Travel by Music: How to Explore the World Through Playlists with Kyle Durnan-Kerns

What if you could experience a destination… before you even get there?In this episode, I sit down with travel writer and former tour guide Kyle Durnan-Kern, creator of the Travel by Music series, to talk about how music can completely transform the way you travel. Kyle creates deeply researched playlists for countries around the world, featuring artists who were born and raised there, spanning decades and genres, all designed to help you connect with a place on a deeper level.We talk about how this idea came to life (starting with childhood mixtapes and evolving into a full-on passion project), and why music might be one of the most powerful ways to understand a culture, even if you don’t speak the language.Kyle also shares what goes into creating each playlist (spoiler: it’s a serious rabbit hole), plus some of her favorite discoveries, including falling in love with Peru through its music before ever visiting. We also get into:Why her “born and raised” rule matters (and the debates it sparks)How music reflects identity, history, and cultural prideWhy playlists can be a more accessible way to explore the world than food or languageThe surprising artists and sounds she’s uncovered along the wayAnd as a former tour guide, Kyle shares a few travel tips you definitely want to hear… including how to avoid common tourist scams (yes, we’re talking about those street games).If you love travel, music, and finding deeper connections when you explore the world, this episode will completely change how you plan your next trip.👉 For more travel inspiration, tips, and behind-the-scenes stories, subscribe to my Substack at The Gomes Guide.Listen to Kyle's playlists on Spotify here.  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to The Concientious Traveler02:42 The Birth of Travel by Music05:32 Guidelines for Playlists and Cultural Representation07:40 Falling in Love with Music and Places08:17 The Power of Music in Understanding Culture11:05 Discovering New Music: The Research Process16:11 Exploring Music from Different Countries19:10 The Importance of Indigenous Music20:04 Experiencing Live Music While Traveling24:52 Travel Tips and Scams to Avoid25:41 The Journey of a Tour Guide28:17 Challenges in Curating Playlists29:23 The Impact of Sharing Music32:32 Looking Forward to Future TravelsSupport the show