Hello, and welcome to the new and improved Do Good and Do Well podcast!

In this episode, I speak with Catherine Mack, a travel writer with nearly two decades of experience in ethical and sustainable travel. I was wrestling with the dilemma of wanting to explore the world with my children while holding onto my values of community and responsibility to the planet. This conversation with Catherine brought a sense of hope, exploring how we can travel in a way that has a positive impact. We delve into alternatives to mass tourism, the power of slow travel, and how our choices as travellers can create meaningful change.

Key Takeaways

• Slow Travel is Sustainable Travel: Slowing down allows for a deeper, more responsible travel experience. This involves reading about your destination beforehand, including its responsible tourism issues, to manage expectations and travel with an open mind.
• The Power of the Traveller: Travellers have the power to influence change in the tourism industry. By making conscious choices and using social media to voice concerns, such as the impact of cruise ships, we can encourage tourist boards to move beyond a numbers-driven approach.
• Engage with Local People: Making an effort to speak with local people can transform your travel experience. It fosters a genuine cultural exchange and reminds us that we are guests in their homes. Referring to them as "local people" rather than "the locals" is a simple but powerful way to show respect.
• Think Beyond the City Break: Many cities have incredible natural landscapes and walking or cycling trails on their doorstep. Extending your trip to explore these areas supports local economies beyond the tourist hotspots and offers a richer experience.

Episode Highlights

• 04:35 Catherine shares what led her to become a travel writer focusing on ethical and responsible tourism.
• 08:35 The moment Catherine realised the profound impact of tourism on local communities, particularly through her work on a story about the Maasai in Kenya.
• 15:15 The concept of "slow travel" and how reading about a destination in depth before visiting can lead to a more meaningful journey.
• 18:40 Discussing the complexities of flying and suggesting alternatives to carbon offsetting, like supporting local conservation charities.
• 40:15 The significance of language and referring to "local people" instead of "the locals" to foster respect and connection.

About the Guest

Catherine Mack has spent nearly two decades writing about ethical and sustainable travel for publications such as The Guardian, National Geographic Traveller, and The Independent. 17 She is the author of Eco Scape Island and is the content manager for The Natural Adventure, a company specialising in walking and cycling holidays. 18

• The Natural Adventure: https://www.thenaturaladventure.com/
• Instagram: @catherinemacktravel
• Bluesky: @mackcatherine.bsky.social
• Blog: http://www.ethicaltraveller.co.uk/

Episode Links

• The Man in Seat 61: For all things train travel. https://www.seat61.com/
• Rewilding Europe: https://rewildingeurope.com/
• Bradt Guides: https://www.bradtguides.com/
• An Hour from Paris by Annabel Simms: https://annabelsimms.com/
• Rail Europe: https://www.raileurope.com/en
• Moral Ambition by Rutger Bregman
• Interrail: https://www.interrail.eu/en
• Emma Gibbs' Substack: https://rewriting.substack.com/
• JRNY Travel Magazine: https://www.jrnymag.com/
• The Cure for Sleep by Tanya Shadrick

I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahfoxcoach/).

This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (lucylucraft.co.uk).

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!