Welcome to Traveling Through, a podcast hosted by David Prior, where we trace the places, encounters, and unexpected discoveries that have influenced some of today’s most creative minds. Listen on Apple Music, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
For Nate Berkus, memories of his favorite trips aren’t confined to photographs—they also live on his shelves, tables, and walls.
Over four decades of collecting antiques, reimagining homes, and building a life between New York and Portugal, the celebrated designer sees travel as a way to stay connected not only to other cultures but also to one’s past. “Interiors really do represent who [people have] been, what they've loved, and what they've lost,” he says in the latest episode of Traveling Through, adding that nearly every object he owns has a memory—and a place—attached to it.
The best shopping, according to Berkus, is often found in flea markets and antique shops. They’re his first stops in almost any city, where he hunts for objects that have patina and provenance. In the episode, he explains what separates a worthwhile find from a forgettable souvenir and shares the surprisingly simple rule he follows before buying pieces while abroad.
The conversation turns unexpectedly personal when Berkus reflects on returning to Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami that claimed the life of his partner, Fernando—a journey Oprah Winfrey ultimately persuaded him to take. Standing once again where the tragedy occurred was, in his words, “one of the most restorative, most incredible moments of my life.”
Elsewhere in the episode, Berkus talks about the places he returns to for inspiration, including Luang Prabang, Laos; Mérida, Mexico (where he hosted a PRIOR x Capital One trip last March); and Portugal's Alentejo region—where he and his husband, Jeremiah Brent, now own a farmhouse that graced last month’s cover of Architectural Digest.
By the end of the conversation, you may find yourself rethinking what deserves a spot in your own suitcase the next time you’re on the road.
Traveling Through is proudly presented by Capital One. Jenna Lyons, Athena Calderone, and Nate Berkus are each hosting exclusive Capital One x PRIOR journeys—once-in-a-lifetime experiences designed for curious travelers. Eligible cardholders can book on Capital One Entertainment.
Watch the full episode above, or listen by subscribing on Apple Music or Spotify.
