Being extremely interested in travel I've checked out every travel show I could get my eyes on. Rick Steves is above and beyond, without a single doubt, THE best travel show host in the business. He is exactly the kind of American "tourist" I aspire to be. He gives you just the right amount of history with his sites, visits the places you want to visit, lets you in on valuable tips and info on making the most out of your trip, steers you away from tourist "traps", and does so in a pleasant, enthusiastic but not overly perky, narrative voice. Forget about Samantha Brown, Rudy Maxa, the Ulles... Rick is the ultimate travel "companion". My favorite podcast, based on my favorite travel shows.