Where storytelling meets science…
Explore how history, travel and neuroscience come together with in-depth stories, audio notes and interactive sessions from a doctor turned award-winning journalist.
FIELD NOTES
From: a neuroscientist and doctor turned travel journalist with twenty years of experience.
For: curious travellers who want to go further than quick lists and clickbait.
Inside the Membership
No apps to download. No platforms to log into. Every issue, audio track, and protocol lands directly in your inbox.
In-Depth Articles
Go beyond the surface with monthly long-form features that combine cultural history, scientific insight, and narrative storytelling. Designed for curious minds.
Audio Correspondence
Hear the story behind the story and the sound from the ground with these raw audio notes and reflections.
Downloads
Every issue includes a printable ‘Protocol’ PDF featuring logistics, recommendations, and helpful tools.
Exclusive Monthly Q & A
Submit questions and receive the monthly audio digest of answers direct to your inbox (with transcription.)
No live calls, no time-zone headaches, no camera stress.
Join as a Founding Member
Join as a Founding Member during our launch phase to lock in this $12 rate for life. As the Lab grows, the price for new members will increase – but yours never will. And if you opt for the Annual Research Pass, that’s only $6.58 a month.
You’ll get voting rights and an extra quarterly update, while knowing you’re helping to keep independent, high-standard travel journalism alive.
Behind the Lens Audio Tour
Founding members will also get immediate access to an exclusive 5-photo audio gallery. Scroll through unreleased shots from the archives while listening to a personal audio track sharing the raw, unedited stories behind each photo.
Who it’s for
You’re in the right place if:
- You love learning about the background of a place and why things happen the way they do.
- You miss the era of long-form journalism and value a deep read.
- You travel with a conscience and care about the people, places and cultures that you visit.
- You’re curious about how travel interacts with your brain, your body and your perspective.
- It’s important to you to support things you value and want to see more of in the world, like independent travel writing.
- You have questions!
Who it’s not for
This probably isn’t for you if:
- You’re looking for backpacking tips or nightlife and party guides.
- You just want a generic top-10 itinerary. You can get that from ChatGPT.
- Not sure? You can take a look at our sample Issue 00 here.
Who am I?
My name is Abi and I studied neuroscience before working as a doctor in intensive care. Then I switched to travel journalism. I’ve now spent two decades travelling the world and bringing the stories home.
Field Notes is where I combine those two worlds: the precision of science with the soul of storytelling.
“Abigail brings a stylish voice to her travel pieces. Her pieces are well-researched and nicely detailed. She makes my job easy as an editor.”
“Abigail King is a pioneer in the blogger and travel influencer sphere. She demonstrates best practices and impeccable professionalism.”
The Case for Independent Journalism
Why pay when you can find information online for free?
The truth is, the way the internet works is changing. To keep content ‘free,’ most websites have to prioritise for algorithms and compete with a flood of AI-generated summaries. They need ads to survive.
Field Notes is my space to step away from that digital noise.
In Field Notes, I don’t have to worry about ‘SEO optimisation’ and checking the right boxes for the search engines and AI robots.
I can focus entirely on the craft: deep storytelling, authentic audio, and the kind of nuanced, human-led research that an algorithm simply can’t replicate.
You’re paying for a space where the reader – not the algorithm – comes first.
Select Your Membership
While you can join monthly for $12, I recommend the Annual Research Pass ($79). It’s the most sustainable way to support independent journalism, bringing the cost down to just $6.58 per month.
Monthly
$12
Travel as you go
Recommended
Annual
$79
Researcher pass
FAQs
Each month, you will receive an email with the fresh article, audio notes and PDF to download. You can read the article within the email and click on the links to access the audio and PDF. No new platform to understand and battle with.
Likewise, you will receive an email about the Q&A. It’s simple and private.
It’s simple and private. Every month, I’ll send a prompt to members to submit their questions via a private form. I then record a ‘Voice Q&A’ dispatch where I answer the top questions – covering everything from travel ethics and photography tips to specific logistical advice. You don’t have to show up on camera or speak to anyone; you just listen to the audio briefing at your convenience.
You don’t need to tune in to anything live. You don’t need to have your name associated with your question.
We do have to have a few caveats:
We’re not an online travel agency. We can’t build detailed, individual itineraries but we can give an “expert steer” on their plans.
We obviously won’t answer any inappropriate or personal questions!
Of course! There are no ‘Lab’ experiments with your bank account. You can cancel your subscription at any time through your member portal. You will continue to have access to the materials until the end of your current billing cycle. We cannot offer a refund for unused portions of the billing cycle.
Of course! Simply email [email protected] and someone will get back to you.
Don’t worry – we have members from all over the world. While the membership is listed in USD for administrative simplicity, you can sign up using any major credit card or currency.
When you join, your bank or card provider will automatically handle the conversion for you based on the current exchange rate. There’s no need for you to do any math or manual transfers; it works exactly like any other international online purchase.
The free newsletter provides curated news and quick travel tips. Field Reports is a deep-dive experience. It includes exclusive narrative features, raw audio recorded on-site, and ‘The Lab Protocol’—a downloadable PDF with my vetted logistics and gear lists that aren’t published anywhere else. It also provides access to the monthly Q&A.
Yes. As long as you remain an active member, your rate will never increase. We are offering this $12/month (or $79/year) rate exclusively to our first wave of supporters to thank you for helping us launch this independent venture.
Absolutely. I wouldn’t expect a anyone to commit to a decision without seeing the data first! You can explore Issue 00 for free to get a feel for the depth of the reporting, the quality of the ‘Protocols,’ and the tone of our audio dispatches. It’s the best way to see if my style of ‘slow travel journalism’ is the right fit for your curiosity.
Note – this article has appeared on the main Lab site in the past but all future issues will be brand new and you will not be able to find them on the site.
Because membership grants immediate access to our library of downloads, long-form stories, and audio archives, we do not offer refunds. However, there is no long-term commitment – you can cancel your subscription at any time with a single click in your member portal, and you will continue to have access until the end of your current billing period.
Inside the Travel Lab is a publication of Silver Footprint Ltd (UK Co. No. 06464260). Content is for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. This site uses affiliate links; see our Small Print for details. © 2026 All Rights Reserved. Refunds are not offered due to the immediate access nature of the purchase. However, customers can cancel at any time.
