The Escape Artist Travel Podcast

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The Escape Artist Travel Podcast The Escape Artist is a brand new podcast for the culturally curious traveller. Each week, traveller

Is there a destination that you long to return to when the world opens up again?Travellers often have the desire to visi...
25/01/2021

Is there a destination that you long to return to when the world opens up again?

Travellers often have the desire to visit somewhere completely new or tick a destination off the ‘bucket list’. We delight in the novelty, unfamiliarity and sense of discovery.

More recently I’ve begun to appreciate the nostalgia of revisiting places I’ve previously explored. To see how they’ve changed. To see how I’ve changed.

I spent some time in Vietnam as a teenager on my first big backpacking trip around Southeast Asia. That adventure left an indelible impression on me (as that fledgling taste of freedom usually does).

I returned to Hoi An years later on assignment as a travel writer. I found pleasure in both the familiar and the uncovering corners that I missed the first time around.

Here’s a 📸 of one such corner at Quan Cong Temple 💕

“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward. For there you have been, an...
23/01/2021

“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward. For there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” - words attributed to Leonardo da Vinci ✨

Who else looks up at a plane in the sky and wonders where it’s going? ⛅️ ✈️

Image via

Dar Darma radiates that certain kind of magic one can only find in the riads hidden away in the ancient, labyrinthine st...
21/01/2021

Dar Darma radiates that certain kind of magic one can only find in the riads hidden away in the ancient, labyrinthine streets of Marrakech.

Oh, and I think I’ve found the perfect little nook for reading Paul Bowles’ ‘The Sheltering Sky’ ✨

Image via

I’ve finally come back down to reality after a couple of weeks in a blissful holiday bubble  🌴 I’m feeling rejuvenated a...
14/01/2021

I’ve finally come back down to reality after a couple of weeks in a blissful holiday bubble 🌴

I’m feeling rejuvenated and rather optimistic about 2021!

📸 The late Pierre Cardin’s Palais Bulles (‘Palace of Bubbles’) designed by avant-grade Hungarian architect Antti Lovag 💕

Images 1 + 2 via and image 3 via



@ Palais Bulles de Pierre Cardin

Happy Holidays everyone!  ✨Next Year I’m asking Santa for a trip to Lapland. There’s nothing more magical than a white C...
28/12/2020

Happy Holidays everyone! ✨

Next Year I’m asking Santa for a trip to Lapland. There’s nothing more magical than a white Christmas (especially for an Australian)! ❄️ ☃️

Image via .vaahtera

In my latest interview I asked  about a destination that truly inspires him and without hesitation he replied, “India”. ...
22/12/2020

In my latest interview I asked about a destination that truly inspires him and without hesitation he replied, “India”.

The legendary visual storyteller has visited India over 80 times and still feels as though he hasn’t scratched the surface.

In this week’s episode hear all about how, over 40 years ago, Steve McCurry quit his job at local newspaper and bought a one-way ticket to India. The rest they say is history!

This stunning photograph (© Steve McCurry) was taken in 1983 when Steve was caught in a dust storm in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan ❣️

Image by via 📸

Have you had a chance to listen to the season finale with legendary photographer Steve McCurry  ? It was such an honour ...
21/12/2020

Have you had a chance to listen to the season finale with legendary photographer Steve McCurry ?

It was such an honour to interview one the finest photographers of our time.

I’ve long admired Steve McCurry’s body of work and chatting to him was an absolute pleasure. Not only because Steve shared some AMAZING stories during our conversation, but also because he is so kind, humble and down to earth!

Here’s a shot from the Avenue of the Baobabs in Madagascar. It’s one of the many magnificent photographs from his recently released book ‘In Search of Elsewhere’, which is a collection of previously unseen images from an extraordinary archive that spans over 40 years of exploring the world 🗺

I know what I’ve asked Santa for Christmas! 📚 📸 🎄

Tune into the latest episode. Link in bio!

Image © Steve McCurry

Season 1 finale with legendary photographer Steve McCurry out now!
18/12/2020

Season 1 finale with legendary photographer Steve McCurry out now!

Today’s guest is one of the world’s greatest living photographers. So, in this very special season finale, we’re going to look at travel through the lens of the legendary visual storyteller Steve McCurry.

I stumbled upon this treasure trove of a bookstore in Polanco last time I was in Mexico City 📚 🇲🇽 🌿Finding beautiful boo...
16/12/2020

I stumbled upon this treasure trove of a bookstore in Polanco last time I was in Mexico City 📚 🇲🇽 🌿

Finding beautiful bookstores is one of my favourite things to do when I’m exploring a new destination.

I try not to buy many souvenirs when I’m the road but I can never resist purchasing a book that’s recommended by a local.

Do you have a beloved bookshop that you’ve uncovered on your travels? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Also, please don’t forget to support independent bookstores this Christmas! It’s more important than ever ✨

For those who don’t believe in fairytales... 🏰 💕Image via
15/12/2020

For those who don’t believe in fairytales... 🏰 💕

Image via

Anyone who had a wildly active imagination as a child will love the latest episode of The Escape Artist with  whose deep...
11/12/2020

Anyone who had a wildly active imagination as a child will love the latest episode of The Escape Artist with whose deep love of reading and curiosity in what lies beyond the horizon was fostered at an early age.

During her impressive career as travel writer and editor-at-large Sophy has ventured far and wide. She’s told stories from Brazzaville, Chad, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, the ‘Stans, the Mongolian Steppes and the icy depths of Siberia.

Yet, her very first adventures began buried in the pages of childhood books that transported to enchanting places far, far away from the farm where she lived in Scotland.

This photo reminded me of one of those much-cherished books she brought up in conversation, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett 🚪🌿🗝✨

It’s little wonder that Sophy often pens pieces about forgotten, forbidden and wild places!

Photo by

I’ve had quite a few comments, messages and emails this week about  episode of The Escape Artist. In particular, Sophy’s...
08/12/2020

I’ve had quite a few comments, messages and emails this week about episode of The Escape Artist.

In particular, Sophy’s sentence, “I only want to travel if there’s space for serendipity” seems to have resonated with quite a few listeners. 🎧

It’s a sentiment that many thoughtful travellers share, especially in this moment of forced collective stillness where we have been given the gift of a pause button to rethink the way we will explore our precious planet going forward.

If you’ve been tuning in to this podcast regularly, you’ll have noticed the phrase ‘slow travel’ coming up again and again. It’s the antithesis of the ‘If it’s Tuesday, this must be Belgium’ kind of tourism.

Of course we feel impatient and excited to see the world, but there’s a lot to be said about allowing time and space for a place to reveal itself to you. That’s when you find those magical, unexpected moments in between.

On that note, it was a chance encounter hearing some soul-stirring music in the Mongolian steppe that set Sophy on a 3-year journey to find a lost piano in Siberia and to write her first book 🎵

Here’s a collection of beautiful photographs taken by and her son in Mongolia 🐴 ✨

@ Mongolia

British travel journalist  has travelled far and wide, so naturally I was curious to hear the ‘hidden gems’ she’s uncove...
07/12/2020

British travel journalist has travelled far and wide, so naturally I was curious to hear the ‘hidden gems’ she’s uncovered along the way.

One such place is The Happy House. Not only is this picturesque spot special to Sophy and her family, it was once a favourite hideaway of great Everest explorers such as Sir Edmund Hillary.

is set in the remote eastern Himalaya amongst pine trees and forests bursting with blood red rhododendrons roamed by creatures straight out of a storybook.

The Happy House is run by the local Sherpa family who built it. The guesthouse has long attracted adventurous writers and explorers visiting Nepal and was described by .wood as ‘a sort of salon for the mountain literati’.

It certainly sounds like a magical, one-of-a-kind experience. Hear more about by tuning in to Sophy Roberts’ episode of The Escape Artist 🏔 ✨

Photos by 📸

@ Nepal

It’s Friday and we’re galloping into the weekend! Have you listened to the latest episode of The Escape Artist yet? My v...
04/12/2020

It’s Friday and we’re galloping into the weekend!

Have you listened to the latest episode of The Escape Artist yet?

My very special guest British travel journalist and author is a gifted storyteller with a boundless sense of adventure.

This episode will transport you into the depths of Siberia through Sophy’s enchanting tales of a “slightly eccentric” and quixotic quest in search of a piano in the last place on earth one might expect to find it. ❄️

The journey, which took 3 years and thousands of miles, is brilliantly documented in her debut book The Lost Pianos of Siberia. 📚

Be sure to tune in and come along for this wild ride. Link in bio ✨

Image via 📸

It’s the 1st of December and beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! ✨Whilst this magnificent building might look like i...
01/12/2020

It’s the 1st of December and beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! ✨

Whilst this magnificent building might look like it belongs in the North Pole, it’s actually Sri Lanka’s Red Mosque (Jami Ul-Alfar Masjid).

The candy cane facade has been a landmark for sailors arriving at the port of Colombo since 1908 ❣️

Image by the talented 📸

Forever mesmerised by Moroccan facades 💕 Dreaming of getting lost in the labyrinthine alleyways of Marrakech’s ancient m...
30/11/2020

Forever mesmerised by Moroccan facades 💕

Dreaming of getting lost in the labyrinthine alleyways of Marrakech’s ancient medina 💭

Image via

Weekend mood 🧡 Who else feels like closing your eyes and waking up to find yourself floating in the Bolivian Altiplano? ...
28/11/2020

Weekend mood 🧡 Who else feels like closing your eyes and waking up to find yourself floating in the Bolivian Altiplano?

Image via

By curating the most unique hotels around the world on her blog .me over the years, travel and lifestyle photographer Rh...
27/11/2020

By curating the most unique hotels around the world on her blog .me over the years, travel and lifestyle photographer Rhiannon Taylor has become an expert on glamorous getaways!

is her pick for the most romantic hotel on the planet. ❣️

Lake Como certainly seems like the ultimate escape for those seeking a little of la dolce vita 🇮🇹

Image by .me 📸

In my recent chat with with the talented Australian photographer Rhiannon Taylor, we bonded over our deep love of train ...
26/11/2020

In my recent chat with with the talented Australian photographer Rhiannon Taylor, we bonded over our deep love of train travel 🚂 ✨

There’s just something about the romance of the rails!

Rhiannon was lucky enough to traverse the dusty, red heart of Australia from Adelaide to Darwin on board The Ghan.

The lunar landscape of Coober Pedy turned out to be a real highlight ❣️

These are some beautiful photos captured by .me on her glamorous outback adventure 🧡

Hear all about Rhiannon’s amazing journey in the latest episode. Link in bio!

All photos by .me 📸

@ Outback Australia

Australian travel photographer Rhiannon Taylor .me has stayed at her fair share of romantic, honeymoon-worthy hotels 🌹Se...
25/11/2020

Australian travel photographer Rhiannon Taylor .me has stayed at her fair share of romantic, honeymoon-worthy hotels 🌹

Seemingly floating on the shimmering Lake Pichola in Udaipur, this fairy tale palace remains one of her all-time favourites.

Here are some stunning photos Rhiannon captured during her stay at - now who else is dreaming of escaping to Udaipur?! ✨

Be sure to tune into the latest episode of The Escape Artist to hear more of Rhiannon’s expert picks for the most picturesque holiday destinations!

All photos by .me 📸



@ Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India

Have you had a chance to listen to the latest episode of The Escape Artist? I adore this gorgeous photo of a stylish sui...
23/11/2020

Have you had a chance to listen to the latest episode of The Escape Artist?

I adore this gorgeous photo of a stylish suite situated above a perfumery in Merida, the cultural heart of the Yucatán Peninsula.

It was taken by the extremely talented travel photographer Rhiannon Taylor .me (oh my word, if you aren’t familiar with her work - head straight over to her Instagram because it’s the escapism we all need right now ✨)

But I think I love the behind-the-scenes story of this photograph even more! Be sure to tune in to the latest episode to find out more. Link in bio!

Kyoto is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the intricacies of Japanese culture 🌸My guest Henrietta Lovell  was fo...
18/11/2020

Kyoto is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the intricacies of Japanese culture 🌸

My guest Henrietta Lovell was fortunate enough to partake in a traditional tea ceremony at a Zen Buddhist temple on a visit to the historic city 🍵

Tune in to hear all about it! Link in bio.

Have you experienced a tea ceremony or tried matcha (powdered green tea) and wagashi (Japanese confections) during your travels in Japan? What did you think?

Image via .lagarde

During my conversation with Henrietta Lovell (‘The Rare Tea Lady’)  about her adventures in tea, I realised that so many...
17/11/2020

During my conversation with Henrietta Lovell (‘The Rare Tea Lady’) about her adventures in tea, I realised that so many special moments on my travels have revolved around a hot cup of tea.

Whether it’s sharing a gourd of bitter-tasting mate with a Patagonian cowboy (gaucho) whilst horse riding in Chile, partaking in a Japanese tea ceremony at a temple in Kyoto, sipping bright-red omija berry tea at one of Seoul’s traditional Korean teahouses, chatting to a chaiwallah on the spice-scented streets of Jaipur or accepting endless cups of sugar-spiked ‘Berber whiskey’ in Moroccan riads. Tea is the cornerstone of cross-cultural connection and hospitality.

Can you remember a time on your travels when you enjoyed a delicious cup of tea? ☕️✨

📷 taken whilst indulging in Moroccan mint tea around the pool at Riad Yasmine in Marrakech
@ Marrakech

The rich history of tea is deeply embedded in Chinese culture. So inevitably, this week’s guest Henrietta Lovell (‘The R...
16/11/2020

The rich history of tea is deeply embedded in Chinese culture. So inevitably, this week’s guest Henrietta Lovell (‘The Rare Tea Lady’) has spent nearly 20 years exploring the famous tea provinces of China.

Our conversation brought back memories of my first trip to China as a teenager visiting the Huxinting Tea House in Shanghai. The city’s oldest teahouse was originally built during the Ming dynasty. It’s located in the middle of a lake in Yu Gardens, perched on stilts above the emerald-coloured water. 🍵❣️

Image via the extremely talented

This week’s episode with Henrietta Lovell  is best enjoyed with a lovely cup of tea! This episode with ‘The Rare Tea Lad...
15/11/2020

This week’s episode with Henrietta Lovell is best enjoyed with a lovely cup of tea!

This episode with ‘The Rare Tea Lady’ is filled with fabulously foolhardy adventures and a quest to find the most exquisite teas around the world.

Don’t be misguided by Henrietta’s grace and elegance, she also exudes the adventurous spirit, gumption and boundless curiosity of an old-fashioned explorer.

Image via

Looking for a dose of wanderlust this weekend? My latest guest is ‘The Rare Tea Lady’ Henrietta Lovell  🍃On a visit to t...
14/11/2020

Looking for a dose of wanderlust this weekend?

My latest guest is ‘The Rare Tea Lady’ Henrietta Lovell 🍃

On a visit to the dazzling harbour of Hong Kong almost 20 years ago, a single sip of oolong tea transformed her life.

Henrietta’s passion for tea was awakened and it set her on path to source and supply the most exquisite teas from around the world for ☕️ 🌍

In this episode, we’ll explore the cradle of tea culture in China, search for rare herbs in the Bolivian Andes, watch out for snakes as we pluck leaves in the tea gardens of Malawi and sleep above a sweetly-scented ‘withering room’ in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Of course we’ll taste some tea too - an extravagant afternoon tea in Mayfair at , a New Nordic-style tea pairing at and a tea ceremony with a Zen Buddhist monk at a temple in Kyoto.

Join us for Henrietta’s extraordinary adventures in tea. Link in bio!

Image via

Barcelona is a source of endless inspiration. The city exudes Catalan creativity on every corner from the fanciful facad...
11/11/2020

Barcelona is a source of endless inspiration. The city exudes Catalan creativity on every corner from the fanciful facades of Antonio Gaudi’s Modernista masterpieces to the museums devoted to the works of Pablo Picass and Joan Miró. 🎨

One of my favourite buildings is the Palau de la Música Catalana. It’s an architectural jewel of Catalan Art Nouveau and one of the world’s most magnificent concert halls. 🎻✨

Image via and

@ Palau de la Música Catalana

I’ve found myself daydreaming of places far, far away today.The craggy, volcanic Faroe Islands seem just about as far as...
10/11/2020

I’ve found myself daydreaming of places far, far away today.

The craggy, volcanic Faroe Islands seem just about as far as can be! 🧡

Image via

After decades of endless adventures around the globe, I asked the founder of  Tony Wheeler if there were places that sti...
09/11/2020

After decades of endless adventures around the globe, I asked the founder of Tony Wheeler if there were places that still filled him with excitement and awe.

The answer? YES.

For Tony, visiting dreamy destinations like Antarctica, the Himalayas and rusty-red Australian outback make life worth living.

That’s certainly inspired me to explore my own backyard! ❣️

Image via

This week’s guest Tony Wheeler is the founder of . As you can imagine, Tony has a rather well-worn passport! One of the ...
08/11/2020

This week’s guest Tony Wheeler is the founder of . As you can imagine, Tony has a rather well-worn passport!

One of the places he has visited numerous times and has seen drastically change over the years is Iran.

Tune into this week’s episode to hear all about what Iran was like in the 1970s (hint: bell bottom jeans and bikinis on the beach) and how best to explore the fascinating country today. 💕

Photograph via Amar Badawi

In this week’s episode the founder of Lonely Planet, Tony Wheeler, chats about his travels to mysterious, far-off destin...
07/11/2020

In this week’s episode the founder of Lonely Planet, Tony Wheeler, chats about his travels to mysterious, far-off destinations that most of us have only ever dreamed of venturing. 💭

One such place is the island of Socotra, located on the edge of Yemen’s Gulf of Aden 🌸

It’s known as the ‘Arabic Galapagos’. Others say it’s the original ‘Garden of Eden’ due to its isolation and astonishing biodiversity.

One third of plant life on this paradisiacal island cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. It’s certainly a botanist’s idea of heaven 🌿🌍

Unique species such as the Desert Rose or the Dragon’s Blood Tree, with its gnarled branches and ruby-coloured sap, shape the bewitching landscape❣️

Images via

@ Socotra Island جزيرة سقطرى

What a wild, rollercoaster of a week we’ve all had! Who else feels like escaping to this far-flung seafood shack in Zanz...
06/11/2020

What a wild, rollercoaster of a week we’ve all had! Who else feels like escaping to this far-flung seafood shack in Zanzibar? ✨

Once the site of a fisherman’s post, The Rock restaurant is perched on an outcrop off Zanzibar’s Unguja Island. Diners wade out in the warm, shallow waters of the Indian Ocean and enjoy the freshest seafood in the most off-grid setting imaginable 🌴🎣

Image via

05/11/2020

I’m thrilled to introduce this week’s ‘Escape Artist’ - the founder of Lonely Planet, Tony Wheeler!

He’s a true legend in the world of travel.

went on to become the largest guidebook publishers on the planet! 🌎

The story behind the first pamphlet ‘Across Asia on the Cheap’ (1973) is filled with long-haired hippies, hashish and hitchhiking. ✨

It all began when Tony Wheeler, and his wife/co-founder Maureen, embarked on an overland odyssey.

They drove a banged-up old car along the ‘Hippie Trail’, a popular route for free-spirits in the 1960s and 70s, from Europe to Freak Street in Kathmandu.

Traversing Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal and India along the way - many places on the map deemed too dangerous to travel today.

Be sure to tune in to hear all about the inspiration behind Lonely Planet and Tony’s more recent adventures! ☮️

When I lived in Paris many years ago, it took 7 months before I visited the Eiffel Tower and wandered the Champs de Mars...
03/11/2020

When I lived in Paris many years ago, it took 7 months before I visited the Eiffel Tower and wandered the Champs de Mars.

I know, I know, that seems completely ridiculous. I kept getting distracted by the little twists and turns along the way. We sightsee because there are places universally acknowledged as ‘must-sees’ (and for good reason too!).

It’s great to tick off the main attractions on the tourist trail, but more often that not I’m happiest stumbling upon the hidden corners of a city that take me by complete surprise.

How do you like to travel? Do you follow a bucket-list or allow yourself to get completely lost? Perhaps a bit of both?

Image via

In this week’s Paris-themed episode of The Escape Artist I’m joined by an expat who is a expert on life in Paris and Fre...
02/11/2020

In this week’s Paris-themed episode of The Escape Artist I’m joined by an expat who is a expert on life in Paris and French culture in general, Lindsey Tramuta 🇫🇷

We chat about how to explore Paris ‘like a local’, Lindsey’s love of the French language and I even delve into discussing the very special chapter of my life living as a ‘tumbleweed’ in the lengendary Left Bank bookstore

Speaking of Shakespeare and Company, the bookstore has generously opened its doors to writers and avid readers for nearly 70 years and is a place many of us hold dear to our hearts.

Right now, like many independent businesses, the store struggling during these difficult times.

Although many of us can’t visit the rambling, old shop and peruse the dusty bookshelves for ourselves, we can still help out by purchasing books, tote bags or beautifully curated bundles online 📚 ✨

“We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls”- Anaïs Nin This week’s episode is for ev...
01/11/2020

“We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls”
- Anaïs Nin

This week’s episode is for everyone missing Paris right now. Author of the the widely popular book The New Paris, Lindsey Tramuta, reveals her insider’s guide to the City of Light ✨

Image via the supremely talented

Paris has so much more to uncover beyond its famous boulevards, museums and monuments 🇫🇷 The Mosquée de Paris is one suc...
01/11/2020

Paris has so much more to uncover beyond its famous boulevards, museums and monuments 🇫🇷

The Mosquée de Paris is one such gem located in the Latin Quarter, with its dazzling green tiles, gently trickling fountain and lush gardens it feels as if you’ve been transported to Marrakech the moment you step inside 🌸🌿

There’s also a tearoom where you can spend an afternoon enjoying Moroccan mint tea and delicious honey-slathered pastries.

To explore more of the lesser-known spots in Paris, be sure to tune into this week’s episode with Francophile and bestselling author Lindsey Tramuta ✨

Link in bio!

Image via

The latest episode of The Escape Artist will have you dreaming of a gastronomic getaway to the French countryside. The t...
31/10/2020

The latest episode of The Escape Artist will have you dreaming of a gastronomic getaway to the French countryside.

The team behind have a gorgeous bed and breakfast 🍃 Hear all about this special little spot in Normandy from this week’s guest travel and culture writer Lindsey Tramuta

Images via .paper


@ Hotel d'une île

Get ready to fall in love with Paris all over again as this week I’m joined by the lovely Lindsey Tramuta  who has not o...
30/10/2020

Get ready to fall in love with Paris all over again as this week I’m joined by the lovely Lindsey Tramuta who has not only lived in Paris for 14 years, but she’s written two brilliant books on the subject!

In this episode Lindsey shares her recommendations for ‘the perfect day in Paris’ and I can guarantee you will want to have a notepad and pen at the ready.

With Lindsey you’ll have a chance to explore Paris like a local as we cycle through lesser-known neighbourhoods, get lost in Left Bank bookstores and explore the city’s evolving culinary scene.

Don’t forget to check out Lindsey’s recently released book, The New Parisienne, which features 50 incredible Parisian women who are shaping the city today.

Speaking of talented women, these images are by one of my favourite photographers who originally worked with Lindsey on her debut book, The New Paris.

@ Paris, France

As far as facades go, these have to be some of my favourites. How bewitching are the pastel-coloured, time-worn mansions...
28/10/2020

As far as facades go, these have to be some of my favourites. How bewitching are the pastel-coloured, time-worn mansions that line the dusty streets of the Dawoodi Brohran neighbourhood?

You can only begin to imagine the lives that have been lived behind these elaborate doors. ✨

Image via

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