Best Quirk And Circumstance Podcasts (2025)

1
Going the Distance 51:47

9d ago51:47

51:47

Would you ever walk the 'Backbone of Britain'? 2025 marks 60 years since the UK got it’s first official long distance pathway - the Pennine Way. As political as it was pioneering, Wander Woman Phoebe Smith delves into the history of this hard-fought-for trail - one that is integral to all the rights walkers enjoy today, discovering a kick-ass, bell…

1
The Salt Path 55:03

1M ago55:03

55:03

Can walking a coastal path really heal a broken heart? As bestselling book The Salt Path becomes a major film starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Issacs, Wander Woman Phoebe Smith heads to author Raynor Winn's favourite 2-day section of the South West Coast Path in Cornwall - walking from Zennor to Minnack. Along the way she meets other hikers and …

1
Voodoo Child 1:01:26

2M ago1:01:26

1:01:26

What if everything you thought you knew about voodoo was completely wrong? This episode Wander Woman Phoebe Smith heads to Togo and Benin in West Africa - the birthplace of the religion, with Explore, to seek out the real voodoo beyond the sensationalist Hollywood portrayals of evil dolls and sinister spells. Journeying to the rural north of both c…

1
Between a Rock and a Hard Place 54:12

4M ago54:12

54:12

All across Britain, in some of the wildest places you can find, is a network of mountain huts - called bothies. But unlike shelters found in the rest of the world, these were never built for walkers. Former schoolhouses, farmsteads, gamekeepers lodges, coastguards lookouts and miners bunkhouses, there are around 100 buildings (across Scotland, Engl…

1
Whales, Wallabies, and Re-Wilding 53:43

4M ago53:43

53:43

In the land Down Under one island in Western Australia is in the midst of a bold project to return it to a pre-European state. The Dirk Hartog Island National Park: Return to 1616 initiative has seen sheep farming (the mainstay for the single resident family for over 100 years) be replaced by eco-tourism. All cattle has been removed, invasive speci…

1
Can't we all just get along? 56:06

5M ago56:06

56:06

Adventurer Phoebe Smith heads to the Central American nation of Belize, to see - in the wake of the rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives in the USA - how multiple cultures can live in harmony while still celebrating their own uniqueness. The country is found on Central America’s north eastern coast, bordered by Mexico, Guatemala…

1
Trick or Treat? A Journey to Ireland in search of Halloween's origins 15:02

9M ago15:02

15:02

Halloween – with the costumes, pumpkin carving and trick or treating – is believed by many people to be an import from the USA? But where did it really start? Join adventurer Phoebe Smith as she journeys on a mission to locate the home of Halloween. Her research takes here to Ireland, where an ancient Celtic ceremonial fire location was discovered …

1
How far would you walk for a cuppa? 49:44

9M ago49:44

49:44

Deep in the Rockies in Alberta, Canada, is a small unassuming hut that - unknown to many - houses a teahouse that has been serving hikers since 1904. In the heat of high summer the cabin swarms with hikers in search of a brew. Early or late in the season, though, it’s possible to bag the best view in the house on the porch overlooking Lake Agnes be…

1
Got Grass? 54:24

9M ago54:24

54:24

What if one simple question could help save the planet? Join Phoebe as she heads to the Maldives to ask the difficult question - can travel to these islands ever really be sustainable? Learn about the unsung hero of marine conservation: underwater seagrass, which so far has been ruthlessly removed in pursuit of the 'perfect' image of paradise despi…

1
Are We Nearly There Yet? 51:33

11M ago51:33

51:33

There’s a new buzzword in travel – “multi-generational” or multi-gen. That is at least 3 generations of the same family travelling together. Grandparents, parents and children choosing to holiday together despite each having their own specific wants and needs. SOUNDS TERRIFYING! Yet it is reportedly a growing trend. Keen to go behind the headlines …

1
Shifting Sands 53:46

12M ago53:46

53:46

Saudi Arabia is a controversial place - one that for years was closed off to westerners without a special invite. But that all changed in 2019 with the announcement of a new tourist visa and a huge investment in infrastructure - beginning with the north-western oasis city of Alula. So far, most travellers have been Instagram influencers, keen to ge…

1
Camino de Santiago: Finding the way 49:58

1y ago49:58

49:58

Pour yourself a glass of Albariño and settle in as Phoebe puts her navigationally inexperienced friend in the lead (and self-guided specialist tour operator InnTravel to the test) as they wander along the Camino Portuguese's Espiritual Variante aka The Old Way. Walking between Tui on the Portuguese/Spain border all the way to Santiago - with much l…

1
A Simple Life 44:30

1y ago44:30

44:30

Embark on an adventure to Shimokawa, in the heart of Japan's Hokkaido region, where this small town is breaking new ground in the world of sustainable living. Phoebe Smith will take you through the streets and forests of this pioneering community, uncovering how they've transformed from a lumber-dependent economy to a beacon of environmental harmon…

1
Making Waves 51:41

1+ y ago51:41

51:41

Strap on your eco-friendly gear and prepare to be immersed in tales of transformation, recovery, and the relentless pursuit of a better world. Join adventurer Phoebe Smith in Egypt's Red Sea (literally) where she meets the resort cleaning up its act - and the ocean. Red Sea Safaris in Marsa Alam (one of the first PADI eco-dive centres in the world)…

1
In Search of Unicorns 39:11

1+ y ago39:11

39:11

Unicorns. Not usually the kind of mythical thing you'd think a travel writer would be on assignment to find. Yet in the Canadian Arctic of the territory of Nunavut, on Baffin Island, a sea creature who inspired these fabled creatures lingers beneath the waves. We're talking the narwhal - a small whale that sports a twisted ivory tusk that to this d…

1
Wander Woman Extra: Would the real Brigid please stand up? 17:03

1+ y ago17:03

17:03

Celtic goddess? Catholic Saint? Or master beer brewer? February 1st marks St Brigid's Day – as well as the pagan festival of Imbolc, which elebrates the coming of spring, which the Irish Government have declared to be a public holiday. But who was the Brigid behind Ireland's female patron saint? The stories are many - from the igniter of an eternal…

1
Calm in the Chaos 49:12

1+ y ago49:12

49:12

Think Thailand and you usually think two things. The first is the vibrancy and hedonism of the capital city of Bangkok. The second is The Beach - the book-turned-film featuring Leonardo DiCaprio that sent scores of backpackers to a tiny island off the coast of Phuket. I pay the Land of Smiles a visit (in association with the Tourism Authority of Th…

1
I, Pilgrim 44:36

1+ y ago44:36

44:36

Want to escape the chaos of the festive season? Join Phoebe Smith as she undertakes a micro-pilgrimage in Sussex, England, on the recently discovered Old Way. But here's the twist - although she's joined by 15 others they walk in complete and total silence... As a non-religious soul, Phoebe wonders what brings people to complete a pilgrimage and le…

1
Tales from the Riverbank: An Ireland Special 50:46

1+ y ago50:46

50:46

Many of us have been to Ireland before – bought a pint of Guinness in Dublin, gazed at the Atlantic from Galway and maybe kissed the Blarney stone in Cork, but few of us - Phoebe included – have taken the time to explore the central valleys and hills of the Hidden Heartlands, which are home to the River Shannon – the longest river in the country. D…

1
The More the Merrier? 52:24

2y ago52:24

52:24

The invite came in bright red letters from Intrepid Travel: Sabah Adventure – climb Mt Kinabalu and head into the jungle to find Borneo’s iconic wildlife. It promised to be a trip to rival all other trips. The catch? It was a group trip. That would mean Phoebe – an avid solo traveller – would have to share her experience (not to mention bedroom) wi…

1
Food for Thought 44:14

3y ago44:14

44:14

Tickle your tastebuds in every sense as we join Phoebe Smith on assignment in South Wales where she goes on a food tour of the Vale of Glamorgan to meet the producers championing sustainable produce and low food miles; get to grips with Rewilding with her Travel Hack of the Month; prepare to scream with a run down of the Top 10 latest adventure act…

1
Pleasant and Green(Land) 46:19

3+ y ago46:19

46:19

Join Phoebe Smith on assignment in Greenland where she talks to locals about battling extreme weather, fighting to keep their traditions and meets a family who gave up high flying jobs to live more sustainably; discover how to be a better and greener traveller in her Travel Hack of the Month; go beyond the marketing spiel to discover the most susta…

1
This Wild Isle 57:16

4y ago57:16

57:16

Join Phoebe Smith for a brand new season of the Wander Woman Podcast as this month she (in association with the Caravan and Motorhome Club) heads to Britain's Isle of Wight on a self-styled safari to go in search of this wild isle's Big – or maybe little – 5; discover how to find a wildlife tour operator or guide that is showing you animals in a re…

1
Waymaking 50:46

5y ago50:46

50:46

Join Phoebe Smith as this month she sends her Wander Woman correspondent (and podcast producer) Daniel Neilson to the wild and remote Torngat Mountains - he went for polar bears and icebergs but found so much more.... (in association with Destination Canada); learn how to haggle like a pro in a souk with our Travel Hack of the Month, so you can ens…

1
Quirk and Circumstance 58:25

5y ago58:25

58:25

Join Wander Woman Phoebe Smith as this month she takes the wheel and hits the road to follow Mexico’s Route 1 on a mission to prove that the Baja peninsula is the perfect place for a solo road trip. Get clued up with our Travel Hack of the Month to help you avoid getting stung by hidden costs when renting a car overseas; start planning for life aft…

1
In Search of Silence 54:42

5y ago54:42

54:42

Join Wander Woman Phoebe Smith as this month she heads to north Iceland, to a small town called Husavik, which was the former whale hunting hub and is now the country’s capital for whale watching. There she trials a trip with innovative company North Sailing which now offers a carbon neutral experience with silent electric boats; learn how to make …

1
Notes from a Small Island 51:52

5+ y ago51:52

51:52

Join Wander Woman Phoebe Smith as this month she stays in Britain to undertake a 300-mile kayak around the British waterways to highlight how easy it is to have an adventure close to home as well as to help her co-conspirator in adventure Dr John Pike raise money and awareness for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance; find out how to create your own hom…

1
Beyond the end of the road 42:35

5+ y ago42:35

42:35

Join Wander Woman Phoebe Smith as this month she takes a cargo boat along Quebec's isolated Lower North Shore, in Canada, a place that relies of a ship to deliver goods and people between 12 remote communities; find out how to stay on the road for longer with her hard-won travel hack; open your mind as Phoebe reveals the top 10 most mythical creatu…

1
Walk the walk, Talk the talk... 54:07

5+ y ago54:07

54:07

Join Wander Woman Phoebe Smith as this month she goes walking with the ancestors in Tasmania, a place where, until the 70s all of the aboriginal people were said – incorrectly - to have been wiped out; find out how to get the best deal on a flight for your next trip with her hard-won travel hack; prepare to be awed as Phoebe counts down the top 10 …

1
Replay: Quirky Bright Lines - 2 weeks without sugar or flour 35:32

6y ago35:32

35:32

REPLAY with a note from 9.29.2019: It's been over a year since I tried a two week Bright Line Eating challenge which literally changed the way I eat and how I think about food. It's extreme, but it works really well for me--a person with an addictive brain who finds moderation easier said than done. I will publish a new episode soon, with an update…

1
Habit Stacking for Lyyyyyyyfe 14:47

6y ago14:47

14:47

Habit stacks are not as tasty as a stack of pancakes but can help a girl get her healthy habits in place. Learn more about how I applied James Clear's concept of "Habit Stacking" (from his book Atomic Habits) to my life. Intro/outro music is by The Tartu Pop and Rock Institute

1
All the books we don't read 15:53

6y ago15:53

15:53

Season 2, episode 204 This episode is all about books that we do not read at all. You know exactly what I’m talking about. That bookshelf of yours that is holding a book or two that you always think you’re going to read. I have hauled books like that on vacations with me. To the beach with me... We will dig into the weird and funny ways that we avo…

1
Love you like a sister 16:00

6y ago16:00

16:00

My guest is my sister, Caroline. She is a new mom and she loves YOGA, magic, and creating a beautiful life for herself through positive thinking and positive vibes. We decided to do a Light Sourcing Meditation every day for two weeks that was designed by Rebecca Campbell, author of Light in the New Black. https://rebeccacampbell.me/…

1
Have you ever been enchanted? 52:11

6y ago52:11

52:11

Join Wander Woman Phoebe Smith as she goes bog hiking in Estonia - a far cry from the stag parties and football hooligans usually associated with Tallinn. Learn how to pack like a pro with her hard won travel hack; walk this way as she reveals the best long distance paths in the world; meet Dr Guy Stevens, the man trying to save manta rays in the M…

1
Tarot with a side of salt 31:18

6y ago31:18

31:18

I took two friends to the tarot card reader...here's what they had to say about their experiences. ***All fortunes should be consumed with a grain or two of salt. Show notes are at QuirkandCircumstance.com Music is by the Tartu Pop and Rock Institute

1
Off The Rails 42:20

6y ago42:20

42:20

Wander with Phoebe Smith as she travels by sidecar, train then tuk-tuk between Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa. She went to experience the classic Blue Train - a meandering and luxurious railway ride - but found truly captivating stories outside its carriages. Learn how to beat the dreaded jet lag with Phoebe's hard won travel hack of th…

1
Mee-yo My-oh, we tried PIYO 25:11

6y ago25:11

25:11

Season 2, Episode 201 I'm allergic to having my self-care & health activities gobble up all my free time. I roped in my friend Jeanette to see if PIYO was a quick and easy way to get/stay fit in minimal time, and with minimal expense. We tried it for two weeks.

1
Wild Waters Run Deep 50:51

6y ago50:51

50:51

Wander with Phoebe Smith as she explores Florida’s wild west - diving for fossilised shark teeth, swimming with manatees, birdwatching close to the city of Sarasota and seeking out the Sunshine State’s iconic alligators - well away from the theme parks. Learn how to sleep well on a long haul flight, meet a former political prisoner in South Africa’…

1
Books are People Too 47:27

6+ y ago47:27

47:27

Marie Kondo's book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up actually did change my life and how I think about my stuff--but I didn't realize it until I watched the Netflix show featuring Kondo recently and recognized how much I'd incorporated her methods into my lifestyle. My drawers look like cute little bento boxes when you open them, many years lat…

1
Tell me about myself 1:17:28

6+ y ago1:17:28

1:17:28

To celebrate the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019, I asked my past podcast guests to join me for a "group" conference call reading with Bryn O'Connor, a channeler. If you've ever been curious about this kind of thing, take a listen. Also includes a couple of follow up conversations with 2 of the participants. For more about Bryn visit BrynRead…

1
Quirky Replay: Color Me Grown Up with Margarete 22:54

6+ y ago22:54

22:54

Holidays can be stressful. Go ahead and try some "adult" coloring. It works to calm and focus grown folks much like it does young folks. Enjoy this replay from the Quirk and Circumstance early-day archive...

1
Replay: Big old thanks (spilling the real T, as in thanks) 42:30

6+ y ago42:30

42:30

Replay from the Quirk and Circumstance archive: Spilling the real T, with my friend Alice, is all about THANKS during this week of Thanksgiving.

1
Online Shopping Detox (Quitting everything fun Part 2) 19:16

6+ y ago19:16

19:16

Update on the one month online shopping detox.

1
Lady-boss presence starts with lady-boss posture 44:08

6+ y ago44:08

44:08

I'm as guilty of hunching as the next lady and I'm totally aware that slouching is a communication with the world about who I am, how I feel about myself and how people should treat me. My friend Jennifer Robin, radio host extraordinaire (KVMR.org), joined me for a two week challenge in which we worked on our posture, tried "power posing" and dove …

1
Let's quit everything fun. Just for fun 16:10

6+ y ago16:10

16:10

I noticed my clothes shopping was getting a bit weird and super out-of-proportion with what I actually needed… So I took the month to detox from clothing-shopping. Why? Because shoes (or any other clothing item) are not the boss of me. There are two weeks left in Oct….care to join me and refrain from shopping for the rest of the month?And if you de…

1
All About Ophelia 37:02

7y ago37:02

37:02

If you ask the internet, improv can do everything for all people. It can turn a shy person into a gregarious one or eliminate writer's block. I have a brave friend Ophelia who was scared and curious about improv so naturally, she chose improv for her two-week challenge and we dove in. Feet first. What we found was a safe playground with a deep pool…

1
I'll be the turtle, you'll be the snail 52:37

7y ago52:37

52:37

Episode 9 - My friend Juli and I embarked on a two-week letter writing challenge and she took it up a notch by going on a secret vacay that she revealed through letters, while she traveled.

1
PART 2 - Pouring your brains out with Morning Pages 23:23

7y ago23:23

23:23

In Part 2 of the Morning Pages challenge, we touched base on whether or not it's a worthwhile practice. And we both think it was. Is. You know... we want to keep it up. I also gave info about the song that is giving me LIFE right now... Call Me Mother, by RuPaul. And the show that is giving me LIFE, which is what made me think about RuPaul adopting…

1
Pouring your brains out with Morning Pages 42:30

7y ago42:30

42:30

My friend Nicky and I took on a daily freewriting challenge called "Morning Pages" which is designed (by writer Julia Cameron) to spark creativity and supercharge your inspiration. I think this has been one of my faaaaaavorite challenges yet. Many Mahalos to Nicky -- yoga teacher, blogger, parent, creator of WildMeditations.com -- for joining me on…

1
Living Like a Queen Part 2 44:45

7y ago44:45

44:45

Featuring Keela Fowler (of eightyfivebeauty.com) and closing out the Living Like A Queen Challenge

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