The Travel Date

Josie - Travel Blogger & Creator of Josie Wanders & Exploring South Australia

This week on The Travel Date, host Angelica-Hazel Toutounji is joined by the inspiring and adventurous Josie Wanders — travel blogger, South Australian explorer, and two-time cancer survivor. In this heartfelt and energising conversation, Josie shares how she transitioned from structured spreadsheets to spontaneous itineraries, from financial planning to full-time exploration. She reflects on backpacking through Asia with her children in her late thirties, learning how to stretch a budget while still pursuing big travel dreams. Her approach to travel is refreshingly real — budget-conscious, points-savvy, and experience-driven. One night she might be staying in a hostel; the next, redeeming points to fly Singapore Suites or stay at Marina Bay Sands. For Josie, it’s not about luxury versus budget — it’s about strategy, priorities, and making experiences happen. A standout chapter of her journey was a 13-month family gap year. With careful planning, long-service leave, and a leap of faith, Josie and her husband packed backpacks and travelled from Europe back to Australia over nearly a year. Along the way, they navigated countries they once couldn’t have placed on a map — Albania, North Macedonia, and beyond — learning resilience, adaptability, and the art of going with the flow. Threaded throughout the episode is another profound layer of Josie’s story — her experience as a two-time cancer survivor. Rather than dimming her spark, her diagnosis intensified her commitment to living fully. Within a year of finishing radiation treatment, she had travelled overseas five times. Travel, for Josie, is not escapism — it is reclamation, celebration, and gratitude. She speaks beautifully about perspective — how the world is more similar than it is different, how expectations can shape experience, and how sometimes the most powerful journeys are the ones close to home. DESTINATIONS FEATURED: South Australia * Ceduna * Smoky Bay * Kangaroo Island * Flinders Ranges * Port Augusta * Robe * Port Adelaide * Painted Hills (Anna Creek Station) * William Creek * Lake Eyre * Nullarbor * South East SA * Riverland * Cooper Pedy Australia * Great Barrier Reef (Reef Suites) * Sydney Asia & Middle East * Dubai * Singapore * Vietnam * Southeast Asia * Sri Lanka (upcoming group tour) * Jordan (Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, Jerash, Amman, Red Sea) * Istanbul Europe * France (including Paris & rural regions) * Albania * North Macedonia * Sarajevo Guest: Josie 🌐 Website: https://josiewanders.com [https://josiewanders.com/] 🌐 Exploring SA: https://exploringsouthaustralia.com.au [https://exploringsouthaustralia.com.au/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josiewanders/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/josiewanders/?hl=en] Host: Angelica-Hazel instagram: @the_travel_date and @angelica_hazel_nutrition website: www.angelicahazel.com.au [http://www.angelicahazel.com.au/] email: info@angelicahazel.com.au [info@angelicahazel.com.au]

Chef Ashraf Saleh- Chef, Restauranteur & Author

This week on The Travel Date, host Angelica-Hazel Toutounji is joined by the remarkable Chef Ashraf Saleh, a chef whose life and career span continents, cultures, and cuisines. From growing up in Saudi Arabia to running award-recognised restaurants in Sydney, Ashraf’s story is one of curiosity, creativity, and deep respect for food as a universal language. Ashraf shares how his culinary journey began not in a classroom, but through lived experience — working in hotels, cafés, and small restaurants, learning by doing, and refining his craft over decades. At the heart of Ashraf’s philosophy is the belief that food brings people together. He speaks passionately about creativity on the plate, the balance of spices, and honouring heritage while evolving flavours for modern dining. His Middle Eastern roots heavily influence his approach, from spice layering to generosity of service, and a strong commitment to cooking with integrity — including avoiding seed oils, prioritising olive oil and butter, and designing menus that cater beautifully to gluten-free, dairy-free, and plant-based diners. Travel has played a major role in shaping Ashraf’s worldview and cooking style. He reflects on childhood road trips across Saudi Arabia, coastal life in Jeddah, and the joy of desert journeys to Bahrain. His love of global cultures has taken him to China, Morocco, France, Sweden, and beyond — always driven by curiosity, people, and food. The conversation also explores Ashraf’s premium spice blends — a project inspired by his sons during lockdown — and his desire to make restaurant-quality flavour accessible at home. From braising spices to grilling blends featuring native Australian ingredients, his products reflect both heritage and innovation. This episode is a celebration of cultural exchange, lifelong learning, and the joy of sharing food. Destinations Featured: Middle East * Saudi Arabia * Jeddah (coastal city, food culture, childhood memories) * Desert road trips * Cultural roots and early life * Bahrain – long desert drive adventures Morocco * Casablanca * Marrakesh * Tangier (favourite for culture and food Asia * China * Beijing * Shanghai * Singapore – favourite destination Europe * France * Paris (memories from the 1970s, hotel stays, early travel) * Sweden * Lived for seven months in the late 1970s * Cultural contrast and evolution of cuisine * Italy (Upcoming Bucket List) * Sicily — interest in Arabic influence on Italian cuisine * Portugal * Hungary * Croatia * France Australia * New South Wales, Sydney * Queensland, Gold Coast About Chef Ashraf Saleh Chef Ashraf Saleh is a chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author whose work blends Middle Eastern heritage with modern Australian dining. With decades of experience across hotels, cafés, and fine dining, Ashraf is known for his thoughtful approach to flavour, balance, and hospitality. He is the chef and owner of restaurant COYA Sydney, and the creator of premium spice blends designed to bring restaurant-quality flavour into home kitchens. 🔗 More about Ashraf: https://www.agfg.com.au/chef/ashraf-saleh [https://www.agfg.com.au/chef/ashraf-saleh] https://www.coyasydney.com.au [https://www.coyasydney.com.au/] Host Angelica-Hazel Toutounji 📸 Instagram: @angelica_hazel_nutrition · @the_travel_date_ 🌐 Website: angelicahazel.com.au 📧 Email: info@angelicahazel.com.au [info@angelicahazel.com.au]

Allira Potter - Writer, Content Creator, Model & Mindset/ Self Love Coach

This week on The Travel Date, host Angelica-Hazel Toutounji is joined by the insightful and magnetic Allira Potter— a proud Yorta Yorta woman, writer, creator, model, and award-winning coach. In this episode, Allira talks about her first overseas trip to Fiji, being raised between Melbourne and Geeolong, working with Intrepid to capture content on group trips and her love of South Australia. Destinations featured: Australia * Melbourne & Geelong * East Coast Australia (family road trips) * Gold Coast * Adelaide & South Australia * Yorke Peninsula * Uluru * Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary International * Fiji * Thailand * Morocco * India * Nepal * South Korea * New Zealand (Queenstown & Milford Sound) * United States * Maldives (future dream destination) * Japan (future travel plans) Guest Allira Potter https://www.instagram.com/allira.potter/ [https://www.instagram.com/allira.potter/] https://www.tiktok.com/@allira.potter?lang=en [https://www.tiktok.com/@allira.potter?lang=en] Host: Angelica-Hazel Toutounji 📸 Instagram: @angelica_hazel_nutrition · @the_travel_date_ 🌐 Website: angelicahazel.com.au [http://angelicahazel.com.au/] 📧 Email: info@angelicahazel.com.au [info@angelicahazel.com.au] If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The Travel Date, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves meaningful travel and powerful storytelling. Follow @the_travel_date_ on Instagram for more journeys, conversations, and inspiration.

Yorke Peninsula Special Episode Part Three

This week on The Travel Date, host Angelica-Hazel Toutounji brings listeners a special Yorke Peninsula–focused episode, chatting with the wonderful Bridget Johns — a time and space organiser, grant writer, and board member of Yorke Peninsula Tourism. Based on a broad-acre cropping farm near Alford, between Wallaroo and Port Broughton, Bridget shares what it’s really like to build a life in regional South Australia after moving from Adelaide more than 21 years ago. What began as a role in food industry development turned into a long-term sea-change, a family life on the land, and a career supporting businesses across the Yorke Peninsula, the Mid North, and beyond. In this warm and practical conversation, Bridget offers a local’s guide to the Yorke Peninsula, highlighting Wallaroo, Port Broughton, Moonta, Kadina, and Bute, along with family-friendly beaches, playgrounds, coffee stops, caravan parks, silo art, libraries, and hidden gems only locals tend to know. From driving on white sandy beaches to splash parks, petting zoos, bakeries, and foreshore cafés, this episode is packed with real-world inspiration for families, couples, and day-trippers alike. Whether you’re planning a weekend escape or a longer coastal stay, Bridget’s insights make regional travel feel easy, accessible, and deeply rewarding. Threaded throughout the episode is Bridget’s philosophy of “collecting moments, not things.” As a professional organiser, she shares how intentional travel, mini getaways, and creating space in our homes and calendars can reduce clutter and create more time for meaningful experiences. This episode will have you packing your bags to visit Wallaroo and Port Broughton — and seeing regional South Australia with fresh eyes. 🌍 DESTINATIONS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE South Australia – Yorke Peninsula * Alford (farming community) * Wallaroo * Port Broughton * Moonta * Kadina * Bute * Copper Coast region Family & Nature Experiences * White sandy drive-on beaches * Foreshore playgrounds * Splash parks * Petting zoos * Silo art trails * Coastal walking paths Local Experiences * Caravan parks and holiday parks * Local bakeries and cafés * Libraries as travel stops * Community markets 👤 GUEST BIO Bridget Johns is a time and space organiser, grant writer, and regional advocate based on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. Through her business Be Simply Free, Bridget helps individuals and families declutter their homes, clear their calendars, and create more time for what matters most — including travel, connection, and meaningful experiences. 📍 Yorke Peninsula, South Australia 📸 Instagram: @besimplyfree 🌐 Website: https://www.besimplyfree.com.au [https://www.besimplyfree.com.au/] 🎧 EPISODE CREDITS Host: Angelica-Hazel Toutounji 📸 Instagram: @angelica_hazel_nutrition · @the_travel_date_ 🌐 Website: angelicahazel.com.au 📧 Email: info@angelicahazel.com.au

Yorke Peninsula Special Episode, Part Two

This week on The Travel Date, host Angelica-Hazel Toutounji brings listeners a Yorke Peninsula special, chatting with Kate Williams, co-founder of Peninsula Records & Books, a much-loved independent book and vinyl store based in Stansbury, on South Australia’s southern Yorke Peninsula. Kate shares the heartfelt story behind opening Peninsula Records & Books — a dream that grew from a deep love of physical books and vinyl records. What began as the idea for a small “micro shop” has quickly become a treasured community space, celebrating the joy of reading, music, and slowing down. With a strong focus on Australian and South Australian authors and musicians, the store champions local creativity and storytelling. Throughout the conversation, Kate reflects on what drew her and her husband to the Yorke Peninsula. After exploring the region, Stansbury stood out instantly — peaceful, central, and perfectly positioned to explore the southern Yorke Peninsula, with neighbouring towns just minutes away. Kate offers a local’s guide to the area, sharing recommendations for markets, walking trails, boutiques, cafés, beaches, art, and family-friendly experiences. From the much-loved Stansbury Markets, run by volunteers along the foreshore, to hidden gems like charity cinnamon doughnuts in Yorketown, this episode is packed with authentic, off-the-map suggestions you won’t easily find online. The episode also explores the vibrant creative scene across the Yorke Peninsula — from public art and water-tower murals to galleries, artist residencies, and the biennial arts festival. Kate highlights how the region offers something for everyone: couples, families, creatives, readers, walkers, and anyone craving space, beauty, and genuine connection. This episode is a celebration of regional living, independent retail, community spirit, and slow travel, and a reminder that some of the most meaningful travel experiences are found right on our doorstep. GUEST BIO Kate is the co-founder of Peninsula Records & Books, an independent book and vinyl store based in Stansbury on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula. With a passion for physical books, music, and supporting Australian creatives, Kate has helped create a welcoming community space that celebrates storytelling, creativity, and slow living. 📍 Stansbury, South Australia 🌐 Website: https://peninsularecordsandbooks.com [https://peninsularecordsandbooks.com/] 📸 Instagram & Facebook: @peninsularecordsandbooks Host: Angelica-Hazel Toutounji 📸 Instagram: @angelica_hazel_nutrition · @the_travel_date_ 🌐 Website: angelicahazel.com.au [http://angelicahazel.com.au/] 📧 Email: info@angelicahazel.com.au [info@angelicahazel.com.au]