Travel With Us A While - where Bron shares conversations with travellers by land, sea, air & beyond

Sometimes the very best travel stories don’t begin with a carefully planned itinerary…

Sometimes they begin in an elevator.

In this week’s episode of Travel With Us A While, I’m chatting with the delightful Karen Rule — someone I met quite by chance at a floral show in Melbourne, and whose love of travel is woven through with kindness, curiosity, and a wonderful sense of “why not?”

Karen shares stories from her travels through Japan, Thailand and New Zealand, including:

✨ Why learning just a few local words can change your whole experience
✨ The surprising competition win that helped fund her Japan adventure
✨ A Jurassic Park ride that required serious courage (and a stiff drink!)
✨ And why the people we meet often become our most treasured travel memories

It’s a gentle, heartwarming conversation that reminds us travel doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to be meaningful.

Check out Karen's story and images here https://bronhogan.com/

G’day, and welcome to Travel With Us A While.
I’m Bron Hogan, and today’s episode is all about serendipity — those moments when life nudges you somewhere unexpected and you decide to say yes.

My guest, Karen Rule, knows that feeling well. From spontaneous encounters to surprise travel experiences, her journeys remind us that sometimes the best plans are the ones we didn’t make.

This is a conversation about curiosity, courage, and finding joy along the way.
Let’s travel with Karen for a while.

To check out some of her great photos - https://bronhogan.com/podcast/

There’s something quietly inspiring about watching someone prepare for a really big dream… and this week’s guest is doing exactly that.

In our latest Travel With Us A While episode, I’m chatting with the vibrant and determined Classic Mara — a young sailor deep in training for the legendary Golden Globe Race. Around the world. Solo. Non-stop. No modern tech safety net.

Yes… it’s as big as it sounds.

What struck me most in our conversation wasn’t just the physical preparation (though her burpees are seriously impressive!) — it was her mindset. Calm. Focused. Joyful. The kind of steady determination that long-distance travellers and sailors will instantly recognise.

✨ In this episode we chat about:

• What draws someone to solo ocean racing
• The realities of preparing for the Golden Globe Race
• The physical and mental fitness behind big adventures
• And the spirit that keeps you moving forward — at any age
  Check out some of her images on BronHogan.com

Thinking about travelling solo but not sure where to start?

Irene’s advice is beautifully simple:
👉 Take the first step
👉 Say yes
👉 Don’t wait until you feel ready

If you enjoy this conversation, please subscribe to the Travel With Us A While podcast. I’ll also be sharing this story alongside Irene’s stunning images on https://bronhogan.com/podcast/ — because some lives deserve to be seen as well as heard.

Until next time…
Go gently. Go curiously. And don’t stay small.

Two weeks.
Three states.
One motorhome.

What started as a family holiday became a lesson in curiosity, kindness and connection — especially for two kids seeing Australia at ground level for the first time.

If you’ve ever wondered what travelling this way really feels like, the story is now live and on the https://bronhogan.com/podcast/ blog where I share Alison's story and images from her trip.

In this week’s episode of Travel With Us A While, I chat with the wonderful Brianna Leake, who recently completed a 19-day solo road trip around Tasmania — and absolutely fell in love with it.
From waddling penguins in Stanley, to seeing snow for the first time at Cradle Mountain, to discovering hidden lakes and wildlife at every corner… her journey is pure magic.
If you’ve ever considered exploring Tassie — or solo travelling — this episode will have you packing your bags.

Check out her photos on the blog I wrote for her. https://bronhogan.com/19-days-12-stops-2561-kilometres-brianna-leake-fell-for-tasmania-one-detour-at-a-time/

“Magic doesn’t announce itself —
it shows up when you stop and look.”

A gentle, soul-filling conversation with Tasmanian traveller Meg Jacobs on the latest Travel With Us A While podcast.
🎧 Listen in and slow down with us.

AND - if you enjoy our conversation - be sure to check out the blog I wrote using Meg's amazing images https://bronhogan.com/meg-jacobs-shares-how-you-dont-have-to-wait-for-company-to-go-exploring/

Fear told her to stay on the sand.
Curiosity pulled her into the water.
And Fiji changed everything.

Fiji didn’t just change Cherie’s relationship with the ocean — it changed her life.

She met her husband Glenn on her last night there, at a fishing tournament after-party!

she also shares the amazing those friendships made over the years - many of them remain today — scattered across the world, still connected.

Check out her story and image on my Blog https://bronhogan.com/from-fear-of-water-to-life-beneath-the-sea-cherie-gardners-fiji-story/

Travelling with children isn’t about seeing everything — it’s about seeing what matters.

In this episode, Jessica Moloney talks caravan life with two young kids, sensory needs, routines on the road, favourite places, and why slowing down has been the biggest lesson of all.

A beautiful reminder that travel doesn’t have to look one way.

Check out the blog I wrote using her great story and images here https://bronhogan.com/jess-moloney-living-small-dreaming-big/

I feel sure you will enjoy our conversation as much as I did!

What if “ordinary” just isn’t for you?

In this episode of Travel With Us A While, I chat with Liesbet Collaert — traveller, sailor, writer, dog-lover, and long-term nomad — about plunging into a life without fixed plans, fixed homes, or fixed ideas of success.

From sailing the Pacific to overlanding South America, Liesbet shares the realities (and rewards) of choosing freedom over comfort — and why living well doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Check out the blog I wrote using her story and images:

https://bronhogan.com/plunging-into-a-life-less-ordinary-a-conversation-with-author-nomad-liesbet-collaert/