Podcast Summary

Podcast: Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways<br>
Episode: What “Amazing Race” Host Phil Keoghan Learned from a Life of Travel (“Powering Travel” Episode)
Date: December 17, 2025
Hosts: Sally French, Meghan Coyle (NerdWallet Travel), Elizabeth Goodrich (Expedia Powering Travel)<br>
Guest: Phil Keoghan, Host & Executive Producer of "The Amazing Race"

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth interview with Phil Keoghan, the iconic host of "The Amazing Race," about the lifelong lessons and enduring curiosities he’s gained from traveling to over 140 countries. The conversation, hosted by Elizabeth Goodrich for Expedia’s Powering Travel (spotlighted on Smart Travel), dives into what makes travel transformative, the power of human connection across cultures, and how mishaps can create the most memorable adventures. Listeners will find firsthand, practical reflections on traveling with purpose, embracing curiosity, and intentionally unplugging for a deeper journey.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Phil Keoghan’s Early Travel Roots and Family Adventures

• Upbringing across continents:

  • Phil shares how his parents’ careers in plant science led the family from a remote New Zealand town to Canada, then on to Antigua, and even Colombia.
  • Childhood trips included cross-country van excursions across North America, striving to visit every national park.
  • “My dad’s goal was to go to every national park in North America. … My sister and I just absolutely fell in love with adventure and travel.” (Phil, 03:08)

• Early lessons:

  • Exposure to diverse people and cultures from a young age fostered Phil’s curiosity and ease in connecting with others.
  • “There were all sorts of people always in and out of our house. … The one key thing we got from our parents was curiosity to ask questions.” (Phil, 04:48)

2. Curiosity as the Heart of Travel

• Seeking the real, local experience:

  • Phil makes a point to ask locals where they eat, drink coffee, and spend their time, to avoid generic, touristy experiences.
  • Memorable moments are born from spontaneity—like eating Domino’s Pizza at the Sphinx or waking in a treehouse in Costa Rica to fresh coffee delivered on a zipline.
    • “We’re eating Domino's Pizza at the foot of the Sphinx under the shadow of the pyramids…You just kind of take it all in and go, I didn’t see this coming.” (Phil, 06:10)
    • “I hear this guy making this howling sound, coming through the trees on the wire with fresh Costa Rican coffee…the first thing that I woke up to. … I love this.” (Phil, 06:35)

• Travel as transformation:

  • Phil and Elizabeth note how stepping outside your usual environment brings personal growth.
  • “Those are the moments that you realize why it is so important to get out of your regular environment. … It’s transformational.” (Phil, 07:17)

3. Respect, Openness, and Global Connection

• Cultural humility:

  • Phil stresses respect for local customs—honoring dress codes, for example, and asking about traditions rather than passing judgment.
    • “If you are just accepting of difference, if you go to a place where they feel like you should have your shoulders covered, just cover your shoulders. What’s the big deal?” (Phil, 07:27)

• Challenging negative perceptions:

  • He argues media can skew perceptions of foreign countries toward danger and crisis, while travel reveals the overwhelmingly positive and common ground between people.
    • “Most of the time that people who haven’t traveled have seen the rest of the world, it’s when things are going wrong…On Amazing Race, we zero in on the best in humanity.” (Phil, 09:47)

4. Travel as Inspiration and Paying it Forward

• Impact of the Amazing Race:

  • Fans frequently tell Phil that the show inspired them to travel or even pursue global careers.
    • “It means so much when people come up to me and say that they were inspired. … You saw it on the show.” (Phil, 11:21)

• Gratitude for a career of adventure:

  • “I get paid to do something that I would pay to do in my whole career…It is a privilege that I get to do what I get to do.” (Phil, 11:53)

5. Storytelling and Creating Authentic Travel Experiences

• Authenticity over itineraries:

  • Phil encourages travelers (and the industry) to promote off-the-beaten-path experiences.
    • “If you’re looking for something that’s different, then you got to freelance it.” (Phil, 15:34)

• Story as travel currency:

  • He recounts retracing family origins in New Zealand using history as “breadcrumbs” to new adventures:
    • “I used that history as the breadcrumbs…to then venture and discover. … I also didn’t know where those breadcrumbs were gonna lead me. And that was exciting.” (Phil, 15:09)

6. The Importance of Disconnecting in Travel

• Technology and immersion:

  • He reflects on trips with old-school paper maps and little tech, challenging listeners to consider putting devices away to connect with their surroundings and companions.
    • “Our next trip is—we’re throwing away the technology and we’re going old school, back to maps.” (Phil, 17:36)
    • “There’s gonna be a resurgence…of travelers who wanna get back to old school, immerse yourself, and take in the moment…” (Phil, 17:55)

• Industry advice:

  • Hotels and tours should provide the option to disconnect, offering experiences tailored to guests who need a true break from digital noise.
    • “It’s to provide choice. … This is the trip for you.” (Phil, 18:27)

7. Travel Mishaps Make the Best Stories

• Value of ‘fails’ and mishaps:
  • Memorable travel almost always involves something going wrong, which becomes the story you remember and share.
    • “Very rarely do people just talk about everything that was right. … You talk about the stuff that went wrong. … How do you create these memorable moments? You have to put yourself out there.” (Phil, 19:10)

8. Travel Inspiration from Media

• Influences:
  • Phil reflects on Anthony Bourdain, David Attenborough, Jane Goodall, and Jacques Cousteau as key inspirations.
    • “Going back to the old David Attenborough days…he made me want to go places and see things. Inspirational work that she [Jane Goodall] did, traveling with purpose.” (Phil, 21:16)

9. Phil’s Most Practical Hotel Tip

• Safety first:
  • The first thing Phil does in any hotel?
    • “First thing I do is look at the back of the door to see where the fire plan is. … I ask to be booked in a room that is below the seventh floor because the fire truck ladders can only go up to the seventh floor.” (Phil, 23:19)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On travel and curiosity:
  • “Curiosity, to me, is the best thing, and to me, it’s the best thing about travel.” (Phil, 05:29)
• On disconnecting:
  • “I feel like there’s going to be a resurgence…Travelers are gonna wanna get back to old school, immerse yourself, and take in the moment.” (Phil, 17:55)
• On what makes travel great:
  • “You talk about the stuff that went wrong. … So how do you create these moments to happen? You have to put yourself out there for these things to happen.” (Phil, 19:10)
• On inspiration:
  • “It means so much when people come up to me and say that they were inspired. … There’s a thing online now, hashtag follow…and I just love that.” (Phil, 11:21)
• On safety first:
  • “Literally, the first thing, I open the door and I close it, and then I look at the floor plan. … I ask to be booked in a room that is below the seventh floor because the fire truck ladders can only go up to the seventh floor.” (Phil, 23:19)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Phil’s childhood and early travel – [02:20] – [04:44]
• Curiosity & local experience stories – [05:29] – [07:17]
• Importance of connecting & positive media – [08:01] – [09:47]
• Amazing Race’s influence & gratitude – [10:37] – [11:53]
• Storytelling for memorable travel – [13:58] – [15:34]
• Choosing to disconnect from tech while traveling – [16:12] – [18:27]
• Travel ‘fails’ and the best stories – [19:10] – [20:43]
• Inspiration from media and icons – [20:57] – [21:54]
• Phil’s hotel safety ritual – [23:13] – [23:46]

Takeaways

• Make curiosity your compass, and don’t be afraid to go beyond the guidebook.
• Memorable journeys often start when plans go awry—embrace the unknown.
• Respect for local traditions, humility, and connection to people open up the world.
• Consider moments of intentional disconnection to turn travel from escape into meaningful experience.
• Travel shows and media can be powerful springboards for real-world adventures.
• Don’t neglect the little practicalities (like a hotel fire plan!)—safety enables adventure.