Shows
The Realistic BackpackersAsk Us Anything Pt. 2Welcome back to the Realistic Backpackers podcast! It’s the final episode of season 2!! Abi is starting to get itchy feet, and Shireen is so excited for her upcoming trip to India and Iran. This week, the girls are answering all your questions. They’re talking about everything from their arguments, travel safety and where they’re most looking forward to travelling in 2025. It’s been such an incredible season, with some amazing guests, and the girls are already excited to get cracking on season 3, see you then! Helpful Links:...2025-03-3143 minThe Realistic BackpackersPaige Copeland & The Realistic BackpackersThis week the girls are chatting to Paige who’s currently living in Bali and running her group trip business, Becoming Solo.Discussing all about how Paige started travelling and why she’s such an advocate for people going solo travelling. There’s nobody better to discuss group trips with, and Paige gives a real insight into her business, why she designed it as she has, and all the work that goes on behind the scenes.This conversation was amazing, and one that anyone thinkin...2025-03-251h 01The Realistic BackpackersBackpacking GuatemalaWelcome back to the Realistic Backpackers podcast! The girls are really leaning into what’s on their doorstep this week, with Abi heading up to the peak district and Shireen hiking her local area. This week, the girls are chatting all about backpacking Guatemala, a country they fell in love with while exploring it.Discussing their favourite spots and activities, and all about the history of the country. Abi loved their hike from Xela to Lake Atitilan, while Shireen loved spending 2 weeks in Spanish school. Thank you as always for li...2025-03-1840 minThe Realistic BackpackersMarissamcgarr & The Realistic BackpackersThis week the girls are chatting to Marissa, while she’s on a work exchange in a surf town in Sri Lanka.Kicking it off by talking all about Marissa started travelling in the first place. Marissa is a huge advocate for doing work exchanges while travelling, specifically through Worldpackers, and is the perfect person to discuss them with.Covering everything from how to find the best ones, things to look out for and her favourite work exchanges. And of course, wrapping up the episode with a chaotic story. This one invo...2025-03-1148 minThe Realistic BackpackersBackpacking New ZealandWelcome back to the Realistic Backpackers podcast! Abi has just been to Luxemburg for the weekend, and is catching us up on how it was, what she did and where she stayed. Definitely somewhere to consider for a short weekend break! This week, the girls are chatting all about backpacking New Zealand, one of their favourite countries (even if they say that about everywhere). Abi travelled New Zealand in a camper van in 2016, and Shireen did the Kiwi Experience in 2023, so the girls have tips and tricks for both. Discussing their favo...2025-03-0439 minThe Realistic BackpackersChloesgapyear & The Realistic BackpackersWelcome back to the Realistic Backpackers podcast! This week the girls are chatting to Chloe, who has been travelling and working in Australia for nearly 3 years. They chat about everything from solo travelling, working holiday visas and awful house shares. Chloe gives her advice on living and working in Australia, and discussing why she created her new community Backpacking for the Plot to help those moving to Sydney connect and make friends. Wrapping up with a chaotic backpacking story invo...2025-02-2552 minThe Realistic BackpackersAll Things AustraliaThis week the girls are chatting all about Australia, where Abi lived for a year, and Shireen spent 2.5 months on the East Coast. Kicking off with the East Coast, discussing activities, highs, lows and how to get around. Then heading over to the west (which is best in Abi’s opinion), Abi discusses her road trip with a random Dutch man she met online. Finally, the girls discuss working holiday visas, and making friends in Australia. Shireen wraps up the episode with how she almost moved to Australia for a boy!! Th...2025-02-1840 minThe Realistic BackpackersBackpacking the Middle EastWelcome back to the Realistic Backpackers podcast! This week the girls are chatting all about backpacking the Middle East (or at least where they’ve been).They recently travelled to the UAE, Qatar and Oman (as well as Turkey and Jordan, so make sure to listen to last week’s episode to hear about those!)As always, the girls are completely honest when talking about their travel experiences, good or bad, and whether they really enjoyed visiting these countries. Discussing Formula 1, the joy of not planning things when travelling, and comparing their...2025-02-1146 minThe Realistic BackpackersBackpacking Turkey and JordanWelcome back to the Realistic Backpackers podcast!
This week the girls are chatting all about backpacking Turkey and Jordan.
Kicking off with Turkey, the girls discuss their route (which Shireen somehow remembered), their favourite places and the iconic hot air balloon ride.
Moving on to Jordan, Abi’s new FAVOURITE country, from the iconic Petra, to camping in Wadi Rum and all the tips and tricks to make your trip as successful as possible.
And who knew the dead sea was extremely salty?
Thank you as always to everyone that...2025-02-0446 minThe Realistic BackpackersWe're back!Welcome back to the Realistic Backpackers podcast! The girls really missed recording and chatting to you all, and are so excited to be back for season 2!
It’s been a crazy couple of months since the last episode, and the girls go through what they’ve been up to and everywhere they’ve been.
Abi is now employed in the UK, and Shireen’s currently at home planning what 2025 travel is going to look like.
Seeing as it’s the first episode of 2025, the girls discuss plans for the year (although they’ll all definitel...2025-01-2843 minThe Realistic BackpackersAsk us anything!Welcome back to the Realistic Backpackers podcast where the girls are discussing that this is the LAST EPISODE of season 1!
This week is a little bit different. The girls asked you what you want to know about them, travelling, digital nomad life and everything in between, and you did not disappoint.
This week’s ‘ask us anything’ episode, really covers EVERYTHING, from favourite travel destinations & countries visited, to how to make friends while travelling, and trying to ease some of your travel fears.
There’s also a HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT that is going to really s...2024-11-1954 minThe Realistic BackpackersBackpacking Morocco & EgyptWelcome back to the Realistic Backpackers Podcast where the girls are discussing life at home and big birthdays.
This week's topic is backpacking Morocco and Egypt, where the girls have just spent a month travelling.
Moroccan food got a big tick from the girls, and they had their mind blown in Egypt by the vast SIZE of everything they visited.
Covering everything from best places to go, how to get around, food (obviously) and their favourite experiences.
Keeping it as realistic as possible, the girls discuss their honest opinions on backpacking...2024-11-1250 minThe Realistic BackpackersThe good, bad and ugly of hostel lifeWelcome back to the Realistic Backpackers Podcast where the girls are discussing 2025 travel plans (if they actually ever go to plan).
This week's topic is accommodation, specifically hostel life .
The girls LOVE hostel life, and are on a mission to dispel the perception that they’re awful, encouraging everyone to try them at least once.
From tips on how to find the best hostels, what to bring, and hostel etiquette, the girls have you covered.
Discussing both their favourite, and least favourite hostels, naturally, there’s some chaos in there. Sure isn’t...2024-11-0539 minThe Realistic BackpackersBudgeting and safety while travellingWelcome back to the Realistic Backpackers Podcast, where Shireen has just booked her first ever group trip to India in March with @craicontravels!
This week’s topics are budgeting and safety while travelling, two hugely important ones!
Kicking off with budgeting, covering everything from how to plan your budget, tracking spending and managing money while travelling.
Shireen has finally accepted that she is indeed, extremely type A and what that means.
Safety is a topic the girl’s really wanted to cover, and is it the most important thing while travelling. Both g...2024-10-2945 minThe Realistic BackpackersDigital Nomad LifeWelcome back to the Realistic Backpackers Podcast, where Abi kicks us off with a very exciting story… if you managed to continue listening, well done!
This week’s topic is Digital Nomad Life. Abi has been a Digital Nomad for 2.5 years and Shireen for 18 months, and they have a wealth of knowledge to share.
The girls get into some honest conversations about making friends, backpacking while working and how the way they want to travel in the future is going to change.
Sharing their tips for both finding work to do while travelling, how to...2024-10-2242 minThe Realistic BackpackersBackpacking: everything you need to knowWelcome back to the Realistic Backpackers Podcast, where the girls discuss Abi’s sober journey over the last couple of years, and how that’s played out while travelling.
This week's topic is backpacking, a general overview and tips for planning your trip.
Discussing the perception of backpacking, a new wave of backpackers, and making sure you’re doing exactly what YOU want on your trip, and not listening to others opinions.
The girls discuss how to plan your trip along with things to do before going and how having some flexibility with your rou...2024-10-1558 minThe Realistic BackpackersBackpacking Mexico and Central AmericaWelcome back to the Realistic Backpackers Podcast, where the girls are discussing the realities of being back home between trips, and how that can feel different for everyone after being away for a long time.
This week's topic is Mexico and Central America, where the girls have just come back from, and had such an amazing time.
Discussing the region, the route and history of the region, as well as their favourite countries. Nothing makes Abi cry more than having to pick ONE favourite country.
There’s incredible activities in Central America, from the b...2024-10-0853 minThe Realistic BackpackersBackpacking South East AsiaWelcome back to the Realistic Backpackers Podcast, where Shireen is having a crisis about turning 31, and the girls are slowly settling back into home life after their last backpacking trip.
This week's topic is one of the girls’ favourites, South East Asia. A region that holds a special place in both girls’ hearts. It’s where they both went on their first backpacking trip, and where they met!
Discussing the region, and the route they did, and any hints and tips for how they would plan it differently in the futu...2024-10-0147 minThe Realistic BackpackersAll things Solo TravelWelcome back to the Realistic Backpackers Podcast. This week the girls discuss the ridiculous goings ons in Abi’s home town, from town crier competitions to learning about crabbing.
The topic this week is Solo Travelling, a topic close to both the girls’ hearts. Discussing what solo travel is and that you don’t need to start solo travelling by going on a huge backpacking trip.
Both Shireen and Abi give their tips on solo travelling, covering off safety, keeping your plans loose and how great it is to meet new people.
Shireen discusse...2024-09-2438 minThe Realistic BackpackersGet to know the Realistic BackpackersWelcome to the first episode of the Realistic Backpackers podcast. After just arriving home from a backpacking trip, the girls catch up on how life is back in the UK and Ireland, especially since Abi was away for 2 years!
The girls explain who they are, and what their backpacking history is. They're both huge lovers of travel, but Shireen explains what it was like before she took the plunge to start travelling in September 2022.
Shireen and Abi met by chance in a hostel in Bangkok, and when Shireen was...2024-09-1740 minThe Realistic BackpackersIntroducing the Realistic Backpackers with Shireen & AbiWelcome to the Realistic Backpackers podcast. We're Backpackers and Digital Nomads that met travelling South East Asia. On this podcast, we talk about all things backpacking and digital nomad life, as well as the chaotic situations we've found ourselves in, while keeping it as realistic as possible.
If you enjoy the episodes, we'd really appreciate you leaving a review, and subscribing, it helps so much!
If you want to ask us any questions, or share some chaotic stories, we're @shireenaroundtheworld_ and @abi_chapman on Instagram, and @therealisticbackpackers on Tiktok.2024-09-1100 min