The Camino Cafe

Send us a textStart the year with a pilgrimage you can do from your front door. We sit down with Leanne Pritchard to share how a small Tasmanian walk blossomed into a Global Camino that now brings together more than a thousand pilgrims across 40+ countries for two days of movement, meaning, and community. Whether you’re training for Spain, curious about your first Camino, or simply craving a gentle reset, this weekend gives you a simple way to reconnect with your body and your Camino family—no airfare required.Leanne explains how the event began during lockdown and why it endures: flexibility, inclusion, and the shared joy of posting a photo that says, “I walked.” We talk through practical details—mirroring Tasmania’s 15 km and 18 km routes if you want, or choosing any distance that fits your weather, health, and time. You’ll hear stories that capture the spirit, from brave northern walkers crunching through snow to the Memphis crew bringing humor with Elvis costumes, plus smart safety choices when storms hit. We also preview the weekend’s livestreams: an opening ritual, a closing at St. James Church in Cygnet with a Botafumeiro, an interview with two Texas pilgrims flying in, and a live cross to Spain.We dedicate this show in memory of Judy Colaneri and Ella Neal, honoring their courage, kindness, and love for the Camino. If you’ve felt the yellow arrow tug at your heart, use this weekend to set intentions, test your gear, and reconnect with friends you met on the trail. RSVP on Facebook, share where you’ll walk, post a photo when you finish, and encourage others in the comments. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs a nudge to lace up, and leave a review to help more pilgrims find the path. Ready to walk with us next weekend?RSVP Now for the Global Camino - https://www.facebook.com/events/1274566273763679 Judy's Podcast Episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/p22Vo-z20h8Ella's Podcast Episode https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/119-the-neal-family-walking-the-camino-a/id1562037974?i=1000666935472Leanne's Podcast Episode:https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/120-walking-the-global-camino-from-home-leanne/id1562037974?i=1000667888051Support the showBecome a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast: 🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support Buy Me a Coffee: ☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQwFollow us on Instagram: 📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song - "Finnis Terre" - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter.

Send us a textEver wonder what mistakes pilgrims make on the Camino de Santiago? In this episode, Dan Jarvis shares his biggest lessons, surprises, and why he keeps returning to walk the Camino again and again.Join host Leigh Brennan of The Camino Cafe Podcast for a heartfelt and insightful conversation with Dan Jarvis, creator of Camino Hacks and Tips. Together, they explore what the Camino teaches us when things don’t go as planned — from packing regrets and planning missteps to the deeper emotional lessons of walking The Way.Dan opens up about what led to his first Camino de Santiago journey in 2016, as well as stories from the numerous other Caminos he has walked since then. He shares vulnerable moments of struggle and self-discovery, and how walking continues to heal his anxiety and shape his purpose. Whether you’re a first-time pilgrim or a seasoned walker, this episode offers a mix of inspiration, laughter, and honest reflections from the trail and life back home. 🎧 In This Episode:Common Camino de Santiago mistakes (and how to avoid them)What keeps Dan coming back to the Camino FrancesHow the Camino helps Dan with anxiety and restores clarityThe power of solo travel and pilgrimageLessons learned from years of walking The Way🛤️ About Dan Jarvis: Dan is a UK-based Camino pilgrim who has been walking Caminos since 2016. He is the content creator of Camino Hacks and Tips, a YouTube Channel, where he shares his passion for the Camino along with practical advice and heartfelt stories to help others prepare for their own Camino de Santiago journeys. Camino Hacks and Tips has over 3 million views! Visit the links below to connect more with Dan! 🔴 ▶️Camino Hacks and Tips YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@CaminohacksEpisodes mentioned in the interview:🔴 ▶️Camino Primitivo https://youtu.be/CHoj97X2vR8?si=IeffATBD83hTTuD5🔴 ▶️The Truth About Walking the Camino de Santiago - 6 Things You NEED to Know Before You Starthttps://youtu.be/Pea_0sV4Uvg?si=_yfoH0Q8ddUky48h📸 Camino Hacks and Tips Instagram https://www.instagram.com/caminohacksandtips/Support the showBecome a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast: 🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support Buy Me a Coffee: ☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQwFollow us on Instagram: 📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song - "Finnis Terre" - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter.

Send us a textWhat if a walk changed the entire trajectory of your life? For Judy of Spanish Steps, a spontaneous decision to walk the Camino de Santiago in 1994 sparked a journey that would transform everything.00:00 Preview00:53 How a gift started it all03:00 Meeting her Camino Family15:06 How the Camino Tour Company, Spanish Steps, Started24:34 How the Camino de Santiago has changed 29:07 Splitting time between the US and Spain33:17 Tips for moving to Spain45:39 Falling in Love on the CaminoWhen Judy first set foot on the Camino, she walked alone through dusty wheat fields, not encountering a single pilgrim for days. The pilgrim experience was vastly different then—no smartphones, no apps, just a guidebook and the occasional payphone for making expensive international calls. At an albergue in Puente la Reina, everything changed when she met a group of international pilgrims—including a handsome Spanish man named Juan Carlos who would later become her husband.This captivating conversation reveals how their Camino romance blossomed into a 30-year partnership that includes running Spanish Steps, a company that has guided countless groups across various Camino routes. Judy shares the remarkable story of how she asked Santiago for a sign about whether to start guiding pilgrims, only to have her press release published in the LA Times a month later—launching her unexpected career.Beyond the business side, Judy offers intimate insights into the challenges and rewards of expat life in rural Spain. Having renovated an old farmhouse in Asturias into a boutique hotel, she speaks candidly about language barriers, integration challenges, and why maintaining connections to your home country might be the wisest approach for Camino-inspired dreamers.Whether you're contemplating your first Camino or fantasizing about opening an albergue someday, Judy's three decades of wisdom provide both inspiration and practical guidance. Her story reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful journeys don't end in Santiago—they're just beginning there.Connect with Judy and Spanish Steps:Spanish Steps Websitehttps://spanishsteps.com/Hotel Rural Fuentes de LucíaSupport the showBecome a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast: 🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support Buy Me a Coffee: ☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQwFollow us on Instagram: 📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song - "Finnis Terre" - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter.

Send us a textThe rain beats down on Santiago de Compostela's ancient stones as Johnny Walker connects from the Parador's Royal Dining Room, overlooking sodden pilgrims braving hailstones and downpours during the spiritually significant Holy Week. Despite the weather, pilgrimage numbers continue to swell as travelers arrive hoping to experience Easter in this sacred city.Fresh from a whirlwind North American tour promoting "The Way, My Way," Johnny shares heartwarming stories of packed theaters and pilgrim connections across major cities. What began as film screenings transformed into impromptu pilgrim gatherings, complete with blessing ceremonies using scallop shells from Santiago's cathedral. Most moving was a 16-year-old viewer who, inspired by the film, publicly committed to walking the Camino—receiving her own blessed shell amidst thunderous cries of "Buen Camino" from fellow audience members.Santiago's Holy Week traditions take center stage in our conversation, from Palm Sunday's blessed branches to Easter Sunday celebrations, with thirteen traditional processions threading through the city's narrow streets. Johnny provides fascinating historical context about the distinctive medieval penitent costumes worn during these processions, clearing up common misconceptions about their origins. We also discuss the Pilgrim Office's revised Compostela requirements, which now recognize journeys of at least 70 kilometers within Spain, and hear from veteran pilgrim Rocco Rossi, who perfectly articulates why so many of us return to the Camino time and again: "If you find something in your life that brings you joy, clarity, and energy, the real question is why aren't you doing it more than once?" Whether you're planning your first Camino or your twenty-first, this perspective reminds us of the path's enduring power to transform lives with each journey.Support the showBecome a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast: 🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support Buy Me a Coffee: ☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQwFollow us on Instagram: 📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song - "Finnis Terre" - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter.

Send us a text2026 Camino Walks with the Camino Cafe Podcast -  with Leigh and Rocco: Email mailto:[email protected] week's show is sponsored by Airas Nunes:https://maps.app.goo.gl/bWr3YE8AveXj47zt6If you like the work that's being done on The Camino Cafe Podcast, I'd be honored if you supported me through "Buy Me a Coffee" :https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcastThe Camino Cafe podcast makes an exciting return as host Leigh Brennan welcomes listeners back from a hiatus caused by her move to the United States. Though she misses the immediacy of Santiago and stepping directly onto Camino paths, Leigh shares her renewed commitment to promoting pilgrim journeys as pathways toward healing.Joining the conversation is veteran pilgrim Rocco Rossi, speaking directly from Santiago de Compostela after completing what he considers his 21st Camino since 2002. Rocco offers fascinating real-time insights about current conditions on various routes, noting dramatic differences in pilgrim traffic. While he walked the Camino Madrid completely alone, Santiago now welcomes over 2,000 pilgrims daily during Holy Week, with the vast majority arriving via the Frances or Portuguese routes.Rocco's wisdom shines through as he explains why he keeps returning to the Camino: "If you find something in your life that brings you joy, clarity, and energy, the real question is why aren't you doing it more than once?" He likens the Camino to an oxygen mask that centers and revitalizes him annually, enabling him to better navigate life's challenges. Despite walking solo at times, Rocco emphasizes that the heart of every Camino lies in the connections formed with locals and fellow pilgrims who enrich the journey immeasurably.The episode concludes with an exciting announcement about Leigh and Rocco potentially co-leading a group Camino in 2026, inviting listeners to share input about their ideal pilgrim experience. Whether you're planning your first Camino or your tenth, this episode rekindles the special magic that draws us to these ancient paths time and again. Email the address in the show notes to join the waitlist and help shape this future journey!Support the showBecome a supporter of The Camino Cafe Podcast: 🎙️💖 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751717/support Buy Me a Coffee: ☕️💛 https://buymeacoffee.com/caminocafepodcast Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: 🔴 ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6VN9ze3z61n6tRLtDXWuQwFollow us on Instagram: 📸 https://www.instagram.com/thecaminocafepodcast/🎵 The Camino Cafe's intro and outro song is in thanks to fellow Pilgrim, Jackson Maloney. Original Song - "Finnis Terre" - written and performed by Jackson Maloney - Singer, Musician, and Songwriter.