Lost Cultures: Living Legacies

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Latest Episodes:

The Sámi: A Story of Resilience Jun 18, 2025

In this moving and deeply personal episode of "Lost Cultures: Living Legacies", host Alisha Prakash takes listeners to the Arctic homeland of the Sámi people, the Indigenous communities of Sápmi, a vast region spanning Norway, Sweden, Finland, and northwest Russia. We speak with three Sámi voices from Norway: renowned musician Mari Boine, professor of sociology Astri Dankertsen, and reindeer herder and cultural guide Jon Mikkel Eirá. Together, they share how Sámi traditions like joiking, reindeer herding, and land stewardship continue to adapt and thrive despite generations of cultural suppression. Their stories trace how songs once banned by missionaries now resound on global stages, how ancient herding practices have merged with modern technology, and how Sámi knowledge speaks urgently to the challenges of climate change. They also offer thoughtful guidance on how visitors can meaningfully connect with Sámi culture today.

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Encore: The Rapa Nui: The Actual Name of Easter Island and its People Jun 11, 2025

You’ve likely heard of “Easter Island” and the giant stone statues that famously reside there, confounding people who can’t understand how people could have made and moved them so long in the past. But did you know that the island and the people that live here are actually called Rapa Nui? Or that the artistry and engineering of those statues are a key reason that the people there were able to survive on such a remote island with limited resources? Filmmaker and member of the Rapa Nui community Sergio Mata’u Rapu and Professor Carl Lipo share the history and culture of the Rapa Nui and how the people living there today – or in the far flung diaspora – still rely on the lessons of their ancestors today.

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Baghdadi Jews of Calcutta: “Carrying Our Heritage in Our Hearts” Jun 04, 2025

Explore the rich history of Calcutta's Baghdadi Jewish community with host Alisha Prakash. Rahel Musleah, a journalist, educator, and singer who leads tours through her company Explore Jewish India, shares accounts of her family’s deep roots in Calcutta and the customs preserved by the diaspora. Jael Silliman, a writer and scholar, offers a broader view of the Baghdadi Jewish experience, drawing from her own family history and her ongoing efforts to document and protect the group’s legacy. We learn how these families built thriving networks, traded across Asia, and integrated into Indian society while maintaining their distinct religious and cultural identity.

You can find us online at travelandleisure.com/lostcultures

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The Kānaka Maoli of Hawai‘i: Rooted in Aloha May 28, 2025

In this episode of Lost Cultures: Living Legacies, we journey to the Hawaiian islands to explore the deep roots and living traditions of Kānaka Maoli, the Native Hawaiian people. Our guests, all Kānaka Maoli, include Dr. Uluwehi Hopkins, a professor of Hawaiian and world history, Evan Mokuahi Hayes, a cultural practitioner and founder of Detour Hawai‘i and Hawaiian Tour Co., and Hokulani Holt Padilla, a renowned kumu hula. Together, they lead us through Hawai‘i’s layered past, from Polynesian voyaging and the rise of the Hawaiian Kingdom to colonization, statehood, and the islands’ vibrant cultural renaissance. Through their lived experiences and ancestral knowledge, they reveal how Hawaiians continue to reclaim, protect, and celebrate their heritage. They also share thoughtful insight on how visitors can engage with the islands in a respectful and meaningful way.

You can find us online at travelandleisure.com/lostcultures

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Bermuda: The Crossroads of the Atlantic May 21, 2025

On the Season 2 debut of Lost Cultures: Living Legacies, we travel to Bermuda, an Atlantic island whose history spans centuries and continents. Once uninhabited, Bermuda became a vital stop in transatlantic trade, a maritime stronghold, and a cultural crossroads shaped by African, European, Caribbean, and Native American influences. Guests Dr. Kristy Warren and Dr. Edward Harris trace its transformation from an uninhabited island to a strategic outpost shaped by shipwrecks, colonization, the transatlantic slave trade, and the rise and fall of empires. Plus, former Director of Tourism Gary Phillips shares the story of the Gombey tradition, a vibrant performance art rooted in resistance, migration, and cultural fusion. Together, they reveal how Bermuda’s layered past continues to shape its people, culture, and identity today.

You can also find us online at ⁠travelandleisure.com/lostcultures

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Season 2: Launching May 21, 2025 May 14, 2025

What can we discover about a place by exploring the histories of those who once lived there–and those who live there still ? In what ways do cultures build upon each other as populations come and go? How do they complement each other, interact, and leave their marks on the people that come after them? And are cultures truly ever lost, even if the people move on or evolve and adapt? Lost Cultures: Living Legacies—the award-winning podcast from Travel + Leisure—returns for Season 2 on Wednesday, May 21! This season, we’re diving into the stories of vibrant communities around the globe, including the Kānaka Maoli of Hawai‘i, the Sámi of Norway, the Baghdadi Jewish community of India, and more. Join us as we kick off the season with an episode about Bermuda - an island with a deep cultural heritage and rich history. Be sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss an episode.

You can also find us online at ⁠travelandleisure.com/lostcultures

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Cajuns & Creoles: The Stunningly Adaptive People of South Louisiana Jun 28, 2023

Cadie. Acadie. Acadian. Cajun. Acadiana. These words are part of the history and culture that developed in south Louisiana over the course of the last three centuries. They're an integral part of telling their story — but they can't do it alone. Combining elements from various peoples who traveled from several continents, this mix of cultures is so unique, even a gumbo metaphor isn't complex enough to describe it. Professor Barry Ancelet, musician Louis Michot, and entrepreneur Marie Dacote-Comeaux guide us through the distinctive fusion of tradition and history of the Cajun and Creole people of south Louisiana — and explain how recent efforts have helped to revitalize and popularize their culture, largely in response to concerted efforts to suppress it for several decades before.

Alisha Prakash - Host / Associate Editorial Director, Travel + Leisure
Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer
Jeremiah McVay - Writer, Producer, & Audio Editor
Dominique Arciero - Audio Engineer
Stacey Leasca - Researcher
Kyle Avallone - Fact-checker
Reviewed by Bryan A'Hearn - Panelist, Dotdash Meredith’s Anti-Bias Review Board.
Thanks to Mackenzie Price - Director of Anti-Bias Initiatives.
Jennifer Del Sole - Director for Audio Growth Strategy & Operations
Nina Ruggiero - Digital Editorial Director, Travel + Leisure
Maya Kachroo-Levine - Luxury and Experiences Editor, Travel + Leisure.

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The Taino: A Constantly Evolving Caribbean Identity Jun 21, 2023

When researcher Jorge Estevez visited the Smithsonian as a boy, he saw a sign that stated his people had “disappeared” four centuries before. How did this claim become conventional wisdom? To get to know the history of the Taino people is to understand the effects of brutal colonization combined with historical misinformation — and the process of cultural fusion, which created a people with roots tied to indigenous Caribbean, European, and African ancestors. Estevez guides us through the story of the Taino people, while Irka Mateo explains some of their spiritual beliefs. Meanwhile, Valerie Varga, Estevez’s wife, shares some of the destinations that are important to the Taino along with tips on how to visit them as a mindful tourist.

For more info visit travelandleisure.com/lostcultures

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The Nubians of Egypt: Preserving a Lost Homeland Jun 14, 2023

How is it that people belonging to one of the oldest civilizations in the world have lost so much of their ancestral homeland? What steps must they take to preserve their culture in the face of such challenging circumstances? Anthropologist Yasmin Moll and Dr. Menna Agha, along with Mona Sherif-Nelson, founder of the Nubian Foundation, share the history of the Nubian people of Egypt, delve into the ways women played a central role in their culture, and address how modernization has forced them to scatter across the country and the world. They discuss how, as they venture into the future, the Nubian people of today are adapting and finding creative ways to keep their culture alive and connected to its past.

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The Rapa Nui: The Actual Name of Easter Island and its People Jun 07, 2023

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Encore: The Undiscovered Story of NYC's Lower East Side May 31, 2023

New York City’s Lower East Side has been home to many communities, from the Lenape to Dutch and English colonizers to an influx of groups from Europe, China, Puerto Rico, and the American South. How has each arrival and exodus affected the neighborhood — not just in terms of size, but also sustained cultural impact? The Tenement Museum's Dolan Cochran guides us through the history of the Lower East Side, shedding light on the indelible marks each group has left, making it a culturally rich destination for travelers from around the world. Actor Luis Guzmán also joins us to share memories of growing up in the neighborhood. Plus, we’ll offer recommendations from both Cochran and Guzman on the neighborhood gems to visit on your next trip.

For more info visit travelandleisure.com/lostcultures

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The Picts: The Mysterious Painted People of Scotland May 24, 2023

Of all the cultures covered on this podcast, why did the Picts come closest to actually being lost? How did these "painted people" from what is now known as Scotland largely disappear from the historical record? Fascinating recent discoveries have helped people to better understand this tribe, who the Romans once faced with fear on the fields of the British Isles. Guests Tim Clarkson and Gordon Noble share what history is known about the Picts of Scotland, as well as theories that are guiding current research — including the fact that this once nearly lost culture may have plenty of living legacies after all.

For more info visit travelandleisure.com/lostcultures

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Aboriginal Peoples: On Australia for Many Millennia and Looking to the Future May 17, 2023

Australia is a far-away destination for travelers based in most other parts of the world. Its remoteness has bred unique wildlife and, among its people, an archetypal ability to persevere. Much of the pop culture of the last 40 years may lead you to believe the continent's Aboriginal peoples descended from colonizers — but did you know this population's roots may actually trace back to the first successful seafarers in history? Or that recent research hints they may have arrived on Australia as many as 120 millenia ago? Guests Laura McBride, Tim Selwyn, and Rob Hyatt, all members of Aboriginal communities, share the history of their peoples and how they and others are working to restore, revitalize, and share their cultures, as well as how visitors can responsibly interact with them while on country.

For more info visit travelandleisure.com/lostcultures

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The Tongva: A Lasting Influence on Los Angeles May 10, 2023

Los Angeles today is an influencer on the global stage, thanks to its most well-known industry, Hollywood. And its very name hints at the earlier influence of colonizers from Spain and Mexico in the area. But who were the original influencers of the L.A. Basin? And how did this Indigenous culture help shape the way Angelenos and tourists experience the area today? Guests Kimberly Morales Johnson and Desireé Martinez, both members of the Gabrielino-Tongva community, guide us through the history of their people and tell us about the efforts to reestablish and revitalize their culture after past endeavors have attempted to limit and even erase it. They also share how visitors can interact with their history and culture in a responsible way.

For more info visit travelandleisure.com/lostcultures

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The Ainu: A Culture Too Strong for Japan to Erase May 03, 2023

The popular image of Japan is often the modern metropolis of Tokyo or its feudal history, samurai and all. But there’s also a culture you may not know about. It predates even the concept of Japan as a nation, while still existing today. So, what is this culture and why are the people still so little-known relative to other aspects of the nation they're a part of? Professors Kinko Ito and Kirsten Ziomek guide us through the history of the Ainu people in Hokkaido, Japan, revealing how that history has led them into the modern era — as well as, of course, how travelers can learn more and interact with the culture in a responsible way.

For more info visit travelandleisure.com/lostcultures

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The Maya: Truth and Lore in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula Apr 26, 2023

Many people think of the Maya as existing mainly – perhaps even solely – in the historical record, far in the past from our modern day. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. So, how have they influenced the architecture, cuisine, and culture of the Yucatan Peninsula and many of the experiences you may have there today? On this episode, we’re joined by Carlos Rosado, a tour guide and editor at Yucatán Magazine, archaeologist Dante García, who leads expeditions to caves and cenotes, and chef Alejandra Kauachi, the founder of Mexico Lindo Cooking, a company that offers cooking classes, tours to Maya villages, and culinary trips. They will discuss the history of the Maya through modern day, and how to experience Mayan culture on your next trip to Mexico.

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The Undiscovered Story of NYC's Lower East Side Apr 19, 2023

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Introducing Lost Cultures: Living Legacies, a new podcast from Travel + Leisure! Mar 24, 2023

What happens to a place when the cultures within it change over time? Lost Cultures: Living Legacies, a new podcast from Travel + Leisure, spotlights destinations that have experienced significant cultural shifts throughout history. We reveal how they build upon and complement one another, while preserving their traditions. Through conversations with archeologists, academics, artists, and local members of the communities, we recount the evolution of these enduring cultures from their beginnings to modern day. Follow us wherever you get your podcast so you don't miss an episode. New episodes every Wednesday starting April 19.

For more information visit: travelandleisure.com/lostcultures

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