Travel With Meaning
Mike Schibel, Travel With Meaning
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Travel stories that have impacted the lives and careers of artists, entertainers, athletes, entrepreneurs, CEO’s and travel experts. Hosted by Mike Schibel, Founder of Travel With Meaning.
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5 days ago
Episode 109: Matt Meltzer
In the latest edition of the TWM podcast, Episode 109 unfolds a captivating conversation with the intriguing and unconventional Matt Meltzer, a distinguished travel journalist.
Matt delves into his early travel recollections, sharing how one of his adventures as a teenager fueled his decision to enlist in the military. Alongside anecdotes of the unique characters he has encountered on his journeys, Matt's passion for exploring less-traveled destinations makes his genuine travel narratives both enthralling and enlightening for us all.
Renowned for his zeal in discovering off-the-beaten-path locales, Matt's tales, coupled with his authentic connection with people, offer valuable insights and entertainment. Injecting a dose of playfulness into his escapades, Matt is famously known for traveling with a Muppet companion, doubling as his twin, and has even spearheaded a campaign for a tourism board with Matty the Muppet. Give muppet a follow on Instagram @mattymeltzer
The interestingly hilarious story of Matt's love for Buffalo and the Buffalo Bills is worth listening to the episode just for this tale alone.
This episode was recorded in front live audience, as part of the Andeana Hats pop-up event at the Water Gardens in Santa Monica, CA.
As always, we would greatly appreciate your support in liking and sharing this episode on social media, tagging @Travelwithmeaning. Feel free to leave us a positive review on your preferred podcast platform.
See you on the open road!
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Aug 10, 2023
Episode 108: Bruce Wallin
Episode 108 of the Travel With Meaning podcast features a conversation with Bruce Wallin, a travel journalist who has experienced his share of meaningful adventures.
As editorial director for Robb Report for 15 years covering luxury travel to co-founding Trip magazine in the nineties, and today as the host of the award-winning #travelthatmatters podcast.
In our conversation, Bruce shares his thoughts on wellness travel, and what sparked his desire to enter travel publishing + journalism and his most meaningful adventure.
Bruce sums up what travel means to him simply as “fun” and we couldn’t agree more.
Enjoy our conversation with Bruce.
#Travelwithmeaning #Travelstories #Travel
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Jun 21, 2023
Episode 107: Ruben Rojas (Live at the Fairmont Santa Monica)
Episode 107 is a special conversation recorded in front of a live audience at the infamous Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, CA.
This podcast features one of our favorite past guests, Ruben Rojas an artist, author, podcast host, a new dad, and Founder of Live Through Love.
It had been five years since we sat down with Ruben in front of a live audience and wow how his life, career, and travels evolved since 2018. Click here to listen to the past episode's conversation.
In this exciting episode, Ruben shares his adventures, projects, and connections he's had over the past few years that shaped a new lens of meaning in his life.
We learn about how Ruben's project with the city he calls home, Santa Monica, and the mural painted in Brighton Beach, England as part of a sister city initiative came to be.
The live recording of this episode with Ruben could not have been possible without the support of the Fairmont Miramar, Santa Monica, and our partners for the evening - Bombay Sapphire, Arvin Goods, and Eagle Creek.
Show highlights:
12:20 Ruben shares about an incredible partnership he's formed with the NFL. As a former football player himself, this partnership is a dream come true to spread LOVE through a CHOOSE LOVE campaign.
21:37 Experience of leaving his hometown of Santa Monica and coming back with a new appreciation.
23:27: Santa Monica and Brighton, England sister city project.
24:40: How has his life changed as a traveler with a two-year-old son.
28:40: How does he live through love when he travels.
29:50: Ruben's most meaningful travel experience.
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May 11, 2023
Episode 106: Dan Demsky
Episode 106 of the podcast features a conversation with Co-Founder and CEO of Unbound Merino,Dan Demsky. An intrepid business leader, and serial entrepreneur, Dan started Unbound Merino as a way to offer travelers freedom through simplicity. In just five years, Dan has transformed the company from a small crowdfunding campaign to an international brand worn by travelers, entrepreneurs, and minimalists across the globe. With a wealth of knowledge and experience in the startup space, Dan has appeared on BNN Bloomberg and has been featured in publications such as Forbes, The Globe and Mail, VICE, and more. He is also a board member of Entrepreneurs’ Organization Toronto and a regular contributor to Learn with Shopify. When he isn’t traveling, Dan enjoys live music, good food, and spending time with his pug, Walter
Highlights of this episode:
Dan shares his first big trip to Japan which was a gift from his brother and had a drastic effect on him. 3:47-4:21
Dan shares a big tradition he and his best friends share when going to see their favorite band in the world Phish. No matter where they are in the world, when this happens, Dan is present to how good his life is in that moment. 9:37-12:12
Dan also shares travel advice 14:31-15:10
For more information on Dan and Unbound Merino visit ww.unboundmerino.com
This episode was sponsored UnCruise, the leading small-ship adventure company. If you're looking for a memorable and meaningful adventure in pristine nature with unique activties, gourmet meals, and so much more, visitwww.uncruise.com
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Apr 26, 2023
Episode 105 (Part 2): Amy and Nick Thomson
Episode 105 is a two-part series with Amy and Nick Thomson, podcasters and creators of What The Pho Travel Podcast (WTP).
Amy is a former BBC Radio producer and current podcast production business founder. Nick Thomson is a podcast producer at Manchester United Football Club Together they are, What The Pho Travel Podcast. They travel around the globe making a travel podcast to entertain, inspire and teach you about the world.
In part two of Episode 105 we learn about Nick and Amy the travelers. Who are they as individual travelers, as a couple, and where did the idea for WTP podcast come from?
We’re big fans of Nick and Amy and hope you will be as well after listening to episode 105. Enjoy!
If you like what you’ve heard, please live a rating, comment, and share with your friends.
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Apr 24, 2023
EPISODE 105: Amy and Nick Thomson
Episode 105 is a two-part series with Amy and Nick Thomson, podcasters and creators of "What The Pho" (WTP) Travel Podcast.
Amy is a former BBC Radio producer and current podcast production business founder. Nick Thomson is a podcast producer at Manchester United Football Club. Together they are, What The Pho Travel Podcast. They travel around the globe making a travel podcast to entertain, inspire and teach you about the world.
In part one of episode 105 we hear about Amy and Nick meeting Mike from WTM on an adventure in Austria as part of the Untold Stories Series with Austria Tourism. This trip was an absolute dream itinerary. Nick, Amy, and Mike retell the stories from their Austrian adventure and why they think Austria is an underrated wellness mecca.
It’s pretty clear in this episode there was an instant appreciation and friendship between Nick, Amy, and Mike, the rest is podcast history and a fun episode to enjoy!
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Apr 7, 2023
Episode 104: Christine Peterson
On this episode of the Travel With Meaning podcast, we meet Christine Peterson, a freelance writer based in southeast Wyoming. TWM podcast host Mike Schibel met Christine on a trip to Ganglers Lodge in Northern Manitoba. This conversation shares the unique adventure of Gangelers Lodge and Christine's lens as a journalist covering wildlife, the environment, hunting, fishing, outdoor recreation, and public lands. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, High Country News, Outside, Outdoor Life, and many other publications. When she's not writing, she's wandering the West with her husband, 6-year-old daughter, and two yellow Labradors (one greying, the other very much a puppy). Give Christine a follow on Instagram @ she.will.roam
As Always we appreciate the support. Please like, and share this episode to help spread meaningful and memorable travel stories.
BIG thank you to our episode sponsor UnCruise, the small boat adventure company (www.uncruise.com)
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Mar 28, 2023
Episode 103: Jen Ruiz
In episode 103 of the podcast, we talk with Jen Ruiz, AKA Jen On A Jet Plane. Jen is a truly unique professional who transformed her life and career through incredible travel experiences. Jen is a lawyer turned full-time travel blogger and author. She is a 5-time Amazon bestselling author, 3-time TEDx speaker and multi-award-winning travel journalist. She has been featured by The Washington Post, Forbes, and ABC News and is the solo female traveler behind Jen on a Jet Plane.
In our conversation, Jen shares with us her reasons to leave the law career behind, and what is her inspiration for her travels. For more information on Jen visit www.jenonajetplane.com
Please give Travel With Meaning a follow on social
@TravelWith Meaning
If you liked this episode please leave a comment and share it with your community.
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Mar 7, 2023
Episode 102: Lillian Rafson
In the latest episode of the Travel With Meaning podcast, host Mike Schibel speaks with Lillian Rafson, the CEO and founder of Pack Up + Go. Originally from Pittsburgh, Lillian shares how her passion for travel after a carefree Summer backpacking around a region she knew nothing about led her to start her own company that plans surprise trips for its customers.
Pack Up + Go, encourages spontaneity, exploration, and adventure among American travelers. She launched the bootstrapped business at 23 years old and has grown it to 25+ team members and $7 million+ in annual revenue. Lillian has been honored as a member of the Pittsburgh 30 Under 30 and 40 Under 40, a Tory Burch Foundation Fellow, a Travel & Leisure A-List Travel Planner, and a Top Woman in Hospitality. Outside of Pack Up + Go, Lillian is a business coach, focusing on helping entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses!
Show Notes:
15:22 This could be one of the most ambitious ideas for a passionate traveler about starting a new job.
26:24: Where did the idea for surprise travel come from? Where was Lillian and who were where the other travelers that got Lillian thinking about the idea?
30:57: Who was the first guests to try Pack Up + Go and how did the brand go viral?
As always thanks for listening. If you like the episode, please leave a rating and share it with your friends.
For more information on Pack Up+Go www.packupgo.com
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Feb 28, 2023
Episode 101: Katalina Mayorga
In this episode, we're joined by a woman who's blazing a trail in the travel industry and never intended to start a travel company. As the Colombian-American founder and CEO of El Camino Travel, Katalina Mayorga has been on a mission to change the way women travel, making it more accessible and inclusive. Katalina shares the two meaningful moments while in Guatemala (19:00) that changed the course of her life.
As a veteran of the travel industry, she has led El Camino to become one of the fastest-growing experiential marketplaces and subscription services that empower women to travel boldly and off the beaten path. She’s equally determined to develop the technology that will make a positive impact by supporting the local operators who are critical to the experience but lack the tech stack to grow and scale. Katalina has been featured in the New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, and Washington Post, among several other prominent media outlets, and is often tapped for her expertise in emerging trends within the travel industry.
If this episode makes you want to travel or at least smile, please like and share it with your community. We appreciate your support.
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Jan 23, 2023
EPISODE 100: Linda Schibel
Welcome to episode 100 of the Travel with Meaning podcast! We're excited to celebrate this milestone by sharing a very special episode with our listeners. In this episode, we're joined by my travel inspiration, my mom, Linda Schibel. In this episode, we delve into mom’s earliest travel memories and explore where her wanderlust comes from. We also reminisce about our family trips to our cabin in northern Minnesota and a road trip we took together in Scotland. Additionally, we discuss her impactful adventures in Africa, Paris, and Israel. Join us as we share my mom’s unique perspective on travel and the meaningful experiences it has brought to our lives.
Thanks for tuning in and for all the encouragement and support of Travel With Meaning. I hope to see you on the open road!
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Dec 28, 2022
Episode 99: Solocast - 2022 Recap
Hello Travelers!
What a year 2022 has been! TWM is beyond grateful for all of you and your support of the podcast and for sharing meaningful travel stories.
This episode is a recap of travels, unique experiences, and inspiring conversations from this past year.
Our most meaningful episode recorded this year was 98A and 98B with Owen Conflenti recorded at the Westin Hilton Head, absolutely one of our favorite podcast conversations ever!
We're very excited to officially announce the launch of the How To Travel With Meaning course. Helping to identify past meaningful moments to offer ways to travel with more meaning in the future. The feedback on the course has been incredible. Click the workshop link on the Travel With Meaning website or click here to check it out. Use the code "Community" for added discount.
A BIG thank you to Your Travel Analyst, Claire Burt for all her passion and support of the HTTWM course.
So excited to continue to share meaningful conversations with extra…
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Dec 15, 2022
Episode 98B: Owen Conflenti
Episode 98B - This is part two of the conversation recorded at the Westin Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. If you haven't listened to 98A with Steve French from the Westin make sure you do so.
In this episode, we talk with news anchor Owen Conflenti, who's been getting up at 2:30 am for seventeen years to deliver the morning news in Houston. Owen has amassed a large social media following of over one million followers on Tik Tok offering a fun approach to the sometimes heavy work of delivering the news.
Owen and TWM podcast host Mike Schibel were college broadcasting partners at Emerson College. Winning Associated Press Best College Sports Radio show two years in a row and play-by-play announcers for the Emerson basketball team.
In this episode, Mike and Owen talk about some of their past shared experiences, reminisce on college adventures, and Owen talks about his connection to the Carolinas. Owen also gets very vulnerable about his feelings about travel, how this trip was an…
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Dec 15, 2022
Episode 98a: Hilton Head, The Low Country with Steve French and Owen Conflenti
Episode 98 of the podcast is a special two-part conversation 98A and 98B recorded at the Westin Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.
Our guest for episode 98 is Houston news anchor/content creator Owen Conflenti. Owen also happens to be the college broadcasting partner of TWM podcast host Mike Schibel We learn more about Owen and his meaningful travels in episode 98B.
In episode 98A Mike and Owen talk with Steve French, Director of Sales and Marketing at the Westin Hilton Head. Steve shares his insights on what makes Hilton Head so unique, why he's come back to live on the island three times, and his most meaningful/memorable trip.
A big thank you to Steve and the team at the Westin Hilton Head for the warm hospitality and for introducing TWM to the magic of the Low Country.
Enjoy this episode and make sure to listen to the second part of episode 98 with Owen Conflenti.
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Dec 4, 2022
Episode 97: Jason Zone Fisher
Episode 97 features a conversation with TV host Jason Zone Fisher. A passionate traveler who turned his love for sports, curiosity for adventure, and why not mentality into a thriving on-camera career.
After winning a dream opportunity with Gillette traveling to major sporting events and experiences with his best friend, Jason knew anything was possible. Jason shared one of his most meaningful travel moments happened while on the road, with another major brand, Butterfinger . He had two days off in Kansas City. After sampling dozens of BBQ restaurants on day one Jason decided to drive 7 hrs to the NBA Finals in Oklahoma City on day 2. What happened next is a travel story that drastically changed the course of Jason's life and career. Listen to the full podcast to hear the story or click here to watch the Youtube video.
About Jason Zone Fisher: a versatile host and producer, with unique expertise in sports, travel, food, game shows, and branded entertainment. He has hosted and produc…
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Nov 22, 2022
Episode 96: Lauren Gay
Episode 96 features a conversation with Lauren Gay AKA Outdoorsy Diva, an extraordinary traveler who carved out her own path and inspired countless people along the way.
Lauren is the creator of Misadventures of an Outdoorsy Diva Blog, host/producer of the award-winning Adventure Is A Lifestyle Podcast, published photographer, speaker, consultant, on-air TV travel expert, and adventure coach. She is a monthly travel expert on CBS Great Day Live Tampa Bay. She is also a travel writer and social media influencer who is passionate about inspiring and empowering black women to step out of their comfort zones for new experiences in travel and adventure and embracing nature as therapy. Lauren is also an empty nest mom and a dedicated long-time advocate for racial diversity and inclusion in outdoor recreation and adventure travel and a founding member of the Black Travel Alliance.
We loved our conversation with Lauren and think you'll be inspired by her stories.
In this episode, Lauren sha…
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Nov 10, 2022
Episode 95: Stephanie Daniel
Hello travelers, in episode 95 we talk with Stephanie Daniel, the CEO, and Co-Founder of a unique new travel app, Legend. Stephanie does not come from a traditional travel industry background, but as we've found from talking with countless guests travel has impacted all of our lives and careers. Stephanie is no different as travel shaped who she is and lead her to launch this innovative concept.
As Stephanie shared with us, she believes that travel and exploration lead to authentic connection and growth for us as individuals and as a collective. When combined with the community it powers mutual evolution. Her mission is to build a platform that empowers us all to explore more and authentically connect with ourselves, each other, and the world.
Stephanie grew up in a tiny village in England, where her horizons grew through travel, and her love for exploring was born. She studied Economics at Cambridge and spent more than fourteen years in investment banking with Deutsche Bank in Londo…
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Nov 3, 2022
Episode 94: Cara Federici
In this episode, we talk with, Cara Federici, the Founder, and CEO of the Madison Melle Agency. Cara has a long career in hospitality working with prestigious global brands. It's her savvy eye for design, forward-thinking innovation, and detail that has her agency positioned as a positive force in the new dawn of hospitality.
A self-described city slicker, Cara shares with us where her love for hospitality, design, and travel comes from and the meaningful moments that have shaped her life and career.
The Madison Melle Agency is a multi-faceted creative studio & lifestyle consultancy, ideating and operating one-of-a-kind media, technology, hospitality, food & beverage, retail, and real estate brands. Federici’s proven track record
of success is derived from collaborating with a multitude of the world’s most notable names in their respective industries, including Fast Company, Standard Hotels, Palisociety, InterContinental Hotels Group, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and Proper Hospital…
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Oct 18, 2022
Episode 93: Rachel Firchau and Nailah Hayward
Gathering the Travel With Meaning community of like-minded travelers together to hear meaningful stories from our special guests is what we missed most during the pandemic. Episode 93 features not one but two incredible guests for the podcast recorded in front of an intimate audience at the Shay Hotel in Culver City, CA. This event was a collaboration with Wanderful and their LA Chapter. Our extraordinary guests Nailah Hayward and Rachel Firchau are two meaningful content creators and have both been active within the Wanderful community and with Travel With Meaning.
Big thank you to our partners to help make this event a success Travelers Autobarn, State Bags and Book Outdoors are supporters of sharing authentic meaningful stories and providing raffle prizes for the audience attending. Thank you also to all the people who watched the conversation live through zoom and thank you again to the Shay for hosting us and providing a raffle prize of a Shaycation.
About our two guests:
Na…
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Sep 28, 2022
Episode 92: Scot Tatelman
In this episode, we talk about Scot's passion for travel and how it lead to launching the Travel Academy. An initiative with State Bags and Puzzle International to provide the opportunity of travel for young adults from disadvantaged neighborhoods. Travel With Meaning podcast host, Mike Schibel was lucky enough to be a last-minute addition to the inaugural Travel Academy trip in California and even earned a special nickname. The Travel Academy California adventure was turned into a short film premiering on October 2, 2022, online. Click here to see the inspiring trailer of the film.
More about Scot Tatelman:
Scot defines the term ‘social entrepreneur’ and has made it his life’s work to balance profitable business ventures with making the world a better place. In 2005, he collaborated with The Mark Wahlberg Foundation and The Boys and Girls Club to create Camp Northbound - a residential camp for kids growing up in the inner cities of Boston. Following its success, Scot set out t…
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Sep 20, 2022
Episode 91: Danni Washington
Episode 91 was recorded in front of a live audience at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills and is brought to you by our partner, Los Cabos Tourism.
Our special guest, Danni Washington, is a Science Communicator, Author, and TV Host. Making her return to the TWM podcast, she shares her love for the Pacific Ocean + Los Cabos and even drops hints about the top secret NatGeo show she's hosting.
Danni, a Miami native of Jamaican descent, graduated from The University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric with a Marine Science and Biology degree. At age 21, Danni and her mom launched the non-profit Big Blue & You, dedicated to inspiring and educating youth about marine Science through the arts and media.
Danni is a full-time dedicated marine science communicator, a part-time educational "mermaid," and an unstoppable rising media star brilliantly educating and entertaining. Standing at the intersection of Science and the public at large, Danni is the first African American wo…
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Sep 16, 2022
Episode 90: Shira Lazar
Episode 90 features a conversation with a digital trailblazer who found healing and transformation in nature.
Shira Lazar is the founder and CEO of the Emmy Nominated digital media brand What's Trending. She is the host of the afternoon drive show Let’s Go There weekdays on CHANNEL Q, an Audacy Original Station, and the award-winning LGBTQ+ Talk Radio Network.
She has also been named one of Fast Company’s Most Influential Women in Technology, Huffington Post’s “Women in Tech to follow on Twitter”, honored on the Variety Women of Impact list, and Cynopsis Top Women In Digital.
A BIG Web3 advocate, collector, and advises as well as consults with companies in the space relating to cryptocurrency, NFTs and the metaverse.
As a broadcaster, Shira uses her platforms to create content and education around Web3, bridging the gap between the industry, creators, and consumers. She hosts weekly Twitter Spaces shows, #AlphaMondays and Women in Web3 Weekly, brings viewers the top five…
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Aug 24, 2022
Episode 89: Lindsay Myers
In episode 89 we catch up with Lindsay Myers at the newly remodeled Viceroy Santa Monica. Lindsay tells us about some of the exciting projects and travels she's working on. We also hear about the fun shared experience that podcast host Mike Schibel, and Lindsay had together in Los Cabos.
Lindsay is a weekly contributor on NBC Access Hollywood, where her segments include visiting unique places around the world. She is a respected voice in the travel and lifestyle industry. With her expertise from TV exposure, and highlighting brands and venues from all over the world, she uses her experience to reach all levels of media.
Originally from Hilton Head, S.C Lindsay got her start in the TV industry as a Production Assistant on the Maurey Povich show and was later a regular on the TV reality series It's a Brad, Brad World with Brad Goreski.
When she's not traveling the world for Access Hollywood Lindsay is creating stories for her popular blog, Get Lost With Lindsay.
Enjoy this episode…
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Aug 11, 2022
Episode 88: Nicholas Stone
Episode 88 of the podcast was record at Bluestone Lane on Rose Ave in Venice Beach with the CEO and Founder of Blunestone Lane Nicholas Stone.
A former professional AFL Football Player (6 years), Corporate Finance banker (11 years Australia, USA, UK) and currently Founder & CEO of Bluestone Lane.
Bluestone Lane is the fastest growing premium cafe brand in the United States, with +65 locations across 9 markets (NY, LA, SF, DC, NJ, PA, MA & Toronto CDN). Headquartered in New York City, Bluestone Lane is influenced by Australian independent coffee-culture, and is committed to providing elevated cafe experiences focused on human connection.
Nick was a 2019 Finalist in EY's New York Entrepreneur of the Year.
Nick has been recognized as one of World’s Young Leaders of the Future and has been featured in the New York Times, CNBC, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, Australian Financial Review, The Age, Forbes, GQ and Vogue USA. Nick has been a featured guest on +15 podcasts since 2019, avai…
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Aug 4, 2022
Episode 87: Danny Guerrero
In Episode 87 we speak with Danny Guerrero, Founder, The Culturist Group (TCG). His accomplishments are astounding and driving change.
In this episode we hear Danny's meaningful travel stories from his first international trip to Korea, his experience interning for San Diego Tourism Board and the special trip to Paris with his mom. Also sharing about the work his doing now and how it all began.
It was Danny's connection and commitment to local communities throughout his twenty plus years in travel marketing that inspired him to launch his own company, The Culturist Group (TCG).
TCG is a 100% minority-owned travel marketing company. As a thought leader for multicultural and diversity in travel Danny has been an active proponent of culture-forward thinking for travel brands and destinations as a means to help increase equity and inclusion in the travel industry.
TCG was established at a time when shifting cultural identities and the need for more diversity, equity and inclusion i…
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Jul 28, 2022
Episode 86: Mindful. Adventure. Travel
Hello Travelers,
This episode was recorded on location in Montana as part of a mindful adventure travel experience with Recal Travel.
This was a unique experience as part of Recal's quiet park series in Glacier National Park. The adventure included breath work, yoga, meditation, walks in nature, camping, cold dips, s'more making and connecting with other like-minded travelers.
In this episode we'll meet the Founder of Recal Travel Anthony Lorubbio to learn where the idea came from to launch mindful adventure travel experiences. We'll hear some of the sounds of nature, the quietness of Kintla Lake, deemed one of the quietest places on earth by Quiet Parks International and hear from the trip coach, Scott Stone as well other participants on the adventure.
Travel With Meaning is a huge advocate for shared experiences in nature as a way to connect with ourselves, others and nature. The recalibration that comes from taking time to pause is a gift we could all benef…
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Jul 13, 2022
Episode 85: Kaila Yu
Kaila Yu is a Taiwanese American singer, songwriter, former model, and freelance journalist. She was formerly the lead singer and vocalist for the all-Asian-American, female rock band Nylon Pink. As a journalist and on-camera correspondent based in Los Angeles for KEYT which broadcasts on CBS/NBC/FOX. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, CNN, VICE, Business Insider, Travel and Leisure, Rolling Stone, Newsweek, Thrillist, and more. Give her a follow at @kailaYu
Episode 85 is sponsored by Uncruise the small boat adventure company. Use the code TWM500 to get $500 off per person when you sign up for an Uncruise adventure.
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Jun 23, 2022
Episode 84: Scott Eddy
On episode 84 of the podcast we meet a man who’s blazed a trail in the travel digital space, but things didn’t always go as planned for Scott Eddy.
Life changed for Scott after losing his father 3 weeks before graduating high school. After months of feeling lost, unmotivated, and directionless, Scott joined an investment training program and excelled as a stockbroker over the next decade. After 10 years traveling between Florida and New York as a stockbroker, Scott said goodbye to the corporate world and embarked on his first life changing trip. Scott’s lifestyle gradually transformed into something he couldn’t plan or predict, starting with his moving permanently to Asia to explore life beyond living in the United States.
After living in Europe and Asia for 17 years, Scott fell in love with several different cultures and recognized the value of creating lasting relationships. Scott embraced his sales and business savvy once again by starting one of the first digital agencie…
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Jun 8, 2022
Episode 83: The Meaningful Travel Summit
TWM podcast host Mike Schibel was honored to attend the first in person Tourism Cares Meaningful Travel Summit since the COVID pandemic. Bringing together Like-minded travelers from all sectors of the travel industry in North Lake Tahoe at the beautiful Palisades Tahoe. Discussing important issues on Climate Change, Sustainability and DEI in the industry with a focus on the local region of Lake Tahoe.
Tourism Cares is an almost twenty plus year non profit dedicated to the long-term survival of the travel + tourism industry. Inspiring each other to make travel a force for good to ensure the future prosperity of the people and places who rely on it.
The Meaningful Travel Summits, or “Tourism Cares for America” as it was once called, began after a call for all Americans to volunteer service to their country as a direct result of September 11, 2001.
Tourism Cares founder and then Executive Director, Bruce Beckham, saw an opportunity for the industry to come together - regardless of…
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May 25, 2022
Episode 82: Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, but make it fashionable
Renowned adventure photographer Laura Grier has a knack for manifesting extraordinary opportunities. When she was presented with leading an all women's climb to the top of the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, she knew this would be one of her greatest physical and mental challenges of her life. If the eight days and fifty one hours of climbing through blizzards and down pours was not difficult enough, Laura and her fearless crew of ladies became a fashion pit crew stopping each day for a photo shoot. Each lady on the climb had a chance express themselves and mark this monumental adventure with a goddess portrait in something that looked right out of fashion magazine. When you see the stunning images Laura captured (check the Travel With Meaning Instagram) of her goddess crew in the different landscapes that make up the climb wearing traditional African fabric purchased at a local market and in jewelry from the Maasai tribe it's hard to remember these women have been climb…
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May 3, 2022
Episode 81: Shaahin Cheyene
Every once in awhile we share stories of sheer determination, resilience and grit that it’s hard not to find inspiration in the journey. Episode 81 of the TWM Podcast features a conversation with a truly remarkable man, Shaahin Cheyene.
He's the founder of the brain nutrition startup Accelerated Intelligence (AI), an award-winning business mogul, author, filmmaker, and inventor of Herbal Ecstacy, the nootropic that sparked the (100% legal) Smart Drug Movement.
Shaahin is the author of ("Billon, How I Became the King of the Thrill Pill"). His story of leaving home at fifteen, sleeping in his car and a few years later running a company making hundreds of millions of dollars to now where he is today- is remarkable. Along the way the people he met and experiences Shaahin had are unbelievable.
As a serial entrepreneurial his career has spanned more than 30 years, earning over $350 Million. As a leading Amazon expert his products have outpaced Fortune 500 companies’ sales on the platf…
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Apr 28, 2022
Episode 80: Unplugged in Mexico
Welcome to Episode 80 of the podcast! This is a special solo cast episode where our host Mike Schibel shares stories from a recent adventure in Mexico. Spending time in Los Cabos and cruising for a week on the Sea of Cortés with Uncruise the small ship adventure company.
This episode is broken up into three parts: 1) The bucket list experience 2) shared experiences 3)expectations. All three of these elements come together for an epic adventure !
As a bonus to our community if you use the code TWM500 you can get $500 per person off an UnCruise adventure.
Enjoy the episode!
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Apr 4, 2022
Episode 79: Kylie Chenn
Episode 79 features a conversation with an exceptional travel entrepreneur Kylie Chenn, Founder of Acanela Expeditions, The Wander Camp and The Adventure Dress. Growing in a small town in Northern Idaho, it was a semester studying abroad that opened her mind and heart. Kylie had the travel bug from the first trip abroad and didn’t look back. Over 121 countries later spending time living in Europe, South Africa, Asia and Africa expanding her knowledge and curiosity. Her passion for travel and desire to support others to have impactful adventures lead her to launch Acanela Expeditions, a boutique travel organization that curates hands-on tour experiences around the world. When travel came to a standstill during the pandemic, Kylie did some wandering and camping near National Parks in the Southwest US, sparking the idea for The Wander Camp (a “wandering” hotel of glamping tents). The Wander Camp operates locations outside of six National Parks: Grand Canyon, Glacier, Bryce, Zion, Ye…
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Mar 15, 2022
Episode 78: Jayson Seidman
This episode features a conversation with a visionary hotelier who's passionate about providing a full service hospitality experience. Investing in historic properties in unique markets to invite travelers to embrace slow travel, have less and experience more with meaning.
Excited for you to hear our conversation and make sure you check out and stay at some of Jayson's extraordinary properties: The Columns Hotel Saint Vincent The Drifter ThunderBird Marfa East Austin Hotel Hotel Ranch Motel Boro Hotel Kokoro Springs
Highlights from the episode:
14:44 First big travel moment
20:09 Best trip in college with lessons and adventures to last a lifetime
33:01 All about creating the vibe
35:25 Why he chose New Orleans to start operating hotels
1:01:22 His vision for the future of hospitality
1:09:50 Speed Round
This episode is brought to you by TopTipper the cashless tipping app supporting hospitality employees who make our stays nice. It's Nice to be Nice.
Enjoy the episode!
Jays…
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Feb 22, 2022
Episode 77: All The Feels in New York
Hello Meaningful Travelers!
On this episode our host Mike Schibel shares his experience traveling to New York for a travel industry event. Mike meets different people from tourism boards and hotel groups to share about Travel With Meaning and learn what travel means to them. This was no ordinary trip as Mike shared the experiences gave him "All The Feels" a popular social media term that we've never used on this podcast, but if there was ever an episode to us it this is it. Enjoy!
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Feb 15, 2022
Episode 76: Zoya Mohan
EP. 76 is all about following your dreams and blazing a trail as we learn about the journey of India born, California raised songstress, Zoya Mohan. She's been praised by Rolling Stone, ELLE, GQ, MTV, Vh1, Harpers Bazaar, and more for her recollective songwriting and collection of catchy pop gems. She's gained recognition from heavyweights AR Rahman and The Chainsmokers while touring on festival bills and as a support act for the likes of Kawehi, Natty, Lucy Rose, Madame Gandhi, Youngr, Submotion Orchestra, Bloc Party, Clean Bandit, and Martin Garrix.
Returning to Los Angeles after a four year stint touring India, Zoya kicked off her debut US album, Bad Girls Dream, with a radio-friendly pop anthem featuring Grammy-nominated and Billboard Hot 100 charting rapper, Jack Harlow.
Music has been her blood from an early age, but it was traveling with her father in her teen years that created the foundation to allow Zoya to dream big. She shares a poignant moment from an experience her da…
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Feb 8, 2022
Episode 75: Finnian Kelly
Prepare for a conversation with a truly extraordinary guest.
Dubbed “the Business Mystic,” transformational Intentionality coach and speaker Finnian Kelly
is known for his unique ability to awaken consciousness in business leaders, and inspire entrepreneurs to find deeper levels of meaning and purpose in their endeavors.
As the founder of Intentionality, Inc., a comprehensive philosophy and program designed to help everyday people create extraordinary futures, Finnian leads world class events and retreats inspiring attendees to connect deeply with their businesses and themselves.
Known for his 1:1 Intentionality coaching and his immersive group experiences empowering leaders to shift their mindset and acquire tools that will enhance all areas of their lives, Finnian offers unmatched resources and guidance for professionals of all ages and backgrounds to live in alignment and discover their true nature.
Finnian travels the globe as an ambassador for living with Intentionality.…
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Jan 31, 2022
Episode. 74.5 Intro to Season 5
Hello Community!
This episode is kicking off season 5 of the podcast. Season 5, wow! It’s not a full-length episode hence the 74.5, rather this episode is a reflection on how and WHY Travel With Meaning started.
From hosting Travel Talk Live events in Los Angeles starting in 2017 to launching a podcast in 2019. Our passion and excitement to share authentic, inspiring, and meaningful travel stories from extraordinary guests to connect with our community is more important than ever. Big thank you to all the brands who believed in Travel With Meaning from day one and supported our community at the Travel Talk Live events. Shout out to: Prana, Cava, Fjallraven, Roark, Travellers autobarn, Feel Good Salsa, Goodr, One Coconut, Surf Air, Kite Hill, Design Hotels and Kind Traveler.
Travel With Meaning wouldn’t be anything without our community of amazing travelers sharing their stories. We do miss the In Real Life (IRL) connection our community gained from Travel Talk Live events and ho…
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Dec 29, 2021
Episode 74: Fall 2021 TWM Intern Team
Hello Meaningful Travelers!
This is the last episode of season 4 and of 2021. We finished the year with an in person conversation with our Fall intern team. On this episode we hear from each of the interns about the podcast episodes they produced, what principles of How To Travel With Meaning they connected with, stories they created and what were their big takeaways for this semester.
The intern team played a huge part in isolating principles from past podcast episodes and creating two meaningful audio visual trailers that incorporated the principles that were organically shared by guests. Click here and here to watch / listen to the videos created by Thomas Akiona and Garrett Coleman. Make sure you visit Travel With Meaning website and Youtube channel to check out great blogs and videos from the intern team.
All of the work and research the intern team did
This was a very talent bunch and we can't wait to see where their journeys take them. A big thank to the Fall 2021 intern for…
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Dec 22, 2021
Episode 73: Alexandra Cheney
Hello Meaningful Travelers: You're in for a treat as this is our second in person interview of season 4. Not only is this an in person interview, but it's with a guest who shared inspiring travel stories with us as part of Travel Talk Live (click here) to watch that awesome conversation.
and now....Meet Alexandra Cheney, A travel writer, culture reporter and content creator, employing the best medium to tell stories; for print, digital and social, through writing, photography and videography.
She focuses on wellness, automotive, luxury, and culture writing for several publications, both national and international, including the New York Times, Elite Traveler, Luxury Magazine, Interior Design, AFAR, Architectural Digest, Departures and Cool Hunting.
Prior to transitioning into travel, she led the film team at Variety as a senior film and business reporter covering the studios, including Sony, Warner Bros., Universal and DreamWorks Animation as well as industry trends, co-financing…
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Dec 14, 2021
Episode 72: Adam Montiel
Hello Meaningful travelers! Welcome to a special episode of the Travel With Meaning Podcast. This was the first live conversation we've had with a guest in person since the pandemic. This episode was recorded at the beautiful Austin Hope Winery in Paso Robles. Our guest Adam Montiel, is a long time popular morning show radio DJ in California’s Central Coast hosting "Up & Adam in the Morning" on Coast 104.5. He also hosts "Cork Dorks" incorporating his love and passion for wine on KRUSH 92.5. In 2020, Adam took his wine knowledge love for Paso Robles and launched the podcast "Where Wine Takes You" in association with Paso Robles Wine Country. His podcast highlights candid stories from Paso Robles wine country, fun stories and great insider tips. It’s currently the fastest growing wine podcast in America, available wherever you get your podcasts including Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Amazon, and more. Big thank you to Paso Robles Wine Country for the support with this episode.
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Nov 30, 2021
Episode 71: Sahara Rose De Vore
Hello Meaningful Travelers!
We had the opportunity to speak with Wellness Travel Coach and Founder of The Travel Coach Network, Sahara Rose De Vore. The Travel Coach Network is a global community of travel coaches and travel professionals. Sahara is also a published author and global speaker. She spent over a decade traveling the globe as a solo female backpacker visiting more than 84 countries. Sahara has two passions within her businesses. One is to educate and inspire companies to tap into the wellness benefits of travel to enhance their employee, business traveler, and consumer experiences as well as coach and guide other travel entrepreneurs to build a travel business that is unique to their own area of expertise, which she does through her travel coach certification program.
I hope this episode inspires you as much as it inspired us. Enjoy.
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Nov 23, 2021
Episode 70: J.J. Kelley
Hello Meaningful Travelers!
This episode we had the chance to speak with J.J. Kelley. J.J. Kelley is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker and explorer focusing on issues of conservation and wildlife crime. Three of Kelley’s documentaries have been featured on the cover of National Geographic magazine, including the Emmy-nominated “Warlords of Ivory,” and he is a producer and correspondent for National Geographic Channel’s flagship documentary series, “EXPLORER.” From being a director on the Bering Sea’s “Deadliest Catch” to leading the exclusive coverage of the tomb of Christ being opened for the first time in 800-years, Kelley’s countless expeditions and work for National Geographic all began when he decided—at age 19—to load his pickup truck up with camping gear and drive from the lower 48 up to Seward, Alaska.
Buckle in for a wild ride with J.J. Kelley in this episode of the Travel With Meaning Podcast!
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Nov 16, 2021
Episode 69: Ernest White II
Hello Meaningful Travelers!
Today's podcast features Ernest White II!
Ernest White II is a storyteller, explorer, executive producer and host of television travel docu-series FLY BROTHER with Ernest White II, currently airing in the United States on Public Television Stations and Create TV nationwide. He is also founder and CEO of Presidio Pictures, a new film, television, and digital media studio centering BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and senior/elder narratives.
Our conversation with Ernest touches on his childhood love of maps and geography (the origin of his travel bug), the importance of fostering authentic connections within the global community, and more!
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Nov 9, 2021
Episode 68: Mike Siegel
Hello Meaningful travelers!
Welcome to this week's episode of the Travel With Meaning Podcast. Today we are joined by fellow podcaster, Comedian and TV host Mike Siegel. Mike created the Travel Tales Podcast – a lighthearted conversation highlighting the best and worst experiences that travel has to offer.
He was the host of TBS network’s “TBS Movie EXTRA”, and hosted numerous network shows including HGTV’s “If Walls Could Talk”, Fine Living networks’ “What You Get For the Money”, “GSN Live” on the Game Show Network, and “The Next GAC Star” on GAC.
"I realized I never tire of meeting people from around the world, and hearing stories from those who had been to wherever I hadn’t. "
-Mike Siegel
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Nov 2, 2021
Episode 67: Jacqueline Hampton
Hello Meaningful Travelers!
Welcome to another inspiring episode of the Travel With Meaning Podcast!
Today we speak with the Founder and CEO of Portico Travel, Jacqueline Hampton.
Portico helps you save, plan, organize, and share amazing adventures. Get ready to be inspired and have some fun, even before you depart.
Tune in to today's podcast to find out what travel means to Jacqueline Hampton and to hear some amazing travel stories.
"I’m always up for a trip anywhere, whether it’s a place I’ve been many times or a new adventure. I enjoy tucking down side streets to see real life, and one of my favorite ways to experience a place is through its food. The more I travel, the more I value both the similarities and differences in people around the world."
-Jacqueline Hampton
Enjoy!
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Oct 26, 2021
Episode 66: Ryan Hitzel
Hello Meaningful Travelers!
In this episode we speak with Ryan Hitzel. Ryan is the Founder and Creative Director of The Roark Revival, a brand that follows a wayward adventurer named Roark around the globe making apparel and trinkets inspired by the travels. Previous to Roark, Ryan was an Associate Creative Director on Volkswagen at Deutsch Advertising in Los Angeles. He resides with his family in Laguna Beach, Ca.
"I grew up travelling a ton, and as an artist I’d do my best to document it through photography, painting and writing – often shows or books. It led me to 5 years working for Volcom in the Art Department in the early 2000’s and then as a Creative Director in Advertising prior to starting Roark. Around 2010, the surf and outdoor industries bored me. They were formulaic and sterile, too big. It seemed to me that they had lost their way. I saw a lack of storytelling and the types of adventures I enjoyed off the beaten path. There was little care about moments that enric…
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Oct 19, 2021
Episode 65: Beth Santos
Welcome to the Travel With Meaning Podcast Season 4! A very special guest, Beth Santos, the founder and CEO of Wanderful joins us on this episode of TWM™. Wanderful is a global lifestyle brand and inclusive community of thousands of travelers and travel content creators. Wanderful reaches over 45,000 women each year through a thriving online membership network, local chapter events in 50 cities, global summits and small group trips. In 2014, Wanderful launched the WITS Travel Creator + Brand Summit, a leading event for women and gender diverse travel creators and industry hosted on two continents each year listed by Forbes as one of the top inspiring events for women to attend. Wanderful is also the creator of the annual Bessie Awards to honor women of impact in travel, as well as the first major outdoor festival for women travelers, Wanderfest. Wanderful has been recognized in Business Insider, Yahoo!, The Chicago Tribune, Lonely Planet, Matador Network, and Skift, among other publi…
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Aug 16, 2021
Episode 64: Joanna Wallfisch
Described by Downbeat Magazine as "an exquisite singer-songwriter", Joanna's music conveys a beauty of a many-coloured sort that speaks to straight to the human condition. Her songs reveal personal truths about love, loss, adventure, home and hope. World Music Report described it as "quintessential heart-music by a vocalist who seems to have connected with the deepest recesses of her being emerging into brightness again with songs of haunting beauty."
Joanna is a master in the art of live vocal looping and as a multi-instrumentalist plays baritone ukulele, piano, flute, Indian shruti box, kalimba and melodica. Her music defies genre classification as she effortlessly imbues her songs with nuances of jazz, classical, art-song, and folk, carrying her "clear-eyed poetry" (Boston Globe) and "striking vocals" (Hothouse). Her songwriting extends beyond just lyrics and melody - Joanna also arranges for ensembles including string quartets, winds, a cappella voices and more.…
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Jul 30, 2021
Ep 63: Peter Cole
Show Notes:
Early travel memory to a classic baseball stadium (8:51)
The curiosity that led him to the real estate industry and to Marriott Hotels (15:45)
Peter’s philosophy around creating a community through travel (22:10)
Learning to travel in an RV during the pandemic (34:30)
Handling the Starwood/Marriott merger (40:26)
Struggles and successes with updating the group’s Rewards Program (47:30)
What Does Travel Mean to You (54:38)
Speed Round (55:40)
Peter B. Cole; Founder, Eclectic Companies
Peter was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. Yet, he didn’t really appreciate the “Midwestern Nice”, until he moved to the East Coast, went for a run and said good morning to everyone in Central Park, only to be looked at like a crazy person.
Peter is a lifelong hospitality veteran, whose eclectic sense of curiosity has led him to distinct leadership positions. He started his career at Marriott in the world of finance supporting the company’s M&A efforts. His financia…
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Jul 16, 2021
Ep 62: Los Cabos Recap Solo-cast
On this episode, we reconnect with two old friends: air travel—it had been sixteen months since our last flight; and Los Cabos, Mexico—it had been twenty-five years since our last visit. We were invited by Los Cabos Tourism to take part in a FAM trip aboard the inaugural JetBlue direct LAX to San Jose del Cabo flight. There were festivities at the airport, on board and on arrival. Talk about a great way to return to air travel. This episode will give a detailed recap of the trip and experiences. It will also share some conversations with fellow travelers and locals, asking what travel means to them and what their hope is for the future of travel, post-Covid. Hope you enjoy this episode, and if you're looking for a great getaway Los Cabos has something to everyone.
Conversations on this episode with:
Susie Najera (15:30) https://www.visitloscabos.travel/
Fernando del Toro (15:50) https://www.cabovillasbeachresort.com/
Lindsay Myers (20:43) https://getlostwithlindsay.com/
Mark…
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May 24, 2021
Ep 61: Jeannette Ceja
Jeannette Ceja is an award-winning bilingual travel journalist, television host, travel advisor, and global public speaker. Over the past ten years, she has interviewed countless celebrities, politicians, athletes, and travel experts, including Samantha Brown, Rick Steves, and Anthony Bourdain. Jeannette’s travel segments have appeared on ABC7 Los Angeles, WTTW Chicago, FOX 11 Los Angeles, Mexico Travel Channel, KUSI News, and other prominent media outlets around the world. A seasoned journalist, Jeannette is known for her expertise on women’s travel and the Latinx demographic. Her work encompasses luxury travel, female travel, and diversity travel. Jeannette’s dedication has taken her to over 60 countries to date.
A respected and sought-after host, Jeannette has emceed the New York Travel Festival, the Changemaker Awards, Global Voice Awards, and the Impact Travel Immersion Global Conference. In 2018, Jeannette was the Official Travel Host for the World Woman Summit at the Clin…
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May 24, 2021
Ep 60: Checking In
A special solo episode, quickly checking in with all of you, dear listeners, after this crazy year we've had. As we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel of the pandemic, I reflect on what the meaning of travel is, the things we took for granted, and how we move forward with travel in the future.
In this episode, I talk about my thoughts about the perception of travel, the concept of "revenge travel," travel versus tourism, and my five steps to traveling with meaning.
See you on the open road!
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May 12, 2021
Ep 59: Konrad Waliszewski
Konrad Waliszewski is the CEO & Co-Founder of Tripscout, a venture-backed travel company that has built one of the most popular travel entertainment and trip planning apps. He has visited approximately 100 countries and Forbes has called him a “modern day Marco Polo.”
The Tripscout app is the #1 ranked trip planning app in the AppStore, has raised $5m of venture capital, and has built an audience of 8m+ followers on Instagram across their network of travel accounts. Tripscout has maintained a fully remote team from its conception and that team currently spans 7 countries and 4 U.S. states.
Prior to Tripscout, Konrad was the COO of Speek, where he led the raise of $6m in venture capital, operations, business development, and the acquisition by Jive Communications, now LogMeIn (NASDAQ: LOGM). He was also a consultant for several private equity firms and publicly-traded companies, helping companies with special projects – including acquisitions, restructurings, strategic plans, a…
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Mar 15, 2021
Ep 58: Khalil Kinsey
Khalil Kinsey showed an affinity for the arts and culture from a very young age. Having been exposed to the world early on through travel with his parents, he developed a deep appreciation for the similarities that bond us as human beings, as well as the diversity that is to be learned from and celebrated. Khalil has always found inspiration through creative expression, and worked in the action sports, fashion and music industries for many years where he built a reputation as a trend forecaster. With growing awareness and pride for the work of his parents in spreading the often-untaught knowledge of African American achievement and contribution, Khalil began working alongside them in 2009 and serves as General Manager and Curator for The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection. He oversees The Kinsey Collection exhibitions and properties – including operations, museum services, strategic partnerships and more.
Khalil also serves as Vice President of The Bernard and Shirley…
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Jan 1, 2021
Ep 57: Phil Rosenthal
Phil Rosenthal is the creator and host of “Somebody Feed Phil,” an unscripted
documentary series on Netflix, which combines his love of food and travel with his unique
brand of humor.
Rosenthal was born in Queens, New York and moved with his parents and brother to New
City, New York in Rockland County, where he was raised. After graduating from Hofstra
University on Long Island, where he majored in theater, he embarked on a career as an
actor, writer and director in New York City. In 1989, he relocated to Los Angeles.
Rosenthal’s early writing credits include the series “Down the Shore” and “Coach." In
1995, Rosenthal created the hit CBS comedy, “Everybody Loves Raymond,” which
premiered in 1996. He was the Showrunner/Executive Producer for all nine years of the
show's very successful run, which ended in 2005.
During its original run, “Everybody Loves Raymond” was nominated for over 70 Emmy
awards, and won 15 awards, including two for Best Comedy Series…
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Nov 11, 2020
Ep 56: Mark Tsigounis
Mark Tsigounis was born and raised in New Jersey. There he fell in love with the Kittatinny Mountains and the famous barrier islands that litter the coastline. This passion served as kindling which fuels his service of the outdoor community today. Mark is the CEO and Founder of Hibear, where they innovate outdoor products through thoughtful design and serve an environmental mission to help eliminate single-use plastic. Their first product has been called the Swiss Army Knife of insulated bottles. They call it the All-Day Adventure Flask.
Mark has a deep love for travel and adventure. He loves hugs, trees, hugging trees, is an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, two-time Ironman, ultra runner, and Navy Veteran. He lives to inspire a lifetime of experience and fuel adventure through smart design. Because life's just better outside with friends and coffee. When he is not getting lost in the woods, he is romancing his wife and son at home in Truckee, California with his subpar guitar skills.
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Oct 27, 2020
Ep 55: Matt Wilson
Matt Wilson is Co-founder and CEO of the travel company for people ages 21-35 Under30Experiences, and author of "The Millennial Travel Guidebook". Under30Experiences has been named number 801 on the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America and number 198 on Financial Times 1000 list of America's Fastest-Growing Companies.
Matt was formerly the co-founder of the media site Under30CEO (Acquired 2016) and is the Host of the Live Different Podcast on Business, Travel, Health, and Performance. He has interviewed everyone from NBA Legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar to the President of Starbucks. Matt's writing is published in Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and The Huffington Post, and he is part of the invite-only Young Entrepreneurs' Council (YEC) comprised of the world's most successful entrepreneurs 40 and younger.
Matt is a shareholder of the Green Bay Packers. He hosts yoga and fitness retreats in his free time and his personal mission is to help people live more adventurous lives.
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Oct 19, 2020
Ep 54: Carolyn Scott-Hamilton
The Healthy Voyager, aka Carolyn Scott-Hamilton, is the creator and host of The Healthy Voyager web series, site, and overall brand. An award-winning healthy, special diet and green living and travel expert, holistic nutritionist, plant-based vegan chef, best-selling cookbook author, media spokesperson, sought after speaker, consultant and television personality, Carolyn Scott-Hamilton is a respected figure in the world of healthy lifestyle and travel as well as special diet cooking and nutrition. The Healthy Voyager aims to help people live well, one veggie at a time!
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Sep 23, 2020
Ep 53: Todd Glaser
Todd Glaser is a San Diego-born photographer, surfer, and waterman. A SURFER Staff Photographer for over a decade, Glaser is prolific for his young age, earning more than a dozen covers during his tenure at the magazine. Equally talented shooting land, water, and lifestyle photography, his work has also appeared in The New York Times, Outside, Men’s Health, GQ and the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, in Washington DC. When he isn’t globetrotting chasing swells, treading water shooting in the tropics, or capturing images of the first wave ever ridden at Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch, Glaser can be found riding waves around his home, riding his bike, and enjoying the company of his wife, Jenna.
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Sep 10, 2020
Ep 52: Ravi Patel
On the acting front, Ravi’s next appearance is in Gal Gadot and Chris Pine’s WONDER
WOMAN 1984. Ravi is also co-creator and co-lead in Netflix’s upcoming half-hour
comedy series MESSY, which follows an Indian woman pursuing her passion of stand-up
comedy in Mumbai and is set to premiere this fall. He was most recently a lead in COME
AS YOU ARE (97% on Rotten Tomatoes) opposite Hayden Szeto & Gabourey Sidibe, as
well as the Seth Rogen/Charlize Theron comedy LONG SHOT, both of which premiered at
SXSW 2019.
The multi-hyphenate is also a prominent figure in the documentary space. His eagerly
awaited docuseries RAVI PATEL’S PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS is set to premiere on HBO
Max this year. Ravi acts as host, along with his loved ones, taking the audience across the
globe while exploring life’s most pressing questions. Ravi is also creator and star of a
docuseries exploring the emerging stand-up comedy scene in India, produced by Will
Smith’s Westbrook.
Ravi is most well-…
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Sep 2, 2020
Ep 51: Sounds From The Open Road
In a year where travel has been turned upside down I wanted to share something special with you. Enjoy sounds from a recent road trip to Eastern Sierras in California. You'll hear the stillness of the night, rain, thunder and rushing water from the Kern River. It's my hope you'll close your eyes and picture yourself standing in nature taking in the sounds for yourself. #travelwithmeaning #roadtrip
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Aug 18, 2020
Ep 50: Emily Thomas
I am an Associate Professor in Philosophy at Durham University, and an Honorary Fellow at the ACU Dianoia Institute of Philosophy. I’ve written a lot on space and time in the history of philosophy, from the seventeenth to the twentieth century. My other metaphysical interests include substance, change, idealism, process, identity, and God.
I’m also fascinated by philosophical questions around travel, explored in my popular book The Meaning of Travel: Philosophers Abroad (2020, Oxford University Press). From the “Age of Discovery” to the present day, I ask after travel issues that have hooked philosophers, including the nature of maps, wilderness, and the significance of our little blue planet. The Meaning of Travel has been reviewed The Wall Street Journal, The Spectator, and Literary Review; and it’s led to many radio and print interviews. This article introduces the very idea of philosophy of travel.
I have also published two scholarly books. Absolute Time: Rifts in Early…
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Aug 10, 2020
Ep 49: Eric Hutchinson
Sometime last year, Eric Hutchinson came to a strange realization: he kept daydreaming about high-school. It had been over twenty years since the singer-songwriter had graduated from Montgomery Blair High School, yet his adolescent dreams, hopes, fears, anxieties and emotions the singer faced as a kid began flooding back; suddenly, the singer felt transported back into his teenage self. Growing up in suburban Maryland, Hutchinson’s teenage years were filled with the type of alienation and private angst recognizable to most anyone who’s ever been 16. Twenty-plus years later, the singer was finally ready to write about it. The result: Class of 98, a 90’s alt-rock-inspired autobiographical record that chronicles the singer-songwriter’s adolescence.“It took me a long time to understand myself,” Hutchinson says. “Writing this record allowed me to get into the time machine and go back and look around my old life and report from my current point of view. That was fun. The proble…
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Aug 6, 2020
Ep 48: Davis Smith
Davis Smith grew up throughout Latin America and has since dedicated his life to helping those in need there and around the world. He's a passionate social entrepreneur and adventurer. Davis is currently the founder and CEO of Cotopaxi, an outdoor gear and active lifestyle brand – with a social mission at its core. The brand creates innovative products and experiences that fund sustainable poverty alleviation. Cotopaxi is the first company to incorporate from inception as a Benefit Corporation and raise venture capital. Davis is a lover of cultures, languages and adventure. He has camped in the Sahara, floated down the Amazon, explored North Korea, backpacked through South America, and most recently co-led the first successful crossing from Cuba to Florida via kayak. Davis holds an MBA from the Wharton School and an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Fellow of the Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies and an alumnus o…
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Jul 20, 2020
Ep 47: Shelby Stanger
Shelby Stanger has been passionate about storytelling since she inked her first article in a national publication at age 15. As a longtime adventure journalist in the outdoor sports world, Shelby has standup-paddled a portion of the Peruvian Amazon, reported about a summer-long punk concert series called the Vans Warped Tour, surfed from Tofino to Tavarua, had her own adventure column in five San Diego newspapers, and interviewed countless CEOs, entrepreneurs and pro athletes on assignment for national publications like Outside Magazine, ESPN, and Shop-Eat-Surf.com. Prior to becoming a full-time storyteller and consultant, Shelby worked at the iconic shoe company, Vans, where she helped oversee all the women’s branding and later the international marketing for the Americas and Australasia regions. She later served as a media consultant to brands including Nike, PrAna, Body Glove, and Eagle Creek.
In 2016, Shelby created Wild Ideas Worth Living, a podcast show, currently presented by…
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Jun 22, 2020
Ep 46: Dan Blanchard
We've all heard a tall tale or two, but when it comes to Captain Dan Blanchard—well, he's the real thing. Growing up in Washington State, he has always been around boats. Even as a kid, Dan worked alongside other family members restoring the family's wooden tug. And the reward of all that hard work paid off in a big way—exploring winding waterways, beachcombing on remote shores, oyster picking and clam digging, learning to skin dive, incredible wildlife and cultural encounters, and a lifetime on the water. At this point, it's just part of his genetic makeup.
Dan's unassailable career began early. As an accomplished Sea Scout, his leadership skills earned him honors of Regional Boatswain and National Boatswain Mate when he was 16. At 18, he received his Ship Master's License. He attended Everett Community College, and from there he's lived a storied-tale—owner and operator of Blanchard Marine; Captain of sightseeing vessels at Glacier Bay Lodge in Alaska; 14 years at Alaska Sight…
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Jun 9, 2020
Ep 45: Tristan Prettyman
With her first three recordings, 2003’s The Love EP, 2005’s breezy twentythree and 2008’s Hello, Tristan Prettyman parlayed her smoky alto voice and laid-back surfer-girl-from-San-Diego charm into an eight-year career studded with highlights that included Hello’s No. 2 position on the iTunes Digital Albums chart and headlining tours across the U.S., Europe, and Japan.
But instead of capitalizing on the attention and immediately making plans to record a third album after wrapping two years of touring in support of Hello, Prettyman took an extended break during which she traveled the globe, had surgery to remove polyps on her vocal cords, got engaged to her long-term boyfriend, dealt with the pain of his ending the engagement, and eventually questioned whether she even wanted to be a musician at all.
“I was really burnt out and uninspired, so I decided to take some time off,” Prettyman says. “I went to Bali, Australia, and Europe and kind of went crazy. Life went from all…
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May 18, 2020
Ep 44: Zim Flores
Zim Flores is a believer, traveler, speaker & entrepreneur.
In 2013, she started Travel Noire, an award-winning boutique travel company. By the time the brand was acquired in 2017, it reached 2MM travelers each month and sold out of every product it brought to market, building a legion of loyal followers and customers along the way.
At 19 years old, she cloned a gene with similarities to a genetic disorder and became the youngest precinct judge for the state of North Carolina. Her love for solving tough problems and her knack for building communities on and offline has led her to critical acclaim.
This Forbes 30 under 30 awardee has been featured in the New York Times, TIME, CBS This Morning, ELLE, The Nation, Essence, NPR, among others, and was awarded by Glamour Magazine as one of 25 Young Women Changing the World. Before it’s third year in business, Travel Noire was named one of the Most Innovative Companies in the World by Fast Company. The following year, she was hand-selecte…
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May 4, 2020
Ep 43: Steve Bramucci
Steve Bramucci is a novelist, travel/food writer, adventurer, teacher, and storyteller. He’s rowed down the Mekong River in a traditional Vietnamese x’ampan, ventured into the Outback with Aboriginal elders, and spent four months driving a rickety Nissan Patrol through East Africa. His first novel, The Danger Gang & the Pirates of Borneo!, will be published by Bloomsbury on August 1st.Steve’s story of exploring a long-forgotten pirate graveyard in Madagascar won the $10K Trazzler Oasis prize and his trip across Australia in a car fueled with French fry oil was turned into a TV show. He’s written for National Geographic Books, Afar, Outside, the Orange County Register Magazine, and dozens of other outlets. He’s the founding editor of the LIFE section at Uproxx.com – a website that gets more than 20 million unique visitors each month – and has published stories in The Expeditioner’s Guide to the World, I Learned Ku Fu From a Bear Cub, Never Trust a Smiling Bear, and Emine…
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Apr 29, 2020
Ep 42: Kaj Larsen
Kaj Larsen was born in Santa Cruz, California, and graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz with a degree in Political Science. At Harvard University he received his Masters degree in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government. At Harvard, Kaj was awarded a fellowship from the Shorenstein Center for Press, Politics, and Public Policy. He was also a joint fellow at Tufts Jebsen Center for Counter-Terrorism studies. His focus includes international security policy, media politics, and political affairs.
Kaj is an award winning filmmaker and correspondent. He was recently the Senior Correspondent and Producer for Now This News. He previously hosted the Emmy award winning series VICE on HBO. At VICE Kaj has produced documentaries on conflict and national security issues. He is the only journalist to be embedded in the Nigerian fight against Boko Haram, and conducted the first exclusive interview with the architect of the CIA’s enhanced interrogation pro…
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Apr 20, 2020
Ep 41: Sarah Dandashy
Sarah Dandashy is recognized as one of the leading concierges in the world. People seek her out for her travel tips, advice, and knowledge of trends from the “frontlines of travel.”
Award-winning, she was named “Best Young Concierge” by Les Clefs d’Or International, making her the Miss Universe equivalent of the concierge profession.
She has worked at some of the most prestigious hotels, including The London West Hollywood, Four Seasons Washington DC, L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, and The Peninsula Beverly Hills.
A graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Sarah has lived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; London, England; Atlanta, GA; Washington, DC; New York City; and now Los Angeles. She has traveled throughout Europe, the Middle East, and the US.
Conversational in French and basic knowledge of Arabic, she can comfortably navigate the streets of Paris, negotiate a plate of free falafel, and bust out some solid dance moves she learned on the streets of Hotlan…
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Apr 17, 2020
Ep 40: Dr. Evan Antin
Show highlights :
7:50 impactful trip to Tanzania as a student
23:50 Crazy moment in Australia (don't try this at home)
Dr. Evan Antin hails from Kansas City, Kansas where he grew up spending the majority of his childhood in search of native wildlife including snakes, turtles, and insects. He went on to study evolutionary and ecological biology at the University of Colorado at Boulder and spent multiple semesters abroad in Australia and Tanzania to learn more about their respective ecosystems and fauna.
In addition to his love for cats and dogs, Dr. Antin’s passions lie in exotic animal medicine and interacting with exotic animals in their native habitats around the world. For more than a decade Dr. Antin has made an effort to seek opportunities to work with wildlife on a domestic and international level to include locations such as Central America, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Eastern, and Southern Africa, South East Asia and a variety of North American ecosystems. The…
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Apr 4, 2020
Ep 39: Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks
As President and CEO of ECOS, Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks leads the strategy and production of environmentally friendly cleaning products, including the ECOS, Baby ECOS, ECOSPetsand ECOSPROproduct lines. She has been internationally recognized for her highly effective leadership and influential voice in the green movement and in corporate social responsibility. Vlahakis-Hanks oversees four sustainable manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and a global sales team. She has implemented sustainable practices that have made ECOS a model for green American business. Under her leadership, ECOSbecame the first company to achieve the“trifecta” of sustainable manufacturing: carbon neutrality, water neutrality and TRUE Zero Waste Platinum certification. As a primary manufacturer, ECOShas received many awards for its innovations in safer green chemistry, including the U.S. EPA’s Safer Choice Partner of the Year. ECOSmakes its plant-powered products using 100% renewable energy and has reduced its…
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Apr 1, 2020
Ep 38: Mike Graziano
Michael is the youngest Canadian / American male (dual citizen) and #265 person on record to visit all 193 UN nations. Taking him just over 6 years, (72 months) to visit all 193 countries, documenting his journey on his channel Global Degree. Michael truly earned his Global Degree as he connected with people and experienced local traditions in every country he visited. Upon completion of his Global Degree Michael gave a TED Talk in Oxford England about passport accessibility.
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Mar 27, 2020
Ep 37: Power of Travel
Hello Travel Friends! I’m connecting with you during interesting times. I hope you’re all safe, healthy and staying positive. In this solo cast episode I talk about the power of travel and how it can help us all heal. Stay connected. Stay inspired. Stay Creative. Be Well. Be Safe. Be Grateful #Travelwithmeaning #poweroftravel #Travelstories
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Mar 8, 2020
Ep 36: Chef Eric Adjepong
Our conversation with Chef Eric Adjepong was held in front of a live audience at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) as part of Bermuda Restaurant Weeks 2020. Chef Eric was in Bermuda to cook several meals as part of Restaurant Weeks with the highlight being the Bermuda Culture and Heritage Dinner. Chef Eric talks about the special menu he planned with local chefs from Bermy Eats featuring locally harvested foods and unique Bermuda flavors (12:22). During our talk you’ll also hear Chef Eric mention his thesis that he wrote while attending the University of Westminster for his Masters. Part of the research of his thesis took him to Ghana and ultimately helped him down the path to cooking the West African cuisines that he loves. (20:42). Chef Eric has made his thesis available for the public through the Bermuda National Library. Chef Eric was a finalist on Season 16 of Bravo's Top Chef and will be returning for Top Chef Season 17 AllStars, premering March 19th on Bravo.…
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Feb 25, 2020
Ep 35: Malcolm Gosling
Founded in 1806, the Gosling’s brand achieved renown almost exclusively because of its distinctive dark Bermuda rum. That soon changed when Malcolm Gosling took the reins in 2003.
As the seventh Gosling to steer the Bermudian family business, Malcolm brought an abiding respect for the brand heritage to the table, but he also brought a contemporary sense of marketing, business acumen and appetite for growth.
Born and raised in Paget, Bermuda, Malcolm attended Boston College and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, then returned to join the family business. Almost immediately he realized the considerable export potential of the locally popular Gosling’s Black Seal Rum. In 1985 he became Director of Gosling’s Limited where he oversaw domestic product and sales operations while also mapping a strategy for eventual entry into overseas markets.
With time and perseverance, Malcolm advanced to Vice President and Managing Director of Gosling’s Limited. In 2003 he finalized the…
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Feb 18, 2020
Ep 34: Christy and Aras Baskauskas
Christy and Aras Baskauskas - As individuals they’ve both traveled the world extensively seeing it through different lens and experiences….Christy grew up in small town in Northern California and traveled the world as a very successful model and Aras grew up in Santa Monica spent time overseas as an athlete, musician, yogi and winner of TV reality show Survivor.…..in 2013 Christy and Aras co-founded the eco-friendly clothing brand Christy Dawn (www.christydawn.com) focusing on dead stock fabric that brands no longer wanted …. They wanted to do something different, more ethical, environmentally friendly with longevity for the brand and everyone on the team….Christy Dawn has embarked on an exciting new Farm to Closet initiative in India continuing to up their game and make a difference giving back to the earth …for more information on Christy Dawn and their exciting Farm to Closet project visit www.christydawn.com/blogs/journal
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Feb 12, 2020
Ep 33: Tricia Huffman
Tricia Huffman, aka Your Joyologist, urges you to claim your joy and own who you are every single day via her empowering social media presence, Claim it! Podcast, youtube series, affirmation based product line, daily inspiration APP and everything she does. She is a rock and roll roadie at heart and by first career who specializes on working with those in the public eye to keep them in integrity with who they want to be in the world and for themselves.
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Jan 16, 2020
Ep 32: Hunter Jones and Christina Ochoa
Hunter Jones: I'm a 24-year-old professional surfer, news personality, video editor & model from Los Angeles, California. I've been fortunate enough to have been able to travel the world and surf some of the best waves on the planet and experience new cultures. From a young age, I loved being creative and found video editing and producing as a passion. My love for surfing and editing really fell hand in hand. As the former Social Media Coordinator for the WSL, I was producing content daily as well as editing global commercials & campaigns. Now as a freelance editor, I’m able to work on all different types of videos from anywhere in the world. In addition to surfing and working as a creative, I also spend a lot of time in front of the camera. I’ve starred in multiple commercials, acted as a stuntman, appeared on reality TV and co-host a daily surf based news show.I'm just stoked to be doing what I'm doing and meeting like-minded people who all share the same love for the ocean and m…
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Dec 10, 2019
Ep 31: BC Serna
From BC: I grew up in Denver, Colorado and I love anything to do with adventure, outdoors, and story telling.
I’ve been extremely fortunate to spend the past 11 years (since 2008) traveling the world with non-profit organizations, helping share and tell their stories through film and awareness. I’ve also spent that time taking hundreds of college and high school age students on trips to teach them about heart-led leadership and global community awareness.
After working with hundreds of organizations in over 60 countries and countless amounts of students and young adults I’ve found a few different types of projects and programs. A few being The Traveling Good, Pursuing Purpose Podcast, Mentorship Mastermind and a handful of others along the way.
My goal has always been to make an impact both locally and globally, internally and externally, small and big and couldn’t have dreamt in a million years it would become a such a fun adventure where I get to bring hundreds of people…
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Dec 10, 2019
Ep 30: Solocast
Welcome to Episode 30 of the podcast. This is going to be a solo-cast episode. I’m honestly still amazed and beyond grateful to make it to episode 30! Huge thank you to all who have supported this endeavor and shared feedback along the way. Many more awesome podcast conversations coming up with truly extraordinary guests. This episode is actually recorded in the back on the Travellers Autobarn camper-van I was traveling in. I wanted to get out of LA on Black Friday and #Optoutside camping up the coast. My oldest nephew Howard came with me. It was a nice break for both of us. We don’t get to spend much time together as he lives north of Phoenix. He’s twenty-Two and very different from where I was in my life at twenty-two. He’s very smart, loyal and a hard worker, not saying that wasn’t me, but I had been to dozens of countries, was focused on meeting women and having crazy life experiences. Howard is a little more reserved, but he has mentioned to me several times how much he…
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Nov 26, 2019
Ep 29: Chef Gio Osso
Owner and Executive Chef Gio Osso captures the daily dynamism of authentic Mediterranean cooking at Virtú Honest Craft, located in Scottsdale, AZ’s Bespoke Inn. Among the laidback, coastal villa-vibe of his restaurant, Osso creates a menu that changes multiple times a week, highlighting the best ingredients sourced seasonally from across the country and around the world. “I like big, bold flavors,” Osso says, “but it has to be clean and crisp, involving all of the senses.” To allow himself the freedom to prepare such flavorful, yet simplistic, straightforward dishes, Osso spends as much time as necessary to find the ideal product, be it seafood from Spain, cheese from Italy, or spices from Northern Africa.
Much like his dishes, the chef considers each of his employees individually to ensure a happy and productive team. “Someone might need you to be a coach, someone else might need you to be a friend,” he explains. “If you give me 120%, I’ll give it right back to you…
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Oct 29, 2019
Ep 28: Jason Mraz
Born and raised in Mechanicsville, Virginia, Jason is a singer-songwriter who first came to prominence in the San Diego coffee shop scene in 2000. In 2002 he released his debut studio album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which contained the hit single "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)". With the release of his second album, Mr. A-Z, in 2005, Mraz achieved major commercial success. The album peaked at number 5 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 100,000 copies in the US. In 2008 Mraz released his third studio album, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. It debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 and was an international commercial success primarily due to the hit "I'm Yours". The song peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving him his first top ten single, and spent a record 76 weeks on the Hot 100. His fourth album, Love Is a Four Letter Word, peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200, his highest-charting album to date.
Mraz has won two Grammy Awards and received t…
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Oct 22, 2019
Ep 27: Chris Burkard
Chris Burkard is an accomplished explorer, photographer, creative director, speaker, and author. Traveling throughout the year to pursue the farthest expanses of Earth, Burkard works to capture stories that inspire humans to consider their relationship with nature, while promoting the preservation of wild places everywhere.
Layered by outdoor, travel, adventure, surf, and lifestyle subjects, Burkard is known for images that are punctuated by untamed, powerful landscapes. Through social media, chris strives to share his vision of wild places with millions of people, and to inspire them to explore for themselves.
His visionary perspective has earned him opportunities to work on global, prominent campaigns with Fortune 500 clients, speak on the TED stage, design product lines, educate, and publish a growing collection of books. Along with his team, Burkard is based out of his production studio and art gallery in the Central Coast of California.
At the age of 32, Burkard has established…
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Oct 15, 2019
Ep 26: Kassia Meador
California born and bred, Kassia Meador began surfing at age 14. by 17-years-old, Kassia was a sponsored pro-longboarder, traveling the world and competing in surf events globally. Known for her graceful surf style, Kassia was crowned the "queen of noseriding" by the New York Times and in 2011 ranked 2nd on the WSL women's longboard tour.
Throughout her 17-year career as a competitive sponsored athlete, Kassia was actively involved in designing products under the umbrella of her sponsors. In 2013, Kassia left sponsored surfing to build a brand--that focused on quality instead of quantity--for women by women.
Since launching in 2015, KASSIA+SURF has pushed the limits of women's surf culture, lifestyle, and design. With a mission to create aquatically functional wetsuits, accessories, and lifestyle gear, KASSIA+SURF is about freedom, empowerment, and enlightenment. Delivering superior quality goods by using eco-conscious production. Future flavor with a classic twist.
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Oct 8, 2019
Ep 25: Reef McIntosh
Reef McIntosh - Big Wave Surfer
In this episode we sit down with Big Wave Surfer and Pipeline legend Reef McIntosh. Growing up in Kauai, Hawaii, Reef was destined for a life in the ocean. I mean just his name alone…but the journey wasn’t always easy. Reef shares intimately of his early surf trips to the North Shore, Fiji and Tahiti. These are all places Reef dreamed about as a young grom.
Through his passion, perseverance and patience it led him to live his dreams as a professional surfer. You will hear in our conversation Reef shares a crazy story that got him a lot of attention in the media from Sports Illustrated and other major news outlets when the jet ski he was driving went over one falls of a wave as well as over the head of Big Wave Surfer, Raimana at Teahupoo, Tahiti (click here to watch).
Reef’s story is a great reminder that dreams don’t happen over night. Stay focused on what you want, go after it, strengthen that muscle everyday…
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Oct 1, 2019
Ep 24: April Davidson
Hi! My name is April, nice to meet cha!
I was born in the 80’s. I moved around a lot in my earlier years. No, I wasn’t a military brat. We moved a lot partially because of my father’s work and partially because he was an explorer like me. I just say I’m from Louisiana and Alabama because that is where my roots come from and most of my family still lives there.
We moved away from Alabama when I was 7 years old. That was when I fell in love with traveling and the mountains. My parents along with me and my 2 sisters packed up everything we owned and moved to Ohio. Next it was beautiful Utah where we lived in the tiniest town I’ve ever lived, and many small towns along the way. I remember my childhood as being so much fun. We were always packing up and moving, taking long road trips to incredible places and camping. As a kid I had a blast!
We moved to Oregon when I was eight or nine years old. The first place we lived was way up in the mountains in a campground. The five of us…
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Sep 24, 2019
Ep 23: Selema Masekela
Masekela was born in Los Angeles, the son of a Haitian mother and South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela. Masekela is also the older half-brother of Survivor: Cook Islands contestant Nathan Gonzalez. He was raised in Staten Island, New York in the same class with rapper Method Man and Carlsbad, California, where he attended Carlsbad High School. Masekela is the co-founder of Berkela Motion Pictures with Jason Bergh. When he was a teenager, Masekela's upbringing brought him to Southern California, where he was first exposed to surfing, snowboarding and skateboarding.
His career began as an intern at Transworld Publications in 1992, home of TW Snow, TW Skateboarding and TW Surf magazines. He served as an NBA sideline reporter for ESPN during the 2003-2004 season. Masekela was co-host of The Daily 10, a countdown of the day's "top 10" entertainment stories, on the E! network until it was cancelled on Sept 27, 2010 (last show Oct 1, 2010). He was also host o…
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Sep 17, 2019
Ep 22: Erin Sullivan
I’m originally from a suburban town in Connecticut. Growing up, I was not outdoorsy. I didn’t know anyone who traveled regularly. I didn’t have a role model who was exploring the world. But throughout school, I had a curiosity about the world that would not go away. I wanted to travel and explore, meet people from other countries who had a different life experience than mine.
I picked up my first camera at 15 and learned how to process film. Photography was a creative outlet for me, and gave me a way to document things as I saw them. In college, my love for photography faded into the background while I discovered my passion for the outdoors and environmental science. When I was 19, I went on my first wilderness expedition. It was one of the more challenging things I’d ever done. It changed my life and I’ve been hungry for more ever since
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Sep 10, 2019
Ep 21: Ruben Rojas
In 2013, Ruben Rojas traded in his suit for a paint brush and began transforming blank walls into unique, empowering messages that today are uplifting communities and challenging the public to create new dialogues. As an artist, muralist and activist, Ruben’s mission is to ignite creativity and inspire others to see the world through the lens of love.
By using the urban landscape as his canvas, Ruben encourages communities to change for the better through optimism and collaboration. These once vacant walls are now vibrant reminders that inspire those who see them to dream big, feel beautiful, live in possibility, and to love. Ruben’s murals can be seen in cities across the country and around the world from Paris to New York and Florida to Mississippi.
Ruben’s portfolio of work extends beyond murals. He is a TED speaker, helping spread the message of art creating impact, a product designer and also a corporate consultant.
Ruben works with companies to help businesses give back,…
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Sep 3, 2019
Ep 20: Lauren Abraham
Celebrity fitness model, Lauren Abraham, is a nationally recognized TV host & live event MC specializing in travel, health, fitness, red carpet events, and action sports. She has over 10 years of ongoing hosting experience with networks such as ESPN, FSN, NBC, and the like. As one of the most influential fitness personalities in the industry, she has been signed as the video creator and host for all Amway fitness video content for the next 5 years globally, as well being the leading spokesperson for MuscleTech, STRONG by Zumba. Recently voted into the top 10 physiques in the fitness industry, she graced page 45 of last year’s ESPN magazine, “The Body Issue.” Lauren is continuously published worldwide, and is seen monthly gracing the pages of fitness, sport, and fashion magazines. She has over 60 magazine publications worldwide.
For the year of 2014, Lauren was the face of 7-11 TV across the country, and she currently hosts two 30-minute fitness infomercial “The Rock Gym” air…
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Aug 27, 2019
Ep 19: Ben Higgins
Ben Higgins is best known from season 20 of ABC’s hit series, “The Bachelor,” where he opened himself up to millions of viewers, giving them the chance to truly get to know him. The opportunity ultimately led to an enhanced platform that he now uses to share what he is most passionate about with others – his faith, his hope for humanity and his love of sports.
Born and raised in Winona Lake, IN, Ben currently resides in Denver, CO, where he moved after graduating from Indiana University in 2012. Since “The Bachelor,” Ben has been keeping up with a number of projects with the help of some of his closest friends.
Most recently, Ben co-founded Generous International, a for purpose company dedicated to contributing profits to social issues around the world, starting with a cup of coffee. With a vision to change the way society thinks of consumer products, all Generous merchandise is designed specifically to create and multiply good in the world. Whether creating jobs, feeding…
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Aug 14, 2019
Ep 18: Season 1 Finale Solocast
This is a solo cast episode where Founder of Travel With Meaning, Mike Schibel shares about his yearly family summer reunion at their cabin in Northern Minnesota. Mike gets real and personal with his experience and why this year’s trip was so different than any other before. We’ll also hear some of Mike’s thoughts and wisdom around making choices while being on the open road and the mindset of a traveler. As Season One of the TWM Podcast comes to a close Mike reflects back and reveals about the road ahead for Season Two with a new partner creating inspiration for future episodes. All this and so much more on this episode of the Travel With Meaning Podcast.
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Jul 16, 2019
Ep 17: Jesse Billauer
Jesse Billauer (born February 24, 1979) is a well-known surfer from Pacific Palisades, California.
Billauer suffered an accident at the age of 17 on March 25, 1996, hitting his head on a shallow sandbar after being knocked off his surfboard by a wave. The force broke his neck, severing his spinal cord at the C6 level and instantly rendered him a quadriplegic.
Billauer was told by doctors that he would never surf again. However, Billauer eventually did return to surfing, adapting his surfing technique and equipment to the situation of his current condition. He has become a role model guide to many other surfers, both professional and amateur, on how to live life to the fullest, despite a life-changing injury. Through these efforts, Jesse has gained sponsorships from companies including Hurley, Channel Islands Surfboards (who developed a "Jesse Billauer" model), LoFric, Wavejet and Shoe City.
After graduating from Malibu High School, Billauer eventually enrolled at San Diego…
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Jul 10, 2019
Ep 16: Angel Castellanos
“I’m a US based travel expert and spend my time teaching people how to travel well, smart and often. I’m passionate about good travel and helping people save time & money. I often say that travel is my Ph.D in life because it has taught me so much about myself, other people and the world. In turn, travel is good for the world. I believe that travel has never been easier and that everyone can achieve their travel dreams. Happy Travels!” - Angel Castellanos
His AngelstravelLounge.com website and all Travel Ambassador social media are like cool travel lounges that bring you expert travel advice on how to travel better, smarter, longer and cheaper. Traveling internationally 12-15 weeks each year, Angel draws on his experiences to teach “Smart Travel” and equip travelers with skills to make their trips easier and more enjoyable and less stressful. His love of travel has driven him to give hundreds of motivational and inspiration travel talks throughout the country that a…
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Jun 25, 2019
Ep 15: Richard Bangs
Richard Bangs is co-founder and Chief Adventure Officer of http://www.Steller.co
Richard Bangs has been a pioneer in travel, digital media, e-commerce, and other frontiers.
In the early 90s Richard produced the first internet travel site http://www.mtsobek.com, the first travel CD ROM (The Adventure Disc), and the first virtual expeditions http://www.terra-quest.com.
He was founder and editor-in-chief of Mungo Park, a pioneering Microsoft travel publishing effort. He also founded www.terra-quest.com. He was part of the founding executive team of Expedia.com (www.expedia.com), and served as its Editor-at-Large. He was creator and publisher of Expedia Travels Magazine (published in partnership with Ziff-Davis), and executive producer of Expedia Radio, and founder and executive director of Expedia Cafes. He also served as president of Outward Bound; Founded Well-Traveled.com for Slate, and was founding editor and executive producer of Great Escapes, another Microsoft Tra…
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Jun 25, 2019
Ep 14: Angela Sun
Destined to shine, her bright personality, experience, and sunny disposition led Angela to break boundaries in the world of sports and media as the first Asian-American female sportscaster to appear on ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Tennis Channel, Fox Sports and NBC to name a few. During the time Angela hosted the “YAHOO! SPORTS MINUTE”, it became the longest running and #1 daily sports show online, won a Webby Award, and garnered over 600 million streams. Angela also co-hosted Season 4 of NBC’s “AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR”. She is currently host of “FOREIGN IN THE U.S.A.” travel show that can be seen nationally and in-flight on Delta Airlines.
As a world traveler, the award-winning journalist’s passion for storytelling and love for the oceans led to the creation of her first independent feature documentary, “PLASTIC PARADISE: THE GREAT PACIFIC GARBAGE PATCH”. Angela directed & executive produced the film which has received critical praise and won 13 awards worldwide and been i…
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Jun 19, 2019
Ep 13: David Hertz
David has been working at the edge of sustainability and the forefront of regenerative architecture for over 35 years. As a systems thinker, he engages a variety of fields through design and believes in expanding the conceptual limits of architecture.
Throughout his career, David has connected the art of building with responsible stewardship of the Earth. A LEED accredited professional, he serves on the board of Heal The Bay and is a member of the City of Santa Monica’s Task Force on the Environment. David taught sustainable design and mentored students at his alma mater, SCI-Arc, as well as Art Center College of Design and USC, and currently serves on the Academic Advisory Committee for UCLA’s Extension Program.
A lifelong passion for surfing has made David keenly active in issues regarding water quality and access. He and his wife Laura founded Skysource to develop and distribute atmospheric water generation technology, and their efforts culminated in winning the Water Abundanc…
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Jun 12, 2019
Ep 12: Solocast
Welcome to the first official solocast of the Travel With Meaning podcast. I’ve been enjoying bringing you conversations with interesting guests sharing travel stories and don’t worry we have three more interviews coming up with David Hertz, Angela Sun and Richard Bangs to close out season one. As I promised in the intro episode I was going to share some of my travels throughout the year and how travel has always shown up for me when I needed it. Something else I shared in the intro episode was I lost my job the end of January and I was thinking travel was going to play a big part of my life for the next few months. This episode is some of my thoughts, experiences and meaningful moments from travels my travels over the first six months of 2019. I found doing the interviews so much easier. Which means I’m going to have to lean into being even more vulnerable on my next solocast. Hope you enjoy…see you on the open road!
Mike
Angela Sun
David Hertz
Richard Bangs
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Jun 4, 2019
Ep 11: Angelique Velez
Angelique Velez, growing up in New York City dreaming of seeing the world. The former model and professional poker player life of travel began to unfold in front of her. It was traveling the world playing poker where she crafted the concept of Remarkable Places. Creating a visual vision board through her Instagram account. founder of Remarkable Places. With 55 countries visited to date, Angelique is constantly seeking out the most unique and unknown locations in the world. Remarkable Places is now a full fledge independent travel agency and experience company that brings her audience with her on her remarkable travels. For more information visit remarkableplaces.net
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May 28, 2019
Ep 10: Kinga Philipps
Never one to sit still, Kinga has tested herself for the past 19 years by traveling the globe...scuba diving, free diving, spear fishing, surfing, jumping out of airplanes, spelunking and swimming with sharks as a writer, producer and on camera journalist for networks such as CBS, NBC, ABC, USA, AMC, Travel Channel, Fox Sports, Universal Sports, Food Network, Current TV, Syfy, EPIX and National Geographic.
Kinga was born in Warsaw, Poland into a family of explorers and adventurers. Her dad, a geologist, trekked repeatedly across Europe and her mom, trained in botany, can give the Latin name of every plant. Expeditions are in her genes. Her folks believed in regular road trips, camping, cultural exploration, photography and natural sciences. She didn't stand a chance of becoming anything other than the world wandering, adventurous, story telling soul she grew up to be.
She has traveled the world reporting on intense subjects like police corruption in Mexico, gangs in LA, women in the…
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May 21, 2019
Ep 9: Erin Fish
Erin Fish is Co-Founder of Wanderwell, a social enterprise travel insurance agency committed to guiding travelers towards comprehensive, yet cost-effective plans, giving you peace of mind on your adventures. Wanderwell is a certified B Corp dedicated to offsetting the environmental impacts of travel by giving 10% of annual revenue to established non-profit members of 1% for the Planet, an organization focused on social impact and environmental stewardship; as well as other non-profits that promote sustainable travel. You go, we give...
Erin and his family live in Portland, Oregon and a graduate of UC Santa Barbara with a BA in Environmental Studies. He has 13+ years of insurance industry experience as an agent/broker for health insurance, employee benefits, travel insurance, and international health insurance. In previous decades, he was a middle school and high school teacher. As an active participant in local and national B Corp and 1% for the Planet committees, Erin is a strong adv…
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May 14, 2019
Ep 8: David Osokow
David Osokow, affectionately known as Dave O to celebrities, athletes, and executives around the world is a global serial entrepreneur and former fixture in the Hollywood nightlife scene. He’s the co-founder of the stylish and affordable sunglass brand Priverevaux, VP of Client Services for Vanderhall and Super 73.
The Southern California native is a motorcycle enthusiast and die-hard Philadelphia sports fan. One of Dave’s greatest moments was sitting next to a Philadelphia sports icon as his beloved Eagles won the Superbowl. Dave share’s that special moment and his other unique travel adventures on this episode of the Travel With Meaning podcast.
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May 7, 2019
Ep 7: Laura Grier
Laura Grier has been called the Indiana Jones of Adventure Travel Photography and is a recent addition to the Discovery Channel UK’s “20 Richest People in the World List”, people who are rich in life experiences that is. Living abroad from a young age, it is no surprise that Laura turned her life of travel, adventure, and exploration into a profession. As a photojournalist for the past 18 years, Laura has photographed on all 7 continents and has made a life out of exploring the world, capturing, and writing about her experiences.
The most satisfying work that Laura has done in her career has been through her work with Novica, in Association with National Geographic, a global catalog that represents artisans from around the world who are practicing “Vanishing Arts”. Through her work with Novica over the past 8 years, Laura has traveled numerous times to Peru and has quickly fallen in love with the culture and people. Passionate about mentoring, women’s education, photograph…
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Apr 30, 2019
Ep 6: Billy Galewood
Sure, Billy Galewood could impress you all day with many of his fun talents: juggling, magic, balloon animals, fire breathing… even balancing large objects on his face. But, that’s just the tip of the iceberg for this seasoned performer. Billy has evolved from his early days as a clown into a multi-talented comedian, musician, and storyteller whose artistic toolbox has led him on a magical ride around the world.
As a performer, Billy has graced the stage of such storied venues as The Hollywood Bowl, Red Rocks Amphitheater, as well as countless comedy clubs across the country. Billy has performed internationally, touring Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia.
He has collaborated with Justin Willman, Jason Mraz, Craig Robinson, Bob Schneider, Pigeon John, and Funny or Die.
As a musician, he co-wrote on GRAMMY winner Jason Mraz’s platinum debut album “Waiting for My Rocket to Come” and sophomore release “Mr. A-Z.” Billy also appeared in Jason’s 2018 documentary “Have it…
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Apr 30, 2019
Ep 5: Jessica Blotter
Jessica Blotter is CEO & Co-Founder of Kind Traveler. The moment she discovered that the love of travel can’t be separated from the state of the world after witnessing poverty on a trip to Belize in 2012, she wondered how the $7-trillion travel industry could be harnessed to benefit local communities, the environment, and animals. This experience led her and her co-founder to launch KindTraveler.com, a social enterprise that’s the first socially-conscious Give + Get hotel booking and education platform empowering travelers to become a force for good. Since launching Kind Traveler, Blotter has been featured in more than 300 news and blog outlets including the New York Times, Afar, Conde Nast Traveler, and Travel + Leisure. Blotter has delivered a TEDx salon talk ‘The Future of Travel: Purpose is King,’ was a recipient of the 2017 WITTI (Women in Travel & Tourism International) Award by Mandala Research as a Rising Star in Travel & Tourism presented by Skift, received the ‘Best…
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Apr 17, 2019
Ep 4: Redfoo
A multi-Grammy-nominated recording artist, Redfoo is creator and one-half of electro-pop dance duo LMFAO. The group is best known for their chart-topping single “Party Rock Anthem” and other popular hits “I’m in Miami Bitch”, “Sexy and I Know It”, "Sorry for Party Rocking" and "Shots, Shots, Shots." As a hit songwriter and recent solo artist, Redfoo is known for his international hits "Let's Get Ridiculous", “New Thang” and “Juicy Wiggle.” A Vegan and lover of life, the youngest son of Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr. is currently obsessed with, Getting an ATP Point in Tennis, Coding games in JavaScript, and laughing with his girlfriend Jasmine, their 3 dogs, and 2 turkeys.
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Apr 16, 2019
Ep 3: Slater Trout
Growing up Slater Trout's life was based around the water. At the age of 11, Slater chose to forge his own path through the young and fresh sport of Stand Up Paddling. By doing so he found himself competing and succeeding against athletes mostly double his age. While traveling for SUP Races / Surf competitions around the world, he developed his passion for photography. As his photography portfolio is growing, he hopes that each of his photos will inspire and invite you to experience the world through his eyes. Whether Slater is competing for a Stand Up Paddling World Title or documenting his life through photography, he is always excited for the next journey.
Social
IG: https://www.instagram.com/slatertrout/?hl=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/slatertrout?lang=en
Website: http://slatertrout.com
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Apr 9, 2019
Ep 2: Danni Washington
As the first African-American woman to host her own science television series, Danni is deeply passionate about inspiring the next generation to connect and understand the natural world. She has spent the last 10 years finding creative ways to convert her passion for the ocean and science into exciting, high-profile ways. Miami native with Jamaican roots, Danni Washington is deeply passionate about exposing the next generation to the wonders of the ocean and engaging science communications. She dreamed of studying the oceans since she was six years old. In 2008, Danni graduated from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science with a B.Sc. in Marine Science/Biology. At age 21, she co-founded along with her mom, Michelle Swaby-Smith the Big Blue & You - A 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and educating youth about marine conservation through the arts and media. "Ocean Conservation through Artistic Inspiration". She also served for fo…
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Mar 29, 2019
Ep 1: Phil Keoghan
Phil Keoghan has been telling stories in front of a television camera for 30 years. He has worked in over 130 countries as an actor, author, speaker, television host, producer, director and cameraman on thousands of program episodes. Phil is currently Host and an Executive Producer of The Amazing Race, now in its 32nd season; Host of National Geographic’s Explorer and Host of an inspirational podcast called, Buckit with Phil Keoghan. His work has earned him numerous awards including; ten prime-time Emmy Awards as a producer and host of the hit CBS series The Amazing Race; Best Director Award, at the American Documentary Film Festival; the 2018 Sports Documentarian Award from the International Sports Hall of Fame: a World Class New Zealand Award; The 2011 Dorothy Corwin Spirit of Life award for services to MS; a 2012 Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award and the Endurance Live, Celebrity Athlete of the Year 2013. Keoghan was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2014 for his…
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Mar 24, 2019
Welcome To Travel Talk
Travel stories that have impacted the lives and careers of artists, entertainers, athletes, entrepreneurs, CEO’s and travel experts. Hosted by Mike Schibel, Founder of Travel With Meaning.
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