The Gomes Guide Travel Podcast

If you want to know where to eat in Oakland, ask someone who moved there knowing no one and used food to figure it out. That's exactly what Kahja Elliott did — and it turned into Kay in the Bay , a platform that goes beyond where to eat and gets into why a place exists, who it's for, and what it represents. In this episode, Shannon sits down with Kahja to talk about Oakland's eclect...

Some conversations make you want to pour a glass and never stop listening. This is one of them. Kimberly Noelle Charles is the founder of Charles Communications Associates, one of the most respected wine marketing communications firms in the country — and one of the most passionate storytellers I've ever had the pleasure of sitting down with. She started her career as a part-time sommelier at...

Some conversations stop you in your tracks. This is one of them. Karin Warnelius-Miller is the proprietor, winemaker, and winegrower at Garden Creek Vineyards in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley — and her story is remarkable. Born on a dairy farm in Sweden, she immigrated to California in 1975, eventually falling in love with her childhood friend Justin Miller and building one of the most int...

What happens when you spend your life teaching others how to cook — and finally give yourself permission to start living? That's exactly where Amanda Haas finds herself. A cookbook author (four books in, with a fifth on the way), former culinary director at Williams-Sonoma, and founder of the Substack community House of Hass, Amanda has spent decades helping people fall in love with cooking....

What happens when you stop chasing the “perfect” life and start building one that actually feels like yours? Jen Ruiz did just that. While working full-time as an attorney, she challenged herself to take 12 trips in 12 months—and that decision changed everything. In this episode, we talk about how Jen turned that experiment into a career as an award-winning travel journalist, best-selling author,...

If you’ve ever dreamed of taking a classic American road trip through the national parks with your family, this episode is for you. In this episode of The Gomes Guide Travel Podcast, Shannon sits down with her friend Julie to talk about an unforgettable two-week road trip through Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier National Park —with three kids, including teens, in tow. Julie shares how they pl...

In this episode, Shannon Gomes sits down with Gregangelo Herrera—artist, storyteller, and founder of the Gregangelo Museum in the Balboa Terrace neighborhood of San Francisco—a one-of-a-kind immersive art house that blends creativity, storytelling, and human connection in the most unexpected ways. Born and raised in San Francisco, Gregangelo shares what it was like growing up in the city during a...

New York City is one of the most visited destinations in the world—but how much of it do we actually understand ? In this episode, I sit down with Dana, founder of Vibe Tours in New York City, to uncover the stories hiding in plain sight across Lower Manhattan. A Brooklyn native and former Wall Street trader, Dana brings a unique insider perspective to the city’s history, culture, and energy. We t...

What would it be like to pause your everyday routine and spend an entire month traveling with your family? In this episode, Shannon sits down with Anisha, a pharmacist, podcaster, and mom of two, who took her family on a 30-day adventure across Thailand. Traveling with children ages 3 and 8, they explored quiet islands, jungle landscapes, and vibrant coastal towns while learning how to slow down a...

What happens when you visit 130+ countries… and really connect with people along the way? In this episode, I sit down with travel journalist, speaker, and nonprofit founder Sucheta Rawal to talk about what she’s learned from a life spent exploring the world, and how those experiences have shaped the way she sees humanity.  We talk about her journey from working in finance to becoming a full-time t...

Dreaming about Portugal? This episode will make you want to go… and eat everything . I’m joined by chef, cookbook author, restaurant owner, and culinary tour operator  Joanne Weir to talk about why Porto and the Douro Valley might be one of the most magical food and wine destinations in the world.  We dive into what makes this region so special, from the terraced vineyards along the Douro River (a...

Ever wondered what your teens are really thinking on family trips? In this special episode, I sit down with two of my favorite guests, my own two teens, to get their honest take on traveling as teens… and let’s just say, they don’t hold back.  We talk about everything from how involved they want to be in planning (spoiler: they want a say) to what actually makes a trip fun from their perspective....

What does it really take to move your life to Switzerland… and start a family there? In this episode, I sit down with my friend Kassie Borreson, who moved from San Francisco to Zurich with her husband, brought along their two cats (yes, really), and had her first baby shortly after arriving.  We talk about what inspired the move, from a desire to live abroad again to the opportunity through her hu...

What would make someone walk hundreds of miles across Spain… and then go back and do it again? In this episode, I sit down with my friend Sofie Dolan, who has hiked the Camino de Santiago not once, but twice, to talk about what makes this experience so powerful, addictive, and honestly… life-changing.  If you’re not familiar, the Camino is a network of ancient pilgrimage routes that lead to Santia...

Thinking about Budapest? This episode will put it on your list. I sit down with Lori Wright, who recently traveled to Hungary on a photography tour, to talk about why Budapest might be one of the most beautiful (and underrated) cities in Europe.  From the moment she arrived, it was the architecture that stood out, dramatic Gothic buildings, castles perched above the Danube, and bridges stretching...

Thinking about Puerto Vallarta? This episode will make you want to book the flight. I sit down with Kathleen, who splits her time between the U.S. and Mexico, to talk about what makes Puerto Vallarta and the greater Banderas Bay such a special place to visit… or even live.  We zoom out first, because Puerto Vallarta is just one part of a much bigger, vibrant region filled with beach towns, jungle...

Want to travel lighter, stress less, and actually feel good when you land? This episode is packed (pun intended) with tips. I’m joined again by seasoned traveler Sylvia Klinger, who has visited 50+ countries and logs over 200,000 miles a year, to break down how to pack and fly like a pro.  We start with packing, and Sylvia’s biggest rule: start early. Like… two weeks early. She shares how to build...

If you’ve ever dreamed of experiencing a European Christmas market… this episode will make you want to book the trip immediately. I sit down with travel writer Maggie Downs to talk about her journey through some of the most magical Christmas markets in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, and how the experience completely changed the way she sees the holiday season.  We talk about what these markets...

What if you could live somewhere with no cars, no stores, and nothing but nature all around you? In this episode, I sit down with my friend Alicia Riley, who lives full-time on Dewees Island, a tiny, car-free barrier island just 20 minutes from Charleston, South Carolina… and it might just be one of the most magical places in the U.S.  We talk about what it’s really like to live there, from taking...

What does it really take to pack up your life and move across the world… with two young kids? In this episode, I sit down with Emma Shoemaker, who moved her family from Florida to Australia after more than a decade in the U.S., to talk about what that transition actually looks like, from selling almost everything they owned to navigating visas, logistics, and a whole lot of uncertainty.  We get in...

If you love food and travel… this episode is for you. I sit down with Kara Ricciardi, founder of Stretchy Pants Food Tours in San Francisco, to talk about how food tours can completely transform the way you experience a destination.  Kara has traveled to over 80 countries (yes, 80!) and is a trained chef, so she brings a unique perspective on how food, culture, and connection all come together whe...

Planning a trip to Seattle? This episode is your insider guide. I sit down with Natalie Compagno, a California native who’s been living in Seattle for the past decade (and has traveled to over 100 countries), to talk about what makes this city so special, from its creative energy to its deep connection to nature.  We get into the soul of Seattle, a place shaped by First Nation cultures, Scandinavi...

Chile might not be at the top of your travel list… but after this episode, it just might be. I sit down with Paula Tejeda, a Chilean-born chef, cultural ambassador, and founder of San Francisco’s beloved Chile Lindo , to talk about what makes Chile such a unique and unforgettable destination.  From the Atacama Desert in the north to Patagonia in the south, Chile is a country of extremes, think vol...

What if you could experience a destination… before you even get there? In this episode, I sit down with travel writer and former tour guide Kyle Durnan-Kern, creator of the Travel by Music series, to talk about how music can completely transform the way you travel.  Kyle creates deeply researched playlists for countries around the world, featuring artists who were born and raised there, spanning d...

What’s it really like to travel to one of the most remote places on earth? In this episode, I sit down with Carolyn Shimek to talk about her two-month adventure through Patagonia, spanning both Chile and Argentina, where she and her husband traveled by truck camper, hiked across glaciers, and fully embraced life off the grid.  We get into how they planned such an epic trip (including working with...