The idea of becoming an adult and leaving "home" is an intriguing one. Does it mean moving out of the family flat or the house you grew up in and living on the other side of town? Does it mean going abroad, miles away, to find your place on another continent? What about, working on the other side of the world? The Nostalgic Vagabond Zooms-in to Rome, Italy to catch up with Roxanne Charpentier, an old housemate from London. Allan and Roxanne lived in neighbouring front rooms in a 2nd-storey flat ...
Dec 07, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Season 10Ep. 21
The Nostalgic Vagabond has had the pleasure, on a few occasions, of meeting wonderful travellers in multiple destinations in various countries around the world. It's one thing about modern technology, so much easier to stay current and connected with cool people encountered on the road. Adam Sherry is one of these wonderful travellers, from that road. Adam and Allan met initially in Canada in 2011, whilst chilling in a cozy place many backpackers hold dear to their globe-trotting hearts, the Can...
Nov 30, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 20
'JUST GO! COMMIT! SAY YES!' The Nostalgic Vagabond has heard advice like this echoed by many travellers. It's very assertive advice though. Perhaps not ideal for people who may respond better to a more persuasive rather than authoritarian demeanor. 'Try it... Why not?' This sentiment is echoed by Richard Ozanne, a Guernsey native, a brave and independent traveller. Richard decided to experience travel and so he saved up and embarked on a journey. He wanted to, at least, try it out. Starting in p...
Nov 23, 2020•56 min•Ep. 19
The Nostalgic Vagabond Zooms-in to Canada once again to touch base with Monique Guffens. Monique and Allan met in a downtown Toronto hostel in May 2010. Allan was enjoying a spout of slow travel as he headed eastward across the country while Monique was trying out Toronto as a place to experience living and working in yet another, new culture. Monique is a long-term traveller, businesswoman and mentor. She is an inspiring character with limitless optimism who is always willing to try new things ...
Nov 16, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 18
The Nostalgic Vagabond Zooms-in (more or less home) to the east coast of Australia and to a little town known as Narooma, about one hour south by car from where he grew up with best mate from high school, the man that is, Cameron Thompson. Allan and Cameron have experienced many adventures together. Adventures that started in the Scouts but progressed, in weird ways, from haphazard teenage road trips in island states to crazy, super-sized weddings in Punjabi Pakistan. Although playing the roles ...
Nov 09, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 17
The Nostalgic Vagabond Zooms-in to a fringe-less, deserted Edinburgh-in-lockdown to catch up with an Edinburgh local lad and old hostel dorm mate, Rory Macleod. Rory and Allan met in room 6 at the Canadiana Inn, an awesome backpackers hostel in Toronto, as one of the coldest winters in years approached towards the end of 2013. (And may she, along with her warm wooden fixtures rest in peace...) Rory travelled to Canada, like many seem to do, on one of those young person's Working Holiday Visa pro...
Nov 02, 2020•56 min•Season 1Ep. 16
The Nostalgic Vagabond and Sonia Cosentino met on a slow summer morning in the common room of a chilled-out San Francisco backpacker hostel, way back in June 2009. However, once introductory courtesies were completed the time turned into anything but slow and boring. Meanderings between city sights, fun meals out, random roof-top parties with new friends, Gay Pride Weekend and the mandatory clubbing, movie-like San Fran taxi rides through town, the following couple of days were crazy, random, an...
Oct 25, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 15
The Nostalgic Vagabond is a fan of serendipity. If open to it, a traveller can accidentally discover something good. And friendship can often be that good thing. Allan Zooms-in to London to check in with good friend, Jade Nicholson-Lamb. In 2017, Jade and Allan bumped into each other randomly, twice, in one of the most beautiful places in the world - Lake Bled, in Slovenia. In just a day or two, a strong connection can be created. This often happens on the traveller's trail but once back home, b...
Oct 18, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 14
The Nostalgic Vagabond catches up with Jason O'Tirnigh, an old housemate from those bitterly cold Toronto days of the 2013/2014 winter season. (Worst winter in over 40 years apparently. Pandemic tops it tough...) Jason is originally from Dublin and after spending some time working in Canada he has found himself in New York City, the USA. He's living out his dream, a welcomed member of this crazy, concrete-jungle metropolis. Zooming across the pond, Allan and Jason reflect on their past travel ex...
Oct 11, 2020•48 min•Season 1Ep. 13
After more than eight years, the Nostalgic Vagabond Zooms-in to Kelowna, British Columbia to catch up with an ex-BMO colleague from Toronto named Jacqui Dowling (Cripps). Allan and Jacqui reminisce about their working holiday visa programs in Canada way back in 2012 but the conversation evolves into what it means to assimilate and settle in a new country, adapt to a new culture and lifestyle. Jacqui is Irish through and through. She possesses many of those loveable Irish traits made famous throu...
Oct 04, 2020•55 min•Season 1Ep. 12
After more than a decade, the Nostalgic Vagabond catches up with another Aussie fella, Darren Madigan. Daz hails from the same home town, on the far south coast of New South Wales in Australia. Sun and surf all year round in that little beach-side resort. Allan investigates the traveller's path Daz has taken from Australia to South Korea, where he taught English, and onto his backpacking around the world awhile before ending up teaching business in Manchester, less than one hour away in the UK. ...
Sep 27, 2020•57 min•Season 1Ep. 11
The Nostalgic Vagabond and Marian Pudimat reminisce about when they met at a youth hostel in San Francisco way back in 2009. Their adventures took them on a wilderness walking weekend in Yosemite National Park in California and immediately onto a Pacific Coast road trip with another new companion from Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara. Good old days... Good fun days... Good beer days... During the call to Germany, Allan asks about Marian's work, study, and travel life and discovers that he has been to...
Sep 20, 2020•43 min•Ep. 10
Who doesn't love a road trip? They make movies about it! The Nostalgic Vagabond is no different in his love of the good, old fashioned road journey. In this episode, Allan catches up with Martin Goffriller who Zooms in from Mallorca in Spain. The conversation quickly gets into some of the finer details of Martin's epic Eurasian road adventure which started (in his mind he confesses) in Spain where he bought his beloved Toyota 4x4 and ended, well you'll just have to listen to find that out... All...
Sep 13, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 9
The Nostalgic Vagabond and Ulises Santamaria met at breakfast in a quirky little hostel in Budapest in October 2019. They formed an immediate connection while meandering among the historic city sights, enjoying pleasant conversation about travel, life, people and art. Allan was keen to touch base with Ulises at his home in Mexico, Zooming across the Atlantic during the uncertain days of the coronavirus pandemic. In conversation, they reflect on their brief stay in Hungary and ponder what effects...
Sep 09, 2020•45 min•Season 1Ep. 8
The Nostalgic Vagabond and Ulises Santamaria met at breakfast in a quirky little hostel in Budapest in October 2019. They formed an immediate connection while meandering among the historic city sights, enjoying pleasant conversation about travel, life, people and art. Allan was keen to touch base with Ulises at his home in Mexico, Zooming across the Atlantic during the uncertain days of the coronavirus pandemic. In conversation, they reflect on their brief stay in Hungary and ponder what effects...
Sep 06, 2020•50 min•Season 1Ep. 7
The Nostalgic Vagabond Zooms across the continent to talk with Ana Matušić in her home of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Ana and Allan met in Toronto way back in 2012 and have remained in touch ever since... Ana describes how her travels abroad have helped her discover herself, appreciate and love herself more, as well as her wonderful home and heritage. She is also a great contact to have whenever you want to visit beautiful Croatia.
Aug 30, 2020•36 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Travel guru Mark Bratt (@markbratttravel) remembers his days managing a hostel in New Zealand with his wife, Ruth. And he talks with the Nostalgic Vagabond about those chilled days, and adventures on Wandering Duck canal boat tours in the UK. Plus what it's like to start an independent travel company. Allan and Mark also consider how the coronavirus pandemic will influence travel, now and into the future.
Aug 23, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 5
The Nostalgic Vagabond this time catches up with an old high school colleague from Batemans Bay, one and only, Aussie stand up comedian - Daniel Connell. Instagram:@daniel_connell_comedy Allan is curious to know some of the interesting places Dan has visited performing on tour both at home and overseas but also those other places, when off the clock, taking time out with his wife.
Aug 16, 2020•45 min•Season 1Ep. 4
This time the Nostalgic Vagabond Zooms from Liverpool across the Irish Sea to catch up with Tiziana Volpe in her natural habitat - Dublin. Allan and Tiziana discuss what it's like to move away, see the world, travel to many fine places, enjoy many wonderful experiences but end up settling somewhere different from where you grew up, perhaps at times feeling like the "black sheep" but finding your place on this planet. Being organised always helps but being spontaneous can present new possibilitie...
Aug 09, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 3
The Nostalgic Vagabond catches up with Chris Ascroft, an ol' friend and, once upon a time, the Activities Coordinator at a very popular hostel in Montreal. Chris has been obsessed with travel ever since he has been able to seek "greener pastures" and backpacking the world on various adventures, his preferred method for almost two decades. Allan and Chris share some of their experiences travelling; where to stay, which transportation to get there, what to pack, and how to find deodorant when you ...
Aug 08, 2020•56 min•Season 1Ep. 2
The Nostalgic Vagabond and Jay Canning met on a bus en route to an infamous adventure in Yosemite National Park. This Californian experience forged a new course for both of them that set their individual lives on a new, tangential trajectory. Allan and Jay reflect on the past decade or so, and share stories of various journeys since those dreamy California days.
Aug 07, 2020•43 min•Ep. 3
