Stanfords Travel Podcast

The shattering of Yugoslavia in the 1990s showed that, after nearly 50 years of peace, war could return to Europe. It came to its bloody conclusion in Kosovo in 1999. Tim Marshall, then diplomatic editor at Sky News, was on the ground covering the Kosovo War. He gives an illuminating account of how events unfolded, drawing … Continue reading Tim Marshall: The Inside Story of Europe’s Last War: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2020

Rainforests are the lungs of our planet – regulators of the earth’s temperature and weather. We’ve all heard of their systematic destruction but do we know the implications arising from their continuous decline? Tony Juniper talks about his experience at the frontline of the fight to save the rainforests, explaining the science and history of the campaigns, … Continue reading Tony Juniper: Rainforest: Dispatches from Earth’s Most Vital Frontlines: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2020

Kicking off the 2020 Stanfords Travel Writers Festival at Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show, we welcome our team of experts on Japan. Find out just why you should be visiting there in 2020. From history, art and cultural quirks, to how to plan your trip, Robin Moul (Be More Japan), Matt Spiller and Kylie Clark tell all to Paul Blezard.

Levison Wood talks to Phoebe Smith about his life as an adventurer and his latest book Arabia. Following in the footsteps of great explorers such as Lawrence of Arabia and Wilfred Thesiger, Arabia is Levison’s account of his most complex expedition yet: circumnavigating the Arabian Peninsula. Travelling through some of the harshest and most beautiful … Continue reading Levison Wood in Conversation with Phoebe Smith: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019

When Monisha Rajesh announced plans to circumnavigate the globe in eighty train journeys, she was met with wide-eyed disbelief. But it wasn’t long before she was carefully plotting a route that would cover 45,000 miles, almost twice the circumference of the earth, coasting along the world’s most remarkable railways from the cloud-skimming heights of Tibet’s … Continue reading Around the World in 80 Trains: Stanfords Travel Writing Festival 2019

Britain’s greatest mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington talks to Paul Blezard about his career spanning six decades of climbing peaks, across all continents. He has undertaken nineteen Himalayan expeditions, including four to Mount Everest which he climbed in 1985 at the age of fifty, and has made many first ascents in the Alps and greater ranges … Continue reading Sir Chris Bonington in Conversation: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019

One word binds us all: geography. We are all geographers, human beings who care about the places we think of as ‘home’ – our habitat. Nicholas Crane makes the compelling case to Julia Wheeler that geography has never been so important. On this finite orb, with its battered habitat, sustained in dark space by a … Continue reading A Brief Guide to the World with Nicholas Crane: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019

Travel writers Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent and Lois Pryce talk to Julia Wheeler about their extensive solo travels by motorbike in many regions all over the world including India’s Arunachal Pradesh, Iran and South America. Hear about their epic adventures and the discoveries they’ve made as they talk about venturing off the beaten track, banish myths about … Continue reading Solo Motorcycle Adventures: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019

When travelling, what is appropriate behaviour when greeting people? Should you offer a handshake, a kiss on the cheek or two kisses? Different countries have their own set of rules regarding eating, dressing, cleanliness, hospitality and religion. What traditions should you absolutely partake in and which should you merely observe. Are they ways to find … Continue reading Travel Etiquette: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019

Levison Wood talks to Julia Wheeler about his life as an adventurer and his latest book Arabia.       Following in the footsteps of great explorers such as Lawrence of Arabia and Wilfred Thesiger, Arabia is Levison’s account of his most complex expedition yet: circumnavigating the Arabian Peninsula. Travelling through some of the harshest … Continue reading Levison Wood in Conversation with Julia Wheeler: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019

Alev Scott’s odyssey began when she looked beyond Turkey’s borders for contemporary traces of the Ottoman Empire. Their 800-year rule ended a century ago – and yet, travelling through twelve countries from Kosovo to Greece to Palestine, she uncovered a legacy that’s vital and relevant; where medieval ethnic diversity meets 21st century nationalism, and displaced … Continue reading Ottoman Odyssey: Travels through a Lost Empire: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival

Ishbel Holmes was determined to cycle the world but her journey took a completely unexpected turn when she rescued a street dog in Turkey. Between the two there formed a deep bond and their relationship was followed and supported by thousands of readers online, before becoming a media sensation overnight when Ishbel put out a … Continue reading Cycling with a Rescued Street Dog: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019

Calling all nature lovers. Join us as Jonathan Drori talks about his new book Around the World in 80 Trees. From India’s sacred banyan to the fragrant cedar of Lebanon, they offer us sanctuary and inspiration – not to mention the raw materials for everything from aspirin to maple syrup. Jonathan uses plant science to … Continue reading Around the World in 80 Trees: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019

Sean Conway talks to Phoebe Smith about the third and final leg in the world’s first length of Britain Triathlon. Having already cycled and swum the length of Britain, Sean completed his trilogy by running all the way from John O’Groats to Land’s End entirely unsupported. The adventure was turned into a successful Documentary on … Continue reading Running Britain with Sean Conway: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019

Lloyd Figgins, travel risk expert & author of the The Travel Survival Guide offers up-to-date, no-nonsense, practical advice on how to prepare for a trip, recognise warning signs, avoid potential hazards and cope with emergencies should they occur. The rewards you can reap from exploring this amazing planet are incalculable. Every year, more and more … Continue reading Travel Safety: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019

Levison Wood talks to Paul Blezard about his life as an adventurer and his latest book Arabia. Following in the footsteps of great explorers such as Lawrence of Arabia and Wilfred Thesiger, Arabia is Levison’s account of his most complex expedition yet: circumnavigating the Arabian Peninsula. Travelling through some of the harshest and most beautiful … Continue reading Levison Wood in Conversation with Paul Blezard: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019

Achieve a level of outdoor awareness that will enable you to understand the landscape around you. Tristan Gooley shows how it is possible to sense direction from stars and plants, forecast weather from woodland sounds and predict the next action of an animal from its body language – instantly. Mary-Ann Ochota shares her archaeological expertise … Continue reading Reading the Landscape: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019

Just ahead of his retrospective exhibition at the Tate Britain Sir Don McCullin talks to Julia Wheeler about his highly celebrated career as a war photographer spanning six decades. Once a witness to some of the harshest and most devastating conflicts across the globe, Sir Don has now become one of the great landscape photographers … Continue reading Sir Don McCullin in Conversation: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019

In 2016 Lizzie Carr became the first person to paddle board the entire length of Britain’s waterways. In 2017 she became the first woman to paddle board solo across the English Channel. In 2018 she became the first person to paddle board the entire length of the Hudson River. She combined her paddle boarding with … Continue reading Paddling Britain and Beyond with Lizzie Carr: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019

Ed Gorman talks to John McCarthy about his career as a journalist covering conflicts in Northern Ireland, the Gulf, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Balkans and Afghanistan. Looking at how these experiences can completely change your life, they will also be talking about Ed’s book Death of a Translator which is a searingly honest description of … Continue reading Ed Gorman in Conversation with John McCarthy: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019