Have you ever dreamed of working in marine conservation or diving with manta rays? But you don't have a science degree? In this episode, your host Clara Francken speaks with Maddie Howarth, a passionate scuba diver, content creator, and ocean advocate, who proves you don’t need a marine biology degree to make waves for the planet.

From a high school dream to filming dolphin research and marine wild life in Greece to diving Australia’s Great Barrier Reef - Maddie shares her journey of combining creativity and conservation. We talk about finding ethical conservation programs, what greenwashing looks like, how social media can support ocean activism, and what to do when you're seasick but still obsessed with the sea.

This episode is a beautiful mix of inspiring stories, practical advice, and honest conversations about purpose, privilege, and protecting what we love.

If you're curious about ocean work and need tips on how to get into volunteering and conservation opportunities, this episode is for you!

Connect with Maddie Howarth

• Watch her videos on YouTube
• Connect on Instagram

Write us your thoughts on the show

Support the show

Want more?

• Follow the podcast on Instagram @traveldevilpod
• Connect with me on Instagram @clarafrancken
• Watch more on my YouTube channel

Thibault Constant, the creator behind the YouTube channel Simply Railway, talks about the reality of traveling by train across the U.S. In this episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken sits down with Thibault to talk about Amtrak, the national railway company in the United States.

Thibault has crisscrossed North America by rail, documenting night trains, scenic sleepers, and cross-country chaos. Together, we explore how Amtrak compares to European rail systems, what it’s like to sleep in a coach seat for two nights straight, and why the slow train might just be the most soul-nourishing form of travel out there.

In this episode:

• The surprising comfort of Amtrak long-distance trains
• Learn about the history of the American train system
• Who are the Amtrak passengers
• Most scenic train routes in the U.S.
• Which night trains to try in The States
• Tips for booking your first Amtrak trip and avoiding the pitfalls

If you're curious about sustainable travel in North America, the future of slow mobility, or just want to hear train stories from a true rail enthusiast, this episode is for you.

Connect with the man behind Simply Railway:

• Watch his videos on YouTube
• Connect on Instagram

american train travel • amtrak experience • simply railway • train podcast • train travel usa • sustainable travel podcast • slow travel america • train travel stories • amtrak sleeper car • cross country train usa • travel devil podcast • clara francken podcast • thibault constant interview • us rail travel • amtrak vs europe • train enthusiast podcast • eco travel usa • night trains america • travel by train in the us • train travel tips usa • long distance trains usa

Write us your thoughts on the show

Support the show

Want more?

• Follow the podcast on Instagram @traveldevilpod
• Connect with me on Instagram @clarafrancken
• Watch more on my YouTube channel

When we talk about sustainable travel, we often focus on carbon footprints and eco-hotels. But what about the local people? In this episode of Travel Devil, your host Clara Francken talks to Joanna Kalafatis. Joanna is a travel writer, photographer, and author of the Best of Greece Moon Guide. Today we talk about what it really means to travel responsibly in Greece.

Together, we explored how to support local economies and go beyond the typical tourist experience. With insights from Joanna’s Greek background and her work in publishing, this episode is a deep dive into conscious travel practices in one of the world’s most visited countries.

What we cover in this episode:

• The biggest misconceptions about travel in Greece
• How to book experiences while supporting support local businesses
• What to know if you want to go island-hopping
• The ethical dilemma of over-tourism on islands like Santorini and Mykonos
• The importance of food choices and local ingredients
• Whether Greek tourism is truly becoming more sustainable

Whether you’ve been to Greece, are planning a trip, or just want to travel more consciously, this episode offers grounded, realistic advice for making a positive impact without going off-grid.

More of Joanna Kalifatis:

• Connect with @joannakalifatis on Instagram
• Watch her YouTube video's

sustainable travel greece • responsible tourism greece • eco tourism greece • ethical travel greece • conscious travel podcast • travel podcast greece • overtourism santorini • island hopping greece • travel devil podcast • support local businesses greece • slow travel greece • greek islands travel tips • eco friendly travel • sustainable tourism podcast • local food greece • green travel greece • travel ethics greece

Write us your thoughts on the show

Support the show

Want more?

• Follow the podcast on Instagram @traveldevilpod
• Connect with me on Instagram @clarafrancken
• Watch more on my YouTube channel

Vanlife offers freedom, adventure, and breathtaking landscapes, but what about its environmental impact? In this episode, your host Clara Francken sits down with Alise from Outdoor Nerds to dive into the reality of vanlife in Canada. Beyond the Instagram-worthy views, we explore what it takes to live on the road while keeping sustainability in mind.

What we cover in this episode:

• The true environmental footprint of vanlife, how much fuel does it really take, how to build an eco-friendly van?
• The biggest challenges of living in a van full-time, from extreme weather to finding ethical overnight spots
• The financial side of vanlife: what's the real cost, and should you buy or rent a van?
• Workaway, remote jobs, and other creative ways to fund life on the road
• Must-visit places in Canada for an eco-conscious road trip
• The unexpected struggles (and rewards) of a mobile lifestyle

If you've ever considered hitting the road in a van but wondered how to do it responsibly, this episode is for you. We break down the realities, and compromises needed to make vanlife in Canada both fun and sustainable.

Listen now to uncover what vanlife in Canada is really like—beyond the filtered Instagram posts.

More of this:

• Connect with @theoutdoornerds on Instagram
• Watch their YouTube video's

Write us your thoughts on the show

Support the show

Want more?

• Follow the podcast on Instagram @traveldevilpod
• Connect with me on Instagram @clarafrancken
• Watch more on my YouTube channel

Can you be a cyclist, a mother, and a content creator—all at once? Fatima Berton (@bertoniiii) proves that you can.

In this episode of Travel Devil, we dive into bike touring as a family, the realities of women in professional cycling, and how Fatima balances life on two wheels with motherhood. From competing at a pro level while working full-time to challenging stereotypes about what’s possible as a mom, Fatima shares her inspiring journey of resilience, adventure, and passion.

• Why she left professional racing despite her love for cycling
• How she started bike touring with a 4-month-old baby
• Choosing the right destinations & gear for family bike trips
• The struggle for fair pay in women's cycling
• Being a content creator in the cycling world – the good, the bad, and the unpaid work

This episode is for anyone who loves cycling, is curious about family bike travel, or wants to hear an honest take on what it means to be a woman in cycling.

More of this:

• Connect with @bertoniiii on Instagram
• Statistics about the gender gap in cycling

Write us your thoughts on the show

Support the show

Want more?

• Follow the podcast on Instagram @traveldevilpod
• Connect with me on Instagram @clarafrancken
• Watch more on my YouTube channel

When we talk about sustainable travel, we often focus on the environment, but what about personal safety? In this episode of Travel Devil, we explore the challenges women face when using public transport, particularly trains.

With real-life experiences and eye-opening statistics - like the fact that 93% of s3xual violence victims on Parisian public transport are women, and 26% are underaged girls - this episode sheds light on an issue that affects millions of travelers worldwide.

We’ll discuss:

• Practical safety tips for traveling by train
• The role of safe spaces in train stations
• How bystanders can help in dangerous situations
• Emergency resources, including key helplines and apps

Drawing on research from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and safety initiatives by SNCF, this episode aims to raise awareness and share actionable advice to help create safer journeys for all.

Sources & data about France:

• SNCF on fighting harassment on public transport
• RATP initiative for safe spaces

The guide I'm referring to: a guide to female safety on public transport.

Listen now and join the conversation.

Write us your thoughts on the show

Support the show

Want more?

• Follow the podcast on Instagram @traveldevilpod
• Connect with me on Instagram @clarafrancken
• Watch more on my YouTube channel

Would you cycle 6,500 km to highlight climate change? For Guillaume Otrage, the answer was yes. Instead of hopping on a plane to attend the COP29 Climate Conference, he went on a six-month bicycle journey from Paris to Baku. Together with a team of volunteers and participants, the aim was to deliver 10 proposals to leverage cycling for climate protection.

In this episode of Travel Devil, your host Clara Francken sits down with Guillaume to talk about:

• Why the team of riders chose to cycle instead of fly to a major climate event.
• What it's like to attend COP as a participant.
• The power of cycling in reducing transport emissions.
• Adventures on the road, like cycling in areas with bears, wild dogs, and other unexpected challenges.
• How his journey is inspiring others to rethink sustainable travel.

This episode is packed with adventure, activism, and insights into what it takes to turn a simple bike ride into a movement.

🔗 Follow Guillaume’s journey: cop29bikeride.org

Write us your thoughts on the show

Support the show

Want more?

• Follow the podcast on Instagram @traveldevilpod
• Connect with me on Instagram @clarafrancken
• Watch more on my YouTube channel

They picked up 650,000 cigarette butts and piled them in the city center. Why? To take a striking stand against trash & pollution.

In this episode, I chat with Andreas Noe, aka The Trash Traveler, who’s changing beach cleanups into powerful awareness campaigns. From creating trash art to organizing massive cleanups, Andreas is on a mission to show that small actions can lead to big change.

We discuss:

• Why beach cleanups aren’t enough to solve plastic pollution.
• How trash art and visuals inspire people to act.
• The surprising challenges travelers face in reducing waste .
• Why systemic change and collective action are key against microplastics.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make an impact while traveling sustainably, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable insights.

Click here to follow his journey: https://www.instagram.com/thetrashtraveler/

Write us your thoughts on the show

Support the show

Want more?

• Follow the podcast on Instagram @traveldevilpod
• Connect with me on Instagram @clarafrancken
• Watch more on my YouTube channel