JRNY Travel Podcast

JRNY Travel Magazine

The team behind the award-winning JRNY Travel Magazine talk to the travel industry's leading writers and photographers about one destination at a time.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

read less

Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Start Here

A giant bee costume, cycling around LA and Hugh Hefner's conservation efforts with Jason Bowers

A giant bee costume, cycling around LA and Hugh Hefner's conservation efforts with Jason Bowers

Jason Bowers is the General Manager of Bikes and Hikes LA Tours, which takes guests on cycling tours of Los Angeles to get up close and personal with the city in an eco-friendly, health-conscious way. Before working for Bikes and Hikes, Jason worked in radio and TV with shows for Westwood One, Sirius XM and KIIS-FM Los Angeles. Jason also has a background in improv comedy having played to sold-out crowds at festivals in Austin, San Francisco, and LA and he uses these communication skills to entertain and inform his customers with Bikes and Hikes.He tells host Si Willmore about his background in broadcasting and how he got into improv comedy, and observes that there are some surprising parallels between broadcasting, comedy and guiding. Jason also recounts how he became involved with Bikes and Hikes and how the counterintuitive idea for a bike company in car-centric LA came about. He lists some of the company's biking tours, including around Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, plus their Griffith Observatory hike which includes visiting the Hollywood sign, as well as going further afield to destinations like Palm Springs and Joshua Tree.Jason has lived in Los Angeles since 1995 and so knows the city inside out. He shares some of his favourite places to go for a relaxed weekend, grab and bite to eat and shares some favourite ‘hidden gems’. He also shares Bikes and Hikes' plans for the future, including for visitors to LA for the upcoming FIFA World Cup and Summer Olympics.In the JRNY Podcast, Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in the travel industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

A giant bee costume, cycling around LA and Hugh Hefner's conservation efforts with Jason Bowers

A giant bee costume, cycling around LA and Hugh Hefner's conservation efforts with Jason Bowers

Jason Bowers is the General Manager of Bikes and Hikes LA Tours, which takes guests on cycling tours of Los Angeles to get up close and personal with the city in an eco-friendly, health-conscious way. Before working for Bikes and Hikes, Jason worked in radio and TV with shows for Westwood One, Sirius XM and KIIS-FM Los Angeles. Jason also has a background in improv comedy having played to sold-out crowds at festivals in Austin, San Francisco, and LA and he uses these communication skills to entertain and inform his customers with Bikes and Hikes.He tells host Si Willmore about his background in broadcasting and how he got into improv comedy, and observes that there are some surprising parallels between broadcasting, comedy and guiding. Jason also recounts how he became involved with Bikes and Hikes and how the counterintuitive idea for a bike company in car-centric LA came about. He lists some of the company's biking tours, including around Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, plus their Griffith Observatory hike which includes visiting the Hollywood sign, as well as going further afield to destinations like Palm Springs and Joshua Tree.Jason has lived in Los Angeles since 1995 and so knows the city inside out. He shares some of his favourite places to go for a relaxed weekend, grab and bite to eat and shares some favourite ‘hidden gems’. He also shares Bikes and Hikes' plans for the future, including for visitors to LA for the upcoming FIFA World Cup and Summer Olympics.In the JRNY Podcast, Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in the travel industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A platform for voices that had been muted with Sherry Rupert

A platform for voices that had been muted with Sherry Rupert

Sherry Rupert is the CEO of AIANTA, the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association. This organisation serves as a voice for the US$14 billion native hospitality sector and showcases the importance of visiting authentic native destinations. AIANTA’s mission is to define, introduce, grow and sustain American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian tourism that honours traditional values.Sherry tells host Si Willmore how the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association began, as well as her own background, particularly her work in preserving the site of the Stewart Indian School as a museum and cultural centre. Sherry led the creation of a study called the Economic Impact of U.S. Indigenous Tourism Businesses, the first of its kind, and shares some key findings.She discusses the importance of visiting authentic native destinations, including historic and artistic sites, and what makes a destination authentic, and she highlights some of her favourite destinations and tourism projects in the AIANTA portfolio.In the JRNY podcast, Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in the travel industry. Season Six is sponsored by Brand USA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Easter egg hunts for adults and the sound of mushrooms with Angela Shen

Easter egg hunts for adults and the sound of mushrooms with Angela Shen

Angela Shen is the founder of Savor the Wild where she takes visitors on tours of Washington state, showing them the best places for mushroom foraging, shellfish harvesting and for visiting pop-up culinary events. After working in Brand Management at Quaker Oats, Angela quit corporate life and headed to Seattle where she originally founded Savor Seattle Food Tours, one of the very first food tours in the United States. Nowadays she also works in consultancy and public speaking and talks on topics relating to entrepreneurship, female leadership and tourism and hospitality trends.She tells host Si Willmore about her 'typical' upbringing, working in family restaurants with her chef father and how that ultimately led her into culinary tourism and entrepreneurship. She shares some of her favourite activities in Washington and outlines options for tours provided by Savor the Wild, which promises a "wild ride through Washington’s tastiest treasures". Angela also also offers business advice, for everyone, calling on her success as an entrepreneur and a minority female business leader.This is the JRNY Podcast, where host Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in the travel industry. Season Six is sponsored by Brand USA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Literally trying to get in the room" with travel writer and disability rights advocate Sophie Morgan

"Literally trying to get in the room" with travel writer and disability rights advocate Sophie Morgan

Sophie Morgan is a disability rights advocate, presenter, producer, travel writer and artist. She fronted the travel series Living Wild; How to Change your Life on Channel 4, and she presents coverage of the Paralympics. Last year she completed a staggering 4000-mile solo trip across the USA. Her memoir 'Driving Forwards' is available now. She tells host Si Willmore about the car crash that paralysed her and changed her life forever at the age of just 18, but how the accident ultimately made her more determined to follow a career that basically nobody in her position had done before. She recalls the earlier days of life in broadcasting as a female with a physical disability and how she broke through the glass ceiling to launch the travel series Living Wild; How to Change your Life and the recent documentary Fight to Fly as well as her work presenting coverage of the Paralympics. Sophie shares insights into travelling in a wheelchair and the astonishing undertaking of a 4000-mile solo trip across the USA. Sophie also shares her work on the Rights On Flights campaign and offers advice for people in the travel industry looking to make their offering more suitable for travellers with a disability.This is the JRNY Podcast, where Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in their industry. Season Six is sponsored by Brand USA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moments that changed the course of history with Mark Ezell

Moments that changed the course of history with Mark Ezell

Mark Ezell is the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Chairman of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail Marketing Alliance, a non-profit organisation created to elevate over 140 historical sites that tell the stories of the Civil Rights Movement. These sites, such as national parks, museums and churches, focus on events that happened in the 1950s and 1960s and are spread over 14 states across America and the District of Columbia.Commissioner Mark tells host Si Willmore about his role at the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development as well as the creation of the Tennesse Civil Rights Trail project and what makes it such an important story. Mark mentions some of the sites along the trail that are particularly significant and poignant, such as the Lorraine Motel and the Clinton 12 Statue at the Green McAdoo Cultural Center, and he offers some hidden gems for places to visit and eat at around The Volunteer State.He also shares what’s coming up for Tennessee in the next few months including the continuation of the launch of the Bike Tennessee initiative. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How bourbon became the new sexy and the World Chicken Festival with Jeff Crowe

How bourbon became the new sexy and the World Chicken Festival with Jeff Crowe

Jeff Crowe is the director of Kentucky Experiences at the Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. He plays a key role in the Louisville Bourbon and Belonging initiative which celebrates Queer Kentucky and he was instrumental in launching Kentucky's Queer Bourbon Week. He talks with host Si Willmore about Heaven Hills Kentucky Experiences, which forms part of Kentucky's famous bourbon trail, and Jeff explains how bourbon has evolved and become a more inclusive spirit, not only for the people who drink it but for the people who work in the industry, as seen through the Bourbon and Belonging initiative and Kentucky's Queer Bourbon Week.Jeff shares insights into Kentucky, including his favourite places to eat and visit as well as the World Chicken Festival, and releases Heaven Hill Distillery's plans for the future including a new distillery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hiking with goats, low riders and making travel equitable with Staci Mellman

Hiking with goats, low riders and making travel equitable with Staci Mellman

Staci Mellman is the first female Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Brand USA in 12 years. She drives the organisation's international marketing efforts and leads the teams responsible for marketing, comms, marketing technology, research and analytics.Originally from Texas, Staci has been working in the travel and tourism industry for over 13 years, most recently as Chief Marketing Officer at Visit Florida.She tells host Si Willmore talk about how she got into travel and tourism, recounts stories of her travels with her family around the USA and as a solo female traveller in Europe, and she shares how her these travels have shaped her professional career and marketing philosophy.Staci also share some favourite foods and attractions from her home state Texas, the Lone Star State, including Meow Wolf, Fredericksburg and Amarillo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Historical societies, brewing legislation and axe throwing with Mike Frohlich

Historical societies, brewing legislation and axe throwing with Mike Frohlich

Mike Frohlich is the is the owner and brewer at Laughing Sun Brewing in Bismarck, North Dakota. He’s been a member of the local brewing scene since the mid 90s, using his former employment at the State Historical Society and State Museum to advance legislation on brewing. As such he’s helped to get new laws passed on the production and promotion of locally brewed beer.He and host Si Willmore talk about the dream job that is brewing beer, his experience for how things have changed, and his aim to make Laughing Sun not only a great brewery, but a place where the local community feels welcome. They also discuss Mike's favourite beers to brew and to drink, the brewery's range of barbecue food and tourist attractions in Bismark. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roadside spas, Hemingway and serpents that crush mountains with James Draven

Roadside spas, Hemingway and serpents that crush mountains with James Draven

James Draven is multi-award-winning travel journalist covering adventure; wildlife and environment. He’s has words published in National Geographic Traveller, Wanderlust, The Times, The Telegraph, Travel and Leisure and CNN. Featured in best-selling anthology The Best British Travel Writing of the 21st Century, he has visited 114 countries and 32 American states and recently visited Idaho for JRNY Travel Magazine.He and host Si WIllmore talk about Idaho's gold-tier international dark sky reserve, the bubby nature of Soda Springs, the native Shosone belife about Snake River and Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Noodles and funk rock, and 'the purest form of travel journalism' with Katherine Doãn

Noodles and funk rock, and 'the purest form of travel journalism' with Katherine Doãn

Katherine Doãn is a publicist for a Taiwanese design firm. Born and raised in Hanoi, she has travelled extensively from an early age and has lived in several different countries, namely Vietnam, China, Taiwan and Mongolia and right now she is based in Taipei.She tells host Si Willmore about her experiences as a 'third culture kid' in Taiwan as well as her multiple and varied childhood influences including Asian cuisine and western pop culture such as the music of ABBA. Katherine also shares how Taiwan is her ‘home away from home’ as it features aspects of life that are reminiscent of Vietnam as well as a contrasting point of view, including increased freedom to be who she wants to be, such as being a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Katherine has a fascinating insight about how our favourite destinations can inform people about who we are, as well more traditional interests such as music, movies and traditions or habits. She uses Google Maps to not only share her favourite spots and to welcome friends to Taiwan but to build and enrich friendships. In the JRNY Podcast, Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in their industry. Season Five is sponsored by the Taiwan Tourism Administration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'Ice cream burritos', Thomas the Tank buggies and temples for horses with Sarah Gillespie

'Ice cream burritos', Thomas the Tank buggies and temples for horses with Sarah Gillespie

Sarah Gillespie is a freelance travel and lifestyle writer. Half Filipina and half Scottish, she’s based in Glasgow but has written extensively about the Philippines and other East Asian countries and recently she has been exploring Taiwan for JRNY Travel Magazine.Sarah tells host Si Willmore about her background including her early experiences visiting Asia with her family as well as her travel career and recent trip to Taiwan for JRNY Travel Magazine. Sarah explored the country - including Hualien County and the city of Tainan - which celebrates its 400th anniversary in 2024 - through various lenses, including sustainability, culinary and indigenous tradition*. She shares stories of a thriving art and music scene as well as a Thomas the Tank Engine-themed rickshaw. In the JRNY Podcast, where I, Si Willmore talk with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in the travel industry*The World Indigenous Tourism Summit (WITS) will be taking place in Kaohsiung next year. For details go to wits2024.com.tw. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'ET-ing into the air' over Taiwan, a whisky-fuelled kicking dance and people built like neutron stars with Jo Davey

'ET-ing into the air' over Taiwan, a whisky-fuelled kicking dance and people built like neutron stars with Jo Davey

Jo Davey is a travel writer and photographer from London, specialising in food, visual arts, culture and adventure travel. She also specialises in eastern Asia and is the author of the upcoming Bradt Guide to Okinawa and Japan's Southwest Islands.Jo has been exploring Taiwan for JRNY Travel Magazine and she and host Si Willmore discuss her latest experiences of the island, checking out the adventure travel options available.Jo recounts stories of 'river tracing', where you essentially haul yourself up a waterfall - and where her GoPro camera had an adventure of its own - as well as paragliding, trekking and exploring Taroko Gorge National Park, as well as the the whisky-fuelled kicking dance that is the Taiwanese Harvest Festival.In the JRNY Podcast, Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in the travel industry. Season 5 is sponsored by the Taiwan Tourism Administration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gigging above a clothes shop and chocolate Olympic medals with Taiwan-based band Transition

Gigging above a clothes shop and chocolate Olympic medals with Taiwan-based band Transition

Transition is an indie rock band. It was formed by brothers Josh and Jesse Edbrooke when they were teenagers in Bristol in the UK, who went on to live in Taiwan in 2009. Since then they have collaborated with numerous Taiwanese artists, including Rainie Yang and Julia Peng, and they worked on Wing Lo’s Golden Melody Award-winning albums in 2016 and 2021.The band talk with host Si Willmore about touring the UK and Europe, before making their first trip to Taiwan in 2005 for the Springscream festival, and then later moving to Taipei.Cementing the Taiwan-UK connection, in 2012 Transition went on to write and record the official theme song for the Taiwan team competing at the London 2012 Olympics. and they discuss how they take inspiration from Taiwan and blend it into their music - particularly for their song on the global scale at the Olympics but also in general.Transition also relive some favourite moments as recording artists and mention their new podcast, where they interview people who have a UK-to-Taiwan connection.In the JRNY Podcast, Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in their industry. Season 5 is sponsored by the Taiwan Tourism Administration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"The angels taught me how to paint": Taiwanese aboriginal art with Yosifu

"The angels taught me how to paint": Taiwanese aboriginal art with Yosifu

Artist Yosifu hails from an aboriginal village on the east coast of Taiwan. Once a victim of a severe disconnection from his own identity and heritage, he nowadays stands as a passionate advocate for the art and culture of his home land. An internationally acclaimed and award-winning artist, he has dedicated the last two decades to showcasing the splendours of Taiwan through his artwork.Yosifu shares how he became interested in art and then transitioned into a professional artist. One of the main themes of his work is to take people on a tour of his native land, Taiwan, so he takes host Si Willmore to the destinations that feature in and have inspired his art. You can see some of his creations at instagram.com/yosifuart.In the JRNY Podcast, Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in the travel industry. Season 5 is sponsored by the Taiwan Tourism Administration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

City walks and the importance of a favourite supermarket with Wei Hong

City walks and the importance of a favourite supermarket with Wei Hong

Wei Hong Tseng is a London-based Taiwanese author and Instagrammer, posting under the handle @london.nanzhi. He’s written a Chinese-language travel guide available for sale in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Malaysia, and regularly shares insights and travel tips on the UK capital as well as his hometown Taipei. He and host Si Willmore talk about Wei Hong's experiences of moving to London, and celebrating of similarities and differences between the UK and his home country through his photography and book. He also shares some fantastic city walks in Taipei and of course the incredible food that Taiwan has to offer including stinky tofu and dumplings.In the JRNY Podcast, Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in the travel industry. Season 5 is sponsored by the Taiwan Tourism Administration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pokemon Go, Taipei nightlife and becoming a mother hen with Reece Ayers

Pokemon Go, Taipei nightlife and becoming a mother hen with Reece Ayers

Reece Ayers grew up in the UK but moved to northern China in 2011. He was only supposed to be there for six months but 12 years later he still lives in Asia, having spent eight more years in China then moving to Taipei in 2019 for a university degree. He is now a journalist for TaiwanPlus, reporting on daily news, arts and culture, life and society, geopolitics and human rights.He tells host Si Willmore about his love of Taiwan, particularly of hiking and the coastal areas as well as the food and the nightlife. Reece is an highly active member of the Taipei LGBTQ scene and shares some of his favourite nightclubs and bars. He also recalls some of his favourite reported stories, including discovering Pokemon Go, insects and sumo wrestlers.In the JRNY Podcast, Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in their industry. Season Five is brought to you in partnership with Taiwan Tourism Administration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A van full of stinky tofu and cycling the Rift Valley with Pedal Taiwan

A van full of stinky tofu and cycling the Rift Valley with Pedal Taiwan

Rob Hodkinson is one of the founders of cycling company Pedal Taiwan. Originally from the UK, he has been organising and leading bicycle tours across Taiwan for seven years. An avid cyclist, Rob first came to the island in 2016 and never left. He and host Si Willmore talk about Rob's travels and cycle trips and Rob shares his early memories of experiencing the country – the sights, sounds, landscapes, food and people of Taiwan. He shares some of his favourite cycling routes on the island and discusses his favourite Taiwanese meals and delicacies. Rob has a busy 2024 and 2025 ahead, and shares his plans for a very ambitious charity project.In the JRNY Podcast, Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in their industry. Season Five is brought to you in partnership with Taiwan Tourism Administration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cheesy canoes of joy and turning strangers into friends with Christina Theofilos

Cheesy canoes of joy and turning strangers into friends with Christina Theofilos

Christina Theofilos is the chef at Psomi in Tampa Bay, Florida. A second-generation Greek American, born and raised in Tampa, her food celebrates the Greek concept of philoxenia, the art of making a stranger a friend.She and host Si Willmore discuss Christina's childhood, growing up with the notion that 'food is love', and how that has shaped her cooking and her career. The name of her restaurant is Psomi -- which literally translates from Greek to English as 'bread' -- but the word represents much more than that. Psomi is about coming together to share the 'best bite' and to benefit from philoxenia; Christina wants everyone to enjoy her food - "whether you can pronounce the word or you can't".Christina talks about My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and how far Greek wine has come from the old days of tasting like 'rubbing alcohol'. She mentions some of her favourite dishes that we might eat if we visited Psomi, including meatballs made from a traditional 60-year-old-recipe and the 'Bring Your Own Boat' dish -- approximated by Si to 'cheesy canoes of joy'. As a second-generation Greek American, it's important to Christina to celebrate her mixed Greek and American tastes and influences -- as such she tries to find ways to 'Greekify' various dishes and cocktails -- and she even likes to flirt with food influences from France, Italy and Spain.Episode sponsored by Visit Florida. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10-foot 'underwater dogs', a rebel cartoonist and 'flamingos on steroids' with Toni Westland

10-foot 'underwater dogs', a rebel cartoonist and 'flamingos on steroids' with Toni Westland

Toni Westland is a Federal Park Ranger who works for the US Fish and Wildlife Service. She has been the Supervisory Refuge Ranger at the 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge for over 20 years, overseeing the non-profit arm of the refuge. She and host Si Willmore discuss her love of nature from an early age, her work at 'Ding' Darling, and the man behind the refuge's name, the great rebel cartoonist J.N. 'Ding' Darling.Toni and Si discuss swimming with manatees - or 10-foot 'underwater dogs' - and spotting roseate spoonbill birds - so-called 'Dr Seuss birds'. She is passionate about engaging young people in learning about the natural world and the threat we pose to it; she wants to create future 'stewards of the environment' to continue the wonderful legacy of her old boss, 'Ding' Darling himself.Toni also shares her favourite places in Florida outside of the 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge for spotting and interacting with wildlife, such as Tarpon Bay, as well as her favourite local dishes and drinks including Yucatan shrimp and mojitos.Episode sponsored by Visit Florida. See visitflorida.com for information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zip-lining over alligators - in a wheelchair - with Cory Lee

Zip-lining over alligators - in a wheelchair - with Cory Lee

At the age of two, Cory Lee was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, meaning he would need a wheelchair. But this didn’t diminish his desire to explore the world - quite the opposite. Nowadays he is the mind behind the award-winning travel blog Curb Free with Cory Lee, where his goal is to share the world from a wheelchair user’s perspective with his 100,000 followers. He wants to show people how to travel, where to travel, and most importantly, why travel as a person with a disability.Cory shares his early experiences as a person travelling with a disability and some of the astonishing experiences he has had to overcome, such as a hippo attack! This led to the launch of his blog that aims to empower fellow travellers with disabilities by answering questions like ‘How do I charge my wheelchair in a foreign country?’. It's no surprise that Cory is a two-time SATW Lowell Thomas Award winner.Cory also shares tips for PRs and DMOs on how to make their travel offering more suitable for travellers with a disability and he discusses the launch of his wonderful new charity, the Curb-Free Foundation. Episode sponsored by Visit Florida. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.