Shows
Books And TravelBritish Pilgrimage: On This Holy Island With Oliver SmithWhat makes a place sacred, and can you find spiritual transformation without traveling thousands of miles? Why do ordinary English villages and Scottish islands continue to draw seekers from around the world? Award-winning travel writer Oliver Smith talks about British pilgrimage sites from Lindisfarne to Iona, and Walsingham to Glastonbury, and how these ancient places still draw even secular pilgrims today.
Oliver Smith is a multi award-winning travel writer and author of The Atlas of Abandoned Places, and On This Holy Island: A Modern Pilgrimage Across Britain.
The double lives of pilgrimage places, and...2025-08-0733 minBooks And TravelTouching History: The Ancient Craft Of Stonemasonry With Andrew ZiminskiWhat is it like to work on ancient English churches, cathedrals and stone monuments? How does stone, a symbol of permanence, change over centuries? In this interview, I explore the craft of stonemasonry with church conservator Andrew Ziminski.
Andrew Ziminski is a stonemason and church conservator with decades of experience working on some of the greatest cathedrals and churches in Britain. He’s also the author of The Stonemason: A History of Building Britain and Church Going: A Stone Mason’s Guide to the Churches of the British Isles.
The ancient craft of stonemasonry and...2025-07-2437 minBooks And TravelFearless Roots: Travel, Grief, And Resilience With Becky DoughtyWhat does it mean to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time? How can travel shape our sense of self, and how do we find our way home when faced with unexpected grief abroad?
In this episode, I talk with author Becky Doughty about her traveling childhood as a missionary kid, a life-changing trip to Tuscany that resonated with grief, and how traveling alone helped her become more resilient.
Becky writes heartfelt and wholesome, contemporary commercial fiction and Christian fiction, including the Autumn Lake and the Tuscan Romance series.
Growing...2025-07-1037 minBooks And TravelTraveling By Cruise Ship With Wendy NeugentHave you ever wondered what it’s really like to live and work on a cruise ship? Is it all glamour and exotic locations, or is there a hidden, more challenging side to life at sea?
How do you cope with being away from family for months at a time, and what strange events unfold on these floating cities? In this episode, former cruise ship entertainer Wendy Nugent talks about her journeys and how they inspired her mystery novels.
If you like episodes about the sea/books, check out episode 1 where I talk about my ta...2025-06-2637 minBooks And TravelTo The End Of The Earth: Walking Spain’s Camino de Santiago With Bradley ChermsideHow can a physical journey trigger profound inner change? What draws a non-religious person to undertake a Catholic pilgrimage? What happens when you encounter both the best and worst versions of yourself on the same path? Bradley Chermside, international best-selling author, entertainer, and host of the El Camino de Santiago Podcast shares his transformative journey.
You can also find my memoir, Pilgrimage, and lots of pilgrimage and Camino resources here.
Bradley Chermside is an international bestselling author, copywriter and multi-award winning singer and entertainer. He’s the host of the El Camino de Sa...2025-06-1242 minBooks And TravelThe Geography of Belonging: Finding Home With Catriona TurnerWhat does home mean when you are always moving on? What does belonging mean when your address changes every few years? And how do we reconcile our evolving identities with the places we’ve left behind? Catriona Turner talks about her travels from Scotland to France, to Congo and Uganda, and back home again over 14 years, and how she has redefined what she calls home.
For more episodes on home, check out my solo episode on Sanctuary, Retreat, Belonging: The Importance of Home in Difficult Times; and for more on Third Culture Kids, check out the interview on...2025-05-2938 minBooks And TravelAncient Mysteries and Modern Travels. Egypt With Luke RichardsonWhy does Egypt continue to fascinate curious travelers? What hidden chambers might lie beneath the pyramids of Giza? How does the duality of Egyptian mythology influence thriller writing? Join thriller authors J.F. Penn and Luke Richardson for a conversation that weaves together archaeological intrigue, travel insights, and the creative process behind crafting compelling adventures in one of history’s most enigmatic settings.
Luke Richardson is the bestselling author of the Eden Black Archaeological Thrillers and the International Detective Thriller Series.
Why Egypt continues to capture the imagination: Ancient myths, tombs, and timeless sites
Mo...2025-05-1534 minBooks And TravelWalking Amongst The Dead: Graveyards, Cemeteries, And Ossuaries With J.F. Penn“The meaning of life is that it stops.” — Franz Kafka
I’ve always felt most grateful to be alive when I walk among the dead. That might sound strange, but bear with me!
Step through a lychgate into a church yard or descend a narrow stone stair into a catacomb or ossuary, and the pace and the noise of the world falls away. In these quiet spaces—graveyards beside ancient churches, sprawling Victorian cemeteries, underground chambers decorated with bones—I consider the shortness of life, memento mori, remember you will die, and it puts life into perspec...2025-05-0830 minBooks And TravelThin Places and Tidal Shores: Lindisfarne, Holy Island, With LK WildeWhat makes the tiny island of Lindisfarne a “thin place” where the spiritual and physical worlds seem to meet? How does living in such a close-knit community shape one’s identity? And what secrets lie beyond the tourist paths on this ancient sacred site? LK Wilde and J.F. Penn talk about their love of Lindisfarne.Laura is the award-winning author of historical fiction, romance, and uplifting feel-good fiction. Her novel Silver Darlings is set on the Northumberland Island of Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island.
Where is Lindisfarne and what makes it unique as a tidal island?
Holy Island, the ri...2025-05-0141 minBooks And TravelLochs And Legends. Scotland With Andy The HighlanderExperience the rugged beauty, ancient legends, and captivating history of Scotland with Andy the Highlander. From standing stones and whirlpools to myths and famous battles, Andy shares stories that bring the Scottish landscape alive. Discover why Scotland is more than tartans and bagpipes in this fascinating discussion about culture, heritage, and a passion for storytelling.
In the introduction, I talk about my personal connection to Scotland (I am a quarter Scottish!), and how it inspired my monster horror, Catacomb, as well as featuring in Day of the Vikings, and the anatomical connection to Desecration.
2025-04-1731 minBooks And TravelDesert Storms and Superblooms: Death Valley With Steve HallWhat are the fascinating — and also dangerous — aspects of Death Valley National Park? How does visiting a stark desert landscape give us perspective about our place in the world?
Steve Hall is a multi-award-winning documentary filmmaker and a seasoned adventure hiker renowned for his extensive explorations of Death Valley National Park.
What’s special about Death Valley National Park?
What are some of the iconic places to visit?
The dangers of Death Valley
Solo adventures and challenges
Dark skies and star gazing
Legends and history
Conservation and visitor etiquette
You can find Steve’s hiking...2025-04-0337 minBooks And TravelCuriosity, Reinvention, And Inspiration: The Return Of Books and TravelWelcome back to the Books and Travel Podcast! In this episode, I explore why I’m restarting the show, how travel has shaped my writing, and the deeper reasons we journey—both physically and through books.
From revisiting my first episode to discussing reinvention, curiosity, and the meaning of travel, this is a fresh start filled with inspiration for readers, writers, and adventurers alike.
Why I’m restarting the podcast – Revisiting my first episode on The Three Trips That Changed My Life and the theme of reinvention.
Turning 50 and creative confidence – How my journey as a writer led...2025-03-2025 minBooks And TravelThe Call To Pilgrimage, Resilience, And Embracing Challenge With J.F. PennWhy is resilience such an important part of pilgrimage? How can embracing the challenge of the way help in daily life? Why do we need to heed the call to pilgrimage before it’s too late?
I’m Jo Frances Penn and in this episode, I share some clips from podcast interviews I’ve done around my new book, Pilgrimage: Lessons Learned from Solo Walking Three Ancient Ways. Thanks to Travel Writing World with Jeremy Bassetti, Into the Woods with Holly Worton, and Sacred Steps with Kevin Donahue, podcasts you will enjoy as listeners to this show.
...2023-01-2721 minBooks And TravelThe Meaning of Travel With Emily ThomasIn this wide-ranging interview, Emily Thomas talks about the importance of perspective and time in travel writing, how sublime moments of pleasurable terror make travel so interesting, how to overcome fears both real and imaginary, as well as the ethics of doom tourism, and how VR (virtual reality) might change how we travel in future.
Dr. Emily Thomas is an associate professor in philosophy at Durham University in England. She’s also the author of several books, including The Meaning of Travel: Philosophers Abroad.
Traveling is about experiencing otherness, going to places that are new...2022-11-3036 minBooks And TravelUntethered. A Woman’s Search For Self On The Edge Of India With C.L. StambushHow can we adopt an untethered attitude to life, especially when it comes to expectations of travel? C.L. Stambush talks about how her experience of motor-cycling around India taught her more about herself, and how she brings that to her daily life. We also talk about connecting with people across cultural and language barriers, when taking risks is worth it, and how we need to keep pushing the boundaries of our comfort zone to live a more expansive life.
C.L. Stambush is an award-winning writer, journalist, editor and author of Untethered: A Woman’s...2022-11-0336 minBooks And TravelA Pilgrim In The Path Of History. Solo Walking The Camino De Santiago Portuguese Coastal Route With J.F. PennIn September 2022, I walked the Camino de Santiago along the Portuguese Coastal route. It was around 300 kilometers from Porto in Portugal north along the coast and then inland to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, which took 14 days of back-to-back walking.
I walked alone and carried my pack with everything in it, and I organized my accommodation through Macs Adventure so I knew where I was sleeping every night. I’ve posted a day by day breakdown of the route and my gear list separately, and in this episode, I go through some of my lessons and thoughts from th...2022-10-1932 minBooks And TravelA Yearning for Setting Off. Walking The Camino De Santiago Portuguese Route With Imogen ClarkWhy does pilgrimage have such a hold on those of us who are not religious, but merely seekers on a path that so many millions have walked before us? Author Imogen Clark talks about her Camino, the highlights and challenges, the lessons learned, and why she still yearns to set off once again.
Imogen Clark is the best-selling author of eight contemporary women’s fiction novels, and has sold over a million books. She recently walked the Camino de Santiago on a variant of the Portuguese route.
What is pilgrimage and how is it different to ju...2022-07-2140 minBooks And TravelMomentary Encounters That Bring A Journey To Life With Nick JubberHello travellers, I’m Jo Frances Penn, and in this episode, I’m talking to Nick Jubber about the momentary encounters that bring a journey to life.
We talk about how religion weaves its way into travel, especially in the middle east and north Africa, and how sometimes we can sense the intensity of faith, even when we are not religious ourselves. Nick talks about the nomadic life and the attraction of desert places, finding the roots of fairy tales across Europe, and how travel is changing, even while our desire to explore remains.
Nich...2022-06-2338 minBooks And TravelThoughts On Traveling To The USA Again Post Pandemic And Differences Between The US And UK CulturesI’ve been traveling to the USA regularly since the mid-90s, for family trips and then business conferences and book research. The pandemic years meant a long hiatus (for us all!) but recently I went back to the US for my first trip in a long time and it felt quite foreign in many ways. I’d forgotten so much about how our cultures differ, and I thought it might be interesting to record my thoughts before I get used to it all again.
Context and my history with the USA
Flying again post-pandemic
Arriving in Phoenix, Ariz...2022-06-0431 minBooks And TravelThe Nuances Of Colombia With Lachlan PageWe all pick up ideas about a country from a lifetime of media consumption, and stereotypes can shape our opinions, persisting even once a country has changed, as Colombia has over the last 30 years.
Lachlan Page talks about how he ended up in Colombia after prioritizing travel first and work second, his recommended places to visit from jungle to coast, tips for safety, whether being bilingual changes your personality, cross-cultural marriage, recommended books, and more.
Lachlan Page is the author of Magical Disinformation, a spy novel with a satirical edge set amongst the...2022-05-1930 minBooks And TravelThe Unexpected Road To An Unconventional Life With Brianna MadiaHow can we step away from the established patterns of life and choose a path that makes us truly happy? How can we redefine travel to find it in our own country, and choose a home in a place that calls to our soul?
Brianna Madia talks about her unexpected road to an unconventional life in the desert of Moab with her four dogs.
Brianna Madia is the author of Nowhere For Very Long: The Unexpected Road to an Unconventional Life.
Show notes
Questioning the established patterns of life — even whe...2022-04-1436 minBooks And TravelTraveling Carnivals With Michael Sean ComerfordSometimes you don’t have to leave your own country to find a culture that is different from your own. Michael Sean Comerford talks about the unique language, lifestyle, and attitudes of the carnies, the people who work on the traveling carnivals.
Michael Sean Comerford is an award-winning journalist and travel writer. His latest book is American OZ: An Astonishing Year Inside Traveling Carnivals.
Show notes
The differences between carnivals in different countries
The unique languages of carnies
Attractions and difficulties of the carnival life
The sense of belonging — and how that’s hard...2022-02-1733 minBooks And TravelVisiting Places That Other People Try To Leave. Weird Travel With Adam FletcherWeird travel is visiting places that other people try to leave or places that are not usually thought of as tourist destinations. Adam Fletcher talks about North Korea, the unexpected beauty of Chernobyl, a tuk-tuk race across India, and the death rituals of Sulawesi, as well as the peculiarities of being British, and how to notice the unique weirdness of your own country, wherever that is.
Adam Fletcher is the best-selling author of Weird Travel books and humorous memoirs, including Don’t Go There, Don’t Come Back, and Tuk-Tuk for Two. You can find all h...2022-01-1340 minBooks And TravelMyanmar With Jessica MuddittHow does Myanmar’s complicated history shape the country today? What are some of the wonderful places to visit — if tourists are able to travel again?
Jessica Mudditt talks about her experience in Myanmar, as well as facing fears around travel, and the experience of reverse culture shock on returning to Australia.
Jessica Mudditt is an Australian freelance journalist and travel writer. Her latest book is Our Home in Myanmar: Four Years in Yangon.
Show notes
Myanmar / Burma, and the complicated history and politics that shape the country
Diversity of the...2021-12-3038 minBooks And TravelHooked On The Horizon. Sailing Blue Eye Around The World With Tom DymondCan we ever be satisfied with life if we are always ‘hooked on the horizon?’
Tom Dymond talks about some of the highlights and challenges of sailing around the world — as well as the mindset issues around living for a future state, and returning to real life after years away.
Tom Dymond is the author of Wrongs of Passage and Hooked on the Horizon: Sailing Blue Eye Around the World.
Show notes
Preparation for the circumnavigation — and when you just have to get going
Life aboard a 32-foot yacht
High points a...2021-12-1641 minBooks And TravelSlow Down And Wander. Visit Paris Like An Artist With Cynthia MorrisParis has so much to see and do, it can be overwhelming if you try to do it all. In this interview, Cynthia Morris talks about how to visit Paris like an artist and how walking and wandering is a great way to see the city in a more relaxed way. We discuss how to manage museum and art gallery overload, how to pay attention to your curiosity and tap into your senses, plus we talk about some of our favorite places in the city.
Cynthia Morris is the author of historical fiction as well a...2021-12-0238 minBooks And TravelBeauty In Ruins, Dark Myths, And Hope In Difficult Times. Greece With Peter FiennesPeter Fiennes talks about his search for beauty — and hope — in Greece. We discuss the different areas of the country with recommendations for ruins to visit, as well as how the ancient Greek myths still resonate in modern times, with their tales of the darker side of humanity.
We consider whether generations of belief can somehow imbibe specific locations with spiritual meaning, and how a realization of our place in history can give us hope that things live on — and that life is to be celebrated, even in difficult times.
Peter Fiennes is the auth...2021-11-1832 minBooks And TravelLayers Of Invasion And Empire. Slovakia With Sarah Hinlicky WilsonSlovakia only became an independent state in 1993, so it is less than 30 years old. In this interview, Sarah Hinlicky Wilson and I discuss borders and how strange it is that history draws lines on a map that don’t necessarily represent the people who live within them. These layers of invasion and empire can shape lives for generations.
Sarah also recommends places to visit for both culture and nature and shares specialties of the region, as well as some of her favorite travel books.
Sarah Hinlicky Wilson is the author of memoir, poetry, an...2021-11-0435 minBooks And TravelEnglish Folklore With Icy SedgwickFolklore encompasses legends, fairy tales, and myths; physical objects and practices to protect and ward away evil; spirits and supernatural entities associated with particular places, and so much more.
You might not even know that you practice folklore — but did you ever leave a tooth out for the tooth fairy? Or wonder at carvings of the Green Man? Or go trick-or-treating at Halloween? If you approach your local customs and stories with an open and curious mind, you might just discover a lot of folklore.
In this interview, Icy Sedgwick talks about different aspects of fo...2021-10-2138 minBooks And TravelTraveling Light With Katherine Leamy, The 5 Kilo TravellerHow can you travel light even on an extended trip? How can traveling light be an attitude to life as well as a practical way to pack your gear? Katherine Leamy talks about these questions and more in this episode.
Katherine Leamy is The 5 Kilo Traveller, a freelance travel writer, and blogger based in New Zealand.
Show notes
Why traveling light is useful
Ideas for the ideal type of backpack
Advantages of different types of clothing
How to manage toiletries and the weight of liquid vs solid as well as brand tips
...2021-10-0700 minBooks And TravelExtending Your Comfort Zone. Antarctica With Karen EspleyThe challenges of travel can help us expand our comfort zone enough to drive change in our lives. In this episode, Karen Espley talks about how a trip to Antarctica helped her change direction.
Karen Espley is an author, speaker, and businesswoman. Her latest book is The Impulsive Explorer: One Businesswoman’s Accidental Journey of Self-discovery on an Expedition to the Antarctic.
Show notes
What is it about corporate life that makes us want to escape?
The challenges of getting to Antarctica and difficulties living in close quarters
Finding perspective on life
Th...2021-09-2337 minBooks And TravelLondon. A Personal History With J.F. Penn
“It is difficult to speak adequately or justly of London. It is not a pleasant place; it is not agreeable, or cheerful, or easy, or exempt from reproach. It is only magnificent.” Henry James
London can never be contained or defined in one way. Everyone has a different perspective and experience that changes over time, and my relationship with the city has certainly evolved over the years.
My Brooke and Daniel crime thrillers are set there, and my love for the city resonates within those pages through the eyes of Jamie Brooke, but it certainly wasn’t...2021-09-0931 min
Sacred Steps PodcastS2:E2 Transience & Permanence Along the Pilgrims' Way | Jo Frances PennDuring a break in Britain's COVID lockdowns, English author Jo Frances Penn (https://jfpenn.com) set out alone from her home to walk the Pilgrim's Way from London to Canterbury Cathedral. An unlikely pilgrim, Jo had never before embarked on a multi-day hike. She joins author Kevin Donahue (https://www.sacredstepsbook.com) to discuss the power of overcoming her fears and the purpose she found in her journey. STREAM THE EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: http://youtube.com/sacredsteps DISCUSSIONS FROM THIS EPISODE:Britain's Pilgrims' WayBritain's Pilgrim Places Book GiveawayStream the Video Podcast on You...2021-09-0146 minBooks And TravelThe History Of England Written In Stone. Literary Canterbury With Anna Sayburn LaneSome places are so dense with history that stories emerge from every stone. Canterbury in Kent, England, is rich with literary and religious history and you can walk in the footsteps of pilgrims who have visited the city for almost a thousand years.
Anna Sayburn Lane is an award-winning short story writer, novelist, and journalist inspired by the history and contemporary life of London. Her latest book is The Crimson Thread, a mystery set in Canterbury, England.
Show notes
Literary history of Canterbury
How Canterbury Cathedral has the history of England written...2021-08-2639 minBooks And TravelAn Ocean-Gazing People. A Gentle Country. Portugal With Louise RossSometimes we find home in a place where we don’t even speak the language. Louise Ross talks about discovering Portugal, a gentle country with ocean-gazing people, and recommends places to visit, as well as an attitude to self-reinvention.
Louise Ross is the author of Women Who Walk and The Winding Road to Portugal. She’s an Australian currently living in Portugal where she explores the immigrant and expatriate journey through her writing and her podcast, Women Who Walk.
Show notes
The similarities between Australia and Portugal as ‘ocean gazing’ cultures
Cultural differen...2021-08-1243 minBooks And TravelOpen Road: A Midlife Journey Through The US National Parks With Toby NealHow can travel help us as we search for a new direction in mid-life? Why does nature offer us insight into ourselves and experiences that go far beyond the physical? Toby Neal talks about her experience of the US National Parks.
Toby Neal is an award-winning USA Today best-selling author of mysteries, thrillers, and romance, as well as travel memoir under T. W. Neal. She’s also a mental health therapist and the author of Open Road: A Midlife Memoir of Travel Through the National Parks of the USA.
Show notes
Why mi...2021-07-2939 minBooks And TravelIf Only I Had More Time. A Motorcycle Journey Through Britain with Mark ProbertGood travel books are not just about a physical journey or a place. They are also about the emotional side of travel and the feelings we experience along the way.
In this interview with Mark Probert, we discuss his motorcycle journey through Britain following the path of writer John Hillaby 50 years after the original book — and how the passing of time impacts our choices around travel, especially at a time when we cannot take it for granted as we did pre-pandemic.
Mark Probert is the author of Another Journey Through Britain about a mot...2021-07-0840 minBooks And TravelWanderland. A Search For Magic In The Landscape With Jini ReddyThere are places where the ‘veil is thin,’ where we can connect with the Other in the landscape — if only we learn how to listen. In this interview, Jini Reddy talks about how to find magic in the natural world.
Jini Reddy is an award-winning author and journalist. Her latest book is Wanderland: A Search for Magic in the Landscape.
Show notes
How can we connect with the ‘Other’ in the landscape?
The attraction of islands
Aspects of pilgrimage
The archetypal attraction of labyrinths
Seeing our local area with new eyes
Can a traveler...2021-06-2437 minBooks And TravelTravel In A Vast And Diverse Country. Australia With Pamela CookWhat are the truths behind stereotypes of Australia — and what are the things that might surprise you? Pamela Cook talks about rural places, diversity of people and landscape, and the attractions of the city in this interview.
Pamela Cook writes rural and contemporary Australian fiction featuring complex women and tangled family relationships and is a podcaster at Writes4Women.
Show notes
What might surprise travelers about Australia
Attractions of the rural Australian life
Observing life in smaller towns and being inspired to write about them
Highlights of Sydney and the ease of pu...2021-06-1034 minBooks And TravelWalking To Rome On The Via Francigena With Chandi Wyant“Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it.” Soren Kierkegaard
When life becomes unbearably painful, sometimes the only thing to do is go for a really long walk. In this episode, Chandi Wyant talks about how walking the Via Francigena in Italy for 40 days helped her heal after a painful divorce, and how the lessons of pilgrimage can take time to emerge.
Chan...2021-05-2741 minBooks And TravelTravel That Changes The Way You Think About The World With Pam Mandel“We’re all so far downstream from who we used to be.” Pam Mandel
We all have ideas about places that are far away from us, but when you talk to real people who live there, it’s hard to hold on to your preconceived notions. Those encounters can remain with you in memory even as you change and the place you left changes too.
Pam Mandel is an award-winning freelance travel writer and co-founder of The Statesider, a newsletter of U.S. travel stories. Her latest book is The Same River Twice: A Memoir...2021-05-1343 minBooks And TravelA Speck On The Ocean. Sailing The Pacific With Nadine SlavinskiImagine sailing through the night across the Pacific Ocean with the sound of a gentle wind on the sails, the creak of rigging, and an array of stars above you.
Nadine Slavinski talks about the joys and challenges of sailing across the Pacific with her husband and son.
Nadine Slavinski is an archaeologist turned teacher whose sailing adventures inspire her fiction and nonfiction books.
Show notes
The Coconut Milk Run, sailing east to west in the Pacific
Experiencing different cultures and languages throughout the Pacific islands
Keeping watch and sailing...2021-04-2937 minBooks And TravelExploring Darkness And Accepting Our Animal Nature With Tiffany Francis-BakerExperiencing the dark of night can help connect us with nature and perhaps we need to tap into that animal side more often in order to respect the cycle of the seasons, renew our energy and our mental health, and help wildlife that need it to survive.
In this interview, we also talk about the attraction of pagan fire festivals and the Northern Lights, the power of light in the darkness, and how it connects to something primal deep within.
Tiffany Francis-Baker is a nature writer and illustrator. Her latest book is Dark...2021-04-1536 minBooks And TravelJourneys In Search Of Ourselves. Secular Pilgrimage With Victoria PrestonWhat does pilgrimage mean when you don’t adhere to a particular religious tradition? Can we find ever find ourselves when we travel, or will we be forever searching?
Victoria Preston has roamed far and wide in her 30 years advising corporate and government clients around the world. She is an associate fellow at the King’s Centre for Strategic Communications, and her latest book is We Are Pilgrims: Journeys in Search of Ourselves.
Show notes
What is secular pilgrimage?
The animal urge to move, particularly in the spring
Balancing solitude and traveling with...2021-04-0141 minBooks And TravelCuriosity, Wonder, And Serendipity. Hidden Travel with Steve BrockSometimes it’s not the most iconic travel destinations that resonate most with us. Sometimes it’s the hidden places and the unexpected moments that echo in our memories many years later.
In this episode, Steve Brock talks about how we can cultivate curiosity and blend serendipity with planning to make the most of our travels, as well as finding hidden places closer to home, and how we can use the different senses of time to make more of our travel experiences.
Stephen W. Brock is the author of Hidden Travel: The Secret To E...2021-03-1840 minBooks And TravelCathedrals, Dark History, And Coffee Culture. Vienna With Katharina BordetVienna brings to mind images of grand architecture, the sounds of classical music, and the smell of coffee and sacher torte.
In this interview with Katarina Bordet, we explore the Gothic and Baroque churches, the museums, and the iconic coffee shops, as well as the darker places to visit — the asylum, the catacombs, and the echoes of psychiatry and fascism. The city is dense with history and culture, and we can only brush the surface today, but I hope you enjoy the interview.
Katharina Bordet is an Austrian fantasy and nonfiction author as we...2021-03-0438 minBooks And TravelComplicated Histories, Sichuan, and Tibet. The Other Shangri-La With Shivaji DasIn this episode, we escape to the mountains of the Tibetan Highlands, which lie at the intersection of the Sichuan and Yunan provinces in China, in search of Shangri-La.
Shivaji Das talks about the stunning natural beauty in this remote place, and we also discuss the cultural clashes in the region and the people he met along the way. We talk about complicated histories, and how our view of a place is shaped by who we are and our perspective on the world — and also how others see us.
Shivaji Das is an awa...2021-02-1833 minBooks And TravelHistory, Faith, And Beauty. The Complete American Pilgrim With Howard KramerWhat does it mean to be a secular pilgrim — when you’re not a Christian, but you love churches, history, beauty, and religious symbolism?
In this episode, Howard Kramer talks about some of the most beautiful places to visit in terms of architecture, as well as natural locations, and how sometimes, the most emotionally resonant places, those that inspire awe and wonder, are not the most famous, but those that touch us at a deeper level.
Howard Kramer is the author of The Complete American Pilgrim, The Complete Christian Pilgrim, and The Complete Ameri...2021-02-0444 minBooks And TravelNot Quite Lost. Travels Without A Sense Of Direction With Roz MorrisHow can you see your own country with the eyes of an outsider? How can you follow your curiosity and discover new things about a place you already know?
In this interview, Roz Morris talks about finding fragments and tiny miracles while exploring England and how we can experience our own land from a new perspective, increasingly important while we can’t travel in the way we used to.
Roz Morris is the author of Not Quite Lost: Travels Without A Sense of Direction, literary novels, My Memories of a Future Life, and Li...2021-01-2135 minBooks And TravelThe Gardens Of Mars. Madagascar With John GimletteAn island nation off the coast of Africa, Madagascar has an incredible diversity of unusual landscapes and wildlife, of which lemurs are the most famous but by no means the only ones! 90% of its flora and fauna are endemic, found nowhere else in the world.
While there are some resorts, much of Madagascar is remote and escapes the influence of modern life with unique religious and cultural practices, as John Gimlette talks about in this interview.
John Gimlette is a multi-award-winning travel writer. His latest book is The Gardens of Mars: Madagascar, an...2021-01-0734 minBooks And TravelThis Too Shall Pass. Thoughts From The Pilgrims’ Way With J.F. Penn
“Man’s real home is not a house, but the Road, and that life itself is a journey to be walked on foot.” Bruce Chatwin
In late October 2020, I walked the Pilgrims’ Way from Southwark Cathedral in London to Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, 182 km/113 miles on foot, alone, carrying my own gear… during a global pandemic.
A Roman road 2000 years ago, the route became popular for pilgrims after the martyrdom of St Thomas a Becket on 29 December 1170 at the hands of four knights of King Henry II. In literature, The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer follows a...2020-12-2931 minBooks And TravelLava Fields, Trolls, And The Hidden People. Iceland with Michael RidpathFrom the ice of the glaciers to the black church near the lava fields and on to the steaming hot pools of the blue lagoon, Iceland is a country of stark natural beauty and interesting folklore.
In this interview, Michael Ridpath talks about the hidden people, the trolls, and the ghosts in the mist, as well as the landscape as a character, and why he keeps returning to the country for inspiration.
Michael Ridpath is a British author of crime and thriller novels. His Magnus crime thriller series is set in Iceland. And...2020-12-1038 minBooks And TravelFjords, Vikings And The Northern Lights. Norway With David NikelFrom the stunning Northern Lights of Lofoten, to the fjords of the western coast, scenic train journeys across the mountains, Viking history, and the culture of the cities, David Nikel evokes a country that has much to explore. In this pandemic year, I’m certainly dreaming of kayaking the fjords!
David Nikel is a British writer specializing in all things Scandinavia. Since moving to Norway in 2011, he’s traveled the length and breadth of the country producing the first and second editions of The Moon Norway Guidebook. He also runs a successful website and podcast Life...2020-11-2639 minBooks And TravelLife On The River. The Mississippi River Valley With Dean Klinkenberg“The face of the water, in time, became a wonderful book … it was not a book to be read once and thrown aside, for it had a new story to tell every day.” Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi
The Mississippi River runs through ten states and has brought life to countless generations, from the first Native Americans, through to the settlers, and into the modern, industrial age. There are great cities along the river, as well as remote wilderness, and a huge variation in landscape, ecology, and culture along the way.
In this interview, Dean K...2020-11-1245 minBooks And TravelLife Obsessed. Cemeteries, Graveyards And Ossuaries With Loren Rhoads“All that lives must die, passing through nature to eternity.” William Shakespeare, Hamlet
If you enjoy walking in cemeteries, exploring graveyards, and discovering the artistic bone structures of ossuaries, then you’ll love this interview with Loren Rhoads. We discuss our mutual love of these places where nature often reigns in peace and beauty, and share our favorite places in Europe and North America.
Loren Rhoads is the author of 199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die, and Wish You Were Here: Adventures in Cemetery Travel, as well as paranormal romance novels, short stories, and es...2020-10-2943 minBooks And TravelWalk Your Own Race: Lessons Learned From Walking A 50km Ultramarathon“It’s not the mountain we conquer, it’s ourselves.” Edmund Hillary
As I write this, I’ve started four ultra-marathons and finished three of them. I did the Race to the Stones 100km in a weekend (2016); Cotswold Way 50km (2017); Isle of Wight 50km (2018 — I dropped out at 22km); Chiltern Challenge 50km (2020). I’ve learned something new each time and my most recent event went absolutely perfectly. In this episode, I’ll share some of my thoughts, tips, and lessons learned.
Why would you want to do an ultra-marathon anyway?
Preparation and practical tips. Here’s my day hike kit li...2020-10-2237 minBooks And TravelFacing Fears And Changing Your Mind While Traveling. Cycling Around The World With Doug WalshIf you spend years planning your dream trip, what happens when life gets in the way? Do you change your plans or do you plow on regardless? Is the journey more important than the destination, and are you living in a way that honors that choice?
In this wide-ranging interview with Doug Walsh, we talk about how fears and expectations can shape our travel experiences, and what we can learn about ourselves as well as the places we visit along the way.
Doug Walsh is a former game strategy author and travel writer...2020-10-1547 minBooks And TravelMurder In Paradise. Mallorca With JJ Marsh“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” Ibn Battuta
Mallorca is a beautiful Spanish island in the Balearics, rich with history and culture, from the medieval architecture of Palma’s old town to the picturesque coastal village of Deia and the mountainous interior. Many come to the relaxed island for an escape, but others imagine murder in paradise.
In this interview, international crime author, JJ Marsh, talks about the inspiration of Mallorca and how she sees the world as an outsider, constructing stories from her travels.
JJ Marsh is...2020-10-0135 minBooks And TravelSolo Long-Distance Walking In England With Holly Worton“Man’s real home is not a house, but the Road, and life itself is a journey to be walked on foot.” Bruce Chatwin
Walking for a longer-distance can bring clarity of mind, a reconnection with nature, and a sense of well-being that does not emerge with a short stroll. It takes time to settle into your physical body, and walking an ancient path can help take you into that deeper state. In this episode, I discuss our mutual love of long-distance walking with Holly Worton.
Holly Worton is the author of 17 nonfiction and se...2020-09-1742 minBooks And TravelHistory As A Fine Art. Victorian London With David MorrellIf you look below the surface of an ancient city, you can travel through time and find its deeper layers. In this episode, David Morrell talks about how he researched Victorian London for his historical mysteries about Thomas De Quincey, and how he brought to light the “chasms and sunless abysses” of the first British serial killer.
David Morrell is the multi-award-winning and many times bestselling author of over 30 books, as well as short stories, essays, comics, and collaborations that have sold millions of copies and are available in many different languages. He has a Ph.D...2020-09-0336 minBooks And TravelDruids, Freemasons and Frankenstein. The Darker Side of Bath, EnglandBath is known for its ancient Roman spa, medieval abbey, and sweeping Georgian terraces. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site in Somerset in the south-west of England and visitors often come on a circular cultural trip that takes in Stonehenge and Stratford-on-Avon.
But it’s not all Jane Austen bonnets, Regency dresses, and afternoon tea — there is a darker and more interesting side of Bath if you escape the tourist traps and explore the layers beneath. In this episode, I talk about the city I currently call home.
How finding a map shop helped me discov...2020-08-2033 minBooks And TravelFinding Beauty In The Ordinary. A Different Side Of Poland With Ben AitkenIn this wide-ranging interview with Ben Aitken, we talk about challenging cultural stereotypes, identifying as the ‘Other,’ and how to find beauty in the ordinary, as well as thoughts on where to visit and what to eat and drink when visiting Poland.
Ben Aitken is a freelance writer, playwright, and the author of three travel books. Today, we’re talking about his book, A Chip Shop in Poznan: My Unlikely Year in Poland.
Show notes
The relationship between the UK and Poland and how that changed while Ben lived there during the refere...2020-08-0632 minBooks And TravelTravels In Blood And Honey. Kosovo With Elizabeth GowingThe word Kosovo brings to mind images of the Balkan War — a place of blood — but Elizabeth Gowing talks about it as a place of sweetness, a place of honey with wonderful food, welcoming people and a complex patchwork of religion that manages to get along together in a tiny country. She also explains how her unexpected move to Kosovo led to her love of beekeeping and a new direction helping local communities.
Elizabeth Gowing is the author of five books, including Travels in Blood and Honey: Becoming a Beekeeper in Kosovo. She’s also a prof...2020-07-2336 minBooks And TravelA Pocket Of Wilderness: Adventure Travel With Anna McNuffAdventure is a mindset. You can find it in a pocket of wilderness in your local area just by doing something different and seeking out the unusual — or you can find it by running Great Britain barefoot, cycling the Andes, and running the length of New Zealand!
In this interview, adventurer Anna McNuff talks about the definition of adventure, finding the element of the unknown, encouraging young people to explore, and the acceptance that change is the only constant.
Anna McNuff is a British adventurer, professional speaker, and author named by Conde Nast Tr...2020-07-0934 minBooks And TravelFull Moon Over Noah’s Ark. Ararat With Rick AntonsonThe word Ararat brings to mind an adventure into myth and history and in this episode, I talk to Rick Antonson about his journey to the fabled resting place of Noah’s Ark, as well as some of the research into Biblical history and ancient myths of the flood.
My ARKANE thrillers center around Biblical archaeology, history, and myth, so this was a particularly exciting interview for me!
Rick Antonson is an author, professional speaker, and world traveler. Today, we’re talking about his book, Full Moon Over Noah’s Ark: An Odyssey to Mou...2020-06-2546 minBooks And TravelPilgrimage. The Architecture Of Faith With Derry BrabbsGreat cathedrals are places of awe and wonder, no matter your religious belief.
Whenever I visit a new place, I always go to the cathedral or church, or place of worship in the area. There is always something new and interesting to be found and you can get a particular sense of a region that way. I also love to take photos of religious architecture and sculpture, much of it crafted by devotion over many generations.
In this interview, I talk to Derry Brabbs about places of pilgrimage across Europe and why they attract so...2020-06-1138 minBooks And TravelA Time Of Birds: Cycling Across Europe To Istanbul With Helen MoatWould you cycle across Europe on a ‘sit up and beg’ bike with little experience and no map reading skills? Helen Moat talks about how her adventure unfolded in an inspiring interview that will have you reaching for the guide books and considering where you could travel next.
Helen Moat is an author and freelance travel writer for Wanderlust and BBC Countryfile, originally from Northern Ireland. Today we’re talking about her latest book, A Time of Birds: Reflections on Cycling Across Europe.
Show notes
Making the decision to plan a cycling trip w...2020-05-2834 minBooks And TravelCatnip For A Novelist. Traveling For Book Research With Thriller Author Layton GreenThere are certain places in the world that are so full of stories, they become ‘catnip for a novelist,‘ as Layton Green talks about in this interview. We delve into the lure of far-off cities, why the occult draws us both, and how to turn a trip to a new place into a book.
In the introduction, I talk about my own experience of traveling for book research and how I find story ideas in new places including Amsterdam, New Orleans, and Bath, plus how synchronicity often happens when I delve deeper into history, culture, and religion.
2020-05-1436 minBooks And TravelThe Taste Of Place. French Vineyard Life With Caro Feely“Wine is sunlight, held together by water.” Galileo Galilei
So much of the joy of travel is eating and drinking and I certainly love to try local wines when I visit new places!
In this interview, Caro Feely talks about why she and her husband gave up successful careers to take on a rundown vineyard in a new country, the struggles they went through to build up the business — even down to their blood shed on the land itself. There are a surprising number of ways to die in a vineyard! We also talk about the im...2020-04-2332 minBooks And TravelDesert Nights, The Skeleton Coast And The Cry Of The Fish Eagle. Namibia With Angelina KalahariHello travelers, I’m Jo Frances Penn and in today’s episode, I talk to Angelina Kalahari about Namibia in southwest Africa. We recorded the interview a few months back as I tend to batch my interviews and so it was well before the coronavirus changed our perspective on world travel.
But perhaps in difficult times, it’s good to hear about interesting places and people and travel in our imaginations. Those of us with wanderlust are staying indoors under lockdown right now and I must admit to sitting down with my photo albums the other night, lookin...2020-04-0240 minBooks And TravelSanctuary, Retreat, Belonging. The Importance Of Home In Difficult TimesAs I write this in the middle of March 2020, the world is gripped by the spread of coronavirus COVID19. Countries are shutting their borders, people are asked to stay indoors, shelter in place and self-quarantine inside. Restaurants, bars, gyms, schools, and other public places are closing. Airlines are on the verge of going bust or re-nationalized, the economy is struggling, and citizens are being asked to travel home.
And that’s what I want to talk about today. The concept of home and what it means, especially in difficult times. Because this is the Books and Travel Po...2020-03-1812 minBooks And TravelThe Roman Empire And Alternate History With Alison MortonTravel can be about place, but it can also be about time, and in this interview, I talk to Alison Morton about how the ancient Roman empire continues to inspire her alternate-history Roma Nova thrillers.
Alison Morton is the author of the Roma Nova series, Roman-themed alternate history thrillers with tough heroines.
Show notes
The early genesis of an idea for books about an alternative history based on Ancient Rome
How the past and the present are connected by landscape
Places that have inspired aspects of the Roma Nova books
Bringing Alison’s...2020-03-0540 minBooks And TravelBhel Puri On The Beach, The Gateway To India, And Bollywood. Mumbai With Vikram ChandraMumbai is a fascinating city with diversity in religion and architecture, and in this interview, Vikram Chandra talks about the colonial impact of the Portuguese and British, as well as the Zoroastrian, Muslim, Hindu and Christian holy places in the city.
It’s also a feast for the senses, as Vikram evokes the taste of seafood from the harbor and the chaat street food on the beaches, the clang of ships in the dock, as well as the action spectacle of Bollywood films, and the multi-lingual speech of Hindi, Punjabi, English and Bombay slang.
We di...2020-02-2038 minBooks And TravelCycling Around The World With ML BuchmanSometimes we can only find our true selves by leaving everything we thought we wanted behind. Matt Buchman was a successful business consultant, but when he lost everything, he set off to cycle around the world. It was a way to escape his old life, but also to find a new path. In this interview, he talks about some of the highs and lows of the trip, but it’s also a discussion on what really matters and how to find home again.
M.L. Buchman is the author of over 60 romance, thriller, sci-fi, and fa...2020-02-0650 minBooks And TravelSacred Australia And The Northern Territory With Amanda MarkhamIn today’s episode, we’re heading for the Northern Territory of Australia as Dr. Amanda Markham talks about some of the Aboriginal Dreaming stories of the area and how the vast landscape impacts living and working there, as well as the best places to visit if you’re traveling. Amanda is of Wiradjuri Aboriginal descent and speaks an Aboriginal language, so it’s fantastic to get her perspective.
We recorded this episode before the bush fires swept the country and I talked back in episode 20 about my own experience traveling around Australia and then living there — I mentione...2020-01-2340 minBooks And TravelTraveling On The Trans-Siberian Express Across Mongolia And Russia With SJI HollidayWhat would you do if you only had a short time to live?
Most people have some kind of travel on their bucket list, and when Susi Holliday had a near-miss in the London terror attacks, she decided to head off on a round-the-world trip. Her experience on the Trans-Siberian Express resulted in a crime novel years later, and in this interview, we talk about what she learned along the way.
We also talk about why reflection on mortality makes us want to travel, the importance of getting out of your comfort zone, why spiritual...2020-01-0942 minBooks And TravelThe Happiest Country In The World. Finland With Helena HalmeIn today’s episode, we’re heading north for cross-country skiing under the aurora borealis, sailing amongst the Baltic islands, and silence amongst the Finnish forests.
I worked in Helsinki one summer in my twenties. The nights were bright and we drank vodka in the sauna and then jumped in the Baltic to cool off. I remember how musical the Finnish language sounded in the dusk of the midnight sun and I always intended to go back. But that was the late 90s, and I haven’t returned to Finland, so it was wonderful to talk to Helena...2019-12-1241 minBooks And TravelTraveling Through The Eyes of Faith With Richard ZimlerThere are books that remain with you over time, that spark the imagination and echo down the years of your life. I read The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon by Richard Zimler in the late 1990s around the time I read The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco while I was studying Theology at Oxford, which I talked about in episode 12. The themes and characters of those two books still resonate in my own writing, and the idea of faith soaking into the very stones of a place is something that stays with me as I travel for my...2019-11-2844 minBooks And TravelThe City Of Life And Death. New Orleans With Laura And Dan MartoneNew Orleans is one of those cities that has a special place in the imagination of a traveler, even if you haven’t been there. It’s famous for loving life — for Mardi Gras parades, a vibrant music scene, drinking and eating and gorgeous architecture in the French Quarter — but it’s also known as the City of the Dead, with cemeteries, Voodoo, ghost stories, vampires, and of course, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
In today’s episode, native New Orleanian Laura Martone and her husband, Dan, talk about the history of the French Quarter and some of the haunt...2019-11-1450 minBooks And TravelAncient City, Modern Life. Beijing With LH DrakenChina is a rising world power, increasingly challenging the USA in terms of global influence and technological development, especially around artificial intelligence and biotechnology.
It’s also an ancient culture with fascinating places to visit, and in this interview, thriller author L.H.Draken shares her thoughts on traveling to Beijing.
LH Draken is the author of The Year of the Rabid Dragon, a medical thriller set in Beijing, China. Lawrence is American but worked as a physicist and engineer in Beijing before moving to Germany.
Ancient historical sites in and...2019-10-3144 minBooks And TravelOutback Nights And City Days In The Lucky Country. Australia With J.F.PennAustralia is truly a land of two halves. There is nature in all its diversity — from the vast outback to ancient rainforest, from the coral reef to the desert; and then there are the great international cities, from Sydney’s Harbour Bridge to Melbourne’s coffee culture, where multi-cultural Aussies work and play in the Lucky Country.
It’s also the land of opportunity, with golden-haired surfers riding the waves on white-sand beaches, a rich mining industry and a great standard of living; but it also has a dark history of oppression, resulting in racism and inequality that stil...2019-10-1742 minBooks And TravelWalking The Camino De Santiago With Ashlee Cowles“Solvitur ambulando: It is solved by walking.” St Augustine
We live in a mostly sedentary world, with our days seated at a computer working, and our evenings in front of streaming entertainment. This life shows in our physical and mental health, but since much of our modern malaise can be solved by regular walking in nature, how much more could walking hundreds of kilometers solve?
The Camino de Santiago, or The Way of St James, is a Catholic pilgrimage with a number of routes across Spain from southern France, southern Spain, and Portugal. The most famo...2019-10-0344 minBooks And TravelTraveling By Train Across The USA With J ThornTraveling by train is fantastic because you can watch the world go by from the carriage, sometimes for days on end, and you have somewhere to sleep and wash and eat while you travel.
You can catch glimpses of places you might never visit as the train passes through and you arrive in the heart of the biggest cities relaxed and ready to explore.
In this interview, J.Thorn gives some tips about the best routes to travel with Amtrak in the USA and what you can expect from the service, as well as some...2019-09-1936 minBooks And TravelLiving On The Edge: Greenland With Christoffer PetersenGreenland is the world’s largest island. Three-quarters of it are covered in a permanent ice sheet and with only 56,000 people, it’s the least densely populated country in the world.
It is considered a region of Denmark, but Greenland has recently been in the news as President Donald Trump talked about buying the island for its rich natural resources and strategic position in the Arctic.
Christoffer Petersen writes Arctic noir crime thrillers based on the seven years he spent living in Greenland, including Seven Graves, One Winter, the first book in the Gree...2019-09-0544 minBooks And TravelBetween The Desert And The Sea. Djibouti With Rachel Pieh JonesDjibouti is a meeting place of cultures with French, Somali, and Yemenese influences. It’s shaped by its geographical position between the desert and the sea, on the borders of Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea as well as the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
In this interview, Rachel Jones explains how she came to love the country she now calls home, some tips for traveling to Djibouti, and thoughts on being an expatriate as well as raising Third Culture Kids.
Rachel Pieh Jones is the author of Welcome to Djibouti: Arrive, Survive an...2019-08-2248 minBooks And TravelVenice, Art History And Italian Artisans With Laura MorelliTraveling to a new place is about art, architecture, food, and culture, but it can also be about the people you meet and the memories — and even souvenirs — you bring back.
In today’s interview, Laura Morelli talks about Venetian artisans, the joys of limoncello, and shares her tips for finding the perfect way to remember your trip.
Dr. Laura Morelli has a Ph.D. in art history from Yale writes award-winning historical fiction based on the true stories of art history and teaches art history online.
Show notes:
How early...2019-08-0836 minBooks And TravelNorthumberland: Ancient Lindisfarne, Modern Newcastle With L.J.RossThe north-east of England combines the ancient history of Viking raids and English castles, with the stark beauty of Lindisfarne island cut off by the tides, and the vibrant city of Newcastle linked by its seven bridges.
In today’s episode, mystery author, LJ Ross talks about love of home, why she sets her books in the area, and tips for visiting.
LJ Ross is the internationally bestselling author of the DCI Ryan mystery series set in the north east of England including UK number one bestseller, Holy Island.
Why Louise feels th...2019-07-2534 minBooks And TravelBerlin: Dark History And Modern Art with Rebecca CantrellBerlin is a modern city with vibrant street art, a growing tech scene and world-renowned museums and galleries — but it also has the dark history of the Nazi Third Reich and the Berlin Wall. In today’s episode, American thriller author Rebecca Cantrell talks about her love of the city and how it features in her historical mysteries.
In the intro, I mention my own trip to the city when I visited the murals on the ruins of the Berlin Wall, and the Ishtar Gate at the Pergamon Museum, once an entrance to the ancient city of Baby...2019-07-1128 minBooks And TravelOxford: Decadence, Discipline And Dreaming Spires With J.F.PennI sat there on my first morning in class, heart pounding, as I realized there was no way I could keep up with the work. I would fail here. I would have to leave Oxford almost as soon as I had arrived …
That was day one at Oxford and I’ll finish that story during this episode because, of course, I did find a way to stay on.
Thriller author J.F.Penn by the Bridge of Sighs, Oxford. Photo by Mim Saxl
I studied Theology at Mansfield College, University of Oxford, 1994-1997 and those year...2019-06-2731 minBooks And TravelWild And Beautiful Hawaii With Toby NealHawaii is more than just a paradise of beaches and blue sea. In this interview, mystery and memoir author, Toby Neal, brings the wild and beautiful islands to life.
Toby Neal is an award-winning ‘USA Today’ bestselling author of mysteries, thrillers, and romance with over 30 titles. She’s also a mental health therapist, and today we’re talking about Freckled: A Memoir of Growing up Wild in Hawaii.
In the interview, we discuss:
Why Hawaii is more than just white sand beaches and cocktails with umbrellas
A tip for the Hawaiian language
Recommen...2019-06-1335 minBooks And TravelAdventure, Walking, And My Midsummer Morning With Alastair HumphreysHow does a book inspire a journey a generation later? How does an adventurer who loves to travel alone reconcile himself to a life more ordinary?
In today’s interview, I talk to Alastair Humphreys about his walk across Spain in homage to Laurie Lee.
Alastair Humphreys is an adventurer, author, and motivational speaker named as National Geographic adventurer of the year in 2012. He has cycled around the world, walked across India, and The Empty Quarter desert, rowed the Atlantic, and run the Marathon Des Sables, as well as going on many other mi...2019-05-3032 minBooks And TravelMemento Mori. How Travel Can Help Us Deal With Death And Grief With Dr Karen WyattSometimes we need to get away in order to heal, to take ourselves out of the routine and recognize how short life is, and how precious.
In this episode, Dr Karen Wyatt explains how travel helped her face grief and embrace living well in the face of death.
Dr Karen Wyatt is a hospice physician and best-selling author of books about death, loss, and grief. She’s the host of the End-of-Life University podcast and an inspirational speaker who teaches how to live a life that really matters, by embracing our mortality. Today, we’re talk...2019-05-1629 minBooks And TravelScuba Diving: The Wonder Of Traveling Beneath The Waves With J.F.PennTravel is about curiosity, the desire to discover new places and experience the extraordinary. It is often about pushing boundaries, extending our comfort zone to the point of challenge and beyond in the hope of discovering something new about ourselves and the world.
In today’s episode, I’m talking about scuba diving and the wonder of traveling beneath the waves and even if you’re not a diver yourself, I hope you find it interesting.
Jo Frances Penn scuba diving. Photo by J.F.Penn
Why I learned to scuba dive2019-05-0250 minBooks And TravelSailing On The Tall Ship Elissa In Galveston, Texas, With Carrie McAllisterMost of us spend our days on dry land within the walls of offices and our homes, but many of us understand the call of the sea.
In this interview, Carrie McAllister talks about her love of sailing on the tall ship Elissa out of Galveston, and how it has given her confidence as well as adventure.
I talked about my own tall ship sailing experience from Fiji to Vanuatu in episode 1, but Carrie found a way to sail in the same city where she works. You don’t have to go across the world to...2019-04-1831 minBooks And TravelMacabre Montreal with Mark LeslieMontreal is more than just music festivals, street art and the St Laurence river. It also has a dark side.
Mark Leslie is a Canadian horror writer with a passion for haunted places and, today, we’re talking about his book, Macabre Montreal.
Show Notes
On the old world feel of Montreal and it’s history
The influence of the St. Lawrence river on Montreal’s feel
Interesting places to look for history in Montreal, including the cemeteries
Making connections to history through city ghost tours
Recommendations for good books based in Montreal
On the pl...2019-04-0439 minBooks And TravelMyth And Reality. Beauty And Decay In Venice With J.F.PennToday I’m talking about The Myth and Reality Of Travel, and focusing on Venice in particular, as well as giving you some tips and book recommendations if you are going to visit.
There is a problem inherent in travel, especially in a world of filtered Instagram photos, social media bubbles and glossy travel magazines.
There are some places in the world that are so famous it can be difficult to know whether they live up to the hype or not. There is the myth and then there is the reality, so how do you ma...2019-03-2127 minBooks And TravelGranada And Cordoba In Andalusia, Spain With Historical Thriller Author, David PennyAndalucia brings to mind balmy evenings with the scent of oranges in the air, the sounds of flamenco guitar, and the exotic architecture of the Moorish Alhambra.
In this podcast interview, I talk to David Penny, author of The Thomas Berrington Historical Mysteries, which are set in medieval Spain.
You can listen above or on iTunes or your favorite podcast app, read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and full transcript below.
Show Notes
The inspiration for David’s detective novels set in Moorish Spain
Writing about an...2019-03-0239 minBooks And TravelReinvention, Escape, Curiosity, Perspective. Why I TravelOne of my earliest memories is looking out my window over the fields by night at the back of our house, wishing I could be out there. I cuddled my white fur seal teddy, fingers clutching the white window ledge.
I must have been six or seven and my Mum lived in Malawi, Africa after my parent’s divorce. My little brother and I lived with my (wonderful) Dad and I was safe and happy. It wasn’t that I wanted to leave him. It was that “out there” seemed so much more exciting and that preference still un...2019-03-0123 minBooks And TravelIntimate War. How Ireland Inspires The Writing Of Orna RossOrna Ross is an Irish novelist, a poet, non-fiction writer, and creative coach.
Today, we’re talking about how Ireland features in her writing.
You can listen above or on iTunes or your favorite podcast app, read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and full transcript below.
Show Notes
Writing about a country you’re from vs. writing as an outsider
Why Orna writes about Ireland
Common misconceptions about the country
Writing from memories of a childhood in a small Irish village
Poetry and writing about W.B.Yeats
Mode...2019-02-2835 minBooks And TravelLake Malawi, Jerusalem, And Blue Water Sailing To Vanuatu. The Three Trips That Shaped My LifeHello Travellers, I’m Jo Frances Penn and this is episode 1 of my new Books and Travel Podcast.
So why this show after 10 years of The Creative Penn Podcast?
It’s all about reinvention, which is part of what travel means to me. When I think about what I want to do with my life for the next 10 years, I always come back to books and travel. I’m fascinated by the inner and outer journeys that both can bring — a change in perspective, empathy, perhaps an entirely new direction. If you know what I mean, th...2019-02-2141 min