The Big Travel Podcast

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The Big Travel Podcast: Exploring Life-Stories Through Travel. Taking you on a journey of discovery, with a wonderfully diverse selection of characters, The Big Travel Podcast explores life-stories in travel; from childhoods with little money but a spirit for exploration to fabulous tales of exotic climes and incredible adventures. Celebrities, authors, sports people, politicians, famous faces from TV, radio, music, stage and screen, SAS soldiers, adventurers and ordinary people taking extraordinary journeys tell their story of life through travel, and through this, The Big Travel Podcast finds out what it is about travel that inspires us, that makes us laugh, love, cry and sometimes cringe yet above all keep travelling. The Big Travel Podcast is hosted by Lisa Francesca Nand, travel journalist, presenter, writer and filmmaker.

Recent Episodes
  • 164. In Madrid with Simon Hunter; Madrid Newsrooms, Old Sherry Bars and Benidorm Sun Lounger Wars
    Jun 14, 2024 – 48:15
  • 163. Barbara Buczek; From Poland to Kentucky, Saudi Cruising to Everest Base Camp and The Emotional Tug of Those White Cliffs of Dover
    Apr 21, 2024 – 53:09
  • 162. Ash Bhardwaj; Walking The Nile, Slipping Down the Himalayas & Exploring Why We Travel
    Apr 5, 2024 – 01:14:33
  • 161. Faisal Sheraiff; Saudi-Influencer on Saudi’s Changes, the Old Markets of Riyadh, Dream-Scapes in Alula
    Mar 21, 2024 – 32:38
  • 160. Hassan Saeed; Maldivian Resorts, Island Culture and the Importance of Loving Your Community
    Mar 4, 2024 – 45:49
  • 159. NEW SEASON IMMINENT!
    Feb 19, 2024 – 04:38
  • 158. The Big Travel Podcast Christmas Special 2023!
    Dec 18, 2023 – 20:56
  • 157. Nitin Sawhney CBE; Racism in Kent, India on Horseback, Mandela at Home
    Oct 22, 2023 – 01:03:28
  • 156. Motoring Journalist Ben Oliver; Belfast Troubles, Braving An Open Top Bentley To The Arctic Circle, Manoeuvring A Mini Up the Himalayas in Monsoon
    Jul 1, 2023 – 48:49
  • 155. Warwick Davis; Cookies with Carrie Fisher in California, Varanasi with Karl Pilkington, The Seven Dwarfs of Auschwitz and The World’s Best Pencil Museum
    Jun 14, 2023 – 34:39
  • 154. Rachel Riley MBE; Holocaust Education, Ukrainian Refugees, Wildlife in the Galapagos & Maths for Travel
    Jun 7, 2023 – 29:26
  • 153. Robert Munns; West End Theatre with Madonna, Sailing The Pacific With MS and Life-Changing Conscious Decisions
    May 18, 2023 – 01:13:00
  • 152. Freya Ridings; Nana’s Piano, From a London Shed to LA’s Best Studios, Love Island & Much More
    Mar 16, 2023 – 38:54
  • 151. Suzy Buttress from The Casual Birder Podcast; Antarctic Endeavours, Mexican Whale-Watching & Emotional Eclipses
    Jan 12, 2023 – 01:06:50
  • 150. The Big Travel Podcast Christmas and New Year Special!
    Dec 15, 2022 – 50:14
  • 149. Kevin Chaplin; Growing Up Under Apartheid, Inspiring Township Children and the Power of Travel to Expand Horizons
    Dec 1, 2022 – 43:40
  • 148. Iszi Lawrence; Travelling Nowhere with Shaun Keavney, Decolonising History & Flying Solo to Australia age 6
    Nov 17, 2022 – 58:00
  • 147. Tony Michaelides; Legendary Rock Promoter on Bowie, Joy Division, U2 & Manchester’s Finest Exports
    Nov 3, 2022 – 01:10:59
  • 146. Sara Tasker; From Passport-Less to Wanderlust, Struggles of Special Assistance Travelling and The French House That Stole Her Heart
    Oct 19, 2022 – 48:19
  • 145. Cyber Crime Expert Lisa Forte; Battling Somali Pirates, Skyscraper Climbs in Kazakhstan & Descending Deep Into Abandoned Mines
    Oct 5, 2022 – 47:40
  • 144. Nina Nesbitt; Swedish-Scottish Upbringing, Fainting in Hong Kong, US Radio Tours, Overcoming Travel Anxiety
    Sep 21, 2022 – 36:33
  • 143. Mambo Brothers; Growing up in Ibiza’s Mambo Café, Becoming International DJs and Searching for the Soul
    Sep 8, 2022 – 32:53
  • 142. On location in Ibiza – Hotelier Marc Rahola; From Telephone Operator to Founder, Ibiza’s Contrasts, London’s Notting Hill & What Makes a Hotel Entrepreneur
    Aug 25, 2022 – 36:05
  • 141. Mariellen Ward; Alternative Music in Toronto, A Year in Tokyo, the Inner Voice That Led to India
    Aug 10, 2022 – 42:06
  • 139: Trevor Dolby; Creating The New ‘A Year in Provence’, a Village Life in France, the Publishing World in London
    Jul 14, 2022 – 49:15
  • 138. Foy Vance; Childhood Church Building in Oklahoma, Growing up in Northern Ireland’s Music Scene, Recording in Muscle Shoals, Home-Schooling on Tour With Ed Sheeran
    Jun 30, 2022 – 50:09
  • 137. Jamie Klingler; Reclaim These Streets, Taking the Police to Court, Turning Your Life Around
    Jun 16, 2022 – 50:52
  • 136. Jennifer Nand; Liverpool, The Cavern and When John Lennon Spat on her Nose
    Jun 1, 2022 – 45:26
  • 135. Hannah Bourne-Taylor; Ghana, Conservation and The Baby Bird That Nested in Her Hair
    May 19, 2022 – 47:40
  • 134. Marc 'The Vet' Abraham OBE; Mumbai Slum-Dogs, Rescuing Bears in Ukraine, Operations in Thai Temples, Changing the Law
    May 5, 2022 – 01:11:05
  • 133. Cally Beaton; Vodka with Madonna, Panthers on the Loose and Joan Rivers’ Life-Changing Approval
    Apr 21, 2022 – 01:00:12
  • 132. International Travel Nanny, Shada Lambert; Celebrity Clients, Private Planes, Swimming Pools in Hotel Rooms and a Big Jamaican Family
    Apr 7, 2022 – 35:33
  • 131. Abandoned Places Explorer ‘Greg Abandoned’; Soviet Space Shuttles in the Desert, Being Shot at in Bulgaria and a Life-Changing Visit to Chernobyl
    Mar 24, 2022 – 55:36
  • 130. Alex Kapranos; Growing up Half Greek, Rock n Roll Chefs, Moscow Arrests and Colombian Bull’s Testicles
    Mar 1, 2022 – 54:15
  • 129. Minnie Driver; California Contrasts, Barbados v Boarding School, European Trains and Hawaiian Ukuleles
    Feb 15, 2022 – 45:16
  • 128. Dr. Rebecca Johnson; Crossing the US in a Hearse, Greenham Common, Driving Aid to Bosnia, Dancing in Cuba and Winning the Nobel Peace Prize
    Feb 1, 2022 – 02:15:48
  • 127. Pete Bennett; Big Brother, Peckham Transvestites, Hollywood Agents, Mexican Chicken-Sacrifices and Celebrating Tourette’s
    Jan 18, 2022 – 01:07:40
  • 126. Will Bolsover; Natural World Safaris, Big Cats in Siberia, Little Lizards in Madagascar and the Challenges of Covid-Era Travel
    Jan 11, 2022 – 35:15
  • 125. Christmas Special 2021; Sathnam Sanghera, Lisa Jewell, Matt Forde, Anne Sebba, Olly Mann, Greenham Common and more
    Dec 20, 2021 – 30:16
  • 124. Firouz FarmanFarmaian; Escaping Tehran, Kashmiri Houseboats, Trekking Kyrgyzstan, Rock Bands and Contemporary Art
    Nov 30, 2021 – 38:45
  • 123. On Location in Marbella Old Town with Tour Guide Javier Gonzalez
    Oct 14, 2021 – 29:31
  • 122. Matt Forde; Billy Connolly in New York, Liam Gallagher in Berlin and Nick Leeson's Worldwide 'British Scandal' Jaunt
    Aug 12, 2021 – 39:34
  • 121. Sam McManus; Adventure Travel When the World Closes, Costa Rica, Green Northern Spain and the Unexpected Pull of Home  
    Jul 26, 2021 – 34:57
  • 120. UK TRAVEL UPDATE; Travel Opens Up, Vaccines, Quarantine and a Call to Action to The Government
    Jul 9, 2021 – 08:12
  • 119. UK TRAVEL UPDATE; New Rules, Traffic Lights, Vaccinations
    Jun 25, 2021 – 09:41
  • 118. Olly Mann; Guns On Trucks in Malawi, Swim-Up Bar Piña Coladas, Greyhounds and The American Dream
    May 26, 2021 – 53:50
  • 117. Huw Wyn; Arabian Nights in Cairo, Hitching Through Nepal, Tibetan Medicine in Scotland and Tom Hardy Dropping into his Festival
    Apr 27, 2021 – 45:48
  • 116. Anne Sebba; Parisian Women and Nazis, Film Stars in Rome, ‘Communists’ in Sing Sing Prison
    Mar 17, 2021 – 59:46
  • 115. Lisa Jewell; Family Roots in India, a Different Barbados and How Nothing Beats a Week in Lanzarote
    Feb 23, 2021 – 37:32
  • 114. Sathnam Sanghera; Empire, Racism and Legacy, Brits Abroad and Boris Johnson’s Therapy
    Feb 2, 2021 – 36:48
Recent Reviews
  • CecilliaB
    Fantastic!!
    I just wanted to say I’ve been a listener for almost 2 years but I am loving the flavor of this years shows you’re dishing up. And I do mean that. They are like a meal for the mind Every one and EVERYONE you interview reminds is a reminder we share this world with such fascinating beings and how travel allows us to experience the diversity of our world.
  • Cwamne
    Must listen
    The Big Travel Show is amazing. The stories are more in-depth and candid than I thought; very amazing and real. I really enjoy that they cover such a big variety of stories and you hear from people of many different backgrounds. I think that gives a much bigger perspective and view of the world. It's very refreshing to listen to a podcast like this.
  • TajChick
    Adventure, travel and amazing stories!
    This podcast is so fun to subscribe to because there is a wide variety of topics that all have a relation to travel. You get to hear about so many people's experiences doing things that very few of us have done before and may never do, but would love to hear about. This includes everything from climbing Everest to starting a DJ festival that is family friendly. I leave each podcast feeling that I learned something about the places involved and the mindset of the individual being interviewed. The host brings out the best in each person on the show.
  • travelerhb
    So much more than just travel
    I love learning about other cultures and I love this podcast! While all the guests have travel as some aspect of their lives, they also have so many other interesting facets about them and Lisa does a fantastic job of interviewing these fascinating guests and bringing all of that out in each entertaining and engaging episode. I have not yet listened to an episode that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed. One of my favorite podcasts to listen to.
  • Mel@J
    Great Podcast
    Just started listening to the Podcasts on Week 6 of lockdown in Spain. Its both interesting and relaxing !
  • Pod Addict T
    Incredible Show!
    Lisa's show is one of the rare gems you're always looking for but can never seem to find. With expert audio quality, fantastic interview skills, and great guests, this wholly original Podcast will leave you longing for more. Stop reading my review and hit play already!
  • cathie315
    Great!
    Awesome podcast!
  • joy melody
    New listener
    I am a new listener. I love this podcast. I am always a nervous traveler, so this is encouragement i can travel too! And not be scared
  • HappyDayx
    Amazing podcast!
    I think this podcast is just a unique idea that really speaks to people in all different areas of life. It's relatable yet aspirational as well. Thanks for this treat!
  • mombosshustle
    This makes me want to get out of my town!
    I’m one of those people who love to research a place to death before visiting so this podcast is perfect! Plus it gives me ideas I never would have thought of!
  • Ces C
    A Holiday Everyone Will Enjoy
    This is an episode to remember. Great traveling tales. I appreciate the storytelling and ❤️ this particular episode that addresses going on holiday with you little ones.
  • Jacque lacock
    Love This!
    I finding something oddly soothing about listening to these stories. The stories are so interesting and help your day fall away.
  • Rmack746892
    Fun and Personable
    I really like how approachable this host sounds. Each interview sounds like you’re listening to two friends talk which is so personable and yet you’re still getting great insight on cool places to go while traveling. I live in the States so this podcast is definitely a motivator to get on a plane soon.
  • queensimone1908
    Great Stories
    I really enjoyed the episode featuring Chris Nand. Hearing his life story reminded me a lot of my own family and some of the things they went through. This podcast features people with unique travel stories, that come from some of the most unexpected places. Looking forward to hearing more episodes!
  • KChatman
    Traveling from Home
    I am unable to travel as I desire at the moment, so Lisa’s podcast is the perfect substitute I didn’t know I needed. The interviews and tips are great. I can’t wait to get out and try them myself!
  • klhawki
    Great advice, stories and insight!
    I love to travel and it's nice to hear stories that inspire the travel bug on ANY budget! There's also a nice variety of stories and interviews that keep you interested to the next episode!
  • kathydlt
    What a fun podcast!
    I just got introduced to this podcast and so far I love the casual conversation-style of this podcast. I love this topic and found it inspirational and engaging. Looking forward to hearing more.
  • 2DudeReview
    Fantastic travel show!
    I was so happy I found this podcast. An engaging host, interesting stories of places I can only dream about going, and a multituted of perspectives. In a crowded market, this one really stands out! Subscribed!!
  • Mama Mocha Sunshine
    I now need to take a trip
    I now want to take a trip! Lisa's voice is superlative!!
  • N. Braithwaite
    Much More than aTravel
    Listening to the stories of Lisa Francesca's guests, who I am not familiar with being from the US, has been quite amazing. Travel is something we all have in common, and as her first guest said, "Is a shared experience." You learn not just about different places in the world, but about the people who are embarking on these journies and how/why they landed in these places. (From the ladies of Bad at Love Podcast).
  • The Winning Brand
    Great info!!!
    Learned a lot about travel can’t wait to hear more.
  • Teniade
    Fascinating and unique
    I’m a lowkey travel junkie, and I love how this podcast teaches me about places I dream of going to in a way that’s truly immersive and organic, not superficial and/or condescending. Keep it up!!
  • Bruja Mafufa
    Teach me how to travel for a living!
    Great insight on how people who travel for a living got their start. Episode 10: which focused on LGBTQIA travel from the perspective of American Travel Blogger Adam Groffman was a great listen. I also loved Episode 12, I love Dublin, so I could completely relate.
  • Anungv
    Yes, real travel
    Thanks for having a real discussion about what really happens with travel. And all the good you can from it, no matter the situation.
  • NinorahBrookshire
    Love to travel
    We love to travel. And this is such a fun podcast to listen to. So much of information and i look forward to hearing more. Best of luck and keep up the good work! <3
  • Story Spectacular
    Travel through Stories!
    Great Interviews take you to exciting new places! I just listened to the interview with Dame Helena Morrissey. Host Lisa Francesca Nand is so thoughtful with her questions and brings such positivity to the show. The content is really interesting and powerful. Unlike any interview podcast that I have listened to before!!!
  • EmbeeSquared
    Love love love!
    Travel is #1 on the “things I am doing this year on my bucket list! What a fun way to learn about people who are going to great places and I can find somewhere where I didn’t have on my radar!
  • Ahr1907
    Excellent Guests and Questions!!
    I enjoy this podcast tremendously. My fav EP so far is #3. I am a professional DJ so hearing Fabio tell stories was awesome! I particulary enjoyed his feelings about Los Angeles (where I live), the comfort zone question you asked him and the story he told about the late night rave on a Wednesday where they were about to leave until one person showed up and it was packed hours later. Great job!
  • BobZilla999
    An Adventure
    It's like taking a trip sitting at my desk! Highly recommended!
  • Slye287
    A Great Listen
    I love listening to the stories of the guests, I only wish there was more to listen to!
  • MacPock
    So Inspiring!
    I love this show! It's such an inspiration! I have big travel aspirations, and this show helps not only with the travel bug, but also with planning for my future trips! So much fun to listen to and easy on the ears to boot!
  • robertbingalls
    A Super Inspiring Travel Podcast!
    In a crowded market, this podcast stands out. A super fun experience that makes me want to get back on the road tomorrow!
  • NayNayB2013
    The perfect inspiration to chase dreams
    I love listening to TBT podcast when walking around a new town and imaginging what I can do in the future. It's storytelling at it 's finest.
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