Stay informed and inspired with our recommended listenings on all things adventure
The Travel Diaries
Journalist Holly Rubenstein sits down with a special guest each week to talk about the travel experiences that have shaped them, told through different chapters. From actor Dev Patel getting in touch with his Indian heritage in Mumbai, to the glamorous jet-setting life of model and actress Poppy Delevingne, this is an entertaining insight into how travel is a profound and universal experience.
Armchair Explorer
Hosted by travel writer Aaron Millar, this new podcast dives straight into the action –documentary style – by joining adventurers on the road. Whether it’s trekking with the migrating shepherds of the Indian Himalayas or retelling the terrifying tale of Rodney Fox, the man who survived one of the most frightening Great White Shark attacks in history, this is immersive storytelling at its finest.
Extra Packet of Peanuts
Husband-and-wife duo Travis and Heather Sherry are known for their online travel community, Extra Pack of Peanuts, which advises fellow thrifty travel-lovers the best ways to save serious cash on flights. In 2013, the couple launched their popular podcast of the same name, where every week the two explore a different area of travel. Whether it’s interviews with people who have achieved amazing things in the name of adventure, ‘best of’ country and city round-ups or practical takeaway tips such as how to survive long-haul flights, EPoP is just the kind of lighthearted, informative entertainment we all need right now.
The Food Chain
A passion for food and travel usually goes hand in hand. From the BBC World Service, this fascinating series asks chefs (past guests have included Ken Hom, Kelis and Angela Hartnett) to define their life through five dishes, providing a unique insight into how food shapes culture and identity. The series also asks important questions centered around food and travel, such as the future of street food in South East Asia, how to date a vegan, and the ways people are adapting to the ‘quarantine kitchen’.
Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet
Travel review sites can be an invaluable source of information, but sometimes budding critics can be more Alan Partridge than AA Gill. In this hilarious podcast series, siblings Alex and Christine Schiefer read through cringeworthy, crazy and downright ridiculous real-life one-star reviews of restaurants and tourist attractions across the United States.
Talking it out with…
We caught up with The Travel Diaries’ Holly Rubenstein to talk future travel plans and keeping entertained during lockdown
What is keeping you entertained during lockdown?
Like everyone, I’ve been completely transfixed by BBC 3’s Normal People. Unorthodox on Netflix is brilliant, and I’d really recommend Master of None (Netflix) and The Marvellous Mrs Maisel (Amazon) for lighthearted escapism. It’s also been a great time to immerse myself in the Condé Nast Traveller and Lonely Planet Magazines that I’d been too busy to read. Pure wanderlust.
Where are you planning to go as soon as travel restrictions have been lifted?
I was meant to be in Italy right now, touring Umbria, Florence and Lake Como for various articles I was working on. So, as soon as I can, I’ll be heading out to the Italian Lakes to stay at Grand Hotel Tremezzo, and writing about a region that has been hit particularly hard recently.
What podcasts do you listen to?
So many. Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, Here’s The Thing with Alec Baldwin, The New York Times Daily, The New Yorker Radio Hour, The Perez Hilton Podcast, S-Town, Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations, Today in Focus. Recently I particularly loved Mel and Sue’s episode of Table Manners with Jessie Ware, and Romesh Ranganathan on The Adam Buxton Podcast.
Which of your guests on The Travel Diaries has surprised you?
I’ve been consistently surprised and honoured at the honesty of my guests. I think if listeners tune in to Jo Malone’s episode, where she discusses some of the most challenging times in her life, they will be really moved by how open she is. The same goes for Dynamo’s episode.
Where is the best place to travel for amazing food?
Lisbon. Some of my favourites are Bairro and Cantinho do Avillez, the terrace at the Museu de Farmacia, and Palácio Chiado, a converted palace where in each room they serve different cuisines.
Best for adventure?
The Musandam Peninsula in Oman (but reached via Dubai). It has an incredibly stark mountainous landscape, with fjords similar to those in Norway. It’s a hugely popular spot for divers. We paraglided off a mountain to reach our hotel villa, at Six Senses Zighy Bay.
Best city for romance?
Prague. It’s one of those cities where every street corner reveals more beauty. I went with my husband in the middle of winter, when the ground was thick with snow and the skies were blue. I’m sure it’s equally romantic in the summer.
Finally, the best landscapes?
It has to be the USA. I spent seven weeks travelling around Colorado, Arizona, Utah and California last year, and the sheer diversity and enormity of the landscapes will keep me coming back. That, and Iceland. Iceland is like another planet altogether. Listen to The Travel Diaries here.
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