The Camino Calls Podcast

What if your next trip could change you? What happens when ticking sights off a checklist stops being enough — when you start craving something deeper from your travels but can’t quite name what it is? In this episode, I reflects on the shift from checklist tourism to transformational travel: the idea that the most unforgettable trips aren’t measured by the landmarks you see, but by the people you...

Thank you Pamela Marshall , Terry Larson , Katherine , and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. In this episode of Camino Conversations, Rebecca Weston — owner of The Camino Calls and a 15-time Camino veteran — walks you through exactly how to pack for the Camino de Santiago when you’re 45+ and sending your luggage ahead . She tackles the questions...

Josh calls sobriety “the pilgrimage inside,” and the parallels to the Camino are striking — the brave choice to begin something unknown, the humility to ask for help, the discipline of daily steps, the shedding of what no longer serves you, and the quiet transformation that happens along the way. Thank you Phil Powis ❤️⚡️ , Rachel Connor , Inge van de Graaf , Amanda Goddard , and many others for...

I hated gyms. I had rarely hiked. I didn’t know how to use hiking poles. I didn’t own dry-wicking clothes. Yet something told me a 500-mile walk across Spain was a good idea. Enjoy Part 1 of my Camino story. 🥾Ready to start planning your Camino? Rebecca Weston Camino Planning & Preparation Guide (for People 45+)Rebecca@TheCaminoCalls.com Your Camino adventure should feel exciting, not stressful —...

You can follow Pam @thefrugaltraveler on Substack. Get more Camino inspiration and information at inspiration.thecaminocalls.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.inspiration.thecaminocalls.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.inspiration.thecaminocalls.com

I sit down with first-time pilgrim Kathy Carnahan to talk about what it’s really like to finally answer the “Camino call”—and to do it at 70 on the Camino Inglés. If you’ve ever wondered whether you need a “big reason” to go, worried you won’t be social enough (or too social), or hoped the Camino might leave you feeling different—this conversation will make you smile, nod, and maybe start looking...

In this Camino Conversations episode, Debbie Bartolomucci shares how a spontaneous spark—one she can’t even trace—pulled her toward the Camino de Santiago. From navigating fears about safety to discovering the unexpected magic of walking solo, Debbie opens up about the moments that shaped her 500-mile pilgrimage across northern Spain. If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens when you walk ove...

Episode Introduction What does it take to completely reinvent your life at 70 — to trade a career in chaplaincy for a new language, a new country, and the open road of the Camino de Santiago? In this soulful and inspiring conversation, Maria Anderson of The Perennial Immigrant joins me to talk about courage, belonging, and what it means to live a fully awakened life. From seminary in her 50s to wa...

Dora ( D E McAllister ) and I tackle some hot-button Camino questions and hard-won logistics. Curious how the Camino stacks up against a Grand Canyon rim-to-rim? Whether you “must” carry your pack? Or how to avoid a travel routing mistake that nearly derailed Day 1? Press play and find out. * (00:01:03) How did Dora first hear about the Camino—and what finally pulled her back after 30 years? * (00...

From Minimalism to the Camino: Lisa & Matt’s Nomadic Life In this week’s episode of Camino Conversations , I sit down with Lisa and Matt—full-time nomads and bestselling authors—who are preparing to walk the Camino de Santiago in 2026 . Together, we explore their journey from letting go of “too much stuff” to embracing a life of freedom, travel, and discovery. They write about it all at Footnote:...

What does it feel like to walk the Camino de Santiago at age 70 — just 11 months after a total knee replacement? In this inspiring conversation from the Camino Inglés, Margaret shares how she went from simply dreaming about the Camino to actually walking it alongside her daughter. She talks candidly about recovery, training, fears about the hills, getting lost on the trail, traveling solo again af...

More Camino Conversations To see other Camino Conversations videos (including interviews with those who have done various routes), click here for the archive. Camino Conversations: Live every Wednesday at 11am. Subscribe to be notified about upcoming conversations! And/or share this post with anyone you know who may be interested in walking the Camino de Santiago. 🥾Ready to start planning your Ca...

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.inspiration.thecaminocalls.com

I was delighted to be joined today by Maurice Frank who walked his first Camino de Santiago at age 67 . Inspired years earlier by Paulo Coelho’s The Pilgrimage and drawn to the Camino’s sense of community, Maurice finally set out after the COVID lockdowns. In 2023, he completed the 500-mile Camino Francés from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, an experience so powerful that by day five he already knew he w...

At age 65, Hana Maris set out alone on the Camino Primitivo, Spain’s most physically demanding Camino route , and discovered far more than a long walk. In this inspiring conversation, she shares how a personal crisis led her to seek a pilgrimage, why she chose the rugged and historic Camino Primitivo over busier routes, and what it was like to navigate steep climbs, scarce services, language barri...

In my second Q&A, I answered the following questions. You can find my first Q&A here . And if you have more questions, feel free to respond to this email or post a comment on this post! * How can you make sure to see the large incense burner in the Santiago cathedral swing (the Botafumeiro )? (1:06) * Where should you stay when you get to Santiago de Compostela? Advice for choosing wisely. For mor...

In this week’s episode of Camino Conversations, I sit down with my father, Lou, who first walked the Camino at age 71 and—now at 78—is still walking and planning future Caminos. Together, we revisit our journeys: * How it all began – from watching The Way to Dad deciding to join me on his first Camino. * First steps on the Camino Francés – Pamplona to Santo Domingo de la Calzada, walking in summer...

This week, I went solo to answer your Camino de Santiago questions — from the practical ones to the ones you didn’t even know you had. The Camino isn’t about stressing over details but about finding what works for you . With warmth and humor, I dive into practical tips while sprinkling in personal stories from my own Camino beginnings. Don’t stress about all the Camino questions—this conversation...

Dave Whitson has walked dozens of pilgrimage routes around the world. He is the host of The Camino Podcast , the longest-running podcast dedicated to the Camino de Santiago, featuring conversations with pilgrims, historians, academics, and even bed bug experts. Dave has written multiple guidebooks for Cicerone Press, including titles on the Camino del Norte, Camino Inglés (and Ruta do Mar), and th...

What a great conversation with Maria Seco ! She grew up on the Camino Portugues long before there were many pilgrims on the route. It was only by moving abroad that she learned of the growing popularity of the Camino. She now teaches Spanish to pilgrims who want to deepen their Camino experience. We: * answer the question, “Should I learn Spanish before embarking on my Camino?” * ask why we may ha...

Arrival in Santiago * Completed six-day walk on the Camino Inglés (~70 miles). * Enjoyed quieter, less crowded route compared to the Camino Francés or Portugués. * Reflections on choice to walk solo at times vs. entering Santiago with others. Final Day Details * Early morning start in cool Galician weather (58°F). * Walked with group of five pilgrims, stopping for coffee and credential stamps. * F...

🥾Want to join me on one of my hybrid Camino trips? 3 days guided, 4 days independent, private rooms, preparation classes, and optional check-ins. Click here to be the first to be notified about my next trip. 🎥In this video: * Why the Camino can be hard to explain… and even harder to forget ✨ * The off-route stay that came with wine, stories, and a peek into a converted farmhouse 🍷🏡 * How a lo...

🥾Want to join me on one of my hybrid Camino trips? 3 days guided, 4 days independent, private rooms, preparation classes, and optional check-ins. Click here to be the first to be notified about my next trip. 🎥In this video: * How a “12-mile day” can take 7 hours—and why I wouldn’t have it any other way * The spur-of-the-moment riverside stop I couldn’t resist * Walking with Spanish couples who m...

🥾Want to join me on one of my hybrid Camino trips? 3 days guided, 4 days independent, private rooms, preparation classes, and optional check-ins. Click here to be the first to be notified about my next trip. 🎥In this video: * Why this wasn’t the “forest hike” people imagine when they think of the Camino * The surprising benefit of walking in the rain (and when it becomes less charming) * My stay...