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As I spent time abroad over the past few months in the lead-up to the American presidential election, I was struck by how often news and politics from back home seemed to be on the minds of all the locals I met. It’s like no matter how far away I went, it was impossible to escape! On this episode I reflect on how important what happens in the United States is to people the rest of the world, and we hear from people in Poland, Haiti, Lebanon, Iran, India, Afghanistan, Puerto Rico, and Uganda about what the election of Donald Trump means to them.
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Far From Home is an immersive travel and culture podcast where Peabody award-winning journalist Scott Gurian reports fascinating stories from his journeys to faraway places like Iran, Chernobyl, and Mongolia.
If you’re discovering the show for the first time, you might want to start with the episode about the medicine man in Peru or check out the one about the guy who’s traveled around the world making balloon hats. The story about visiting Chernobyl was also pretty popular among listeners, as was the episode about the experiences of African Americans traveling the world.
And if you’re looking for a series to binge, listen to the first season, which tells the story of an 11,000 mile / 18 country road from the UK to Mongolia in a ridiculously tiny car (highlights: check out this episode from Iran and this one from Turkmenistan)!
New to podcasting? See these step-by-step instructions for how to listen.
Ron McKinlay shucking scallops at Canoe restaurant in Toronto, where he’s the Executive Chef
If you travel around Canada, you'll find lots of regional dishes, but there isn't really a strong national culinary identity the way there is in Italy or Mexico, for example. On the latest episode of Far From Home, my friends at Canadian Geographic send me on a quest to figure out how exactly to define "Canadian cuisine" beyond the stereotypical maple syrup, poutine, and butter tarts. The answer turns out to be much more interesting than I ever could have imagined!
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In 1971, a group of squatters took over an abandoned military base just across the harbor from downtown Copenhagen, Denmark. They created a politically autonomous anarchist zone -- in other words, a commune -- with its own flag, marching band, and consensus-driven governance process, and they decided to call their community Christiania. The thousand or so residents were free to do pretty much whatever they wanted as long as it didn't infringe upon the rights of other people. There were just a few rules: no private ownership of land or housing, no weapons or violence, and no vehicles. But as the years went on, Christiania faced a number of challenges, and now -- more than half a century later -- it's at a turning point where some people question how much longer it will be able to survive.
This first episode of Far From Home's 4th season was produced in collaboration with 99% Invisible. Read More →
MORE ABOUT SEASON 4
Over the past few years, as I’ve traveled to lots of faraway places and had conversations with all sorts of individuals, I’ve come to understand the power of listening to people and sharing their stories. Now — in this era of wars, conflicts, and polarized politics — I think it’s more important than ever to gain new ideas and perspectives by talking to strangers, cause we might just have more in common with them than we think.
In Season 4 of Far From Home, we’ll learn how other people see the world and some of the challenges they face. For example, imagine living in exile, unable to return to your home. Or having gangs take over your neighborhood, so you constantly worry about your safety. And how do you handle the responsibility of being asked to honor the life of someone you’ve never met?
I’ll have more stories from my travels around the world including Denmark, Algeria, Latvia, Thailand, Puerto Rico, and the Netherlands. So make sure you subscribe/follow the show so you never miss an episode.
previously on Far From Home
Season one tells the story of an epic journey I took with my brother and some friends, raising money for charity. Over seven weeks, we drove across Europe and Asia, through 8 time zones, 5 mountain ranges, and a few deserts, all the way from the UK to Mongolia!
Listen in and follow along with our adventures as we face everything from language barriers to mechanical trouble, getting horribly lost to paying bribes to shady traffic cops.
photo by Donna Salter
On the second season of the show, I ditch the car and slow down the journey, sharing my unexpected adventures and chance encounters with interesting people around the world as I continue my travels to places as diverse as Cambodia, Chernobyl, Spain, Japan, and Peru. The goal as always is to get lost down back alleys, venture off the beaten path, and look for stories in far-flung corners of the world that most tourists never visit. In the end, I find that wherever I go, despite whatever cultural, political, and geographic differences people have, they’re generally far more alike than they are different.
On the third season of Far From Home, I continue sharing stories from around the world as well as closer to my own backyard. Amid a global pandemic, economic turmoil, and protests for racial justice, I check in to see how folks are doing, and I feature more reporting from far-flung places from my pre-COVID travels.
Banner image by Drew Gurian