The Thinking Traveller
A series that draws on the passions, expertise and interests of Academy Travel's academic tour leaders, to bring a wealth of additional knowledge to your travels, one topic at a time. Our tour leaders talk on a range of topics and interests related to travel, covering history, culture, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.
Episodes
60 episodes
Sunset Boulevard on Broadway - Choreographer Fabian Aloise
A bold reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s thrilling musical, Sunset Boulevard, made its Broadway premiere just last week and saw Nicole Scherzinger make her Broadway debut.In this special episode on The Thinking Traveller, Academy Tra...
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1:17:58
Norfolk Island - Colonial History in the Pacific
A tiny speck in the Pacific, Norfolk Island has a fascinating past and occupies a unique position in the history of European settlement in Australia.It is home to a turbulent and varied history, with new archaeological findings about th...
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35:26
War in the Pacific: From Borneo to Singapore
More than 80 years ago, the Fall of Singapore and the War in the Pacific touched almost all Australian households in some way. With Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day recently commemorated on August 15, we are joined by expert military historian P...
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30:27
Wolf Hall Trilogy - History & Interpretation
Hilary Mantel’s extraordinary Wolf Hall Trilogy ignited popular interest in the turbulent Tudor period of British history. Coupled with the BBC production of the first two novels, the highlighting of Thomas Cromwell’s rise and fall has brought ...
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29:34
Romeo & Juliet - Finding Truth in Verona
Everybody knows the story of Romeo and Juliet. They are arguably the most famous lovers in literature. Their story has been told and retold through countless interpretations, from classical Shakespearean tragedies to Stephen Sondheim's West Sid...
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29:30
Pharaoh - Rulers of Ancient Egypt
In the lead up to the National Gallery of Victoria’s new landmark exhibition Pharaoh, we are joined on our podcast by popular UK-based Egyptologist Lucia Gahlin.Ancient Egypt has been at the forefront of Australia’s cultural life during...
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37:06
The Story of Theatre - History, Customs & Experiences
We all love going to the theatre, whether it’s a light-hearted musical or a deep thought-provoking drama. But the term theatre encompasses so much more… From Ancient Greece to modern day West End, every civilisation has (or had) some form...
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25:32
Archaeology of Chile's Atacama Desert
Flanked by the towering Andes to the east and the wild Pacific Ocean to the west, the impossibly dry Atacama Desert is the spectacular result of this unique geography. Despite its aridity, the Atacama region was first occupied by humans o...
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27:29
House of Tudor - Monarchs & Dynasty
Founded in 1485 by Henry VII, the Tudor dynasty, although short lived, was coloured by rebellions, conspiracies, challenges to succession, and fear of further civil war. From historical research to popular novels, TV series and even a West End ...
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27:26
The Lombards in Northern Italy
The Lombardy region of Italy, bordered on the north by Switzerland and south by the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, has a fascinating and complex history. But where did the name Lombardy originally come from? The Lombards w...
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26:38
STAGES | Broadway Spotlight EP8 - Actor Singer Kaye Tuckerman with Peter Eyers
Tune in to this special Broadway Spotlight series, brought to you by Peter Eyers, host of the STAGES podcast. In January 2024, Peter will be leading a 10-day tour to sample the best of Broadway and New York - alongside a host of cultural experi...
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1:02:41
STAGES | Broadway Spotlight EP7 - Leading Lady Caroline O'Connor with Peter Eyers
Tune in to this special Broadway Spotlight series, brought to you by Peter Eyers, host of the STAGES podcast. In January 2024, Peter will be leading a 10-day tour to sample the best of Broadway and New York - alongside a host of cultural experi...
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1:38:57
STAGES | Broadway Spotlight EP6 - Song & Dance Man Michaeljon Slinger with Peter Eyers
Tune in to this special Broadway Spotlight series, brought to you by Peter Eyers, host of the STAGES podcast. In January 2024, Peter will be leading a 10-day tour to sample the best of Broadway and New York - alongside a host of cultural experi...
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1:05:19
STAGES | Broadway Spotlight EP5 - Actor Singer Amelia Cormack with Peter Eyers
Tune in to this special Broadway Spotlight series, brought to you by Peter Eyers, host of the STAGES podcast. In January 2024, Peter will be leading a 10-day tour to sample the best of Broadway and New York - alongside a host of cultural experi...
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1:04:09
STAGES | Broadway Spotlight EP4 - Leading Man Hayden Tee with Peter Eyers
Tune in to this special Broadway Spotlight series, brought to you by Peter Eyers, host of the STAGES podcast. In January 2024, Peter will be leading a 10-day tour to sample the best of Broadway and New York - alongside a host of cultural experi...
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1:06:42
STAGES | Broadway Spotlight EP3 - Actor Singer Maree Johnson with Peter Eyers
Tune in to this special Broadway Spotlight series, brought to you by Peter Eyers, host of the STAGES podcast. In January 2024, Peter will be leading a 10-day tour to sample the best of Broadway and New York - alongside a host of cultural experi...
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56:32
STAGES | Broadway Spotlight EP2 - Actor Tony Sheldon with Peter Eyers
Tune in to this special Broadway Spotlight series, brought to you by Peter Eyers, host of the STAGES podcast. In January 2024, Peter will be leading a 10-day tour to sample the best of Broadway and New York - alongside a host of cultural experi...
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1:25:33
STAGES | Broadway Spotlight EP1 - Music Maker Carmel Dean with Peter Eyers
Tune in to this special Broadway Spotlight series, brought to you by Peter Eyers, host of the STAGES podcast. In January 2024, Peter will be leading a 10-day tour to sample the best of Broadway and New York - alongside a host of cultural experi...
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1:40:02
Cuba - Then and Now
Cuba is one of those destinations that, merely by its name, conjures up images of vibrant art, soul stirring music and colonial streets populated by enormous ancient Chevrolets. But what is the real story of Cuba and what is Cuba like today?
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47:49
Pompeii - New Excavations & The Latest Finds
Since the first official excavations in 1748, Pompeii has captured the popular imagination of the Western world, and there has never been a better time to visit with new finds still emerging in the current excavations.Much of the site, ...
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27:03
Israel's Masada Myth
When Masada was excavated in the 1960s, Israel was a very new country (less than 20 years old), full of immigrants from many different backgrounds, and was struggling to find an identity beyond being the homeland for the Jews after the horrors ...
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33:12
Sacrifice & Service - The Unexpected Stories of Australian Military History
From primary school, all Australian school children learn about the sacrifice of the first Anzacs at Gallipoli. However, it's sometimes surprising to learn that Australians have served in battles and wars in every corner of the globe for over 2...
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22:05