The Funny Travel Stories Podcast

What do journalists actually need to know about AI — and is knowing how to use ChatGPT enough?

In this episode, I’m joined by Paul Bradshaw, a data journalist with the BBC’s Shared Data Unit, lecturer at Birmingham City University, journalism trainer and author of books on online and data journalism.

We dive into how journalists can work with AI effectively, why understanding how AI actually works can help you get better results, and why knowing a bit of coding could become an increasingly useful skill for journalists.

Paul also explains the difference between “destination prompts” and “journey prompts” — and why thinking about AI as different roles can completely change how you use it. He also shares an effective prompt design technique - chain of thought.

We finish with some places worth putting on your list: Paul recommends Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) in Wales. His dream destinations are Mount Tarawera and Rotorua in New Zealand.

Bangkok, Reformer Pilates, a ‘mini Tinder’ and Scottish Highland cows are all part of today’s episode!

I’m joined by Niece Prayoonrat, a financial regulation journalist covering AI and crypto, and an LSE graduate. She shares some fun facts about Bangkok, including its famously long name, and explains what a ‘mini Tinder’ in Thailand actually is 👀

Today Izzy Hunter joins us to share her experiences working in marketing communications on Wall Street in New York City.

We chat about life in NYC, why the Broadcast Journalism master’s at Nottingham Trent University was so valuable, meeting Orlando Bloom and Keanu Reeves, a viral TikTok video that caught Trisha Paytas’ attention, and unexpected travel experiences to Boston.

Izzy says it’s so easy to make friends in New York and shares her top NYC travel tip. She also tells us why Japan and the US West Coast are next on her bucket list!

This episode, I’m joined by Priya Matharu, a presenter, producer and content creator, currently working as an Assistant Producer at the BBC and a radio presenter at Switch Radio.

Priya takes us on a journey across India and New York and more. She shares some unforgettable travel stories along the way. Travelling to India for the first time in around 25 years!

We talk about that you can actually order a tuk tuk through Uber app. Priya also shares a dramatic story from New York’s Indian Independence Day Parade. We also talk about the rise of staycations during Covid. 

You’ll also hear why Priya recommends Santorini, the beautiful volcanic Greek island where cats are everywhere, and why Egypt is the destination she hopes to visit in the future!

Stay until the end for a bonus travel experience that shows some of the best stories are often the ones you never plan for.

🚨As we launched our video podcast format, each episode will now be updated monthly🚨

Follow our socials for more iconic clips from our previous episodes: 

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefunnytravelstoriespodcast/?next=%2F⁠⁠ 

TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@funnytravelstories

This week, I’m joined by Ann Yip from ITV News. We first talk about her social media coverage on Mr Bates vs The Post Office. 

And the episode focus on Vietnam beach, Thai surfboard, Italian white pizza and Budapest hen do.

Working in the news industry is incredibly demanding, and Ann shares what her typical holidays look like - from struggling with a MASSIVE surfboard in Thailand, to discovering white pizza in Italy, getting lost in flower fields near Norwich and drinking Aperol Spritz in Italy.

We also talk about Norfolk’s giant seal colonies, why Vietnam is worth to travel, and the unexpected travel experiences during Ann’s trip she still can’t forget.

🚨As we launched our video podcast format, each episode will now be updated monthly🚨

Follow our socials for more iconic clips from our previous episodes: 

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefunnytravelstoriespodcast/?next=%2F⁠⁠ 

TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@funnytravelstories

Industrial engineer Jimena Peters Peña Muñoz shares her global travel stories - from culture shocks in India to missed flights in Thailand, to life in Taiwan and the Netherlands! She reflects on global adventures, cultural differences, and why she recommends Colombia as a travel destination.

🚨As we launched our video podcast format, each episode will now be updated monthly🚨

Follow our socials for more iconic clips from our previous episodes: 

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefunnytravelstoriespodcast/?next=%2F⁠ 

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@funnytravelstories

Music, football, travel stories, and radio life - all in one episode!

In the first ever video episode of The Funny Travel Stories Podcast, I chat with Issy Brand, assistant producer at Virgin Radio UK and podcast host. 

Issy shares her funny travel moments, from meeting the world’s happiest animal, the quokka, on Rottnest Island in Western Australia, to getting unexpectedly lost trying to find the famous Mojo Club in Hamburg, Germany.

We also talk about working in radio and podcasting and the amazing parts of going to gigs and festivals. Issy also shares the places she wants to go in the future - from the Caribbean and Portugal to seeing live music in America.

🚨As we launch our video podcast format, each episode will now be updated monthly🚨

Follow our socials for more iconic clips from our previous episodes: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunnytravelstoriespodcast/?next=%2F 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@funnytravelstories

Daniel Acheampong, aka Dan, founder of TALK 2 DAN, joins me to chat about building his award-winning media recruitment agency, his new podcast Talk 2 Dan On The Go Podcast, and helping young creatives sharpen their CVs. 

We also get into Amsterdam’s funny travel moments, a Cîroc-fuelled birthday in Bournemouth, a dramatic Lanzarote boat moment. And he recommends to travel to Barcelona. Where he’d like to go next? Colombia, Dominican Republic, Portugal.

In this episode, I’m joined by Sam Liu - founder of TechStart and Director of West London Chambers of Commerce - whose life has been shaped by travelling across London, Brazil, Hong Kong, and Taiwan… and moving to the UK so young at the time he only knew how to say “pee-pee” and “poo-poo.”

Sam shares some brilliant travel stories, including a failed attempt to surprise his girlfriend in Brazil, getting a completely genuine response when travelling back to Taiwan for the first time, and taking a group of Germans to Green Island - where they happily stayed through a typhoon because there were no tourists.

We also talk about why Sam avoids night markets, why networking really matters, and how he’s helping young people run an event at places like the Old Bailey. Also, his travel recommendations in Brazil - and the places he still wants to explore next, from Qingdao to Luoyang.

In this solo-travel special, I share some of the funniest moments from my recent trip across Spain and Italy.

You’ll hear:

• Getting lost in the middle of the night in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa
• Why people in Spain kept asking me for directions
• Padrón peppers, Sangria, tapas, Flamenco and more

Got a funny or bizarre travel story of your own? DM @thefunnytravelstoriespodcast on Instagram or @funnytravelstories on TikTok - your story might be featured in a future episode! 🤩

🎧 New episodes now published fortnightly.

Next episode drops 10 February 🎧