Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure – Details, episodes & analysis

Hello :)

This is an episode I've been meaning to do for about three years, but for mainly logistical reasons, this is the first chance I've had.

The original idea came from the lifestyle podcast Sounds Fake But Okay; whenever they get stuck for content they scour the AITA forums on Reddit, and similar content in other places, to highlight allonormativity and generally go 'NTA, dump him'. I figured I could do the same for this pod, but looking at things more travel-related, ecen if there's less content about that.

However it's not the sort of episode that works well with just one person as it sounds like I'm just being bitter and ranty. So, my friend V was more than happy to help get involved. Even though she's not an ardent traveller. 

Topics discussed in this episode are:
* I'm going to South America
* Running update
* Reclining seats on aeroplanes
* Be nice to your flight crew
* Yes, you do need to stow your designer handbag
* How many photos do you need to take?
* How to take a selfie
* Does travel broaden the mind or narrow the attitude?
* Travel privilege (in brief)
* The trouble with defining how to count countries
* Do travel bloggers need more accurate visas?
* Learned helplessness and weaponised incompetence with travel companions
* Foreign Languages
* The Bermuda Triangle and Public Information Films
* Is 22 too old, or too young, to backpack Europe?

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available, largely due to the wonders of open-source AI which saved me several hours of transcription work.

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

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

There are no contributions in this episode, however here's the articles we discussed (assuming they're still up):
* Couple banned from Cathay Pacific after seat reclining incident
* Passenger evicted from flight following row over handbag
* What's the appropriate number of photos to take on a trip?
* Traveling the world makes people assholes
* Learned Helplessness of my travel companions
* Is the Bermuda Triangle still A Thing
* Is 22 too old to backpack Europe

In addition, I ought to link to:
* The Sounds Fake But Okay Podcast
* Victoria Pearson's Website

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

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

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

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

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

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

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

Until next time, bye for now. :)

Hello :)

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

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

A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.

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

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

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

Until next time, bye for now. :)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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