Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

All week you may have been reading headlines about flight cancellations and soaring airfares. Well, to round off the week, I have been talking to the boss of the leading western Channel ferry operator, Brittany Ferries. Chief executive Christophe Mathieu says he can guarantee no increased prices – due to the company's policy of hedging. And he says there is no shortage of LNG or maritime fuel for his vessels.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

On St George's Day, there's no need to trim your travel sails. Despite challenging headlines travel remains in good health. My guest today, Ted Wake, managing director of Kirker Holidays, says that airlines could cut one flight in five with impunity. "There is scope for the airlines to trim their schedules in the coming months without having any appreciable impact on consumers."This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

Six months ago, Hawaiian Airlines became part of the Alaska Air Group, with the understanding that its identity as the carrier to, from and within the Pacific state would continue. Today, 22 April, the enterprise joins the Oneworld airline alliance.Chief executive Diana Birkett Rakow has been telling me about her airline, the state of Hawaii and the benefits of an airline alliance.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

Today I'm talking about the deep south of the world, with conservation biologist Dr Louise Blight – whose book of that title is published today. The work – part science, part adventure and part travelogue – is subtitled "A Story of Penguins, People and Place in Antarctica".Louise told me about her time on Ross Island – and the emotions of life taken to extremes.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

It is more than 40 years since BA last connected its main base, London Heathrow, with the Channel Island of Guernsey. I was on board the first departure from the isle – a notable operation with both pilots and all but one of the cabin crew being Guernsey born and bread.While I waited for the flight I talked to Zoe Gosling, Lead Marketing Officer at Visit Guernsey – who had just flown in from Heathrow.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

Paul Goldstein, wildlife photographer and expedition leader, is just back from Baffin Island in Canada – where the temperature, with wind chill, dropped to minus 50C. He talks about the rewards of such a trip – and his new fundraising project. He will walk 500 miles, and he will walk 500 more, to campaign for endangered species.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

Richard Slater, Founder and Managing Director of Henbury Travel of Macclesfield,, tells me that traveller confidence took a knock when the US and Israel began their attack on Iran – but that people are now booking again in normal numbers.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

Today's podcast is rather different from usual. For the first time, I am talking about driving tests but not any driving test. This one involves the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll – Suzi Quatro – who has been on the road, and on the roads for almost 60 years.This year, though she was told she must take a British driving test. Susie has also become a British national. And Tonight she is playing the London Palladium.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

Eighteen years ago, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia after years of turmoil following the break-up of Yugoslavia. Serbia still regards Kosovo as part of its territory, but more than 100 countries recognise the nation. I flew into the capital, Pristina, which sprawls surprisingly far for a city of under a quarter-million people – but which has a compact and walkable centre. Among the highlights is the Ethnographic Museum, where I met curator Ilir Sopjani.I also visited Prizren, a city close to the Albanian border – which has a handsome Serbian Orthodox cathedral. I got talking to a guide there, Angela, who told me this is a community with room for everyone.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.