The Camino Cafe

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A stranger walks the Camino de Santiago for you, puts your name on a Compostela, and mails it to your door. What would that do to your life? Leigh sits down with her longtime friend Rocco Rossi, a Camino veteran with 23 Caminos behind him, to talk about the true tradition that shaped his debut novel Finding Grace: Vicari Pro Camino, walking on behalf of someone else as an act of blessing, memory, and love.

We dig into the real-life tragedy that sparked Rocco’s commitment to walking in another person’s name, and why the Camino can hold grief without erasing it. Rocco shares how community, ritual, and simple kindness can become a lifeline, especially for people carrying addiction, loss, or shame. We also talk about the “great leveler” effect of the Camino Frances, where a job title or bank account means nothing and what matters is the person you are over a shared meal or a few quiet kilometers.

Then we step into some of the most powerful Camino moments from the book and from lived experience: the humbling foot washing ritual at San Nicolas, the deep stillness that modern life steals from us, and why the Meseta can be where the real inner pilgrimage finally begins. If you’re planning a pilgrimage to Santiago, or looking for a Camino book that feels like real Camino life, you’ll come away with fresh motivation and a bigger view of what walking can be.

Subscribe for more Camino stories, share this with a friend who needs a little grace, and leave a review so more pilgrims can find the show.

Get the book - Finding Grace : https://a.co/d/0ceHhMhl

Connect with Rocco: https://www.roccorossi.com/

Episode 40 with Rocco Rossi : https://podcasts.apple.com/th/podcast/40-rocco-rossi-13-caminos-and-still-counting/id1562037974?i=1000548367415

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🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. 

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We sit down with full-time musician Felix Peralta to trace how a Camino Frances singer-songwriter retreat turns foggy mornings, cafe sing-alongs, and daily miles into a finished album. Along the way, we talk honestly about grief, sobriety, and the rare kind of friendship that forms when you put your heart on the table.  

• Felix’s life as a touring musician and community drummer in New Mexico  
• Meeting Christina Jacobson, getting sober, and choosing a new path  
• Saying yes to a Camino de Santiago songwriting retreat and traveling to Spain  
• Finding creative fuel in fog, hills, cafes, and simple daily rhythm  
• Writing constantly on the move with voice notes, sticky notes, and small moments  
• Celebrating 10+ years of sobriety as a personal gift and reset  
• Cruz de Ferro as a place to release grief, lost loves, and old habits  
• Feeling ancestral connection and making a promise to stop generational trauma  
• Co-writing “Hearts on the Table” with Stefan Webster and why men need space to talk  
• Bringing Camino magic home through art, performance, and continued healing  
• Tips for returning home: keep making something that reopens the memory  

Connect with Felix:

https://felixgatoperalta.com/

Info on Kristina's Camino Retreats for Musicians and Singer Songwriters: 

https://www.singmebackhomesongwriting.com/

Hearts on the Table recording appears with permission from Felix Peralta and Staffan Wester. 

Photos and Recordings Courtesy of Sing Me Back Retreats, Felix Peralta, Staffan Wester, and/or Camino Cafe Podcast

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Become a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast:

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Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
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📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/

🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. 

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Staffan Website

https://epk.recordunion.com/wes

Staffan Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570463024061&ref=1

Staffan Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/wes_weswebb/

Staffan Spotify 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/01YlKlKwoNGUo1bL7ytOS6?si=noQTrjWEQ96oS3o_jQbgRQ

Songs featured on the show:

Hearts on the Table

https://open.spotify.com/track/387u6NnjrOr5hOw9GpGh31?si=a136eb76af674da3

Dear Lester

https://open.spotify.com/track/48CYwJCFMzdtZQb7GTBpCr?si=4147bec847314eb6

To Join a Camino Singer Songwriter Retreat with Dr. Kristina Jacobsen:

https://www.singmebackhomesongwriting.com/santiago

Podcast with Kristina

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/110-melodies-of-the-soul-a-singers-journey/id1562037974?i=1000647863435

All songs played with permission from Dr. Kristina's Retreat Final Concert and from the artists on the professional recordings. 

Support the show

Become a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast:

🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support

Buy Me a Coffee:

☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Follow us on Instagram:
📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/

🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. 

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A new talk show format! Join our conversation as we discuss various Camino topics to help in planning your first walk or to reminisce about your own pilgrim experiences. We open with on‑the‑ground news from Santiago: fierce winter storms, a rare snowfall, and a temporary closure at Santiago’s airport that will reroute some spring arrivals. We separate fact from rumor around a potential papal visit, and even share a peek at a Netflix production setting up a medieval market near the cathedral. Context matters—understanding timing, transport, and crowds helps you walk with more ease and fewer surprises.

From there, we dive into the questions every pilgrim wrestles with. Should you book ahead or keep your plans loose? Our panel compares stress levels, seasonal crowds, budget realities, and friendship dynamics, then offers a hybrid approach that preserves spontaneity while safeguarding rest. We also unpack the solo question with honest care: why walking alone can be empowering, how to set clear boundaries when a friend asks to join, and practical safety moves like checking in at cafes, choosing more populated routes, and carrying simple tools that boost confidence.

We also say the quiet part out loud: bio breaks and trail etiquette. Hydrate smart, use cafe bathrooms respectfully, carry out your toilet paper, and skip foot care at the table. You’ll learn the kit that prevents blisters—toe socks, midday sock changes, and walking your own pace—and the micro‑habits that keep you injury‑free when the crowd moves faster than your body wants. And because a Camino isn’t just kilometers, we celebrate small delights: a cold stream that resets swollen feet, a shady tree nap that restores patience, or a dawn birdwatch with Merlin that opens a new window into Spain’s landscape.

We close with ways to give back, from hospitalero training and albergue service to local food pantries and trail cleanups. Whether you’re mapping your first steps or returning for your sixth route, this conversation offers grounded advice, real‑world examples, and the gentle nudge to make choices that match your season of life. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a pilgrim friend, and leave a quick review—what’s your top Camino tip for new walkers?

Support the show

Become a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast:

🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support

Buy Me a Coffee:

☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Follow us on Instagram:
📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/

🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. 

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Important links mentioned in the show:

Albergue Comendadoras de Santiago de Madrid and Welcome Center: https://www.caminodesantiagooficial.com/

To Join American Pilgrims on the Camino:
https://americanpilgrims.org/membership/

Wonderful video showing the albergue and welcome center, and a "how to" for booking a bed at Albergue Comendadoras:

https://youtu.be/gNjBXyJSBhA?si=JgUZqMjMSxFFwFPu

List of collaborating associations with the Albergue Comendadoras de Santiago de Madrid and Welcome Center:

• Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Astorga y Comarca
• Camino Francés Federación (CFF)
• Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Corea en Madrid
• Fraternidad Internacional del Camino de Santiago (FICS)
• American Pilgrims on the Camino
• Peaceable Projects
• Canadian Company of Pilgrims.
• St. Jakobusbruderschart Trier
• Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago en Japón
• Foreningen af Danske Santiagopilgrimme
• Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago en Argentina

Support the show

Become a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast:

🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support

Buy Me a Coffee:

☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Follow us on Instagram:
📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/

🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. 

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Endings deserve as much care as beginnings. We invited Faith and Nate, founders of Pilgrim House in Santiago de Compostela, to reflect on eleven years of offering a soft landing for pilgrims who have just completed the Camino—and on the bittersweet move back to the United States after nearly eighteen years in Spain. Their journey started with backpacks and a love for traveler culture; it matured into a vocation to practice simple, excellent hospitality where it matters most: the threshold between a long walk and the return home.

They share how a dream of opening an albergue evolved into creating a Pilgrim center instead when circumstances didn't go as they had originally imagined. Yet, that pivot proved to be better than their original idea as it unlocked a deeper and wider impact in the Camino community as a whole.  Without beds to manage, Pilgrim House could stay open to everyone, not just those with reservations. That choice created time for real conversations, quiet rooms for reflection, a kitchen that hosted shared meals and impromptu lessons, and a staff of experienced pilgrims ready to help with both blisters and big questions. We discuss the early, scrappy days, grants that shaped the space, and the teammates whose fingerprints are everywhere.

We also look outward. Santiago’s season is longer, the pilgrim tide is higher, and the city has grown more global while holding onto its slow, walkable rhythm. For would‑be expats, Faith and Nate offer grounded advice: test a 90‑day stay before committing, learn the language with patience, build local friendships, and find a purpose that outlasts novelty. And for pilgrims nearing the finish, their counsel is clear—don’t rush. Linger in Santiago, use resources like Pilgrim House and Camino Companions, and let your ending become a thoughtful transition.

As Pilgrim House continues under the creative leadership of Gabe with Jessica and Emily, its DNA stays intact: warmth, presence, and the spirit of the Camino made tangible. If Santiago is on your horizon, stop by Pilgrim House and exhale. If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who loves the Camino, and leave a review to help others find the show.

Support the show

Become a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast:

🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support

Buy Me a Coffee:

☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Follow us on Instagram:
📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/

🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. 

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Start the year with a pilgrimage you can do from your front door. We sit down with Leanne Pritchard to share how a small Tasmanian walk blossomed into a Global Camino that now brings together more than a thousand pilgrims across 40+ countries for two days of movement, meaning, and community. Whether you’re training for Spain, curious about your first Camino, or simply craving a gentle reset, this weekend gives you a simple way to reconnect with your body and your Camino family—no airfare required.

Leanne explains how the event began during lockdown and why it endures: flexibility, inclusion, and the shared joy of posting a photo that says, “I walked.” We talk through practical details—mirroring Tasmania’s 15 km and 18 km routes if you want, or choosing any distance that fits your weather, health, and time. You’ll hear stories that capture the spirit, from brave northern walkers crunching through snow to the Memphis crew bringing humor with Elvis costumes, plus smart safety choices when storms hit. We also preview the weekend’s livestreams: an opening ritual, a closing at St. James Church in Cygnet with a Botafumeiro, an interview with two Texas pilgrims flying in, and a live cross to Spain.

We dedicate this show in memory of Judy Colaneri and Ella Neal, honoring their courage, kindness, and love for the Camino. If you’ve felt the yellow arrow tug at your heart, use this weekend to set intentions, test your gear, and reconnect with friends you met on the trail. RSVP on Facebook, share where you’ll walk, post a photo when you finish, and encourage others in the comments. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs a nudge to lace up, and leave a review to help more pilgrims find the path. Ready to walk with us next weekend?

RSVP Now for the Global Camino - https://www.facebook.com/events/1274566273763679 

Judy's Podcast Episode on YouTube 

https://youtu.be/p22Vo-z20h8

Ella's Podcast Episode 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/119-the-neal-family-walking-the-camino-a/id1562037974?i=1000666935472

Leanne's Podcast Episode:

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/120-walking-the-global-camino-from-home-leanne/id1562037974?i=1000667888051

Support the show

Become a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast:

🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support

Buy Me a Coffee:

☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Follow us on Instagram:
📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/

🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. 

Send us Fan Mail

Ever wonder what mistakes pilgrims make on the Camino de Santiago?
In this episode, Dan Jarvis shares his biggest lessons, surprises, and why he keeps returning to walk the Camino again and again.

Join host Leigh Brennan of The Camino Cafe Podcast for a heartfelt and insightful conversation with Dan Jarvis, creator of Camino Hacks and Tips. Together, they explore what the Camino teaches us when things don’t go as planned — from packing regrets and planning missteps to the deeper emotional lessons of walking The Way.

Dan opens up about what led to his first Camino de Santiago journey in 2016, as well as stories from the numerous other Caminos he has walked since then. He shares vulnerable moments of struggle and self-discovery, and how walking continues to heal his anxiety and shape his purpose. Whether you’re a first-time pilgrim or a seasoned walker, this episode offers a mix of inspiration, laughter, and honest reflections from the trail and life back home. 

🎧 In This Episode:

• Common Camino de Santiago mistakes (and how to avoid them)
• What keeps Dan coming back to the Camino Frances
• How the Camino helps Dan with anxiety and restores clarity
• The power of solo travel and pilgrimage
• Lessons learned from years of walking The Way

🛤️ About Dan Jarvis:
Dan is a UK-based Camino pilgrim who has been walking Caminos since 2016. He is the content creator of Camino Hacks and Tips, a YouTube Channel, where he shares his passion for the Camino along with practical advice and heartfelt stories to help others prepare for their own Camino de Santiago journeys. Camino Hacks and Tips has over 3 million views! Visit the links below to connect more with Dan! 

🔴 ▶️Camino Hacks and Tips YouTube Channel 

https://www.youtube.com/@Caminohacks

Episodes mentioned in the interview:

🔴 ▶️Camino Primitivo https://youtu.be/CHoj97X2vR8?si=IeffATBD83hTTuD5

🔴 ▶️The Truth About Walking the Camino de Santiago - 6 Things You NEED to Know Before You Start

https://youtu.be/Pea_0sV4Uvg?si=_yfoH0Q8ddUky48h

📸 Camino Hacks and Tips Instagram https://www.instagram.com/caminohacksandtips/

Support the show

Become a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast:

🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support

Buy Me a Coffee:

☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Follow us on Instagram:
📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/

🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. 

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What if a walk changed the entire trajectory of your life? For Judy of Spanish Steps, a spontaneous decision to walk the Camino de Santiago in 1994 sparked a journey that would transform everything.

00:00 Preview
00:53 How a gift started it all
03:00 Meeting her Camino Family
15:06 How the Camino Tour Company, Spanish Steps, Started
24:34 How the Camino de Santiago has changed
29:07 Splitting time between the US and Spain
33:17 Tips for moving to Spain
45:39 Falling in Love on the Camino

When Judy first set foot on the Camino, she walked alone through dusty wheat fields, not encountering a single pilgrim for days. The pilgrim experience was vastly different then—no smartphones, no apps, just a guidebook and the occasional payphone for making expensive international calls. At an albergue in Puente la Reina, everything changed when she met a group of international pilgrims—including a handsome Spanish man named Juan Carlos who would later become her husband.

This captivating conversation reveals how their Camino romance blossomed into a 30-year partnership that includes running Spanish Steps, a company that has guided countless groups across various Camino routes. Judy shares the remarkable story of how she asked Santiago for a sign about whether to start guiding pilgrims, only to have her press release published in the LA Times a month later—launching her unexpected career.

Beyond the business side, Judy offers intimate insights into the challenges and rewards of expat life in rural Spain. Having renovated an old farmhouse in Asturias into a boutique hotel, she speaks candidly about language barriers, integration challenges, and why maintaining connections to your home country might be the wisest approach for Camino-inspired dreamers.

Whether you're contemplating your first Camino or fantasizing about opening an albergue someday, Judy's three decades of wisdom provide both inspiration and practical guidance. Her story reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful journeys don't end in Santiago—they're just beginning there.

Connect with Judy and Spanish Steps:

Spanish Steps Website

https://spanishsteps.com/

Hotel Rural Fuentes de Lucía

https://spanishsteps.com/our-hotel/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/spanishsteps_camino_tours/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/spanish.steps.75

Support the show

Become a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast:

🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support

Buy Me a Coffee:

☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Follow us on Instagram:
📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/

🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter. 

Send us Fan Mail

The rain beats down on Santiago de Compostela's ancient stones as Johnny Walker connects from the Parador's Royal Dining Room, overlooking sodden pilgrims braving hailstones and downpours during the spiritually significant Holy Week. Despite the weather, pilgrimage numbers continue to swell as travelers arrive hoping to experience Easter in this sacred city.

Fresh from a whirlwind North American tour promoting "The Way, My Way," Johnny shares heartwarming stories of packed theaters and pilgrim connections across major cities. What began as film screenings transformed into impromptu pilgrim gatherings, complete with blessing ceremonies using scallop shells from Santiago's cathedral. Most moving was a 16-year-old viewer who, inspired by the film, publicly committed to walking the Camino—receiving her own blessed shell amidst thunderous cries of "Buen Camino" from fellow audience members.

Santiago's Holy Week traditions take center stage in our conversation, from Palm Sunday's blessed branches to Easter Sunday celebrations, with thirteen traditional processions threading through the city's narrow streets. Johnny provides fascinating historical context about the distinctive medieval penitent costumes worn during these processions, clearing up common misconceptions about their origins. We also discuss the Pilgrim Office's revised Compostela requirements, which now recognize journeys of at least 70 kilometers within Spain, and hear from veteran pilgrim Rocco Rossi, who perfectly articulates why so many of us return to the Camino time and again: "If you find something in your life that brings you joy, clarity, and energy, the real question is why aren't you doing it more than once?" Whether you're planning your first Camino or your twenty-first, this perspective reminds us of the path's enduring power to transform lives with each journey.

Support the show

Become a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast:

🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support

Buy Me a Coffee:

☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQw

Follow us on Instagram:
📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/

🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song  -  "Finnis Terre"  - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter.