Conscious Traveler Podcast

Many causes of environmental destruction are rooted in human action. But as we find out in this episode, mankind can also be the driving force to revive some of the earth’s most damaged places. There are success stories from around the globe of ways landscapes have been almost completely rehabilitated, from Mozambique to Cambodia. Here, we focus on how two unique ecosystems, one in Rwanda and the other in Australia, have been reinvigorated.

First up, African Parks’ Jean-Paul Karinganire talks to us about how the nonprofit conservation and management company took a Rwandan wildlife refuge from post-genocide decimation—think few animals, no more carnivores, and an unstable relationship with the surrounding communities—to overwhelming success. Akagera National Park is now also home to Wilderness Safaris’ eco-sensitive yet radiant Magashi Camp, which Kathryn visited in late 2019.

We also speak with passionate changemaker and conservationist Peter Gash, the self-styled caretaker of Lady Elliot Island. Part of Australia’s southern Great Barrier Reef, the island was was nearly destroyed by guano harvesting in the 19th century. Peter’s relationship with the island—where he runs an incredibly environmentally friendly resort—has spanned 40 years, and he’s been nothing if not persistent in his quest to restore the island’s natural equilibrium.

Listen to the episode for these fascinating stories, including some truly inspiring messages that hit on the importance of engaging community—whether it’s the locals who live nearby, or the travelers who visit and can take lessons home with them—and the power of collaboration to make a real difference. As Peter tells it, our planet has suffered near-death by a thousand cuts, and it’s up to human beings to help reverse the damage with a thousand—or more!—innovative band-aids. Follow @africanparksnetwork, @akagerapark, @wearewilderness, @visitrwanda_now, @ladyelliotislandecoresort and @queensland for gorgeous visuals to bring these tales to life.

They say the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach, and over years of travel writing, Eric and Kathryn have discovered that adage is true for falling in love with a city, too. As we’ve eaten our way through countless global destinations, in many cases we’ve simultaneously consumed local knowledge, history and context. It turns out food is a delicious gateway to new cultures, especially when you have a local host guiding the experience.

To explore this concept we looked to a few individuals who have created some of our most positive and illuminating foodie outings. First up is Marwa Preston, a vivacious Egyptian expat living in Barcelona who founded a company called Wanderbeak that curates experiences around the city.

Kathryn gained far more knowledge than she anticipated during a pho-focused walking tour of Ho Chi Minh City with Saigon Street Eats, founded by a husband-and-wife team comprising Australian Barbara Adam and Vietnamese Vu Vo.

For some delectable food pics, follow @wanderbeak and @therealsaigonstreeteats.

As much as we’d love to pretend it’s going to disappear and we’ll be back to jetting around the world just the same as before, COVID-19 is not going anywhere fast.

But the novel coronavirus isn’t the only thing that raises health flags when it comes to travel. In this episode, we talk to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill epidemiologist Nabarun Dasgupta (a college friend of Eric’s) about how to travel safely and with awareness—of not only your own health but the issues concerning your destination.

We discuss strategies for anytime, but especially during a global pandemic. Nab happens to also be a world traveler with a talent for taking stunning photos from airplane windows, so follow him on Instagram @nabarund.

It’s hammered into our heads that we should wear sunscreen at the beach, when snorkeling, surfing, swimming and essentially every minute we’re outside. But certain SPFs actually do incredible damage to marine environments. To learn more about the effects chemical sunscreens have on coral reefs and, most importantly, what we can do to reduce those negative impacts moving forward, we chatted with a trio of experts.

First up is Katie Day, an environmental scientist from the Surfrider Foundation who speaks about extensive research that links oxybenzone - a common sunscreen ingredient - to physical deformities, bleaching and other traumas to ocean-dwelling creatures. (Katie wrote a helpful guide to reef-friendly products that you can find here.)

Brian Guadagno, who founded the pioneering reef-safe sunscreen brand Raw Elements, shares his journey and what all sun-seekers can do to stay safe.

And finally, we hear from Teresa van Greunen, marketing director for Hawaii’s Aqua-Aston hospitality brand, about the tourism-driven initiative, For Our Reef, she helped create that led to Hawaii banning non–reef safe products.

You can follow them on Instagram, too, at @surfrider, @rawelementsusa and @aquaaston, respectively. Plus, find Eric’s National Geographic Traveler informative piece on the subject here.

There are many fascinating corners of Southeast Asia to explore, from the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia to the islands of Vietnam’s Con Dao archipelago and the spectacular topography of Thailand’s Ang Thong National Marine Park. Unfortunately, many are increasingly (or were, before COVID-19) overrun with travelers, with no discernible strategy for sustainable tourism in place. One wonderful exception is the ancient royal capital and former French colonial outpost of Luang Prabang, at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers in the north of Laos.

Despite receiving plenty of luxury jet-setters and budget-strapped backpackers, Luang Prabang retains its many-layered charm. That’s thanks in part to some extraordinary tourism-based businesses that incorporate community development, cultural education, and environmental initiatives into the way they conduct their affairs.

On this episode, we talk to Jo Smith about Ock Pop Tok, the textile workshop and visitor center she and her Lao partner, Veomanee Douangdala, established there over a decade ago, and why it’s important to preserve traditional crafts from the area. Next up is a discussion with Susie Martin, the Australian expat who co-founded the Laos Buffalo Dairy, which not only produces delicious cheeses and ice creams for restaurants in town, but does so with a sustainable business model that helps local farmers breed and care for their animals. Finally, co-founder Michael Vogler tells us why they embrace a no-riding approach on the treks they offer at MandaLao Elephant Conservation.

Visit our Instagram feed @conscioustravelerpod for images from Eric’s visits to these wonderful outfits. And follow @ockpoptok to check out some drool-worthy handmade textiles, @laosbuffalodairy to see the cute little calves and their moms, and @mandalao_elephants for pictures of the elephants out on their daily rounds.