The Thinking Traveller

Academy Travel
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The Thinking Traveller

A series that draws on the passions, expertise and interests of Academy Travel's academic tour leaders, to bring a wealth of additional knowledge to your travels, one topic at a time. Our tour leaders talk on a range of topics and interests related to travel, covering history, culture, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

  1. MAR 8

    Greece & The Hellenistic World

    When Alexander the Great conquered much of the known world, creating an empire that stretched from Greece all the way to India, he paved the way for the Hellenistic period. Forged from Alexander’s empire, this unprecedented contact with cultures far and wide disseminated Greek art, architecture, literature and religious practises, and exposed Greek artistic styles to a host of new exotic influences. When Alexander died in 323 BC, he left this extensive conquered territory without a clear line...

    20 min

  2. FEB 8

    Armenia's Oldest Church - A New Discovery

    Archaeologists have recently uncovered the ruins of an octagonal Armenian church dating back 1,700 years – making it one of the oldest such surviving monuments in the world. The church is located in Artaxata, once the site of a major commercial city that was the Kingdom of Armenia’s capital until the early 2nd century. In this episode we are joined by Dr Mathew Dal Santo as he takes us on a journey through the layers of Armenia’s history, and uncovers more of this exciting discovery. Matthew ...

    22 min

  3. 12/14/2024

    Johann Sebastian Bach's Leipzig

    Johann Sebastian Bach was, besides being a famed organist, harpsichordist, violist and violinist, one of the most prolific and iconic composers of the Baroque Era. Centuries after his death, Bach’s contribution to music remains immense, with subsequent generations of musicians of all genres channelling his innovative techniques. In this episode, featuring musical excerpts of Bach's works, we are joined by musician, lecturer, and broadcaster Sandy Burnett as he follows Bach’s career to ...

    34 min

  4. 11/23/2024

    Marion Mahony Griffin - From Chicago to Canberra

    Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the most significant architects of the 20th century, and his career is deeply connected to that of Marion Mahony Griffin. A woman ahead of her time, Marion was one of the first licensed female architects in the world and was also Wright’s first employee. With a career spanning 50 years, she contributed as a designer to the development of the Prairie School which revolutionised American architecture, and to the dissemination of its ideas through her beautiful drawi...

    23 min

  5. 10/26/2024

    Sunset Boulevard on Broadway - Choreographer Fabian Aloise

    A bold reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s thrilling musical, Sunset Boulevard, made its Broadway premiere just last week and saw Nicole Scherzinger make her Broadway debut. In this special episode on The Thinking Traveller, Academy Travel tour leader and host of the STAGES podcast, Peter Eyers interviews Theatre Choreographer and Movement Director Fabian Aloise. Fabian's choreography has been critically acclaimed and garnered multiple nominations, including two Olivier Award nominations f...

    1h 18m

  6. 09/28/2024

    Norfolk Island - Colonial History in the Pacific

    A tiny speck in the Pacific, Norfolk Island has a fascinating past and occupies a unique position in the history of European settlement in Australia. It is home to a turbulent and varied history, with new archaeological findings about the Island's first inhabitants through to the infamous Bounty mutineers and the relocated Pitcairners, the harsh penal settlement, the Island's Melanesian missionary society and also the vital role it played in the liberation of the Pacific in WWII. In this ep...

    35 min

  7. 08/17/2024

    War in the Pacific: From Borneo to Singapore

    More than 80 years ago, the Fall of Singapore and the War in the Pacific touched almost all Australian households in some way. With Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day recently commemorated on August 15, we are joined by expert military historian Prof. Peter Stanley. Peter is a prize-winning historian and author of more than 40 books, who spent 33 years working at the Australian War Memorial (where he was Principal Historian) and the National Museum of Australia (as the inaugural head of its Res...

    30 min

  8. 07/20/2024

    Wolf Hall Trilogy - History & Interpretation

    Hilary Mantel’s extraordinary Wolf Hall Trilogy ignited popular interest in the turbulent Tudor period of British history. Coupled with the BBC production of the first two novels, the highlighting of Thomas Cromwell’s rise and fall has brought a new understanding to the political upheavals that occurred during the eventful reign of Henry VIII. With an adaptation of Mantel’s third book in the trilogy 'The Mirror & The Light' currently underway, we are joined by Dr Lauren Mackay. Lauren is...

    30 min
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    Ratings & Reviews

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    out of 5
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    About

    A series that draws on the passions, expertise and interests of Academy Travel's academic tour leaders, to bring a wealth of additional knowledge to your travels, one topic at a time. Our tour leaders talk on a range of topics and interests related to travel, covering history, culture, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

    Information

    • Creator
      Academy Travel
    • Years Active
      2020 - 2025
    • Episodes
      64
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © 2025 The Thinking Traveller
    • Show Website
      The Thinking Traveller

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