The Camino Podcast

What if you could go on the Camino without leaving your home? Well, as it turns out, you can--and you can do it soon! Global Camino 2026 is coming up on January 10 and 11 (and if you're listening to this episode later, the annual event is always right around those dates), and it provides pilgrims around the world with an opportunity to walk together, from a distance, and then to share highlights of this collective experience online. Leanne Prichard, from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, is the visionary behind this event, which grew out of Tasmania's annual Way to St James Cygnet. In this episode, she discusses the idea behind Global Camino, all of the positives that pilgrims derive from the experience, and the way that we can all get involved. She also describes the Tasmanian Camino--a fantastic annual event in its own right. Available on Apple, Spotify, and Youtube. To sign up for Global Camino 2026: https://www.facebook.com/events/1274566273763679 For more information on The Camino Podcast: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

800 years ago, not-yet-Saint Francis was approaching the end of his 45 years, his body ragged from a life marked by illness and heavy usage, his eyesight all but gone. Those years, though, had been put to exceptionally good use, spurring the establishment of a Catholic order and ethical worldview that would profoundly influence both the Church and generations of exceptional leaders of all backgrounds. While pilgrims walked to Santiago in those years, the Via di Francesco, or the Way of Saint Francis, is a modern construct, linking together the many different towns and sanctuaries that Il Poverello walked through on his life-long pilgrimage. Russ Eanes (www.russeanes.com) keeps finding his way back to Francis and the Francesco, first writing about the pilgrimage route in Pilgrim Paths to Assisi: 300 Miles on the Way of St. Francis, and now about Francis himself in the brand new Good Morning, Good People!: Tales for the Way of St. Francis. For more information on The Camino Podcast: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

On May 20, 1521, Ignatius of Loyola was struck by a cannonball when trying to hold Pamplona against Franco-Navarrese forces. His left leg was wounded, his right shattered. And the city was lost. During the agonizing recovery process that followed, he experienced a profound religious transformation, setting in motion a process that would ultimately lead to the creation of the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuit Order. Father Brendan McManus SJ (www.redemptionroadcamino.com) has brought Jesuit practices and wisdom to his own pilgrimage experience and writings, first in Redemption Road: Grieving on the Camino and most recently in Living the Camino Back Home. In this episode, we explore the applicability and relevance of these practices to all of our pilgrimage journeys. (Available on Apple, Spotify, & Youtube) For more information on The Camino Podcast: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

The Camino del Norte offers some of the most spectacular scenery of any pilgrimage, combining rugged coastal hills, sandy beaches, spectacular cities and small fishing villages. In this series, we will virtually walk the Norte together, bringing together experienced pilgrims and relevant experts in each episode. In this seventh part of the series, we continue westward through Asturias from La Isla to Avilés, passing through beautiful Gijón as well as one of the most criticized stages of the Norte. Paty Matiskella (www.outdoorpilgrim.com), a pilgrim from Eugene, Oregon, pushes back on that criticism, spotlighting some of the significant virtues of this section of the Norte, while Suzanne Henriksen of The Crafty Cask (www.thecraftycask.com) discusses one of the indisputable highlights of walking through Asturias: Spanish cider. For more information on The Camino Podcast: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

Episode 102 - Walking in Southern Italy Southern Italy, a region long overlooked by contemporary pilgrims, demands our attention. In the midst of a growing network of long-distance walking routes, two stand out. First is the Via Francigena Sud, a continuation of the historic pilgrim road linking Canterbury and Rome, leading southward through Monte Sant'Angelo, Bari, and Brindisi, en route to Santa Maria di Leuca. Second is the Cammino Materano, a network of routes that spiderweb out from the unique city of Matera. A pair of Cicerone guidebook authors (www.cicerone.co.uk) steer us through this audio journey: Nicole Bukaty, co-author of Walking the Via Francigena Pilgrim Route - Part 4 - Rome to Monte Sant’Angelo, Bari, Brindisi and Santa Maria di Leuca, and Gillian Price, author of Walking the Cammino Materano - Three long-distance routes through Italy’s Puglia and Basilicata regions to Matera. For more information on The Camino Podcast: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

The Camino del Norte offers some of the most spectacular scenery of any pilgrimage, combining rugged coastal hills, sandy beaches, spectacular cities and small fishing villages. In this series, we will virtually walk the Norte together, bringing together experienced pilgrims and relevant experts in each episode. In this sixth part of the series, Austin Cooke, a Norte veteran, guides us into Asturias from Colombres to La Isla, offering a wealth of stories from the road. Dr. Laura Hydak then discusses the historical importance of the Indianos people in the region (www.municipisindians.cat), a legacy most vividly preserved in the distinct architecture on display. Finally, Dr. Mark Pizzato lends insight into the remarkable prehistoric cave art that is accessible in this area, including the Cueva de Tito Bustillo and the Cueva del Pindal. (Correction: Laura would like to clarify that at a couple points she references the city of "Santander" when she instead intended to discuss the region of Cantabria.) For more information on The Camino Podcast: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

In this historic 100th episode of The Camino Podcast, the spotlight turns to safety, both on the Camino and at home. Andrea Parraga Penalver and Juan Manuel Aragon Garcia, representatives of the AlertCops app, explain how the app works and why every pilgrim should have it installed on their phone when walking in Spain. After that, Rebecca Martinez, a moderator of the Camino de Santiago - Women 50+ All Routes group, shares insights into the potential hazards pilgrims face and how to manage that risk accordingly. The most important message running through these conversations is that the Camino is safe! But also, having acknowledged and underlined that, there are always small steps we can take to reinforce that safety, at no cost to the experience. Finally, a very special guest joins--arguably the most important voice in the history of the podcast. For more information on The Camino Podcast: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

The Camino del Norte offers some of the most spectacular scenery of any pilgrimage, combining rugged coastal hills, sandy beaches, spectacular cities and small fishing villages. In this series, we will virtually walk the Norte together, bringing together experienced pilgrims and relevant experts in each episode. In this fifth part of the series, Nik from Australia joins to discuss the route through western Cantabria, from Santander to Colombres, with special attention paid to a much-valued alternative route that follows the coast out of Santander. After that, Lucía González, a Tour Guide at El Capricho de Gaudi in Comillas  (elcaprichodegaudi.com), shares insights into this must-see attraction along the way. Finally, Laurie Plessala, owner of La Joyuca del Pas Hotel Rural (lajoyucadelpas.com/en/), describes her life on the Camino and the journey that brought her to the small Cantabrian village of Mogro. For more information on The Camino Podcast: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

Rome's Jubilees, occurring every 25 years (with some extraordinary Jubilees mixed in for good measure, are traditionally associated with universal pardon, offering a special opportunity for the remission of sin and debt. This year's Jubilee, initiated by the late Pope Francis, centers on the theme of hope--Pellegrini di Speranza. In this episode, Bret Thoman (stfrancispilgrimages.com), author of The 2025 Jubilee in Rome, shares insights into the Jubilee's history and some advice on making the pilgrimage to Rome this year. After that, Dave Whitson shares his presentation from the 2025 Gathering in Vancouver, which explores his three-month walk across Italy on the Cammino Materano, Via Francigena Sud, Cammino di San Benedetto, Via di Francesco, Cammino di Sant'Antonio, and Cammino Via Flavia. For more information on The Camino Podcast: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

Episode 97 - How Pilgrimage Changed the World Dr. Kathryn Hurlock's new book, Holy Places: How Pilgrimage Changed the World, examines 19 different pilgrimage sites around the world. Some are quite familiar, like Santiago, Rome, and Jerusalem; others, though, receive far less attention, like Muxima, Ratana Pa, and Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. In this discussion, Kathryn unpacks her book's subtitle, discussing the varied ways pilgrimage has influenced world politics, been inextricably linked to commerce, contributed to national identity, and facilitated reconciliation. Episode-specific resources: > Holy Places: profilebooks.com/work/holy-places/ > Pilgrim and the Peas: metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/742759 > Lourdes Pilgrimage: youtube.com/watch?v=Uc_OnioxWuA For more information on The Camino Podcast: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

At the 2025 Gathering of Pilgrims in Vancouver BC, an event co-hosted by the Canadian Company of Pilgrims and American Pilgrims on the Camino, Rebekah Scott (www.peaceableprojects.org) delivered a keynote presentation titled "Wisdom of the Elders: A Bridge We Cross Together." She shares the centerpiece of that presentation, her "ten commandments" for pilgrims, in this conversation, including lessons on mercy, grace, silence, and kindness. For more information: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

On Saturday, 8 February 2025, Dave spoke at the Spring Gathering of the Canadian Company of Pilgrims' Victoria Chapter, about the reconciliatory potential of pilgrimage, building around the three definitional forms of reconciliation: 1) To restore to friendship or harmony, 2) To cause to submit to or accept something unpleasant, and 3) To make consistent or congruous, e.g. to reconcile an ideal with reality. This episode features those remarks in full. For more information: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

Dr. Nora Berend's newly-published El Cid: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Mercenary (tinyurl.com/elcidcampeador) offers an updated study of the (in)famous epic hero, more myth than man at this point, and his ongoing relevance to Spanish history and politics. In this episode, Dr. Berend discusses what we actually know about the man's life, his transformation as a defining figure of the Reconquista, and the ways his legacy was employed by the Franco regime. That conversation is followed by an excerpt from Dave Whitson's upcoming book, The Camino Compendium, focused on the Portomarín dam and its connection to Franco. For more information: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

The Camino del Norte offers some of the most spectacular scenery of any pilgrimage, combining rugged coastal hills, sandy beaches, spectacular cities and small fishing villages. In this series, we will virtually walk the Norte together, bringing together experienced pilgrims and relevant experts in each episode. In this fourth part of the series, we travel through the region of Cantabria, from Castro-Urdiales to Santander, along some of the best beaches in Northern Spain. Brien Crothers (www.briencrothers.com) offers the pilgrim perspective on this section, drawing special attention to the albergue in Güemes, which has offered exceptional hospitality for decades now. He's followed by Dr. Jesús Ángel Solórzano Telechea (sciprofiles.com/profile/solorzano-telechea) of the University of Cantabria, whose focus on the region's medieval history lends insight into its four great ports--Castro-Urdiales, Laredo, Santander, and San Vicente de la Barquera--three of which are situated in this section. For more information: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

Why not consider Canada for your next pilgrimage? In this episode, two pilgrimage leaders discuss how the country can be seen, and its histories more richly accessed, on paths bridging the past and present. Brad Aaron Modlin (www.bradaaronmodlin.com) shares insights from his semester abroad program in Quebec, following the Chemin des Outaouais (www.chemindesoutaouais.ca) and Chemin des Sanctuaires (www.chemindessanctuaires.org) through some of the oldest French settlements in North America. Then, Matthew Anderson (www.somethinggrand.ca), author of The Good Walk: Creating New Paths on Traditional Prairie Trails, shifts our focus to the prairie, where he has developed a series of pilgrimage walks following historic tracks through rural Saskatchewan, employing these as an opportunity to bring together indigenous and settler perspectives on these lands and the peoples who have inhabited them. For more information:www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

The Camino del Norte offers some of the most spectacular scenery of any pilgrimage, combining rugged coastal hills, sandy beaches, spectacular cities and small fishing villages. In this series, we will virtually walk the Norte together, bringing together experienced pilgrims and relevant experts in each episode. In this third part of the series, we carry on the walk from Gernika, continuing through the dynamic city of Bilbao en route to Castro-Urdiales. Kirsten Brown, who resided in Bilbao for a number of years, serves as our guide to the city and the many different variants looping around it. What today's pilgrims might struggle to appreciate, though, is how profoundly Bilbao has been transformed over the past five decades; to illustrate this remarkable achievement, often attributed to the founding of the Guggenheim Museum, the episode also examines the phenomenon known as the "Bilbao Effect." For more information: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

Lindsay Teychenné wasn't satisfied with his life, so he made a dramatic change. He left his home in Australia, traveled to Europe, and forged a new home on the Camino, spending the last year walking all across Spain and France. In this episode, he offers insights into the many different Caminos and Chemins he has now traversed, unpacks some of the complexities of a year of continuous pilgrimage, and reflects on the personal growth he has achieved. It's an amazing story that speaks to the power of the Camino, as well as Lindsay's courage and self-awareness. For more information: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

The Camino del Norte offers some of the most spectacular scenery of any pilgrimage, combining rugged coastal hills, sandy beaches, spectacular cities and small fishing villages. In this series, we will virtually walk the Norte together, bringing together experienced pilgrims and relevant experts in each episode. In this second episode, Susan Alcorn (www.backpack45.com), the author of Healing Miles: Gifts from the Caminos Norte and Primitivo, shares insights on the section of the Norte leading from Deba to Lezama. She is followed by Iratxe Momoitio Astorkia, the director of Gernika's Museo de la Paz (www.museodelapaz.org), who discusses the town's infamous bombing in the Spanish Civil War, its recovery, and the museum's ongoing efforts to promote peace and human rights today. For more information: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

For Camino veterans who are considering branching out, not just beyond Spain but beyond Europe entirely, Japan has emerged as the easy entry-point. The Kumano Kodo is super accessible, thanks to Kumano Travel and its compact route length. If you've got more time, though--probably in the six-week range--Shikoku is the most prominent pilgrimage route in Japan. And Ian Reader, author of Making Pilgrimages: Meaning and Practice in Shikoku and Pilgrims Until We Die: Unending Pilgrimage in Shikoku, is one of the foremost authorities writing in English about Japanese pilgrimage generally and Shikoku specifically. In this episode, we explore the religious underpinnings of Japanese pilgrimage, distinct practices along the Shikoku circuit, and the phenomenon of perpetual pilgrims around the island.  Ian Reader's Amazon author page: https://tinyurl.com/ianreader For more information: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

When Victoria Preston reached a transitional point in her life, she decided to go on a pilgrimage. And then she paused and wondered: what was behind that impulse to go on pilgrimage? That set in motion a process that culminated in We Are Pilgrims: Journeys in Search of Ourselves, which explores the central importance of pilgrimage to humans across place and time, ranging from Stone Age Anatolia to her own walk on the Via Francigena. In this discussion, Victoria addresses the inclusive nature of pilgrimage, the power of following in the footsteps of centuries of other pilgrims, and the possibilities for finding solace and hope on pilgrimage. For more information: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson