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

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

Back Home Again

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!

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

The Travel Writing Podcast

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