The Rough Guide to Everywhere

This week on The Rough Guide to Everywhere, host Rebecca Hallett (instagram.com/becca.hallett) takes a journey into her own genes, and asks whether it’s worth the trip. As at-home DNA tests get increasingly popular, some people are starting to travel based on their ancestry results. Is this an innovative new way to plan a trip, adding depth and connection to your travels? Or is it just another fad?

Thanks to co-host Neil McQuillian, producer Alannah Chance of Reduced Listening (reducedlistening.co.uk), and assistant producer Femi Oriogun-Williams. Thanks also to 23andme (23andme.com) for providing Becca’s DNA test, and to all our interviewees. Episode photo by Rebecca Hallett.

Galápagos. What do you picture when you hear those four syllables? Chances are it’s wildlife, from giant tortoises and marine iguanas to blue-footed boobies. And rightly so, for the animals on these islands, sitting in extreme isolation 1000km (600 miles) off the Ecuadorian coast, are genuinely spectacular. In fact, it was the so-called ‘tameness’ of the Galápagos animals -- just one facet of their incredible idiosyncrasies -- that helped bring Darwin to his world-changing theory of evolution.

Yet when early visitors christened the Galápagos ‘Las Islas Encantadas’, it wasn’t because they were ‘enchanted’ by the charming animals: it was more that the islands appeared to be under some malevolent spell. And from cannibals, convicts and buccaneers to a nudist colony turned murderous ménage à trois, a dark edge has informed human interaction with the islands ever since. Our host Neil McQuillian visits the Galápagos to discover the alternative human history of the world's most famous wildlife wonderland.

Thanks to our producers Jessie Lawson and Alannah Chance of Reduced Listening (reducedlistening.co.uk).

Having made it through colonisation by everyone from the Phoenicians to the Romans to the British, Malta may now be facing its biggest threat of all: tourists. This week, host Rebecca Hallett (instagram.com/becca.hallett) looks at the beautiful island nation’s history and the future it may be heading for through the lens of its architecture.

As we near the end of Valletta’s tenure as European Capital of Culture 2018, we ask whether Malta will be able hang onto the heritage that makes it so unique. And how will it balance that with the needs of the thousands of people travelling there each year?

Thanks to the Malta Tourism Authority, Dr Nik Soukmandjev, Konrad Buhagiar, of Architecture Project (architecture-project.com), our producer Alannah Chance, of Reduced Listening (reducedlistening.co.uk), and assistant producer Femi Oriogun-Williams. Episode photo and some on-location audio by Jonathon Kram.

From the region's coal mines to keel boats plying the mighty River Tyne and ships on the hunt for precious whale oil, shanties eased and animated working life in England's Northeast for centuries. Host Neil McQuillian heads up to Newcastle for a dose of salty sea-shanty culture, meeting a couple of guardians of this bawdy, moving and always rousing oral culture.

Thanks to our producers Femi Oriogun-Williams and Alannah Chance of Reduced Listening (reducedlistening.co.uk).

Bring a fake wedding ring, cover up, don’t stay out late – just go with friends and don’t risk it! Every woman knows to expect these responses when she starts planning a trip by herself. But is this advice helpful, or does it just end up putting women off the exciting, enriching business of travelling on your own terms?

Join host Rebecca Hallett (instagram.com/becca.hallett) in conversation with three intrepid women who’ve heard every cautionary tale, well-intentioned tip and “but is it safe?” under the sun, and done it anyway.

Rachel Mills (about.me/rachmillstravel) is a one-time Rough Guides senior editor turned freelance travel writer; Rebecca Lowe is a human rights journalist, who spent a year cycling alone across the Middle East (thebicyclediaries.co.uk); and Jay Abdullahi is a black, disabled travel blogger, freelance writer, charity ambassador and show host (jayonlife.com). Between them, they try to figure out what it means to be a solo female traveller today – and whether that label is even useful.

Thanks to our producer Alannah Chance, of Reduced Listening (reducedlistening.co.uk), and researchers Femi Oriogun-Williams and Jessie Lawson.

In Balule Nature Reserve, a woman’s place is in the bush, putting off poachers and protecting rhinos – even when heavily pregnant. Rough Guides travel editor Georgia Stephens (twitter.com/Stephens_GA) spoke to Charlie, Nkateko and Cute of the Black Mambas (www.blackmambas.org) about the realities of life in South Africa’s first ever majority-female anti-poaching unit, dealing not only with poachers and dangerous animals, but also ingrained prejudices about what a woman can achieve.

Thanks to our producer Alannah Chance of Reduced Listening (www.reducedlistening.co.uk). Episode photo by Georgia Stephens.

Artworks made from human skulls, all-night street parades and frenzied spirit possession, Rough Guides author Thomas Rees (twitter.com/ThomasNRees) leads us down the alleyways of Port Au Prince in Haiti, looking at how vodou influences everything from the art world to the music scene and beyond. President Trump might not rate the place, but Thomas makes a very compelling case to the contrary.

Thanks to our producer Alannah Chance of Reduced Listening (www.reducedlistening.co.uk).

Trailer for series 3 of travel podcast The Rough Guide to Everywhere.

We're back with wonderful new stories, new guests, new locations and new hosts in Rebecca Hallett and Neil McQuillian, editors at Rough Guides (www.roughguides.com).

Episode 18 – all about Haiti and voudou – launches Monday June 4th.

If you're enjoying the podcast, you can listen to all of the episodes on Apple podcasts or wherever you download your shows. Subscribe now to make sure you don't miss an episode, and please give us a five-star review to help us get the word out about the podcast – it takes just a few seconds.

Thanks to our producer Alannah Chance of Reduced Listening (www.reducedlistening.co.uk).

Image: Mascha Tace/Shutterstock

In this episode Greg travels to Finnish Lapland to embark on a hunt for the northern lights.

This is Greg's last episode of the Rough Guide to Everywhere, but keep an eye on Rough Guides' social channels and roughguides.com to find out about exciting upcoming projects. And to find out what Greg's up to next, follow him on Twitter @greg_dickinson or Instagram @travelographs.

Greg travelled to Finland with The Aurora Zone, the UK’s first and only dedicated Northern Lights holiday company. For more information, contact The Aurora Zone on 01670 785012 (www.theaurorazone.com).

At any one time, somewhere, there is a Rough Guides author on the road, crossing a country on a rickety bus, scribbling notes on the back of a receipt, or propping up a bar in a one-horse town. All in the name of making sure that the Rough Guide slotted in your backpack is as reliable, up-to-date and honest as ever.

In this week's episode we hear from Shafik Meghji, who is just back from updating the Rough Guide to Bolivia. Shafik visits a lost civilization in the depths of the Bolivian Amazon, and makes a haunting discovery among the broken pottery pieces found on the site.

First up, we speak with Harriet Constable. Harri is our correspondent in Nairobi, and worked on the Rough Guide to Kenya. In this conversation, she tells Greg about a car park in the centre of the city where people descend every Sunday to go rollerblading.

If you're enjoying the podcast, you can listen to all of the episodes on Apple podcasts or wherever you download your shows. Subscribe now to make sure you don't miss an episode, and please give us a five-star review to help us get the word out about the podcast – it takes just a few seconds.