Since starting Talking Travel a year ago, I started looking differently at travel. My latest interview guest, Ash Bhardwaj, wrote Why We Travel to inspire readers to think about travel in different ways.

A travel writer and filmmaker from Britain, Bhardwaj traveled to Australia on a rugby tour when he was 16. While staying with local families, he gained an insider’s insight into the area. Finding the experience exhilarating, Bhardwaj was hooked on travel. Solo backpacking through India and living abroad for five years after college heightened his travel interest.

Already a travel writer, podcaster, filmmaker, producer and more, Bhardwaj became a first-time author with Why We Travel, published in April. A mix of memoir, travel guide, reflection, introspection and advice, Why We Travel aims to help readers understand and formulate their travel motivations and goals.

As someone in the travel industry, the concept intrigued me greatly. Interviewing Bhardwaj made me even more curious about the book. In the short span of our talk, Bhardwaj already had me thinking differently about upcoming and potential trips.

Bhardwaj discussed what led to the book, developing the concepts, what he learned about himself and much more. At some point in our chat, Bhardwaj stated travel developed his sense of curiosity and wonder. It wasn’t mere coincidence that was exactly what I was feeling by simply talking travel with him.

Talking Travel is an interview series on Global Traveler. Subscribe to the GT YouTube channel to be notified of all future interviews and other travel-related videos.

— John Wroblewski, online writer