Stanfords Travel Podcast

Travel writers Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent and Lois Pryce talk to Julia Wheeler about their extensive solo travels by motorbike in many regions all over the world including India’s Arunachal Pradesh, Iran and South America. Hear about their epic adventures and the discoveries they’ve made as they talk about venturing off the beaten track, banish myths about … Continue reading Solo Motorcycle Adventur...

When travelling, what is appropriate behaviour when greeting people? Should you offer a handshake, a kiss on the cheek or two kisses? Different countries have their own set of rules regarding eating, dressing, cleanliness, hospitality and religion. What traditions should you absolutely partake in and which should you merely observe. Are they ways to find … Continue reading Travel Etiquette: Stanfo...

Levison Wood talks to Julia Wheeler about his life as an adventurer and his latest book Arabia.       Following in the footsteps of great explorers such as Lawrence of Arabia and Wilfred Thesiger, Arabia is Levison’s account of his most complex expedition yet: circumnavigating the Arabian Peninsula. Travelling through some of the harshest … Continue reading Levison Wood in Conversation with Julia...

Alev Scott’s odyssey began when she looked beyond Turkey’s borders for contemporary traces of the Ottoman Empire. Their 800-year rule ended a century ago – and yet, travelling through twelve countries from Kosovo to Greece to Palestine, she uncovered a legacy that’s vital and relevant; where medieval ethnic diversity meets 21st century nationalism, and displaced … Continue reading Ottoman Odyssey:...

Ishbel Holmes was determined to cycle the world but her journey took a completely unexpected turn when she rescued a street dog in Turkey. Between the two there formed a deep bond and their relationship was followed and supported by thousands of readers online, before becoming a media sensation overnight when Ishbel put out a … Continue reading Cycling with a Rescued Street Dog: Stanfords Travel W...

Calling all nature lovers. Join us as Jonathan Drori talks about his new book Around the World in 80 Trees. From India’s sacred banyan to the fragrant cedar of Lebanon, they offer us sanctuary and inspiration – not to mention the raw materials for everything from aspirin to maple syrup. Jonathan uses plant science to … Continue reading Around the World in 80 Trees: Stanfords Travel Writers Festiva...

Sean Conway talks to Phoebe Smith about the third and final leg in the world’s first length of Britain Triathlon. Having already cycled and swum the length of Britain, Sean completed his trilogy by running all the way from John O’Groats to Land’s End entirely unsupported. The adventure was turned into a successful Documentary on … Continue reading Running Britain with Sean Conway: Stanfords Travel...

Lloyd Figgins, travel risk expert & author of the The Travel Survival Guide offers up-to-date, no-nonsense, practical advice on how to prepare for a trip, recognise warning signs, avoid potential hazards and cope with emergencies should they occur. The rewards you can reap from exploring this amazing planet are incalculable. Every year, more and more … Continue reading Travel Safety: Stanfords Tra...

Levison Wood talks to Paul Blezard about his life as an adventurer and his latest book Arabia. Following in the footsteps of great explorers such as Lawrence of Arabia and Wilfred Thesiger, Arabia is Levison’s account of his most complex expedition yet: circumnavigating the Arabian Peninsula. Travelling through some of the harshest and most beautiful … Continue reading Levison Wood in Conversation...

Achieve a level of outdoor awareness that will enable you to understand the landscape around you. Tristan Gooley shows how it is possible to sense direction from stars and plants, forecast weather from woodland sounds and predict the next action of an animal from its body language – instantly. Mary-Ann Ochota shares her archaeological expertise … Continue reading Reading the Landscape: Stanfords T...

Just ahead of his retrospective exhibition at the Tate Britain Sir Don McCullin talks to Julia Wheeler about his highly celebrated career as a war photographer spanning six decades. Once a witness to some of the harshest and most devastating conflicts across the globe, Sir Don has now become one of the great landscape photographers … Continue reading Sir Don McCullin in Conversation: Stanfords Tra...

In 2016 Lizzie Carr became the first person to paddle board the entire length of Britain’s waterways. In 2017 she became the first woman to paddle board solo across the English Channel. In 2018 she became the first person to paddle board the entire length of the Hudson River. She combined her paddle boarding with … Continue reading Paddling Britain and Beyond with Lizzie Carr: Stanfords Travel Wri...

Ed Gorman talks to John McCarthy about his career as a journalist covering conflicts in Northern Ireland, the Gulf, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Balkans and Afghanistan. Looking at how these experiences can completely change your life, they will also be talking about Ed’s book Death of a Translator which is a searingly honest description of … Continue reading Ed Gorman in Conversation with John McCart...

Kate Humble talks to Julia Wheeler about the benefits of walking and her book Thinking on My Feet in which she recorded her walks (and runs) throughout a single year, but also charted her feelings and impressions throughout. She looks at the reasons why we walk – whether for creative energy, challenge and pleasure, or … Continue reading Why We Walk with Kate Humble: Stanfords Travel Writers Festiv...

For centuries people have been making spiritual journeys in search of enlightenment or following some kind of sacred footsteps. Emma Slade, Justin Butcher and Guy Stagg have all recently written very different books following this theme. Here they discuss the historical significance and personal experiences behind these journeys, how they can be secular and offer … Continue reading A Modern Pilgri...

Informed by 30 years commenting on world affairs, Tim Marshall’s illuminating explanations of global politics made Prisoners of Geography an international bestseller. In his latest book Divided he brings that wealth of experience and insight to explain what has divided us, past and present, showing how it informs much of what is going on in … Continue reading Divided: Why We’re Living in an Age of...

Former Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year winner, Julian Sayarer talks to Paul Blezard about his experiences on the small island of Surin, near the navel border of Thailand and Myanmar. Julian was initially brought to the area as an on-location writer for a crew filming a documentary about the indigenous people known as … Continue reading All At Sea: Another Side of Paradise with Julian Sayar...

Author and Explorer Levison Wood talks to Julia Wheeler about his life as an explorer and shares his experiences from his Channel 4 series following his journeys Walking the Nile, Walking the Himalayas and Walking the Americas as well as his most recent series From Russia to Iran. Levison has travelled to over 80 countries … Continue reading Levison Wood: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2018

Stanfords is a proud supporter of Explorers against Extinction, an exciting initiative highlighting the plight faced by some of Africa’s most iconic species. One of the conservation partners are Animals saving Animals, run by Daryll Pleasants who is talking to Paul Blezard about this UK project that is making a real difference in the fight … Continue reading Explorers Against Extinction: Stanfords...

Join Mark Brownlow, author & producer of Blue Planet II as he talks to Julia Wheeler about the Blue Planet II book and BBC TV series. Hear about how they brought to life the different habitats of the oceanic world. This talk features breath-taking stills and photographs from the BBC Natural History Unit’s spectacular footage. … Continue reading Blue Planet II: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 201...

Water, water, everywhere. 2017 has been awash with books about people connecting with nature and finding peace through swimming. With open water swimming on the rise, Jenny Landreth and Joe Minihane talk to Phoebe Smith  about why they are so passionate about swimming and they share their best spots for swimming in the UK. Swell … Continue reading Wild Swimming: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2...

You may not be surprised to learn that during the Cold War the Soviet Union gathered information about the West. But you may be astonished to discover just how much they knew about your town, your street, even your house. John Davies and Alexander Kent, authors of The Red Atlas tell the story of the … Continue reading How the Soviet Union Secretly Mapped the World: Stanfords Travel Writers Festiva...

Rick Stein talks to Julia Wheeler about some of the places he has been in the world that have inspired him to experiment with new dishes and ingredients. He also talks about his new book ‘The Road to Mexico’ where he brings his unrivalled enthusiasm and trusted expertise to the fresh, flavourful food of Mexico … Continue reading Rick Stein: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2018

Is it more about the journey than the destination? Christopher Somerville, Anna Hughes and Nick Hunt talk to Adrian Bradt about the idea that travelling slowly by walking or cycling opens your eyes to a much wider journey. Between them they have travelled thousands of miles by such means and have a wealth of experience … Continue reading The Joy of Travelling Slowly: Stanfords Travel Writers Festi...

As Jules Mountain reached Everest Base Camp in April 2015, the giant earthquake in Nepal set off an avalanche that will kill 21. Hear him talking to Paul Blezard about his account of the deadliest day in history on the world’s most iconic mountain. Aftershock by Jules Mountain