The Gomes Guide Travel Podcast
The Gomes Guide Travel Podcast is where travel, food, and culture meet. Hosted by San Francisco–based travel writer, storyteller, and mom of two teens Shannon Gomes, the show features thoughtful conversations with experts in the food and wine world, avid travelers, creators, tastemakers, and locals who reveal what truly makes a destination memorable—and how to experience it like a local, with food always at the center of the journey.
From unforgettable meals and hidden neighborhoods to meaningful cultural experiences and practical travel insight, each episode is designed to inspire curious travelers—especially Gen X listeners who value depth, connection, and great food—to explore the world more intentionally and to bring a sense of discovery back home.
Shannon is also the writer behind The Gomes Guide (https://thegomesguide.substack.com), a weekly travel-focused Substack filled with stories, recommendations, and inspiration for meaningful travel. Listeners are invited to subscribe for fresh ideas, insider tips, and destination inspiration delivered each week.
Whether you’re planning your next trip or simply dreaming about one, The Gomes Guide Travel Podcast celebrates connection, community, and the joy of experiencing new places through food and travel.
The Gomes Guide Travel Podcast
Travel by Music: How to Explore the World Through Playlists with Kyle Durnan-Kerns
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What if you could experience a destination… before you even get there?
In this episode, I sit down with travel writer and former tour guide Kyle Durnan-Kern, creator of the Travel by Music series, to talk about how music can completely transform the way you travel.
Kyle creates deeply researched playlists for countries around the world, featuring artists who were born and raised there, spanning decades and genres, all designed to help you connect with a place on a deeper level.
We talk about how this idea came to life (starting with childhood mixtapes and evolving into a full-on passion project), and why music might be one of the most powerful ways to understand a culture, even if you don’t speak the language.
Kyle also shares what goes into creating each playlist (spoiler: it’s a serious rabbit hole), plus some of her favorite discoveries, including falling in love with Peru through its music before ever visiting.
We also get into:
- Why her “born and raised” rule matters (and the debates it sparks)
- How music reflects identity, history, and cultural pride
- Why playlists can be a more accessible way to explore the world than food or language
- The surprising artists and sounds she’s uncovered along the way
And as a former tour guide, Kyle shares a few travel tips you definitely want to hear… including how to avoid common tourist scams (yes, we’re talking about those street games).
If you love travel, music, and finding deeper connections when you explore the world, this episode will completely change how you plan your next trip.
👉 For more travel inspiration, tips, and behind-the-scenes stories, subscribe to my Substack at The Gomes Guide.
Listen to Kyle's playlists on Spotify here.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to The Concientious Traveler
02:42 The Birth of Travel by Music
05:32 Guidelines for Playlists and Cultural Representation
07:40 Falling in Love with Music and Places
08:17 The Power of Music in Understanding Culture
11:05 Discovering New Music: The Research Process
16:11 Exploring Music from Different Countries
19:10 The Importance of Indigenous Music
20:04 Experiencing Live Music While Traveling
24:52 Travel Tips and Scams to Avoid
25:41 The Journey of a Tour Guide
28:17 Challenges in Curating Playlists
29:23 The Impact of Sharing Music
32:32 Looking Forward to Future Travels