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
What Visiting 130+ Countries Taught This Travel Journalist About Humanity (A Conversation with Sucheta Rawal)
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What happens when you visit 130+ countries… and really connect with people along the way?
In this episode, I sit down with travel journalist, speaker, and nonprofit founder Sucheta Rawal to talk about what she’s learned from a life spent exploring the world, and how those experiences have shaped the way she sees humanity.
We talk about her journey from working in finance to becoming a full-time travel writer, and the persistence it takes to turn a passion into a career.
But what stayed with me most is this: after traveling to more than 130 countries, Sucheta believes we are far more alike than we are different.
We get into:
- The power of sharing a meal with someone from a completely different culture
- Why travel challenges the narratives we see in the media
- Transformative experiences, from conversations with indigenous communities to a silent spiritual trek in Japan
We also talk about what responsible travel really means today, from supporting local businesses to leaving a positive impact on the places we visit.
And I love what she said: it’s not about what you take from a destination… it’s about what you leave behind.
Sucheta also shares more about her nonprofit, Go Eat Give, which creates meaningful travel experiences that connect travelers with local communities around the world.
If you’ve ever wondered how travel can change the way you see the world, and your place in it, this conversation will stay with you.
👉 For more travel inspiration, tips, and behind-the-scenes stories, subscribe to my Substack at The Gomes Guide.