Travel Writing World

Today’s episode brings us to Colorado, where Craig Childs speaks with us about the desert and dry places, and the importance of familiarity, meaning, and intimacy in writing about place.

Craig is an adventurer and writer who focuses on natural sciences, archaeology, and journeys into the global wilderness. He is a commentator for NPR’s Morning Edition, and his work has appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Men's Journal, Outside, The Sun, and Orion to name a few. 

You can follow Craig Childs on his personal website or on The Last Word on Nothing, an online journal he keeps with a small group of writers. In the episode, Craig and I spoke about Ellen Meloy's book The Anthropology of Turquoise: Mediations on Landscape, Art, and Spirit, Mary Oliver, Barry Lopez, Gretel Ehrlich, and Joy Harjo.

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Please consider supporting the show with a few dollars a month, less than a cup of coffee, to help keep our show alive and advertisement-free.

You can also support the show by leaving a positive review on Apple Podcasts or in your favorite podcasting app, subscribing to the show, and following us on Twitter & Instagram.

Lastly, consider using our affiliate links to purchase your books. If you use our links to make a purchase, we will receive a few cents commission at no additional cost to you. These funds help keep the podcast alive and ad-free.

Finally, join the Travel Writing World newsletter to receive your free copy of The Travel Book Guidebook. You will also receive quarterly dispatches & reports with podcast interviews, travel writing resources, & book recommendations. Thanks for your support!

Listen to the Episode on YouTube

Listen to the episode on YouTube on the Travel Writing World channel. Remember to subscribe to the channel.

Intro Music

Peach by Daantai (Daantai’s Instagram)

Disclaimer

*Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means that, at no additional cost to you, this website will earn a very small commission if a purchase is made using these links. Also, "as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases" using the Amazon links on this site.

In today's episode, I speak with Martin Gayford about the importance of seeing art while traveling, the experience of art in the age of Instagram, and his new book, The Pursuit of Art: Travels, Encounters and Revelations. We geek out talking about art and other topics like Walter Benjamin's notion of the "aura," his encounters with artists and photographers like Marina Abramović and Henri Cartier Bresson, and his approach interviewing artists.

Martin Gayford is an art critic, art historian, and author who has written articles for a variety of publications like The Spectator and The Telegraph to name a few. He has written many books, including A History of Pictures: From the Cave to the Computer Screen co-written with David Hockney, Michelangelo: His Epic Life, and The Yellow House: Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Nine Turbulent Weeks in Provence to name a few. If you're interested in art, travel, and art history, his books are worth checking out.

You can find more about Martin's work on his website.

More Episodes & Support

Please consider supporting the show with a few dollars a month, less than a cup of coffee, to help keep our show alive and advertisement-free.

You can also support the show by leaving a positive review on Apple Podcasts or in your favorite podcasting app, subscribing to the show, and following us on Twitter & Instagram.

Lastly, consider using our affiliate links to purchase your books. If you use our links to make a purchase, we will receive a few cents commission at no additional cost to you. These funds help keep the podcast alive and ad-free.

Finally, join the Travel Writing World newsletter to receive your free copy of The Travel Book Guidebook. You will also receive quarterly dispatches & reports with podcast interviews, travel writing resources, & book recommendations. Thanks for your support!

Listen to the Episode on YouTube

Listen to the episode on YouTube on the Travel Writing World channel. Remember to subscribe to the channel.

Intro Music

Peach by Daantai (Daantai’s Instagram)

Disclaimer

*Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means that, at no additional cost to you, this website will earn a very small commission if a purchase is made using these links. Also, "as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases" using the Amazon links on this site.

In today's episode, I speak with Boyd Varty about tracking big game in South Africa, creating a purposeful life through self discovery, and his new book A Lion Tracker's Guide to Life (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2019).

"Boyd Varty is a certified Master Life Coach, author, and TED speaker. He runs retreats that merge tracking, coaching, and storytelling into experiential learning events at Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa, the sanctuary where he was born and raised." - HMH Press Release

Reminiscent of Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Boyd's new book uses the story of tracking lions with two friends in the South African bushveld to communicate lessons on how to find one's path in life. We talk about some of those lessons in this episode.

He previously published another book called Cathedral of the Wild. To learn about it and his other work, track down Boyd Varty on Twitter or on his personal website.

More Episodes & Support

Please consider supporting the show with a few dollars a month, less than a cup of coffee, to help keep our show alive and advertisement-free.

You can also support the show by leaving a positive review on Apple Podcasts or in your favorite podcasting app, subscribing to the show, and following us on Twitter & Instagram.

Lastly, consider using our affiliate links to purchase your books. If you use our links to make a purchase, we will receive a few cents commission at no additional cost to you. These funds help keep the podcast alive and ad-free.

Finally, join the Travel Writing World newsletter to receive your free copy of The Travel Book Guidebook. You will also receive quarterly dispatches & reports with podcast interviews, travel writing resources, & book recommendations. Thanks for your support!

Listen to the Episode on YouTube

Listen to the episode on YouTube on the Travel Writing World channel. Remember to subscribe to the channel.

Intro Music

Peach by Daantai (Daantai’s Instagram)

Disclaimer

*Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means that, at no additional cost to you, this website will earn a very small commission if a purchase is made using these links. Also, "as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases" using the Amazon links on this site.

In today's episode, I speak with Sarah Samuel about mindful travel and her new book Mindful Traveling: Journeying the World, Discovering yourself (Leaping Hare Press 2019). On top of speaking about mindful travel, we also talk about making mistakes, journaling, getting out of our comfort zones, and redefining the self during travel.

Sarah's book is a quick but delightful meditation on why having an open mind when visiting the world is a worthwhile endeavor for both cultivating an enriching inner world and fully enjoying the place one visits. It has practical guidelines, tips, and meditations that anyone can employ to have more rewarding travel experiences.

Books we talked about

Mindful Traveling by Sarah Samuel

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki

Sarah Samuel online

Sarah Samuel's Website

Sarah Samuel on Twitter

More Episodes & Support

Please consider supporting the show with a few dollars a month, less than a cup of coffee, to help keep our show alive and advertisement-free.

You can also support the show by leaving a positive review on Apple Podcasts or in your favorite podcasting app, subscribing to the show, and following us on Twitter & Instagram.

Lastly, consider using our affiliate links to purchase your books. If you use our links to make a purchase, we will receive a few cents commission at no additional cost to you. These funds help keep the podcast alive and ad-free.

Finally, join the Travel Writing World newsletter to receive your free copy of The Travel Book Guidebook. You will also receive quarterly dispatches & reports with podcast interviews, travel writing resources, & book recommendations. Thanks for your support!

Listen to the Episode on YouTube

Listen to the episode on YouTube on the Travel Writing World channel. Remember to subscribe to the channel.

Intro Music

Peach by Daantai (Daantai’s Instagram)

Disclaimer

*Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means that, at no additional cost to you, this website will earn a very small commission if a purchase is made using these links. Also, "as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases" using the Amazon links on this site.

In today's episode, I speak with Tim Leffel about the state of travel writing today, how travel writing has changed over the last few decades, and traveling to the world's cheapest travel destinations. In fact, Tim has recently published a new edition of his book, the World's Cheapest Destinations: 26 Countries Where Your Travel Money is Worth a Fortune (Al Centro Media, 2019). The new edition includes updated costs of the world's most popular and inexpensive travel destinations.

Over the last two decades, Tim has written for major travel publications like MSNBC.com, Budget Travel, and International Living to name a few. He also manages several popular blogs (linked below). He has published several other travel books, including Travel Writing 2.0, one of the most- popular guides about the craft and business of travel writing.

In the first half of the conversation, Tim and I speak about his career and how he got started in travel writing. We also talk about the state of travel writing today, blogging, and a bit about ethical travel.

I hope you enjoy the conversation with Tim. Please send me an email, leave a comment, or reach out on social media and let me know what you think.

Tim's books we talked about

World's Cheapest Destinations

Travel Writing 2.0

Tim Leffel on the web

Tim Leffel's Website

Cheapest Destinations Blog

Perceptive Travel

More Episodes & Support

Please consider supporting the show with a few dollars a month, less than a cup of coffee, to help keep our show alive and advertisement-free.

You can also support the show by leaving a positive review on Apple Podcasts or in your favorite podcasting app, subscribing to the show, and following us on Twitter & Instagram.

Lastly, consider using our affiliate links to purchase your books. If you use our links to make a purchase, we will receive a few cents commission at no additional cost to you. These funds help keep the podcast alive and ad-free.

Finally, join the Travel Writing World newsletter to receive your free copy of The Travel Book Guidebook. You will also receive quarterly dispatches & reports with podcast interviews, travel writing resources, & book recommendations. Thanks for your support!

Listen to the Episode on YouTube

Listen to the episode on YouTube on the Travel Writing World channel. Remember to subscribe to the channel.

Intro Music

Peach by Daantai (Daantai’s Instagram)

Disclaimer

*Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means that, at no additional cost to you, this website will earn a very small commission if a purchase is made using these links. Also, "as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases" using the Amazon links on this site.

In today's episode, I speak with Paul Theroux about and his new book On the Plain of Snakes: A Mexican Journey (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2019). We also speak about a variety of topics including road trips, death, immigration, NAFTA, and how Donald Trump inspired him to write his new book.

In On the Plain of Snakes, Theroux documents his drive along the US-Mexican frontier, down into the heart of Mexico City, and throughout Oaxaca where he encounters migrants, corrupt cops, and mezcal.

There is a reason why Paul Theroux is considered one of the greatest living travel writers. His observations on the road are nuanced, informed, and timely. And his personal narrative doesn't overpower or drown out the voices of the locals he meets and ultimately befriends while on the road.

Paul's books we talked about

The Great Railway Bazaar

The Old Patagonian Express

The Mosquito Coast

Riding the Iron Rooster

Happy Isles of Oceania

Deep South

Paul Theroux on the web

Paul's Website

Some of his NY Times essays

Paul's 2019 Book Tour Schedule

More Episodes & Support

Please consider supporting the show with a few dollars a month, less than a cup of coffee, to help keep our show alive and advertisement-free.

You can also support the show by leaving a positive review on Apple Podcasts or in your favorite podcasting app, subscribing to the show, and following us on Twitter & Instagram.

Lastly, consider using our affiliate links to purchase your books. If you use our links to make a purchase, we will receive a few cents commission at no additional cost to you. These funds help keep the podcast alive and ad-free.

Finally, join the Travel Writing World newsletter to receive your free copy of The Travel Book Guidebook. You will also receive quarterly dispatches & reports with podcast interviews, travel writing resources, & book recommendations. Thanks for your support!

Listen to the Episode on YouTube

Listen to the episode on YouTube on the Travel Writing World channel. Remember to subscribe to the channel.

Intro Music

Peach by Daantai (Daantai’s Instagram)

Disclaimer

*Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means that, at no additional cost to you, this website will earn a very small commission if a purchase is made using these links. Also, "as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases" using the Amazon links on this site.

In today's short episode, I speak with Matt Kepnes about his writing career, the various difficulties of life on the road, and about his experiences traveling around the world for the last ten years. We also talk about blogging and his new book, Ten Years a Nomad: A Traveler's Journey Home (St. Martin's Press 2019).

Matt is the influential blogger behind NomadicMatt.com, and the New York Times Bestselling author of How to Travel the World on $50 a Day. His new book, Ten Years a Nomad, was published on July 16, 2019.

I spoke with Matt while he was in Los Angeles, California during a speaking tour to promote his new book. If you're interested in travel memoirs and topics related to world exploration and digital nomadism, check out the book. His book outlines his path from unsatisfied 9-to-5 administrator to world traveler, blogger, and writer. It also covers topics like on-the-road romances and travel burnout.

More Episodes & Support

Please consider supporting the show with a few dollars a month, less than a cup of coffee, to help keep our show alive and advertisement-free.

You can also support the show by leaving a positive review on Apple Podcasts or in your favorite podcasting app, subscribing to the show, and following us on Twitter & Instagram.

Lastly, consider using our affiliate links to purchase your books. If you use our links to make a purchase, we will receive a few cents commission at no additional cost to you. These funds help keep the podcast alive and ad-free.

Finally, join the Travel Writing World newsletter to receive your free copy of The Travel Book Guidebook. You will also receive quarterly dispatches & reports with podcast interviews, travel writing resources, & book recommendations. Thanks for your support!

Listen to the Episode on YouTube

Listen to the episode on YouTube on the Travel Writing World channel. Remember to subscribe to the channel.

Intro Music

Peach by Daantai (Daantai’s Instagram)

Disclaimer

*Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means that, at no additional cost to you, this website will earn a very small commission if a purchase is made using these links. Also, "as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases" using the Amazon links on this site.

In this episode, I speak with Monisha Rajesh about slow travel, trains, and her experiences as a woman of color on the road. We also talk about travel writing and her new book, Around the World in 80 Trains (Bloomsbury 2019).

Monisha is a British journalist and travel writer. She has written for publications like The Guardian, The Times, The New York Times, and TIME. In 2010, she traveled around India on trains during a 4-month span, which she reflected on in her first book Around India in 80 Trains.

If you're interested in train travel and travel as an independent woman, check out the episode and her book, which chronicles her trip from London and throughout the world.

Links from the show and more

Monisha Rajesh's Around the World in 80 TrainsMonisha Rajesh's Around India in 80 TrainsPaul Theroux's Great Railway BazaarJules Verne's Around the World in 80 DaysMonocle's "The Stack" Podcast Episode

Get in touch with Monisha Rajesh

Monisha Rajesh's Book WebsiteMonisha Rajesh on TwitterMonisha Rajesh on Instagram

More Episodes & Support

Please consider supporting the show with a few dollars a month, less than a cup of coffee, to help keep our show alive and advertisement-free.

You can also support the show by leaving a positive review on Apple Podcasts or in your favorite podcasting app, subscribing to the show, and following us on Twitter & Instagram.

Lastly, consider using our affiliate links to purchase your books. If you use our links to make a purchase, we will receive a few cents commission at no additional cost to you. These funds help keep the podcast alive and ad-free.

Finally, join the Travel Writing World newsletter to receive your free copy of The Travel Book Guidebook. You will also receive quarterly dispatches & reports with podcast interviews, travel writing resources, & book recommendations. Thanks for your support!

Listen to the Episode on YouTube

Listen to the episode on YouTube on the Travel Writing World channel. Remember to subscribe to the channel.

Intro Music

Peach by Daantai (Daantai’s Instagram)

Disclaimer

*Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means that, at no additional cost to you, this website will earn a very small commission if a purchase is made using these links. Also, "as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases" using the Amazon links on this site.

In this episode, I speak with Professor Lynn Meskell about the history, politics, and future of the UNESCO World Heritage Program. We also talk about her new book, A Future in Ruins: UNESCO, World Heritage, and the Dream of Peace (Oxford 2018).

Dr. Meskell is Professor Archaeology at Stanford University. She has a long list of accolades and research experience in the field of archaeology. He has received honorary doctorates and is widely published.

Her book, while written for an academic audience, is insightful and should be read by any self-proclaimed enthusiast of UNESCO World Heritage sites and history lovers alike. It is based on deep archival research and uses examples of actual UNESCO campaigns as anecdotes to illustrate her arguments.

Links from the show

The Book, A Future in Ruins: UNESCO, World Heritage, and the Dream of Peace: https://amzn.to/2K8vXWAUNESCO World Heritage Statistics: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/stat/A Lecture by Professor Meskell on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b6T_r80KK0&t=90s

More about Dr. Lynn Meskell

Lynn Meskell's Homepage at Stanford: https://anthropology.stanford.edu/people/lynn-meskellStanford University Interview of Dr. Meskell: https://news.stanford.edu/2018/11/19/stanford-scholar-examines-unescos-world-heritage-program/

Transcript (Click to Expand)

Jeremy Bassetti

This is Jeremy Bassetti. And you're listening to All Over The Place, a podcast on travel, culture, and the creative life. Today's episode brings us to Stanford, California, where I speak with Professor Lynn Meskell about the history, politics and feature of the UNESCO World Heritage program. Dr. Meskell is Professor of Archaeology at Stanford University, and has a long list of accolades, including being the recipient of an honorary doctorate at the American University in Rome.

Jeremy Bassetti

But first, a little bit of housekeeping.

Jeremy Bassetti

Okay, so I'm back and rested after having taken 20, twenty-year-olds to Italy for a few weeks. Needless to say, I'm excited to get back in the studio recording more conversations. So keep your eyes open for new episodes that will be arriving in your podcasting app. The podcast has reached a milestone of sorts. Our 10 episodes so far have been downloaded and listened to by hundreds of listeners from around the world. Thank you very much. But if you find the show interesting, you can help spread the word by leaving a positive review on iTunes and your Apple Podcasting app or in whatever podcasting app you use. Reviews are really helpful in getting more ears and eyes on the program. As a way to say thanks, I have a handful of All Over The Place Podcast stickers that I would like to send you completely free of charge, including shipping, to wherever you are in the world. I don't have very many to send though, so, first come first serve. Visit travelwritingworld.com/stickers to sign up. And speaking of which, the All Over the Place Podcast website has undergone slight redesign. If this type of thing interests you. Feel free to go check that out. And while you're there, feel free to leave a comment on one of your favorite conversations.

Jeremy Bassetti

Well, that's about it this week. So now here is Professor Lynn Meskell.

Jeremy Bassetti

Today I'm talking with Professor Lynn Meskell about her new book, "A Future in Ruins, UNESCO World Heritage, and the Dream of Peace." So great account of the history and workings of UNESCO. And although it's an academic book published by Oxford, those interested in this subject, I think will find it accessible and definitely interesting. So Professor Meskell, welcome to the show.

Lynn Meskell

Thank you, Jeremy. I really appreciate it.

Jeremy Bassetti

If you don't mind, I think what I'd like to do is talk a little bit about your background. And then we can talk about the book and the discussion of the development of UNESCO, and its history, and the complications.

In this episode, I speak with Pico Iyer about travel, narrative structures, living in Japan, and of course his new book Autumn Light: Season of Fire and Farewells.

Alongside those like Paul Theroux, Pico Iyer is one of the greatest living travel writers. He is the celebrated author of many books including Video Nights in Kathmandu, The Lady and the Monk, The Art of Stillness, and many, many others. This year (2019), Pico Iyer is publishing several books, one of which is the subject of this podcast. The second one authored principally by Mr. Iyer, A Beginner's Guide to Japan, will be released in September 2019.

Pico Iyer was embarking on a book tour to promote Autumn Light when I caught him in his hotel room in Miami. As you can tell from the conversation, Pico is incredibly eloquent and insightful. I hope you enjoy listening to the conversation as much as I had participating in it.

This episode was awarded the Bronze Award in the 28th Annual North American Travel Journalists Association Awards Competition.

Links from the show

Autumn Light: Season of Fire and Farewells (on Amazon)

Video Nights in Kathmandu (on Amazon)

The Lady and the Monk (on Amazon)

The Art of Stillness (on Amazon)

Pico Iyer online

Pico Iyer's Personal Website

Pico Iyer's Twitter

Pico Iyer's Ted Talks

A Beginner's Guide to Japan

More Episodes & Support

Please consider supporting the show with a few dollars a month, less than a cup of coffee, to help keep our show alive and advertisement-free.

You can also support the show by leaving a positive review on Apple Podcasts or in your favorite podcasting app, subscribing to the show, and following us on Twitter & Instagram.

Lastly, consider using our affiliate links to purchase your books. If you use our links to make a purchase, we will receive a few cents commission at no additional cost to you. These funds help keep the podcast alive and ad-free.

Finally, join the Travel Writing World newsletter to receive your free copy of The Travel Book Guidebook. You will also receive quarterly dispatches & reports with podcast interviews, travel writing resources, & book recommendations. Thanks for your support!

Listen to the Episode on YouTube

Listen to the episode on YouTube on the Travel Writing World channel. Remember to subscribe to the channel.

Intro Music

Peach by Daantai (Daantai’s Instagram)

Disclaimer

*Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means that, at no additional cost to you, this website will earn a very small commission if a purchase is made using these links. Also, "as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases" using the Amazon links on this site.