50 episodes

Travel That Matters (named one of the 10 Best Podcasts of 2022 by Men’s Journal) explores the world’s most extraordinary travel experiences and destinations with award-winning editor, writer, and luxury travel expert Bruce Wallin. Bruce’s remarkable guests share inspiring, life-shaping stories about their adventures and cultural explorations, as well as travel tips and recommendations for the best destinations, hotels, restaurants, activities, and more. Their travel tales and insights cover everything from where to find delicious foods and ingredients and the most luxurious resorts and hotels, to the most fascinating modern cultural experiences and historical explorations.

The show’s special Master Chef episodes highlight the travels and tastes of the world’s top chefs, from culinary adventures through Africa with Marcus Samuelsson and exploring remote corners of Japan with Daniel Boulud, to discovering insider spots in Australia with Curtis Stone and relaxing and rejuvenating with Nina Compton on the beautiful island of Saint Lucia, with its stunning beaches and lush rainforests. You’ll even hear stories about great travelers like Anthony Bourdain and get souvenir recommendations, from traditional handicrafts to unique local delicacies.

Episodes of Travel That Matters span the globe, from Sicily, Italy, to Oaxaca, Mexico, to Tel-Aviv, Israel, and beyond. Listeners also learn about the greatest activities around the United States—award-winning wine tasting, the best new restaurants, epic hiking trails, secret skiing and surfing spots, and charming boutiques in places like Healdsburg and Napa Valley (California), Willamette Valley (Oregon), Jackson Hole (Wyoming), and New Orleans (Louisiana).

Listen to Travel That Matters every other Tuesday and gain insider knowledge to impactful adventures, extravagant hotels, top chefs, and secret hideaways, and discover the magic of travel at its very best.

Travel That Matters CurtCo Media

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.3 • 76 Ratings

Travel That Matters (named one of the 10 Best Podcasts of 2022 by Men’s Journal) explores the world’s most extraordinary travel experiences and destinations with award-winning editor, writer, and luxury travel expert Bruce Wallin. Bruce’s remarkable guests share inspiring, life-shaping stories about their adventures and cultural explorations, as well as travel tips and recommendations for the best destinations, hotels, restaurants, activities, and more. Their travel tales and insights cover everything from where to find delicious foods and ingredients and the most luxurious resorts and hotels, to the most fascinating modern cultural experiences and historical explorations.

The show’s special Master Chef episodes highlight the travels and tastes of the world’s top chefs, from culinary adventures through Africa with Marcus Samuelsson and exploring remote corners of Japan with Daniel Boulud, to discovering insider spots in Australia with Curtis Stone and relaxing and rejuvenating with Nina Compton on the beautiful island of Saint Lucia, with its stunning beaches and lush rainforests. You’ll even hear stories about great travelers like Anthony Bourdain and get souvenir recommendations, from traditional handicrafts to unique local delicacies.

Episodes of Travel That Matters span the globe, from Sicily, Italy, to Oaxaca, Mexico, to Tel-Aviv, Israel, and beyond. Listeners also learn about the greatest activities around the United States—award-winning wine tasting, the best new restaurants, epic hiking trails, secret skiing and surfing spots, and charming boutiques in places like Healdsburg and Napa Valley (California), Willamette Valley (Oregon), Jackson Hole (Wyoming), and New Orleans (Louisiana).

Listen to Travel That Matters every other Tuesday and gain insider knowledge to impactful adventures, extravagant hotels, top chefs, and secret hideaways, and discover the magic of travel at its very best.

    Season 4 is Coming Soon - Master Chef Series 2024

    Season 4 is Coming Soon - Master Chef Series 2024

    The 2023 Master Chef series was such a success that we decided to keep it going for another season!

    Prepare your palate for adventure, because Travel That Matters is about to take off (again) with the top tastemakers on a culinary journey around the globe, including Nancy Silverton, Wolfgang Puck, Charlie Palmer, Danny Meyer, Jonathan Waxman, and many more incredible chefs and restaurateurs. 

    In anticipation, listen (or relisten) to season 3 of Travel That Matters, the first iteration of the Master Chef series, and hear from Marcus Samuelsson, Amanda Freitag, Daniel Boulud, Gregory Gourdet, Curtis Stone, among others, who share their favorite destinations, inspiring travel stories, and insider tips.
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 2 min
    100 Unexpected Destinations to Add to Your Travel Wishlist with National Geographic’s Andrew Nelson: Lecce (Italy), Luang Prabang (Laos), Indianapolis, Manchester (England), and More

    100 Unexpected Destinations to Add to Your Travel Wishlist with National Geographic’s Andrew Nelson: Lecce (Italy), Luang Prabang (Laos), Indianapolis, Manchester (England), and More

    Getting people to think differently when deciding where to travel next is a specialty of the travel journalist Andrew Nelson, a writer for two decades with National Geographic Travel and a two-time Lowell Thomas prize winner. Andrew joins Bruce on the podcast to discuss places in his new National Geographic book, Here Not There, revealing 100 alternative travel destinations to the ones we've probably all heard about 1,000 times.

    Andrew tells us about the places that are overlooked and why they're worth visiting, in addition to the obvious benefit of often being less crowded and less expensive. He guides us to the Miami of the North, the Amsterdam of the Midwest, and a place he describes as the most accessible yet mysterious places he's ever visited. He'll even tell us where you can dance until dawn and drink (responsibly) like a fool.

    Andrew doesn't just list places in this Travel That Matters episode, but tells us about the history, the tours and events you can attend, and the food that's there for you to enjoy. He emphasizes the element of surprise in travel, while adding in bragging rights that come with being among the few who have traveled to some of these alternative destinations.

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    You can find out more details about the locations below mentioned in the episode:


    Zozobra Festival: https://burnzozobra.com/
    The Secret Stairs of Los Angeles https://secretstairs-la.com/
    San Cassiano, Dolomites https://www.altabadia.org/en/italian-alps-dolomites/villages/san-cassiano.html
    Kotor, Montenegro https://www.turismomontenegro.es/ciudades-de-montenegro/kotor/
    Alamos, Sonora https://www.gob.mx/sectur/articulos/alamos-sonora
    Bottleworks Hotel: https://www.bottleworkshotel.com/

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    To learn more about Andrew Nelson, check out his website https://andrewtnelson.com/

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    Travel That Matters is a CurtCo Media production.

    Host: Bruce Wallin

    Producer: AJ Moseley

    Marketing: Catrin Skaperdas

    Music: Joey Salvia
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 38 min
    Safari, Wine Country, and City in South Africa: Cape Town Culinary Experiences, Kalahari and Kruger Wildlife Immersions, Itineraries by Locals, and Hermanus and Stellenbosch Excursions

    Safari, Wine Country, and City in South Africa: Cape Town Culinary Experiences, Kalahari and Kruger Wildlife Immersions, Itineraries by Locals, and Hermanus and Stellenbosch Excursions

    Embark on an adventure through South Africa with Liam Tomlin (Cape Town chef), Deborah Calmeyer (ROAR Africa founder), and Tiago Sarmento (managing director of Belmond in Southern Africa), whose stories and insider tips on crafting the ultimate travel experience will have you hooked on this something-for-everybody destination.

    On his recent trip to Cape Town and Tswalu Kalahari reserve in South Africa, Bruce caught up with Tomlin and Sarmento to talk about Cape Town’s culinary delights, under-the-radar gastronomic and adventure tours, going on safari with children, and other unique experiences beyond the ordinary.

    Bruce also spoke with safari expert Calmeyer, who shares tips for first-timers, malaria-free areas, the best farmer’s market in Cape Town, and a two-week blowout itinerary.

    You’ll also learn where locals from Cape Town go for vacation—hint: there’s great whale watching—and get fun facts like where you can order half a goat in a car wash. Whether you’re a seasoned safari-goer or planning your first trip, whether you’re going with kids or just adults, this episode has something for you.

    Listen and catch the full details of why South Africa is a must-visit, and hear Bruce give his email for anyone who would like his help with planning a safari experience. Wait until the end to hear Bruce share a few of his favorite picks for safari adventures in South Africa and beyond.

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    You can find out more details about the locations mentioned in the episode below:

    Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel, https://www.belmond.com

    Chef’s Warehouse, https://www.chefswarehouse.co.za

    ROAR Africa, https://www.roarafrica.com 

    Tswalu Kalahari, https://tswalu.com

    Delaire Graff Estate, https://www.delaire.co.za

    Oranjezicht Farmer’s Market, Cape Town

    Singita Sabi Sand, https://singita.com

    Cheetah Plains, https://www.cheetahplains.com

    Singita Grumeti, https://singita.com

    Selinda Reserve / Great Plains Conservation, https://greatplainsconservation.com

    Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, https://www.wildernessdestinations.com

    Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge, https://www.belmond.com

    Belmond Eagle Island Lodge, https://www.belmond.com

    Pigcasso, https://pigcasso.org

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    Travel That Matters is a CurtCo Media production.

    Host: Bruce Wallin

    Producer: AJ Moseley

    Marketing: Catrin Skaperdas

    Music: Joey Salvia
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 47 min
    Featured Episode from A Slight Change of Plans, Apple Podcasts’ Best Show of the Year in 2021: The Thai Cave Rescue

    Featured Episode from A Slight Change of Plans, Apple Podcasts’ Best Show of the Year in 2021: The Thai Cave Rescue

    This week, we're recommending a Pushkin podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, where Maya Shankar blends compassionate storytelling with the science of human behavior to help us understand who we are and who we become in the face of a big change.

    In this episode, Dr. Richard "Harry" Harris is an anesthesiologist and expert cave diver who was tasked with a seemingly impossible mission: to rescue a boys' soccer team trapped 2.5 miles deep within a flooded cave in Thailand. He talks with Maya about his decision to heed the call.
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 49 min
    India with Condé Nast Traveler's Divia Thani: An Insider’s Guide to the Country’s Diverse Regions (Rajasthan, Kashmir, Chettinad), Including the Best Places to Visit and When, Unique Culinary Experiences, Tiger Safaris, and Festivals

    India with Condé Nast Traveler's Divia Thani: An Insider’s Guide to the Country’s Diverse Regions (Rajasthan, Kashmir, Chettinad), Including the Best Places to Visit and When, Unique Culinary Experiences, Tiger Safaris, and Festivals

    Divia Thani is an incredible and inspiring source of information on how best to explore the many different regions of India, from the Himalayas in the north to Chettinad in the south.

    In this episode of Travel That Matters, Bruce speaks with Divia, the Global Editorial Director of Condé Nast Traveler, about her home country of India, inclusive of the bustling scene in Goa, the best time of year to visit, where to find the best jewelry, and the thrills of a tiger safari (and how it’s different than the safari experience in African countries).

    Divia gives useful tips like how to see India without falling into a tourist trap, if you should see the Taj Mahal or skip it, where to go if you have particular hobbies such as hiking or skiing, and how to find authentic food in India.

    Divia also tells us about her favorite Indian dish, mentions a few specific restaurants in India that you'll want to try, and talks about Indian cuisine in London, where she lives today.

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    You can find out more details about the locations mentioned in the episode below:


    NAAR (Chef: Prateek Sadhu)
    BiBi (Chef: Chet Sharma)

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    Travel That Matters is a CurtCo Media production.

    Host: Bruce Wallin

    Producer: AJ Moseley

    Marketing: Catrin Skaperdas

    Music: Joey Salvia
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 45 min
    Flavors Around Mexico with Chef and TV Host Pati Jinich (Pati's Mexican Table): Discovering Foods From Yucatán, Mexico City, Sinaloa, Nuevo León, and More

    Flavors Around Mexico with Chef and TV Host Pati Jinich (Pati's Mexican Table): Discovering Foods From Yucatán, Mexico City, Sinaloa, Nuevo León, and More

    Our love of travel and food converge in spectacular fashion in this exploration of Mexico and its many regional cuisines with chef and TV host Pati Jinich. As the host of the 3x James Beard Award-winning PBS television series “Pati’s Mexican Table,” resident chef at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, D.C., and a cookbook author, Pati is the perfect person to lead us on a culinary adventure through the country, diving into its regional specialties, under-the-radar restaurants, and the Mexican dishes foreigners don't know about that they should seek out.

    This episode is packed with specific foods you'll want to try when you're in Mexico—from cochinita pibil (a personal favorite of both Bruce’s and producer AJ’s) to the exceptional shrimp of Sinaloa—and Pati's explanations of exactly how some of these dishes are made will leave your mouth watering. She includes important details like why some Mexican dishes can be re-created deliciously in other countries around the world, while others need to be tasted at the source because of the ingredients and techniques.

    Pati’s passion for Mexican culture and cuisine is contagious, as she takes us from a remote family restaurant in Halachó in the south to the modern streets of Monterrey in the north—a city that surprised even her! In addition, she teaches us what malinchista means and why the cuisine of Mexico making it to the UNESCO list has helped the people of Mexico gain a new appreciation for their traditional foods and techniques. She also talks about how to stay safe while visiting Mexico’s most popular and more remote regions.

    Listen to the end to find out what Bruce's favorite places and foods are in Mexico!

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    You can find out more details about the locations mentioned in the episode below:


    Niddo
    Cara de Vaca
    Ya'axche (Chef Wilson Alonzo)
    La Fina Cocina del Barrio
    Sonorita
    Pepe’s Taco
    Pancho’s Takos
    Doña Chela
    Mercado Cleofas Mota Tequila

    ---

    To learn more about what Pati is up to, be sure to check out her website: https://patijinich.com/

    Travel That Matters is a CurtCo Media production.

    Host: Bruce Wallin

    Producer: AJ Moseley

    Marketing: Catrin Skaperdas

    Music: Joey Salvia
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 43 min

Customer Reviews

4.3 out of 5
76 Ratings

76 Ratings

Mposeley ,

Solid podcast - keeps getting better

Love this show. Been listening since season 1 on a whim, and it was solid then, but has now matured into a well oiled, high quality travel machine! Bruce is clearly an expert in all things travel, and mix that with a great voice for radio, a high quality production, and now with high value guests on Season 3, I’m very happy this show is continuing to churn out great content. Can’t wait for the rest of season 3!

CatrinSkap ,

Unique, interesting content

I didn’t know about the food culture in Sweden, the Chinese presence in Africa, and that the Grand Central Market in LA is a great place to shop for spices - and this is all just from the first episode of season 3. Excited to hear what else I’ll learn about food and travel!

melissa share-it ,

It’s finally back!

Yay I was so worried this show was done for good! Woo so glad it’s back :) Bruce is my favorite person to take me across the globe. Welcome back Travel That Matters!

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