Tim Hannigan is back on the podcast to discuss one of the major ethical considerations in travel writing: the truth. In this conversation with Jennifer, Tim talks about the underlying tensions that make talking about truth in travel writing so tricky, strategies travel writers use to create a rhetoric of truth that readers can rely on, how the shifting definition of travel writing makes any conversation about whether it should be true or not a bit impossible, why what we leave out can be just as important as what we add in, Tim’s view on why fictionalization in travel writing can be a slippery slope, and how new and experienced travel writers can audit their own writing to ensure any story stays as close to the truth as possible.

In this episode, the editors of Intrepid Times take a moment to analyze the travel writing tendencies that helped define 2023, as well as what they hope and expect for travel writing in 2024. The conversation takes a couple of interesting turns, including veering into a conversation about the benefits of traveling alone versus traveling with others. They also touch on the role that humor and fun can play in travel writing, as well as a few writing challenges they'd like to see the Intrepid Times community take on this year.

In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, Mary Novakovich, an award-winning travel journalist, speaks about why she found the process of writing a book more “liberating” than her work with articles and stories; how she approached writing about members of her family, especially when thinking about traumatic events; how she attempted to find balance with the difficult history and the current culture of Croatia; how who you’re traveling with affects the way you understand a place; and why writing both listicles and travel narratives has worked out so well for her.

In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, Harry Mitsidis, founder of NomadMania, talks about his personal motivation for visiting every country in the world twice, how his “addiction to movement” has driven his travels, how he maintains enthusiasm while constantly exploring, and why his recent trip to Ukraine was the most significant one he has ever done. He also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the voyage to one of the world's most remote islands where he met a mysterious world traveler who would ultimately inspire Harry's book, The Curious Case of William Baekeland.

In this episode, Scottish travel writer Jamie Lafferty discusses why travel writing is anything but "leisurely" work, how coming from a working class background shaped the trajectory of his career and the stories he chooses to write, why he loves to interview “upper class” people, and how a trip to cover every prefecture in Japan after the 2011 tsunami shifted the way he thought about his work and the impact it could have.

Between delayed flights, strange streets, new languages, and endless challenges, travel can feel like a nightmare for those who struggle with anxiety. But what if travel could actually be a kind of treatment?

In this episode, Intrepid Times editors Nathan and Jen discuss the travel experience that tested Jen's developing anxiety management skills, the kind of preparation people with anxiety may need before travel, how to think of the challenges of travel as opportunities, why travel writing can enhance those skills and kickstart personal growth, and much more.

In this episode, Intrepid Times editor Jennifer Roberts and Dr. Jeffrey Skoblow talk about how learning to write is like learning a new language, why the choice of what you read can be critically important, the role that community plays in both reading and writing, and how presence and attention factor into both.

In this conversation with Intrepid Times' founder Nathan Thomas, Pier Nirandara explores how she taps into creativity even while working in the business world, what role awe has played in her life and writing, how she had to overcome imposter syndrome before finally calling herself a "writer," and more.

In this episode, Kapka Kassabova joins us for a conversation about her most recently published book, Elixir, the third in what will soon be a quartet set in the southern Balkans. She speaks about how the heartbreak that she found during her journey for the first book in the quartet prepared her emotionally for Elixir, why she always seeks out a guide during her travels, and why it's important for every traveler (and writer) to "own your wounds and your hopes."

Today's episode includes excerpts from two of the many masterclasses offered to students of Travel Writer Transformation, Intrepid Times' 8-week writing course. In the first excerpt, the Intrepid Times editors discuss the first paragraph of a travel story and how to make sure you grab readers' attention without giving them too much information. The second excerpt discussions conclusions and how writers can make sure they deliver on any goodwill they've built up throughout their story.