About this episode

Fergal O'Keeffe discusses the legacy of Anthony Bourdain with guest Brin-Jonathan Butler on what would have been Bourdain's 70th birthday.

Today, 25 June, would have been Anthony Bourdain's 70th birthday, and in this special episode I'm marking it with a conversation with the writer and broadcaster Brin-Jonathon Butler about the man, the myth, and everything in between. I couldn't pick a better subject and guest for my final episode of this season. We chat about the life and legacy of a man who changed the way so many of us think about food, travel, people and the world. Bourdain was a complicated man. Brilliant and difficult, generous and self-destructive, fiercely curious about other people's lives while clearly wrestling with his own. Bourdain showed a generation of travellers that the real story of a place is often told at the table. He showed us that travel was not just about where you go, what you eat, or what you see. It was about who you meet, how you listen, and what you are willing to understand. To help explore his legacy, I am delighted to be joined by writer Brin-Jonathan Butler. Brin has written powerfully about Bourdain, including his acclaimed essay Giving Up the Ghost , which reflects not only on Bourdain's life and death, but also on identity, travel, fame, and what it means to spend your life…

People in this episode

Host: Fergal O'Keeffe

Guest: Brin-Jonathan Butler

Topics covered

• Anthony Bourdain
• legacy
• travel
• food
• identity
• culture

Keywords

• Anthony Bourdain
• Brin-Jonathan Butler
• travel
• food
• legacy
• identity
• culture
• podcast

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tourist Information

Books & works: Giving Up the Ghost

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