The Pod Well Travelled

Vast, remote and brimming with cultural richness, the Australian Outback is the topic on this week’s episode of The Pod Well Travelled.  Host Megan French is joined by seasoned explorer Stephen Scourfield to discuss what makes Australia’s rural landscape one of the world’s most unique travel destinations. From the iconic red heart of Uluru and the dramatic domes of Kata Tjut...

This week on The Pod Well Travelled, Travel Editor Stephen Scourfield discusses travelling the southern Indian state of Kerala, specifically its capital Thiruvananthapuram, with host Megan French. From visiting one of the richest and most mysterious temples in the world, to witnessing the work of legendary Indian artist colloquially dubbed the “father of modern Indian Art” – the...

Special guest Leyanne Baillie joins Penny Thomas and Stephen Scourfield to discuss the many treasures of her historic homeland — Scotland. During the episode, they dive into everything from haggis and highlands to the warm, welcoming spirit of its people. Leyanne shares invaluable travel tips for first-time visitors eager to discover all there is to love about this far-flung corner of Britai...

On this fortnight’s episode of The Pod Well Travelled, Megan French and Penny Thomas share some uplifting travel news, top tips for catching cherry blossoms this season, and conclude with their signature “This or That” quiz. From Emirates’ groundbreaking announcement to become the world’s first Autism-certified airline, to a peculiar so-called “travel hack&rdquo...

Join Penny Thomas and Megan French as they round up February’s biggest travel headlines. In this episode, they unpack London Heathrow’s controversial expansion plans, Changi Airport’s near-full recovery and troubling reports of scams at Bali’s international airport. They also explore new airline routes — like Cathay Pacific’s flights to Rome — and the high...

From savvy suitcase strategies to street smarts, Penny Thomas and Megan French unpack everything from the dos and don’ts of tipping (spoiler: it’s not always expected) to digital packing hacks — and why packing cubes might just change your life. They also explore the underrated art of keeping a travel journal and how brushing up on your destination’s basics before you go ca...

Managing money while travelling can feel like a maze of fees, exchange rates and security risks — but it doesn’t have to be. In this week’s episode hosts Megan French and Penny Thomas are joined by Stephen Scourfield and Mogens Johansen, who break down the smartest ways to pay, budget and protect your cash when you’re on the road. + Subscribe to The Pod Well Travelled where...

In this episode of The Pod Well Travelled, Penny Thomas and Megan French explore the irresistible pull of food when it comes to travel.  From the best meals they’ve eaten abroad to the ultimate foodie destinations in Australia and beyond, they discuss where to eat, what to try, and why it’s worth planning your next trip around a plate. During the episode, Megan shares some Filipin...

Join hosts Penny Thomas and Megan French as they dive into the latest travel stories and trends for January. Megan kicks off today’s episode by unpacking the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirements for Aussie travellers, while Penny shares a great Qatar Airways deal and breaks down recent changes to Qantas’ Frequent Flyer program. Megan then tells us about the...

In this week’s episode, host Will Yeoman talks to self-described “Abrolhogist” Howard Gray B.Sc. Dip. Ed Ph. D about his latest book, Abrolhos: Keep Your Eyes Open, a lavishly illustrated and compellingly written introduction to the natural and human history of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands of Western Australia. + This special episode of Podstreet and The Pod Well Travelled is bro...

In this week’s episode, hosts Penny Thomas and Megan French sit down with travel writer and photographer Mogens Johansen to chat about one of Australia’s most beloved travel destinations — Tasmania, an island gem located just off the bottom right corner of Australia’s mainland. Fresh from a trip to Tassie, as it’s affectionately known, Mogens shares highlights from hi...

On this week’s episode, the team consider the powerful connection between music and travel, exploring how song lyrics inspire us to pack our bags and see the world. Unsurprisingly, Taylor Swift takes centre stage in much of the discussion, but we also cover other destinations immortalised in tracks by various artists. From creating imaginary bonds with places through music to making travel d...

In this week’s episode, Penny Thomas and Megan French dive into their travel predictions for 2025 while reflecting on the trends that shaped 2024. From the “Taylor Swift effect” driving $1 billion in hotel revenue to the resurgence of Egypt and affordable flights to Europe, they unpack 2024’s biggest shifts in travel. Looking ahead, they spotlight Japan, Southeast Asia and...

In this episode of The Pod Well Travelled, Penny Thomas and Megan French sit down with Stephen Scourfield to delve into his latest adventure — an unforgettable expedition to Antarctica with Lindblad Expeditions, where he guided a group of enthusiastic West Travel Club guests to one of the planet’s most remote and awe-inspiring destinations. Stephen shares the excitement of travelling a...

This week, we’re kicking off our new Hotels of the World series, where we uncover the stories and secrets beyond the check-in counter at popular hotels. For our first episode of the new series, Megan French and Penny Thomas chat with Mercure Perth general manager Brian McHenry about what goes on behind the scenes at his hotel in Perth’s CBD.  Having spent 35 years in the hospitali...

In this festive episode of The Pod Well Travelled, hosts Penny Thomas and Megan French explore the most delightful and quirky Christmas traditions from around the world. From Germany’s enchanting Christmas markets — where mulled wine, bratwurst and handcrafted ornaments bring festive cheer — to Japan’s unexpected KFC Christmas feast, a tradition born from a clever 1970s marketing campaign, this ep...

Join Penny Thomas, Megan French and Stephen Scourfield as they unpack a series of interesting travel stories and trends for the month of November. Penny kicks things off by telling us about the rise of medical tourism, sharing surprising new data that reveals over half of Australians are willing to travel abroad for medical procedures. Next, Stephen introduces Four Points Flex by Sheraton, a budge...

In this episode, Stephen Scourfield chats with Penny Thomas about the Kumano Kodo trail in Japan, which is one of only two UNESCO-recognised pilgrimage routes in the world. Nestled in the heart of Japan’s Kii Peninsula, the series of trails weave through lush forests, towering mountains and sacred shrines and temples that have lured emperors, monks and pilgrims to the region for over 1,000 years....

In this episode of The Pod Well Travelled, host Penny Thomas sits down with seasoned travel writers Stephen Scourfield and Mogens Johansen to discuss the world of river cruising. From Europe’s iconic waterways to the hidden treasures of Asia, Stephen and Mogens share insider tips on top destinations and itineraries, including unique experiences that only river cruises can offer. With practical adv...

Join Writing WA CEO Will Yeoman for a special crossover episode of Podstreet and The Pod Well Travelled. During the show, Will chats with Mark Pybus, the passionate hiker and founder behind The Life of Py. From his first trek across Costa Rica to the diverse landscapes of the Warren River Loop and Cape Le Grand Coastal Trail, Mark shares his journey into hiking and his passion for Western Australi...

Join Penny Thomas, Megan French and Stephen Scourfield as they explore October’s biggest travel trends. Stephen kicks off the show with highlights from the National Travel Industry Awards in Sydney, where he shares stories from the night and celebrates some of the well-deserved winners. From there, the team dives into the latest industry happenings — from ALDI’s surprise launch of holiday packages...

On this week’s episode, the travel team discuss different ways to dive deeper into local cultures and create more meaningful travel moments. Stephen Scourfield shares his fascinating experience with the women divers of Jeju Island from his recent visit to South Korea. While Penny Thomas tells us about a spontaneous encounter at an izakaya in Tokyo. We also hear about a hands-on workshop Penny did...

For some travellers, planning a trip to Europe can be stressful, confusing and overwhelming. So, for today’s episode of The Pod Well Travelled, we’re breaking it all down for you.  From how to score the best travel deals, to popular destinations and even which countries offer the most bang for your buck, we’ve got all the tips to make your upcoming European adventure a stress-free experience.  Dur...

From building schools in remote villages to conserving wildlife habitats, volunteer tourism promises to be an enriching way to travel. But how can you be sure the work you’re doing is really helping? During today’s show, we cover the key things you need to know when it comes to travelling with a purpose, like how to choose responsible programs, the impact of the work you’re doing, plus the persona...

On this week’s episode, Penny Thomas, Megan French and Stephen Scourfield recap the recent Jackets Of The World exhibition, which took place in Fremantle last month and featured over 50 hand-sewn jackets from Stephen’s travels. During the show, we also hear a special live recording from the event, where Stephen performed a moving piece about Africa accompanied by the captivating rhythms of musicia...