Before the modern city of Alula rose to prominence, its natural springs and water systems were at the heart of its existence. For centuries, Alula's oasis has been a critical stop on the Incense Road, connecting cultures and trading routes across the Arabian Peninsula. Water, both from the sky and the earth, has sustained life here, and its management has shaped both the landscape and the people.

In this episode, we step back in time and explore the ancient wells, oases, and water systems that have supported Alula for millennia. We’ll see how the inhabitants of this region once relied on camels and complex water systems to survive in the desert, and witness a reenactment that celebrates the founding of the ancient city of Tayma. Along the way, we’ll discover how Alula’s connection to water continues to influence its art, culture, and life today.

Recorded on location in immersive surround sound, this episode transports you directly to the heart of Alula, where history, nature, and culture come together in perfect harmony.

Thank you to everyone who featured in this episode:

• Abdur Razzak, our Rawi (guide) through the old town of Alula
• Local artisans from Madrasat Addeera
• Local performers and dancers in the Ancient Kingdoms Festival of Tayma
• Our local guide Laura Alho
• 
  

PLAN YOUR ALULA TRIP: 

Our On Location episodes are designed so that you can experience everything you hear. Check out the links above, or find out more at ExperienceAlula.com

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Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast

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Website: armchair-explorer.com

Follow us on your favorite podcast platform to never miss an episode. Review us, and you’ll be blessed with good travel karma.



CREDITS

This series was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry.

Aaron Millar wrote and hosted the series. Jason Paton did the field recording and produced the show, along with Aaron Millar. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before the bustling streets of Chattanooga and the sounds of modern life, the blues were born from the struggles and stories of generations past. Deep in the heart of this city in Tennessee, the blues pulse through the air, enriching the soil, and infusing every corner of this musical mecca.

In this episode, we take you to the roots of this powerful genre, bringing you a live session with Rick Rushing, one of Chattanooga's finest blues musicians. Recorded in the intimate setting of a hotel room at the Moxie Chattanooga, Rick shares his journey, his family’s musical legacy, and the timeless energy of the blues.

But it’s more than just music. It’s a celebration of history, culture, and connection—where the blues go beyond the notes, touching on healing, struggle, and the power of shared experiences.

Recorded on location with immersive sound, this episode brings you close to the music and the spirit of the place, as Rick reflects on his personal story, the history of blues in Chattanooga, and the universal soul of this American art form.

A special thanks to Rick Rushing for joining us on this episode.

PLAN YOUR TENNESSEE MUSIC JOURNEY

Discover more about the musical heritage of Chattanooga and the state of Tennessee at Tennessee Music Pathways. Plan your own trip to experience these stories and sounds in person.

FOLLOW THE TENNESSEE MUSIC PATHWAYS

Instagram: https://instagram.com/tnvacation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tnvacation                                                               YouTube: https://youtube.com/tnvacation

Newsletter: tnmusicpathways.com

CREDITS

This series was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry.

Aaron Millar wrote and hosted the series, with Jason Patton engineering and producing. Check out our other shows at armchair-explorer.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we journey into the wild, rugged landscapes of Iceland through the eyes of renowned photographer and filmmaker, Chris Burkard. From an unplanned surfing adventure under the Northern Lights to his grueling exploration of Iceland's remote "Forgotten Coast," Chris takes us on a path of discovery and inspiration.

We explore the vast beauty of Iceland—from icy fjords and glacial rivers to volcanic black sand beaches—and reflect on the transformative power of nature. Get ready for a deep dive into the heart of exploration, where nature's raw forces meet the human spirit of adventure.

Highlights from the Episode:

• Surfing Under the Northern Lights
• Chris recounts a wild surfing trip to the West Fjords, where an unexpected storm nearly derailed the adventure—but the payoff was worth it when they found themselves surfing under the Northern Lights.
• The Forgotten Coast Adventure
• After years of flying over Iceland’s "Forgotten Coast," Chris sets off to explore it on the ground—battling harsh weather, dangerous river crossings, and raw wilderness.
• Risk, Reward & Connection to Nature
• A reflective moment as Chris explains the importance of immersing oneself in nature to fully advocate for its preservation and to experience it deeply.
• 
  

Watch Chris' Latest Film: The Forgotten Coast

The Forgotten Coast captures the raw beauty of Iceland’s most isolated coastline. A journey full of unexpected moments and incredible landscapes. Watch it now at ChrisBurkard.com and check out Chris’ Instagram @chrisburkard for his stunning photography and more.

Follow Us:

Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Newsletter: armchair-explorer.com

CONNECT WITH US:

If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you’re reading this on right now. Go on, do it! It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than let the algorithm guess (wrongly) and miss out on our weekly content.

Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar wrote and presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the start of every month, host Aaron Millar and producer Jason Paton preview what’s coming up on Armchair Explorer, play their favorite clips, and reveal the stories they’re most excited to share.

A cross between a highlight reel, an interview, and two people telling travel tales down the pub, our Pathways episodes are your guide to choosing your adventures with us.

October episodes:

ADVENTURE: Adventure filmmaker Chris Burkard takes us surfing in the Northern Lights, and bike-rafting along Iceland’s 300-mile Forgotten Coast.

PERFORMANCE: We head to Chattanooga, Tennessee - one of the original homes of The Blues -for a hotel room jam, and interview, with local Blues legend Rick Rushing.

IMMERSION: Hear the alternative story of the Oregon Trail, told On Location in Eastern Oregon by an elder of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla. We Will Never Fade is the title, and spirit, of this rarely told history of the West.

BUCKET LIST: Host Aaron Millar tells us about the most spectacular place he’s ever stayed. Sheldon Chalet is perched on a nunatak in the middle of the Ruth Glacier, looking out to the eastern face of Denali, and the Alaskan Range.

JOURNEY: Travel writer Alex Robinson takes us on a canoe journey through the lakes and rivers of Ontario, Canada, and discovers a deep connection to nature and the thrill of white-water canoeing.

IMMERSION: Discover the story of the female St Patrick, in an immersive On Location journey across Ireland. St Brigid’s story was buried for over a millennia, but now it’s discovered, it’s set to take on Patrick, and his worldwide famous day.

***

If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you’re reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed.

Reviewing the show helps other people discover it and helps us continue to produce it. If you like episode, please consider a quick review on your favorite podcast platform. You don’t have to write anything just click those five (hopefully) stars!

Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma!

Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar and Jason Paton presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before movie star colonies, country clubs and pool parties, the first people to lay claim to Palm Springs were the Agua Caliente band of Cahuilla Indians. The spring waters were sacred to the local tribes, and today people from around the world visit the area to take in its healing waters. 

But there’s wellness in more than just the water. The desert surrounding Greater Palm Springs is believed to hold a special energy. It’s something you can feel when you come here. The wide-open expanses lifting away stress and worry, like a warm desert wind.

So, take a deep breath, because in this episode, we’re going to relax, refresh and recharge. We take the sacred waters at the Spa at Séc-he, join a local tribe member for Bird Song at the source of the spring, take part in a sound bath, and discover how the stars and night sky affect your body and mind. 

Recorded on location in immersive surround sound, this episode is designed to give you a glimpse of what it feels like to be there for real. 

Thank you to everyone who featured in this episode: 

-  Daniel Spencer from the Spa at Séc-he 

-  John Preckwinkle III from the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians 

-  Liz Cortez from Heart and Sol Yoga 

-  Ron Treat, from the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory 

-  Caitlin from Sky Watchers Star Tours 

PLAN YOUR GREATER PALM SPRINGS TRIP 

Our On Location episodes are designed so that you can experience everything you hear. Check out the links above, or find out more at VisitGreaterPalmSprings.com 

FOLLOW ARMCHAIR EXPLORER

Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast

You Tube: @armchairexplorer

Newsletter: armchair-explorer.com

Follow us on your favorite podcast platform to never miss an episode. Review us and you will be blessed with good travel karma.

CREDITS

This series was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Brian Thacker wrote and hosted the series. Jason Paton did the field recording and produced the show, along with Aaron Millar. And Charles Tyrie helped with audio editing. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Bucket List episode, host Aaron Millar recounts the most audacious, tipsiest, and ridiculous hike of his life: a 100-mile pub crawl across the entire length of the South Downs National Park, near his hometown of Brighton England.

“Should you ever happen to find yourself walking with only one boot on in the middle of the night,” Aaron writes, “the one thing you don’t want to read when you open the guidebook is – ‘the path climbs gently through a field of stingy nettles and large piles of cow dung.’ Nonetheless, having undertaken the challenge of walking the entire 100-mile length of the South Downs Way, from Eastbourne to Winchester, this was precisely where I found myself on only my second day on the trail.”

The South Downs Way has been walked by traders, drovers, and pilgrims for hundreds of years. Because of that a network of old Coaching Inns has sprung up along the trail where weary travelers could rest for the night, grab some dinner and pint of ale. Centuries later many are still standing, and it’s possible to walk the entire trail stopping at them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a few drinks in between.

100-miles – shoeless or not – is a long way, but it’s worth every inch of the effort because this part of the world is overflowing with gentle landscapes, ancient history, and warm welcoming people. Not to mention a good pint or two.

DO THIS PUB CRAWL YOURSELF!

You can find out more information about the South Downs Way, and South Downs National Park at www.southdowns.gov.uk

It’s possible to work out the route of the pub crawl yourself, or drop Aaron a line for the insider tips: [email protected]

CONNECT WITH US

If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you’re reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed.

Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma!

Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar wrote and presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s bucket list episode, we are following award-winning travel writer James Stewart as he attempts the ‘Everest of Cage Dives’.

In the Neptune Islands of Australia, home to the most great white sharks on the planet, there is a cage dive that drops you all the way to the ocean floor. And it was set up by the man who survived the shark attack that inspired the movie, Jaws.

This adventure should be on the bucket list of any ocean adventure fan. But it’s not for the feint hearted. Listen in and see if you would dare to take on the most intense great white shark experience on the planet.

Highlights include:

• Hearing the story of one of the most horrific great white shark attacks of all time
• Learning about the story of Rodney Fox, how he became the inspiration for Jaws the movie, and went on to invent cage diving.
• Finding out what it feels like to descend to the bottom of the ocean floor as seven great white sharks circle you on all sides.
• Finding out about great white shark science and conservation

Note: Many cage diving trips are unethical, Rodney Fox's are the gold standard in conservation. Listen to the episode to find out why, and what to look out for when booking your trip. Book this trip directly: rodneyfox.com.au.

Follow James Stewart for more ocean adventures: @itsjamesstewart

CONNECT WITH US

If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you’re reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed.

Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma!

Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar wrote and presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They call it The Land of Stone and Light because of the way sunlight plays on its rocky terrain. It is a geological tapestry of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires, home to one of the richest fossil beds on the planet. The Lakota people called it Mako Sica, which is where it got its name. But there is nothing bad about the Badlands.

Recorded on location in immersive stereo surround, join presenter Brian Thacker on a journey through South Dakota’s Badlands National Park. We’ll find ancient fossils and murder pigs, become an unwelcome visitor in a prairie dog town, and go horseback riding through an endless sea of grass under the shadows of rocky buttes straight out of a western movie.

Welcome to the Land of Stone and Light, where bad means good.

FIND OUT MORE

Our on location ‘Immersion’ documentaries are designed so that you can experience everything we did in this episode. Go to travelsouthdakota.com for everything else you need to know to plan your great South Dakota adventure.

CONNECT WITH US

If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you’re reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed.

Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma!

Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Brian Thacker wrote and presented this episode. Jason Paton did the field recording and production. Aaron Millar was executive producer.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“… tied up at the pier was this all-black pirate ship with the Jolly Roger flag at the bow. It was menacing as hell, and I walked up to the superstructure, and there on the on the outer bulkhead, was all these skulls and crossbones. They were the names of all ships these guys had sunk or rammed on the high seas.”

In 2005, adventure journalist and best-selling novelist Peter Heller, spent six weeks on board the eco-pirate ship Farley Mowat, fighting the Japanese whaling fleet.

Led by Captain Paul Watson, the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, their mission was to disrupt, ram or sink the harpoon boats and factory ships that hunt and kill hundreds of whales each year.

Some people called them eco-terrorists, others hailed them as heroes. Battling Class 7 and 8 gales, and 35-foot-high seas, this is their story. You’ll have to make your own mind up.

CONNECT WITH PETER HELLER

Peter Heller is a beautiful writer, as well as an accomplished adventurer. His novels fuse both these passions seamlessly, transporting you to wild and beautiful places, whilst keeps you page-turning on the edge of your seat. Find out more about his books at peterhellerauthor.com

His latest novel, Burn, is about two men—friends since boyhood—who emerge from the woods of rural Maine to a dystopian country racked by bewildering violence.

#FREEPAULWATSON

At the time of publication Captain Paul Watson was being held in jail awaiting extradition to Japan where he faces up to 15 years in prison for the work he did on this mission, and others since. Find out more at paulwatsonfoundation.org

WHALE CONSERVATION:

Find out more at seashepherd.org

CONNECT WITH US

If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you’re reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed.

Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma!

Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar and Jason Paton presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the start of every month, host Aaron Millar and producer Jason Paton preview what’s coming up on Armchair Explorer, play their favorite clips, and reveal the stories they’re most excited to share.

A cross between a highlight reel, an interview, and two people telling travel tales down the pub, our Pathways episodes are your guide to choosing your adventures with us.

December episodes:

ADVENTURE: Whale Warriors

We join best-selling author and activist Peter Heller on board an eco-pirate ship as they battle illegal Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean.

IMMERSION: Ancient Kingdoms

We cross the Arabian desert to the city of Tayma, take part in the Ancient Kingdoms Festival, and explore one of the largest oases in the world.

BUCKET LIST: The Everest of Cage Dives

In the Neptune Islands of Australia, home to the most Great White Sharks on the planet, there is a cage dive that drops you all the way to the ocean floor. And it was set up by the guy who survived the shark attack that inspired the movie, Jaws.

IMMERSION: Welcome to the Badlands

Join best-selling travel author Brian Thacker on a journey deep into the Badlands of South Dakota. We find ancient fossils on hiking trails, become an unwelcome visitor in a prairie town, and go horseback riding through an endless sea of grass, straight out of a western movie.

WANDERLUST: The Curiosities of Christmas Island.

We sit down with travel journalist Martin Symington to hear about his journey to one of the most remote places on Earth. No, Santa doesn’t live there. Yes, David Attenborough thinks it’s awesome.

BUCKET LIST: 100-mile Pub Crawl

Host Aaron Millar takes us on a 100-mile pub crawl along the South Downs Way, a long-distance footpath that crosses the South Downs National Park in England.

IMMERSION: Wellness in the Desert

We’re back with Brian Thacker in search of some New Year’s nature-inspired wellness: healing waters, indigenous bird song and Joshua Tree National Park at night.

***

If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you’re reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed.

Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma!

Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast

Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar and Jason Paton presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The thing about eating a meal with people is it breaks down barriers … But then beer elevates that to the magic of the intoxication of a shared experience. That is why beer and pizza go well together - the primal solving of the human conflict problem and the primal mysticism, paired perfectly.” – Tony Schultz, Stoney Acres Farm

Here’s to those who Wisconsin … that’s what they say in this part of the world.  Because traveling here is not so much about exploring a place as discovering a mindset. 

In this two-part documentary series, recorded on location, we’ll be searching for that Wisconsin state of mind. Today we’ll be looking for it through the lens of its food. But this episode is as much about community and culture as it is eating well.

They say we are what we eat, and if that’s true then tracing the history of food also tells the story of a place, and its people.

We’ll be throwing kerosene on bubbling cauldrons, figuring out how to use a traditional Oneida corn pounder, and meeting the organic farmers who have marinara in their blood. I hope you’re hungry because dinner is about to be served.

This episode was recorded on location during a weeklong road trip through the state. We hope you enjoy our journey, and if it inspires you to take one of your own – you can. All our on-location documentaries are designed to be trips that you can repeat exactly as we did it – or just pick the stuff you love. Go to travelwisconsin.com to find out more.

Thank you to our guests:

Kirby Metoxen, council member of the Oneida Nation

Lea Zeise from the Oneida Emergency Food Pantry

Becky Webster from Ukwakhwa Farm 

Jeremy ‘torch’ Klaubauf at the Old Post Office Restaurant in Ephraim

and Tony Shultz, and the whole crew, at Stoney Acres Farm

This episode was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com. Aaron Millar, wrote and presented the episode, and produced it with Jason Paton. Brian Thacker led our pre-production. Ally Nisbet did the field recording. And Charles Tyrie did the audio production and sound design.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices