Best Travel Inspiration Podcasts (2024)

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ADVENTURE: Living with Wolves: Filmmakers Jim and Jamie Dutcher’s six-year adventure camping with the Sawtooth Pack 38:34

15h ago38:34

38:34

“There was one time when one of the young wolves was licking my face, and his canine went up my nose, and I was like, oh, okay, don't move. He wasn't trying to bite me; it was just excitement. But it was an awesome, eerie, and strangely wonderful experience.” - Jamie Dutcher Before the arrival of European settlers, it is estimated as many as 500,00…

1
PATHWAYS: Surfing Iceland, Bedouin Stars and Living with Wolves 37:20

2h ago37:20

37:20

At the start of every month, host Aaron Millar and producer Jason Paton preview what’s coming up on Armchair Explorer, play their favorite clips, and reveal the stories they’re most excited to share. A cross between a highlight reel, an interview, and two people telling travel tales down the pub, our Pathways episodes are your guide to choosing you…

1
BUCKET LIST: Ghost Hunt in the London Tombs with Host Aaron Millar 14:17

2h ago14:17

14:17

“I was lying in a coffin in the catacombs beneath London Bridge while a clairvoyant called to the spirits around me to make themselves known. To say this was not a normal Saturday night would be to grossly understate the point.” And so begins, the second of our Halloween specials – a bucket list ghost hunt in the London Tombs. When these ancient ca…

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IMMERSION: The World’s Scariest Whisky Distillery Tour at Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary 20:58

12d ago20:58

20:58

They called it the ‘End of the Line’. For over a century, Brushy Mountain prison held some of the most violent murderers, rapists and serial killers in the country. If you wore out your welcome at another prison or your crime was among the most unspeakable committed, this was where you ended up. And once you walked through the doors, almost no one …

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PERFORMANCE: The Diamond Stream with Tennessee Music Legend Ed Snodderly 33:40

6d ago33:40

33:40

“So, take down your box and bow, and play the strings. Whistle up your travellin’ tune. Listen to the sound the water makes, in the Diamond Stream.” Ed Snodderly, The Diamond Stream This episode is the first in our Performance series, where we showcase music from around the globe. Today, we’re joined by Tennessee Music Legend Ed Snodderly at his li…

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IMMERSION: Wild Rides, Mutton Bustin’ and the Fastest Shearer in the West: On Location at the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo 34:45

19d ago34:45

34:45

Rodeo in the United States is a reflection of the spirit of the American West, and a tradition rooted in the folklore and culture of the country. But in South Dakota, it’s not only the official sport - it’s a way of life. Join us as we go on a wild ride at the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo where over 300,000 people from all over the world descen…

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CONNECTION: The Mongol Rally: Driving from London to Mongolia in a Junk Yard Car with Jenny Hunter from The Adventurists 37:17

23d ago37:17

37:17

“We’re fighting to make the world less boring. Our planet used to slap us about the face-cheeks with iron fists of adventure every day. Maps had edges to walk off. Whole continents lay undiscovered. But now, the entire surface of the Earth has been scanned by satellites and shoveled into your mobile phone, tagged with twattery about which restauran…

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IMMERSION: The Elements of AlUla: Arabia’s Lost City and the Heritage of Earth 47:19

15d ago47:19

47:19

“… it’s incredible to get that picture of watching the caravans arrive on the horizon, and you don't know what they're going hold. You don't know what mysteries. People with strange languages, different clothes, and different smells. And they set up around the fire at night and play music you've never heard before; tell stories you've never heard b…

1
ADVENTURE: From the Top of the Himalayas to the Chaos Within: The Color of Everything with National Geographic Photographer and Mountaineer Cory Richards 42:32

1M ago42:32

42:32

“I look out the window towards K2 and it's this splitter blue day with this little wisp of white snow coming off the top of the second highest mountain in the world and I'm feeling this sense of terror and this realization of, oh shit: What have I agreed to?” Cory Richards is one of the world’s most renowned mountaineers and adventure photographers…

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PATHWAYS: Mongol Rallies, Lost Cities, and the World’s Scariest Distillery 43:37

1M ago43:37

43:37

At the start of every month, host Aaron Millar and producer Jason Paton preview what’s coming up on Armchair Explorer, play their favorite clips, and reveal the stories they’re most excited to share. A cross between a highlight reel, an interview, and two people telling travel tales down the pub, our Pathways episodes are your guide to choosing you…

1
Powwows, Harleys, and Frank Lloyd Wright: Here's to Those Who Wisconsin! 46:31

30d ago46:31

46:31

Here’s to those who Wisconsin … that’s what they say in this part of the world. Because traveling here is not so much about exploring a place as discovering a mindset. In this two-part documentary series, recorded on location, we’ll be searching for that Wisconsin state of mind. Today we’ll be looking for it through the lens of its music, architect…

1
World Travel Day Special: Vagabonding with Rolf Potts, Life Lessons from one of the World’s Greatest Travelers 52:59

1M ago52:59

52:59

“The best way to travel? Dare to be lonely, lost, and bored.” – Rolf Potts, author of Vagabonding Today’s special episode is in honor of World Travel Day, which was set up by the United Nations over 50 years ago and is celebrated today, on September 27th, every year. Here’s what they have to say about it … Tourism as an instrument for peace Tourism…

1
Adventures in the Desert: Joshua Tree, Slot Canyons and the San Andreas Fault 51:11

2M ago51:11

51:11

In the heart of the California’s Sonoran Desert the city of Palm Spring’s emerges like a green oasis surrounded by a sea of red. It’s known for food, art, glamour, glitz but head outside the city boundaries to Greater Palm Springs and there’s plenty of adventure too. Today we’re going to be exploring the region’s wild side - and we’re not talking a…

1
Hotter than a Match: The Story of Bluegrass On Location in Tennessee 36:24

2M ago36:24

36:24

"Bluegrass will lift you up and sweep you along like the fast-flowing waters of the Tennessee River...it's foot stomping, hand clapping, blazingly fast songs hotter than a match." In this episode, dive into the world of Tennessee bluegrass and learn why this is a genre of music that can only be truly experienced live. Join host Aaron Millar as he s…

1
Best of Explorer: Walking the Amazon with Explorer Ed Stafford 1:01:48

2M ago1:01:48

1:01:48

Follow world-renowned explorer Ed Stafford on the expedition that made his name: walking the entire length of the Amazon River, on foot. People thought that it was impossible, that he would die trying; and they were nearly right. He was attacked by a tribe of angry machete wielding indigenous peoples, he faced Narco drug traffickers and giant anaco…

1
The Ghosts of Gunslingers: Black Hills and Deadwood 33:16

2M ago33:16

33:16

“Nobody's down here except for us ghost people and the hotel staff. And some of the hotel staff in the past wouldn't come down here by themselves. Things happen in here. Things have happened to me.” – Kate, Ghost Tour Guide at the Bullock Hotel, Deadwood Tales of the Wild West and lawless frontiers are ingrained in American culture - and in Deadwoo…

1
Pacific Surfliner: Taking the Slow Track Down the So-Cal Coast 47:53

2M ago47:53

47:53

Imagine a road trip up the southern Californian coast stopping off at cool little beach towns along the way. But instead of doing it in a car, on the highway, getting stuck in traffic, with nothing to do or see … you surf it instead. The Pacific Surfliner train travels 351 miles from San Diego to San Luis Obispo, through Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa…

1
Fireside dances, ancient ruins and the beauty of Hózhó (balance): Native Connections on Location in Utah 58:31

3M ago58:31

58:31

Maiku. Yá'át'ééh. And hello! You can't really know a place without hearing from the people who have always been there. Utah is the sacred and ancestral home of eight different tribal nations, including the Paiute, Navajo (Diné), Shoshone, Goshute, and more. And today, we're learning as much about their histories and cultures as we can. Join us as w…

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Best of Explorer: Voyage of the Finmen: Kayaking from Greenland to Scotland with Explorer George Bullard 59:48

3M ago59:48

59:48

Follow world-record breaking explorer George Bullard on a world-first kayak from Greenland to Scotland across one of the most dangerous stretches of water on the planet. No one thought they could do it. Most people assumed they would die trying – and they nearly did, more than once. But, despite the odds, over six weeks, George and his expedition p…

1
Living On the Ice: A Year in Antarctica with Matty Jordan 42:39

3M ago42:39

42:39

In Antarctica, time is measured in ice. Entire worlds form and dissolve in the marbled blue sheets and shimmering peaks, which rise and return from glacial seas. Half of the year is soaked in eternal sunlight; the other, cloaked in perpetual darkness. And throughout this cycle of melting and freezing, sunsets and vibrant auroras, there is a group o…

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Soundtrack of America: The Story of the Blues On Location in Tennessee 41:49

4M ago41:49

41:49

Follow award-winning Aaron Millar on a road trip across the Tennessee Music Pathways from the graveside of Sonny Boy Williamson, the grandfather of The Blues harmonica, to Chattanooga, home of the Big 9, and one of the original breeding grounds of The Blues. Along the way we will hear how The Blues became, perhaps, the most influential genre in all…

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Best of Explorer - Silk Road Mountain Race: Riding the Toughest Mountain Bike Race in the World with Extreme Bikepacker Cat Jaffee 48:59

4M ago48:59

48:59

Follow extreme bikepacker Cat Jaffee as she competes in the Silk Road Mountain Race - the toughest mountain bike race on the planet. 1,200-miles long, with over 115,000-feet elevation gain, athletes traverse the high mountain passes and remote valleys of Kyrgyzstan for 14 grueling days. Traveling completely unsupported, wild camping along the way, …

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Route of Parks: Rewilding Chile with Groundbreaking Conservationist and former Patagonia CEO Kris Tompkins 40:04

4M ago40:04

40:04

“These are the days in our lives that we remember. It's not all the days that went so well. It's the days when you're miserable, when you think you can't go one more step, and then you swear at somebody, and then you keep going. Those are the days that form our spines. They have formed my spine.” - Kris Tompkins Kris Tompkins has spent a lifetime f…

1
The Hollywood Skull, Pluto, and 42 Telescopes: Dissecting Deep Time On Location in Utah 1:03:48

5M ago1:03:48

1:03:48

Dinosaurs and dark skies have a lot more in common than you'd think...and Utah happens to be one of the best places in the world to experience both of them firsthand. In this episode, join host Aaron Millar as he explores Utah through both time and space. From coming face to face with a wall of dinosaur bones to stepping onto a top-secret active di…

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Best of Explorer - The Abode of the Gods: Ascending Mt. Meru with Climbing Legend Conrad Anker 37:17

5M ago37:17

37:17

Conrad Anker is renowned throughout the world as one of the greatest living mountaineers. Follow him to the Himalayan peaks of northern India to climb the ‘Shark’s Fin’ of Mt. Meru, a sheer 1,500-foot wall of blank granite, one the hardest, most dangerous and beautiful routes on the planet. For 30 years the best mountaineers in the world had attemp…

1
Liquid Tourism: Drinking On Location in Yolo, California 50:01

5M ago50:01

50:01

Pub crawls, wine tasting, a distillery or two. The only thing better than summer travel, is summer travel with a drink in hand. That’s what this episode is all about. We’re calling it Liquid Tourism and it’s going to be a lot of fun. Today, we’re going to Yolo County, California. You may remember it from the documentary we made about the Slow Food …

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Crocodile Ceremonies, Treacherous Treks, and one of the Most Remote Tribes on Earth: Papúa New Guinea with Off-Grid Explorer Benedict Allen 54:15

5M ago54:15

54:15

Benedict Allen has made a name for himself, not necessarily for what he does, but for what he does not do...travel with modern technology. For the last several decades, Benedict has explored some of the most remote corners of the planet, from crossing the Amazon basin to the deserts of Namibia. And instead of navigating those highly complex journey…

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Mule Riding, Canyoneering, and Skiing Into a Pool: Part Two of Uniquely Utah Adventures 46:31

6M ago46:31

46:31

If there's one word that defines Utah, it just might be adventure. From the adrenaline-pumping to the meditative, the outdoors in Utah is a veritable playground for exploration. In Part One of Uniquely Utah adventures, we spent the morning fly fishing on the teal waters of Flaming Gorge, followed by an afternoon of mountain biking, chasing sharp tu…

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Bushwhacking to go Backpacking: Establishing Kenya's First Long-Distance Backpacking Trail with Chris Carter 49:10

6M ago49:10

49:10

Growing up in Kenya, Chris Carter fell in love with Africa's wilderness -- with forests and grasslands, mountains and waterfalls, lions and giraffes. But after spending several years backpacking the long-distance treks of the US, he returned to his home country only to realize that Kenya had no comparable established backpacking trails. So naturall…

1
Mule Riding, Canyoneering, and Skiing Into a Pool: Part One of Uniquely Utah Adventures 34:34

6M ago34:34

34:34

Welcome to Utah: Life Elevated, the documentary podcast that will take you all around Utah on an unforgettable road trip. Today, we're diving into some of Utah's unique adventures...because if there's one word that defines Utah, it just might be adventure! From rappelling down canyon walls to churning up dirt on a mountain bike, there are so many w…

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The Cyclist Who Went Out in the Cold: Adventures Along the Iron Curtain Trail with Tim Moore 34:15

7M ago34:15

34:15

Writer Tim Moore is no stranger to the unusual and unique. In his early days as a travel writer, he rode a container ship to Iceland, biked across Italy in a period costume, completed the Camino de Santiago with a donkey as his only companion, and more. So when Tim got a call out of the blue one day from his editor, asking if he'd consider biking t…

1
From the top of Crater Lake to the bottom of a Lava Tube: On Location on Oregon's Central Nature Trail, USA 1:07:54

7M ago1:07:54

1:07:54

In Oregon, the natural world doesn't just inspire awe -- it gives a touch of the sublime. In the words of one guide, it's "timeless...important for the soul of humankind." And today, we're immersing ourselves in those sublime experiences along the Central Nature Trail in Oregon! Follow along as we snowshoe to the top of Watchman Peak, for the best …

1
In Search of Paradise with Pico Iyer 43:30

7M ago43:30

43:30

"Paradise: that elusive place where the anxieties, struggles, and burdens of life fall away. Most of us dream of it, but each of us has very different ideas about where it is to be found. For some it can be enjoyed only after death; for others, it’s in our midst—or just across the ocean—if only we can find eyes to see it." Thus begins the premise o…

1
Speaking With Dolphins and Searching for Sunken Treasure: On Location in the Florida Keys 32:08

7M ago32:08

32:08

In the Florida Keys, the ocean isn't just part of the scenery. Because beneath those shimmering teal waters, there are adventures and discoveries just waiting to be found. And in today's episode, we'll explore two very different - yet equally captivating - gems of the Keys, with excerpts from two different episodes of the 30-part Florida Keys Trave…

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Travels Through Countries that Don't Exist with Eric Czuleger 56:24

7M ago56:24

56:24

“I'm sure bungee jumping is crazy and a real like adrenaline rush. But if you've never walked through Somalia with $15,000 in your backpack, you have never lived. You think you like adventure sports, but that is real, real pumping adrenaline.” In this episode, American journalist Eric Czuleger takes us on a journey into the twilight zone of almost …

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Irish Myths and Mysteries: Searching for St. Brigid on Location in Ireland 55:32

8M ago55:32

55:32

St. Patrick might be the most famous of the Irish saints...but he's far from the most interesting. In 2023, St. Brigid’s Day was decreed a National Holiday in Ireland to honor Brigid. Over the millennia, this legendary woman has evolved into a figure encompassing myth, holy legend, pagan icon, and now modern feminist symbol. But who was Brigid, rea…

1
Himalaya Bound: Migrating with India's Nomadic Van Gujjars with Michael Benanav 54:15

8M ago54:15

54:15

The Van Gujjar tribes spend half of each year living deep in the forests of northern India and the other half high on the mountain plains of the Himalayas. Herding water buffalo, whose milk nourishes and sustains their livelihoods, every Van Gujjar family makes an annual migration from their winter home in the forests to their summer grazing fields…

1
Honky Tonks, Country Music and All Sorts of Mayhem On Location in Nashville, Tennessee 39:29

8M ago39:29

39:29

This week we are going to Nashville, Tennessee The Country Music Capital of the World … but don’t worry you don’t have to love country to love Nashville. It is a music town. If you like listening to live music – who doesn’t? – then this is a musical odyssey you must take at least once in your life. We’re going to have some fun, we’re going backstag…

1
Flooded Forests, Piranhas, and Mountains Above the Clouds: Experiencing the Amazon through Indigenous Eyes with Alex Robinson 34:43

9M ago34:43

34:43

"I will show you my Amazon - the Amazon that visitors never get to see." When Alex Robinson heard those words, he knew he was in for the adventure of a lifetime. His guide, Saru Mundurucu, had recently founded his own adventure and travel company, Aracá Expeditions. As the first and only Amazon adventure company owned and operated by an indigenous …

1
Hidden Bar Crawls to Experimental Art Labs: Getting Weird On Location on Oregon's Culture Trail 52:39

9M ago52:39

52:39

Today, we're embracing our weird in Oregon as we explore the Northern Culture Trail! We’re going to discover Portland’s favorite food carts, sample food from around the world and go on a secret bar crawl to hidden local spots. “Portland is the rebel base of the Star Wars universe, we’re sticking it to the forces of normal,” Dresden of Throw Snakes …

1
Rowing to Baikal: A Camel, Horse, and River Journey to the 'Pearl of Siberia' with Peter Fong 47:12

9M ago47:12

47:12

Today we're journeying to Lake Baikal, the largest, oldest, deepest freshwater lake in the world...and to get there, we're crossing over a thousand miles in Mongolia and Russia by camel, horse, kayak, and rowboat. Like all lakes, Lake Baikal exists because of a river. And in 2018, fishing and river guide Peter Fong led the first-ever expedition fro…

1
The Legendary Tale of Bird & Jim: On Location in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado 41:56

9M ago41:56

41:56

Today, we're returning to the mountains of Colorado to hear about the adventures of Isabella Bird, a British explorer who famously ascended Longs Peak in 1873 with her guide and companion Jim Nugent. The story of Bird and Jim illuminates the early history and character of Estes Park, as her writings helped establish the town as a tourist destinatio…

1
Flying Polar Bears and Charging Grizzlies: Beartrekking With Ecologist Chris Morgan 47:14

9M ago47:14

47:14

"There are eight species of bears on the planet. Six of them are threatened everywhere they live." Thus begins Beartrek, a documentary which took Chris Morgan nearly 8 years to make. In Beartrek, he follows the lives of several individual bears around the world, from a friendly spectacled bear in Peru's arid mountains to a shy sun bear cub in the m…

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The Birth of Soul and Rock N' Roll: On Location in Memphis, Tennessee 51:58

10M ago51:58

51:58

"It was here, on the banks of the Mississippi River, where music changed the world." In Memphis, music has always been more than a melody and lyrics - it's a movement. This is a city that launched some of the world's most beloved musicians, from Otis Redding to Isaac Hayes, Carla Thomas, Elvis Presley, and more. And in the midst of segregation and …

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SPECIAL EPISODE: Surviving Thailand's 2004 Tsunami with Aaron Millar (Adventure Sports Podcast) 1:09:00

10M ago1:09:00

1:09:00

Today's episode is a little bit different - because our very own Aaron Millar is our guest! This re-released episode is one of the most memorable conversations he's ever had, and we're very excited to share it with you. In this interview, which originally aired with the Adventure Sports Podcast in 2020, Aaron shares stories from his years as a trav…

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Revisiting the Herd at the End of the World: Christine Amour Levar's Journey With the Nenet Reindeer Herders of Siberia 48:36

11M ago48:36

48:36

It's hard to imagine Christmas without reindeer. But long before the beloved antlered animals were pulling Santa's sleigh, they were providing a way of life for indigenous peoples around the world, including the Nenets of Siberia’s Yamal Peninsula. The Nenets of Siberia’s Yamal Peninsula are among the world’s oldest existing true nomads, making a l…

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Bicycles, Bad Violin Playing, and Blank Maps: Redefining Adventure With Alastair Humphreys 1:00:52

11M ago1:00:52

1:00:52

When Alastair Humphreys was young, he craved something unknowable. That something - adventure, excitement, wisdom, whatever it was - was close. But he suspected that in order to find it, he'd have to step outside of the familiar shapes of his routines. He'd have to break free from the expectations of his friends and family, of advanced degrees and …

1
Born Among the Black Hills: On Location With the Lakota Sioux Nation of South Dakota 34:39

11M ago34:39

34:39

“It's kind of interesting that people that come here to Crazy Horse Memorial, because it's almost like there's a spiritual calling. They don't know quite what it is. But they feel it.” – Paul LaRoche, Lakota tribe member and founder of the band Brulé The great Lakota Sioux Nation have become the international symbol of America’s native people. Over…

1
Kite-skiing to Mars via Antarctica with Explorer Justin Packshaw 49:24

11M ago49:24

49:24

"Humans are meant to excel. And when you start pushing that and seeing how capable we are, it's phenomenal what you can actually go and do." -Justin Packshaw When Justin Packshaw was trekking in Antarctica several years ago, he noticed something disturbing: The ice shelf had visibly melted since his previous visit, just a few decades prior. "In the…

1
Slow Food Values in a Fast Food World: On the Farm-to-Fork Trail in Yolo County, California 45:44

12M ago45:44

45:44

Yolo County in Northern California is one of the world’s premier destinations for slow food. But that doesn’t mean waiting for your dinner - it means savoring every bite and building a connection to the land from which it comes. We live in a fast world. 20% of all meals are eaten in cars. One third of Americans eat fast food every single day. That …

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Travel Inspiration Podcasts

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