AI is transforming the way we travel, from how we plan our trips to how we book hotels and trains. But is it really sustainable? In this solo episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken explores the climate footprint of artificial intelligence and its growing role in tourism. From ChatGPT to Gemini, she looks at how AI tools can both harm and help our planet - AND how travelers can use them responsibly. We break down: How much energy AI actually consumes compared to GoogleTips on how to use ...
What if your teaching degree included crossing continents in a DIY travel bus? In this episode, your host Clara Francken chats with Raquel Dinis, who shares her experience with DNS Teacher Training College. She talks about where the classroom is the world and Guinea-Bissau was the final stop. We dive into how a group of student-teachers from Denmark rebuilt a bus and hit the road to West Africa, learning from communities, each other, and the world outside a textbook. Raquel tells us what it's...
Is there anything more beautiful than arriving at your destination by land instead of air? In this solo episode, host Clara Francken shares exactly how she traveled from Greece to Germany without flying - using ferries, regional trains, high-speed trains, and even the most stunning Flixbus ride of her entire life. This episode is a mix of stories, practical tips, cost breakdowns, and slow-travel inspiration. Whether you dream of doing an Interrail trip, want to reduce your travel footprint, o...
Have you ever imagined camping for free in someone’s backyard? In this episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken talks to Manon from "Welcome To My Garden", the Belgian non-profit platform that connects travelers with locals who offer their gardens as camping spots. Together, we talk about how the project started, why it’s revolutionizing slow travel, and what it means for the future of sustainable tourism in Europe. Clara also shares her own experience cycling across Belgium and staying a...
When we think about sustainable travel, we often picture avoiding flights or packing eco-friendly gear. But what if the real danger lies in something we can’t even see - in microplastics? In this episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken talks to Dana Zhaxylykova, a microplastic researcher from Kazakhstan and co-founder of the Microplastic Free app, about how travel habits contribute to microplastic pollution. We discuss topics from tire dust on roads to the “paper” cups we drink from on p...
When you think of traveling through Southeast Asia, do you imagine hopping on a quick flight between islands? In this episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken sits down with Eva Werners from Eva & The Planet to talk about the real side of slow and sustainable travel in Thailand and Laos. Eva shares her stories from night buses, VIP buses, overnight trains, and the legendary two-day slow boat along the Mekong River. Together we dive into what it means to travel like a local and w...
From documenting the world’s largest sailing ship, the Royal Clipper, to walking on mega cruise liners with thousands of passengers, Joe Sills has seen both sides of the ocean travel spectrum. In this episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken sits down with Joe Sills, journalist and photographer, to dig into one of travel’s most controversial industries: cruises. Together, they explore the environmental cost of cruising, the rise of greenwashing in tourism, and whether sailing ships ...
How do you survive as a vegetarian traveler in a world where menus are often heavy on meat? And what’s the real story behind eco-tourism and “green” hotels? In this episode of Travel Devil, I sit down with Caroline from Veggie Wayfarer, a sustainable travel blogger who has been exploring the world as a vegetarian for years. She shares her best hacks for finding veggie-friendly food on the road, why eco-hotels are more than just a buzzword, and how conscious choices can transform the way...
In this episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken talks to Julia Weigert from Soulwisdom about her transformative journey through life, travel, and spirituality. Julia shares how her own challenges led her to create Soulwisdom, a platform helping people reconnect with themselves and find deeper meaning in their lives. We dive into her experiences living abroad, how travel shaped her spiritual path, and the lessons she’s learned about trusting intuition, slowing down, and embracing the unkn...
Ever dreamed of cycling across Finland? In this episode of Travel Devil, Clara Francken chats with Henna Palosaari from Bikeland about one of Europe’s most stunning long-distance cycling routes — the EuroVelo 10, also known as the Baltic Sea Cycle Route. We cover everything from riding along Finland’s beautiful coastlines to exploring Lapland’s wild nature by bike. Henna shares tips on how to plan your trip, the best seasons to ride, how the EuroVelo 10 connects to Finland’s wider Bikeland ne...
In this solo episode of Travel Devil, your host Clara Francken takes you on a journey through memory lane. All the way from hometown Ghent to the seaside, to Christmas markets in Germany. Clara reflects on why she loves train travel, how it shaped her growing up, and shares a few of her favorite (and funniest) moments on the rails, including a sweet story told directly by her grandma. This episode is about the beauty of slow travel, the joy of strangers, and why we shouldn’t let angry interne...
In this episode, we’re diving into the world of dolphins, whales, and what it really means to observe marine life responsibly. Guest Joana Castro is marine biologist and founder of AIMM – Marine Environment Research Association. She has spent over two decades researching cetaceans (whales and dolphins) along the coast of Portugal and beyond. We often think of dolphin and whale watching as harmless, even educational, but Joana reveals why that’s not always the case. From noise pollution to che...
Ever wonder what slow travel really looks like when you’re trying to avoid planes? In this solo episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken gets personal about the highs and lows of her sustainable travel choices. From the Eurostar train to Paris to smelly Flixbus rides across Europe, Clara shares the truth behind trying to lower her carbon footprint. This week’s chat isn’t about perfect eco-friendly travel, it’s about real, sometimes messy choices: The truth of still taking the plane someti...
Have you ever dreamed of working in marine conservation or diving with manta rays? But you don't have a science degree? In this episode, your host Clara Francken speaks with Maddie Howarth, a passionate scuba diver, content creator, and ocean advocate, who proves you don’t need a marine biology degree to make waves for the planet. From a high school dream to filming dolphin research and marine wild life in Greece to diving Australia’s Great Barrier Reef - Maddie shares her journey of combinin...
Thibault Constant, the creator behind the YouTube channel Simply Railway, talks about the reality of traveling by train across the U.S. In this episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken sits down with Thibault to talk about Amtrak, the national railway company in the United States. Thibault has crisscrossed North America by rail, documenting night trains, scenic sleepers, and cross-country chaos. Together, we explore how Amtrak compares to European rail systems, what it’s like to sleep in ...
When we talk about sustainable travel, we often focus on carbon footprints and eco-hotels. But what about the local people? In this episode of Travel Devil, your host Clara Francken talks to Joanna Kalafatis. Joanna is a travel writer, photographer, and author of the Best of Greece Moon Guide. Today we talk about what it really means to travel responsibly in Greece. Together, we explored how to support local economies and go beyond the typical tourist experience. With insights from Joanna’s G...
Vanlife offers freedom, adventure, and breathtaking landscapes, but what about its environmental impact? In this episode, your host Clara Francken sits down with Alise from Outdoor Nerds to dive into the reality of vanlife in Canada. Beyond the Instagram-worthy views, we explore what it takes to live on the road while keeping sustainability in mind. What we cover in this episode: The true environmental footprint of vanlife, how much fuel does it really take, how to build an eco-friendly van?T...
Can you be a cyclist, a mother, and a content creator—all at once? Fatima Berton (@bertoniiii) proves that you can. In this episode of Travel Devil, we dive into bike touring as a family, the realities of women in professional cycling, and how Fatima balances life on two wheels with motherhood. From competing at a pro level while working full-time to challenging stereotypes about what’s possible as a mom, Fatima shares her inspiring journey of resilience, adventure, and passion. Why she left ...
When we talk about sustainable travel, we often focus on the environment, but what about personal safety? In this episode of Travel Devil, we explore the challenges women face when using public transport, particularly trains. With real-life experiences and eye-opening statistics - like the fact that 93% of s3xual violence victims on Parisian public transport are women, and 26% are underaged girls - this episode sheds light on an issue that affects millions of travelers worldwide. We’ll discus...
Would you cycle 6,500 km to highlight climate change? For Guillaume Otrage, the answer was yes. Instead of hopping on a plane to attend the COP29 Climate Conference, he went on a six-month bicycle journey from Paris to Baku. Together with a team of volunteers and participants, the aim was to deliver 10 proposals to leverage cycling for climate protection. In this episode of Travel Devil, your host Clara Francken sits down with Guillaume to talk about: Why the team of riders chose to cy...