Ten podcasts to travel with
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Apart from the inestimable Indie Travel Podcast, what should you have on your iPod?
Travel Podcasts
You should certainly have some travel podcasts! Here’s a few currently-running shows that we have kicking around on our iPods.
1. The Amateur Traveller
Having recently hit the 200 episode mark, Chris Christensen’s shows are mainly destination focussed and include interviews with travellers from around the world. It’s a perfect complement to our practical travel advice approach. iTunes.
2. Beautiful Places in HD
These photo-essays with scatterings of video recount a US-centric look at … beautiful places in high definition. I find it a bit annoying as they won’t sync over to my iPod touch (and my Powerbook struggles and jitters with video playback these days), but these short shows highlight some excellent photography. iTunes.
3. Galavanting
Hosted by Kim Mance and Maren Hogan, Galavanting is a “web travel series” comprising five- to ten-minute video episodes of places in Europe, Asia and the Americas. It’s got a fun yet professional feel and is always entertaining. Syncing to iPod is a bit hit and miss with different videos in different formats, but it seems to be improving. iTunes.
4. This Week in Travel
A new audio show covering travel news and events, hosted by Chris Christensen, Gary Arndt, Jen Leo and regular guests (like me, in episode seven). This podcast is great for people who want to keep up with gossip and views on consumer and industry events. iTunes.
5. Japan Podshow
Like Tokyo, this podcast is varied, interesting and little too kooky at times. Mainly audio, with the occasional video episode thrown in, Japan Podshow is hosted by two expats and attempts to give advice for travellers while also giving insight into culture and daily life in Japan. iTunes.
6. Irish Fireside
Ireland is a really enjoyable place to travel and have some craic, but I can’t get excited about it the way some people do. If the Emerald Isle really flicks your bic, then this is definitely the show for you. Corey and Liam are engaging hosts and are truly passionate about the culture and country. iTunes.
General knowledge and current events
Of course, being well-rounded global citizens means we get beyond the niche and into the wider world. Here’s three shows that help keep us connected with past and present.
7. iTunes: Meet the Author
An irregular podcast which brings together “Meet the author” presentations from Apple stores. Currently in the archives are Guilermo del Toro, Nick Cave, Nick Hornby and Stephen Fry. An insight into creative process and the passions of excellent writers. iTunes.
8. In Our Time with Melvin Bragg
This is one of the few re-published radio shows that I listen to as a podcast. In Our Time brings together three guest experts each week to speak with host Melvin Bragg about wide ranging topics from evolutionary biology or quantum physics to the literature of Victorian England or the Siege of Vienna. Wide ranging in scope and always full of well-considered theories and opinions. iTunes.
9. The Bugle
In a long line of satirical news and current affairs shows, the Bugle brings together Andy Zaltzman and John Oliver (of Daily Show fame) to discuss worldwide news events. I enjoy this over most similar shows because of the international scope of things: Andy is based in the UK, 
while John resides in the States. And you have to get your news somewhere, right? iTunes.
Free audiobooks
Listening to a book or two is a great way to pass the time during long transits.
10. Librivox
Librivox isn’t so much a podcast as a massive project to turn the world’s public domain texts into free audiobooks. Free like beer and free like speech. Most novels, texts and collections of poetry are available in an iTunes podcast feed, which makes downloading each chapter a cinch and helps to keep things easily organised. Site.
And, of course, the Indie Travel Podcast is always worth a listen too!
How do I subscribe to a podcast?
A “subscription” to most podcasts (including all the ones listed above) is completely free and takes seconds. If you have iTunes installed on your computer, it’s as simple as clicking the iTunes link for each show then the “subscribe” button.
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What have we missed?
Do you love these shows? What else do you enjoy? Share your favourites in the comments.
A must have for me is “This American Life” podcasts. Even a long flight goes by fast armed with this master of the tale! http://thisamericanlife.org
I’d like to add The WDW Radio show, which is all about Walt Disney World from the author of the Disney trivia books. he is at http://wdwradio.com. Incredibly well produced and full of amazing content and 100% family friendly
what a fantastic list! i know of several (yours, irish fireside, galavanting, etc.) but happy to find new ones. thanks!
I listen to both Amateur Traveler & yours regularly. I’m surprised that you didn’t mention Rick Steves – I love his interviewing style – relaxed but always informed and the way he uses music. I suppose it is a professional radio show.
I also like the Lonely Planet podcasts on a range of destinations and themes. Also worth checking out both the Independent & Guardian newspaper sites for their destination podcasts – I usually check them before I go anywhere
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/podcasts/travelcast.xml
http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/the-independents-travel-podcast-service-756038.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/audio
Last but not least, I’m starting to podcast myself – listen to my first episode here about Family Travel with Hospitality Club – a website that connects travellers looking for free accommodation and advice, but not the typical choice for parents travelling with children. I have a couple more episodes in the pipeline & then I’ll set up an I-tunes feed.
http://www.heatheronhertravels.com/podcast-free-family-travel-hospitality-club-episode-1/
By the way, I always think of a podcast as an audio show, but you’re using it interchangeably with video. Maybe I’ll have to get some of my travel videos on Youtube into an I-tunes friendly format.
Also if you’re into podcasts, the BBC website is a rich source for their radio shows & the weekly travel show, Excess Baggage is a good one
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qjds
Photo essays? There’s not a photo in any of the shows. All video. And won’t sync to your iTouch? The iTouch doesn’t play HD. There’s a non-HD show for iPhone/iPod/iTouch users though! It’s just not as popular as the HD show and so doesn’t show up in the Top 100 or the iTunes homepage very often. It’s there though if you look for it.
Here’s the link:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=253914726
But hey, thanks for the review! I Love your show and wish I could get around to more places around the world like you do. Some day…
Tony
It’s all video, Tony? Wow — some images are so crisp and still I thought you were blending both. Thanks for the non-HD version. I thought you had one, but a quick search didn’t turn it up.
Wow! Quick reply. And now I appreciate the photo essay comment, now that I know it is because the shots are so good! 🙂 Best to you and your show.
Tony
Those comments fly pretty fast sometimes 🙂 Cheers, mate.
Thanks for the list – Ive never really considered travelling with podcasts, but now I think i’ll check it out!
Oh yeah, definitely worth checking out … there’s a lot to learn and some fun stories to hear.