GoNOMAD Travel Podcast

Kansas City BBQ: A Weekend Road Trip in Search of the Perfect Ribs What happens when a barbecue lover packs up the car and heads to Kansas City with one mission: find the perfect rack of ribs? In this episode of the GoNOMAD Travel Podcast, Alfred Williams of Farmington MN takes us on a delicious road trip to one of America's most celebrated barbecue capitals. Inspired by childhood memories of fami...

Route 66: The Mother Road at 100 Route 66 turns 100, and there's no better place to experience this legendary highway than Arizona. In this episode, GoNOMAD travel writer Susmita Sengupta takes us on a memorable road trip along the longest preserved stretch of America's most famous highway, from Holbrook to Kingman. The journey begins at Petrified Forest National Park, where 200-million-year-old f...

SHOW NOTES — Varanasi and Dharamshala: India’s Two Spiritual Worlds In this episode, Max joins John Wright, a travel writer from Seattle, who travels through two of India’s most powerful spiritual centers. Varanasi, a city that overwhelms every sense, and Dharamshala, a peaceful Himalayan refuge shaped by the Dalai Lama’s presence. They share a spiritual reputation, but the experience of each plac...

WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE A late‑August journey to Croatia, exploring the island of Korčula and the vibrant port city of Split . Crystal‑clear water, tiny beaches, stone towns, seafood feasts, and the easy rhythm of island life. This episode follows a simple, car‑free travel pattern: fly, ferry, relax — and let Croatia do the rest. 🌊 HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE Korčula’s irresistible water...

SHOW NOTES — Driving and Exploring Route 66 in Arizona GoNOMAD Travel Podcast — Episode Scripted from Susmita Sengupta’s Route 66 Feature Episode Overview In this episode, we follow Susmita Sengupta across the most captivating stretch of Route 66 in Arizona , the longest preserved section of the Mother Road. From the fossilized wonders of the Petrified Forest , to the historic railroad charm of Wi...

SHOW NOTES — BASED ON 140 ISK PER US DOLLAR On this episode of the GoNOMAD Travel Podcast, we join experts in campervanning, who head to Iceland to find out why so many travelers swear by renting a campervan. After a week circling the Ring Road, they learned that the van is both the thing that makes the trip magical — and the thing that can derail it if you don’t know the rules. We talk about the...

Episode Summary: Southern Belize is often overlooked by travelers who arrive expecting beaches, reef trips, and resort life. In this episode, Max explores the part of Belize that doesn’t fit neatly into the brochure — a region defined by small coastal villages, Garifuna culture, Maya communities, rainforest rivers, and a pace that encourages travelers to slow down and pay attention. Check out the...

SHOW NOTES — GoNOMAD Travel Podcast — Hosted by Max Hartshorne Featuring Senior Writer Chin Liang & guest Reint Grobler of Harvest Table Bistro Episode Overview Today we head to South Africa’s Western Cape — but not the version most travelers think they know. Yes, Cape Town is spectacular, but this episode is all about the offbeat , the gritty , the authentic experiences that lie just beyond t...

Show Notes and Episode Overview In this episode, we travel deep into British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest — a 6.4‑million‑hectare expanse of fjords, islands, river estuaries, and ancient forest — to witness one of the planet’s rarest animals: the white‑furred Kermode bear, known to the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation as the Spirit Bear . Fewer than 150 are believed to exist, making any encounter feel...

Check out the new Smart Travel Podcast This episode is supported by Smart Travel a new podcast from Nerd Wallet. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Follow Smart Travel wherever you get your podcasts. Smart Travel Podcast Show Notes on Private Railcar Travel, with Halloway. Traveling on a private train from Chicago to Emeryville offers a unique experience, blending luxury...

Show Notes Caviar on the Ground, Coach in the Air: Inside the $1,300 PS Concierge Terminal in Miami In this episode, Max dives into one of the most surreal, over‑the‑top travel experiences available to regular commercial passengers: PS , the luxury private terminal that lets you skip the airport entirely and board your flight from the tarmac like an A‑lister. Travel columnist Dawn Gilbertson of Th...

Show Notes — GoNOMAD Travel Podcast Episode: Manipur’s Sangai Festival — A Deer, A Floating National Park, and a Journey Across India’s Jewel State Episode Summary In this episode, Max shares the story of Manipur’s extraordinary Sangai Festival —a ten‑day celebration dedicated to a deer once believed extinct. Based on Sushant Pandey’s travels, we explore Manipur’s floating national park, the reviv...

Show Notes Show notes EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode, Max heads to the medieval hilltop town of Alquézar , in Northern Spain’s Sierra de Guara region, for an unforgettable canyoning adventure with Sally Adventures . Joined by a group of five travelers all over sixty, Max recounts the exhilaration of scrambling down limestone walls, sliding through narrow water channels, and leaping into cold moun...

GONOMAD TRAVEL PODCAST — SHOW NOTES Exploring the Quirky Hammond Castle of Gloucester, Massachusetts On this episode of the GoNOMAD Travel Podcast, contributor Susmita Sengupta takes us to the rugged, wave‑carved coastline of Cape Ann, Massachusetts — home to one of New England’s most eccentric landmarks: Hammond Castle . Built between 1926 and 1929 by inventor John Hays Hammond Jr. , the castle r...

How an Irish‑Born Grandparent Could Change Your Life On this episode of the GoNOMAD Travel Podcast, we explore a story that begins with a simple family rumor — the kind told at holiday tables and half‑remembered over generations. What if that old tale about your Irish grandmother isn’t just nostalgia, but a key that could change where you’re allowed to live, work, and travel for the rest of your l...

SHOW NOTES Baguio: An American Hill Station in the Philippine Highlands Today on the GoNOMAD Travel Podcast, Senior Writer Chin Liang takes us up into the cool, mist‑wrapped mountains of northern Luzon to explore Baguio (BAG‑ee‑oh), the Philippines’ original highland escape. While most of the country swelters in tropical heat, Baguio sits comfortably below 70°F year‑round — a climate that first dr...

Show Notes: In this episode of the GoNOMAD Travel Podcast, Max shares his lifelong affection for ferries — the working boats that move commuters, islanders, day‑trippers, and football fans with the same steady indifference. Ferries don’t pamper or preen, but they offer something better: a front‑row seat to the water and the most democratic view in travel. Whether you drive a G‑wagon or a beat‑up V...

Host: Max Hartshorne, Editor of GoNOMAD Travel Episode: KÖKAR Island, Åland Archipelago, Finland Guest Insight: Natalie Björk of Brudhäll Hotel Episode Summary In this episode, Max travels to Kökar , a tiny island in Finland’s autonomous Åland archipelago, where silence feels alive, and the Nordic light seems to glow from within. With only about 225 residents, Kökar is a place shaped by the sea, a...

Dharavi in Mumbai, India, is one of the most misunderstood places on Earth. For decades, the world has labeled it a slum , a word that flattens a million lives into a stereotype. But today on the GoNOMAD Travel Podcast, Senior Writer Chin Liang takes us deep inside this remarkable Mumbai neighborhood with the help of two longtime residents and guides: Mohammad Sadique of Inside Mumbai Tours and Kr...

What All Those Numbers on Your Boarding Pass Really Mean In this episode, we break down the mysterious codes, letters, and numbers printed on every airline boarding pass. Inspired by a deep dive in Condé Nast Traveler , we look at what each part of your pass actually tells the airline about you, your ticket, and your trip. What we cover in this episode • Your six‑digit PNR code The all‑caps alphan...

Meandering in Málaga, Spain In this episode, we explore Málaga , a warm, walkable, art‑filled city on Spain’s Costa del Sol. GoNOMAD contributor Debbie Garrick shares her March adventure, a trip built on wandering without an agenda. What we cover in this episode • Arriving in Málaga A friendly taxi driver, avocado farm stories, and the first glimpse of a city far more elegant than its Costa del So...

In this episode of the GoNOMAD Travel Podcast, Senior Writer Chin Liang takes us deep into the heart of Transylvania , a region forever linked to gothic legends, dark forests, and of course… vampires. But as Chin quickly shows us, the real Transylvania—and the real Brașov—is far more fascinating than any fictional horror story. We begin with the scenic train ride from Bucharest, winding through th...

In this episode, we head to Lower Manhattan to explore the layers of history hidden beneath the skyscrapers of Wall Street. Longtime GoNOMAD contributor Susmita Sengupta , a New Yorker with a sharp eye for the city’s past, takes us on a walking journey through the Financial District — revealing the colonial streets, early American landmarks, and sacred spaces that shaped the beginnings of the Unit...

In this episode, host Max Hartshorne takes listeners deep into Komodo National Park , exploring what it actually feels like to move through one of the world’s wildest island chains. This isn’t the postcard version—this is the lived version. Drawing from on‑the‑ground insight in the uploaded script — “You start to realize Komodo National Park isn’t really a checklist kind of place. It’s something y...

MOSTAR, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA — A RESILIENT CITY OF HISTORY, DIVING FEATS & ADVENTURE In this episode, we travel to Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina — a city where beauty, bravery, and centuries of history meet on the stones of one of the world’s most iconic bridges. Host Max Hartshorne takes listeners to the edge of the 79‑foot Stari Most , where divers have leapt into the emerald Neretva Rive...