At Home and Abroad with Harris and Walker

Welcome to At Home and Abroad with Harris and Walker!  Join us each week as we explore the far reaches of the globe in search of unique characters and stories to share.  Reach beyond your front door as we uncover new perspectives, intriguing ideas and lessons learned over time. Follow us wherever you find your favourite podcasts and on Instagram at @harrisandwalker! Hosted on Acast....

Secret societies have been the objects of human fascination for centuries. They are mysterious, they are insular and too often, they are dangerous. Secret societies, and their more nefarious cousin, cults, have foundations rooted in ritual, secrecy and allegiance of their members. We reveal the structure and influence of today’s cults and expose their devastating impact on those they ensnare conve...

It is said that laughter is the best medicine. It turns out, it just might be! We can barely keep a lid on it during this episode as we examine the benefits of laughter with Celeste Greene, laughter yoga specialist.   If you need a little pick me up in your day, this episode is it! Must Mentions @celestegreenelaughs Sources “The science of laughter and why it’s good for us” https://www.c...

Leprauchauns, fairies, black cats and Big Foot. The magical and mystical, the mysterious and the mythical; these beliefs have allowed our species to make sense of this sometimes confusing and difficult world. Over time, in every land and every culture, humans have looked to the unknown and supernatural to explain what we do not understand. Superstition itself is born out of legend and folklore.&nb...

Dirty, dangerous and sometimes morally troubling jobs are held by innumerable people around the world, but as the saying goes, someone has to do it. Society often stigmatizes these jobs, and though they are often necessary to the safety, security and health of society, the individuals performing this work are frequently marginalized, impoverished and forced to bear real physical and psychological...

**Some topics included in this episode may cause distress to some listeners. If you or someone close to you needs support, we encourage you to reach out to one of the resources listed below.** Death, dying and the rituals that surround these inevitabilities of human existence reflect incredibly diverse cultural beliefs. In the words of Woody Allen, "I am not afraid of death. I just don't want to b...

Mind your manners. Be on your best behaviour. Your mom had it right. Etiquette is a code of conduct, a set of customs and courtesies that vary from culture to culture. Sometimes the rules for behaviour are embedded in centuries of tradition, and some we are still trying to sort out as a society. If we don't follow these rules, especially while travelling, we can get ourselves into hot water. In th...

From hitting the slopes in back country British Columbia to winter camping in the deep, silent forests of a national park, there are so many ways that we can embrace travel in the winter season beyond the beach. Winter travel requires planning but its rewards are limitless. We now need to consider the health and future viability of our home, the earth, and be mindful of our behaviour today as it w...

"Love is a journey, not a destination." - Ralph Waldo Emerson Love is an adventure, particularly for those who purposefully seek love in distant lands, lured by the romance and mystery of a foreign destination.  Love also serendipitously surprises some lucky souls while they are adventuring abroad. We have long celebrated the intersection of love and travel in popular culture, so it is no sur...

Trails, routes, footpaths all crisscross the globe. Some have historical significance, some offer present-day purpose and some just to allow us to take in the natural beauty of this great earth. For seven million years, we have been walking. We walk with purpose, we walk to clear our minds, we walk together in support. Walking is not only nourishes our bodies but it is also for our mental health t...

Just like a postcard, this bite-sized correspondence between Harris and Walker recounts Harris' impressions during her family birthday celebrations on the sublime white sands of Playa Mujeres, Mexico. Recorded live on location from the beautiful resort, Finest Playa Mujeres. Must Mentions @finestplayamujeres Music by FreeGroove Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Older adults are active, engaged and ready for their next experience of a lifetime.   They are searching out travel that embraces a vast range of activities, perhaps more than ever before in our history. How best to plan and prepare for travel at an older age? What do older adults need to know when choosing a destination? Listen in as Don and Alison, global nomads who took to the sk...

Domestic service is integral to human history.  Whenever there has been a divide between have and have not, between wealthy and poor, there have been workers to bring comfort and cleanliness to the lives of their overseers. In recent times, the relationship between master or mistress and servant has been glamourized through popular media. The magical mystique that was once only reserved for t...

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, we all love a good story of triumph over trauma. This is the time of year when many of us are shaking off what ails us and are looking for a fresh start. We're renewing gym memberships, launching job searches and making resolutions to be better, stronger, healthier, happier versions of ourselves. Sometimes though there is a real and urgent need to make a chang...

We all sometimes seek to escape the drama or even the tedium of our day to day reality in a myriad of ways, some healthy and some most definitely not. In moderation, our escapist tendencies can be viewed as harmless attempts at coping with stress, but if we step out of reality to avoid conflict or confrontation in our lives, we can compound problems and complicate our stress even further. So how b...

‘Tis the season to be cozy! As the snow begins to fly, and the first of the winter storms begin to track their way across the northern climes, we all seek refuge in our homes for warmth and comfort. But what is this feeling that we call cozy?  How is it defined around the world? Perhaps cozy is not just about well-placed woolen throws, scented candles and reading socks. Join us as we cha...

All is calm. All is bright. Or is it? Tis the season of joy and merriment, but for many of us, it can also be a time of stress, over-indulgence and frought family festivities. In this episode, we learn to embrace the nice over the naughty so we may remain hale and hearty enough to enjoy the holiday hoopla. Reiki master and mindfulness coach, Fabio Fernandes of Resting Bell Wellness leads us in a m...

Just like a postcard, this concise transatlantic correspondence between Harris and Walker recounts Harris' impressions during her short journey across the Emerald Isle. Recorded live on location from the beautiful city of Belfast. Honourable Mentions: @aniargalway @odowdsseafood @blundstones @connemara_national_park @guys_bar_clifden Sources: Music: Irish Jig by Musictown Countries of the World by...

The tradition of giving gifts has a long history, predating modern humans. Is it the thought that counts? Is it really better to give than to receive? We give gifts in many forms, at all times of year, for all kinds of reasons. Gifts commemorate life moments, express gratitude and sometimes heal or secure relationships. From dowries to donations, gifts send a message to the recipient. They are an...

Leisure travel has always been a luxury available to only those with both a wealth of time and money. Though wandering just for the sake of it has become increasingly accessible over the centuries, globetrotting with glamour still remains within the rarefied realm of the rich.  Travelling while luxuriating in the lap of luxury has evolved through the ages. From the old world ocean liners to t...

To sleep is to be human, but what should come naturally can often be a battle with the sometimes ruthless ruler of rest. Explore healthy sleep and the handy habits that help with sleep expert, Dr. Diana McMillan of the University of Manitoba. Review the rituals and customs that human society has created to dispel nighttime terrors and wakeful worries. Listen in and you too can dance with the diva...

Perusing periodicals, browsing books and thumbing through the tomes have all been beloved past times of the literate. Libraries and bookshops, those worn bastions of books, have been the cornerstones of community, providing the context for research, learning or even just contemplation. What magic continues to draw us in, even when vast, even limitless volumes of information is rapidly and readily...

Food. It is essential to the human experience, but not only for sustenance and survival. Food is bonding. Food is often at the centre of human gathering, bringing joy or comfort, or both. Food brings people together, and now it is drawing people to gather further and further afield. Beyond their own horizons. Foodies of all ages are seeking sensational experiences that will tickle, delight and cha...

Unearth the twisted tale of Halloween's origins in the Gates of Hell to it's present day celebration in costume and candy. Riddled with the haunted and unholy, we dive deep into death with oddities collector, Celest and eagerly explore the most haunted destinations around the globe. Listen in and celebrate this macabre season with the gift of the ghostly gab. Just don't forget to keep the lights o...

Every souvenir tells a story. They represent a little snapshot of time, a memory incarnate that lingers in on the mantelpiece and is often passed down from generation to generation. In this episode, we are digging deep, exploring the traditions and practices surrounding the humble souvenir, some of which have far reaching origins in the past. Souvenirs can be wonderful little reminiscents but they...