The Funny Travel Stories Podcast

Industrial engineer Jimena Peters Peña Muñoz shares her global travel stories - from culture shocks in India to missed flights in Thailand, to life in Taiwan and the Netherlands! She reflects on global adventures, cultural differences, and why she recommends Colombia as a travel destination.🚨As we launched our video podcast format, each episode will now be updated monthly🚨Follow our socials for more iconic clips from our previous episodes: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefunnytravelstoriespodcast/?next=%2F⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@funnytravelstories

Music, football, travel stories, and radio life - all in one episode!In the first ever video episode of The Funny Travel Stories Podcast, I chat with Issy Brand, assistant producer at Virgin Radio UK and podcast host. Issy shares her funny travel moments, from meeting the world’s happiest animal, the quokka, on Rottnest Island in Western Australia, to getting unexpectedly lost trying to find the famous Mojo Club in Hamburg, Germany.We also talk about working in radio and podcasting and the amazing parts of going to gigs and festivals. Issy also shares the places she wants to go in the future - from the Caribbean and Portugal to seeing live music in America.🚨As we launch our video podcast format, each episode will now be updated monthly🚨Follow our socials for more iconic clips from our previous episodes: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunnytravelstoriespodcast/?next=%2F TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@funnytravelstories

Daniel Acheampong, aka Dan, founder of TALK 2 DAN, joins me to chat about building his award-winning media recruitment agency, his new podcast Talk 2 Dan On The Go Podcast, and helping young creatives sharpen their CVs. We also get into Amsterdam’s funny travel moments, a Cîroc-fuelled birthday in Bournemouth, a dramatic Lanzarote boat moment. And he recommends to travel to Barcelona. Where he’d like to go next? Colombia, Dominican Republic, Portugal.

In this episode, I’m joined by Sam Liu - founder of TechStart and Director of West London Chambers of Commerce - whose life has been shaped by travelling across London, Brazil, Hong Kong, and Taiwan… and moving to the UK so young at the time he only knew how to say “pee-pee” and “poo-poo.”Sam shares some brilliant travel stories, including a failed attempt to surprise his girlfriend in Brazil, getting a completely genuine response when travelling back to Taiwan for the first time, and taking a group of Germans to Green Island - where they happily stayed through a typhoon because there were no tourists.We also talk about why Sam avoids night markets, why networking really matters, and how he’s helping young people run an event at places like the Old Bailey. Also, his travel recommendations in Brazil - and the places he still wants to explore next, from Qingdao to Luoyang.

In this solo-travel special, I share some of the funniest moments from my recent trip across Spain and Italy.You’ll hear:Getting lost in the middle of the night in front of the Leaning Tower of PisaWhy people in Spain kept asking me for directionsPadrón peppers, Sangria, tapas, Flamenco and moreGot a funny or bizarre travel story of your own? DM @thefunnytravelstoriespodcast on Instagram or @funnytravelstories on TikTok - your story might be featured in a future episode! 🤩🎧 New episodes now published fortnightly.Next episode drops 10 February 🎧 

Ever thought about travelling alone but worried it might be lonely?In part two of my chat with Monica Hsueh, we talk about how she prioritises things during solo travelling, her must-visit destinations - Japan and Paris, and she really wants to visit South America. We also reflect on cultures, life lessons from public transport signs, and balancing travelling with type 1 diabetes.

Monica Hsueh, a stand-up comedian you’ve seen on the BBC New Comedy Awards, TEDx, and in her own show How to Be a Strong Woman in One Hour.In this episode, Monica tells us how her comedy career started, what her backstage prep looks like, and her habit of visiting local supermarkets wherever she travels.We also talk about her unexpected and funny moments in Japan, Paris, and Wales.

In part two of my chat with Lucy Crisp, she shares why three weeks of travelling in Japan isn’t enough. She tells us her lovely experience meeting her Japanese friend again after ten years, and some unexpected, funny travel moments during her time in Italy and Japan.From Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka to Hiroshima and Nara, Lucy also reflects on why travelling is good for your early to mid-20s. And she really wants to go to Australia and New Zealand in the future.

Singer-songwriter and producer Lucy Crisp joins today’s episode to talk about her music, life and her funny travel experiences. She talks about her new song Ghostin and her debut EP 65 Roses, including its connection to cystic fibrosis, and how music helps her escape from realities of day-to-day life.Lucy’s been featured on BBC Introducing. She also talks about her love of cooking, living with cystic fibrosis and her travel experiences.She shares that she found inspiration in a little caravan in the Kent countryside, which she took so much inspiration from. She also tells us her funny travel stories in Rome and singing Lewis Capaldi’s Someone You Loved in a restaurant in Tenerife. We also talk about how travel benefits mental health.

In part two of my chat with Vicky, we talk about food poisoning experience, studying Spanish in the UK, and hear her top travel picks: from Sicily and Rome to Bariloche (Argentina), Florida, France and Edinburgh. Also, she shares the reason why she wants to travel to Japan in the future.

Vicky - journalist and former CNN London Digital Features Writer, Sunday Times Foreign Desk intern, and BBC Radio Lincolnshire Journalism Coordinator - joins me for today’s episode. She reflects on her travels in Gibraltar and shares her thoughts on screenwriting, how films have evolved, and watching horror movies with her mum. Vicky also talks about writing drama scripts and fictional stories.And, there were some embarrassed travel moments: her funny snowboarding experience in Bariloche, Argentina, and the very real reason she’ll tell you never to try squid ink on your trip.Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefunnytravelstoriespodcast/⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@funnytravelstories⁠

In part two of my conversation with Elaine Chong, we explore her student life in the US, her funny experience in a sorority, and a bizarre story from a frat house. She recommends visiting the Zhangjiajie Mountains and Guangzhou where you’ll experience the real China. She also reflects on her bath-culture travels around the world: from Japan and Hungary to Turkey and Finland.Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thefunnytravelstoriespodcast/⁠TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@funnytravelstories⁠

BBC World Service journalist Elaine Chong takes us from pandas and bamboo rafting in China to crispy rice and robot dogs, before revealing the surprising security at COP27 in Egypt. Elaine also shares her love of Chinese milk tea and the legend of the Terracotta Army. We chat about rice paddies, cute pandas, and just how futuristic China has become.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunnytravelstoriespodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@funnytravelstories

In part two of my conversation with Darron Speck, we explore his travel picks - Japan, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Italy and Armenia. Also, the unexpected moment he fell out of a changing-room cubicle in the Azores.Darron also shares the behind-the-scenes stories from the show: checkpoint secrets, a banquet in Samarkand, and that Zen moment sitting in front of the Registan. Alongside his son, they travelled through 21 countries.Since his 20s, Darron has followed one simple rule: visit at least one country he’s never been to every year. This year he went to Armenia.

Darron Speck, from Bradford and star of Race Across the World Series One, joins us today with stories of walking between capital cities (from Vienna to Bratislava), cycling from Norway to Malta, and nearly falling off a cliff in Australia.You’ll hear:Losing his phone in IndiaThe famous train journey to Ella in Sri LankaBeing recognised around the worldBehind-the-scenes moments from Race Across the World - and how the journey strengthened his relationship with his son, AlexThis episode is full of fun, chaos, and wild stories from around the world!

In part two of my conversation with Jack Simms, we explore his travel recommendations and his recent trip across Washington DC, New York, and Philadelphia. From Sicilian fish to Philly cheesesteaks and Independence Hall, Jack reflects on the difference between reading about history and experiencing it in person. Along the way, we discuss comfort food, tourist stereotypes, and the places he wants to go: Rome, Pompeii and Egypt.

What would you do if a cockroach crawled across your room on holiday?Jack Simms, who previously worked as a production journalist at Notts TV, joins me today.He shares stories from catching cockroaches in Favignana, Italy, to recalling an unforgettable experience in the Austrian Alps. Jack also shares his recent travels across Washington, Philadelphia, and New York. Also, we talk about everyday life looks like in a busy, close-knit family.This conversation was such a good one that I had to split it into two parts - you’re listening to Part 1, and Part 2 will be out next week.

In this episode, Heulwen Leung, a trainee solicitor working in London and a UCLA alumna, joins us to share her travel stories - from her birthday trip in Porto to experiencing a chaotic amateur robbery in Amsterdam. She recalls a hilarious Thailand experience, recommends Hokkaido, especially Hell Valley and sashimi, and talks about receiving letters from Santa Claus as a kid—and why she dreams of visiting Finland one day.

In this episode, I speak with Al Booth - a broadcaster whose 25-year career spans BBC, commercial radio, and television. He’s also the founder and host of Oracy And Beyond.Al began in radio production back in 1998, later becoming a presenter at Trent FM (now Capital) and working with Galaxy, before moving into television with Notts TV. Originally from Beverley in East Yorkshire, his story reflects one of the industry’s realities: if you want to work in radio, you have to be prepared to move!We discuss travel — both as a professional necessity and a personal fascination. From the Mona Lisa at the Louvre to the Welsh valleys’ breathtaking views, Al talks about why some experiences can’t be replicated. He also shares his unexpected first-class flight, offers advice on driving abroad in a country that drives on the opposite side, and names the places that have left the biggest impression: the Maldives, Poland, and Paphos(Cyprus).As for what’s next? Mauritius, the Lake District, and New York are on his list.A great conversation about places, careers, and ideas — with someone who’s spent a lifetime on air!

In this episode, I chat with Chris Hsu, co-founder of Kung Fu Mama in Covent Garden, London.Chris shares unforgettable travel stories, from getting lost in Hawaii as a 12-year-old to unexpected adventures in Lake Como, Italy. He talks about why he recommends Copenhagen, the influence of Japanese culture on many Nordic countries, and his travel habit of asking bartenders for the best local bars and restaurants. Iceland is next on his list — he wants to see the Northern Lights.We also dive into the world of  Kung Fu Mama UK: the biggest challenges of opening a restaurant, why Covent Garden was the perfect location, and the process of developing his recipes.

Renn Lin, one of the founding directors of New Tide Media Network - a London-based non-profit network for East and Southeast Asian journalists - joins today’s episode. Originally from New Taipei City, Taiwan, Renn shares what inspired her to launch the network.We also talk about:​Learning to navigate roundabouts in the Scotland ​Being dressed like a local while visiting mosques in Turkey​A funny flirting experience in Turkey involving a business card​Why she recommends Turkey, especially hot air balloons in Cappadocia​Reasons why she wants to visit Barcelona and Sicily​And nice Norfolk’s boat trips

These travel stories from filmmaker, writer, and off-grid expert Nick Rosen play out like movie scenes—or the kind of comedy moments you’d expect from TV.In this episode, recorded in Berlin (the very same day Nick caused outrage in a sauna), we dive into:the trip to his friend Valentine de Ganay’s holiday home in Italy that unexpectedly sparked a full-scale security operation,a very generous Amsterdam gift that left half a ferry stoned,What a three-year-old did to the goldfish,and Nick’s top survival tips if you ever get robbed in Washington D.C.

In this episode, I’m joined by Eric Ku, a personal trainer at PureGym Birmingham Arcadian Centre and a University of Exeter economics graduate.Eric shares why he moved to Birmingham, and a story of his friend getting so drunk in Shinjuku that he ended up calling his mum from the nightclub to say, “Mama, I love you.”We dive into his experience joining a coming-of-age ceremony in Taiwan during a church mission, sharing thoughts on street food like stinky tofu and pork blood, and hear why he recommends everyone visit Japan. Last but not least, he tells us why Antarctica is on his travel wish list!

In this episode, I’m joined by Alice Chen, who lives in London and works for Phoebe Philo.She tells us about the difference between fashion houses and fast fashion, and shares her tips for keeping luxury goods safe in Europe!We also talk about her travels in Florence, Thailand, and Rome. You’ll hear about:a bizarre note she spotted behind a check-in desk in Pattaya, Thailandtrying crocodile meat at night marketsand a hilariously awkward Thai massage with her boyfriendShe also shares why Tasmania - wombats included - is on her travel list.

In this episode, I’m joined by Margaret Adedoyin, fresh from completing her tech PR internship in London.You’ll hear about:What drew her to study in BirminghamHer trip to EthiopiaA scary quad bike ride in AlbaniaThe Blue Cave in MontenegroHer recommendations for Golem and Sarandë in AlbaniaHer dream of visiting America, especially New YorkLearning some Yoruba and getting a glimpse into Nigerian culture

In this episode, Digital Writer Akhila Thomas from Yours Magazine (Bauer Media) talks about missing a connection flight, ending up on an unexpected trip in Dubai, and being stopped on suspicion of smuggling jewellery.She also shares her desert adventures in Morocco, the beauty of the Pink City, Jaipur, and her dream destination.

Today’s guest, Rui Xin Yang, a friend from my volunteering days in Sri Lanka. He shares funny memories from Pigeon Island, his migration journey to Australia, and several trips back to Taiwan.We also talk marathons and his hiking trip in Tasmania. During his trip to Taiwan, he even met a hairdresser who was going to the same Hebe's concert!He recommends visiting Adelaide and tells us why Japan’s Hokkaido is next on his travel list.

Today’s episode, I’m joined by Pratyush Batra, who previously worked as a video journalist at Notts TV, Deputy Station Manager at Trent TV, radio presenter at Switch Radio, and Fly Live.You’ll hear:Where’s the disappearing sock on a hotel balcony in Tiranë, AlbaniaTrying to get the sunscreen off by jumping in the swimming pool, which ended with a red eye!A funny hiking trip with his old school friends in Kheerganga, HimalayasWhy he recommends visiting Leh and LadakhAnd the reason he wants to go to Japan

In this episode, I’m joined by Sharon Boadu, radio presenter at Switch Radio, to talk about funny travel moments, K-culture and scholarship.You’ll hear:Travelling to Montenegro for her friend’s birthday trip: matching outfits and celebrity treatmentGoing to Morocco for the Mo Ibrahim Foundation scholarship conferenceHer experience at the Student Radio Association conference at MediaCity, ManchesterWhy she recommends visiting Montenegro and LondonHer love for BTS and K-dramasShe also teaches me how to speak Twi!

In this episode, I’m joined by Scarlett Kwok. Scarlett, now working as a Marketing Lead, shares some of her funniest and most unforgettable travel memories.From nearly missing a flight in Copenhagen after falling asleep at the gate, to watching her paper map disintegrate in the rain at the Palace of Versailles, we laugh at the chaos.Scarlett also recalls a light-bulb moment on a solo trip in the US and explains why she prefers traveling in nature. She recommends visiting New Zealand’s South Island and hopes to travel to Banff National Park in the future.

In this episode, Han Yu and I dive into student life and friendship, including the funny travel experience where his friend accidentally left the backup phone alarm on - waking them up in the middle of the night and having them to solve math questions and puzzles.He also shares his bizarre travel memory of stumbling into a strip club in Soho, London, but never seeing it again.Han Yu tells us the special moment of witnessing his best friend’s proposal. He also explains why he recommends visiting Iceland.

In this episode, Owen Jones takes us into the historical and cultural experiences of the places he’s been to. From his travel memories in Zanzibar, to crossing the border from Singapore to Malaysia.Owen also shares experiences in Turkey, Romania, and Tunisia, and recommends everything from reading in the woods of Ireland to sunny beaches in Guam, the Marshall Islands, and Palau. We also hear why London is where he considers an ideal place to live long-term.Owen explains how New York has transformed before and after Covid, and how a high school trip in Vietnam made him witness the change during the process of helping others. Finally, Owen shared the places where he really wants to go — Iran, Syria, and Myanmar — while reminding us to check embassies, restrictions and safety before travelling.

In this episode, I sit down with one of my best friends - Rini Ghosh. We first met while studying our master’s in journalism, but her story started long before that as a movie actress and writer in India.She takes us through a funny escape at a drunk tattoo parlour, our unforgettable two-hour walk across London on Christmas Day, and the ups and downs of our journalism degree.We also explore her lobster adventure in Singapore with her mum, where the bill was so shocking she almost had to wash dishes to pay it off.Rini recommends Singapore and Thailand, and shares her dream list of future destinations: Ayodhya in India, Greece, Paris, and New York.

In this episode, Janet shares the barbecue accident in Mallorca, the island in Spain, and tests the limits of romance during a summer trip to Rome in the heat.There’s also her first snow experience which ended with snow hitting her in the face, as well as the tragic story behind St. Basil's Cathedral. It’s a mix of experiences and laughs you’ll probably relate to!

Today, I’m joined by Viraj Soni, a producer and journalist at BBC Radio Nottingham, Leicester, and Lincolnshire.From the peaks of India to the hills of the UK, Viraj shares his impromptu dance party in icy waters at Rohtang Pass in India, a miracle peacock sighting in the Andharban (Dark Forest), and a very suspicious brown stain after sliding down a hill near Solomon’s Temple in Buxton.We also talk about staying connected to family back home as international graduates, must-visit travel places from Nainital in India to Solomon’s temple in the UK, and dream destinations in France’s Dordogne and Le Mont-Saint-Michel.

In the second episode, I’m joined by Patrick Otim, a scientist working in an NHS hospital, to talk about his unexpected and fun travel memories. He shares his stories about facing giant silverback gorillas, exploring the River Nile, and going on safari. Then the adventure moves to Asia: eating scorpions, snakes, and frogs in Cambodia, trying kickboxing, and enjoying amazing massages. He also shares his unexpected trekking experience in Nepal, getting tired of noodles, and experiencing the country’s unique blend of Indian and Chinese cultures.

Hi and welcome to the very first episode of the Funny Travel Stories Podcast. I’m your host, Yi Ping Bao (Belinda). In this solo episode, I’ll share the real reasons behind launching this podcast and reflect on my journey from the streets of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, to the heart of England. I’ll share experience navigating the uncertainties of post-grad job hunting, and a childhood dream that brought me to the UK.I hope you get to know a bit more about me, so today I’ll share with you some of my funny travel memories and surprising stories that have shaped my life.You’ll hear: ​I told a man in Rotterdam I’m 30 and married - at 26​Mistaking “Thu” for “Tue” and showing up to an empty venue​How I ended up staying in a Presidential Suite in Hong Kong at 17​Nostalgic vibes from Blackpool​Highly recommended place to visit - Galle in Sri Lanka​And my dream of going on safari in KenyaThis podcast is for anyone who’s ever studied, worked, or dreamed of living abroad, especially here in the UK.If you enjoyed today’s episode, I’d be so grateful for your review and rating. I’ll be back on Tuesday with my first guest - and more funny travel stories to share.

The Funny Travel Stories Podcast - coming soon!Each episode, Yi Ping (Belinda) will be joined by her friend, exploring funny travel memories and unforgettable experiences.With a diverse circle of guests from media, business, and beyond, Yi Ping also dives into life in the UK and picks up a few phrases in different languages along the way.Hit follow now and come along for the wild ride!