Every journey starts with a question. Sometimes it’s practical. Where to go next? What to see or do? But often, it’s something deeper. A desire to explore. To taste new things. Or to reconnect with a distant past. This is Y We Travel, a new podcast from Toronto Pearson.

This biweekly series invites listeners to look beyond destinations and reservations to dig into the powerful, often personal whys that shape our journeys. Through a mix of storytelling, interviews and behind-the-scenes airport insights, it explores how travel shapes who we are and how the travel industry reflects those motivations. 

Y We Travel is hosted by bestselling author and former foreign correspondent Eric Weiner and award-winning podcaster and former journalist Erica Vella, who blend big ideas with real-world experiences. Weiner leads thought-provoking conversations with acclaimed writers and thinkers, while Vella connects those perspectives to the realities of modern travel, from terminal design and flight routes to ever-evolving airport food culture. 

The result is a podcast that treats travel as more than a getaway. It’s about meaning, identity and how we make sense of the world around us. Whether you’re a frequent flyer, an armchair explorer or simply curious about how travel is changing, Y We Travel offers a new kind of conversation.

Stories that go deeper

Each of the seven episodes focuses on a different motivation for travel. They explore themes of connection, nostalgia and awe and ask questions such as what it means to meet our neighbours in a globalized world? Why do we return to places tied to our past? And how does travel spark wonder?

Along the way, listeners hear from a diverse mix of voices, from celebrated authors and academics to architects, chefs and adventurers. Their insights reveal how travel is intertwined with culture, memory, creativity and even healing.

Guests in the first season include renowned travel writer Pico Iyer, architect Moshe Safdie, newspaper columnist Elizabeth Renzetti, survivalist Les Stroud, ultra long-distance hiker Melanie Vogel and Porter Airlines CEO Michael Deluce.

Travel through a new lens

Running through the entire series is a deep curiosity about the people behind the journeys, the impulses that send us off into the world and the pull that brings us home again. From unconventional destinations like North Korea to planning trips around standout airports and services, the stories are as varied as they are revealing. So, buckle up and get ready to explore the world in a whole new way.

Listen to Y We Travel now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Amazon Music. Read the companion essays at ywetravelmag.ca.