I’m a podcast addict. I’ve been so for years. In 2009 I listened to many travel podcasts planning for the big leap in 2010 when I left my life and bought a one-way ticket to Mexico.
When I traveled throughout South America there were so many 20 hour bus rides. For many that would seem like a nightmare but I miss them. I didn’t travel with a phone then, just an iPod. As I traveled I spent hours listening to other adventurous stories on travel podcasts.
In so many ways what was old is new again. I think the popularity of podcasts reflects a time when the radio was more than just music but entertained and inspired us. Today I still subscribe to far more podcasts than I can keep up with.
My Favourite Travel Podcasts
This is me on yet another bus in South America, I think this time in Peru.
The Amateur Traveler
This may have been the first podcast I downloaded and I still think it’s a terrific resource. Creator, Chris Christensen focuses on travel destinations and top attractions. He includes interviews with destination experts, someone who has recently traveled to the destination or wrote a book.
Chris is no amateur to the podcast world, his first podcast went live July 2, 2005. He’s known for his ‘comfortable’ style, along with his passions for learning new things and humour, his podcast motivates people to travel.
Hilariously it’s because of Chris that I did not go see the Panama Canal – he posted a video of the experience and I realized it was not for me! Instead I went to a fish market in Panama City and had a fabulous day. While Chris and I seek different things in travel I still really enjoy his perspective.
Travel Tales Podcast
Inspired by other travelers and their stories, Mike Siegel started the Travel Tales Podcast in 2011. With over 200 episodes, this easy listening podcast features the best and worst international travel tales from his own experiences to fellow travelers.
Mike is based out of Los Angeles and is a professional stand-up comedian, television host and actor. During his travels, he dives into each countries culture, customs, food and drinks. He’s an expert in all forms for local travel (from rickshaws and junk boats to camel carts and tuk-tuks). Through his own experiences and recommendations, he wants to inspire others to see the world.
Zero to Travel
If you’re ready to add more travel into your life, you will want to check out the Zero to Travel podcast. Hosted by Jason Moore, this podcast is for all travellers even if you’re new to travel. His mission is ‘to help you travel anywhere, on your own terms, for as long as you desire no matter what your situation or experience’.
Whether you’re looking to travel for short-term or forever, Jason gives you a no nonsense approach. He provides advice and tools to live a life of travel and adventure. He covers it all from pre-trip anxiety, where to travel next and how to retire early, along with featuring fellow travellers.
Two Girls Trippin’
A cancer survivor and a Mortician aim to inspire you to live your own adventure. The dynamic duo, Lena Starbird and Kristina Kindred created the Two Girls Trippin’ monthly podcast. Their fun and entertaining episodes focus on DIY travels ideas, gadget reviews and their mistakes during their day, weekend and road trip adventures.
Their entertaining short-term trips include a lot of research on routes, unusual places to stay and where to eat for each destination. Most notably, their light-hearted episodes include street art hunting, travelling with your furry family, the dark side of glamping and ways to stay entertained on long trip.
A Broad Aboard
Created by Paula Froelich, A Broad Aboard is a travel and lifestyle podcast with a focus on solo female travel and local cultures. She encourages people to, ‘get up off their butts, get out of the office, go somewhere and learn something.’
Paula is an award-winning journalist, was named one of Folio’s Top Women in Media in 2015, NATJA Gold medal award for travel writing, NATJA Silver medal award for travel video considered one of the world’s foremost experts in travel. With over one million views weekly, Paula brings a unique perspective through storying telling to encourage women and men to discover the unknown through travel.
With Husband in Tow
With Husband in Tow podcast focuses on food, wine and luxury travel. Featuring two seasons, their episodes include recommendations on where to eat, best pork dishes, street food and their luxury travel experiences. They also interview fellow travellers/bloggers, chefs and winemakers they meet.
I met Amber in Chicago and continue to follow their adventures.Amber left her lucrative law career to reclaim her life, form a new outlook and new experiences. She and her husband Eric, moved to Southeast Asia to focus on food travel. They have travelled to over 70 countries. Husband in Tow, ‘encourages others to do the same, while exploring the world through food travel.
Travel Podcasts For Budget Travelers
The Budget-Minded Traveler
One of the best travel podcasts for people who think travel is too expensive. The Budget-Minded Traveler was created by Jackie Laulainen, in 2014 and encourages people to travel on any budget.
For over half her life, Jackie has been travelling the world on her own. Her mission is, ‘to make travel as easy and accessible for you as possible.’ With over 70 episodes, The Budget-Minded Traveler has been nominated for one of the Best Travel Podcasts at the 2015 and 2016 Podcast Awards.
She includes interviews with fellow travellers, tips, resources and advice to travel the world. The episodes include travelling with a large family, travel blogging, how to afford travel on any income and to encourage people to face their travel fears.
Extra Pack of Peanuts
Extra Pack of Peanuts is produced by Travis Sherry. Created in 2012, Extra Pack of Peanuts is now the #1 rated travel podcast on iTunes. With over 130 episodes, Travis’s mission is to help people travel for cheap or free! He will help you make sense of your confusing frequent flyer miles and show you how to fly anywhere in the world for under $100. He interviews expert travellers from around the world, gives tips and tricks for finding cheap accommodations, how to pack and travelling on a budget.
Travis and his wife, have travelled to over 20 countries for free and prove you don’t need a lot of money to travel the world.
Travel Podcasts for Nomads and Unconventional Lifestyles
Indie Travel Podcast
Indie Travel Podcast features two full-time travellers. Created by New Zealand’s husband and wife team, Craig and Linda Martin, over 10 years ago. They share stories from fellow travellers, funding opportunities and useful advice for every continent.
Not wanting anyone to repeat their travel mistakes (don’t forget to validate your train ticket!) they decided to start producing travel podcasts. Their first show was recorded in St Albans, England on a friend’s server.
Today, Craig and Linda are full-time, independent, debt free travellers. With over 300 podcasts, their podcast was the winner of Lonely Planet’s “Best Podcast.”
I listened to all of Craig and Linda’s podcasts before I left and while on the road. I had an opportunity to meet them in Dublin and they are as lovely as they seem on the podcast.
Nomadtopia
Created by Amy Scott in 2011, Nomadtopia (Nomad + Utopia) podcast helps people create their own ideal travel life. This travel podcast features stories from different nomads, sharing their nomadic adventure. From living abroad, travelling with kids or doing it solo, Amy and her guests covers it all. If you’re looking at creating a new life of freedom and flexibility while travelling the world, you’ll want to tune in to listen to her diverse guests.
In 2004, Amy quit her job and took her first step towards local independence. She has created three online business and is ‘dedicated to helping others create their ideal life, anywhere in the world – their own version of what I call Nomadtopia.’
Become Nomad
I was nomadic for 3 years, then burnt out from travel in Seville and now balance the two. It’s not for everyone but I’m glad I gave it a shot.
Eli David created the Become Nomad podcast. His episodes focus on resources for nomads and aspiring nomads. Eli examines the nomadic lifestyle, offers resources and tips to help you achieve full-time travel, along with interviews with fellow nomads. He reviews the advantages and disadvantages of the nomadic life, money, flights and other essential topics to help you achieve or maintain the nomadic lifestyle.
Eli changed his lifestyle in 2010 after getting fired from his job and breaking up with his partner. Eli has lived in more than 30 countries and travelled to more than 60. This guy knows what he’s talking about.
Travel Freedom
Hosted by Tommo and Megsy, the mission of the Travel Freedom podcast is ‘to help other people become location independent. To live free, travel more and discover travel freedom!’ With over 60 episodes, they discuss how to travel for less, travel hacks, FAQs, ways to make money online and interview other digital nomads and online entrepreneurs. Discover a new Travel Freedom podcast every Monday.
Another great inspiration for those on a budget, Tommo and Megsy have been local independent since April 2013 and spend only an average of $22.00 (US) a day. They have travelled to over 80 countries and to every continent, including Antarctica.
Keep Your Day Dream
With over 100 episodes, Keep Your Daydream travel podcasts share inspiring stories from fellow travellers who left their ‘traditional’ life to pursue their daydream of travelling. Created by Tricia Leach, she features guests from all walks of life and circumstances to share their ideal travel life and how they continue their travelling lifestyle.
You’ll hear stories from guests whose 3 month trip turned into 8 years and counting, travellers who live in a different country each year, near death experiences, people who appeared to have it all in the corporate world, to Tricia’s own story of her and her family discovering their own path to living their daydream.
Living Unconventionally
If you’re ready to ditch your 9-5 job to pursue travel, check out the Living Unconventionally podcast hosted by Britany Felix. With over 150 episodes, Britany features fellow travellers, who are living the lives they want, through travel. Episodes include safety tips, building online businesses and freelancing on the road, articles for female travellers, travelling with children and answering her listener’s questions.
Bored of their traditional corporate life, Britany and her husband sold everything they owned, quit their job and bought a travel trailer to explore the United States in 2015.
The Expat Chat
Hosted by Tony Argyle, The Expat Chat podcast shares stories of people who left their ‘traditional’ work life behind. He shares stories of those who explore life overseas and are living their dream lifestyle. With over 100 episodes, Tony discussed where to live, ways to travel, how to afford it and other challenges.
Don’t miss their stories on How to Leave the Cubicle; Why I Left My “Dream” Career to Care For Elephants; and Raising Our Kids without School – Our Mexican Life. The Expat Chat has over 20,000 downloads per month. I love this one because it gets you thinking about all the possibilities you have in life.
The Suitcase Entrepreneur
The Suitcase Entrepreneur, Natalie Sisson created a podcast that emphases freedom. She shares her own experience, along with fellow entrepreneurs and helps aspiring entrepreneurs. She inspires her audience to create businesses, to achieve their own freedom, income and time for travel. She focuses on achieving a local independent lifestyle through social media, online business tools and other technology.
Natalie has been freedom living and out of her suitcase since 2010. She has traveled to over 70 countries and runs a profitable online business. Huffington Post named her one of 50 Must-Follow Women Entrepreneurs in 2017.
Travel Podcasts for Families
Epic Education
I initially left to travel because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to have children but the clock was ticking. I mistakenly thought that children meant the end of travel but then I met so many traveling families.
Jason Jenkins created the Epic Education Radio podcast to inspire people to travel with their children. He discusses the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of family travel and offers tips, tools and resources aspiring travellers will need. He also provides destination info, reviews, interviews with fellow family travellers and his own personal stories.
In 2013, Jason and his wife quit their jobs, took their children out of school and started their nomadic lifestyle. Jason discusses homeschooling, remote working, parenting while traveling, bilingual multi-cultural education and being a dad on the road.
Jason has been featured on CNN Travel, Bon Appétit, and The Japan Times.
All right what travel podcasts did I miss? What are you listening to that you love?
17 Travel Podcasts to Inspire You in 2017 is a post from: Bacon is Magic