Strange Old World – Details, episodes & analysis

Looking for some unusual attractions in Bangkok, Thailand? Look no further.

In this episode, we talk to expert travel writer and house DJ Barbara Woolsey.

Barbara is a culture and travel writer who splits her time between Bangkok and Berlin. She has authored several Lonely Planet Thailand guides and covered the country for Atlas Obscura, Thrillist and more. Barbara is also as DJ (known as Babxi), playing house and disco in famous nightclubs in Europe and SE Asia.

In this episode you’ll find out…

• How you can earn good karma by paying to release a captive animal
• Where you’ll find a menu including duck in bile and pig brain with chilli
• Why you shouldn’t go around touching people on the top of the head

…and so much more.

You’ll find all Barbara’s picks on the pod website: www.strangeoldworld.com

(LINKS DON'T WORK ON YOUR PODCAST PLATFORM? THEY'RE ALL AT WWW.STRANGEOLDWORLD.COM TOO)

You can read Barbara’s latest travel articles at barbarawoolsey.com — or listen to Babxis’s music at soundcloud.com/babxi. She’s also on Facebook and Insta

Planning to travel to Thailand? Buy Barbara’s brand new Lonely Planet Thailand book (or wait for her Thailand’s Islands & Beaches book — it’s out this summer)

If you’re interested, this is the Pyongyang skyscraper Joe talked about in the ep

Follow Joe on X or Instagram or get in touch at info@juniorproductions.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking for unusual attractions in Marrakech, Morocco? Look no further.

In this ep, we talk to writer, podcaster and travel consultant Mandy Sinclair.

When Mandy relocated to Marrakech in 2011, she launched a travel blog and podcast called Why Morocco. She also founded Tasting Marrakech, offering food and cultural tours of the city. While Mandy no longer lives in Marrakech, she often returns and worked on the latest Lonely Planet Morocco guidebook.

In this episode you’ll find out…

• Where you can go to create your own unique perfume
• Why you don’t have to pay a fortune to attend a film premiere
• Which unusual flavour of milkshake is a big hit in Marrakech

…and so much more.

You’ll find all Mandy’s picks on the pod website: www.strangeoldworld.com

(LINKS DON'T WORK ON YOUR PODCAST PLATFORM? THEY'RE ALL AT WWW.STRANGEOLDWORLD.COM TOO)

Venture over to Mandy’s website — mandyinmorocco.com — to read her blog articles, listen to her podcast and learn all about her Tasting Marrakech tours

There are also links to her freelance writing. Articles we mentioned on the pod:

• Where to Find the Best Street Art in Marrakech - Culture Trip
• How to spend a day in trendy Sidi Ghanem - The Independent

Follow Joe on X or Instagram or get in touch at info@juniorproductions.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking for some unusual attractions in Prague, Czech Republic? Look no further.

In this episode, we talk to local expert and freelance journalist Mark Pickering.

Mark moved to Prague 14 years ago to teach English and eat his body weight in fried cheese. When he's not babbling excitedly to students about literature, he writes travel and lifestyle articles for the likes of The Guardian and VICE, delving into the dark crevices of Czech Republic and its wonderful sub-cultures.

In this episode you’ll find out…

• When two men urinating in public has nothing to do with a stag party
• Why ‘pickled cheese’ is a lot tastier than it sounds
• What to say (or not to say) when going to the toilet

…and so much more.

You’ll find all Mark’s picks on the podcast website: www.strangeoldworld.com

(LINKS DON'T WORK ON YOUR PODCAST PLATFORM? THEY'RE ALL AT WWW.STRANGEOLDWORLD.COM TOO)

Follow Mark on LinkedIn or discover The Little Book of Czenglish on Facebook

Here are a few of Mark’s Czech travel articles we mentioned on the pod:

• I Went to an Illegal Pig-Killing Party — VICE
• A David Cerny sculpture walk in Prague — The Guardian
• I Went on a Tour of Prague's Drugs and Prostitution Hotspots — VICE

You can hear Joe’s ‘straight up’ Prague picks on DK’s Where to Go podcast

Follow Joe on X and Instagram or get in touch at info@juniorproductions.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking for some unusual attractions in Istanbul, Turkey? Look no further.

In this episode, we talk to local expert Pat Yale, author of Following Miss Bell.

After a career in the travel industry, Pat became a Turkey guidebook writer for Lonely Planet. She lived for almost 20 years in a cave house in Cappadocia, but now resides in Istanbul. Her new book Following Miss Bell: Travels Around Turkey in the Footsteps of Gertrude Bell was recently published by Trailblazer.

In this episode you’ll find out…

• Which annual festival features men pretending to whip themselves
• Where to get the tastiest spit-roasted sheep intestines in the city
• Why you should think twice about blowing your nose in Istanbul

…and so much more.

You’ll find all Pat’s picks on the podcast website: www.strangeoldworld.com

(LINKS DON'T WORK ON YOUR PODCAST PLATFORM? THEY'RE ALL AT WWW.STRANGEOLDWORLD.COM TOO)

Follow Pat on x.com/patyale or check out her website: www.patyale.com

You can also buy her book, Following Miss Bell: Travels Around Turkey in the Footsteps of Gertrude Bell, on Trailblazer, Amazon or at your local bookshop

Follow Joe on X or Instagram or get in touch at info@juniorproductions.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking for some unusual attractions in Oslo, Norway? Look no further.

In this episode, we talk to local expert Jason Moore, host of Zero to Travel.

After a decade on the road as a nomad — before it was cool — US-born Jason moved to Norway and created the top-rated Zero To Travel Podcast (10 million downloads, 700+ Five Star Reviews). In it, he shares thoughtful interviews, unconventional perspectives and actionable advice to help you travel the world on your terms.

In this episode you’ll find out…

• Which travel writing guru introduced Jason to an unusual artwork
• How wrongly-prepared lutefisk (dried ‘funky’ fish) can kill people
• Why locals don’t talk to each other on the street… but you should

…and so much more.

You’ll find all Jason’s picks on the podcast website: www.strangeoldworld.com

(LINKS DON'T WORK ON YOUR PODCAST PLATFORM? THEY'RE ALL AT WWW.STRANGEOLDWORLD.COM TOO)

Follow Jason on Instagram and check out his podcast at zerototravel.com

You can also check out his Oslo-based band Laundry House on Spotify

Here are a couple of the Zero to Travel episodes we mentioned on the pod:

• Travel Legend Rick Steves
• Top 5 Alternative European Destinations with Joe Reaney

Follow Joe on X or Instagram or get in touch at info@juniorproductions.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking for some unusual attractions in London, England? Look no further.

In this episode, we’re talking to local expert Will Noble, features editor for Londonist.

As well as writing and editing articles for Londonist, Will has also written for the likes of CNN Travel and The Independent. He loves exploring all corners of the capital, but especially its pubs, comedy scene and his hometown of Croydon.

In this episode you’ll find out…

• Which famous singers donated their faeces to a London museum
• Why one London church is periodically crammed with clowns
• What deep-fried bull testicles and a raw-egg cocktail have in common

…and so much more.

You’ll find all Will’s recommendations up on our website: www.strangeoldworld.com

(LINKS DON'T WORK ON YOUR PODCAST PLATFORM? THEY'RE ALL AT WWW.STRANGEOLDWORLD.COM TOO)

Follow Will on x.com/willrnoble or check out his latest articles at www.londonist.com

Here are the two Londonist articles we mentioned on the pod:

• Brewery Taprooms In London: A List Of Every Single One Of 'Em
• A Chance to Visit the 'Roman' Bath In Strand Lane

Follow Joe on X or Instagram or get in touch at info@juniorproductions.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a trailer for Strange Old World, a travel podcast that celebrates the weird and wonderful in the world’s most historic cities — from Athens to Zhengzhou.

Every fortnight, a local travel expert will reveal some of the peculiar sights, offbeat activities, bizarre traditions and downright-odd delicacies that make their hometown tick.

The first episode is out next Tuesday 7th November 2023 — subscribe now so you don't miss it!

Find out more about the show at www.strangeoldworld.com. Or follow @StrangeOldJoe on Twitter/X and Instagram.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking for some unusual attractions in Andalusia, Spain? Look no further.

In this episode, we talk to local Andalusia travel blogger Molly Sears-Piccavey.

Originally from Nottingham, England, Molly has lived in Spain since 1998 and now resides in Granada, Andalusia. She is fluent in Spanish and is passionate about local gastronomy, history and culture. Read her blog at piccavey.com or reserve one of her Spain Food Sherpas tours in Seville, Granada and Málaga.

In this episode you’ll find out…

• Why not all men in pointy hoods are members of the KKK
• How a sprinkling of sheep brains and testicles can pep up an omelette
• When your mum’s savage insult hurts more than a military surrender

…and so much more.

You’ll find all Molly’s picks on the podcast website: www.strangeoldworld.com

(LINKS DON'T WORK ON YOUR PODCAST PLATFORM? THEY'RE ALL AT WWW.STRANGEOLDWORLD.COM TOO)

Read her latest Spain blog articles or follow her on Facebook, X or Instagram

Here are a couple of the blog articles we mentioned on the pod:

• Spanish Christmas Lottery – Why is it such a big tradition?
• Street Food in Spain – Snack like a local in Granada

Follow Joe on X or Instagram or get in touch at info@juniorproductions.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking for unusual attractions in Amsterdam, Netherlands? Look no further.

In this episode, we talk to local travel YouTuber and blogger Jessica Cutrufello.

Jessica runs the YouTube channel A Wanderlust for Life — as well as the blog of the same name. She relocated from the mountains of Virginia to the lowlands of the Netherlands in 2014. Having called Amsterdam home for the last decade, she is passionate about helping others to discover the best of her adopted city.

In this episode you’ll find out…

• Where to go for a reminder that you’re crawling with microbes
• Why eating and drinking on the go can result in some funny looks
• How the Old Town was built on top of submerged wooden stilts

…and so much more.

You’ll find all Jessica’s picks on the pod website: www.strangeoldworld.com

(LINKS DON'T WORK ON YOUR PODCAST PLATFORM? THEY'RE ALL AT WWW.STRANGEOLDWORLD.COM TOO)

Check out her YouTube and blog, and follow her on Insta, X and Facebook

Here are three ways to get more travel content from Jessica:

• Read Jessica’s European travel articles at www.awanderlustforlife.com
• Watch Jessica’s travel videos at youtube.com/awanderlustforlife
• Let Jessica help you plan your trip at www.thatch.co/@awanderlustforlife

Follow Joe on X or Instagram or get in touch at info@juniorproductions.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking for strange attractions in Lagos & Yorubaland? Look no further.

In this episode, we talk to local travel journalist and tour guide Pelu Awofeso.

Pelu is a culture and travel writer and contributor to Lonely Planet and Medium. A winner at the CNN Multichoice African Journalist Awards in travel reporting, Pelu is also the author of several Nigeria travel books — his latest, One for the Road, is out now. He regularly guides tourists around Yorubaland and Nigeria.

In this episode you’ll find out…

• Where to pick up monkey heads, snakes and other ‘fetishes’
• Why you shouldn’t ask a tour guide to go to Makoko floating village
• How an ancient Yoruba city was the place where the world began

…and so much more.

You’ll find all Pelu’s picks on the podcast website: www.strangeoldworld.com

You can read his travel articles about Nigeria on the Lonely Planet website.

His books are available in various places. Head to Amazon to buy Nigerian Festivals, Route 234 and Tour of Duty. Visit Rovingheights Books to get White Lagos and 9 Degrees North. And nip across to Paystack for One for the Road

Want to book Pelu as your Lagos tour guide? He’s on Facebook, X and Insta

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.