Speaking Of Travel ®

The Speaking of Travel + Leave No Trace Series with Richard Crawford, host of the Amazon Prime TV series Leave No Trace, continues with Richard reflecting how traveling surprises, and challenges, him.Richard explains how he first realized his love of travel and what it was like growing up in Scotland across the road from a major airport. After a soccer scholarship brought him to the U.S., he relates how awe-inspiring the excitement of traveling really was and how his life changed when he went out in the world as a brand ambassador. Over time, his love of travel and his passion for ecotourism and sustainability impacted his future. Today, with his successful TV series, Leave No Trace, he is able to help break down barriers, support the places he loves and highlight the importance of conservation, sustainable travel and eco-tourism.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Mark Gordon Smith, founder of Private Italy Tours, loves to talk about his love affair with the most gorgeous country known for epic architecture, history, food, wine and gracious people. For a tour company, not touring and traveling equates to great loss.  However, for Mark, there was no time for feeling sorry for himself. Instead, he created opportunities to bring together community across the globe. Mark talks candidly about the challenges and silver-linings during the time of the pandemic. There are new tours and plans unfolding moving forward and Mark explains how he has found strength in the Italian people and their cultures and traditions. He's ready to share this all with you now. Find out how to come home to Italy. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Suzanne Stavert has a unique perspective to inspire empty nesters (and others) to find adventure wherever they go. Her blog, Adventures of Empty Nesters, is a movement and a valued resource. These stories are a way to open doors to new ideas and experiences and inspire you to find your version of an exciting and adventurous life.Her newest adventure is a podcast called Travel Connections.  Suzanne will be talking with industry professionals and others and highlight special stories to make valuable and long-lasting travel connections.Discover how Suzanne answered the  gnawing question of... "what now?"  when the emptiness of the day-to-day fun she and her husband had with with their kids evolved into finding a new life full of joy and excitement for the future. #findadventureAlso on Speaking of Travel, now is the best time to check off your must do list for the upcoming leaf season in the mountains and foothills surrounding Asheville and Western North Carolina. Jen Brooks, the editor and social media

Stephanie Carroll Carson, co-owner of Gypsy Circus Cider Company, has many balls in the air. But she and her husband have found traveling with their kids is the most rewarding, exhilarating experience and builds unforgettable memories. A recent month-long trip to Ecuador allowed them to explore the country without the pressure that every day had to be phenomenal. Their flexibility paid off when they were able to book a trip two hours before the boat left for the Galapagos and they saved a ton of money on an eight-day first-class cruise. Discover why seeing this trip through the eyes of their children was the most rewarding part of the trip and how they experienced the "fly by the seat of your pants" approach. Maybe traveling with your kids is something to consider for the future. Stephanie is a pro!Also on Speaking of Travel,  explore how to be good stewards of our planet and support the communities we visit by leaving a smaller footprint. Clark Lovelace, Executive Director of the Brevard/Transylvan

Explore the Mediterranean through acclaimed food and wine experiences with Felix Meana of CÚRATE. Felix is a pioneer of sustainable food systems and promotes eco tourism, conservation, and mindful travel.Felix and his wife, Chef Katie Button, have many endeavors through Katie Button Restaurants, including CÚRATE Tapas Bar and La Bodega by CÚRATE. They're changing the industry at its core by doing what they love.Felix’s close relationships with importers and wineries throughout Spain and his hyper-focus on guest experience is integral to the CÚRATE brand. CÚRATE Trips allow guests to experience fascinating and unique culinary destinations first-hand. Felix explains how priceless insider access, life-long connections and a tantalizing insight into the food that shapes the cultural essence of every locale on the itinerary is what makes a CÚRATE Trip so memorable and exciting. And speaking of tours, think how fun it is to discover new cities on a local tour, with a local tour guide. Also on Speaking of Trave

Arnfinn Oines, Secretary of the Soneva Foundation and Social & Environmental Conscience of Soneva, discusses eco-tourism and sustainability and their environmental, social and economic impact programs in the Maldives and the world. The Speaking of Travel + Leave No Trace Series with Richard Crawford, host of the Amazon Prime TV series, continues with guests from all over the globe, highlighting the importance of conservation, sustainable travel and eco-tourism.Arnfinn and Richard explore how Soneva's forward thinking ideas are ground-breaking and where the inspiration comes from and they talk about how the Foundation's successes are making huge changes in supporting the development of projects having positive impacts. Also join Tyler Donaldson, Sales & Marketing Director for French Broad Adventures in Western North Carolina and discover how this small family-owned outdoor company is celebrating its 40th year providing fun and thrilling activities. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel!

Jennifer Ball is a Chinese-speaking, magenta-haired, French horn-playing, rock 'n' roll singer/novelist who focuses on inclusive language. Jennifer explains how travel requires more listening because you're often in a new place. With listening comes thinking about language and word choice so you're not offending another culture. She lived in China for two years and taught English to Chinese college students. In the Fingerpuppets rock band she plays French horn, trumpet and keyboards and she sings too.Jennifer has an MFA in Creative Writing from San Diego State University and a BFA in Theater from University of California at Los Angeles and is the author of Catalyst, Higher Math, The Book Moose Minnon Never Wrote, and she co-authored of The Verbum Book of Digital.Jennifer Ball's Chinese name is 包弫 Bao Zhen (bao1 zhen3). In Chinese, last names come first. Bao/Ball. Zhen/Jennifer. The little known 弫  means "impactful, powerful." Very true.Jennifer has researched ancient written

For Akira Satake, the act of creation is a collaboration between him, the clay and the fire. Akira shares his experiences finding the beauty in imperfection and the importance of “ma,” the space in-between.Akira Satake was born in Japan and his first serious passion was American roots music. He taught himself to play guitar and banjo listening to his older brother’s Doc Watson and Flatt and Scruggs recordings. After years of working in the music industry, Akira was looking for a way to destress. He knew after taking his first ceramics class he was meant to be a potter.Today Akira has a working studio and exhibition space in the River Arts District in Asheville, NC.  He has given workshops and presentations all over the world and his work is transformed from the heart. Also on Speaking of Travel, discover how the power of storytelling brings people together with Riley Coy of Kitcaster, a company with shared storytelling at its core. Riley helps CEOs, Entrepreneurs, and Business Owners share their success stori

Michael Chowdry, founder of Atlas Air, lived life with passion and enthusiasm. His wife Linda created a special memoir to honor Michael's drive, creativity, charismatic personality and his love of aviation. Her book, "No Man's Son - A Flight from Obscurity to Fame" is the story about her immigrant/entrepreneur husband who came to this country with just about nothing and, through hard work and an undaunted spirit, started several aviation companies, including the highly successful Atlas Air Cargo, which is still running strong today. Through challenges and successes, he soared to the very heights of the airline business.Also join Andrew Nehlig, founder of The Sauna House in Asheville, NC,  and discover whysoaking traditions have been a central part of various cultures for centuries and how they are more accessible today. And find out how you can navigate yourself during a layover to help make your journey a little less stressful with some helpful tips provided by Tina Kinsey from the the As

The Speaking of Travel + Leave No Trace series with Richard Crawford, host of the Amazon Prime TV show "Leave No Trace," features Ben Alcott, the show’s director and cameraman (and more) from Australia, to discuss responsible travel and provide some steps we can take to become more mindful travelers. Ben also shares what it's like to film Ricky on location of Leave No Trace and the  challenges he faces. This show is a ball! Also join Andrew Nehlig, founder of The Sauna House in Asheville, NC , as he shares the history of why soaking traditions have been a central part of various cultures for centuries and how they are more accessible to us today. And discover how you can navigate yourself during a layover to help make your journey a little less stressful with some helpful tips provided by Tina Kinsey from the Asheville Regional Airport.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Allyn Burrows is the artistic director of Shakespeare & Company, located in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts and one of the world’s top Shakespeare festivals. They are committed to inclusion, diversity and racial and gender equity as its foundation. They believe that live theatre connects us all in the universal pursuit of a purposeful existence and reveals through storytelling the meaning of our humanity and can only be achieved when theatre is genuinely inclusive and reflects the stories of all, particularly those who have been ignored, diminished, or erased.  Founded in 1978, the Company began with outdoor performances at American novelist Edith Wharton’s estate, The Mount, before moving to its current campus. Allyn discusses how Shakespeare & Company recently created The New Spruce Theatre, a gorgeous outdoor amphitheater that ties back to the Company’s history of outdoor performances. Although the 2020 season was shuttered, Allyn shares how they came up with creative ideas to keep the show

What if you could live for the moment and then take it with you? Holly Christensen, founder of Dune Jewelry, creates unique customized and personalized collections that are perfect for holding on to special travel moments. Dune Jewelry & Co. creates Experiential Jewelry by handcrafting personalized, custom designs using sand and earth elements from thousands of memorable and iconic locations around the world.  Holly shares her thoughts on what sets Dune apart from other jewelry brands and what makes her company stand out.  Over the years Dune has evolved  to the one-and-only Experiential Jewelry brand in the world. Discover how Holly manifests abundance in her life to have a healthier well-being.Also on Speaking of Travel, discover what can you expect when you walk into an airport today and enter into the process of what to do between the time you arrive and leave.  Here to break down some of those airport procedures is Tina Kinsey, Director of Marketing, PR and Air Service Development at the Asheville Re

Around the world, live performances are beginning to emerge again. In Cape Cod, there’s excitement in the air as the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival returns this August after a year of live shows being put on hold.What I love about the Cape Cod community is the Festival’s first show will be themed as an ode to people who continued to support the local arts scene when they needed it most. The Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival has been a presenter of chamber music since 1979. After a year hiatus and under the direction of Paul Schwendener, the Festival is transitioning back with inspiring events planned. Find out how the Festival is moving forward this year and why this is such an important, and special, event for all. Also on Speaking of Travel  is Miranda Peterson of Namaste in Nature, a yoga, hiking and meditation respite in Western North Carolina that helps relieve stress and anxieties while celebrating and appreciating nature. And Tina Kinsey from the Asheville Regional Airport provides essential information

I'm excited to announce the new Speaking of Travel + Leave No Trace series with the host of the Amazon Prime series, Richard Crawford. Each month Ricky and I will bring guests to Speaking of Travel to highlight the importance of conservation, sustainable travel and eco-tourism. On this premier episode, Ricky reveals how he discovered a passion for the health of our planet and modern social issues. He shares his vast experiences traveling the world and explores solutions to inspire our actions through environmental stewardship.Also on Speaking of Travel, Kaye Bentley, founder of Asheville Rooftop Bar Tours, tells us how she prepared to reopen during this unusual time and created an experience where visitors would feel safe. And join Tina Kinsey from the Asheville Regional Airport for some helpful tips that will help you get through the airport without raising your blood pressure, allow you to have a pleasant experience in the air and arrive ready to hit the ground at your destination.Asheville Regional Ai

Karina Kennedy’s laugh-out-loud travel comedy novel, “A Not So Lonely Planet: Italy,” is brimming with art, love and sexy Italian adventures.  As an intrepid explorer, Karina doesn’t want to miss out on a memory and is even willing to bend the rules. She inspires and entertains others who share her passion to explore the world, fall in love and just have fun.Discover how Karina's personal travels inspired "A Not So Lonely Planet: Italy," and why she chose Italy for the setting in her new book. Karina gives us a look into the settings of her future books and why she chose those locations. She also provides some important travel tips and recommendations to make your future travels safe and efficient. Also on Speaking of Travel, George Luther with "Walk With Me Tours" in Asheville, NC. shares how he's uncovering the stories and details of Asheville's past and making them come alive. George loves greeting people from all over the world and immersing them with the history, cultur

JoAnn Reilly Yoder is happiest when traveling the world and fearless when doing so. Bungee jumping, skydiving or paragliding off one of the highest peaks in Queenstown is what she loves to do. JoAnn was born and raised in the Republic of Panama and accustomed to living outside the United States. Traveling continues to teach her to love and accept people for who they, no matter where she is, with no judgement and she always wants to leave people and places better than she found them. JoAnn realizes it might be through a simple conversation that gives someone hope or teaches them something new. "I can meet anyone on this planet, on any corner of the earth, and ask them 10-15 questions and we will have something in common." Also on Speaking of Travel is J Chong, she/her, Chef at J Chong Eats. J is participating in this year’s Chow Chow Culinary Event in Asheville and believes there is so much love and happiness to offer if we can just be seen and heard and how food is the easiest way to accomplish this

Jill Culiner has crossed much of Europe on foot, travelled by bus, train, car and truck. Imagine having lived in a Hungarian mud house, a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave dwelling, on a Dutch canal, and even in a haunted house on the English moors. Jill has lived this life. And her artistic work is exhibited in cultural centers, galleries and museums across Europe and Canada. Jill is truly a kindred-spirit who is a joy to talk to. Her stories reflect her love for life and are juicy tidbits we can all relate to.  Her tales of the history of The Fusgeyers, the thousands of Romanian Jewish men and women who were unwilling to tolerate anti-Semitism and left their country on foot between 1899 and 1907 and headed for the new country, are moving and inspiring. These men and women were destitute but resolute, and supported themselves by giving theatrical performances, or by selling stories and poems. In North America, some worked as peddlers, shopkeepers, café and restaurant owners, actors, and writers in the famous Y

Chef Santiago Vargas is a chef and consultant who follows his passion for food by lovingly preparing his dishes with a dose of passion, a love of culture and a touch of magic. Santiago is well-loved for his culinary artistry.Chef Santiago was born in Lima, Perú, surrounded by flavors and traditions from the Andes. From a very young age, he loved the art of cooking. Before becoming a private caterer and chef, Santiago owned an award-winning food truck, "Out of the Blue Peruvian Fusion Cuisine." It won several awards and competitions, and was the first to introduce authentic Peruvian flavor to the city of Asheville.​ Also on this episode of Speaking of Travel are Denise Altay and Sean Collinsworth from Killer Bees Farm where you can experience their natural sanctuary and explore their thriving bee and honey scene. Killer Bees Farm is a small, artisanal honey company committed to protecting bio-diversity through sustainable honey bee stewardship and honey harvesting practices. And if you're itchin

Heidi Walters oversees marketing initiatives of group travel, international and sports marketing and industry relations for the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (Visit NC).Heidi shares how their Outdoor NC initiative and partnership with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is helping preserve the state’s precious natural resources.So what and why does NC need an initiative like Outdoor NC and why partner with Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics?  Heidi says, "It only makes sense for us to partner with Leave No Trace. They have 25 years of research and education. This is not new to them."Find out who benefits from this mission-driven initiative and what success looks like. And then Take The Pledge!Also join Meredith Leigh who serves on the all-volunteer Board of Directors for "Chow Chow, An Asheville Culinary Event Series."  Find out how Chow Chow is welcoming friends and family back to the culinary festival and what's in store for 2021.And if you'r

Toby Brown, U.S. Partner and lead safari coordinator with Outdoor Africa explains what visitors can expect in the days ahead when making plans to journey to this beautiful and exotic bucket-list destination.Toby shares how their focus on private custom tours is a benefit to travel in a post-Covid environment and how they have spent time building their brand and partnerships all over Africa. Outdoor Africa now can work with partners in Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda and Madagascar, as well as South Africa, and will be able to help you in understanding all the diverse history, culture and wildlife.Also, with summer approaching and people beginning to be on the move, many people are longing for a change of scenery and someplace to call home for a while. Guest Mark Bastin, CMO of Yonder Luxury Vacation Rentals, fills us in on how to ensure your vacation home meets the highest standards. And Tina Kinsey, Director of Marketing, PR and Air Service Development at the Ashevil