Travel with Rick Steves Rick Steves
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- Society & Culture
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A weekly one-hour conversation with guest experts and callers about travel, cultures, people, and the things we find around the world that give life its extra sparkle. Rick Steves is America's leading authority on travel to Europe and beyond. Host and writer of over a hundred public television travel shows and author of 30 best-selling guidebooks, Rick now brings his passion for exploring and understanding our world to public radio. Related travel information and message boards on www.ricksteves.com.
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751 Eyewitness to Climate Change; Endangered Eating; Shakespeare in Stratford and South Sudan
Celebrate Earth Day by considering the ways you can address climate change at home, with practical advice from a scientist who's seen its effects around the world. Then hear from a culinary historian about the crops, farm animals, and agricultural traditions that we risk losing in America. And mark Shakespeare's birthday by learning how his works have played a key role in shaping Africa's newest nation and by getting tips for enjoying a visit to his hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon.
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591a Polynesian Explorers; Northern Greece; Greek to Me
We admire the seafaring prowess of the Polynesians and hear how a cultural faux pas led to Captain James Cook's fateful encounter with 18th-century Hawaiians. Then tour guides from Athens and Thessaloniki recommend attractions to visit in northern Greece, and The New Yorker’s "Comma Queen," Mary Norris, explains what an appreciation for Greek language and mythology can add to your own Greek odyssey.
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750 Mini Italian Lesson; Geography of Genius; Timbuktu Haircut
We learn some surprisingly useful Italian phrases from one of Italy's most popular newspaper columnists, then consider why certain places have fostered more than their share of world-changing innovations, and hear about Timbuktu's history as an important center for scholarship. Plus, we find out about the thrill of dropping in on a choir practice in small-town Wales.
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749 Totally Eclipsed; Mekong Paddle Pilgrim; Strange Food
A nature filmmaker and self-proclaimed "umbraphile" shares tips for viewing the next total solar eclipse, when the moon will cast its otherworldly shadow on a narrow band across North America on April 8 — and explains why he thinks it’s worth a trek to the totality zone. Then the "Paddle Pilgrim" returns to tell us about the unexpected challenges along his month-long Southeast Asian adventure kayaking down the Mekong River, where he was forced to learn to "linger with the lotus." And Cecily Wong from Atlas Obscura describes some of the strangest potions and fermented foods concocted before the era of refrigeration.
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748 Quirky Oslo; Last Empty Places; Herbal
An American expat in Oslo shares some of the quirks and customs of life in his adopted home. Then, a wilderness and history author recounts what he found exploring four blank spots on the US map. And an ethnobotanist describes the healing properties of different kinds of herbs around the world — some of which might be growing in your own backyard.
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597a Dublin Walk; The Immortal Irishman; Aran Islands
In this all-Irish hour, tour guides describe some of the intriguing sights you'd encounter on a walking tour of Dublin and explain why the rugged Aran Islands, off Ireland's west coast, are such an exciting place to explore Irish traditions. And author Timothy Egan delves into the legacy of 19th-century America's most famous Irish immigrant.
Customer Reviews
Advice
A good interviewer is a good listener. Please let your guests have their say. Instead of parading your own knowledge.
Like going on holidays with your slightly racist dad
This arm of the Rick Steve’s travel empire is tolerable for the genuinely helpful travel advice provided on high traffic destinations particularly for the excellent guests- however sometimes the colonial tone, and cultural blunders he comes out with are cringeworthy- other times extremely, jaw droppingly offensive. For example mentioning casually in the Pacific ep that “Melanesian’s culturally align more with Indonesia” left me gaping! Please do better research on the area of the world your talking about before blundering in (genocide of West Papuans at the hands of Indonesia…..). Another notable ep was the Irish one casually talking about “British rule”.
This podcast is good for tips on Europe and other popular places but is a bit out of touch with some of the rest of the world, glides over issues or seems to be unaware issues relating to tourism of the global south, and seems to reminisce fondly of imperial day. Trying to be “woke” perhaps (?) but coming off as a fuddy duddy racisit. That’s the brand though right?
Gooof listen if your a rich American wanting to travel Europe. Sorry Rick-
Rick is the real deal
Isn’t it wonderful to have a travel presenter and interviewer who is also an outstanding journalist, and interviewer. Rick is not only incredibly knowledgeable and well researched but also has impeccable judgment on when to sit back and let his guests tell the story and when to add value.
Thanks Rick, this has been great research for our upcoming European trip!