Explore every episode of the podcast The Thinking Traveller

Slovenia sits at a crossroads of Europe – where the Alps meet the Pannonian Plain and where a short Adriatic coastline opens onto the wider Mediterranean world.

From Lake Bled and its island church to ancient pagan traditions and Ljubljana's legendary dragon, Slovenia is steeped in myth and memory.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr Lauren Mackay, an historian of Early Modern Europe, as she examines how geography and power intertwined to shape Slovenia’s identity across the centuries.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Marg Horwell is one of Australia’s most acclaimed costume designers, whose work spans opera, theatre and large-scale international productions.

Her work on The Picture of Dorian Gray – which toured the West End and Broadway – earned both an Olivier Award and a Tony Award, marking a rare double recognition across the UK and US stages. Marg’s designs currently feature across two Academy Travel programs: New York Theatre April 2026 with Giant starring John Lithgow as Roald Dahl, and Sydney Theatre April 2026 with My Brilliant Career, where costume plays a defining role in shaping this new stage adaptation.

In this special conversation, brought to us by STAGES – the podcast of our Tour Leader Peter Eyers – Marg reflects on designing for actors, narrative and historical context, the transition of productions between continents, and the craft of costume as a vital storytelling language.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

When Alexander the Great conquered much of the known world, creating an empire that stretched from Greece all the way to India, he paved the way for the Hellenistic period.

Forged from Alexander’s empire, this unprecedented contact with cultures far and wide disseminated Greek art, architecture, literature and religious practises, and exposed Greek artistic styles to a host of new exotic influences. When Alexander died in 323 BC, he left this extensive conquered territory without a clear line of succession and his strongest generals divided it up into several vast kingdoms.

In this episode we are joined by Dr John Tidmarsh as he takes a closer look at this fascinating period and the profound impact it had on the Mediterranean world.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Archaeologists have recently uncovered the ruins of an octagonal Armenian church dating back 1,700 years – making it one of the oldest such surviving monuments in the world. The church is located in Artaxata, once the site of a major commercial city that was the Kingdom of Armenia’s capital until the early 2nd century.

In this episode we are joined by Dr Mathew Dal Santo as he takes us on a journey through the layers of Armenia’s history, and uncovers more of this exciting discovery. Matthew is Associate Professor of Church History and Historical Theology at St Patrick’s Seminary University in Menlo Park, California.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Johann Sebastian Bach was, besides being a famed organist, harpsichordist, violist and violinist, one of the most prolific and iconic composers of the Baroque Era.  Centuries after his death, Bach’s contribution to music remains immense, with subsequent generations of musicians of all genres channelling his innovative techniques.

In this episode, featuring musical excerpts of Bach's works, we are joined by musician, lecturer, and broadcaster Sandy Burnett as he follows Bach’s career to the city of Leipzig, where he wrote some of his most famous compositions.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the most significant architects of the 20th century, and his career is deeply connected to that of Marion Mahony Griffin. A woman ahead of her time, Marion was one of the first licensed female architects in the world and was also Wright’s first employee. With a career spanning 50 years, she contributed as a designer to the development of the Prairie School which revolutionised American architecture, and to the dissemination of its ideas through her beautiful drawings.

In this episode we are joined by Canberra-based Heritage Consultant Rachel Jackson. Rachel delves into Marion’s life from her early years in Chicago all the way to her legacy in Australia’s capital with her architect husband Walter Burley Griffin.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

A bold reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s thrilling musical, Sunset Boulevard, made its Broadway premiere just last week and saw Nicole Scherzinger make her Broadway debut.

In this special episode on The Thinking Traveller, Academy Travel tour leader and host of the STAGES podcast, Peter Eyers interviews Theatre Choreographer and Movement Director Fabian Aloise.

Fabian's choreography has been critically acclaimed and garnered multiple nominations, including two Olivier Award nominations for Best Theatre Choreographer. Most recently, Fabian choreographed this revival of Sunset Blvd., as the show is titled, which has opened with high praise from critics and proved exciting to the dozens of celebrities who turned out for the premiere.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

A tiny speck in the Pacific, Norfolk Island has a fascinating past and occupies a unique position in the history of European settlement in Australia.

It is home to a turbulent and varied history, with new archaeological findings about the Island's first inhabitants through to the infamous Bounty mutineers and the relocated Pitcairners, the harsh penal settlement, the Island's Melanesian missionary society and also the vital role it played in the liberation of the Pacific in WWII.

In this episode we are joined by colonial and military historian Brad Manera. Taking us across to this quiet paradise, once reserved for 'the worst description of convicts', Brad delves into Norfolk Island’s fascinating past and the many famous (and infamous) identities who have shaped its culture.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

More than 80 years ago, the Fall of Singapore and the War in the Pacific touched almost all Australian households in some way. With Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day recently commemorated on August 15, we are joined by expert military historian Prof. Peter Stanley.

Peter is a prize-winning historian and author of more than 40 books, who spent 33 years working at the Australian War Memorial (where he was Principal Historian) and the National Museum of Australia (as the inaugural head of its Research Centre).

In this episode, Peter takes us on a journey through the invasion and occupation of Borneo and Singapore by the Japanese during the Second World War, and what we can expect to experience on a visit to these significant sites today.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Hilary Mantel’s extraordinary Wolf Hall Trilogy ignited popular interest in the turbulent Tudor period of British history. Coupled with the BBC production of the first two novels, the highlighting of Thomas Cromwell’s rise and fall has brought a new understanding to the political upheavals that occurred during the eventful reign of Henry VIII.

With an adaptation of Mantel’s third book in the trilogy 'The Mirror & The Light' currently underway, we are joined by Dr Lauren Mackay. Lauren is a Tudor and Early Modern historian, and is the author of the official Wolf Hall Companion. In this episode, Lauren delves into the truths behind this blockbuster trilogy before revealing just where we might find remnants of Wolf Hall today.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Everybody knows the story of Romeo and Juliet. They are arguably the most famous lovers in literature. Their story has been told and retold through countless interpretations, from classical Shakespearean tragedies to Stephen Sondheim's West Side Story! But what is the real story behind these star-crossed lovers?

Joining us for this episode is Dr Eireann Marshall, who herself lives not far from fair Verona. Eireann explains the truth behind the story of Romeo and Juliet as she uncovers if they were ever even real...

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

In the lead up to the National Gallery of Victoria’s new landmark exhibition Pharaoh, we are joined on our podcast by popular UK-based Egyptologist Lucia Gahlin.

Ancient Egypt has been at the forefront of Australia’s cultural life during 2024, with three block-buster exhibitions visiting Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne – each with a different focus and unique artefacts. Undoubtedly, Pharaonic Egypt is an era of history that continues to fascinate and enthral. 

In this episode, Lucia guides us through the 3,000 year reign of the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt. Providing an overview of the Kingdoms, the iconography and the huge constructions which remain with us today – including the mighty pyramids, tombs and monuments that were built by the Pharaohs to ensure their immortality – Lucia answers many of the key questions about this captivating civilisation.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Patagonia is one of the world’s great frontier landscapes – a region shaped by ice, wind and the long histories of those who have lived and travelled there.

In this episode of The Thinking Traveller, we are joined by Dr Chris Carter who traces how Patagonia’s dramatic environment has shaped its people, cultures and national parks.

Chris is an archaeologist with over 25 years’ experience leading tours, including over 30 tours to South American countries. His PhD research was based on excavations he carried out at coastal sites in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

We all love going to the theatre, whether it’s a light-hearted musical or a deep thought-provoking drama.  But the term theatre encompasses so much more… From Ancient Greece to modern day West End, every civilisation has (or had) some form of theatre performance and each is quite unique.

In this episode we are joined by Dr Kate Foy to discuss the history of theatre, the various associated customs and the many experiences to be had. Kate's PhD studies focussed on world theatre history, whilst her final dissertation was a cultural history on aspects of colonial and post-federation developments in Australian theatre.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Flanked by the towering Andes to the east and the wild Pacific Ocean to the west, the impossibly dry Atacama Desert is the spectacular result of this unique geography.  Despite its aridity, the Atacama region was first occupied by humans over 10,000 years ago and this hyper arid environment has subsequently allowed for the preservation of materials that most archaeologists can only dream of.

In this episode we are joined by Dr Chris Carter to discuss what can be found in the region, from the scant remains of the early camps to the oldest artificial mummies in the world. Chris' PhD research was based on excavations he carried out in northern Chile at coastal sites of the Desert. He has continued to work in this region since the late 1990s and has contributed to Chile's proposal to have the Inka trails included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Founded in 1485 by Henry VII, the Tudor dynasty, although short lived, was coloured by rebellions, conspiracies, challenges to succession, and fear of further civil war. From historical research to popular novels, TV series and even a West End musical, the Tudor period in England continues to hold an amazing fascination

In this episode, Dr Lauren MacKay delves into the history (and truth) of this infamous dynasty. Lauren is an historian of Early Modern Europe. Her debut book, Inside the Tudor Court: Henry VIII and his Wives through the Eyes of the Spanish Ambassador is the first biography of Imperial Ambassador, Eustace Chapuys.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

The Lombardy region of Italy, bordered on the north by Switzerland and south by the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, has a fascinating and complex history.  But where did the name Lombardy originally come from? 

The Lombards were a Germanic tribe who fought their way across Europe during the Early Middle Ages, before settling on the northern part of the Italian Peninsula where they would establish a powerful kingdom that grew rapidly. In the process, the Lombards became a major thorn in the side of the Byzantine Empire and its capital Constantinople.

In the first episode for 2024, we are joined by Dr Eireann Marshall to discuss the Kingdom of the Lombards.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

In the lead up to the Sydney exclusive exhibition 'Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs' at the Australian Museum, we are joined on this episode by Egyptologist Dr Bill Manley as he provides a fascinating insight into the Pharaoh who continues to enthral, more than 3,000 years after he ruled Egypt. Known as Ramses the Great, Ramses II was one of the most powerful and influential Pharaohs to have ruled Egypt in its Golden Age. Ramses also built more monuments and sired more children than any other Egyptian King. As a result, his 66-year reign is considered to be the height of Egypt’s glory.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Tune in to this special Broadway Spotlight series, brought to you by Peter Eyers, host of the STAGES podcast. In January 2024, Peter will be leading a 10-day tour to sample the best of Broadway and New York - alongside a host of cultural experiences at museums and galleries populating The Big Apple.

In this episode, Peter talks with Kaye Tuckerman, who played Broadway in the Donna Summer Musical! - and has appeared in extensive Musical Theatre product around the globe. She relishes living in the Big Apple - and all that it offers culturally to its inhabitants and many visitors.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Tune in to this special Broadway Spotlight series, brought to you by Peter Eyers, host of the STAGES podcast. In January 2024, Peter will be leading a 10-day tour to sample the best of Broadway and New York - alongside a host of cultural experiences at museums and galleries populating The Big Apple.

In this episode, Peter chats with showbiz icon Caroline O’Connor, who has played Broadway 3 times - in ‘Chicago’, ‘A Christmas Story’ and ‘Anastasia’. They are but three of her theatrical triumphs contributing to a career of star turns in a vast resume of stage roles.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Tune in to this special Broadway Spotlight series, brought to you by Peter Eyers, host of the STAGES podcast. In January 2024, Peter will be leading a 10-day tour to sample the best of Broadway and New York - alongside a host of cultural experiences at museums and galleries populating The Big Apple.

In this episode, Peter chats with Michaeljon Slinger. Born in Queensland, Michaeljon found himself studying in New York in his late teens. He received a full scholarship to attend American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis school. Study at the prestigious Julliard school followed, making him the first Australian to be accepted into either one of these programs. A significant run on the musical theatre stage in New York has earned him 7 Broadway credits in a host of roles as Performer, Swing and Dance Captain. In recent times he has shifted his focus to choreography as an associate and assistant.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Tune in to this special Broadway Spotlight series, brought to you by Peter Eyers, host of the STAGES podcast. In January 2024, Peter will be leading a 10-day tour to sample the best of Broadway and New York - alongside a host of cultural experiences at museums and galleries populating The Big Apple.

In this episode, Peter talks with Amelia Cormack, who has played on Broadway over the past year in the Tony Award winning Best Musical - HADESTOWN. Peter caught up with Amelia live from New York City, to celebrate her passion for musical theatre and the importance of chasing your dream.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Tune in to this special Broadway Spotlight series, brought to you by Peter Eyers, host of the STAGES podcast. In January 2024, Peter will be leading a 10-day tour to sample the best of Broadway and New York - alongside a host of cultural experiences at museums and galleries populating The Big Apple.

In this episode, Peter chats with Hayden Tee. Hayden is currently touring Australia in the new Musical phenomenon - & Juliet. But he is no stranger to appearing on the stages of the West End and Broadway. His triumphant turn as Inspector Javert in Les Miserables won many accolades around the globe before Hayden played the role on the Broadway stage.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Linking the Far East with the Mediterranean world, the Silk Road became history’s most influential crossroads, shaping civilisations through trade, diplomacy and cultural encounter.

From the imperial courts of China to the bustling markets of Rome, artistic, religious and cultural currents travelled these pathways – silk and spices, of course, but also ideas, technologies and beliefs.

In this episode, we are joined by accomplished author, lecturer and cultural specialist Chris Aslan. Drawing on his decades of lived experience and research in Central Asia, he offers vivid on-the-ground insight into the peoples who inhabited this crossroads of empires, revealing how the Silk Road was never a single road at all, but a vast network of vibrant and interconnected routes.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Tune in to this special Broadway Spotlight series, brought to you by Peter Eyers, host of the STAGES podcast. In January 2024, Peter will be leading a 10-day tour to sample the best of Broadway and New York - alongside a host of cultural experiences at museums and galleries populating The Big Apple.

In this episode, Peter chats with Maree Johnson, who opened the premiere Australian production of The Phantom of the Opera in Melbourne in 1990 as a member of the ensemble and a cover for Christine …. later becoming the Christine Alternate. In the most wonderful serendipity, a couple of decades later, Maree rejoined The Phantom of the Opera – on Broadway. This time Maree played the role of Madame Giry – a role she relished from 2017 through to the closure of the production earlier this year.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Tune in to this special Broadway Spotlight series, brought to you by Peter Eyers, host of the STAGES podcast. In January 2024, Peter will be leading a 10-day tour to sample the best of Broadway and New York - alongside a host of cultural experiences at museums and galleries populating The Big Apple.

In this episode, Peter chats with theatre great Tony Sheldon, who triumphed as Bernadette in the musical PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT……following an extensive tour the production played Broadway and garnered a TONY Award nomination for Sheldon, and along the way, a slew of accolades for his spell-binding performance. Tony reflects on his brilliant career – and the realisation of a dream – playing Broadway.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Tune in to this special Broadway Spotlight series, brought to you by Peter Eyers, host of the STAGES podcast. In January 2024, Peter will be leading a 10-day tour to sample the best of Broadway and New York - alongside a host of cultural experiences at museums and galleries populating The Big Apple.

In this episode, Peter chats with Carmel Dean. Carmel a composer/lyricist, arranger, music supervisor/director, and conductor of musical theatre, based in NYC. Her composition credits include Renascence, produced Off-Broadway by Transport Group in 2018.  Carmel’s Music director/arranger credits include the Broadway productions of Funny Girl, If/Then, Hands on a Hardbody, American Idiot, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and ….. The Notebook ….. coming to New York in the near future.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Cuba is one of those destinations that, merely by its name, conjures up images of vibrant art, soul stirring music and colonial streets populated by enormous ancient Chevrolets. But what is the real story of Cuba and what is Cuba like today?

In this episode we are joined by Dr Stephen Wilkinson - Chairman of the International Institute for the Study of Cuba - to discuss. Stephen first visited Cuba in 1986 and has been travelling to and writing about the island ever since.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Since the first official excavations in 1748, Pompeii has captured the popular imagination of the Western world, and there has never been a better time to visit with new finds still emerging in the current excavations.

Much of the site, which for many years was closed to the public, is now accessible and some of the new impressive finds can be viewed in situ or in the newly re-opened museum on site.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr Estelle Lazer who has worked on the human remains of the Pompeian victims since 1986. Her current project involves a non-invasive study of all the casts of the victims that have been produced since 1863, using X-ray and CT scan analysis.

Estelle discusses some of the new excavations underway, along with new discoveries being unearthed on this amazing site, including a recent fresco find that just might be the precursor to pizza!

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

When Masada was excavated in the 1960s, Israel was a very new country (less than 20 years old), full of immigrants from many different backgrounds, and was struggling to find an identity beyond being the homeland for the Jews after the horrors of the Holocaust.

One of the reasons that Prof. Yigael Yadin went to dig at this forgotten site was to create a social link with the ancient Jewish state that was destroyed by the Romans, and to encourage modern Israelis to see themselves as the heirs of these forebears. Masada, with its story of 960 brave Jewish defenders committing suicide rather than becoming prisoners of the Romans, was the perfect place to foster this spirit, and during and after the excavation the cry went up - Masada Will Not Fall Again!

In this podcast, biblical archaeologist Dr Garth Gilmour joins us to analyze Masada's crucial role in the nation-building process of modern Israel and how it remains a useful and clarifying way to discuss how Israel reached its current political impasse.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

From primary school, all Australian school children learn about the sacrifice of the first Anzacs at Gallipoli. However, it's sometimes surprising to learn that Australians have served in battles and wars in every corner of the globe for over 200 years, participating in some very unexpected conflicts.

From the tale of Sub-Lieutenant Dick Pirrie, the first Australian killed during the D-Day Allied assault on the Normandy beaches of France, to the story of Pilot Officer Frank Mathers from Pagewood Sydney, tasked with his crew to bomb Mulheim in Germany, Military Historian and Museum Curator Brad Manera joins us for our latest episode as he recounts some of the more unusual stories of Australian Servicemen caught up in unexpected places around the world.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

There are two great theatre districts of the world – The West End in London and Broadway in New York. It can be argued strongly over which is the more dominant or important, but in popular culture Broadway shines brightest. So iconic did the lights of Broadway become that when they were dimmed during World War I, public demand forced the federal government to increase the city’s coal ration so that the lights could be restored.

In this episode, professional actor Peter Eyers joins us to discuss all things Broadway... What is it exactly?... How did it become so dominant in the theatre industry?... and what are some of the highlights of ‘The Great White Way’. Peter is also the producer and host on his own podcast, STAGES - where a host of creative artists and practitioners reflect on their careers.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) is one of the most significant figures of the Ancient World, whose legacy is both far reaching and profound.

His 13-year reign as the king of Macedonia forged one of the largest empires in history and is said to be the start of the Hellenistic period. Mythologised as a classical hero and considered a military genius by many, there are now quite divergent opinions on his rule and its lasting legacy.

Archaeologist Dr John Tidmarsh joins us to discuss the life, conquests and legacy of this iconic figure in history.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

At is heart, Vienna is city of palaces and gardens, museums, music and tradition. For more than 400 years it was the jewel in the glittering imperial crown of the Habsburgs.

However, there is also another side to Vienna - one that is less well-known and less visited. The Wiener Moderne refers to a short cultural era around the end of the 19th and start of the 20th centuries that saw an astonishing period of creativity in Vienna's art, design, architecture and other fields, bringing forth such names as Klimt, Schiele, Loos, Wagner, Hoffmann and many more.

In this episode, art historian Christopher Menz introduces us to this piece of Modernism in Vienna today.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Puccini’s operas remain some of the most beloved in the repertoire, their soaring melodies and emotional intensity instantly recognisable to audiences worldwide.

From the romance and tragedy of La Bohème, to the raw passion of Tosca and the exotic splendour of Turandot, Puccini created worlds of intense drama and unforgettable melody.

In this episode we are joined by musician and broadcaster Sandy Burnett as he explores what makes Puccini's music so distinctive and enduring. With insights from musical experts, Sandy uncovers the orchestral colours, vocal writing and dramatic instincts that defined Puccini's genius.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Straddling the fabled Silk Road, Uzbekistan has undergone enormous transformations throughout its long history. The most recent has been the emergence of a thriving independent republic coming out from under Soviet rule.

To tell us about this fascinating land, and how it fits into the story of Central Asia, Chris Bradley joins us in this podcast. We journey along the now famous Silk Road to the five 'stans of Central Asia as Chris highlights the exotic ambiance, vivid histories, impressive architecture and network of trade routes, all of which have left a profound impact on the modern world.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Morocco is a country that has fascinated travellers for centuries, and just its name conjures up impressive kasbahs, exquisitely decorated medersas and bustling medinas, waiting to be explored.

At a crossroads of the African and European continents, the Kingdom of Morocco has been, for centuries, a meeting point for the Arabo-Islamic culture and civilisation. In this episode, archaeologist Ben Churcher takes us to Morocco’s four imperial cities - Marrakesh, Fes, Meknes and Rabat - to uncover their vibrant blend of Roman, Arab, Byzantine and Berber heritage.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

The President is no doubt the most powerful political figure in the United States, but make no mistake: the First Lady is just as influential in her own right. In addition to the many appearances she makes and the causes she champions, she is also one of the most-followed people in the country, especially when it comes to her fashion choices. What they wore was not only a reflection of their husbands' politics, but their sartorial choices also had the ability to capture the public's attention, unlike any other official. In this episode, fashion historian Dr Anna Lebovic looks beyond the stylish power suits and elegant ball gowns to uncover how fashion choices can send a message to the American people.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

A diminutive country tucked into the south west corner of the Iberian peninsula, Portugal is somewhat of an anomaly, almost forgotten in comparison with its cousin Spain. However, Portugal is one of the most innovative and diverse countries in Europe. In this episode, Dr Jeni Ryde takes us through Portugal's impressive history and culture, from remnants of the past with dinosaurs, standing stones and rock paintings, to the legacy of the Knights Templar during the reconquest and the establishment of administrative powers, and on to Portugal’s contribution to the Age of Exploration, which enabled it to become one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

When we think of Ancient Rome, we automatically think of the strong male characters – figures such as Caesar, Pompey or Augustus – but what about the women of Ancient Rome? Recent study is emphasising the agency that Roman women enjoyed. To help us understand what this newly researched area examines, we are joined on our latest podcast by Dr Kathryn Welch.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

For the past week (March 6, 2022), the world has looked on in shock and anguish for the people of Ukraine. Has Vladimir Putin gone mad? Or is there some rational explanation for this catastrophe? In this timely episode, we asked our resident Russia expert Dr Matthew Dal Santo for his views on this unfolding tragedy, to explain the possible thinking behind Russia's invasion, and what might be the outcome.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

This year's Canberra International Music Festival features the premiere of a new work by Melbourne-based composer Katy Abbott. As part of its partnership with CIMF, we interviewed Katy about her work Hidden Thoughts: Do I matter. 

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Very little was known about the fate of the small number of Anzac's taken prisoner during the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915 until Dr Jennifer Lawless uncovered their story.

Undertaking a ten year study for her PHD, Jennifer trekked over 8,000kms across Turkey to locate Australian Prisoner of War camps. She also poured over Turkish manuscripts, which had never been translated into English before, and in the process found a vast divergence from the then accepted version of their internment by Ottoman Turkey. She channeled her research into a book called Kismet, an account of the experiences of 67 Australian soldiers captured by the Ottoman forces at Anzac during the Gallipoli campaign.

In this episode, Dr Jennifer Lawless is interview by Jo Litson to discuss her research and the subsequent real story of Australian Gallipoli POWs.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

The National Gallery of Australia is currently hosting a blockbuster exhibition from the National Gallery in London. Titled Botticelli to Van Gogh the exhibition surveys 500 years of European art, from the Renaissance to the early 20th century. Academy Travel has hosted several groups at the exhibition. Here is our expert review from one of our tour leaders, Dr Kathleen Olive.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

As part of Academy Travel's partnership with the Canberra International Music Festival, the Festival's 2021 composer-in-residence Brian Howard discusses the Festival's theme, 'the idea of Vienna', and his works which are being premiered at the Festival.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

A Queen who dared to rule as King, Hatshepsut rose from Royal Consort to become one of Egypt’s most successful and innovative Pharaohs.

Ruling Egypt in the 15th century BCE, she defied expectations by assuming full Kingship – adopting the regalia, titles and divine authority traditionally reserved for men. Her reign was marked by political stability, flourishing trade and monumental architectural achievements, most notably her majestic mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri. Yet, after her death, Hatshepsut’s name and image were systematically erased from monuments and records, plunging her legacy into obscurity for centuries.

In this episode of The Thinking Traveller, we are joined by Egyptologist Lucia Gahlin as she explores the rise and reign of this remarkable ruler, the myths surrounding her identity and the rediscovery that brought her back into the historical spotlight.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

The Medici family rose to prominence in 14th-century Florence, making a humble beginning as moneychangers but eventually becoming one of Europe’s most powerful dynasties and renowned arts patrons. Dr Kathleen Olive joins us today to discuss the rise and fall of the Medici dynasty – a 300-year history coloured by strategic powerplay, bitter rivalries and bloody intrigues.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

 In 2017, a painting of the Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci sold for a record-breaking $450 million USD at Christie’s auction house in New York. What drives art prices to such astronomical levels? Dr Nick Gordon discusses why the art market is so attractive to investors, the role played by auction houses, and how this is affecting artists. 

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Tucked away in the far eastern Himalaya, Bhutan is arguably the last bastion of the Tibetan Buddhist culture and religion in its truest form. Despite opening up to tourism in the late 70s, it has managed to minimise the effect of outside influences and the country remains virtually untouched. Judy Tenzing joins us today to discuss what she describes as “a modern Shangri-la”. 

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

Palladio was the most influential architect of the Italian Renaissance, and his buildings were perfectly proportioned, intelligent and gracious yet unpretentious and practical. In our latest episode, Dr Nick Gordon explores Palladio’s life and career, and explains why his books and buildings continue to influence architects today.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/