Taste Toast Travel
Hey, friends... welcome to the Taste Toast Travel Podcast! We're your hosts and resident foodies and lovers of all things travel and exploration, John and Tara. John is a certified Sommelier and a Certified Specialist of Wine, and has worked in the wine and hospitality industry for over 10 years. Tara has worked in the wine industry for eight years both in hospitality and digital marketing. When we first met, we bonded over our love of eating, drinking, and traveling the world. That passion has only grown over time, now we want to share this passion with you from an insider perspective. On this podcast, you can expect a wide range of topics on all things food, travel, and beverage. This includes non-alcoholic drinks, too, because we don't discriminate here! That means we'll dig into things like where to go, where to stay and what to eat or drink along the way. We'll be serving tea on hot topics and big news, pop culture, the cultural significance and impacts that food, drink, and travel have on our lives, and bring on guests and experts who are just as excited, passionate, and knowledgeable about tasting, toasting, and traveling as we are. and have a lot more in store that we can't wait to share with you all. Grab your favorite beverage, get comfortable, and enjoy the journey with us. Cheers!
Episodes
Struggling to choose the right bottle of wine without spending a fortune? In this episode, Certified Sommelier John shares expert wine buying tips to help you shop smart—whether you're browsing the aisles of Trader Joe’s, Costco, or your favorite wine shop.
We break down exactly how to choose a great bottle of wine on a budget by decoding wine labels, understanding regions, and knowing what really matters when it ...
We’re digging into the infamous 2013 Carnival Triumph disaster, also known as the “Poop Cruise”.
We dive into the chain of events that led to the catastrophic engine fire, the subsequent power and plumbing failures, and how 4,200 passengers were left stranded in unsanitary and dire conditions for five days.
This (disturbing) tale includes firsthand accounts from crew members, interviews, and reflect...
This week we're so excited to be chatting with Sunduri Malcolm and diving into her truly inspiring journey, from her birth in New York to adventuring through countless states and countries in between, to her current home in Germany.
Sundari shares her background growing up in Harlem, and this exciting conversation dives into her travels, solo trips, her time living in a tiny home, in a bus traveling acro...
We’re kicking off Cocktail Conversations on the podcast!
We’re exploring the origins, deliciousness, and nuances of two classic cocktails: the Aviation and the Negroni.
We start with Tara’s favorite gin-based drink, the Aviation, detailing its Prohibition-era roots that will give you all the 1920’s feels. Then, we dig into John’s Italian favorite, the Negroni, tracing its origins back to one of our most favorite cities...
Today we’re breaking down Clarkson's Farm Season 4! We’re chatting about everything from his entertaining (and sometimes questionable) farming practices to his challenges in opening his new restaurant The Farmer’s Dog, to our frustrations and favorite moments.
We also introducing a new game to the podcast. We’re kicking off “Keep, Swap, Trust”, essentially our version of “F*ck, marry, k*ll”: food, drink, and trave...
Join us as we break down and recap our recent trip to Maui, including what we would and wouldn’t do if we could do it again.
And, we also dig into how it was traveling with our 16-month-old and share what helped (and hindered) us as we traveled with her. We’re sharing where we'd recommend going—and where to avoid—based on our trip (just our opinions!), restaurants to enjoy, drinks you can’t miss, and more.
Connect ...
We’re joined by Andrea Lemieux, an expert on Turkish wines! We’re digging into all things Turkey in this conversation.
Join us as we explore the overlooked world of Turkish wine, chat about native grape varieties that many wineries are trying to save, the challenges faced by local wineries from a legal and governmental perspective, and the burgeoning wine tourism industry in Turkey.
Andrea shares her personal journey fr...
We’re digging into another handful of hot topics!
✈️ How McDonalds has the best coffee (according to fans)
✈️ The chaos and issues happening at Newark airport
✈️ Takeout etiquette—do you tip, or not?
✈️ A 24 person Carnival Cruise brawl
✈️ To cruise or not to cruise
✈️ The U.S. city with the best multicultural cuisine
✈️ The #1 place to retire in the U.S.
Connect with us and learn more:
We’re digging into a variety of topics spanning wine, food, and travel industries!
🍷 Parisian cafes swapping expensive wines for cheaper alternatives.
🍷 The most heartwarming fear or flying Reddits
🍷 Tips for surviving the middle seat on a plane
🍷 Middle seat armrest etiquette
🍷 Ways to keep comfy on a flight
🍷 Airplane facts with Max
🍷 Wine futures and big news going on Bordeaux
�...
Today we’re welcoming Gemma Soley, a freelance social media marketer specializing in the UK wine industry.
From this conversation you’ll gain insights into various facets of the wine landscape, focusing on the differences between the UK and US markets, cultural perceptions of wine, the influence of Gen Z on the alc/bev industry, and the importance of sustainability and experiential wine tourism. Gemma also sh...
We're digging into several pop culture topics and headlines in food, drink, travel industries!
✈️ The significant impact of tariffs on the alcohol industry, focusing on the ongoing U.S. and Canada tensions.
✈️ The etiquette of sharing appetizers and splitting bills at restaurants.
✈️ The best airlines for nervous flyers in 2025.
✈️ New flight offerings to Italy and how you can enjoy them.
We’re going back to our roots (working in the wine industry) and digging into the world of wine and food pairings!
We're chatting about the fundamental principles of pairing wine with food, both from a theoretical and a practical perspective. John shares his expertise as a certified Sommelier, explaining why certain wines enhance specific dishes and debunking common myths about wine pairings.
Th...
Today we’re chatting with Grace Simmons, Confidence & Mindset Coach and founder of Amethyst Palaver Hut.
In this episode you’ll gain practical tips for easing into solo travel, and how to make the most of those experiences so it’s as empowering and enriching as possible. You’ll also get Grace’s valuable perspective on the benefits of taking time for self-care and the importance of incorporating wellness i...
We’re digging into a variety of topics in this episode!
🎧 Current events in Formula 1
🎧 Our BIGGEST pet peeve when it comes to parking lot etiquette (and the psychological reasons behind them)
🎧 An update on new travel regulations for Americans traveling to Europe
🎧 Digital nomad Visas
🎧 New ways the wine industry is trying to revitalize itself
🎧 Thoughts on traveling with young children, and...
Tara’s taking over the podcast with a solo episode all about air travel and flight anxiety.
Given recent aviation incidents and the overall atmosphere of uncertainty in the air travel industry, we’re offering some practical tips to help you manage your travel anxiety and make any upcoming trip you have more enjoyable—and, more relaxing, of course!
As a Grief and Transformational Life Coach Tara offers a unique perspecti...
If you or someone you know is planning a trip to Napa or Sonoma, you NEED to hear this episode! We’re putting our wine industry insider hats on and sharing our tips (and essential etiquette) for wine tasting in Sonoma and Napa!
We’re chatting about the importance of making reservations, the courtesy of showing up on time (shocking we even need to mention this, but stay tuned for why), managing how many wineri...
If you’re a Formula 1 fan, you’re going to love this episode! We’re breaking down our F1 Grand Prix experience in Monza, Italy that we went to on our honeymoon.
Join us as we recount this incredible experience, but also hear about things we wish we would have done differently—or would do next time—so you can learn from our mistakes.
We’re also digging into the upcoming 2025 season by breaking down key drivers and their ...
Today we’re joined by Angela Vitiello! She is the founder and owner of Expat Parenting Collective and Vitiello Consulting—two organizations focused on self-leadership, thought leadership and leadership development.
Angela is also a true citizen of the world who is passionate about travel, culture and intercultural connections, lifelong learning, and exploring and self-awareness.
In this episode Angel...
If you haven’t heard about the biggest wine fraud in history, buckle up… because this story is a doozy. We’re putting our true crime hats on today and diving into the enthralling story of Rudy Kurniawan, one of the most notorious wine fraudsters in history.
This episode will speak to the heart and mind of crime fanatic as we recount how Rudy conned the elite wine world. Grab your favorite beverage and dive into this sa...
Today we’re welcoming special guest Kathy McCabe, the creator of Dream of Italy and her newest show on PBS, Dream of Europe!
In this inspiring episode, Kathy shares her incredible experiences and insights from over two decades in the travel journalism and TV industry. Here we dive into the inception of Dream of Italy, the significance of ancestral travel, and Kathy’s personal connections to Italy's culture, food, ...
Popular Podcasts
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.
Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S. centering Latino stories, hosted by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Maria Hinojosa Every week, the Peabody winning team brings you revealing, in-depth stories about what’s in the hearts and minds of Latinos and their impact on the world. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peaks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. www.futuromediagroup.org/joinplus