Shows
Travel Devil36- Why I love trains & Childhood memories with grandma in BelgiumIn this solo episode of Travel Devil, your host Clara Francken takes you on a journey through memory lane. All the way from hometown Ghent to the seaside, to Christmas markets in Germany. Clara reflects on why she loves train travel, how it shaped her growing up, and shares a few of her favorite (and funniest) moments on the rails, including a sweet story told directly by her grandma.This episode is about the beauty of slow travel, the joy of strangers, and why we shouldn’t let angry internet comments take away the magic of meaningful mo...2025-07-2420 minTravel Devil35- Why whale watching isn't always ethical & dolphins research w/ Joana Castro, AIMMIn this episode, we’re diving into the world of dolphins, whales, and what it really means to observe marine life responsibly. Guest Joana Castro is marine biologist and founder of AIMM – Marine Environment Research Association. She has spent over two decades researching cetaceans (whales and dolphins) along the coast of Portugal and beyond.We often think of dolphin and whale watching as harmless, even educational, but Joana reveals why that’s not always the case. From noise pollution to chemical contamination, and from plastic to tourism overload, this conversation sheds light on how human presence, even well-m...2025-07-1749 minTravel Devil34- Why 12 Students drove a bus to Guinea-Bissau to become teachers w/ Raquel DinisWhat if your teaching degree included crossing continents in a DIY travel bus? In this episode, your host Clara Francken chats with Raquel Dinis, who shares her experience with DNS Teacher Training College. She talks about where the classroom is the world and Guinea-Bissau was the final stop.We dive into how a group of student-teachers from Denmark rebuilt a bus and hit the road to West Africa, learning from communities, each other, and the world outside a textbook. Raquel tells us what it's really like to live and study on the move, how it shaped her...2025-07-101h 12
Travel Devil33- Flixbus to Slovenia & Ouigo Train to Paris – StorytimeEver wonder what slow travel really looks like when you’re trying to avoid planes? In this solo episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken gets personal about the highs and lows of her sustainable travel choices.From the Eurostar train to Paris to smelly Flixbus rides across Europe, Clara shares the truth behind trying to lower her carbon footprint.This week’s chat isn’t about perfect eco-friendly travel, it’s about real, sometimes messy choices:The truth of still taking the plane sometimesHow taking the train beats flying, even when it’s longerA hi...2025-07-0323 minTravel Devil32- Marine Conservation Without a Degree? How to Do It w/ Maddie HowarthHave you ever dreamed of working in marine conservation or diving with manta rays? But you don't have a science degree? In this episode, your host Clara Francken speaks with Maddie Howarth, a passionate scuba diver, content creator, and ocean advocate, who proves you don’t need a marine biology degree to make waves for the planet.From a high school dream to filming dolphin research and marine wild life in Greece to diving Australia’s Great Barrier Reef - Maddie shares her journey of combining creativity and conservation. We talk about finding ethical conservation programs, what gree...2025-06-1951 minTravel Devil31- Why American Trains Are Worth Your Time w/ Simply RailwayThibault Constant, the creator behind the YouTube channel Simply Railway, talks about the reality of traveling by train across the U.S. In this episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken sits down with Thibault to talk about Amtrak, the national railway company in the United States.Thibault has crisscrossed North America by rail, documenting night trains, scenic sleepers, and cross-country chaos. Together, we explore how Amtrak compares to European rail systems, what it’s like to sleep in a coach seat for two nights straight, and why the slow train might just be the most soul-nourishing fo...2025-05-291h 12Travel Devil30- Sustainable Travel in Greece: How to Make Local Impact w/ Joanna KalafatisWhen we talk about sustainable travel, we often focus on carbon footprints and eco-hotels. But what about the local people? In this episode of Travel Devil, your host Clara Francken talks to Joanna Kalafatis. Joanna is a travel writer, photographer, and author of the Best of Greece Moon Guide. Today we talk about what it really means to travel responsibly in Greece.Together, we explored how to support local economies and go beyond the typical tourist experience. With insights from Joanna’s Greek background and her work in publishing, this episode is a deep dive into conscious tr...2025-04-2450 min
I’m Intrigued!#24 On Track with Sustainability: Traveling the World by Train with Travel Devil’s Clara FranckenIn this episode, we’re joined by Clara Francken, host of the Travel Devil podcast and passionate advocate for sustainable travel. She shares her inspiring journey of exploring the world with a low carbon footprint—mostly by train when possible! We dive into how slow, conscious travel can transform not just our experiences, but also the impact we leave on the planet. From practical tips to big-picture insights, this episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about greener ways to see the world.Contact info:Instagram: clarafrackenPodcast: Travel Devil2025-04-101h 09
Travel Mug PodcastTraveling by Train & Sustainable Travel Tips with Clara FranckenHave you considered traveling by train instead of flying? While it's not usually our first thought in North America, Clara Francken, host of the Travel Devil Podcast shares her insights on traveling sustainably, and tips for planning your train journeys!Episode Resources:Clara's Instagram @clarafrackenTravel Devil PodcastClara's Youtube channelSupport the Travel Mug Podcast by buying us a coffee! You’ll make our day & you’ll get access to fun stuff like bloopers and extra content.We have Merch! Shop the Travel Mug Podcast Stor...2025-04-0836 minTravel Devil29- Vanlife in Canada is fun, but can it be sustainable? w/ Alise from Outdoor NerdsVanlife offers freedom, adventure, and breathtaking landscapes, but what about its environmental impact? In this episode, your host Clara Francken sits down with Alise from Outdoor Nerds to dive into the reality of vanlife in Canada. Beyond the Instagram-worthy views, we explore what it takes to live on the road while keeping sustainability in mind.What we cover in this episode:The true environmental footprint of vanlife, how much fuel does it really take, how to build an eco-friendly van?The biggest challenges of living in a van full-time, from extreme weather to finding...2025-03-271h 12
Grounded in Maine138: Sustainable Travel with the Travel Devil, Clara FranckenI found Clara Franken in a podcast newsletter, and started listening that morning to her podcast, Travel Devil, and the first episode I listened to was about the Trash Traveler; a man who travels and brings attention to himself by cleaning up the area, and I knew I wanted to hear all about what else she's learned hosting a podcast all about sustainable travel.Clara lives in Germany, but is from Belgium, so she travels a lot, but she mostly travels by train, or "slow" travel, as she calls it. And she explains why. And she really...2025-03-2546 minTravel Devil28- From Pro Cyclist to Bicycle Touring Mom w/ Fatima BertonCan you be a cyclist, a mother, and a content creator—all at once? Fatima Berton (@bertoniiii) proves that you can.In this episode of Travel Devil, we dive into bike touring as a family, the realities of women in professional cycling, and how Fatima balances life on two wheels with motherhood. From competing at a pro level while working full-time to challenging stereotypes about what’s possible as a mom, Fatima shares her inspiring journey of resilience, adventure, and passion.Why she left professional racing despite her love for cyclingHow she star...2025-02-271h 11
Travel Devil27- Safety for Girls on Trains: We Need to Talk About ThisWhen we talk about sustainable travel, we often focus on the environment, but what about personal safety? In this episode of Travel Devil, we explore the challenges women face when using public transport, particularly trains.With real-life experiences and eye-opening statistics - like the fact that 93% of s3xual violence victims on Parisian public transport are women, and 26% are underaged girls - this episode sheds light on an issue that affects millions of travelers worldwide.We’ll discuss:Practical safety tips for traveling by trainThe role of safe spaces in train stationsHow bystanders can he...2025-02-2026 minTravel Devil26- Cycling to the Climate Conference: A Ride for Change w/ Guillaume OtrageWould you cycle 6,500 km to highlight climate change? For Guillaume Otrage, the answer was yes. Instead of hopping on a plane to attend the COP29 Climate Conference, he went on a six-month bicycle journey from Paris to Baku. Together with a team of volunteers and participants, the aim was to deliver 10 proposals to leverage cycling for climate protection. In this episode of Travel Devil, your host Clara Francken sits down with Guillaume to talk about:Why the team of riders chose to cycle instead of fly to a major climate event.What it's like to attend C...2025-01-301h 07Travel Devil25- Beyond Cleanups: Creative Action to Save our Oceans w/ The Trash TravelerThey picked up 650,000 cigarette butts and piled them in the city center. Why? To take a striking stand against trash & pollution.In this episode, I chat with Andreas Noe, aka The Trash Traveler, who’s changing beach cleanups into powerful awareness campaigns. From creating trash art to organizing massive cleanups, Andreas is on a mission to show that small actions can lead to big change.We discuss:Why beach cleanups aren’t enough to solve plastic pollution.How trash art and visuals inspire people to act.The surprising challenges travelers face in redu...2025-01-1652 min
Travel Devil24- What High School in Turkey is Really Like as an Exchange Student - Christmas EditionAttending Turkish high school as foreigners? This is our personal experience during the winter time in Turkey. This episode is my Christmas gift to all the international students abroad. Host Clara Francken and her best friend Debbie talk about attending high school in Turkey as an exchange student. We reflect on our year living and studying in Izmir and Mersin, Turkey. We talk about everything from skipping class (yes, it happened!) to celebrating Christmas and New Year in a new culture. If you’ve ever thought about cultural exchange or living abroad, this episode shares the highs, the...2024-12-2456 minTravel Devil23- Walking 1,000 km: Eco-Mobility & Climate Action in BotswanaHow far would you go to raise awareness about climate change? Reuben Ntuluki walked 1000 km through Botswana to prove that sustainable travel is possible and necessary. In this episode of Travel Devil, your host Clara Francken uncovers the challenges, triumphs, and lessons from Reuben’s inspiring journey.Topics covered:Reuben's untold story of walking 1000 kmThe truth behind funding for climate projects in BotswanaThe link between eco-mobility and reducing carbon footprintsTraditional and modern sustainable travel practices in BotswanaHow Reuben overcame the odds to secure international recognition for his NGOThis episode is a must-listen for anyone pa...2024-12-0539 min
Travel Devil22- Portugal to Germany by Train: The Truth About Sustainable TravelIn this solo episode, your host Clara Francken shares her firsthand experience traveling from Portugal to Germany by train - an epic 4-day journey filled with highs, lows, and important lessons. From breathtaking views in southern France to logistical nightmares at border crossings, Clara unpacks the realities of choosing sustainable travel over cheap flights. This episode is sharing real stories about how to embrace the joys - and frustrations! - of eco-friendly travel.Discover answers to these questions:Where can travelers find affordable train options across Europe?Why should you avoid wasting time booking seat reservations...2024-11-2833 minTravel Devil21- Crossing borders by train, EU politics & upcoming changes w/ Jon WorthFrom funny and awkward border-crossing moments to the occasional frustrating delays, this episode is packed with relatable and entertaining train tales. Host Clara Francken welcomes Jon Worth, an independent EU policy commentator and expert on sustainable transport, for an engaging discussion on European train travel.It's not just about stories, this episode dives into the bigger picture of sustainable travel across Europe. Discover how EU policies are shaping the future of rail travel, how we can solve the ticketing issue, and how Europe wide data sharing can solve the hassle of finding the best train connections. Whether...2024-11-211h 10Travel Devil20- Can we Feed Monkeys and Why Not? This is Primate Tourism w/ Connie NeedhamCan we take selfies with monkeys? Can I feed apes? Why are macaques aggressive towards humans? Can I eat primates? In this episode of Travel Devil, we're exposing the wildlife exploitation in southeast Asia's tourism culture - with Connie Needham. While Vietnam and Southeast Asia is a backpacker’s paradise, it’s also home to more and more wildlife exploitation marketed as “once-in-a-lifetime experiences.” Today we focus on primates: monkeys and apes. Researcher Connie shares her insights on street-level exploitation of monkeys on chains for tourist photos and how travelers can make more ethical choices. Join us as we di...2024-11-141h 02
Travel Devil19- 50,000km by Train! Spies, Border Control & more w/ Victor Figèra, La Route Du SojaIn this episode of Travel Devil, I sit down with Victor Figèra from La Route du Soja to discuss his incredible long-distance train journey from Paris to Taiwan with his partner Léa. Victor shares how his childhood shaped his passion for sustainable travel and how they navigated a route that emits five times less CO2 than flying. We dive into their most memorable experiences—crossing breathtaking landscapes in China and Kyrgyzstan, a heartwarming arrival in Hong Kong, and culinary adventures in Taiwan. Victor also opens up about the challenges they faced, including illness in China and...2024-11-071h 07