Speaking Of Travel ®

Asheville-based singer/songwriter Jane Kramer and her husband Jason Sandford, founder of the popular blog Ashvegas, are adjusting to a new reality and creating solutions to support each other during these changing times. They share how the art community finds creative ways to reach people virtually during a time that prevents us from experiencing music, art and culture with others in person. Jane discusses what she believes is the role of artists and musicians in society, particularly during times of great change and what it's like being a full-time musician during this global pandemic and how this affects her work.Jane and Jason talk about what is inspiring them now and how people can best support artists and musicians.Photo by Carrie Kramer Frey Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

We’re all looking forward to the end of social distancing and being able to travel and hug and go back to a time when we were together. But right now it’s important to remain calm and try to keep a clear head. Uncertainty is tough. We all like knowing what’s up.  Join Dayna Reggero of The Climate Listening Project as she helps us get a grip on what we can do to take some action, manage our emotions and protect our mental wellbeing when we are not able to travel. Dayna explains how to stay balanced and cope with stress in a healthy way to help make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Although it might not look like it right now, I’m convinced the travel industry has a future. Tonya Fitzpatrick, the co-founder of World Footprints, a socially conscious travel media platform that includes the award-winning World Footprints podcast, brings us up-to-date on current travel challenges and industry trends. Tonya explores the future of travel globally and domestically and how she continues her connection to people around the world. The future is bright. People will travel again. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Kingston Lim was born and raised in San Francisco. He’s currently on a global odyssey figuring out how to make the biggest splash in the shortest amount of time. His plans never included a pandemic, but that has not stopped him and he keeps on traveling. Find out from an insider what it is like on planes, trains and automobiles around the world today. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Learn more about flexible, work-anywhere ways you can pay for your life in retirement. Jeff Opdyke, editor of the Savvy Retiree, explains how most people want a sense of purpose in retirement, an opportunity to keep growing and to keep their mind and body active. This is the focus at The Savvy Retiree and Jeff is a retirement reformer with a simple message: Live richer, not wealthier. If you’d like to learn more about flexible, work-anywhere ways you can pay for your life overseas, sign up for The Savvy Retiree Daily, a free e-letter from International Living. thesavvy-retiree.comThanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Apple Cider is making a tremendous comeback across the US and there are many reasons to love it. Katie Moore with Barn Door Ciderworks and Dave Bowman from Black Mountain Cider and Mead explain what is happening now with cider, such as the revival of traditional heritage cider and the more modern versions. Learn the history of cider in England and Spain and how Katie and Dave’s travels inspired them to bring the art and craft of cider making to their community. 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 Stevens is finding success writing mystery novels about western Colorado. Mark explains how he found inspiration for his Allison Coil character and the challenge of featuring a female lead character as a male writer. He also discusses the importance of writing networks, writing groups and writing communities. Mark is a storyteller, author, writer and traveler.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Reptile expert Bruce Shwedick of the Crocodilian Conservation Center of Florida is a member of the IUCN- Species Survival Commission Crocodile Specialist Group, the world’s largest organization focused on the conservation and management of the world’s crocodilian species. Bruce shares his travel experiences in Sri Lanka when he attended the 22nd World Crocodile Conference and explains how biodiversity conservation and ecosystem health helps support the balance of the planet.Bruce began attending meetings in southern Africa that included many CSG members back in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. In addition to attending CSG meetings in other countries, such as Argentina and Colombia and in Gainesville, Florida, Bruce also submitted reports and photographs of his work with crocodiles to the CSG’s quarterly newsletter.In 2002, Bruce was formally invited to become a CSG member and has served on the steering committee since 2008. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tip

Tonya Fitzpatrick is the co-founder of World Footprints, a socially conscious travel media platform that includes the award-winning World Footprints podcast. Tonya is a 3x TEDx and international speaker, lawyer and author. World Footprints is one of the most reputable sources for meaningful, socially-minded travel content. Tonya and her husband Ian bring history to life, share unique treasures from the destinations they visit,and inspire, educate and connect communities around the world.Tonya shares the WHY behind the mission of World Footprints and discusses the transformative power of travel. She also explores the future of travel post-coronavirus and how the world will be changed. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Ken Druse is a celebrated lecturer and an award-winning author and photographer known as “the guru of natural gardening.” Ken has written over 20 garden books published over the past 25 years. He shares tips from his most recent book, The Scentual Garden: Exploring the World of Botanical Fragrance.Working with perfumers’ classifications, Ken Druse develops 12 master scent categories that range from floral and fruity to spicy and medicinal. His encyclopedia of fragrant plants includes hundreds of familiar and unusual flowers, shrubs, and trees, with photographs and detailed notes about scent and suggestions for their use. Ken also explains how and why plants produce fragrances, how perfumers capture floral scents, how to smell plants (almost like wine tasting), and much more.In addition, find out why the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, established the Ken Druse Collection of Garden Photographs.  Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and

Now is the time to plan for your future. Suzan Haskins and Dan Prescher of internationalliving.com are specialists in retiring overseas, particularly in Latin America, although they’ve spent a good bit of time traveling the world in recent years. Suzan and Dan are the go-to experts for those of us looking to retire soon and considering doing that overseas. They explain why now—when we can’t travel—is the perfect time to do your research. Find out the best places and top considerations for someone wanting to retire overseas. They have the important resources for making your life-changing choices. Suzan and Dan's books, The International Living Guide to Retiring Overseas on a Budget and Live Richer, Spend Less: International Living's Ultimate Guide to Retiring Overseas, are also perfect resources to get going. Visit internationalliving.com for more information. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy t

Mike Andress, founder of Exploration Local, understands first-hand how much the experience of being outdoors in nature reduces stress and increases mental health. Mike explains how his belief in the positive health benefits of nature helped him become intentional about getting outdoors and experiencing local businesses as he created Exploration Local.Also a recap of the week in aviation and what's happening at the Asheville Regional Airport with Tina Kinsey, Director of Marketing, PR and Air Service Development at FlyAVL. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Be swept away with Roland Colton, an author, pianist, attorney and world-traveler. His groundbreaking novel, "Forever Gentleman," mates music with the written word in a style reminiscent of 19th century authors. Some of the compositions in the e-version of the book had never been written (since they are composed by characters in the story). Find out how Roland came up with the idea for a music e-version and what process he used to create the amazing compositions. Roland discusses how he chose Victorian England (circa 1869-1870) as the setting and what research he performed for writing "Forever Gentleman" and how he immersed himself in 19th-century literature. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Dayna Reggero of the Climate Listening Project details her new documentary, "Planet Prescription." The film connects science and stories and offers hopeful solutions for humanistic health care for a healthier future. “Planet Prescription” centers around the Southeast: rural Tennessee, city of Atlanta, Georgia, suburbs of North Carolina, listening to an epidemiologist, pulmonologist, intensive care unit nurse, cardiovascular surgeon, internist, immunologist, registered nurse health navigator, social worker, counselor, and pediatric pulmonologist. Dayna and her team follow healers where they work: at huge hospitals, community hospitals, an elementary school, a university wellness center, a doctor’s office in a suburban mini mall, a Southeast Narrative Healthcare Symposium, and a Mothers and Others for Clean Air Grand Rounds Training.  For more Speaking of Travel + Climate Listening Project series episodes, visit speakingoftravel.net/climateseriesThanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speaki

In these times of uncertainty, pulling together as a community is crucial to the health, well-being and stability of our local friends and neighbors. Some communities need help more than ever. And although it may seem daunting at first, there are ways to lend support, funds or even a helping hand.New Belgium’s Community Ambassador Mike Craft gives us info on the New Belgium Bar & Restaurant Relief Fund supporting food and beverage communities in their hometowns of Fort Collins, CO and Asheville, NC, who are in need of financial assistance due to the COVID-19 economic disruption.  Mike explains ways the company comes together to support the community and also provides info on One Buncombe, WNC for The Planet and the synchronized firefly experience in the Great Smoky Mountains. Also an update from Tina Kinsey, Director of Marketing, PR and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport. Tina describes how the airport is working diligently to keep the airport safe and operational during this uncer

Jeff Greiner, owner of the Adventure Center in Asheville, managing partner at Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours and member of the Wildwater Adventures family, provides tips on how to keep everyone active during challenging times by planning activities together, being outdoors and reconnecting with your youth.Jeff provides a historical overview of how his family's original outdoor adventure business, Wildwater Adventures, along with its expansion from mostly a rafting focus, evolved into aerial adventures as a result of the family traveling both times they expanded into broader services. Jeff explains how a family doing things together, being outdoors and challenging themselves, is the key to staying optimistic and healthy in these challenging times. Also on the show is an update form Tina Kinsey, Director of Marketing, PR and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport. The dedicated team at AVL is working diligently to keep the airport safe and operational during this uncertain time. And join D

Speaking of Travel provides updates on the coronavirus crisis and ways airports are focusing on safely transporting passengers who need to travel and how to best make changes to their travel plans with guest Tina Kinsey, Director of Marketing, PR & Air Service Development for the Asheville Regional Airport. Also onboard is Michael Poandl, Development Coordinator of the WNC Aids Project, as he discusses what was learned from the AIDS epidemic and how they are responding to COVID, along with current protocols and ways we can all help our communities. Fellow traveler Doc Lawrence, host of The Gourmet Highway, gives us a nostalgic review of where we've been over the past two years and how to prepare for new adventures moving forward.The world is coming together and Speaking of Travel is here to bring updated information for you, while acknowledging the spiritual wonder of travel with a commitment to seek new places and faces to enrich our lives. Stay safe and healthy. And remember, Don't Postpone Jo

Gabe Swinney, founder of Swinney Creative, shares how a pilgrimage is not about the destination but rather a journey of the spirit. He explains how a pilgrimage enhances a person's beliefs and faith and reminds us to live our lives in harmony. Being at a crossroads in our lives, there is no better time to think about how to create a deeper sense of spirituality, healing and forgiveness. Gabe tells us about his pilgrimage on the Way of St. Andrews in Scotland, how he learned about it, and his near death experiences. Later he traveled on the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage in Japan. Find out about this spiritual journey and a history of the route. Also on the show are special segments with William Dissen, owner and chef at the Marketplace Restaurant in Asheville who shares ways we can help our local economy at this time, and a conversation with Johnny Jet who gives us some important travel information on what is happening in the travel industry and why we must keep dreaming and planning for traveling in the future.

A few years ago, I had what I then believed was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was a dream trip on an African safari. And I can tell you, there isn’t much to prepare you for the sheer scale and natural beauty of this amazing landscape and the different sights and sounds you’ll encounter.Now is the time to make your dream trip come true. Toby Brown, marketing director and lead safari coordinator of Outdoor Africa, an on-the ground private safari operator in South Africa offering custom-designed and privately guided tours all over southern Africa and beyond. Toby explains why there really is nowhere else on Earth quite like Africa and why traveling into the natural parts of Africa is to travel into the heart of Mother Nature in all its raw beauty. At the very least it is amazing, and at the most, life changing. From what I’m hearing, you can never get bored in South Africa and the country loves to surprise you. Toby tells us about all there is to see and do besides seeing animals on safari and that you can

What makes a river cruise different from an ocean cruise is the emphasis on the places visited and the experiential experiences provided. Kathy Brock with Ama Waterways explains why river cruising is a bucket list vacation idea. Times are changing on Europe's rivers as operators are investing in new ships that incorporate more of today's contemporary features. Find out the essential reasons to take a river cruise and discover the ways shore touring is central to the concept of river cruising. Not to mention the food, wine and fellowship! Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.