Sustainable Travel Talks

What if the answer to burnout, loneliness, and disconnection isn’t another city escape - but a return to village life? In this episode of Sustainable Travel Talks , we sit down with Juan Barbed, co-founder of Rooral, a project reimagining remote work through rural living, community connection, and slow travel in Spain. Juan shares how a deeply personal experience in his grandparents’ village helpe...

Flying is one of the most talked-about (and most misunderstood) parts of sustainable travel. But is it really as simple as “good” or “bad”? In this episode of Sustainable Travel Talks , we’re joined by Keila Alabarca, Sr. Sustainability Manager at Fluege.de, to unpack the reality of aviation - from emissions and contrails to the deeper, often overlooked impacts on people and communities. Together,...

What does it take to keep sustainability meaningful when students, professionals, and entire industries are feeling overwhelmed? In this episode of Sustainable Travel Talks , we sit down with Dr. Willy Legrand, a long-time professor of sustainable tourism and hospitality at IU International University of Applied Sciences in Germany, to explore how sustainability education has evolved over the past...

Curious how to explore the underwater world without harming it? In this episode, marine conservation expert Marthen Welly from Green Fins Indonesia shares how Green Fins is transforming the diving industry and what travelers should look for when choosing a truly sustainable dive center. Check out more on greenfins.net and coraltrianglecenter.org   Follow us on instagram @sustainabletraveltalks

What happens when luxury travel meets genuine sustainability? In this episode of Sustainable Travel Talks , we sit down with Natalie Lyall-Grant , Head of Positive Impact at Jacada Travel , to explore how the high-end travel industry is rethinking its role in creating meaningful, ethical experiences. From regenerative tourism and community partnerships to redefining what “luxury” really means, Nat...

What would make you sell your home, leave your country, and start over? For Jill Barton , a trip to Egypt changed everything. Shocked by the suffering of working horses, donkeys, and camels, she co-founded Egypt Equine Aid , a charity providing free veterinary care and fighting for animal welfare. In this episode of Sustainable Travel Talks , we explore Jill’s extraordinary journey, the hidden cru...

In this episode of our podcast, we delve into the world of Community-Based Tourism (CBT) with the sustainable tourism consultant Samantha Smits. Samantha shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship (in the space of a few months), detailing her comprehensive studies and hands-on experience in fostering community-led tourism initiatives. Through her story, we uncover the nuanced balance bet...

Join us for a captivating episode as we explore the dynamic world of sustainable travel in South East Asia with Stuart McDonald, the esteemed creator of Travelfish and Couchfish. Living and traveling in the region since 1993, McDonald is an unrivaled expert in South East Asian travel. His unique insights and extensive experience make him a leading voice in promoting sustainable travel practices. h...

In this episode, we speak with Jenny Gray, the mastermind behind Intrepid Travel's women-only expeditions, about how sustainable travel and female empowerment intersect. Join us as we explore the benefits of traveling with a group of like-minded women and how it can lead to positive impacts both locally and globally. Jenny shares her insights on the unique challenges and opportunities of organizin...

In this episode, we interview Susanna Shankar (or Sooz) who is an enviromental scientist and travel expert on the complex relationship between biodiversity & tourism. Biodiversity and tourism are often viewed as two opposing forces, but is that really the case? On one hand, tourism can bring in revenue and promote conservation efforts, but on the other hand, it can also have negative impacts o...

This week we talk with Loris from Venice. He is a local guide and get's plenty of work through tourism. However he does wish things were different. Check this out to find out how a local feels when their city becomes innondated with tourists. Check out and book Loris here: Sustainable Travel Talks is sponsored by www.withlocals.com - Responsible travel with local hosts.

Welcome back everybody! It's been a while. This week we speak to Rachel Dodds. She is the professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, an autor as well as a sustainable travel consultant. She is the perfect person to chat to around the subject of overtourism as her knowledge and research on the topic is extensive. This episode is for anyone who wants to know how to travel better and smarter so th...

Today we talk about a kind of tourism that is very 'out there' - SPACE TRAVEL WHAT!? What are Jeff, Richard and Elon all up to when it comes to space tourism? And how does all this impact on issues around sustainability? Hold on to your space helmets people, and check out the new episode!

In this episode, we speak to Gioia, a sustainable tour guide from Bologna specializing in food tours. She has recently graduated studying sustainability and climate change. Her background is in hospitality, allowing food tours to bring her two passions together. In this episode you will discover how sustainability can be integrated into tours and experiences.

In this episode, we talk to Kevin Knight, creator of Urban Events Global & Black Travel Tube. Kevin is a great storyteller and tells us how he got from Germany to corporate America, to now living the dream of traveling the world with amazing people. We discuss topics around issues in the travel world for black people, entrepreneurship, traveling & turtles. Find Kevin on Instagram: @kjknight1911 Ch...

We speak to Byron, founder of a recently launched travel company www.niarratravel.com . Niarra creates amazing itineraries around the world for their clients, ensuring each trip serves a purpose. This discussion gives insights into the creation of a sustainable travel company. We also hit on what Niarra has specifically decided to do in order to ensure their trips give back to the local communitie...

This week we decided to do something a bit different. Because Netflix's Seaspiracy is such a HUGE hit but with so much controversial conversations around it, we wanted to discuss about it ourselves. We talk about the critique it has been given, and what we feel is justified and what isn't. You'll love this episode, but make sure you watch the documentary before jumping in #spoilers! Enjoy, peace a...

This week we delve into the subject of volunteer tourism. We discuss the different types and debate how ethical it really is. If you are someone that has an interest in travel and ethics or wanting to volunteer abroad, this episode is a must to listen to!

This week we have a special guest joining us from Birkenspanner, Maxence Bolle. Max and his business partner Tim Gewiss met each other back in 2017 and just months later, Birkenspanner came into existence. In this episode, we talk to Max about the process of setting up not only his first-ever sustainable company but his first-ever company! We get to know the steps and what his learnings have been....

As winter has well and truly arrived, we decided to delve into the topic of snowsports. Looking into the history of both snowboarding and skiing. We cover topics including snowsport clothing, ski resorts, and the future of the activity. Check it out to learn more about the industry and its contribution to climate change and what it's doing to mitigate it. Of course in true Peigi & Roberto style, w...

This week we look into the subject of solo travel. With Corona making us spend more time than ever with ourselves, maybe traveling alone seems like a more accessible idea to people when we can once again explore. We bust some myths about solo travel, share personal stories, discuss love on the road and possible dangers. We also welcome a brand new segment just for a laugh! Enjoy podcasters!

This week we look into the topic of haycations, or farm stays as they are also called. This type of tourism has evolved over the years as mass farming has come into play, and the smaller local farms need to look into ways of generating revenue. But benefits are two-fold with travelers finding holistic and educational benefits in such travels. Of course, we also discuss sheep shagging and cow huggi...

The topic of wildlife tourism continues, this week we look into the subject of marine mammal parks. We have our first ever guest, Katheryn Wise from World Animal Protection. She was the campaign manager for the recent documentary fooled by a smile. In this episode, we discuss both the documentary and the topic of the marine entertainment business and all of the controversies that come with it. As...

This week we discuss a topic dear to our hearts, wildlife! As animal lovers, we want to discuss issues around wildlife tourism. How it has changed over the years and if ethical wildlife tourism even exists. This is part of a two-part episode. This week we concentrate on land animals.

In this episode, we discuss both the past and the future of the travel industry: train travel! Where it has come from and where it is going. As well as delving into current topics about sustainability in general, we discuss some of the real advantages train travel brings and why we should all be replacing it with flights as much as we can!