Speaking Of Travel ®

Traveling in an RV creates timeless memories. Jim Calderbank, a former RV manufacturing executive and current campground owner, explains why the RV lifestyle is the best way to connect with the outdoors and with each other."The people that come here, they love the outdoors, they love nature, ... at the end of the day just to see the stress drain away from them is very rewarding."Discover why the RV lifestyle allows you to be in the safety of your home in unsettling times, with family or friends, while traveling to your next personal outdoor adventure. Also, join Tony and Alex Fraga, owners of the FIRC Group. They have developed and operate several of downtown Asheville’s most successful hotels and restaurants. Discover how they bring communities together to help spur economic growth, while working to preserve and conserve.  And Tina Kinsey, Director of Marketing, PR and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport discusses how airports are making it easy to feel safe and confident when

Jenna Torres lives a life that is a tale of two cities. When she signed with Warner Music as a single mom living in NYC and sent to Nashville, her life changed and opened up her heart and her world. Her music reflects the freedom of mind and soul.Discover how Jenna found her tribe and her heart place within a kindred nature of community. "The minute my foot hit the tarmac, I had a feeling that I was somehow in this heavenly spot," Jenna said.Find out how Jenna is now emerging with new songs, a new album, and a renewed sense of love and spirit. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

La Carmina has a passion to shine a positive spotlight on misunderstood and marginalized subcultures worldwide. She began her La Carmina travel & fashion blog in 2007 as a creative outlet during her studies at Yale Law. Since then, she’s published three books, hosted travel TV shows for major networks and explored over 70 countries for fashion and tourism projects.La Carmina shares stories about her unique focus on Gothic destinations and culture, including death rituals, which she writes about in positive and meaningful ways.  Her intrigue of ancient civilizations and mysteries and the alternative subcultures in Japan, particularly the Goth nightlife, Harajuku fashion, extreme body modifications, and quirky pop culture have led La Carmina on a magical path."I was someone who always gravitated to more alternative things, whether it was gothic music or dark fashion. I always felt like I was someone who walked a different path and was a bit outside the norm and connected with people who shared those in

Rob Lenfestey traveled the world and after years of expanding his edges, he came to the Appalachian forest and founded Mandala Chocolate, an organic chocolate factory and Mandala Springs, a peaceful sustainable retreat on the edge of the Pisgah National Forest in Western North Carolina. Rob’s passion is to give the gifts of knowledge, empowerment and health to all. Rob says, "There is no need for us to live anything less than magnificent. Nothing less than magnificence is what we need to create the world we want to give to future generations."Rob is also a conservation ecologist, a campaign director for Forestkeeper, a lifestyle coach, and he is a Wim Hof Method Instructor with his own youtube channel called Convergence Lifestyle. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Girl About Travel Club makes it easy for women to book incredible holidays but don't know where to begin. Based in the UK, Rebecca Miles is Girl About’s travel editor and freelance journalist who inspires and shares ideas to create memories to cherish. Girl About offers everything you will need to make your best holiday choices through access to experts and trusted booking partners and from a community of like-minded women.It is indeed a one-stop-shop when you are choosing where to go and what to do. With their nationwide collective of global travel industry experts and their fabulous women ambassadors providing information about their local communities across the UK, you will have the best of travel ideas, knowledge, inspiration, recommendations and resources.The best part of being a Girl About will be the new friends you will make, with support and community at the heart of it all.  Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can

Stephen R. Brown is a professional photographer and writer who created a life doing what he loves. From his travels to Europe, the Middle East and Morocco, to being a teacher and photojournalist, Stephen follows his intuition and is rewarded with life-changing opportunities. Stephen’s images and articles on photography have appeared in Smithsonian, Life, Newsweek, Time, Fortune, the New York Times and National Geographic… just to name a few. His work has been exhibited in solo shows here and abroad and over the past 10 years he developed eight titles and sold over 300,000 books. His books are approved by the National Park Service and he works closely with Honor Flight and other organizations to create cherished memories.A must listen!Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Impact Travel Alliance Founder and Executive Director Kelley Louise shares new insights into how we can actively participate in advocating for more impactful initiatives around sustainable tourism.  Kelley explains how important it is to take a holistic approach to empowering communities and protecting our environment so everyone is connected.Also, find out what's in store for travelers moving forward and what we should keep in mind as we get back out and begin exploring again.  ITA is at the forefront of the travel industry to educate and empower travelers on how to travel mindfully so our experiences protect our environment and empowers locals. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Find out how 2021 is shaping up in Italy and plan your trip with Mark Gordon Smith, founder of Private Italy Tours. Mark’s unwavering commitment to providing unique and unforgettable experiences is stronger than ever. Mark is  creating a not-for-profit that will focus on Arts Education and the restoration of works by female artists of the Renaissance in Italy and of the Dutch Golden Age and he is creating an archive to house scientific analysis information and all of the photos and videos taken during restorations, a legacy for future generations.And learn more about Mark's 2021 Italy Tours to the Lake Region, Sicily and Puglia and also his plans for more tours in 2022.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Jenny Cressman is the author of the Cuban Kisses series. The stories and characters are fictional, but Jenny has drawn on her own background and experiences (travel and otherwise)  to create an authentic feeling. Many people have commented that the setting is so authentic and transportive, it's like taking a mini-vacation. For Jenny, Cuba is always on her mind and she's looking forward to the time she can lead a group there again, or even slip away on her own to do more writing. Jenny helps us gain a little better understanding of this beautiful country and shares her insight and love of Cuba. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Amanda Kingsmith and Ryan Ferguson are The World Wanderers and have a passion for travel, living life to the fullest, and finding happiness in all corners of the world. Through their popular blog and podcast, they share their amazing experiences with other travel enthusiasts and explain how travel has changed and impacted their lives in a positive way, how travel has shaped their view of the world, and what it means to be truly happy. Amanda and Ryan have traveled to six continents, 50+ countries and experienced countless trains, planes and automobiles. They offer up some great tips for people who might want to start working and travel, where to go and how to get started and why anyone can do it! Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Justine Abigail Yu is a communication strategist who works to change our world for the better. She is a leader, a mentor and a strong woman not afraid to do the work necessary to be an advocate for social justice and healing. Justine has worked with organizations operating in North America, Central America, East Africa, and Southeast Asia. Her expertise lies in growing enterprises from the ground up through strategic digital marketing, compelling storytelling and genuine community engagement through a lens of anti-oppression. She is the Communications Director at Wanderful – a global travel and lifestyle brand that specializes in helping all women travel the world – as well as the Senior Advisor for RISE Travel Institute – a non-profit organization that promotes responsible, sustainable, and ethical travel through education. Justine is also the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Living Hyphen, an emerging magazine that explores the experiences of living in between cultures as a hyphenated Canadian – that is, an i

Long-time train enthusiast Bill McClement volunteers as a passenger train host with the NC Train Host Association, a group of ambassadors who ride state-supported AMTRAK trains. Bill provides a history of AMTRAK's  50 years and gives us a rundown of the events leading up to its formation and where it has gone from its beginning. Learn why rail travel makes you feel truly transported. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Jonelle Patrick is the author of five novels set in Japan and has been writing about Japanese culture and travel since moving to Tokyo in 2003. She explores how books transport readers past gatekeepers to immerse us behind-the-scenes to other countries and cultures. Jonelle explains how reading fiction opens our eyes to a lot of things we might walk right past in our travels. Who knows... you might not know those clusters of handsome guys you see walking around Tokyo's red light district work in a host club. But if you read a book set there, you can get inside one, feel what it’s like to be a customer, and even understand what it’s like to work in one. A great conversation that you won't want to miss! Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

I don’t know if I want to let this secret out of the bag, but Winnipeg has world-class performing arts, is a foodies dream come true, and you can go see polar bears swimming over your head. This place celebrates human rights, and is quietly moving from the center of the continent to the center of our attention.  Vogue calls Winnipeg, “an absolute must-visit destination,” and National Geographic listed it as “one of the best trips on earth,” while Conde Nast Traveler named Winnipeg as one of the 21 best places to go in 2021. So the timing is just right for a visit! Find out all there is to see and do in every season in The Peg with Cody Chomiak, Winnipeg’s Director of Marketing.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Ray Blakney was raised in Turkey and lives in Mexico with his growing family. Seeing the world outside his office walls and embracing his travel bug is a priority for Ray.  His stories of hiking the Incan Trail, driving through Tuscany in a Ferrari and sleeping under the stars in the Saharan desert and almost being killed by a camel named Jimmy are epic. Ray credits being positive, creative, open-minded and a much better problem solver to his travel experiences. Find out how following his passion is one of the best predictors of his success. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Dr. Sheri Rosenthal is one of the most sought after retreat strategists for coaches, speakers, authors and travel professionals and the owner of Journeys of the Spirit Travel®, a boutique agency specializing in the planning and management of group travel. Through vast experience and her love for travel, Sheri created a totally online business she can run from anywhere in the world. Through her Wanderlust Entrepreneur Community and her signature course, The Retreat Blueprint Program, she has taught thousands of facilitators how to design exceptional retreats that allow them to stand out in their niche.  Sheri explains how she accomplished her goals and fills us in on how to travel safely from a doctor's perspective.  A must listen.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Writer Johanna Garton provides a gripping and powerful tribute to human endurance and one of the greatest unknown stories in mountaineering in her book, "Edge of The Map," a story of resiliency, seeking to find your passions, travel and adventure. Christine Boskoff, who disappeared while climbing in China in 2006, was the only American woman to summit  8,000 meter peaks.  She ran a mountain guiding company and lived her life in a world which was almost exclusively male and found herself under constant scrutiny. But she pursued her passion for climbing and a life in the mountains. The research and prepa­ra­tion to write the man­u­script was Johanna's mother's life and pas­sion until her health began to fail. Johanna explains how she was also cap­ti­vat­ed by Chris’s sto­ry and how important it was for her to fin­ish writing the story her mother had begun.Johanna also shares her early experience as a journalist and how moving to Asia after college to travel opened a love of China.  She and h

Neale Bayly has a lifetime of storytelling adventures and travelled in over 80 countries, more than 50 of them on a motorcycle, as a photojournalist, two-time Tele award winning television producer-host, and as a humanitarian. He formed Wellspring International Outreach to benefit sick and abandoned children in Peru, South Africa, and Kenya. Today, Neale is still just as passionate about motorcycles, travel, and philanthropy as ever and is working on his next documentary to bring the old motorcycle of his youth back to life and return to his South Devon, England, home after 35 years.  Discover the story behind Neale's Laverda Project, his foundation and how we can all help support what Neale holds dear to his heart. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

In his best-selling book, "Global Career: How to Work Anywhere & Travel Forever," Mike Swigunski shares what he's learned from years of trial and error about how to travel long-term and advance your career. Mike is the founder of GlobalCareer.io, an international job board for remote workers.Mike explores the future and explains how in today's world, the workforce is remote. But he explains how the real future of work will be more flexible and likely to be one where workers are focused on accomplishing goals to a high level of quality as opposed to filling out a timesheet and working 40 hours a week.   Mike has worked and traveled in over 85+ countries over the past decade and loves writing about remote work and entrepreneurship. A must listen! Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Brendan Drewniany, Director of Communications at Black Tomato, a luxury travel company in the US and the UK, shares some innovative approaches to create handcrafted travel experiences designed for your new travel memories. Find out what the newest trends are in travel and where to go in 2021 to shake up your bucket list! Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.