Best Nerd Tourism Podcasts (2025)

1
Vlogbrothers: How Nerds Brought Kindness to the Internet 26:07

6d ago26:07

26:07

Sometimes it seems like the world would be better off without the internet. What do we do when the technologies that promised to connect us, divide us instead? What do we do when the internet spawns trolls and bullies and misinformation? What would it take to make the internet … kind? In today’s episode: two different teens whose lives were changed…

1
30- Sustainable Travel in Greece: How to Make Local Impact w/ Joanna Kalafatis 50:59

11d ago50:59

50:59

When 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 resp…

1
Nicaraguan Sign: How Schoolchildren Invented the World’s Newest Language 18:32

12d ago18:32

18:32

Language is impossibly complicated. And yet, nearly everyone uses it with ease. Where does it come from? In this episode we look for clues to answer this question in the story of the world’s newest language, how it arose, and what it tells us about what it means to be human. References Blunden, A. (1990). The invention of Nicaraguan sign language .…

1
Death by Aloha: Travel, Tourism, and The Hawaiian Islands (Part 2) 16:08

20d ago16:08

16:08

Tourists are obnoxious...unless you're one of them. We all want adventure, but every adventure happens in someone else's backyard. Hawai'i knows this better than anyplace. This episode is part two (of a two-part series) about what I learned from my travels in Hawai’i. In it, I ponder, "How can we visit paradise without paving it?" and "What do we o…

1
Adventures Assemble Episode 4: The Final Countdown Before Japan! 20:53

17d ago20:53

20:53

In this episode, I’m just 48 hours away from getting on a plane to Japan—and I’m feeling a wild mix of excitement and nerves! I break down my full itinerary, from Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo to day trips out of Osaka, a visit to Hiroshima, and wrapping it all up in Kanazawa. I’ve got my ticket, passport, money, and smartphone—everything else I’l…

1
Adventures Assemble Episode 3: Two Weeks to Go—Planning, Panels, and Panic! 18:33

22d ago18:33

18:33

It’s officially happening—I'm just two weeks away from heading to Japan for Star Wars Celebration 2025! In this episode, I talk through everything I’ve got planned so far (and everything I still need to figure out). From panel reservations that didn’t go my way to plotting late-night food tours in Tokyo, the itinerary is finally starting to come to…

1
Death by Aloha: Travel, Tourism, and The Hawaiian Islands 24:47

27d ago24:47

24:47

Tourists are obnoxious...unless you're one of them. We all want adventure, but every adventure happens in someone else's backyard. Hawai'i knows this better than anyplace. In this episode what I learned from my travels in Hawai’i about "How can we visit paradise without paving it?" and "What do we owe the places we visit?"…

1
Mateusz Urbanowicz – Polish artist of “Your Name” anime & Tokyo Storefronts watercolor book on freelancing and animation 1:37:22

28d ago1:37:22

1:37:22

Mateusz Urbanowicz is a Polish artist living in Japan. And in this conversation, you'll learn all the details about he's wonderful journey from Poland to Japan and then to CoMix Wave Films. One of the big anime studios, renowned for “Your Name”. The anime that at a time was the second highest grossing anime ever, and Mateusz was painting the backgr…

1
Three Weeks to Tokyo: Star Wars Celebration 2025 Plans and Panic 28:44

29d ago28:44

28:44

Description: In this second episode of Adventures Assemble, I’m just three weeks away from boarding a plane to Tokyo for Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025—and wow, there’s still a LOT to figure out. Join me as I talk through the panel reservation madness, what’s been announced so far, and my thoughts on all things Star Wars—from the original trilogy…

1
Smallpox Eradication: That Time We Decided to Save Everyone 18:36

1M ago18:36

18:36

What is humanity’s greatest achievement? Language? Science? Space travel? I’m not sure how you define greatness, but I would offer this one for consideration: A little over 40 years ago, humankind eradicated smallpox. In today’s episode, a celebration of the knowledge, the work, and the people who made it happen. And why they deserve to be remember…

1
Adventures Assemble Begins: Star Wars, Japan, and Controlled Chaos 25:52

1M ago25:52

25:52

Welcome to the very first episode of Adventures Assemble! I’m Ryan Hecht, and I’m heading to Japan for Star Wars Celebration 2025—and no, I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing. This podcast isn’t a polished guide from a seasoned world traveler—it’s a real-time journey from someone figuring it out as he goes. In this episode, I introduce the show…

1
29- Vanlife in Canada is fun, but can it be sustainable? w/ Alise from Outdoor Nerds 1:12:16

1M ago1:12:16

1:12:16

Vanlife 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…

1
Strings of Dreams: A Conversation with Vermont’s Poet Laureate 31:10

1M ago31:10

31:10

Today I’m delighted to talk to poet and artist, Bianca Stone. Stone is the author of a number of poetry collections including Someone Else’s Wedding Vows, The Moebius Strip Club of Grief, and What is Otherwise Infinite, which won the Vermont Book Award in 2022. She is also a poetry comic artist who uses illustration to illuminate her own poetry and…

1
Jack Gilbert, Poetry, & Stubborn Gladness 17:46

2M ago17:46

17:46

What makes a successful life? Whether we think about it or not, every day, we live out our answer to that question. Our choices become a story about what we value. Together, they make us who we are. In today’s episode, one poet’s iconoclastic answer to that question, and what you and I might learn from it about what it takes to live a good life.…

1
The Problem that Poetry Solves: Rumi & Waking up to Life 16:28

2M ago16:28

16:28

Poems are just arrangements of sounds, marks on a page. But the right one can change history, outlast civilizations, and turn a respectable men into wandering vagabonds. In this episode: poetry, why we need it, and how a 13th century love affair changed it forever. Ten Life-changing Poems (For People Who Don't Read Poetry) "A Brief for the Defense"…

1
Democracy: The Way Forward with Mike Mrowicki 22:54

2M ago22:54

22:54

What do lovers of a democracy do when they share a country with people who are explicitly anti-democratic? How does a divided people build a government based on compromise when they won’t even listen to each other. Today, we put questions like these to Vermont State Representative, Mike Mrowicki. Mike shares his hopeful take on democracy, lessons l…

1
28- From Pro Cyclist to Bicycle Touring Mom w/ Fatima Berton 1:11:17

2M ago1:11:17

1:11:17

Can 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 …

1
Democracy: What Can We Do? 21:02

2M ago21:02

21:02

What can we possibly do to defend democracy when such powerful people are acting with such impunity? In this episode ... three things you could do today, an honest look at whether they'll make a difference, and some thoughts on dedication from someone who's been there before. Check out these leaders mobilizing people across the country: --50501: ht…

1
27- Safety for Girls on Trains: We Need to Talk About This 26:31

2M ago26:31

26:31

When 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…

1
Is There Hope For Democracy? 32:17

3M ago32:17

32:17

Democracy may be one of the best things that humans have ever done, but what are our chances of keeping it? In today’s episode we’ll watch Plato go head-to-head with Norman Rockwell, analyze a graph, check in with Barbara Kingsolver and a Martian, and … learn what hope there is for our beleaguered democracies. This is episode two of our four-part s…

1
Why The Autocrats Are Wrong: Democracy is F***ing Awesome 18:53

3M ago18:53

18:53

Autocrats want you to think that democracy is a failed experiment, that democracies have lost their way. But they are wrong. And if we're going to get beyond the fear and overwhelm, we're going to have to hold in our minds why democracy is worth fighting for.By Ben Lord

1
26- Cycling to the Climate Conference: A Ride for Change 1:07:58

3M ago1:07:58

1:07:58

Would 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 prot…

1
25- Beyond Cleanups: Creative Action to Save our Oceans 52:38

4M ago52:38

52:38

They 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 …

1
24- What High School in Turkey is Really Like as an Exchange Student - Christmas Edition 56:19

4M ago56:19

56:19

Attending 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 Izm…

1
23- Walking 1,000 km: Eco-Mobility & Climate Action in Botswana 39:47

5M ago39:47

39:47

How 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 wa…

1
22- Portugal to Germany by Train: The Truth About Sustainable Travel 33:58

5M ago33:58

33:58

In 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 ch…

1
21- Crossing borders by train, EU politics & upcoming changes w/ Jon Worth 1:10:07

6M ago1:10:07

1:10:07

From 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, t…

1
Stories From Strangers: Appreciation is the Word on the Street 26:36

6M ago26:36

26:36

This month, we’re trying something different. Instead of our usual audio essay, we’re bringing you an appreciation collage from southern VT, made up of a whole bunch of "man on the street" interviews.By Ben Lord

1
Lorenzo Simonini – The Extra-national Sailing Slowmad (slow-moving nomad) 1:23:59

6M ago1:23:59

1:23:59

In this episode, we sit down with Lorenzo, a sailing slowmad who has traded the traditional corporate life for a life of adventure on the open seas. Recorded aboard his sailboat during a passage from Tenerife to Gibraltar, Lorenzo shares his fascinating journey from growing up in Verona, Italy, to becoming an electrical engineer in Silicon Valley. …

1
20- Can we Feed Monkeys and Why Not? This is Primate Tourism w/ Connie Needham 1:02:46

6M ago1:02:46

1:02:46

Can 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 …

1
19- 50,000km by Train! Spies, Border Control & more w/ Victor Figèra, La Route Du Soja 1:07:33

6M ago1:07:33

1:07:33

In 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 …

1
The Hurricane: Is It Even Worth Making Art in an Information Storm? 38:06

7M ago38:06

38:06

We live in a world buried under an avalanche of content. More than 720,000 hours of new video are uploaded to YouTube every day. A new book is published every eight seconds. There are so many posts and tweets and comments that they seem to be unraveling our very ability to focus. Will making something new do anything but add to the noise?…

1
18- From Refugee Shipwreck to Ocean Cleanup w/ Daniel Angelis 59:32

7M ago59:32

59:32

Today's episode is all about beach cleanups, sharing the story of the coastal and marine management expert and founder Daniel Angelis, who got started during the refugee crisis. Daniel shares his journey of how the refugee boats impacted his home island Lesbos in Greece, and how they dealt with the trash. He's opening up about leading ocean cleanup…

1
17- Solutions for over tourism in Portugal w/ Marta Domingues 49:02

8M ago49:02

49:02

How can we visit Portugal in a more sustainable way? Today's guest is the portages Marta Domingues, a founder of eco-projects and a biodiversity activist. Marta explains the problems she faces on a daily basis living in Portugal. Over tourism caused her not to visit Lisbon anymore, taking the bus can take a long time, visiting beautiful beaches wit…

1
16- Red flags for WILDLIFE safari & volunteer tourism w/ Margreen 1:06:32

9M ago1:06:32

1:06:32

Many tourists prefer fun facts and experiences over the heavy truths of wildlife conservation, leading to a tourism model that often neglects the needs of the animals and the environment. What are green flags and red flags of wildlife safaris? Where is a volunteer's money actually going? ... Margarita Samsonova, an unconventional GREENfluencer and …

1
Run for Your Life 30:44

9M ago30:44

30:44

Ask around and you’ll find plenty of people who hate to run. It’s hard. It’s hot. It’s sweaty. You feel like you’re doing it wrong. And, man, it’s just boring. Who wants to just swing their legs for an hour? For much of my life, I never thought of myself as a runner. In this episode, a story about how I fell in love with it.…

1
15- Bikepacking or Workpacking? Home Office on your Bicycle w/ Gunnar Fehlau 54:41

9M ago54:41

54:41

Bikepacking or work 'n holiday? Mix both to get workpacking. This week's guest decided to leave his office and make it mobile. Gunnar Fehlau started working from his e-cargobike, as he calls it "workpacking". Gunnar shares tips on how to start your own bicycle touring workpack journey and explains how his start wasn't the best. Our host Clara Franc…

1
Dirk Delisse – Online Therapist for Ambitious Singles and Couples seeking Healthy Relationships 1:24:30

10M ago1:24:30

1:24:30

Fostering healthy relationships is Dirk Delisse's specialty. As an online therapist, he supports ambitious people who do have a partner, or have issues finding one. In this episode, Dirk addresses situationships, common in the digital nomad community, and the importance of spending quality time with aging parents. Furthermore, his entrepreneurial j…

1
Doubt and Faith 43:35

10M ago43:35

43:35

There can be miracles when you believe … but today … an ode to doubt. Here’s a look at the virtues of not knowing, of questioning what you know, of second-guessing. And how they make us better.By Ben Lord

1
14- Why I Should Stop My Sea Shell Collection? w/ Praneetha Monipi 1:04:09

10M ago1:04:09

1:04:09

Responsible travel means that we need to be aware of our impact. And to say that this conversation is a wake up call, is an understatement. Today's guest Praneetha Monipi explains all the do's and don'ts when touching nature. The goal is to keep the biodiversity alive. What is the real impact of our seashell collection? Why is rock-stacking not a g…

1
Marc Wieland – Swiss location-independent web developer in his twenties roaming the globe 1:54:48

11M ago1:54:48

1:54:48

Passion for traveling, chatting with locals, and landscape photography is what inspires Marc to be nomadic. Thanks to his determination, he found a Swiss web agency, that allows him to work four days a week and from anywhere. Listen to Marc's full story about how he started, how he uses Tinder to find local friends, not hookups, and what is the mos…

1
Humankind Does Not Suck! A Defense of My Favorite Species. 37:37

11M ago37:37

37:37

In this episode, Ben makes the case that despite its poor reputation, humanity does not suck. In thirty-five minutes, Ben outlines why people think humans are terrible, deliver a scathing rebuttal, point out why humans are his favorite species, and hopefully convince you to look at Homo sapiens in whole new ways.…

1
13- Recreating my parents migration on a cargo ship 31:24

12M ago31:24

31:24

In the 1950s, Klaus' parents left Germany on a ship, aiming for a better life in Canada. In this episode, our host Clara Francken talks to Klaus about his travel dreams. Klaus wishes to travel back to Germany and sail back to his roots. Why does he want to travel on a freighter ship? Why did his parents migrate to Canada? What is the impact of sail…

1
How Nerds Took Over My Heart 31:58

12M ago31:58

31:58

“If you like nerds, raise your hand. If you don’t raise your standards.” Today's episode, like vertebrate lungs, comes to you in two parts. The first is a celebration of the joy of finding people who share your love of something, no matter how unusual it is. The second is a celebration of the joy I’ve found with people who love science in particula…

1
12- Cycling across the border of The Netherlands w/ Vincent Wever 33:25

1y ago33:25

33:25

1500km of cycling around the Dutch border & crossing to neighbor countries hundreds of times. Bicycle touring around your own country while following strict rules. Vincent Wever cycled around his homecountry The Netherlands. His rules? 1. stay as close to the border as possible 2. don't do the same route twice The borders of Holland touch both Belg…

1
11- Free Public Transport in Richest Country Luxembourg w/ Joé Voncken 51:41

1y ago51:41

51:41

Luxembourg, the world's richest country, made public transport free. Today we're talking about Luxembourg and its buses, tramway and train system - with Luxembourgish guest Joé Voncken. The Luxembourgish railway system is called the SNL (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois). Free transportation is great for the environment, very pra…

1
Risk Delight: Finding Joy in the Apocalypse 57:21

1y ago57:21

57:21

The world is on fire both figuratively and literally. How do we deal? In this episode, delivered as a live talk for UCONN chapter of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Ben draws on poetry, science, history, and philosophy to explore how we all might live in a world where we have no idea what is going on.…

1
10- Europe by Train: Cheap Tickets, Tips and Stories 49:37

1y ago49:37

49:37

How to find cheap train tickets? How to travel comfortably? Which countries should you visit by train? Join our host Clara Francken as she shares expert tips, insider secrets, and captivating stories from the rails, guaranteed to elevate your European train travel experience. Stories from delayed journeys through Belgium and Germany to sun-soaked e…

1
9- Long Distance Bicycle Touring & 14,000 km From England To India w/ William Spencer 33:17

1y ago33:17

33:17

What is it like to go long-distance bicycling? This week’s guest William Spencer biked from the U.K. to India in less than one year, experienced culture shock, danger and profound friendship on the road. Now he's older, but still traveling by bike. He explains which life lessons he learned from being on the road, why age doesn't matter, which chall…

1
8- Top 9 Ecoleaders & Travelers ft. Women's Day 24:00

1y ago24:00

24:00

These female ecoleaders are changing the travel industry by raising their voice. 9 women who will inspire you to travel differently and show that there are many solutions. Tania Muxima Dalisa Camci Emma’s Roadmap Margreen Margarita Samsonova Olivia Piana Jane Goodall Sylvia Earle Wangari Maathai Greta Thunberg First, I talk about my past interview …

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