Celebrating Visiting 80 countries by the time he was 80 would be enough for most 80 year olds, but Ron Esplin is not most 80 year olds…
By Julie Woods | Posted: Tuesday Apr 22, 2025
Around the world in 80 minutes is a podcast series based on the book Around the world in 80 years written by his wife Julie Woods, illustrated by Mr Esplin himself.
In these eight ten minute episodes, the pair cover the 80 countries Ron visited by the time he was 80.
“Not many ten year olds have been one and a half times around the world” says Julie. "We wanted to create this podcast to lift Ron’s story from the pages of a book to hear it in Ron’s own voice.”
Whether it’s seeing his first banana in the Pitcairn Islands, or getting his hair cut by a barber in Prague, this series chronicles Ron’s life from Scotland to Dunedin and how his love of travel took him to so many places around the world.
Starting with this first series Around the world in 80 minutes, the pair have plans to record more of their travel adventures. The world in 360 minutes is a sound project containing 36 ten-minute episodes taking listeners across the globe including visiting the Seven Wonders of the World. The two adventurers explore what they see when they travel, Julie through her four senses, and Ron through his paintbrush.
Attached is the painting by Ron Esplin of the RMS Ruahine in the Panama Canal which Ron sailed on in 1952 on their way to New Zealand, the first time…
There’s also a photograph of Ron in Egypt in 2009.
Around the world in 80 minutes has been produced by Otago Access Radio at 43 Princes Street, Dunedin.
Commencing Saturday 26 April, 2025, new episodes for these eight ten minute podcasts will broadcast weekly at 10:00 am on Saturdays on OAR 105.4FM.
The podcast can also be found on
For any enquiries about Around the world in 80 minutes or the project The world in 360 minutes please contact:
Julie Woods (she/her)
Professional Speaker, Author, Advocate & Coach
021 913 513