Parents Gap Year

We dip into the port region of Portugal with son Sam, before inter-railing in Northern Italy from mesmerising Milan, through the dramatic Dolomites to transfixing Trento and inspiring Innsbruck. But rain forces Ann-Marie and Rod to retreat to virtuoso Verona, where opera evades them and is swapped for searing seating in the scorching heat of the opera Arena. Contributors: Sam McCormack Gray and Pa...

Europe offers a lot, as we scale the mountains of Montenegro with son Max and avail of free rides on the buses of Belgrade. While island hopping in Greece, Ann-Marie and Rod delight in Turkish tea-rooms, Roman ruins and Rod’s rendition of a Mama Mia song to a mortified Sam in Skopelos. Contributors: Max McCormack Gray, Sam McCormack Gray Hosts: Ann-Marie McCormack, Rod Gray We want to hear from yo...

Monsoon weather is a surprise in January for tropical Sri Lanka! Ann-Marie is guided around a Kandy university campus, by the arts dean Dr. Prabath Ekanayake, who shares what university life is like there. Rod joins the barefoot pilgrims taking floral offerings to the Temple of the Tooth relic, while son Sam is reunited with his parents from Australia, accompanied by his USA solo traveller friend...

Ann-Marie and Rod visit the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time and interview Gyles Brandreth, celebrated UK broadcaster and 'Rosebud' podcast host, with his producer Harriet Jaine. While staying with Glaswegian friend Laura and hubby Patrick, they also sample some comedy madness at the fringe. In Glasgow, Laura guides Ann-Marie and Rod around The Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies, while Patrick extol...

This travel podcast series follows filmmaker Ann-Marie McCormack and her photographer husband Rod Gray, on their many trips abroad, as they travel across the world, meeting incredible, diverse people of all cultures, sharing their stories. Having taken a year out on a ‘trip of a lifetime’ and now returned to work, Ann-Marie and Rod are taking shorter, more manageable trips, while their sons travel...

Japan is Ann-Marie and Rod’s last stop, before returning to the UK to pick up their much missed son Max from uni, before Ann-Marie’s big birthday bash. In Tokyo, they experience the wonders of a digital arts exhibition, share an extravagant night out with Ann-Marie’s school friend Helen and her generous husband Hiro, sample the surprising female jet-settings of the Japanese toilet and the onsen ho...

Ann-Marie and Rod face the madness of Manilla airport, where Ann-Marie’s sister Pam misses her connecting flight in a storm. Together they experience the vibrant nightlife and sunsets of El Nido and Rod shipwreck dives for the first time in Coron. But as they relax in the hot springs, Ann-Marie and Rod hear their beloved cat is very ill! In Oslob, they swim with enormous whale sharks and their gui...

Ann-Marie and Rod do a Thai cookery course before reconnecting with their Bristol friends Tegan, Albie and Luke, who has just lost his mother that morning. They chat with a Dutch couple, who sold everything to move to Koh Lanta, about how to run a business in Thailand. On Phi Phi Island, during Songkran - Thai New Year, they talk to two tsunami resilient survivors about their shocking experiences...

Ann-Marie and Rod meet up with their newly tattooed son Sam, avoid being robbed by monkeys, share really fun times with two naughty boys on the Gili Isles and gain a great insight into life as a businesswoman in Lombok, during their most festive season.  Contributors: Sam McCormack Gray, Egy Madani, Dodi i Pandi, Yofy Satria, Yuli - Yuli’s Homestay owner, Kuta, Lombok, Betty - Ubud receptionist. H...

At a hostel Ann-Marie and Rod meet some brave trekkers who share incredible stories of The Te Araroa trail they’re on, walking from New Zealand’s North to South islands. They are wowed by the beauty of travelling through the South Island on a road trip, and feel the heart warming glow of the glow worms. Contributors: Jude Newton Stock, Trekkers - Arjuna Welsh, Brandon Morrissey & Michael Andre...

Ann-Marie and Rod do a house swap on Phillip Island, famous for its penguins. Rod takes Ann-Marie for big birthday treat - a road trip through Mornington Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road. In Sydney, they meet up with Ann-Marie’s long lost acting friend and vow never to let another 35 years go by! Contributors: Majella Nolan, Richard Dayson, Michael the motel manager, Lisa - penguin crew. Music:...

Ann-Marie and Rod go down under to stay with Rod’s step sister Vicky, who along with her bunch of food foraging friends, travel to Tasmania. They are wowed by the Mona Gallery in Hobart and have so much fun camping on Bruny Island! Contributors: Vicky Stock, Nikki Atherstone, Adam Newman, Brenton Booth, Lisa Divane, Tash Van Velzen, Ruth Brunt and son Sam, Jude Stock, Peter Dayson, Jean Dayson. Mu...

SEARCH Parents Gap Year on You Tube to WATCH   Contributors / Hosts: Ann-Marie McCormack & Rod Gray Filming, Editor & Graphic: Rod Gray Music: Serge Quadrado (latin-jazz-loop-2), Szegvari (rotpb-latin-lunches-_-minimal-house-latin)

Off the most beautiful beach ever, Ann-Marie & Rod fish with very fit Italians, reunite with the Bristol sisters and are guided by a local landmine victim on the silk island. Contributors: Izzy Gibbs, Sophie De Payronnet, Luca Casamassima, Laura Moioli, Jade Martin, Justin Marais, Vuthy Vuthy. Music: Serge Quadrado (latin-jazz-loop-2), Szegvari (rotpb-latin-lunches-_-minimal-house-latin) Edito...

Ann-Marie and Rod meet their first lesbian couple and share a tuk to awesome Angkor Wat and their maddest New Year ever! And Ann-Marie talks to a Cambodian waitress who is already saving for her 1-year old daughter's university fees. Contributors: Bre Kerr, Faith McConnell, Luca Casamassima, Laura Moioli, Kim Rom. Music: Serge Quadrado (latin-jazz-loop-2), Szegvari (rotpb-latin-lunches-_-minimal-h...

Following a trip to the Sanctuary on their worst road ever, Ann-Marie & Rod relax for Christmas with sell-it-all Austrians, before Rod gets royally knocked off his throne! Contributors: Izzy Gibbs, Sophie De Payronnet, Carmen Hofer, Klaus Hofer. Music: Serge Quadrado (latin-jazz-loop-2), Szegvari (rotpb-latin-lunches-_-minimal-house-latin) Editor: Ann-Marie McCormack Sound Mix: Gary McIntyre G...

Ann-Marie and Rod get the shock of a lifetime, while travelling on a slow boat on the Mekong river. Luckily they have time to recover in the beautiful Luang Prebang! Contributors:  Fabio Rosquete, Paula Postfeur, Fanny Luxembouger, Izzy Gibbs, Sophie De Payronnet. Music: Serge Quadrado (latin-jazz-loop-2), Szegvari (rotpb-latin-lunches-_-minimal-house-latin) Editor: Ann-Marie McCormack Sound Mix:...

Ann-Marie and Rod travel to Railay Beach on a long tail boat from Ao Nang. They head to Chiang Mai with sisters Izzy and Sophie from Bristol and visit so many temples that they get all blinged out! Contributors:  Svente, Izzy Gibbs, Sophie De Payronnet, Pissimone Music: Serge Quadrado (latin-jazz-loop-2), Szegvari (rotpb-latin-lunches-_-minimal-house-latin) Editor: Ann-Marie McCormack Sound Mix: G...

Ann-Marie and Rod explore the wonders of Singapore’s diversity and chat to two musicians about growing up in Singapore’s cultural melting pot. In Koh Samui they feed elephants and get clear warnings about scooter accidents from an injured ex-pat. Contributors: Sam McCormack Gray, Richie El, Norman Yeo, Svente, Susan Moore, Wayne Moore, Tim Grabow, Adrian Boulton Music: Serge Quadrado (latin-jazz-l...

Ann-Marie and Rod set off on a trip of a lifetime, having taken a year off work to travel. With their kids no longer at home and parents all doing okay, real life suddenly intervenes in Sicily in an unexpected way...in this warts and all podcast series. Contributors: Fabrizio Militello, Ruth McCormack, Alison McCormack, Fr Mike O'Sullivan. Singers: Mya Neiland, Ann-Marie McCormack Music:  Serge Qu...

Welcome to our travel podcast series, which we recorded while travelling across the world and where we chatted to a diversity of very interesting people with great stories to tell! Ann-Marie & Rod x Hosts: Ann-Marie McCormack, Rod Gray Music:  Serge Quadrado (latin-jazz-loop-2), Szegvari (rotpb-latin-lunches-_-minimal-house-latin) Sound Mix: Gary McIntyre