Winging It Travel Podcast

🎙️ Episode Title: 15 Best Airbnb Alternatives in 2025 for Ethical, Eco & Unique Stays Are you tired of overpriced Airbnbs, endless cleaning fees, and cookie-cutter apartments? In this episode, I explore  15 of the best Airbnb alternatives in 2025  — from  eco-friendly guesthouses  to  house swaps ,  digital nomad coliving spaces , and  pet-sitting opportuniti...

This week, I’m joined once again by travel writer, YouTuber, and author  Dave Seminara  to explore a country rarely found on bucket lists —  Suriname . Tucked between Guyana and French Guiana on South America's northern coast, this former Dutch colony is bursting with untouched jungle, rich multicultural heritage, and wildly underrated adventure experiences. Dave recently spent eigh...

🎙️  My Journey to Dual Citizenship (Canada + UK) But Australia Is Still My First Love In this solo episode, I’m sharing a big personal milestone— I’ve officially become a Canadian citizen ! After years of navigating immigration paperwork, PR applications, and ceremony dates, I finally hold  dual citizenship  with the  UK and Canada . I walk you through the entire journey—what i...

In this Part 2 conversation, I’m back with  Aaron Millar , award-winning travel writer and host of  The Armchair Explorer podcast. If you haven’t heard Part 1 yet — jump back and catch up — because in this episode, we go deeper into the world of  adventure travel, travel writing, storytelling, and podcasting with purpose . Aaron shares  epic stories  from his adventures —...

Part 1 - Flesh-Eating Crabs, Legendary Pub Crawls & Immersive Travel Storytelling w/ Aaron Millar (The Armchair Explorer Podcast) In this wildly entertaining and deeply insightful episode, James sits down with  Aaron Millar , award-winning travel writer and host of  The Armchair Explorer Podcast  — once named the best travel podcast by  The Guardian . From  epic pub cr...

A Weekend Camping Getaway to Hicks Lake, British Columbia – Nature Therapy, Campfires & Lake Views Step into the wild with this immersive audio experience as I take you camping to Hicks Lake in beautiful British Columbia.  This is my first camping trip of 2025, and it's everything you'd want from a weekend escape: crackling campfires, misty morning lake views, soulful walks through the fo...

🎙️  Exploring Train Journeys & Forgotten British Histories with Shafik Meghji  🚂 |  Winging It Travel Podcast In this week's episode, I'm joined for a  hat-trick appearance  by award-winning travel writer, journalist, and broadcaster  Shafik Meghji , as we dive deep into the romance of train travel, chance encounters on the road, and his brand new book  Smal...

A Long Weekend in Kelowna, British Columbia - Kelowna to Osoyoos: Wine Country, Lakeside Strolls & the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre This week on the Winging It Travel Podcast, I’m sharing a relaxing but adventure-packed  Easter weekend getaway in Kelowna and Osoyoos , located in the heart of British Columbia’s stunning  Okanagan Valley . If you’re dreaming about a scenic road trip f...

In this episode of the  Winging It Travel Podcast , I share my real-time experience during a  4-hour layover in Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) . From navigating quick immigration to sampling authentic local food, I break down how to make the most of a short stopover in one of Asia’s busiest transit hubs. You’ll hear tips on how to leave the airport, our experience of finding local...

Ep 179 w/ Mark Wolters - Honest Travel Tips from Wolters World: 1M+ YouTube Followers + The Power of Being Real In this week’s episode of the  Winging It Travel Podcast , I sit down with  Mark Wolters , the face behind the hugely popular  Wolters World  YouTube channel — with over  1 million subscribers  tuning in for his brutally  honest, no-fluff travel tips ....

In this final episode of my month-long adventure through Central America and Mexico , I dive into the last stop of my trip — Mexico City — and share how I explored as much as possible in one of the world’s largest cities in just 36 hours. I cover everything from using the Mexico City Metro to where I stayed near the airport, the incredible Roma Norte neighbourhood, and major landmarks like El Zóca...

Bonus Episode - The Armchair Explorer Hello and welcome to this week’s episode! I’ve got something a little different—and very exciting—for you. Today, I’m sharing a powerful episode from  The Armchair Explorer , hosted by my good friend Aaron Millar. It is called "IMMERSION: Homecoming: Chief Joseph’s Promise and the Flight of the Nez Perce" from the Hidden Trails of Oregon Series. The episo...

🎙️ Episode Title:  3 Days in Oaxaca, Mexico: A Local Food Tour, Cafe Culture & Colourful Streets In this solo travel episode, I (James) take you through my chilled, food-filled, coffee-fueled 3-day escape to Oaxaca, Mexico — a destination famous for its  rich culture, incredible street food, artisan markets , and laid-back digital nomad vibes. After weeks of travelling through Centra...

In this episode, I’m joined by  Kristina Plattner , the managing director of  Kamba Rainforest Experiences , a groundbreaking eco-tourism initiative deep in the heart of the  Republic of Congo (ROC) . Kristina shares her fascinating journey from growing up in the hospitality world of South Africa to creating immersive travel experiences in one of the world’s last great rainforests....

One Epic Day in Tikal: Exploring Guatemala’s Ancient Mayan City In this episode of the  Winging It Travel Podcast , I take you deep into the Guatemalan jungle for an unforgettable one-day adventure through  Tikal National Park —one of the most breathtaking and mysterious  Mayan archaeological sites  in the world. Join me as I travel from  Lake Atitlán to Flores , flying fr...

🌎  Episode Overview: This week on  Winging It Travel Podcast , I'm taking you along with me to the breathtaking  Lake Atitlán in Guatemala ! After an epic volcano hike in Antigua, it was time to slow things down by the water. I’ll be sharing my experience staying in Panajachel, exploring the charming town of San Pedro, finding incredible coffee spots, and my disappointment at missi...

Jacob Lemanski - Cycling the World: A 999-Day Adventure Across 38,000 Miles What does it take to spend nearly three years cycling across the world? In this episode, Jacob Lemanski takes us on an epic journey through 38,000 miles, crossing deserts, mountains, and countless borders. With nothing but a bike and the will to keep going, Jacob shares how he navigated extreme climates, overcame physical...

My Antigua, Guatemala Travel Guide: Budget Tips, Awesome Activities, Low-Cost Hotels and Great Coffee Welcome back to the  Winging It Travel Podcast  — your go-to show for spontaneous adventures, budget travel tips, and honest tales from the road. I’m your host James, and this week I’m taking you to one of the most photogenic and culturally rich cities in  Central America :  An...

🎙️ Episode Title: We Hiked Acatenango to See Fuego and Chaos Ensued for Nick! So we climbed Acatenango together… and  that  was already intense. But then  Nick decided to go one volcano further  — literally. Nick and I met in El Salvador, travelled to Antigua in Guatemala, and decided to hike the Acatenango Volcano together. In this funny, honest episode, we recount our wild tr...

Hiking Acatenango Volcano: A Brutal Hike to See Erupting Fuego in Guatemala Have you ever wondered what it’s like to hike to 13,045 feet (3,976 meters) and sleep beside an active volcano? In this immersive audio episode, join me as I take on the challenging Acatenango Volcano hike, a two-day trek near Antigua, Guatemala, that offers some of the most stunning volcanic views in t...

🎙  Episode Title : IMMERSIVE Episode - Exploring Bangalore, India: Dosas, Rickshaw Chaos and Lush Parks Do you want to feel immersed in Bangalore? Feel the traffic? Hear the birds in Cubbon Park? Listen to our reaction to eating dosas? Learn about Bangalore Palace? And more? This episode is for you! I have added sounds from my trip to Bangalore, alongside my reaction on the ground and post-tr...

Wild Elephants & Coffee Plantations: A Journey Through Karnataka with David Brodie In This Episode: David and I were invited by KITE Expo to attend Bangalore, a three-day event celebrating and promoting tourism in Karnataka. Before the event, we were invited on a four-night/five-day FAM tour to see the area's Wildlife and Coffee. Here is what to expect in the episode. Get ready for an  ep...

What happens when you book a last-minute trip, hop on local chicken buses, and wing your way through El Salvador? In this episode, I’m joined by traveler and content creator  Leah Arao  from  Ticket 2 Anywhere Podcast and LA in Flight  to talk about our experiences exploring one of Central America’s most underrated destinations. From wandering the colorful streets of Suchitoto...

🎙  Episode Title:  Santa Ana, El Salvador: An Abandoned Art School, Failed Volcano Hikes and Sensational Coffee Views 🌍  Episode Summary: In this solo episode, I take you through my adventures in Santa Ana, El Salvador—the final stop on my El Salvador trip! From rainy day explorations and vibrant street markets to failed volcano hikes and sensational coffee gems, this episode has i...

Carlos Guardado - The Ultimate San Salvador Travel Guide 📍  Episode Summary: In this episode of the  Winging It Travel Podcast , I sit down with Carlos Guardado, a local guide from San Salvador, El Salvador. Carlos shares his personal journey growing up in a country once plagued by gang violence, now transforming into a booming travel destination. We discuss must-visit places in San Sal...