The Winging It Travel Podcast is your weekly ticket to the world—dropping every Monday and hosted by me, James Hammond, proudly part of the Voyascape Network.
This is more than just a travel podcast—it's a cinematic audio experience that takes you deep into the heart of each journey. Through rich immersive soundscapes, on-the-ground reactions, and authentic storytelling, I bring you right alongside me—whether I’m hiking up volcanoes in Guatemala, navigating the chaos of a city market in India,
What if a song could take you somewhere you've never been? Or transport you straight back to a beach, a bus ride, or an open road on the other side of the world?
In this solo episode I'm sharing the songs that have shaped my travel life — from the e
In this deeply personal solo episode, I take you through my full travel journey—from growing up in Norwich with no real concept of travel, to building a life around it in Vancouver and around the world.
How to Spend 3 Days in Victoria, BC | Ultimate Walkable Travel Guide
In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I take you through a full 4-night-3-day, no-car travel guide to Victoria, BC—perfect for a long weekend on Vancouver Island. From
In this immersive episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I take you through a full day exploring the Kingdom of Bhutan—from peaceful sunrise views over Thimphu to the powerful sounds of monks in morn
Planning to visit Vancouver for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and wondering where to stay? In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I share a local’s guide to the 8 best areas to base yourself during the tournament.
Bhutan Itinerary Days 4–7: Druk Wangyel Festival, Punakha Dzong + Phobjikha Valley
In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I continue my Bhutan travel series covering Days 4–7 of my guided journey through one of the most unique and spiritu
What is it really like to stay in a traditional homestay in Bhutan?
In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I’m coming to you from rural Bhutan, where I sit down with Ama Om — the owner of a traditional Bhutanese homestay located in a smal
After experiencing Bhutan — a destination that sat at the very top of my travel list for years — I found myself in an unexpected place. Not rushing to plan the next trip, not chasing the next highlight, but sitting in a quiet lull and asking myself a
My 2025 Review of My Travels, Winging It, Personal Goals + What Is To Come in 2026.
In this bonus New Year’s Day episode of Winging It, I’m taking a deep dive into my 2025 travel year, the evolution of the podcast, and what’s coming next in 2026.
15 Best Travel Podcasts 2026: Top Shows for Backpackers, Digital Nomads & Responsible Travellers
Every year the travel podcast world explodes with new voices, but which ones are actually worth your time? In this episode, I'm sharing my handpicked li
REVISITED in 2025 - Episode 5 - To Travel Solo Or Not?
In this episode, I go back to one of the earliest recordings I ever released on the Winging It Travel Podcast. My original episode, To Travel Solo or Not, captured a moment when I was still find
Welcome to this week's episode, where I share an episode where I was a guest on the Up In The Clowds Podcast with Adrian Ussling. Adrian's new podcast is a fantastic travel podcast sharing travel stories, tips, information, fun and much more. I loved
Magical Prague at Sunrise, My Cringe Oktoberfest Stories and Travel Fitness
In this week’s episode of Winging It Travel Podcast, I’m taking you through three very different parts of my travel life — the peaceful beauty of Prague at sunrise, the chao
The Top Things I Have Learnt On My Travels From The Last 15 Years...So Far
After 15 years on the road and over 75 countries explored, I’ve had my fair share of missed buses, border mishaps, budget wins, breathtaking hikes, and unforgettable friendsh
🎙 Why I Travel and Why You Should! – Revisited in 2025
In this special episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I go back to where it all started—Episode One, recorded in early 2021. Back then, I shared my reasons for travelling, my biggest lessons
🎙️ Episode Title: 15 Best Airbnb Alternatives in 2025 for Ethical, Eco & Unique Stays
Are you tired of overpriced Airbnbs, endless cleaning fees, and cookie-cutter apartments? In this episode, I explore 15 of the best Airbnb alternatives in 2025 — f
This week, I’m joined once again by travel writer, YouTuber, and author Dave Seminara to explore a country rarely found on bucket lists — Suriname. Tucked between Guyana and French Guiana on South America's northern coast, this former Dutch colony is
🎙️ My Journey to Dual Citizenship (Canada + UK) But Australia Is Still My First Love
In this solo episode, I’m sharing a big personal milestone—I’ve officially become a Canadian citizen! After years of navigating immigration paperwork, PR applicatio
In this Part 2 conversation, I’m back with Aaron Millar, award-winning travel writer and host of The Armchair Explorer podcast. If you haven’t heard Part 1 yet — jump back and catch up — because in this episode, we go deeper into the world of adventu
In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I share my real-time experience during a 4-hour layover in Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). From navigating quick immigration to sampling authentic local food, I break down how to make the most
In this final episode of my month-long adventure through Central America and Mexico, I dive into the last stop of my trip — Mexico City — and share how I explored as much as possible in one of the world’s largest cities in just 36 hours. I cover ever
Hello and welcome to this week’s episode! I’ve got something a little different—and very exciting—for you. Today, I’m sharing a powerful episode from The Armchair Explorer, hosted by my good friend Aaron Millar.
🎙️ Episode Title: 3 Days in Oaxaca, Mexico: A Local Food Tour, Cafe Culture & Colourful Streets
In this solo travel episode, I (James) take you through my chilled, food-filled, coffee-fueled 3-day escape to Oaxaca, Mexico — a destination famous for
In this episode, I’m joined by Kristina Plattner, the managing director of Kamba Rainforest Experiences, a groundbreaking eco-tourism initiative deep in the heart of the Republic of Congo (ROC). Kristina shares her fascinating journey from growing up
One Epic Day in Tikal: Exploring Guatemala’s Ancient Mayan City
In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I take you deep into the Guatemalan jungle for an unforgettable one-day adventure through Tikal National Park—one of the most breathtak
This week on Winging It Travel Podcast, I'm taking you along with me to the breathtaking Lake Atitlán in Guatemala! After an epic volcano hike in Antigua, it was time to slow things down by the water. I’ll be sharing my experienc
Jacob Lemanski - Cycling the World: A 999-Day Adventure Across 38,000 Miles
What does it take to spend nearly three years cycling across the world? In this episode, Jacob Lemanski takes us on an epic journey through 38,000 miles, crossing deserts, m
🎙️ Episode Title: We Hiked Acatenango to See Fuego and Chaos Ensued for Nick!
So we climbed Acatenango together… and that was already intense. But then Nick decided to go one volcano further — literally. Nick and I met in El Salvador, travelled to A
Hiking Acatenango Volcano: A Brutal Hike to See Erupting Fuego in Guatemala
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to hike to 13,045 feet (3,976 meters) and sleep beside an active volcano? In this immersive audio episode, join me as I take on the cha
What happens when you book a last-minute trip, hop on local chicken buses, and wing your way through El Salvador? In this episode, I’m joined by traveler and content creator Leah Arao from Ticket 2 Anywhere Podcast and LA in Flight to talk about our
Carlos Guardado - The Ultimate San Salvador Travel Guide
📍 Episode Summary:
In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I sit down with Carlos Guardado, a local guide from San Salvador, El Salvador. Carlos shares his personal journey growing
El Zonte Adventure: Coffee, Caves, & The Ultimate Beach Escape in El Salvador 🌊
Welcome to another immersive travel episode! This time, I’m taking you to El Zonte, a breathtaking black sand beach town on El Salvador’s Pacific coast. Known for its ep
Exploring El Salvador with Local Guide Dave Mendez
🚀 Episode Overview
In this episode of Winging It Travel Podcast, I sit down with Dave Mendez, a passionate local tour guide from San Salvador, El Salvador. Dave shares his personal journey from gro
Welcome to the first episode of my series on El Salvador! Join me on an immersive audio journey through the vibrant streets of San Salvador, El Salvador!
From bustling markets and colonial landmarks to hidden cafés and historic squares, this episode
In this episode of Winging It Travel Podcast, Adam Bamford joins me for Part 2 as we dive into all things Norwich! We chat about the city’s vibrant coffee scene, top cafes, and must-visit restaurants. We also explore some of the best pubs, uncovering
Hello and welcome to this week's episode, in which my first-ever guest, Adam Bamford, returns to the podcast for the first time in four years (as a solo guest). Check out the show notes below for this episode as we take a deep dive into Norwich, UK,
In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I reflect on the profound lessons learned from travelling the world and connecting with people from diverse cultures. Through heartfelt stories—from a Vietnamese hotel owner offering shelter during Ch
Hello and welcome to Episode 171 with Rich de Gouveia, and one word sums up this episode: inspirational. Honestly, this will hit you hard. This is one of the most passionate episodes I have recorded to date. Read the summary below, dive into the epis
Hello and welcome to this solo episode, where I share my experiences from visiting Antigua. This episode can provide you with a one-day itinerary if you are dipping into this amazing country. I visited for eight days in 2014 and returned for one day
Hello and welcome to Episode 170 with Ed de la Fuente, also known as the Itinerant Fan. Ed is my friend who I met at TravelCon last year and he comes on to talk about his passion for sport and travel. He loves to mix the two, and it is a great way to
In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, host James Hammond reflects on the upcoming travel trends for 2025, sharing his top travel podcasts and creators to follow for inspiration. He discusses the importance of responsible tourism and highl
Welcome to Episode 169 with David Brodie. As you may have realised from the previous episode, David is the founder of the Voyascape Network, which I recently joined. David joined me in a studio in Vancouver to talk about his travel stories, his Trave
In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, host James Hammond announces an exciting partnership with the Voyascape Network and reflects on the podcast's growth and changes over the past year. He shares insights into the improvements made in pr
Hello, and welcome to guest Episode number 168 with Kristen Van Nest.
In this episode of the Winging It Travel podcast, host James Hammond engages with author Kristen Van Nest, exploring her extensive travel experiences across 40 countries. They dis
Welcome to this week's episode with Chris and Sara, who are currently on the Pan-American Highway with their dog Kramer and their campervan. They took time out of their trip to talk to me about their current adventure, previous travels, why they can'
Hello and welcome to Episode 166 with Chris and Ellen, who are YouTubers, travel creators and friends of mine who I met this year at TravelCon. They are based in Asheville, and a caveat for this episode is that this was recorded before the devastatin
Welcome to Episode 165, where I co-host this special episode with Ebonie Finley.
Are you dreaming of trading your office cubicle for a beachside hammock? Welcome to another exciting episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, where we take you on a jo
Welcome to Episode 164. In this exciting episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, host James Hammond sits down with the vibrant Kat Medina, the author of "The Joys of Jet Lag." If you’ve ever found yourself daydreaming about travel stories or cravin
Welcome to Episode 163 of the Winging It Travel Podcast. James invites you on an inspiring journey with Amy Suto, a full-time digital nomad, freelance writer, published author, and ghostwriter. Join us as we explore Amy's remarkable transition from a
Welcome to Episode 162! In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, host James Hammond takes listeners on an enlightening journey into the world of travel points and rewards with special guest Spencer Howard, the innovative founder of Straight
Welcome to episode 161! In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, host James Hammond invites you to embark on an inspiring journey with Doni Belau, the visionary founder of Girls' Guide to the World. This pioneering women-only tour company ha
Hello + welcome to episode 160! In this captivating episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, host James Hammond welcomes Leah Arao, a Filipino-American traveller + co-host of the Ticket 2 Anywhere podcast. Join them as they dive deep into Leah's fas
Hello and welcome to episode 159. In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, host James Hammond takes you on an inspiring journey as he chats with Laura, known to many as Lo on the Road. Laura runs captivating food tours in the enchanting citi
Hello and welcome to Episode 158 with Lisette Alvarez, who joined me for an in-person interview at Podcast Movement to discuss Cuba. Lisette is a Cuban-American who has visited the country and shares about Cuban culture and how to travel there.
Hello and welcome to Episode 157 with Neil Laird, a TV producer, novelist, documentary maker, and avid traveller. Neil Laird is LGBTQIA+ and a multiple Emmy-nominated director of historical films for Discovery, BBC, PBS, History Channel, National Geo
Welcome to this week's bonus episode as I share a new concept for the Winging It Travel Podcast. This is an immersive audio episode about my 20 km return hike to Garibaldi Lake over one night and two days. I share my experience hiking up with forest
Hello and welcome to Episode 156 with Chip Walter, the Vagabond Adventurer. Chip is a storyteller, National Geographic Explorer, + author who takes an epic journey, exploring all seven continents - never by jet. Sharing it one day, one culture, one e
Welcome to episode 155! This week, Shafik Meghji rejoins me for a second time to discuss travelling in Patagonia. In this episode, we will touch on Cordoba, Argentina's second city, and why it isn't on the traveller's radar for travel in Argentina.
Hello, and welcome to episode 154! This week, I am joined by Tony R. Vega, a legally blind content creator who shares his journey of walking the Tokaido Road between Kyoto and Tokyo and his life living in Hawaii, USA.
Hello, and welcome to episode 153! This week, I am joined by Marie DeCosse, the founder and CEO of Nomad Travel Groups, which launched a week before this podcast episode's release. Read below for a description of what Nomad Travel Groups can offer.
Hello, and welcome to number 152! This week, I am re-joined by Dave Seminara, the author of Mad Travelers: A Tale of Wanderlust, Greed, and the Quest to Reach the Ends of the Earth, which I read.
I find Dave fascinating to speak with; he is always w
This week I am sharing a recent convertion with Ashley from the Eat. Explore. Love. The Podcast as we talk all things travel and below is the shownotes for the episode as written by Ashley.
It’s so amazing getting to connect with other folks through
This is a review of my last 250 episodes, 150 of which have been guest episodes. The first half is a fun little game as I record on the fly with a number generator on Google, asking it to pick a random number between 1 and 150 (concentrating on the g