Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure (The Barefoot Backpacker)

In a change from the previously advertised programme ... I was having a bit of a wobble in the previous week so I felt it would be a great time to discuss a couple of aspects of mental health, and how they affect me when I'm travelling.

In this podcast episode then, I talk a bit about how I seem to have a form of social anxiety, what that means when I'm abroad, and what, if anything, I can do about it. I also go into some detail about other flavours of mental health, including a fear of failure, and tell how sometimes even I've had to give up and go home when my adventures just haven't felt right in my head.

It's quite a 'raw' post, and it isn't as precisely curated as my usual episodes, but somehow I think that's quite fitting.

Hello!

This is the recording of the second Twitter Spaces that I did with my friend V, in early February. As you probably know if you listen to my main podcast episodes, she decided after the first one that this was a really good use of social media that should work pretty well for my online style, so we've been doing them fortnightly since then.

We followed the same format, and indeed that's the format we've been using since, of creating questions and then getting me to answer them, in a kind of Q&A or casual-interview-type environment. We're always open to questions from you too though, so if you have anything you want me to answer, then drop us a line at the usual places. Or come onto a session and request the mic.

Upcoming Spaces topics will be: Solo Travel, Border Crossings & Visa Admin, Travel and Money (including budgeting, but also using money abroad safely), and Packing & Luggage. If you've got any ideas for future topics you'd like me to talk about in these sessions too, again don't hesitate to drop either of us a note.

This particular session is on Travel Planning When You're Really Not A Planner, and given that I once did a Twitter poll overnight to tell me which direction and country I should visit the next day, only to wake up and find it was exactly 50-50, I'm possibly either the worst, or the best, person to talk about Travel Planning.

But I tried. Kind of.

Again, be aware this conversation took place over the phone, so the audio quality won't be as great as my normal podcast episodes. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy it!

Topics discussed include:
* How far in advance do I book a trip
* Research into public transport
* What happens if plans don't work out
* How do I plan where to go in the first place
* Making plans and communicating in foreign languages
* Clothing and cultural concerns
* How far in advance do I plan my packing
* Planning admin - vaccinations, visas, etc
* Missing out on places because I didn't plan in advance
* Tips for first-time backpackers
* People will generally never let you suffer

I was interviewed by the lovely Victoria, but you can call her V.

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

So, in a follow-up to last week's "Beginner's Guide to Protesting", this week I'm bringing you an episode of three examples where the act of protest has helped to change the world. Or at least, change aspects of the British political system - just to show it can happen here just as much as it happens everywhere else.

I give an overview of three events - the 1832 Reform Act, the Battle Of Cable Street in 1936, and the Poll Tax Riots of 1990. Three different eras, but each definitely interesting in its own right.

Maybe I'll go back to doing a travel podcast next week....

Anyway. Admin:
A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Following on from my previous episode on my own experiences of social anxiety and mental health, in this episode I let some of my Twitter followers and online friends talk about their experiences of mental health while travelling - how they mitigate for it, what helps them cope better, etc.

I hope it helps you in some way, to know that if you have similar issues, you're not alone, far from it.

"Everywhere is Interesting": a mantra that makes you take a different look at the places you visit, making even those areas close to your home that you may not have given a second thought ripe for exploration and discovery. In this pod I encourage you to step outside your house and see what's around your local town, and do the same myself, giving you some information about the places I live near.

Hello :)

Well, you may be pleased to know I survived my trip to SE Asia. But it was a close-run thing as you'll hear at the start of this episode.

Anyway. It's Christmas. I should do a pod about this time of year. And this is one I've cobbled together at the last possible moment. I think I might well whine a bit more than usual in it. But it's fine; this isn't my time of year by definition.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* The most 8 minutes I've ever had on a plane
* My Christmas is low-key
* 100 Countries by Age 50
* American Christmas Music Radio
* Whamageddon!
* Christmas trees
* Australia at Christmas
* Christmas markets I have seen and drank at
* Family Christmasses growing up
* Pantomimes
* New Year traditions

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Contributions in this pod come from my friend Anne-Laure, who can be found on Instagram; my mother, who doesn't have a web presence of any note; and Amanda Kendle, of the Not A Ballerina website.
Also, the Deck of Many Aces podcast can be found wherever you listen to podcasts, but they're hosted here by Acast.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

While virus protection is keeping a large proportion of the world's population indoors and isolated, I thought it would be good to have an episode looking at a subject noted for community, good vibes, and exercise - sport.

I talk about a recent run I had where I got queried by police (but not for being outside!), then about places I've gone to to watch sports around the world, including football/soccer, ice-hockey, AFL, and Buzkashi.

Contributions are provided by Txiki Stu, Jason Likes To Travel, Teaspoon Of Adventure, and [including crowd noises] Where's Shelly.

Hello :)

So, this podcast is all about comfort zones, primarily but not exclusively, in travel. I look at what they are, why people stay in them, how you can break them comfortably, and talk about times I've broken my own comfort zones, with both good and bad outcomes. Because that's what makes good travel experiences, right?

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* The British Guild of Travel Writers AGM
* Standing on a stage, barefoot and vulnerable, reading teenage diaries
* What is a comfort zone?
* Language and culture are comfort zones to many
* Personal Identity
* Don't you just love being in control?!
* The beneficial role of travel influencers
* Breaking your comfort zone in five easy steps
* Little things you can do: solo travel, new foods, local events
* The beneficial role of bucket lists
* When Comfort Zones Break You (Italy 2002)
* People like it when things go wrong for other people (as long as they're safe)
* What are my limits?
* "The Barefoot Backpacker. No luggage, no shoes, no plan. What could possibly go right?"

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Contributions in this pod come from Amanda Kendle and Curious Claire. I ought also to link to Becky The Owlet's blog too, given she got a shoutout.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

I wasn't sure quite what to record for this episode of the podcast, due to the changing situation in the world, so I pretty much sat in front of a blank screen and did a brain-dump, taking a couple of Twitter conversations I've had this week as an initial basis, and then expanding it with a few thoughts as I've gone on.

I talk about three things really - the city of Sheffield, my mother, and my privilege in the face of a global pandemic. I'm hopeful that my next episode will; be a bit more cheerful...

Hello!

This podcast is an overview of my experiences in the Orkney Islands, when I visited back at the end of May. They're not a group of islands that are that well-known in the UK, as they feel kind of just 'a little too far' from most people, who'll tend to visit more accessible places like Skye and Mull. Much of the pod is also putting my experiences into context; for instance the islands have a very long history of human habitation and some of the sites I visited are very special.

Topics discussed include:
* Settling into Glasgow
* A day trip to Falkirk
* The location of the Orkney Islands
* Neolithic Orkney - Skara Brae and Stone Circles
* Very short flights
* The history and birdlife of Papa Westray
* Hiking on Westray, and more birdlife
* Hiking on Orkney Mainland, and even more birdlife
* The Navy at war
* 101 things to do with a prefab metal hut, several tin cans, and a car exhaust
* Kirkwall

The only contribution in this episode comes from Clazz, who blogs at An Orcadian Abroad. However, there's also an extract from a local band at the start, who performed live on Papa Westray during my stay there.

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

So, as you know, I've recently been away for two weeks, ostensibly to attend the Traverse Travel Blogger Conference, which this year took place in Tbilisi, in Georgia. I've never been to that party of the world, and it'd always been on my list.

I clearly went at the wrong time of year, but that's just what happens sometimes.

This is going to be the first of a couple of pods about the trip, and concentrates mainly on talking about the conference itself, the background to why I went, and on my first couple of days travelling, mostly spent in Azerbaijan.

Topics discussed in this episode are:

• I'm not running at the moment
• The Traverse Blogger Conference
• Niching out my website
• Background to my journey
• 4 flights and 5 airports
• One day in Baku
• Mud volcanoes
• Ancient and mediaeval rock art
• Fire Temples and Fire Mountains
• Impressions of Azerbaijan, including money, language, and queerness

A PDF transcript will be available shortly.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

This podcast episode is all about Chernobyl. It's an episode I've had pencilled in to do for quite some time, if in part because I went there in 2014, and never wrote anything about my visit at the time so I felt I ought to, you know, get round to it at some point. I even mentioned this in a podcast I did last year, Back In The USSR. Didn't do it then either, because, and I quote, "I think if I did it would make the pod much longer than I'd intended. In any case it probably deserves its own discussion." I guess this is that discussion.

Topics covered on this podcast include:
* I'm leaving Glasgow
* The dead railway station at IBM Halt
* A brief history of the 1986 explosion at Chernobyl
* What I was doing in 1986
* Why I wanted to visit (and why I wasn't barefoot)
* Visit to the Power Plant
* Walking through the ruined town of Pripyat
* Health and Safety in a Nuclear Fallout Zone
* The Duga-1 Radar Array and the Russian Woodpecker
* Chernobyl City and the people who stayed

Contributions in this episode come from: Helen Matthews, Jane Spurin, and Jess Harling

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

This week's podcast episode, brought to you from a slightly damp Sheffield, is all about whether travel changes depending on how old you are - if the way you travel at the age of 20 is the same as the way you travel at, say, 40, in terms of travel style, accommodation, food, destinations, etc.

I don't talk a lot about travelling at ages older than I am, but you get the drift. Most of it is comparing how my travel has(n't) changed over time. I'll probably do a follow-up episode about this at some point when my feelings change again.

Contributions this time are from:

• Amanda from 'Not A Ballerina' and the 'Thoughtful Travel' Podcast


• Alexei of 'Travelexx'

Remember, I have a Facebook group for the pod if you want to join the community.

I also now have a Patreon! If you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over to my page and donate to me!

Hello!

In this episode I talk about that most seasonal of subjects: snow. [It's so terribly British to talk about the weather, isn't it?]. We discuss a little about how the UK fails to handle snow properly, some of the joys of travelling in it, the comparison between holidaying in snow and living in a snowy climate, and why the UK isn't very good at the Winter Olympics.

Topics discussed include:
* Experiences of snow in England's West Midlands region
* Winter sports
* Walking and running barefoot in the snow
* Growing up in winter in the UK v Canada
* Living with a long winter
* Travelling in snow around the world

Contributions in this episode come from:
* Kate-Frankie, from This Could Lead To Anywhere
* Juliet (I Am A Polar Bear)
* Kylie, who is Between England and Iowa
* Deb, from Tag Along Travel, and
* Roo from Roo Loves Travel

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

This week's podcast episode is all about Travel Privilege. That is to say, the advantages that people have that they may not realise, which are accrued by virtue of their background rather than anything they've worked at to obtain.

This covers subjects such as passport privilege - how holding certain nationalities makes travelling much easier - and of course skin colour, and how it's far easier for middle-class 'Westerners' to travel than anyone else.

As someone with a flush of privilege (not a Royal Flush but I'll admit it's not too far off), it's something people especially like me need to keep deep in mind. Privilege itself isn't necessarily a bad thing; it's recognising you have it and making sure you use it appropriately that matters.

Contributions this time, either spoken or via Twitter, are from:

• Victoria Pearson


• Kristina from 'Living Wonder Filled'


• Matthew at 'Two Tickes To'


• Pinky (Pinkzenjoy)


• Tayo - 'The 5 to 9 Traveller'


• Katchie from 'Travels With Katchie'


• Roo, at 'Roo Loves Travel'


• Alexei of 'Travelexx'

Remember, I have a Facebook group for the pod if you want to join the community.

I also now have a Patreon! If you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over to my page and donate to me!

Hello :)

This is the recording of the fourth Twitter Spaces that I did with my friend V, back in March. I'm realising what a ball-ache they are to transcribe; it's the exact opposite of my normal pod episodes which take an age to prepare but actually issuing them is very quick and easy; these Spaces take little to no time to record but all the admin is post-production. You'd have thought having six weeks between recording and turning into a podcast episode would give me ample time to do everything I need to, and of course you'd be very misunderestimating the power of ADHD.

Speaking of which … this session is on Mental Health While Travelling, covering topics such as: do ADHD and dyspraxia affect how I travel, why do I often feel mentally low when I'm in places, and what can I do to get myself out of those feelings. We also touch on why it helps being aroace, and how sometimes just staring out of a window is all I need to do to calm myself.

Usual disclaimer, be aware this conversation took place over the phone, so the audio quality won't be as great as my normal podcast episodes. Indeed, there were some technical issues that occurred at the time of recording; most of these have been edited out, but it is noticeable the quality of some parts of the recording is a little lower than even is usual for the Spaces. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy it!

Topics discussed include:
* What is Dyspraxia?
* How dyspraxia manifests in my travels - physically and mentally
* What is Executive Dysfunction?
* How Social Anxiety and Executive Dysfunction affect my travels
* The mental difficulty of doing 'nothing' when travelling; why I can't take 'rest days'
* Homesickness v Travel Fatigue
* Why I don't pay attention to the news at home when I'm abroad
* How personal relationships affect me while I'm away from home (and why you shouldn't date me)
* Ways I worry about money when I travel
* Moving to a new place often improves my mental health ...
* ... but sometimes all I can do is go home
* Why I never get 'bored' when I travel
* The troubles that come from needing to know when and where I am
* How I maintain my mental health when I travel

I was interviewed by the lovely Victoria, but you can call her V.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

It's been noticed that I've now done 100 episodes. Quite which episode was my 100th is open to question as it depends on your definition of episode - indeed if you don't count the Twitter Space recordings I did with V, I've not got there yet. But, just like with counting countries, there's always going to be arguments either way, and in terms of what my podcast host and the podcast apps say, I've made three figures. So it seems kind of appropriate to acknowledge that. I am aware that one of my Glasgow episodes was 'what I wish I'd known before starting a podcast' and I didn't want to do another episode like that, so instead what I thought I'd do was an actual retrospective of the topics I've talked about in my podcast episodes thus far, so that people who may be new to my words and content can get a feel for the sort of things that I've talked about before.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* Vague things I've been up to in the Spring
* My most popular episodes
* Extracts from my episodes about Uzbekistan, Bucket Lists, Apartheid, and Sexuality while Travelling
* My favourite episodes
* Extracts from my episodes about Travel Privilege, Influencer Responsibility & Integrity, and Instagram v Reality
* Episodes I'm proud of
* Extracts from my episodes about The Wars Of The Roses, Do You Have Pride In Your Country, and Travel Podcasting with ChatGPT
* Some stats about my podcast and episode downloads

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

There are no direct contributions in this pod, though a couple do appear in extracts.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

On this episode I talk a little about aspects of environmentalism, including direct action, clean water, plastic bottles, cliff erosion, and the UK rail network. While writing the script I realised there were a whole myriad of related subjects like palm oil, deforestation, agriculture, motoring, sustainable travel, and lifestyle changes that would better be served being in their own podcast. Think of this pod therefore as being 'Part One' - Part Two will be episode 51, in three episodes time.

Topics discussed include:
* Why this pod is three weeks late
* How to dress for an awards ceremony when you're a cynical hippie
* Why is pod isn't about London
* Climate Activism and Direct Protest
* Clean water around the world is less common than you think
* Water in plastic bottles and plastic sachets
* It all feels that something's not qu(wh)ite right
* Recycling in the UK
* Cliff erosion on the Norfolk Coast Path
* Short flights are sometimes necessary, and sometimes not
* This should be the age of the train ...
* ... but not every train is a good train

There is one contribution in this episode; several clips from an interview-type chat I had with Amanda Kendle, of the Thoughtful Travel Podcast.

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Bonus content!

As you may recall, a few episodes ago I had a long chat with Alexei, from Travelexx about, well, primarily luggage, but we ventured onto many different subjects, one of which was sport - hence my previous regular episode. However, that episode ended up being more about travelling for sport, rather than about sports in general, so none of the content crossed over.

I thought it might be cool to publish the sport content of our chat in a special bonus episode anyway, as it provides a bit of background and context to some of the things I ended up talking about in the regular episode.

Plus, Alexei, and he's cool. :)

Hello!

This episode is all about my impressions of Bangladesh, when I took a visit there in spring 2019. Though I wasn't there for that long, I found it a very interesting and remarkable country to visit as a tourist. It had always been a country 'on' my 'this might be interesting to see' list, and since few travel bloggers go there, it just made it more appealing, since I wouldn't be going in with any peer-related expectations. That said, I'd never really actively looked into going, it was just always an 'I ought to at some point'. Until the opportunity arose, quite by accident, and so I took it.

Topics discussed include:
* Why I've been offline the last couple of weeks
* How I ended up visiting Bangladesh
* Brief overview of ancient history
* The War of Independence
* Dhaka is a crowded and noisy place
* Air quality
* "Can I have a selfie"
* People just want to talk to me
* Illicit moonshine and the lack of alcohol
* "A nice cup of tea and a sit down"
* Curry and lassi
* The quieter and more scenic places in the country (eg Ratargul)
* Changing money in a mosque

A contribution for this episode was supplied by Ian M Packham.

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

My therapist would object to the way I was going to start this pod, so instead I'll say 'thank you for bearing with me and accepting the slightly less-than-regular issuing of this pod'.

Anyhoo. I have an excuse this time, and it's very much the subject of this pod. I've been away from home, on a road trip around Ireland for a week and a half. My friend Anne-Laure wanted to visit Ireland and in summer 2020 we'd sketched out plans to do a 10-day trip there, but things kept getting in the way. Mainly Covid. But we finally managed to get there in mid-July 2022, and because of being away, it seemed the most obvious thing to pod about.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* Non-Binary day, week, and socialising
* Background to our road trip, and what made it unusual as far as my trips are concerned
* Irish sport, and resulting travel concerns
* Dublin Student Accommodation
* Our various B&B stays across the country
* St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
* Other religious sites visited, often called St Mary's
* The joy of Knock
* Various country houses and ruined abbeys
* The Rock of Cashel
* Ruins of Ancient Ireland
* The Burren
* The Isle of Inis Mor and the Cliffs of Moher
* Dingle
* Father Ted
* The Asexual Capital Of The World
* A distinct lack of road signs
* Beer and sausage rolls

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

My friend AnneLaure provided the introduction, whilst my friend V gave the interspersions, which are all song lyrics spoken in completely not the correct rhythm. This is on purpose.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

This episode is all about Kinder Scout, an open plateau in the centre of the Peak District in England. I start by talking a bit about its location and its history, concentrating on the Mass Trespass back in 1932 that may have launched the 'right to roam' movement in the UK.

The rest of the pod mentions the things you can see and visit on it, like the Kinder Downfall waterfall, the rock formations, the rock scrambles you can clamber up, and the mysterious 'Kinder Triangle'.

I end by talking a bit about hiking barefoot, and why I'm not recommending that you do this.

Contributions come from Becky The Traveller, Nat from NatPackerTravel, and Jeni (A Peak District Mum).

Warning, contains singing.

Hello :)

Given recent big concert tours, it feels like the right time to do an episode on 'travelling for music'. It's a subject I didn't think I'd have a lot to say about, given I don't often go to concerts even locally, never mind for travels, but the more I thought about it, the more interesting comparisons and contrasts I could find between my trips.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* My first concert (Heavenly, 1992)
* The first concert I travelled for (Bon Jovi, 1995)
* Travelling to Paris to listen to French singers ...
* ... three times
* You Look Like Taylor Swift
* Other ways of travelling for music
[This latter point will be expanded and the episode re-uploaded once I get a further contribution]

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Contributions in this episode come from:
* my old schoolfriend Alistair,
* Claire, who blogs at Curious Claire, and
* Juliet, who can be found at I Am A Polar Bear

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

This episode, the first after my unexpected and unplanned hiatus, will be all about beer. Specifically, I talk about my Press Trip to Plsen in Czechia, where I spent 3½ days drinking beer for free, including touring a few breweries both large and small. This Press Trip was taken through the Traverse Organisation and in conjuction with Visit Czech Republic,,the Plsen Region, and Visit Plsen.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* What I've been doing since my last podcast
* Overview of the city of Plsen
* The underground caves and beer museum - Plsen is literally built on beer
* Different ways of serving beer in Czechia
* A tour of the Pilsner Urquell brewery
* Visits to microbreweries in Plsen: Proud, Raven, Purkmistr
* Trip to Zlata Krava brewery in Nepomuk
* How it felt to visit a beer spa

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Introduction was provided by the tour guide who took us around the Pilsner Urquell Brewery.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

I wasn't sure what to call this episode. It covers influencer ethics, but in a largely political sense rather than ethical travel itself. In essence, I'm looking at whether travel bloggers and influencers have a responsibility to their audience to be mindful of political and ethical concerns of the destinations they/we visit, and whether we should consider avoiding destinations if their government or culture is at odds with our own brand ethics and image.

As well as personal housekeeping (upcoming holidays, getting a VA), topics discussed include:
* Why this pod was scheduled so far in advance
* I now have a Virtual Assistant and she's going to be good for me
* I Hope You've Flossed This Morning
* Ethical governments rarely come up in everyday conversations about holidays
* Travel concerns while being in the Rainbow Community
* Government rule: By The People, For The People
* The problems of visiting Uganda, for example
* ... but do boycotts hurt the everyday citizen?
* Visiting as a brand on a job vs visiting as an individual on a holiday
* No country is innocent and guilt-free
* Ethical travel is a relative concept anyway

Contributions in this episode come from:
* Amanda (Not A Ballerina)
* Roobens (Been Around The Globe)
* Tayo (5 to 9 Traveller)
* Kate-Frankie (This Could Lead To Anywhere)
* Laura Lundahl

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

The first "Special Episode" of my podcast, where I read one of my travel-related fiction short stories, based on the topic of "Inheritance".

Hello!

This podcast episode has a rather overly grand title, but it's really a continuation of Episode 48, about environmentalism. I look at topics like agricultural practices, diet, the concept of slow travel, accommodation, driving, office work, and fashion. All enveloped in a nice packet of privilege identification. Be thankful I didn't go into things like sustainability and greenwashing. Maybe that's something for another pod. Can we save the world? I guess that's up to us.

Topics discussed include:
* Parkrun update (including volunteering)
* Twitter Spaces update
* Palm Oil on the beach
* Vegetarianism and Veganism
* Why I don't like flying
* 'Eating like a local' isn't aspirational
* Slow Travel and why it's both my style and not my style
* How to alienate a travel blogger community in one easy step
* Why AirBnB is a good thing
* The benefits and malefits of cars
* The joys of working on an out-of-town business park
* All about 'Share-Taxis'
* "It's all just about privilege, isn't it?"
* Fashion Blogging with the Barefoot Backpacker

Contributions from this pod are from Roo (Roo Loves Travel), Agnes (Travel on the Reg), Amanda (Thoughtful Travel Pod), and Victoria (You Can Call Me V).

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

Okay, let's start with a controversial statement: Everything you know about Detroit is wrong. Nothing like setting your stall out from the off, I guess. Well, not everything, but probably your first impression is. Certainly a couple of people I spoke to in Toronto were … somewhat confused when I mentioned I was off there, as if to say 'why would you want to go there', 'it's not safe', and, 'well, rather you than me'. But that's exactly why I visit some places, to prove to the world that they're worth visiting. And Detroit is one of the biggest cities in the USA so there must be something to pull you in, right?

In this pod I talk about the visits I've made there, the places I've seen in the city, a bit about its history, and consider what makes Detroit not just one of the most underrated cities in the world but also one of the most important. This is why you need to visit, and see for yourself.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* How I injured myself at Parkrun
* Future directions of my online persona
* Initial impressions of Detroit
* The world's tallest (disused) railway station
* Riding the People Mover around the downtown buildings
* The Henry Ford Museum & assassinated presidents
* The lndustrial legacies
* ... but it could all have been so different (Whither Canada)
* The riot of July 1967
* Slavery and African-American influences
* Tamla/Motown
* Dearborn and Arab-American influences
* Detroit Zoo and Royal Oak
* It's even a UNESCO city

A contribution for this pod came from my friend Dayna, who I'd link to if ... she had anywhere online I *could* link to. :D

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

I'm back, after my laptop failed!

This episode is about my experiences of beer around the world, about what sort of beer I like. I talk a bit in detail about the history of USA beer, but lots of other countries and styles are mentioned.

It's the first of a two-parter on alcohol; my next episode will be on 'things that are not beer'. But I imagine there'll be some mention of beer even so; it's hard for me to avoid it really.

A reminder I have a Facebook Group for people to chat about my episodes, and a Patreon if you want to fund my beer addiction help me maintain and improve this podcast.

:)

I've just had an 11-week trip around Oceania & Sri Lanka, and arriving back in the UK has sent my mood a little low. I guess it's a form of Reverse Culture Shock, where being back in your everyday life comes as a jarring jolt after being used to the travel lifestyle. I've used my pod this week to talk about these feelings, how they affect me, and what I'm doing to mitigate them. Timely, perhaps, for #WorldMentalHealthDay.

Hello :)

This is the recording of the sixth Twitter Spaces that I did with my friend V. This particular recording also saw a fair contribution from a Miranda, a mutual Tweep who lives in Netherlands.

This edition is on Solo Travel; I usually travel on my own and here I explain why, and whether there are any problems associated with that - especially with relevence to my Mental Health or Personal Safety. We also discuss the benefits and malefits of group travel, whether my experiences of solo travel would be different if I presented differently, and why I'm very unlikely to ever be taken in by a cult..

Usual disclaimer, be aware this conversation took place over the phone and is recorded via my computer's internal audio card, so the quality won't be as great as my normal podcast episodes. In fact, when I was editing it I realised it sounded pretty variable and dodgy. Blame Twitter for not allowing me to do Spaces through my computer.

Topics discussed include:
* Why I travel alone (planning, last minute travel, unusual places)
* "I go to these places so you don't have to" - vicarious travelling
* Travelling with me is a veritable pot of chaos
* How travelling with someone is hard from both people's point of view
* Being scared to travel solo, and social anxiety
* Places I wouldn't travel alone - mainly for admin reasons
* Feeling like a minor celebrity in a different country
* Dealing with language issues while travelling solo abroad
* How I tend to ignore scams
* Ways in which I don't get bored when I travel long distances
* What's it's been like travelling with companions
* Not keeping in touch with people you meet while travelling
* Six Degrees of Separation, and how it both helps and hinders travel vibe
* My feelings about full group travel; party buses, middle-class coach tours, & cruising
* Worries about being sick or having accidents
* The hidden expenses of solo travel
* Female solo travel safety, & how safety is often relative and personally-specific
* How someone should start if they want to travel solo but never have

I was interviewed by the lovely Victoria, but you can call her V.

A PDF transcript of this episode will be available shortly.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. You can also sign up to my newsletter and find out about future podcasts and recent blog posts.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

In this episode I talk about the concept of the bucket list. Yes I know that's a topic I've already covered way back in Episode Three, but back then I looked more at the concept of the anti-bucket list. With lockdown and global pandemic making people think more about what they value and really want to do once they can, I thought it was a good time to revisit and improve.

As an aside, this month my podcast hit a total of 10,000 downloads. Thank you to everyone who's been listening, it means a lot.

Topics discussed include:
* What is a 'bucket list' anyway?
* How is the pandemic affecting people's bucket lists?
* Maybe it's time for more Hometown and UK Travel
* My 'bucket list' - unique adventures, and comparing/contrasting places
* Bucket Lists can include experiences, not just seeing and doing things
* Career and personal development aims also count
* What happens if the bucket list item ends up being underwhelming?
* Tick Boxes

Contributions in this episode come from:
* Roo from Roo Loves Travel
* Sarah - The Urban Wanderer
* Mental Health & Lifestyle blogger Jodie Paterson
* Kate-Frankie, from This Could Lead To Anywhere
* Author Victoria Pearson
* Morgan and Prachi from AlienEating

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

This episode is about Luxury Travel. This isn't a topic that comes naturally to barefoot backpackers in general, but sometimes even we put on our metaphorical shoes and drink free champagne.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* Running Training & Rate of Percieved Exertion
* Future potential backpacking trips
* What it means to be a 'barefoot' backpacker
* Flying business class on Air Europa from South America
* Short-haul business class travel isn't really worth it
* Flying business class on Emirates from Sri Lanka is
* We need a middle ground option - like a train
* First Class on UK Trains is nothing special
* Eurostar is nice I suppose
* Business hotels
* Afternoon Tea, but not yet at the Ritz
* {bonus} Helicopter Rides over a volcano - the ultimate luxury experience

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Contributions in this episode come from Kate-Frankie, Amanda Kendle, and Curious Claire.
In addition, my VA, Victoria Pearson, can be found here.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

This podcast was supposed to have been on beer. But I was waiting for a couple of contributions that never came. That will be coming soon. Instead, I thought I'd do something related to that very fact, and talk about podcasting. Since it's been over four years since I started this pod, since I've done nearly 70 episodes, and since I've recently passed 20,000 downloads. I'm going to talk about 'things I wish I'd known before I started'.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* Having been in Glasgow for a year
* Socialising with enbies and doing stuff in September
* Why I don't vlog (part 7832 of a series of 8490323)
* The sound quality of my early podcasts
* Abandoned and ended podcasts
* Meeting audience expectations
* Planning Podcasts leads to Perfect Performance
* Contributions, effects, and the need for a 'Sound Library'
* The sheer length of time it takes to make an episode
* It's okay to change
* Who listens to podcasts anyway?

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Introduction was provided by Kitty, one of the people on a WhatsApp group who sends TikTok videos.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

This podcast episode talk about my recent week-long backpacking trip to Northern Ireland. However, it's less about Northern Ireland specifically, and more about the practical side of backpacking for a week in off-season while there are still Covid pandemic restrictions and admin to contend with. Though I do talk a little about some of the places and museums I visited. That said, the 'T word' probably deserves its own podcast at some point so I only talk about that in passing; indeed I think I mention Parkrun more.

Topics discussed include:
* Why this podcast episode, and that I have a cold
* Storm Dudley
* Why Northern Ireland
* Backpacker Hostels in Belfast
* Tourist Attractions Not To Visit In Bad Weather
* Booking museums in advance because of Covid
* Being the only person on a museum tour that you book in advance because of Covid
* Buying bus and train tickets not in advance
* AirBnBs
* Barefoot Parkrunning at Falls Park
* Pubs and cafes and why I have a cold
* Accepting drinks from strangers feels awkward
* It was all rather easy in the end

No contributions on this pod. Maybe I sampled someone else's pod. Maybe.

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Happy listening :)

Whoop, a new podcast episode. I have my laptop back, so technology-wise I've returned to the 2020s.

This episode isn't about travel; rather it follows on in a way from my earlier pod on Sexuality while travelling, and looks into more detail about own sexuality.

Ace Week - Asexual Awareness Week - was at the end of October, and yes I'm therefore a bit late with this, but this episode is all about asexuality, including how I found out about it, my experience of it, how it feels to be an older asexual, and a bit about dating.

There are, of course, several subtweets to my mother, as usual. It wouldn't be the same without those, really ....

The picture, by the way, is of a poster I bought from 'keep_persisting' (Courtney Privett) on Zazzle.

Hello :)

This is the recording of the eleventh edition of my semi-regular Twitter Space sessions.

Following on from the previous Space, about Manners & Customs, it made sense to go over a bit of old ground and do a recording specifically on 'barefoot life. Because it's one of those subjects that it's kind of hard to get away from, given, you know, my online brand name, and my apparent hippy vibes. I'm aware that while the recording took place in early Autumn, I'm issuing it as a podcast in mid-Winter which for many of you ... is not barefoot-friendly weather. Still, you can imagine. Like the holiday-based TV programmes I watched as a kid; winter broadcasts for summer planning. I should have added some airy summer music in the background.

Usual disclaimer, be aware this conversation took place over the phone and is then recorded directly from playback on Twitter, through my sound editing software, Audacity. I'm fully aware the amount of hestiations, uhms, errs, and ahhs, we do, and the best way of editing them out seems to be not to do them in the first place. Am working on that. But it definitely shows how different I am in a live environment than a pre-recorded, scripted one. Not sure how that works with any potential career in radio I may want.

Topics discussed include:
* Why I don't like shoes
* Places I'm not barefoot - gravel, wild environments, etc
* How I judge if a place needs footwear or not
* The differences between walking and running, barefoot and shoes
* Going barefoot in different weather & climates
* Why I don't like mud, have to check Parkrun courses, but do like pavement
* The infrequency of blisters and the gradual hardening of my feet
* How it's easier to clean feet than shoes
* Why I've never noticed ringworm
* Twitter's most famous toenails
* Foot 'bling' and nail varnish
* Crocheted 'barefoot sandals' add +5 to Stealth Checks
* People don't notice other people on the street
* Hairy toes are icky
* How I handle the inevitable online foot fetishists
* The difference in cultural attitude between barefoot men and barefoot women
* Hiking barefoot, and coping with hills
* The problems with barefooting in the Autumn
* How to run barefoot
* Advice for people who want to try it more often

I was interviewed by the lovely Victoria, but you can call her V.

A PDF transcript of this episode will be available later.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. You can also sign up to my newsletter and find out about future podcasts and recent blog posts.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

This podcast episode is all about 'Get Outside Day', created by the Ordnance Survey to encourage and help people to, well, 'get outside' more often. The principle behind it is that they believe getting outside more helps you live longer, stay feeling younger, and allow you to enjoy life more often.

Topics discussed include:
* Settling into Glasgow
* How I resembled an upturned turtle
* What 'Get Outdoors Day' is
* How getting outside helps my mental health
* "Forest Bathing" and how woodlands are important to me
* "Earthing" and how being barefoot is important to me
* Saying 'hello' to random people on city streets
* Meeting people in parks
* An introduction to Parkrun
* Treasure Hunts, both physical & virtual
* Water bottles
* "The Good Life" and massive vegetables
* Sarah's "Reverse Commute"

Contributions in this episode come from Zoe (Splodzblogs), Maja (Away With Maja), and Sarah (The Urban Wanderer).

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

In this episode I talk about the region of the UK I currently live in - South Yorkshire. I've looked before at Hometown Travel, but of course my hometown has moved since then. One of the things I always like to do is learn as much about where I'm living as possible, because everywhere is interesting, yes, but also I think it's only kind of ... respectful? Like, if you're going to be spending a large amount of your daily life in a place, it's nice to to what's around, rather than just spending your day at work and home without seeing what's just around the corner.

As an aside, this may be my longest episode yet; it certainly felt like it when I was writing it.

Topics discussed include:
* South Yorkshire being small but very populated
* Ancient history of South Yorkshire - from the iron age to the Romans
* Mediaeval Castles and Outlaws
* The industrial revolution - steel, coal, water, and flooding
* The rise of Trades Unions
* "The People's Republic Of South Yorkshire"
* A green and sporting city
* Experience Barnsley
* Quirky little places you may not know
* What it feels like to have moved here as an adult
* The Dearne Valley, past and present
* The Great Outdoors

Contributions in this episode come from:
* Author Judith Watkins
* Writer, editor & creative coach Letty Butler
* Annie, who posts pictures on Instagram at No Hurry Be Happy
* Author Stephen Mellor
* My friends Bea and Green
* Punk Poet Christina Hogg

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

This podcast is on Festivals, and as we're coming up to the season where people are likely planning their summer, this feels quite pertinent. It came off the back of my episode from last year about Travelling For Music, where I got a couple of contribs that made me think a dedicated episode on festivals would be a good idea.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* The weather in 2012
* The delights of camping 
* My history of attenting festivals (Off The Tracks, Cropredy, Barefoot)
* Music festivals in town centres
* Local beer festivals
* The Great British Beer Festival
* Volunteering at festivals
* The price and future of festivals

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Contributions in this pod come from Lucy (Absolutely Lucy), Fizz (On The Fly Blog), and two friends (Viv and Peter)

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

And so to the second part of 'let's make a podcast that's going to cause more unfollowers than followers'. Mind you, let's be honest, I've had several podcast episodes like that, and nothing untoward has happened. Maybe I should be more controversial. There again.

I wasn't originally sure what to do for this episode. I toyed with the idea of doing one on 'ancient and mediaeval Travel Bloggers you need to know about', but I realised it would require far too much research in the time I had available. However using the very first one, Hanno The Navigator, as a 'hook', I realised I could go down a very different path, which combines history, Instagram, and ethical behaviour, but not in the way you might expect.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* A very brief housekeeping update
* The voyage of Hanno The Navigator
* Issues with the surviving account of Hanno's voyage
* Why everyone should take more selfies
* The South Sea Bubble
* History is elitist and biased
* Why editing photographs isn't that bad really
* Hanoi's Train Street
* Geotagging and the problem of lost cities
* Recording the mundane, from pencil sharpeners to Friendship Books
* Viking helmets don't have horns

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

There are no contributions in this pod, it's just my voice.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

Of course it’s the New Year, and as such, the travel world is plastered with lists of ‘where to go in 2024’, ‘best places to visit in 2024’, and the like. Now, I have to say I’ve never been terribly fond of these sorts of things on a fundamental level for a number of reasons. I mean, sure they provide a good quick way of inspiring people, especially people who are relatively new to travel, but sometimes I feel that they tend to be quite … well, have a listen and see if you agree with me.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* Back to Glasgow for re-coloured hair
* My eyes are getting old
* Time Out's "The World’s Best Cities For 2024"
* Great Cities are Big and Western
* Forbes' "Where To Travel And Avoid The Crowds In 2024"
* What does 'lesser-visited' even mean?
* British Vogue's "Best Places To Travel in 2024"
* National Geographic's "The Cool List 2024" - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/uk-cool-list-2024
* CNN's "Best Destinations To Visit in 2024" - https://edition.cnn.com/travel/best-destinations-to-visit-2024/index.html 
* Conclusions

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

There are no contributions in this pod, it's just my voice.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

Influencer Integrity. It's a topic often discussed online, but what does it mean? Does it matter if travel bloggers spend most of their time being paid to promote products, if they're open about it? Would you trust a travel blogger to sell you a destination? And do you have to be paid to be an influencer anyway? All these questions, and more, may not be answered. I also look at whether influencers are allowed to be critical of a destination, or even if they're obliged to be honest to the extent of being critical, where it's necessary.

As well as personal housekeeping (antibiotics, meeting a friend in York), topics discussed include:
* What is an influencer anyway? Aren't we all influencers, really?
* Recommendations and 'are you getting a benefit from that?'
* Is it different for celebrities who do adverts?
* Press Trips and 'when things don't align with my brand ethics' (part one)
* I Don't Like Italy And This Is Why
* Other Places That Are Not Loved
* The importance of being earnest about your experiences
* Press Trips and 'when things don't align with my brand ethics' (part two)
* What does The Barefoot Backpacker stand for?

Contributions in this episode come from:
* Morgan and Prachi (AlienEating)
* Kate-Frankie (This Could Lead To Anywhere)
* TravelLightBlog
* Laura Lundahl
* Amanda (Not A Ballerina)

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

Yeh, I’ve not podded for a while. Had an existential crisis. Still have. It’s fine. Conditional normal. With fog patches. Rising slowly.

This episode is all about me, a couple of events I've been to in the past couple of months, and how my content might change in scope going forward. Because I am the UK's leading AroAce Non-Binary Gen-X Travel and Lifestyle Blogger. Arguably.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* Small things I did in November
* The Traverse Creator Awards 2024
* What is the World Travel Market (WTM)?
* What I should do at WTM v what I actually do
* My niches
* Attending WTM as a non-binary travel blogger
* Getting old
* Being assumed female in a pub

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

There are no contributions in this episode, however I nicked from my appearance on Amanda Kendle's podcast her opening and closing remarks either side of my contrib.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

This is Part Two of my podcast episode on London. It was originally going to be the second half but I realised London was bigger than I expected (!), so there's going to be an episode three. In this episode I look at those boroughs northwest of the river, many of which, it turns out, are not well known even amongst my Travel Twitter friends.

Topics discussed include:
* Merry Christmas
* A welcome back to Laura
* The problems of obtaining a covid booster vaccine
* Hounslow - Country Houses and Strange Museums
* Hillingdon - Lots of visitors but very few visits
* Harrow - Posh schools and All The Religions. Drive carefully
* Ealing - Where Comedy meets North Korea, via the Punjab
* Brent - The Hindu Times
* Barnet - Where people go when they die
* Enfield - For when being in Barnet isn't dead enough
* Haringey - Food, drink, and ... more food

There's a contribution in this episode from Char, at Memoirs and Musings. In addition, the intro comment is courtesy of Roobens, at Been Around The Globe.

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

This podcast comes off the back of another press-trip I was sent on by Jet2. This time me and Laura went to Austria to explore the Christmas Markets. While we were there we did a few other things, not all of which involved alcohol.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* Pills and Snow
* What is a Christmas Market anyway
* Our impressions of six of them
* Things to eat and drink
* Things to do at and around the markets
* Schönbrunn Palace
* A Night At The Opera
* Lots of dead musicians
* How to ride the U-Bahn

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

There are no contributions in this episode.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

I've been acutely aware for a while that most of my podcast is me talking, despite my inclusion of contributions as vox-pops, so I've always fancied doing a bit of an experiment. Many other podcasts are either interview-based or are two or three people chatting amongst each other, and I wondered if I ought to try out the same style for an episode to see if it worked. The opportunity arose in casual conversation with my friend Alexei, from https://travelexx.com, so here we go.

Following on from my last episode about Luggage, me and Alexei have a bit of a natter in more detail about what each of us finds important in travel luggage and what we pack. Many tangents ensued, only some of which made the final cut ...

Sexuality is a broad spectrum, but not every country in the world appreciates or accepts this. In this episode I talk about my own sexuality (or indeed, lack of it), and how it affects me when I travel. You'll also hear from a few other people on their experiences on travelling as an alternative sexuality.

Hello :)

It's coming up to Valentine's Day (and Quirkyalone Day), so this feels like the right time to issue an episode all about love, sex, and illicit encounters while travelling. Obviously there's content warnings in here, mainly for, well, sex and kink, but I do always try to keep it quite light-hearted. One might well ask how an AroAce can talk so much about this subject. Well.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* Full Swap Radio
* Meeting people in backpacker hostels
* Dating apps
* Why I don't use dating apps but might use hookup apps
* Staying safe on the road
* Interesting hookups I've had on the road
* Good and bad dating app experiences from contributors
* Long Distance Relationships
* Relationship Admin

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Contributions in this pod come from: Maja (Away With Maja), Kylie (Between England), and my friend Kitty.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

This month has included Pronoun Day, Coming Out Day, and Asexual Awareness Week, amongst other things. It's been a big month for self-awareness. Following on from my previous episode on 'Coming Out' to yourself with neurodiversity, this episode is on 'Coming Out' to yourself with a non-standard sexual or gender identity. I also go into some of the mental health concerns, and talk about how very often coming out to yourself makes you realise the clues had been there for years, it was just a case of recognising them for what they were.

Topics discussed include:
* What I did last weekend (it involved beer and broken planes)
* 'Coming Out' to myself as Asexual
* Little boxes, little boxes ...
* 'Coming Out' to myself as Demiboy Non-Binary
* Cultural Appropriation and being 'enough'
* How having a good community around you helps
* The benefits of a good pronoun
* Compulsive Heterosexuality is still a sexuality
* The overlap between sexuality and mental health issues
* Coming Out' to others as Asexual, compared with being Lesbian and Religious
* I don't want to make a scene about it all
* 'The Clues Were There And I Really Should Have Known'
* I'm really not a typical occupant of a male body
* Would it have made any difference had I realised earlier?

Contributions in this episode come from: Sarah and Kayla (the two hosts of the Sounds Fake But Okay podcast); my friend Kira; Miranda Knudtson from Instagram; and an online friend called Katelyn.

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

Well, that was an unexpectedly long break. To be honest I wasn't planning it but I did kind of need it. But just in case you needed confirmation: Everything Has Been All Right. So far at least.

Anyway, this episode is a short one, just in part to let you know I'm still alive, partly to give you an indication of what to look forward to in the new series of episodes, for a given definition of series, and mainly to give you a housekeeping life update. There's also a call-to-action for future episodes. Normal service will be resumed next time. For a given definition of normal. 

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

This is the recording of the third Twitter Spaces that I did with my friend V, in late February. At this point, we're starting to get a feel for the format, and doing a bit more preparation in advance so I'm not so fazed by the questions. They're also getting longer – we allocate an hour when we plan it and we're pretty much now hitting that target rather than falling a few minutes short.

This session is on Staying Healthy While Travelling, and I probably should give you a couple of content warnings in advance, including descriptions of foot injuries near the start (that content warning is purely for one person, who may like to know that discussion takes place between about 4m20 and 7m40 after the theme tune ends), and a lengthy discussion about diarrhoea towards the end (47m52 after the theme tune ends). I mean, it could be worse; I listen to a podcast called 'Not So Bon Voyage' which has a regular interview segment about this very subject.

Usual disclaimer, be aware this conversation took place over the phone, so the audio quality won't be as great as my normal podcast episodes. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy it!

Topics discussed include:
* What I carry in a first-aid kit
* Toe injuries
* Bug repellents and tropical diseases
* Anti-Malarials and Vaccinations
* Wildlife, from elephants to badgers
* Healthcare and injuries abroad
* Being run down from too much travel too quickly
* Altitude and climatic issues
* Exercise on the move
* Safe drinking water
* Preventing food-related issues
* Toilet habits on the Hike Across Great Britain
* Most uncomfortable toilet adventures abroad
* Best and worst toilet paper substitutes

I was interviewed by the lovely Victoria, but you can call her V.

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

I recently had a week and a half in Malta. This was for two reasons; firstly, my friend Laura wanted to get away for the Easter Weekend, because she believed it would be infinitely better than staying at home, and she'd never been to Malta. Secondly, the weekend after, there was a video content creation conference run by Traverse and I figured if I was going to be there anyway, I might as well pop along.

I'd been to Malta before, back in January 2017, and I'd always meant to do some blogs about my visit - indeed at the time I did some microblogging on Instagram - but I never got round to doing fuller posts. Once I knew I was going again, it made perfect sense to plan a podcast episode that merged together both trips.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* Further leg updates
* Flight issues
* The Traverse KeyFrame Conference
* Expectations of Malta
* Ancient temples
* Gozo's Citadella
* A brief history of Malta
* All Along The Watchtowers
* Fort St Angelo
* World War Two
* Dingli Cliffs and Dwejra Bay
* The Salt Pans of Marsalforn
* Maltese beaches
* "A European Israel"
* Traffic and problems being a pedestrian
* The quiet backstreets
* The old town of Mdina
* Marsaxlokk
* The Co-Cathedrals of Malta
* A very small Cristo Redentor
* Maltese craft beer and wine
* Italian-esque food
* A watery irn-bru
* The Maltese Bus service
* Ferries across the harbour and beyond
* People
* The Maltese Football Premier League

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

Here's a link to the Extreme Holidays Podcast I appeared on, that I mention in the episode.

Contributions in this episode come from:
Steph (A Nomad's Passport), and
Richard (Imkeepsake)

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

This episode details the second half of my 2-week backpacking trip around South America in October 2024 - this one covers Iguzau Falls and Paraguay. Because everyone wants to go to Paraguay.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* Admin caused by a lost phone
* The Jesuit Ruins of Argentina and Paraguay
* The German influence of SE Paraguay
* Iguazu Falls (both sides)
* Ciudad del Este and the absence of the Brazil border
* Asunción is interesting (derog.)

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

There are no contributions in this podcast, and the intro noise is the sound of the Devil's Throat (Argentina Side) at Iguazu Falls.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

I've had a bit of a residual cold-type bug this week and I've been feeling quite fatigued (but apparently it wasn't covid), so I'm a few days later than planned with this episode. In addition, I had trouble getting time writing it so I persuaded V to chat with me about it in our old Twitter Space format. Which isn't ideal but does at least still seem to work.

It's about my recent trip to Lake Como and Milan in Italy, looking at how it felt to travel to a place that had never been really on my radar much. Although it had been on Laura's radar, which is why we went. I talk about the scenery, the food, the weather, and that despite its reputation, we didn't see anyone famous in Bellagio.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* Let's start in Redbridge
* Why did we go to Italy? [Spoiler - Laura's idea]
* The benefits of rebooking a cancelled return flight
* Illness caused by Stansted Airport
* My expectations of Lake Como
* Where we stayed in Lake Como and Milan
* Getting around Lake Como (bus, train, and mainly ferry)
* How it felt to eat Italian food in Italy
* ... and random West African food
* The weather - including some great thunderstorms
* Travels with my still-injured leg
* Why did you visit Bergamo?
* And why did you visit Milan?
* Why I wore a skirt in Milan Cathedral
* Would I go to Lake Como again?
* Could you visit as a disabled traveller?
* Youtube Shorts videos are scheduled in the next few days

A PDF transcript of this episode is not yet available, because it requires me transcribing it and I don't have the spoons for that yet. I'll update when I do.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

As a reminder, V's website can be found here.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

This episode is not about travel; it's in the same vein as my recent episode (Ep 32) on Asexuality Awareness, in that it talks about personal identity, but this one is more focused on gender rather than sexual orientation.

Part of the first half is a re-reading of my post about toxic masculinity; I realised I'd never podded it before on here and this seemed like a very apt time to talk about it, given how I then go on to how it affects the way I see myself and my own gender. As someone who'd be holistically classed as Assigned Male At Birth (AMAB), it's always been hard to express pride in being male since there's so much about the culture that irks me, but recently I think I've found a nice niche to slide into.

Other than toxic masculinity, I talk about gender aesthetics, several stripey Pride Flags, the overlap between asexuality and gender identity questioning, and how people like me are surprisingly rare.

Additionally, there's a have a new podcast feature in the middle. See if you can spot what it is!

A transcript of this episode is available at https://barefoot-backpacker.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Podcast-035-Toxic-Masculinity-and-Pride-In-Your-Gender.pdf

The podcast has a Facebook Group dedicated to it: https://www.facebook.com/groups/travel.tales.beyond.brochure/?ref=website

I also have a Patreon, if you want to pay to access rare extra content (or just because you think it's a nice thing to do): https://www.patreon.com/traveltalesbeyondbrochurepod

My next episode should be out on Thursday 25th Febuary.

Happy QuirkyAlone Day, btw!

Many travellers talk about having a "Bucket List", a list of places to see and things to do before they die. In this pod I talk a bit about the concept, then go into some details about my version - the 'anti-bucket list' of places I actively don't see myself visiting. I must stress this is my own opinion, and of course your mileage will vary.

Hello!

In my last couple of episodes, I spoke at length about my adventures with Inter-Railing, firstly about the trip I did back in 2000, and then a quick overview of where I went in the 2019 trip. In this episode though, I talk a bit more in general about travelling Europe, mainly by train, as a concept, including accommodation, food & drink, budgeting (kind of), and travelling as an older backpacker.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* Recent forays onto YouTube
* Travelling by train across Europe, including overnight
* Why I went for a full Inter-Rail adventure in 2019
* Staying in hostels and AirBnBs
* European beer
* Restaurants we have visited and liked
* Things that went wrong for me on my trips
* Things that went wrong for Lix on our trip
* Backpacking as an older person
* How I don't budget for my travels
* Apparently I'm okay to travel with

The Humans of the Trail podcast episode I appeared on is here.

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Contributions in this podcast come from:
* Matthew Woodward (On The Rails)
* Amanda Kendle (Not A Ballerina)
* Lix Hewett - who has no website yet

Until next time, bye for now. :)

West Africa. It's not a region that is high on the list of many backpackers, and I think that's a real shame as there's so much here of interest.

I've recently been posting blog posts and written a travelogue about the adventures I had in the region a few years back, so it made perfect sense to do a podcast on it too.

This is the first of two episodes about the region though, as when I was writing it I realised I had so much to talk about, plus of course contributions from other travellers to the region, that I felt I'd be better off splitting it out. So, in the follow-up episode next time, I'll talk about a couple of specifics before handing the pod over to my friends and followers who have recorded their experiences for me.

In this episode though it's pretty much entirely me (sorry!) and I talk a bit about travel, accommodation, food, scenery, and religion.

Hello!

As a traveller, trains are by far my favourite form of transport. I find them comfortable, I like that I can just get up and walk around if I want to, I get a decent amount of legroom, and I can spend my time looking out the window at the passing scenery, which is invariably far more interesting than what the view out of a plane window. It's also the only form of transport I can sleep on in my seat, never mind the trains I've taken in the ex-Soviet states with flat bunk beds.

It's probably no suprise to learn then that one of my first travel adventures was very much centred on train travel. Back in 2000, me and my then fiancée Laure (originally a penpal of mine from France) did a trip using an inter-rail ticket around Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. This episode takes an overview of this trip, but also contrasting how travel blogging, the way I travel personally, and travel itself, has changed over the decades since.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* How I'm still injured from Parkrun
* Background to our InterRail trip in the year 2000
* The ongoing issue of booking reservations for Spanish trains
* Why is it so difficult to travel to Santiago de Compostela on Easter Sunday? Ah ...
* Watching foreign television
* Do Your Research Part 2: Revolution
* ... I can tell you about the food but not about anything else!
* It's not a scam, it just feels like it (twice)
* Travels 'Beyond The Brochure' even in 2000
* Western stereotyping
* The malefits and malefits of film cameras
* Online mapping is a very useful tool
* Gosh! A museum!
* It's amazing how much we didn't do; a very fast form of slow travel
* Dial-up internet and a lack of useful websites

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

While on my recent trip around the Southern Hemisphere, I spent almost four weeks travelling around the islands of Vanuatu. It's not a country that many people outside Oceania know much about, so I wanted to give an overview and flavour of the country and relate my experiences there. It's definitely a country 'beyond the brochure'.

Hello :)

This episode details the first half of my 2-week backpacking trip around South America in October 2024 - this one covers Uruguay and Buenos Aires. The rest of the trip will follow in my next episode. My voice doesn't really sound that great today, and I'm not quite sure why.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* I went to Chester to meet my mother!
* Why did I go to South America?
* First impressions of Montevideo
* The old town, the promenade, and the street market
* My accommodation in Montevideo
* Uruguayan cash flow issues
* Colonia del Sacramento
* San Telmo and the pub that trolls
* The Parisian aesthetic of Buenos Aires
* How aroace dyspraxics get to dance the Tango

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

There are no contributions in this podcast, but the intro was recorded by someone called Dorhel in San Telmo market, and posted to FreeSound.org. I don't have any recordings of Tango. Listen to the pod to find out why!

Also, in case you're interested. here's Sasha Cagen's website and Tango discussions.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

As some of you know, I spent four days in early January 2023 on Jury Service. Now, I don't know how many of you listening have ever been called, and in any case some of the concepts seem to work differently depending on legal jurisdiction, so I thought it might be interesting to talk about some of that on this podcast. Plus it beats me nattering about Reddit or something. I don't know.

Although I don't talk too specifically about the case, I'd like to be open about potential content warnings about crime and victims, but I talk more about that in the podcast itself. The bit to avoid is between about 27:50 and 33:55. Otherwise, grab some biscuits and pretend you're listening to Law & Order: Special Brew Unit.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* New Year, new Google Analytics
* Housekeeping - future trips, future pods, future YouTubes
* Why I'm not cut out for yoga
* How you get selected for Jury Service
* No you can't do Jury Service barefoot
* Everything's a surprise until you get there
* The purpose of a jury
* What is evidence and what is not evidence
* The layout of the courtroom and who's who in it
* The expected course of a trial
* How a jury reaches its verdict
* Very brief points about my trial
* How I felt afterwards, including acute loneliness

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

As I'm currently away on a backpacking trip around South-East Asia, it makes sense to issue a podcast episode about the previous time I went to this part of the world (mainland, anyway, not the many islands off the coast) - back in 2012 to Laos and Cambodia. This episode is specifically about the Laos part of the trip; the subsequent Cambodian adventure will be my featured in next podcast.

A PDF transcript of this podcast will be available when I return, for ... admin reasons.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

So, it's April 2020, and all those plans you had for this year, all those places you were going to travel to, all those experiences ... but yeh, we still have hope, right?

This episode takes a look at travel hopes, at what we think the future of travel will be, and where we hope to go once all this is over.

[I also have a slight rant about yoga, but humour me!]

I make a reference to Jess (The Crown Wings) blog post about travel writing during the virus during the pod, so there's your link.

Contributions this time are from:

• Riana at 'Teaspoon Of Adventure'


• Lucy from 'Absolutely Lucy'


• Ken of 'Traveling With A Chair'


• Kate-Frankie from 'This Could Lead To Anywhere'


• Nat from 'NatPacker Travel'

Hello!

This episode is a little unusual. See, it's occurred to me that in the spring of 2014, I did a backpacking trip around the western edges of what when I was growing up was the Soviet Union. And it seemed like an apt time to talk about it, given not only events in that region at the time of recording, but also considering the background to the current situation in the region pretty much effectively started only a month or two before my trip.

My visit took me from Romania, which doesn't count for this pod so I haven't mentioned it save in passing, into Moldova and Transnistria, then a hop into Ukraine, followed by trains to Belarus and then Lithuania. I would say: I'm giving you this travelogue as a memorial of more peaceful times, but as we shall hear, that was not the case.

Topics discussed include:
* Twitter Spaces update & the disappearence of Episode Numbers
* Soon I will have a newsletter!
* Background to my 2014 trip to Eastern Europe
* An overview of trains in the ex-USSR
* A couple of days in Chisinau, Moldova
* One full day in Tiraspol, Transnistria
* Why I didn't go to Odesa
* Kyiv after the revolution
* How Minsk (Belarus) didn't look as I expected it to
* The World Ice-Hockey Championships
* My first career-break-era mental health crash
* How I found Vilnius (Lithuania) relaxing and pleasant
* Why I was barefoot in Vilnius
* Notes from a much smaller international train
* Surviving on potatoes and cabbage

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

So, despite recently moving out of Salford, I felt it was an interesting enough place to do a podcast about. Partly because 'Everywhere is Interesting' and my VA wanted me to prove it. And what could be more interesting than the location of the world's first municipal public park, the world's first bus route, the world's first street lighting, and the world's only canal swing bridge. And the UK's most polluted river, but let's not talk about that, and anyway the other half of it is in Manchester.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* Running along country lanes
* A potted history of the Salford area
* Salford Central ... isn't
* Salford Quays - the posh bit
* Canals and Rivers and Bridges and Hotels
* Old and Listed Buildings
* Peel Park
* Vimto
* A short overview of Salford Pop-Culture from The Smiths to Coronation Street
* Salford Firsts

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over. For this pod I've uploaded about 9 mins of extra content all about Salford's pubs, which I thought would make the episode too long for no real advantage, but which I might use in a future episode. Who knows!

There are no contributions in this episode, although my VA does purposely misrhythm a song lyric at the beginning.

Here, by the way, is my YouTube Short about Salford Lad's Club.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

This is not, strictly speaking, a Podcast episode, although it'll be the first of a regular series.

As you may know, a couple of months ago, an old friend from Primary School days approached me with a thought. She's now a schoolteacher herself and her class was looking at travel writing, so she asked if I'd be willing to answer a few questions that her class would put to me, to help them in their lesson. I of course agreed, so they all went away and researched me, and she came back to me about a week later with a list of questions that her class were curious about, regarding my travels, why I started travelling and writing, and about interesting things that had happened to me along the way.

I wasn't sure the best way of answering them, whether in a specific writing to them, or a blog post, or something. But then my VA had an idea. She'd been looking at the idea of Twitter Spaces for a while. These are akin to audio discussion panels, with a host and speakers, broadcast live on Twitter so people can listen in to them and join in if the host allows. Because I have a podcast anyway, she thought that doing something audio-wise would be the most comfortable way of answering the questions, and we could check out this new social media while we do. Two birds, one stone, kind of thing.

This, then, is the recording of the first Twitter Space we did, answering the questions from my friend's school class. When editing it I noticed at times the quality of the recording dips slightly in a couple of places when I speak, but hopefully it won't affect your listening pleasure, and be aware too the original Spaces conversation took place over a mobile phone rather than through the computer.

Hope you enjoy!

Topics discussed include:
* What prompted me to become a travel writer/podcaster
* Obligatory subtweet to my mother
* Why I had a gun pointed at me in Palestine
* I remembered Timor-Leste as a student so it was nice to see what we were fighting for
* Why it's taken me 9 years to write about Middlesbrough
* Travelling and exploring locally
* Tea, Marmite, and Greggs: food and drink while travelling
* Where would I like to go next? Obligatory 'I will get to Bolivia one day' reference
* Kiribati and the stereotype of the South Pacific
* How I cope with social anxiety when arriving in a new place
* What is a penpal and why did I visit one in a warzone?
* Crossing a border illegally. Once by accident
* Why I like Benin. And Voodoo.
* Places where I had to wear closed shoes
* Barefooting in Belgium, West Africa, and through mud

I was interviewed by the lovely Victoria, but you can call her V.

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Ever wondered about the meaning and concept behind my name of "The Barefoot Backpacker"? In this pod I go into detail about why I'll often travel barefoot, how it feels, why it doesn't hurt as much as you'd imagine (even while taking the roads less travelled), and admit why I don't do it all the time. Note this is the very first podcast I've recorded. Included too is an introduction to who I am and my background of travel, plus a small overview of the city of Vilnius, in Lithuania.

This week's podcast episode is all about the history of Apartheid in South Africa, from Cecil Rhodes' rule in Cape Colony in the 1890s all the way to Nelson Mandela's presidency a century later.

I would at this point talk a bit more about the pod, but there are more important things to talk about right now, which are unfortunately related. While Apartheid itself might be history, racist feelings are alive and well, across much of the world.

Some resources to bear in mind:

• Teen Vogue - How to take anti-racist action


• Minnesota Freedom Fund - supporting Black youth-led movements and providing legal suppport


• Sign the Petition to call for justice for George Floyd


• Black and White: Unconscious Bias, the Police, and America, by Laura Lundahl


• Overview of UK's Immigrant Policy and the "Hostile Environment", by Laura Lundahl

The sample at the start of the pod is taken from the Freedom Archives website and is, of course, part of Nelson Mandela's speech on being released from prison.

-----

Remember, I have a Facebook group for the pod if you want to join the community.

I also now have a Patreon! If you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over to my page and donate to me!

Hello :)

This is the recording of the seventh Twitter Spaces that I did with my friend V.

This edition is on hiking; including: the sort of places I like to hike, what I take with me, problems I've encountered on my hikes, and a brief discussion on how apt my internet brand name is. We also discuss why cows are evil, and taking toilet breaks across internal national borders.

Usual disclaimer, be aware this conversation took place over the phone and is recorded via my computer's internal audio card, so the quality won't be as great as my normal podcast episodes. I'm also aware that every time I typed on my keyboard, you could hear it in the recording. On-line real-time research, gotta love it!

Topics discussed include:
* What I mean by hiking
* Hills in the UK I've climbed and loved
* Good and bad scenery I've walked through
* What I carry on day hikes
* Stuff I take on multi-day hikes, including not many clothes
* The joys of camping food and drinking water
* Maps - paper versus electronic maps, and route planning
* Getting lost, disappearing trails, and getting obstructed en route
* Travelling solo v travelling with others
* Overview of the Yorkshire Three Peaks
* Accommodation on multi-day hikes & finding places to camp
* Cows are evil
* Why and how I hike barefoot
* The benefits and malefits of hiking barefoot
* Dealing with bad weather. Usually rain.
* Walking round the suburbs & the city streets
* Wild toileting
* My longest hikes
* Is there a difference between a hike and a walk
* How would I start hiking if I'd never done it before

I was interviewed by the lovely Victoria, but you can call her V.

A PDF transcript of this episode will be available shortly.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. You can also sign up to my newsletter and find out about future podcasts and recent blog posts.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

Well, this is an unusual episode in several ways, but the main one is the relative lack of personal updates and housekeeping. If you want to know what I’ve been up to this past month, now would be a great time to sign up to my monthly Newsletter, deets below!

Now, I’m aware I don’t talk about my background or my family much, save for the occasional regular subtweet to my my mother. But anyway. A couple of years after I was born, my mother re-married. And Gary, the chap she married, had an interesting job – he was a refrigeration engineer in the Merchant Navy. While he’s long since left that role (he had some twenty-five years since doing the same role for a large supermarket chain specialising in frozen foods), this was how I first knew him, and thus may have been a childhood influence on my travels.

And it occurred to me, after I’d done a few of my podcasts, that it would make an interesting episode – it’s travel-related, it’s a historic snapshot of a life that’s very different now, and above all, it’s not something I think many of you would necessarily know about. I certainly didn’t know a lot about it growing up, and as you’ll hear, there’s probably some reasons for that. So a couple of years ago I went to visit, took my laptop and microphone, and set about interviewing him all about his life and his adventures. The full 2hr 11min interview is available on my Patreon, along with some images of the ships he served on.

Note he has a strong accent and a slightly fluid way of speaking. This did not help the transcription.

Topics discussed include:
* What is the Merchant Navy and why he joined
* Seasickness and bad weather
* What problems could occur en route
* How big the ships he served on were, and how they were structured
* What the working life was life, and who he served with
* Food and drink on board
* How he'd pass the time on long journeys
* Shore leave and visiting off-brochure places
* The Merchant Navy now

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

If you travel, the chances are you'll cross a border at some point, even if it's just as simple as going from one local authority area to another. Yet borders are important and significant lines on the map, and even the smallest can be notable.

Borders have always fascinated me, as they're at 'the edge', so everything beyond them can be seen as 'new', and 'shiny'. In this podcast, I talk about my experiences of crossing borders, along with a few of my online friends, and how each border is different and even the crossing of the same border can feel very different to different people.

This is the first in a two-part discussion on borders - the next pod is about the political aspects of borders, how some of them came about, how people feel about them, and what they mean for the people who try to cross them.

It's not been a while since my last pod ...

This is another pod partly about the history of Yorkshire. I give a very quick overview on The Wars Of The Roses, the civil war that took place in England in the mid-late 15th Century between the royal houses of Lancaster and York.

Before I get onto that, however, I talk about numbers stations and give quite a bit of information about how to encode messages via radio broadcasts.

The only connection between the two is simply that's where my mind's been this week :D

Don't forget, my podcast has a Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/travel.tales.beyond.brochure/?ref=podcast

Also, if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over to my Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/traveltalesbeyondbrochurepod

As per my previous episode, this is the second of two broadcasts about West Africa. This one is more about you though - the bulk of the episode is three contributions from some of my Twitter friends who have also been around the region, and they've given me their observations and thoughts.

Their experiences were also generally different from mine - one person studied there for a year, while another drove through the whole region in a highly-unsuitable car.

Hello!

This episode is all about my recent trip to France. I've not long returned from around 10 days going around Annecy, Lyon, and Paris with my friend Laura, and I thought it made sense to do a pod about it. Partly this is because it was my first trip abroad since both Covid and full Brexit had kicked in. And partly because it was an easy episode to do that didn't require any real effort or sourcing contributions, because obviously I didn't record a pod in advance.

Topics discussed include:
* Hair Dye - I have purple hair again
* The background to why I went, and how it's weird two of my good friends have the same birthday
* Getting proof of Covid vaccinations, and how we didn't need them in the end
* Baguettes for breakfast
* Kebabs for dinner
* Local food from Lyon and Senegal
* I don't like sharing beds
* The joys of cheap hotels on the edge of nowhere
* Flying in the age of delays, cancellations, and being a third-country national
* Bus stations are ugly and unhelpful
* The Paris Metro has unhelpfully-named stations
* Finding flowers but not water-lilies in Giverny
* Getting sunburn in Annecy
* French old towns are quite pretty
* Loud music in Roman ruins
* Cities with rivers running through them
* Disused railway lines and gold-covered buildings
* A million dead people, but in a good way

There are no contributions in this pod, but my friend Laura gets a lot of mentions.

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I also have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Exploring "The Great Outdoors" is a wonderful experience for me, especially hiking through the countryside. In this episode I'll discuss what it means to me, and how "Saying Yes More" to my inner feelings has inspired me to take on a pretty intense hiking challenge.

Hello!

As you know, I'm always touting the idea of Hometown Travel, and exploring places close to home. Remember, people travel across the world to visit other cities but other people travel across the world to visit yours. Everywhere is interesting, And of course many people might not be able to visit places far away, but still want to enjoy the experience of travel and discovering somewhere new.

I've been living in Glasgow for two years, and I've walked round a lot of it, using the many railway stations as waypoints, It seems logical therefore to talk about some of the things close to where I currently live, and there's a convenient railway line that loops around my local area to follow. This is the Cathcart Circle, and I figured each of the ten stations on it has enough to fill a podcast. Indeed, a few could probably manage a podcast on their own, but I am not the Roundel Round We Go Podcast and I'd argue there's less call for an entire pod on the Glasgow suburban rail network than the London Underground.

But what do I know?

Topics covered on this podcast include:
* Google Analytics 4
* My future on Twitter
* Introduction to the Cathcart Circle
* Pollokshields East - theatre, gardens, and Sikhs
* Queen's Park - clue's in the name
* Crosshill - dead football stadiums
* Mount Florida - alive football stadiums
* Cathcart - parks, bridges, waterfalls, country houses
* Langside - Instagrammable houses and a very short battle
* Pollokshaws East - old buildings and benevolent Tories
* Shawlands - Pollok Country Park
* Maxwell Park - expensive villas and international cricket
* Pollokshields West - tenement housing and community spirit
* Crossmyloof - a free gift, and a building that moved

There are no contributions in this episode, but I am thankful to Scotrail, the organisation that runs the railways in Scotland, for putting all their recorded station announcements into the public domain last year. I may, may, have taken liberties with it.

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

This is Part Three of my podcast episode on London. This concludes my journey around London, and in this episode I look at those boroughs northeast of the river. It appears that again, few of these boroughs are that well known, even by me.

Topics discussed include:
* A holiday period of beer and underwhelming activities
* Dungarees and running. Not at the same time
* Islington - Monopoly and Transport
* Hackney - Old churches and even older theatres. And football
* Waltham Forest - Where your grandmother got her fashion ideas from
* Newham - Luton-on-the-Thames
* Redbridge - ... where? The borough that meets all your #OneHourOutside needs
* Dagenham & Redbridge - Let's take a ride in the Ford tonight, in suburbia
* Havering - Little England

There are two contributions in this episode. Jess, from Jess Travels, talks about Havering, while the introduction (the longest yet, I believe) is provided by Nat from Natpacker Travel.

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Do You Remember The First Time? No, I'm not talking about sex, though for some people it's something that happens at a similar time. Possibly at the same time, though I'm also not talking about holiday romances. That might be a future pod, but it's a subject I know nothing at all about, so probably not.

Rather, in this episode I talk about first travel experiences, and where the 'travel bug' comes from, because it must all come from somewhere, right?

As well as personal housekeeping (covid jabs, walking round Sheffield, voice recording), topics discussed include:
* Travel as a parental influence, and parents who travelled
* My step-dad in the Merchant Navy
* Maps and encyclopaedias
* My first trip abroad, to Denmark
* Family holidays in Scotland
* The effect of having penpals
* The Grand Tour, Gap Years, and Inter-Railing
* Yugoslavia, 1994
* "This Could Lead To Anywhere"

Contributions in this episode come from:
* Amanda (Not A Ballerina)
* Roo (Roo Loves Travel)
* Kylie (Between England And Iowa)
* Nat (NatPacker Travel)
* Kate-Frankie (This Could Lead To Anywhere)

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

This episode is all about myths & legends from around the world. Or at least, mostly around the UK, Ireland, and Michigan. Myths and legends might be hyper-local, specific to one town, or they might be known worldwide with the very name invoking an instant impression. They could even be the driving force behind an entire cultural identity and assumed history. Whatever they were, they're fascinating insights into a place and the people who live in it.

Topics discussed include:
* My recent trips to London and hiking the Yorkshire Three Peaks
* The tale of the Nain Rouge, Detroit, USA
* Other legends of Michigan (Dog Man, Melonheads, Pressie)
* My uncle's music collection is stuck in 1973
* The tales of Tam Lin and Matty Groves
* Lebor Gabala Erenn
* The myths and legends of the Ulster Cycle, with apologies for my bad pronunciations
* Take Good Care Of Your Cows
* What the ancient Ulster capital of Emain Macha looks like now
* Selkies. And Kelpies.
* La Llorona, and why children should stay away from water
* The tale of the Wizard of the Edge
* What do you mean Sherwood Forest is a real place?
* Robin Hood, Sheffield's biggest export
* Some myths are just a tax-avoidance scam

Contributions to this episode come from:
* Nat, from Natpacker Travel
* My friend Dayna, who doesn't have a web presence
* Author Joanna Hastings, who can be found on Twitter
* My co-conspiratior Victoria Pearson

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I'll also soon have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

This is the recording of the ninth edition of my semi-regular Twitter Space sessions.

This was recorded back in July but I've only just got round to issuing it as a podcast episode. We had a long chat about hometown travel: how you can and why you should. And while it helps to have a sizeable hometown, something interesting can be found in even the smallest village.

Usual disclaimer, be aware this conversation took place over the phone and is then recorded directly from playback on Twitter, through my sound editing software, Audacity. Which I realised the other day is the digital equivalent of taping a song off the radio; very definitely quite old-school. At least I'm not using a physical tape recorder for this.

Topics discussed include:
* Why would you travel in your home town?
* What do you on holiday? Why not just do that close to home?
* Some people go on holiday to the place where you live
* Looking at things as if it were the first time
* I've always walked down roads just to see where they go
* How I use railway stations as waypoints
* Things to look out for when you step out your door
* Libraries and Tourist Information Offices help for inspiration
* Interesting things are often relative and subjective
* Sometimes even locals don't know what's in a town
* How to plan a trip around your hometown
* The practical advantages of being able to use your home as base
* Living in a place gives you time to thoroughly explore it
* How hometown travel can be a cheap trip
* Reasons why Milton Keynes (a large town) is interesting
* Reasons why Kirkby-in-Ashfield (a small town) is interesting
* How to eat like a local, when most locals eat at home. Or the takeaway
* Always look out for local specialities
* The Rhubarb Triangle, for all your forced rhubarb needs
* What to pack for a trip around your hometown
* How not to get lost while wandering your hometown
* Concrete cows and traffic cones
* Being interviewed by travel.radio

I was interviewed by the lovely Victoria, but you can call her V.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. You can also sign up to my newsletter and find out about future podcasts and recent blog posts.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

I've been meaning to do a pod specifically about running for a while; it's something that I mention quite often in my housekeeping and I've also tangentially talked about it in smaller sections on pods covering a wider remit. As such, some of what I'll talk about you'll have heard before, but I felt it was the right time to cover this topic again now.

Topics discussed include:
* My purple hair
* All the ways I've been social this month
* Cross-Country running at my secondary school
* Why I rarely run when travelling
* Meeting up with other runners on the move
* Running clothing and shoes in luggage
* Travelling the world for marathons
* A first foreign marathon experience
* An overview of Parkrun
* Parkrun Tourism in several forms

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Contribs for this episode came from:
Steven Ericson - Steven on the Move 
Steve Biggs - Biggsytravels
Alice (TrafficConeLlama)

Here is the blog post Steve Biggs mentioned where he talked to his father about marathons. 

Until next time, bye for now. :)

It's a very strange time at the moment, for all manner of reasons, and it's an especially odd time to be running a travel podcast. So ... I'm not.

This is the first of a two-part episode all about protest and direct action. Next week I'll be going to back to "Storytime" with tales of times when direct action in the UK has successfully changed society, culture, or the government.

This episode, however, is all about the act of protest itself - the bulk of which is a 'Guide To Your First Protest' provided by my friend V; if you've never taken part in a protest before, but are feeling inspired and motivated to do so, you might be a little unsure how protests work in practice. V guides you through what to wear (shoes!), what to carry, how to behave, what to watch out for, and how to cope with a tear gas attack.

Good luck.

To help you along, A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

So, why did I call this episode 'everything is going to be all right'? Well, it's a mantra I've been repeating to myself quite a lot over the past month or so. If I say it enough, I might actually believe it.

In this episode I talk about my feelings about moving to Manchester, and why while I was initially emotional about the move, I quickly realised why it will go all rather well. I also talk a little about my issues with my phone, which is why I've been quiet online of late, then about the journey from Carstairs to Lockerbie, and finally a section about recent news stories that will make you feel that everything is going to be all right.

A PDF transcript will be available shortly.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Spring is in the air, and the weather's getting better. Unfortunately we're all stuck at home, unable to do anything but the merest bits of very local travel.

For that reason, maybe you should come away with me on a virtual exploration of all things Scotland. The scenery, the food, the wildlife, the history, and almost no mention of midges or rain at all. I promise.

Contributions this time are from:

• Becky The Traveller


• Leanna from 'Lost Lass'


• Ruth of 'Roo Loves Travel'


• Fran, who runs the 'Sieze Your Adventure' Podcast


• Nat from 'NatPacker Travel'

Remember, I have a Facebook group for the pod if you want to join the community.

I also now have a Patreon! If you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over to my page and donate to me!

Hello!

To acknowledge both ADHD Awareness Month and Dyspraxia Awareness Week, this episode of my podcast talks about my experiences of being considered neurodiverse and the issues having neurodiversities causes me, not necessarily while travelling but more in my everyday life. I also talk about how it feels to 'come out' to myself, to accept them as part of who I am. This episode is a companion piece to my following episode, all about 'coming out' in the more traditional gender/sexual orientation way.

Topics discussed include:
* My plans for October, including the Traverse Creator Awards
* October has a lot of awareness days/weeks/month in it
* Why I've never been medically diagnosed with anything, and that I'm not a drug dealer
* 'Gifted Kid' syndrome - cue the smallest violins
* Why I can't speak Spanish, and other stories
* Everyone should have a therapist
* An introduction to Dyspraxia - it's not just clumsiness
* Why I can't drive or ride a bike ...
* ... nor dance, nor draw, nor be an architect
* How I cope with dyspraxia and why I should wear shoes more
* Am I disabled?
* Do I need to 'come out' as neurodiverse at all?

Contributions in this episode come from Kate-Frankie (This Could Lead To Anywhere), my friend Kira who ... may have an Instagram - it's sometimes hard to tell, and my friend Dayna who 'used to have a Tumblr'.

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

We're back to talking about aspects of travel in this episode. Following on from Episode 31 about beer, broadcast last year, I was going to do the follow-up episode on 'alcohol that wasn't beer', to include wines, spirits, and all manner of fun things. Partly this was because I'd had a couple of contributions that included spirits. But then I had some, uhm, technical difficulties here and when I was able to get back to doing podcasts again, other things took my attention.

But, four episodes later than originally planned, here we look at spirits and wines around the world. Which is a much better title than 'Alcohol that isn't beer', at least.

Topics discussed include:
* Experiences with illicit moonshine
* Alcohol in places you shouldn't
* Absinthe
* Jägerbombs
* Cocktail bars
* Local spirits around the world
* Wine tasting experiences

Contributions in this episode come from:
* Kate-Frankie, from This Could Lead To Anywhere
* An old school-friend of mine, Alistair, who as far as I know doesn't have a web presence, save Facebook, and I'm not linking to that!
* Hannah, from HH Lifestyle Travel Blog
* My netpal and travel companion Lix Hewett
* Steven from Steven On The Move, and
* Roo from Roo Loves Travel

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

This is part two of an overview of my recent trip to the Caucasus region of Eurasia, and covers the five days I spent in the country of Georgia, mainly the capital city Tbilisi. I also talk about far too much cheese and garlic, the worst beer I've ever had in my life, 

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* Audio quality of recent episodes
* Problems when your debit card gets cancelled
* Arrival in Tbilisi
* First experience with Georgian food
* Transport in Tbilisi
* The Georgian National Museum
* Beer and bars in Tbilisi
* Uplistsikhe - the city built into a sandstone hill
* Food in Tbilisi
* The overnight train to Yerevan
* Tbilisi street sculptures
* The cable car and the Mother Georgia statue
* Being enby in Georgia

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

There are no contributions in this pod, but I do want to provide some links:
* Blog post by Wander-Lush on how to catch the train between Tbilisi and Yerevan
* The 80 Days Pod about Georgia
* Polar Bear Juliet's post about sulphur baths in Tbilisi
* Polar Bear Juliet's post on the Chronicles of Georgia
* Tales of a Backpacker's blog
* Little Lost Travel's blog
* Blue Marble Vagabonds' blog
* Jon (Everybody Hates a Tourist)'s blog
* Jason and Carla (Don't Miss The Plane!)'s YouTube Channel
* Traverse Events' Website

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello again :)

It's been a while since my last podcast episode, and here I explain why - it's largely because I've spent the last two months looking for flats to rent in Glasgow.

The hassle this has caused, and the observations and things I've learned from having done this, inspired this episode.

It's a relatively short episode this time, with no contributors, well, except a small sample from another podcast that I felt was appropriate ...

A transcript is available here.

Another of my destination-specific podcasts this week - although it starts with a quick 7min overview of Lebanon as that's where I was when I wrote most of it ...

This episode looks at Uzbekistan; mainly around the practicalities of the country - food, transport, accommodation etc, rather than specific details of tourist attractions. I visited in 2014, and found it really interesting, but I also have input from three other people who've been there more recently than I have (Amy from The Non Backpacker, Laura & Matt from Two Stay Wild, and Sophie from Maximum Exposure) and they offer their own unique perspectives on the country.

It's very much a place in the tourist media's eye this year so I expect a tourist boom to really take off in 2019 - just remember, we went first! :)

Hello :)

This is the recording of the eighth edition of my semi-regular Twitter Space sessions.

Today's episode was all about hiking, but specifically the Hike Across Great Britain I did with my hiking buddy Becky, in the summer of 2019. We're chattering about why I chose to do a hike of such length, how we planned it, the high and low points of the journey, and ponder on how people willingly do ultramarathons.

Usual disclaimer, be aware this conversation took place over the phone and is then recorded directly from playback on Twitter. I notice there's a few biffs and bangs in the first few minutes but they settle down. Also a shout out to Somebody, and You Know Who You Are (because there are very few people who do call me, and one of them I was already on Twitter Spaces with), who tried calling me at the very end of the recording. When this happens it causes my audio quality to drop considerably for reasons known only to Android.

Topics discussed include:
* Catchphrases
* Whatever happened to the Word Cloud Creation site 'Wordle'
* Overview of what my hike was
* How it took 57 days and why that was fewer than we'd planned
* Places where we camped en route
* Why I didn't do the hike alone, and how our styles fitted together
* The Singing Sands beach in Scotland
* Things That Went Wrong when I prepared for the Hike
* Taking footpaths not roads, and sometimes getting stuck
* Comparisons with hiking in Vanuatu
* British Summer Weather, and all that entails
* What we were carrying in our backpacks
* We've been hiking 9 miles, time for lunch and recharging
* Food, and why I lost weight on the hike despite the calories
* Why I only hiked barefoot for a quarter of the journey
* Things That Went Wrong (including injuries, broken windows, and getting lost)
* Saddleworth Moor is very bleak and remote
* Mental Health and how we motivated ourselves to keep going
* The best days of the hike (North Pennines and the end of the Pennine Way)
* Why I wouldn't have done anything much differently
* How it felt to complete the Hike, and what we did afterwards
* Why we did the Hike and what other challenges would I do
* Why pubs are useful places
* Ultramarathons
* Raising money for charity
* The next Spaces will be Hometown Travel

I was interviewed by the lovely Victoria, but you can call her V.

A PDF transcript of this episode will be available soon.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. You can also sign up to my newsletter and find out about future podcasts and recent blog posts.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

It's been a while since my last pod - thank you for bearing with me. I talk a little about why at the start of the episode, as well as the usual 'this is what I've been up to' overview and update.

I've decided to do another geographic/history episode this time, I talk a bit about the county of Yorkshire, in northern England - specifically I go into detail about the city of Ripon, the town of Haworth, and a little tale about the Cragg Vale Coiners - a bunch of coin forgers in the 1760s.

Don't forget, btw, that my tale of hiking across Great Britain is part of the Biggest Book Of Yes anthology, which is now available for purchase. All proceeds go to charity (the Teddington Trust).

Hello!

So, if you recall, my last proper episode was all about my Inter-Rail trip in 2000, and how times and events had changed. I want to spend this episode talking a bit about my follow-up Inter-Rail trip in 2019, which was very different in scope, duration, and overall vibe. It's actually going to cover two podcasts as it appears travelling around Europe for two months means there's a lot to say, plus it gives more time for some contributions to come in.

This episode looks at some of the places I went to, with themes such as border crossings, old places, small countries, and seaside adventures.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* How I'm still injured from Parkrun
* ADHD Update
* Websites I have contributed to recently
* Other people's 1980s Inter-Rail adventures
* My odd 2019 routing
* Crossing borders past and present
* European Microstates I have visited and been indifferent to
* A couple of sporting events
* Wearing shoes at the end of the universe
* Channeling my inner Asterix
* Lots of Romans and post-Romans
* Very wet seaside adventures. And dragons
* Sun, sea, sand, and (not) snogging

Contributions in this episode came from:
* Alison in Andalucia
* Matthew Woodward - On The Rails

Links to the other websites I mentioned at the start of the pod:
* Caledonia Kelly Interview
* Happy Little Traveler

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

And finally, my podcast about London that I've been promising for ... quite some time. London of course is one of the world's biggest and most visited cities, so why am I talking about it? Well, here I'm going Beyond The Monopoly Board to bring you thoughts and information from places you might not have heard of, with help from some of the people who live there. This is as much a learning curve for you listening as it has been for me making – there's quite a few of these boroughs I've not been to yet.

When I was writing it, I quickly realised there was so much to say about them, and, you know, because there were so many of them, that I figured I'd have to split the subject over two episodes. This episode, the shorter of the two, is on those boroughs South Of The River, and as it turns out I talk about them all at least briefly, except Lambeth. Sorry Lambeth, but you're just too touristy (ymmv on Southwark though).

Topics discussed include:
* Brief overview of my socialising life
* A farewell to Laura
* Why London?
* Bexley - Big Houses, Guns, and Piers
* Greenwich - The River, The Prime Meridian, and a special McDonalds
* Bromley - Underground, Overground, but Womble-Free
* Lewisham - Cats, Stuffed Cats, and a 2000 year stone circle
* Southwark - Scandinavian saunas in unlikely places, Sitcoms, and more things under the ground
* Croydon - A palace (destroyed), an airport (closed), and some dinosaurs (inaccurate)
* Sutton - Street Art in Middle England
* Merton - Allah says recycle
* Wandsworth - Take the train back to 1970s pop culture
* Kingston - Old Kings, Fake telephone boxes, and a surprising amount of hipsters
* Richmond - Parklife. And smelly flowers

Contributions in this pod come from:
* Steve from Biggsytravels,
* Laura Lundahl,
* Amanda who is Not A Ballerina,
* Nat the Natpacker,
* Martha who May Cause Wanderlust,
* Seanna on Seanna's World,
* Hannah at Hannah's Holidays, and
* Alexei at Travelexx.

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello!

I've wanted to do an episode on Street Art for a while, as it's a subject that's always appealed to me. I'll often see if there's a street art tour in a place I'll be travelling to, and I'm always veering off down side-alleys in search of it when I'm walking through a city. As a result, this episode is my longest yet.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* Leg Update and other housekeeping
* A brief history of street art
* What counts as street art
* Why do people like street art
* The art industry sucks
* Community and Belonging
* Street art in Brussels
* The Stockholm Metro
* Glasgow's Mural Trail and the SWG3 community
* Street art tours
* Wall murals in Palestine and Berlin
* Street art in Chile
* Council-funded public art projects around the world
* Examples of unusual public art
* Public art in Brussels
* Yarn-bombing
* The famous Glasgow traffic cone

Links to people mentioned in the episode (and IG accounts of street artists):
Amanda Kendle's podcast on street art
SWG3's website 
Instagram accounts of some street artists include:
Inti
Rogue One 
Cuibi
Creaturi Dragute 
Epod 
Morf 
Smug

Contributions in this episode are from:
Sarah Irving - The Urban Wanderer
Amanda Kendle - Not a Ballerina
Kate-Frankie Brennan - This Could Lead To Anywhere
Momtaz Begum-Hossain - Hello Colour
and my friend Adam who has no real internet presence

A PDF transcript of this episode is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Until next time, bye for now. :)

This is the second of a two-part discussion on borders; the first, in the previous episode, centred on experiences of crossing borders, whereas this pod talks more about borders in general, about how some borders don't really exist, and about what borders mean to the people on the wrong side of them.

It's quite a political, opinionated, and forthright episode with not as much of the humour as previous episodes, but the subject matter is a bit too important to pass over lightly.

There is an extended contribution by my friend Laura Lundahl on her experience of what borders mean to her, and looking at them from the point of view of an immigrant.

Hello :)

This episode is all about British Seaside Resorts - the many villages and towns that line the coast of the United Kingdom, and which have traditionally served as holiday destinations for a large section of the British people.

The inspiration for this pod was my taking a trip to Skegness in October, just before I started my new job. Two nights in a tourist hotspot, out-of-season. Joy. But since I also grew up near a seaside resort, Southport (in the North), and I'd been on holiday many times throughout my life near the coast, I figured it would make a great starting point for a podcast.

I talk about childhood experiences, going back as an adult, the history of seaside holidays in the UK, why seaside resorts these days have a bit of a bad reputation, and some hopes for the future.

Apart from the above, other places I talk about include Rhyl, Tenby, Hunstanton, Whitby, Saltburn, and Whitley Bay - a good selection I think.

There are also contributions from Bea Marshall from YesParenting, Sarah Irving (the Urban Wanderer), Lucy Ruthnum (Absolutely Lucy), Emma Dodd (Barefoot Em Swims), and my friends Jax and Bear from back home in Kirkby-in-Ashfield.

A transcript of this episode is available on my website. 

My podcast has a Facebook Group dedicated to it , and I also have a Patreon, if you want to pay to access rare extra content (or just because you think it's a nice thing to do).

Hello :)

I often say "Everywhere Is Interesting", but what do I mean when I say that? What makes a place 'interesting'? Or rather, given any random place in the world, what can make you 'key in' to that location over and above any other? Of course, this could be very personal, or at least subjective, so when I say 'Everywhere Is Interesting', what I mean is that there is something everywhere, in every place, that someone is going to have a connection to, or is related to a hobby or interest that someone has.

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* Why I was too busy to release this episode on time
* A refresher about Hometown Travel
* Travel for hobbies and interests
* Vicarious travel through music lyrics
* Every song and TV series is set somewhere
* Travel to film and video locations
* Overtourism

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.

I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.

Contributions in this episode come from:
* Amanda, who has a website at Not A Ballerina,
* Claire, who blogs at Curious Claire, and
* Rebecca, who can be found at Almost Ginger

Until next time, bye for now. :)