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, 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

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

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

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

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

In 2015, having recently left her job at the International Bar Association, Rebecca Lowe was transitioning to freelance journalism. Aiming to collect stories from the Middle East to help build her new career path, she set out on an 11,000km, 20-country solo cycle ride from London to Tehran, via Europe, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Oman, the UAE, and Iran. The journey lasted a year, and collect stories she did. While she didn't originally intend for the journey to lead to a book, when the opportunity arose, she took on the project and wrote The Slow Road to Tehran: A Revelatory Bike Ride through Europe and the Middle East, which was shortlisted for the 2023 Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year. This podcast episode focuses on both her incredible journey through the Middle East and the book that came out of it. 

During the episode, Rebecca talks about how she approached the idea of risk vs. recklessness as a solo female traveler, what traveling through the Middle East as a woman was really like, the highs and lows of her journey, how she balanced out the seriousness of the problems facing the Middle East with a healthy sense of humor, and more.

If you enjoy this episode, don't forget to review the podcast and subscribe -- it means the world!

The Slow Road To Tehran: Interview With Rebecca Lowe

When Ryan Murdock moved to Malta in 2011, he intended to write a "breezy island novel" replete with quirky characters and sun-soaked tranquility. He would go on to write a book, but it was not the one he imagined. In a book that is part thriller, but anthropological examination, and part tribute to the pioneering Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, Ryan told a gripping tale that all serious readers of travel writing need to have on their shelves.

Malta Vice - Narrating Organized Crime and Corruption in Paradise - an Interview with Ryan Murdock

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

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

When Jamie Edwards was a mother of a two-year-old and expecting a second child, her husband was offered a job in Tokyo. They left all that was familiar and headed overseas. What followed was a life rich in adventure, more often than not, with the kids in tow.

Through over 50 countries, Jamie gained confidence not only in the art of parenting on the move but also in crafting a compelling story that did justice to her travel experiences. She founded a popular blog, I am Lost and Found, to share her recommendations, and used her networking skills to help her break into some of travel writing's most prestigious publications. 

In the latest episode of the Travel Writing Podcast, which also forms an instalment in our 'Traveling While Dad' series, Jamie talks about sharing real travel experiences with children and describes how she polished her storytelling skills and became a contributor to the upcoming National Geographic Traveler's Atlas of the World.

From Zero to National Geographic; Jamie Edwards' Story of Travel Writing and Parenthood

Over the course of 15 years, Shafik Meghji traveled repeatedly to South America, falling in love with the continent and in particular with Buenos Aires, which he came to feel was his second home. Traveling from London, Shafik noticed that Britain came up a lot on his travels; the eerie hulk of a Harrods branch in central Buenos Aires, the rusting shells of British buses on the salt flats of Bolivia, and the surnames of the descendants of settlers hanging out in Patagonia. The result is Small Earthquakes: A Journey Through Lost British History in South America - Published last month by Hurst Publishers, to wide acclaim. 

Shafik joins the Travel Writing Podcast to talk about how the book came to be, to geek out on his influences such as Bruce Chatwin, and to bring writers behind the scenes on his publishing journey. 

Behind the Scenes of "Small Earthquakes" - Telling The British South America Story with Shafik Meghji

Eighteen months after his daughter was born, Dom and his wife still hadn't had a full night's sleep. An ambitious family trip to Colombia loomed, but they knew their little one just wasn't ready for the trip. Everything was booked, and the trip tied in with work commitments for Dom's university job, so a tough call was made: Dom would travel alone. What followed was a series of lonely nights in hotel rooms; the cribs they had arranged in each destination stood empty. And yet, the silver lining: This was something to write about. With as yet no clippings or travel writing publications to his name, Dom took a chance. The resulting piece, 'My Daughter's Laugh' won the 2016 Bradt New Travel Writer of the Year award and catapulted Dom into the world of publication. Since then, he has been featured in The Times, The National Geographic, The Independent, and elsewhere, often writing about traveling as a father. Dom's appearance on the Travel Writing Podcast forms an instalment of our Traveling While Dad series. 

How Travel Writing Awards Catupulted Dom Tulett into Publication

"See the mice in their million hordes," Bowie sings, "From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads." 

For most, these lines, from Bowie's culture-bending 1971 track "Life on Mars?" are intriguing, amusing, or perhaps just baffling in Bowie's inimitable yet irresistible way. Yet for James Briggs, they were a route map. He set out to make real the journey Bowie merely obliquely sketched, cycling for over 100 days from the Spanish island of Ibiza to the English network of rivers and lakes known as the Norfolk Broads. Along the way, he meets Bowie fans of all ages and explores the many and varied cultural influences that informed the iconic English musician's journey.

Taking the journey was one thing; getting the story published was another. As James shared in our interview, over eight years passed between the initial trip and the eventual publication of the resulting story: From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads, a Bowie Odyssey. 

James Briggs joined the Travel Writing Podcast to talk about the journey, the book, and everything in between. 

James Briggs Followed David Bowie from Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads - And Lived to Publish the Tale

One day, the writer and professor Kurt Caswell received a cryptic mission from an editor. Laika, the Russian dog who would become the first living creature sent into orbit, had a window in her spacecraft. "I want you to think on this," the editor said, "and write a book about it." The resulting book, Laika's Window, won a Foreword Indie Silver Medal for science writing.

Kurt's connection with Intrepid Times began with the story, Driving the Dalton Highway, a fascinating meditation on the experience of driving and being driven, which we discuss in the podcast. We also talk about Kurt's work as a professor of creative writing at Texas Tech University, and his life in travel and writing across Iceland, Russia, the United States, and far beyond. 

Kurt's most recent book is Iceland Summer: Travels along the Ring Road (2023), the first in a series about travel on islands. You can learn more about Kurt and his books at his website, kurtcaswell.com

Laika in Russia, Driving in Alaska, Myths in Iceland, and the Writer's Life with Kurt Caswell

When the entire world shut down in early 2020, Brad Fox was not at home in New York. He was instead in the high jungles of Peru, embedded with a family of Quechua-speaking traditional healers, known as curanderos. "I have never felt so sober in my life," Brad said of his many months stranded there, which involved getting to know the local pharmacopoeia, some of which had profound psychedelic effects.

During his time of isolation, Brad Fox wrote "The Bathysphere Book", which was named Winner of the 2024 National Book Foundation's Science + Literature Award and A Washington Post top 10 best book of 2023. The book shimmers with a logic-bending mystique, and it's hardly surprising why. For his next book, Brad returned, literally and in theme, to the Peruvian jungle and told the story of his time there. The resulting book is "Another Bone-Swapping Event," it's out in November through Astral Press in the US and Icon Books in the UK. 

In our episode of the Travel Writing Podcast, Brad Fox talks about his time in Peru. He traces the journey of his two most recent non-fiction books, and brings us into the strange yet piercingly clear world of tradition, ayahuasca, and healing, he inhabited far from the high rises and emails of modern life. We also talk about Brad Fox's earlier travels, including years spent as an aid contractor in Serbia, and a mysterious diving expedition in central Budapest. L

Stranded in Remote Peru, Brad Fox Ate Psychedelic Plants and Wrote About the Depths of the Ocean

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

Many of us are diligent journal writers when we travel. And then we come home, and we stop. In this extract from the latest Writer's Club masterclass, British author Alyss Thomas explains why this is a mistake! In fact, you'll learn that, if you're a travel writer, keeping a journal even when life seems "dull" can transform not only your writing, but also your life. Enjoy!

More about Alyss Thomas: https://journalwritingforsuccess.com/the-author/

More about Intrepid Times: http://intrepidtimes.com/writers-club

Travel Writers, Here's Why You Need to Journal Even When You're at Home

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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