Stanfords Travel Podcast

Named by The Times as one of the greatest post-war British writers, travel writer and novelist Colin Thubron speaks to Julia Wheeler about a life filled with remarkable journeys – from Damascus to Siberia. He also talks about his latest novel Night of Fire.

Presenter of ITV’s Wish You Were Here and the BBC’s Holiday, John Carter takes the stage to share tales of behind the scenes mishaps and hilarious encounters with famous names from his many years as a professional globe-trotter. He also reads from his new book Gullible’s Travels: Confessions of an International Towel Thief.

Join acclaimed authors Travis Elborough (A Walk in the Park, Atlas of Improbable Places) and Malachy Tallack (60 Degrees North, The Un-Discovered Islands) as they discuss places of legend and wonder, the obscure, the beautiful and the downright odd. Expect a fascinating journey to the world’s most incredible locations – real and imagined – as … Continue reading Malachy Tallack and Travis Elborough...

TV presenter and author Simon Reeve returns to Stanfords Travel Writers Festival to share tales from more than 110 countries he has travelled to making programmes for the BBC, including his new series on Turkey, due to air this spring. Paul Blezard chairs.

From the origins of urbanisation in Mesopotamia to the global metropolises of today, celebrated historian John Julius Norwich shares stories with Paul Blezard about some of the great cities in history, through the words of some of the greatest authors of our time.

Julian Sayarer, the winner of the Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year, announced last night (Thursday 2nd February), takes to the stage to discuss his award-winning book Interstate: Hitchhiking Through the State of a Nation with Paul Blezard.  

Michael Palin welcomes the audience by saying; “Why aren’t you all out travelling?” Stanfords is delighted to welcome broadcaster, author and actor Michael Palin to the Stanfords Travel Writers Festival as he shares stories from a life spent travelling to work, with Julia Wheeler.      

When Lois Pryce found a note left on her motorbike from a man named Habib, imploring her to visit his hometown of Shiraz to see the real Iran, she immediately set off on the 3,000-mile journey across the country. In this illustrated talk with Julia Wheeler she shares stories of a nation of apparent contradictions … Continue reading Lois Pryce, Revolutionary Ride: Travels Through Iran on a Motorbik...

Award-Winning Author & Travel Writer Nicholas Jubber set out to follow in the footsteps of Leo Africanus, the 16th-century traveller, crossing the forgotten places of North Africa, scarred by terrorist occupation, toward the legendary Timbuktu. Listen as he talks to Julia Wheeler about his encounters with the camps of the Tuareg, Fulani, Berbers, and other communities – … Continue reading Nicholas...

TV presenter and New York Times Bestselling Author Simon Reeve returns to Stanfords Travel Writers Festival to share tales from more than 110 countries he has travelled to making programmes for the BBC, including his new series, due to air this spring. Paul Blezard chairs. Simon gives us an account of some of his recent … Continue reading Simon Reeve, in conversation // Stanfords Travel Writers Fe...

Kicking off this year’s Stanfords Travel Writers Festival, Levison Wood returns for a third year, this time, hot-footed from his latest adventures Walking the Americas, as seen on Channel 4. He talks about his friendship with Alberto, the level of planning that goes into a walk and the added elements that making a documentary add … Continue reading Levison Wood, Walking the Americas// Stanfords Tr...

In 2013 Tim Jarvis and a team of five authentically retraced Sir Ernest Shackleton’s epic journey of polar survival, including sailing a replica James Caird from Elephant Island in Antarctica to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia followed by a climb through its mountainous interior, using the same rudimentary equipment and navigational techniques as Shackleton … Continue reading Tim Jarvis

Having recovered from his trek Walking the Nile, author and explorer Levison Wood set off Walking the Himalayas. Join him as he shares stories from the 1700 mile-long trail across the roof of the world, which took him from Afghanistan to Nepal, through great dangers and equally epic beauty. Listen to the event in full below, … Continue reading Levison Wood with Paul Blezard

Tim Marshall, Nick Middleton and Anna Reid speak to Julia Wheeler about the role that maps play in our sense of national identity, the historical significance of state boundaries, and whether there really is such a thing as a country anyway. Listen to the event in full below, or subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and … Continue reading The Politics of Geography – Tim Marshall, Nick Middleton and A...

A final chat for this year’s Stanfords Travel Writers Festival with Simon Reeve and Paul Blezard as he reveals the truth behind the BBC sock budget. Listen to the event in full below, or subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and hear every event.   Find books by Simon Reeve on Stanfords.co.uk

Sean Conway – the first person to ever swim the length of Britain – will tells us why on earth he did it, and where you can get a flavour for wild swimming yourself in this entertaining and inspirational talk.   Listen to the event in full below, or subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and hear … Continue reading Sean Conway

Julia Wheeler talks to  author and award-winning journalist Christine Toomey about her two year odyssey into the world of modern Buddhism, and asks why thousands of women from all over the world seem to be embracing the Eastern philosophy. Listen to the event in full below, or subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and hear every … Continue reading Christine Toomey with Julia Wheeler

Buildings reflect the world around them and the people who build them – their values and aspirations. Like people, sooner or later, they die. As historical structures face destruction by both seemingly benevolent and deliberately malevolent forces, James Crawford shares with John McCarthy the biographies of some of the world’s most important buildings we’ve lost … Continue reading James Crawford w...

Horatio Clare weaves a few yarns about his travels aboard ocean-going container ships on the high seas, as told in his Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year (in association with the Authors’ Club), Down to the Sea in Ships. Listen to the event in full below, or subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and hear … Continue reading Horatio Clare with Julia Wheeler

Kate Adie and John McCarthy took to the stage to discuss their experiences travelling the world to bring us news from the front lines, and the stories they discovered behind the news.  Listen to the event in full below, or subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and hear every event. Find books Kate Adie and John McCarthy on … Continue reading Kate Adie and John McCarthy

Simon Reeve returns to the stage to talk about his thrilling adventures in far-flung places, and his new series on Greece. Listen to the event in full below, or subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and hear every event. Find books Simon Reeve on Stanfords.co.uk

A highlight of last year’s Stanfords Travel Writers Festival, The Natural Navigator himself, Tristan Gooley, returns to share his tips to free yourself forever from maps and compasses by following the clues in the world around you. Listen to the event in full below, or subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and hear every event. Find … Continue reading Tristan Gooley

From drugged up occultists to the Duke of Abruzzi, author and film maker Mick Conefrey brings to life the ghosts of the eclectic and eccentric pioneers who first dared to climb the Savage Mountain.   Listen to the event in full below, or subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and hear every event. Find books by … Continue reading Mick Conefrey with Paul Blezard

We all know that one of the best reasons to travel is to tantalise your taste-buds with foreign flavours. Tim Anderson (restauranteur and winner of Masterchef 2011) and Shelina Permalloo (Cookery author and winner of Masterchef 2012) took us on a culinary tour bound to banish any remaining New Year’s Resolutions. Listen to the event in full … Continue reading Tim Anderson and Shelina Permalloo wit...

“Life is short – Take risks!” Paul Blezard settles in for a chat with TV presenter and author Simon Reeve about his round the world adventures and his upcoming series on Greece. Listen to the event in full below, or subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and hear every event. Find books by Simon Reeve on Stanfords.co.uk