The Camino Podcast

On May 20, 1521, Ignatius of Loyola was struck by a cannonball when trying to hold Pamplona against Franco-Navarrese forces. His left leg was wounded, his right shattered. And the city was lost. During the agonizing recovery process that followed, he experienced a profound religious transformation, setting in motion a process that would ultimately lead to the creation of the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuit Order. Father Brendan McManus SJ (www.redemptionroadcamino.com) has brought Jesuit practices and wisdom to his own pilgrimage experience and writings, first in Redemption Road: Grieving on the Camino and most recently in Living the Camino Back Home. In this episode, we explore the applicability and relevance of these practices to all of our pilgrimage journeys. (Available on Apple, Spotify, & Youtube) For more information on The Camino Podcast: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

The Camino del Norte offers some of the most spectacular scenery of any pilgrimage, combining rugged coastal hills, sandy beaches, spectacular cities and small fishing villages. In this series, we will virtually walk the Norte together, bringing together experienced pilgrims and relevant experts in each episode. In this seventh part of the series, we continue westward through Asturias from La Isla to Avilés, passing through beautiful Gijón as well as one of the most criticized stages of the Norte. Paty Matiskella (www.outdoorpilgrim.com), a pilgrim from Eugene, Oregon, pushes back on that criticism, spotlighting some of the significant virtues of this section of the Norte, while Suzanne Henriksen of The Crafty Cask (www.thecraftycask.com) discusses one of the indisputable highlights of walking through Asturias: Spanish cider. For more information on The Camino Podcast: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

Episode 102 - Walking in Southern Italy Southern Italy, a region long overlooked by contemporary pilgrims, demands our attention. In the midst of a growing network of long-distance walking routes, two stand out. First is the Via Francigena Sud, a continuation of the historic pilgrim road linking Canterbury and Rome, leading southward through Monte Sant'Angelo, Bari, and Brindisi, en route to Santa Maria di Leuca. Second is the Cammino Materano, a network of routes that spiderweb out from the unique city of Matera. A pair of Cicerone guidebook authors (www.cicerone.co.uk) steer us through this audio journey: Nicole Bukaty, co-author of Walking the Via Francigena Pilgrim Route - Part 4 - Rome to Monte Sant’Angelo, Bari, Brindisi and Santa Maria di Leuca, and Gillian Price, author of Walking the Cammino Materano - Three long-distance routes through Italy’s Puglia and Basilicata regions to Matera. For more information on The Camino Podcast: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

The Camino del Norte offers some of the most spectacular scenery of any pilgrimage, combining rugged coastal hills, sandy beaches, spectacular cities and small fishing villages. In this series, we will virtually walk the Norte together, bringing together experienced pilgrims and relevant experts in each episode. In this sixth part of the series, Austin Cooke, a Norte veteran, guides us into Asturias from Colombres to La Isla, offering a wealth of stories from the road. Dr. Laura Hydak then discusses the historical importance of the Indianos people in the region (www.municipisindians.cat), a legacy most vividly preserved in the distinct architecture on display. Finally, Dr. Mark Pizzato lends insight into the remarkable prehistoric cave art that is accessible in this area, including the Cueva de Tito Bustillo and the Cueva del Pindal. (Correction: Laura would like to clarify that at a couple points she references the city of "Santander" when she instead intended to discuss the region of Cantabria.) For more information on The Camino Podcast: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson

In this historic 100th episode of The Camino Podcast, the spotlight turns to safety, both on the Camino and at home. Andrea Parraga Penalver and Juan Manuel Aragon Garcia, representatives of the AlertCops app, explain how the app works and why every pilgrim should have it installed on their phone when walking in Spain. After that, Rebecca Martinez, a moderator of the Camino de Santiago - Women 50+ All Routes group, shares insights into the potential hazards pilgrims face and how to manage that risk accordingly. The most important message running through these conversations is that the Camino is safe! But also, having acknowledged and underlined that, there are always small steps we can take to reinforce that safety, at no cost to the experience. Finally, a very special guest joins--arguably the most important voice in the history of the podcast. For more information on The Camino Podcast: www.davewhitson.com www.facebook.com/CaminoPodcast www.patreon.com/davewhitson