The Best 8 Travel Podcasts

Traveling through listening thanks to the stories told by the best travel podcasters is a privilege that allows you to explore the world while sitting on your couch at home. Therefore, we bring you a long list of the top road trip podcasts to inspire you. Getting to know new cultures, histories, and cuisines from various places around the globe through audio is an added challenge for these travel content creators. Sound effects, music, and, above all, narration are the tools podcasters use to transport their listeners to new destinations. Pausing, rewinding, and listening from wherever you are and whenever you want are just some of the many reasons why podcasts are currently the king of travel content.

English remains the dominant language for podcasts, comprising about 60% of all available podcasts​. This further supports the estimate that there are likely several thousand travel podcasts available in English. Here are some of the best travel podcasts in English that you can listen to for inspiration, tips, and unique travel stories. Remember that in the Master’s in Travel Journalism, you will also have the opportunity to become a travel podcaster, thanks to the preparation, editing, and creation tools provided by expert professors to help you create your own project.

Best podcasts for roadtrips

While traveling by car to discover new places around the world, you can listen to some of these podcasts for road trips that will help you learn and get inspired in the world of travel content creation in podcast format. Podcasts can serve as a diary of adventures, experiences, and firsthand recommendations, as well as offering interviews with other travelers and providing valuable content to both entertain and inform. Here are some of the best podcast for car trips and the most recognized podcasters for their original content that provides listeners with relevant information and attracts a large audience.

The Big Travel Podcast – by Lisa Francesca Nand

Lisa Francesca Nand is a travel journalist, presenter, writer, and filmmaker who hosts The Big Travel Podcast: Exploring Life-Stories Through Travel. The podcast shares stories ranging from childhoods with limited financial means but a spirit of exploration to fabulous tales of exotic locations and incredible adventures. Celebrities, authors, athletes, politicians, and well-known personalities from TV, radio, music, stage, and screen, as well as SAS soldiers, adventurers, and ordinary people undertaking extraordinary journeys, share their life stories through travel. Through these narratives, The Big Travel Podcast uncovers what it is about travel that inspires us, makes us laugh, love, cry, and sometimes cringe, yet above all, keeps us traveling.

Armchair Explorer – by Aaron Millar

Aaron Millar tell the world’s greatest adventurers and share their best stories from the road. Each episode is produced in a documentary style and set to music and cinematic effects, creating an immersive storytelling experience. He recounts his adventures with the tribes and the crocodile ceremonies in Papua New Guinea, mule riding and canyoneering in Utah, backpacking trails in Kenya, and speaking with dolphins in Florida. Discover remote corners of the planet through the great adventures of Aaron Millar, journalist, photographer, and travel writer.

Women Who Travel – by Meredith Carey and Lale Arikoglu

This podcast dive into the realities of traveling as a woman, give a high-five to all the women revolutionizing the travel industry and celebrate all the reasons why we’re not content with staying home. Each week, Carey and Arikoglu reserve a segment of the episode to respond to a travel-related question from one of their listeners. “Women who travel” hosted by Condé Nast Traveler editors Lale Arikoglu and Meredith Carey dissect the realities of traveling as a woman today, focuses on women travelers and covers a wide range of topics from inspiration to safety​.

Extra Pack of Peanuts – by Travis Sherry

This podcast hosted by Travis Sherry will teach you everything you need to know to travel more and spend less. From interviews with some of the world’s most renowned travel experts, such as Chris Guillebeau, Bruce Poon Tip, AJ Jacobs, Chris Christensen, and others, to specific travel advice on how to use frequent flyer miles, score cheap hotels, pack like a pro, and travel on a budget. Sherry also highlight specific destinations, sharing what it’s really like to travel to India, the best places to eat and sleep in Paris, and topping it all off with his Top 10 lists that will make you laugh, reminisce, and ultimately, be filled with wanderlust.

Zero To Travel – by Jason Moore

This podcast delves into life-changing perspectives, inspiration, and practical advice for everyone, from travel novices to seasoned nomads. Hosted by Jason Moore, it provides everything you need to travel the world on your terms, regardless of your situation or experience. With over 12 million downloads, it has been acclaimed as “The Best Travel Podcast” by The Washington Post, Travel + Leisure, and Forbes.

In this podcast, you’ll discover insights into unconventional travel-based lifestyles, exciting travel jobs, planning epic adventures, backpacking, remote work, taking gap years or career breaks, 4-hour workweek-inspired topics, expatriate life, slow travel, travel hacking, sustainable travel, human-powered adventures, and trips worth planning.

The Amateur Traveler – by Chris Christensen

Since 2005, Amateur Traveler has explored a different destination every week, covering culturally rich locations around the globe. Discover more about the world you live in through engaging stories and insights. The podcast earned its creator, Chris Christensen, a Travel + Leisure award as the “Best Independent Travel Journalist.” Explore destinations like Andalusia, Morocco, Oklahoma, Portugal, Mexico, and the Philippines. You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.

Travel Writing World – by Jeremy Bassetti

Host Jeremy Bassetti engages in conversations with the world’s most acclaimed writers about their work, the craft of travel writing, and the intricacies of the business in this award-winning podcast. Previous guests have included renowned travel writers such as Paul Theroux, Pico Iyer, and Rolf Potts. The show also delves into topics related to travel journalism and travel photography. With a special emphasis on non-fiction travel books, books on place, nature writing, and travel literature.

Not Lost – by Brendan Francis Newnam

Journalist Brendan decides to pursue his dream and creates a travel podcast where he visits various places and learns about local people and traditions. He recounts his grand adventures alongside a friend who accompanies him to each destination, as they drink, dance, and eat their way through cities like Montreal, Mexico City, Portugal, and Las Vegas. Often, they learn as much about themselves as they do about the places they visit. “Not Lost” offers a keen insight into the experiences of their travels, focusing on both locals and visitors trying to make sense of a constantly changing world.

Travel podcasts offer a unique gateway to explore the world from the comfort of home, enriching listeners with diverse cultures, histories, and cuisines through immersive storytelling. With their flexibility and engaging content, podcasts have established themselves as indispensable tools for modern-day travelers seeking inspiration and knowledge.

In the Master’s in Travel Journalism at the School of Travel Journalism, you will have the opportunity to learn how to create your own podcast under the guidance of esteemed professionals known for their substantial audience and valuable content. Here are the essential steps and considerations to initiate your travel podcast project:

How to create your travel podcast?

• Define your concept: First and foremost, you should be clear about what you want to discuss. Whether it’s cooking, adventure travel, street art, or issues like poverty. There can be multiple themes, and you should tailor them to fit your personality archetype and personal interests. In your podcasts, you can provide firsthand advice or bring guests for interviews. There are various formats to choose from, so you should select one that best suits your style. All of these elements will help you create a podcast that resonates and succeeds within your target audience niche.
• Research and plan: Once you determine the theme and format of your podcast, you should create a list of all the episodes for the season and establish a publishing order. To keep it engaging, you can alternate between different destinations or episodes featuring interviews or guest appearances with those showcasing personal experiences. Additionally, you’ll need to design cover art that reflects your podcast’s identity, incorporating colors, title, and images. Don’t forget to choose your intro and outro music, as well as various sound effects to complement your explanations or narratives.
• Equipment needed: Acquire a quality microphone and audio recording/editing software. Ensure your recording environment is quiet and conducive to producing clear sound. To start you can do it with your phone’s recorder and as an editing program it is advisable to use Audacity.
• Record and edit: Record episodes according to your plan and script. Remember that for the sound to have good quality, it should be recorded in a closed room that does not reflect sound. For this purpose, foam insulation for the microphone as well as acoustic panels, pop filters, or choosing between a directional or cardioid microphone can be helpful. Then, edit the audio to eliminate errors, adjust sound levels, and add music or sound effects as needed.

How to Create Your Personal Brand in Your Travel Podcast?

• Create branding: Design a graphic image and appealing name for your podcast that reflects its content and personality. The theme music and opening and closing phrases of your podcast will also define your personal brand and serve as your podcast’s branding. Don’t forget to blend originality and professionalism to achieve success.
• Select a hosting platform: Choose a podcast hosting platform that suits your needs and budget. Popular options include Libsyn, Podbean, or Anchor. You can also try publishing them on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcast.
• Launch and promote: Upload your first episode and distribute it on podcast platforms. Promote your podcast through social media, your personal network, and collaborations with other content creators.
• Consistency and improvement: Release episodes regularly to maintain listener interest. Listen to feedback from your audience and continually enhance the quality of your content and production. It is recommended to begin with a monthly publication schedule, then transition to bi-weekly, and eventually to weekly episodes. Gradually establishing a calendar that aligns with our availability ensures we can consistently deliver content and maintain a strong commitment to our audience.

Expert recommendations for creating your own travel podcast

Explained by @ThinkMediaTV

By following these steps, you can create and develop a travel podcast that not only entertains and educates your audience but also allows you to share your passion for exploring the world through the power of audio. It’s time to travel and create!