TrodPod

Georgia sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, a position that has blessed it with extraordinary diversity and cursed it with a turbulent history. This ancient land claims to be the birthplace of wine—8,000 years of viticulture can’t be wrong—and boasts landscapes ranging from subtropical coasts to towering Caucasus peaks. With its distinctive alphabet, legendary hospitality, and a capital city that feels like a beautifully wea...

South Korea is a cultural and economic miracle wrapped in a relatively small peninsula. This is where ancient palaces sit comfortably beside gleaming skyscrapers, where fermented cabbage has achieved cult status, and where a film about class warfare can sweep the Oscars. From the frenetic energy of Seoul to the volcanic drama of Jeju Island, South Korea offers travelers a chance to witness a nation that has transformed itself from ...

Poland sits at the crossroads of Eastern and Western Europe, a country that has repeatedly risen from the ashes of history with remarkable resilience. From the medieval splendor of Kraków to the reconstructed phoenix of Warsaw, Poland offers visitors a potent blend of cultural richness, dark historical lessons, and surprisingly excellent cuisine. It’s a nation that wears its scars with dignity while embracing its role as modern Eur...

Belize is Central America’s delightful oddball – an English-speaking Caribbean nation that happens to be on the mainland. This compact jewel wedged between Mexico and Guatemala offers pristine coral reefs, ancient Maya ruins, and jungle adventures, all wrapped up in a laid-back Afro-Caribbean vibe. With a population smaller than most cities, Belize feels like a well-kept secret where everyone knows everyone, and the biggest traffic...

IT'S CELEBRATION TIME!!! This week it's TrodPod's 51st episode, which means we're quarter-way through a journey during which we will take you to every country in the world - all 200 of them... And it turns out that what listeners most liked was not the travel information that took thousands of pounds and weeks to research, but rather when we got it all wrong. So, this week, to thank you all for listening to the first year of TrodPo...

For a country you could potentially miss while blinking at a map, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) packs a surprisingly hefty punch. This tiny landlocked kingdom, completely surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique, offers an enticing blend of traditional culture, dramatic landscapes, and remarkable wildlife experiences—all without the tourist crowds. At once ancient and modern, Eswatini remains one of Africa’s few absolute monarchie...

Spanning the vast expanses between Russia and China, Kazakhstan is a land of epic proportions and stark contrasts. Here, futuristic cities rise from endless steppes like mirages, while ancient traditions endure among eagle hunters and nomads. The world’s ninth-largest country offers travelers an intoxicating blend of Soviet relics, Islamic heritage, and natural wonders, all set against the backdrop of what often feels like travelin...

Tucked away on Africa’s western coast, Equatorial Guinea remains one of the continent’s most enigmatic destinations. This tiny nation punches well above its weight, boasting oil-rich wealth and pristine rainforests in equal measure. A complex tapestry of Spanish colonial heritage and indigenous cultures awaits beneath the equatorial sun, where volcanic black sand beaches meet untouched jungles. Pack your antimalarials and prepare f...

Welcome to Bangladesh, a South Asian nation where mangrove mazes meet chaotic cityscapes. This densely populated country, split by the mighty Ganges Delta, offers travelers an authentic adventure far from well-worn tourist paths. Between its rich textile heritage, vibrant street life, and some of the world’s most unique ecosystems, Bangladesh rewards the intrepid with experiences both humbling and exhilarating – just pack extra mos...

A volcanic archipelago off West Africa’s coast, São Tomé and Príncipe remains blissfully untrampled by mass tourism. These “Chocolate Islands” seduce with emerald rainforests, mist-shrouded peaks like the obsession-worthy Pico Cão Grande, and pristine beaches where you’re more likely to share sand with nesting turtles than fellow travelers. Equal parts ravishing and sleepy, this equatorial paradise offers a rare glimpse of Africa u...

Cambodia is a country that punches well above its weight in the wonder stakes. Home to the magnificent Angkor temple complex, it’s a land where ancient stones tell tales of empire and excellence. But it’s also a nation still processing its recent tragic past while racing toward an uncertain future. Here, morning prayers mix with techno beats, and traditional fishing villages float beside bustling cities. Welcome to one of the most ...

Perched on the southeastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman offers a refreshing contrast to its flashier Gulf neighbors. Here, traditional dhows still bob in ancient harbors while modern highways snake through rugged mountains. It’s a place where you can wake up in a Bedouin desert camp and dine in an opera house by evening. Just mind the sun – it bites harder than a camel with a grudge.

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Welcome to Uganda, the “Garden of Africa,” where misty mountains harbor half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas and the mighty Nile thunders through dramatic falls. This East African nation serves up everything from dense rainforests to sprawling savannas, paired with a hefty dose of cultural diversity. Join us as we wend our way into East Africa's most spectacular country.

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Stretched like a rubber band along South America’s western edge, Chile is nature showing off. From the world’s driest desert in the north to the windswept fjords of Patagonia in the south, this is a country of extremes that somehow works. Cities pulse with energy beneath snow-capped Andes, while the Pacific crashes against one of the world’s longest coastlines. Pack your stamina – Chile requires time and patience to truly appreciat...

Scattered across the western Pacific like emeralds on blue silk, Palau is a nation of over 500 islands that punches well above its weight in the wonder stakes. While its total land mass could fit into London with room to spare, its marine territory is roughly the size of France. Here, in this water world, you’ll find everything from stingless jellyfish to WWII wrecks, and some of the planet’s most spectacular diving sites.

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Montenegro is proof that good things come in small packages. This Balkan gem packs dramatic limestone cliffs, medieval coastal towns, and rugged mountain peaks into a country smaller than Wales. Once the playground of Hollywood stars in the 1960s, Montenegro has re-emerged as the Mediterranean’s most intriguing destination, where you can ski in the morning and swim in the afternoon – assuming you’re feeling particularly energetic.

Sierra Leone might not top many travelers’ bucket lists, but this West African nation packs quite the punch. Think pristine beaches that would make the Caribbean blush, rainforests teeming with rare creatures (including gargantuan spiders – you’ve been warned), and some of the warmest hospitality in West Africa. A country rebuilding itself with determination and grace, Sierra Leone offers adventurous travelers a glimpse into both n...

A land where ancient temples nestle beneath gleaming skyscrapers, where bullet trains slice through misty mountains, and where you’re equally likely to encounter a robot restaurant as a centuries-old tea ceremony. Japan dazzles with its ability to honor tradition while embracing the future, creating a cultural tapestry that’s both bewildering and bewitching. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself bowing to ATM machines...

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Perched at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Armenia is a land of ancient monasteries, volcanic landscapes, and surprisingly good wine. This small but proud nation – the first to adopt Christianity as its state religion – offers a compelling mix of religious heritage and Soviet-era relics. While celebrities like Cher and Kim Kardashian may claim Armenian heritage, the real stars here are the dramatic mountain vistas and some of th...