Best Tamara Walker Podcasts (2024)

1
Souvenir: Teachers and Travel 52:46

2y ago52:46

52:46

This week we revisit one of our episodes about teachers and travel. We take a look at all the ways teachers use travel, from expanding the boundaries of the classroom and developing their own skills, to - as our guest Cheria Funches of Black Teachers Travel puts it - engaging in self care. For more on the topics we cover in this episode, check out:…

1
Souvenir: Retirement Travel 1:11:34

2y ago1:11:34

1:11:34

We continue with our trip down memory lane by revisiting our conversation with Alison and Don, 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.…

1
Souvenir/Postcard: Travel with Kids 48:01

2y ago48:01

48:01

Now that summer travel season is kicking back into gear for the first time in years, we thought we’d dig through our archives to bring you some early, pre-pandemic podcast content to stoke your nostalgia and wanderlust. We’re calling this series “souvenirs,” as a reminder of where we’ve been and how lucky we’ve been to be able to wander the earth a…

1
Episode 64: Travel Hacks & Shifting Guidelines 35:44

2y ago35:44

35:44

In this episode Shannon and Tamara talk about one of the enduring challenges when it comes to traveling to Europe - flights that land hours (and hours) before we can check into our accomodations - and a genius workaround that helps get everyone off to a fresh start. They also commisserate about the challenge of keeping track of all the shifting gui…

1
Episode 63: Travel Tropes to Toss, Keep, and Rethink 32:19

2y ago32:19

32:19

In this episode we talk about overused travel tropes. Which ones do we need to toss out (hint: it ends with "-moon")? Which ones are worth keeping, or perhaps rethinking for the way we live and travel now? For more on the topics we discuss in this episode, check out: https://www.travelpulse.com/opinions/column/its-time-to-rethink-these-overused-tra…

1
Episode 62: Do Tourist Traps Get a Bad Rap? 42:08

2y ago42:08

42:08

It seems like every piece of travel advice we come across these days tells us to avoid the dreaded "tourist trap." But what's so bad about these sorts of places? And why are we so dismissive of them? In this episode, Shannon and Tamara try to get to the bottom of it, and offer up a more flexible set of rules for having the best travel experience po…

1
Episode 61: What Does it Mean to be Well Traveled? 26:30

2y ago26:30

26:30

In this episode Shannon and Tamara tackle a pressing question: what does it mean to be well traveled? Is it about the number of stamps on your passport or a slightly more complex formula? Also, join us as we end up dissecting the most expensive, luxurious, and downright outrageous trip offering we've ever come across: Four Seasons Private Jet Excur…

1
Episode 60: New Year, Old Problems 29:29

2+ y ago29:29

29:29

In this episode we talk about how we've started out the new year aware of the old problems related to traveling in our current reality. At the same time, that awareness has forced us to become travel and destination experts in ways we're trying to embrace.

1
Episode 59: A Report from the 2021 Travel Field 26:10

2+ y ago26:10

26:10

When we started working on this week's episode with Angela, our de facto travel correspondent, the new variant hadn't yet made the news or an impact on the travel industry. So the specifics of the experience she describes reflect a different moment than the one we're currently in. But there is something valuable in realizing that, when it comes to …

1
Episode 58: The Roads We've Been Traveling 43:00

2+ y ago43:00

43:00

Tamara and Shannon are back! In this episode, they talk about the roads they've been traveling, what it's like becoming a regular in new places, the joy of cooking in Sabbatical Homes, and whether they see themselves as travel experts, expert travelers, or some combination of the two.

1
Episode 57: What We Never Travel Without 32:59

2+ y ago32:59

32:59

It has been a while since the last episode we recorded together. We’ve got a bunch of ideas of topics we want to cover this fall and winter on Why We Wander but we thought we’d ease back into things with a fun thought experiment inspired by a recent article in Conde Nast Traveler titled “Why I never travel without a white button down shirt.” Tamara…

1
Episode 56: A Student Searches for Haiti and Herself 16:05

2+ y ago16:05

16:05

We had a busy summer at the podcast and at The Wandering Scholar, despite the unusual circumstances surrounding all of us right now. Normally we’d be giving you updates from our students about their trips abroad with one of our travel partners, but obviously that wasn’t possible for us this year. And so we had to get creative. In place of our usual…

1
Episode 55: The New Rules of Tourism 28:53

3y ago28:53

28:53

In this episode, Tamara and Shannon talk about the new rules of tourism. After world-famous cities like Amsterdam got a taste during the pandemic of what life was like without tourists looking to get high, visit the Red Light District during Stag (Bachelor) parties, and sometimes even treat their town like one giant public restroom, they want a fre…

1
Episode 54: All Things Iceland with Jewells Chambers 51:02

3y ago51:02

51:02

In this episode, Tamara chats with Jewells Chambers, founder of All Things Iceland (a multi-platform destination for learning about Icelandic culture, history, and nature). They talk about Jewells' most formative travel experiences, the love story that took her to Iceland, what it's like to be a Black person there, and balancing family ties with a …

1
Episode 53: A Conversation with Danielle G. from Young, Gifted and Abroad 47:07

3y ago47:07

47:07

In this episode, Shannon and Tamara chat with Danielle G., host of the podcast Young, Gifted, and Abroad (https://www.younggiftedandabroad.com/), which had its debut on Juneteenth in 2018. We asked her about her earliest international experiences, whether she prefers standing out or blending in when she travels, and why it's so important for BIPOC …

1
Episode 52: Road Trips, College Towns and Vanlife 36:02

3y ago36:02

36:02

It's almost summer which means road trip time for many people who are seeking a little adventure as restrictions ease up around the U.S. In this episode Tamara and Shannon catch up about Tamara's recent road trip over Memorial Day weekend from Toronto to Colorado. They circle back to the topic of vaccine tourism, Tamara shares why she chose to stay…

1
Episode 51: Traveling Is "When We Feel Most Alive" 19:46

3y ago19:46

19:46

In our last episode, Shannon and Tamara talked about the place of travel in their lives and why it matters so much to them that they built a non-profit and podcast around it. The conversation made them wonder what some of their previous guests had to say about the importance of travel, so they reached out. This episode brings their insights to you.…

1
Episode 50: What Is It about Travel? 30:49

3y ago30:49

30:49

For our 50th episode, Shannon and Tamara drill down to the essence of our show to ask: what is it about travel that nourishes us, defines our sense of self, and - in some cases - even makes us go crazy at the thought of living without it?

1
Episode 49: Revenge Travel, Why We’re Not That Into It 24:26

3y ago24:26

24:26

In this episode Tamara and Shannon explore the travel trends that are taking over our newsfeed from revenge travel to regenerative travel and everything in between. We talk about what concepts are resonating with us at a personal level and which ones we’d prefer to leave on the cutting room floor. With some countries accelerating vaccinations while…

1
Episode 48: Markets, Street Vendors & Food Travel with a Smithsonian Food Historian 1:01:52

3y ago1:01:52

1:01:52

In this episode we explore the intersection of travel, history and food with food historian Ashley Rose Young, PhD. Dr. Young joined the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in 2017 as the Historian of the American Food History Project. In January 2021, Britannica recognized Young as one of the “20 Under 40: Young Shapers of the Future…

1
Episode 47: Food & Travel 46:04

3y ago46:04

46:04

As we round out a year of no travel, we are all continuing to find ways to stay connected to the world around us. In this episode, that means through our stomachs! Food, for many, is reason enough to hop on an airplane. And while some of us are lucky enough to live where you can have shakshuka for breakfast, banh mi for lunch and mole for dinner, n…

1
Episode 46: Talking with Dr. Kiona - How Not To Travel 1:06:43

3y ago1:06:43

1:06:43

In this episode we talk with Dr. Kiona, an online educator and founder of How Not To Travel Like A Basic Bitch. She blends travel with accessible learning by spotlighting different cultures, uplifting marginalized voices, and inspiring her audience to travel mindfully. She also hosts How Not To Travel, a biweekly podcast, curates monthly education …

1
Episode 45: "Emily In Paris" and the Travel Stories We Don't See 46:00

3y ago46:00

46:00

It's the run-up to the Golden Globes, and we have the surprise - and controversial - multi-nominee "Emily in Paris" on our minds. We talk about what we liked about the show, how we’d approach the story if we were in the writers’ room, and whether it’s possible to tell escapist stories about working and living abroad while staying grounded in realit…

1
Episode 44: Study Abroad Memories 38:14

3y ago38:14

38:14

If we weren’t in the middle of a pandemic, it would be study abroad season for high-school and college students around the US. In the spirit of nostalgia and with hope for a future of safely-opened borders, we decided to reflect on our own memories of studying abroad, and share some from our listeners, too. We also preview the second virtual worksh…

1
Episode 43: Vaccine Tourism 38:27

3y ago38:27

38:27

In this postcard episode Tamara and Shannon talk about what everyone is talking about: vaccine tourism. From out-of-staters crossing the border in Florida to international travel agencies marketing yet-to-be-available vaccination trips to New York City to wealthy elites, people are cutting lines left and right to get the vaccine. We talk about what…

1
Episode 42: You Can Still Visit Paris 39:32

3y ago39:32

39:32

In this episode, we talk with Elisa Jéhanno, a licensed tour guide in Paris who - it might surprise you - has been keeping very busy these past few months . We cover a range of topics, including the French licensing process, how she pivoted from in-person tours to virtual offerings, Parisians’ mixed feelings about having their city to themselves du…

1
Episode 41: The Real Housewives of Travel 1:11:59

3+ y ago1:11:59

1:11:59

In this episode, Tamara talks with Brandon, a friend of the podcast who you last heard from him in episode 36 (https://soundcloud.com/user-88865630/ep-36-getting-away-but-not-escaping). In addition to loving to talk about travel, the two of us also love to talk about all things Real Housewives. So we got together to explore the intersection of thos…

1
Episode 40: A Year (Mostly) without Travel: Reflections and Resolutions 46:49

3+ y ago46:49

46:49

In our 40th and final episode of 2020, Tamara and Shannon reflect on a year without travel (or at least much travel) and talk about what this coming year will look like for us personally and for the travel industry at large. We reminisce about the last places we traveled to pre-COVID, consider the closest we got to “getting away” during lockdown, s…

1
Episode 39: Race and Travel 1:01:36

3+ y ago1:01:36

1:01:36

This week’s episode is a two-part exploration of race and travel. In Part one, Shannon and Tamara chat with Susan Ho, a travel company founder who we first spoke to in Episode 23. And in part two, Tamara talks with friend of the podcast Angela Moore - who you first heard from in our popular episode about kids and travel, and who appeared more recen…

1
Episode 38: Learning Languages at Home and for the Future 40:23

3+ y ago40:23

40:23

In this episode, Tamara talks with Janina Klimas, a language teacher and expert on all things related to feeling confident speaking foreign languages. If you’re wondering how you’ll get through another winter in quarantine, Janina has tips for reading books, listening to podcasts, and finding fun and effective ways to build your vocabulary and flue…

1
Episode 37: The Future Of Student Travel 47:35

3+ y ago47:35

47:35

We are back! In this episode, we talk with Reed Harwood of Where There Be Dragons, a Colorado-based company whose mission is to cultivate meaningful connections through immersive and responsible travel. We asked him about the impact of COVID-19 on the student travel landscape, and what he thinks the future holds for the industry. For more on Where …

1
Episode 36: Getting Away but Not Escaping 59:23

3+ y ago59:23

59:23

This episode continues our ongoing coverage of travel in the time of covid. We are about 7 months into the pandemic at this point, (or maybe even 10, depending on how you count), and in that time, we have gone from complete lockdowns and lockouts, to the gradual re-opening of borders to travelers. Americans are still being barred from entering most…

1
Episode 35: Travel in the Time of COVID 31:49

3+ y ago31:49

31:49

In this episode, we talk about travel in the time of Covid. Shannon is away from the podcast for a little while, so I reached out to our friend Angela Moore to join me. She was one of the first people I knew to take a trip once stay-at-home orders were lifted this summer, so I had lots of questions for her. And even though we spoke in late July, th…

1
Episode 34: Beyond the Black Square 51:26

3+ y ago51:26

51:26

In this episode, we talk about how the travel industry is reckoning with issues of racial diversity and inclusion. The industry, to put it mildly, has had a long history of whitewashing travel. This applies to how destinations get marketed, the travelers whose stories get featured in publications, and even who travel companies work with to promote …

1
Episode 33: Escaping While Safer At Home 46:20

4y ago46:20

46:20

In our last episode we focused on the realm of fantasy, dreaming up where we would go, who we would visit and even what we’d order for breakfast on our next trip outside our immediate homes and communities. But the reality is that most of us are still safer at home and big trips to far flung places won’t be happening very soon. So we thought we’d s…

1
Episode 32: Quarantine Travel Fantasies 30:45

4y ago30:45

30:45

In this installment of our Travel Fantasies series, we let our minds wander away from the realities we are all facing. We’ve all been cooped up in our homes for quite some time now, watching as spring and summer plans get cancelled as the world struggles in the face of a global pandemic. So we want to indulge a little bit, and asked some listeners …

1
Episode 31: COVID-19 Escape Artists 30:43

4y ago30:43

30:43

In this episode (record date: Thursday, April 2), we continue our coverage of the relationship between travel and the coronavirus. While any significant travel, beyond the big trip from our couch to the kitchen, in this new world of COVID-19 feels like a distant dream, there has still been a lot of talk and debate about interstate travel. Especiall…

1
Episode 30: Study Abroad and Coronavirus 35:57

4y ago35:57

35:57

In this episode, we continue our discussion of the impact of the coronavirus on travel. Last week we talked about the vacations we decided not to take with our families, and how much our stories were reflected in similar kinds of media coverage. But the focus on vacationers has left out a big segment of the traveling population, from business trave…

1
Why We Wander Episode 29: Travel and COVID-19 31:19

4y ago31:19

31:19

In this episode, we talk about something that is on everyone’s minds: travel and the coronavirus. We’ll talk about how it has interrupted vacation plans, inspired fear and panic over travel, and in some cases gotten people even more excited to hit the road. As this is a developing public health situation, we want to make it clear to our listeners t…

1
Why We Wander Ep. 28 (Travel Fantasies) Flight Passes 25:00

4y ago25:00

25:00

We are introducing a new feature called Travel Fantasies. We take a news story - about airline promos, trends in the travel industry, updates from the world of luxury travel etc. and use it as a starting point for a thought experiment. This episode’s fantasy comes thanks to an article about a 3 month flight pass. We wrote our own set of rules: you …

1
Why We Wander Episode 27: Museum Travel 57:36

4y ago57:36

57:36

This episode is about museums and travel. We’ll talk about the different ways museum visits can fit into travel experiences, and vice versa. We chat with Emily Clarke, a museum professional at the early stages of her career who uses social media to explore museums, galleries and heritage sites across the UK & Europe. She shares some great advice fo…

1
Why We Wander Episode 26 (Postcard): Travel Scams 37:50

4+ y ago37:50

37:50

In this postcard episode Tamara and Shannon talk about the trials and tribulations of falling victim to travel scams, both harmless and trip threatening, and also discuss times when we’ve simply been sorely disappointed when the reality doesn’t match the artfully edited photos we saw online. We help you figure out the best way to spot a scam before…

1
Why We Wander Episode 25: Teachers and Travel 53:28

4+ y ago53:28

53:28

In this episode, we talk about teachers and travel. We take a look at all the ways teachers use travel, from expanding the boundaries of the classroom and developing their own skills, to - as our guest Cheria Funches of Black Teachers Travel puts it - engaging in self care. For more on the topics we cover in this episode, see: https://www.teachingt…

1
Why We Wander Episode 24 (Postcard) Holiday Travel 31:34

4+ y ago31:34

31:34

With the holidays approaching, we are thinking, of course, about holiday travel. Not just traveling home to see family, but traveling to vacation destinations. In this episode we talk about the pros and cons of different types of holiday travel. We’ll help you figure out the best way to keep your sanity if you’re traveling to see family, and to kee…

1
Why We Wander Episode 23: Planning a Trip with Susan Ho, Founder of Journy 50:44

4+ y ago50:44

50:44

In this episode we sit down with Susan Ho, founder of Journy a travel planning service that pairs travelers 1-on-1 with their own personal trip designer creating custom itineraries all tailored to a traveler's unique preferences. We talk about the different ways we go about planning trips and the evolving role that travel agents (or travel advisors…

1
Why We Wander Episode 22 (Postcard) Off Season Travel 26:20

4+ y ago26:20

26:20

It’s October and officially fall in our part of the world. So we thought we’d dedicate this postcard episode to talking about one of our favorite parts of fall, off season travel. We discuss what it is and how to benefit from it (and who most often benefits from it). We share some personal experiences of off season travel wins, and fails, and take …

1
Why We Wander Episode 21: Travel and Language with Fluent City 33:16

4+ y ago33:16

33:16

This week we discuss language learning. We sit down with Jessica Vollman CEO of Fluent City, a language school with in person and online programs offering instruction in 11 languages to individuals, groups and companies. We discuss their data driven approach to teaching languages, cover the new technologies out there to help travelers when they don…

1
Why We Wander Episode 20: Travel as a Kid 32:35

4+ y ago32:35

32:35

In this episode we revisit one of our more popular topics, kids and travel, but we flip the script a bit. Last time we spoke with Angela a member of our board at the Wandering Scholar who has been traveling internationally with her son since we was a toddler. Since they were traveling yet again this summer, we thought we’d take the opportunity to s…

1
Why We Wander Episode 19: Our 2019 Wandering Scholars 26:36

4+ y ago26:36

26:36

In this episode, we chat with 2019 Wandering Scholars Angela and Ezeah, who traveled to Peru and Senegal this summer with our partners at Where There Be Dragons. We talk about their trip highlights and snafus, communicating with host families when you don't speak the language, the best things they ate, and how they are incorporating the best lesson…

1
Why We Wander Episode 18 (Postcard): Flight Shame/"Flygskam" 28:03

4+ y ago28:03

28:03

In this postcard episode we talk about flight shaming, which seems to be everywhere in the news these days. We talk about the origins of this phenomenon, what it means for mindful travelers like you, how thought leaders and industry giants are reacting to this trend, and we take a listener question. Further Reading: https://www.independent.co.uk/tr…

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