In this episode, travel writer Tim Hannigan discusses his new book, The Granite Kingdom, based on his journey walking east to west across Cornwall. He explores why both inside and outside voices are needed in travel writing, the ethical issues around writing about those you meet while traveling, how to find balance with a sense of belatedness, and when the second person can be a great tool for writers.

The Granite Kingdom: Interview With Tim Hannigan

Today's episode includes excerpts from two of the many masterclasses offered to students of Travel Writer Transformation, Intrepid Times' 8-week writing course. In the first excerpt, the Intrepid Times editors discuss the first paragraph of a travel story and how to make sure you grab readers' attention without giving them too much information. The second excerpt discussions conclusions and how writers can make sure they deliver on any goodwill they've built up throughout their story.

Grab Attention and Don't Let It Go

In this episode, Kapka Kassabova joins us for a conversation about her most recently published book, Elixir, the third in what will soon be a quartet set in the southern Balkans. She speaks about how the heartbreak that she found during her journey for the first book in the quartet prepared her emotionally for Elixir, why she always seeks out a guide during her travels, and why it's important for every traveler (and writer) to "own your wounds and your hopes."

Elixir: Interview with Kapka Kassabova

In this episode, Intrepid Times editor Jennifer Roberts and Dr. Jeffrey Skoblow talk about how learning to write is like learning a new language, why the choice of what you read can be critically important, the role that community plays in both reading and writing, and how presence and attention factor into both.

Why Being a Good Reader Makes You a Better Writer: A Conversation With Jeffrey Skoblow

In this episode, Scottish travel writer Jamie Lafferty discusses why travel writing is anything but "leisurely" work, how coming from a working class background shaped the trajectory of his career and the stories he chooses to write, why he loves to interview “upper class” people, and how a trip to cover every prefecture in Japan after the 2011 tsunami shifted the way he thought about his work and the impact it could have.

From Working-Class Glasgow to the New York Times: Interview With Jamie Lafferty

In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, Harry Mitsidis, founder of NomadMania, talks about his personal motivation for visiting every country in the world twice, how his “addiction to movement” has driven his travels, how he maintains enthusiasm while constantly exploring, and why his recent trip to Ukraine was the most significant one he has ever done. He also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the voyage to one of the world's most remote islands where he met a mysterious world traveler who would ultimately inspire Harry's book, The Curious Case of William Baekeland.

The Countries Are Not Enough: Interview With NomadMania Founder, Harry Mitsidis

In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, Mary Novakovich, an award-winning travel journalist, speaks about why she found the process of writing a book more “liberating” than her work with articles and stories; how she approached writing about members of her family, especially when thinking about traumatic events; how she attempted to find balance with the difficult history and the current culture of Croatia; how who you’re traveling with affects the way you understand a place; and why writing both listicles and travel narratives has worked out so well for her.

My Family and Other Enemies: Interview With Mary Novakovich

In this episode, the editors of Intrepid Times take a moment to analyze the travel writing tendencies that helped define 2023, as well as what they hope and expect for travel writing in 2024. The conversation takes a couple of interesting turns, including veering into a conversation about the benefits of traveling alone versus traveling with others. They also touch on the role that humor and fun can play in travel writing, as well as a few writing challenges they'd like to see the Intrepid Times community take on this year.

A Look Back at Travel Writing in 2023

Tim Hannigan is back on the podcast to discuss one of the major ethical considerations in travel writing: the truth. In this conversation with Jennifer, Tim talks about the underlying tensions that make talking about truth in travel writing so tricky, strategies travel writers use to create a rhetoric of truth that readers can rely on, how the shifting definition of travel writing makes any conversation about whether it should be true or not a bit impossible, why what we leave out can be just as important as what we add in, Tim’s view on why fictionalization in travel writing can be a slippery slope, and how new and experienced travel writers can audit their own writing to ensure any story stays as close to the truth as possible.

Truth in Travel Writing: A Conversation With Tim Hannigan

In this episode, Nathan interviews John Dolan, an American poet, author, essayist, and co-host of Radio War Nerd. John discusses how he ended up in New Zealand, Moscow, and later the Middle East and Indonesia; the event that had him on the edge of sacrificing his pursuit of the truth; the circumstances that led him to compile his travel stories into his recently published book Erdogan Pizza; why he developed a sense of black humor in his writing; and much more.

Travels With the War Nerd: Interview With John Dolan

We travel, we write, we read, and then we travel again. Does being immersed in the genre of travel writing as a writer and reader change the experience of travel? In this episode, the editors of Intrepid Times take a moment to think about how the travel writing we read inevitably influences the way we interact with the places and people we encounter while traveling. They discuss some examples of when reading about a place helped deepen their understanding, the possible dangers of reading about a place before going there, the power that travel stories have as part of a larger whole that is constantly informing and influencing travelers, and much more.

How Travel Writing Changes Travel

In her recent interview with Nathan Thomas, travel writer Katie Silcox talks about the experience that made her realize she would have to discover her inner strength if she wanted to live abroad; the many ways that her versatile skill set has served her travel writing lifestyle; her advice for female travelers; why a bit of chaos and uncertainty can be a good thing; and much more.

The Travel Writing Lifestyle: Interview With Katie Silcox

On this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, Nathan interviews travel writer, filmmaker, and storyteller Ash Bhardwaj. The conversation includes a discussion about the role hedonism plays in our motivation to travel, how seeking out the “other” can push us to travel to certain places, why a desire for self-discovery can be a powerful motivator, how certain types of disconnection can lead to the most meaningful travel experiences, and much more.

The interview is built around Ash's new book, Why We Travel: A Journey Into Human Motivation.

Why We Travel: Interview With Ash Bhardwaj

In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, Nathan and Jen take on the daunting topic of AI. It's a topic that (understandably) makes writers, in particular, very nervous, considering the advances in LLMs. Should we be as worried as we are? Will AI actually ever be able to replace the need for writers, or is there something about the act of putting ideas on paper (or a screen) that is uniquely human? 

During this conversation, the hosts also explore how they have personally experimented with tools like ChatGPT, where they see the most promise, what a future in which AI can replicate human personality may look like, why grappling with words is (and may always be) a deeply useful exercise, and why they remain hopeful even as LLMs advance.

If you enjoy the episode, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review!

What It Means to Be a Writer in a World With AI

Traveling is often full of joy and intrigue. Writing about those travel experiences can be difficult but almost always fulfilling. But editing...that's where writers tend to get stuck. Editing can feel not only overwhelming and intimidating, but also tedious. In this episode, Jennifer explores the reasons why editing can feel so tough, but also why it's one of the easiest ways to get across professionalism and interest, build trust with editors, and demonstrate that you care deeply about the story you're trying to tell. In the end, you don't have to be a professional editor in order to engage thoughtfully in the editing process, nor do you ever need to aim for perfection.

Writing Your Story Is Important...So Is Editing It

Many of the most well-known authors in history have struggled with their dark side, a struggle that so often provided the energy for great writing. This dark side is what Brad Kelly and his co-host Kevin Kautzman explore on their podcast Art of Darkness. In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, Nathan invited Brad on to talk about some of the authors that Art of Darkness has covered and how travel specifically played a role in the development of their creativity and writing. Brad also offered insight into how researching other authors has both helped and haunted his own writing.

Traveling to the Dark Side of Literature: A Conversation With Brad Kelly

In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, Jennifer speaks with travel journalist Paige McClanahan about her new book, The New Tourist. From Hawaii to Saudi Arabia, Amsterdam to Angkor Wat, Paige has been witness to various approaches to tourism, which led her to question not only how governments are approaching tourism, but also her own actions and insights as a tourist. Her new book seeks to help those who love to travel become better and more conscientious tourists wherever they go.

During the conversation, Paige discusses how the shift from the old to new tourist translates to travel writing; how social media has helped democratize the travel writing space; how the empathy we gain through travel may help us confront the challenges we’ll face as a species in the coming decades; why questioning our motivations for traveling can be the first step toward becoming a better tourist; and much more. This is a great listen for anyone who loves to travel and wants to have a positive impact on the places they visit.

The New Tourist: Interview With Paige McClanahan

Over the years, Mike Richards has been to over 150 countries, has written global political and economic research for renowned global research houses, and has become a meditation teacher. During his years of traveling, he's come to a simple conclusion: most people are good. 

In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, Nathan spoke with Mike about his new book, how traveling with his young daughter has helped him rediscover a sense of wanderlust, how a trip to Iraqi Kurdistan opened his eyes to people’s true natures, how his work as a risk analyst shapes his travel experiences, what he’s learning about connection and community through his travels to unlikely places, and much more. 

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review -- it means the world!

The Travelling Ape: Interview With Mike Richards

Inspired by a new translation of The Odyssey by Emily Wilson, Laura Coffey set off for an Italian island in order to find a renewed sense of freedom and clarity in the midst of extreme loneliness. What was supposed to be a short break turned into a six-month journey across towns and islands in Italy, Croatia, and Spain as she chased the myth of The Odyssey. Her attempt to live between myth and reality allowed her to cope with her father's worsening health, and the journey turned into her first travel memoir, Enchanted Islands: Travels Through Myth & Magic, Love & Loss.

In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, I spoke with Laura about her island journey and the resulting memoir. During the interview, we talk about how Laura developed her writing while working her day job in tech start ups, why myths and legends can so easily help us escape when the world feels strange and unreal, how Laura brought the joy of travel into a book that touches on some very sad moments, and more. For anyone who has struggled with grief and sadness, this episode offers a nuanced look at how we can learn to trust ourselves in the face of life's hardest moments.

Enchanted Islands: Interview With Laura Coffey

The travel writing career has captivated many with the dream of scrawling notes on exotic train rides, sending off your narratives to venerable magazines, and collecting enough in fees and royalties to keep the journey going. But is that really what the life of a professional travel writer looks like today? Tim Leffel has been a full-time, professional travel writer since 2006 and literally wrote the book on the travel writing career, Travel Writing 2.0. In our conversation, he describes his own journey and gives an honest, no-nonsense overview of how today's travel writers actually go about earning money, growing their income, and paying the bills. 

Money and Income for Travel Writers with Tim Leffel (The Truth...)

Despite its UNESCO World Heritage medieval old city, Moorish cisterns, and delicious jamon iberico, Cáceres‎ in Spain's Extremadura still somehow manages to cling to that most overused of adjectives, 'untouched.' As tourists continue to swarm to Barcelona and Ibiza, Cáceres‎ gets on with the mysteries of normal life in one of Europe's best-preserved medieval towns.

Troy Nahumko has been based in Cáceres for over a decade. A fluent Spanish speaker, he set out to unravel the mysteries of this ancient, storied, yet little-visited region of Spain. The result is Stories Left in Stone, Trails and Traces in Cáceres, Spain published by the University of Alberta Press. 

In the latest episode of the Travel Writing Podcast, Troy talks about getting the story behind the story in Cáceres‎, establishing himself as a travel writer, writing in both English and Spanish, getting his initial stories published in both languages, and the publishing journey and reactions to his book both at home and abroad. Listen here on Intrepid Times or on Spotify or iTunes.

The Travel Writer in Cáceres‎ - Interview with Troy Nahumko

What is Eastern Europe, and does it still exist? Jacob Mikanowski set out to answer these questions and more in his book "Goodbye Eastern Europe: An Intimate History of a Divided Land". In this episode of the Travel Writing Podcast, he shares how his Polish heritage, academic background, and personal travels shape his work.

Staying in Warsaw at the tail end of communism, Jacob lived through Poland's transition from sleepy empty streets to the chaotic capitalism of the 1990s. He has since traveled across nearly every Eastern European country, exploring both their nuances and shared identities.

His book is a personal farewell to an Eastern Europe that feels lost to history. Drawing on real anecdotes, he brings to life forgotten traditions, hidden secrets, and the cultural richness of an often-overlooked region. In our conversation, we consider what “Eastern Europe” really means, why the term remains controversial, and why Jacob believes its identity deserves to be reclaimed.

Reclaiming a Lost Eastern Europe: Interview with Jacob Mikanowski

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of real-life violence. Listener discretion is advised, and this content definitely isn't suitable for children.

We approach travel from a new angle in this episode of the Travel Writing Podcast. Dawn Barclay — suspense author, award-winning travel journalist, and true crime enthusiast — joins us to discuss her latest book, Vacations Can Be Murder: A True Crime Lover's Travel Guide to New England.

Part travelogue, part criminal history deep dive, Dawn’s book uncovers the darker side of New England. From haunted hotels and former prisons to crime scene landmarks and ghost tours, she maps out a chilling yet fascinating journey through the region’s most notorious sites.

In our conversation, Dawn takes us under the hood of her book. We chat about what draws people to dark tourism, how to write responsibly about real-life violence, and why true crime continues to captivate readers and travelers alike.

Mapping Murders: Interview with True Crime Travel Writer Dawn Barclay

What drives someone to keep exploring the world — not for clicks or clout, but for something deeper? In this episode of the Travel Writing Podcast, we sit down with Shebs Alom — award-winning writer, broadcaster, and host of the Take a Wander with Shebs podcast — for an authentic chat about his journey as a travel writer.

Shebs opens up about mental health, finding purpose, and rediscovering joy when travel is your job. We also peel back the curtain on PR travel trips, media award circuits, and the dangers Shebs has faced in his professional life. Plus, he reveals the secret of how he formed a connection with eminent British explorer, Levison Wood.

Grab this opportunity to take a peek into the daily realities of life as a professional traveler.

Finding Peace as a Professional Travel Writer and Media Personality - Interview with Shebs Alom

There are plenty of guidebooks about Venice and Edinburgh, but have you ever wondered about Chelmsford or Sunderland? Ben Aitken has. In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, we sit down with Ben, author of Shitty Breaks: A Celebration of Unsung Cities. He discusses his fun, irreverent approach to travel that seeks joy in the most under-visited destinations.

From working in a Poznan chippy to skiing in Sunderland, Ben shares stories from his offbeat journey through the places tourism forgot. We also discuss the art of attention-seeking to get published, how to come up with a provocative (but not off-putting) book title, and the painful process of recording an audiobook.

Despite his cheeky demeanor, Ben’s on a mission to prove that every place and its people are worth a visit. His work champions curiosity toward the overlooked places written off by major tourist guidebooks.

In a world obsessed with hotspots, discover how joy can be found in that forgotten city up the road.

A Celebration of Unsung Cities: Interview with Ben Aitken

For people like travel writer Ash Bhardwaj, travel is the "driving force" that inspires and defines his life. But how do you balance the challenges and complexities of travel with the joys and demands of parenthood? This is a subject I am particularly interested in, having recently become a father myself!

Ash and I sat down for a deep conversation about travel, parenthood in general, and fatherhood in particular. We spoke about the conspicuous absence of devoted fathers among the great travel writers of the last generation, the experience of traveling with children, and how being a Dad had changed Ash's approach to his career and profession as a travel writer. 

By Ash Bhardwaj: The paperback edition of "Why We Travel - 12 Reasons to Travel and What They Can Teach You About Life" is out now and available from Amazon and wherever good books are sold.

This was a deep and unusual personal podcast, touching on topics we don't normally explore here at Intrepid Times. I am looking forward to hearing what you think!

On Travel and Fatherhood - Ash Bhardwaj Returns to the Travel Writing Podcast!

When your mental health is fragile, the temptation may be to stay home and take things slow. Not so for Mark Agnew. When dealing with internal challenges, he took the fight externally, pitting himself against the elements. His ultimate quest? To be among the first to conquer the Northwest passage, the infamous route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, which has defeated numerous explorers for centuries, with only human-powered kayaks.  

In this episode of the Travel Writing Podcast, we speak about Mark's ultimately successful undertaking with his team, the Arctic Cowboys. We talk about the reality of making it as an adventurer in today's world, what his adventures taught Mark about resilience and mental health, and how he crafted his experience into a compelling book: There Will be Headwinds: Kayaking the Northwest Passage (3rd July 2025 from Icon Books).

Mark Agnew on Resilience, Setting Records, and Conquering the Northwest Passage

It's no coincidence that we are releasing this special episode of the Travel Writing Podcast on Friday the 13th. La Carmina is a multi-talented author, influencer, blogger, food writer, television personality, and expert in the mysterious fringe communities that most tourists never even catch a glimpse of. She has authored a highly acclaimed treatise on Satanism (The Little Book of Satanism), befriended author-phenomenon of Prozac Nation fame, Elizabeth Wurtzel, and brought readers into the worlds of fringe and underground subcultures, sincerely understanding and cherishing these communities while interpreting them for the uninformed.

In this episode, we trace La Carmina's unusual (or, as she clarifies, perhaps not so unusual) path from Yale Law School to travel writing. We talk about how she carved a distinct niche in a crowded field, and she shares tips for new writers on how to do the same. We also talk about fringe cultures, making meaningful connections while traveling, and of course, we bust myths of Satanism. Listen below or find the Travel Writing Podcast on Spotify or iTunes.

From Sushi to Satanism; the Unique Travel Writing Career of La Carmina

When Reid Mitenbuler was denied travel during the long days of lockdown, he sought out the distillation of travel in human form. Peter Freuchen (1886-1957), the legendary Danish explorer, brought stories of  remotest Greenland to the world. He married an Inuit woman, learned the language, fathered children, and ventured to its most extreme locations, risking life and (literally) limb in the process. Later, he became wealthy by winning a game show, and found himself an unlikely Hollywood celebrity. 

Reid Mitenbuler shared his story in his book, Wanderlust - An Eccentric Explorer, an Epic Journey, a Lost Age. The New York Times called it "An absolute joy… a compelling introduction to one of the most charismatic explorers to ever cross the ice." Reid joined the Travel Writing Podcast to talk about how he came across Freuchen's story and why he knew it had to be told, his process for choosing topics and writing successful non-fiction books, and some Hollywood insider wisdom about the impact of AI on professional writers.

Reid Mitenbuler on Peter Freuchen's Greenland, The Lost Age of Exploration, and the Future of Storytelling

A man walks calmly through a crowd, a BMX bike handle thrust through his cheek. Two fighters leap over a catholic cross, ready to engage in hand-to-hand combat with anyone who interrupts their ritual. A group of adherents whirl and spin, appearing intoxicated, yet no drugs have been taken. These are just some of the many otherworldly festivals Daniel Stables witnessed, understood, and reported on for his new book, Fiesta: A Journey Through Festivity, out next month through Icon Books. 

Daniel joined the Travel Writing Podcast to talk about traveling to festivals in Britain, Turkey, Thailand, Spain, and beyond, witnessing jealously guarded rituals and getting to the deeper questions about the rituals that bind us together and transcend the ordinariness of everyday life.

Daniel Stables on The Wild, Otherworldly Festivals that Define Our Humanity

Luke Waterson was a prolific travel writer who wrote guidebooks for the likes of Moon Guides and Lonely Planet about destinations that ring exotic in the minds of most readers, like Cuba, Machu Picchu, or the Amazon rainforest. And then he became a father. Basing himself in rural Wales and largely confining his travels to regional Britain, he found that he was not only able to discover joy in unexpected pockets of his homeland, but his travel writing career reached new heights as well. 

Luke joined the Travel Writing Podcast to talk about the life and craft of travel writing today. In a deeply personal and candid interview, he shares the challenges of fatherhood amidst separation, the joys and constraints of the solitary writer's life, and how his background as a novelist and short story writer informs his approach to his work. Listen here or on Spotify or iTunes.

Luke Waterson on the Travel Writing Career, Fatherhood Amidst Seperation, and Trading the Amazon Rainforest for Backcountry Britain

Katya Knyazeva interviewed by Intrepid Times about the history and architecture of old Shanghai - http://intrepidtimes.com

Intrepid Times 

Tales of Old Shanghai - Interview with Katya Knyazeva

The Travel Writing Podcast by Intrepid Times is the go-to podcast for wanderers, writers, and passionate travelers. Every other Friday, we share new episodes that include everything from in-depth interviews with renowned travel writers, conversations centered on sharing tips and tricks for your own travel writing, and behind-the-scenes insight into our most popular travel stories. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

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