Broad Abroad

Whale shark tourism in the Philippines has exploded in recent years, especially in Oslob where encounters are guaranteed by feeding the sharks. When I first started planning my trip, I was so tempted — I mean, how often do you get the chance to swim alongside a whale shark? But then I started hearing more about the ethics behind it, and I knew I wanted to dive deeper into the debate. In this episo...

Planning a trip to the Philippines can feel overwhelming — there are more than 7,600 islands to choose from, and I wanted to see everything. In this episode, I share what I actually did on my two-week trip and what I wish I had done differently. I’m joined by my friend (and actor) Mucho Garcia, who grew up in Cebu, and he adds local insight, cultural context, and plenty of must-do recommendations....

Trash balloons. Underground tunnels. Martial law. In the season finale of Broad Abroad: Korea, I travel to the DMZ to get a firsthand look at the world’s most surreal border—and then stumble into protests the next day. From secret infiltration tunnels to speakers blasting K-pop into North Korea, this episode unpacks the bizarre reality of life at the edge of two Koreas. My guest Bryan Jun breaks d...

💻 FULL VIDEO ON YOUTUBE 🇰🇷 In this episode, we dive deep into Korea’s past and present with a gripping history lesson: How did South Korea go from being one of the poorest, most war-ravaged countries on Earth…to becoming one of the richest and most influential in just 40 years? 🎙️ Featuring: -Professor Lee, born in 1956 in Seoul, who survived the Korean War and witnessed Korea’s meteoric rise -Ra...

Welcome to Broad Abroad: the travel podcast that explores the world with curiosity. 🌍 ✈️ In Season 2, I flew across the world in the dead of winter to uncover the real South Korea—from K-beauty to the DMZ, street food to K-pop, and everything in between. 🎧 Episode 2: Korean Beauty & Military Service – Glowing Up and More Summary: From $60 Botox to K-pop controversies, this episode of Broad Abroa...

Watch Full Video on YouTube Travel TikTok's Posted Daily      🌏 In this episode: Katie’s housing hack that helped her afford a month of global travel 🏠 Visiting the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival — a 3-week trout ice fishing festival complete with bare-handed fishing and heated “foreigner shelters” → Festival Website  (runs in January) Skiing at Yongpyong Resort, the biggest ski resort in Kore...

Watch Full Videos + Bonus Content on YouTube @BroadAbroadPodcast Instagram @BroadAbroadPodcast In Season 2 of Broad Abroad , I travel curiously through South Korea—from ice fishing to the DMZ, spa treatments, sizzling K-BBQ, and Seoul street snacks. But it’s not just about food and fun—I sit down with locals, professors, and creators to ask: what does it really mean to be Korean today? Expect hone...

Welcome to Broad Abroad, the travel podcast that explores the world with curiosity, chaos, and a bit of humor 🌍🎙️  My last few days in El Salvador gave me so much to reflect on. This trip wasn’t just about the adventure—though that seven waterfalls hike with my guide Elmer was jaw-dropping and the pupusas were life-changing (seriously, I could eat them every day)  It was also about getting a deep...

Next stop: El Salvador! I’ve heard so much about the country’s dramatic improvements in safety under President Nayib Bukele, and I was curious to see it for myself. I met Giovanni, a local Spanish teacher, who shared his perspective on how things are changing here—especially when it comes to security and tourism. Spending time with Giovanni reminded me why I love learning Spanish so much. It’s not...

After checking out of my birthday villa, I took a quick two-minute lancha ride to Free Cerveza, an eco-friendly hostel, to spend my final two nights at Lake Atitlán. In hindsight, I’m starting to think I should’ve done these two stays in reverse order... Next, I headed to Antigua—a picturesque Spanish colonial city brimming with museums, restaurants, and shops. It’s truly a tourist’s haven. With i...

Episode 1, Lake Atitlán: Volcanos, Culture, and Celebration What better place to celebrate my 30th birthday than at Lake Atitlán, AKA the Lake Como of Central America. This place is pure magic—surrounded by three towering volcanoes and home to indigenous Mayan communities who craft the most beautiful handmade clothing and cook up mouthwatering local dishes. I found the dreamiest (and budget-friend...

I’m Katie, and traveling the world is basically my main personality trait. I just got back from my latest adventure—Guatemala and El Salvador—and I can’t wait to overshare every juicy detail with my desk-mate Grace (whether she likes it or not). On this trip, I turned the big 3-0, leveled up my Spanish (hola, ¿cómo se dice “help”?), explored the fascinating culture of the local Mayans, surfed some...