Send us Fan Mail

Seoul can look like one giant skyline from a distance, but up close it’s a patchwork of neighborhoods with their own rhythms, histories, and quiet surprises. I’m joined by writer, editor, and author Charlie Usher, whose work spans South Korea travel, cultural storytelling, and the kind of reporting that starts by simply choosing a subway stop and wandering until a place reveals itself.

Charlie shares how he moved to South Korea on a whim, what shocked him early on, and why Seoul remains one of the most compelling cities for travel writing because it never sits still. We talk about his essay collection Soul Suburban and what he hopes readers take from it: a more textured view of Seoul that goes beyond the “monolithic city” stereotype. He also names specific areas that reward curious travelers, including Songbukdong and its literary feel, plus creative pockets like Yanam and Mangwon.

We also go behind the scenes of travel media. Charlie reflects on his time editing Korean Air’s in-flight magazine Morning Calm, where rigorous fact-checking and serious editorial standards shaped how he reports today. From there, we dig into what he’s writing now for outlets like Milwaukee Magazine and Midwest Living, his work on DK travel guides and a Lonely Planet Seoul project, and his simple advice for PR professionals who want their pitches to land: show you know who you’re writing to.

If you care about travel journalism, guidebooks, South Korea travel, or ethical storytelling built on empathy, you’ll get a lot out of this conversation.

Subscribe, share this with a fellow traveler or writer, and leave a quick rating and review so more people can find the show.

🔗 Connect with Charlie Usher

Website: https://www.charles-usher.com/
Instagram: @charlesreclausher

Send us Fan Mail

The travel stories you love rarely come from “perfect” trips. They come from patience, ethics, and a lot of unseen work. We sit down with Rosie Bell, an award-winning travel writer, editor, and educator whose bylines span BBC Travel, National Geographic Traveler, Wired, Forbes Travel Guide, Lonely Planet, and more. Rosie shares how she stumbled into travel journalism after moving to Panama, then turned one paid essay into a career built across Latin America and beyond.

We talk about the rule that guides her reporting: you’re always writing about someone’s home. That one idea changes how you interview people, describe places, and decide what not to include. Rosie also opens up about the less glamorous side of being a freelance travel writer: pitching without pay, working alone, managing admin, and staying resilient as the travel media landscape shifts with layoffs, smaller budgets, and fewer outlets buying freelance stories.

Then we get practical about press trips and travel PR. Rosie explains why she built Press Trip Pros, a matchmaking platform designed to align publicists, brands, and tourism boards with journalists and creators who are actually a fit. You’ll hear what makes a press trip great, why writers turn invitations down, how group trips compare to solo trips for deeper storytelling, and what a PR pitch needs to earn a real reply.

If you care about travel writing, travel journalism, press trips, pitching, and the future of freelance work, this conversation delivers clear takeaways you can use right away. Subscribe, share this with a friend in media or PR, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

Rosie’s portfolio site
RosieBell.net

Press Trip Pros
PressTripPros.com

Instagram
@thebeachbell

Rosie’s books

• Escape to Self
• The Art and Business of Travel Writing

Send a text

A shy compliment at Art Basel turned into a passport to the world. We sit down with Miami native and freelance writer Amber Love Bond to unpack how she left corporate finance and built a career that spotlights chefs, bartenders and destinations through stories with heart. From the early days covering Miami’s cocktail scene to filing features from Hong Kong, New Orleans and the Caribbean, Amber shows how curiosity, consistency and relationships can take you farther than a perfect plan.

We dig into the rituals that make bars and restaurants feel alive—glassware choices, ice and the people behind the stick—and why a strong sense of place is the secret ingredient in travel writing. Amber explains how she evaluates hosted trips, the subtle red flags that can surface only after planning starts, and the simple test she uses when her inbox fills with invites. She also shares straight-talk advice for PR pros: personalized pitches win, strong relationships matter and once a freelancer files, publication timing is out of their hands.

Trend-watchers will find plenty to savor. We explore why early dinners now top reservation charts, how Gen Z is reshaping drink menus, and the rise of martini flights and “tiny teenies.” Amber makes a case for New Orleans as a must-visit food and cocktail city and relives a Tuscan feast with the world’s most famous butcher that still lingers in memory. Along the way, she offers practical guidance for breaking into food, drink and travel writing without a journalism degree—be kind, answer emails and invest in the relationships that become your career’s backbone.

If you love food journalism, cocktail culture or travel stories that feel lived-in and local, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Amber on Instagram.

Tap play, then follow and subscribe for more media insider interviews—and leave a quick review.