Why We Wander

In this postcard episode we respond to feedback from a dedicated listener on the topic of class and travel. We talk about the way class shapes the places we go, what we do (or don't do) while we're there, and how we talk about it in general. Further Reading: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/06/crowds-tourists-are-ruining-popular-destinations/590767/ https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/prepare-for-another-summer-of-overtourism-1.1270554 https://www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/how-deep-travel-can-help-you-get-more-out-your-ncna1030386 https://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/travel/vacation-decolonize-radical-travel-better-guest-20190520 http://gringotrails.com/

In this episode, we talk with Juliette Sobanet (https://www.juliettesobanet.com/), author of several books including the novel Kissed in Paris and the memoir, Meet Me in Paris. We touch on everything from love stories about places, the fantasy vs. reality of moving abroad, and the relationship between location and creativity.

With summer travel season upon us, we wanted to talk about something that we will all experience at some point in our lives, and that's being a tourist. In this postcard episode we cover the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of playing that role, and take a listener question on the same subject. For more on the topics we discuss in this episode, check out: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/comment/grockle-gringo-guiri-worst-tourists/ https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/the-ugly-tourist-and-how-not-to-be-one https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/10/travel/venice-treviso-overtourism.html

In this episode we interview Melissa Creary (www.melissacreary.com), a professor of public health who studies - and lives with - sickle cell anemia. We discuss the challenges she's faced while traveling for research, and get her advice on how to care for yourself or be a supportive travel partner for someone who has a chronic illness. We also explore how the travel industry can better meet the needs of travelers with chronic illnesses and invisible disabilities. Further reading and resources: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/mar/27/travellers-with-disabilities-tell-their-stories-improve-accessibility http://scinfo.org

In this episode we interview Alison and Don (www.alisonanddon.com), a couple who set out on a trip around the world in their sixties. We talk about why they decided to do it, the lessons they learned on the road, and what advice they have for couples who want to travel together without drifting apart.

With wedding season just around the corner, we've been thinking about honeymoons. So today we'll talk about where the concept came from, what the new trends are in this part of the travel landscape, and give some advice about where to go and how to make it special.

This week we interview travel blogger Adam Groffman (https://travelsofadam.com/) to discuss LGBTQ travel. We talk about how concerns for safety and a desire for community may guide where to travel, the role influencers and apps play in this arena, and advice for young people studying abroad. We also talk about how travel can play a complex role as a safe space or safety concern depending on where you call home. To read more on the topics we cover in this episode, check out: George Clooney: Boycott Sultan Of Brunei's Hotels Over Cruel Anti-Gay Laws (https://deadline.com/2019/03/george-clooney-sultain-of-brunei-hotels-boycott-beverly-hills-hotel-anti-gay-laws-brunei-1202584579/) How to travel the world safely (https://www.marketwatch.com/story/celebrities-boycott-hotels-in-wake-of-bruneis-anti-gay-law-how-to-travel-the-world-safely-2019-04-08) Bill Maher Criticizes George Clooney's Boycott of Brunei Hotels on 'Real Time', Hollywood Reporter (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/real-time-bill-maher-weighs-george-clooneys-boycott-brunei-hotels-1198336) The Refugee and The Thief, New Yorker (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/04/01/egyptian-refugee)

This week we have girls' trips on our minds. Tamara just got back from a trip to Montreal and Shannon will be leaving in a couple of days for a girls trip to New Mexico. So we thought we'd do a special installation of postcards to talk about girls trips in general, why they're important to your mental and physical health, how they come about, and what you can do to make them memorable.

In this postcard episode, in light of the recent college admissions scandal, we discuss how travel can be a resume booster for college applications and beyond. For years, wealthy families have used travel to boost their children's profiles when it's time to apply to college, but how does that play out for families who can't afford such opportunities? We talk about that, give some insight into the work we do at The Wandering Scholar to close that particular opportunity gap and encourage our listeners to think about ways to do the same.

In this episode, we talk about Heritage Travel. We tackle what it means to retrace your roots through travel, whether that be returning to a country your parent emigrated from, walking on the land your ancestors lived centuries before, or discovering your own birthplace for the first time. We also interview Rondel Holder, a travel blogger, documentarian, and founder of Soul Society 101 (www.soulsociety101.com), who gives us his take on these issues. To read more on the topics we cover in this episode, check out: Why a Generation of Adoptees is Returning to South Korea https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/18/magazine/why-a-generation-of-adoptees-is-returning-to-south-korea.html African Americans Moving to Africa https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/african-americans-moving-africa-180116092736345.html Take a DNA Test, Then Buy an Airplane Ticket https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/22/travel/ancestry-dna-test-travel.html Rondel Holder's Trip to Trace His Roots https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpMsvc2_fXY