Hello! This month has included Pronoun Day, Coming Out Day, and Asexual Awareness Week, amongst other things. It's been a big month for self-awareness. Following on from my previous episode on 'Coming Out' to yourself with neurodiversity, this episode is on 'Coming Out' to yourself with a non-standard sexual or gender identity. I also go into some of the mental health concerns, and talk about how very often coming out to yourself makes you realise the clues had been there for years, it was just a case of recognising them for what they were. Topics discussed include: * What I did last weekend (it involved beer and broken planes) * 'Coming Out' to myself as Asexual * Little boxes, little boxes ... * 'Coming Out' to myself as Demiboy Non-Binary * Cultural Appropriation and being 'enough' * How having a good community around you helps * The benefits of a good pronoun * Compulsive Heterosexuality is still a sexuality * The overlap between sexuality and mental health issues * Coming Out' to others as Asexual, compared with being Lesbian and Religious * I don't want to make a scene about it all * 'The Clues Were There And I Really Should Have Known' * I'm really not a typical occupant of a male body * Would it have made any difference had I realised earlier? Contributions in this episode come from: Sarah and Kayla (the two hosts of the Sounds Fake But Okay podcast); my friend Kira; Miranda Knudtson from Instagram; and an online friend called Katelyn. A PDF transcript of this episode is available. As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too. I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over. Until next time, bye for now. :)

Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure

Podcast 047 - I'm Coming Out

Hello! To acknowledge both ADHD Awareness Month and Dyspraxia Awareness Week, this episode of my podcast talks about my experiences of being considered neurodiverse and the issues having neurodiversities causes me, not necessarily while travelling but more in my everyday life. I also talk about how it feels to 'come out' to myself, to accept them as part of who I am. This episode is a companion piece to my following episode, all about 'coming out' in the more traditional gender/sexual orientation way. Topics discussed include: * My plans for October, including the Traverse Creator Awards * October has a lot of awareness days/weeks/month in it * Why I've never been medically diagnosed with anything, and that I'm not a drug dealer * 'Gifted Kid' syndrome - cue the smallest violins * Why I can't speak Spanish, and other stories * Everyone should have a therapist * An introduction to Dyspraxia - it's not just clumsiness * Why I can't drive or ride a bike ... * ... nor dance, nor draw, nor be an architect * How I cope with dyspraxia and why I should wear shoes more * Am I disabled? * Do I need to 'come out' as neurodiverse at all? Contributions in this episode come from Kate-Frankie (This Could Lead To Anywhere), my friend Kira who ... may have an Instagram - it's sometimes hard to tell, and my friend Dayna who 'used to have a Tumblr'. A PDF transcript of this episode is available. As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too. I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over. Until next time, bye for now. :)

Podcast 046 - Neurodiversity & Dyspraxia

Hello! This podcast episode is all about 'Get Outside Day', created by the Ordnance Survey to encourage and help people to, well, 'get outside' more often. The principle behind it is that they believe getting outside more helps you live longer, stay feeling younger, and allow you to enjoy life more often. Topics discussed include: * Settling into Glasgow * How I resembled an upturned turtle * What 'Get Outdoors Day' is * How getting outside helps my mental health * "Forest Bathing" and how woodlands are important to me * "Earthing" and how being barefoot is important to me * Saying 'hello' to random people on city streets * Meeting people in parks * An introduction to Parkrun * Treasure Hunts, both physical & virtual * Water bottles * "The Good Life" and massive vegetables * Sarah's "Reverse Commute" Contributions in this episode come from Zoe (Splodzblogs), Maja (Away With Maja), and Sarah (The Urban Wanderer). A PDF transcript of this episode is available. As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too. I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over. Until next time, bye for now. :)

Podcast 045 - Get Outside Day

Hello! This podcast is an overview of my experiences in the Orkney Islands, when I visited back at the end of May. They're not a group of islands that are that well-known in the UK, as they feel kind of just 'a little too far' from most people, who'll tend to visit more accessible places like Skye and Mull. Much of the pod is also putting my experiences into context; for instance the islands have a very long history of human habitation and some of the sites I visited are very special. Topics discussed include: * Settling into Glasgow * A day trip to Falkirk * The location of the Orkney Islands * Neolithic Orkney - Skara Brae and Stone Circles * Very short flights * The history and birdlife of Papa Westray * Hiking on Westray, and more birdlife * Hiking on Orkney Mainland, and even more birdlife * The Navy at war * 101 things to do with a prefab metal hut, several tin cans, and a car exhaust * Kirkwall The only contribution in this episode comes from Clazz, who blogs at An Orcadian Abroad. However, there's also an extract from a local band at the start, who performed live on Papa Westray during my stay there. A PDF transcript of this episode is available. As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too. I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over. Until next time, bye for now. :)

Podcast 044 - Orkney Islands

Hello again :) It's been a while since my last podcast episode, and here I explain why - it's largely because I've spent the last two months looking for flats to rent in Glasgow. The hassle this has caused, and the observations and things I've learned from having done this, inspired this episode. It's a relatively short episode this time, with no contributors, well, except a small sample from another podcast that I felt was appropriate ...

Podcast 043 - Letting Agents and Moving To Glasgow

Hello! I wasn't sure what to call this episode. It covers influencer ethics, but in a largely political sense rather than ethical travel itself. In essence, I'm looking at whether travel bloggers and influencers have a responsibility to their audience to be mindful of political and ethical concerns of the destinations they/we visit, and whether we should consider avoiding destinations if their government or culture is at odds with our own brand ethics and image. As well as personal housekeeping (upcoming holidays, getting a VA), topics discussed include: * Why this pod was scheduled so far in advance * I now have a Virtual Assistant and she's going to be good for me * I Hope You've Flossed This Morning * Ethical governments rarely come up in everyday conversations about holidays * Travel concerns while being in the Rainbow Community * Government rule: By The People, For The People * The problems of visiting Uganda, for example * ... but do boycotts hurt the everyday citizen? * Visiting as a brand on a job vs visiting as an individual on a holiday * No country is innocent and guilt-free * Ethical travel is a relative concept anyway Contributions in this episode come from: * Amanda (Not A Ballerina) * Roobens (Been Around The Globe) * Tayo (5 to 9 Traveller) * Kate-Frankie (This Could Lead To Anywhere) * Laura Lundahl A PDF transcript of this episode is available. As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too. I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over. Until next time, bye for now. :)

Podcast 042 - Influencers & Political Responsibility

Hello! Influencer Integrity. It's a topic often discussed online, but what does it mean? Does it matter if travel bloggers spend most of their time being paid to promote products, if they're open about it? Would you trust a travel blogger to sell you a destination? And do you have to be paid to be an influencer anyway? All these questions, and more, may not be answered. I also look at whether influencers are allowed to be critical of a destination, or even if they're obliged to be honest to the extent of being critical, where it's necessary. As well as personal housekeeping (antibiotics, meeting a friend in York), topics discussed include: * What is an influencer anyway? Aren't we all influencers, really? * Recommendations and 'are you getting a benefit from that?' * Is it different for celebrities who do adverts? * Press Trips and 'when things don't align with my brand ethics' (part one) * I Don't Like Italy And This Is Why * Other Places That Are Not Loved * The importance of being earnest about your experiences * Press Trips and 'when things don't align with my brand ethics' (part two) * What does The Barefoot Backpacker stand for? Contributions in this episode come from: * Morgan and Prachi (AlienEating) * Kate-Frankie (This Could Lead To Anywhere) * TravelLightBlog * Laura Lundahl * Amanda (Not A Ballerina) A PDF transcript of this episode is available. As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too. I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over. Until next time, bye for now. :)

Podcast 041 - Influencer Integrity

Do You Remember The First Time? No, I'm not talking about sex, though for some people it's something that happens at a similar time. Possibly at the same time, though I'm also not talking about holiday romances. That might be a future pod, but it's a subject I know nothing at all about, so probably not. Rather, in this episode I talk about first travel experiences, and where the 'travel bug' comes from, because it must all come from somewhere, right? As well as personal housekeeping (covid jabs, walking round Sheffield, voice recording), topics discussed include: * Travel as a parental influence, and parents who travelled * My step-dad in the Merchant Navy * Maps and encyclopaedias * My first trip abroad, to Denmark * Family holidays in Scotland * The effect of having penpals * The Grand Tour, Gap Years, and Inter-Railing * Yugoslavia, 1994 * "This Could Lead To Anywhere" Contributions in this episode come from: * Amanda (Not A Ballerina) * Roo (Roo Loves Travel) * Kylie (Between England And Iowa) * Nat (NatPacker Travel) * Kate-Frankie (This Could Lead To Anywhere) A PDF transcript of this episode is available. As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too. I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over. Until next time, bye for now. :)

Podcast 040 - First Time Travels

Hello! In this episode I talk about the region of the UK I currently live in - South Yorkshire. I've looked before at Hometown Travel, but of course my hometown has moved since then. One of the things I always like to do is learn as much about where I'm living as possible, because everywhere is interesting, yes, but also I think it's only kind of ... respectful? Like, if you're going to be spending a large amount of your daily life in a place, it's nice to to what's around, rather than just spending your day at work and home without seeing what's just around the corner. As an aside, this may be my longest episode yet; it certainly felt like it when I was writing it. Topics discussed include: * South Yorkshire being small but very populated * Ancient history of South Yorkshire - from the iron age to the Romans * Mediaeval Castles and Outlaws * The industrial revolution - steel, coal, water, and flooding * The rise of Trades Unions * "The People's Republic Of South Yorkshire" * A green and sporting city * Experience Barnsley * Quirky little places you may not know * What it feels like to have moved here as an adult * The Dearne Valley, past and present * The Great Outdoors Contributions in this episode come from: * Author Judith Watkins * Writer, editor & creative coach Letty Butler * Annie, who posts pictures on Instagram at No Hurry Be Happy * Author Stephen Mellor * My friends Bea and Green * Punk Poet Christina Hogg A PDF transcript of this episode is available. As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too. I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over. Until next time, bye for now. :)

Podcast 039 - The People's Republic Of South Yorkshire

Hello! In this episode I talk about the concept of the bucket list. Yes I know that's a topic I've already covered way back in Episode Three, but back then I looked more at the concept of the anti-bucket list. With lockdown and global pandemic making people think more about what they value and really want to do once they can, I thought it was a good time to revisit and improve. As an aside, this month my podcast hit a total of 10,000 downloads. Thank you to everyone who's been listening, it means a lot. Topics discussed include: * What is a 'bucket list' anyway? * How is the pandemic affecting people's bucket lists? * Maybe it's time for more Hometown and UK Travel * My 'bucket list' - unique adventures, and comparing/contrasting places * Bucket Lists can include experiences, not just seeing and doing things * Career and personal development aims also count * What happens if the bucket list item ends up being underwhelming? * Tick Boxes Contributions in this episode come from: * Roo from Roo Loves Travel * Sarah - The Urban Wanderer * Mental Health & Lifestyle blogger Jodie Paterson * Kate-Frankie, from This Could Lead To Anywhere * Author Victoria Pearson * Morgan and Prachi from AlienEating A PDF transcript of this episode is available. As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too. I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over. Until next time, bye for now. :)

Podcast 038 - Bucket Lists Revisited

Hello! In this episode I talk about that most seasonal of subjects: snow. [It's so terribly British to talk about the weather, isn't it?]. We discuss a little about how the UK fails to handle snow properly, some of the joys of travelling in it, the comparison between holidaying in snow and living in a snowy climate, and why the UK isn't very good at the Winter Olympics. Topics discussed include: * Experiences of snow in England's West Midlands region * Winter sports * Walking and running barefoot in the snow * Growing up in winter in the UK v Canada * Living with a long winter * Travelling in snow around the world Contributions in this episode come from: * Kate-Frankie, from This Could Lead To Anywhere * Juliet (I Am A Polar Bear) * Kylie, who is Between England and Iowa * Deb, from Tag Along Travel, and * Roo from Roo Loves Travel A PDF transcript of this episode is available. As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too. I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over. Until next time, bye for now. :)

Podcast 037 - Snow

Hello! We're back to talking about aspects of travel in this episode. Following on from Episode 31 about beer, broadcast last year, I was going to do the follow-up episode on 'alcohol that wasn't beer', to include wines, spirits, and all manner of fun things. Partly this was because I'd had a couple of contributions that included spirits. But then I had some, uhm, technical difficulties here and when I was able to get back to doing podcasts again, other things took my attention. But, four episodes later than originally planned, here we look at spirits and wines around the world. Which is a much better title than 'Alcohol that isn't beer', at least. Topics discussed include: * Experiences with illicit moonshine * Alcohol in places you shouldn't * Absinthe * Jägerbombs * Cocktail bars * Local spirits around the world * Wine tasting experiences Contributions in this episode come from: * Kate-Frankie, from The pod has a Facebook group you can join, too. I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over. Until next time, bye for now. :)

Podcast 036 - Spirits and Wines Around The World

This episode is not about travel; it's in the same vein as my recent episode (Ep 32) on Asexuality Awareness, in that it talks about personal identity, but this one is more focused on gender rather than sexual orientation. Part of the first half is a re-reading of my post about toxic masculinity; I realised I'd never podded it before on here and this seemed like a very apt time to talk about it, given how I then go on to how it affects the way I see myself and my own gender. As someone who'd be holistically classed as Assigned Male At Birth (AMAB), it's always been hard to express pride in being male since there's so much about the culture that irks me, but recently I think I've found a nice niche to slide into. Other than toxic masculinity, I talk about gender aesthetics, several stripey Pride Flags, the overlap between asexuality and gender identity questioning, and how people like me are surprisingly rare. Additionally, there's a have a new podcast feature in the middle. See if you can spot what it is! A transcript of this episode is available at https://barefoot-backpacker.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Podcast-035-Toxic-Masculinity-and-Pride-In-Your-Gender.pdf The podcast has a Facebook Group dedicated to it: https://www.facebook.com/groups/travel.tales.beyond.brochure/?ref=website I also have a Patreon, if you want to pay to access rare extra content (or just because you think it's a nice thing to do): https://www.patreon.com/traveltalesbeyondbrochurepod My next episode should be out on Thursday 25th Febuary. Happy QuirkyAlone Day, btw!

Podcast 035 - Toxic Masculinity and Gender Pride

Hello :) This episode is all about British Seaside Resorts - the many villages and towns that line the coast of the United Kingdom, and which have traditionally served as holiday destinations for a large section of the British people. The inspiration for this pod was my taking a trip to Skegness in October, just before I started my new job. Two nights in a tourist hotspot, out-of-season. Joy. But since I also grew up near a seaside resort, Southport (in the North), and I'd been on holiday many times throughout my life near the coast, I figured it would make a great starting point for a podcast. I talk about childhood experiences, going back as an adult, the history of seaside holidays in the UK, why seaside resorts these days have a bit of a bad reputation, and some hopes for the future. Apart from the above, other places I talk about include Rhyl, Tenby, Hunstanton, Whitby, Saltburn, and Whitley Bay - a good selection I think. There are also contributions from Bea Marshall from YesParenting, Sarah Irving (the Urban Wanderer), Lucy Ruthnum (Absolutely Lucy), Emma Dodd (Barefoot Em Swims), and my friends Jax and Bear from back home in Kirkby-in-Ashfield. A transcript of this episode is available on my website.  My podcast has a Facebook Group dedicated to it , and I also have a Patreon, if you want to pay to access rare extra content (or just because you think it's a nice thing to do).

Podcast 034 - British Seaside Resorts

Hello :) This episode is all about Kinder Scout, an open plateau in the centre of the Peak District in England. I start by talking a bit about its location and its history, concentrating on the Mass Trespass back in 1932 that may have launched the 'right to roam' movement in the UK. The rest of the pod mentions the things you can see and visit on it, like the Kinder Downfall waterfall, the rock formations, the rock scrambles you can clamber up, and the mysterious 'Kinder Triangle'. I end by talking a bit about hiking barefoot, and why I'm not recommending that you do this. Contributions come from Becky The Traveller, Nat from NatPackerTravel, and Jeni (A Peak District Mum). Warning, contains singing.

Podcast 033 - Kinder Scout

Going "Beyond The Brochure", The Barefoot Backpacker looks at one concept or destination every week, taking trips along the road less travelled and talking about issues related to travel, including politics and history, as well as dedicated travel topics like Bucket Lists & Hometown Trips.

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Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure

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