Best Unusualplaces Podcasts (2025)

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Alchemical History And Beautiful Architecture: Prague With Lisa M Lilly 38:21

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15d ago38:21

38:21

What draws a mystery writer from Chicago to the cobblestone streets and alchemical history of Prague? How can a city’s mystical atmosphere inspire a novel, and what happens when grief follows you to one of Europe’s most beautiful destinations? Lisa M. Lilly shares how Prague captured her imagination, weaving the city’s gothic romance and ancient le…

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Blood, Wine, And Sacrifice: Folk Horror Inspired By England’s Biodynamic Vineyards With J.F. Penn And Natalie MacLean 59:48

1M ago59:48

59:48

What would you sacrifice for the perfect vintage? Can ancient pagan rituals and biodynamic winemaking create something truly extraordinary—or terrifying? In this conversation from the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast with Natalie Maclean, award-winning author J.F. Penn discusses the inspiration for her folk horror novel Blood Vintage, set in the vineya…

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Mexico’s Day Of The Dead With Luisa Navarro 32:25

2M ago32:25

32:25

Why is Mexico’s Day of the Dead such a beautiful way to remember our loved ones who have died? What are the elements that go into the altar? How can tourists respectfully experience the tradition? In this fascinating conversation, Luisa Navarro, founder of Mexico in My Pocket and author of Mexico’s Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Life through Sto…

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Egypt Beyond the Pyramids And Glimpsing The Future In History With Sean McLachlan 48:26

2M ago48:26

48:26

What’s it really like to be an archaeologist in the Middle East? How can modern travelers experience Egypt beyond the pyramids and tourist traps? What will survive from our digital age when future archaeologists dig through our ruins, and how does studying ancient civilizations change the way you see the world today? Canadian ex-archaeologist and a…

5601
Facing Fears And Finding Resilience In Midlife: Long-Distance Walking With Zoe Langley-Wathen 46:52

3M ago46:52

46:52

Have you ever considered a radical change to mark a new chapter in your life? What fears hold you back from taking on a huge challenge, like walking for weeks on your own? Zoe Langley-Wathen talks about conquering her fears on the 630-mile South West Coast Path, and how it led to an even bigger goal: to walk the entire coastline of Great Britain. Z…

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Writing Partition: Merryn Glover on History, Home, and the Hill Stations Of India 43:40

4M ago43:40

43:40

How does a childhood spent in the Himalayas of Nepal and India shape a life and a love for the mountains of Scotland? How can fiction help us understand the complex, painful history of India’s Partition? I discuss all this and more with the award-winning author, Merryn Glover. Merryn’s nomadic “third culture kid” upbringing with missionary parents …

6701
British Pilgrimage: On This Holy Island With Oliver Smith 33:27

4M ago33:27

33:27

What makes a place sacred, and can you find spiritual transformation without traveling thousands of miles? Why do ordinary English villages and Scottish islands continue to draw seekers from around the world? Award-winning travel writer Oliver Smith talks about British pilgrimage sites from Lindisfarne to Iona, and Walsingham to Glastonbury, and ho…

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Touching History: The Ancient Craft Of Stonemasonry With Andrew Ziminski 37:57

5M ago37:57

37:57

What is it like to work on ancient English churches, cathedrals and stone monuments? How does stone, a symbol of permanence, change over centuries? In this interview, I explore the craft of stonemasonry with church conservator Andrew Ziminski. Andrew Ziminski is a stonemason and church conservator with decades of experience working on some of the g…

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Fearless Roots: Travel, Grief, And Resilience With Becky Doughty 37:41

5M ago37:41

37:41

What does it mean to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time? How can travel shape our sense of self, and how do we find our way home when faced with unexpected grief abroad? In this episode, I talk with author Becky Doughty about her traveling childhood as a missionary kid, a life-changing trip to Tuscany that resonated with grief, and h…

8901
Traveling By Cruise Ship With Wendy Neugent 37:57

5M ago37:57

37:57

Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to live and work on a cruise ship? Is it all glamour and exotic locations, or is there a hidden, more challenging side to life at sea? How do you cope with being away from family for months at a time, and what strange events unfold on these floating cities? In this episode, former cruise ship entertainer…

9701
To The End Of The Earth: Walking Spain’s Camino de Santiago With Bradley Chermside 42:33

6M ago42:33

42:33

How can a physical journey trigger profound inner change? What draws a non-religious person to undertake a Catholic pilgrimage? What happens when you encounter both the best and worst versions of yourself on the same path? Bradley Chermside, international best-selling author, entertainer, and host of the El Camino de Santiago Podcast shares his tra…

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The Geography of Belonging: Finding Home With Catriona Turner 38:30

6M ago38:30

38:30

What does home mean when you are always moving on? What does belonging mean when your address changes every few years? And how do we reconcile our evolving identities with the places we’ve left behind? Catriona Turner talks about her travels from Scotland to France, to Congo and Uganda, and back home again over 14 years, and how she has redefined w…

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Ancient Mysteries and Modern Travels. Egypt With Luke Richardson 34:02

7M ago34:02

34:02

Why does Egypt continue to fascinate curious travelers? What hidden chambers might lie beneath the pyramids of Giza? How does the duality of Egyptian mythology influence thriller writing? Join thriller authors J.F. Penn and Luke Richardson for a conversation that weaves together archaeological intrigue, travel insights, and the creative process beh…

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Walking Amongst The Dead: Graveyards, Cemeteries, And Ossuaries With J.F. Penn 30:41

7M ago30:41

30:41

“The meaning of life is that it stops.” — Franz Kafka I’ve always felt most grateful to be alive when I walk among the dead. That might sound strange, but bear with me! Step through a lychgate into a church yard or descend a narrow stone stair into a catacomb or ossuary, and the pace and the noise of the world falls away. In these quiet spaces—grav…

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Thin Places and Tidal Shores: Lindisfarne, Holy Island, With LK Wilde 41:40

8M ago41:40

41:40

What makes the tiny island of Lindisfarne a “thin place” where the spiritual and physical worlds seem to meet? How does living in such a close-knit community shape one’s identity? And what secrets lie beyond the tourist paths on this ancient sacred site? LK Wilde and J.F. Penn talk about their love of Lindisfarne.Laura is the award-winning author o…

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Lochs And Legends. Scotland With Andy The Highlander 31:04

8M ago31:04

31:04

Experience the rugged beauty, ancient legends, and captivating history of Scotland with Andy the Highlander. From standing stones and whirlpools to myths and famous battles, Andy shares stories that bring the Scottish landscape alive. Discover why Scotland is more than tartans and bagpipes in this fascinating discussion about culture, heritage, and…

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Desert Storms and Superblooms: Death Valley With Steve Hall 37:23

9M ago37:23

37:23

What are the fascinating — and also dangerous — aspects of Death Valley National Park? How does visiting a stark desert landscape give us perspective about our place in the world? Steve Hall is a multi-award-winning documentary filmmaker and a seasoned adventure hiker renowned for his extensive explorations of Death Valley National Park. What’s spe…

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Curiosity, Reinvention, And Inspiration: The Return Of Books and Travel 25:05

9M ago25:05

25:05

Welcome back to the Books and Travel Podcast! In this episode, I explore why I’m restarting the show, how travel has shaped my writing, and the deeper reasons we journey—both physically and through books. From revisiting my first episode to discussing reinvention, curiosity, and the meaning of travel, this is a fresh start filled with inspiration f…

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The Call To Pilgrimage, Resilience, And Embracing Challenge With J.F. Penn 21:13

3y ago21:13

21:13

Why is resilience such an important part of pilgrimage? How can embracing the challenge of the way help in daily life? Why do we need to heed the call to pilgrimage before it’s too late? I’m Jo Frances Penn and in this episode, I share some clips from podcast interviews I’ve done around my new book, Pilgrimage: Lessons Learned from Solo Walking Thr…

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Pilgrimage: The Perspective Of History And Glimpses Of The Divine 34:36

3y ago34:36

34:36

How can walking in the path of history put life in perspective? How can you find a glimpse of the divine in unexpected places? In this episode, I share two chapters from my book, Pilgrimage: Lessons Learned from Solo Walking Three Ancient Ways. You can buy the audiobook, as well as the special edition hardback, paperback and ebook, at www.JFPenn.co…

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The Meaning of Travel With Emily Thomas 36:35

3y ago36:35

36:35

In this wide-ranging interview, Emily Thomas talks about the importance of perspective and time in travel writing, how sublime moments of pleasurable terror make travel so interesting, how to overcome fears both real and imaginary, as well as the ethics of doom tourism, and how VR (virtual reality) might change how we travel in future. Dr. Emily Th…

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Untethered. A Woman’s Search For Self On The Edge Of India With C.L. Stambush 36:51

3y ago36:51

36:51

How can we adopt an untethered attitude to life, especially when it comes to expectations of travel? C.L. Stambush talks about how her experience of motor-cycling around India taught her more about herself, and how she brings that to her daily life. We also talk about connecting with people across cultural and language barriers, when taking risks i…

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A Pilgrim In The Path Of History. Solo Walking The Camino De Santiago Portuguese Coastal Route With J.F. Penn 32:37

3y ago32:37

32:37

In September 2022, I walked the Camino de Santiago along the Portuguese Coastal route. It was around 300 kilometers from Porto in Portugal north along the coast and then inland to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, which took 14 days of back-to-back walking. I walked alone and carried my pack with everything in it, and I organized my accommodation thro…

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Shaping The World In Profound And Unexpected Ways. Bolivia With Shafik Meghji 34:45

3y ago34:45

34:45

From the silver mines of empire to lithium mining under gigantic salt flats, Bolivia has played a significant part in history and is now shaping the future of green technology. Shafik Meghji talks about the diversity of the country from its landscape to its people and religious ceremonies, as well as recommended places to visit, and books to read. …

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Sacred Steps. Pilgrimage With Kevin Donahue 46:37

3+ y ago46:37

46:37

How is pilgrimage different from just a long walk? Why do we feel a calling to pilgrimage even when not religious? How does pilgrimage connect us to our physicality, and simplify life so we find some perspective? Kevin Donahue talks about some of his ‘sacred steps’ on various pilgrimage routes across Europe. Kevin Donahue began walking pilgrimage r…

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Long Term Sustainable Travel. Life As A Digital Nomad With Nora Dunn 38:13

3+ y ago38:13

38:13

Nora Dunn sold everything in 2006 and went traveling, turning her dream of culturally immersive, long-term sustainable travel into a reality. But of course, it hasn’t been an easy ride over the years! We talk about finding home bases in different places around the world — and why Peru was particularly memorable, how ‘slow travel’ makes long-term di…

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A Yearning for Setting Off. Walking The Camino De Santiago Portuguese Route With Imogen Clark 40:01

3+ y ago40:01

40:01

Why does pilgrimage have such a hold on those of us who are not religious, but merely seekers on a path that so many millions have walked before us? Author Imogen Clark talks about her Camino, the highlights and challenges, the lessons learned, and why she still yearns to set off once again. Imogen Clark is the best-selling author of eight contempo…

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Momentary Encounters That Bring A Journey To Life With Nick Jubber 38:03

3+ y ago38:03

38:03

Hello travellers, I’m Jo Frances Penn, and in this episode, I’m talking to Nick Jubber about the momentary encounters that bring a journey to life. We talk about how religion weaves its way into travel, especially in the middle east and north Africa, and how sometimes we can sense the intensity of faith, even when we are not religious ourselves. Ni…

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Thoughts On Traveling To The USA Again Post Pandemic And Differences Between The US And UK Cultures 31:15

3+ y ago31:15

31:15

I’ve been traveling to the USA regularly since the mid-90s, for family trips and then business conferences and book research. The pandemic years meant a long hiatus (for us all!) but recently I went back to the US for my first trip in a long time and it felt quite foreign in many ways. I’d forgotten so much about how our cultures differ, and I thou…

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The Nuances Of Colombia With Lachlan Page 30:54

3+ y ago30:54

30:54

We all pick up ideas about a country from a lifetime of media consumption, and stereotypes can shape our opinions, persisting even once a country has changed, as Colombia has over the last 30 years. Lachlan Page talks about how he ended up in Colombia after prioritizing travel first and work second, his recommended places to visit from jungle to co…

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The Unexpected Road To An Unconventional Life With Brianna Madia 36:50

3+ y ago36:50

36:50

How can we step away from the established patterns of life and choose a path that makes us truly happy? How can we redefine travel to find it in our own country, and choose a home in a place that calls to our soul? Brianna Madia talks about her unexpected road to an unconventional life in the desert of Moab with her four dogs. Brianna Madia is the …

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Love, Wanderlust, And Sailing Around The World With Liz Alden 40:17

4y ago40:17

40:17

What does it take to sail around the world — and stay in love with your partner? Liz Alden talks about how she and her husband circumnavigated the globe over four years, the places they loved, and how wanderlust and a love for the ocean is something that never leaves us. Liz Alden is the author of the Love and Wanderlust series of romance books, as…

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Traveling Carnivals With Michael Sean Comerford 33:46

4y ago33:46

33:46

Sometimes you don’t have to leave your own country to find a culture that is different from your own. Michael Sean Comerford talks about the unique language, lifestyle, and attitudes of the carnies, the people who work on the traveling carnivals. Michael Sean Comerford is an award-winning journalist and travel writer. His latest book is American OZ…

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Visiting Places That Other People Try To Leave. Weird Travel With Adam Fletcher 40:37

4y ago40:37

40:37

Weird travel is visiting places that other people try to leave or places that are not usually thought of as tourist destinations. Adam Fletcher talks about North Korea, the unexpected beauty of Chernobyl, a tuk-tuk race across India, and the death rituals of Sulawesi, as well as the peculiarities of being British, and how to notice the unique weird…

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Myanmar With Jessica Mudditt 38:41

4y ago38:41

38:41

How does Myanmar’s complicated history shape the country today? What are some of the wonderful places to visit — if tourists are able to travel again? Jessica Mudditt talks about her experience in Myanmar, as well as facing fears around travel, and the experience of reverse culture shock on returning to Australia. Jessica Mudditt is an Australian f…

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Hooked On The Horizon. Sailing Blue Eye Around The World With Tom Dymond 41:00

4y ago41:00

41:00

Can we ever be satisfied with life if we are always ‘hooked on the horizon?’ Tom Dymond talks about some of the highlights and challenges of sailing around the world — as well as the mindset issues around living for a future state, and returning to real life after years away. Tom Dymond is the author of Wrongs of Passage and Hooked on the Horizon: …

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Slow Down And Wander. Visit Paris Like An Artist With Cynthia Morris 38:46

4y ago38:46

38:46

Paris has so much to see and do, it can be overwhelming if you try to do it all. In this interview, Cynthia Morris talks about how to visit Paris like an artist and how walking and wandering is a great way to see the city in a more relaxed way. We discuss how to manage museum and art gallery overload, how to pay attention to your curiosity and tap …

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Beauty In Ruins, Dark Myths, And Hope In Difficult Times. Greece With Peter Fiennes 32:38

4y ago32:38

32:38

Peter Fiennes talks about his search for beauty — and hope — in Greece. We discuss the different areas of the country with recommendations for ruins to visit, as well as how the ancient Greek myths still resonate in modern times, with their tales of the darker side of humanity. We consider whether generations of belief can somehow imbibe specific l…

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Layers Of Invasion And Empire. Slovakia With Sarah Hinlicky Wilson 35:52

4y ago35:52

35:52

Slovakia only became an independent state in 1993, so it is less than 30 years old. In this interview, Sarah Hinlicky Wilson and I discuss borders and how strange it is that history draws lines on a map that don’t necessarily represent the people who live within them. These layers of invasion and empire can shape lives for generations. Sarah also r…

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English Folklore With Icy Sedgwick 38:14

4y ago38:14

38:14

Folklore encompasses legends, fairy tales, and myths; physical objects and practices to protect and ward away evil; spirits and supernatural entities associated with particular places, and so much more. You might not even know that you practice folklore — but did you ever leave a tooth out for the tooth fairy? Or wonder at carvings of the Green Man…

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Traveling Light With Katherine Leamy, The 5 Kilo Traveller

4y ago

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How can you travel light even on an extended trip? How can traveling light be an attitude to life as well as a practical way to pack your gear? Katherine Leamy talks about these questions and more in this episode. Katherine Leamy is The 5 Kilo Traveller, a freelance travel writer, and blogger based in New Zealand. Show notes Why traveling light is …

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Extending Your Comfort Zone. Antarctica With Karen Espley 37:52

4y ago37:52

37:52

The challenges of travel can help us expand our comfort zone enough to drive change in our lives. In this episode, Karen Espley talks about how a trip to Antarctica helped her change direction. Karen Espley is an author, speaker, and businesswoman. Her latest book is The Impulsive Explorer: One Businesswoman’s Accidental Journey of Self-discovery o…

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London. A Personal History With J.F. Penn 31:03

4+ y ago31:03

31:03

“It is difficult to speak adequately or justly of London. It is not a pleasant place; it is not agreeable, or cheerful, or easy, or exempt from reproach. It is only magnificent.” Henry James London can never be contained or defined in one way. Everyone has a different perspective and experience that changes over time, and my relationship with the c…

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The History Of England Written In Stone. Literary Canterbury With Anna Sayburn Lane 39:26

4+ y ago39:26

39:26

Some places are so dense with history that stories emerge from every stone. Canterbury in Kent, England, is rich with literary and religious history and you can walk in the footsteps of pilgrims who have visited the city for almost a thousand years. Anna Sayburn Lane is an award-winning short story writer, novelist, and journalist inspired by the h…

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An Ocean-Gazing People. A Gentle Country. Portugal With Louise Ross 43:18

4+ y ago43:18

43:18

Sometimes we find home in a place where we don’t even speak the language. Louise Ross talks about discovering Portugal, a gentle country with ocean-gazing people, and recommends places to visit, as well as an attitude to self-reinvention. Louise Ross is the author of Women Who Walk and The Winding Road to Portugal. She’s an Australian currently liv…

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Open Road: A Midlife Journey Through The US National Parks With Toby Neal 39:08

4+ y ago39:08

39:08

How can travel help us as we search for a new direction in mid-life? Why does nature offer us insight into ourselves and experiences that go far beyond the physical? Toby Neal talks about her experience of the US National Parks. Toby Neal is an award-winning USA Today best-selling author of mysteries, thrillers, and romance, as well as travel memoi…

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If Only I Had More Time. A Motorcycle Journey Through Britain with Mark Probert 40:41

4+ y ago40:41

40:41

Good travel books are not just about a physical journey or a place. They are also about the emotional side of travel and the feelings we experience along the way. In this interview with Mark Probert, we discuss his motorcycle journey through Britain following the path of writer John Hillaby 50 years after the original book — and how the passing of …

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Wanderland. A Search For Magic In The Landscape With Jini Reddy 37:43

4+ y ago37:43

37:43

There are places where the ‘veil is thin,’ where we can connect with the Other in the landscape — if only we learn how to listen. In this interview, Jini Reddy talks about how to find magic in the natural world. Jini Reddy is an award-winning author and journalist. Her latest book is Wanderland: A Search for Magic in the Landscape. Show notes How c…

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Travel In A Vast And Diverse Country. Australia With Pamela Cook 34:34

4+ y ago34:34

34:34

What are the truths behind stereotypes of Australia — and what are the things that might surprise you? Pamela Cook talks about rural places, diversity of people and landscape, and the attractions of the city in this interview. Pamela Cook writes rural and contemporary Australian fiction featuring complex women and tangled family relationships and i…

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Walking To Rome On The Via Francigena With Chandi Wyant 41:40

4+ y ago41:40

41:40

“Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it.” Soren Kierkegaard When life becomes unbearably painful, sometimes the only thing to do is go for a really long walk. In this episode, Chandi Wyan…