Camino Talks is a series of interviews and talks related to the Camino de Santiago brought to you by FollowtheCamino.com and OneFootAbroad.com | We chat with the people that make it so special and share their stories with you. The Camino de Santiago is a long-distance pilgrimage walk towards Santiago in the north-west of Spain and is a popular destination for people from a variety of backgrounds. There is a Camino out there for everyone, from family holidays to solo travelers, all of our holidays are custom made for you. Discover more https://followthecamino.com/en/ Buen Camino!
What happens when a woman decides to walk the Camino de Santiago? For this special episode celebrating International Women's Day , we brought together the voices of several women whose lives are deeply connected to the Camino — from a pilgrim who experienced it firsthand to professionals who accompany others on their journeys. In this episode, you'll hear from: • Michelle, a Camino pilgrim • Macarena, Sales and Business Development Team Leader at Follow the Camino • Aimara, Reservations, Operations & Products Agent • Silvia, Camino guide with 12 years of experience on the Camino de Santiago Through their personal stories, they share: The moment they felt the call of the Camino The fears that almost stopped them The moments on the trail that changed everything And what women often discover about themselves while walking This is not just about travel. It’s about courage, transformation, and listening to the quiet voice that tells you it's time to take a step forward. If the Camino has ever crossed your mind, this conversation might be the sign you were waiting for.
Our CEO Umberto di Venosa sits down with Gemma Brierley, daughter of the legendary John Brierley, to explore her lifelong connection to the Camino de Santiago. From walking her first Camino at 18 to continuing her father’s work on the iconic guidebooks , Gemma shares how she keeps his memory alive while forging her own path. A heartfelt conversation about legacy, passion, and the enduring spirit of the pilgrim journey.
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 up https://www.clean-trek.com/ On IG @clean_trekHipstar The hands-free Hiking trailer https://www.hikingtrailer.net/ On IG @gohipstar Organizations that support people with disabilities on their pilgrimage: DisCamino https://discamino.org/ On IG @discaminovigo I'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.
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
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!
