I was tempted to title this blog post "Two Kiwis and a Backpack." According to Craig and Linda Martin, the travelling duo behind Indie Travel Podcast, "our backpack is our home." [caption id="attachment_2713" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Linda and Craig Martin: A Marriage of Two Passports"] [/caption] The late twenty-somethings (Craig turns 30 later this year) from Auckland, New Zealand have been travelling since February 2006. Their round-the-globe journey has taken them to 50 countries, all the way from Tonga to Lake Titicaca. In 2009 they received the Lonely Planet Award for Best Travel Podcast. One of the things that's made them - and their podcast - really stand out for me is the dedicated and enthusiastic travel community they've built up around their travelling adventures. Fans can not only listen to an Indie Travel podcast through iTunes, but you're also invited to pose a question, post a picture, or publish a video. It's a great site to visit even for those without audio. (And, unlike some other travel aficionados who've embraced the social media bang wagon, Craig and Linda really do try to answer each and every question. So you've no fear of being left  in cyber limbo.) [caption id="attachment_2717" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Indie Travel rocks on in Australia"] [/caption] 5 Reasons to Love the Indie Travel  Podcast

1. GREAT CONTENT: A blog reviewer for Podcast.net once described Indie Travel Podcast as "a weekly travel podcast with sweet advice for independent travellers (and want-to-be-travellers)." That's bang-on. The advice is informative (as well as inspiring), to the point, with an eye toward budget-conscious travel and they really do a sweet job of speaking to people looking for independent travel. The format seems to be: Hey, this how we did it, along with a few bumps along the way, so here's how you can do it. They'll even help you get a deal on travel insurance.
2. STYLE AND TONE: The husband-and-wife banter works well. Craig and Linda don't always agree. Quelle surprise for a married couple who spend 24/7 together. In one particularly excellent episode, the two discussed the emotional stress of travel. Linda was quite forthright about her need to be around people (the extrovert) whereas Craig didn't hesitate to say he needs a lot of downtime, and sometimes alone. It wasn't an overly heavy episode, but definitely refreshing. Check out the blog notes that accompany the podcast titled, "Emotional Energy: How to keep it while travelling."
3. IT'S ABOUT MORE THAN THE DESTINATION: You can listen to amazing podcasts devoted to the wonders of visiting London, England or rural France, but Craig and Linda don't shy away from addressing sensitive travel-related issues with their guests. Case in point: an episode titled "Ecotourism or Ecoterrorism?"
4. TELL IT LIKE IT IS: Neither Craig nor Linda pussy-foot around when they've not been impressed with a place they've visited, whether or not it's on the whole world's bucket list. So don't be surprised when you hear them describe San Pedro de Atacama as "a tourist trap."
5. OFF-THE-BEATEN PATH: The Eiffel Tower? Buckingham Palace? Sure, but you're just as likely to get a hilarious account of an overnight castle stay in Ghent. Or you'll be treated to off-the-beaten sites  in various lesser-known islands of the Philippines., or Laos...

Pleasures of a Well-travelled Life [caption id="attachment_2718" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Varied tastes in travel - and wine. Craig and Linda like their glass of vino."] [/caption] At the end of the day, I have to say that I'm really drawn to Indie Travel podcast because it's about real people embracing real travel. They like good food. They like to drink. You're just as likely to hear Craig and Linda talk about a rainy afternoon spent in a pub in Saigon as you are to hear them share their passionate recollections of a day spent exploring historic ruins in Cambodia. I'll take both, thank-you. Be sure you check out Fave Travel Podcast 1 of 5: The Amateur Traveler. Stay tuned for my next pick. If you listen to a travel-related podcast that you'd like to share, please let me know. Post your comment here or send me a quick email to DougCanLiving@canadianliving.com. Cheers!