It's been a rollercoaster week here at Tripology Podcast. We're thrilled to announce we won Best Travel & Adventure Podcast at the 2025 Independent Podcast Awards! Spotify then hit us with a false copyright claim and blocked our episodes! We share the stories behind the chaos and discuss what it's like being independent creators.

Hostel Common Room returns with a listener who's about to embark on a 2-year backpacking trip and wants to know the best way to meet like-minded travellers. Tune in for our top travel tips on how to make friends whilst travelling.

This week's Tales of a Trip is not to be missed, as we hear from a well-travelled entrepreneur whose experiences and reflections will spark your wanderlust. Check out his fabulous clothing brand below!

https://www.patreon.com/tripologypodcast

Sundae Garments: https://www.sundaegarments.com/
Elephant Stone's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elephantstone
Submit your travel stories: https://www.tripologypodcast.com/talesofatrip

Need travel insurance? We recommend SafetyWing! Click here to get started: ⁠⁠⁠https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=26035801&utm_source=26035801&utm_medium=Ambassador
Require an onward flight? Please use this fantastic flight rental service: ⁠⁠⁠https://onwardticket.com/tripologypodcast⁠⁠⁠

Discord: https://discord.gg/RQ767H9T
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tripologypodcast/
Website: https://www.tripologypodcast.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tripologypodcast
X: https://x.com/tripologypod

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. It means the world.

We're rocking this week! Not only did we win 'Best Travel & Adventure Podcast' at the 2025 Independent Podcast Awards, we also received a knockout Tales of a Trip entry from Harry Jaggard! Whilst visiting Northern Nigeria, Harry was roped into a bare-knuckle boxing match. Tune in to hear the full story, and make sure you watch the video... Rather him than us!

Harry's YouTube video: https://youtu.be/PzG7FMhP6ZI?si=XMWF8SjvDq3sFckK

Harry's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harryjaggard

Alun's shaking in Siargao, after withstanding 31 earthquakes in the past week. We hear the latest news from the island, as well as some interesting earthquake facts.

Vagabot's off to Chiang Mai, in the latest edition of Hostel Wars. Will Alun's hostel be crowned as the most authentic or will Adam continue his winning streak?

Submit your travel stories: https://www.tripologypodcast.com/talesofatrip

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripologypodcast

Need travel insurance? We recommend SafetyWing! Click here to get started: ⁠⁠⁠https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=26035801&utm_source=26035801&utm_medium=Ambassador

Require an onward flight? Please use this fantastic flight rental service: ⁠⁠⁠https://onwardticket.com/tripologypodcast⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tripologypodcast

Discord: https://discord.gg/RQ767H9T

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tripologypodcast/

Website: https://www.tripologypodcast.com

Join us on X: https://x.com/tripologypod

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. It means the world.

We discover the surprising origins of India's most famous dish: Butter Chicken. Adam relives his India food adventures, sharing his experience of eating at Gulati Restaurant in Delhi, touted as the best butter chicken in India. We ask: Was butter chicken actually invented in Pakistan? And why are two Delhi restaurants fighting over the original recipe?
Acclimatise quickly, as Tales of a Trip reaches new heights! We hear from a digital nomad who summits mountains for fun, whilst carrying a bag of his own... Neither altitude sickness nor food poisoning will stop this hiker from reaching the top!
Alun reflects on his time in Siargao, debating whether to stay longer or move on. 4 Months of surfing and jiujitsu has been great but the thresher sharks in Malapascua aren't going to swim with themselves!

Submit your travel stories: https://www.tripologypodcast.com/talesofatrip
Joey Travels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homeless.digitalnomad/
Gulati Restaurant, Delhi: https://www.gulatirestaurant.in/
Need travel insurance? We recommend SafetyWing! Click here to get started: ⁠⁠⁠https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=26035801&utm_source=26035801&utm_medium=Ambassador
Require an onward flight? Please use this fantastic flight rental service: ⁠⁠⁠https://onwardticket.com/tripologypodcast⁠⁠⁠
Discord: https://discord.gg/gztSSwBg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tripologypodcast/
Website: https://www.tripologypodcast.com
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@tripologypodcast
X: https://x.com/tripologypod
Thank you, as always, for your continued support. It means the world.

Two worlds collide in this week's episode, as Artificial Intelligence makes the news for sending travellers to locations that don't exist. We hear about a couple in Peru who were left stranded, after letting AI plan their trip!

We find out what a coffee pot, water pump and a safe box all have in common, as Tripological Reasoning returns with hypothetical scenarios that may or may not be Alun's real life dilemmas.

Tales of a Trip crosses a border with no passport stamp! We hear from a fellow travel podcaster who attempted to cross into Laos without having technically been in Thailand. Nothing a game of snooker and a small bribe can't fix!

Follow James at Roaming with Hammo: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC173L0udkGL15RSkO3vIx5A

James' Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wingingittravelpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=NnkxZjdteWFpbmhu

Submit your travel stories to: https://www.tripologypodcast.com/talesofatrip
BBC Travel article: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250926-the-perils-of-letting-ai-plan-your-next-trip

Need travel insurance? We recommend SafetyWing! Click here to get started: ⁠⁠⁠https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=26035801&utm_source=26035801&utm_medium=Ambassador
Require an onward flight? Please use this fantastic flight rental service: ⁠⁠⁠https://onwardticket.com/tripologypodcast⁠⁠⁠

Check out our Discord: https://discord.gg/gztSSwBg
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tripologypodcast/
Take a look at out our website: https://www.tripologypodcast.com
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@tripologypodcast
Join us on X: https://x.com/tripologypod

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. It means the world.

Have your passports ready! This week's travel quiz tests Alun's knowledge of all things passports. Which countries have the strongest passports and which countries have the weakest passports? And when was the first ever passport issued? We go through some of the 2025 passport rankings and share some weird passport facts you didn't know!

If there's one thing Alun's hates about travel, it's ubiquitous, unimaginative travel quotes. Alun reels off his least favourite travel quotes but has snuck in one he's written himself. Will Adam be able to guess which quote Alun wrote?

In Tales of a Trip, we hear from a listener who visited Mansheya Nasir aka 'Garbage City', on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. Wonderfully descriptive and intriguing, his story touches on spirituality, religion and energy; an experience he describes as "magical".

Check out Sam Urrea's content: @surreal_traveler

Send your crazy travel stories to: https://www.tripologypodcast.com/talesofatrip

Need travel insurance? We recommend SafetyWing! Click here to get started: ⁠⁠⁠https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=26035801&utm_source=26035801&utm_medium=Ambassador

Require an onward flight? Please use this fantastic flight rental service: ⁠⁠⁠https://onwardticket.com/tripologypodcast⁠⁠⁠

Join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/tripologypodcast

Discord: https://discord.gg/EQw26FHf

⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tripologypodcast/

Website: https://www.tripologypodcast.com

X.com: https://x.com/Tripologypod

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tripologypodcast

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. It means the world.

In this week's very personal episode, Alun opens the travel diary that started 4 years of non-stop travel. Alun kept a travel journal for 4 years, documenting every day. We relive the moment he set off on the adventure that started it all. Hold onto your coffees tightly!

Adam shares his chance encounter with an inspiring gentleman who's had a huge impact on the travel industry. Let's just say he 'carries a lot of weight', without exceeding the baggage allowance!

Tales of a Trip returns with an embarrassing story that will have you giggling and cringing in equal measure. Honest, vulnerable, and lighthearted, this backpacker is a cup half full kind of gal!

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripologypodcast

Send your Tales of a Trip entries to: https://www.tripologypodcast.com/talesofatrip

Need travel insurance? We recommend SafetyWing! Click here to get started: ⁠⁠⁠https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=26035801&utm_source=26035801&utm_medium=Ambassador
Require an onward flight? Please use this fantastic flight rental service: ⁠⁠⁠https://onwardticket.com/tripologypodcast⁠⁠⁠

Check out our Discord: https://discord.gg/jJ57Xzsv
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tripologypodcast/
Take a look at out our website: https://www.tripologypodcast.com
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@tripologypodcast
Join us on X: https://x.com/tripologypod

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. It means the world.

Dreaming of Van Life in New Zealand? In this episode of the 'award-nominated' Tripology Podcast, Adam shares his experience of buying a campervan in New Zealand. Learn how a failed vehicle inspection was the key to him buying the campervan.

Hostel Wars returns and this week Vagabot's off to the student town of Rosario, Argentina. Will it be Adam or Alun who can deliver the most authentic hostel recommendation?

Searching for great backpacking advice? In Tales of a Trip, we hear from a listener who turned their tough circumstances into 5+ years of travel, and it all began with a simple piece of advice...Planning a New Zealand road trip? Interested in backpacking New Zealand? Wondering whether to buy or rent a campervan? This episode will inspire and inform you!Send your crazy travel stories to: https://www.tripologypodcast.com/talesofatrip

Need travel insurance? We recommend SafetyWing! Click here to get started: ⁠⁠⁠https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=26035801&utm_source=26035801&utm_medium=AmbassadorRequire an onward flight? Please use this fantastic flight rental service: ⁠⁠⁠https://onwardticket.com/tripologypodcast⁠⁠⁠Join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/tripologypodcastDiscord: https://discord.gg/SMkK2gvh ⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tripologypodcast/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tripologypodcast

Website: https://www.tripologypodcast.comX.com: https://x.com/TripologypodThank you, as always, for your continued support. It means the world.

Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our paid partner BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/tripology

Any Ping-Pong players in the house? We hear from a Backpacker who was lured into a Bangkok night club and extorted for money! Learn how saying 'Yes' can be a very expensive mistake.

Hostel Common Room returns with a heartfelt question that will resonate with all you travellers out there: What's the best way to deal with the travel blues? How do we remain patient and disciplined whilst gearing up for our next adventure?

Adam announces he's in the process of purchasing a campervan. Has he been misguided by his romantic dreams of travelling New Zealand? Two things we do know: he knows nothing about camping or vans.

Send your travel stories to: https://www.tripologypodcast.com/talesofatrip

Need travel insurance? We recommend SafetyWing! Click here to get started: ⁠⁠⁠https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=26035801&utm_source=26035801&utm_medium=Ambassador

Require an onward flight? Please use this fantastic flight rental service: ⁠⁠⁠https://onwardticket.com/tripologypodcast⁠⁠⁠

Join our Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/tripologypodcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tripologypodcast

Discord: https://discord.gg/SMkK2gvh

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tripologypodcast/

Website: https://www.tripologypodcast.com

X.com: https://x.com/Tripologypod

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. It means the world.

Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our paid partner BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/tripology

Dark sky at night, Adam's delight! Adam celebrates his birthday at the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, the largest Dark Sky Reserve in the Southern Hemisphere. With stars in his eyes, the stargazing is cut short, when he flies down a rabbit hole!

Rice for Breakfast takes on a British theme this week, with the iconic Fish & Chips taking centre stage. Tune in to find out the true origins of Britain's most famous dish. Something smells fishy!

Tales of a Trip welcomes a romantic story of love and commitment. Navigating countries, continents, and a few naked strangers, nothing was going to stop this couple from travelling the world in the name of love!

Send your travel stories to: https://www.tripologypodcast.com/talesofatrip

Need travel insurance? We recommend SafetyWing! Click here to get started: ⁠⁠⁠https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=26035801&utm_source=26035801&utm_medium=Ambassador

Require an onward flight? Please use this fantastic flight rental service: https://onwardticket.com/tripologypodcast

⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripologypodcast

Check out our Discord: https://discord.gg/5j3ya9SS

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tripologypodcast/

Take a look at out our website: https://www.tripologypodcast.com

Join us on X: https://x.com/tripologypod

Subscribe to our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tripologypodcast

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. It means the world.

Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our paid partner BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/tripology

Travel emergency! Alun's travel horror story sees him heading to hospital, after contracting an infection in his foot that Google diagnoses as Lymphangitis! Dangerous travel infections are Alun's vocation, and knowing that sepsis was a possibility, he didn't take any chances! Brace yourself for backpacking health tips, helping you avoid your own travel illness nightmare!

Tripping Point returns for a transport special. What's the longest train journey on earth? And just how many motorbikes are there in Vietnam? We discuss all this and more in everyone's favourite travel quiz!

Continuing the Vietnamese theme, Tales of Trip welcomes a listener who's previously taught in Vietnam. This teacher's lesson planning needs more planning! Don't make the same mistake he did and listen all the way to the end!

This week's Lost & Found is giving off... "alternative vibes", as Adam's asked a question he's heard a thousand times. Support us on Patreon to access this bonus content and much more! https://www.patreon.com/tripologypodcast

Send your travel stories to: https://www.tripologypodcast.com/talesofatrip

Need travel insurance? We recommend SafetyWing! Click here to get started: ⁠⁠⁠https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=26035801&utm_source=26035801&utm_medium=Ambassador

Require an onward flight? Please use this fantastic flight rental service: ⁠⁠⁠https://onwardticket.com/tripologypodcast⁠⁠⁠

Discord: https://discord.gg/5j3ya9SS

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tripologypodcast/

Website: https://www.tripologypodcast.com

X: https://x.com/tripologypod

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tripologypodcast

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. It means the world.