Tom Wilmer
Host of "Journeys of Discovery" on Issues and IdeasTom Wilmer is a correspondent for the KCBX program Issues & Ideas and host of the Lowell Thomas Award-winning travel show podcast, Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer produced by KCBX Public Radio
Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer can be found on the NPR mobile app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio " and more than 20 other podcast channels around the world.
Wilmer's shows cover an array of subjects including agriculture, culture, arts, science, history, wine & spirits, and cuisine.
In addition to winning the 2023, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015 & 2013 Lowell Thomas Award (society of American Travel Writers “Best Radio Travel Show”.
Wilmer is the recipient of more than a dozen prestigious industry awards for radio, print and video, including the prestigious Tourism Australia/QANTAS "Henry Lawson Travel Writing Award" for the best North American feature about Australia as a travel destination, and more than 10 awards from the Outdoor Writers Association of California.
Primary Outlets:
- Associate Producer Canadian Geographic’s Here & There Podcast
- Culture Editor 360 Magazine (Los Angeles) 2016-present
- On-air contributor at NPR Affiliate KCBX serving California’s Central Coast September 1989-present
- NPR.ORG Digital Media Podcast Host produced by NPR affiliate KCBX January 2012-present
Wilmer has produced on-air travel shows for KCBX since 1989, and served as digital-media travel host for KRML in Carmel, California from January 2013 through December 2015.
Wilmer was Travel Editor for Central Coast Magazine in California from its inception, Travel Editor at Las Vegas Magazine (1998-2003). He has also been a frequent contributor to numerous upscale lifestyle magazines including Tahoe Quarterly, and Arizona Foothills, 805 Living, The Tasting Panel, and former Home Section columnist for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Locally he has produced features for New Times, San Luis Obispo Tribune and other regional publications.
Author of three books: Romancing the Coast; California Coast Getaways; and The Wine Seeker’s Guide to Livermore Valley. Wilmer has also produced numerous lifestyle magazine features and more than 1,500 newspaper travel feature stories. His Knight Ridder Syndicate travel features have appeared in more than 40 North American newspapers, including the Toronto Star.
On-location travel radio shows have ranged from the Arctic to African safaris, in the wheelhouse of the Rainbow Warrior II, flying in WWII bombers, navigating a micro light above Victoria Falls, sailing around Grenada, hiking through the wilds of Malaysian jungles and exploring remote atolls and isles throughout the South Pacific. His feature, recorded live at Harland & Wolfe Shipyards in Belfast Northern Ireland, celebrating the centenary of the launch of the Titanic was the recipient of a Best Travel award from Outdoor Writers Association of California.
Sampler of video/audio Awards:
- First Place Award San Luis Obispo International Film Festival: From Morros to Marshes 2017
- First Place Award Bay Area Travel Writers for Best Short Video: Pinnacles National Park 2015.
- Wilmer and his video partner, Simo Nylander produced a video for National Park Service Alcatraz Cruises, Winner of 2016 Outdoor Writers Association: California Best Video 2016
- In-depth video/audio series for the Morro Bay National Marine Estuary: 2015 "Best Outdoor Video" Award from Outdoor Writers Association of California, along with "Best Short Video" award for Morro Bay Estuary Water Quality feature
- Amgen California bike race commercial Outdoor Writers Association of California 2016
- First Place "Best Outdoor Radio Feature" Outdoor Writers Association of California: Saving Cecil's recorded live on location in Botswana 201
- "Best Outdoor Radio Series" Outdoor Writers Association of California: Audubon Rowe Sandhill Cranes, First Federally Funded Wild Mustang Refuge, Heartland Shooting Range Grand Island, Nebraska 2017
Professional Membership:
National Press Club, Washington D.C. (www.press.org)
Outdoor Writers Association of California
Links:
NPR.ORG Digital Media Podcast Directory page:
http://www.npr.org/podcasts/487364788/journeys-of-discovery-with-tom-wilmer
KCBX Program Page: http://kcbx.org/programs/journeys-discovery-tom-wilmer
360 Magazine (LA) Culture Editor: https://the360mag.com/tag/tom-wilmer-360-magazine-culture-editor/
Website: thomaswilmer.com
Twitter: @TomCWilmer
Instagram: @thomas.wilmer
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/radiotravel
You can reach Tom at thomascwilmer@gmail.com
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Join correspondent Tom Wilmer as he revisits a moment in time 35 years ago in Shanghai and a journey to one of China’s most sacred Buddhist temples in the hills above the Yangtze-river port of Ningbo. -
An “evergreen” show recorded at the 6th Floor Museum in Dallas, Texas, correspondent Tom Wilmer interviewed a reporter who covered the JFK assassination while working at a Dallas newspaper on that fateful day, November 22nd 1963. -
join correspondent Tom Wilmer for an insightful conversation with John E. Krause Lt. Commander USN (Ret.) who now serves as National Security Consultant in Washington D.C. -
Bart Topham Director at the Central Coast Veterans Museum shares stories about the events scheduled for Veterans Day and an overview of the offerings at the museum. -
Lahaina Rising producers & videographers share tales of the community’s poignant response to the deadly August, 2023 firestorm that devastated the historic town of Lahaina on the island of Maui and the community-based organization Lahaina Strong -
Join correspondent Tom Wilmer for spine chilling tales of the ghosts who haunt the Queen Mary. -
Author Robert Aquinas McNalley shares tales of John Muir and his racist attitudes in his new book, Cast out of Eden -
Correspondent Tom Wilmer visits with Emma Rhoads for an exploration of cool things to do and see in and around Pismo Beach, California. -
Erica Fryburger, GM at Paso Robles Inn shares insights about the partnership with SLO Safe Ride, offering their guests shuttles to and from Vina Robles Amphitheater, and the Inn’s fascinating history. -
The little sister of one of the Little Rock Nine recalls the terror her family lived through, followed by Robin White, superintendent at the National Historic Site at the time of the 2017 interview.
