Curious Tourism: Responsible Travel Podcast

Curious Tourism: Responsible Travel Podcast

By Voyascape Media

What does it take to make travel better for people and the planet? Join travel writer Erin Hynes, podcast producer, Kattie Laur, and their guests, as they explore their curiosities about what truly makes travel and tourism responsible.

Follow us on Instagram: @curioustourismpod
Reach us by email: [email protected]

Curious Tourism is part of the Voyascape Travel Network & you can find more of our travel podcasts from around the world at https://voyascape.com/

49 most recent episodes displayed below

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Episodes

18:43 Ep. 129

The Crackdown on Visa Runs | POSTCARD #10

Erin and Kattie discuss what visa runs are, and why Thailand is cracking down on this travel "hack" to extend visa eligibility.

POSTCARD episodes come out mid-month, between each regular episode of Curious Tourism. Catch candid discussions on the la

58:12 Ep. 128

Why Travel Is Political

The island of Socotra has recently become popularized online. But in January 2026, geopolitics broke this illusion of this island being a detached, apolitical escape. Foreign tourists found themselves stranded there. Flights were canceled, and there

23:28 Ep. 127

Why Trophy Hunting Tourism Is Alive And Well | POSTCARD #9

Erin and Kattie unpack the troubling nuances of trophy hunting tourism, sharing an unaired clip from their interview with Janna Giacoppo about just how much more fruitful safari photo tourism in comparison. They also take the discussion home, looking

43:05 Ep. 126

Protecting the Great Migration: Inside the Maasai Mara Hotel Lawsuit

In early 2025, a new luxury hotel development from Marriot was announced. The Ritz-Carlton Maasai Mara Safari Camp promises visitors “front row seats” to the Great Migration. But soon after the hotel was announced, community members and wildlife expe

37:32 Ep. 125

What's Going Down At The 2026 Winter Olympics | POSTCARD #8

Erin and Kattie unpack the ongoing Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and why the Mayor of Milan is saying they're set to be most sustainable Olympic Games yet. They look what what we can expect this year, the addition of a fun new decipline, and wh

52:54 Ep. 124

It’s Time to Rethink “The Best Time to Visit”

Climate change is having an impact on how predictable seasons are, affecting ecosystems and as well as the daily life and livelihoods of people and communities around the world. And it’s having a trickle-down effect on how we plan our trips. 

We cha

34:50 Ep. 123

Must-Know Travel Predictions for 2026 | POSTCARD #7

Erin and Kattie dig into interesting travel predictions for 2026, from noctourism and hushpitality to cold-weather travel and literary tourism.

• National Geographic | How travel will look in 2026—here's what you need to know
• BBC | Seven travel tr

41:58 Ep. 122

How "The Holiday" Impacted Travel | POSTCARD #6

HomeExchange got a lot of love after the release 2006's Christmas RomCom, "The Holiday". Now, there's a new rise in house swapping! Erin and Kattie discuss why and then Erin shares some interesting and wildly cute Christmas traditions from around the

53:58 Ep. 121

Allergic and Abroad: How Food Allergies Shape Travel

What is it like to travel with severe food allergies? Erin and Kattie chat with food allergy consultant Allie Bahn about what it takes to travel confidently with severe allergies.

We discuss how allergic travelers experience travel slightly differen

26:19 Ep. 120

What Happens When AI Plans Your Trip? | POSTCARD #5

AI is becoming increasingly embedded into the travel planning experience. While AI might seem like a great hack for creating a travel itinerary, it does come with problems. We unpack these issues, from hallucinated locations to incorrect logistical i

53:56 Ep. 120

Unpacking Representation of Women in Aviation | REPLAY

Joi Schweitzer joins the podcast to unpack the ins and outs of what it takes to become a pilot as a black woman and the state of represention in the skys. She also shares where her love of flying came from and what's ahead for the next generate of pi

30:09 Ep. 119

Bad Bunny and Bad Fireworks Displays | POSTCARD #4

Erin and Kattie discuss the recent fireworks display in the Himalayan region of Tibet, which drew backlash and an apology from outdoor brand Arc'teryx. They also discuss Bad Bunny's decision to not tour the US and the economic and tourism impact of t

46:39 Ep. 118

Navigating Travel With Age and Disability

Erin chats with Cary Lowe and his wife Trish Butler. Trish lives with multiple sclerosis and uses a mobility scooter, and she and Cary have continued to travel well into their seventies, traveling to nearly half the US states and another twenty count

36:25 Ep. 117

Emma, the AI Travel Influencer | POSTCARD #3

Erin and Kattie discuss Germany Tourism's latest AI Travel Influencer, Emma and the nuances around authentic travel content. They also review the chaotic and hilarious posts coming from TSA on Threads that have the internet cracking up.

• .instagram

45:36 Ep. 116

Rethinking Tourism in Tofino with the Tribal Park Allies Program

Erin chats with Julian Hockin‑Grant about the Tribal Park Allies program, an initiative created by the Claoquiat First Nation on Vancouver Island. The program invites local businesses, from coffee shops to surf resorts, to become Indigenous Allies by

41:25 Ep. 115

Should The "World Wonders" List Exist? | POSTCARD #2

Erin and Kattie discuss what constitutes a "New World Wonder," and why Egypt refused to participate in the contest to decide what would appear on this list.

We also dive into the sticky world of travel scams, and react to a hilarious before/after ba

48:13 Ep. 114

What It’s Like to Travel the World as an Interracial Couple

Travel media still often presents a narrow version of what travel looks like, and interracial couples are rarely a part of that picture. For these couples traveling together across cultures and borders can bring unique challenges, but also, really sp

36:15 Ep. 113

The Hike That Shouldn't Happen | POSTCARD #1

Erin and Kattie are hitting the feed with a new monthly series of "POSTCARDS"!

In between each regular episode, catch discussions on the latest in travel-related media and one hot topic that's fresh on Erin's mind.

In this POSTCARD:

• A first-time

01:07:10 Ep. 112

Let's Talk About Sex Tourism

Sex tourism has existed for hundreds of years. And with the rise of globalization, it’s become a booming industry that exists in most corners of the earth. Sex work and sex tourism is complex. This kind of work intersects with history, power, race, e

01:02:52 Ep. 111

Responsible Travel - In This Economy!?

Over the last few years, we’ve all noticed and felt the impact of growing inflation. During economic downturns, the tourism industry typically takes a hit. People are either nervous to spend money, or just don’t have the disposable income to put towa

57:22 Ep. 110

Are Travel Influencer Media Trips Responsible?

You probably follow a few travel content creators on social media, and every once in a while, you’ll likely notice that they share content from a trip that is a collaboration with a tourism board. These trips, which are typically called media trips,

01:24:11

The White Lotus Recap | S3 Finale: Amor Fati

Erin and Kattie recap the season 3 FINALE of HBO'sThe White Lotus, unpacking each characters wild trajectory and crowing the Most Conciencious and Cringiest Travelers of the seaon!

Tell us what you thought of our recaps on Instagram!

Follow us on I

01:16:08

The White Lotus Recap | S3E7: Killer Instincts

Erin and Kattie recap S3E7 of HBO'sThe White Lotus, unpacking Gary and Chloe's proposition to Saxon, Gaitok's determination to avoid conflict (even though he's caught the bad guys), the deterioration of the gal pals, and much more!

Find the last rec

01:19:32

The White Lotus Recap | S3E6: Denials

Erin and Kattie recap S3E6 of HBO'sThe White Lotus, unpacking Saxon and Lochlans morning-after hanxiety, Gary's motives, Timothy's decent into darkness and... light? and much more!

Find a new recap out every Thursday morning (usually) until the end

59:21 Ep. 109

Why is Last-Chance Tourism on the Rise?

Over the last few decades, tourists have been going out of their way to see places before they disappear, from Antartica to Australia. This has been deemed "Last-chance tourism". We're diving into the phenomenon of last-chance tourism; how it started

01:08:41

The White Lotus Recap | S3E5: Full-Moon Party

Erin and Kattie recap S3E5 of HBO'sThe White Lotus, unpacking Belinda’s "Thriller-Romance-Novel Era", the reckoning of Piper’s lies and ambitions, Timothy’s descent into darkness, the Gal Pals rowdy evening, good old fashioned brotherly love, THAT mo

59:45

The White Lotus Recap | S3E4: Hide or Seek

Curious Tourism recaps S3E4 ofThe White Lotus! Find a new recap out every Thursday morning until the end of the season.

Follow us on Instagram: @curioustourismpod

Reach us by email: [email protected]

Curious Tourism is part of the Voyascape Tra

01:02:42

The White Lotus Recap | S3E3: The Meaning of Dreams

Curious Tourism is recaps S3E3 ofThe White Lotus!

Erin and Kattie share their theories and internet deep cuts about the tsunami is that is about to come, and present the coveted “Conscientious Traveler Award” to a White Lotus character. Find a new r

55:08

The White Lotus Recap | S3E2: Special Treatments

Curious Tourism is recaps S3E2 ofThe White Lotus!

Erin and Kattie share their theories on the monkeys, Belinda seeing Greg (aka Gary) again, and more, and of course share the top cringe travel moment (who are we kidding, everything Saxon does is cri

47:45 Ep. 108

The Future of Indigenous Tourism

When you think of traveling to Canada, what do you think of? Maybe beautiful nature, ice hockey, or maple syrup. But these aspects are just a very small piece of Canada’s cultural identity, and tourism identity. Canada has a long, rich, and diverse h

48:39

The White Lotus Recap | S3E1: Same Spirits, New Forms

Curious Tourism is recapping the third season of HBO's The White Lotus!

In every recap, Erin and Kattie unpack their feelings about the show through a responsible travel lens, unpack the top cringe travel moment from the episode, and present the cov

01:01:27 Ep. 107

Traveling Mindfully: How to Decenter Yourself in 2025

Join Erin Hynes and Amanda Kendle as they explore mindful travel, cultural awareness, social media impact, and tips for responsible tourism in 2025.

Please note: Midway through this episode we mention that a woman was killed by an elephant in Spain.

56:11 Ep. 106

What is Social Washing in Tourism?

Responsible, sustainable tourism has been gaining more and more attention, but now there’s the risk of "social washing". Lily Girma joins the show to discuss what social washing is, how it applies to the tourism industry, and how to avoid it.  

Gues

01:00:29 Ep. 105

“But Is It Safe To Travel There?”

“Is it safe to travel there” is a commonly asked question to most travel bloggers and creators. It’s also one of the most difficult to answer. We’re unpacking the complexities of safety while traveling.

Guest: Sojourner White is a blogger, travel an

52:51 Ep. 104

How Food Transforms Our Travel Experiences

Food is more than just a means of sustenance – it’s an essential part of every culture. This makes food a big part of the travel experience. Through food, we’re invited to learn about and experience local culture, heritage, and tradition. We're chatt

01:09:10 Ep. 103

Does Travel Really Change You?

According to science, travel can change us. Erin chats with JoAnna Haugen about the ways that travel impacts who we are, and they unpack how turning to travel as a means for personal development is a privilege.

28:34 Ep. 102

BONUS: Dispatches from Erin's 150 Day World Trip!

After two months abroad, Erin and Kattie finally reunite over a stable internet connection and talk about Erin's 150 day trip so far!

They discuss the highlights from Tanzania and Sri Lanka - like what happened to Erin's Teva's on Safari and the mem

30:17 Ep. 101

BONUS: Erin's Big 2024 Plans

Erin and Kattie sit down together to chat about Erin's big news, big year, and big travel plans for 2024!

51:29 Ep. 100

Should We Gatekeep the Outdoors?

Erin chats with Taryn Eyton, a Leave No Trace Master Educator and a former member of the board of directors of Leave No Trace Canada, about what it actually means to "leave no trace". They also unpack gatekeeping the outdoors. Is it good to gatekeep?

49:55 Ep. 99

How To Visit Museums Responsibly

We’re digging into museums with María Elena Ortiz, Curator at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. We chat about the history of museums, and we unpack the colonial undertones that they sometimes have. And of course, we’ll talk about the role of museu

59:38 Ep. 98

Is Tourism Gentrifying Mexico?

In Oaxaca, Mexico, there’s a growing trend of Canadian snowbirds buying up  beachfront land, being promised that these properties will be the perfect vacation home. The problem is, the land that is being developed is not up for grabs. It’s communally

59:04 Ep. 97

How to Responsibly Share Your Travels

What we post on social media, write, or say about the places we visit, has the power to shape perceptions, maintain unfair stereotypes, and perpetuate colonial views. Learn why we all have a responsibility to share our travels mindfully.

01:02:57 Ep. 96

Is It Responsible to Visit Zoos?

Is it responsible to visit zoos? Some argue that animals in zoos suffer physically and mentally by being enclosed. But zoos can also be really important for conservation, and make learning about wildlife more widely accessible.

To learn more about t

51:53 Ep. 95

Is It Time For The Last Tourist?

In 2021, a documentary came out that addresses the inconvenient truths of the tourism industry. The Last Tourist explores the benefits, and the harms of tourism, as well as the myriad of social issues that factor into the current tourism landscape. U

52:22 Ep. 94

Unpacking Representation of Women in Aviation

Thinking back to the flights you've taken in the last few years, how many times have you noticed a woman-identifying pilot boarding the plane, or making those in-flight announcements?

According to 2020 data from the FAA's Aeronautical Center, about

55:07 Ep. 93

Romanticizing Rural and "Remote" Places

If you take a quick browse through travel media, you'll notice a lot of cliches like, "wild", "untouched", and "remote".

These descriptions are commonly applied to places that are considered rural, and they might seem harmless. But often, these desc

01:02:54 Ep. 92

How to Travel Halal

Erin is joined by Soumaya T. Hamdi to chat about how the Muslim travel market is growing, the barriers are Muslim travelers facing when they travel, and how can the tourism industry address these barriers and create a welcoming, inclusive space.

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