Winging It Travel Podcast · Monday, September 14, 2026
James Hammond describes the 'archive trap,' where editing past travel footage, such as drone shots of Finland, evokes intense longing to return to those carefree days. This process of reliving memories through editing can be a form of self-torture, making the present feel too rigid.
“And it's the archive trap, right? When I'm there editing my video, and it's drone footage of a lake in Finland, and the blue skies you've ever seen, the green scenery of trees, calmness of the water, the little cabin that we stayed at, and just those carefree days of getting up, going into the sauna, going to the lake, having a coffee, nowhere to be, no time constraints, and doing what you want for the whole day.”
“And all those feelings came across to me whilst editing this video and I thought, I just want to be back. Do you ever get that? You look back at a video, maybe it's social media real, or if you're a creator like me, editing a YouTube video or doing a podcast. Do you ever make your notes and think, oh, those are great days.”
“So I think rewatching old clips, more from fun remembrance into self-torture a little bit. I mean, like I said, when I was watching those video clips of the drone footage, I had that. I also edited my latest video in Tallinn for my Roving with Hammo YouTube vlog account. And even then, I'd text my mate Bambi saying, God, great days, get me back.”