BBC Radio Podcasts from Excess Baggage

The point and the pleasure of travel

John McCarthy talks to three travellers and asks why they are driven to explore the world.

Africa - Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan

John McCarthy and guests discuss the travel hotspots of Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan.

Lake Titicaca - Manchester, Bolivia - Malaysia

John McCarthy discusses Lake Titicaca, Manchester in Bolivia, and the home of Kung Fu.

Wildlife travel

John McCarthy discusses wildlife travel with Mark Carwardine, James Perry and Andy Rouse.

Iceland

Sandi Toksvig goes to Reykjavik to look at aspects of tourism in Iceland.

Family Travel

John McCarthy takes a look at family travel.

Black Prince - Wine trade in Medieval Europe - Lourdes

John McCarthy explores SW France via a medieval wine trail, the Black Prince, and Lourdes.

Russia - Crimea - Ukraine

Sandi Toksvig discusses the 'Wild East' - Russia, Ukraine and Crimea.

Medics abroad; The Oscars

Sandi Toksvig hears about medical work abroad and a trip to the Oscars.

Ashoka's India; Undesirable Places

Sandi Toksvig hears about a lost emperor of India and Britain's undesirable destinations.

Israel

John McCarthy discusses the diverse culture of Israel as a destination.

Stone - Sacred sites - Crazy River

John McCarthy looks at a sculptor's travel, sacred Britain and the Malagarasi River.

Antarctica

John McCarthy chairs a discussion on Antarctica from the Queen's Gallery Buckingham Palace

Overland To Mongolia - Wild West - The Calgary Stampede

John McCarthy's guests discuss the Wild West, Calgary's Stampede and driving to Mongolia.

The Occupied territories of East Jerusalem and the West Bank

John McCarthy looks at travelling in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Swimming - Land Art - Sicily

John McCarthy's guests discuss art and travel in Sicily, through land art and in swimming.

Hitchhiking veteran - Butterflies - Burma

John McCarthy's guests recall Burma in 1942, butterflies in Ecuador and 1950s travel.

England

John McCarthy looks at the traditional attractions of England and how they are changing.

Christmas Quiz

Peter Curran questions Sandi Toksvig, John McCarthy, Caroline Quentin and Arthur Smith.

Travel Biography from The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival

John McCarthy discusses travel biography at this year's Cheltenham Literature Festival.

Animal welfare - Plant hunting

John McCarthy looks at plant hunting in western China and animal welfare issues abroad.

Historic walks - Fast and slow trains

John McCarthy takes a look at historic walks and compares fast and slow trains.

Gambian elections - Nepal - Himalayan rafting

John McCarthy looks at Gambia, Nepal, and white water rafting in the Himalayas.

Storytelling in Japan and Morocco - Coastal Stations

John McCarthy explores storytelling in Japan and Morocco and coastal weather stations.

Mitteleuropa - Escape from Hong Kong - A272

John McCarthy looks at Jewish Eastern Europe, a WW2 escape from Hong Kong and the A272.

Panama - North Korea

John McCarthy focuses on Panama and a political tour of North Korea.

Transoceanic Rowing - Tango

John McCarthy looks at transoceanic rowing and the tango in Buenos Aires.

Congo - Rodrigues

John McCarthy hears about Congo in the 60s and 70s and the isles of Rodrigues.

Natural Navigation - Snow Shoeing - Borneo Sunbear - Bulgaria

John McCarthy looks at natural navigation, travel guiding and post colonial India.

Travel Biography

John McCarthy discusses travel biography at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

Italy

John McCarthy gets a flavour of rural Italy and its food.

Burma - Egypt - World's longest climb

John McCarthy looks at Burma, Egypt and the world's longest climb.

Rowing to the North Pole - Malta - Tidal islands

John McCarthy hears about journeys to the North Pole, Malta and Britain's tidal islands.

Maine - Tour d'Afrique - Fallowell's travels

John McCarthy introduces the Tour d'Afrique by cycle, Maine and Duncan Fallowell's travels

Bus trip from Brighton to Eastbourne

Sandi Toksvig takes a bus trip from Brighton to Eastbourne.

Istanbul - Part 2

Sandi Toksvig continues her exploration the ancient and modern city of Istanbul.

Istanbul - Part 1

Sandi Toksvig begins to explore the ancient and modern city of Istanbul.

Phoenician ship voyage - The British seaside

Sonia Deol hears about a historical voyage round Africa and looks at the British seaside.

Independent countries - Kashmir

Sonia Deol looks at Kashmir and meets a couple who collect countries.

Holy places in Britain, Antarctica

Sandi Toksvig explores Britain's holy places and goes on the trail of Arctic explorers.

Hawaii - Buskers

Sandi Toksvig goes on the trail of Hawaiian cowboys with country singer Hank Wangford.

South Africa - InterRail

Sandi Toksvig explores Cape Town in the company of two very different experts.

Somali Pirates - Montserrat - Languages

Sandi Toksvig looks at piracy in Somalia, the volcano in Montserrat and learning languages

Rites of Passage - Mexico

Sandi Toksvig looks at rites of passage and death rituals in Mexico and around the world.

Cycles

Sandi Toksvig looks at the simplicity and versatility of the bicycle as a travel machine.

Catalonia - Cornish Coast

Sandi Toksvig explores Catalonia and the Cornish coast.

Greek islands - Ireland by Kayak

John McCarthy hears about the Greek Islands and kayaking round Ireland.

Afghanistan, Libya, Chechnya

John McCarthy talks to three travellers reporting from dangerous destinations.

Australia - Art galleries in Britain & Ireland - Iceland

John McCarthy looks at William Morris in Iceland, Australia and Britain's art galleries.

Nagaland - Kosovo - Skiing in Iran

John McCarthy looks at Nagaland in north east India, Kosovo and skiing in Iran.

Liberia - Evacuation - Algeria

John McCarthy looks at West Africa, Algeria and getting out of tricky places.

30/04/2011

John McCarthy hears about Albania, Africa and the Amazon.

Northern Ireland

John McCarthy visits Northern Ireland and hears about different approaches to tourism.

Welsh wilderness - Harp around the World - Moonlight

John McCarthy goes looking for moonlight and hears about travelling the world with a harp.

Walking in Ireland and Spain - Philippines

John McCarthy explores The Philippines, walking in Ireland and the power of a pilgrimage.

Nigeria - Newfoundland, Labrador and Montreal, Canada

Sandi Toksvig finds out about Nigeria, Montreal and Newfoundland.

Morecambe Bay - India

Sandi Toksvig explores Morecambe Bay, India and around Sheffield.

Australia - Georgia - St Pancras Station, London

Sandi Toksvig finds out about Georgia, Australia and the St Pancras Hotel.

Turkey - Harlem

Sandi Toksvig finds out about modern day Harlem in New York and travelling in Turkey.

Antarctic and Shackleton centenary expedition to the South Pole - In the footsteps of my Ottoman uncle

Sandi Toksvig explores the Antarctic and the Rift Valley.

Syria - The Pennines

John McCarthy explores Syrian monuments and public baths and travels through the Pennines.

Woods and trees - Iceland and the Scottish Islands

John McCarthy explores British woodland and meets a fan of travel in cold landscapes.

Colin Thubron Tibet

John McCarthy talks to travel writer Colin Thubron about hiking up a sacred mountain.

Romania, Transylvania - Rowing across the Indian Ocean

John McCarthy explores Romania and rowing across the Indian Ocean.

Russian Road - Hitler Tours

John McCarthy explores the Vladimirka Highway in Russia.

South America 'Wild coast' - Volunteering abroad

John McCarthy explores the coast of Suriname, French Guiana and Guyana in South America.

Pit villages - Overland with children across Africa

John McCarthy explores The Great Northern Coalfield in North East England.

Lebanon - Paris/Normandy

John McCarthy explores the Lebanon and Paris.

Walking in Madeira, Europe and Gambia

John McCarthy explores walking in Europe, Tasmania, Madeira and the Gambia.

Travel Quiz

Peter Curran presents a Excess Baggage special quiz with John McCarthy and Sandi Toksvig.

Science travelogue - Foreign Commonwealth Office

Anita Anand looks at the work of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Pilgrimages - Seeing the World My Way

Anita Anand explores pilgrim routes around the world from Canterbury to Kerala.

Tribes, Hebrides, Visitor to Britain

John McCarthy looks at tribes and the Hebrides and meets a first time visitor to Britain.

Human Rights - Patagonia

John McCarthy talks to Bianca Jagger about her travels and to Matthew Rhys about Patagonia

Yemen - The Sun

John McCarthy looks at travelling in Yemen and attitudes to the sun round the world.

Medics abroad and Bridges

John McCarthy talks to medics who work abroad and looks at bridges with Dan Cruickshank.

Syria - Sark

John McCarthy focuses on the rich history of Syria and the serenity of Sark.

Villages, Ordnance Survey and Finland

John McCarthy looks at British villages, Ordnance Survey maps and Finland.

Kim's India, Apps and Tweets

John McCarthy hears about the India of Kipling's Kim and discusses travel tweets and apps.

British Countryside and Tasmania

John McCarthy looks at Tasmania and the attractions of the British countryside.

Alaska - Zambia - Cycle path to Paris

John McCarthy investigates Alaska, Zambia and London to Paris by bike.

Hot-air balloons - Wildlife conservation

John McCarthy looks at the appeal of wildlife travel especially in a balloon.

Family History - Paraguay

Sandi Toksvig finds out about travelling to trace family history, and life in Paraguay.

Places of worship/retreats - The paintings of Sir Winston Churchill

Sandi Toksvig goes on retreat and explores the places painted by Sir Winston Churchill.

The Dark Tourist - Florida

Sandi Toksvig explores Florida and some off beat destinations with comedian Dom Joly.