There’s no shortage of travel advice out there—who can save us a buck, what to do, when’s the best time to go, where to go. But one fundamental question often gets left behind: why?
Born from an award-winning magazine series of the same name, Y We Travel explores the deeper motivations behind our journeys.
Hosted by Eric Weiner, a New York Times bestselling author and former foreign correspondent, and Erica Vella, an award-winning podcaster and former broadcast journalist, the show unpacks the emotions, discoveries, and purpose that give travel its meaning.
Wrapping up the first season of Y We Travel, Eric and Erica discuss the trips they’ve taken over the season.
Read the essays: https://ywetravelmag.ca (https://ywetravelmag.ca/)
Contact us: hello@ywetravelmag.ca (mailto:hello@ywetravelmag.ca)
28 Jul 2026
How World Events Change The Way We Travel with Michael Deluce
Also featuring Eric Weiner on how focus, liberation and creativity can sometimes come from simple destinations, like a train seat or a hotel around the corner from home.
Read the essays: https://ywetravelmag.ca (https://ywetravelmag.ca)
Contact us: hello@ywetravelmag.ca
14 Jul 2026
Seeing the World as Survivorman with Les Stroud
Also featuring Wade Davis on how adventure travel can transform us.
Read the essays: https://ywetravelmag.ca (https://ywetravelmag.ca/)
Contact us: hello@ywetravelmag.ca
30 Jun 2026
Episode 5 - To Heal
Why do we travel? To heal. Y We Travel hosts Eric Weiner and Erica Vella discuss how the distance and distraction can help us recover, not just physically but emotionally.
Eric interviews essayist Florence Williams, an author who has written extensively about heartbreak and the ways we move past it. They discuss themes from her essay, including the science and psychology of travelling to feel better, plus a magical day in Italy’s Dolomites that helped Florence move past a difficult divorce. Erica builds on the theme in conversation with Chloe Bow, who built her career as an enabler of solo travel for women on the back of a healing journey following her a breakup of her own.
Read the essays: https://ywetravelmag.ca (https://ywetravelmag.ca/)
Contact us: hello@ywetravelmag.ca
25 Jun 2026
Y We Travel: Featuring Zero To Travel
Y We Travel hosts Eric Weiner and Erica Vella spotlight travel podcast Zero To Travel."On this episode of Zero To Travel, award-winning journalist and bestselling author Eric Weiner joins Jason Moore to explore the many themes of his book The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World and get into the nitty-gritty of what it means to be happy.
If you want to transform your outlook and increase your happiness, you don’t want to miss this episode. Eric shares stories from his time as a foreign war correspondent during the rise of the Taliban, his decision to leave behind a successful career at NPR, lessons from traveling the world to write his first book, and so much more."
Listen to Zero To Travel on Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/zero-to-travel-podcast/id778339885) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/1Xw6H3aYX7t0OGguf6c3dO).
Visit Zero To Travel: https://zerototravel.com/ (https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzerototravel.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7CYeshi.Gyalpo%40gtaa.com%7C50119dba75d3408f380108decc76159b%7Cce4461f0990b4128b5feb3ba1863c221%7C0%7C0%7C639173004791404318%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=bkzeEu2yOEXatJSaNgknzRFz6FpvzztLhnwWGfFOvBc%3D&reserved=0)
16 Jun 2026
Episode 4 - To taste
Why do we travel? To taste. Y We Travel hosts Eric Weiner and Erica Vella discuss food as a journey through the cultures we experience on the road.
Eric speaks to essayist Nevin Martell, a write and self-proclaimed food “gastronaut” who will taste anything – not once, but twice, just to be sure. They discuss the themes from Nevin’s Walrus piece and more, including how to eat with an open mind, the troublesome idea of “authentic” foods, Nevin’s recent trip to Japan and his proclivity for spending time in grocery stores.
Erica builds on that theme in conversation with chef Roger Mooking, who talks about the concept and execution of his restaurant at Toronto Pearson’s Terminal 1 – the demographics, the menu-building and the art of introducing local travellers to global flavours.
Read the essays: https://ywetravelmag.ca (https://ywetravelmag.ca/)
Contact us: hello@ywetravelmag.ca
2 Jun 2026
Episode 3 - To experience awe
Why do we travel? To experience awe. Y We Travel hosts Eric Weiner and Erica Vella discuss the moments on the road that leave us speechless.
Eric interviews essayist Elizabeth Renzetti, an author and columnist who was bitten early by the travel bug. They discuss the themes from her Walrus essay, including the majesty of natural and human experiences that make us transcend our daily existence and make us feel small: Iguazu Falls, a dangerous Pacific current, a communal experience in a Philippine village.
Erica expands on that concept, chatting with adventurer Melanie Vogel, the first woman to walk the Trans-Canada Trail. They discuss the self-discovery, the obstacles, the human kindness and the awe-inspiring geography she encountered along the way.
Read the essays: https://ywetravelmag.ca (https://ywetravelmag.ca/)
Contact us: hello@ywetravelmag.ca (mailto:hello@ywetravelmag.ca)
19 May 2026
Episode 2 - To Relive Our Past
Why do we travel? To return. Y We Travel hosts Eric Weiner and Erica Vella discuss our drive to go home – the pull to visit family, old haunts, past lives.
Eric speaks to Y We Travel essayist Kamal Al-Solaylee, the author of Return: Why We Go Back to Where We Come From. They discuss themes from Kamal’s piece in The Walrus, including his Yemeni ancestry and his deep emotional ties to Toronto. With age, his travel has focused on communing with people and moments from his own history. One exception is Singapore.
Erica picks up the thread in Ottawa, interviewing architect Moshe Safdie at the Canadian National Gallery. Moshe’s career is full of landmark designs and he was lead architect for Jewel, the award-winning complex at Singapore’s Changi Airport. Moshe describes his connection to the city and explains how Jewel’s terraced gardens, indoor waterfall and retail experience fit into the city’s fabric and endear Changi to passengers.
5 May 2026
Episode 1 - To Meet The Neighbours
Why do we travel? To meet the neighbours. Y We Travel hosts Eric Weiner and Erica Vella discuss the origins of the series and their own motivations for travelling.
Eric interviews author and Y We Travel essayist Pico Iyer. They trade travel anecdotes from Japan to California to North Korea and discuss themes from Pico’s piece in The Walrus magazine, which argued that we should travel to meet our neighbours.
Erica continues the conversation with a selection of Toronto Pearson passengers. “Why are you travelling today?” she asks.
Read the essays: https://ywetravelmag.ca (ywetravelmag.ca)
Contact us: hello@ywetravelmag.ca (mailto:hello@ywetravelmag.ca)
23 Apr 2026
Y We Travel - Episode 0
Y We Travel hosts Eric Weiner and Erica Vella preview the stories, voices and themes listeners can expect in the podcast’s first season. Eric is a New York Times bestselling author and former foreign correspondent whose wanderlust first prompted him to run away from home at age 5. Erica is a podcaster and former journalist who works at Toronto Pearson airport.
The pair will speak with top travel writers and thinkers to explore the deeper motivations behind our journeys and tell us how they fit into fast-moving trends. The series launches March 10.
22 Apr 2026
Y We Travel Trailer
The Y We Travel podcast explores the deeper motivations behind our journeys and positions them in the context of fast-changing trends. Why would someone vacation in North Korea? Why do passengers plan trips around the world’s best airport? Why is airport cuisine suddenly a thing? Why do passengers change their travel patterns – and airlines change their routes? Join Y We Travel hosts Eric Weiner and Erica Vella, who explore the deeper motivations behind our journeys and tell us how they fit into fast-moving trendsAvailable May 5.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.6 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
14 ratings
Contact Y We Travel
Guest appearances
Books guests
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