Women Who Travel | Condé Nast Traveler (Condé Nast Traveler)

Lale chats with actor Arsema Thomas, who plays a young Lady Danbury in the soon to be released Netflix series Queen Charlotte - A Bridgerton Story, from Shonda Rhimes. Off screen, Arsema has spent large swathes of her life living in different countries across Africa—an experience that has informed her approach to acting, and the role she is now playing. She shares stories from Uganda, Nairobi, Cape Town, and more, and discusses filming the Bridgerton prequel inside English country homes, and the complex history behind them.

After a summer filled with European travel, Lale catches up with The New Yorker's Rebecca Mead to learn a few surprising facts about one of the continent's most famous—and ancient—sites, Pompeii. Plus, she hears from a listener about what it felt like to explore a Greek landmark steeped in mythology.

A special episode from The Atlas Obscura Podcast about the strange story of Catalina Island’s herd of bison, and the harrowing story of producer Sarah Wyman’s encounter with these intimidating residents. Listen to The Atlas Obscura Podcast on Apple, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Read more in the Atlas: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/catalina-island-bison-herd

Part of a three week series that dives into all things cooking, gardening, and self care in its many forms, Lale sits down with legendary restaurant owner, cookbook author, chef, and community activist Tanya Holland. Her restaurant, Brown Sugar Kitchen, became a focal point of the Oakland community during its almost 15 year tenure, and now, she has a gorgeous new cookbook out: California Soul, which traces the roots of California soul food from the Western Migration to the present day through recipes, storytelling, and profiles of local chefs and makers. Plus, we hear from a Condé Nast Traveler editor who holds Oakland close to her heart.

We travel for all sorts of reasons: self-discovery, something new, a chance to break out of our routines. But how often is it truly restorative? Lale talks to activist, educator, entrepreneur, and ardent solo traveler Rachel Cargle about creating calm in every step of a journey—and her new memoir and manifesto, A Renaissance of Our Own.

Solo travel is lauded as one of the most exciting ways to see the world—and for good reason. It's adventurous, eye-opening, unpredictable, transformative. But it can also be challenging and, at some points, a little lonely, even for the most experienced of travelers. Lale chats with Jessica Nabongo, who in 2019 became the first documented Black woman to visit every country in the world (89 of which she visited solo), about what she learned about herself during those travels. Plus, we hear from listeners about their own solo travel experiences in Laos, Havana, and more.

For more from Women Who Travel, visit our website or subscribe to our email newsletter.

We travel for all manner of experiences—culinary, adventure, music, and more. Mya-Rose Craig travels to spot birds. Lale chats with the 20-year-old ornithologist about birdwatching in some of the world's most spectacular places, sharing a platform with climate change activist Greta Thunberg, and her new memoir Birdgirl. Plus, we hear from Condé Nast Traveler contributor Betsy Andrews about her own birdwatching trip to Bonaire.

In this episode, we interview our own mothers, covering everything from Lale's mom's by-the-seat-of-her-pants motorcycle adventure across Europe and Asia to the time Meredith's mom moved abroad to South Africa in the 1980s. Plus, we're joined by Traveler's social media manger Jeryl Lippe, her sister (regular Traveler contibutor) Jordi Lippe-McGraw, and their mother, Suzanne, to talk about climbing Israel's Mount Masada at seven-months pregnant and why she indulged Jordi's preteen Twister fantasy of tornado chasing. In the meantime, we learn a little bit more about our moms—and realize just how much their obsessions with travel have rubbed off on us.

*As we mentioned in the beginning of the episode, we're headed to Los Angeles on May 17 for another live taping—this time with Kelly Sawdon, who is responsible for masterminding that oh-so-cool Ace Hotel aesthetic we've all come to know and love. You can find more info and an RSVP link for the meetup and live podcast here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/women-who-travel-live-podcast-los-angeles-here-we-come.

Visit this link for the full show notes:

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/we-learned-how-to-love-travel-from-our-mothers-women-who-travel-podcast

We have a lot of arguments in the Traveler office about packing: roll vs. fold, carry-on vs. checked, hard shell vs. soft... The list goes on. This week—to add more fuel to the fire—we brought in two expert travelers on opposite ends of the spectrum to talk about their packing tips. Shiona Turini is a self-proclaimed maximalist. Her job as a stylist and costume designer working on set with the likes of Issa Rae and Lena Waithe informs her own packing style. Anna Newton, of The Anna Edit, is a complete 180 from Shiona, and is a capsule wardrobe fanatic who's made a name for herself with clothing edits that prioritize mixing and matching a limited number of basics. Her go-to packing trick? Packing just 10 items, including shoes, that can be mixed and matched into 10 outfits on vacation.

Find the link to Anna's book and so much more in the show notes here: 

When Evita Robinson chatted with Traveler contributor, Diana Hubbell, earlier this year, she made one thing clear: The travel industry needs to work a lot harder when it comes to serving travelers of color. It was that lack of inclusive representation that propelled her to start her company, Nomadness Travel Tribe in 2011, an idea she had while working as an English teacher in the suburbs of Niigata, Japan. In this week’s episode, we sit down with Robinson to find out just how she built a 22,000-member community of travelers—and expanded into group trips around the world, initiatives like the Nomadness Project, a web series co-created with Insecure’s Issa Rae, and Audacity Fest, an annual travel conference for millennials of color. 

For more info on Evita and Audacity Fest, head over to the show notes: 

For years, we've been covering what makes the Ace brand's design so innovative and, frankly, unrepeatable (though plenty of big brands try) in its hotels. We decided to go to the source, heading to Los Angeles to chat with Kelly Sawdon, partner and chief brand officer at the Ace Hotel Group and Atelier Ace, at the Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles for our third live taping of the podcast. Thanks to Kelly for joining us, and to all of you that came to listen to us IRL. If you'd like to come to our next live episode or a Women Who Travel meetup, join our Facebook group and sign up for our newsletter to be in the know.

For this week's episode, we sat down with the best-selling author to talk about how travel has changed for her since that infamous Eat, Pray, Love adventure, and the role it now continues to play during her grieving process after the loss of her partner, Rayya. Plus, she also explains why she chose to set her most recent book, City of Girls(out June 4), in New York City, and why she loves to break all of the travel rules—from skipping every museum to getting "a little wasted" on the plane. 

Summer may have already started, but it's still not too late to plan a trip. And considering there are a few national holidays (July 4th and Labor Day among them) to plan your vacation around, there's no better time to maximize your travel plans, either. As a follow-up to last year's summer travel episode, Meredith chatted with travel news director Erin Florio and senior commerce editor Elaheh Nozari about where they're going, and where you should go, too—and held down the fort while Lale was exploring Bermuda with Women Who Travel Facebook group members.

Last summer, we spent an entire episode debating what defines the perfect beach read. Our conclusion? It can be just about anything you want it to be—and it rarely deserves to be dismissed as fluff. Needless to say, we had a lot of fun swapping book recommendations, and so with a year already behind us—and with so many more books on our shelves (and Kindles)—we decided to get the gang back together and kick summer off with another books-obsessed episode.

You can find a full list of all of the books mentioned here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-best-books-weve-read-so-far-this-year-women-who-travel-podcast

As the two of us are away traveling this week, we decided to share one of our favorite episodes from last year. Joined by Huffington Post reporter Rowaida Abdelaziz and Priya Krishna, author of the fabulous cookbook Indian-ish, this episode is about celebrating all of those immigrant parents out there. With July 4 just around the corner, it felt like the perfect time to give it another listen and honor the wonderful melting pot that is the U.S.A.

You can find the original show notes for this episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-immigrant-parents-shaped-our-travel-experiences-women-who-travel-podcast

And read more about Priya's mother's travels here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-my-mothers-travels-shaped-my-world-view

This episode originally aired in October 2018. 

We are out traveling once again—but don’t worry we’ll be back with new episodes very, very soon. This week, in honor of the summer travel spirit, we’re throwing it back with one of our favorite episodes from last summer: our ultimate guide to road trips. Joined by Mara Balagtas and Traveler community editor Megan Spurrell, we talk about some of the best road trips we've ever taken, compare notes on some of the most memorable routes in the U.S., and dish plenty of advice on everything from car maintenance to playlist making.

You can find the original show notes for this episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/women-who-travel-podcast-how-to-plan-the-ultimate-road-trip

And read our complete guide to road trips here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-complete-guide-to-road-trips

This episode originally aired in May 2018. 

In this week's episode, we sit down with adventurer, dog sledder, and author Blair Braverman to learn about just what it took to complete the legendary Iditarod race—from the rigorous, year-long training program to the discipline required to cross Alaska with zero assistance. Plus, we chat about why she has chosen to be so open about her experiences as a musher through her writing and social media presence. As she tells us during the episode, she hopes her storytelling will empower more of us to find our own place within the outdoors.

Find more information about the episode in the show notes here:

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We're back again—we've pulled burning questions from our Women Who Travel Facebook group (plus one incredible photo of a gnawed-on passport) and asked our editors to share their expertise. With Traveler's articles director Stephanie Wu, travel news director Erin Florio, and community editor Megan Spurrell, we shared our tips for staying warm on planes and getting photos while on solo trips. But we also hit a serious note, covering how to tackle travel and flight anxiety and how to be more environmentally conscious while on the road.

If you want to submit a question for a future FAQ episode, drop it into the Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/womenwhotraveltheworld. Not only could you hear from Traveler editors themselves, but you'll have more than 130,000 women come to your aid, too.

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Earlier this year, Conde Nast Traveler launched Women Who Travel group trips to Colombia, and now we're heading Mexico on a nine-day trip that stops in Mexico City and Oaxaca. If you want to join, there are just 15 spots on our September 21-29 trip—and they’re filling up fast. For information on how to book, head to cntraveler.com/wwtmexico.

Music and travel are inextricable from each other. No matter where you go, and what you see while you're there, the sound of a place can forge an instant, lasting connection—fado in Portugal, reggaeton in Colombia, or jazz in New Orleans. So when the opportunity came along to team up with Pitchfork for a special live episode with Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz, the French-Cuban sister act behind Ibeyi, during Pitchfork Festival a few weeks ago, we couldn't have been more excited.

Find a full transcription of the episode and show notes here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/ibeyi-women-who-travel

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Earlier this year, Conde Nast Traveler launched Women Who Travel group trips to Colombia, and now we're heading Mexico on a nine-day trip that stops in Mexico City and Oaxaca. If you want to join, there are just 15 spots on our September 21-29 trip—and they’re filling up fast. For information on how to book, head to cntraveler.com/wwtmexico.

Glamorous, exciting, and often nostalgic—when at its best (and let’s be clear, no two journeys are made equal) seeing the world by train can be all of those things and more, especially if you’re on a sleeper train. After all, what could be more exciting than going to sleep in one country and waking up in another? Lale chats with Monisha Rajesh—friend of the podcast and author of books like Around the World in 80 Trains and Epic Train Journeys—about her recent travels by sleeper, and we hear from a listener who took an epic solo train journey across Canada.

If you've been following Women Who Travel over the past two years, chances are you're familiar with Jessica Nabongo. The founder of boutique travel company Jet Black, Nabongo became the first black woman to visit every country in the world in 2019, and throughout her two-and-a-half year journey she's stopped by the studio (and called in from some very inconvenient time zones) to update us on her travels—the good, the challenging, and the downright exhausting.

But one thing we haven't been able to chat in-depth with her on is what it takes to become a country counter in the first place. In the second installment of our How I Became series, we sit down with Nabongo to find out what motivated her to take on the odyssey in the first place, how she navigated borders while grappling with issues like passport privilege and carbon emissions, and what she's learned from taking more flights in two years than most people take in a lifetime.

Thanks to Jessica for joining us this week. And thanks as always to Brett Fuchs for engineering and mixing. To keep up with our podcast each week, subscribe to Women Who Travel on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And, if you have a minute to spare, leave a review. We’d love to hear from you. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter to keep up to date with our live episodes, meetups, and trips, too.

This week, as we kick off February, we're chatting about a major reason why *Traveler* editors have zipped back and forth across the globe: long-distance relationships. Joined by community editor Megan Spurrell and journalist Sarah Walton, we're diving into the ins and outs of making a cross-continent, let alone transnational, relationship work—all backed by some 10-plus years of first person, long-distance relationship experiences between us. Some key takeaways? Always have a plan for when you're going to see each other next. Don't worry too much if your friends and family don't understand. And since you're traveling already, planning a trip to a new destination may be better than visiting each other at home. 

Read a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-to-balance-traveling-for-a-long-distance-relationship-women-who-travel-podcast

This episode originally aired in February 2019.

We didn't always feel so gung-ho about traveling the world with a group of strangers or about giving up control over the itinerary on a group trip. In fact, just like with almost everything in travel, it was the mental hurdle—the thought that we might not like group trips—that kept us from doing it. But, we all got over it. (Strip naked in front of a group of gals at a Japanese onsen and you'll get over those reservations really fast.) To commiserate and compare stories, we brought community editor and trip lead Megan Spurrell and El Camino founder Katalina Mayorga on to talk about the pros, cons, and what it took to change our minds.

Join Women Who Travel on a trip to Colombia in September or November. Learn more here: https://www.elcamino.travel/women-who-travel

This week, we're having all of the awkward conversations that come with budgeting for travel. How do you even start saving for your next trip? What do you do when you can't afford a group trip? What do you prioritize spending money on when you vacation? What do you do when you don't qualify for a travel-friendly credit card and can't cash in points and miles? We've tapped the experts—Samantha Barry, Glamour's editor-in-chief and host of the She Makes Money Moves podcast, and Travel Channel's Oneika Raymond—to answer these and more.

Find links to items mentioned and read a full transcription here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/an-honest-conversation-about-saving-and-budgeting-for-travel

When we read a preview of Everything I Know About Love, the debut memoir from Dolly Alderton, we knew we had to bring her on the podcast. The book, which charts her love life (romantic and platonic) from her teens until now, centers strongly on female friendships and the highs and lows of travel—both on your own and with friends. (There's a chapter near the end set in the Orkney Islands that is particularly moving. You'll just have to read it.) This week, we sit down with Alderton to celebrate her book's U.S. release, and chat about everything from the time she cried while interviewing Elizabeth Gilbert to why the world is still uncomfortable with women traveling on their own. 

Find a full transcription of the episode and a link to pick up Dolly's book here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/author-dolly-alderton-on-growing-into-solo-travel

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Follow Dolly at @dollyalderton

In the third installment of our "How I Became" series, we're focusing less about traveling around the world—and more about traveling up the corporate ladder. In conversation with Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Celebrity Cruises' president and CEO and the first woman to hold that title in industry history, we look back at how she started her career and rose to the top with no female mentors or advocates in sight. Along the way, we chat about handling rejection—both 35 years ago, when first trying to get into the cruise industry, and five years ago, when she was told "no" three times before finally getting her spot in the C-suite. 

Read a full transcription of the episode and find links here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-i-became-the-first-female-ceo-of-a-major-cruise-line-women-who-travel-podcast

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Follow Lisa at @lisalutoffperlo

At 19, Jen Gotch had a panic attack in the airport, just ahead of boarding a flight back to college. "I, on a cellular level, felt like I was going to die if I got on that airplane," says the Ban.do founder and author of the soon-to-be-released Upside of Being Down: How Mental Health Struggles Led to My Greatest Successes in Work and Life. Now, years later and hundreds of flights under her belt, that anxiety has shifted, evolved, and—most recently—waned, as she's found strategies to stay calm on the road. (One life-changing tool? TSA PreCheck.) This week, we sat down with Jen to talk through how she continues to tackle her travel anxiety, why vacations (even if they're just on our own couches) are good for our mental health, and why she stopped working on her days off. 

Find a link to preorder Jen's book, out March 24, and a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/bando-founder-jen-gotch-on-anxiety-and-the-power-of-mini-vacations

As we mention in the intro to this week's episode, we recorded this installment of Women Who Travel well before the coronavirus has changed the landscape of our day-to-day lives. But in a world where we still dream of our next trip, we wanted to continue to share our tips on where to go next for you to squirrel away for when the time is right. So, this week, we're back with a Frequently Asked Questions episode, to answer your burning questions, pulled from our Facebook group. In it, we zip from where to vacation in Greece, what to do with a teenager and five weeks of vacation, and how to bring yourself out of a solo travel-induced funk. 

Find more about this episode and a full transcription here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/we-answer-your-frequently-asked-travel-questions-part-5-women-who-travel-podcast

We sat down with Samin Nosrat just after the premiere of her Netflix show, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, to talk about how she managed to transform a cookbook into a piece of television in such a short amount of time, how growing up eating Iranian food informed her own cooking, and why, in her opinion, a PB&J counts as a legitimate dinner option. Most importantly, though, she explains why she chose to eschew restaurants in favor of focusing on home cooks and artisans—the majority of whom are women—on the show.

This week's episode is a rerun from December 2018. We'll be back with new episodes (recorded from home) next week.

This week's episode is a rerun from October 2019. We'll be back with new episodes (recorded from home) soon.

As we all spend more time taking solitary walks—and relishing in Facetime and Zoom-based friendships—it made sense to share this episode where two best friends practice the French art of flaneuring, or wandering without intention. Since most of us have been forced to slow down, here’s an episode all about doing just that. We were joined by Erika Owen, author of "The Art of Flaneuring: How to Wander with Intention and Discover a Better Life," and sex and wellness writer Laura Delarato to talk about how we all need to just slow down a bit when we’re traveling. The key takeaways? It's fine to give yourself permission to do less,

Find a full transcription of this episode and the show notes here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/why-we-all-need-to-slow-down-when-we-travel-women-who-travel-podcast

We're back—albeit this time from a closet in Dallas and a Brooklyn living room, rather than the podcast studio. This week, we're joined by comedian and actor Jenny Slate, who, despite growing up thinking the only way to have a relaxing vacation was at the beach, has traveled everywhere from Norway's Lofoten archipelago above the Arctic Circle to Chilean Patagonia. Along the way, she's come to terms with the fact that she may be the world's worst packer—and that feeling lonely on a solo trip doesn't have to be a bad thing. In our latest episode, we talk to her from her Massachusetts home about how she's learned to lean into adventure trips, what she treats herself to when she's on vacation, and how she's coping with social distancing and self-isolation. 

Find a full transcription and links to book Jenny mentioned here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/jenny-slate-women-who-travel-podcast

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At the beginning of this year, Sarah Khan decided to settle down—well, at least get an apartment of her own to call a home base after eight years of traveling and subletting full time, thanks to her job as a travel writer. She didn't plan to take a trip until March, a travel hiatus that's now been extended indefinitely due to coronavirus. As she stays put for the longest time in almost a decade, we caught up with the Condé Nast Traveler contributor to see how she got her start in travel writing, chat about her most memorable assignments, learn how she's managing her time at home, and discover who's inspiring her virtual wanderlust right now. 

Find a full transcription of the episode (and that photo of Mostar we mention) here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-i-became-a-travel-writer-sarah-khan-on-life-on-the-road-podcast

Earlier this month, we put a call out on our Instagram and asked you to share what travel stories you were interested in hearing more of during this time of uncertainty. There were so many great ideas, some of which we'll be tackling over the coming weeks. One that stuck with us was a request to hear how our personal travel plans were being affected—so that listeners could feel a little less alone in grieving their own postponed trips. So, this week we've tapped Traveler associate editor Megan Spurrell, who had a sister's bachelorette coming up and a big trip to Turkey and Lebanon on the horizon, and travel writer Julia Buckley, who had to cut a months-long trip to South America short, to talk through it all. Along the way, we cover how it's okay to feel sad about your canceled trip, how our priorities for future trips are changing, and where we want to go next—because we're already thinking of the next trip, whenever that may be.

Read a full transcription of this week's episode and more here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/all-the-complicated-things-were-feeling-about-travel-right-now-women-who-travel-podcast

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We need the escape that books provide now more than ever. So this week, we're joined by the National Book Foundation's Lisa Lucas, calling in from Los Angeles, and New York Times-bestselling author and Books Are Magic owner Emma Straub, who's currently self-isolating with her family in Brooklyn. Throughout the episode, we share the books that are transporting us to the places we miss (New York City included) and the places we’ve never been (and can't wait to get to). Plus, we have tips for getting out of a reading rut, how to support local bookstores when they need it most, and more.

What we're reading right now:

All Adults Here by Emma Straub

Surviving Autocracy by Mashe Gessen

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

Heartburn by Nora Ephron

The Most of Nora Ephron by Nora Ephron

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

Arbitrary Stupid Goal by Tamara Shopsin

Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots by Deborah Feldman

The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante

The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante]

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Eagan

White Teeth by Zadie Smith

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

Women Talking by Miriam Toews

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (Preorder, out June 2)

Middlemarch by George Elliot (a.k.a Mary Ann Evans)

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by Fiona Staples

Writers & Lovers by Lily King

My Autobiography of Carson McCulle… Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Unless you're an essential worker, chances are your work travel has slowed down a lot recently. For comedian and actress Catherine Cohen, the world on pause has meant postponing her upcoming tour in Australia and swapping her weekly show Cabernet Cabaret, at New York City's Club Cumming, for Instagram live performances streamed out of the Berkshires cabin she's currently self-isolating at. We caught up with Cohen to find out what it's like to be a performer who, well, suddenly can't perform like she used to, why solo travel isn't for her, and all the places she misses in New York City. Plus, she shouts out a few of the comedy venues around the U.S. that need our support—and the women in comedy to watch right now.

And while we have you, we have some exciting news: The Women Who Travel platform is nominated for a Webby award! The People's Voice vote is now open, so head here by May 7 to vote. We'd love your support.

This episode originally aired in June 2019.

In this wild time, Lale and I have found ourselves going back to the episode we recorded with Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert last year. Our conversation was filled with a little grief, a lot of joy, and plenty of travel wisdom—all of which we need right now to tide us over until we can travel freely again. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode.

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With the near-constant stream of coronavirus news on our feeds these days, we understand if you want to run screaming from another coronavirus-related chat. But we promise this is not all doom and gloom. In fact, we hope that by answering some of the most frequently asked questions about travel and the coronavirus (Should you cancel a fall trip? Hop on a flight deal for later in the year? Use your vacation days now or save them for later?), we can give you a glimmer of hope about what's to come. 

Note that this episode was recorded on May 14. You can find all of our up-to-date coronavirus coverage and travel resources at cntraveler.com/coronavirus.

Find a full transcription of the episode here: www.cntraveler.com/story/we-answer-your-most-pressing-questions-about-coronavirus-and-travel

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Nikki Smith is a professional rock climber, boulderer, photographer, writer, and climbing guidebook publisher, with more than 150 first ascents under her belt. She also just happens to be transgender. An advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in the outdoors and an ally fighting for diversity and inclusion in climbing and beyond, she's taking a break from climbing during the pandemic, citing the risks to herself, her climbing partners, and potential rescuers. But that hasn't stopped her from finding refuge outside. This week, we chat with Nikki from her home in Utah about getting her start in climbing, how we can make the outdoor community more welcoming, and the women in the outdoors we all need to be following. (Plus, you can hear a few meows in the background of this episode from her adorable cats.) 

Read a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/what-rock-climbing-taught-me-about-facing-my-fears-women-who-travel-podcast

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Follow the women Nikki shouted out in the episode:

Kareemah Batts, @herhopness

Irene Yee, @ladylockoff

Brittany Leavitt, @bleavitt8

Sam Ortiz, @samortizphoto

Jaylyn Gough, @jaylyn.gough

Piseth Sam, @mightymight88

Mélise Marie, @meliseymo

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Note, this week's episode of Women Who Travel is not on a Wednesday just because of the long weekend. We are officially moving from our usual Tuesday morning drops and, starting this week, all new episodes of Women Who Travel will pop up in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts on Wednesday mornings instead.

This week, we're joined by Moonlynn Tsai, co-owner of Bon Appetit Hot List winner Kopitiam, and Mei Lin, from the James Beard-nominated Nightshade, who share their stories about everything from how they've found support systems in other restaurant owners to what they're cooking at home right now, and, most importantly, how you can support the restaurant industry during this difficult time.

Their big advice? Spend your money, whether it be food or merch for now or gift cards for later, and order directly when possible, instead of through apps, so that your favorite restaurants can keep as much of their profits as possible.

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In light of the murders of George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, and countless other Black Americans, we would like to say, unequivocally, that Black lives matter. We stand with protesters across the country raising their voices against police brutality.

Donate to the NAACP here: https://www.naacp.org/

Donate to Black Lives Matter here: https://blacklivesmatter.com/

Donate to Campaign Zero here: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/

Donate to local bail funds here: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/nbfn-directory

We highly recommend subscribing to Code Switch, The Nod, and the New York Times 1619 podcasts to diversify your listening, too.

Since this week’s episode is all about women-owned restaurants struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, you'll find a list of Black-owned restaurants across the country to support.

Black-owned restaurants in New York City: https://bit.ly/36UXF1g

Black-owned restaurants in Washington D.C.: https://bit.ly/3eHHJ5m

Black-owned restaurants in Austin: https://bit.ly/3cr1c8P

Black-owned restaurants in Seattle: https://bit.ly/2MkVJWF

Black-owned restaurants in Minneapolis: https://bit.ly/3cudJbu

Black-owned restaurants in Los Angeles: https://lat.ms/2MqiQiC

We are committed to sharing Black women’s stories on Women Who Travel, and will continue to do so throughout our podcast episodes and all other platforms.

In the wake of ongoing protests against police brutality and systemic racism across the U.S. and all industries, much has been made of listening and learning—and amplifying Black voices in the process. Which is why this week, we’re passing the mic. Hosted by Them's executive editor Whembley Sewell, featuring Jessica Nabongo and Evita Robinson, our latest episode focuses on how the industry as a whole can and must step up for Black travelers. Whembley, Jessica, and Evita are all members of the Women Who Travel advisory board, women we've trusted to challenge us over the last nine months, and we hope in listening to this episode—hearing their stories and where they see opportunity for change—you can challenge yourself, too.

Here are a few women Evita and Jessica suggest following. Be sure to scroll back through their feeds to understand their full body of work.

• Lola Akinmade Åkerström, @lolaakinmade
• Stephanie Young, @stephlyoung
• Gloria Atanmo, @glographics
• Ashley Renne, @heyashleyrenne
• Martinique Lewis, @marty_sandiego
• Eulanda Osagiede, @dipyourtoesin
• Cynthia Andrew, @simplycyn
• Anntte Richmond, @fromannettewithlove
• Kellee Edwards,@Kelleesetgo
• Ciara Johnson, @hey_ciara
• Lee Litumbe, @spiritedpursuit
• Monet Hambricks, @thetravelingchild
• Cherae Robinson, @sasyrae

Read a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-the-travel-industry-should-support-black-women-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Whembley: @whembleysewell

Follow Jessica: @thecatchmeifyoucan

Follow Evita: @evierobbie

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

Since this season is sure to be unlike any other high season, thanks to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we've been asking a lot of questions about summer travel here at Traveler—from how much we'll be traveling, to how we'll be getting around, to where we'll stay. And this week, we're tackling all of those questions (and more) in one episode with the help of some top notch experts: associate editor Megan Spurrell and New York Times travel reporter Tariro Mzezewa. We hope our conversation gives you the information you need to travel to the beach or a remote Airbnb responsibly—or the blessing to stay home and plan for your out-of-this-world trip for next year.

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Tariro: @tariro__

Follow Megan: @spurrelly

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

This episode was originally broadcast in July 2019.

With music festivals on hold this summer, we thought we'd share one of our favorite episodes from last year, recorded live at Pitchfork Festival in Chicago. Lale teamed up with Pitchfork's senior social media manager Vrinda Jagota to chat about travel, music, and more with Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz, the French-Cuban sister act behind Ibeyi. We'll be back with a new episode next week.

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Vrinda: @confident_leader

Follow Ibeyi: @ibeyiofficial

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

We've been spending a lot of time at home these days, which means more time staring at the art on our walls, the tchotchkes on our shelves, and the souvenirs we've chosen to display. It's also made us think about how to find more meaningful souvenirs on future trips—pieces that bring back memories of trips, a sense of place, or a glimpse of history. So, we checked in with Kiyanna Stewart and Jannah Handy, power couple and owners of Brooklyn's BLK MKT Vintage, to learn how they shop for and curate their store, which maps the Black diaspora through vintage wares and collectibles. (Plus, how they style their own souvenirs and vintage finds at home.) Their biggest tips? Have patience: Whether you're shopping in your own town or have to travel halfway around the world, be prepared to leave a shop or flea market empty handed should nothing speak to you. And think about function and purpose before spending on something that won't fit in your home, let alone your suitcase.

Follow BLK MKT Vintage: @blkmktvintage

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

Find a transcription of the episode and links here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-to-shop-for-meaningful-souvenirs-women-who-travel-podcast

While we truly love to drink wine, we would hardly call ourselves experts. And after downing quite a few delicious bottles over the last few months without a sommelier or bartender to guide us, we thought we'd check in with two of the least snobby wine snobs we know: Women Who Travel contributor Shanika Hillocks and Helen's Wines' Helen Johannesen. We talk all about how our taste—and willingness to shell out—has changed during lockdown, some places to start when looking to test your wine comfort zone, and what the wine industry looks like today. (And don't worry, we don't say "vino" once.)

If you're headed to your local wine shop after listening or want to browse for some bottles to pick up online, here are all of the wines we mentioned in the episode, with links to where we could find them:

• Strekov 1075 Fred #5 red blend, Južnoslovenská, Slovakia
• Valentina Passalcqua Primitivo, Puglia, Italy
• Calcarius Orange, Puglia, Italy
• Maison Noir Love Drunk Rosé, Oregon
• Domaine De Cherouche Gamay, Ayent, Switzerland
• Zafa Wines and CO Cellars Electric Mayhem cans, Burlington, Vermont
• Aslina Umsasane red blend, Stellenbosch, South Africa
• Sieman Mosca Bianca, Veneto, Italy
• Yetti & The Kokonut Savagnin 'Metro', South Australia
• Clos Lentiscus Cric Cric Blanc, Penedès, Spain

Follow Shanika: @shanikahillocks

Follow Helen: @helenswines

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

When cabin fever first set in during the early stages of the pandemic, we turned to the experts for help: three women who chose to live in isolation for long stretches of time, whether at a fire lookout in Idaho, on a remote Greek island, or in a sea kayak, like Sarah Outen did while rowing solo across the Pacific Ocean.

Three months later, and we're still grappling with what it means to isolate ourselves from friends and family. So we decided to check back in with Outen, a British rower, biker, and adventurer who has spent months-long stretches alone in grueling conditions, including a solo row across the Indian Ocean and a four-year, around-the-world solo trip executed exclusively on bikes, kayaks, and row boats. In this week's episode, she shares her tips for making it through the toughest stretches of being alone, stories about a logistically complicated long-distance relationship, and her newfound joy from rest. (That said, she'll likely inspire you to haul your bike out of the garage and get moving, too.)

Find a full transcription of the episode and links here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-one-adventurer-spent-293-days-alone-at-sea-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Sarah: @sarah_outen_home

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

Being a parent right now is hard. Many are juggling work, childcare, education, their families' health and safety, and so much more. And while a trip to the beach with the kids—or better yet, a child-free getaway—would usually bring peace of mind and a modicum of relaxation, vacation planning these days comes with new levels of stress and confusion.

As neither of us are parents, we brought on Lauren DeCarlo, Condé Nast Traveler's director of strategic projects and mom of a four year old, to guest host this episode and suss out at least a few of the answers. She's joined by Monet Hambrick, of The Traveling Child and mom of two, and Liz Speichinger, senior global sales director for Auberge Resorts and mom of an eight year old boy, to get a handle on how they're traveling this summer, what questions they're asking ahead of trips, and how—with not a minute to spare each day—they're finding time for themselves.

Find a full transcription here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/a-candid-conversation-on-what-family-travel-means-this-summer-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

Follow Lauren: @ldecarlo

Follow Monet: @thetravelingchild

Follow Liz: LinkedIn

You probably first heard Sara Nelson's name in early 2019 when she called for a general strike, leading to an abrupt end to the extended government shutdown. Now, the international president of the Association of Flight Attendants, CWA, is fighting something completely different: a pandemic, as well as imminent layoffs for airline workers. We caught up with Sara, named "the world's most powerful flight attendant" by the New York Times, to chat about how she got her start as a United flight attendant, why she joined the union, and what challenges the AFA-CWA faces today.

Read a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/sara-nelson-wont-stop-fighting-for-flight-attendants-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Sara: @flyingwithsara

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

In early April, we were both struggling to focus and looking for an escape from a shut-down world, so we turned to the National Book Foundation's Lisa Lucas and author and Books Are Magic owner Emma Straub for some reading recs. Now, exactly 99 days later, Lisa is back, this time with podcast regular and Riverhead Books publisher Jynne Dilling Martin to restock our shelves with recommendations. There's something for everyone this episode, whether you're looking for a graphic novel to keep your short attention span in check, a historical trilogy set in the court of Henry V (complete with its own plague), a sci-fi battle royale set in New York City, or a New York Times bestseller all your friends are probably reading right now. A reminder to order any of the books that make it on your must-read list from your local bookseller or one of these Black bookstores across the U.S.—or, from Bookshop.org, which gives money from sales for independent bookstores.

Here's a full list of what we talked about:

• The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom
• Weather by Jenny Offill
• Hot Comb by Ebony Flowers
• Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
• Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
• The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin
• Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
• Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins
• Severance by Ling Ma
• What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez
• The Friend by Sigrid Nunez
• Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby
• Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
• The Mothers by Brit Bennett
• 12 Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis
• Man V. Nature by Diane Cook
• The New Wilderness by Diane Cook
• The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Follow Lisa: @LikaLuka

Follow Jynne: @Jynnnne

Follow Lale: @LaleHannah

Follow Meredith: @Ohheytheremere

Follow Women Who Travel: @WomenWhoTravel

With major companies extending remote work through next summer because of COVID-19 and countries like Barbados offering year-long visas to U.S. travelers looking to switch their office view to an ocean view, it's understandable to be thinking about picking everything up and relocating for a bit. While international options are limited, living as a digital nomad (spending a few weeks or months in one place before moving on to the next) is still enticing for many. Because it's not as easy as booking a plane ticket and throwing your stuff in storage, we asked two digital nomads—Cheraé Robinson of Tastemakers Africa and Annette Richmond of Fat Girls Traveling—to share their tips and tricks to making it work. (Admittedly, dating can be difficult when you change addresses every 30-or-so days.) Hopefully, it'll help you start to wrap your head around whether making the jump to a nomadic remote work life is right for you.

Follow Cheraé: @sasyrae

Follow Annette: @fromannettewithlove

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

When it comes to getting outdoors, gear can be a major barrier. Whether it's finding gear that comes in your size (let alone actually fits your body), knowing what gear is a must-have and what you can safely skip, or having the funds for what you need, there's a lot more at play than just walking into your local outdoor retailer. This week, we wanted to dig into women's gear—across hiking, climbing, dog mushing, and more—to find out how far we've come in opening up the outdoors to bodies of all shapes and experience levels and how far we have to go. With the most guests we've had on one podcast since we started recording at home, this episode stars Unlikely Hikers founder Jenny Bruso, Flash Foxy founder and climber Shelma Jun, and Iditarod competitor Blair Braverman, who share how they fell in love with the outdoors in the first place, how they overcome gear barriers today, and what they want from the outdoor industry.

Read a transcription of the episode: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/womens-gear-still-isnt-where-we-want-it-to-be

Watch Blair's cold-weather gear reveal: https://twitter.com/blairbraverman/status/1082079705627426816?lang=en

Read Women Who Travel's Guide to the Outdoors: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/a-guide-to-the-outdoors-for-women-and-by-women

Follow Shelma: @shelmatic & @heyflashfoxy

Follow Jenny: @jennybruso & @unlikelyhikers

Follow Blair: @blairbraverman

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

When we want to be transported to Italy, we read Ruth Reichl's piece on a seafood lunch she had in the ancient town of Sperlonga. Her descriptions of "lively langoustines," stuffed squash blossoms, oysters as "lovely as orchids," and pistachio-dusted cannoli are enough for us to briefly forget that we are, in fact, still in our apartments, eating yet another meal we've cooked for ourselves. Of course, Reichl isn't in Italy anymore, either—she's at home like the rest of us, and has been since March. We called her up to find out how she's staying connected to food and travel, from the ingredients she's craving (Spanish anchovies and Szechuan chile crisp) to the places she's dreaming of (Copenhagen and Japan), and why she believes the restaurant world is set to change for the better.

Read a transcription of the episode: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/ruth-reichl-on-the-future-of-restaurants-and-traveling-for-food-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Ruth: @ruth.reichl

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

We have been big fans of author Yaa Gyasi's debut, Homegoing, which traces two branches of a family tree from 18th-century Ghana to present-day America, since it was published in 2016. (It has made an appearance at least twice on the podcast as a favorite read.) So, with her second novel, Transcendent Kingdom, out this week, we thought it was high time we get Yaa herself in the (Zoom) studio to chat. This week, we talk about the trip to Ghana that kickstarted the idea for Homegoing, the female friendship that inspired parts of Transcendent Kingdom's main character, and what it takes to create such a distinct sense of place.

Here's a quick rundown of the books and stories we mentioned in this episode:

• Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
• Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
• “Inscape” by Yaa Gyasi
• The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
• Intimations by Zadie Smith
• Luster by Raven Leilani
• Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
• Having and Being Had by Eula Biss

Find a full transcription of the episode here: www.cntraveler.com/story/yaa-gyasi-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

This episode was originally published in January 2020.

We'll be back next week with a new Frequently Asked Questions episode, but for now we'll leave you in the hands of Fat Girls Traveling creator Annette Richmond and Women Who Travel columnist Laura Delarato, to talk about the intersection of travel and the body positivity movement. In this episode, we're celebrating women's bodies of all shapes and sizes taking on the world, while also sharing the challenges of traveling as plus-sized women, from struggling to find travel gear in your size to facing fatphobia and size bias on vacation.

Follow Annette: @fromannettewithlove & @fatgirlstraveling

Follow Laura: @heylauraheyyy

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

Find a transcription of the episode here: www.cntraveler.com/story/how-travel-taught-me-to-love-my-body-women-who-travel-podcast

When we last hosted a frequently asked questions episode back in March—recorded before most of the country began to lock down—we had far-flung adventures on our mind. Now, after a summer staying near home, we're looking with the same level of bated breath at 2021, with a few bright spots of hope for travel this winter. It seems you are too, as many of the questions we received from our listeners were focused on the future, from how to work around a cancelled study abroad trip or move someplace new, to the best ways to support the travel industry responsibly. So, we tapped Traveler's articles director Stephanie Wu and associate editor Megan Spurrell to come back and offer even more advice for your travel plans. As we mentioned in our summer travel episode, travel right now is all about mitigating risk and staying within your comfort zone, whether that means you're exclusively planning 2021 travel or looking for a nearby getaway later this year. 

Find a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-were-planning-for-travel-in-2021-and-beyond

Links mentioned:

Your Timeline for Planning a Trip One Year in Advance: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/timeline-for-planning-a-trip-one-year-in-advance

The Pandemic Is Shifting How Students Study Abroad: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-pandemic-is-shifting-how-students-study-abroad

How to Take Your Dog on a Camping Trip: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/camping-with-dogs

Why Travel Can Be a Turning Point After Losing a Partner: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/why-travel-can-be-a-turning-point-after-losing-a-partner

Should I Feel Guilty for Wanting to Travel Right Now? https://www.cntraveler.com/story/should-i-feel-guilty-for-wanting-to-travel-right-now

How to Be a Mindful Hotel Guest During a Pandemic: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-to-be-a-mindful-hotel-guest-during-a-pandemic

Follow Megan: @spurrelly 

Follow Stephanie: @bystephwu

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

When we recorded our “Honest Conversation About Saving and Budgeting for Travel” episode back in February, we had big plans for saving for travel, sure, but even bigger plans for spending those savings. Unfortunately, most, if not all, of those big spender dreams have been dashed, but one of this week's guests, Bourree Lam, The Wall Street Journal's personal finance bureau chief, has found the silver lining: “One way to think about [travel savings] may be that if you're saving for a big trip, you actually have more time to do that now, so you can be more ambitious.”

In our latest episode, we speak to Bourree and Traveler's transportation editor Jessica Puckett about how to be ambitious in your savings when everything seems so uncertain, how to take stock of your finances, the best ways to rack up points and miles when you're staying home, and more. Hopefully, it'll help set you on the right path for an even more extravagant adventure in the coming year. 

Find a full transcription and links mentioned here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-were-thinking-about-money-for-future-trips-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Bourree: @bourreelam

Follow Jessica: @jesspuck

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

This week, we're bringing back our How I Became series to chat with Cristina Mittermeier—marine biologist, conservationist, photographer, and co-founder of SeaLegacy, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the ocean. A National Geographic photographer known for her work underwater and among Indigenous communities in coastal areas, she's found a way to share her passion for our environment with the world. But it wasn't always a simple path. In fact, her first published photo was wrongly credited to her then-husband. Over the course of our chat, we talk about how a career in science led her to photography, her mission to educate us about the ocean, and how we can overcome that feeling of hopelessness amid the current climate crisis. 

Follow Cristina: @mitty

Follow SeaLegacy: @sealegacy

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

Seven months into the pandemic, we wanted to take a look at what life—and travel, for that matter—looks like for those living abroad. In our latest episode, we catch up with four women based in very different cities to find out. Lale chats with travel writer Julia Buckley about her decision to ride out the pandemic in Venice, and Meredith compares notes with illustrator Lindsay Arakawa about cycling in New York versus Tokyo. Meanwhile, associate editor Megan Spurrell talks to content creator Lee Litumbe about life returning to normal in Dakar, and director of strategic projects Lauren DeCarlo speaks with travel writer Imani Bashir about juggling work and parenting in her temporary home of Cancun.

Follow Julia: @juliathelast

Follow Imani: @sheisimanib

Follow Lee: @spiritedpursuit

Follow Lindsay: @blindsaay

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

If you're an avid reader or home chef, you've likely seen In Bibi's Kitchen on many of the year's most anticipated book lists. The cookbook is filled with recipes from eight African countries that border the Indian Ocean and stories from 24 grandmothers, and brings a new narrative to the table, one that Somali author, sauce maven, and former model Hawa Hassan is honored (if not a little overwhelmed) to share. “I was telling these new stories—I was expected to carry these stories—and I didn't know I could," she says on this week's episode. "I lived somewhere between inspiration and fear a lot of last year.”

That self-imposed pressure has paid off. Her book launched earlier this week, so we sat down to hear about her time with those bibis and what it was like to create a cookbook written and photographed exclusively by women and featuring recipes crafted exclusively by women, based everywhere from New York City to Comoros. 

Order In Bibi's Kitchen: https://fave.co/3gnIVLA

Read a full transcription of the episode: www.cntraveler.com/story/how-hawa-hassan-built-a-cookbook-around-east-african-grandmothers

Follow Hawa: @hawahassan

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

It was a different time in the summer of 2019 when Janée Woods Weber, an activist and social justice educator, joined BBC presenter Alvin Hall on a road trip tracing the legacy of the Green Book a travel guide published from 1937 to 1966 that shared safe road routes for Black travelers. But as this summer came around—dubbed the summer of road trips by many, but also filled with marches and social activism addressing police brutality and systemic racism—the duo's trip seemed all the more prescient. It's all gathered in their new podcast from Macmillan, Driving the Green Book, which follows the journeys Black travelers took to the South and the memories those who grew up in the Jim Crow Era have of the groundbreaking book. We sat down with Janée to hear about what went into planning the road trip last year, what stories from Black elders she met along the way have stuck with her, and which Black-owned businesses she can't wait to visit when we're able to travel freely again.

Read a full transcript of the episode: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-the-green-book-shaped-a-generation-of-black-travelers-women-who-travel

Read more about Driving the Green Book: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/driving-the-green-book-podcast

Listen to Janée's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/driving-the-green-book/id1519839250

Follow Janée: @janeepwoods

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

This week, as the weather starts to turn, we thought we’d give you a reason to look forward to the cold by resharing an episode with dog musher Blair Braverman. It was recorded shortly after she completed the Iditarod, a 938-mile long distance dog sled race which took her and her team of 14 dogs from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. We hope it at least inspires you to get your sweaters out of storage.

Follow Blair: @blairbraverman

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

 “There have never been more questions around travel,” says articles director Stephanie Wu in this week's episode—and she's spot on, based on how many were submitted through the Women Who Travel Instagram alone. In our eighth installment of our frequently asked questions series, we're covering everything from how to talk to your family when you're on different pandemic pages to how to navigating quarantine on entry if you're traveling overseas and how to budget for 2021 travel right now. 

Read a full transcription of the episode: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/youve-got-holiday-travel-questions-weve-got-answers-women-who-travel-podcast

Read "How to Plan a Family Vacation Where Everyone Feels Safe During COVID-19": https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-to-plan-a-family-vacation-where-everyone-feels-safe-during-covid-19

Follow Stephanie: @bystephwu

Follow Megan: @spurrelly

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

Watch surfer Nique Miller tiptoe to the end of her longboard as she rides the waves off the shore of Oahu's Waikiki Beach, and you'll be instantly transported to island time. But for Nique, a professional surfer and stand-up paddleboarder, surfing is more than just a way to relax. It's given her the confidence and security in her own skin to speak up about the sport's lack of diversity, from the swimwear models to the competition lineup. 

This week, we're talking to Nique about how she got involved in surfing in the first place—and what moving from Texas to Hawaii has taught her about herself, including her competitive spirit and inner strength. 

Read a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-i-became-a-professional-surfer-in-hawaii-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Nique: @nique_miller

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

There may be no better time than winter to cozy up, ideally by a fire, with a stack of books and a cup of coffee (or something a little stronger). This particular winter, though, the escape and education we find through books will be even more necessary. Whether you're picking up books for yourself or sending hefty hardcovers to family and friends as holiday gifts, we have some suggestions that will distract, entertain, and inform—all by female writers spread across the world. (Translated Japanese authors were surprisingly popular this episode.) Joining us to share their favorite recent reads are Riverhead Books' associate publisher Jynne Dilling-Martin and Kalima DeSuze, activist and founder of the Cafe con Libros bookstore in Brooklyn. 

Here's a full list of what we talked about:

• Oreo, by Fran Ross
• Lobizona, by Romina Garber
• The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin
• The Memory Police, by Yoko Ogawa
• Convenience Store Woman, by Suyaka Murata
• Tokyo Ueno Station, by Yu Miri
• The Custom of the Country, by Edith Wharton
• The Lying Life of Adults, by Elena Ferrante
• The Neapolitan Novels, by Elena Ferrante
• The Japanese Table, by Sofia Hellsten
• Luster, by Raven Leilani
• Hurricane Season, by Fernanda Melchor

Read a transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-books-helping-us-escape-right-now-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Kalima's Cafe con Libros: @cafeconlibros_bk

Follow Jynne: @jynnnne

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

People travel far and wide to compete in marathons, and for extreme runner Nicki Rehn these feats of endurance are her favorite way to see the world. Lale chats with Rehn to find out about her career high of running the mountain peaks of Bhutan, as well as other jaw-dropping treks. Plus, Condé Nast Traveler editor Megan Spurrell stops by the studio to share her own New York Marathon story.

New York City's Chinatown is arguably one of the most famous neighborhoods in the world—and perhaps one of the most storied, too. Ava Chin, whose memoir, Mott Street: A Chinese American Family’s Story of Exclusion and Homecoming, came out this spring, chats with Lale about the apartment building that housed four generations of her family, and the journey a look into her heritage took her on.

A special episode of the Women Who Travel podcast, presented by Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods.

If you're anything like us, your first instinct is to cram as much as possible into a trip—from meals to bars to vintage shops to museums, the list goes on. We're here to tell you to slow down. This week, we're talking about slow travel, a way of moving through the world that's all about intention, observation, and yes, literally moving more slowly. To help you find your way, we invited Rachel Schwartzmann, a New York-based writer and the host of Slow Stories, a podcast all about slowing down in a digital world, and Melissa Donahue, owner and executive chef at Sweet Melissa's in sleepy Sanibel, Florida, to share their tactics for embracing slow travel, whether it's taking time off just to wander around your own neighborhood or prioritizing digital detoxes on vacation.

Follow Rachel: @rachelschwartzmann

Follow Melissa: sweetmelissascafe.com

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

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Sign up for the newsletter: cntraveler.com/newsletter/subscribe

Here at the *Traveler* office, we love weddings. It's a time to see old friends, make a few new ones on the dance floor, and, if you're lucky, an excuse see a new city if only for a weekend. But with a finite number of vacation days to spend jetting to see "I dos" and do the Cha Cha Slide—and limited funds to dedicate to getting yourself there—you've got to maximize your time on the ground. So whether you can squeeze out a single dinner away from the wedding party, or extend your trip into a real vacation, we've got tips on making the most out of someone else's wedding, whether it's in Cape Town, Santa Fe, or your own backyard. Joined by Traveler's articles director Stephanie Wu and community editor Megan Spurrell, we break down the type of weddings we'd travel for, how to make the most of the few hours you have to spare, and what to give newlyweds that share your love of travel.

Read a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-to-plan-a-trip-around-someone-elses-wedding-women-who-travel-podcast

________

On August 13, Meredith will be hosting a panel at New York City's We Work Now with Selena Kalvaria, Away's SVP of Brand, and The Points Guy's Brian Kelly. Use the promo code CONDE to get 20 percent off tickets: https://buildingabrandaroundadventure.splashthat.com/

When we heard that E. Jean Carroll—the same E. Jean behind *Elle*'s long-running advice column, Ask E. Jean—had recently embarked on a road trip through the midwest, only visiting towns named after women, we knew we had to give her a call. But when we heard it was all in search of an answer to the very specific question "what do we need men for?" we just couldn't wait. This episode, we talk through E. Jean's love of road trips (she once drove around the U.S. to stay at all of her exes homes for Esquire, how people responded to her question along the way, and the answers that she found. It's truly a ride. 

Find a full transcription of the episode, and a link to E. Jean's book, here: 

For Jada Yuan, it was the job opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to visit 52 places in 52 weeks as The New York Times's 52 Places traveler. For Renee Hahnel, known on Instagram as Renee Roaming, full-time travel was a photography gig that meant piling into a tiny 15-by-six-foot van and photographing 59 national parks over nearly seven months. The two travelers did what we'd all love to do: pack up and just go, traveling without stopping for months on end. This week, the two—Renee just back from another photography trip to Kenya and Jada on vacation in the French Riviera—called in to share how they got started traveling full time, what it was really like, and how they're settling back into "normal" life.

Read the show notes and a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/what-i-learned-from-full-time-traveland-why-i-stopped-women-who-travel-podcast

Maria Sharapova loves Italy. She just got back from vacation in Italy. If you ask her where she wants to go on vacation next, it's Italy. (Ischia, Venice, Tuscany, and Sicily to be slightly more precise.) For the Olympic medalist and five time Grand Slam winner who travels more than 25 weeks out of the year, finding a place where you can just turn off is key—and quick three-day city breaks to Rome and Positano in between tournaments and training have done just that. This week, she's far from the Mediterranean, competing against Serena Williams in the first round of the U.S. Open in New York City—but before the Russian player hit the court, we sat down to chat about her love for the boot-shaped country, her favorite solo trips, and how she's made a home for herself in the U.S.

Read the show notes and a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/maria-sharapova-women-who-travel-podcast

The past six weeks have seen historic demonstrations sweep across Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, with protesters—the majority of whom are women—taking to the streets to address the country's status quo. Lale chats with Iranian-American cookbook author Naz Deravian, whose book Bottom of the Pot: Persian Recipes and Stories, won a 2019 Julia Child Foundation award, to discuss the current uprising, how food both maintains and strengthens her bonds with the country, and the ways that food culture can help shape our understanding of a place.

For more from Women Who Travel, visit our website or subscribe to our email newsletter.

Planning a trip around food is one of our favorite ways to travel, so Lale turns to a seasoned restaurant scouter for intel. Kate Kassin is the Editorial Operations Manager at Bon Appétit, which means she works on some of the magazine's biggest projects, including its Best New Restaurants list. They talk about what it takes to uncover some of the most exciting places to eat in the US right now, and her tips for finding the best spots to eat on any vacation.

Whether its embedding herself with orchid hunters in Florida or chasing surfers in Maui, Susan Orlean is never afraid to throw herself into the story. A longtime writer for the New Yorker, and author of beloved titles like Saturday Night, The Library Book, and On Animals, she's traveled the world—and calls into the studio to share stories from Iceland, Bhutan, and more.

What do we gain—and leave behind—when we move abroad? Lale chats with Lebanese poet Zeina Hashem Beck, whose third poetry collection, 'O,' was released this summer, about moving away from her beloved Beirut and hopping between countries until arriving in her current home of California. Plus, listeners share stories about the challenges, joys, and surprises that come with overseas moves.

For more from Women Who Travel, visit our website or subscribe to our email newsletter.

A special three-part series of the Women Who Travel podcast, presented by Cloudy Bay

This is a special Friday episode of the Women Who Travel podcast and the second installment in our three-part I Deserve This series, presented by Cloudy Bay. Designed to celebrate all the ways we treat ourselves when we travel, we hope to dispel the feelings of selfishness and guilt that often come with spending time and money on our own adventures and dreams. Kat Mason, Cloudy Bay's wine communications manager, knows those feelings: after falling in love with New Zealand on a four-week wine fellowship, she returned back to the U.K. in 2013, homesick for a place she had only just visited and feeling guilt over her lack of enthusiasm to return home. Pushing past those feelings, though, she made the jump with her then-four-year-old daughter and moved more than halfway across the world for a slower pace of life—exactly one year after her visit. We sat down with Kat to find out more about living abroad, how she prioritizes herself and her daughter on the road, her most memorable wine trips, and the importance of self-care on vacation. 

Follow Kat: @thewinekat

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

A special three-part series of the Women Who Travel podcast, presented by Cloudy Bay

We've long admired Kimi Werner, a Hawaiian freediver and spearfisher, so we thought there was no better woman to join us this week. A new mom, she's had to find a way to balance her active new role above land and the regenerative power and calm she finds underwater. We chat about how she's found that balance, what it's meant to introduce her son to the ocean, and how she's managed to leave her anxieties on the shore and just relax.

Follow Kimi: @kimi_swimmy

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

In 1938 two women botanists broke with convention and set off on an expedition trip along the Colorado River that would see them risk their lives over rapids in the name of research. Two years ago, science journalist Melissa Sevigny retraced their adventure, whitewater rafting the same rapids and sleeping under the stars to learn more about who these women were—and why their work still influences the scientific landscape of America today.

In the second installment of Women Who Travel's mini series about food, gardening, and wellness, Lale catches up with Sophia Roe, an activist, chef, and host of the travel and food show, Counter Space, is available to stream on Tastemade, to talk about the places and people she met while filming season two, her unending love of mushrooms, and what it means to live well. Plus, we hear from two Girl Scouts who have developed green thumbs at one of New York City's cherished community gardens.

The Amazon lives in our imaginations, in literature, and throughout swathes of travel writing. But what is it like to live there? Lale chats with journalist Eliane Brum who's built a house from recycled wood in Altamira, a town on the northern fringes of the Amazon, to find out more—and to learn about her new book, Banzeiro Òkòtó: The Amazon as the Center of the World. Plus, Condé Nast Traveler editor Megan Spurrell tells us about a life-changing trip to an equally spectacular yet vulnerable place: Antarctica.

When we last spoke to travel host Samantha Brown in 2018, a border-shuttering, flight-grounding pandemic was nowhere on our radar. Flash forward to March 2020, and a season's worth of filming and production planning for her show, Places to Love, was canceled in a matter of weeks. For the first time in years, she's been staying put in Brooklyn, where she lives with her husband and twins. “I always knew that I love to travel, but I didn't realize that it was just so ingrained in who I was,” she tells us on this week's episode. “Whether it's in an airport, or getting a meal, or someone I talk to at a hotel who helps me get to my next destination … I just love those quick spontaneous meetings with strangers. That's what I miss the most.”

In our first episode of 2021, we're catching up with Samantha to talk about how she's spent the last year mostly at home, what it took to film a few episodes of Places to Love amid the pandemic in the fall, and what travel trends we might see when we get to the other side. 

Follow Samantha: @samanthabrowntravels

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Subscribe to the Women Who Travel newsletter: https://www.cntraveler.com/newsletter/subscribe

Read a full transcription here: www.cntraveler.com/story/travel-host-samantha-brown-on-spending-nearly-a-year-at-home-women-who-travel-podcast

Inspired by the “Women Who Travel Guide to Getting Back Out There” package, which launched earlier this month, we're spending this episode looking to the future—whether that be tackling travel anxieties bought on by the pandemic, relearning how to meet new people, or redefining our comfort zones. Joined by Traveler associate editor Megan Spurrell and travel writer Jessica Poitevien, we also swap notes on the big trips we're hoping to take when it's safe to do so.

The conversation doesn't end there, either. We want to know where you are dreaming of going on your first trip back out there. Email a voice memo to womenwhotravel@cntraveler.com with your name, where you're based, and what you're planning, and you might hear yourself in an upcoming episode.

Find a full transcription of this episode here:

Here are a few of the stories we mentioned: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/getting-ready-for-travel-in-a-post-vaccine-world-women-who-travel-podcast

"The Women Who Travel Guide to Getting Back Out There," https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-women-who-travel-guide-to-getting-back-out-there 

"Go Ahead. Fantasize," https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/16/style/go-ahead-fantasize.html 

"What Does Travel Anxiety Look Like In 2021?," https://www.cntraveler.com/story/what-does-travel-anxiety-look-like-in-2021 

"Why Saying “No” Can Make Travel More Rewarding," https://www.cntraveler.com/story/why-saying-no-can-make-travel-more-rewarding

"How to Meet New People After a Year of Isolation," https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-to-meet-new-people-after-a-year-of-isolation

Follow Jessica: @shedreamsoftravel

Follow Megan: @spurrelly

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

When we talked to Kopitiam's co-owner Moonlynn Tsai on the podcast last June, the reality of the longevity of the pandemic—and what that meant for her restaurant—was just setting in. Now, after nearly a year of pivoting to make do, creating outdoor dining, surviving the New York winter, and trying to keep her staff safe, she says running a restaurant feels about the same as it did in the pandemic's early days. She's just more tired. 

This week, we're catching up with Moonlynn to hear more about those experiences—and what's giving her hope for the future. Also joining us is the San Francisco Chronicle's senior editor Serena Dai to chat about how we can think big to help support local restaurants, and what she would like to see from the industry on the other side of the pandemic. 

Read a full transcript here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/where-do-restaurants-go-from-here-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Moonlynn: @moonlynntsai

Check out Kopitiam: kopitiamnyc.com

Follow Serena: @ssdai

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

There are tons of questions swirling around travel in our Women Who Travel Instagram DMs and Facebook group these days, especially as we watch COVID-19 vaccines roll out and let ourselves start dreaming of those first big trips. To answer your questions this week—which range from where to go for a milestone birthday trip and the best credit card to help rack up points for future trips, to what the reality of immunity passports could look like—we tapped Traveler articles director Stephanie Wu and transportation editor Jessica Puckett. 

Stick around at the end of our conversation to hear where some of our listeners are already planning to visit when it's safe to do so. Want to share your own future travel plans? Email a voice memo to womenwhotravel@cntraveler.com with your name, where you're based, and what you're planning, and you might hear yourself in an upcoming episode.

Read a full transcript of the episode here: cntraveler.com/story/immunity-passports-free-flights-and-other-travel-questions-answered-women-who-travel-podcast

Here are a few of the stories we mentioned:

"I Just Took a 16-Hour Flight: Here's How It Went:" cntraveler.com/story/i-just-took-a-16-hour-flight-heres-how-it-went

"Chefs on the Meals They Can't Wait to Travel For:" cntraveler.com/story/female-chefs-on-the-meals-they-cant-wait-to-travel-for

"The Best Birthday Trips for Every Age:" cntraveler.com/gallery/places-to-go-for-your-birthday

"International Resorts Step Up Testing Options In Response to New CDC Rules:" cntraveler.com/story/international-resorts-step-up-testing-options-in-response-to-new-cdc-rules

Follow Steph: @bystephwu

Follow Jessica: @jesspuck

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

If you're sick and tired of winter like we are, sit down, breathe in, and picture yourself in sunny southern Ghana, where temperatures are currently a balmy 80 degrees and maximalist colors and patterns abound. That's where this week's guest, Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, is calling in from—and where she gets her design inspiration for her woven handbag brand AAKS. 

We've been long obsessed with the brand, which uses woven rafia to create crossbody bags, totes, and baskets in joyful colors—and has recently branched out into home decor. We sat down with Akosua to talk about how travel, both in Ghana and internationally, has inspired her designs, how she's stayed creative amid the pandemic, and how she navigated the sales boom that came in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder and the Black Lives Matter resurgence last summer. 

Read a transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/handbag-designer-akosua-afriyie-kumi-on-finding-inspiration-in-ghana-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Akosua: @a.a.k.s

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

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According to the FAA, women make up just seven percent of all certified pilots, and of those female pilots, less than one percent are Black women. Captains Kellie Young and Stephanie Hartsfield are among that percentage, having spent careers flying on international legacy carriers, cargo flights, and corporate planes. This week, we're catching up with Kellie and Stephanie to learn about their journeys, the challenges along the way, and how they're paying it forward for Black female pilots of the future. Both are a part of Sisters of the Skies, a non-profit dedicated to mentorship, scholarships, and outreach to young Black women to follow in their footsteps into the pilot's seat. 

Read a full transcript of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/finding-sisterhood-among-black-female-pilots-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Sisters of the Skies: @sistersoftheskies

Follow Stephanie: @pilotsteph

Follow Kellie: @shefliesjets

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Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

Despite our announcement at the beginning of this episode, you can listen to our next episode on 3/10.

In 2020, even the most outdoorsy among us developed a newfound appreciation for wide open spaces, as we sought out safe ways to explore while social distancing. But as more than 237 million visitors took to national parks, and even more took to trails, lakes, and rivers closer to home, certain questions were raised once again: How much do we know about the history of the land we're recreating on and who lived there? And how are we respecting those stories and the modern realities of Indigenous communities?

This week, we're joined by Jaylyn Gough, founder of Native Womens Wilderness (NWW), an online platform that connects Native women and two-spirits to the outdoors. We cover a lot in this episode, including how Jaylyn's childhood relationship with nature developed on the Navajo reservation, the outdoor industry's responsibility to change the narrative around land rights, how NWW has pivoted to aid Indigenous communities acutely affected by COVID-19, and the potential confirmation of Representative Deb Haaland as interior secretary. 

Read a full transcript of this episode: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/why-we-should-consider-whose-land-were-on-when-were-outdoors-women-who-travel-podcast

Check out the Native Lands app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/native-land/id1194356597

Follow Jaylyn: @jaylyn.gough

Follow Native Womens Wilderness: @nativewomenswilderness

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

Just over a year ago, we launched I Deserve This, a series all about the different ways we should be prioritizing ourselves, whether that's with time, travel, or money. A few days after launch, the U.S. went into lockdown and the idea of spending copious amounts on any of those things felt like a pipe dream as we all stayed home. But, over the summer, we quietly started the series back up, chatting with the likes of free diver Kimi Werner about finding time for herself at the bottom of the ocean and photojournalist Malin Fezehai on planning trips to fuel her creativity. 

This week, we're back in full force, speaking with Babba Rivera, the Swedish-Chilean founder of Ceremonia, a haircare line inspired by the Latinx community. Despite its horrors, 2020 was a big year for Babba: she bought a house, had a baby, and launched a brand. We chat with her about finding ways to celebrate those moments amid the pandemic, navigating identity and representation, taking trips close to home just for the hell of it, and feeling homesick through it all. 

Read a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-ceremonias-babba-rivera-finds-joy-in-challenging-times-women-who-travel-podcast

Read our conversation with Babba from November: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/clean-hair-care-brand-ceremonia-is-inspired-by-latinx-beauty-rituals

Follow Babba: @babba

Follow Ceremonia: @myceremonia

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

As vaccinations increase and the world begins to slowly open up, the idea of becoming a digital nomad—working remotely while traveling every few months to a new destinations—sounds more and more appealing. But what if you want to stick around a little longer? This week, we're speaking to Rachel Coleman, a social media strategist now based in Berlin, and Katalina Mayorga, the founder of El Camino Travel who lives in Bogotá, about what pushed them to move abroad more permanently, how they make it work, and what they wish they had known beforehand. Along the way, we talk through making friends as an adult, how moving away from the U.S. has impacted their travel habits, and how the pandemic has played out in their new homes. 

Read a full transcription of the episode: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/what-we-wish-we-knew-before-moving-abroad-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Katalina: @theyoufinder

Follow Rachel: @rachelecoleman

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

This week, Evita Robinson, founder of the Nomadness Travel Tribe and Audacity Fest, and Jessica Nabongo, the first black woman to visit every country in the world, are back on the podcast, joined by Martinique Lewis, author of the ABC Travel Green Book and a Condé Nast Traveler advisory board member. Throughout the episode, they chat about how some parts of the industry have turned a moment into a long-term commitment to the Black community—and how others haven't moved beyond a black Instagram square. Along the way, they shout out organizations like the Black Travel Alliance, of which Martinique is the president, that have formed to support Black travelers and Black content creators, and talk through all of the voices that are still being left out of the conversation. (To that point, Nomadness Travel Tribe recently release data from its BIPOC Diversity in Travel survey, which features insights on existing and emerging travel trends among Nomadness's diverse community. You can check out the report here.)

Listen to Jessica, Evita, and Whembley Sewell's conversation from June 2020 here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-the-travel-industry-should-support-black-women-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Evita: @evierobbie

Follow Jessica: @thecatchmeifyoucan

Follow Martinique: @martysandiego

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We stand firmly in solidarity with the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and mourn the lives lost in the horrific mass shooting by a white gunman in Atlanta on Tuesday, March 16, which killed 8 people, six of whom were Asian women. We encourage everyone in our community to spend time reading about the ongoing impact of racism on the AAPI community, and if you can, donate to any number of these organizations working to end this violence and provide support for their communities.

AAPI Women Lead: imreadymovement.org

National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum: napawf.org

Heart of Dinner: heartofdinner.org

Asian Immigrant Women's Advocates: aiwa.org

Red Canary Song: redcanarysong.net

Padma Lakshmi has had a busy 12 months. She spent the early stages of lockdown alphabetizing her spices—and then reorganizing them by region—and cooking an incredible amount of food at home. Then her new show, Taste the Nation, which dives into the immigrant roots of America's favorite cuisines, premiered in June, and she spent the fall filming a new season of Top Chef in Portland, under a number of new COVID-19 restrictions. 

This week, she's talking about all of that and more with us, from the transportive meals she's cooked while grounded to the places she's itching to visit when this is all over. Most importantly, we chat about the strength and influence of immigrants in the U.S., how food media has changed in the last year, and what may be in store for Taste the Nation's second season. 

Read a transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/padma-lakshmi-women-who-travel-podcast

Read Lale's conversation with Padma from March 2020: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/padma-lakshmi-on-the-immigrant-cuisines-that-make-america

Pick up a copy of Padma's reprinted Tangy, Tart, Hot and Sweet at bookshop.org or your local bookstore

Follow Padma: @padmalakshmi

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

All products featured in here are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

In the past year, we've all dealt with various levels of grief, both personal and collective, centered around the pandemic. For many, it has also resurfaced familiar emotions and struggles experienced over previous losses of friends and family. To process that grief, Traveler contributors Jordi Lippe-McGraw, who lost her father in a plane crash in 2010, and Nneka M. Okona, who lost her best friend four years ago, have usually turned to travel, a coping mechanism that COVID-19 has challenged. This week, we're talking about how they've used travel to work through the complicated emotions of grief, why they want us to talk about those feelings more publicly, and what advice they'd give to those feeling adrift with grief right now. Know that the episode isn't all sad, however. As Nneka says, “[you've] got to spice up grief and make it less gloomy sometimes.”

Find a full transcription of the episode here: www.cntraveler.com/story/how-travel-has-helped-us-process-our-grief-women-who-travel-podcast

Pre-order Nneka's book: https://fave.co/3sXwEom

Follow Nneka: @afrosypaella

Read Jordi's piece: www.cntraveler.com/story/i-was-scared-to-fly-after-my-dads-plane-crash-but-travel-helped-me-overcome-my-grief

Follow Jordi: @jordilippe

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

Subscribe to our newsletter: www.cntraveler.com/newsletter/subscribe

All products featured here are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

As travel begins to open up for vaccinated Americans and we start making the trips we’ve been dreaming about a reality, Lale and I wanted to reshare an episode we recorded last July. Joined by the recently engaged Kiyanna Stewart and Jannah Handy of BLK MKT Vintage, we chatted all things souvenirs and home decor. In this episode, learn how they shop for and curate their store, which maps the Black diaspora through vintage wares and collectibles. (Plus, how they style their own souvenirs and vintage finds at home.) Their biggest tips? Have patience: Whether you're shopping in your own town or have to travel halfway around the world, be prepared to leave a shop or flea market empty handed should nothing speak to you. And think about function and purpose before spending on something that won't fit in your home, let alone your suitcase.

Follow BLK MKT Vintage: @blkmktvintage

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

Find a transcription of the episode and links here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-to-shop-for-meaningful-souvenirs-women-who-travel-podcast

This week on the podcast, we're joined by Michelle Zauner, most known as indie pop musician Japanese Breakfast, and whose memoir, Crying in H Mart, was released April 20. Michelle, who is Korean on her mother's side, centers her the book around her relationship with her mother—describing the foods that brought them together, their rituals on mother-daughter trips to Korea every other summer, and how she experienced the grief that came with her mother's cancer diagnosis. Listen in to hear her recount those summertime trips from her home in Oregon to visit her aunts and grandmother in Seoul and how she developed love for Korean cooking. Plus, she tells us about her love for Maangchi cooking videos on Youtube, the first dishes she'll eat when she gets back to Korea post-pandemic, and what she misses most about touring with Japanese Breakfast. (The short answer? All of it.)

Read a transcription of the episode here: www.cntraveler.com/story/michelle-zauner-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Michelle: @jbrekkie

Order Crying in H Mart: www.bookshop.org/books/crying-in-h-mart-a-memoir/9780525657743

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

Subscribe to our newsletter: www.cntraveler.com/newsletter/subscribe

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

As temperatures begin to warm up and we start picturing the lazy park hangs and beach days in store for us this summer, our minds have already started whirring at the reading possibilities. Over the past year, we've turned to reading as both an escape from our current world and a way to explore without leaving home. While we'll be a bit more mobile this summer, our love for books hasn't changed, so we've once again tapped Jynne Dilling Martin associate publisher at Riverhead Books, and Lisa Lucas, senior vice president and publisher of Pantheon and Schocken Books, to help craft the ultimate summer reading list of books written by women. Whether you're itching for a Greek myth retelling, a workplace thriller, a deep dive into the natural world, or a novel about a cannibalistic food writer, we've got you covered. 

Here's a full list of what we talked about:

• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard
• The Hard Crowd by Rachel Kushner
• A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers
• Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
• Salvation City, by Sigrid Nunez
• Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter by Ali Smith
• Sisters by Daisy Johnson
• Circe and dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In January, our frequently asked questions episode saw us edging back into the world of travel—and with this week's episode, we're actually starting to plan those trips we've been dreaming about for this summer and into 2022. Joined by associate editor Megan Spurrell and transportation editor, Jessica Puckett, we're answering your questions about the outdoorsy domestic destinations to visit right now, the countries open to vaccinated travelers this summer, and where to reunite with your extended family after what has been more than a year apart for many. Plus, we chat about navigating the visa process for traveling long-term as a digital nomad. 

Read a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/your-summer-travel-questions-answered-women-who-travel-podcast

Links mentioned:

"These National Parks Will Require Reservations This Summer," https://www.cntraveler.com/story/these-national-parks-will-require-reservations-this-summer

"The Best State Park in Every Single State," https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/the-best-state-parks-in-the-us

"These Countries Are Open to Fully Vaccinated Travelers," https://www.cntraveler.com/story/these-countries-are-open-to-fully-vaccinated-travelers

"7 Countries Where You Can Get a Passport Through Ancestry," https://www.cntraveler.com/story/countries-where-you-can-get-a-passport-through-ancestry

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Jessica: @jesspuck

Follow Megan: @spurrelly

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

If, after over a year at home, you're thinking that the best salve for your sanity this summer is to pack up, get out of your house or apartment, and hit the road in a van to explore America's great outdoors, this episode is for you. With advice on what to pack, how to route your trip, and how to avoid the mistakes they made, our guests—van lifers Erin McGrady, an Asheville-based writer and photographer, and Noami Grevemberg, founder of Diversify Vanlife and one half of the @IrietoAurora Instagram account—can help you get started. But while this episode is in part a van life for dummies guide, it also gets at the no-filter realities of living in your van, the privilege that comes with choosing a voluntary nomadic lifestyle, and the responsibility travelers have to respect and understand the public lands they visit. It truly hits all the bases. 

Listen to "Why We Should Consider Whose Land We're On When We're Outdoors" with Jaylyn Gough: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/why-we-should-consider-whose-land-were-on-when-were-outdoors-women-who-travel-podcast

Find a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/what-it-actually-takes-to-become-a-van-lifer-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Erin: @e.mcgrady

Follow Noami: @IrietoAurora

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

Subscribe to the Women Who Travel: https://www.cntraveler.com/newsletter/subscribe

Charlotte Simpson had been traveling for decades before she took her first solo trip. She had visited all 50 states with her late husband throughout their 31-year marriage, traveled internationally with her daughter, and had adventures with girlfriends. But when no one wanted to go on a trip to Italy with her a few years after her husband died, she set out on her own—kicking off a new love for solo travel and the freedom that comes with it. “It was so liberating,” she says. This week, Charlotte, known online as @TravelingBlackWidow, joins us our I Deserve This series, talking about how she prioritizes traveling for herself, what she's learned about being more adventurous later in life, and how social media has influenced her travels.

Read a full transcription here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/falling-in-love-with-solo-travel-after-retirement-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Charlotte: @travelingblackwidow

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

Subscribe to the newsletter: https://www.cntraveler.com/newsletter/subscribe

Try to define 24-year-old Australian-Zimbabwean musician Tkay Maidza's songs by a single genre and you may come up at a loss for words. But then again, so does she, telling us that her music is simply “alternative of anything.” 

“It's alternative pop, alternative, rap, alternative R&B,” she says from her new home in L.A. “It's left of center of anything because I'm always looking for something that's new and different and trying to make it my own.” 

This week, we sat down with the prolific singer to chat about how moving around as a kid prepared her for touring, how her family's musical interests have influenced her sound, and how she's stayed creative over the last year and a half. It's all part of our guide to new music around the world—and you can find Tkay and other incredible female artists on our Spotify playlist. 

Read a full transcription and find links to the artists Tkay mentioned here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/tkay-maidza-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Tkay: @tkaymaidza

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

Subscribe to the newsletter: https://www.cntraveler.com/newsletter/subscribe

This episode was originally published in August 2020. 

When it comes to getting outdoors, gear can be a major barrier. Whether it's finding gear that comes in your size (let alone actually fits your body), knowing what gear is a must-have and what you can safely skip, or having the funds for what you need, there's a lot more at play than just walking into your local outdoor retailer. This week, we wanted to dig into women's gear—across hiking, climbing, dog mushing, and more—to find out how far we've come in opening up the outdoors to bodies of all shapes and experience levels and how far we have to go. With the most guests we've had on one podcast since we started recording at home, this episode stars Unlikely Hikers founder Jenny Bruso, Flash Foxy founder and climber Shelma Jun, and Iditarod competitor Blair Braverman, who share how they fell in love with the outdoors in the first place, how they overcome gear barriers today, and what they want from the outdoor industry.

Read a transcription of the episode: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/womens-gear-still-isnt-where-we-want-it-to-be

Watch Blair's cold-weather gear reveal: https://twitter.com/blairbraverman/status/1082079705627426816?lang=en

Read Women Who Travel's Guide to the Outdoors: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/a-guide-to-the-outdoors-for-women-and-by-women

Follow Shelma: @shelmatic & @heyflashfoxy

Follow Jenny: @jennybruso & @unlikelyhikers

Follow Blair: @blairbraverman

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

Throughout the last year and a half, we've watched as beloved bars, restaurants, and gathering places have closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. But, as writer Samantha Allen says on this week's episode, that wave of closures has been ongoing for years within the LGBTQ+ community. In fact, there are just over 15 lesbian bars remaining in the U.S., according to the Lesbian Bar Project, an effort to record and protect lesbian bars that's being spearheaded by filmmakers Elina Street and Erica Rose. (Editor's note: Since recording, the project has updated the number of U.S. lesbian bars to 21.)

To talk about how lesbian bars and queer spaces have fared during the pandemic and what is needed in the future to keep them around, we're joined by Allen and Lisa Menichino, owner of Cubbyhole, one of New York City's three remaining lesbian bars. One major takeaway? “You have to come,” says Menichino of post-pandemic visits to bars like Cubbyhole. “You have to support us. You have to be there. Because we're not magically going to be around without you.”

Read a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/why-americas-lesbian-bars-need-our-support-more-than-ever-women-who-travel-project

Find them.'s Queer Spaces Project: https://www.them.us/story/queer-spaces-lost-covid-19

Find the Lesbian Bar Project's work: https://www.lesbianbarproject.com/

Follow Samantha: @SLAwrites

Follow Lisa at Cubbyhole: @cubbyholebar

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel