In today's Dispatches segment, John shares some of his top tips to becoming a better travel writer. He pulls examples from his new book -- The Wanderlust Writer: A Beginner's Guide to Travel Writing -- and breals them down into simple steps you can use in your writing today!

After, Ronna of Five Foot Ronna is back in the studio after being in Peru for a year. The author and travel blogger -- who first made an appearance on Season 1 -- talks about teaching in Peru, participating in a Wachumu ceremony, strange foods, and overcoming fear.

In today's episode, John talks about the Mana Wahine Mural Project that took place in Whakatane and Matata. What began as research into local Maori place names, grew into a story about female empowerment and a community rallying together to create art, explore their history, and reclaim thier sense of power in their identity. This segment includes interview clips with Maori Cultural Adviser Pouroto Ngarapo, as well as Ruby Turnwald of Matata.

After that, John sits down to interview Talei Bryant, a 22 year old woman who used to work on a deep-sea fishing vessesl, but most recently ran for her local council. The two discuss mental health, finding your passion, and giving back to your community.

After an extended hiatus, The Pilgrim-Ish Podcast is back for Season 2 and things get.....stranger.

Welcome to Season 2: Strange Lands!

In today's dispatches segment, John outlines what listeners can expect during this season: Sacred Lands, Psychaledic Retreats, and Expat Mental Health, among others.

After that, he sits down with Abraham Larsen who has recently taken on the position of "Professional Encourager." They discuss everything from mental health, community projects, and cultural identity.

What's even more serendipitous, Abraham reads from a poem he wrote that totally lines up with the theme of Season 2 which talks to the dilemma one faces regarding their identity when they feel like they straddle between two very different worlds.

Welcome to Pilgrim-Ish!

In Episode 10 of the Pilgrim-Ish Podcast, John discusses the "Art of Local Travel." What is local travel and why is it important? He also addresses steps one can take to get the most out of their local travel experience.

Following that, he closes Season 1 with a highlight reel from past episodes. Each one is followed by a commentary of that interview and how it has directly affected him and his life. In addition, past interview subjects called in and give an update on what they have been up to since they last spoke,

Finally, John addresses his intentions and plans for Season 2 as well as issuing a call-to-action from his listeners to send in suggestions for what they would like to hear more of in the coming episodes.

In today's dispatches segment, John shares a few basic tips he uses to capture better photographs while traveling.

Following this, he sits down to interview Becs McKay, a liaison between the council and local community to help engage people through different projects. One of these includes Youth of Kopeopeo, an endeavor to elevate a small suburb through street art and youth-led initiatives that hopes to capture their stories and rekindle a sense of pride in the space they inhabit.

Over a couple of New Zealand brand beers, Becs and John discuss the importance of remembering ones history, sharing often overlooked stories, and challenging the status quo when attempting to engage and inspire local communities.

American artist Brian Gonella, who is working on a mural in Kopeopeo this week, makes a brief cameo to explain why street art is so important and how his approach to the design and representation of a place through art has evolved over the years.

In today's episode, we look at some commonly used Te Reo Maori words and phrases that you might come across while in New Zealand. Our guest, Karla Akuhata, goes through about twenty examples; helping with enunciation and even giving some historical and cultural context as well.

Afterwards, Karla sticks around to be interviewed about her time as a hard-hitting news journalist, some of the backlash she has faced due to the nature of some of her stories, and also some relevant and important issues regarding Maori affairs in New Zealand.

In this shorter but very fun episode, John first recounts his experience going to a Cabaret show for the first time. How did he end up on stage almost minutes lamenting about "audience participation"? Listen to find out! He also talks about how this relates to connecting with others, being yourself, and embracing local travel.

In the second segment, John explores Dark Tourism: What is it? How long has it been around? What are the moral implications? And where has he gone that might be considered a "Dark Tourism" spot?

What do you think when you hear "New Zealand?"

In today's Dispatches segment, John discusses some of the things that have surprised him the most since living in New Zealand for two years. He also shares Facebook responses from backpackers and Expats living in New Zealand with what they have found most surprising about this country -- whether positive or negative!

Later, he sits down with Canadian Expat and physiotherapist Danyel Degenhardt, who lives with a 1 in a million health condition. They discuss how to manage chronic pain whether at home or while traveling, how mindset is important for both physical and mental wellness, and then they try one of Danyel's favorite techniques: Laughnosis.

Today's episode is all about Mental Health.

In the Dispatches segment, John recounts his own history with anxiety and depression and how it almost held him back from traveling the world. Then he goes on to discuss some of the tips that he utilizes in order to cope with those experiences while on the road. The content comes from his article "The Truth About Traveling with Depression (And 7 Ways to Manage It)." Additional insights and tips are shared by fellow travelers and travel bloggers.

Later, he sits down with Blair Bennefield who skateboarded the entire length of New Zealand for his Ride Against Depression (RAD) campaign. They talk about the events that inspired his epic journey, the connections and moments he had while traveling, and the lessons he learned along the way.

In today's Dispatches segment, John explores the power and responsibility behind storytelling. How conscious are we about the narratives we read? The narratives we create around others? Or the narrative that is our life. He delves into how crucial storytelling elements -- like tone, word choice, and point of view -- are just as applicable to understanding our own stories. Then he considers how these stories can affect the views we hold about ourselves and society at large.

Later, he sits down with Te Haunui Tuna, a Maori tattoo artist from Whakatane. Haunui discusses the history and cultural significance of Ta Moko (traditional tattoos), some of the myths and legends from Maoridom, and finally how he hopes to invest his creative efforts into sharing those stories in an attempt to inspire Maori, and other indigenous people, all over the world.