The Places We Become

There’s a road in Tennessee I haven’t driven in years — past the gas station, past the church with the white sign, past the tree line that always told me I was almost home. My parents have since moved away. The road is still there. The house is someone else’s. And the last time I went back, I didn’t feel what I expected to feel. In this episode of The Places We Become , travel psychologist Dr. Kat...

I stood on a runway in Inverness, Scotland and started to cry. I had never been there before. What happened next took months of research to understand — and it changed the way I think about place, identity, and the landscapes we carry inside us. In this episode of The Places We Become , travel psychologist Dr. Katie Blake explores the science of place identity — why certain destinations feel like...

There is a drawer in a lot of people’s homes that has postcards in it. Bought with full intention of sending. They were never sent. If you have one, this episode is for you. In this episode of The Places We Become , I explore the travel psychology behind why we buy postcards and never send them — and what that small, unsent gesture reveals about how we connect when we travel. The impulse to buy a...

We often think of souvenirs as sentimental or trivial. Postcards tucked into drawers, a pebble from the beach, a boarding pass kept for no real reason. Some might even dismiss them as frivolous. But psychology tells a deeper story. These objects aren’t clutter. They carry emotional weight because they serve as cues, helping our brains retrieve not just the facts of a memory, but the feeling of it....

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We often think of a travel journal as a quaint keepsake. Scribbled notes on the logistical details of our day. But what if journaling wasn’t just about remembering where you went and what you did, but a psychology-backed practice that could calm your nervous system, sharpen your memory, and transform the way you experience travel? Decades of research in expressive writing show that putting words t...

We tend to think of travel as a series of predictable holidays—summer vacations, winter trips, and the occasional spring break. But what if the real key to meaningful travel wasn’t just where you go, but when you go? Our bodies move through cycles—circadian rhythms and chronotypes—that shape how alive, alert, and open we feel at different times of day and different seasons of life. The recent autu...

We tend to think of travel as a series of fixed points—departure, arrival, and return. But in between those fixed points lie thresholds that often go overlooked. The airport gates at midnight, the winding drives across the horizon, the hotel lobbies before sunrise. These are liminal spaces. First coined by anthropologist Arnold van Gennep in 1909 and later expanded by Victor Turner in the 1960s, “...

You don’t have to travel like everyone else. In fact, you shouldn’t. In today’s episode of The Places We Become , we’re diving into the psychology of personality and how it beautifully influences the way we move through the world. Whether you love returning to the same beloved city year after year, crave novelty and spontaneity, or build a spreadsheet before every trip—your travel style is not ran...

You can love your home and still long to see the world. If you’ve ever felt the tension between a deep love for your cosy routines and a quiet craving for adventure, this one’s for you. In today’s episode, I’m talking to my fellow homebodies—the sensitive souls, the introverts, the ritual-lovers—about how to honour your comfort zone and expand it through meaningful, intentional travel. This episod...

Does travel anxiety hold you back from exploring the world? Whether it’s the fear of flying, the stress of solo travel, or social anxiety in new places, you’re not alone. In this episode of The Places We Become , we’re diving into the psychology of travel anxiety—where it comes from, why our brains respond this way, and, most importantly, how to overcome it. I’ll share three real-life stories of t...

We all know travel makes us happy—but have you ever wondered why ? What is it about exploring new places, stepping outside of our routines, and collecting experiences instead of things that brings us so much joy? In today’s episode of The Places We Become , we’re diving into the fascinating science behind travel and happiness. I’ll walk you through why research shows experiences bring us more last...

Have you ever returned from a trip feeling like a slightly different version of yourself? Maybe more confident, more curious, or even a little more in tune with what truly brings you joy? Travel isn’t just about seeing new places—it’s about discovering new parts of yourself. In this episode of The Places We Become , we’re diving into the psychology of how travel shapes identity. Press play, and le...

What is it about travel that sparks something deep within us? Why do we feel drawn to new places, cultures, and experiences? In this episode of The Places We Become , we’re diving into the psychology of wanderlust—why our brains crave novelty, how travel shapes our identity, and the surprising mental health benefits of stepping outside our comfort zones. I’ll also share personal travel stories, fa...

In this debut episode, host Dr. Katie Blake—social and cultural psychologist, travel consultant, and writer—introduces The Places We Become and the inspiration behind it. She explores how travel is more than just the trips we take. It’s a tool for self-discovery, transformation, and personal growth. Discover what’s in store for the podcast and the topics we’ll be exploring. If you’ve ever felt tha...