Six Minutes Somewhere Else

I had a midnight meeting with a voodoo priestess, a seer of visions and all things mystical. It was a magical if spine-chilling hour at the New Orleans Voodoo Spiritual Temple. This is a Halloween ghost story.

If you are wondering 'is voodoo still practised in New Orleans', 'where can I have a real voodoo experience in New Orleans', or 'which is the best voodoo temple in New Orleans', this podcast could help to 'spirit' you in the right direction.

Listen to a Halloween podcast about a midnight meeting with a voodoo priestess in New Orleans.

Photo © copyright Erik Mclean @introspectivedsgn on instagram. Free use via pexels.com. NB, this photo is NOT of Miriam Chamani or her temple. I felt it wrong to photograph her when I visited. This pic by Erik Mclean is still pretty fabulous though. 

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

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I had a thrilling encounter in the Scottish Highlands with a remarkable red squirrel. It's not just its beauty and playful behaviour that are so amazing – this animal also has a miraculous story to tell.

Populations in the UK have declined by as much as 90% over the past 150 years but a courageous fightback is underway, spearheaded by partnerships such as Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels. Dedicated work by volunteers, wildlife groups and charities such as the Scottish Wildlife Trust means the red is making a comeback – and it's a sight to see!

If you are wondering 'is it rare to see a red squirrel', 'why are red squirrels endangered' or 'where is the best place to see red squirrels in Scotland', this podcast episode might help. And if you're in Scotland why not lend a hand by reporting your sightings on the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels website.

Listen to a podcast about the joy and wonder of seeing a red squirrel up close.

Photo © copyright Raymond Leinster, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

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I spent several hours relaxing on the banks of the sacred Yamuna River near the mighty Taj Mahal in northern India. The Taj Mahal is an incredible building and a worthy UNESCO World Heritage Site but its gardens and the river that glides past it are, in my view, equally as enchanting.

If you are wondering 'what's so special about the Taj Mahal', 'is it worth it to go to the Taj Mahal', 'what is special about Yamuna River' or 'can I see peacocks at the Taj Mahal', this podcast might help.

Listen to a podcast about finding peace on the banks of the sacred Yamuna river in India.

Photo © copyright Matthew Brace

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

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I just revisited my favourite island in the archipelago just offshore from Finland’s capital, Helsinki. On each trip to this wonderful country I try to explore new islands but I keep getting lured back by one in particular: Pihlajasaari.

This is one of my happy places. I feel connected to the land and enriched by every moment I spend here. It’s my rehab, detox and therapy all rolled into one. It's also the place that first inspired me to create the Six Minutes Somewhere Else podcast. I couldn't have been in a more fitting place to celebrate my podcast's first birthday. Cheers!

If you are wondering 'can I go island hopping in Helsinki', 'what are the top ten things to see and do in Helsinki', or 'what are Helsinki's hidden gems', this first birthday podcast episode should give you a few answers.

Listen to a podcast about spending time on a serene island in the Helsinki archipelago.

Photo © copyright Matthew Brace

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

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I spent a day of marine mindfulness cruising across the calm Caribbean waters in the Lesser Antilles, en route to the Tobago Cays. I also channelled one of the Pirates of The Caribbean films and a classic 80s pop music video, then snorkelled with turtles. All up, a pretty amazing day – tropical nourishment for the soul. 

If you are wondering 'what to do in the Tobago Cays', 'which Caribbean island is the best to sail around', or 'where is the best place to see turtles in the Caribbean', this episode might have a few answers for you.

Listen to a podcast about sailing in the Caribbean and snorkelling with turtles.

Photo © copyright Matthew Brace

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

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I drove a truly breathtaking road in far north Norway, more than 300km above the Arctic Circle. It is probably the most thrilling road I have ever driven and had me gasping in wonder and staring open-mouthed and speechless. 

The road hugged the coastline, cruised around headlands and skirted placid bays, whose shoreline meadows were strewn with wild flowers. The crinkly coastline harbours the most northerly of Norway’s fjords and this road lets you drive right through them. 

If you are wondering 'what is the most scenic road in Norway', 'is Alta, Norway worth visiting', or 'what is the most beautiful road trip in Norway', then this Arctic episode might help.

Listen to a podcast about driving a stunning Arctic road in Norway.

Photo © copyright Matthew Brace

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

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I spent an hour with a troop of kangaroos in a nature reserve in Australia's capital city, Canberra. The city is nicknamed the Bush Capital because walking or cycling just a few minutes from the city centre brings you into nature. Most of the kangaroos were placid but one male decided I might be getting a little too close and gave me the old "watch it mate" hard stare. 

If you're wondering 'where can I see kangaroos in Canberra', 'which Australian cities tend to be frequented by kangaroos' or 'are kangaroos dangerous', this episode might give you some answers.

Listen to a podcast about spending an hour with Canberra's capital kangaroos.

Photo © copyright Matthew Brace

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

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This is the first of a new, occasional City Nature Walks series, highlighting the wonder of nature in urban environments. 

I walked through beautiful Westerpark in north Amsterdam on an unseasonably cold early summer day. The land is made up of lush, half-flooded meadow, narrow canals and the odd brick home. The woods are full of poplar, ash, lime and beech trees plus some hawthorn and elder bushes, while down on the meadow are graceful weeping willows. 

If you're wondering 'where can I find natural beauty in the city of Amsterdam', 'what are some hidden gems in Amsterdam', or 'what are some of the best places to see nature in Amsterdam', this episode might be able to help.

Listen to a podcast about taking a city nature walk through Amsterdam.

Photo © copyright Matthew Brace

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

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I joined an old friend to take a walking safari in a lesser-known corner of Bali, far away from the mopeds, the gridlock and the grind. We strolled through a forest in the West Bali National Park in the island's far north-west, exploring its mangroves and monsoon forest, watching rare rusa deer and meeting some beautiful but endangered Bali Starlings.

If you are wondering 'is West Bali National Park worth visiting', 'what kinds of wildlife can be found in the West Bali National Park', 'where can I see the Bali Starling' and 'what are some hidden places in Bali', this podcast might have some answers.

Listen to a podcast about taking a walking wildlife safari through a national park in a secret corner of Bali.

Photo © copyright Matthew Brace

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

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I walked the Munjip Trail on the south coast of New South Wales in Australia. The 15km (9-mile) coastal path winds through woods and along beaches with spectacular views over the South Pacific. It's a place where the spirits of ancestors gather, so it’s culturally as well as environmentally important. 

It seems it's musically important too; among the eucalyptus trees I met a man playing the bagpipes, about as far from Scotland as you can get! Never a dull moment Down Under.

If you are wondering 'what does Munjip mean', 'why is the Munjip Trail special' or 'what are the best walks on the south coast of New South Wales' then this podcast might shine some light.

Listen to a podcast about walking through Australian nature on the wonderful Munjip Trail.

Photo © copyright Matthew Brace

Travel, nature, wellness. This is Six Minutes Somewhere Else.

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