Welcome!
My journalism career and curiosity about the world started while working as a copy boy for the Wall Street Journal. I’ve logged over a million miles in my travels across the globe, from Morocco to China, up to the Arctic Circle and across Southern Africa. In addition to overseas destinations, I often feature destinations around America focused on people, culture, arts, music, history, food, wine and spirits.
Most of the posts featured here are expanded versions of my regular KCBX/NPR Digital Media Podcast shows from the seven-time Lowell Thomas Award-winning podcast and on-air show, Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer, featured on KCBX.ORG, Apple Podcasts, NPR One (app), NPR.ORG Podcast Directory, iHeart Radio, Spotify and other podcast channels around the world.
Thanks for being here— enjoy the trip!
Tom
2023 Lowell Thomas Gold Award for Best Radio Broadcast featured on NPR Podcast Directory and NPR affiliate KCBX
Recent Adventures and Musings
Exploring historic Las Vegas, New Mexico–an Audio Immersion Excursion
by Thomas Wilmer with on-location audio interviews Urban Émigrés find paradise in historic Las Vegas, New Mexico At one time Las Vegas, New Mexico was the largest town in the entire Southwest. The advent of... READ MORE
America’s mayors–unsung frontline warriors
By Thomas Wilmer American mayors and city council members serve on the front lines of our society—they interact on a daily basis with local constituents…and thus mayors and town council members have a... READ MORE
Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
Explore hghlights of the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival on the Big Island of Hawaii November 1st through November 10th. Celebrating its 49th year, the ten-day affair is Hawaii’s oldest food festival. Of course the legendary Kona coffee... READ MORE
Why Knoxville Rocks
When people think of Tennessee, Nashville and Memphis get the prime spotlight, and they most often make the top of the to-do list for travelers. But Knoxville has an abundance of attractions that... READ MORE
A visit with “Teddy” at Teddy’s Juke Joint in the heart Louisiana’s realm of the Swamp Blues
Following a pitch-black night drive along on a gravel road, we have arrived at Teddy’s Juke Joint for a visit with Lloyd Johnson Junior. Known fondly throughout the South as Teddy, the 73-year-old... READ MORE
Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way & Dublin’s “Bar With No Name”
Niall Gibbons, CEO of Dublin based Tourism Ireland shares his passion for exploring Ireland and experiencing the 1,600 mile-long Wild Atlantic Way on the NPR One Podcast. Second half of the show we’ll... READ MORE
When I fell in love with Hawaii
As a 15 year-old in 1965 I painted houses on weekends throughout the school year. My dad knew I really wanted to go to Hawaii so he arranged for me to live with... READ MORE
Texas Country Musician–from Nashville to space shuttle Atlantis
Texas Hill Country based Country Western musician John Arthur Martinez has written more than 700 songs, and produced 13 albums including his latest, San Antonio Woman. One of Martinez’s songs went intergalactic—accompanying the... READ MORE