The Places We Become

You are where you've been. A Travel Psychologie podcast with Dr. Katie Blake.
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The Places We Become is a Travel Psychologie podcast for the traveler who knows that travel is more than just where we go—it shapes who we become. Hosted by Dr. Katie Blake, social and cultural psychologist specializing in travel psychology, each episode explores the psychology of travel—how place, culture, and the way we move through the world transform us in ways many of us have never stopped to consider. Because you are where you've been. drkatieblake.substack.com

  1. 3d ago

    Episode 13: Why We Buy Postcards and Never Send Them

    There is a drawer in a lot of people’s homes that has postcards in it. Bought with full intention of sending. They were never sent. If you have one, this episode is for you. In this episode of The Places We Become, I explore the travel psychology behind why we buy postcards and never send them — and what that small, unsent gesture reveals about how we connect when we travel. The impulse to buy a postcard for someone is genuinely profound. It is the act of including another person in your experience, of saying “I am here and I thought of you.” And yet most of them never get sent. From activation energy to the neuroscience of handwritten communication, psychology tells us that the friction standing between intention and action is smaller than we think — and that the gesture, when it does happen, lands more powerfully than we ever expect. In today’s episode of The Places We Become, I share: * Why the postcard drawer exists — and what it reveals about the gap between intention and connection * The psychology of activation energy and why small friction stops meaningful gestures * What research shows about how handwritten communication affects the brain differently than digital * Why we dramatically underestimate how much it means to someone to receive an unexpected piece of mail * How to turn a beautiful travel intention into an actual practice If you’ve ever bought a postcard and never sent it — or meant to reach out to someone and never quite got there — this episode will give you the psychology behind that pattern and a very simple way through it. The Postcard Société Edition 01 of The Postcard Société — a curated correspondence box built around the practice of one postcard, one person, once a week — arrives on the Summer Solstice, June 21st. Reserve your place at postcardsociete.com. Share Your Story! Have you ever sent a postcard from a trip — or received one that stopped you in your tracks? I’d love to hear about it. Share your story for a chance to be featured on a future episode of The Places We Become. Stay Connected * Subscribe to The Places We Become so you never miss an episode. * Join Psychologie on Substack for deeper dives into travel psychology, connection, and living with intention. * Follow me for more at the intersection of psychology and travel. Get full access to Psychologie at drkatieblake.substack.com/subscribe

    13 min

  2. 11/20/2025

    Episode 12: Why Souvenirs Stay With Us

    We often think of souvenirs as sentimental or trivial. Postcards tucked into drawers, a pebble from the beach, a boarding pass kept for no real reason. Some might even dismiss them as frivolous. But psychology tells a deeper story. These objects aren’t clutter. They carry emotional weight because they serve as cues, helping our brains retrieve not just the facts of a memory, but the feeling of it. In today’s episode of The Places We Become, I explore the science behind why tangible mementos matter—and why the things we can hold often hold us, too. From embodied cognition to encoding specificity, research studies shows that physical keepsakes engage more of our senses, creating richer and more resilient memories than digital artifacts ever could. When you touch, write, or collect something by hand, you’re preserving a moment and embedding it into your body’s memory system. These small, tactile rituals turn travel into story and memory into meaning. In today’s episode of The Places We Become, I share: * The psychology of memory and why touch deepens emotional recall. * How tangible souvenirs—like postcards—act as narrative anchors for our experiences. * The neuroscience behind multisensory memory formation. * Why digital photos fade faster from emotional memory than physical artifacts. * How to create meaningful keepsake rituals that enhance presence, nostalgia, and connection. If you’ve ever tucked a ticket into your journal or kept a postcard for years, this episode will help you understand the psychology behind that impulse—and why it’s an important act worth keeping alive. Share Your Story! Do you keep souvenirs from your travels—postcards, ticket stubs, pressed flowers? What memories do they hold for you? I’d love to hear your story of how tangible keepsakes help you remember or reconnect. Share it for a chance to be featured on a future episode of The Places We Become. Stay Connected * Subscribe to The The Places We Become so you never miss an episode. * Join Psychologie on Substack for deeper dives into navigating the world (and life) with more depth, beauty, and connection. * Follow me for more insights and inspiration at the intersection of psychology and travel. Get full access to Psychologie at drkatieblake.substack.com/subscribe

    9 min

  3. 10/30/2025

    Episode 11: Why Writing by Hand Calms Your Nervous System

    Get full access to Psychologie at drkatieblake.substack.com/subscribe

    12 min

  4. 10/16/2025

    Episode 10: Why You Should Start a Travel Journal

    We often think of a travel journal as a quaint keepsake. Scribbled notes on the logistical details of our day. But what if journaling wasn’t just about remembering where you went and what you did, but a psychology-backed practice that could calm your nervous system, sharpen your memory, and transform the way you experience travel? Decades of research in expressive writing show that putting words to our emotions and impressions doesn’t just record them for later recall. The process actually changes us. And when paired with travel, journaling becomes one of the simplest yet most powerful tools for well-being on the road. In today’s episode of The Places We Become, I share: * What research on expressive writing reveals about the health and psychological benefits of journaling. * Why travel is the perfect time for writing—and how journaling helps you integrate scattered impressions into a story of meaning. * The well-being effects of journaling while traveling, from memory consolidation to emotional regulation, autonomy, and resilience. * Gentle, practical ways to start a travel journaling ritual, no matter how busy or unconventional your trip may be. If you’ve ever wanted to deepen your travel experiences or wondered how to carry home more than gift shop souvenirs, this episode is for you. Share Your Story! Do you keep a travel journal? Have you ever noticed how writing down your experiences changes the way you remember them? I’d love to hear your story. Share it with me for a chance to be featured on a future episode of The Places We Become. Resources & Extras * Coming soon! My complete guide to travel journaling. Psychology-backed practices to help you write in a way that steadies you while traveling and turns your journey into something lasting. Subscribe to be the first to know about it! Stay Connected * Subscribe to The Places We Become so you never miss an episode. * Join Psychologie on Substack for deep dives into the psychology of travel. * Follow me for more insights and inspiration at the intersection of psychology and travel. Get full access to Psychologie at drkatieblake.substack.com/subscribe

    11 min

  5. 09/25/2025

    Episode 9: How Your Body Clock Shapes Travel

    We tend to think of travel as a series of predictable holidays—summer vacations, winter trips, and the occasional spring break. But what if the real key to meaningful travel wasn’t just where you go, but when you go? Our bodies move through cycles—circadian rhythms and chronotypes—that shape how alive, alert, and open we feel at different times of day and different seasons of life. The recent autumn equinox, that moment of balance between day and night, is a reminder that timing is everything. In today’s episode of The Places We Become, I share: * What psychology research tells us about circadian rhythms and Daniel Pink’s research outlining three chronotypes and how each influences the way we travel from his book, When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing. * Why autumn might be the season that helps you come most alive—and how aligning your travel calendar with your personal rhythm can transform the way you experience the world. * Practical ways to design trips that sync with your energy peaks, so your adventures feel less like a struggle against time and jet lag and more like a resonance with your spirit. If you’ve ever felt out of sync on the road—or wondered why certain trips leave you buzzing with energy while others leave you drained—this episode is for you. Let’s Plan Your Next Journey This autumn, I’m waiving all planning fees for The Places We Become listeners. If you’re ready to design a journey that aligns with your rhythms, whether that’s an autumn escape or a winter retreat, let’s plan it together. Start here → http://drkatieblake.com/travel Share Your Story! Are you a lark, an owl, or a third bird? Have you noticed how your body clock changes the way you travel? The morning hikes that lit you up or the late-night wanderings that felt electric? I’d love to hear your story. Share it with me for a chance to be featured on a future episode of The Places We Become. Resources & Extras * Exclusive Chronotype Worksheet → Get access to my guide for finding your chronotype and planning travels around it. Access this hands-on tool here → http://drkatieblake.com/worksheet * Join Psychologie on Substack → http://drkatieblake.substack.com Stay Connected * Subscribe to The Places We Become so you never miss an episode! * Sign up for my digital publication Psychologie for deep dives into the psychology of travel. * Follow me for more travel psychology insights and inspiration. Get full access to Psychologie at drkatieblake.substack.com/subscribe

    9 min

  6. 09/11/2025

    Episode 8: The Psychology of Liminal Spaces

    We tend to think of travel as a series of fixed points—departure, arrival, and return. But in between those fixed points lie thresholds that often go overlooked. The airport gates at midnight, the winding drives across the horizon, the hotel lobbies before sunrise. These are liminal spaces. First coined by anthropologist Arnold van Gennep in 1909 and later expanded by Victor Turner in the 1960s, “liminality” means threshold. It’s the in-between state where you’re no longer who you once were, but you’re also not yet who you will become. In today’s episode of The Places We Become, I share: * What psychology research tells us about liminal spaces and how they open us up to concepts researchers call identity play and mind-wandering with purpose. * A personal story from a long five-hour drive to Kenya’s Maasai Mara, where the absence of “checking out” and the presence of a new culture left space for reflection, depth, and personal transformation. * Practical ways to embrace your own liminal moments—so waiting becomes more than just waiting, and travel becomes a canvas for re-imagining your life. If you’ve ever wondered why those in-between moments stay with you—or how they might be more than simply wasted time—this episode is for you. Let’s Plan Your Next Journey If you’ve been dreaming of a trip of your own, I’d love to help you bring it to life. Fill out my travel inquiry form to get started. For the month of September I’m waiving all planning fees for The Places We Become listeners. Consider it your perfect invitation to step into your own threshold moment. Share Your Story! Have you ever had a travel moment in-between—a long layover, a winding drive, a quiet morning in a hotel lobby—that changed how you saw yourself or your life back home? I’d love to hear about your own liminal experiences, those thresholds where waiting became more than just waiting. Share your story for a chance to be featured on a future episode of The Places We Become. Stay Connected * Subscribe to The Places We Become so you never miss an episode! * Sign up for my digital publication Psychologie for deep dives into the psychology of travel. * Follow me for more travel psychology insights and inspiration. Get full access to Psychologie at drkatieblake.substack.com/subscribe

    11 min

  7. 05/13/2025

    Episode 7: Travel Like Yourself

    You don’t have to travel like everyone else. In fact, you shouldn’t. In today’s episode of The Places We Become, we’re diving into the psychology of personality and how it beautifully influences the way we move through the world. Whether you love returning to the same beloved city year after year, crave novelty and spontaneity, or build a spreadsheet before every trip—your travel style is not random. It’s rooted in who you are. This episode is a love letter to honouring your natural tendencies, planning trips that feel right for you, and releasing the pressure to be a different kind of traveler than you really are. Oh—and if you’re curious what kind of traveler you are, don’t miss the free quiz I created just for you. You’ll find the link below! Topics We’ll Explore in This Episode: * How the Big Five personality traits show up in your travel style * Why loving repeat destinations is just as valid as chasing the new * The truth about introverted travelers (and why solo travel might be your secret superpower) * How to feel more confident planning trips that actually align with your personality * Why there’s no such thing as a “wrong” way to travel * A free quiz to help you discover your travel personality Let’s Plan Your Next Journey I specialize in helping travelers create experiences that feel aligned, inspired, and beautifully them. Whether you want a custom itinerary or just some clarity around how you actually like to travel, I’m here to help. Fill out my travel inquiry form to get started. Share Your Story! Do you travel in a way that surprises people? Are you a repeat-destination lover, a solo introvert explorer, or someone who plans every trip down to the hour? I’d love to hear how your personality shows up in your travel life. Share your story for a chance to be featured on a future episode of The Places We Become. P.S. What’s Your Travel Personality? Take my free quiz to discover your unique travel style! Whether you’re a comfort-seeking curator, a free-spirited explorer, or something in between, this 2-minute quiz will help you understand how your personality shapes the way you experience the world—and how to plan trips that actually feel like you. Click here to take it now for free! Stay Connected * Subscribe to The Places We Become so you never miss an episode! * Sign up for my digital publication psychologie for deep dives into travel, self-discovery, and living with intention. * Follow me for more travel psychology insights and inspiration. Get full access to Psychologie at drkatieblake.substack.com/subscribe

    12 min

  8. 04/08/2025

    Episode 6: The Homebody’s Guide to Exploring the World

    You can love your home and still long to see the world. If you’ve ever felt the tension between a deep love for your cosy routines and a quiet craving for adventure, this one’s for you. In today’s episode, I’m talking to my fellow homebodies—the sensitive souls, the introverts, the ritual-lovers—about how to honour your comfort zone and expand it through meaningful, intentional travel. This episode is an invitation to see travel not as an escape, but as a beautiful extension of your truest self. Topics We’ll Explore in This Episode: * Why you don’t have to be a thrill-seeker to be a traveler * How to embrace adventure while still honouring your love for home * Small, psychology-backed steps to build travel confidence * The magic of staycations and local explorations * How to ease into bigger trips (without the overwhelm) * What to do when you’ve been longing to take that trip for years Let’s Plan Your Next Journey I specialize in helping travelers feel comfortable and confident on their journeys. Whether you need a custom itinerary or tools for finding the confidence to travel the world with ease, reach out to me to plan a trip that fits your needs. Get started by filling out my travel inquiry form and you’ll be well on your way. Share Your Story! Are you a homebody who took the leap? I’d love to hear your story. Have you ever stepped outside your comfort zone—whether through a staycation, a solo weekend getaway, or your very first big trip? What helped you ease into it? If you’ve experienced a moment of quiet courage or transformation as a self-proclaimed homebody, share your story for a chance to be featured on a future episode of The Places We Become. Stay Connected * Subscribe to The Places We Become so you never miss an episode! * Sign up for my digital publication Psychologie for deep dives into travel, self-discovery, and living with intention. * Follow me for more travel psychology insights and inspiration. Get full access to Psychologie at drkatieblake.substack.com/subscribe

    12 min
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About

The Places We Become is a Travel Psychologie podcast for the traveler who knows that travel is more than just where we go—it shapes who we become. Hosted by Dr. Katie Blake, social and cultural psychologist specializing in travel psychology, each episode explores the psychology of travel—how place, culture, and the way we move through the world transform us in ways many of us have never stopped to consider. Because you are where you've been. drkatieblake.substack.com

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  • Creator
    You are where you've been. A Travel Psychologie podcast with Dr. Katie Blake.
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dr. Katie Blake
  • Show Website
    The Places We Become