Camino Talks Podcast

Blanca Valencia is a cook and expert in Spanish gastronomy. In this episode of Camino Talks she walks us through the Camino Frances and the regions it passes through, discussing the unique and notable foods that you will find along the Way of Saint James. We discuss Navarra, La Rioja, Castile and Leon, and Galicia, with their diverse and delicious foods! You can see the full French Way on the Camino here: https://followthecamino.com/en/camino-tours/camino-frances/. Born in Spain, Blanca Valencia grew up between Central America and Spain. She is a cook, teacher and speaker that specializes in Spanish food. Blanca has a Grand Diplome from London’s Le Cordon Bleu and has run the test kitchen at Books For Cooks (London). She has also run a stage at elBullihotel (Seville, Spain), and the cooking school at Alambique (Madrid). She collaborates regularly with the Spanish Commercial Offices and gives talks and workshops about Spanish gastronomy at the Cervantes Institutes in the U.S. and Ireland. Blanca is the co-host of Spicebags podcast, a podcast about international food and communities in an Irish context. In Dublin, Blanca has done classes in Triggerfish cookshop, Cook’s academy, Catex, and the All-Ireland Tapas competition. Her favourite town on the Camino Francés is Sahagún, where her grandmother is from. You can learn more on her website: www.blancavalencia.com And listen to the Spice Bags podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5b44J6OhuLI3ySVnIkvYWz - - - You can learn more about Follow the Camino and our active holiday packages on our website - www.followthecamino.com There is a Camino out there for everyone, from family holidays to solo travellers, and all of our holidays are custom-made for you. We can even make your walking days shorter and add in extra rest days to suit your level of fitness. Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/followthecamino Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/followthecamino Twitter: https://twitter.com/followthecamino Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF4PbxVdQtU9f71i6vq7MOQ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ie/followthecamino Don't forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter and be the first to hear about new products, events and exclusive offers: www.followthecamino.com/sign-up-for-newsletter/ #SpanishFood #CaminoFrances #FollowTheCamino #CaminoDeSantiago #CaminoTalks

Author and star of Camino Skies, Terry Wilson, discusses his personal journey on the Camino de Santiago. Terry has walked the Camino three times, to deal with depression, faith, loss, and life changes.  The first time Terry walked the Camino it was a personal journey. He walked the Camino Frances to process the loss of his granddaughter, Maddy, who had passed away from Cystic Fibrosis. He raised funds through his walk for the cause.  The second Camino was as part of the film “Camino Skies”. Six strangers from New Zealand and Australia walked the French Way and their journey was filmed - unscripted. Camino Skies is available to view online. His third trip on the Camino de Santiago was with his eldest daughter, who also felt the need to take an inner journey. You can find Terry's book in paperback and kindle, God's Cocaine, here. In this Podcast: - Why did you choose to walk the Camino three times? - Which route did you walk? - Injuries and how hard it is to walk the Camino - Walking the Camino to deal with life changes and loss - The addiction of the Camino - Friends on the Camino and joining the Camino family - How the Camino helps you through tough times and COVID-19 - God's Cocaine and Camino Skies    Check out our blog post on this webinar! or You can watch the Youtube video of the interview! Please subscribe if you like our content. Start planning your Camino route at Follow the Camino for a walking holiday you will never forget! Buen Camino!

Lorie Solis is the heart behind Camiño Limpo, Corazón Contento — a project where she walks the Camino picking up litter, connecting deeply with nature, and inspiring others to care for this sacred path.Follow Lorie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caminolimpocorazoncontento/Clean Trek Hiking poke attachments for litter clean uphttps://www.clean-trek.com/On IG @clean_trekHipstarThe hands-free Hiking trailerhttps://www.hikingtrailer.net/On IG @gohipstarOrganizations that support people with disabilities on their pilgrimage:DisCamino https://discamino.org/On IG @discaminovigoI'll Push You https://www.accessiblecamino.com/On IG @illpushyou

In this episode of Camino Talks, our CEO Umberto di Venosa sits down with Stacey Hicklin, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Delaware County Christian School and a dedicated science teacher. Stacey shares her reflections on walking the Portuguese Way from Tui to Santiago — a journey of faith, simplicity, and powerful perspective shifts.Whether you're a seasoned pilgrim or just starting to explore the Camino, Stacey's insights will inspire you to see the Way as more than a hike — it’s a life-changing experience.▶️ Hit play and walk with us.

What happens when one man decides to walk the full French Camino—and invites 15 friends and family members to join him along the way?In this episode, we sit down with Peter Danio to hear the story behind his unforgettable Camino de Santiago. From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago, Peter walked over 800 km—and turned a personal challenge into a shared adventure. He tells us what inspired the journey, how he planned it, and what it meant to be joined by loved ones, especially in the final days from Sarria.We talk about the emotional highs, the unexpected moments of connection, and how the Camino continues to impact his life today. Whether you're dreaming of walking the Way or simply curious about the power of pilgrimage, this conversation is a reminder that you don’t have to walk alone—and that every step holds meaning.

Six months ago, Dominic walked the Camino from Vigo to Santiago—not just for himself, but to raise awareness and funds for the Epilepsy South Africa Educational Trust. His mission? To help students with epilepsy access education and create a future filled with possibility.In this episode, we talk about what that journey taught him, how he turned challenge into purpose, and why walking with intention can change more than just your own life.

Join us on this inspiring episode of Camino Talks as we chat with author Ruth O’Leary about her transformative journey on the Camino de Santiago and how it shaped her writing. Ruth shares the stories behind her latest novel, A Week to Remember, which follows three strangers on their Camino adventure, and reflects on the unique connections, challenges, and lessons she encountered along the way. Whether you’re a seasoned pilgrim or considering your first step, Ruth’s insights will inspire you to embrace the Camino’s power in both travel and storytelling.

What does it take to compete at the highest level in race walking? In this episode, we sit down with Spanish Olympic athletes Paul McGrath and Laura García-Caro to explore their journey in this demanding sport. They share how they got started, the mental and physical discipline required, and their experiences at the Paris 2024 Olympics. We also discuss the power of walking—not just as a sport but as a transformative experience, from elite competition to long-distance journeys like the Camino de Santiago. Whether you're an athlete or simply love the rhythm of walking, this conversation will inspire you to take the next step.

In this interview, we spoke to Wendy Dutwin, a pilgrim who embarked on the Camino from Portugal to carry her friend to the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela – only to be faced by forest fires and extreme rainfall which threatened her journey. We found out how Follow the Camino helped Wendy avert danger and complete her special journey to the final resting place of St James in honour of her friend.

In this interview, we talked to long-standing Follow the Camino client Christine Patterson about her experiences on the Camino de Santiago, if there are social barriers to women travelling on long-distance walks, and why more women than men walk The Way.

In this interview, we talked to one of Follow the Camino's most well-know and beloved guides, Silvia, about her experiences leading walking tours of the Camino de Santiago. A former mountain guide in the Himalayas for many years, Silvia is full of facts and figures about the Camino, as well as a whole lot of fun!

In this interview we speak with John Rutkowski III, a life-long walking enthusiast who used his passion as motivation to help him recover from a series of cancer surgeries and treatments. He's walked the Camino, many long-distance routes in the US, and even the length of Hadrian's Wall!

In this interview we speak to Shirley-Ann Poulton, an pilgrim from Perth, Australia who has walked the Camino multiple times with the help of Follow the Camino. We speak about the beauty of history and pilgrimage to someone from the New World, and reflect on how faith unites people on the Camino.

In this interview we speak to Raquel Freiría, a leading member of the Camino's animal protection association, APACA. She discusses the canine 'pilgrim' credentials APACA supply for pets along the Camino and what how the pilgrim spirit applies to animals as well as humans. NOTE: This episode is in the Spanish language.

In this interview we speak to Aleksandar and Nenad Popovic, two brothers who walked the Camino individually - but with a lot of shared experiences! We discuss new beginnings, building a community, and picking between beer and wine when unwinding after a long day on the Camino!

In this interview Alberto Ferreiro, Professor Emeritus of History at Seattle Pacific University, joins Umberto di Venosa, Follow the Camino CEO & Founder, to discuss the the Camino de Santiago from the Middle Ages to modern times. He pulls back the curtain on the myth behind the worship of St James in Galicia and discusses what pilgrimages mean nowadays.

In this interview, Follow the Camino CEO and Founder Umberto di Venosa discusses B-Corp certification, the future of eco-travel, and how Follow the Camino is trying to lead the way on making travel more environmentally responsible.

Business coach Shannon Wallis joins us on this episode of Camino Talks to discuss her new book – WE the Change: Launching Big Ideas and Creating New Realities. This book is a combination of Camino memoir, life story, and a guide to making positive changes in your life. Shannon Wallis’ ability to launch big ideas and create new realities comes from more than thirty years of professional study as well as a lifetime of personal vision, tenacity, and practice. Her clients include leaders, teams, and organizations on six continents from Fortune 50 companies and non-profits. She has worked with over twenty thousand leaders on six continents to launch big ideas and create new realities for their leadership, teams, and organizations. Prior to founding Cascade Leadership, Shannon was the global director of high-potential leadership development at Microsoft. As an executive coach and leadership and organization effectiveness consultant, Shannon’s personal journey of transformation is living proof of the power of working collectively to WE the Change. Shannon continues the journey with her family, Joe, Savannah, Fiona, and darling dog Zoey, in Bellevue, WA. In this Camino Talks interview, Shannon discusses her journey to the Camino. From her challenging childhood through a series of devastating events in her life, and on to the path of healing. WE the Change is a roadmap for anyone wanting to transform their life, organization, or community. We love how this book weaves together the physical journey on the Camino with emotional and mental journeys in life. The lessons and messages of the book are so clear and applicable to life, while still being creatively and engagingly written. You can buy your copy of WE The Change here ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 👉 Read more in our Blog 📖 👉 Watch the Webinar 👀 👉 Listen to the Podcast 🎧 You can learn more about Follow the Camino and our active holiday packages on our website - www.followthecamino.com There is a Camino out there for everyone, from family holidays to solo travelers, and all of our holidays are custom-made for you. We can even make your walking days shorter and add in extra rest days to suit your level of fitness. Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/followthecamino Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/followthecamino Twitter: https://twitter.com/followthecamino Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ie/followthecamino Don't forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter and be the first to hear about new products, events and exclusive offers: www.followthecamino.com/sign-up-for-newsletter/ #WEtheChange #FollowTheCamino #CaminoDeSantiago #CaminoTalks #ShannonWallis

There is something wonderful about taking on a pilgrimage!  Keith Foskett's love of long-distance hiking, also known as thru-hiking, all started with the Camino de Santiago.    He walked Le Puy Camino and Camino Frances combined - a distance of around 1000 miles (over 1500 kilometres) - and fell in love with long-distance hiking. Since then, he has taken on some of the world's best-known routes.    He has written four books about his adventures on the Camino, the Pacific Crest Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and the Cape Wrath Trail and the West Highland Way in Scotland.    Keith joined us for a Camino Talks interview to discuss hiking, the different trails, and mental health.  If this Camino Talks episode has sparked your curiosity you can learn more about Keith and his books on his website - https://www.keithfoskett.com/​    Ask us about doing Le Puy Camino and the Camino Frances on our website: https://followthecamino.com​  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 👉 Read more in our Blog 📖 👉 Watch the Webinar 👀 👉 Listen to the Podcast 🎧 Start planning your Camino route at Follow the Camino for a walking holiday you will never forget! Buen Camino!

Five hikers started Camino for Good to both share their experiences along the Camino de Santiago and to raise money for Camino hostels struggling due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Kelly is one of those pilgrims and founders of Camino for Good - a virtual Camino platform that donates money to albergues (pilgrim hostels) along the Camino de Santiago. COVID-19 has caused an almost total stop in travelers walking the Camino, which has had a massive impact on the livelihoods of those along the ways. Without their normal income from walkers, many Camino albergues have been forced to shut their doors.  To help support these unique small businesses along the trails that offer shelter to pilgrims, 75% of Camino for Good's net income is donated to them.  It is also a brilliant experience for the virtual pilgrims! With maps to track your progress, photos, and stories from along the way, and an online community of fellow walkers this experience aims to get people moving and keep the Camino spirit alive until we can travel again.  You can learn all about Camino for Good and sign up to join their virtual Camino on their website: https://caminoforgood.com/ Albergues that want to join the cause can sign up to get support on the website too.  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 👉 Read more in our Blog 📖 👉 Watch the Webinar 👀 👉 Listen to the Podcast 🎧 Start planning your Camino route at Follow the Camino for a walking holiday you will never forget! Buen Camino!