The Pod Well Travelled

The Pod Well Travelled team Penny Thomas, Stephen Scourfield and Megan French tackle the great outdoors in a new episode of their Packing Series.

Penny seeks packing tips ahead of her trip to Japan to hike one of the world’s premier spiritual roads — the Kumano Kodō, ancient pilgrimage routes which crisscross the Kii Peninsula.

Outdoors-man travel editor Stephen and fashion writer Megan present a brief overview on the history of outdoor gear and how fabrications evolved as popularity for hiking and outdoor exploring gained momentum throughout time.

From the importance of layering to what a hiking day pack should contain, the trio cover extensive ground on the topic.

+ Subscribe and listen to The Pod Well Travelled where you get your podcasts — and share it to your family and friends.

+ Sign up for eTravel via thewest.com.au/manage-email-preferences. It’s our free digital edition of travel that gets delivered to your inbox once a week and is full of new stories, fresh podcast episodes, upcoming events and more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode of The Pod Well Travelled, the team reveal their must-have devices for staying connected, entertained and organised when travelling.

Join Penny Thomas, Stephen Scourfield and Megan French as they discuss everything from compact power banks and travel adaptors to smart luggage, e-readers and more.

Whether you’re gearing up for a weekend getaway or a long-haul adventure, this episode will help you pack like a pro.

+ Subscribe to The Pod Well Travelled where you get your podcasts — and share it to your family and friends.

+ Sign up for eTravel via thewest.com.au/manage-email-preferences. It’s our free digital edition of travel that gets delivered to your inbox once a week and is full of new stories, fresh podcast episodes, upcoming events and more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on our dedicated travel podcast, hosts Penny Thomas and Megan French are joined by The West’s TV editor and columnist Clare Rigden, who recently returned from a big European adventure.

As a self-confessed bargain hunter, Clare tells us about the cheap travel accessories she bought from a popular online store that is renowned for selling almost every product imaginable for dramatically low prices.

During the show, we get Clare’s honest opinion on the budget-friendly items she took with her, and we find out whether or not they enhanced her trip.

• Subscribe to The Pod Well Travelled where you get your podcasts — and share it to your family and friends.
• Sign up for eTravel via thewest.com.au/manage-email-preferences. It’s our free digital edition of travel that gets delivered to your inbox once a week and is full of new stories, fresh podcast episodes, upcoming events and more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fresh from exploring Australia’s Coral Coast on a four-day road trip, travel writer Penny Thomas chats with fashion writer and stylist Megan French about her trip and the basic travel essentials she took with her.

They also discuss their favourite things to listen to during a long drive, why you should always double-check you have everything before you head off on an adventure, the importance of having roadside assistance, and why you should always know how to change a tyre.

• Subscribe to The Pod Well Travelled where you get your podcasts — and share it to your family and friends.
• Sign up for eTravel via thewest.com.au/manage-email-preferences. It’s our free digital edition of travel that gets delivered to your inbox once a week and is full of new stories, fresh podcast episodes, upcoming events and more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week The Pod Well Travelled sets off on a journey to explore two trends taking flight in the travel industry.

Expert photographer Mogens Johansen and travel editor Stephen Scourfield chat to host Megan French about the concepts of “second city” travel and destination dupes — from prioritising a “more authentic” experience to stretching your wallet even further abroad and building genuine connections.

Plus, Stephen is challenged to a “quick-fire question” round disclosing his top suggestions of alternatives for some of the world’s most popular tourism destinations.

• Subscribe to The Pod Well Travelled where you get your podcasts — and share it to your family and friends.
• Sign up for eTravel via thewest.com.au/manage-email-preferences. It’s our free digital edition of travel that gets delivered to your inbox once a week and is full of new stories, fresh podcast episodes, upcoming events and more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The West’s travel editor Stephen Scourfield and our expert photographer Mogens Johansen return to the studio for the latest episode in our new Packing Series about photography gear.

Joined by hosts Penny Thomas and Megan French, the team share their favourite camera brands and models, the type of equipment they use when on assignment, and they reveal the tips and tricks they’ve picked up over the years.

Mogens also references a couple of photography-related stories he’s written for our print and online travel sections, which are linked below.

10 tips for better phone photography

The world’s best hobby

• Subscribe to The Pod Well Travelled where you get your podcasts — and share it to your family and friends.
• Sign up for eTravel via thewest.com.au/manage-email-preferences. It’s our free digital edition of travel that gets delivered to your inbox once a week and is full of new stories, fresh podcast episodes, upcoming events and more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on our dedicated travel podcast, the travel team launch an exciting new Packing Series to help you pack smarter, travel lighter and say goodbye to any luggage-related woes you might come up against when packing.

For the first episode of the new series, Stephen Scourfield, Penny Thomas and Megan French discuss their packing essentials for long-haul flights, and the practical tips they've learned during their travels.

Throughout the show, Stephen explains why ultra long-haul flights — like Qantas’ new direct Perth to Paris route and Singapore Airlines’ nonstop flight between Singapore to New York — are on the rise. 

We also hear about the one item Stephen thinks is a game changer for people prone to back pain, and we get his thoughts on jet-lag. 

Megan shares a comprehensive list of all the items she takes in her carry-on bag for longer journeys. While Penny tells us about the travel mishaps she’s endured during a long-haul flight.

• Subscribe to The Pod Well Travelled where you get your podcasts — and share it to your family and friends.
• Sign up for eTravel via thewest.com.au/manage-email-preferences. It’s our free digital edition of travel that gets delivered to your inbox once a week and is full of new stories, fresh podcast episodes, upcoming events and more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode, host Stephen Scourfield chats to Penny Thomas and Mogens Johansen about one of their favourite places in South-East Asia: Cambodia.

Join the team as they share personal stories from their travels around Cambodia, highlighting the country’s rich culture, history and cuisine.

Penny tells us about a seven-day food tour she recently did with Intrepid Travel that involved sampling plenty of local delicacies -- including rat!

We also hear from Mogens who describes what it was like to stay in the heart of the Cardamon Forest at a luxury glamping resort.

And, at the end of the show, we've included an interview Penny recorded in Battambang with a local guide named Sambat who grew up in Cambodia during the 1970s.

• Subscribe to The Pod Well Travelled where you get your podcasts — and share it to your family and friends.
• Sign up for eTravel via thewest.com.au/manage-email-preferences. It’s our free digital edition of travel that gets delivered to your inbox once a week and is full of new stories, fresh podcast episodes, upcoming events and more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode, Megan French and Penny Thomas discuss the top art galleries and museums they’ve visited, and the ones they plan to visit in the future.

They also reflect on how art galleries and museums can enrich travel experiences, especially if you are someone who likes to seek out a deeper connection with the destination you're visiting.

• Subscribe to The Pod Well Travelled where you get your podcasts — and share it to your family and friends.
• Sign up for eTravel via thewest.com.au/manage-email-preferences. It’s our free digital edition of travel that gets delivered to your inbox once a week and is full of new stories, fresh podcast episodes, upcoming events and more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode, The West’s travel editor Stephen Scourfield reports from France’s Juno Beach in Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. 

During the show, Stephen reflects on the complex and brazen operation that unfolded on D-Day, the bravery of the soldiers involved in the mission and how it was a turning point in WWII.

We also hear about Normandy’s Viking history and William the Conqueror’s legacy.

+ Subscribe to The Pod Well Travelled where you get your podcasts — and share it to your family and friends.

+ Follow us on our TikTok @thepodwelltravelled and Instagram @thepod_welltravelled accounts for more content from the Travel team.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.