About Your Hosts, Craig and Linda Martin
Hi, we’re Craig and Linda, the two Kiwis behind the Indie Travel Podcast. Since February 2006 we’ve been travelling around the world.
We are addicted!
Travel has always been our passion, but it didn’t come easy at first. For our first two years out of university, we worked multiple jobs, did long hours, and kept up the student lifestyle, only with less beer. Every dollar saved at the end of the month got dropped on our credit card debt, then overdrafts, then Craig’s university loan.
There were some pretty depressing times punctuated by the reward of long hike, or a week-long trip to Australia or Fiji.
But the goal was in sight: we were debt free. Life could become a bit easier, and saving could begin for the big trip. It took more than another year before we left, but in February 2006 we road-tripped New Zealand’s South Island with our friend Angela then headed to Malta via Hong Kong and London.
We worked as we went, started the podcast too, and didn’t leave Europe for another two and a half years.
Travel had begun, and now we’d like to show you how you can live like us, travelling independently, full-time, and debt-free. Welcome to the Indie Travel Podcast.
About the Indie Travel Podcast
After several months on the road, we realised we had made some really dumb mistakes. We had become stuck in places we couldn’t afford to leave, not validated train tickets, failed to have insurance at the right time.
There were so many things we learned on the road that we hadn’t ever read in a guidebook, and we wanted to share them. The Indie Travel Podcast was born, with our first show in recorded in St Albans, England — hosted on a friend’s spare server space.
Now, more than nine years later, the Indie Travel Podcast is still going strong, with a fortnightly audio show giving travel tips for independent travellers. We share interesting stories from people on the road, amazing opportunities to fund people’s travels, and practical advice from every continent in the world.
There’s an amazing, worldwide community of indie travellers and many of them contribute their stories to the podcast. It’s become much bigger than us, but we’re glad to be caught up in the adventure with so many interesting people.
Thanks for being one of them. Now get outside and travel.
What topics and destinations does the Indie Travel Podcast cover?
The Indie Travel Podcast explores specific travel themes and activities. They have episodes dedicated to hiking and trekking adventures, road trips, volunteering abroad, and cultural experiences. Whether you’re interested in exploring ancient ruins, trying local cuisines, or engaging in outdoor activities, the podcast offers valuable insights and recommendations to enhance your travel experiences.
In terms of destinations, the Indie Travel Podcast covers a diverse range of places around the world. They have episodes dedicated to popular destinations like Europe, Southeast Asia, and North America, where they share valuable information on must-visit attractions, hidden gems, and off-the-beaten-path experiences. Additionally, the podcast delves into lesser-known destinations, providing insights into countries and regions that may not be on the typical tourist radar. This includes destinations in Africa, South America, the Middle East, and more.
What are some unique insights, tips, and personal experiences shared on the podcast?
One unique insight shared on the Indie Travel Podcast is the importance of embracing spontaneity while traveling independently. The hosts often discuss the benefits of being open to unexpected opportunities and detours, as these can lead to some of the most memorable and authentic travel experiences. They provide tips on how to be flexible with itineraries and how to make the most of unexpected encounters with locals or chance discoveries in a new destination.
Another valuable tip shared on the podcast is the art of budget travel. The hosts understand that not everyone has an unlimited budget for travel, so they offer practical advice on how to make the most of your money while on the road. They discuss topics such as finding affordable accommodation options, saving money on transportation, and even how to enjoy local cuisine without breaking the bank. These tips are especially helpful for those who want to travel independently on a tight budget.
In the press
The Indie Travel Podcast is the Best Travel Podcast, according to Lonely Planet. And although we disagree with them on some things, we’re not going to push back there. We’ve also been featured in newspapers and magazines, on the radio, and on national TV in several countries.
More reviews
For the intrepid traveler, there’s the Indie Travel Podcast (www.indietravelpodcast.com), which features the travels of a New Zealand couple and includes subjects like Accommodations, Reviews, and Equipment.
PC Magazine, June 2008
“If you’ve just finished Uni or are on a gap year or you’re simply sick and tired of the nine-to-five lifestyle then why not get a few tips and a bit of advice from these experienced budget travellers.”
Podfinder UK
Any one who has made up their mind that budget travel is for them should give this podcast/website combo a try.
Surviving the twenty-somethings
“…One of Europe’s leading travel podcasters…”
There are two types of people in this world — those who love tourist groups and those who’d rather die than experience the world with a bunch of weird strangers (we’re not judging, we’re just sayin’). If you fall into the latter category, check out the Indie Travel Podcast…Episodes, covering everything from travel tips and reviews to personal stories, are enlightening, informative and always frank.
Rachel Leibrock, the Sacremento Bee
Technical details
This site was built by Performance Foundry and hosted on their Managed WordPress Hosting. You should definitely use Performance Foundry to build and host your website! (Disclaimer: Performance Foundry is our company, too.)
Craig’s carrying a 13″ MacBookPro and an iPhone 6+. Linda has a MacBook and an iPhone 6S. We prefer the Apple workflow to what we used to do on a PC and do recommend them.
We started out recording using the inbuilt mic on our computers, then switched to a Zoom H2 field microphone, which was eventually chewed up by a dog while we were in Argentina. We tried out a Mikey Blue for a while but soon went back to Zoom. We currently use the Zoom H2n.
The site runs on WordPress which is a content management system. WordPress is free and opensource and takes very little work to install.
Social networking
We’re part of the following social networks: Twitter, Facebook, Stumbleupon, and Instagram. Join us.
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