Women Who Travel | Condé Nast Traveler
285 episodes - English - Latest episode: 18 days ago - ★★★★ - 382 ratingsThough travel and adventure have historically been publicly claimed by men, women have always been part of those narratives, too. Each week, host and Condé Nast Traveler editor Lale Arikoglu shines a light on some of those stories, interviewing female-identifying guests about their most unique travel tales—from going off-grid in the Danish wilderness to country-hopping solo—sharing her own experiences traveling around the globe, and tapping listeners to contribute their own memorable stories. This is a podcast for anyone who is curious about the world—and excited to explore places both near and far from home. For more from Women Who Travel, visit our website or subscribe to our email newsletter.
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Episodes
Moving to Paris for a Life in Food
June 27, 2024 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24 MBEver dreamed of swapping your current life for a brand new one in Paris? That’s what Jane Bertch did, who chronicles her own journey, and the French cooking school she subsequently opened, in her new memoir The French Ingredient. Lale chats with Jane about the lessons she’s learned (culinary and otherwise) from her years spent in Paris, her tips for shopping the city’s many boulangeries and fromageries, and all the characters she’s met along the way.
The Long Legacy of African American Expats
June 20, 2024 09:00 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MBIn her book Beyond the Shores: A History of African Americans Abroad, Dr. Tamara J. Walker recounts stories of 20th-century African-Americans who chose to build their lives outside of the United States—everywhere from Paris to Nairobi. Lale chats with Tamara about the romantic notions of 20th-century Paris and the creatives who made it their home, like James Baldwin and Florence Mills, as well as her own travel experiences around the world and what it means to be a global citizen. ...
Two Best Friends Eat Their Way Round the World
June 13, 2024 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBMumtaz Mustafa and Laura Klynstra are best friends who love to cook—and host—together. Lale chats with them about how their respective childhoods in Pakistan and Michigan helped shape their passion for food, travels in Guatemala, and memories of Karachi street snacks and Dutch potlucks.
The Magic of Island Life in Scandanavia
June 06, 2024 09:00 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MBThere’s nothing quite like the magic of a Scandinavian summer, where daylight is near endless and hundreds of islands come to life for locals to explore and retreat to. Author Dorthe Nors—and repeat guest on this show—joins us to share stories of life on the Danish island of Fano, fascinating folklore, and tips on creating your own island hopping journey this summer.
Dinner SOS: I Need an All-American Menu
May 30, 2024 09:00 - 37 minutes - 34 MBGabe and her husband have befriended an American couple in Treviso, Italy, where they all live. In order to give them a taste of home, Gabe would love to cook her new friends an American meal. But what typifies American food? And how can she source the right ingredients in the Veneto? Host of Dinner SOS Chris Morocco enlists the help of Bon Appetit's resident Aussie, Adam Moussa, and sommelier André Mack of BA's World of Wine series, to figure out what Gabe should make. Listen to a...
Why Water Makes Us Happy
May 23, 2024 09:00 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MBIt’s summer, which means we're grabbing every chance there is to hit the beach or dive into a hotel swimming pool. But some travelers are a little more intrepid, plunging into wild, frigid waters for all manner of reasons. To find out why, Lale chats with writer and wild swimmer Freya Bromley about her recent memoir The Tidal Year and catches up with friend of the podcast and author Dorthe Nors, who lives on a remote part of Denmark’s west coast.
An Italian Hotelier Living La Dolce Vita on Lake Como
May 16, 2024 09:00 - 26 minutes - 23.8 MBWhat is it like growing up in one of the most storied and iconic hotels in Italy? Ask Valentina de Santis, who was raised in the kitchens and ballrooms of Lake Como's Grand Hotel Tremezzo and now runs the charismatic Passalacqua along with her parents nearby. Lale chats with the hotelier to hear stories of life on Lake Como, get tips on traveling in both summer and the off-season, and what it really means to live La Dolce Vita.
A Restaurant-Critic-Turned-Cookbook Author Slows Down in Menorca
May 09, 2024 09:00 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBWhat does it take to eat well—and simply? To find out, Lale chats with Yasmin Fahr, author of the new book Cook Simply Live Fully (and former undercover restaurant critic), for advice on shopping at local markets, how to make use of an Airbnb kitchen, and the joy of cooking far from home. Plus, she shares stories of island life on her home of Menorca.
Three Photojournalists on Revealing the Human Side of Conflict
May 02, 2024 09:00 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBThis week, Lale speaks with women who risk their lives to document conflict and catastrophe around the world—and who are all recipients of a Courage in Photojournalism Award from the International Women's Media Foundation. Listen to hear Cairo-based Nariman El-Mofty, who has been traveling through Yemen and Sudan, and Anastasia Taylor-Lind, whose work is focused on Ukraine, share stories of the human side of war, as well as a message from Samar Abu Elouf, a photojournalist from Gaza...
Criss Crossing America to Visit Every Baseball Stadium
April 25, 2024 09:00 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBTiffany Mathias, a self-confessed baseball stadium chaser (and, incidentally, Lale’s sister-in-law), recounts her quest to visit every ballpark in the US, touring the stadiums, chatting to ushers and fans, and sampling the often eccentric local concessions—often as a solo traveler. To watch a game in a new stadium, says Tiffany, is “to be in her happy place.”
How Plants Help Us Understand Our Heritage
April 18, 2024 09:00 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBLife begins again in spring, and as the air (and your nostrils) fill with pollen it might be a good time to learn something new about the plants with which we share the earth. To do so, Lale talks to nature writer Jessica J. Lee about how, as she's lived around the world, learning about non-native plants has given her a sense of belonging. From cherry blossoms to seaweed to tea, plants cross borders by themselves, or because we move them for very different reasons.
An Astrologer Predicts Our Travel Plans
April 11, 2024 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24 MBWith summer travels on the horizon, Lale taps professional astrologer—and Women Who Travel columnist—Steph Koyfman to read her chart and guide her through the season and the rest of the year. Plus, we hear from three listeners who are thinking about relocating, getting citizenship in a new place, and undertaking a life changing trek, and turn to Steph for clarity.
An Astrologer Guides Our Travel Plans
April 11, 2024 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24 MBWith summer travels on the horizon, Lale taps professional astrologer—and Women Who Travel columnist—Steph Koyfman to read her chart and guide her through the season and the rest of the year. Plus, we hear from three listeners who are thinking about relocating, getting citizenship in a new place, and undertaking a life changing trek, and turn to Steph for clarity.
Bear Encounters in Nevada and Chasing Poachers on the Masai Mara
April 04, 2024 09:00 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBTraveling everywhere from the savannahs of Tanzania to the mountains of Montana, Dr. Rae Wynn Grant is on a mission to save the world’s most endangered species. Lale chats with the wildlife ecologist, podcaster, author and co-host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom to hear stories from her new memoir, WILD LIFE: Finding My Purpose in an Untamed World (including a dicey near death experience), how she’s advocating for better representation in the environmental science space, and why e...
Aviation Pioneers: Amelia Earhart and Bessie Coleman's Record-Breaking Flights
March 28, 2024 09:00 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBAs Women's History Month comes to a close, we dive into the stories of two pioneering pilots: Amelia Earhart and Bessie Coleman. Yet while the legend of Earhart’s aviation feats and mysterious disappearance has long gripped the public imagination, Coleman’s equally impressive career as the first African-American woman to hold a pilot license is a story that still largely goes untold. Lale chats with Dorothy Cochrane, a curator at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, to f...
Love, Loss, and Noodles in Cambodia
March 21, 2024 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MBThis week Lale chats with author Chantha Nguon—along with her daughter Clara and co-author Kim Green—about her new memoir Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Recipes. Listen to hear the trio share stories of their travels across Cambodia and collaborations in the kitchen, while Chantha reflects on life as a Cambodian refugee, life in 1960s Battambang, and the dishes that have always kept her connected to home.
Celebrating the Most Powerful Women in Travel
March 14, 2024 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24.5 MBFollowing the release of Condé Nast Traveler's annual Women Who Travel Power List, spotlighting 15 leaders like activist Quannah ChasingHorse, TV host Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, and content creator Charlotte Simpson, Lale and fellow editor Megan Spurrell get together in the studio to chat about how they shaped the list, the ways it's guiding their travel decisions, and ask the question: How should we use our power, once we have it?
Director Lulu Wang Isn't Compromising
March 08, 2024 10:00 - 26 minutes - 24.1 MBIn honor of International Women's Day, Lale chats with award-winning director Lulu Wang, who is featured on Condé Nast Traveler's 2024 Women Who Travel Power List, about creating the worlds of Expats and The Farewell, the importance of using filmmaking to highlight untold stories, and her journey to becoming an award-winning director—without making compromises.
On the Road for the US Election
February 29, 2024 10:00 - 31 minutes - 28.5 MBIt's an election year, and already journalists are traveling all over the country to tell voters the most important stories from the trail. But what is it like to cover the US presidential race as a foreign reporter? Lale chats with three correspondents from Canada and Europe as they share tales of blizzards, campfires in Tennessee, and late-night eats after long days of breaking news.
Island Hopping in Spain, Italy, and Croatia
February 22, 2024 10:00 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBIn her upcoming book Enchanted Islands: Travels Through Myth and Magic, Love & Loss, author Laura Coffey charts a real-life journey she took inspired by one of the most epic travel stories ever told: The Odyssey. Lale catches up with Coffey to find out how the famous poem informed where she went, the unforgettable meals she ate, and the cast of characters she met along the way.
More Solo Travel With Jessica Nabongo
February 15, 2024 10:00 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MBIn 2019, friend of the podcast Jessica Nabongo became the first Black woman to visit every country in the world—and document it all along the way. We check back in with her to find out how and where she’s traveling in 2024, and revisit a conversation about solo travel from an earlier episode.
Your Love and Travel Stories: Breakups, Hookups, and More
February 08, 2024 10:00 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBLove doesn’t sleep just because you’re traveling. This episode, in honor of Valentine’s Day, we’re dedicating an episode to our listeners’ stories, from tales of a windswept singles resort, to a fling in a Toronto hotel, to a surprising encounter in China. Whether you love or hate this holiday, or love to hate it, we promise this episode will be a fun one.
Mapping the World's Oceans
February 01, 2024 10:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBThis week, we chat with journalist Laura Trethewey, author of The Deepest Map: The High-Stakes Race to Chart the World's Oceans, about traveling to the deepest parts of the ocean, sailing on research boats across some of the most remote and roughest seas in the world, and the intrepid deep sea divers and scientists who are racing to map the ocean floors.
Home Cooking in Latin America
January 25, 2024 10:00 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBTwenty one countries make up Latin America—and within those countries lies myriad food cultures, recipes, and histories. This week, Lale chats with guest Sandra A. Gutierrez about her latest cookbook Latinísimo: Home Recipes from the Twenty-One Countries of Latin America, an encyclopedic exploration of the region through its dishes and the home cooks who make them. Plus, her travels in countries like Peru and Colombia, and insider tips for tracking down the best eats in a new city. ...
Walking Across Morocco
January 18, 2024 10:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBSlow travel is a buzzy term these days, but what does it actually mean? Over the coming months, we'll explore what it takes to travel slowly and more intentionally, starting with this week's episode: A conversation with travel writer and adventurer Alice Morrison, who spent seven months walking across Morocco alongside a group of nomads.
Here's Where to Travel In 2024
January 11, 2024 10:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBIt's a new year, which means it's time to stop daydreaming and start planning your travels for the next 12 months. Can't decide where to visit? Start listening to find out the best places to go in 2024—from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Accra, Ghana—according to Condé Nast Traveler editors Arati Menon and Sarah James.
From Critics at Large: Britney Spears Tells Her Horror Story
January 04, 2024 10:00 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MBIn a special episode from The New Yorker's Critics At Large, the celebrity memoir has long been a place for public figures to set the record straight on the story of their lives. By any measure, Britney Spears’s life, as detailed in her new book, “The Woman in Me,” is rich material. The pop star rose to fame in the early two-thousands, and, after enduring a series of mental-health crises, was placed in a conservatorship through which her father controlled almost every aspect of her ...
Raving in Ukraine
December 21, 2023 10:00 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MBFor our last episode of the year, we’re diving into something we’re all doing a lot of around the holiday season: partying. And in Ukraine, where our two guests are based, rave culture has become a necessary vehicle for letting off steam, distraction, and finding joy. Back in November, Lale caught up with Kyiv-based journalist Anastacia Galouchka, who recently penned a story on the capital’s rave scene for Stranger’s Guide, and novelist Haska Shyyan, who lives in Lviv, about what ra...
What Is Passport Privilege?
December 14, 2023 10:00 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBWe dive into the thorny issue of passport privilege thanks to this week’s guest, Shahnaz Habib, author of the new book Airplane Mode: An Irreverent History of Travel. Why do some travelers gain more visa-free access than others? Who determines how a place is seen through the lens of its guidebooks? And what does the word "wanderlust" mean, exactly? Shahnaz seeks to answer all that and more, and shares some of her own travel stories.
The Global Power of Eyeliner
December 07, 2023 10:00 - 25 minutes - 23 MBIs there a more universally used beauty product than eyeliner? Not according to author Zahra Hankir, who chats with Lale about her new book Eyeliner: A Cultural History, which looks at the meaning and symbolism of kohl around the world, from Kyoto to Chad, as well as throughout the Middle East—and dives into her own personal history with the enduring piece of makeup.
Braving the Grand Canyon’s Rapids
November 30, 2023 10:00 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBIn 1938 two women botanists broke with convention and set off on an expedition trip along the Colorado River that would see them risk their lives over rapids in the name of research. Two years ago, science journalist Melissa Sevigny retraced their adventure, whitewater rafting the same rapids and sleeping under the stars to learn more about who these women were—and why their work still influences the scientific landscape of America today.
Hong Kong’s Untold Stories
November 16, 2023 10:00 - 26 minutes - 23.8 MBLale chats with journalist and author Louisa Lim about her recent book, Indelible City, which dives deep into the untold stories of Hong Kong, both past and present, through a cast of calligraphers, street artists, and more, while also reflecting on her own personal connection with a place she long-called home.
A Vogue Editor’s Packing Secrets
November 09, 2023 10:00 - 32 minutes - 30.2 MBShould I check my luggage or carry-on? Fold or roll? Bring one pair of shoes or...seven? Packing for a trip, when done well, can feel like an art form—yet one that few of us seem to have figured out. This week, Chloe Malle, the new Editor of Vogue.com and the co-host of Vogue’s podcast The Run-Through with Vogue, joins Lale in the studio to dish her packing wisdom—and answer listeners' burning questions.
Susan Orlean’s Extraordinary Travels
November 02, 2023 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MBWhether its embedding herself with orchid hunters in Florida or chasing surfers in Maui, Susan Orlean is never afraid to throw herself into the story. A longtime writer for the New Yorker, and author of beloved titles like Saturday Night, The Library Book, and On Animals, she's traveled the world—and calls into the studio to share stories from Iceland, Bhutan, and more.
A Witch Expert on Salem
October 26, 2023 17:55 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBSalem, Massachusetts has long lived in our public consciousness as both the site of the infamous witch trials of 1692 and 1693 and as a Halloween tourist destination depicted in myriad pieces of literature, pop culture, and art. But what is it actually like to spend time there? Lale chats with Dr. Helen Berger from the Women’s Studies Center at Brandeis University, whose written multiple books about witch communities in Salem and elsewhere to find out. Plus, we dive into WitchTok co...
New York's Chinatown Through the Eyes of a Family That's Been There for Generations (Re-Run)
October 19, 2023 09:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBNew York City's Chinatown is arguably one of the most famous neighborhoods in the world—and perhaps one of the most storied, too. Ava Chin, whose memoir, Mott Street: A Chinese American Family’s Story of Exclusion and Homecoming, came out this spring, chats with Lale about the apartment building that housed four generations of her family, and the journey a look into her heritage took her on.
Life on a Windswept Scottish Island
October 12, 2023 09:00 - 29 minutes - 27.5 MBWhen Tamsin Calidas left London to live on a croft in the Scottish Hebrides, she was idealistic and totally ignorant about farming. Years later and after facing and overcoming significant struggles, she feels in harmony with nature, wildlife, and the beauty of her island. Calidas sits down with host Lale Arikoglu to chat about working the rugged landscape.
Making Dinner On a Group Trip
October 05, 2023 09:00 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBThis week, we're teaming up with our friends over at Bon Appetit for a special episode of Dinner SOS. Tune in to hear host Chris Morocco and food editor Shilpa Uskokovic put their heads together and help Lale prepare a group dinner for some travelers with pretty specific dietary restrictions. They all get very confused about what a nightshade is, but we promise they find a solution in the end.
The Romance and Reality of Sleeper Trains
September 28, 2023 09:00 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBGlamorous, exciting, and often nostalgic—when at its best (and let’s be clear, no two journeys are made equal) seeing the world by train can be all of those things and more, especially if you’re on a sleeper train. After all, what could be more exciting than going to sleep in one country and waking up in another? Lale chats with Monisha Rajesh—friend of the podcast and author of books like Around the World in 80 Trains and Epic Train Journeys—about her recent travels by sleeper, and...
Morocco, Music, and More With Faouzia
September 21, 2023 09:00 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBLale chats with Moroccan-Canadian singer songwriter Faouzia Ouihya—who, at just 23, has already clocked up numerous accolades for her poppy, anthemic hooks performed in English, French, and Arabic. They talk Moroccan food, how Faouzia’s heritage shapes her music, and more.This episode was recorded several weeks before the devastating earthquake in Morocco. For information on how to help and donate, head to cntraveler.com. Link to embed: https://www.cntraveler.com › storyHow to Suppo...
When You Travel to Eat With Bon Appétit
September 14, 2023 09:00 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MBPlanning a trip around food is one of our favorite ways to travel, so Lale turns to a seasoned restaurant scouter for intel. Kate Kassin is the Editorial Operations Manager at Bon Appétit, which means she works on some of the magazine's biggest projects, including its Best New Restaurants list. They talk about what it takes to uncover some of the most exciting places to eat in the US right now, and her tips for finding the best spots to eat on any vacation.
Walking Pompeii With Rebecca Mead
September 07, 2023 09:00 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBAfter a summer filled with European travel, Lale catches up with The New Yorker's Rebecca Mead to learn a few surprising facts about one of the continent's most famous—and ancient—sites, Pompeii. Plus, she hears from a listener about what it felt like to explore a Greek landmark steeped in mythology.
Listener Dispatch: Gaining Perspective in Oaxaca
August 31, 2023 09:00 - 18 minutes - 17.1 MBAs summer comes to a close, Lale catches up with one last listener about her recent trip to Oaxaca, where she found herself sharing a transformative hiking experience with a group of women.
Listener Dispatch: Traveling In My Mother's Footsteps
August 24, 2023 09:00 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBIn another special mini episode of Women Who Travel, Lale takes a call from listener Margaret, who is so fascinated with an international trip her mother took in the 1950s that she's now working to recreate it for herself.
On the Road for the FIFA World Cup
August 17, 2023 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24.1 MBAs the FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand draws to a close, we share conversations with two women who've had very different experiences with the tournament over the years: Australian Broadcasting Company's sportscaster Tracey Holmes, who spent her career covering numerous Olympics and World cups, and Nicole Barnhart, goalkeeper of The Washington Spirit and, unsurprisingly, a super traveler for the sport.
Listener Dispatch: Camping Gone Awry
August 10, 2023 09:00 - 14 minutes - 13 MBIn another special mini episode of Women Who Travel, Lale catches up with listener Jamie, who says she loves the idea of camping, but can never quite get it right. Enter, calamitous stories of thunderstorms in the Grand Canyon and a misguided weekend at a music festival.
Listener Dispatch: Eating Champorado in the Philippines
August 03, 2023 09:00 - 7 minutes - 6.91 MBIn a special mini episode of Women Who Travel, Lale gets on the phone with South Carolina-based listener Cinelle to hear about her recent, long-awaited trip home to the Philippines—and the food she was in search for once she got there.
Climbing Mountains
July 27, 2023 09:00 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MBTreacherous mountain ascents like Everest have long been mythologized by men. But this week, Lale chats with two women who are achieving extraordinary feats at high altitudes: Jen Peedom, an award-winning Australian film director, who makes documentaries about mountaineering, and Sasha DiGiulian, a professional rock climber who went from winning indoor competitions to going on treacherous outdoor climbs that led her to accomplish 28 First Female Ascents around the world, including a...
Solo Travel, According to Rachel Cargle
July 20, 2023 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBWe travel for all sorts of reasons: self-discovery, something new, a chance to break out of our routines. But how often is it truly restorative? Lale talks to activist, educator, entrepreneur, and ardent solo traveler Rachel Cargle about creating calm in every step of a journey—and her new memoir and manifesto, A Renaissance of Our Own.
The Wild Swimming Phenomenon
July 13, 2023 09:00 - 27 minutes - 25 MBIt’s summer, which means we're grabbing every chance there is to hit the beach or dive into a hotel swimming pool. But some travelers are a little more intrepid, plunging into wild, frigid waters for all manner of reasons. To find out why, Lale chats with writer and wild swimmer Freya Bromley about her recent memoir The Tidal Year and catches up with friend of the podcast and author Dorthe Nors, who lives on a remote part of Denmark’s west coast.