Episodes
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A guide to Singapore
Join host Penny Thomas and fellow travel writers Leyanne Baillie and Sue Yeap as they share their favourite things to see, do and eat in Singapore. From its extraordinary food scene and colourful neighbourhoods to world-class attractions, cultural experiences and hidden gems, the team offers…
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A guide to Singapore
In this episode of The Pod Well Travelled, we take a closer look at Singapore and why it’s so much more than a stopover destination. Join host Penny Thomas and fellow travel writers Leyanne Baillie and Sue Yeap as they share their favourite things to see, do and eat in Singapore. From its...
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Antarctica Travel Guide
Few places on Earth capture the imagination quite like Antarctica. In this episode of The Pod Well Travelled, we explore what it’s really like to journey to the southernmost continent, from extraordinary wildlife encounters and navigating the notorious Drake Passage to choosing the right…
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Exploring the rugged Australian Outback
Vast, remote and brimming with cultural richness, the Australian Outback is the topic on this week’s episode of The Pod Well Travelled. Host Megan French is joined by seasoned explorer Stephen Scourfield to discuss what makes Australia’s rural landscape one of the world’s most unique travel...
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The wonders of south-west India
This week on The Pod Well Travelled, Travel Editor Stephen Scourfield discusses travelling the southern Indian state of Kerala, specifically its capital Thiruvananthapuram, with host Megan French. From visiting one of the richest and most mysterious temples in the world, to witnessing the work of...
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Scotland special
Special guest Leyanne Baillie joins Penny Thomas and Stephen Scourfield to discuss the many treasures of her historic homeland — Scotland. During the episode, they dive into everything from haggis and highlands to the warm, welcoming spirit of its people. Leyanne shares invaluable travel tips for...
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Uplifting travel news and chasing cherry blossoms
On this fortnight’s episode of The Pod Well Travelled, Megan French and Penny Thomas share some uplifting travel news, top tips for catching cherry blossoms this season, and conclude with their signature “This or That” quiz. From Emirates’ groundbreaking announcement to become the world’s first...
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February Travel Pulse
Join Penny Thomas and Megan French as they round up February’s biggest travel headlines. In this episode, they unpack London Heathrow’s controversial expansion plans, Changi Airport’s near-full recovery and troubling reports of scams at Bali’s international airport. They also explore new airline...
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Travel essentials unpacked
From savvy suitcase strategies to street smarts, Penny Thomas and Megan French unpack everything from the dos and don’ts of tipping (spoiler: it’s not always expected) to digital packing hacks — and why packing cubes might just change your life. They also explore the underrated art of keeping a...
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How to manage your money when travelling
Managing money while travelling can feel like a maze of fees, exchange rates and security risks — but it doesn’t have to be. In this week’s episode hosts Megan French and Penny Thomas are joined by Stephen Scourfield and Mogens Johansen, who break down the smartest ways to pay, budget and protect...
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Food for thought
In this episode of The Pod Well Travelled, Penny Thomas and Megan French explore the irresistible pull of food when it comes to travel. From the best meals they’ve eaten abroad to the ultimate foodie destinations in Australia and beyond, they discuss where to eat, what to try, and why it’s worth...
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January travel pulse
Join hosts Penny Thomas and Megan French as they dive into the latest travel stories and trends for January. Megan kicks off today’s episode by unpacking the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirements for Aussie travellers, while Penny shares a great Qatar Airways deal and breaks...
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Stories from the Abrolhos with Howard Gray
In this week’s episode, host Will Yeoman talks to self-described “Abrolhogist” Howard Gray B.Sc. Dip.Ed Ph.D about his latest book, Abrolhos: Keep Your Eyes Open, a lavishly illustrated and compellingly written introduction to the natural and human history of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands of…
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Discover Tasmania
In this week’s episode, hosts Penny Thomas and Megan French sit down with travel writer and photographer Mogens Johansen to chat about one of Australia’s most beloved travel destinations — Tasmania, an island gem located just off the bottom right corner of Australia’s mainland. Fresh from a trip…
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Lyrics that inspire travel
On this week’s episode, the team consider the powerful connection between music and travel, exploring how song lyrics inspire us to pack our bags and see the world. Unsurprisingly, Taylor Swift takes centre stage in much of the discussion, but we also cover other destinations immortalised in…
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Travel trend predictions for 2025
In this week’s episode, Penny Thomas and Megan French dive into their travel predictions for 2025 while reflecting on the trends that shaped 2024. From the “Taylor Swift effect” driving $1 billion in hotel revenue to the resurgence of Egypt and affordable flights to Europe, they unpack 2024’s...
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Stephen Scourfield’s Antarctic expedition
In this episode of The Pod Well Travelled, Penny Thomas and Megan French sit down with Stephen Scourfield to delve into his latest adventure — an unforgettable expedition to Antarctica with Lindblad Expeditions, where he guided a group of enthusiastic West Travel Club guests to one of the…
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Hotels of the World | Mercure Perth
This week, we’re kicking off our new Hotels of the World series, where we uncover the stories and secrets beyond the check-in counter at popular hotels. For our first episode of the new series, Megan French and Penny Thomas chat with Mercure Perth general manager Brian McHenry about what goes on...
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Christmas traditions from around the globe
In this festive episode of The Pod Well Travelled, hosts Penny Thomas and Megan French explore the most delightful and quirky Christmas traditions from around the world. From Germany’s enchanting Christmas markets — where mulled wine, bratwurst and handcrafted ornaments bring festive cheer — to...
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November Travel Pulse
Join Penny Thomas, Megan French and Stephen Scourfield as they unpack a series of interesting travel stories and trends for the month of November. Penny kicks things off by telling us about the rise of medical tourism, sharing surprising new data that reveals over half of Australians are willing…
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Walking Japan's Kumano Kodo
In this episode, Stephen Scourfield chats with Penny Thomas about the Kumano Kodo trail in Japan, which is one of only two UNESCO-recognised pilgrimage routes in the world. Nestled in the heart of Japan’s Kii Peninsula, the series of trails weave through lush forests, towering mountains and…
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Finding your perfect river cruise adventure
In this episode of The Pod Well Travelled, host Penny Thomas sits down with seasoned travel writers Stephen Scourfield and Mogens Johansen to discuss the world of river cruising. From Europe’s iconic waterways to the hidden treasures of Asia, Stephen and Mogens share insider tips on top...
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The Life of Py
Join Writing WA CEO Will Yeoman for a special crossover episode of Podstreet and The Pod Well Travelled. During the show, Will chats with Mark Pybus, the passionate hiker and founder behind The Life of Py. From his first trek across Costa Rica to the diverse landscapes of the Warren River Loop…
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October Travel Pulse
Join Penny Thomas, Megan French and Stephen Scourfield as they explore October’s biggest travel trends. Stephen kicks off the show with highlights from the National Travel Industry Awards in Sydney, where he shares stories from the night and celebrates some of the well-deserved winners. From…
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The art of authentic travel
On this week’s episode, the travel team discuss different ways to dive deeper into local cultures and create more meaningful travel moments. Stephen Scourfield shares his fascinating experience with the women divers of Jeju Island from his recent visit to South Korea. While Penny Thomas tells us...
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Get ahead for Europe 2025
For some travellers, planning a trip to Europe can be stressful, confusing and overwhelming. So, for today’s episode of The Pod Well Travelled, we’re breaking it all down for you. From how to score the best travel deals, to popular destinations and even which countries offer the most bang for…
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Voluntourism & travelling for a cause
From building schools in remote villages to conserving wildlife habitats, volunteer tourism promises to be an enriching way to travel. But how can you be sure the work you’re doing is really helping? During today’s show, we cover the key things you need to know when it comes to travelling with a...
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Words, music and jackets of the world
On this week’s episode, Penny Thomas, Megan French and Stephen Scourfield recap the recent Jackets Of The World exhibition, which took place in Fremantle last month and featured over 50 hand-sewn jackets from Stephen’s travels. During the show, we also hear a special live recording from the…
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Your travel questions answered
Earlier this month, Old Customs House in Fremantle was transformed into a vibrant gallery for Stephen Scourfield’s Jackets Of The World exhibition, which featured an impressive collection of hand-sewn denim jackets that Stephen stitched together with fabrics, tapestries and other bits and bobs…
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What makes a good airport hotel
In a new episode of The Pod Well Travelled, hosts Penny Thomas and Megan French chime into the airport hotel conversation. Penny shares her experience staying at the Novotel & ibis Styles Melbourne Airport hotel — Victoria’s most significant hotel development being the first new-build...
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PACKING SERIES | Mistakes to avoid
Packing too much. Packing too little. Forgetting to label your case. Toiletries exploding. Leaving it to the last minute. Using the wrong bag. These are packing mistakes we’re all guilty of at some point, no matter how experienced a traveller we are. But sometimes you just have to learn the hard...
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PACKING SERIES | What to pack for an outdoor adventure
The Pod Well Travelled team Penny Thomas, Stephen Scourfield and Megan French tackle the great outdoors in a new episode of their Packing Series. Penny seeks packing tips ahead of her trip to Japan to hike one of the world’s premier spiritual roads — the Kumano Kodō, ancient pilgrimage routes…
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PACKING SERIES | Tech to help you travel better
On this week’s episode of The Pod Well Travelled, the team reveal their must-have devices for staying connected, entertained and organised when travelling. Join Penny Thomas, Stephen Scourfield and Megan French as they discuss everything from compact power banks and travel adaptors to smart...
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PACKING SERIES | Travel accessories for budget-conscious travellers
This week on our dedicated travel podcast, hosts Penny Thomas and Megan French are joined by The West’s TV editor and columnist Clare Rigden, who recently returned from a big European adventure. As a self-confessed bargain hunter, Clare tells us about the cheap travel accessories she bought from…
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PACKING SERIES | Road trip essentials
Fresh from exploring Australia’s Coral Coast on a four-day road trip, travel writer Penny Thomas chats with fashion writer and stylist Megan French about her trip and the basic travel essentials she took with her. They also discuss their favourite things to listen to during a long drive, why you...
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TRAVEL TRENDS | Second cities and destination dupes
This week The Pod Well Travelled sets off on a journey to explore two trends taking flight in the travel industry. Expert photographer Mogens Johansen and travel editor Stephen Scourfield chat to host Megan French about the concepts of “second city” travel and destination dupes — from…
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PACKING SERIES | Photography gear for travel
The West’s travel editor Stephen Scourfield and our expert photographer Mogens Johansen return to the studio for the latest episode in our new Packing Series about photography gear. Joined by hosts Penny Thomas and Megan French, the team share their favourite camera brands and models, the type of...
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PACKING SERIES | Travel survival guide for long-haul flights
This week on our dedicated travel podcast, the travel team launch an exciting new Packing Series to help you pack smarter, travel lighter and say goodbye to any luggage-related woes you might come up against when packing. For the first episode of the new series, Stephen Scourfield, Penny Thomas…
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Travel Cambodia
On this week’s episode, host Stephen Scourfield chats to Penny Thomas and Mogens Johansen about one of their favourite places in South-East Asia: Cambodia. Join the team as they share personal stories from their travels around Cambodia, highlighting the country’s rich culture, history and…
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Discovering the world through galleries and museums
On this week's episode, Megan French and Penny Thomas discuss the top art galleries and museums they’ve visited, and the ones they plan to visit in the future. They also reflect on how art galleries and museums can enrich travel experiences, especially if you are someone who likes to seek out a...
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Reflections from Normandy
On this week’s episode, The West’s travel editor Stephen Scourfield reports from France’s Juno Beach in Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. During the show, Stephen reflects on the complex and brazen operation that unfolded on D-Day, the bravery of the soldiers involved in the mission and...
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Travel destinations for bookworms
In this week's episode, special guest Will Yeoman from Writing WA returns to The Pod Well Travelled to chat about literary-inspired travel destinations with fashion writer and stylist Megan French and travel editor Stephen Scourfield. From the Bronte Parsonage Museum in Haworth to Dylan Thomas'...
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Meet the travelling trainer
On this week’s episode, Penny Thomas and Megan French chat with Perth businessman Jeff Robson about his new book, The Traveling Trainer. Throughout the show, we hear about Jeff’s passion for rock climbing, how he turned his love for travelling into a career and why he decided to publish a book...
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2024 Ain't Cooked Yet
On this week’s episode of The Pod Well Travelled, our travel team delves into the best destinations to visit in the latter half of 2024. We kick off the episode by reflecting on the year so far, discussing the most popular hotspots that have been buzzing with travellers. Later on in the program…
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Set Jetting
On this week's episode of The Pod Well Travelled, Penny Thomas and Megan French chat to TV Editor Clare Rigden about the concept of set jetting, which is when travellers visit a particular destination because it was featured in a television show or movie. + Subscribe to The Pod Well Travelled…
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Horoscopes and holidays
This week on our dedicated travel podcast, Penny Thomas and Megan French sit down with local astrologer, Stefanie Schroeder, to discuss the ancient art of astrology and its impact on travel. As the owner of Astrofusion Astrology and the president of the Federation of Australian Astrologers in...
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A new era of cruising
On this week’s episode, Penny Thomas and Stephen Scourfield chat to cruising specialist Michael Ferrante about the latest news in cruising — an industry that was basically on its knees only two years ago. During the show, Michael reveals the latest trends in the cruising sector, plus he tells us...
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Travel-friendly footwear
On this week’s episode, travel journalist Penny Thomas and STM deputy editor Jade Jurewicz join fashion writer Megan French to discuss an essential travel companion: shoes! They explore topics like how many pairs to pack for a trip, the best all-terrain styles and why you no longer have to...
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Exploring the world of travel with Flight Centre’s Sarah Quinn
In this week’s episode, we sit down with Sarah Quinn, the global leader of public relations and communications at Flight Centre Travel Group. During the show, Sarah shares her journey of transforming her passion for travel into a successful career. We also explore the current trends shaping the...
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BONUS EPISODE | Live performance by Stephen Scourfield & Will Yeoman from our New Norcia reader weekend
For our second bonus podcast episode from our reader weekend in New Norcia, Stephen Scourfield and Will Yeoman perform a spoken word piece called Belief in front of a live audience at the Abbey Church.