can go wrong - that's why Episode 244 is all about transport glitches when we travel. Some of these stories are just plain crazy - the amount of stuff that can go wrong one trip is unbelievable! - and others remind us that even when things go wrong, there's often a silver lining (or at the very least, a good story to tell!).

First up, I chat with Kaitlyn Jain about a trip she and her husband took to Finland with their four (very) young children. She had a great plan to take the ferry from Helsinki to Estonia for the day, but things went wrong when jet lag made them sleep through their alarm ...

Next, I talk to Vince Dickson who tells the story of perhaps his unluckiest friend, who had quite a saga flying to visit Vince in South Africa a few years back. It certainly took a lot longer than planned.

Finally, Deborah Haile and her son Jonah talk about what happened when they unexpectedly got stuck for a night in Dubai - and it was all good!

Links:

Kaitlyn Jain - https://www.kaitlynjain.com - her book is Passports and Pacifiers - Traveling the World, One Tantrum at a Time
Vince Dickson, from Hunu, making sustainable travel products - https://www.wearehunu.com/
Deborah Haile and her son Jonah https://www.tinyglobalfootprints.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/244

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

243 JoAnna Haugen: Deep Dive Into Thoughtful Travel

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 22:01:00 +0000

This month's special guest for a deep dive into thoughtful travel is JoAnna Haugen, founder of Rooted Storytelling. JoAnna has appeared in a couple of past podcast episodes but her knowledge and experience in many important areas of thoughtful travel is so vast that I wanted to get deeper into some, well, really thoughtful stuff!

JoAnna and I chat about what she believes thoughtful travel is, whether the impact of the pandemic will lead to some improvement in how sustainably and thoughtfully we travel, how best we can travel with an emphasis on supporting locals and finally, some advice and guidance for content creators - travel writers, journalists, bloggers, podcasters and influencers - on how we can best use the responsibility of our influence.

Links:

JoAnna Haugen’s website, Rooted Storytelling - https://rootedstorytelling.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/243

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 12: Couchsurfing in Iran by Stephan Orth

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 06:12:48 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the June 2021 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, talking about Couchsurfing in Iran by Stephan Orth.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

242 Meeting Kind Strangers

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 11:23:00 +0000

When we travel, we are sometimes wary of strangers - but should we be? The stories in Episode 242 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast suggest we shouldn't be.

First up, I chat with Vince Dickson about one of his early travel experiences in Europe. He ended up almost penniless in Paris and that's when he came across a helpful stranger.

I then talk to Pam Mandel who also had a wonderful experience with a stranger in Nepal when she was needing a way to cook her dinner!

Finally, I hear from Tim Tricker about what I can call a reverse kindness of stranger situation in Barcelona - a fabulous story!

Links:

Vince Dickson of Hunu - https://www.wearehunu.com/
Pam Mandel’s website - https://www.nerdseyeview.com
Pam’s book The Same River Twice - https://amzn.to/319lwbq
The Kindness of Strangers on Your Travels - https://notaballerina.com/76
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/242

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

241 Emotional Travel

Mon, 31 May 2021 22:01:00 +0000

Some travel is for fun; other travel is for a huge range of reasons. And some travel turns out to be really emotional - that's the kind we are looking at in Episode 241 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast.

First up, I chat with Henry Gold. He's the son of two Holocaust survivors and tells the story of visiting the Auschwitz concentration camp with his mother when she was in her late seventies, when she could show and tell Henry and other family members about some of the horrid experiences she had there. It's quite a story.

Next, I speak with Carolanna Lisonbee and our emotional travel story centres on Hiroshima in Japan. Carolanna also travelled there with her mother and they both found it a very important trip.

Finally, I talk to Tim Tricker about the emotional aspects of irresponsible animal tourism, when he tells me about some difficult and distressing parts of a visit to Bangkok a few years back.

Links:

Henry Gold, founder of TDA Cycling - https://tdaglobalcycling.com/ (Tour D’Afrique)
Carolanna Lisonbee - her poetry collection is Wisp of Fog Moment - https://amzn.to/3p9HiHl
Why I’m Glad I Visited the Auschwitz and Birkenau Concentration Camps -
https://www.notaballerina.com/2014/05/visiting-auschwitz-birkenau-concentration-camps.html
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/241

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

240 Behind the Scenes Again

Mon, 24 May 2021 22:01:00 +0000

It's a round-numbered episode so time for something different: this time I'm the one getting interviewed, and I answer questions about what happens behind the scenes of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, gathered from listeners through the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group and other social media sites.

It's three years since I did the first Behind the Scenes episode and so much has changed. This time round, travel writer Catherine Marshall interviews me with discussions about the ideas I have for podcast topics, what makes a good interviewee, any disasters I've had and an overview of the technical aspects of how The Thoughtful Travel Podcast comes together. It was fun to chat about these topics and I hope listeners will find the result interesting, too.

Links:

Episode 100 - the first Behind the Scenes - https://notaballerina.com/100
Catherine Marshall’s Time to Wander site - https://www.timetowander.com.au
Cait Flanders’ new podcast Opting Out - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/opting-out-with-cait-flanders/id1560688606
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/240

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

239 Street Art and Murals

Tue, 18 May 2021 07:39:19 +0000

Wandering the world with your eyes wide open means you'll inevitably encounter some incredible street art and murals. My favourites (to date) have been in Penang, Malaysia, but after exploring the topic more while making this episode I can't wait to see more in many other parts of the world.

My first guest in this episode is Jenny Herbert, who speaks about discovering the street art in a city very familiar to her, Melbourne, Australia. She grew up there and still visits regularly, but learnt so much about it from a self-guided street art walking tour.

I then chat with Kayla Wyszynski who is an artist and has completed many large murals already. It was so great to be able to quiz her with all my thoughts and questions about how it's possible to create such huge art!

Finally, I chat with listener Anuj about his memorable experience viewing a mural in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It's one of those tales where things don't quite go according to plan and that makes his experience all the more memorable.

Links:

The World Atlas of Street Art and Graffiti - https://amzn.to/3f0VYp3
Jenny Herbert’s book The Art of Being a Tourist at Home - https://amzn.to/3tcXnfX
Kayla Wyszynski’s site - Kayski Creations - https://www.kayskicreations.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/239

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

238 Travel for a Sporting Event

Mon, 10 May 2021 22:54:06 +0000

Travelling to participate in a sporting event is a niche reason to travel that a surprisingly large number of travel lovers have experienced during their loves, and I love the unique benefits and fun of trips for sport.

In Episode 238 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I speak with three people who've travelled for a wide variety of sporting reasons.

First up, I chat with Tim Tricker who has had many short trips to interesting destinations across Europe to take part in darts tournaments. I love that he gets to see out of the way places and congregate with a bunch of like-minded people.

Eugene Devereux has travelled for a much more physical sport - adventure races. He's been able to combine this physical experience with exploring some particularly beautiful parts of Ireland.

Finally, I speak to Emma Lovell who was lucky enough to experience the joy of travelling in a sporting team as a teenager when she toured New Zealand playing water polo. The change to meet local people and then attempt to beat them at water polo sounds like lots of fun!

Links:

Eugene from the Irish Bootstrapper blog and podcast - https://www.irishbootstrapper.com/
Emma Lovell from the Lovelly Travels Podcast - https://lovellytravels.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/238

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

237 Being a Tourist at Home with Jenny Herbert

Mon, 03 May 2021 22:01:00 +0000

You know I'm all about travelling more thoughtfully and purposefully - and you might find it strange that I'm talking in Episode 237 with the author of a book about *not* travelling!

Jenny Herbert's book "The Art of Being a Tourist at Home" is, as the title suggests, about how to get that travel feeling, and many of the benefits of travel, without straying far from your home turf, and certainly without hopping on a plane or landing on the doorstep of a community overcrowded by other tourists. I agree with her premises for not travelling, although I do think there is still an important role for thoughtful travel even in a world fighting climate change and pandemics.

In this interview with Jenny, we talk about some of her tips for gaining the benefits of travel in your hometown, when it might be okay to travel, how wonderful walking can be for getting some of the "travel feeling", whether you need to immerse yourself in a foreign culture to grow and how to carve out time for staycation-style travel.

Links:

Jenny Herbert’s book The Art of Being a Tourist at Home - https://amzn.to/3tcXnfX
Ep 220 How Travel Really Helps Us Understand the World - https://notaballerina.com/220
Ep 140 Being a Thoughtful Traveller in Denmark: Pre-Trip Thoughts - https://notaballerina.com/140
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/237

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

236 Covid Thoughts from Western Australia in May 2021

Sat, 01 May 2021 12:33:08 +0000

It's nearly a year since I recorded an episode about how Covid-19 was affecting us here in Western Australia, and what I thought about travel then and for the future: so it's time for another one.

In this special solo episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast - inspired by a visit to the airport! - I talk about the Covid experience in Perth, Australia, over the past twelve months, and also share my thoughts and feelings about travel in the near future. You might want to listen back to Episode 190 first and then follow on with this, so you can see what's changed over the past year.

Links:

Episode 190 - Covid-19 Thoughts from Perth, Australia - https://notaballerina.com/190
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/236

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 11: Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Sat, 24 Apr 2021 06:42:38 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the April 2021 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, talking about Wild by Cheryl Strayed.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

235 Travel Slip Ups

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 02:16:41 +0000

Things inevitably go wrong when we travel and I know from experience that listeners of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast quite enjoy hearing these tales! In Episode 235 I have three guests sharing some travel slip ups - some of their own making and some quite out of their control.

My first guest is Bob DiMenna who was travelling in Peru with two friends when they had an issue with, well, punctuality - but not what you might expect! I then chat with Kayla Ridley who has a sorry luggage tale to tell from a cruise ship trip she took as a high school student.

Finally, Patti Buff shares her story of a mishap when she and her cousin were exploring the coast of one of the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. Their excursion doesn't end how she would have liked it to!

Links:

Bob DiMenna from The Travelers Blueprint podcast - https://thetravelersblueprint.com
Kayla Ridley of Kayski Creations - https://kayskicreations.com/
Patti Buff - https://pattibuff.wordpress.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/235

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

234 Cultural Blunders

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 22:01:00 +0000

Much of the fun of travelling is about bumping up against other cultures and habits - and these days as thoughtful travellers, we usually try to be prepared for this and learn what we can before we arrive. But cultural faux pas or "gross moments" happen to the best of us and there are some great examples to be found in Episode 234 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast.

First up, I chat with Bev Malzard who tells me a series of fabulous tales about her own unfortunate cultural moments during the course of many years of travels. Some hilarious, some serious - all things that Bev would do differently the second time around!

I then speak with Pam Mandel about a common cultural blunder - dressing inappropriately. Some years back Pam ended up unintentionally in Pakistan - unprepared and ill-informed - and made a cultural blunder she didn't intend to.

Links:

Bev’s blog TravelGal on the Move - https://travelgaltravels.com/
Pam Mandel’s website - https://www.nerdseyeview.com
Pam’s book The Same River Twice - https://amzn.to/319lwbq
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/234

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

233 Studying Abroad

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 22:01:00 +0000

Opportunities for university or college students to study abroad - during non-Covid times, of course - are very special. While I didn't get an opportunity to study abroad for any part of my university education, it's something I definitely want to encourage my son to do and putting together Episode 233 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast reminded me of many reasons why.

First up, I chat with Jennifer Johnston who spent time in the United States studying abroad as part of her Australia-based university degree. She speaks of many of the advantages of study abroad programs and the huge changes they can make in the students who take them.

I then speak with Tinsley Rios about her shorter study abroad experience in Peru - a reminder that it doesn't need to be a long program to have a lasting impact.

Finally, Patti Buff tells me about her experiences as a college exchange student in Dublin, Ireland - and we chat about some of the many extra-curricular parts of being on a study abroad program which are just as valuable as any time in the lecture hall.

Links:

Jennifer Johnston - Travel Bug Within - https://travelbugwithin.com.au/
Tinsley - Travel with Tinsley - https://travelwithtinsley.com/
Patti Buff - https://pattibuff.wordpress.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/233

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

232 5th Birthday and 500,000 Downloads

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 22:01:00 +0000

It's party time!!

The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, in the past week, has both turned five years old (ready to start school now!!) and download numbers have hit half a million. It's been a very exciting week in our household!

In this special celebration episode, I start off with a quick chat about podcast statistics and where The Thoughtful Travel Podcast fits into download numbers in general (remember, I like statistics - I love maths!).

But then I digress to chat about how I've reached this stage, and reference psychologist Angela Duckworth's book Grit, which I'm currently re-reading - it's an interesting thing to consider how passion and persistence can work hand in hand and then suddenly, I have a five-year-old podcast and a much clearer vision of what else I want to do with it (and thoughtful travel in general) in the future.

Finally, I give in to a directive from my son who, on listening to some older episodes, instructed me to tell more of my own travel stories. I've linked them to this fifth anniversary in a typically quirky fashion but just bear with me and enjoy the tales!

Links:

Average podcast stats - https://www.thepodcasthost.com/planning/whats-a-good-number-of-downloads-for-a-podcast/

Grit - Angela Duckworth - https://amzn.to/3fneKr3

Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/232

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

231 Unconscious Bias and Travel

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 22:01:00 +0000

We all have some kind of unconscious bias - or a few! - some stereotypes or misconceptions that we think deep down, even if in our conscious minds we don't think we do. It's human nature, but yet another marvellous part of travelling is it often helps us identify and confront these unconscious biases, and the examples from the guests in Episode 231 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast demonstrate this perfectly.

First up, I chat with Tonya Fitzpatrick who first tells me one of her own experiences in recognising and confronting an unconscious bias, and then explains another example from a traveller she'd interviewed on her own podcast.

I then speak with Pam Mandel, who's travelled more than usual within her home country of the United States in the past few years, and found she also needed to confront and overcome some unconscious biases about her homeland.

Links:

Tonya Fitzpatrick of World Footprints - https://WorldFootprints.com
Pam Mandel’s website - https://www.nerdseyeview.com
Pam’s book The Same River Twice - https://amzn.to/319lwbq
Pam’s project The Statesider - https://statesider.us/
Harvard’s Implicit Association Test - https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/
Article critiquing the IAT - https://www.thecut.com/2017/01/psychologys-racism-measuring-tool-isnt-up-to-the-job.html
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/231

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 10: Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams

Sat, 20 Mar 2021 07:10:00 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the March 2021 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, talking about Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

230 Travel vs Vacation Lessons from 2020

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 22:24:28 +0000

For this special round-numbered episode I wanted to muse on just one of the important lessons the 2020 pandemic has taught me about travel.

In this episode I talk about issues like taking relaxing holidays (I'm bad at it; and most of the Thoughtful Travellers community agreed it's not their style); travelling close to home and staycationing, and some of the reasons I really miss the ability to travel further afield, to different cultures, languages and countries.

Links:

Support the podcast on Patreon - https://www.notaballerina.com/support
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/230

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

229 Living Abroad Vs Travelling Abroad

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 22:01:00 +0000

Travelling abroad is an amazing experience but living abroad takes this to an entirely new level. It's not for everyone but if you've been fortunate enough to call new countries home or you're wondering whether you'd like to, Episode 229 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is for you.

I chat first with Flip Byrnes, a bit of a serial ex-pat who has plenty to say about how living abroad compares to travelling; we decide that "living" somewhere equates to twelve months or more (it's our arbitrary ruling!) and then Flip turns the tables and asks me a few pertinent questions about my experience of living abroad.

Following that I speak with Seana Smith, another serial ex-pat who decides perhaps she's not actually a very good traveller, but she's more suited to living abroad for extended periods.

Finally, Penny Walker talks to me about some of the main differences she's identified from living abroad in France as compared to simply visiting, and also has some great tips for anyone planning to make such a move.

Links:

Travel journalist Flip Byrnes - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theadventuremamma/
Seana Smith - Hello Sydney Kids https://www.hellosydneykids.com.au/
Penny Walker of Adventure Creators https://www.adventurecreators.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/229

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

228 Volunteering Experiences

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 22:01:00 +0000

Volunteering abroad is an experience lots of thoughtful travellers contemplate - who doesn't want to give back when we can. But of course, we know that not all volunteering opportunities are created equal. In Episode 228 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I chat with three women who have had fairly in-depth volunteer experiences in Uganda, Zimbabwe and Nepal, and their stories might help you reflect on what does make a good volunteer experience.

First, I chat with Lindy Alexander who spent eight months volunteering in a remote part of Uganda. She's very frank with me about how, on reflection some years later, she's not sure that everything they did had a positive impact - although lots did.

I then speak with Julia Salnicki, a zoologist who has spent many years either volunteering or managing volunteers on animal research projects in Africa. Her stories are amazing and apart from her tales on this episode, I've added another one about her three years in a painted dog research project onto Patreon - if you're a supporter, listen now, or sign up at notaballerina.com/supporter

Finally, I hear from Patti Lefkos who, after several decades of experience as a teacher and principal in Canada, volunteered in a small school in Nepal. She tells us some of the many lessons she learnt from that experience.

Links:

Support the podcast on Patreon - this week's bonus content is an extended chat with Julia Salnicki - https://www.notaballerina.com/support
Lindy Alexander - The Freelancer’s Year http://thefreelancersyear.com/
Julia Salnicki from Classic Safari Company - https://www.classicsafaricompany.com.au
Patti Lefkos - https://www.pattishaleslefkos.com
Episode 145 on Volunteering Experiences - https://notaballerina.com/145
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/228

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

227 Meaningful Interactions with Locals

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 11:38:14 +0000

Travelling to see the sights is one thing; travelling when you get to know some of the local people is a whole other level of wonderful experiences. Finding ways to have meaningful interaction with locals is something really important to me when I travel, and the three guests in Episode 227 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast illustrate some wonderful ways to do so.

First up I chat with Tasha Goldberg who describes how a friend of a friend in Kenya became an inspiring local she met on Lamu Island. She also mentions the bonus part of making close connections when you travel - the chance to make return visits!

I then speak with Lindy Alexander about her experience of a cooking class with the Courageous Kitchen in Thailand. This is a really interesting example of meeting not just any locals, but marginalised ones who you might not ordinarily even know about, let alone have the chance to meet and learn from.

Finally, Penny Walker speaks of the value of tapping into local knowledge and uses her example of the Pyrenees in France where locals she gets to work with include shepherds who've spent their lifetime in the mountains. And we mention cheese, too!

Links:

Tasha Goldberg’s project Evidence of Hope - https://www.evidenceofhope.com/
Lindy Alexander - The Freelancer’s Year http://thefreelancersyear.com/
Courageous Kitchen online classes - https://www.airbnb.com.au/experiences/1701757
Penny Walker of Adventure Creators https://www.adventurecreators.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/227

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

226 The Best Travel Memories Are When Things Go Wrong

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 22:01:00 +0000

If nothing goes wrong, were you even travelling?

Episode 226 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast centres on my firm belief that many of the best travel memories derive from when things go wrong on our trips.

First I chat with Travis King, and he introduces a concept that I will carry with me on every trip from now on: "Level 3 fun". You'll have to listen to learn what "Level 3 fun" he had with his brother on their cycling trip across Canada.

I also talk with Tracey Croke, an adventurous soul who never shies away from a challenge and she certainly found plenty of them in a mountain biking expedition over the Talas Mountains in Kyrgyzstan.

Links:

Travis King's website and book - http://www.traviswking.com/
Tracey Croke's website - http://www.traceycroke.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/226

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

225 Vegetarian and Vegan Travel

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 22:01:00 +0000

Whether you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet or not, the stories in Episode 225 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast will still fascinate you, I'm sure! I start off chatting with Lindy Alexander, a social worker turned freelance writer who spent eight months living in rural Uganda in her mid-twenties. As a vegetarian, she was a bit concerned about what she could expect there in terms of food and what she actually found is very interesting!

I then chat with Tasha Goldberg who, like me, was raised vegetarian and tends to follow that diet on the whole, but can be flexible at times when travelling, and she tells me about her experience with this, starting out with a special invitation in Senegal.

Finally, I speak with Brighde Reed who has been vegan for the past decade and has lots of useful tips and resources for anyone looking to research their trip and wanting to eat a plant-based diet along the way.

Links:

Lindy Alexander - The Freelancer’s Year http://thefreelancersyear.com/ is all about giving practical advice about how freelance writers can earn great money from their writing
Tasha Goldberg’s project Evidence of Hope - https://www.evidenceofhope.com/
Brighde Reed - World Vegan Travel - https://www.worldvegantravel.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/225

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

224 Big Purchases on Your Travels

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 22:01:00 +0000

Usually the souvenirs we purchase on our travels are relatively small - we want to be able to fit them in our baggage to bring home, after all.

I say usually: because Episode 224 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast proves that there are times when people make rather large purchases when they travel! Curiously, none of these three guests had any plan to make these big purchases on their trips - which makes these stories even more fun, I think.

First up, I chat with podcast listener Tim Tricker. He has a fun tale of something quite unusual he and his friends bought entirely by accident on a trip to Spain.

Then I speak with Nan Caple who was holiday with family and friends on Kangaroo Island when they suddenly decided to buy something quite large.

Finally, I talk to Karen Emanuel who was travelling in Nicaragua when a sign caught her attention and she made an even bigger purchase - but one she's very glad of.

Links:

Nan Caple of Snellings View on Kangaroo Island https://snellingsview.com.au/
Karen Emanuel of Jicaro Island Lodge in Nicaragua https://www.jicarolodge.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/224

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 09: Bewildered by Laura Waters

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 13:09:00 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the January 2021 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, talking about Bewildered by Laura Waters.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

223 Single Parent Travel

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 22:01:00 +0000

Travelling with kids in tow is a great way to see the world, but if you're the only parent, it can add a degree of difficulty - but it can also make for the most rewarding trips of all! On Episode 223 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I chat with three single parents who've had wonderful experiences taking their kids away - although sometimes, things do go wrong!

My first guest is Cindy Siano whose son is now in his twenties - but she has a very vivid memory of a single parent moment when he was eight, and they tried out skiing and snowboarding in the Netherlands.

I then chat with Jennifer Johnson who took two of her teenage sons on a trip to Japan - coincidentally, to go skiing, although long before they get on the slopes, something that is only funny in retrospect went wrong.

Finally, I had a great discussion with listener Rita about her three-month long trip with her daughter to Europe and northern Africa - it's inspired me to want to do something that long with my son too!

Links:

Cindy Siano - Life and Times Video www.lifeandtimesvideo.com.au family video producer
Jennifer Johnston - Travel Bug Within - https://travelbugwithin.com.au/
Previous podcast episode 11 about getting separated on a train - https://notaballerina.com/11
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/223

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

222 Meaningful Shopping and Souvenirs

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 22:01:00 +0000

Bringing home a meaningful souvenir from a trip is such a pleasure: if the process of buying it was fun and special, perhaps involving a chat with an interesting local, and then you have an object you can enjoy at home which constantly reminds you of your trip, then it's a perfect scenario.

In Episode 222 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I talk with travellers about their own meaningful shopping experiences abroad, starting off with Patti Lefkos who has a brilliant story to tell about a souvenir she bought in Nepal - including a live demonstration!

Next, I chat with Lindsay Williams. She's obsessed with learning foreign languages and this passion flows through to what she likes to buy when she's travelling, too.

Finally, I'm excited to speak with my friend Lola Akinmade-Åkerström who has a new pandemic-induced project on the go, involving a way to help local artisans and guides in countries particularly affected by the drop-off in tourism numbers and help us have an authentic shopping experience at the same time.

Links:

Patti Lefkos - https://www.pattishaleslefkos.com books and her not-for-profit
Lindsay Williams’ site Lindsay Does Languages - https://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/
Lola’s Local Purse - https://www.localpurse.com
Great Travel Souvenirs - Episode 42 - notaballerina.com/42
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/222

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

221 Planning and Booking Trips

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 22:01:00 +0000

Your style of planning and booking trips is likely, it seems, to fall into one of two categories: a detailed planner (sometimes, incredibly, almost over-the-top detailed - in my humble opinion!) or a more spontaneous, make a few arrangements and then just see what happens.

In Episode 221 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I speak with two travellers who are very dedicated to the detailed planning version, and since my nature is of the opposite type, I find it fascinating to hear what they have to say.

First up, Bob Dimenna describes his kind of planning and research and there are ideas that have literally never occurred to me amongst Bob's gems. Next, I speak with Karen Emanuel, a self-confessed meticulous planner, who does admit to a couple of down sides to this tendency.

And finally, since we're talking booking, I include a section from my recent chat with Nissy Astassi of Expedia, and she gives me a couple of useful booking tips.

Links:

Poll on planning or being spontaneous to travel - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers/permalink/1146005029197932/
Episode 128 - Travelling Planning & Research - https://notaballerina.com/128
Bob DiMenna from The Travelers Blueprint podcast - https://thetravelersblueprint.com
Karen Emanuel of Jicaro Island Lodge in Nicaragua https://www.jicarolodge.com
Nissy Atassi at Expedia - https://www.expedia.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/221

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

220 Goodbye 2020 and My Son Interviews Me

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 22:01:00 +0000

This crazy year, 2020, when everything about the world, and especially the world of travel, was turned on its head, is nearly over.

Phew - I think. Who knows, really, what 2021 will bring, but I think at least we're prepared to know that things are different, whereas this time last year we had not the faintest clue what lay ahead of us.

In Episode 220 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, the final episode for 2020, I give a summary of the good and the bad of the year - and on balance, it wasn't such a bad year - as surprising as that sounds, coming from a travel podcaster.

And then to finish the year, my ten-year-old son has come up with a list of questions and interviewed me about my travels and thoughts. Hope you enjoy it!

Above all: thanks to everyone involved in making The Thoughtful Travel Podcast the most fun thing I do - thanks to the listeners, the guests, the members of the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group, the Book Club members, the journalists who've mentioned the podcast in various cool places during 2020, basically, everyone!

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

219 Seeing the Northern Lights

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 22:01:00 +0000

It's Christmas time which - weirdly, I guess, since I live quite far down in the southern hemisphere! - makes me think about the North Pole, about snow, about cold climates. That made it feel an appropriate week for my episode about seeing the Northern Lights or aurora borealis - an incredible phenomenon I haven't had the chance to witness yet, but after hearing these four guests describe their sightings, I'm more keen than ever.

First up, I chat with Justin Meneguzzi who has a particularly romantic tale about his Northern Lights sighting (although it didn't all go quite to plan). Next, Karen Emanuel makes me rather envious as she describes not one, but two trips she's been on which led to seeing the aurora.

Following Karen, I chat to Travis King who got to experience a surprise sighting in Alaska. Nearby in the Yukon region of Canada, my final guest, Tobi Barth, runs a tour company which specialises in aurora hunting, and he tells me how that works.

Links:

Justin Meneguzzi - https://www.justinmeneguzzi.com
Karen Emanuel of Jicaro Island Lodge in Nicaragua https://www.jicarolodge.com
Travis W King http://www.traviswking.com/ - his book “Not that anyone asked” - a travel memoir about sex, drugs, love and finding purpose.
Tobi Barth of Epic North in the Yukon https://epic-north.com/
Tobi's Aurora Hunting trip - https://epic-north.com/yukon-alaska-day-trips/aurora-hunting-northern-lights-viewing/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/219

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

218 Travel Trends for 2021

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 22:01:00 +0000

2020 is nearly over, and I know many people in the travel industry (and beyond) are breathing a sigh of relief over that. But what will the travel world look like in 2021? It's all a bit unknown but I wanted to chat with people who were on top of the research and could tell us more about what travel trends for 2021 are looking like.

First up, though, I asked the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group for their opinions, and I talk about these: in particular, whether there'll be more planned or more spontaneous trips, what will be important to travellers in destination choice and what trends my listeners think might be coming up.

Then I speak with Nissy Atassi, the Director of Global Communications at Expedia. Nissy had lots of interesting trends to tell me about, including current booking trends and the big changes she expects us to see in 2021.

Finally I talk with Damian Perry, Managing Director for the Asia/Pacific region for Hurtigruten, the Norwegian expedition cruising company. He confirms a few 2021 trends I've been suspecting and has some other interesting stats to explain.

Links:

Nissy Atassi at Expedia - https://www.expedia.com
Damian Perry at Hurtigruten - https://www.hurtigruten.com.au
Episode 190 with Carolyn’s Antarctic cruise/Covid experience - https://notaballerina.com/190
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/218

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

217 Friendships with Fellow Travellers

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 22:01:00 +0000

The friends you make while you're travelling are, I think, often destined to be lifelong friends, because you've probably got a lot in common. If you're travelling in a similar way, or you're in the same destination, or however it is that you meet - you're already well on the way to a solid friendship. That's certainly my experience and I can think back over a long list of great friends I've made this way - and I'm not alone, judging by the guests in this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast.

First up, I chat with Tasha Goldberg, who's spent a lot of time travelling for work. She's formed many great friendships but the example she gives in this chat is a woman she met in the airport in Senegal.

Next, I talk to Travis King, who has a great story about creating a "travel family" while travelling long term. And there's a bonus dangerous dolphin tale thrown in!

Finally, I loved speaking with Monique Ceccato (while she was in hotel quarantine in Norway) about a very special trip she went on to New Caledonia. It was quite unique, and I'm sure that helped Monique and her fellow travellers become firm friends.

Links:

Tasha Goldberg’s project Evidence of Hope - https://www.evidenceofhope.com/
Travis King - https://www.traviswking.com/
Monique Ceccato - https://www.moniquececcato.com/
Episodes with my friend Cham:
114 - Our amazing Cambodia experience notaballerina.com/114
116 - Choosing your next destination notaballerina.com/116
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/217

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

216 What We Learn From Travelling

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 22:01:00 +0000

There are countless lessons we can learn from travel: from small to large, nice-to-know to completely life-changing. I'm sure that I'm a completely different person thanks to the things I have learnt while travelling - and hopefully a better one!

In this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I chat with three guests who agree that we can learn a lot when we travel.

First, I speak with Justin Meneguzzi who has a personal lesson connected to confidence, and a broader lesson about social norms, and right and wrong.

Next, Tasha Goldberg explains one of her most important personal lessons from travel, learnt while travelling after a heartbreak; she also talks about how she learnt the difference between the theory and framework of policy and what it's like to meet people actually experiencing that situation.

Finally, I chat with Lindsay Williams, a language-learning expert, about some of the lessons travel can teach us about speaking another language.

Links:

Justin Meneguzzi - https://www.justinmeneguzzi.com
Tasha Goldberg’s project Evidence of Hope - https://www.evidenceofhope.com/
Lindsay Williams’ site Lindsay Does Languages - https://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/216

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

215 Paul Theroux Interview Part 2

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Paul Theroux returns! This episode is the second half of my interview with travel writer Paul Theroux - if you haven't listened to Episode 214 yet, go and do that first!

In this final section, we talk about another widely-varied array of travel topics, including the magic of train travel, one of my very favourite ways to get around. We also chat about some cultural differences and discuss some of the things that are peculiar to Australians.

We move on to discussing road trips in Australia and the United States, and finish up talking about our children - I know that Paul's sons Louis and Marcel have made truly impressive creative careers for themselves, so I ask him for some parenting tips!

I still feel so privileged to have had this great chat, and I hope you enjoy listening to it just a fraction as much as I enjoyed recording it.

Links:

Deep South - https://amzn.to/3pUcmef
Riding the Iron Rooster - https://amzn.to/2J0Svt6
Dark Star Safari - https://amzn.to/3pRQlN8
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/215

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

214 Paul Theroux Interview Part 1

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 22:01:00 +0000

I'd need a time machine to be able to tell for sure, but I think that Paul Theroux's "The Great Railway Bazaar" was probably the very first travel narrative book I ever read. It shaped a lot about what I thought about travel - that you should talk to local people, that you should travel slowly, alone where possible, and not in a group of tourists, for sure - and it gave me quite an obsession with trains and the Trans-Siberian railway in particular.

So when I was offered the chance to interview Paul Theroux - of course, I said yes! Episode 214 is the first half of this interview - Paul was a very generous interviewee, and our chat is too long to publish in a regular episode, so you'll find the rest in Episode 215.

In this half, our chat is wide-ranging and includes leaning languages, ways to get to know the locals, and the pleasure of teaching and studying in a foreign country - a very sneaky way to properly get to know a place!

Links:

The Great Railway Bazaar - https://amzn.to/35Ca6QB
The Tao of Travel - https://amzn.to/3f5NZVN
On the Plain of Snakes - https://amzn.to/3e7Jg58
The Kingdom by the Sea - https://amzn.to/35z5o6j
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/214

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 08: Down Under by Bill Bryson

Sat, 14 Nov 2020 12:24:31 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the November 2020 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, talking about Down Under (aka In a Sunburned Country) by Bill Bryson.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

213 Sustainable Travel Tips

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Over recent years, more of us have paid attention to ways in which we can travel a little more sustainably, and harm the environment a little less - but we still have such a long way to go. In Episode 213 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I chat with three travellers who are also very concerned about the impact we are having on the environment, and have a wealth of tips and ideas to share with us.

First up I speak with Brighde Reed from World Vegan Travel, who spends a lot of time writing and thinking about how what we do affects the planet. She has a host of practical tips and I suspect there'll be something useful for everyone.

Next, I chat with Louise Southerden, a very thoughtful travel writer who has plenty to say about sustainability as a broader topic along with some excellent tips for travellers.

Finally, Anna Chittenden talks about more practical ways to be sustainable when we travel, including some specific tips in Asia, and also raises an important topic which we'll have to put a pin in for a future episode!

Links:

Brighde Reed - World Vegan Travel - https://www.worldvegantravel.com/
Larq bottles which Brighde mentions - https://www.livelarq.com/
Louise Southerden - No Impact Girl - http://www.noimpactgirl.com
Anna Chittenden of The Lost Guides - http://thelostguides.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/213

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

212 Honeymoons and Weddings

Mon, 02 Nov 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Travelling is often fun but if you're travelling for a super-special reason like to get married - well, then that's even more fun! This episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is full of amazing destinations and very special trips indeed.

My first guest is Scott Antcliffe, who told me this story about his honeymoon in the Maldives - I loved his tale so much that it inspired me to find some other wedding or honeymoon stories to put into this episode.

Shaney Hudson, my second guest, answered the call - because she is a real over-achiever at weddings! She and her husband got married not one, not twice, but three times, and on three different continents and in quite incredible situations.

Finally, Emma Lovell did something I think many travel-lovers would like to do: she eloped to somewhere foreign and special, and she and her (now) husband had a really unique wedding.

Links:

Getting Engaged While Travelling - https://notaballerina.com/197
Scott Antcliffe on Twitter - https://twitter.com/cliffy94
Shaney Hudson - twitter.com/shaneyhudson
Emma - Lovelly Travels - https://lovellytravels.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/212

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

211 Visiting Cervantes in Western Australia

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Quirky limestone pillars, Spanish street names, a barbecued pizza ... all this and more in our most recent trip.

It's been a busy year - oddly enough! I was due a break, and I took my son off for four days to Cervantes, a couple of hours north of Perth. This had all the hallmarks of some of my favourite kinds of travel: slow travel (staying in one destination rather than moving around), finding things to be curious about (there is always something to be curious about!) and having fun with good people.

My son and I recorded our thoughts about this Cervantes trip in two parts, and although the highlight of the stay was visiting the Pinnacles desert (now that's a weird place!), there were lots of fun and interesting moments which I think our chats have captured well.

Links:

Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/211

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

210 How Travel Helps Us Really Understand the World

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 22:01:00 +0000

It's Episode 210, a nice round number so it's time for a special edition of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast. As some of you may know, I've spent a fair bit of time working on my first book about thoughtful travel, and in this episode, I decided to tell you some stories from a particular section of my book that talks about how travel really helps us to understand the world better - in a way that no textbook, movie or book can ever do.

The first tale I share is one of many situations I've been in where travelling helped me understand world history more deeply. It's simultaneously one of my least favourite but most impactful travel days, visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps in southern Poland.

Next, I move on to another less-than-cheery (but important!) topic, with a story about how a small incident on my travels got me thinking more deeply about racism.

To lighten the tone, I then have a story to share about what travelling has taught me about religion - it's a story involving a car and a shrine in Japan ...

Finally, my last tale about travel helping me to understand the world is one about how getting to know local people can help you learn what's beyond the simple textbooks - in this case, it's about communism/socialism and what I learnt from visiting Slovakia.

Links:

Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/210

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

209 Travelling With Grandchildren

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Episode 209 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast was inspired by a chat I had with Rick Antonson a year or so back, who described a trip he'd taken in Canada with his ten-year-old grandson Riley. Since then I've been looking out for other stories of travelling with grandchildren and am excited to publish this episode with its three great tales.

First up of course is Rick's story which began it all - and I particularly love it because it takes place on a great train journey in Canada, something I'd like to emulate one day (hopefully before I have grandchildren of my own!),

Next, I chat with Nan Caple who is grandmother to ten - and has a wonderful family tradition of getting together on a trip with the extended family. I think her grandchildren are very lucky!

Finally, I loved speaking with Fiona Newman, a listener of the podcast who volunteered to tell her story of taking two of her grandchildren on a very special trip to Europe - the kind of trip that, I have no doubt, those kids will hold very dear in their hearts forever.

Links:

Rick Antonson - www.rickantonson.com
Nan Caple - https://snellingsview.com.au/ two homes for six people each, beautiful on KI!
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/209

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 07: Step By Step by Simon Reeve

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 22:25:00 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the September 2020 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, talking about Step By Step by Simon Reeve.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

208 Local Trips - Meckering in Western Australia

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 22:01:00 +0000

We might not be travelling as far and wide as usual thanks to Covid-19 and our state's border closure, but my son and I have just had a quick getaway to a town a couple of hours east of Perth, and it is worth telling you all about!

I'm a big fan of travel for random reasons, and this one was pretty random. The destination was dictated purely by my 10-year-old son, and meant we ended up staying near the town of Meckering, in the wheatbelt region of Western Australia.

Meckering's only a memorable name to most West Aussies because a particularly bad earthquake struck there back in 1968. On our trip, we learnt more about that, but also got to enjoy some big views and the quiet of farm life - and in this episode, I chat about our experience with my son, as well as giving you my thoughts on why this kind of trip is valuable and worthwhile, too.

Check the show notes for some photos of Meckering and surrounds.

Links:

Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/208

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

207 Writing Retreats Around the World

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 22:01:00 +0000

My first creative love is writing, and it's exciting to me to be able to explore how my guests combine writing and travel in this episode about writing retreats around the world.

First up, I chat with Suzanne Moore, a novelist who lives in Perth but took the opportunity to spend a couple of weeks completely alone in Japan to work on her book, in the scenic landscape of Hokkaido.

Next, Catherine Marshall explains her month-long writing retreat at Ledig House in New York State - and I get quite envious over the idea of spending an entire month focused on writing, in a beautiful place with fascinating people!

Finally, Patti Buff tells me about a writers' retreat she organised within the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, held at a particularly picturesque spot in southern Germany.

Links:

Suzanne Moore https://www.suzannemoorewriter.com/
Suzanne’s book The Place Between - https://amzn.to/31KM6aD
Catherine Marshall - http://catherinemarshall.com.au coming soon!
More from Catherine and friends at Time to Wander - http://www.timetowander.com.au/
Art Omi - https://www.artomi.org
Patti Buff - https://pattibuff.wordpress.com
Episode 52 How Travel Sparks Creativity - https://notaballerina.com/52
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/207

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 06: The Salt Path by Raynor Winn

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 13:18:15 +0000

You can read the main Observer article at https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-real-salt-path-how-the-couple-behind-a-bestseller-left-a-trail-of-debt-and-deceit

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the July 2020 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, talking about The Salt Path by Raynor Winn.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

206 Curious Tourism Meets The Thoughtful Travel Podcast

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Episode 206 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is a special one: for the first time, I'm doing a crossover episode with another podcast, because I'm sure it's one my listeners will love.

(Newsflash! We refer to Alpaca My Bags throughout this episode, but this wonderful podcast has been rebranded as "Curious Tourism" - a brilliant name!)

I chatted with Erin, the host of Alpaca My Bags, earlier in the year when we had just gone into Covid lockdown. Erin and I discussed our travel histories, all about what our podcasts stand for, and highlight some of our favourite episodes. I get to be a bit self-indulgent and talk about moving abroad in my twenties and my theory about brainwashing my son so that he loves to travel (so far, it's working!).

Links:

Alpaca My Bags Podcast - https://www.pinatravels.org/podcast
Alpaca My Bags Holiday special chat - https://audioboom.com/posts/7462567-a-holiday-special-for-travelers-and-friends
Alpaca My Bags No White Saviors episode - https://audioboom.com/posts/7496097-voluntourism-and-no-white-saviors
Interesting Plane Passengers Sitting Next To You - https://notaballerina.com/178
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/206

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

205 What Turns Us Into Travellers

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 22:01:00 +0000

What turned you into a traveller? I've been pondering this question and in Episode 205 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I chat with four travel lovers about the origins of their travel addiction.

We start off delving back into childhood times to find some of the sparks that interested us in travel, and I speak first with Evan Petrelis. His particular entry point for learning about the world is quite unique! I also chat with Bob DiMenna who grew up loving learning about wildlife around the world, which led on to an interest in world cultures and travel.

Next, we consider how you go from a casual traveller into something more serious. I talk to Ferenc Elekes who learnt an important lesson while on a two-week holiday in Australia, chatting with longer-term travellers. I also chat with Kate Manser about how visiting her friend in French Polynesia had a significant impact on her life, too.

Links:

Episode featuring my Dad talking about Papua New Guinea - https://notaballerina.com/20
Evan Petrelis from Renaissance Tours - https://renaissancetours.com.au/
Bob DiMenna from The Travelers Blueprint podcast - https://thetravelersblueprint.com
Ferenc Elekes - Overland Site - https://overlandsite.com/
Kate Manser’s site You Might Die Tomorrow - https://www.youmightdietomorrow.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/205

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

204 Island Travel

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Island life, island time, there are all kinds of phrases we use that evoke that special feeling of islands - be they tropical or otherwise, small islands are exotic places to visit and I've got such a long list of islands I've loved, and long to return to.

Turns out I'm not alone and in Episode 204 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I chat with three guests about some of their own favourite island experiences and what it is they love about island travel.

First up is Seana Smith who, despite being born in a "small, freezing Scottish town", discovered that she could indeed travel to far-flung islands and describes experiences in Africa and Asia.

Next, Ben Pearson takes us to Indonesia and has a fun story he likes to tell about a particularly famous island, home to a certain dragon ...

Finally, I chat with Nan Caple who has spent many years returning to Kangaroo Island in South Australia, a special place that has captivated her family and turned into something more than just a spot they love to spend their holidays.

Links:

Seana Smith - Hello Sydney Kids https://www.hellosydneykids.com.au/

Ben Pearson from World Animal Protection - https://www.worldanimalprotection.org.au

Nan Caple - Snellings View accommodation on Kangaroo Island - https://snellingsview.com.au/

My old story of Abruka Island in Estonia - http://www.magiccarpetjournals.com/abby_of_abruka_island.htm

Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/204

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

203 Student Exchange Trips

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Travel can have a lasting impact at any age but if you’re a teenager and you’re away from your family on some kind of student exchange program then it’s even more likely to be life-changing, and Episode 203 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast looks at this idea in this episode about student exchange trips.

First up, we hear briefly from Abby Lewtas who describes her experience as a fourteen-year-old on exchange in the United States - the same as I was when I went to Germany on an equally life-altering school trip.

I then chat to Patti Buff, an American writer who by chance happened to spend a year as a teenager here in my very own home state of Western Australia. It was so fabulous to chat with her and this is just an extract of a much longer conversation!

Finally, one of my listeners, Jane, spoke to me about another angle of student exchanges: being the host family. Jane taught me a lot about all the benefits of student exchange trips to those families where the students end up staying - something I’d never thought much about even though I know it from my own experience to be true.

Links:

Abby Lewtas - The Wanderlusters’ Mind Podcast - https://www.abbylewtas.com/thewanderlustersmindpodcast
Patti Buff - https://pattibuff.wordpress.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/203

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

202 Wildflowers in Western Australia Trip Diary

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 22:01:00 +0000

It's wildflower season!

The Western Australian border might be closed thanks to Covid-19, but the positive side of this is as a Perth resident I'm able to travel throughout our vast state - including some of the lesser-visited parts. In mid-August, I spent three days in Australia's Golden Outback chasing wildflowers with my friend Di, and we kept an audio diary of our time away.

In this special episode, you'll hear what Di thinks about my navigational abilities, you'll learn about just some of the amazing wildflowers we got to see near Mingenew, Morawa, Canna and Coalseam Conservation Park, and you may even giggle along with our evening campfire chats.

Links:

Dianne Bortoletto’s website Travelletto - https://travelletto.com

Australia’s Golden Outback - https://www.australiasgoldenoutback.com/page/outback-wildflowers

Mellenbye Station - https://www.mellenbye.com.au

Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/202

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

201 Listener Stories

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 22:01:00 +0000

This is the second part of my celebration of 200 episodes - today, the wonderful listeners you met in Episode 200 share some of their very favourite travel stories. And they're amazing!

Lily takes us first to Indonesia, back when she was just sixteen - and she learnt a lot! Next, Jane tells us of an amazing part of Italy that had captured her imagination and then proved even better than she imagined. Ena describes a particularly special experience she and her children had in an Indian temple.

We then move to South America, and Anuj explains an incredible morning in Tikal, Guatemala. Genevieve, one of my most adventurous listeners, chats with me about her epic ski trip across ten very remote communities in Canada. Richie rounds off the tales with his rather long bus trip in China, which nonetheless turned out to be thoroughly worthwhile (as most travel is!).

A huge thank you to Lily, Anuj, Ena, Jane, Richie and Genevieve who all gave their time and stories so freely - it was such a pleasure to chat with each of you!

Links

Support the podcast on Patreon: http://notaballerina.com/support
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/201

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

200 Podcast Listener Interviews

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 22:01:00 +0000

It's a big milestone today: this is the 200th episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast!

And since this podcast would literally be nothing at all without all my wonderful listeners, I've decided to devote both this week and next week to you all by interviewing some brave listeners who volunteered to record chats with me - from all corners of the globe - Melbourne to Norway, British Colombia to England, and more. A huge thank you to Lily, Anuj, Ena, Jane, Richie and Genevieve who all gave their time and stories so freely - it was such a pleasure to chat with each of you. In this week's episode, my listener guests introduce themselves and also talk about some of their favourite stories and episodes from The Thoughtful Travel Podcast.

Links

Support the podcast on Patreon: http://notaballerina.com/support
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/200

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

199 Responsible Animal Tourism

Mon, 03 Aug 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Seeing animals when we travel is high on many people's must-do lists - but are we doing it responsibly? Responsible animal tourism is one of those areas I'm constantly learning more about: for example, I still remember the moment, perhaps six or seven years ago, when I first learnt about why we shouldn't ride elephants (and if you're not sure, listen on!). Animal tourism is definitely an area where as we learn more about it, we can do better, so I'm hoping this episode is as enlightening for you as it was for me to make it.

First up, I chat with Julia Salnicki, a zoologist who has spent many years living in Zimbabwe and Botswana doing research on painted dogs, spotted hyaenas and elephants. We talk about lion cubs, elephants and gorillas - some good and some bad stories!

Next, I talk to Ben Pearson of World Animal Protection, first asking him about a pet hate of mine - quokka selfies - and then asking him for some more guidelines on how we can be responsible travellers in relation to animals.

Finally, I speak with Louise Southerden about the specific case of riding with camels - as that seemed quite a grey area for me.

Links:

Julia Salnicki from Classic Safari Company - https://www.classicsafaricompany.com.au
Ben Pearson from World Animal Protection - https://www.worldanimalprotection.org.au
Louise Southerden - No Impact Girl - http://www.noimpactgirl.com
Lou’s piece on camel riding at World Nomads - https://www.worldnomads.com/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/participation/camel-riding
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/199

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

198 Early Trips of Experienced Travellers

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 22:01:00 +0000

The trips we take early in our travelling careers are very special - those first times when you are really seeing the world with truly fresh eyes. That newness is something you never get back, but I'm sure it's the reason why chatting with experienced travellers about their early trips is so interesting - years on and after many more trips, they recognise how important these travels were, and all that they learnt from them. That's the reason for putting together Episode 198 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast about the early trips of experienced travellers.

The first traveller I speak to is JoAnna Haugen, who explains her first proper trip abroad on a college study program in Scandinavia. I particularly like that it's a seemingly small incident which actually has a long-lasting effect on how JoAnna thinks about travel.

Next, I speak with author Jini Reddy about some life-changing in her early travels in Asia, when she was in her twenties. It's especially interesting to her about her experience of visiting India for the first time.

Finally, I chat with Tom Mattson about his first round-the-world trip back in the 1970s, when it was easy to extend your stay in a place and have quite the adventure! I love that Tom tells me about his time in Japan, one of my very favourite destinations.

Links:

JoAnna Haugen, founder of Rooted, a storytelling platform covering sustainable travel and more - https://www.joannahaugen.com/rooted/
Jini Reddy - https://www.jinireddy.co.uk/
Jini's new book is Wanderland: A Search for Magic in the Landscape - https://amzn.to/3hET4EL
Author Tom Mattson - https://tomsglobe.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/198

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

197 Getting Engaged While Travelling

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Amongst travel lovers it's quite common that your engagement happens while you're travelling - I guess it's the obvious time to have a big romantic gesture! - and on-the-road proposals are the topics of all the stories on Episode 197 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast.

I start off with a delightful story from Scott Antcliffe about when he proposed to his now wife - in fact, him telling me this story is what prompted me to gather some more tales of travelling engagements just so I could share this lovely one!

Next, Dianne Bortoletto explains how her now husband popped the question to her - when she least expected it.

Finally, I chat with Cindy Siano about her now husband's huge efforts to make sure that he got her to say yes, while on holiday in Europe.

Links:

Scott Antcliffe on Twitter - https://twitter.com/cliffy94
Dianne Bortoletto’s travel blog, Travelletto - https://travelletto.com
Cindy Siano - Life and Times Video www.lifeandtimesvideo.com.au
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Follow me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/amandakendle
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/197

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 05: A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby

Sat, 18 Jul 2020 13:15:11 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the June 2020 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, talking about A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

196 When Your Passport Goes Missing

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 22:01:00 +0000

What do you do when your passport goes missing while you’re travelling? Well, as proven by Episode 196 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, what happens is you end up with a good story to tell (and like most travel problems, it turns out to be solvable).

My first guest is Paula Morgan who explains the tale of missing passports during a train trip in Europe - and the unexpected glee of whose fault it was!

Next, I chat with Jen Williams who encountered some problems trying to leave Mongolia, in the aftermath of having her passport stolen during her travels.

Finally, I speak with Marina Villatora in Guatemala. She went to spend a month at Lake Atitlan, but the stay didn’t turn at all as she’d expected.

Links:

Paula Morgan - https://Sydneyexpert.com
Jen Williams - Launch Your Travels - https://www.launchyourtravels.com/
Marina Villatoro - https://thetraderchick.com/
Patreon - support the podcast - https://www.notaballerina.com/support
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/196

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

195 Encounters with Locals in Central Asia

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Regular listeners to The Thoughtful Travel Podcast know just how much I love hearing about encounters with local people when we travel, so Episode 195 is a collection of stories about all kinds of different ways my guests have met locals during their travels in Central Asia.

First up, I chat with Tracey Croke, who explains a particular intriguing encounter with some local shepherds in Kyrgyzstan, and one who had a particularly compelling proposal for her ...

Next, Liz Warner tells me about a woman she met when she went to Afghanistan to run in a marathon, and something surprising she found out by chatting with her.

Finally, Ferenc Elekes talks about one of his many stops on his overland trips, this one in Kazakhstan where he and his girlfriend got to know a Russian family who were camping in the same remote area.

Links:

Patreon - Bonus content and other benefits https://www.notaballerina.com/support
Tracey Croke - https://traceycroke.com
Liz Warner of Run to Reach http://runtoreach.com/
Ferenc Elekes - Overland Site - https://overlandsite.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/195

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 04: Around the World in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 03:22:16 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the May 2020 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, talking about Around the World in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajeshi.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

194 Trans-Siberian Train Journeys

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Train-lovers unite - Episode 194 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is all about journeys on the Trans-Siberian Railway across Russia. This will always be one of my favourite trips, and it's such a pleasure to chat with other travellers who've also experienced the many ups and downs of crossing Russia by train.

First up, I chat with Catherine Marshall, who decided to take the Trans-Siberian from Moscow to Vladivostok with ten of her favourite relatives to celebrate a milestone birthday. The problem: her date of birth meant they ended up traversing Russia in the depths of winter!

I then speak with Cindy Siano who took the Trans-Siberian train back in 1995 - although (spoiler alert) it's particularly intriguing to me to hear that not altogether that much has changed in the ensuing years.

Links:

The ever-changing landscape of the Trans-Siberian - https://www.notaballerina.com/2013/02/trans-siberian-train-ever-changing-landscape.html
Catherine Marshall - http://catherinemarshall.com.au coming soon!
More from Catherine and friends at Time to Wander - http://www.timetowander.com.au/
Cindy Siano - Life and Times Video - https://lifeandtimesvideo.com.au/
Patreon - get bonus content and support the podcast - https://www.notaballerina.com/support
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/193

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

193 Travel Firsts and Transformations

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 22:01:00 +0000

If you think back to the first time you travelled, you might just recall that this was a pretty important and influential part of your travelling experience as a whole. When I speak with avid travellers, it's often the case that their first trip has had a big impact either on their lives, or their future travels, or both. These transformative travel firsts are the basis for Episode 193 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast - and they make for some fantastic stories!

To start with, I chat with listener Scott Antcliffe, who grew up in the front passenger seat of his father's taxi, meeting passengers flying in and out of major UK airports. I'd love to know if his dad realised at the time just how impactful these meetings were going to be.

Next, Bob DiMenna and I talk about his first trip outside of the United States, which was to Thailand - a very significant trip in many ways.

Finally, Nate Taiaroa speaks about his own transformational travel experiences and how he's used those to try to help others have the same kinds of revelations and what's more, to make sure they really make the most of them, too - I love his passion for helping travellers really cement the big lessons from their travels.

Links:

Patreon - get bonus content and support the podcast - https://www.notaballerina.com/support
Scott Antcliffe on Twitter - https://twitter.com/cliffy94
Bob DiMenna from The Travelers Blueprint podcast - https://thetravelersblueprint.com
Nate Taiaroa from Adventure Out Loud - https://www.adventureoutloud.me/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/193

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

192 Travel in Dangerous Places

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Ever travelled to somewhere that other people told you was dangerous? Or decided not to go, for precisely that reason? Episode 192 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast contemplates the idea of dangerous places, whether we should travel to them and how we can make a considered decision.

My first guest is Tracey Croke who has a great theory on this topic - she calls it her "pie chart of reality" and it's a very sensible way to look at the information we can gather when we're trying to decide whether or not a destination is too dangerous to travel to. Having been to places like Afghanistan, I think Tracey is a good person to listen to on this topic.

Next up I chat with Michael Barticel about his approach to fear - as a signal that we need to be careful, but that usually shouldn't stop you, and he describes his example of visiting Cali in Colombia.

Lastly I speak with Hungarian traveller Ferenc Elekes who has a timely story to tell about an experience he and his friends had breaking down late at night on a dirt road in Tajikistan, near the Afghan border.

Links:

Patreon - support The Thoughtful Travel Podcast at https://www.notaballerina.com/support
Tracey Croke - https://traceycroke.com
Michael Barticel - Today Dreamer - https://www.todaydreamer.com/
Ferenc Elekes - Overland Site - https://overlandsite.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/192

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

191 Travellers with a Disability

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 22:01:00 +0000

As I've learnt by listening over the years to one of our guests, one in five travellers have a disability. That's a high percentage and I guess that means there's a good number of my listeners who travel with a disability, or have a family member or friend in their travelling group with a disability. This is important stuff!

In Episode 191 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I chat with three people on this subject. First up, I have a great chat with Seana Smith who describes the development of her son and his travels over the years. He was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of three, but is now an adult, and Seana tells me how his experience with travel has changed. Let's just say there's a heavy metal festival involved!

Next I speak with Suzanne Kamata, who has travelled many times with her now adult daughter, a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy and a love of France (and travelling in general).

Finally, I wanted to get Julie Jones back on to speak about a magazine she's started since we last chatted on the podcast several years ago, called Travel Without Limits. It's Australia's first disability-specific travel magazine and it's awesome!

Links:

Episode 53 - Travel with disability and chronic illness - https://notaballerina.com/53
Support the podcast via Patreon - https://www.notaballerina.com/support
Suchita’s adventures in Bali - https://littlebodyhugelife.wordpress.com/2019/08/05/adventures-at-the-klung-kung-markets/
Jen's post about travelling to Cambodia - https://www.notaballerina.com/2018/10/travelling-to-cambodia-autism-spectrum.html
Seana Smith - Hello Sydney Kids - https://www.hellosydneykids.com.au/
Suzanne Kamata - http://www.suzannekamata.com/
Suzanne’s book, Squeaky Wheels - https://amzn.to/2qPbCNQ
Julie’s blog Have Wheelchair Will Travel - http://havewheelchairwilltravel.net
Travel Without Limits magazine - https://www.travelwithoutlimits.com.au
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/191

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

190 Covid-19 Thoughts from Western Australia

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Episode 190 - time for a special episode! As Western Australian life starts to become somewhat normal again after a period of Covid-19 isolation, I decided it was time to record some thoughts about what life has been like here in Perth during the global pandemic.

I talk about how extraordinarily lucky we have been here, and how for once, I've actually appreciated how isolated Perth, Western Australia is. I also talk about how important it has been for me to be in touch with friends interstate and across the world - mostly friends I've made through travelling - because hearing people's personal stories about their experiences is so much more impactful than only watching the news headlines. It's also been a period where I've been in much closer touch with friends outside of Western Australia and I've really loved that aspect of it. Finally, I talk about the future of travel in a post-pandemic world - not that I have any crystal ball to know what's going to happen, but I do have some hopes for what we might be thinking about travelling.

A Perth friend, Carolyn Beasley, was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic when her Antarctic expedition ship was prevented from landing in Chile as planned back in March 2020. I talked to Carolyn about her experiences and this seemed the perfect time to share that story.

Links:

The importance of making travel friends - notaballerina.com/covidfriends
Episode 184 on Antarctic Travels - notaballerina.com/184
Carolyn Beasley - https://www.carolynbeasley.com
Support The Thoughtful Travel Podcast on Patreon - notaballerina.com/support
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/190

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 03: On the Plain of Snakes by Paul Theroux

Wed, 27 May 2020 22:01:00 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the March/April 2020 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, On the Plain of Snakes by Paul Theroux.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

189 Unusual Ways to Meet the Locals

Mon, 25 May 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Meeting local people when you travel is one of the surest ways I know to be a more thoughtful traveller - and to have a lot of fun, too! In Episode 189 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I talk to three travellers who discovered fascinating ways to interact with locals on their travels - and of course, they all found it really rewarding.

First up, I chat with Tracey Croke who told me that the surest way to get to meet some interesting locals is to join a revolution! There are caveats of course - but it's true that this is what Tracey did on a trip to Macedonia.

Next I talk to JoAnna Haugen who found a particularly unique way to get to see what the locals were doing, by volunteering as an international election observer in Ukraine.

My last guest is Jen Williams who got to know some locals when she was visiting Bagan in Myanmar, and they led her to quite an intriguing encounter with a local shaman.

Links:

Tracey Croke, travel journalist - https://traceycroke.com
JoAnna Haugen, founder of Rooted - https://www.joannahaugen.com/rooted/
Jen Williams - Launch Your Travels - https://www.launchyourtravels.com/
Support via Patreon - https://www.notaballerina.com/support
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/189

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

188 Getting Sick on Your Travels

Mon, 18 May 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Nobody wants to get sick on a trip, but especially if you're a frequent or long-term traveller, it's nearly inevitable. Like many mishaps when we travel, much of the time the story of how you dealt with being ill in a foreign country turns into an anecdote you regularly retell - and that's the case for the three guests on Episode 188 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast.

First up, I chat with Christine Williams who has spent many years on the road - which means at some stage, illness is likely to catch up with you, and for Christine it was a case of dengue fever.

Next, Liz Green talks about just why she ended up touring the many vaccination clinics of South-East Asia after a small incident in Laos.

Finally, Chris Haag tells me about the time he ended up rather sick in Mexico - don't be eating while you listen!

Links:

Support the podcast via Patreon - https://www.notaballerina.com/support
Christine's website Don’t Forget to Move - https://www.dontforgettomove.com/
Christine's podcast Not So Bon Voyage - https://notsobonvoyage.com
Liz’s site Whiz Bang Writing - https://www.whizbangwriting.com/
Chris Haag's site The Places I Pee - https://www.theplacesipee.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/188

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

187 Historical Connections and Travel

Mon, 11 May 2020 22:01:00 +0000

There are lots of interesting stories in travel but if your travels are connected to some personal connections to history, that sure makes it even more interesting! In Episode 187 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I'm lucky to chat with two travellers who some really interesting connections to history.

First up, I talk to Flip Byrnes who - unbeknownst to her until she was an adult - is the great-granddaughter of photographer and adventurer Frank Hurley. Since she learnt of the connection she's let this ancestry influence a lot of her travel choices and has some fascinating tales to tell as a result.

I then speak with Tom Mattson, who has a particular interest in Cuba and regularly visits. On one trip he had the good fortune to meet Juan who, as a child, was an eyewitness to historical events involving Fidel Castro and more.

Links:

Travel journalist Flip Byrnes - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theadventuremamma/
Author Tom Mattson - https://tomsglobe.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/187

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

186 Travel Mishaps

Mon, 04 May 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Things go wrong fairly frequently when I travel - and I'm sure I'm not alone. Mostly these mishaps are minor and they make an otherwise ordinary day much more memorable. In Episode 186 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I chat with three guests who've had some kind of mishaps or things go wrong on their trips - but all with happy endings!

First up, I chat with Catherine Marshall who, despite always arriving as early as possible at an airport, very nearly missed a flight. You can decide who was at fault!

I then speak with Kiki Wong who participated in a particularly interesting media trip to the Grand Canyon - the kind that had a lot of low points and also some high points, thankfully!

Finally, I find out the whole story about Rick Antonson's trip to Timbuktu for a haircut. It might not quite have been the haircut he'd usually have ... but it was still a very worthwhile experience.

Links:

Catherine Marshall - https://instagram.com/zizzyballord
More from Catherine and friends at Time to Wander - http://www.timetowander.com.au/
Kiki Wong - Nylon Pink - https://www.nylonpink.tv
Rick Antonson - www.rickantonson.com
Rick’s book To Timbuktu for a Haircut - https://amzn.to/3834ltj
Episode 73 - When Things Go Wrong - https://www.notaballerina.com/73
Episode 158 - When Travel Days Go Wrong - https://www.notaballerina.com/158
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/186

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

185 Slow Travel Benefits

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Slow travel is a concept hitting all the "travel trends" lists recently, and I think (and hope) that travel post-Covid will include a lot more slow travel, too. The idea of spending more time in fewer places isn't appealing if you want to tick off a list of sightseeing hotspots, but if you try a slower pace and realise all of the benefits it can bring - getting to know a place better, meeting more locals, discovering off-the-beaten path gems that you'd otherwise miss, not to mention the sustainability advantages - then you might be won over!

In Episode 185 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I chat with three travellers who are big fans of the slow travel concept. My first guest is Christine Williams who confesses she just might be one of the slowest travellers ever, and has been on the road for nearly a decade. She explains what slow travel looks like for her and her partner and why they sometimes stop somewhere for months at a time.

Next, I talk to Caro Ryan who is a huge fan of the slowest travel pace of all, walking. She describes how hiking and walking around the world has so many benefits to the traveller.

Finally, I speak with Talon Windwalker about how travelling with a child was the impetus he needed to really figure out the art of slow travel - something which has a lot of parallels to my own experience.

Links:

Christine's website Don’t Forget to Move - https://www.dontforgettomove.com/
Christine's podcast Not So Bon Voyage - https://notsobonvoyage.com
Caro Ryan's website Lotsa Fresh Air - https://lotsafreshair.com
Talon’s website One Dad One Kid - http://1dad1kid.com/
Episode 25: How Slow is Slow Travel - https://notaballerina.com/25
Episode 44: Embracing Slow Travel - https://notaballerina.com/44
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/185

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 02: The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 01:43:09 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the February 2020 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, discussing The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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184 Antarctic Travels

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Many people (including me!) dream of going to Antarctica, but only a small number ever get there. One thing's for sure: I've never met someone who's come back from Antarctica and found their trip a bit "meh". It's always an awe-inspiring experience, and the three guests I chat to in Episode 184 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast attest to that.

First up, I chat with Suzanne Moore, who travelled to Antarctica with her husband to celebrate their fortieth birthdays. As an ex-veterinarian, Suzy particularly loved the wildlife, but she's also a keen photographer, so the landscapes enticed her equally.

Next I talk to Paul Pichugin, a photographer who went to Antarctica on a photographic assignment and got to experience the works: kayaking, snorkelling, even camping out on the Antarctic continent.

Finally, I speak to Carolyn Beasley who has only very recently returned from Antarctica - recently enough, unfortunately, that her ship was stuck off the South American coast for some time as they returned to a Covid-19 immigration nightmare. We'll speak about that in a future episode but for today, Carolyn reminisces about some of the highlights of her incredible Antarctic experience.

Links:

Suzanne Moore https://www.suzannemoorewriter.com/
Suzanne’s book The Place Between - https://amzn.to/31KM6aD
Paul Pichugin - landscape and travel photographer - https://paulpichugin.com
Carolyn Beasley - https://www.carolynbeasley.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/184

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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183 Justifying Travel in the Climate Change Era

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 23:28:00 +0000

So, here's a big question for you: can we justifying travelling in the era of climate change? It's a question that's been on my mind for quite a while now, and I've found two amazing travel journalists to help me ponder it more deeply. Episode 183 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast features Louise Southerden and Catherine Marshall and their very articulate thoughts on whether or not we can, in the future, still justify travel.

Spoiler alert, though: nobody knows the answer.

First up, I chat with Louise Southerden, in a conversation recorded before Covid-19 decimated travel completely - but her message is still the same. We talk about the benefits of travel personally and about Lou's responsibility as a travel writer, encouraging others to travel, to do so in a sustainable way.

I then talk to Catherine Marshall and we cover topics like flight shame, whether travel is a selfish pursuit, what drives people to need to travel and what benefits travel can bring the world. We also touch on how the Covid-19 pandemic might influence all this - hopefully for the better.

Links:

Louise Southerden - No Impact Girl - http://www.noimpactgirl.com
Catherine Marshall - http://catherinemarshall.com.au coming soon!
More from Catherine and friends at Time to Wander - http://www.timetowander.com.au/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/183

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

182 Travel and Personal Development

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Travel can change us in so many positive ways - that's one of the main reasons I keep doing it! In Episode 182 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I chat with three guests about some of the many and varied ways that travel has continued to their ongoing learning and personal development.

First up, I chat with Kiki Wong. She started out on an academic path to becoming a doctor but stepped off this track when - you won't be surprised to know - an amazing offer to travel appeared.

Next, I speak with Nicci O'Mara who learnt a lot about parenting (and about her children) during a family trip to Italy. On Nicci's birthday, events unfolded which turned out to be a big turning point in personal development for all of them!

Finally, I talk with Nate Taiaroa who has spent year living and travelling in Africa, learning so much from these experiences that he went into business to help others get to have these life-changing personal development experiences too.

Links:

Kiki Wong - Nylon Pink - https://www.nylonpink.tv
Nicci O’Mara from Trip Chiefs - https://tripchiefs.com/
Nate Taiaroa from Adventure Out Loud https://www.adventureoutloud.me/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/182

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

181 Small Group Travel

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 01:11:00 +0000

I used to be a staunch anti-group-travel kind of gal. I went literally decades without even a thought of joining a group tour! But in Episode 181 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I admit the error of my ways and chat with three guests who've all had truly unique and wonderful small group travel experiences.

First up, I speak to Suzanne Moore, a local Perth writer who spent a week last year walking the Cape to Cape track in the south-west of my home state of Western Australia. Suzy had some of the same reservations about travelling with a group that I've had in the past, but they definitely proved to be unfounded.

My next guest is Louise Southerden and we chat about the benefits of specifically-themed small group tours. This is definitely a case where travelling with a group can actually exceed the experience of independent travel (something I never would have dreamt of conceding a few years back!).

Finally, Andrew Tyree and I chat about what can go wrong with group travel - and he should know, as he leads small group trips across Central and South America. Luckily we also talk about lots of things that go right!

Links:

Suzanne Moore https://www.suzannemoorewriter.com/
Suzanne’s book The Place Between - https://amzn.to/31KM6aD
Louise Southerden - No Impact Girl - http://www.noimpactgirl.com
Andrew Tyree - Coast to Costa - https://www.coasttocosta.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/181

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

180 Fourth Anniversary Travel Journal Memory Lane

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 10:07:00 +0000

Normally a podcast anniversary is a purely joyous occasion - I've been putting out The Thoughtful Travel Podcast consistently for four whole years now! - but in the times of Covid-19 it's certainly a bittersweet time to be talking about anything connected to travel.

I debated long and hard about how to celebrate and then realised that, stuck as I am at home, it was finally time to take a deep dive into my huge stack of travel journals documenting past trips.

I hoped to find some gems and lessons to share with you all - and I think I did, or perhaps I just spent a completely self-indulgent day in my own memories - I'll let you be the judge!

There'll be photos and more at the show notes. Enjoy!

Links:

Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/180

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

179 Australian Tourism After the Bushfires

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 22:01:00 +0000

January 2020 was a horrible time for Australia - 186,000 square kilometres of Australia burnt in bushfires (that's an area half the size of Germany); 34 people lost their lives and they estimate up to a billion animals perished. Yep - it was awful, and the aftermath has been awful for the tourism industry too, because many people had to cancel trips during our peak travel season.

So, what to do? I'll put on an episode later in the year about the specific parts of Australia you can travel to in order to help out with bushfire recovery but for now, I've interviewed two Australian women who have told me all about the efforts to restore tourism so far, and talked about the far-reaching effects - and possibly some benefits - arising out of the post-bushfire chaos.

First up, I chat with Louise Southerden, firstly about some of the great tourism initiatives helping out and then about the bigger picture and the opportunity to do good. Lou also touches on the Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency movement, which we will talk about more in a later episode, too.

Next I talk with Caro Ryan who lives in the heart of one of the areas seriously affected by the bushfires, the beautiful Blue Mountains in New South Wales. We also chat about the great innovations in tourism since the fires and also the bigger picture and hopes for the future.

Links:

Louise Southerden - No Impact Girl - http://www.noimpactgirl.com
"Open for business, not business as usual" - Louise's blog post about post-bushfire tourism - http://www.noimpactgirl.com/2020/02/after-bushfires-open-for-business-not.html
Caro Ryan - Lotsa Fresh Air - https://lotsafreshair.com
Call to Revive Australian Tourism by Catherine Marshall - https://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article/call-to-revive-australian-tourism
Holiday Here This Year - https://www.australia.com/en/travel-inspiration/holiday-here-this-year.html holidayherethisyear.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/179

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

178 Interesting Plane Passengers Sitting Next to You

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Oftentimes you can't choose the passenger sitting next to you on a plane. This can be both good and bad! Episode 178 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast includes conversations with three different guests who all have interesting tales to tell of someone they sat next to on a flight.

First up, Paul Pichugin tells the hilarious tale of ... well, a woman passenger next to him, and I don't want to give the story away - you'll have to listen to it! Excuse my raucous laughter.

Next, I chat with Laura Waters who broke the golden rule of avoiding conversation on a long haul flight - in case you get stuck talking with someone you don't want to talk to for the next ten hours - and it turned into something quite delightful.

Finally, I talk to Dale Neill about a particularly intriguing passenger he sat next to on a flight across Australia some years back. Let's just say there was a lot of chocolate milk involved!

Links:

Paul Pichugin - landscape and travel photographer - https://paulpichugin.com
Laura Waters' website - https://soultrekkers.com.au/
Laura’s book Bewildered - https://amzn.to/2S20zu2
Dale Neill - http://www.daleneill.com.au
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/178

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

177 African Travels

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 22:01:00 +0000

African travel seems to have been constantly on my radar lately - I guess it's nearly time for me to go and explore more of that continent? For now, at least, it'll be through Episode 177 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast because I've chatted with three guests lately who had intriguing tales to tell of Africa.

First up, I chat with Rick Antonson. He has a delightfully unique reason for choosing to visit Timbuktu in Mali, and I loved hearing about what he found there.

I then talk to Brighde Reed about the amazing destination of Rwanda - which is probably at the top of my want-to-visit African nations, and even more so after speaking with Brighde.

Finally, Chris Daniels has had some great African experiences - largely part of his PhD in African Studies, so he knows his stuff - and we chat about visiting Somalia and Ethiopia in particular.

Links:

Episode 80 Travel in Africa - https://www.notaballerina.com/2018/01/travel-africa-episode-80-thoughtful-travel-podcast.html
Episode 96 Remote Travel in Africa - https://www.notaballerina.com/2018/05/remote-travel-africa-episode-96-thoughtful-travel-podcast.html
Rick Antonson - www.rickantonson.com
Rick’s book "To Timbuktu for a Haircut" - https://amzn.to/3834ltj
Chris Daniels - Motherland Connect - https://www.motherlandconnect.org
Brighde Reed - World Vegan Travel - https://www.worldvegantravel.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/177

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Book Club 01: The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 06:35:00 +0000

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the January 2020 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, discussing The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton.

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

176 When Travelling is Your Job

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 22:01:00 +0000

We sometimes see people doing glamorous jobs and travelling the world and think: wow, they have a great life! It's those kind of people who are in Episode 176 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast: I have a travel journalist, a guidebook writer and a guitarist who have all had the opportunity to travel widely and for long periods of time as part of their work.

All of them are grateful for the travel and work they've been able to do, but there are definitely pros and cons to these kinds of careers. First up, I talk to Anna Chittenden who is a guidebook writer, travelling extensively throughout Asia. I'm a little envious of her in-depth experience of Japan, but it is definitely not a glamorous lifestyle.

Next, I chat with Christine Retschlag, a travel journalist who darts around the globe with barely a break. We discuss that while much of this is a lot of fun there are some significantly difficult parts too.

Finally, I speak with Kiki Wong who spent some years touring the world with her band Nylon Pink. We chat about two very different experiences of tours, and although Kiki says it's always worth it, there are definitely some tough moments.

Links:

Anna Chittenden of The Lost Guides - http://thelostguides.com/
Anna’s new Lost Guides book - Tokyo & Beyond https://amzn.to/2T7Q8WG
Christine Retschlag - https://www.theglobalgoddess.com
Kiki Wong - Nylon Pink - https://www.nylonpink.tv
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/176

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

175 Walking and Hiking Travels

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 22:01:00 +0000

If you've ever wondered what it's really like to head out for days or even months and just keep walking, Episode 175 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast will give you many insights into hiking and walking experiences on your travels.

I start off speaking with Laura Waters, who spent five months tramping from the top of New Zealand to the bottom. As you can imagine this is no easy feat at all (but there is a bonus to it all involving chocolate!).

Next, Suzanne Moore describes a much shorter hike in Japan, and an experience that made us both laugh. Suzy will be back in a future episode describing a longer hike she did in south-west Australia - but this climb at Mt Yote is such a fun story!

Finally, I chat to Rick Antonson who agreed - without even knowing where it was or anything about it - to walk the Kokoda Track with his neighbour. This was also not a simple trip but like nearly any trip that requires a lot of effort, it was incredibly rewarding.

Links:

Hiking When You Travel, Episode 124 - notaballerina.com/124
Laura Waters’ website - https://soultrekkers.com.au/
Laura’s book Bewildered - https://amzn.to/2S20zu2
Suzanne Moore https://www.suzannemoorewriter.com/
Suzanne’s book The Place Between - https://amzn.to/31KM6aD
Rick Antonson - www.rickantonson.com
Rick’ book Walking With Ghosts in Papua New Guinea - https://amzn.to/37n1fzS
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/175

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

174 Life Lessons From Travel

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Travelling teaches us a lot - there's nothing like having a big range of different inputs in a short time to wake up your brain! Episode 174 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast includes chats with three travellers who've learnt some solid life lessons during their travels.

I start off by chatting with Nicci O'Mara about a sad but important life-changing moment that happened to her in Africa a couple of decades ago. We talk about how important it is to grab life by the horns and not put off things we really want to do.

Next, I talk with Eugene Devereux about his recent experiences exploring south-east Asia, an area very different to his homeland of Ireland. He explains that he learnt a lot of life lessons by experiencing such different cultures and coming to understand their history, too.

Finally I chat with Kate Manser about a lesson she learnt about hospitality while she was travelling in remote Indonesia. We also circle back to something similar to Nicci's lesson and discuss why you should jump at any travel opportunity that is presented to you!

Links:

Nicci O’Mara from Trip Chiefs - https://tripchiefs.com/
Eugene Devereux - https://www.irishbootstrapper.com
Kate Manser’s site You Might Die Tomorrow - https://www.youmightdietomorrow.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/174

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

173 Anxiety and Travel

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 22:01:00 +0000

There's a bit of a myth out there that we travellers are brave, confident people who never get anxious. From my own life and knowing many other travel-loving friends who also have experienced anxiety, I can promise you this is wrong.

Episode 173 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast includes two very special conversations with women who divulge some of their very personal experiences with anxiety and its connection with travel.

Firstly, I speak with Megan Blandford (who literally wrote the book on anxiety!) about some of her experiences with anxiety during her travels. Megan gives some really specific examples of how anxiety gripped her on trips to Japan and earlier on a dolphin swim trip and I personally find this one of the best ways to understand more about what anxiety can look like on our travels.

I then get the chance to chat with Laura Waters who has just published a book that also features a lot of her anxiety: Laura spend five months hiking from one end of New Zealand to the other and what happened to her anxiety during this trip is fascinating.

Links:

Megan Blandford https://meganblandford.net/
Her book I’m Fine (And Other Lies) about postnatal depression and motherhood https://amzn.to/2tY7zAc
Laura Waters https://soultrekkers.com.au/
Laura’s book Bewildered https://amzn.to/2S20zu2
How to Deal with Travel Anxiety - Episode 93 - https://notaballerina.com/93
Getting Past Travel Anxiety - Episode 71 - https://notaballerina.com/71
My blog post from a few years back about my experiences with anxiety and travel - https://www.notaballerina.com/2015/02/travel-for-the-anxious-anxiety-prone.html
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/173

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

172 Helping Others When We Travel

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Wanting to help others when we travel is a common theme amongst experienced travellers, because we've all realised how lucky we are and how unlucky many people around the world are. In Episode 172 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I'm not giving you all the answers on how to solve the world's problems but I do want to bring you stories from three travellers who've helped others in three different ways.

First up I talk with Veronica from Happily Made about her experiences in Cambodia and beyond, trying to figure out ways to help women in poverty or who need some way to support their children going to school. Veronica's Happily Made business is a great example of a sustainable way to help - she sells toys and other knitted products made by women who work out of their homes in Cambodia.

Next, I chat with Marilyn from the Wow Travel Club who's also had lots of different experiences in helping others when she travels, and she tells the story of how a Dining for Women project she was involved with took her to Vietnam and some really impactful experiences.

Finally, I get to talk with Rafferty, basically my favourite travel-expert 11-year-old, who described an experience he had recently in South Africa.

Links:

Veronica’s Kickstarter - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/happilymade/happily-made-gifts-that-give-back by 1st March 2020
Happily Made - https://happilymade.com.au
Marilyn Murphy from the Wow Travel Club https://www.wowtravelclub.com/
Dining for Women - https://diningforwomen.org/ - US only
Raff is the boy of his mum Aleney’s blog Boy Eats World - https://boyeatsworld.com.au
KASI RC - Shack Art School & Theatre, Cape Town - https://www.facebook.com/KhayelitshaArtSchool/
Tin Mugs Africa Trust - https://www.tinmugs.org
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/172

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

171 Moving to Another Country

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 22:01:00 +0000

It's one thing to travel to a foreign country, but to completely migrate and move to another country is another level of experience entirely! In Episode 171 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I'm chatting with three guests who've made the big move: one to Mexico, one to Japan, and one from Brazil to Australia. We've got half the world covered!

First up, I talk with Queen D Michele who retired from her job as a school teacher in the United States and moved to Mexico. I asked her what her family and friends thought about her big move which opened up one of the most amazing stories of all!

Next, I chat to Suzanne Kamata who is an American married to a Japanese man and living in a fairly rural part of Japan. It's interesting for me to hear how she feels there after several decades.

Finally, Luana Marchi explains about the decision she and her husband made to leave their home country of Brazil and migrate to Australia - though at the start, they weren't so sure of their lifelong plans.

Links:

Episode 162 on Choosing Where to Live Abroad - https://notaballerina.com/162
Queen D Michele’s book Considerations: A Guide For Moving Abroad - https://amzn.to/2WWjHf0
Suzanne Kamata - http://www.suzannekamata.com/
Suzanne’s book, Squeaky Wheels - https://amzn.to/2qPbCNQ
Luana Marchi - health and wellness coach - https://luanamarchi.com.au/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/171

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

170 How Travel Changed in a Decade

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 22:01:00 +0000

It's 2020 (and arguably not the start of the decade but let's skip that discussion) and I want to look back on the years from 2010 until now. Travel has changed a LOT in that decade - more than I realised, until I started thinking more deeply about it and asking what some of my favourite thoughtful travellers thought.

In Episode 170 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I talk about many of the ways in which how we travel, why we travel, what we do when we travel, and more, has changed since 2010. A shout out to my lovely friend Kristy Morton, first, for giving me the idea for this episode - fitting, since she was the very first guest I ever interviewed! In this episode, you'll hear a fabulous variety of ideas and opinions from my fellow travel media from the Australian Society of Travel Writers and, just because I realised I needed diversity (it was an all-female show until then!) a snippet from my friend Ian, aka The Barefoot Backpacker, from the UK.

The topics traverse a wide range: of course, the incredible developments in smartphone technology rate highly, but there is also discussion of how the #metoo movement has changed travel, how industry disruptors like Airbnb have altered how many of us travel, and, most excitingly for me, how many travellers are maturing in what they want: the rise of niche travel and, I hope, the rise of thoughtful travel!

Links:

Ian - the Barefoot Backpacker - https://barefoot-backpacker.com
Kate Hennessy - https://www.instagram.com/the_smallest_room/
Kate’s piece in the Financial Review - https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/travel/how-metoo-has-changed-the-way-women-travel-20181023-h17039
Monique Ceccato - http://www.littlemissmonbon.com/
Christine Knight - Adventure Baby
Carmen Jenner - http://fluffytowel.com
Di Bortoletto - https://travelletto.com
Liz Bond - http://lizbondwriter.com/
Marianne Rogerson - https://www.mumonthemove.com/
Emily McAuliffe - http://www.emilymcauliffe.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/170

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

169 Romance and Travel

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 22:01:00 +0000

Let's kick off 2020 with something we've never covered on The Thoughtful Travel Podcast before: romance and travel! Episode 169 covers the whole gamut of travel romance, from dating apps to testing new relationships by travelling together and exploring the cultural differences that come up when you date someone from a different country.

First up, I chat with Christine Retschlag who has done a lot of research on dating as she travels the globe! She's no stranger to testing out a dating app in a new city and has discovered it's a fascinating way to meet the locals.

Next, I speak with Ian and Ann who actually did meet on a dating site, and say that the fact they both liked travel was a crucial part of them becoming a couple. I love how they road-tested their relationship quite literally and quite early - and now they travel full-time.

Finally, I speak with Dan Johnston who has lived abroad in a range of different countries in Europe and central America. His dating experiences are also interesting and we realise that dating is also a good way to really get to know the local way of life in a new country.

Links:

Christine Retschlag - https://www.theglobalgoddess.com
Ann and Ian at Expat or Not - https://www.expatornot.com/
Dan at Dreams Around the World - https://dreamsaroundtheworld.com/thethoughtfultravelpodcast/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/169

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

168 New Year Travels [Replay]

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Celebrating the turn of the year can be a lot of fun, and if you happen to be somewhere away from home for December 31, it can be even more fun and memorable.

This week's episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is a replay of my first New Year's Eve travel episode from three years ago, as I know many current listeners won't have heard it. It features Kim-Ling's story of New Year's Eve on Ibiza - and it's not what you think - and Di's story of what makes up a wonderful New Year's Eve in Tasmania. Of course, I also mention some of my memorable New Year's Eve celebrations - I think one of my favourites was a year in Bratislava with local Slovak friends and my sister (on her honeymoon, no less!), featuring snow(wo)men and fire crackers. This year, I'll be near the beach, always a good way to ring in a new year, I think!

Links:

Kim-Ling at Travel-Ling - https://travel-ling.com/
Di at Travelletto - https://travelletto.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

167 Christmas Travels [Replay]

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 22:01:00 +0000

It's Christmas time again - it comes so fast! - and I'm replaying this Christmas episode of the podcast from the early years, which I know many people won't have heard. It's full of both fun and poignancy, and even includes a guest appearance from the Easter Bunny.

At this time of year, when I've mostly wound down from work for the year and am spending lots of extra time with my son, who's on holidays from school for six whole weeks, I have lots of time to reflect and one of those reflections is just how much I love creating The Thoughtful Travel Podcast and how grateful I am for my fabulous audience and community.

So, if you celebrate Christmas, I hope it's a fabulously merry one. And delicious, too.

In this episode, I chat with Annalicia Lynn who had an interesting Christmas in Taiwan while she was teaching English there. We talk about the cultural differences between many Asian countries and English-speaking nations and she has one of my very favourite stories about how her Taiwanese colleagues tried to create a Christmas atmosphere in the workplace.

Emma Mann started a tradition of spending Christmas abroad, and she talks about the difference between spending Christmas in another country where the traditions are strong, versus a place where Christmas generally isn’t celebrated.

Finally, Joe Baur chats about his experience living in Germany at Christmas time – one of my favourite places to be during this season!

Links:

Annalicia of Exercise180 - https://www.exercise180.com/
Emma of The Vagabond Feminist - https://thevagabondfeminist.wordpress.com
Joe Baur - https://joebaur.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers/

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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166 Travel Year in Review

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 22:01:00 +0000

2019 is coming to an end - and it's been another big year for The Thoughtful Travel Podcast. You can hear about some of our travels in Episodes 150 (Thoughtful Travel in Denmark) and 160 (Cairns and Queensland), and in this episode I'll tell you some of the statistics from this year (including in how many countries The Thoughtful Travel Podcast has been downloaded in ... it's quite a lot!).

I also answer some great listener questions which include topics like what I think the next hot destinations will be, how I will get out of my comfort zone in 2020, how to balance thoughtful travel with kids and a great question about how to answer "what is your favourite country?" when, as is the case with most of us, we definitely can't narrow that down to one (and it kind of defeats the purpose of travelling to do so, too!).

Thanks to all my fabulous guests and listeners over 2019 - I literally couldn't make this show with you and your excellent input!

Links:

Thoughtful Travel in Denmark - notaballerina.com/150

Cairns and Queensland Diary - notaballerina.com/160

Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/166

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

165 Travel Insurance Saves the Day

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 22:01:00 +0000

You never want to need your travel insurance ... but you should always have it. Episode 165 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is a mix of trips gone wrong (but yippee - travel insurance was there!) and some expert advice from people in the insurance industry. Let's just say - I learnt a lot!

First up, I chat with Shelley Winkel who had cause to use her travel insurance after an injury far from any hospital or medical help in Patagonia - pretty much the last place in the world you want to have an accident!

Next, I speak with Lisa Kable from the Insurance Council of Australia. I've known Lisa for a couple of years and have figured out that she knows everything that needs to be known about insurance - she definitely taught me a thing or two in this chat!

Finally, I talk with Anthony Bianco about some of his experience in the travel insurance industry and allow him to tell the worst joke in the podcast's existence to date!!

Links:

Shelley Winkel from Tourism and Events Queensland - https://teq.queensland.com
Lisa Kable from the Insurance Council of Australia - http://www.insurancecouncil.com.au/
Anthony Bianco from the Travel Tart - https://www.thetraveltart.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/165

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

164 Please Travel With Your Children

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 22:01:00 +0000

I might be a little bit obsessive about this topic - although it's been a long time since an episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast has covered it - but I really passionately feel that taking your kids travelling is so very beneficial for them (and you, too!). In Episode 164 I chat with some great guests who feel as strongly about why you should travel with your children as I do.

First up, I chat with Nicci O'Mara who impressed me no end with some of the great ideas she has about how to help kids get the most out of their travels. I thought I was good, but Nicci is next level!

I then speak with AJ and Natasha who travelled the world with their young son, and intended to do it again in a few years. We discussed how there are a lot of great lessons for parents when travelling with kids, too.

Finally, I talk to Suzanne, an American who lives in a fairly remote part of Japan with her Japanese husband and biracial kids. She has lots of important reasons to take her children travelling and it was great to chat with her.

Links:

Nicci O’Mara from Trip Chiefs - https://tripchiefs.com/
Natasha and AJ - 2 Idiots Travel Blog https://www.2idiotstravel.com/
Suzanne Kamata - http://www.suzannekamata.com/
Suzanne’s book, Squeaky Wheels - https://amzn.to/2qPbCNQ
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/164
Sign up to the Thoughtful Travel Thursday newsletter - http://eepurl.com/gLeG9L

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

163 Tony Wheeler, Lonely Planet Founder

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting Tony Wheeler, most famed for being the co-founder, along with his wife Maureen, of the Lonely Planet guide book empire. He gave a keynote address at the conference attended for the Australian Society of Travel Writers and I had the chance to chat with him later that day, and asked him if he'd like to be a special guest on The Thoughtful Travel Podcast - and luckily for all of us he said yes!

In this conversation we talk about all kinds of travel-related stories, some fun and some serious. I ask Tony what he's learnt from his travels over the years, whether his children also have the travel bug and all about his keen interest in modes of transport. We also talk about two of his book projects including his most recent one, Islands of Australia.

The wonderful members of the Thoughtful Travellers group on Facebook also chimed in with some questions, which led Tony and I to chat about why he mentioned the Maldives as a place he wouldn't return to, and we also discussed the "Lonely Planet effect" - what happens when a small tourism business gets overrun after being mentioned in a guide book.

All of that, as they say, and more! It was a great pleasure to chat with Tony and I hope you all enjoy listening!

Links:

Tony Wheeler - https://tonywheeler.com.au
Tony's Bad Lands book - https://amzn.to/34gpsHC
Tony's Islands of Australia book - https://www.booktopia.com.au/tony-wheeler-s-islands-of-australia-tony-wheeler/book/9780642279477.html
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/163

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

162 Choosing Where to Live Abroad

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Have you ever thought about living abroad? I've done it - in Japan, Slovakia and Germany - but it all just kind of happened, and I never had the intention of moving there for the foreseeable future. That's why Episode 162 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is particularly interesting to me - my guests have all travelled with the intention of finding a place to live abroad permanently or for at least a fair few years.

First up I chat with Liz Green who explains how she and her husband decided to trial living in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It was mind-blowing enough for me to learn that lots of FIFO (fly in, fly out) workers in Australian mine sites actually fly to south-east Asia for their home base, and then I was interested to hear about how Liz and her husband scoped out whether Chiang Mai could be for them or not.

I then chat with Ann Mortimore and Ian Crabtree who left the United States with the express purpose of finding a new home. Their search is narrowing and it was fascinating to hear about the pros and cons of various countries across the globe that were part of their endeavour to find a place to live abroad.

Links:

Liz’s site Whiz Bang Writing - https://www.whizbangwriting.com/
Ann and Ian at Expat or Not - https://www.expatornot.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/162

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

161 Cycling Across the World

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Ever thought about cycling around the whole world? I sure haven’t - but today’s two guests in Episode 161 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast have both spent years and thousands of kilometres exploring the globe by bicycle and despite what you might assume, they seem quite normal!

First up I chat with Alastair Humphreys who spent four years on his bike, covering five continents and learning a lot both about cycling and its benefits, and about himself.

I then speak with Brett Seychell who set out on a whim one day to cycle from London to Paris, which turned out to be the start of something much bigger! In fact - it's not an exaggeration to say that it changed his whole life.

Links:

Alastair Humphreys - https://www.alastairhumphreys.com/
Brett from Social Cycles - https://www.social-cycles.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/161

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

160 Cairns and Queensland Podcast Diary

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Time for something different for Episode 160 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast: you can listen in on my diary! I've just spent a week in Cairns, Queensland, and after many requests to do this, I actually recorded a podcast diary on my trip. Well, most days - it was a very busy trip!

The first part of my trip saw me explore Cairns, the Nerada Tea plantation and taking the Skyrail to Kuranda on my own - all lots of fun and I especially enjoyed the chance to be a solo traveller for just a couple of days again. That's a rare pleasure for me at this phase in life.

For the second half of my trip, a hundred and fifty or so of my friends joined me!! In fact I was attending the annual convention of the Australian Society of Travel Writers, so I got to visit Fitzroy Island with a small group of them, and then spend two days together talking and celebrating all things travel writing, travel PR and travel influencing. It's such a fun event and also really got my mind ticking over with a billion new ideas for the podcast.

Links:

Some of the travel I did on this trip was sponsored or subsidised and I'm very grateful for the chance! Of course: my views are always my own.

Nerada Tea plantation - see where your tea grows! You can eat a mighty good meal there and see their resident tree kangaroos - https://www.neradatea.com.au
Kuranda Skyrail - a fabulous way to get up into the rainforest - https://www.skyrail.com.au
Fitzroy Island off Cairns - a place I've promised my son I'll take him to in the near future - https://www.fitzroyisland.com
Riley, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort - a hotel that even I approve of! - https://www.crystalbrookcollection.com/riley
Tropical North Queensland - more things to do in this fabulous part of the world - https://www.tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

159 Languages and Travel

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Travelling in foreign countries is only half the fun when we know the language, right? Plenty of intrigue and hilarity ensues when you're trying to communicate in a language you only know a few phrases of, and that's a big joy when I travel - picking up little pieces of a new language and learning how it all fits together!

In Episode 159 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I chat with three travellers about this very topic and they find it just as interesting as I do. First up I talk to Denise who spent some time in Spain learning flamenco dancing - and learnt just as much about the Spanish language and culture, too.

Next I chat with Kendall about how fortunate we are - in some ways! - to be native English speakers, and other issues related to languages and travel.

Finally, I speak with Dan Johnston who's tackled one of the more complex European languages, Czech, and found it rather tricky! We talk about how language ability can change your personality in some ways, too.

Links:

Denise Tham - Spas of the World - https://spatravels.home.blog/
Kendall’s site https://www.kendallsimmons.com/
Dan at Dreams Around the World - https://dreamsaroundtheworld.com/thethoughtfultravelpodcast/
Previous episodes on languages and travel:
Episode 126 - https://www.notaballerina.com/2019/02/language-difficulties-episode-126-thoughtful-travel-podcast.html
Episode 10 - https://www.notaballerina.com/2016/05/thoughtful-travel-podcast-episode-10-cope-another-language.html
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/159

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

158 When Travel Days Go Wrong

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Getting around on your travels is not always smooth sailing and things do go wrong. Does that mean your trip is a disaster? I think not! If my three guests in Episode 158 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast are anything to go by, a travel mishap is purely fodder for a great story to tell later.

In this episode I chat first with Nate Hake. He tells the tale of visiting Bolivia and running into some trouble when protestors basically shut down the town of Uyuni shortly before he landed there

Next, I talk to Justin Watson. He had a visa to get through China ... or did he?

Finally, I speak with Natasha and AJ of the 2 Idiots Abroad blog ... about a time in Bangkok when possibly, they nearly lived up to the name of their blog!

Links:

Nate at Travel Lemming - https://travellemming.com/
Justin Watson - blog at Justin’s World http://www.justins.world
Natasha and AJ - 2 Idiots Travel Blog https://www.2idiotstravel.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/158

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

157 Uncommon Destinations

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Visiting places that not many people go to is a special joy for me - I love not knowing much about a place and honestly, I feel a bit proud to tell people if I've been somewhere uncommon. I'm probably not alone in that feeling! In Episode 157 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I speak with three travellers who've spent time in more uncommon destinations recently and loved their experiences.

First I speak with Liz Green who found herself visiting Kazakhstan when her son moved there for a stint with his job. From not knowing much at all about it to absolutely loving the experience, Liz's story has definitely convinced me to visit!

Next, I talk with Eva Westerling who has spent time in perhaps one of the least commonly visited countries at the moment - Iraq. Eva didn't go there for a tourist visit but rather as part of her job, but she still managed to do a little sightseeing around Erbil in the Kurdish area and has some interesting tales to tell about it.

Finally, I chat with Justin Watson who has visited quite a number of uncommon destinations - he's soon headed to Ethiopia and Djibouti, so I'll have to get him back on to chat about those two! - but in this episode, we discuss his trip to Bhutan.

Links:

Liz’s site Whiz Bang Writing - https://www.whizbangwriting.com/
Eva’s blog Not Scared of the Jet Lag - http://www.notscaredofthejetlag.com
Justin Watson - blog at Justin’s World http://www.justins.world
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/157

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

156 How Travel Stretches Our Comfort Zone

Mon, 07 Oct 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Travel can stretch your comfort zone in a multitude of ways, and the fact that it does is one of the biggest benefits of travel, I think. You can stretch a comfort zone at home too, but pushing the boundaries of what you feel comfortable with is so much easier in a new place, and there are usually a lot more opportunities too.

In Episode 156 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I start off talking to Ann Mortimore and Ian Crabtree who took a giant leap by deciding to pack up their life in the United States and start exploring the world full-time. Their first stop, Guatemala, provided quite a few comfort-zone-stretching moments. (Spoiler alert: it was all worth it!)

Next up I chat with Michela Fantinel who I personally think is an expert in stretching her comfort zone. I admire how she's built up her experience of solo travel over the years and done particularly some amazing trips around Australia.

Finally, I speak to Alastair Humphreys who is no stranger to smashing his comfort zone, being a veteran of numerous crazy physical challenges - but we discuss how his most recent trip to Spain was a stretch of a completely different kind.

Links:

How I stretched my comfort zone at the Ningaloo Reef - https://www.notaballerina.com/2016/10/australias-coral-coast-stretched-comfort-zone.html
Ann and Ian at Expat or Not - https://www.expatornot.com/
Michela at Rocky Travel - https://www.rockytravel.net/
Alastair Humphreys - https://www.alastairhumphreys.com/
Alastair’s new book My Midsummer Morning - https://amzn.to/2JWNjDe
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/156

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

155 What's So Special About India?

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 22:01:00 +0000

India is one of those countries that people seem to visit and then rave about for the rest of their lives. In fact, it's really the only place I can think of that I hear so much deep love for. I've never really understood the pull to India that many people have, but after speaking with the three guests in this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I'm keen to go and see it for myself.

I first speak to Seng Mah, a photographer who found his first trip to India utterly life-changing and continues to return, including taking tour groups of photographers there knowing that their lives will be changed too. Seng explains the magic of India to me better than anyone ever else has.

Next, I chat with Whitney Taylor who, like me, hadn't been particularly drawn to visiting India but found herself on a trip there. She was so amazed by it all and would go back in a heartbeat.

Finally, Marilyn Murphy tells me a little about her first experience of India, and a more recent and contrasting one. Suffice to say, India was also an incredible experience for her that she recommends to all.

Links:

Seng Mah at Venture Photography - https://www.venturephotography.com.au
Whitney Taylor on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/whitneyleighartist/
Marilyn Murphy from the Wow Travel Club https://www.wowtravelclub.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/155

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

154 Dancing on Your Travels

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Taking a dancing class when I'm travelling or specifically taking a trip to learn to dance is not something that I've ever done - but hearing about all the fun that my guests on Episode 154 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast have had makes me begin to wonder if it might be in my future!

I start off chatting to Clare who has had several tango-related holidays. Clare describes her tango trips to Spain and Argentina and we also chat about how that interacts with learning and practising a language when you travel.

Next, I talk with Denise who spent a month in Spain specifically to learn more flamenco. She really immersed herself in all things flamenco and while I'd say she worked pretty hard there, she definitely had an amazing experience.

Finally I chat to Cheri who has taken music and dance classes in many places - and we agree that it is an amazing way to get to know a culture, something that goes beyond language. She describes a dance experience she had in Ghana which sounded pretty incredible. See, I'm nearly converted!

Links:

Clare’s site The Book Next Door - Australian ESL materials for adults and young adults - http://thebooknextdoor.com/
Clare Harris - Englishy Things - https://clareharris.com
Denise Tham - Spas of the World - https://spatravels.home.blog/
Cheri’s site The Breath of Cuba - http://www.thebreathofcuba.com
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/154

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

153 Reading Books to Inspire Travel

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 22:01:00 +0000

It seems that the number of people who love to travel AND who love to read makes up quite a high proportion of my listeners so I'm excited that Episode 153 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast can be all about reading books to inspire travel.

I'm constantly reading books because they're set somewhere I'm about to visit, or alternatively I've booked a number of trips because of places I've read about in books! For me, they are completely intertwined - and the guests on this episode seem to feel the same way.

First up I chat with Kendall Simmons who is a voracious reader of all kinds of books and believes that reading before you travel somewhere really enriches your understanding of a place.

Next I talk to Lesley West who is an even more voracious reader and is very devoted to reading books set in a destination before she travels there. (A woman after my own heart!)

Finally, Alastair Humphreys and I talk about how reading books about people's travel experiences can actually give you an experience and perspective it's impossible for you to get otherwise, and we also talk about some of the travel books he's written and how knowing his travel experiences will become a book can influence his experience.

Links:

Kendall Simmon’s site https://www.kendallsimmons.com/
Lesley West of Better Link business consultancy - https://betterlinkgroup.edu.au/
Alastair Humphreys - https://www.alastairhumphreys.com/
Alastair’s new book My Midsummer Morning - https://amzn.to/2JWNjDe
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/153

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

152 Transformative Travel

Mon, 02 Sep 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Because travel has changed my life in so many varied ways, I know that it's transformative; when I talk to three other people who believe this, like for this Episode 152 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I'm even more sure about how transformative travel can be. If you're able to rearrange your budget to get travelling then go and do it!

In this episode I start off speaking with Dean O'Shea who runs a business devising trips for mostly corporate professionals with the hope that they'll be transformational - and it sounds like it's working. Dean gives me a couple of examples of people he's already helped to have some major life transformations as a result of particular travel experiences.

I then chat with Nate Hake who used to be a trial lawyer in the United States. These days he's travelling the world - he was about to head to Tblisi, Georgia when we spoke - and his own life has been substantially transformed through his travel experiences. As an Aussie I'm proud to say there were Australians involved in this transformation, too!

Finally, I talk with Fiona Galloway who uses the tag line "transformative travel" to describe the tours she runs. She's passionate about the power of travel to transform lives in so many ways.

Links:

Dean’s site Unbelievable Adventures - https://www.unbelievableadventures.co.uk/
Nate at Travel Lemming - https://travellemming.com/
Fiona’s site Wild Awake - https://www.wildawaketravel.com
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/152

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

151 Scuba Diving Travel

Mon, 26 Aug 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Scuba travel has never been high on my wishlist but after talking to my three guests on Episode 151 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast about their diving trips all around the world, I'm beginning to think otherwise!

Scuba diving holidays are special - and my first guest Ella Loeffler should know as in the short few years since she first learnt scuba diving, she's tried it out in quite a number of places around the world. Liveaboard diving sounds especially good to me - kind of like a separate trip within a trip where you get to hang out with like minded travellers and locals.

After Ella I chat with Deborah Dickson-Smith who loves diving so much she bought a scuba diving travel agency! She's got a long list of great dive experiences but also some wishlist ideas to experience the best scuba diving in the world sometime.

Finally, I talk with Talon Windwalker, who has done work as a dive instructor and has done many special diving trips with his daughter. He also emphasises the many-faceted benefits of combining scuba diving with travelling: seeing new (underwater) landscapes, getting to know another side of local cultures and creating incredible memories.

Links:

Easy Travel Speak free lesson -
https://www.nomadingabout.com/free-easy-travel-speak-lesson/
Use discount code AMANDA for 40% off Easy Travel Speak -
https://www.nomadingabout.com/easy-travel-speak
Adopt a sea turtle nest program where Ella’s volunteering - Lang Tengah - http://www.langtengahturtlewatch.org/adoptions/
Deborah’s site Dive PlanIt, a dive travel agency - https://diveplanit.com/
Talon’s blog - http://1dad1kid.com/
Talon on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/onedad1kid/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers -
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/151

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

150 Post-Denmark Thoughtful Travel Debrief

Mon, 19 Aug 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Before I travelled to Denmark a couple of months back, I recorded Episode 140 with all my thoughts ahead of that trip. In particular, I wanted to be a more intentionally thoughtful traveller on that trip and in this special Episode 150 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I'm following up on how that all went.

It turns out - quick spoiler - that being more intentional really helped me to have an even better experience in Copenhagen and rural Denmark. But you'll have to listen to the podcast to find out why!

A special bonus in this special episode is that my son, now Mr9, has made a return visit - the last time he was here, he was only Mr6! He answers some questions asked by the lovely members of the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group - thanks everyone!

Links:

My pre-Denmark thoughts in Episode 140 - https://notaballerina.com/140
Easy Travel Speak free lesson -
https://www.nomadingabout.com/free-easy-travel-speak-lesson/
Use discount code AMANDA for 40% off Easy Travel Speak -
https://www.nomadingabout.com/easy-travel-speak
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers -
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/150

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

149 - Class and Privilege When We Travel

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 22:01:00 +0000

We who get to travel the world are a very privileged lot - right? If we're going to be good, thoughtful travellers, I think that considering issues of class and privilege when we travel is an important part of it. In Episode 149 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I talk with three guests who articulate some really interesting thoughts on this topic and I'm so pleased to bring them to you, and hope they give everyone some food for thought.

First up, I speak with Ella Loeffler, a recently graduated ecologist who has been spending time volunteering on a sea turtle project in Malaysia. She might be young, but she has given this topic a lot of thought already and it was great to hear how she has handled it so far.

I then chat to Nate Hake, a former lawyer who now travels the world as a digital nomad and has written about issues like passport privilege in the past.

Finally, I talk to Chris Haag who actually proposed this whole topic in the first place. Chris is cycling the Americas from north to south and when we spoke, he was in Mexico, a destination which had given him cause to think a lot about class and privilege issues.

Links:

Adopt a sea turtle nest program where Ella’s volunteering - Lang Tengah - http://www.langtengahturtlewatch.org/adoptions/

Nate at Travel Lemming - https://travellemming.com/

Nate's post about linguistic privilege - https://travellemming.com/travel-privilege-english/

Chris's site The Places I Pee - https://www.theplacesipee.com

Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/149

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

148 Solo Travelling

Mon, 22 Jul 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Solo travelling is one of those things that you might fear before you try it: but if you take the plunge you will find that the life of a solo traveller is insanely rewarding. In Episode 148 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I talk to three people who have done a lot of solo travel in all kinds of parts of the world and they all agree that including some solo travelling in the mix is absolutely worthwhile.

My first guest is Alastair Humphreys who has done some very adventurous solo travel and finds it both soul-searching and rewarding. We talk in particular about one of his solo trips walking across India.

Next up I chat with Justin Watson who, like me, thought at first that solo travel might be difficult; when he finally tried he was very glad he did.

Finally, I speak with Michela Fantinel about one of her first solo travel experiences in New York City - since then she has gone on to do numerous solo trips and would thoroughly recommend it.

Links:

Alastair Humphreys - https://www.alastairhumphreys.com/
Alastair’s new book My Midsummer Morning - https://amzn.to/2JWNjDe
Justin - blog at Justin’s World http://www.justins.world
Michela at Rocky Travel - https://www.rockytravel.net/
Join our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes - https://notaballerina.com/148

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

147 - Ten Years a Nomad with Nomadic Matt Kepnes

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 22:01:00 +0000

One of the most well-known (and successful, for that matter) travel bloggers around is Matt Kepnes, also known as Nomadic Matt. Here's the thing. I actually started blogging a couple of years before Matt, and we got to know each other while freelancing for some of the same travel sites back in the day - but he's the one who went on to turn his travel blog into a very successful full-time career. I want to be jealous, but whenever I encounter Matt I'm reminded that he's just a really nice guy and along with that, we share very similar attitudes to travel.

And so after thinking about it for much too long, Matt and I have finally caught up for a special episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast where we talk about all kinds of travel topics: budget travel and staying in hostels, how to be a thoughtful traveller and the wonders of solo travel. Matt also has a new book out, "Ten Years a Nomad" and of course that rates a mention too!

Links:

Matt’s site Nomadic Matt - https://www.nomadicmatt.com
Matt’s new book “Ten Years a Nomad” - https://amzn.to/30rqYEo
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/147

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

146 - Travelling in Iran

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 22:01:00 +0000

It's not all too many years ago that I would have thought Iran was definitely off the visit list, but in recent years it has become quite a popular destination amongst travellers I know. Episode 146 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is, in fact, devoted fully to Iran because I've had so many guests tell me about their good experiences there that I just had to create an entire episode to be able to share some of their stories.

First up I chat with Brett Seychell of Social Cycles who first visited Iran on his two-year cycling journey from London to Melbourne. He loved it so much that he has now been half a dozen times and runs tours there!

Next I speak with photographer Dale Neill who has also taken a tour group to Iran in recent years. Dale reiterates the common theme of this episode, that Iran is probably the single friendliest country he's ever visited.

Finally, I hear from Joanne Karcz who was recently in Iran for a month and had so many good stories to tell about the country and especially the kindness of the people.

Links:

Brett from Social Cycles - https://www.social-cycles.com
Dale Neill - http://www.daleneill.com.au and the Fremantle International Portrait Prize - https://fipp.org.au
Joanne’s site Travel with Joanne - https://www.travelwithjoanne.com/
More from Joanne on Iran in Episode 141 - https://www.notaballerina.com/141
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/146

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

145 Volunteering Experiences While Travelling

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 22:01:00 +0000

It's becoming increasingly popular to make volunteering a part of a trip abroad, but it's also becoming increasingly known that not all volunteer programs are created equal. It's sometimes hard to be sure if you're helping or hindering, and difficult to be sure you're helping to create lasting change.

In Episode 145 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I chat with three travellers who've taken part in various volunteer programs in recent years. We talk about how to find a good volunteer program and their own examples are really worth hearing about.

First up, I talk to Ella who is currently volunteering in Malaysia at an organisation protecting endangered sea turtles. She has an ecology degree and describes the great work that is happening there, along with some thoughts on how to find a good way to volunteer abroad.

Next I chat with Meagan who lives in southern California. In the last few years she's become involved with regular volunteer work just a couple of hours' drive away in Mexico.

Finally, Eva explains the trip she took to the Philippines last year and how the money collected from travellers in the group was used to help a local community.

Links:

Overview of the problems of orphanage tourism - https://www.savethechildren.org.au/Our-Stories/Orphanage-tourism
Adopt a sea turtle nest program where Ella’s volunteering - Lang Tengah - http://www.langtengahturtlewatch.org/adoptions/
Meagan Hurst of Malas With a Mission - http://malaswithamission.com/
Eva’s blog Not Scared of the Jet Lag - http://www.notscaredofthejetlag.com
Giveback Giveaway which Eva mentioned - https://givebackgiveaway.com/
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/145

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

144 Grief, Travel and Change

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Travel and life intersect in all kinds of ways and Episode 144 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is a collection of stories about when grief intersects with travel. I'm so grateful to all the guests for sharing these pretty personal stories, because I know they will be interesting and even useful for many who listen.

First up I speak with Justin Watson who shares a story of a very special trip to the United States with a good friend; then Dean O'Shea talks about an important trip he took his brother on not long after their father passed away.

Finally, I chat with Kate Manser who started a project called "You Might Die Tomorrow" after the sudden, unrelated deaths of three young people she knew. She hopes to help people use activities like travelling to help them live life to the full - hopefully without having tragedy around them first.

Links:

Justin’s blog at Justin’s World - http://www.justins.world
Dean’s site Unbelievable Adventures - https://www.unbelievableadventures.co.uk/
Kate Manser’s site You Might Die Tomorrow - https://www.youmightdietomorrow.com/
https://notaballerina.com/133 - the first part of Dean’s story
https://notaballerina.com/99 - Pam’s story of the Nepal earthquake
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/144

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

143 - Helpful or Harmful Travel with Jan Fran

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 22:01:00 +0000

So are you a helpful traveller or a harmful traveller when you're on the road? I think we'd all like to think we're more the former, but there's always more we can do. For this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I have a very special guest, Aussie broadcaster and journalist Jan Fran, who recently went overseas with adventure apparel brand Kathmandu to find out firsthand from the locals what's happening in our travel hotspots and how we can do better. They’ve produced three videos called Helpful or Harmful? featuring Bali, Nepal and Australia.

I was a bit fangirly nervous before I got to interview Jan Fran but she was a delight to chat to and I loved finding out more about some of the behind the scenes experiences she had in Bali and Nepal to make these videos. Hope you enjoy this chat, too!

Links:

Helpful or Harmful Travel - https://www.kathmandu.com.au/helpful-or-harmful
More about Jan Fran - http://www.janfran.net
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/143

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

142 - Why Getting Lost is Fun

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 22:01:00 +0000

We often fear getting lost when we travel ... but in reality, it usually either means we discover something we otherwise wouldn't have, and/or it becomes a funny story we repeat regularly later on!

In Episode 142 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I chat with three travellers who all believe that getting lost is fun (or at least it is most of the time!). First up, Lucas Peters explains his strategy of getting deliberately lost - it's more sensible than it sounds, I promise!

Next up I chat with Michela Fantinel who has had some wonderful experiences getting lost while driving in Australia, for example - although as a good Australian I must warn you all to make sure you take water and petrol with you if you're driving about in the Australian outback - it's one of those places where getting lost can actually end up being a bad thing. (Michela is fine!)

Finally, I talk to Erin Holmes about some of the various times she's got lost while travelling.

Links:

Travel Journal School - www.traveljournalschool.com
Lucas Peters - http://www.lucasmpeters.com/
Michela at Rocky Travel - https://www.rockytravel.net/
Erin Holmes at Explore With Erin - http://explorewitherin.com/
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/142

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

141 Immersing with Locals When You Travel

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 22:01:00 +0000

If you don't get to really meet the people of a country, have you really been there?

Some of my first significant travel moments involved a lot of immersion with local people - from a school language trip aged 14, staying with three different families across Germany without a fellow Aussie friend in the home with me, to living and teaching English in Japan, meeting dozens of new Japanese people every day. I guess that's meant I learnt fast just how much more you can learn about a place when you take as many chances as possible to chat to locals, so it's really ingrained in all my travels now.

And it turns out I'm not alone, of course. The three guests on Episode 141 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast value a good chat with a local as much as I do.

First up I speak to Seng Mah, who describes a recent experience in India where he got more involved in an Indian wrestling hall than one would expect - but it was a great experience!

Next I chat with Kim Yuhl who is slow travelling around the world as a digital nomad these days, and we discussed her experiences in developing a community during her stay in Guatemala City.

Finally, Joanne Karcz tells me about a number of interesting interactions she had with Iranian women on her recent trip to Iran, the kinds of conversations you don't have unless you actively seek them out.

Links:

Travel Journal School is running again - traveljournalschool.com - the next course for two weeks in June is “Start a personal travel blog”
Seng Mah at Venture Photography - https://www.venturephotography.com.au
Kim’s site Nomading About - https://www.nomadingabout.com
Nomading About Youtube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU_pZyS0KMSY6orTWAsSEAA
Joanne’s site Travel with Joanne - https://www.travelwithjoanne.com/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/141

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

140 - Being a Thoughtful Traveller in Denmark: Pre-Trip Thoughts

Tue, 21 May 2019 04:01:00 +0000

It's a special episode again - every ten episodes I do something different for The Thoughtful Travel Podcast - and listener Justin suggested I record my thoughts about my trip to Denmark with my son and how this trip would challenge us to be thoughtful travellers.

I liked this suggestion a lot so this is a solo episode with my pre-trip thoughts about visiting Denmark with my son; what made me decide to go, what I hope to find, and all of the thoughts I've had ahead of the trip. As always I've done some reading and research (also as always, not as much as I'd like, because life always gets in the way), and I'm curious to find out if the Denmark I expect is the Denmark I find. When this episode goes live I'll be mid-way through two weeks exploring both Copenhagen and rural Denmark so I'll have to have a follow-up later on what I actually discovered!

Links:

My thoughts on thoughtful travel - https://www.notaballerina.com/2018/01/thoughtful-travel.html
The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell - https://amzn.to/2YBnA8V
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/140

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

139 - Culture Shock When You Come Home

Tue, 14 May 2019 04:45:55 +0000

We're used to expecting culture shock when we travel to a different country but what about when we return home? Sometimes it's a worse shock than when we travel, and we're not always prepared for it. This kind of reverse culture shock, or culture shock when you come home, is something my guests in Episode 139 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast have all experienced.

First up I chat with Talon Windwalker who like me lived abroad for about six years. After two years at home he's still having trouble settling back, something I can very much relate to as it took me many years to feel like I was happily at home again.

I then talk with Luke Mackin who, as a third culture kid who grew up in the Philippines with American parents, moved to the United States as a teenager and now lives with his family in Indonesia, finds it hard to decide what is home and what is "his" culture, meaning this whole culture shock issue can be really amplified.

Finally I speak with Jo Duggan who spent six months volunteering in a medical setting in rural Thailand. It was an incredibly different experience to her regular life in Australia, but one of the hardest parts, to Jo's surprise, was actually settling back home.

Links:

Next course for two weeks in June - “Start a personal travel blog” - add your email at traveljournalschool.com to get the info
Talon's blog 1 Dad 1 Kid - http://1dad1kid.com/
Talon on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/onedad1kid/
My post about "bragging" - I mentioned talking to Talon - https://www.notaballerina.com/2013/01/people-equate-talking-travels-bragging.html
Luke’s Wild Sumatra site and blog - https://www.wildsumatra.com/blog/
Jo and Jeremy’s website Coming Home Strong - http://www.cominghomestrong.com
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/139

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

138 - Accommodation Alternatives

Mon, 06 May 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Want to stay somewhere other than a hotel? Then Episode 138 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is for you! I'm not a huge fan of hotels and love to stay in alternative kinds of accommodation, so I was excited to chat to my three guests in this episode about some of their favourite kinds of non-hotel accommodation.

I start off with a chat with Dan Johnston who has been living in a bunch of different places around the world in recent years. Being focused on generally longer stays than the average trip, he's found lots of really creative ways to find a great place to stay.

Next I talk to Kendall Simmons who reminds me that hostels can also be a great accommodation alternative, no matter how old you are - hostels are definitely not just huge dorm rooms any more! We also discussing house sitting as another really interesting way to find somewhere special to stay (and to save money doing it!).

Finally I discuss accommodation with Chris Haag who has a particularly unique perspective as he and his partner are cycling from Alaska to Argentina. It turns out there are some particular ways to find accommodation unique to the long-term cycling community and it makes me ponder just what else is out there that I don't know anything about!

Links:

Join my next Travel Journal School course for two weeks in June - “Start a personal travel blog” - sign up for more info at traveljournalschool.com

Dan at Dreams Around the World - https://www.dreamsaroundtheworld.com/thethoughtfultravelpodcast/

Dan's Dreams Around the World podcast - https://www.dreamsaroundtheworld.com/podcast/

Kendall’s site - https://www.kendallsimmons.com/

Chris Haag's site The Places I Pee - https://www.theplacesipee.com

Warm Showers - https://www.warmshowers.org - "A community of bicycle tourists and those who support them"

Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/138

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

137 - Depression and Travel

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 22:01:00 +0000

If you experience depression, you may have combined this with travel and either found it made things worse, or better. I would love to imagine that travel could cure depression, but from the chats I had with three different people for this episode, it seems (unsurprisingly, really) that experiences of depression and travel vary as much as people vary.

First up today I chat with Justin Watson, who has actually found that travel has been quite helpful in managing his issues with depression. We talk about mindfulness techniques and how practicing these when you travel can be a great way to improve them.

Next I speak with Megan Blandford, who has experienced depression while travelling during a period when she was in denial that she had any depressions issues at all. The link between Megan's depression and her adventurous travel activities is something I found really fascinating to discuss.

Finally, I talk to Ian Oliver who has had some mixed experiences with depression while he is travelling: from finding that moving to a new destination can give him a kind of "fresh start" and feel much better, to the experience of simply needing to go home.

I'm so grateful to each of my guests today for being prepared to open up about such a personal topic - thank you so much Justin, Megan and Ian!

Links:

Don't forget my next traveljournalschool.com course is the two-week “Start a personal travel blog” course in mid-June - sign up at the link to get more information
Justin's blog at Justin’s World - http://www.justins.world
Megan Blandford's website - https://meganblandford.net/
Her book I’m Fine (And Other Lies) about postnatal depression and motherhood is out now and is a brilliant read!
Ian’s Barefoot Backpacker blog - https://barefoot-backpacker.com
Ian’s podcast “Travel Tales from Beyond the Brochure” - https://barefoot-backpacker.com/category/podcast/
Some resources to get help with depression:
Australia: Beyond Blue - beyondblue.org.au ; Lifeline - lifeline.org.au
UK: NHS - Moodzone page - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/ ; Mind - https://www.mind.org.uk/ - the mental health charity
US: Mental Health America - http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/depression-support-and-advocacy
Germany: https://www.deutsche-depressionshilfe.de/
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/137

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

136 - Photography for Travellers

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Everyone takes tonnes of photos when they travel these days - hundreds from a short trip is not unusual, thanks to bringing our smartphones complete with cameras these days, or because we're taking lots of shots to try and get an Instagram-worthy one! In Episode 136 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I talk with three photographers about a bunch of different thoughts about taking photos when we travel, along with some very handy tips.

First up, I chat with Seng Mah, who works as a photographer and takes people on photography tours to some fabulous places around the world. Seng's ideas on how we ordinary people should approach taking pictures is a breath of fresh air and well worth listening to.

I then talk with Whitney Taylor, who similarly has a surprising attitude to photography while travelling. She's definitely of the Instagram generation but is not in favour of watching your trip unfold through your phone's camera.

Finally, Dale Neill returns to the podcast with some really solid tips and information about the different options for cameras for travellers these days; we talk DSLR, mirrorless and smartphones and Dale's information will definitely help you decide the next kind of camera you want to take travelling.

Links:

Check out Travel Journal School - traveljournalschool.com - my next course is for two weeks in June and it's called “Start a personal travel blog”
Seng Mah at Venture Photography - https://www.venturephotography.com.au
For people in Western Australia - Seng's Facebook group for photographers, Snap Happy! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/snaphappywa/
Seng mentioned a controversy about a photography prize from a "staged" travel photo - https://www.diyphotography.net/winning-photo-of-120k-hipa-prize-was-allegedly-staged/
Whitney Taylor on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/whitneyleighartist/
Dale Neill, representing the Fremantle International Portrait Prize - https://fipp.org.au - entries open on 5th May and close 7th July, proceeds go to charity
Previous episodes about travel and photography at https://notaballerina.com/57 and https://notaballerina.com/109
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/136

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

135 - Nightlife on Your Travels

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Ever painted the town red one night on your travels? Episode 135 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is all about the nightlife you've experienced on your travels - whether you hit a nightclub or bar or, my personal favourite, a karaoke box in Japan! Along the way through these discussions my guests and I discovered that exploring the nightlife is also a fascinating study in cultural differences.

My first guest today is Whitney Taylor who experienced an Indian nightclub in Agra, and certainly discovered a couple of significant differences between our local Aussie nightclubs and Indian ones - and had a wonderful evening.

Next up I chat with Dan Johnston, who currently calls Prague in the Czech Republic home and has also spent time living in Germany. We discuss some of the cultural differences in nightlife experiences between countries like Australia and Canada, and the European model.

Finally I speak with Kate Toon who, like me, doesn't always get out and about at night when she travels because if you're travelling solo as a woman it's not always simple - but she did have a very interesting evening out in Cusco, Peru, while she was on a group trip - you'll have to listen to find out exactly what went on there!

Links:

Airbnb - https://www.notaballerina.com/air for $55 off first booking
My description of karaoke - https://www.notaballerina.com/2012/04/karaoke-boxes-why-you-shouldnt-be.html
Whitney on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/whitneyleighartist/
Dan at Dreams Around the World - https://dreamsaroundtheworld.com/thethoughtfultravelpodcast/
Dreams Around the World podcast - https://dreamsaroundtheworld.com/podcast/
Kate Toon’s website - https://www.katetoon.com
Look up Kate’s podcasts - Hot Copy Podcast, Recipe for SEO Success Podcast and Confessions of a Misfit Entrepreneur Podcast
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/135

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

134 Location Independent Work

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Having location independent work - which usually means doing a job that you can do online - is becoming increasingly popular these days and many people are wandering the globe at the same time as they're earning an income. Magic, hey? In Episode 134 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast we look at the topic of location independent work and I chat with two digital nomads about their current experiences and tips.

Firstly I chat with Kim Yuhl who's over a year into working on the road with her husband. Currently in Guatemala, Kim has spent time in China, Italy, Mexico, the United States and Belize in the past twelve months and while doing her full time writing and editing job is also creating a YouTube channel with her husband called Nomading About. It's a busy and varied life, but Kim talks to me about how to get a routine into this kind of life as well.

I also speak with Kendall Simmons, another digital nomad, but her job as an interior designer didn't initially sound like a job that's conducive to working online. (I was wrong!) Kendall has a lot of great tips for people who want to find a way to have location independent work so if you want to follow in her footsteps this is a must listen!

Links:

Airbnb: https://www.notaballerina.com/air - get $55 off your first booking
Kim’s site Nomading About - https://www.nomadingabout.com
Nomading About Youtube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU_pZyS0KMSY6orTWAsSEAA
Kendall’s site - https://www.kendallsimmons.com/
Kendall mentions Workaway - https://www.workaway.info
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/134

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

133 The Big Trips That Changed Everything

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Sometimes, the things we learn from travel creep up on us in a cumulative way. Other times, one trip teaches us so much and just whacks us in the head and makes us change something significant about our lives! And this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is definitely about the latter situation.

First up I talk to Dean O'Shea who took off on a huge challenge to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in California when he was 22 - and he chose it purely because it was the longest, hardest journey listed in his mother's book of long, hard journeys! What happened in and after California is not what you'd expect - and certainly not what Dean expected either - but it changed his life in some significant ways.

I then chat with Seng Mah, a friend of mine here in Perth who has long told me that going to India is life-changing for many people (and yes, I'm now convinced I need to go there sometime!). Seng's first experience of travelling through India gave him so many insights and new perspectives that his life then changed very significantly, changes that have lasted now for a decade.

Links:

Sign up to hear about the new Travel Journal School course, "Start a personal travel blog", at https://traveljournalschool.com
Dean’s site Unbelievable Adventures - https://www.unbelievableadventures.co.uk/
Seng Mah at Venture Photography - https://www.venturephotography.com.au
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/133

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

132 - Third Anniversary of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast

Mon, 25 Mar 2019 22:01:00 +0000

It's my birthday!

Well, yesterday was my birthday, which means this week is the THIRD anniversary of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast. That's three years of the chance to chat with awesome, like-minded, travel-loving people from all around the world, and to share the results with a fabulous audience who challenge me with their interesting questions and share their amazing travel experiences with me.

In this special third anniversary episode I answer questions from listeners (via the Thoughtful Traveller Facebook group) about topics as diverse as accommodation, language learning, photography, travelling with kids, environmentally aware travel, destination choosing and more. I also divulge some of the statistics behind the listeners and downloads of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast which I kind of obsessively follow (it's my maths degree that makes me love the stats, I think!).

A huge thank you to every one of my listeners, whether you've just started tuning in to The Thoughtful Travel Podcast or you've been there since day one, a whole three years ago!

Links:

10 Thoughts I'm Thinking About Thoughtful Travel episode - https://notaballerina.com/110
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/132

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

131 - Why You Should Take Your Children Travelling

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 22:01:00 +0000

I'm an incredibly firm believer in the value of taking your children travelling, and my own son, about to turn nine, has already been to 17 countries with me, on a real variety of kinds of trips - and it's been pivotal in how he's developed as a wonderful little human so far.

The guests on Episode 131 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast all agree with me on this! First up, I chat with Talon Windwalker, who travelled for six years with his child from the age of nine and could see so many benefits from this constant exposure to other cultures.

My second guest, Megan Blandford, regularly goes travelling with her two young daughters. While it started out simply as being necessary to bring them along because she and her husband wanted to continue to embrace their love of travel, she has also seen the girls develop numerous life skills through their travel experiences.

Finally I talk with Shannon Entin who now has an adult and a teen child and has used travel over the years to supplement her home schooling, and has really found taking her children travelling helped open up the world to them.

Links:

Scrubba - https://www.thescrubba.com - use discount code AMANDA15 for a 15% discount off any Scrubba product
Talon's website - http://1dad1kid.com/
Megan's website - https://meganblandford.net/
Shannon's website - https://thetvtraveler.com
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/131

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

130 - Brooke McAlary on Slow Family Travel and Nomadic Life

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 22:01:56 +0000

Episode 130 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast - being a nice round number - is another very special episode, where I chat with Brooke McAlary, a very like-minded traveller, book author and podcaster, and a very important friend of the podcast!

Brooke and her family have spent the last year slow travelling around North America (with a little faster travel during Brooke's book tour for her book "Slow" ... ironically!). Packing up life in Australia and heading far north for an extended time was a huge deal and in this interview Brooke and I chat about how they made this decision, what it involved for work and for the kids' schooling, and how it's all gone.

Like me, Brooke and her husband Ben left Australia in their 20s to spend an extended time abroad, but back then, it was much easier: no kids, no house, their jobs could be whatever they found. Making this kind of "escape" with a family is much trickier and it was great to hear about all the benefits they've found along with the challenges along the way. If you're an aspiring digital nomad, a lover of slow travel or you're keen to spend an extended time living outside of your home country, you'll get some pearls of wisdom from Brooke in this episode for sure.

Links:

Scrubba - https://www.thescrubba.com - use discount code AMANDA15 for a 15% discount off any Scrubba product
Brooke’s website - https://slowyourhome.com
Brooke’s book Slow - https://amzn.to/2XPlrqH
Look up The Slow Home Podcast wherever you’re listening to this podcast!
Episode 44 when I talked to Brooke about slow travel previously (over 2 years ago)
https://notaballerina.com/44
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/130

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

129 - Travel in Developing Countries

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 22:01:29 +0000

For me, some of the most interesting travel I've done has been the more challenging travel, and that's often when I've travelled to developing or poorer countries. The culture shock is greater, and where there's culture shock, there's learning! - although of course, I always also am reminded that wherever you go, the common denominator is people, and people are really the same across the world.

Just the same, travelling in developing countries leads to some really impactful and interesting experiences and the three guests in this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast have great stories to tell about their trips to countries as diverse as Haiti, Madagascar and India.

First up, I speak to Fiona Galloway who spent some time in Haiti about twenty years ago. She learnt a lot from her stay in Haiti, and it set her up for her current work running tours for transformative travel.

Next I chat to Linda Schlencker who talks about some of the poverty she found away from the key tourist zones of Madagascar. She's travelled widely but was surprised by what she saw there.

Finally, I talk with Whitney Taylor who describes an especially impactful trip she took to India with Hands On Journeys.

Links:

Thanks to Scrubba - https://www.thescrubba.com - use discount code AMANDA15 for a 15% discount off any Scrubba product
Previous episode about Travel in Africa - https://www.notaballerina.com/80 Fiona’s site Wild Awake - https://www.wildawaketravel.com
Linda’s site Self Drive Adventures - http://www.selfdriveadventures.com/
Whitney Taylor works with Jito Connected - Inspiring Greatness site - https://jitoconnected.com/inspire/
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/129

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

128 Travel Planning and Research

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Hands up if you like the planning and research part of travel almost as much - or maybe even more - than the actual travelling itself! Some of the guests on Episode 128 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast would freely admit they have something of an obsession with the planning side of travel and you can learn a lot from listening to them, I think (or, like me, you may just giggle!).

First up I chat with two spreadsheet-obsessed accountants, Narelle and Shauna, who have a lot in common when it comes to planning their trips in extreme detail. Some of their tips, though, are actually pretty awesome! (Though I draw the line at their perhaps over-the-top Plan B, C and D plans?!)

Next I talk to Queen about the research she did ahead of her recent move to live abroad in Mexico, and finally to Tiana who also agrees that a big part of the joy comes in researching and deciding where to go. There are also lots of planning and research tips from Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group members liberally sprinkled throughout the episode.

Links:

Thanks to Awesome Maps https://awesome-maps.com/ - use AMANDA15 to get a 15% discount
Shauna Thomson - http://www.shaunathomson.com
Narelle Wilson's Made Up of Moments blog - https://madeupofmoments.com
Tiana’s site The Travel Temple - http://www.tianatempleman.com/
Queen D Michele’s book Considerations: A Guide For Moving Abroad - https://amzn.to/2WWjHf0
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/128

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

127 Yoga and Meditation Travel

Mon, 18 Feb 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Ever been on a yoga retreat in an exotic destination or considered a meditation vacation? On Episode 127 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast we are talking yoga and meditation travel - where's a good place to go for a yoga holiday, what are the benefits of spending some of your travel time meditating, and much more!

My first guest is Meagan Hurst who is my total go-to-gal for all things yoga - and she comes through with some great discussion of yoga teacher training in Nicaragua and also the idea of "DIY yoga retreats", for the budget-conscious yoga traveller.

After that I chat to Kate Manser who accidentally went on a multi-year yoga and meditation world tour! She has lots of interesting tips on destinations across Asia and some interesting tales too.

Finally, I talk with Queen D Michele who recently moved to live in Mexico, in the Lake Chipala area, which as it turns out is a bit of a hotspot for meditation and yoga and has quite drastically changed the way Queen lives.

Links:

Thanks to Awesome Maps https://awesome-maps.com/ - use AMANDA15 to get a 15% discount
Their yoga map at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bnYxfkfPuk
Meagan Hurst of Malas With a Mission - http://malaswithamission.com/
Kate Manser of You Might Die Tomorrow - https://www.youmightdietomorrow.com/
Queen D Michele’s book Considerations: A Guide For Moving Abroad - https://amzn.to/2WWjHf0
Book Yoga Retreats site mentioned by Kate - https://www.bookyogaretreats.com
Prana Veda in Bali, mentioned by Kate - https://www.pranavedabali.com/en/
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/127

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

126 - Language Difficulties When You Travel

Mon, 11 Feb 2019 22:01:09 +0000

Some people feel that language difficulties can be a reason not to travel, but trying to get by in a country where I don't speak the language is actually one of the (many) reasons I love travelling - the challenge and the fun of it are wonderful and mind-broadening!

In Episode 126 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, we cover some of the many difficulties that can arise when there's a language barrier on your travels, along with confessing to some of the funnier language moments my guests, my listeners and I have experienced. A special thank you to members of the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group who offered up some of their funny language experiences!

First up, I chat with Dean O'Shea who, amongst his many other trips, spent four months travelling around to different parts of China. He explains with some funny examples how "speaking Chinese" is just not a thing: he tried to learn different dialects and languages throughout his trip but was constantly thwarted by language barriers.

Next I talk to Joanne Karcz who has spent many years learning Spanish. Like all foreign language users she has had quite a few moments where the message she was trying to communicate wasn't exactly what was received - though at least this makes for funny stories in retrospect!

Finally, I talk with Queen D Michele who took on a more serious study of Spanish once she'd decided she was going to move to Mexico to live. We talk about being in the kind of situation where all the learning just flies out of your head - one of many kinds of language difficulties you can have while travelling.

Links:

Thanks to Awesome Maps https://awesome-maps.com/ - use AMANDA15 to get a 15% discount
Dean’s site Unbelievable Adventures - https://www.unbelievableadventures.co.uk/
Joanne’s site Travel with Joanne - https://www.travelwithjoanne.com/
Queen D Michele’s book Considerations: A Guide For Moving Abroad - https://amzn.to/2WWjHf0
Join our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/126

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

125 - Spending Years Abroad

Mon, 04 Feb 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Do you dream about spending years living abroad? I've done it, and so have all my guests today, and we are all here to tell you that if you ever get the chance to try - grab it!

Living in another country is a very special experience and quite different from just taking a trip somewhere. And if you can live in several other countries (or more!) like the first guest in this episode, Kelly Dunning, then so much the better. When I spoke to Kelly last year she was living in Tbilisi in Georgia, and we chat in this episode about how she ended up spending the best part of a decade living abroad.

Next I talk to Erin Holmes who left Australia with her two young kids planning to travel in Asia for six months ... and didn't come home until five years later. I can relate to that - I left for a year in Japan and spent five and a half years living in three different countries - and we talk about how this can happen!

Finally, I talk to Greg Seymour who was a bit more deliberate in his plans to spend years abroad in Costa Rica - although he still didn't have any definite plans.

Links:

Thanks to Awesome Maps https://awesome-maps.com/ - use AMANDA15 to get a 15% discount
Kelly’s site Global Goose - http://www.global-goose.com
Erin Holmes at Explore With Erin - https://explorewitherin.com/
Greg’s site Chica and Sunsets - https://chicaandsunsets.com/
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/125

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

124 Hiking When You Travel

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 22:01:00 +0000

You know I love slow travel and if you're travelling on foot that's one of the slowest forms of travel there is - hence my love for the topic of hiking, which is what this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is all about!

I start off the episode talking with highly experienced hiker Greg Seymour, who has through-hiked the Appalachian Trail (amongst other hiking experiences) and we chat about some of the wonderful benefits of being out there in nature.

Next I talk with Eva Westerling who, despite considering herself something of a non-hiker when she was younger, has gone on to do some amazing hikes on her travels, particularly in Morocco and Oman.

Lasty I chat with Talon Windwalker about his hiking experiences with his daughter both in the United States and in Europe, and how you don't have to be out in the vast wilderness to experience benefits from going for a hike.

Links:

Book your travel photos with Flytographer - https://www.flytographer.com/ - and get $50 off a shoot by using the code AMANDA50
Greg’s site Chica and Sunsets - https://chicaandsunsets.com/
Greg's post comparing the Appalachian Trail and the Camino de Santiago - https://chicaandsunsets.com/appalachian-trail-vs-the-camino-de-santiago/
Eva’s blog Not Scared of the Jet Lag - http://www.notscaredofthejetlag.com
Talon’s website http://1dad1kid.com/
Talon on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/onedad1kid/
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/124

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

123 - Exploring Cultural Differences

Mon, 21 Jan 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Getting to know the cultural differences between different countries and nationalalities is one of the most fascinating parts of travelling, I think. In Episode 123 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I chat with three travellers who've experienced cultural differences in countries like China, South Korea and Spain, and I learn a whole lot in the process!

First up, I talk with Jacky Lamenzo who spent a year teaching in China with another American friend. They discovered all sorts of interesting things about being obviously foreign looking in a new country.

Next, Lindsay and Marshall who are currently living in Barcelona with their young son talk about some of the key differences between life in Spain and life back in the United States.

Finally, Sandra Muller who is an Aussie like meexplains some of what she's learnt about South Korean cultural differences over the years, as she's lived and worked there several times and is married to a Korean guy, too!

Links:

Flytographer - https://www.flytographer.com/ - and get $50 off a shoot by using the code AMANDA50
Jacky’s website - https://www.jackylamenzo.com
Lindsay and Marshall at Tumble Travels - http://tumbletravels.com/
Lindsay and Marshall’s Tumble podcast - http://sciencepodcastforkids.com/
Sandra Muller - https://www.sandralmuller.com
Sandra’s The Smarter Writer https://thesmarterwriter.com
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/123

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

122 Talking to Locals When We Travel

Mon, 14 Jan 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Easily one of my favourite and most rewarding things to do when I travel is find the chance to talk to locals. I don't want to just see the sights: I want to know what it's like to live there! Especially after living in three different countries to my own (and each quite different from the other), I'm utterly fascinated by local customs, thoughts and ways of life and so Episode 122 is all about talking to locals when you travel.

The first guest is Eva Westerling, who recently went on a long trip to Morocco (prompted by this podcast - she heard previous guest Anna Kwiecinska speaking of trekking in Morocco, got in touch, and off they went together!). During this trip, Eva had the chance to get to know her two Moroccan guides really well and she tells us what she learnt from them.

Following Eva, we stay in Morocco but chat to Talon Windwalker. He spent some time housesitting in Morocco and got to know a local very well - to the point where they could have conversations about some really tricky topics, which proved very eye-opening.

Finally I chat to Joanne Karcz who discovered the Global Greeter Network when she went to Bilbao a few years back - it sounds like a fantastic way to meet locals, and Joanne is now a greeter herself back in Sydney.

Links:

Flytographer - https://www.flytographer.com/ - and get $50 off a shoot by using the code AMANDA50
Eva’s blog Not Scared of the Jet Lag - http://www.notscaredofthejetlag.com
Talon’s website http://1dad1kid.com/
Talon on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/onedad1kid/
Joanne’s site Travel with Joanne https://www.travelwithjoanne.com/
https://globalgreeternetwork.com
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/122

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

121 Travelling in Cold Places

Mon, 07 Jan 2019 22:01:00 +0000

Travelling in cold places is absolutely not my speciality - so Episode 121 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is a useful one for me personally! I chat with three travellers about their experiences in cold places like Iceland, Finland and Canada; the result is a good reminder that I shouldn't ignore a destination just because the temperatures are low!

First up I chat to Lucas Peters who recently took a trip to Iceland. Now, Iceland will always be one of my favourite destinations, but it definitely fits the cold bill - I visited during mid-summer and still needed all the warm clothes I could find!!

Tamara Gruber then tells me about her experience visiting Quebec City for their Winter Carnival. It sounds realy, really cold - and yet really awesome, too.

Finally, I talk to Erin Holmes who grew up in Western Australia like me, and therefore wasn't quite prepared for the crazy cold temperatures she and her kids experienced in northern Finland one Christmas. Fortunately, it was all worth it.

Links:

Flytographer - https://www.flytographer.com/
Lucas Peters - http://www.lucasmpeters.com/
Tamara’s podcast Vacation Mavens - http://vacationmavens.com/
Tamara’s blog We3Travel - https://we3travel.com
Erin Holmes at Explore With Erin - http://explorewitherin.com/
Erin’s Instagram - https://instagram.com/explorewitherin
Winter tips from group member Merry - https://www.visitcalgary.com/things-to-do/stories-from-calgary/winter-tips-for-families from Merry
Swimming in Iceland tips - https://www.notaballerina.com/2014/11/promise-great-hot-dogs-iceland-interview-kari-gislason.html
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/121

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

120 - 2018 in Review: Travel Fun and Podcast Fun

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 22:01:00 +0000

This year has been nuts! In a good way, thankfully. Episode 120 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is a fun summary of 2018 both in terms of my travel, everything I've learnt from that travel, everything I've learnt from all of you amazing listeners, and what the podcast has done this year.

Listen in and you'll hear about what looking back on travel in Japan, Fiji, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam has taught me - and find out the odd combination of destinations I have ready to head to in 2019.

I'm so grateful to my listeners and the members of the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group for all the amazing conversations and friendships over the year. Just last weekend I spent a massive two and a half hours chatting with a friend I've made because she was a guest on the podcast - these opportunities are so special to me, and the people connected to the podcast are the main reason I keep doing it - so thank you all!

Links:

Travel Journal School - No more boring travel diaries! - https://traveljournalschool.com/p/no-more-boring-travel-diaries
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

119 - Life-Altering Travel Moments

Tue, 27 Nov 2018 13:05:06 +0000

Travel can be utterly life-altering in so many ways and this episode's three guests have brilliant stories to illustrate exactly that!

First I speak with Natascha Mirosch, with her story about a trip to a Greek Island which resulted in a completely life-changing event ... though you'll have to listen to find out what, no spoilers here!

I then chat to Talon Windwalker, who brought tears to my eyes telling the story of spending six years travelling with his adopted daughter and the bonds this developed - listen out for his "Forever Day" story.

Finally, Kate Toon rounds out the life-altering travel moments with a quick but amazing story about what happened when she and her friend were travelling in Thailand ... until suddenly they werent!

Links:

Travel Journal School - No more boring travel diaries! - https://traveljournalschool.com/p/no-more-boring-travel-diaries
Use the discount code EARLY20
Natascha’s website - https://www.nataschamirosch.com
Natascha’s new ExtraVirgin Podcast - https://extravirginpodcast.com
Talon's blog - http://1dad1kid.com/
Talon on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/onedad1kid/
Kate Toon’s website - https://www.katetoon.com - look up Kate’s podcasts: Hot Copy Podcast, Recipe for SEO Success Podcast and Confessions of a Misfit Entrepreneur Podcast
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/119

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

118 - Ecotourism and Responsible Travel

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 22:01:00 +0000

They might be buzz words at the moment, but ecotourism and responsible travel are nonetheless super-important and that's why Episode 118 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is all about how to travel without causing any harm (and maybe even doing some good).

First up, I chat with my lovely friend Meagan of Malas With A Mission, who is one of my favourite people to talk to about the issue of responsible travel. She has a great attitude to it and is able to educate people about issues like ecotourism, sustainable travel and voluntourism without sounding at all preachy, which is really good skill!

Next I talk with Deborah Regen who runs a site collating eco-friendly tour operators, a great resource for researching a your responsible trips. Deborah has always loved nature and now wants to help ensure it's there for everyone to enjoy for a long time into the future.

Finally, I discuss responsible animal tourism with Christine Knight, and particularly the issue of riding elephants. It's one of those issues which I'm glad to see so much more widely discussed in recent years, and lots of tourists and tour operators changing the way elephants are used in tourism.

Links:

Meagan Hurst of Malas With a Mission - http://malaswithamission.com/
Meagan’s Instagram - https://instagram.com/malaswithamission
Deborah’s site EcoTourLinq - https://www.ecotourlinq.com
Christine’s website Adventure Baby
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/118

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

117 Taking a Class When You Travel

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 22:01:00 +0000

Learning should never stop just because you're not at school and in Episode 117 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast we talk about taking classes when you travel - because of just countless benefits that come with them!

First up I chat with Tiana Templeman who is a bit of a pro at finding a class whenever she travels, regardless of the topic. She thinks it's a fantastic way to get a different experience on a trip and chats about classes she's taken in Australia, Bangkok and Japan.

I then talk with Cheri Shanti, who's basically the podcast's resident expert on Cuba (every time I listen to her I desperately want to go!) and in this episode she shares her experiences of taking drumming classes in Cuba.

Finally I discuss the topic of taking classes with Eva Westerling, who has a fabulous example of a cooking class she took in Jordan - but a rather special one indeed.

Links:

Travel Journal School journal writing course in January 2019 - sign up to get info first at https://notaballerina.com/journal
Airbnb sign up (get $55 off first stay if you’re a first time user) - https://www.notaballerina.com/air then search for experiences at https://www.airbnb.com.au/s/experiences
Tiana’s site The Travel Temple - http://www.tianatempleman.com/
Cheri’s site The Breath of Cuba - http://www.thebreathofcuba.com
Eva’s blog Not Scared of the Jet Lag - http://www.notscaredofthejetlag.com
Beit Sitti where Eva went in Amman, Jordan - https://beitsitti.com
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/117

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

116 - Choosing Your Next Destination

Mon, 05 Nov 2018 22:01:00 +0000

How do you choose your next destination? In Episode 116 I chat with four travellers about the different ways they decide where they're going to travel next and between them we discover a multitude of reasons people choose their destinations - and there are no doubt still more!

First up I chat with Tamara Gruber who takes some trips alone with her school-aged daughter and is clever at tying in some of their destinations to connect up with what her daughter's been learning at school (I love this!).

Meagan Hurst is next and follows a method I often use too: where can she get a bargain airfare to! I have quite often visited a pretty random place just because it was cheap to get there, and sometimes those places turn out to be unexpected gems.

My Cambodian friend Cham Peou has put quite some thought into how he chooses his destations and I love his approach.

Finally, I chat with Greg Seymour who has a really great philosophy about choosing destinations - and making sure he and his wife go outside their comfort zones, but not too far out (which I think is the perfect strategy!).

Links:

Travel Journal School journal writing course in January 2019 - sign up to get info first at https://notaballerina.com/journal
Tamara’s podcast Vacation Mavens - http://vacationmavens.com/
Tamara’s blog We3Travel - https://we3travel.com
Meagan Hurst of Malas With a Mission - http://malaswithamission.com/
Meagan’s Instagram - https://instagram.com/malaswithamission
Peou Sokchamreun (Cham)’s Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/CommunityBaseTourismTraveller
Greg’s website Appalachian Trail Tales - https://appalachiantrailtales.com/
Greg’s book “Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail: 100 Tips, Tricks, Traps and Facts” - https://amzn.to/2SNwJtc
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/116

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

115 Travelling in Muslim Countries

Tue, 30 Oct 2018 06:27:19 +0000

I’m always fascinated by cultural differences and if you’re travelling in Muslim countries there can be quite a lot of customs that are different to my home country of Australia. In Episode 115 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I’m bringing together stories of travelling in various Muslim countries from three guests who’ve all had interesting experiences.

First up, I talk again with Eva Westerling, who talks about experiences she’s had in three different places - Zanzibar, Morocco and Oman. It’s interesting to hear about what she’s done to fit in while she’s travelling in Muslim countries and how she’s found this strategy to work for her.

Following Eva, I chat with Kate Toon, who has an interesting angle as she’s travelled in Tunisia accompanied by her Tunisian husband. You’ll have to listen to find out some particularly surprising reactions!

Finally, I’m joined by Margarita Pas who discusses her experiences in Tunisia and in the Maldives, and she has plenty of tips for how people can look and behave respectfully when travelling in Muslim countries.

Links:

Eva’s blog Not Scared of the Jet Lag - http://www.notscaredofthejetlag.com
Kate Toon’s website - https://www.katetoon.com -
Look up Kate’s podcasts: Hot Copy Podcast, Recipe for SEO Success Podcast and Confessions of a Misfit Entrepreneur Podcast
Margarita’s blog, Margarita Gypsy - http://margaritagypsy.com
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/115

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

114 - Our Amazing Cambodia Experience

Mon, 22 Oct 2018 22:01:00 +0000

I've had lots of special travel experiences in my life but my recent week in Cambodia with Hands On Journeys easily rates as one of the most special of all, so I'm really excited to share these chats with three of my fellow travellers in Cambodia - well, to be precise, two travellers and our one-and-only tour guide extraordinaire, Cham.

First up, I chat with Meagan Hurst from California, who has previously travelled several times with Hands On Journeys but was still really impacted by our time in Cambodia. She talks about some of our her favourite experiences, especially our visit to a village near Siem Reap.

Next I chat to Aimee Jackson of London, a very special guest because she heard about Hands On Journeys from this podcast and then joined a trip with us - it was very exciting to meet her! Her favourite part of the trip was our village visit near Phnom Penh and I loved hearing her memories of it.

FInally, a very special guest is my favourite tour guide ever, Cham, who was our local guide in Cambodia. Being able to see Cambodia through his eyes made it even more impactful and I loved hearing about what he, as a guide who has met many, many travellers over the past decade, could learn from us as he led us through his beloved country.

Links:

The fantastic Hands On Journeys - https://handsonjourneys.com
Meagan Hurst of Malas With a Mission - http://malaswithamission.com/
Meagan’s Instagram https://instagram.com/malaswithamission
Phnom Penh Animal Welfare Society - https://www.ppaws.com/
Aimee Jackson on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/aimeej234/
Peou Sokchamreun (Cham)’s Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/CommunityBaseTourismTraveller
Episode about our Fiji empowerment tourism trip - https://www.notaballerina.com/2018/07/fiji-empowerment-tourism-episode-104-thoughtful-travel-podcast.html
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/114

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

113 - Expat Travellers

Mon, 15 Oct 2018 22:01:00 +0000

Anyone who's lived an expat life of some sort tends to be a good traveller, right? (Actually, I have a friend who's an exception to this, but it's rare.) In Episode 113 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I chat with three people who are currently living as expats - a Polish woman in the United States, a Swede in Australia and an Australian in South Korea, just to have a good mix! - about their expat travels and life in general.

I love hearing about the kinds of expat lives people live and my first guest, Sandra, has an expat history a little similar to mine - in fact we both nearly taught in Japan at exactly the same time, but she took a little detour and went to South Korea instead, which proved to be a very important move.

My second guest is a Perth local but she didn't start out that way - born in Sweden, Stina has now lived abroad, in various places, longer than she lived in Sweden when growing up.

Margarita Pas, my final guest, has lived in a diverse range of European countries, including Bulgaria, Spain and Norway, but for now has settled down in Florida. We chat about how expat life is so much more straightforward these days, thanks to the internet and new technologies.

Links:

Sandra Muller - www.sandralmuller.com
Sandra’s new project is The Smarter Writer www.thesmarterwriter.com
Stina’s site Birgit and Alvar - http://www.birgitandalvar.com/
Margarita Gypsy - http://margaritagypsy.com
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/113

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

112 - Wellness Travel

Mon, 08 Oct 2018 22:01:00 +0000

Wellness travel is a fast-growing industry, but it's a part of travel that I haven't taken much part in to date. I'm intrigued, though, I was happy to speak to three guests for Episode 112 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast who have had a whole spectrum of wellness experiences as part of their travels.

First up I chat with Cheri Shanti, who has had some really interesting experiences in central America in the wellness sphere. Of everyone in this episode, it's Cheri's interesting approach to wellness activities that I most want to test out!

Following this I chat to Erin Holmes who has only recently had her first experience of wellness travel, spending some time at an ayurvedic retreat in Bali, which actually does sound rather nice!

Finally I talk to Lisa Scott whose take on wellness is one that I'm not sure I'll ever to convert to - running - but since I know a lot of people out there love running, I'm sure you'll love to hear about Lisa's take on how running and travel can intersect.

Links:

Cheri’s site The Breath of Cuba - http://www.thebreathofcuba.com
Cheri's "The Breath of Cuba" book - https://amzn.to/2zXszHL
Explore with Erin - https://explorewitherin.com/
Erin’s post about her wellness retreat in Bali - https://explorewitherin.com/sukhavati-ayurvedic-retreat-bali-spa/
Lisa’s site Make + Do - https://makeplusdo.com.au
Lisa’s upcoming project Run Eat Sleep Repeat - https://www.instagram.com/runeatsleep.repeat/
Australian ParkRun Tourism Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkruntourismAU/
NY Times about sanatoriums in Europe - https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/18/t-magazine/sanatorium-europe-history.html
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/112

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

111 - Secret Thailand: Phrae and Nan

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 22:01:00 +0000

Exploring the lesser-known parts of Thailand was something I was lucky to do recently following the annual Australian Society of Travel Writers convention in Bangkok. With a small group of delightful travel writers I explored the towns of Phrae and Nan in the north-east of Thailand and being such an "off the beaten path" pair of destinations, I just had to share something about them with you for Episode 111 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast.

First up I chat with Natascha Mirosch, one of my fellow travellers, who loved it just as much as I did and talks about the fun we had making our own dyed indigo fabric and that time she met a Thai monk who's become her Facebook and Instagram friend!

I then chat with Caroline Gladstone, another lovely member of our group, and she reminisces about one of my favourite experiences - getting up early to give alms to the monks in Nan. We also talk about the food - which, you won't be surprised to hear, was delicious - and a particularly fun evening when we rode the disco bus!

Links:

Natascha’s website - https://www.nataschamirosch.com
Natascha’s new ExtraVirgin Podcast - https://extravirginpodcast.com
Caroline’s website - Caroline’s Cabin Fever - https://www.carolinescabinfever.com
My post about Phrae - https://www.notaballerina.com/2018/08/phrae-thailand.html
My post about Nan -
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/111

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

110 - 10 Thoughts I'm Thinking About Thoughtful Travel

Mon, 27 Aug 2018 22:01:00 +0000

I didn't start off being all thoughtful about travel and I also know I still have so much to learn - and that'll continue to need to learn - about many of the ways we can approach our travelling in a more thoughtful way. But in this special episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, Episode 110, I've put together a list of ten thoughts I've been thinking about thoughtful travel in the past little while.

You'll have to listen to find out what these ten thoughts are but let me preface them by saying that some of them are deep and meaningful things I've thought about a lot; some are topics I have only scratched the surface on and know I need to learn a heap more about; and some are simple things that I ponder when I travel.

Thanks to the members of the wonderful Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group, I also include a chat about some of the thoughts they've been having about travelling lately, too. I love hearing from the group members and also learning a lot from them.

Links:

The Peace Tourism Credo - http://peacetourism.org/credo/
Episode 33 on Volunteer Tourism in which Diana Edelman talks about her experiences with Elephant Nature Park in Thailand - https://www.notaballerina.com/2016/11/volunteer-travel-to-help-you-and-the-world-episode-33-of-the-thoughtful-travel-podcast.html
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/110

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

109 - Travellers Taking Photographs

Mon, 20 Aug 2018 22:01:00 +0000

When you travel, you take pictures.

When you travel a lot, you take lots of pictures, and you start to want them to be good pictures!

That's one reason why Episode 109 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast features three travel-lovers who've become interested in photography. First up, I chat with Jim Jones who got his first DSLR camera when he took a big trip through Europe by train - and has gone from strength to strength since.

Next I chat with Erin Gustafson who, with an art background, has developed a beautiful eye for photography on her travels and we chat about some of what she's learnt and some of the amazing pictures she takes, especially in her current home of Copenhagen.

FInally I talk with Lucas Peters who considered himself largely only a writer until a guidebook publisher wanted him to take photos too - and that's now become something he's rather talented at! He also has some great tips for travellers taking their good cameras with them ... particularly in the desert!

Links:

Jim’s blog Travel Stories and Images - http://travelstoriesandimages.com
Jim’s post on Chicago Botanic Gardens
Erin’s blog Oregon Girl Around the World - https://oregongirlaroundtheworld.com/
Erin’s post on spring flowers in Copenhagen - https://oregongirlaroundtheworld.com/copenhagen-2/spring-in-copenhagen-where-to-find-the-flowers/
Lucas Peters - author and principle photographer of the Moon Travel Guide for Morocco his website is at https://www.lucasmpeters.com/
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/109

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

108 - Exploring Nature in Australia

Mon, 13 Aug 2018 22:01:00 +0000

My beautiful home country of Australia is a diverse place when it comes to nature, from the outback desert to tropical rainforest and everything in between. In Episode 108 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I chat to three travellers who have enjoyed different parts of the country while they've been exploring nature in Australia.

I talk first with Kati Craythorn. She grew up in Berln but has since become quite the Australia-addict, and lives in Queensland. We chat about her recent trip to the Northern Territory and it reminds me that I need to get back to see more of that very unique part of Australia.

Secondly I chat with Italian travel-lover Michela Fantinel. She has a real passion for Australia and comes back for extended trips from Europe every year. I loved hearing about all that Australia has taught her over the last decade and a half!

Finally, Leah Smileski tells me about her wonderful experiences in Tasmania, which also happens to be one of my very favourite parts of Australia, especially when it comes to nature.

Links:

Kati at Queensland and Beyond - https://www.queenslandandbeyond.com
Michela at Rocky Travel - https://www.rockytravel.net/
Leah at Kid Bucket List - https://kidbucketlist.com.au
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/108

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

107 - Trips and Holidays With Teenagers

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 22:01:00 +0000

Travelling as a teenager or with a teenager is eye-opening in many ways, and Episode 107 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is all about trips and holidays with teenagers. My son is a still a few years away from the teen years but I'm ready to learn about how to make travelling with teens as enjoyable as possibile!

My first guest in this episode is Erin Gustafson who regularly travels with her three teenagers. She has a huge array of useful tips that I'm holding on to dearly for future years!

I then chat with Tamara Gruber who has a young teenage daughter and I loved hearing about how they plan their mother and daughter adventures.

Finally, I talk to Cheri Shanti about her first travel experiences which, of course, happened to her as a teenager. I think she was a very brave 15-year-old who figured out a way to spend six months on the other side of the world!

Links:

Erin’s blog Oregon Girl Around the World - https://oregongirlaroundtheworld.com/
Tamara’s podcast Vacation Mavens - http://vacationmavens.com/
Tamara’s blog We3Travel - https://we3travel.com
Cheri’s site The Breath of Cuba http://www.thebreathofcuba.com
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/107

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

106 - Unusual Food Experiences on Your Travels

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 22:01:00 +0000

Sometimes food is the whole reason for a trip, but other times, like what we'll hear about in Episode 106 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, it's the unusual food experiences (planned or unplanned) that are what you remember.

In this episode I chat first with Eva Westerling, who had some particularly unusual eating experiences while on a ten-day hike in the desert in Oman. Some parts of this chat are not for the squeamish!

Next up I talk with Jacky Lamenzo about comfort food when we travel and about her experiences of eating like the locals when she was a teacher in China.

Finally, I talk with Matt and Marilyn from Words With Winos about some of the more unusual foods they have tasted on their travels around the world, particularly in Asia - and if you don't like creepy-crawlies, you may not want to imitate them!

Links:

My tasty sponsor Bokksu – https://bokksu.com/ - remember to use THOUGHT5 to get $5 off any order of amazing Japanese snacks
Eva’s blog Not Scared of the Jet Lag - http://www.notscaredofthejetlag.com
Jacky Lamenzo - blog post about her food experiences in China - https://www.jackylamenzo.com/blog/2016/6/20/my-foodiversary
Marilyn and Matt’s site Words with Winos - http://wordswithwinos.com
Episode 62 on Foodie Lessons from Travel - https://notaballerina.com/62
Episode 23 on Foreign Food - https://notaballerina.com/23
Episode 1 on Food in a Foreign Language - https://notaballerina.com/01
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/106

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

105 - Visiting Art Galleries on Your Travels

Mon, 23 Jul 2018 22:01:00 +0000

Lots of people enjoy visiting art galleries on their travels - I didn't start out that way but I'm definitely a convert now. In Episode 105 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I chat with three art lovers who have some great tips and ideas about art gallery sightseeing around the world.

To start with I chat with Christine Knight, a fellow Aussie who spent a few year living in New York City - arguably one of the best places in the world to explore art galleries, and she definitely made the most of it.

After that I talk to Erin Gustafson, who has a background in art history and is really passionate about it. She currently lives in Copenhagen and has some great tips on her favourite galleries in Europe.

Finally I talk with Anna Kwiencinska, very much an art lover and former art gallery owner, too. She has lots of interesting art experiences along with some fabulous art plans for the future, too.

Links:

Thanks to The Boy Who Draws https://www.theboywhodraws.com/— use AMANDA10 for 10% discount on any City Series prints or card packs.
Christine’s website Adventure Baby
Erin at Oregon Girl Around the World - http://oregongirlaroundtheworld.com/
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art near Copenhagen - https://en.louisiana.dk
Musee de l’Orangerie - http://www.musee-orangerie.fr/en
Anna Kwiecinska’s website - https://www.annakwiecinska.com
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/105

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

104 - Fiji and Empowerment Tourism

Mon, 16 Jul 2018 22:01:00 +0000

As promised, I wanted to tell a bit more about some of the experiences we had on our recent Fiji trip, and I asked some of the friends I made on tour to join me for a chat - so Episode 104 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is all about Fiji and Empowerment Tourism.

I actually asked my friends Whitney and Luana to tell me about their favourite part and, like me, they both decided it was our day in the village where Hands On Journeys have set up an empowerment tourism project.

Whitney chats with me about all the different things we did on our day in Nailaga village in Ba province, western Fiji, and I learnt quite a lot - she and her partner got to chat with different locals and learn more about their life and culture there.

It was also great to chat with Luana, who was visiting Nailaga for the second time. She also had a different perspective as she and her husband are from Brazil, and found some similarities between the Fijian and Brazilian cultures.

Links:

Hands On Journeys - https://handsonjourneys.com
Use Amanda10 for 10% discount on any tour
In particular, Fiji in September - https://handsonjourneys.com/tours/fiji-nadi-denarau-island-5-day-tour/
My blog post about meeting locals in Fiji - https://www.notaballerina.com/2018/07/visiting-fijian-village-how-to-meet-locals-while-travelling.html
Whitney Taylor works with Jito Connected - Inspiring Greatness site - https://jitoconnected.com/inspire/
Whitney’s travel photography on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/whitneyleigh.wl/
Luana Marchi - health and wellness coach - https://luanamarchi.com.au/
Luana on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/luamarchi/
Land Rights of Pacific Women (Nailaga from page 34) V- http://books.google.com.au/books?isbn=9820200121
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/104

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

103 - Travelling as an Introvert

Mon, 09 Jul 2018 22:01:00 +0000

As a fairly hard-core extrovert, tackling the topic of “introvert travel” is something I have definitely had to leave to my guests, but Episode 103 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is all about their experiences of travelling as an introvert and I found it all fascinating!

First up, I chat with Samantha Fisher who surprised me by saying she’s an introvert - she’s from the US but I met her when she attended my travel writing course here in Perth and seemed far from introverted. Our chat reveals just why that is and it was fascinating.

Next I talk to Michela Fantinel, an Italian friend of mine who has done a lot of solo travel, especially around Australia. As an introvert travelling alone most of the time, Michela has some really interesting observations about how people treat her.

Finally, Lindsay and Marshall from the Tumble podcast discuss their differing approaches as introverts moving to a foreign country. You definitely have to listen to find out the strategy of an “aggressive friend-making policy”!

Links:

Hands On Journeys - https://handsonjourneys.com - use Amanda10 for 10% discount on any tour
Sam on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/highhopestravel/
Michela at Rocky Travel - https://www.rockytravel.net/
Michela’s new group tours - https://www.rockytravel.net/group-tours/ - Australia and Italy
Lindsay and Marshall at Tumble Travels - http://tumbletravels.com/
Lindsay and Marshall’s Tumble podcast - science for kids - http://sciencepodcastforkids.com/
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/103

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

102 - Child-Friendly Cultures for Travellers

Mon, 02 Jul 2018 22:01:00 +0000

Are certain places better - or perhaps easier, and more fun - take your children travelling? In Episode 102 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast we talk about child-friendly cultures for travellers, a topic that came up after I started hearing from my interviewees about some particular countries and cultures where kids were especially welcome.

First up, I chat for the first time with Lindsay and Marshall of Tumble Travels. They moved from Austin, Texas to Barcelona, Spain with their young son and have been thrilled by how much the locals embrace kids - I particularly love the story of the soccer ball!

Then I chat to Lucas Peters who has spent a lot of time in Morocco. He feels that Moroccans really bend over backwards to help with kids when you are travelling with them; we also segue into a bit of a chat on one of my favourite topics, which is just how much travelling can benefit children.

Finally, I talk with Sandra Muller about her experiences with her young son in both South Korea and Japan, quite different cultures from Spain or Morocco but similarly welcoming to kids.

Links:

Hands On Journeys - https://handsonjourneys.com
Use Amanda10 for 10% discount on any tour
Lindsay and Marshall at Tumble Travels - http://tumbletravels.com/
Lindsay and Marshall’s Tumble podcast - science for kids - http://sciencepodcastforkids.com/
Lucas Peters - author and principle photographer of the Moon Travel Guide for Morocco
Lucas Peters website - http://www.lucasmpeters.com/
Sandra at The Smarter Writer - www.thesmarterwriter.com
Sandra Muller - www.sandralmuller.com
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/102

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

101 - Destinations Worth Visiting Twice

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 22:01:00 +0000

Which destination would you love to return to? In Episode 101 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I’ve asked some of my guests about the destinations they keep returning to. Mine, for the record, is Japan - I lived there for two years, and have been back twice since, but want to go as many more times as is humanly possible!

My first guest on this episode is Lucas Peters, who currently lives in Paris - which used to be a destination he wanted to keep returning to - but he chats with me about a Moroccan town named Asilah.

Next, I talk with Jim Jones about two popular tourist destinations that he likes returning to for many different reasons - Las Vegas, and Paris. I’m with him on Paris but I’ve never been to Vegas - I think he convinces me I need to try, though.

Finally, fellow West Aussie Erin Holmes and I talk about the place virtually every Perth person has been to: Bali. Erin has been there many times and has plenty of good reasons as to why she keeps returning.

Links:

My Fiji post https://www.notaballerina.com/2018/06/thoughtful-travel-empowerment-tourism-fiji-hands-on-journeys.html
Lucas Peters - author and principle photographer of the Moon Travel Guide for Morocco
Lucas Peters - http://www.lucasmpeters.com/
Port XIV restaurant - https://www.portxiv.com
Jim Jones - http://travelstoriesandimages.com/
Erin Holmes at Explore With Erin - http://explorewitherin.com/
Instagram - https://instagram.com/explorewitherin
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/101

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

100 - Behind the Scenes at The Thoughtful Travel Podcast

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 22:01:00 +0000

I asked in the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group for some ideas for celebrating the milestone of releasing Episode 100 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast and Emma came up with the fabulous idea of going behind the scenes. Thanks to everyone who pitched in with more questions and especially to Kati Craythorn who offered to interview me.

This episode is a chat with Kati asking me those questions and it was so much fun to talk about the origins of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, some of the technical behind the scenes stuff, what I like and dislike about creating the podcast and how it's changed me. It was just wonderful to talk to Kati about all these topics and I hope you all enjoy listening to it too.

Links:

Hands On Journeys/Thoughtful Travel Meet Up - 27th June 2018 - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hands-on-journeys-thoughtful-travel-meet-up-tickets-46836956598
"Arigatou" to sponsor Bokksu - http://bokksu.com - use the code THOUGHT5 to get $5 off your Japanese snack box order (do it - they're delicious!)
Thank you to Kati who interviewed me for this episode - she's from Queensland and Beyond - https://queenslandandbeyond.com
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/100

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

99 - Close Calls When Travelling

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 22:01:00 +0000

Travel safety is often a concern and I'm sure I'm not the only one who checks government safety advisory messages (often with a grain of salt, it must be said) before I travel to a new destination. But honestly, crazy things can happen whether you're at home or abroad and I tend to agree with Pam Lynch, one of the guests in Episode 99 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, when she talks about the sentiment that either it was meant to be your time or it wasn't.

In this episode, I start by talking to Pam about her experience of the Nepal earthquake of 2015. I know Pam well and have heard her speak about this close call many times, and yet every time she tells the tale I end up with goose bumps down my arms and shivers down my spine. You just never know what's around the corner, and Pam tells the tale in a way that will make you think.

My second guest is Margarita Pas, a Polish globetrotter now based in the United States, who tells me about a trip she took to Namibia. It's a great warning tale about being prepared and how it's often easy to be poorly prepared when we don't know the place - I know I have sometimes done things abroad I would never be silly enough to do at home, but it's hard to know all the details when you're in an unfamiliar place. Margarita took a rather exciting road trip and came out fine and able to tell the tale - and it's well worth a listen.

Links:

My tasty sponsor Bokksu - https://bokksu.com - remember to use THOUGHT5 to get $5 off any order of amazing Japanese snacks
Pam's blog Travelling Bag - http://travellingbag.com.au
Pam's book "How the Hell Did I Get Here?" - http://amzn.to/2Gs4QzJ
Margarita's blog - http://margaritagypsy.com
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/99

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

98 - Fun Tales of Getting Lost on Your Travels

Mon, 04 Jun 2018 22:01:00 +0000

Ever got lost when you've been travelling? In my experience getting lost usually means you have a fun story to tell and that is definitely the case with the guests in this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast.

First up I chat with Kelly from Global Goose who had a bit of an incident following a hiking trail in the jungle in Borneo. All worked out well, of course, because Kelly lived to tell the tale on my podcast!!

Next I talk to Erin from Oregon Girl Around the World who has a hilarious tale to tell of a family trip in Latvia. Let's just say that Erin will be a lot more careful with her Latvian place names in the future!

Finally, I chat to Sandra Muller who has a particularly interesting perspective on getting lost when she travels (and one I wish I could adopt myself!).

Links:

My tasty sponsor Bokksu - https://bokksu.com - remember to use THOUGHT5 to get $5 off any order of amazing Japanese snacks
Kelly’s site Global Goose - http://www.global-goose.com
Erin at Oregon Girl Around the World - http://oregongirlaroundtheworld.com/
Erin’s post about bob sledding near Sigulda https://oregongirlaroundtheworld.com/latvia/wild-winter-fun-in-latvia-slide-down-the-olympic-bobsled-track-in-sigulda/
Sandra Muller - www.sandralmuller.com
Sandra’s new project is The Smarter Writer www.thesmarterwriter.com
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/98

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

97 Lessons from Living Abroad

Mon, 28 May 2018 22:01:00 +0000

If you ever get the chance to choose to live in another country (perhaps for study or work, or many other reasons) then you're very lucky because it's a special experience indeed. In Episode 97 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I talk with three lovely guests about their experiences of living in other countries for work or as part of their studies and we truly traverse the world, talking about Thailand, Tanzania and China.

First up, I speak with Clare Harris who spent several years living in Thailand and teaching English to people from bordering countries. She had an amazing experience and we chat about how she learnt what it was like to be illiterate, because the Thai language confounded her!

I then chat with Eva Westerling, who needed to complete an internship as part of her studies at medical school and fairly randomly ended up working in a hospital in Zanzibar! We also talk about our desire to live in many more places around the world if we can!

Finally I talk with Jacky Lamenzo, a teaching graduate in the States who couldn't find the right kind of work at home and so decided a bit on a whim to go abroad and teach in China. What she learnt there is a really life-changing lesson which I just loved hearing about.

Links:

Bokksu - bokksu.com - remember to use THOUGHT5 to get $5 off any purchase!
Clare’s site The Book Next Door - Australian ESL materials for adults and young adults - http://thebooknextdoor.com/
Clare Harris - Englishy Things - https://clareharris.com
Eva’s blog Not Scared of the Jet Lag - http://www.notscaredofthejetlag.com
Jacky Lamenzo - https://www.jackylamenzo.com/
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/97

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

96 - Remote Travel in Africa

Mon, 21 May 2018 22:01:00 +0000

Africa is one of those most amazing destinations, and of course it's not a single destination but countless different countries and regions which are all so different to each other - yet we tend to lump them in together, probably because many of us haven't got to exploring too much of Africa yet.

I start Episode 96 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast chatting with Linda Schlencker, who has spent many, many months guiding small self-drive groups around various parts of Africa so really knows what she's talking about. We discuss some of the fears that people have that might prevent them coming on such a trip, too, and I have to admit that wildlife passing right by my tent at night is something I'm not entirely comfortable with either!

I then chat with Anna Kwiecinska who has fallen in love with Morocco and spent some long stretches of time there in recent years. She tells in particular of her romantic vision of heading out into the Sahara - and what the reality was like. (Fortunately - still good!)

Links:

Huge thanks to this episode's sponsor, travel writer Alistair McGuinness - http://alistairmcguinness.com/
You can find Alistair's books at the Books page on his website - http://www.alistairmcguinness.com/books - and on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Alistair-McGuinness/e/B00E5X0K0I/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1526892011&sr=8-1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=notabal-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=e749d44bc3fdb72c9cdb879a7ef43087&camp=1789&creative=9325
Linda’s site Self Drive Adventures - http://www.selfdriveadventures.com/
Anna Kwiecinska’s main website - https://www.annakwiecinska.com
The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles - https://amzn.to/2Lf70WC
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/96

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

95 - Travel Mishaps and Misjudgments

Mon, 14 May 2018 22:01:00 +0000

Mishaps and misjudgments are part of the fun when we travel - right? Well, at least that's what my guests and I decide in Episode 95 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast. I start off chatting with Matt and Marilyn from the Words with Winos podcast, who managed to make a bit of a misjudgment when they very first set out on their long travelling journey ... but of course, they recovered from it and I'm glad they did (I love following their travels!).

Following on from that I talk to Samantha Fisher who ponders the idea that perhaps there are no mistakes when we travel. She has some examples of what's happened to her when she's made what we might call a travel mistake - and perhaps it's not all bad.

Finally, I have a fun talk with Elizabeth and Jeff Newcamp, who have had all kinds of travelling adventures over the years and have rather a long list of mishaps to tell about - and definitely prove that mistakes often make the best travel stories.

Links:

Huge thanks to this episode's sponsor, travel writer Alistair McGuinness - alistairmcguinness.com
You can find Alistair's books at the Books page on his website - http://www.alistairmcguinness.com/books and on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Alistair-McGuinness/e/B00E5X0K0I/
Matt and Marilyn's site Words with Winos - http://www.wordswithwinos.com
Sam on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/highhopestravel/
Sam talks about staying at JumboStay in Stockholm - http://www.jumbostay.com
Elizabeth and Jeff's blog Dutch Dutch Goose - http://www.dutchdutchgoose.com
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/95

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

94 How Travel Changes Kids

Mon, 07 May 2018 22:01:33 +0000

As parents, we have so many choices on the way we influence our kids. In Episode 94 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, the influence we talk about is - of course! - travel. I love the way my son's habits, attitudes and personality reflect his many experiences of travel (and yes, he's very privileged, even though we are usually in the budget traveller category), and I'm happy to know that many other parents feel the same.

My first guest is Stina Frantzich Gardiner, a Swedish friend of mine here in Perth, and we chat about how her two children have been influenced by their trips back to Europe - along with how travel influenced Stina herself as she was growing up in Europe.

I then chat with Reeva Cutting who has quite a unique experience of travel as a child, when she would fly regularly within South Africa to visit her father. That experience has certainly set her up for a lifelong love of travel and importantly the confidence to do it.

Finally, I speak with the always delightful Luke Mackin who speaks to the experience of travelling super-long haul with three very young children - my full respect to Luke and his wife for managing these experiences so well, because I'm not sure I would!

Links:

The life-changing magic of taking my son to Japan - https://notaballerina.com/japan2018
Stina’s site Birgit and Alvar - http://www.birgitandalvar.com/
Reeva at Proudly South African in Perth - https://proudlysouthafricaninperth.com
Luke’s Wild Sumatra site and blog - https://www.wildsumatra.com/blog/
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/94

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

93 - How to Deal With Travel Anxiety

Tue, 01 May 2018 01:26:57 +0000

Many a well-travelled travel-lover experiences travel anxiety and the guests in Episode 93 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast are no exception. (And neither am I!).

In this episode I chat with Kelly Dunning about her first big trip, aged 21, and a particularly pivotal moment which helped her to get over travel anxiety. I also talk to Kati Craythorn who gets anxious about flying, as many of us do, and we discuss a few different travel anxiety tips from other listeners too which I hope will help everyone with overcoming travel anxiety - because it’s worth it!

Links:

Our sponsor Travel Journal School at traveljournalschool.com - you can try the “Facts Plus One Thing” module now for free!
Kelly Dunning at Global Goose - https://global-goose.com
Kati Craythorn at Queensland and Beyond - http://www.queenslandandbeyond.com
Episode 71 - Getting Past Travel Anxiety - https://www.notaballerina.com/2017/10/getting-past-travel-anxiety-episode-71-thoughtful-travel-podcast.html
Jodi’s Gluten Free cards - https://www.legalnomads.com/gluten-free/
Fear of flying: interview with a pilot - https://www.simplefamilytravel.net/blog/fearofflying
Understanding turbulence - interview with a pilot https://www.simplefamilytravel.net/blog/understandinturbulence
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/93

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

92 - Expat Life on Three Continents

Mon, 23 Apr 2018 22:01:00 +0000

Travelling to other countries is one (amazing) thing - actually living abroad for an extended time is quite another altogether and it’s an experience my three guests in Episode 92 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast all share.

I’ve been lucky enough to live abroad in Japan, Slovakia and Germany and each experiencing was completely life-changing. In this episode, I speak with other travel lovers who have also taken the plunge to live in another country and had all kinds of different and fascinating experiences. First up, I speak with Sandra Muller who has spent a lot of time in Asia, but particularly living in South Korea. I’m rather envious of her experiences but you’ll have to listen to see why!

Next I chat with Cheri Shanti, an American who spends a lot of time based in Cuba these days. Cuba seems exotic and so different to me, from down here in Western Australia, so I was fascinated to chat with Cheri about her expat experiences there.

Finally, I talk with Sarah Ridout, a fellow Australian whose expat experience includes a well over a decade living in Europe, covering both France and Ireland. These experiences also proved completely life-altering for Sarah and I loved the chance to speak with her about them.

Links:

Our sponsor Travel Journal School at traveljournalschool.com
Sandra Muller - www.sandralmuller.com
Sandra’s new project is The Smarter Writer www.thesmarterwriter.com
Cheri’s site The Breath of Cuba - http://www.thebreathofcuba.com
Sarah Ridout’s website - http://www.sarahridout.com.au
Join our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/92

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

91 - Bargaining and Tipping on Your Travels

Mon, 09 Apr 2018 22:01:00 +0000

Do you love to haggle at the local markets when you travel to get down to the cheapest possible price or are you happier when there's a fixed price and no bargaining needs to take place? We talk about bargaining (and tipping) on your travels in Episode 91 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast and it's a great mix of ideas.

First up I chat with Matt and Marilyn from the Words with Winos podcast and they reminisce about some of the bargaining they had to do when they were travelling throughout south-east Asia. Next up, ESL teacher Clare Harris and I discuss some of her experiences with money and the differences in value depending on where you come from, and discover that just like me, Clare would prefer a fixed price sale any time!

Finally, I chat with Luke Mackin of Wild Sumatra who, after living for some years in rural Indonesia, has a particularly unique perspective. I really liked what Luke had to say and it's definitely reinforced my opinion that learning to bargain better is not on my list of things to do.

Links:

Our sponsor Travel Journal School at traveljournalschool.com
Marilyn and Matt’s site Words with Winos - http://wordswithwinos.com
Clare’s site The Book Next Door - Australian ESL materials for adults and young adults - http://thebooknextdoor.com/
Clare Harris - Englishy Things - https://clareharris.com
Luke’s Wild Sumatra site and blog - http://wildsumatra.com

Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/91

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

90 Interviewing Amanda Kendle - Two-Year Podcast Anniversary

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 22:01:00 +0000

It’s two years since I launched The Thoughtful Travel Podcast for my fortieth birthday. (Because why not do something crazy like launch a podcast for your fortieth?!) For the two-year anniversary, I decided to turn the tables and instead of getting other people’s stories, I asked my Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group to ask me the questions! They came up with many and varied questions and I had a lot of fun answering them - and I got my friend Kristy who featured in the very first episode of the podcast to interview me. Hope you enjoy it! Links:

Thanks to Kristy Morton for interviewing me
My post about my love for green tea - https://www.notaballerina.com/2014/11/really-like-green-tea-lessons-japan-meeting-locals.html
My "18 for 2018" list - http://www.amandakendle.com/18-things-2018/
Thoughts on privilege - https://www.notaballerina.com/2012/05/two-egyptians-and-my-privilege-to.html
Mina Mahrous, the Egyptian blogger - http://www.somedayillbethere.com/2012/04/no-not-everyone-can-travel-a-bubble-burster/
Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/90

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

89 - Housesitting While You Travel

Mon, 19 Mar 2018 22:01:00 +0000

Housesitting works for both sides of the travel equation but in Episode 89 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I talk to four travellers who have used housesitting as a great way to get free accommodation and to see parts of the world they wouldn't otherwise see.

Pam Lynch has been house-sitting for about eight months now around Perth, Western Australia - spoiler alert, she's my housesitter! - and chats to me about all of the reasons she loves this lifestyle and intends to continue it for some time to come.

I then chat with Becky Livingston who spent over two years wandering the globe doing many various housesits, some in particularly gorgeous locations too. She does touch on some of the perils of housesitting though, particularly the risks involved of being responsible for people's beloved pets ...

Finally, I talk to Matt and Marilyn from Words with Winos about their recent housesitting experience in Italy.

Links:

Our great sponsor Career China
Pam Lynch’s site Travelling Bag
Pam’s new book, How the Hell Did I Get Here?
Becky’s Facebook community Joyful Mourning
Becky’s website
Matt and Marilyn's site Words with Winos
Words with Winos podcast
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/89

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

88 Random Acts of Travel Kindness

Mon, 12 Mar 2018 22:01:00 +0000

I always think it's a shame we preach about "stranger danger" when in reality 99.9% of strangers are just people waiting to be kind to us - and Episode 88 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast reinforces my thoughts because I have three guests who've had delightful experiences with random acts of travel kindness from the people they've met when they've been travelling.

First up, I chat with Matt Eakin - if you've heard Matt speak before you know his stories are always rippers! - and this time, Matt tells me about what happened when he decided to check out the Muslim festival of Estema on his trip to Bangladesh. Let's just say that the kind and interested strangers numbered literally into the thousands!

Next I chat with Cheri Shanti who recalls some of her favourite small acts of kindness from strangers when she's been travelling, in places from Thailand to North America - including a time when she was suddenly very ill.

Finally, Joanne Karcz has spent time walking on the Camino and has some really beautiful moments of random travel kindness to tell me about.

Links:

Our great sponsor Career China - https://careerchina.com/
Matt’s site Himalayan Schoolies - https://himalayanschoolies.com/
Cheri’s site The Breath of Cuba http://www.thebreathofcuba.com
Joanne’s site Travel with Joanne https://www.travelwithjoanne.com/
Previous episode about the kindness of strangers: https://www.notaballerina.com/2017/11/kindness-strangers-travels-episode-76-thoughtful-travel-podcast.html
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/88

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

87 - Travelling With Your Parents

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 22:01:00 +0000

I just love the variety of stories I've got to share in this episode about travelling with your parents as an adult, because everyone has ended up having a great time for all different reasons. The very first guest is my delightful friend Jo of Lifestyle Fifty. When she told me she had a story about her mother coming with them on her honeymoon, I knew I had to hear more, and as always, Jo's story doesn't disappoint.

Following the honeymoon story I chat with Kati who recently travelled with her parents in the Northern Territory here in Australia. It's an interesting story about the compromises you might need to make to deal with the different preferred travelling styles of your family members and I thought Kati did a great job of this.

Finally, I speak with Eva who has really made a habit of travelling with her parents in recent years - starting a truly delightful family tradition. I hope my son is listening to that one!

Links:

Our great sponsor Career China - https://www.careerchina.com/
Jo’s website Lifestyle Fifty - http://lifestylefifty.com/
Jo’s travel blog Zigazag - http://zigazag.com/
Kati at Queensland and Beyond - http://www.queenslandandbeyond.com
Eva’s blog Not Scared of the Jet Lag - http://www.notscaredofthejetlag.com
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/87

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

86 - Travel and Self Development

Mon, 26 Feb 2018 22:01:00 +0000

One of my very favourite topics in the world is talking (for hours) about why travelling is good for you and all the self development and educational benefits of travelling. Happily, a lot of the guests on The Thoughtful Travel Podcast feel the same way, and in Episode 86 I chat with three women who all agree the benefits of travelling the world are many and varied.

First up, I chat with Pam Lynch, who had travelled a lot with her family but really took things to the next level a few years ago when she started travelling solo. She's in no doubt of the importance of travelling in life and describes how much stepping out of her usual comfort zone has impacted her self development.

Next, I talk with Anna Kwiecinska about that feeling you get when you just need to travel to a certain place, without any particularly concrete reason that you can explain - but inevitably, you end up discovering a lot about yourself by doing so. Why people travel is an endlessly fascinating question to me and what Anna articulated here is something I've been trying to explain for years!

Finally, psychologist Kristen Truempy talks to me about the fear and growth process in the context of her own regular travel experiences. She says something eminently sensible about travel and your comfort zone but you'll have to listen to find out exactly what!

Links:

Our great sponsor Career China - https://www.careerchina.com/
Pam Lynch’s site Travelling Bag - http://travellingbag.com.au
Pam’s new book, How the Hell Did I Get Here? - http://amzn.to/2Gs4QzJ
Anna Kwiecinska’s main website - https://www.annakwiecinska.com
Paul Bowles books - http://bit.ly/PaulBowlesBooks
Brilliant Blogging retreat in Bali - http://www.villanilayabalibeach.com/art-and-yoga-retreats/art-and-yoga-retreats-at-villa-nilaya-in-2018/amanda-kendle/
Kristen’s The Positive Psychology Podcast - http://strengthsphoenix.com/listen
First trips episode I mention https://www.notaballerina.com/2017/09/first-trips-episode-65-thoughtful-travel-podcast.html
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/86

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

85 - Cross Cultural Kids

Mon, 19 Feb 2018 22:01:00 +0000

I'm immensely curious on how culture affects child development - if you have kind of international kids who relate to more than one culture, how does this change the way they grow up? I know from experience that even the simple act of travelling to a foreign country changes how kids think and in Episode 85 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I speak with a number of parents who've really brought up their children to be multicultural kids.

I start off chatting to Elizabeth and Jeff Newcamp who have been living with their three young sons in the Netherlands for the past couple of years. They talk about how to fit in and what it's like when your young kids learn the local language faster than you do!

I then hear a great story from Jo Castro who had a serial ex-pat life with her husband and two kids before settling relatively recently in Western Australia. Her anecdote really speaks to what being international kids must feel like (and it also made me giggle, so make sure you listen).

Finally, I talk to Christine Knight, an Australian whose daughter was born in New York City, where they lived for the first few years of her life before returning home to Sydney. It's interesting to hear how important this second nationality is not just to Christine and her husband but to their daughter, too.

Links:

Big thanks to our sponsor this week and last, BoyEatsWorld.com.au
Kids tips for travelling with parents - https://boyeatsworld.com.au/15-tips-for-travelling-with-parents/
He said, she said, Bali by kids - https://boyeatsworld.com.au/he-said-she-said-bali-by-kids/
Elizabeth and Jeff’s site Dutch Dutch Goose - http://www.dutchdutchgoose.com/
Zwarte Piet/Black Pete “History of Europe’s Most Controversial Christmas Character” - https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/12/black-pete-christmas-zwarte-piet-dutch/
Episode 70, Growing up in different cultures - https://www.notaballerina.com/2017/10/children-different-cultures-episode-70-thoughtful-travel-podcast.html
Jo’s website Lifestyle Fifty - http://lifestylefifty.com/
Jo’s travel blog Zigazag - http://zigazag.com/
Christine’s website Adventure Baby
Join our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/85

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

84 - Adventures Abroad in Nature

Mon, 12 Feb 2018 22:01:00 +0000

Like going on adventures abroad in nature? Then you will love listening to the stories my three guests have to tell in Episode 84 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast. I was so lucky to be able to chat with them about these amazing stories of the kinds of things not many people get to experience.

First up, I spoke with Eva Westerling, a German travel-lover who has had all kinds of incredible adventures abroad, not least of which includes climbing up an active, erupting volcano on Tanna Island in Vanuatu.

Another way to watch the power of nature came the way of Linda Schlencker, thanks to a lot of patience watching and waiting in Africa, and Linda’s story in this episode is about natural travels at their best - seeing something in the animal kingdom that not many people get to see.

Finally, I was chatting with Kristen Truempy about overseas adventure travel and when we got onto the top of risks involved with adventures abroad she brought up this story of her trip to Morocco.

Links:

Thanks to our sponsor, Boy Eats World - https://boyeatsworld.com.au
Aleney’s post about a recent ski adventure in Hokkaido - https://boyeatsworld.com.au/japow-wow-skiing-hoshino-resorts-tomamu-with-kids/
Aleney’s post about Osaka (and okonomiyaki) - https://boyeatsworld.com.au/kids-osaka-and-okonomiyaki-recipe/
Eva’s blog Not Scared of the Jet Lag - http://www.notscaredofthejetlag.com
Linda’s site Self Drive Adventures - http://www.selfdriveadventures.com/
Kristen’s The Positive Psychology Podcast - http://strengthsphoenix.com/listen
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/84

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

83 - Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL)

Mon, 05 Feb 2018 22:01:00 +0000

Teaching English as a second language can be anywhere from a fascinating lifelong career to a short stint while travelling, and in Episode 83 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I chat with three teachers who have taught both offline and online around the world.

First up, I talk to Cassandra Le about her two years of experience as an assistant English teacher in Spain. She learnt a lot about the English language itself, about how Spanish is different, and above all that an English teacher needs patience! I also chat briefly with Matt Treglia who began teaching English face-to-face in Korea but now teaches online and is location independent.

Finally, I chat with long-time English teacher and writer of some excellent text books and readers for English learners here in Australia, Clare Harris, who has a whole host of useful tips for people who may be considering teaching English somewhere in the world.

Links:

Cassandra’s blog, The Quirky Pineapple - http://www.thequirkypineapple.com
Matt’s site Words with Winos - http://wordswithwinos.com
Interview with Matt on The Offbeat Life - https://www.theoffbeatlife.com/episodes/makemoneyteachingenglishonline/
Clare’s site The Book Next Door - Australian ESL materials for adults and young adults - http://thebooknextdoor.com/
Clare Harris - Englishy Things - https://clareharris.com
MOOC on “Exploring the World of English Language Teaching” - https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/explore-elt/3
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/83

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

82 - Hobbies and Travelling

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 22:01:00 +0000

What do you love to do - other than travel - in your spare time? While my listeners and readers have a love of travel in common, they have a huge range of other hobbies and this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is all about combining hobbies with travel in various ways.

To kick it off I chat with Kelly Dunning who wrote a great post on her Global Goose blog about the importance of finding ways to keep up a hobby or two if you’re travelling long term - something I very much concur with. It’s easy to think that travelling “is it” but if you’re away for more than a month or so I think it’s important to keep in touch with other activities you really enjoy.

I then chat with Anna Kwiecinska who has made a business out of encouraging people to take their hobbies on holidays! She runs a retreat in Bali which offers art, yoga and soon blogging retreats, so this is focused very much on encouraging people to really indulge in their hobbies and interests and take them more seriously - or at least to really intensively enjoy them for a time, and travel as well!

Finally, I talk to Colin Clapp who has recently started leading a nomadic life with his partner and their young daughter. Even though time and finances might not enable them to really properly pursue a hobby right now, I was impressed with the thought he’s put into finding the right hobby, realising that it’s something important for him and his family.

Links:

Thanks to sponsor Glamping Hub - https://glampinghub.com
Kelly Dunning at Global Goose - https://global-goose.com
Kelly’s post on keeping up hobbies when you’re travelling - https://global-goose.com/hobbies-long-term-travel/
Anna Kwiecinska’s main website - https://www.annakwiecinska.com
Brilliant Blogging retreat in Bali - http://www.villanilayabalibeach.com/art-and-yoga-retreats/art-and-yoga-retreats-at-villa-nilaya-in-2018/amanda-kendle/
Colin’s site Parenting, Passports and Profits - https://parentingpassportsandprofits.com/
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/82

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81 - Culture Shock in Your Home Country

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 22:12:27 +0000

Reverse culture shock - the kind of culture shock you get when you return to your home country - is worse than just regular culture shock, I think. If you head to a country with a significantly different culture from your own, then you’re expecting to be shocked. But if you’ve been travelling or living abroad for a while and you return home, you don’t expect to be the victim of culture shock - or in this case, reverse culture shock.

In Episode 81 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I speak with three guests who’ve all had varying experiences with culture shock when they return to their home country. Having been through it myself, quite strongly, when I returned to live in Australia after five and a half years away in Asia and Europe, I always find it so reassuring to hear that others have had similar experiences - though I wish I’d known more back when I was first experiencing reverse culture shock so I could have had some resources to help me get past it more quickly.

In this episode I start by speaking with Kati Craythorn. Born and raised in Germany, she now calls Queensland, Australia home, and experiences some interesting symptoms of reverse culture shock when she goes to visit family and friends in Germany these days. She also had her own experience of culture shock when returning to Australia after a stay in South Africa.

Next, I chat with Abby Lewtas who is also no stranger to reverse culture shock. Abby spent years travelling for various pursuits including a stint training for the Olympic bobsled team - obviously something that needs a colder climate than Australia can provide - and then struggled with the expectations of returning home to set up a life back in Australia. She’s now helping other people who go through the same shock and has a lot of great suggestions on how to deal with it.

Finally, I had a great talk with James Thomas who lives an interesting ex-pat life in Taiwan, after studying in China. When he returns to the United States to visit family, he finds even many of the conversations are tricky, and we chat in some depth about the feelings you experience when suffering from reverse culture shock.

Links:

Thanks to sponsor Glamping Hub - https://glampinghub.com
Kati at Queensland and Beyond - http://www.queenslandandbeyond.com
Abby Lewtas’ website - life coach for travellers returning home - http://www.abbylewtas.com
James at Four Seas, One Family - http://www.fourseasonefamily.com/
Episode 51 on Reverse Culture Shock - https://www.notaballerina.com/2017/04/reverse-culture-shock-episode-51-thoughtful-travel-podcast.html

Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/81

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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80 - Travel in Africa

Mon, 15 Jan 2018 19:00:00 +0000

Ever dreamed of a trip to Africa? Or have you already had the good fortune to visit Africa? In either case, Episode 80 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast will entice you, I think! I speak with three travellers who have extremely varied experiences of Africa, once again reminding me that it’s a truly vast content and that I need to plan a trip to Africa as soon as possible.

To start off, I chat with Ian of the Barefoot Backpacker about his trip to Benin. Now, the Republic of Benin is not somewhere on the top of most travellers’ must-visit list but it’s one of Ian’s favourite places and after chatting, I can understand why!

Following Ian, I talk to Linda Schlencker of Self Drive Adventures, who also surprises me by explaining what kind of treats would await me on a Madagascar holiday. I really had little conception of what travelling around Madagascar would entail (apart from expecting to see some of the creatures I knew from my son’s favourite Madagascar animated movies!) and it sounds like an amazing destination.

Finally, we head to the very top of Africa, and I chat with Anna Kwiencinska of Creative Living Retreats, who spends part of the year in Morocco, and has a lot of love for this northern African country.

A big thanks to GlampingHub.com for sponsoring this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast!

Links:

Thanks to sponsor Glamping Hub - https://glampinghub.com
Ian’s blog The Barefoot Backpacker - http://barefoot-backpacker.com/
Ian’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/barefoot_backpacker/
Linda’s site Self Drive Adventures - http://www.selfdriveadventures.com/
Article about the turning of the bones ceremony - http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-africa/turning-bones-and-madagascar-dance-dead-001346
Anna Kwiecinska’s main website - https://www.annakwiecinska.com
Brilliant Blogging retreat in Bali - http://www.villanilayabalibeach.com/art-and-yoga-retreats/art-and-yoga-retreats-at-villa-nilaya-in-2018/amanda-kendle/
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/80

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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79 - Cultural Differences Around the World

Sun, 10 Dec 2017 19:00:00 +0000

I really love a good cultural difference. It’s true! I find the differences in everyday life around the world utterly fascinating and it’s one of the reasons I keep travelling, trying to hunt more down. In Episode 79 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I chat with three other travellers who have also discovered some interesting cultural differences on their travels.

First up is Reeva Cutting, who now lives in Australia but grew up in South Africa. She experienced a few differences living in each of these cultures and they’re my favourite kind, about everyday things like filling a car with petrol and going shopping.

Next up, Luke Mackin compares experiences in rural Indonesia to his family’s return trips to the United States. His young kids have a different perspective because the US to them is just a place they visit, so it seems kind of amazing!

Finally, I talk to James Thomas, who has now lived in Taiwan for several decades after growing up in the United States, and has some interesting observations about the differences between the two places, as well as some of the differences between Taiwan and mainland China.

Links:

Reeva at Proudly South African in Perth - https://proudlysouthafricaninperth.com
Reeva’s post about putting petrol in your car - https://proudlysouthafricaninperth.com/life-in-perth/how-to-put-petrol-in-your-car/
My post about washing dishes in Australia - https://www.notaballerina.com/2014/10/unexpected-cultural-differences-how-do-you-wash-your-dishes-your-country.html
Luke’s Wild Sumatra site and blog - https://www.wildsumatra.com/blog/
James at Four Seas, One Family - http://www.fourseasonefamily.com/
Episode 12 - Culture Clash! https://notaballerina.com/12
Episode 18 - Cultural Fusion and Confusion https://notaballerina.com/18
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
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Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/79

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78 Border Crossings in Europe, Africa and Asia

Mon, 04 Dec 2017 19:00:00 +0000

Sometimes crossing a border into a new country is simple. Sometimes it’s not - and it’s the not-simple crossings that turn into great stories later! In Episode 78 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I chat with several guests who’ve had some particularly interesting border crossing moments.

First up, I chat with Elizabeth and Jeff Newcamp, who are currently living in Europe and had something of a tricky experience trying to cross the border from Croatia into Slovenia.

From Europe, I move on to Africa with Ian from the Barefoot Backpacker. He has some fun tales to tell about crossing borders between Ghana and Burkina Faso, and again between Benin and Togo. These borders are relatively seldom crossed by tourists so they’re not quite set up as clearly as you’d hope!

Finally, Matt Eakin has a hilarious story about the time he needed to enter Bangladesh and didn’t have the required visa. Let’s just say his method isn’t something I’m recommending you try (and he agrees!), but it makes for a great story.

Links:

Elizabeth and Jeff’s site Dutch Dutch Goose http://www.dutchdutchgoose.com/
Ian’s stories of Crossing the Border - http://barefoot-backpacker.com/category/border/
Matt’s site Himalayan Schoolies - https://himalayanschoolies.com/
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/78

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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77 - The Unstoppable Urge to Travel

Mon, 27 Nov 2017 21:48:54 +0000

Do you have an unstoppable urge to travel? You are not alone! In Episode 77 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I chat with two fellow travel-lovers who just feel they must travel, as much as possible.

To start off with, I chat with Matt Eakin of Himalayan Schoolies, who started his real travelling adventures age 17, with no particular plan other than that he should catch a plane and go somewhere new with the expectation that something amazing would happen. Of course, he was right!

With Yasmin Newman, we talk about the influence of our families on our unstoppable urge to travel, and our fervent desire to pass this urge on to our children as well. Yasmin says that travel and her life trajectory are inseparably intertwined and I have to say the same is true of mine.

Links:

Matt’s site Himalayan Schoolies - https://himalayanschoolies.com/
Yasmin’s website - https://www.yasminnewman.com
Yasmin’s new book, The Desserts of New York (And How To Eat Them All) - http://amzn.to/2shtR9u
Yasmin’s first book, 7,000 Islands: A Food Portrait of the Philippines - http://amzn.to/2ucVBNB

Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

Tweet me @amandakendle

Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod

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Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/77

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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76 The Kindness of Strangers When You Travel

Mon, 20 Nov 2017 20:00:00 +0000

While sometimes we are inclined to feel suspicious of strangers, the fact is that 99.9% of people are good and when you travel, you will often come across some especially kind strangers. In Episode 76 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I chat with three travellers who have had some fantastic and even life-changing experiences meeting strangers on their travels.

First up, Kelly Dunning of Global Goose has a funny and heartwarming tale to tell of a day out cycling in Angkor Wat which could have ended badly, but really didn’t!

Similarly, my next guest, Samantha Fisher of High Hopes Travel, ended up in Paris one summer night with no accommodation around, and this could have had an unhappy ended too but thanks to the kindness of strangers it was quite the opposite.

My final guest is Colin of Parenting, Passports and Profits who tells a tale of a bunch of strangers he met when he headed to the Rocky Mountains in search of a ski season job, and how these random meetings turned into a life-changing friendship.

Links:

Kelly’s site Global Goose - http://www.global-goose.com
Sam’s site, coming soon, High Hopes Travel - http://highhopestravel.com/
Sam on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/highhopestravel/
Colin’s site Parenting, Passports and Profits - https://parentingpassportsandprofits.com/
Thoughtful Travellers Meet Up in Perth - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/thoughtful-travellers-meet-up-tickets-39539451564
Episode about Unexpected Travel Friends https://notaballerina.com/07
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/76

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

75 - Travels in Nature

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 20:00:00 +0000

Who doesn’t love nature - at least some of the time? Episode 75 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is all about travels in nature, and the many and varied forms this travel can take.

It starts off in pretty extreme nature when I chat with Luke Mackin, who has a tale of confronting nature in rural Sumatra. But Samantha Fisher, my next guest, has another take completely and describes urban pockets of nature before waxing poetic about her experiences seeing the nature of New Zealand.

My final guests are Elizabeth and Jeff of Dutch Dutch Goose and they have yet another great take on travelling to see nature, with some fabulous examples of the kind of nature both adults and kids can enjoy in various parts of Europe.

Links:

Thoughtful Travellers Meet Up in Perth - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/thoughtful-travellers-meet-up-tickets-39539451564
Luke’s site Wild Sumatra - https://wildsumatra.com
Sam’s site, coming soon, High Hopes Travel - http://highhopestravel.com/
Sam on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/highhopestravel/
Elizabeth and Jeff’s site Dutch Dutch Goose http://www.dutchdutchgoose.com/
Mugge Stutz “dwarf trail” example - https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-au/muggenstutz-hiking-trail.html

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Tweet me @amandakendle
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Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/75

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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74 - First Solo Adventures

Mon, 06 Nov 2017 22:00:00 +0000

Travelling for the first time is something you always remember. And travelling on your own for the first time is possibly even more memorable. In Episode 74 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I talk with four very experienced travellers who all have very clear memories of their first solo adventure and love talking about it. The common theme is that all of them have gone on to travel a whole heap more, both on their own and with others, and their first solo trips had a big impact on their future travels.

First up, Jo Castro tells me a funny story about her first trip abroad when she went to be a horse groomer in Belgium - and it wasn’t quite as wonderful as she’d expected!

I then chat with Jo and Jeremy Duggan who both had the experience of taking a huge trip as their first time travelling solo abroad - and fortunately, both really enjoyed it and got a lot out of it. Finally, Ian of the Barefoot Backpacker explains about his rediscovery of travel with his first proper solo trip to South East Asia.

Links:

Jo’s website Lifestyle Fifty
Jo’s travel blog Zigazag
Jo and Jeremy’s website Coming Home Strong
Ian’s blog The Barefoot Backpacker
Ian’s Instagram
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers
Episode 68 on Solo travel tips

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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73 - When Things Go Wrong

Mon, 30 Oct 2017 22:00:00 +0000

When you travel, something is bound to go wrong. Most of the time, whatever went wrong ends up making a good story, and that’s exactly what the three travellers in Episode 73 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast think too. In this episode, I start of chatting with Luke Mackin of Wild Sumatra, who has two equally hilarious tales about things that have gone wrong both on his travels and in his expat life in rural Indonesia. We then move to South Africa, where Kristen Truempy had a particularly interesting experience when things went wrong with her accommodation booking. Finally, over in New York City, fellow Aussie Aggie Lim has a great story to tell about things going wrong on a simple attempt to catch a bus in the Big Apple.

Links:

Luke’s Wild Sumatra site and blog
Kristen’s The Positive Psychology Podcast
Aggie Lim at Drawn to Explore
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers
Follow me on Facebook on the Not A Ballerina page
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/73

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

72 - Museum Love

Mon, 23 Oct 2017 22:00:00 +0000

Visiting museums when you’re somewhere new is very high on the list of many travellers. I don’t love all museums, but there are many around the world that I really truly do love. In Episode 72 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I chat with four travellers who all have lots to say about their love of museums.

First up, I chat with Leah Smileski of Kid Bucket List who is very passionate about museums and has some really interesting news about the museums of Skopje, Macedonia. It seems like right now is the best time ever to check out their museums.

Next, I talk with Elizabeth and Jeff of Dutch Dutch Goose, who are ex-pats currently living in the Netherlands with their three young sons. We discuss just how you can help kids really love museums and they tell me about some of their favourite museums in Europe so far.

Finally, I get to reunite with a long lost student of my travel writing course, Samantha Fisher, who is about on the same level as me with her museum love. It’s interesting to talk about what makes a museum experience one that you really love and remember forever.

Links:

Leah’s blog Kid Bucket List - https://kidbucketlist.com.au

Skopje Museums - https://kidbucketlist.com.au/2017/09/25/skopje-with-kids/

Elizabeth and Jeff’s site Dutch Dutch Goose http://www.dutchdutchgoose.com/

Museum cards in Amsterdam - https://adaminfo.amsterdam.ticketbar.eu/en/discountcards/museum-card-tourists-/

Transport Museum in Lucerne - https://www.verkehrshaus.ch

Sam’s site, coming soon, High Hopes Travel - http://highhopestravel.com/

Sam on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/highhopestravel/

Musee Rodin - http://www.musee-rodin.fr/en/home

Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

Tweet me @amandakendle

Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod

Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina

Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/72

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

71 - Getting Past Travel Anxiety

Tue, 17 Oct 2017 00:14:54 +0000

If you’ve ever felt anxious about travelling, please rest assured that you are absolutely not alone! In Episode 71 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, we are talking about getting past travel anxiety, and I hope that hearing from experienced travellers who take amazing trips but still feel anxious about that regularly will help you realise that travel anxiety is way more common than you’d expect.

First up, I speak with Matt Treglia from the Words With Winos podcast about his experiences when he arrives in a new country and culture. Following Matt, my chat with Ian of the Barefoot Backpacker has some overlaps, and you might be surprised to hear how anxious Ian can be despite having travelled, on his own no less, to some really off-the-beaten-path destinations.

Finally, I chat with psychologist Kristen Truempy who as always has some wise words about anxiety and what we should do about it to help us travel more.

Links:

Matt’s site Words with Winos - http://wordswithwinos.com
Words with Winos podcast - http://soundcloud.com/wordswithwinos
Ian’s blog The Barefoot Backpacker - http://barefoot-backpacker.com/
Ian’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/barefoot_backpacker/
Kristen’s The Positive Psychology Podcast - http://strengthsphoenix.com/listen
Kristen’s audiobook Brainwash - Retrain Your Brain in 21 Days - https://gumroad.com/l/brainwash
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/71

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

70 Growing Up in Different Cultures

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 23:21:56 +0000

How does growing up as part of several different cultures change you as a person? Or growing up in many different countries? These questions fascinate me and in Episode 70 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I speak with two travellers who have experience with these particular questions.

First up, I chat with Leah Smileski who recently took her children to spend a couple of months in Macedonia, where their father was born. This was quite a challenge for Leah who doesn’t speak Macedonian, but we talked a lot about all the benefits for her kids and it was fascinating.

Secondly, I talk with Jo Castro, who’s the epitome of a wandering ex-pat - moving to rural Nepal with a newborn baby a couple of decades ago! She and her family, including two now adult children, lived in many different places around the world and she has much to say about how this has affected them, in both good ways and bad.

Links:

Leah’s blog Kid Bucket List - https://kidbucketlist.com.au

Jo’s website Lifestyle Fifty - http://lifestylefifty.com/

Jo’s travel blog Zigazag - http://zigazag.com/

Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

Tweet me @amandakendle

Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod

Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina

Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/70

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

69 Travel Mistakes

Mon, 02 Oct 2017 22:00:00 +0000

Making mistakes on our travels is just par for the course, I think, and the three guests on Episode 69 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast have all made different mistakes and come out okay at the other end!

Hayden Lee agrees that mistakes generally lead to the best travel stories. He has a great tale to tell about a road trip in outback Queensland that may have included a mistake or two.

Ian of The Barefoot Backpacker has an interesting story about an entire trip which turned out to be a mistake, perhaps.

Finally, Carolyn of Holidays to Europe tells of what she describes as a rookie mistake which she made when she definitely wasn’t a rookie traveller any more … but even the best of us make mistakes, I guess!

Links:

Hayden’s Travel Stories Podcast - http://travelstoriespodcast.com
Travel Stories Podcast on iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/travel-stories-podcast/id1097413901?mt=2
Ian’s blog The Barefoot Backpacker - http://barefoot-backpacker.com/
Ian’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/barefoot_backpacker/
Carolyn’s site Holidays to Europe - https://www.holidaystoeurope.com.au/
Carolyn’s ebook travel guides - https://www.holidaystoeurope.com.au/home/travel-resources/travel-books-guides

Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

Tweet me @amandakendle

Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod

Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina

Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/69

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

68 Solo Travel Tips

Tue, 26 Sep 2017 00:27:55 +0000

Travelling solo is a fabulous experience but not everyone thinks they’re ready for it. In Episode 68 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I chat with three solo travel lovers who have various stories and experiences to tell which can give you some tips for making yourself a solo travel success.

I start off with Becky Livingston who has a lovely funny tale to tell about what happened on a plane when she was travelling solo once - and we go on to talk about some of the big benefits of solo travel.

Next, Ian from The Barefoot Backpacker talks about some of the reasons he generally prefers solo travel, and what we can learn from that.

Finally, I get to chat with Kristen Truempy, a psychologist who loves to travel and has travelled on her own a lot. She gives a really interesting perspective on some of the qualities of a person who travels solo well, and what we might think about to prepare ourselves ahead of a solo trip.

Links:

Becky’s Facebook community Joyful Mourning - https://www.facebook.com/joyfulmourning101/
Becky’s website - http://blivingrock.com
Ian’s blog The Barefoot Backpacker - http://barefoot-backpacker.com/
Ian’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/barefoot_backpacker/
Kristen’s The Positive Psychology Podcast - http://strengthsphoenix.com/listen
Kristen’s audiobook Brainwash - Retrain Your Brain in 21 Days - https://gumroad.com/l/brainwash
Episode 58: Solo Travel Freedom - https://notaballerina.com/58

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

67 Exploring Western Australia

Mon, 18 Sep 2017 19:00:00 +0000

It’s rare an episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast focuses on just one destination, but when it’s my beautiful home state of Western Australia, I think it’s a must! In this episode I chat with three travellers who’ve explored much of WA and all found lots to love.

First up, I chat with Zoë Dawes, who came out to Western Australia for a short trip last year. As a very experienced traveller, I think Zoë would have high expectations, and it turned out that she thoroughly enjoyed WA and particularly one of my favourite spots!

Jo Castro of the Lifestyle Fifty blog moved to country Western Australia a few years back and I’m pleased to hear that there are also many parts of our vast state that she’s grown to love.

Finally, I chatted with Nina Burakowski who runs an entire site about getting outdoors in Western Australia. She had a great list of recommended spots to visit if you’re also lucky enough to come all the way to WA.

Links:

Coral Coast and Ningaloo Reef - https://www.notaballerina.com/2016/10/australias-coral-coast-stretched-comfort-zone.html
Rottnest Island - https://www.notaballerina.com/2014/09/visit-rottnest-island-day-trip-overnight-contest.html
My first trip around Australia - https://www.notaballerina.com/category/australia-in-a-van
Zoë’s website The Quirky Traveller - http://www.thequirkytraveller.com
Zoë on Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/quirkytraveller
Zoë on Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/quirkytraveller
Jo’s website Lifestyle Fifty - http://lifestylefifty.com/
Jo’s travel blog Zigazag - http://zigazag.com/
Nina’s blog WA Explorer http://www.westaustralianexplorer.com
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/67

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

66 - On Taking Your Kids Travelling

Tue, 12 Sep 2017 09:16:11 +0000

Regular listeners already know I think it’s enormously beneficial to take your kids travelling from a young age, but in Episode 66 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I chat with three other mothers who agree with me.

First up is family travel expert Sharon Gourlay of Where’s Sharon. With three kids aged between one and seven, and many, many trips with them under her belt, she’s well placed to talk about many of the reasons travelling with kids is so valuable.

Brooke McAlary is my next guest and we share a very strong belief that kids learn so much from travelling, and that it shapes the way they’ll experience life.

Finally, I talk with Penny Wincer, who speaks openly and beautifully about traveling with a child with special needs. Penny’s son has autism and this has changed the way she approaches travel, but it certainly hasn’t stopped her.

Links:

Sharon’s travel site Where’s Sharon - http://www.wheressharon.com
Sharon’s site Digital Nomad Wannabe - https://www.digitalnomadwannabe.com/
Brooke’s Slow Your Home website - http://slowyourhome.com/
Brooke’s Slow Home Podcast - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/the-slow-home-podcast-with-brooke-mcalary/id985005895?mt=2
Brooke’s new book, Slow - http://amzn.to/2vboW07
Penny’s website Apples and Optimists - http://www.applesandoptimists.com
Penny on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pennywincer
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/66

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

65 - First Trips

Tue, 05 Sep 2017 07:04:09 +0000

Hearing about people’s first trips is fascinating and Episode 65 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is all about the first times some very experienced travellers ventured out of their comfort zones.

First up, Alicia Nelson talks about the first trip she took without her family. A school trip to Washington DC turned out to be pretty life-changing.

Sharon Gourlay of Where’s Sharon is one of the most well-travelled people I know, and yet when I spoke to her about her first trips abroad, she told me some very surprising stories!

Finally, Carolyn Schonafinger joins The Thoughtful Travel Podcast for the first time and has some interesting tales to tell about her first trip abroad and also her first trip to her now beloved Europe.

Links:

Alicia’s site Prairie Style File - http://prairiestylefile.com
Alicia’s new book, “North Dakota Beer: A Heady History” - http://amzn.to/2rBRVUW
Sharon’s travel site Where’s Sharon - http://www.wheressharon.com
Sharon’s site Digital Nomad Wannabe - https://www.digitalnomadwannabe.com/
Carolyn’s site Holidays to Europe - https://www.holidaystoeurope.com.au/
Carolyn’s ebook travel guides - https://www.holidaystoeurope.com.au/home/travel-resources/travel-books-guides

Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/65

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

64 Travel and Foreign Languages

Mon, 07 Aug 2017 18:00:00 +0000

If you travel much at all, you’re going to encounter foreign languages, and Episode 64 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is all about how learning languages and living in foreign countries has changed the experiences of these three travel-loving guests.

First up, I chat with Yasmin Newman who’s a fellow language lover. She’s spent time in both France and Mexico with the goal of improving her French and Spanish and has much of interest to say about how effective this was. Following Yasmin, I talk to Cassandra Le who also decided that living abroad, in Spain, would be a great way to improve her Spanish language skills.

My final guest today is Serena Star-Leonard. We chat about how embarrassing it is that so many people from English-speaking countries don’t speak any other languages and why that means she’s trying so hard to learn Spanish; we also talk about what kind of communication happens when you’re talking to someone with whom you don’t share a common language at all.

Links:

Episode 10 - How to Cope in Another Language - https://notaballerina.com/10
Yasmin’s website - https://www.yasminnewman.com
Yasmin’s new book, The Desserts of New York (And How To Eat Them All) - http://amzn.to/2shtR9u
Yasmin’s first book, 7,000 Islands: A Food Portrait of the Philippines - http://amzn.to/2ucVBNB
Cassandra’s blog, The Quirky Pineapple - http://www.thequirkypineapple.com
Cassandra on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tqpineapple/
Serena Star-Leonard’s Retire in 12 Months project — http://in12months.com
Serena’s Five Point Five videos - http://fivepointfive.org/videos/
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/64

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

63 - Travel to Change Your Life’s Path

Mon, 31 Jul 2017 18:00:00 +0000

Travel can be life changing in many ways and the guests in Episode 63 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast are proof of that. To start off, Amanda chats with Penny Wincer who made what Amanda sees as a huge decision to spend a year volunteering in Thailand at the age of just 18. She definitely learnt a lot and it set the tone for how she’s approached travel - and many aspects of life - ever since.

Next up Amanda chats with Becky Livingston, who made a similarly huge decision to spend a year in Australia on a teaching exchange, with life-altering consequences. And finally, Amanda talks to Cassandra Le about her decision during college that travel was a priority and how the volunteer trip she took to Ecuador changed the path of her life after college.

Links:

Penny’s website Apples and Optimists - http://www.applesandoptimists.com

Penny on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pennywincer

Becky’s Facebook community Joyful Mourning - https://www.facebook.com/joyfulmourning101/

Becky’s website - http://blivingrock.com

Cassandra’s blog, The Quirky Pineapple -  http://www.thequirkypineapple.com

Cassandra on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tqpineapple/

Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

Tweet me @amandakendle

Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod

Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina   

Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/63

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

62 Foodie Lessons from Travel

Mon, 24 Jul 2017 18:00:00 +0000

Who doesn’t love exploring new cuisines on their travels? Amanda is always keen to set her taste buds loose on some new foods but as her guests and Amanda discuss in Episode 62 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, it’s not just about the taste buds: foods in other countries can also teach us a lot.

In this episode Amanda starts by chatting with Alicia Nelson who learnt some foodie lessons on her travels in Spain and Japan. Following that, Zoë Dawes tells Amanda some interesting tales about foodie lessons she learnt in Hong Kong and beyond and they chat about how polite they should be when they’re offered new and unusual foods.

Finally, Amanda's favourite foodie guest ever, Yasmin Newman, talks to her about her food sabbaticals, and particularly her most recent one in New York when she spent three months eating desserts pretty much non-stop. Interestingly, the biggest lesson to take away from this one is not only foodie-related but a bigger life lesson.

Links:

Alicia’s site Prairie Style File
Alicia’s new book, “North Dakota Beer: A Heady History”
Zoë’s website The Quirky Traveller
Zoë on Twitter
Zoë on Instagram
Yasmin’s website
Yasmin’s new book, The Desserts of New York (And How To Eat Them All)
Yasmin’s first book, 7,000 Islands: A Food Portrait of the Philippines
Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories
Join our Facebook group 
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow on Facebook

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

61 - Travel and Gratitude

Mon, 17 Jul 2017 18:00:00 +0000

Amanda could give you a page full of reasons she feels a sense of gratitude connected to travelling, but instead, she's going to let her three guests share some of the reason they feel grateful thanks to their travels.

First up Amanda speaks with Alicia Nelson, who is grateful for an important lesson she learnt about life at home while she was travelling. Then Amanda chats to Cassandra Le; as a child of refugee parents, she has a particularly strong gratitude about her ability to travel.

Finally, Abby Lewtas sums it all up nicely by reflecting on what she learnt about gratitude during a homestay in Guatemala and other travels too.

Links:

Alicia’s site Prairie Style File
Alicia’s new book, “North Dakota Beer: A Heady History”
Cassandra’s blog, The Quirky Pineapple
Cassandra on Instagram
Abby Lewtas’ website
Abby’s reverse culture shock “Life After Travel” survey
Join the Facebook group 
Tweet @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow Amanda on Facebook

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

60 - Fun and Philosophical Travel

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 18:00:00 +0000

It’s the round-numbered episode 60 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast and that means Amanda has a mixed bag for you: the common theme is these chats are either fun or philosophical or both.

First up, Amanda chats with Becky Livingston who is definitely a kindred spirit on the topic of travel and they had a philosophical chat about all the wonderful reasons we should travel.

Changing tone, Amanda talks next with Yasmin Newman who has some wonderful tales to tell about eating her way around the world and some of the consequences of having a very sweet tooth. (Amanda feels like these are cautionary tales aimed at her and her sweet tooth!)

Finally, Serena Star-Leonard tells Amanda about her Five Point Five project and the stories of amazing people she and her partner Johnny have been collecting during their travels.

Links:

Becky’s Facebook community Joyful Mourning
Becky’s website
Yasmin’s website
Yasmin’s new book, The Desserts of New York (And How To Eat Them All)
Yasmin’s first book, 7,000 Islands: A Food Portrait of the Philippines
Serena Star-Leonard’s Retire in 12 Months project
Serena’s Five Point Five videos
Join the Facebook group 
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow Amanda on Facebook

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

59 - Conversations with Locals

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 18:00:00 +0000

Episode 59 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is all about having conversations with locals when you travel. Meeting local people is such a fun and rewarding part of travelling and it’s something Amanda always tries to do, even if she has to push herself a bit beyond her comfort zone to do it.

In this episode, Amanda start off by chatting with Alicia Nelson about some great lessons she learned from speaking with her Spanish friend and her family on a trip to Spain when she was younger. Her friend’s father Miguel uttered some of the wisest travel-related words I’ve ever heard!

She then chats with Joe Baur about some of the local people he’s met while he’s researching or filming for travel stories, including interesting guides in Berlin and El Salvador, along with chatting about some of my experiences talking about tricky issues with locals in places like Japan.

Finally, Alex Cwalinski tells Amanda a great story about a time in Argentina when having conversations with locals turned out to be much harder than he expected - but it makes for a great story!

Links:

Alicia’s site Prairie Style File
Alicia’s new book, “North Dakota Beer: A Heady History”
Joe Baur
Without A Path podcast
Trivago podcast, co-hosted by Joe
Alex’s podcast Go
Amanda's post about meeting the locals in Ventspils, Latvia
Join our Facebook group 
Tweet @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow Amanda on Facebook

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

58 - Solo Travel Freedom

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 00:19:51 +0000

Travelling solo is a really special way to travel and it’s the focus of Episode 58 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast. Everyone’s experience of solo travel is different and these three guests all have a different story to tell from travelilng on their own.

First up, Amanda chats with Abby Lewtas who was inspired by a cousin to hit the world on her own, and took off for a big backpacking trip around South America - although not without some hesitation.

On the other hand, fellow podcaster Hayden Lee doesn’t seem to do anything with hesitation, and Amanda wasn’t surprised to hear his interesting story of a man he met just ten minutes after arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This is one of those travel adventures that only happens to brave (and crazy) people like Hayden.

Finally, Amanda chats with Carly Findlay who has a more regular experience of solo travel, and in fact very similar to Amanda's own experience. It was good to chat to her about the ups and downs of travelling on your own.

Links:

Abby Lewtas’ website

Abby’s reverse culture shock “Life After Travel” survey

Hayden’s Travel Stories Podcast

Travel Stories Podcast on iTunes

Carly’s website

Carly’s podcast Refreshments Provided

Join the Facebook group 

Tweet @amandakendle

Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

57 - Taking Photos of People on Your Travels

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 18:00:00 +0000

In Episode 57 of The Thoughtful Travel podcast Amanda talks about taking photos of people on your travels, by chatting with a couple of photographers she knows who volunteer with her for the Fremantle International Portrait Prize. She always feels like photographers are particularly good at being thoughtful travellers because they are always trying to get into the minds of the locals to get the best, most telling photographs in different places around the world.

Amanda chats first with Lawrie Beilin, who has a wide range of excellent tips on breaking the ice and getting good photographs of people you meet on your travels. Secondly, Amanda hears a story from photographer Dale Neill who really has a knack for getting people to create amazing portrait images. She’ll also tell you a little about the Fremantle International Portrait Prize in case you want to enter some photographs too.

Links:

Fremantle International Portrait Prize site
Dale’s Deadly Boring Photographs blog
Lola’s talk on photographing people in their natural environment
Join the Facebook group
Tweet @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

56 - Unique Travel, Unique Destinations

Mon, 12 Jun 2017 18:00:00 +0000

Travelling to unique places or travelling for unique reasons fascinates Amanda and the three guests she speaks with for Episode 56 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast have some very unique stories to tell.

Starting off with fellow travel blogger Sharon Gourlay, they chat about her recent trip to a place that Amanda would love to see - North Korea. Politics aside, it’s simply a truly unique experience.

Next Amanda speak with Abby Lewtas, who has travelled a lot but had a stint travelling to North America and Europe for a particularly interesting sporting reason … but you’ll have to listen to find out what spot.

Finally, Amanda heard from novelist Rachael Johns. As a writer, she gets to see some really interesting places for interesting reasons, and one of these trips took her to a small and unique outback Queensland town.

Links:

Sharon’s travel site Where’s Sharon
Sharon’s post on North Korea
Young Pioneers tours to North Korea
Sharon on making money as a blogger
Abby Lewtas’ website
Abby’s reverse culture shock “Life After Travel” survey
Rachael Johns’ website
Rachael’s recent novel The Patterson Girls
Amanda's post on visiting Inis Meain in Ireland
Join the Facebook group
Tweet @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow Amanda on Facebook
Show notes

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

55 Life-Changing Travel

Mon, 15 May 2017 18:00:00 +0000

Travel is so very often life-changing - it’s one of the big reasons Amanda is always trying to encourage people to travel more. On Episode 55 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, Amanda talks with three people who agree with her.

Amanda's first two guests, Kate Forsyth and Zoë Dawes, speak of their early experiences of travel and how that changed their lives. Kate had some adventurous times in her childhood, whereas Zoë learnt about the adventurous nature of her great-grandfather instead then let loose once she first got to travel abroad in her twenties.

Her final guest, Hayden Lee, speaks of a more recent travel experience where he regrets not having made a different decision - thus changing his future thoughts on travel significantly.

Links:

Kate Forsyth’s website
Kate’s novel Bitter Greens
Kate’s novel The Wild Girl
Zoë’s website The Quirky Traveller
Zoë on Twitter
Zoë on Instagram
Hayden’s Travel Stories Podcast
Travel Stories Podcast on iTunes
Episode about Papua New Guinea
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/55

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

54 - Benefits of Travelling with Kids

Mon, 08 May 2017 18:00:00 +0000

Honestly, the benefits of travelling with kids are uncountable - and that’s benefits both for kids and their parents! in Episode 54 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, Amanda talks with three travel-loving parents about how they travel with their kids.

First up, novelist Natasha Lester talks about what her three children learn from their travels abroad and how she considers it a far better education than school. Next up, journalist Alicia Nelson and Amanda chat about just how much extra fun travel can be with younger children and the different viewpoints you can get by slowing down and seeing the world through their eyes. Finally, Mark Wyld of Wyld Family Travel chats about the different attitudes his two daughters take to their trips to Europe.

Links:

Natasha Lester’s website

Natasha’s new novel Her Mother's Secret

Alicia’s site Prairie Style File

Look for Alicia’s book, “North Dakota Beer: A Heady History” in July 2017

Wyld Family Travel

Episode 8 - Travel With Kids and Kids on Travel

Episode 19 - Travelling with Kids is Good for Everyone

Join the Facebook group

Tweet @amandakendle

Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod

Follow on Facebook

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

53 - Travel with Disability and Chronic Illness

Mon, 01 May 2017 18:00:00 +0000

It’s common to face a few difficulties when we travel but in Episode 53 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, Amanda chats with three guests who face more than their fair share of challenges when they travel, because they or a family member has a disability or a chronic illness. Their stories are inspiring and of course, their desire to travel trumps the potential difficulties and Amanda loves that!

First up, Amanda chats with Julie Jones of Have Wheelchair Will Travel who loves to travel with her family, including her son who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a baby and uses a wheelchair. Her down-to-earth and positive approach helps many other families get around the various obstacles wheelchair travel introduces and see the world. You might also be surprised to learn what it was that actually got travel-loving Julie travelling again!

Amanda then speaks with Ava Meena of My Meena Life, who is in her twenties and has three chronic illnesses: lupus, fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. Despite the debilitating pain that these can inflict, she’s determined to continue to see the world.

Finally, Amanda talks to fellow Aussie blogger Carly Findlay, who is a writer, speaker and appearance activist. She has a skin condition called ichthyosis and it has caused her to have some pretty unsettling encounters with airlines and border staff during her travels.

Links:

Julie’s blog Have Wheelchair Will Travel
Have Wheelchair Will Travel Facebook community
Ava Meena of My Meena Life
Carly’s website
Join the Facebook group
Tweet @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

52 - How Travel Sparks Creativity

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 18:00:00 +0000

Amanda is constantly amazed how creative and inspired she feels while she's travelling - without even trying, the creativity just seems to well up in her and pour out. The best bit is, it turns out she's not alone.

In Episode 52 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, Amanda starts by chatting with Brooke McAlary about her experience of creativity when she’s on the road. Amanda was expecting her to cite her beloved mountains as a source of inspiration but in fact, the main reason travel sparks her creativity is something quite the opposite.

Amanda then chats with Australian novelist Sarah Ridout who has many wise words to say about the creativity that travel seems to encourage - whether that’s creativity to write or to draw or something else entirely.

Finally, Natasha Lester speaks about how her creativity process fits with travel when she’s researching her historical fiction novels, and we chat about refilling your creative tank.

Links:

Giveaway of Sarah’s novel Le Chateau
Brooke’s Slow Your Home website
Brooke’s Slow Home Podcast
Brooke’s new book, Destination Simple - https://amzn.to/45R1TWT
Sarah Ridout’s website
Sarah’s novel Le Chateau - https://amzn.to/4oWCC6k
Natasha Lester’s website
Natasha’s novel A Kiss from Mr Fitzgerald - https://amzn.to/41ltjTc
Natasha’s new novel Her Mother's Secret - https://amzn.to/4mAuYNo
Join our Facebook group
Tweet @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

51 - Reverse Culture Shock

Mon, 17 Apr 2017 18:00:00 +0000

Everyone has experienced culture shock on their travels, but what about reverse culture shock? When Amanda returned back to Australia after six years living in Asia and Europe, reverse culture shock hit her badly, and she's definitely not alone: Episode 51 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast includes chats with three other travellers who’ve had the same experience.

 First up, Amanda chats with Cait Flanders, who suffered from some reverse culture shock after returning to her hometown in Canada after a two-month American road trip. Mike Campbell and his family spent a year housesitting their away around the United States before returning to Australia, and his reverse culture shock is proving life-changing.

Amanda's final guest is Matt Treglia and his experience of reverse culture shock is scarily similar to hers. Issues like having nobody who wants to hear about his travels and finding it really hard to fit back into everyday life are common to many of us who’ve spent an extended time abroad.

Links:

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

50 - Cold or Sick? Adversity on Your Travels

Mon, 10 Apr 2017 18:00:00 +0000

Sitting in sunny Perth, Western Australia, makes cold weather or illness seem far from Amanda's mind, but they still happen to us on our travels and we still get through it! In Episode 50 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, Amanda chats with three guests about experiences of adverse weather and health on their travels and it turns out that these generally make for some good stories.

First up, Amanda chats with fellow Aussie Brooke McAlary about what they’ve learnt about experiencing really cold weather over the years. When you grow up in a warm country, you’ve got a lot to learn!

Jeff Sandquist had a somewhat scary health issue in a plane on the way to Iceland, but they chat about how he made the most of that and about other travels in Scandinavia, too. Martin Bailey was visiting the very other end of the world when he began to have symptoms of what turned out to be a brain tumour on an Antarctic expedition, and they chat about how he dealt with this issue and his recommendations for other travellers.

Links:

Brooke’s Slow Your Home website - http://slowyourhome.com/
Brooke’s Slow Home Podcast - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/the-slow-home-podcast-with-brooke-mcalary/id985005895?mt=2
Brooke’s new book, Destination Simple - http://slowyourhome.com/destination-simple/
Dr Jeff Sandquist - https://www.drjeffsandquist.com
Martin Bailey - https://www.martinbaileyphotography.com
Martin’s photography tours and workshops - https://www.martinbaileyphotography.com/workshops
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/50

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

49 Understanding History Through Travel

Mon, 03 Apr 2017 18:00:00 +0000

History can really come alive when you travel to the place where it happened. Episode 49 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is all about understanding history through travel, and Amanda talks with three history-lovers who have had great experiences learning about history while they travel.

Zoë Dawes inherited a love of history from her father, and today when she travels she is always on the lookout for an opportunity to explore some interesting aspects of her destination’s history.

Historical novelist Kate Forsyth has a clear need to travel to learn more about the history of the places she sets her books in, and describes her experiences in Venice as a great example. Finally, novelist Sarah Ridout also explains how her experiences living in historically significant places have shaped both her knowledge and how she writes her novels.

Links:

Zoë’s website The Quirky Traveller - http://www.thequirkytraveller.com
Zoë on Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/quirkytraveller
Zoë on Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/quirkytraveller
Kate Forsyth’s website - http://www.kateforsyth.com.au/
Kate’s novel Bitter Greens - http://amzn.to/2kSCI0P
Kate’s novel The Wild Girl - http://amzn.to/2kx5L6G
Kate’s novel The Beast’s Garden - http://amzn.to/2ljjZvR
Sarah Ridout’s website - http://www.sarahridout.com.au
Sarah’s novel Le Chateau - hard copy (in Australia) - http://www.booktopia.com.au/le-chateau-sarah-ridout/prod9781760404413.html
Le Chateau in Kindle version - http://amzn.to/2kN8NHF
Hannah Kent’s novel set in Iceland, Burial Rites - http://amzn.to/2ntUUxn
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/49

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

48 - The Grateful Anniversary Episode

Mon, 27 Mar 2017 17:00:00 +0000

It’s been a whole year since The Thoughtful Travel Podcast launched and it has been an immensely fun and rewarding time! Episode 48 is the Grateful Anniversary Episode and Amanda starts off giving plenty of thank yous out to many people connected to this podcast, including Brooke and the fantastic Jackrabbit FM team, the dear old friends who agreed to be interviewed for the show before it even started, and above all, you amazing listeners who leave great reviews and chat with Amanda in the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group and make all the work worthwhile.

Amanda's guests today are all people she has only met because she started The Thoughtful Travel Podcast - and she's so grateful to have got to know all these new friends. First up, Hayden Lee of the Travel Stories Podcast has a great tale to tell about choosing a fork in the road in Vietnam. Amanda then chats with Matt Treglia from Words With Winos about how he made the mammoth decision to give up a conventional career path and travel long-term. Finally, Amanda looks back to a chat she had a year ago with photographer Kiliii Yüyan about taking risks when we travel.

Links:

Hayden’s Travel Stories Podcast - http://travelstoriespodcast.com
Travel Stories Podcast on iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/travel-stories-podcast/id1097413901?mt=2
Matt’s site Words with Winos - http://wordswithwinos.com
Words with Winos podcast - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/words-with-winos-travel-podcast/id1144965534?mt=2
Kiliii Yüyan’s website - http://www.kiliii.com/
Kiliii Yüyan on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kiliiiyuyan/
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/48

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

47 - Taking Tours on Your Travels

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 17:00:00 +0000

Loathe tours? Amanda knows many thoughtful travellers recoil at the thought of a month-long bus tour of Europe, but there is a time and place for shorter, smaller tours and that’s the topic of Episode 47 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast.

First up, novelist Natasha Lester tells tales of the amazing private tours she took through Paris, helping her to research the history of fashion in a way that Google could never do. Another Australian novelist, Rachael Johns, then chats with Amanda about the pros and cons of taking small tours - and gives some great examples of being a tourist in your own town too by joining some local tourist guide experiences.

Finally, Emma Mann talks with Amanda about how she’s leaning more towards joining small group tours when she travels solo, largely because it’s a great way to meet some like-minded fellow travellers, and Amanda is all for that!

Links:

Natasha Lester’s website - http://www.natashalester.com.au/
Natasha’s novel A Kiss from Mr Fitzgerald - http://amzn.to/2kpLuVt
Natasha’s new novel Her Mother's Secret - http://amzn.to/2ljAPux
Rachael Johns’ website - http://www.rachaeljohns.com/
Rachael’s recent novel The Patterson Girls - http://amzn.to/2nqAbKl
Emma Mann at The Vagabond Feminist http://thevagabondfeminist.wordpress.com/
Emma’s Flying Foodie blog - https://flyingfoodieadventures.com
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/47

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

46 - Online or Off? Friendships and Travel

Mon, 13 Mar 2017 17:00:00 +0000

Travelling is a great way to make friends; travelling to meet up with online friends in the real world is another great reason to travel. In Episode 46 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, Amanda chats with three travellers who have tales to tell about the friends they meet up with around the world.

First up, Cait Flanders describes the road trip she went on through the United States which include a large serving of meeting up with people she’d previously only known online - all with great success. After Cait, Amanda speaks with Serena Star-Leonard who has had similarly positive experiences traveling to meet up with people she has first connected with online.

Amanda also chats with Emma Mann who describes friends she has made in the real world first while travelling - but of course, the online world makes it possible to keep in touch with them and continue those friendships.

Links:

Cait Flanders’ website
Cait’s Budgets and Cents podcast
Serena Star-Leonard’s Retire in 12 Months project
Travel Kids Club
Emma Mann at The Vagabond Feminist
Emma’s Flying Foodie blog
Help me find my friend Yuko
Show notes
Join the Facebook group
Tweet or Instagram @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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45 - Ways to Experience Nature on Your Travels

Mon, 06 Mar 2017 17:00:00 +0000

Getting out into nature is a common reason for people to go travelling but everyone chooses to experience nature in their own preferred, different ways. In Episode 45 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, Amanda chats with three travellers about their experiences with nature and they vary widely.

First up, Sarah Ridout explains the amazing Australian outback of Uluru and the national park of Kakadu - places that are completely unique in the world, and she thinks (Amanda agrees) every visitor to Australia should take the chance to see.

Brooke McAlary, on the other hand, is all about the mountains. She’s having a love affair with the Canadian Rockies and makes mountain life - and even snow life - sound mighty enticing!

Finally, Amanda chats with Zoë Dawes about two phenomenal experiences she has had with wildlife. These are such inspiring tales and have made Amanda go straight online to start looking up how to have similar experiences herself!

Links:

Sarah Ridout’s website
Sarah’s novel Le Chateau - hard copy (in Australia)
Le Chateau in Kindle version
Brooke’s Slow Your Home website
Brooke’s Slow Home Podcast
Brooke’s new book, Destination Simple
Zoë’s website The Quirky Traveller
Zoë on Twitter
Zoë on Instagram
Show notes
Join our Facebook group
Tweet Amanda @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow Amanda on Facebook

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44 - How To Embrace Slow Travel

Mon, 27 Feb 2017 17:00:00 +0000

Slow travel is easily one of Amanda's favourite topics - taking your time when you travel instead of rushing around to see all the sights as fast as possible is a much more satisfying way to experience a new place, she thinks.

In Episode 44 Amanda chats with three like-minded guests, starting with Brooke McAlary who, as the creator of the Slow Your Home blog and the Slow Home Podcast certainly knows a lot about slowing down, and shares some great thoughts about slow travel.

Matt Treglia, Amanda's second guest, is a younger traveller but a smart one: right from the beginning, he had a sixth sense that slow travel is the way to go and Amanda thinks he and his girlfriend are really doing it right.

Amanda's final guest in this episode is Cait Flanders and we chat about her plans to spend a couple of months based in one place, getting to know it as the locals do.

Links:

Brooke’s Slow Your Home website - http://slowyourhome.com/
Brooke’s Slow Home Podcast - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/the-slow-home-podcast-with-brooke-mcalary/id985005895?mt=2
Brooke’s new book, Destination Simple - http://slowyourhome.com/destination-simple/
Matt’s site Words with Winos - http://wordswithwinos.com
Words with Winos podcast - http://soundcloud.com/wordswithwinos
Cait Flanders’ website - http://caitflanders.com
Cait’s Budgets and Cents podcast - http://budgetsandcents.com
Episode 13 - Takin’ it Slow - Travelling to Feel Like a Local - http://notaballerina.com/13
Episode 25 - How Slow is Slow Travel? - http://notaballerina.com/25
Show notes: http://notaballerina.com/44
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43 - How Authors Travel to Research Their Novels

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 17:00:00 +0000

Have you ever read a novel set in a foreign place and wondered just how the author knew how to describe everything in this place? Chances are they took a trip there as part of their research and in Episode 43 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, Amanda chats with three novelists who have done just that.

Natasha Lester is a fellow Perth-ite who writes historical fiction set in such wondrous places as New York City and Paris, and we chat about her experiences of travelling to these cities to do research for her novels.

Amanda also chats with Kate Forsyth, author of over 40 novels and veteran of many research trips to places like Venice, Scotland and the south of France, and she surprises Amanda with which part of the writing process she’s at when she takes her research trips.

Finally, Sarah Ridout speaks of the wonders of living abroad and how that inspires her writing, and they chat about the many benefits of living outside your own country, for your life in general as well as your novel-writing!

Links:

Natasha Lester’s website
Natasha’s novel A Kiss from Mr Fitzgerald
Natasha’s new novel Her Mother's Secret
Kate Forsyth’s website
Kate’s novel Bitter Greens
Kate’s novel The Wild Girl
Kate’s novel The Beast’s Garden
Sarah Ridout’s website
Sarah’s novel Le Chateau - hard copy (in Australia)
Le Chateau in Kindle version
Show notes: notaballerina.com/43
Join our Facebook group
Tweet @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
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42 Great Travel Souvenirs

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 17:00:00 +0000

Great Travel Souvenirs

What do you bring back from a trip besides photographs and stories? I talked with three Australian travellers about their favourite souvenirs and how important they are as a means for remembering travel experiences.

Sarah Ridout lived abroad in France, England and Ireland for over a decade before returning to Australia, and she collected a very smart kind of souvenir so that she’s constantly reminded of those experiences. Following Sarah, I chat with Julie Jones who explained that the kinds of souvenirs she and her family bring home from a trip have changed over the years. Holly Galbraith then chats with me about her aim to have ethically sourced souvenirs from her travels.

Links:

Sarah Ridout’s website - http://www.sarahridout.com.au
Sarah’s novel Le Chateau - hard copy (in Australia) - http://www.booktopia.com.au/le-chateau-sarah-ridout/prod9781760404413.html
Le Chateau in Kindle version - http://amzn.to/2kN8NHF
Julie’s blog Have Wheelchair Will Travel - http://havewheelchairwilltravel.net
Have Wheelchair Will Travel Facebook community - https://www.facebook.com/HaveWheelchairWillTravel/
Holly Galbraith’s website - http://hollyg.com.au/
Holly’s Tourism Upgrade podcast - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/tourism-upgrade-with-hollyg/id1132030357?mt=2
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/42
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Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
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41 Culture Shock Abroad

Mon, 06 Feb 2017 17:00:00 +0000

Travelling to countries with different customs and cultures from your own can induce varying kinds of culture shock, and Episode 41 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast looks at a few examples of culture shock across Asia and the Middle East.

Amanda begins by speaking to Matt Treglia about some of his very first travel experiences abroad, and especially the terror that came with trying to cross a busy road in Thailand, and his new-found love of the fact that most places outside of his home country of the United States don’t expect you to tip people!

Following Matt, Amanda talks to Diana Edelman more about the cultural differences in Thailand and the various customs Diana had to get used to when she moved to Thailand. There is a lot to learn, and the Thai people don’t want you to lose face by telling you about the mistakes you make, so it’s a tricky road to navigate.

Emma Mann then talks to Amanda about the unease she felt travelling as a young woman in the Middle East, when it was made clear to her that she shouldn’t speak or be involved in any decision making - something that was very different to the way she had been brought up in Australia.

Links:

Matt’s site Words with Winos
Words with Winos podcast
My post on things I didn’t expect in Bangkok
Diana Edelman at D Travels Round
Diana’s new site, Vegans Baby
Emma Mann at The Vagabond Feminist
Emma’s Flying Foodie blog
Japan Times article on “hesokuri”
Join our Facebook group
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook
Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/41

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40 Important Things Travel Teaches Us

Mon, 30 Jan 2017 19:00:00 +0000

Amanda is always looking for great reasons to persuade others to travel more and Episode 40 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast provides quite a few of those. Amanda chats with three guests who each have had interesting experiences teaching them something important on their travels

Jeff Ryan, who in previous episodes has taught us the dangers of porcupines eating the rubber parts of your car, returns to chat about how travel can teach us a much more open mindset.

Following Jeff, Amanda chats with Chris Christensen who has already learnt that anything bad that happens on your travels is just a good story and not worth otherwise remembering, and he shares a great story about having trouble finding room at the inn when his children were young.

Finally, Amanda gets very philosophical with Jeff Sandquist who went on a road trip and figured out some enormous changes he needed to make to his life.

Links:

Jeff Ryan’s author website
Jeff’s book, Appalachian Odyssey
Chris Christensen’s site Amateur Traveler
Chris’s Amateur Traveler podcast
Jeff Sandquist’s website
Jeff’s Intentionally Wandering podcast on iTunes
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com

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39 Fears and Freaking Out Before You Travel

Mon, 23 Jan 2017 19:00:00 +0000

It’s 2017, everyone’s making plans for a new year, and it’s time to talk about one of the things that sometimes stops up making travel plans: fear. In Episode 39 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast Amanda talks with two great travellers who have had various worries before they’ve embarked on big trips, but they did it anyway, and of course are glad they did.

First up, she speaks with Cait Flanders who spent a couple of months on a solo road trip throughout North America last year. She confesses she was freaking out before she left … but of course, everything turned out fine and she learned a lot along the way.

Serena Star-Leonard is a traveller Amanda really admires for her seemingly fearless trips to all corners of the globe, and into sometimes challenging situations, but she confesses, too, that she’s not as confident as Amanda might have expected.

Links:

Cait Flanders’ website
Cait’s Budgets and Cents podcast
Serena Star-Leonard’s Retire in 12 Months project
Travel Kids Club
Join our Facebook group
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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38 - New Year’s Eve Travels

Mon, 19 Dec 2016 17:00:00 +0000

Episode 38 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is the final episode for 2016 so Amanda is talking about New Year’s Eve Travels. Celebrating a new year is fun wherever you are but being somewhere away from home can make it even more exciting and memorable.

First up, Kim-Ling of Travel-Ling has a great story to tell about a New Year’s Eve she spent on the island of Ibiza. Let’s just say it’s probably not quite the story you’re expecting to hear! Following Ling, Di Bortoletto of Travelletto talks about a great New Year’s Eve she spent in Tasmania recently.

To finish the year, Amanda shares some of the travel resolutions and goals from listeners who are in the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group - some of their planned trips might make you feel a little envious!

Links:

Dianne Bortoletto of Travelletto
Kim-Ling of Travel-Ling
Thoughtful Travellers Facebook group
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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37 Christmas Travels

Mon, 12 Dec 2016 17:00:00 +0000

Merry Christmas! With Christmas just around the corner, Episode 37 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast turns to travelling at Christmas time and Amanda chats with several travellers who have spent Christmas in far flung parts of the world.

First up is Annalicia Lynn who had an interesting Christmas in Taiwan while she was teaching English there. Amanda and Annalicia chat about the cultural differences between many Asian countries and English-speaking nations and she has a very sweet story about how her Taiwanese colleagues tried to create a Christmas atmosphere in the workplace.

Emma Mann has recently started a tradition of spending Christmas abroad, and she talks about the difference between spending Christmas in another country where the traditions are strong, versus a place where Christmas generally isn’t celebrated.

Finally, Joe Baur from the Without a Path podcast chats about his current experience living in Germany at Christmas time - one of my favourite places to be during this season!

Links:

Annalicia Lynn of Yoga & Pilates Online
Emma Mann at The Vagabond Feminist
Emma’s Flying Foodie blog
Joe Baur’s Without A Path podcast
Joe’s book on Costa Rica - Talking Tico
Joe’s post on the Drachenburg Christmas Market
Tim Minchin’s White Wine in the Sun
Join our Facebook group
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36 Reasons to Love Japan

Mon, 05 Dec 2016 17:00:00 +0000

It’s all about Japan in Episode 36 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast. It’s rare that Amanda chats about a single destination but she's made an exception for Japan, because a bunch of my guests have talked about it and she's just come back from a fabulous week exploring one of her favourite countries in the world.

Photographer Martin Bailey moved to Japan 25 years ago to work in a lace factory and has now lived there most of his adult life. He has lots of wisdom to important about all things Japanese and yet they end up talking about toilets!

Aggie Lim joins Amanda next to speak about issues of nudity. For a very modest society, Japan is very forward when it comes to bathing with strangers and we Aussies have a hard time adjusting to the onsen way of life.

Finally, Joe Baur reminds Amanda of some of the challenges of getting by in Japan without fluent Japanese and we also chat about the amazing transport system.

Links:

Martin Bailey
Martin’s photography tours and workshops
God in the Toilet on Wikipedia
God in the Toilet song on YouTube
Aggie Lim at Drawn to Explore
Joe Baur’s website
Joe’s Without A Path podcast
5 reasons I’m excited to return to Japan
Onsens and nudity in Japan
Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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35 Making Friends Through Travel

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 17:00:00 +0000

In Episode 35 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast Amanda has a lot of fun chatting about the magic of making friends while you travel. There are so many bonuses of travel they don’t advertise in the brochures and developing friendships with people from all around the world is certainly one of them.

Julie Jones joins Amanda to chat about the lifelong friendships she has formed while travelling and they muse on just why it seems easier to make friends when they’re away from home. After Julie, Amanda chats with Holly Galbraith about her many experiences of both making new friends and enhancing existing friendships through her travels.

Finally, one of Amanda's all-time favourite guests Jeff Ryan talks about a different kind of friend he made while travelling. You’ll have to listen to find out what “different” means!

Links:

Julie’s blog Have Wheelchair Will Travel
Have Wheelchair Will Travel Facebook community
Holly Galbraith’s website
Holly’s Tourism Upgrade podcast
Jeff Ryan’s author website
Jeff’s book, Appalachian Odyssey
Episode 11, The Magic of Getting Lost
Looking for Yuko
Join our Facebook group
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Follow me on Facebook

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

34 - Travel and Stereotypes

Mon, 21 Nov 2016 17:00:00 +0000

Stereotypes of people by nationality are rife in the world, and come up all the time when we travel. In Episode 34 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, Amanda chats with three people of different nationalities about their experiences with stereotypes on their travels.

Jeremy Kloberdanz of The Life Bohemian has an interesting story to tell about an immigrant man he and his wife met while travelling around Italy; a man who wasn’t what he seemed.

Lola Akinmade Åkerström, a Nigerian travel photographer living and working in Sweden, has a lot to say about pushing back against stereotypes and has a lot of wisdom to impart about sharing your own culture with others as well as learning about theirs.

New Zealander Tom Parson of The Lego Backpacker also has some wise words about stereotypes and speaks about his experiences when working in China in the management of a furniture design factory.

Links:

Episode 4 on Smashing Stereotypes.
Jeremy and Katie Kloberdanz of The Life Bohemian website
The Life Bohemian Podcast
Lola’s site Geotraveler’s Niche.
Lola’s post about breaking down stereotypes on Women on the Road
Tom Parson of The Lego Backpacker on Instagram.
Lego Backpacker website coming soon.
Join our Facebook group
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

33 Volunteer Travel to Help You and the World

Mon, 14 Nov 2016 17:00:00 +0000

You might just be able to get the best of both worlds by travelling around the world and helping people by volunteering. It’s not always that simple, but in Episode 33 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast Amanda talks with three guests who have volunteered across several continents with a huge variety of organisations.

First up, she chats with Serena Star-Leonard who started off a project to create videos of great projects in a school in the slums in northern Colombia - in a place where most taxi drivers refused to take them.

Working with animals instead of kids, Amanda then talks to Diana Edelman who spent several years helping out at Elephant Nature Park in Thailand, a place that now gratefully accepts volunteers for short or long stints and does amazing work helping elephants.

Finally, Amanda moves to agriculture with Audrey Wanders and her discussion of WWOOFing around the world and her experience of volunteering on organic farms, and wanting to do more.

Links:

Thoughtful Travellers Facebook Group
Serena Star-Leonard’s Retire in 12 Months project
Travel Kids Club
D Travels Round
Elephant Nature Park
Diana’s post - The Truth About Riding Elephants in Thailand
Surin Elephant Round up post from Bounding Over Our Steps
Audrey Wanders
WWOOF main website
Join our Facebook group
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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32 On Keeping a Travel Journal

Mon, 07 Nov 2016 17:00:00 +0000

Lots of people keep a travel journal when they travel and in episode 32 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, Amanda talks with three guests about their travel diary habits. Chris Christensen of the long-running Amateur Traveler podcast kicks things off by describing the journalling habits he has learnt from his wife, a hardcore travel journal keeper from way back!

After Chris, Amanda speaks with Aggie Lim, who keeps varied travel journals including sketches and all kinds of paraphernalia. Finally, Holly Galbraith talks about how her commitment to keeping travel journals has ebbed and flowed over the years, but like many, she’s happier when she’s got a great record of her travels to refer back to.

Links:

Chris Christensen’s site Amateur Traveler
Chris’s Amateur Traveler podcast
Aggie Lim at Drawn to Explore
Aggie’s new toy - the Polaroid Zip mobile printer
Holly Galbraith’s website
Holly’s Tourism Upgrade podcast
My first travel journal aged 8
Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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31 How the Internet Has Changed Travel

Mon, 31 Oct 2016 17:00:00 +0000

In Episode 31 Amanda is talking about the different ways, both good and bad, that the internet has changed travel - how we plan and book it, how we act when we’re travelling, even how much money we spend on it!

Jeff Ryan has a great perspective on this topic having spent 28 years gradually hiking the Appalachian Trail in the US. Over those three decades, he has seen the internet change many aspects of how he travels, and he has fully embraced them.

Lola Akinmade-Åkerström has, as always, something particularly thoughtful to say about how the internet has changed travel - and Amanda agrees that we need to use its power pretty mindfully to make the most of it.

Finally, Mark Wyld rejoices about how the internet has changed the way we book and plan travel - and how it can save us money, too.

Links:

Jeff Ryan’s author website
Jeff’s book, Appalachian Odyssey
Lola’s site Geotraveler’s Niche
Lola’s post from Ireland - The Farmer Who Inherited a Medieval Kingdom
Wyld Family Travel
Episode 21: Pros and Cons of the Internet for Travellers
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

30 - Lace, Lego and Lola on Travel

Mon, 24 Oct 2016 17:00:00 +0000

It's time for another round-figure episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, and Amanda is celebrating Episode 30 with a random mix of chats with some of her favourite travellers. What do they have in common? They're all talking about topics which start with L and have four letters! That's good enough for Amanda!

First up, she returns to the story of Martin Bailey, who moved to Japan pretty much on a whim 25 years ago to work in a lace factory. This move completely changed the trajectory of this life – but it also impressively helped him to become bilingual, thanks to a lot of hard work and determination on his part.

Next, at the special request of Amanda's six-year-old son, she digs behind the scenes of the Lego Backpacker by finding out more about how Tom Parsons takes very cool pictures of his Lego minifigures at famous destinations around the world.

Finally, Amanda chats with Lola Akinmade-Akerstrom about transitions when moving from place to place (having moved from Nigeria to the United States and then on to Sweden, she has plenty of experience) and about the curiosity which unites travellers.

Links:

Martin Bailey
Martin’s photography tours and workshops
Tom Parson of The Lego Backpacker on Instagram
Lego Backpacker website coming soon
Bored Panda collection of the Lego Backpacker
Lola Akinmade-Akerstrom at her site Geotraveler’s Niche
Ellen Barone’s post, mentioned by Lola - Where Would You Go If You Only Had a Few Weeks to Live?
Ep 26 How to be Bilingual, with the start of Martin’s story
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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29 - Sketching on Your Travels

Mon, 17 Oct 2016 17:00:00 +0000

Whether or not you have any artistic talent, Amanda believes that sitting down and doing some sketching on your travels is a great idea, and in Episode 29 she chats with two travellers who do just that (although it must be said that they both have great artistic talent!).

Candace Rardon is an amazing artist who has sketched, drawn and painted her way around the world. She chats about the connections you can make if you sit down in a new place to sketch something of the scene around you.

Aggie Lim is a former psychologist and long-time travel-lover who has come to sketching in more recent years, but is completely converted. She chats about the various benefits of taking a sketchbook with you wherever you go.

Links:

Candace Rose Rardon at The Great Affair
Candace’s book on Amazon Beneath the Lantern's Glow: Sketches and Stories from Southeast Asia and Japan
Aggie Lim at Drawn to Explore
Aggie's Instagram account
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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28 - Getting From A to B

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 17:00:00 +0000

Getting around on our travels can be fraught with both fun and difficulty. In Episode 28 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast Amanda chats with fellow travellers who’ve had some hairy experiences while getting from A to B, or have had some problems actually finding B!

First up, Stephen Henson shares some stories of getting lost in Germany and China. Despite spending a large amount of time in China for work, Stephen still has plenty of moments when getting from A to B is rather tricky.

Following that, Linda and Craig of the Indie Travel Podcast have a great tale to tell of the time they went hiking in the West Highland Way in Scotland. It might even involve some kind of yeti!

Jean of The Traveling Honeybird has had some scary moments getting from A to B and her and Amanda discuss those horror taxi rides and other problems with transport on our travels.

Links:

Journeys with Stephen
Craig and Linda at Indie Travel Podcast
Craig and Linda at Performance Foundry
Jean at Traveling Honeybird
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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27 - Are All Aussies Tanned and Tall? Stereotypes of Australians

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 17:00:00 +0000

In Episode 27, Amanda covers a very serious question: Are all Aussies tanned and tall?

It’s all about stereotypes of different cultures but especially those of people Amanda's countryfolk - Australians. The first guests are Katie and Jeremy Kloberdanz of The Life Bohemian who have all these delightfully nice things to say about Australians (which gets a big thumbs up from Amanda!)

Following on from them, she chats with Tom Parson, the Lego Backpacker, and hear about the stereotypes people are discussing in youth hostels across Europe these days. Finally, Amanda talks with her friend Dianne Bortoletto of Travelletto about both Australian stereotypes and how travel broadens our outlook and helps to dispel stereotypes completely.

Links:

Jeremy and Katie Kloberdanz of The Life Bohemian website - http://www.thelifebohemian.com/
The Life Bohemian Podcast - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-life-bohemian/id1079385152?mt=2
Tom Parson of The Lego Backpacker on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thelegobackpacker/
Lego Backpacker website coming soon - https://thelegobackpacker.com
Dianne Bortoletto of Travelletto - http://travelletto.com
Episode 18, talking about Australians in Japan - http://notaballerina.com/18
The Castle movie - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118826/
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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26 How to be Bilingual

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Encountering foreign languages when we travel is both a challenge and a joy - and some of us dream not only of learning a few phrases when we travel, but becoming bilingual.

It’s definitely not easy to be bilingual but the guests in this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast show that it’s not impossible, either. Amanda starts by chatting with Leyla of Women on the Road, one of those amazing people who can speak a multitude of languages, and treats coming across a new language as meeting a new friend.

If you’re considering raising your kids bilingually, then Amanda's second guest, Adam Beck of Bilingual Monkeys, is the man to listen to. He’s got a wealth of information about it and shares a few ways he’s helped his children grow up speaking, reading and writing English nearly as well as their more-native Japanese.

Finally, Martin Bailey shares his journey to bilingualism which didn’t begin until adulthood when he moved to Japan to work in a lace-making factory.

Links:

Leyla at Women on the Road http://www.women-on-the-road.com
Adam Beck at Bilingual Monkeys - http://bilingualmonkeys.com/
Adam’s new book, Maximise Your Child’s Bilingual Ability - http://bilingualmonkeys.com/maximize-your-childs-bilingual-ability-book/
Martin Bailey - https://www.martinbaileyphotography.com
Martin’s photography tours and workshops - https://www.martinbaileyphotography.com/workshops
Duolingo language learning app - https://www.duolingo.com
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/26

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25 How Slow is Slow Travel?

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 18:00:00 +0000

So just how slow is slow travel? We can probably all have some kind of similar idea on what slow travel is - being more mindful with how we spend our time travelling, not rushing around to tick off lists of all the sights, and possibly spending longer than usual in one spot - but how slow is slow?

Amanda's guests in this episode all have a different take on how we can travel slowly, and her first one is a real champion at it: Jeff Ryan has taken 28 years to hike the Appalachian Trail! Not all at once, of course, but he has learnt some great lessons from these experiences about travelling slowly.

Following this she chats with Jeremy and Katie Kloberdanz who are currently travelling full time and have used this experience to figure out the kind of slow travel that works for them.

Finally, Amanda talks with Lola Akinmade-Åkerström who has quite a different way of approaching slow travel, and one that has a lot of merit, as you can use her strategy even if you don’t have a whole of time to travel.

Links:

Jeff Ryan’s author website - http://www.jeffryanauthor.com/
Jeff’s book, Appalachian Odyssey - http://amzn.to/2bB9o8u
Jeremy and Katie Kloberdanz of The Life Bohemian website - http://www.thelifebohemian.com/
The Life Bohemian Podcast - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-life-bohemian/id1079385152?mt=2
Lola’s site Geotraveler’s Niche - http://www.lolaakinmade.com/
Slow Travel Stockholm - http://www.slowtravelstockholm.com
Episode 13 - Taking it Slow: Travelling to Feel Like a Local http://notaballerina.com/13
jackrabbit.fm listener survey - thanks in advance for taking it! - http://www.jackrabbit.fm/survey
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/25

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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24 Wanderlust for Adults Who Didn’t Travel As Kids

Mon, 12 Sep 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Lots of people with a deep sense of wanderlust develop it by travelling at a young age, but as Amanda chats about in this episode, it's definitely not the only path to developing a love of travel. Today she speaks with three guests who love to travel now, but never really got to travel much as kids.

First up, Amanda speaks with Lisa Luken who grew up on a farm and didn't do much travelling at all, but who now does amazing road trips with her husband, three kids and their dog. It's really interesting to hear how her wanderlust came to be.

Audrey Wanders also grew up without travelling, but her story is a little different, because her parents were definitely wanderers before they settled down to have a family. It seems like she definitely inherited that love of theirs and she has started to travel more and more as she’s got older.

Finally, Amanda speaks with Mark Wyld of Wyld Family Travel, a fellow Aussie who does as much travelling as possible - especially to Europe - with his wife and two daughters. He definitely has a solid case of wanderlust and is doing his very best to pass that on to his children.

Links:

Lisa Luken at Simple Joy Living - http://simplejoyliving.com
Audrey Wanders - http://www.audreywanders.com/
Wyld Family Travel - http://wyldfamilytravel.com/
Previous episode: What sparks wanderlust? http://notaballerina.com/17
Travel genetics – how your parents influence your love of travel http://www.notaballerina.com/2014/11/travel-genetics-parents-influence-love-travel.html
jackrabbit.fm listener survey - thanks in advance for taking it! - http://www.jackrabbit.fm/survey
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/24

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23 - Foreign Food: From Fishermen to Tarantulas

Mon, 05 Sep 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Are you an adventurous eater? The topic of food in foreign countries is always a fascinating one and today’s episode addresses it on a couple of different fronts.

To start with, Amanda speaks with Lola Akinmade Åkerström, who has built a fabulous career as a travel writer and photographer. One way she approaches foreign food is to get down to grass roots level which has seen her chatting with farmers and getting up very early to go out with fishermen.

The next guest is Martin Bailey, another travel photographer who is based in Japan. It’s his decades of experience in Japan that led him to talk about some of the more unusual food experiences you can encounter in Japan, and they are not all experiences that Amanda would like to repeat!

Jean Cheney of Traveling Honeybird has also eaten some particularly interesting foods in her time, and she discusses some of the meats she was served up in Mongolia, among other tasty treats she’s seen around the world.

Links:

Lola’s site Geotraveler’s Niche - http://www.lolaakinmade.com/
Lola’s photos of fisherman in the Seychelles - http://www.lolaakinmade.com/latest-news/photo-gallery-snapshots-seychelles/
Lola’s post about food producers in Emilia Romagna - http://www.lolaakinmade.com/europe/local-food-producers-in-emilia-romagna/
Slow Travel Stockholm - http://www.slowtravelstockholm.com
Martin Bailey - https://www.martinbaileyphotography.com
Martin’s photography tours and workshops - https://www.martinbaileyphotography.com/workshops
Jean at Traveling Honeybird - http://www.travelinghoneybird.com
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/23

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

22 - Memorable Travel Moments - Hungry Porcupines and More

Mon, 29 Aug 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Recently Amanda has started asking her guests about their craziest travel moments, but really, what she's looking for is those particularly memorable experiences that stick with you forever - the kind of stories you tell over and over. The three guests in this episode all have fascinating stories to tell of memorable things which happened to them in various spots across the world.

First up is Jeff Ryan, author of the new book Appalachian Odyssey: A 28 Year Hike on America’s Trail. Jeff had a particularly interesting mishap on the trail involving a porcupine.

Amanda then speaks with Diana Edelman of D Travels Round about one of those slightly-scary-at-the time, but ultimately life-affirming moments while travelling where you actually end up in completely the wrong place - in this case somewhere in Croatia ...

Finally, Tom Parson of The Lego Backpacker reminisces about his experiences on the grand railways of Russia. Tom took the Trans-Mongolian route while Amanda has taken the Trans-Siberian, but they both got to meet some fascinating Russians.

Links:

Jeff Ryan’s author website - http://www.jeffryanauthor.com/
Jeff’s book, Appalachian Odyssey - http://amzn.to/2bB9o8u
Diana Edelman at D Travels Round - http://dtravelsround.com
Diana’s new site, Vegans Baby - http://vegansbaby.com
Tom Parson of The Lego Backpacker on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thelegobackpacker/
Lego Backpacker website coming soon - https://thelegobackpacker.com
Tweet @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/22

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

21 - Pros and Cons of the Internet for Travellers

Mon, 01 Aug 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Episode 21 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is all about the internet. What did we do without it? On the surface, the advent of the internet can surely only be a huge bonus for travellers, right? We can research, book and communicate with so much ease.

But as all of today’s guests point out, there are definitely both pros and cons of the internet for travellers. This whole discussion starts when Amanda speaks with Leyla of Women on the Road, as she reminisces on the “old school” way of getting information about the safety of countries long before the internet.

Amanda also speaks with Jeremy and Katie Kloberdanz of The Life Bohemian. They are indeed living a pretty Bohemian life, working online as they travel the world, but it’s not always all that digital nomad life is cracked up to be.

Finally, Amanda chats with Tom Parson aka The Lego Backpacker, who had some really interesting comments about hostel life since the internet and mobile devices became everyday items.

Links:

Leyla at Women on the Road - http://www.women-on-the-road.com
Jeremy and Katie Kloberdanz of The Life Bohemian website - http://www.thelifebohemian.com/
The Life Bohemian Podcast - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-life-bohemian/id1079385152?mt=2
Tom Parson of The Lego Backpacker on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thelegobackpacker/
Lego Backpacker website coming soon - https://thelegobackpacker.com
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/21

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20 English Names, Widows and PNG in the 50s

Mon, 25 Jul 2016 18:00:00 +0000

The Thoughtful Travel Podcast has reached its 20th episode, and Amanda is celebrating by sharing a collection of special stories her guests have offered that haven’t fit into a particular topic yet, but are far too good not to share.

Annalicia Lynn kicks off this episode with some of her fascinating experiences in Taiwan, and in particular some of the more unusual English names chosen by her students. On a completely different tack, Kerstin Pilz talks about two experiences she and her friend had overseas after becoming widows - and while these stories arise from tragic circumstances, these particular anecdotes are ones you definitely have to laugh at.

Amanda's favourite guest today is none other than her own father, Barry Kendle. He lived and worked in Papua New Guinea in the late 1950s and has some very interesting stories to tell about his times there, many of which Amanda had never actually heard before.

Links:

Annalicia Lynn of Yoga and Pilates Online -http://yogaandpilatesonline.com
Kerstin Pilz of Travel Pilz - http://travelpilz.com
Kerstin’s new venture, Write Your Journey - http://writeyourjourney.com
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/20

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

19 - Travelling with Kids is Good for Everyone

Mon, 18 Jul 2016 18:00:00 +0000

In Episode 19 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast Amanda returns to the topic of travelling with kids - she's on a mission to prove to everyone that taking kids traveling is beneficial both for the kids and the parents.

First up, she speaks with Bethaney of Flashpacker Family who has several years of experience of travelling with very young children and is certain it has many benefits for them. She provides a great argument against the people who think that because kids won’t remember their travels, it’s not worth taking them.

Lisa Luken of Simple Joy Living has taken several long (and many short) road trips with her three children in their quest to visit every state in the US and she has some great tips for taking kids travelling. Her and Amanda also chat about some of the great lessons both the adults and kids have learned from these experiences.

And finally, Adam of Bilingual Monkeys tells Amanda how his Japanese-born-and-raised kids enjoy the experience of returning to visit the American side of their family. The cultural differences between Japan and America are huge, of course, and it’s interesting to see them through the eyes of kids.

Links:

Bethaney Davies at Flashpacker Family http://flashpackerfamily.com
Lisa Luken at Simple Joy Living http://simplejoyliving.com
Adam Beck at Bilingual Monkeys http://bilingualmonkeys.com/
Adam’s new book, Maximise Your Child’s Bilingual Ability http://bilingualmonkeys.com/maximize-your-childs-bilingual-ability-book/
Episode 8 - Travel with Kids and Kids on Travel http://notaballerina.com/08
Tweet @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/19

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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18 - Cultural Fusion (and Confusion)

Mon, 11 Jul 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Discovering new cultural norms and comparing them to our own is one of the most fascinating parts of travel and the three guests on Episode 18 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast have all given this issue a great deal of thought as well.

First up, Annalicia Lynn describes the cultural confusion she felt when she first moved to Taiwan to speak English. The assumptions she made about the culture based on her own experiences back in the States led her to some uncomfortable moments in her early days in Taiwan.

Jeff Sandquist talks about cultural fusion and his experience of Scandinavian heritage as he grew up with in Minnesota, and what he found when he visited Norway and saw Scandinavian culture up close.

In another case of cultural confusion, Glenn Shiell describes the issues facing the Japanese ski resort of Niseko with the growing numbers of Australians coming to ski during the Australian summer - and what happens when these Aussies don’t necessarily show quite enough cultural sensitivity.

Links:

Annalicia Lynn of Yoga and Pilates Online - http://yogaandpilatesonline.com
Jeff at Intentionally Wandering - http://www.intentionallywandering.com
Jeff’s Intentionally Wandering podcast - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/intentionally-wandering/id1002563000?mt=2
Glenn Shiell of Snowriders Western Australia https://snowriderswa.com
Snowriders WA Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/snowriderswa/
8 tips to avoid being a bogan in Japan this winter - https://snowriderswa.com/2016/05/04/tset-2/
Should experienced travellers go to Bali? - http://www.notaballerina.com/2015/02/should-experienced-travellers-go-to-bali.html
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/18

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

17 What Sparks Wanderlust?

Mon, 04 Jul 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Where does wanderlust come from? It’s a question that’s intrigued Amanda ever since she discovered that some people don’t like travelling, others love it despite their parents never mentioning it, and others still (like Amanda) have been led to a life of travel by their parents’ example.

In Episode 17 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast Amanda talks to three travel lovers who have had their wanderlust sparked by very different things. For Bethaney Davies of Flashpacker Family, it was a childhood babysitter who started it all - after which she became a teenage Lonely Planet addict!

The next guest on this episode is Diane Bortoletto of Travelletto, who was somewhat influenced by her parents - although she didn’t take her first overseas trip until the age of 24. Lastly Amanda speaks to Ava of My Meena Life who is a really interesting guest because her wanderlust has only hit her recently - but it’s hit her hard!

Links:

Bethaney at Flashpacker Family: http://flashpackerfamily.com
Dianne Bortoletto of Travelletto: http://travelletto.com
Ava Meena of My Meena Life: mymeenalife.com
Travel genetics on Not A Ballerina: http://www.notaballerina.com/2014/11/travel-genetics-parents-influence-love-travel.html
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/17

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16 On Grief and Travel

Mon, 27 Jun 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Travel is a powerful tool for so many things but one more way that travel can bring great meaning to your life is by helping you to process grief - and that’s what Amanda's two guests in this episode have certainly discovered. Episode 16 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast features two women who have found travel to be very therapeutic in dealing with grief.

Amanda's first guest is Ava of My Meena Life, an American who has temporarily relocated to Germany, and has travelled extensively throughout Europe in the last year. Sadly, Ava lost her father a couple of years ago, but her experiences abroad have been instrumental in helping her deal with her grief about his loss.

Secondly, she speaks with Kerstin of TravelPilz, who not only lost her husband about five years ago, but then had her feelings of grief doubled when a devastating cyclone hit her town just weeks after his death. She took off on a journey through Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India as a way to process some of this grief and her story is a fascinating one.

Links:

Ava Meena of My Meena Life - mymeenalife.com
Kerstin Pilz of Travel Pilz - travelpilz.com
Hecktic Travels - Surviving this day - http://www.hecktictravels.com/surviving-this-day
Tweet Amanda @amandakendle
Use the hanstag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/16

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

15 Travel Builds Confidence, So Do It!

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Gaining confidence from your travels is just one more great reason to get out there and travel often. In Episode 15 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast Amanda talks to three guests who all agree that travelling has increased their confidence substantially and helped them out in all kinds of ways, including life beyond travel.

First up, Amanda chats with Jeff Sandquist of Intentionally Wandering, who only started travelling relatively recently and learnt so much from it - travelling gave him a brand new kind of confidence. After that she speaks with Annalicia Lynn who spent a year living and working in Taiwan and was particularly able to notice how much her confidence had grown when her family came to visit.

Amanda's final guest is Candace Rardon, and when they spoke, Candace was spending a couple of months in Norway writing a book about a trip she took to India, which was the kind of trip which pushed her far outside her comfort zone and therefore boosted her confidence significantly.

Links:

Jeff at Intentionally Wandering - http://www.intentionallywandering.com
Jeff’s Intentionally Wandering podcast - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/intentionally-wandering/id1002563000?mt=2
Annalicia Lynn of Yoga and Pilates Online -http://yogaandpilatesonline.com
Candace Rose Rardon at The Great Affair - http://www.candaceroserardon.com
Candace’s book: Beneath the Lantern’s Glow - http://bit.ly/LanternsGlow
10 refections on having family visit us abroad on My Meena Life - http://www.mymeenalife.com/reflections-family-visit-us-abroad/
The Slow Home Podcast - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/slow-home-podcast-brooke-mcalary/id985005895?mt=2
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/15

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

14 Feel the Fear and Travel Anyway

Mon, 13 Jun 2016 18:00:00 +0000

In Episode 14 Amanda returns to the topic of scary tales from our travels. Frightening experiences can be entertaining, but they also teach us that most travellers simply feel the fear and travel anyway. The three guests in this episode certainly do. Annalicia Lynn is a yoga and pilates instructor who taught English in Taiwan for a year and had some really interesting experiences there - including quite a few frightening ones! Likewise, Glenn Shiell spent some time in China for a conference and ending up having quite a scary experience at the Great Wall, but he lived to tell the tale. Finally, Diane Bortoletto returns with a fearful moment from a trip to Brazil when she became separated from her travelling companion and ended up in a taxi ride through the jungle. But like all Amanda's guests, she lived to tell the tale. Phew! Links:

Annalicia Lynn of Yoga & Pilates Online - http://yogaandpilatesonline.com
Glenn Shiell of Snowriders Western Australia https://snowriderswa.com
Snowriders WA Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/snowriderswa/
Dianne Bortoletto of Travelletto - http://travelletto.com
Episode 5 - Every Traveller’s Scared Sometimes - https://notaballerina.com/05
Episode 9 - The Story’s in the Scary Bits - https://www.notaballerina.com/09
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/15

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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13 Takin’ it Slow: Travelling to Feel Like a Local

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Slow travel is a real buzz word these days but many travellers have been using slow travel principles for decades - because travelling slowly is a fantastic way to see the world and really get to know it well. In Episode 13 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, Amanda talks to three different travellers who have all embraced slow travel in their own way.

First up is Tim Leffel, who prefers smaller towns and villages over big cities because it’s easier to travel slowly in a place where you can get to know the locals. Amanda also speaks to Candace Rardon, who as a freelance artist and writer is able to really practice slow travel, and she does it both on a daily basis by sitting still somewhere for a few hours to sketch, and planning her trips so she stays places for weeks or months.

The final guest today is David Soto Jr who is currently in the middle of his own slow trip in a van around the United States. When Amanda spoke to him he was sitting in his van on an airforce base with his dog Rusty looking on; since then he’s been exploring some of America’s most beautiful spots at a very leisurely pace.

Links:

Tim Leffel - http://timleffel.com
Candace Rose Rardon at The Great Affair http://www.candaceroserardon.com
Candace’s book: Beneath the Lantern’s Glow - http://bit.ly/LanternsGlow
David Soto Jr. at The Primitive You - https://theprimitiveyou.com
David (and his dog) on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theprimitivedave/
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/13

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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12 Culture Clash! Something’s Different Here

Mon, 30 May 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Cultural differences make our travels so much more interesting (if somewhat complicated at times!). In Episode 12 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, we talk about culture clash, and the differences we discover when we travel abroad.

Stephen Henson has spent many years travelling back and forth to China, as well as doing business there, and has many tales to tell - today’s stories about the value of luxury and the importance of appearances in modern-day China are fascinating.

Amanda then speaks to Adam Beck of Bilingual Monkeys about his experiences both on arrival in Japan some twenty years ago, and more recently when he has the experience of reverse culture shock when he visits his home country.

Finally, she chats with fellow Australian Mike Campbell, who is spending a year housesitting his way around the United States with his family. He’s particularly shocked by one particular cultural difference between the US and Australia and Amanda finds she definitely agrees!

Links:

Journeys with Stephen - http://journeyswithstephen.com
Adam Beck at Bilingual Monkeys - http://bilingualmonkeys.com/
Adam’s new book, Maximize Your Child’s Bilingual Ability - http://bilingualmonkeys.com/maximize-your-childs-bilingual-ability-book/
Mike Campbell’s Live Immediately - www.liveimmediately.com
Live Immediately on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/liveimmediately/
Washing the dishes Australian style - http://www.notaballerina.com/2011/05/washing-dishes-australian-style.html
Follow-up post with more on washing the dishes in Australia - http://www.notaballerina.com/2014/10/unexpected-cultural-differences-how-do-you-wash-your-dishes-your-country.html
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/12

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11 - The Magic of Getting Lost

Mon, 23 May 2016 18:00:00 +0000

In Episode 11, Amanda is celebrating the magic of getting lost on our travels. Back in Episode 2 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast she talked about the terror of getting lost, but this time round everyone’s getting lost stories are way less scary and are usually just plain fun.

First up in this episode Amanda speaks with Dianne Bortoletto, a Perth-based travel blogger, and they spill the beans on a slightly embarrassing but very funny incident when they both got kind of lost while in Bangkok for a conference.

One of Amanda's most popular guests, Kiliii Fish, returns in this episode with yet another fascinating story, this time about his attempts to find an Ecuadorian indigenous basket maker and how he was pretty much lost most of the way.

And finally, Joe Baur of the wonderful Without A Path podcast returns with his very sensible idea about intentionally getting lost. Amanda realised while talking to Joe that she's done the same thing herself on occasion and that intentionally going somewhere unknown and without a map or plan can be a great way to explore a new city or country.

Links:

Dianne Bortoletto of Travelletto http://travelletto.com
Kiliii Fish http://www.kiliii.com/
Kiliii on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kiliiifish/
Joe Baur http://joebaur.com
Joe’s Without A Path podcast http://withoutapath.com
Episode 2: The Terror of Getting Lost https://notaballerina.com/02
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/11

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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10 How to Cope in Another Language

Mon, 16 May 2016 18:00:00 +0000

It's always a bit sad to hear someone say they didn’t want to travel somewhere because they were worried about not being able to get by in a foreign language. Struggling to communicate can be half the fun of a trip (at least in retrospect!) and we can learn so much from cultures with different languages and customs.

Today Amanda has gathered together some tips and tricks from a number of travellers who have experience both in learning languages and in getting by in languages they don’t know. We start off with the highly multilingual Leyla Giray Alyanak, who has an incredibly useful language tip, and then move onto another clever linguist, Kerstin Pilz, who reminds us that it’s not just the words in another country but the more subtle cultural differences too which are important for good communication.

Finally, Amanda chats with David Soto Jr., a very interesting man who’s currently living in a van with his dog and travelling around North America. He recalls one of his first experiences in trying to speak Italian and hits upon a fun trick that can really help us loosen up and do better at coping in another language!

Links:

Leyla Giray Alayanak at Women on the Road http://www.women-on-the-road.com
Kerstin Pilz at Travelpilz http://travelpilz.com
David Soto Jr. at The Primitive You https://theprimitiveyou.com
Previous episode on languages: Food in a Foreign Language http://notaballerina.com/01
Tweet me @amandakendle
Hashtag #thoughtfultravelpod
Chat on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/10

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

09 The Story’s in the Scary Bits

Mon, 09 May 2016 18:00:00 +0000

In Episode 9 of Amanda returns to the frightening parts of travel, because a lot of the time the story’s in the scary bits. What’s scary to one person might not worry someone else, but if something creates fear for you while you’re travelling, it’s probably something you’ll remember long after your trip is over.

Jean of Traveling Honeybird has a great story to tell about scary moments on a horseback trek though the mountains of Mongolia, and some tips and tricks to get through those frightening experiences. She and Amanda also swap tales of their fears of driving (or being driven) in cars without seatbelts at high speed!

Amanda also talks with Candace Rose Rardon again, this time about a particularly scary moment she had on a trek through Turkey. It was one of those incidents where nothing bad ended up happening, but it could have ended up quite differently. On this side though, it makes a great story.

Links:

Jean at Traveling Honeybird http://www.travelinghoneybird.com
Candace Rose Rardon at The Great Affair http://www.candaceroserardon.com
Candace’s book: Beneath the Lantern’s Glow http://bit.ly/LanternsGlow
An Innocent Abroad - Lonely Planet anthology featuring Candace’s story http://bit.ly/InnocAbroad
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/09

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

08 - Travel with Kids and Kids on Travel

Mon, 02 May 2016 18:00:00 +0000

In Episode 8 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast Amanda talks to parents about travelling with their kids, and then turns the tables and talks to some kids about travelling.

First up is Mike Campbell, a fellow Aussie who’s currently spending a year house-sitting his way across the United States with his family. He’s learnt a lot about the differences between travelling as a couple and travelling with a four-year-old daughter. Amanda's second guest is Tim Leffel who talks about his teenage daughter’s experience of living abroad in Mexico.

After talking to these dads, Amanda decided she needed to talk to some kids, too, and had a chat with her own six-year-old and his eight and ten year old cousins, all of whom have been lucky enough to travel pretty extensively for their young age.

Links:

Mike Cambell’s Live Immediately www.liveimmediately.com
Live Immediately on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/liveimmediately/
Tim Leffel http://timleffel.com
5 things my daughter is getting out of living abroad - Tim Leffel https://www.notaballerina.com/2014/11/guest-post-5-things-daughter-getting-living-abroad-whether-likes-not.html
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/08

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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07 Unexpected Travel Friends (and Monks on Facebook)

Mon, 25 Apr 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Episode 7 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is all about making unexpected friendships when you travel. Getting to know local people is one of my favourite parts of travelling, and my two guests have had some great experiences doing just that in various parts of the world.

First up is Bethaney Davies from Flashpacker Family, who has two really interesting stories to tell about friendships she established with local people in Vietnam and Myanmar. Her tale of meeting the monk in Myanmar (who, yes, is on Facebook) is one of my favourite stories ever!

My second guest is Jeff Sandquist of the Intentionally Wandering podcast. He tells of how his experiences couchsurfing on his solo road trip around the United States helped him make two new friends who he’s still in touch with.

Links:

Bethaney at Flashpacker Family http://flashpackerfamily.com
Jeff at Intentionally Wandering http://www.intentionallywandering.com
Jeff’s Intentionally Wandering podcast on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/intentionally-wandering/id1002563000?mt=2
Couchsurfing (try it yourself!) https://www.couchsurfing.com
My story of meeting Mohammed in Egypt http://www.notaballerina.com/2012/05/two-egyptians-and-my-privilege-to.html
Can you help me find my friend Yuko? http://www.notaballerina.com/2013/03/where-is-yuko-long-lost-japanese-friend.html
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/07

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06 - Surprise! Travel Expectations and Lessons

Mon, 18 Apr 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Whether good or bad, facing surprises is usually part of travel. In Episode 6 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast I’m talking to two other travellers about the surprises they’ve encountered on their travels.

First up is Candace Rardon, someone I was super-excited to interview and have known online for some years. Candace is a sketch artist, writer, photographer and all-round travel genius and a deep thinker on travel as well. She shares several stories of surprises she’s had when her expectations have been shattered on her travels - and how this always turns out for the best.

Next I talk to Jeff Sandquist of the Intentionally Wandering podcast. He philosophically talks about how surprised he has been by the impact of travel on his life and how the lessons from travel have been drawn back into this everyday life at home, too.

Links:

Candace Rose Rardon at The Great Affair http://www.candaceroserardon.com
Candace’s book on Amazon Beneath the Lantern's Glow: Sketches and Stories from Southeast Asia and Japan http://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Lanterns-Glow-Sketches-Southeast/dp/1490503641
Jeff Sandquist at Intentionally Wandering http://www.intentionallywandering.com
Jeff’s Intentionally Wandering podcast on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/intentionally-wandering/id1002563000?mt=2
Camel race in Tunisia http://www.notaballerina.com/2011/12/dont-back-camel-in-tunisias-sahara.html
Not finished with Iceland http://www.notaballerina.com/2015/10/why-im-not-finished-with-iceland-yet.html
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/06

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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05 - Every Traveller’s Scared Sometimes

Mon, 11 Apr 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Episode 5 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is partly about fear, and partly about confidence. I think they go hand in hand when it comes to travelling! I’ve certainly experienced my share of fears about travelling and I know I’m not alone.

My first guest today is Leyla Giray Alyanak of Women on the Road, and although she’s one of the people I think of as a guru in the solo travel for women area, she confesses that she has a bunch of fears related to travel, and I think that’s important for all of us to realise - we can be scared, but we can still travel.

Following Leyla, I share a great chat with Bethaney Davies of Flashpacker Family, who tells me all about the first time she travelled on her own. Let’s just say it started with a week of tears in her hotel room but got far better than that.

Links:

Leyla at Women on the Road http://www.women-on-the-road.com
Episode 2 feature Leyla’s stories about getting lost http://www.notaballerina.com/2016/03/thoughtful-travel-podcast-episode-2-terror-getting-lost.html
Bethaney at Flashpacker Family http://flashpackerfamily.com
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/05

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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04 - Smashing Stereotypes

Mon, 04 Apr 2016 18:00:00 +0000

Episode 4 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast starts the conversation about the thorny issue of cultural stereotypes - and how travelling and meeting people of all different cultures can really help you smash through stereotypes and learn that people really are all the same.

The first guest in this episode is Canadian travel blogger turned Peruvian resident Nora Dunn of The Professional Hobo, and she has an interesting tale to tell about meeting some indigenous Australians at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra. Nora is followed by another extract from my fabulous chat with Kiliii Fish, who has worked extensively with indigenous people across the world and has so much of interest to say on the subject.

Finally, I chatted with Joe Baur of the Without A Path podcast about other stereotypical views people have, particularly when it comes to labelling a country and its people as either safe or dangerous. All of these guests will leave you something to think about, I’m sure! Links:

Nora Dunn - The Professional Hobo http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com
Nora’s post about visiting me! http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/travel-tips-resources/tales-of-trains-journey-destination/
Dear Nora column https://www.creditwalk.ca/category/dear-nora/
Kiliii Fish http://www.kiliii.com/
Kiliii on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kiliiifish/
Joe Baur http://joebaur.com
Without A Path podcast http://withoutapath.com
Joe’s recent episode on American stereotypes http://joebaur.com/2016/03/08/travel-stereotypes-what-to-pack/

Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/04

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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03 Staying with Locals

Mon, 28 Mar 2016 17:00:00 +0000

Episode 3 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast is all about staying with locals on your travels and some of the many bonuses that come with meeting local people. It is definitely a different experience to staying in a hotel in the main tourist zone!

I start of this episode chatting with Kerstin Pilz about her many experiences staying with locals, such as the time she went to Cuba accidentally alone and ended up being put up by a whole extended family wherever she travelled. I also chat to Linda and Craig Martin who have used Couchsurfing many times with great success, and made lifelong friends as well as having a roof over their heads. Finally, travel writer Tim Leffel has some good tips about staying out in the suburbs to really get a good feel for a place.

Links:

Workaway https://www.workaway.info
Couchsurfing https://www.couchsurfing.com
Airbnb https://www.airbnb.com
WWOOF http://www.wwoof.net
Craig and Linda at Indie Travel Podcast http://indietravelpodcast.com
Craig and Linda at Performance Foundary http://performancefoundry.com
Travelpilz http://travelpilz.com
Tim Leffel http://timleffel.com
5 things my daughter is getting out of living abroad - Tim Leffel https://www.notaballerina.com/2014/11/guest-post-5-things-daughter-getting-living-abroad-whether-likes-not.html
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/03

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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02 The Terror of Getting Lost

Thu, 24 Mar 2016 17:00:00 +0000

In Episode 2 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, it’s all about those times on your travels when you wind up having no idea where you are, or how to get out of there. Getting lost when we travel is all part of the fun - but then sometimes it’s only fun and interesting in retrospect.

In this episode, I start off talking to Leyla of Women on the Road, who has had some truly amazing travel misadventures over the years. Let’s just say that more than one of these incidents involve her being handed a rifle and left to fend for herself!

Later in the episode I talk to the delightful Kiliii Fish, a photographer who has also worked on wilderness and survival expeditions in the past, so is probably the perfect person to talk to about getting lost. He has some tips if you find yourself alone at night in a tall, dark forest … although he didn’t follow all these tips himself.

Links:

Leyla at Women on the Road http://www.women-on-the-road.com
Kiliii’s website http://www.kiliii.com/
Kiliii on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kiliiifish/
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/02

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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01 Food in a Foreign Language

Thu, 24 Mar 2016 17:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Episode 1 of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast! This episode has some great stories about both successes and failures when trying to get something to eat or drink in a country where English is not the first language (and one where it is!). Everybody who’s travelled has struggled with this situation many times, and I got to chat with several travellers who’ve had both fun and frustrations.

In this episode, I talk with Linda and Craig Martin about their tricky experience trying to order red wine in Slovakia; Stephen Henson shares a friend’s tale about trying to ask a simple question at a Taco Bell store in China, along with some of his own mishaps (even in other English-speaking countries!); and finally, Kristy Morton and I lament the difficulties she had ordering in a French patisserie as well as the lack of language learning that seems to take place in our home country of Australia.

Links:

Pizza for Christmas in Japan http://www.notaballerina.com/2011/12/japanese-language-success-for-my.html
Craig and Linda at Indie Travel Podcast http://indietravelpodcast.com
Craig and Linda at Performance Foundary http://performancefoundry.com
Journeys with Stephen http://journeyswithstephen.com
Kristy at Loulou Zoo http://loulouzoo.com.au
Kristy Morton Consulting http://kristymorton.com
Show notes at https://notaballerina.com/01

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

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00 - Preview of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast

Sat, 19 Mar 2016 23:58:26 +0000

This is the preview episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast with Amanda Kendle. Each episode will feature chats with travel writers, photographers, travel bloggers and other travel lovers about topics centred around why we love travelling and what we learn from it.

This episode introduces both me and my new podcast, and includes a story of my own about that time I ended up in the Zagreb bus station in the middle of the night … and why it was a turning point.

The Thoughtful Travel Podcast launches on 25 March 2016 so make sure you subscribe to catch all the new episodes. You can tweet about it with #thoughtfultravelpod - and tweet me @amandakendle - or comment at the Not A Ballerina Facebook page. I so look forward to talking travel with you all!

Links:

The Thoughtful Travel Podcast on Not A Ballerina https://www.notaballerina.com/podcast
The Zagreb Bus Station https://www.notaballerina.com/2012/09/zagreb-bus-station-croatia.html
Not A Ballerina on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NotABallerina

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.